Council starts at 6:00 P.M. on Tuesday with a report from the Inclusive Community Task Force.  I thank all the members of the task force for their input and effort.

The regular meeting starts at 7:00. Tuesday's agenda includes:

• Item 25 -- Resolution approving/motion denying LUPP Map amendment designating Convenience Commercial Node (CVCN) at the intersection of Bloomington Road and Stange Road . This is the change in the Land Use Policy Plan (LUPP) Map to allow commercial development at Bloomington Road (North Side) and Stange Road. The council did approve the change in the text of the LUPP to allow the possibly of a grocery store, gas station, car wash, and medical clinic at this location. The question at this point (from staff's recommendation) is whether to allow a medical clinic use at this location. I also have questions about the size of the development (nearly 10 acres).
• Item 26 -- Council discussion on Targeted Growth Strategy. The council has asked city staff to update us on the cost of growth in three areas adjacent to the city. These areas are Southwest, Northwest, and North (see map below). We have had several public meetings on this issue. The city's current land use plan (adopted about 1997) has residential growth planned for the Northwest and Southwest. Many developers have asked that the city allow growth/annexation to the North.
  
  The driving reasons that the city has targeted residential growth expansion in the Southwest and the Northwest is that it is less expensive for the city, citizens and tax payers (see April 1st comments). While growth to the North is more expensive in almost all categories the major factor is the cost of operation of a fire station in the North. Growth in the west does not require additional fire equipment or personnel ( western growth does require the movement of the campus town fire station to North Dakota). Northern growth requires an additional fire station and personal (at an estimated operation cost of $750,000 per year).
  Another factor is the impact of development on Ada Hayden. Some argue that development around Ada Hayden is inevitable, thus the city should now annex the area to supply sanitary sewer and have more control over the water shed (protecting Ada Hayden). Others argue that the best course is to limit development around Ada Hayden and thus limit the impact. Both arguments have their positives and negatives.
  
  The impact on schools is also a factor. Northern growth puts virtually no students in Ames school district (see April 1st comments). The Ames School Board has sent a letter encouraging the city to grow within the Ames School district boundaries. Growth in the Southwest and/or Northwest puts significantly more residents in the Ames School District.
  The city and the schools (Ames, United Community, Gilbert) need to enhance cooperation and plan together. Our current LUPP does little more then refer to the importance of schools in our community. A constituent recently pointed me to the 1955 LUPP for Ames. The 1955 LUPP has a section on where the schools are located, where growth is expected, and possible location for additional schools (see map). The 1955 LUPP acknowledged that the school board is the decision making body in these matters but also puts forth recommendations on how the needs of the city could be met. I hope we can look back to the 1955 LUPP as a model of cooperation and planning between the schools and the city.
  The other interesting thing about the 1955 LUPP was the growth projections outlined. It projected the year 2000 population of Ames and ISU at 47,000. This projection was only a few thousand low.
• Item 27 -- Report on status of Shops at East Prairie (regional commercial at I35 and 13th). Last meeting I moved and the council voted to direct staff to update us on the Shops at East Prairie. I doubt that the current council would have passed the zoning for this project at this location. However a previous council did pass the zoning at this location. Recognizing the requirement of 5 council member votes to change zoning, this project is going forward. The main concern at this point is the goal of the city for industrial development east of Shops at East Prairie and the need to have sewer, water and roads extended. Wolford is bound by the devlopement agreement to supply/finance that infrastructure for this industrial development. The city needs to proceed with it's industrial development plans.

That is it for now. More in a few weeks.

Jim Popken
City Council At Large

Disclaimer: My intent of this communication is to give you a heads up on items coming to the city council. I may state some of my impressions and leanings here. I will, however, try to avoid staking out a position on issues before the council meeting occurs. I feel that I should avoid committing to any positions until I have heard and considered all the public input at the council meeting before a vote.

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