City Council met Tuesday for a workshop on the Post-Construction Stormwater Management Ordinance (Chapter 5B), as well as to discuss two resolutions and a second passage of an ordinance regarding Apple Place and Peach Lane.

On April 22, 2014, Ames adopted Chapter 5B Post Construction Stormwater Management Ordinance. It was mandatory for Ames to attain a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for the release of stormwater from a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit.

Requirements outlined in the ordinance say that in order to manage water quantity or flow rates, designs for site improvements have to be made to better water quality from stormwater runoff in affected development properties.

Also outlined are promotions of low impact development to improve site infiltration, lessen pollutant loads in waterways and cut down stormwater runoff from the developed areas. 

Erv Klaas talked about his concerns about climate change and its potential affect on the Ames area with increased rainfall. He also expressed his concern about businesses opting out of green roofs because of cost.

Luke Jensen, a second generation real estate professional in the Ames area, talked about how this creates challenges with feasibility and practicality for smaller areas affected by the stormwater ordinance. 

Jensen said that he recommended shifting to Iowa City’s standard of 10,000 acres impervious.

Justin Dodge provided a table to support his belief that the ordinance should be “more lax” that included the top 12 cities in the state of Iowa and the disturbance limits and impervious limits.

Ben Jensen of JCorp Construction, who is the cousin of previous speaker Luke Jensen, came forward saying that multiple projects that were asked of JCorp were unable to happen because of the ordinance, and the financial burden it had on the projects for him and his company. 

Ben Jensen said that it required unnecessary burden, and he can’t appeal because financial feasibility isn’t applicable to appeals.

City Council discussed a motion to allow for the circumstances of reconstruction of parking lots — so long as they do not increase impervious area and for the staff to incentivize means to improve water quality.

This passed with just one vote against by Councilwoman Gloria Betcher who said her concern is for water quantity over quality.

City Council closed the session at 9:30 p.m. and will meet again next Tuesday at City Hall.