MINUTES CITY OF AMES 304 MARTIN DR. - AMES, TEXAS JOINT CITY COUNCIL & EDC WORKSHOP NOVEMBER 16, 2024 6:00 PM The City Council for the City of Ames, Texas held a meeting at the Ames City Hall at 10:10 a.m. Mayor Barbara Domain called the meeting to order at that time. Mayor Domain conducted the roll call, at this time the members of the City Council who were present were: Mayor Barbara Domain, Councilman Michael Trahan, Counciwoman Elizabeth "Liz" Hardy, Councilman Eddie White, and Councilwoman Audrey Harrison. Councilman Alfred Freeman Jr. was absent. Members of the EDC who were present were Emmett Albro, Giovonni Stewart, Barbara Lange, Reggie Rollins, Kimberly Kidd, and Raynell Strouss. Jerry Reescano, John Bennett, and Anthony Landry were absent. Councilman Eddie White led the prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited. CITIZEN APPREARANCE No citizens were present. REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS This is a joint workshop meeting between the Ames City Council and the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) to discuss further planning and zoning for the city. Key Topics: Annexation and Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ): - There is an issue with the Tip Top Road area, where one side is in the city limits and the other side is not, causing voting discrepancies. - The council needs to look into annexing the Tip Top Road area and surrounding properties to bring them fully into the city limits. - There is an opportunity to annex more land into the city's ETJ, which would allow for future growth and development. - The council needs to develop a plan for systematic annexation over the next few years. Zoning and Land Use: - The council wants to strategically zone areas for commercial, industrial, and residential use. The focus is on keeping commercial development along major highways like Highway 90 to make it easily accessible. - There is discussion of designating a specific area, such as the 168-acre property behind Dragon, as a new downtown/commercial district for the city. - The council wants to avoid haphazard development and ensure proper zoning is in place. Funding and Partnerships: - The city does not currently have the funds to purchase large tracts of land for development. - The council is exploring options to partner with developers who could purchase the land and then work with the city on the development plans. - This would allow the city to maintain more control over the type of development and ensure it aligns with the city's vision. - The council is also looking into grant funding opportunities to help finance land acquisition and infrastructure improvements. Next Steps: The council needs to finalize a zoning plan and map for the city. - They will follow up with the property owners of the 168-acre tract to gauge interest in selling the land to the city or partnering on development. - The council will also explore potential developer partnerships and grant funding sources to facilitate the desired growth and development. Overall, the discussion focused on strategic annexation, comprehensive zoning, and creative funding/partnership approaches to guide the future development of Ames in a way that aligns with the council's vision for the city. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 12:08 PM Bafbara Domain Mayor Whllnas Body / / u Wellona Godfrey City Secretary