Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center Regular Update

Bronwyn's Council Preview

 

YOU MAY VIEW THE MEETING ONLINE AT THE FOLLOWING SITES:
https://www.youtube.com/ameschannel12
https://www.cityofames.org/channel12
or watch the meeting live on Mediacom Channel 12

Usually some of the agenda items will have a period where members of the public may briefly speak to Council.
TO REACH THE MAYOR AND ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL:
Send email to MayorCouncil@AmesCityCouncil.org
(Note that emails to elected officials are generally subject to Iowa Open Records requests)

MEETING OF THE AMES CITY COUNCIL

The Ames City Council meeting is at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall. The council meeting agenda includes the following. Note that you can generally click on individual agenda items below to get the full staff report or other explanation.

• 25. Motion approving/denying an 8-month Class C Retail License - La Casa Maya, 631 Lincoln Way, Class C Retail Alcohol License with Outdoor Service
  At a recent meeting, Council denied La Casa Maya's request for a 12-month liquor license on the basis of a few failed compliance checks. Since then, staff report that the owners of La Casa Maya have worked with the Ames Police Department and the State's IPACT training to get all staff trained. 
  
  
• 27. Motion approving the Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center Monthly Update.
  Every quarter, Council hears a review of progress being made on the Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center. Since our July 22nd meeting was already packed, this agenda item was moved to an August meeting. Concrete for the lap pool basin has been poured, and the next month will include pouring concrete for the recreational pool basin.
  
  
• 28. Hearing on Rezoning Property at 3220 Cameron School Road from “A” (Agricultural) to “CGS” (Convenience General Service) and “FS-RM” (Floating Suburban Medium-Density Residential) Zone with Masterplan.
  This rezoning request is for property near the corner of Cameron School Rd and GW Carver Ave, and is planned to be an assisted living development and small convenience/gas station. 
  
  

Communications to Council: The following items are requests and communications to Council that aren't published on the agenda, so we won't deliberate them substantially. This includes staff reports and communications or requests from constituents and developers. Typically, Council will ask city staff for more information, put the item on a future agenda for deliberation and possible action, or just accept the communication, taking no further action.

Council Packet Summary

Thanks for reading,
Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen
Ames City Council, Ward 1

Council Goals and Priorities Update Session

Bronwyn's Council Preview

 

YOU MAY VIEW THE MEETING ONLINE AT THE FOLLOWING SITES:
https://www.youtube.com/ameschannel12
https://www.cityofames.org/channel12
or watch the meeting live on Mediacom Channel 12

Usually some of the agenda items will have a period where members of the public may briefly speak to Council.
TO REACH THE MAYOR AND ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL:
Send email to MayorCouncil@AmesCityCouncil.org
(Note that emails to elected officials are generally subject to Iowa Open Records requests)

MEETING OF THE AMES CITY COUNCIL

This Special Meeting will be held at the Homewood Golf Course Clubhouse at 6 p.m. The public is welcome to attend. The council meeting agenda includes the following. Note that you can generally click on individual agenda items below to get the full staff report or other explanation.

• 2. Council Goals and Priorities Update Session.
  Annually, Council holds a special meeting to set goals and priorities for the upcoming year. This is our mid-year check in, and Council will review and update those goals and priorities established at our January 12th meeting. 
  
  

Thanks for reading,
Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen
Ames City Council, Ward 1

Fire Station #2 Relocation

Bronwyn's Council Preview

 

YOU MAY VIEW THE MEETING ONLINE AT THE FOLLOWING SITES:
https://www.youtube.com/ameschannel12
https://www.cityofames.org/channel12
or watch the meeting live on Mediacom Channel 12

Usually some of the agenda items will have a period where members of the public may briefly speak to Council.
TO REACH THE MAYOR AND ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL:
Send email to MayorCouncil@AmesCityCouncil.org
(Note that emails to elected officials are generally subject to Iowa Open Records requests)

MEETING OF THE AMES CITY COUNCIL

The Ames City Council meeting is at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall. The council meeting agenda includes the following. Note that you can generally click on individual agenda items below to get the full staff report or other explanation.

• 35. Resolution approving FY 2026/27 City Analysis of Social Services Evaluation Team Priorities.
  The ASSET process is a partnership between the City of Ames, Story County, Iowa State Student Government, and United Way to fund social services. In the past, each agency submitted their own lists of funding priorities. Over the past year, conversations among the funding partners have led to the creation of a list of joint priorities.
  
  
• 36. Staff Report on Residential Curbside Recycling.
  Because of the transition away from waste-to-energy, Ames will need a new way to divert recyclables from being landfilled. This staff report outlines some of the considerations involved in moving to a system that includes curbside recycling, such as whether or not to contract that service and how often it should be provided, among others. Council is not being asked to make any decisions at this time, but rather what questions we may have about moving forward.
  
  
• 37. Maple Grove Mobile Home Park - Request for Sanitary Sewer Connection.
  It has long been suspected and recently confirmed that College Creek has human-source e coli from upstream of Wilder Boulevard, likely due to failing septic systems in the area. A few properties outside the border of Ames have requested to abandon their septic systems and tie into the City's sewer service. Staff are recommending the creation of a rural sewer agreement for this type of situation.
  
  
• 38. Finalize New Power Plant Site. 
  Along with the transition from waste-to-energy, the current power plant will be replaced by smaller more efficient RICE energy generating units. Staff recommend these units be placed at the old coal yard between the Resource Recovery Plant and the Power Plant. At the last meeting, Council asked staff if they had explored all other alternatives for the location of this new facility.
  
  
• 39. Resolution awarding contract to Sargent & Lundy LLC, of Chicago, IL, for Engineering Services for Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engine (RICE) Electric Generation Facility, in the amount not-to-exceed $6,885,000.
  See above item #38
  
  
  
• 40. South Lincoln Mixed Use (S-SMD) Zoning District Text Amendment Request.
  A property owner south of Lincoln Way has requested some changes in order to rebuild a house on his residential property.
  
  
  
• 41. Staff Report Regarding Fire Station #2 Relocation - Net Zero-Ready Versus Non Net-Zero Ready.
• This staff report details the difference in estimated costs of building to Net-Zero Ready standards vs not. (The City’s Climate Action goals include one about new City buildings being built to Net-Zero standards.)
  
  

Communications to Council: The following items are requests and communications to Council that aren't published on the agenda, so we won't deliberate them substantially.This includes staff reports and communications or requests from constituents and developers. Typically, Council will ask city staff for more information, put the item on a future agenda for deliberation and possible action, or just accept the communication, taking no further action.

Council Packet Summary

Thanks for reading,
Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen
Ames City Council, Ward 1

Renewable Energy Buyback Program

Bronwyn's Council Preview

 

YOU MAY VIEW THE MEETING ONLINE AT THE FOLLOWING SITES:
https://www.youtube.com/ameschannel12
https://www.cityofames.org/channel12
or watch the meeting live on Mediacom Channel 12

Usually some of the agenda items will have a period where members of the public may briefly speak to Council.
TO REACH THE MAYOR AND ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL:
Send email to MayorCouncil@AmesCityCouncil.org
(Note that emails to elected officials are generally subject to Iowa Open Records requests)

MEETING OF THE AMES CITY COUNCIL

The Ames City Council meeting is at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall. The council meeting agenda includes the following. Note that you can generally click on individual agenda items below to get the full staff report or other explanation.

• 16. Resolution approving third amendment to 28E Funding Agreement with Story County Edge of Field Project .
  This is a 3-year extension of a great partnership including Story and Hamilton County, the City of Ames, and the Iowa Department of Ag & Land Stewardship to install edge of field run-off prevention methods, such as saturated buffers or bioreactors within the Skunk River watershed.
  
  
• 28. FY 2024/25 Climate Action Plan Update.
  The linked presentation will be given to Council to provide an update on progress so far toward our Climate Action Plan and the upcoming year's goals. Categories in the staff report include renewable energy generation, building retrofits (including municipal buildings), net-zero-ready new construction, reducing vehicle emissions, transit and active transportation, and reducing waste emissions. 
  
  
• 29. Nuisance Ordinance Update.
  This is a review of our newly implemented (in effect since Jan 2024) residential property maintenance standards. These standards include things like prohibiting junked cars, outdoor storage of stuff, grass being too tall, noxious weeds, etc. Council will be asked if we'd like to clarify or amend any of the current standards. 
  
  
• 30. Resolution approving Solid Waste Disposal Agreement with Carroll County, Iowa Solid Waste Management Commission.
  This agreement is important in moving forward with our new Resource Recovery and Recycling Campus. If this resolution is approved by City Council, it will then be voted upon by the Carroll County Solid Waste Management Commission at their July 15th meeting.
  
  
• 31. Motion approving/denying a Class C Retail License - La Casa Maya, 631 Lincoln Way, Class C Retail Alcohol License with Outdoor Service.
  This establishment failed two compliance checks in the span of 6 months. A followup compliance check was conducted in late June of this year, and the establishment did pass. Council is being asked whether or not to deny renewal of their alcohol license.
  

• 34. Hearing on Rezoning of Property located at 57258 220th Street (East 13th Street) from Agricultural (A) To General Industrial (GI) upon its final approval of Annexation by the State.
   
  
• 36. Modifications to Municipal Code for Renewable Energy Buyback Program.
  These changes will change how rebates and energy buybacks work for the installation of solar panels. 

Communications to Council: The following items are requests and communications to Council that aren't published on the agenda, so we won't deliberate them substantially.This includes staff reports and communications or requests from constituents and developers. Typically, Council will ask city staff for more information, put the item on a future agenda for deliberation and possible action, or just accept the communication, taking no further action.

Council Packet Summary

Thanks for reading,
Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen
Ames City Council, Ward 1

Turn Arrow at 13th, Daley Park Splash Pad, and Curbside Recycling

Bronwyn's Council Preview

 

YOU MAY VIEW THE MEETING ONLINE AT THE FOLLOWING SITES:
https://www.youtube.com/ameschannel12
https://www.cityofames.org/channel12
or watch the meeting live on Mediacom Channel 12

Usually some of the agenda items will have a period where members of the public may briefly speak to Council.
TO REACH THE MAYOR AND ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL:
Send email to MayorCouncil@AmesCityCouncil.org
(Note that emails to elected officials are generally subject to Iowa Open Records requests)

MEETING OF THE AMES CITY COUNCIL

The Ames City Council meeting is at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall. The council meeting agenda includes the following. Note that you can generally click on individual agenda items below to get the full staff report or other explanation.

• 15. Resolution approving Pay Plan for FY 2025/26.
  This is an annual document update that specifies the City's pay range structure and schedule. 
  
  
• 16. Resolution approving salaries for Council Appointees for FY 2025/26. 
  Two City employees report directly to the City Council (the City Manager and the City Attorney), and this resolution includes their proposed salaries for the upcoming fiscal year.
  
  
• 36. Staff Report regarding update on Outreach Efforts to Individuals/Families Experiencing Homelessness.
  This update is being provided by a group called HOST (Homelessness Outreach Services Team) including a social worker from Mary Greeley, the Mental Health Advocate for the Police Department, a representative from ARCH (Alternative Resources for Community Health), and a representative from the Salvation Army. Since November of last year, they have gone out weekly to connect with people experiencing homelessness, to build connections and better coordinate care and services. 
  
  
• 37. Presentation of Conceptual Design for Resource Recovery and Recycling Campus.
  This is an important staff report, as it outlines the future of solid waste disposal for Ames (and other Story County communities). Not only does this report include the concept for the R3C (Resource Recovery & Recycling Campus), it also mentions an important change...that we likely need to implement a community-wide curbside recycling program. 
  
  
• 38. Motion directing staff regarding phasing for the 2024-26 Traffic System Capacity Improvement Program (13th & Grand).
  Improvements to the intersection at 13th and Grand are about as long-awaited as the Olive Garden, and believe it or not they're both due to drop soon. This proposal deals with the timing of construction at the intersection, as a dedicated turn lane is added for the eastbound and westbound lanes, as well as a leading pedestrian signal and improved shared-use path along the west side of Grand. 
  39. Resolution approving Iowa DOT Traffic Safety Improvement Program agreement in the amount of $500,000 for the 2024-26 Traffic System Capacity Improvement Program (13th & Grand). This is a grant application for the aforementioned improvements to 13th and Grand.
  40. Resolution approving Amendment No. 1 with WHKS & Co. Ames, IA, for the Engineering Services Agreement for the 2024-26 Traffic System Capacity Improvement Program (13th & Grand). This resolution outlines the next steps for acquiring the easements necessary for the improvements at 13th and Grand Ave.
  
  
• 42. Hearing on Daley Park Splash Pad Project.
  This agenda item is a hearing to select the contractor for constructing the Daley Park Splash Pad, another project that has been a long time in the works. (Some of the delay was due to (successfully) seeking an exemption from building extra bathrooms from the State of Iowa because the water recirculates and thus might have been considered a 'pool'.) The Splash Pad is scheduled to be open in June of 2026.
  
  
• 43. Hearing on Ada Hayden Heritage Park Path Replacement Project.
  This project involves removing the 10' asphalt path at Ada Hayden and building a 12' concrete path in its stead. This will unfortunately necessitate a temporary closure of the trail, starting yet this summer and hopefully ending by mid-November. 
  
  
• 48. Public Hearing on submittal of proposed application to the State of Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) for CDBG-CV Grant Funding.
  The City can apply for CDBG-CV Grant funding to assist with the homeless shelter in Ames, and staff recommend applying.

Communications to Council: The following items are requests and communications to Council that aren't published on the agenda, so we won't deliberate them substantially.This includes staff reports and communications or requests from constituents and developers. Typically, Council will ask city staff for more information, put the item on a future agenda for deliberation and possible action, or just accept the communication, taking no further action.

Council Packet Summary

Thanks for reading,
Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen
Ames City Council, Ward 1

Annexation of former Borgmeyer farm property and other properties

Bronwyn's Council Preview

 

YOU MAY VIEW THE MEETING ONLINE AT THE FOLLOWING SITES:
https://www.youtube.com/ameschannel12
https://www.cityofames.org/channel12
or watch the meeting live on Mediacom Channel 12

Usually some of the agenda items will have a period where members of the public may briefly speak to Council.
TO REACH THE MAYOR AND ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL:
Send email to MayorCouncil@AmesCityCouncil.org
(Note that emails to elected officials are generally subject to Iowa Open Records requests)

MEETING OF THE AMES CITY COUNCIL

The Ames City Council meeting is at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall. The council meeting agenda includes the following. Note that you can generally click on individual agenda items below to get the full staff report or other explanation.

• 9. Ansley Subdivision, Third Addition Final Plat. 
  This subdivision is located east of Cedar Lane, west of University Blvd and south of Oakwood Rd. This addition includes 15 single-family homes on just over 3 acres of land.
  
  
• 10. Resolution approving Ames Regional Economic Alliance agreement for FY 2025/26.
  This proposal would renew the City of Ames's annual financial investment of $175,000 in the Ames Regional Economic Alliance. ($115k goes toward business recruiting and marketing, and $60k is for the services of the City Business Development Coordinator.)
  
  
• 12. Resolution approving Cooperative Services Agreement with Prairie Rivers of Iowa RC & D (PRI) for the implementation of the 2021-2030 Story County Water Monitoring and Interpretation Plan in the amount of $56,740.
  For a number of years, the City has contracted with Prairie Rivers of Iowa to monitor water quality in the area. This year, because of new technology, they will focus especially on identifying the source of E Coli contaminations and ascertain whether it is human, bovine, or some other type of animal.
  
  
• 28. Hearing on Annexation of former Borgmeyer farm property and other properties along George W. Carver and Hyde Avenue, north of Ames' corporate limits.
  This large annexation (totaling over 230 acres) was first initiated in March of this year.
  
   
•   32. First passage of ordinance to comply with new state law regarding citizen review boards of police and repeal Ames Resident Police Advisory Committee (ARPAC).
  This year the State prohibited cities from having any type of citizen review board related to policing, so Ames is forced to repeal our ordinance establishing our police advisory committee.
  
  
• 34. First passage of ordinance relating to Fireworks.
  The State also passed a rule that says cities must allow fireworks on private property during the days surrounding the 4th of July and New Year's Eve. (We can still prohibit fireworks on public land, such as City parks, sidewalks, and right-of-ways.)
  
  

Communications to Council: The following items are requests and communications to Council that aren't published on the agenda, so we won't deliberate them substantially.This includes staff reports and communications or requests from constituents and developers. Typically, Council will ask city staff for more information, put the item on a future agenda for deliberation and possible action, or just accept the communication, taking no further action.

Council Packet Summary

Thanks for reading,
Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen
Ames City Council, Ward 1

Homelessness Ames and Story County Strategic Plan 2025 Report

Bronwyn's Council Preview

 

YOU MAY VIEW THE MEETING ONLINE AT THE FOLLOWING SITES:
https://www.youtube.com/ameschannel12
https://www.cityofames.org/channel12
or watch the meeting live on Mediacom Channel 12

Usually some of the agenda items will have a period where members of the public may briefly speak to Council.
TO REACH THE MAYOR AND ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL:
Send email to MayorCouncil@AmesCityCouncil.org
(Note that emails to elected officials are generally subject to Iowa Open Records requests)

MEETING OF THE AMES CITY COUNCIL

The Ames City Council meeting is at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall. The council meeting agenda includes the following. Note that you can generally click on individual agenda items below to get the full staff report or other explanation.

• 43. Resolution accepting the Conversations on Homelessness Ames and Story County Strategic Plan 2025 Report.
  This report was already presented to Council and the public on Monday, April 28th, so this agenda item is just asking Council to accept the report. Some of the items in the plan can be prioritized by ASSET volunteers, while other goals can be evaluated by City staff or other entities. As mentioned in the staff report, accepting the plan doesn't commit us to every policy suggestion, but rather acknowledges the City's commitment to continue working with community partners towards the goals of the plan.
  
  
• 45. Resolution authorizing City staff to partner with the Iowa Economic Development Authority to complete a Pay As You Save (PAYS) feasibility study.
  PAYS is a type of program that helps property owners finance energy-efficient retrofits through low or no-interest financing paid back through their utility bills. Council is being asked to conduct a feasibility study before being asked to decide to proceed with this type of program.
  
  
• 49. Update on Applications Received and Request for Initiation of Voluntary Annexation for Multiple Properties in the Irons Subdivision and Ames Golf and Country Club North of Ames' Corporate Limits.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 50. Update of Concept for 12-Unit Housing Development on City property west of Harrison Road at Welbeck Drive.
  This is an update on Council's goal to fill a small, vacant, city-owned lot near the intersection of Harrison and Welbeck with a small (12 unit) housing development. This development would seek the State's workforce housing tax credit, so the home prices would end up being around $245k - $275k. 
  
  
• 51. Request for Initiation of Voluntary Annexation of Land South of the Iowa State Research Park adjacent to 4140 S 530th Avenue.
  This annexation is a request from the ISU Research Park, which hopes to annex most of this land for ag research and development. There is one non-consenting property, and staff recommend annexing it too to ensure a uniform boundary. 
  
  
  
  
  
• 53. Hearing on proposed Zoning Text Amendment modifying Billboard standards and creating new Digital Display standards.
  This hearing was kept open from our April 22nd meeting to allow more time for public input, seek any expert advice, and ask the billboard company about lowering the "nit" limit, especially in the evenings. 
  
  
• 54. Hearing on Establishing an Urban Revitalization Area and Plan for properties located at 329 SE 5th Street and 320 South Duff Avenue.
  This Urban Revitalization Area was requested by the new furniture store moving into the location between Target and Walmart on S Duff Ave, and was first seen by Council at our March 25 2025 meeting. 
  
  
  
  

Communications to Council: The following items are requests and communications to Council that aren't published on the agenda, so we won't deliberate them substantially.This includes staff reports and communications or requests from constituents and developers. Typically, Council will ask city staff for more information, put the item on a future agenda for deliberation and possible action, or just accept the communication, taking no further action.

Council Packet Summary

Thanks for reading,
Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen
Ames City Council, Ward 1