CITY COUNCIL
GOALS/OBJECTIVES
Established January 12, 2008
To Be Accomplished by January 1, 2010
REJUVENATE CAMPUSTOWN
o By January 2009 develop viable action steps to rejuvenate Campustown
Assigned:
The Mayor and City Manager will work with a small group of Campustown stakeholders to:
1) review the “Wilcox Class Study” as well as related studies and
2) produce viable action steps for each stakeholder and report back to the City Council with recommendations.
This group should include:
-ISU Administration
-Mayor
-Ex officio
Council Member
-Business/Chamber
Representative(s)
-Two SCAN members
(one permanent resident and one student resident)
“GO GREEN” TO MINIMIZE IMPACT ON GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
o Build municipal buildings to a LEED standard and take into account life-cycle costing considerations when determining design/specifications.
Assigned:When reviewing future plans and specifications for City buildings, the City Council will make sure these standards are considered.
o Design program and initiatives for implementing Energy Star Ratings for commercial buildings.
Assigned:City staff will research the Energy Star Rating System and develop options for implementing this system for commercial buildings.
o Promote Resource Recovery Plant and glass recycling through continuous educational efforts.
Assigned:The Resource Recovery Plant staff in conjunction with the Public Relations Officer will develop a strategy to accomplish this task.
o Continue to increase promotion of demand-side management for the Electric Utility.
Assigned: The Electric Services staff along with the Public Relations Officer will develop a promotional plan.
o Request Transit Board to evaluate free CyRide for all riders.
Assigned:The City Council must pass a motion requesting action from the CyRide Board of Directors.
o Conduct a Global Warming Emissions Inventory of the existing City operations by utilizing the software offered by the International Council of Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI). Once the baseline is established, the City Council will establish carbon emissions reduction targets.
Assigned:The Director of Fleet Services has been assigned the responsibility to master this software and prepare a baseline report to the City Council.
o Create a Strategic Plan outlining goals and action steps for the City of Ames government to reduce carbon emissions.
Assigned: The Director of Fleet Services will lead an internal team made up of representatives from each department to create specific recommendations that will reduce the City’s production of carbon emissions.
o Increase alternate fuel sources (other than RDF) for Electric Utility.
Assigned:The Director of Electric Services is leading a staff team to develop an overall strategy to provide electric capacity for the next twenty years along with energy needs.
o Educate the public about 1) the importance of reducing global warming pollutions and 2) what other similar size communities are doing in terms of developing sustainability programs.
Assigned:The City Council indicated support for these tasks by earmarking $20,000 from the FY 2007-08 Contingency Account to accomplish these education ventures.
STRENGTHEN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS
o Explore a City/ISU partnership to improve tenant/landlord relations.
Assigned: The Mayor and City Manager will work with representatives from ISU Administration and GSB on this issue and report back to the City Council by May 2008.
o Hold a workshop to discuss incentives for home improvements in established older neighborhoods.
Assigned:Within the next year, the Mayor and City Council will schedule a workshop regarding this topic. In preparation for this meeting, the City staff will prepare a report that will present various incentives (tax abatement, CDBG funding, grants, etc.).
o Hold an annual neighborhood summit.
Assigned:The Mayor and City Council will convene this neighborhood association meeting.
o Increase efforts to organize and support neighborhood associations.
Assigned: In FY 2008-9, an intern will be hired to accomplish this initiative.
PROMOTE “ONE COMMUNITY”
o Respond to recommendations from the Inclusive Community Task Force.
Assigned:The Mayor and City Council will review the recommendations once they are submitted in April 2008.
o Request the Mayor’s Youth Committee to explore hosting a “Junior Citizens” Academy
Assigned: The Mayor will request that the Youth Committee help determine what topics would be of interest to this group so that City staff can develop a four to eight hour curriculum.
o Continue to hold regular meetings with other governmental organizations in the City and County.
Assigned: The Mayor and City Council will continue to schedule meetings each year with the City of Gilbert, City of Nevada, the Ames Community School District, Gilbert School District, United Community School District, Ames Economic Development Commission/Chamber of Commerce, Smart Growth Alliance, Convention and Visitors Bureau, Government of the Student Body, Mary Greeley Medical Center, Boone County Board of Supervisors, and Story County Board of Supervisors to discuss and coordinate future plans.
o Increase support for celebrating diversity
Assigned:Further clarification is needed by the City Council to determine in what form this support will come.
“BRAND” AMES
o Determine whether a “branding” process should be implemented.
Assigned: This task will include an objective assessment from an outside source to explore the advantages Ames offers to people as they relate to other cities. If adopted, then all stakeholders would incorporate this brand identity into each other’s promotional elements (e.g., brochures and web pages). The Mayor and City Manager will meet with representatives of the AEDC, Chamber, and ACVB to ascertain if there is any interest in accomplishing this as a community-wide goal.
DEFINE DESIRED GROWTH
o Review the current Land Use Policy Plan so that the City Council and the community can gain a better understanding about the background, history, content of this plan.
Assigned:The Planning and Housing staff will coordinate a workshop with the Planning and Zoning Commission and developers to review the current LUPP.
o Update Annexation Study.
Assigned: The City staff will first attempt to estimate the amount of time and cost to accomplish this task.
o Hold a workshop/roundtable on targeted residential growth, followed by reaffirmation or modifications to current strategy.
Assigned: Because of the interest expressed by the Fieldstone developers and by a number of developers who hope to build homes immediately north in the near future in the fringe area, this meeting should be held as soon as possible.
o Annex and develop a large-lot industrial park.
Assigned: The City Manager along with appropriate staff will develop recommendations for accomplishing this task.
o Develop job creation action plan with area partners
Assigned: The City Manager will convene a meeting with representatives from AEDC, ISU, and DMACC to request their assistance in developing a plan to create jobs in Ames and the surrounding areas for college graduates. Further clarification by the City Council of expectations for this job creation plan would be helpful.