Digital Billboard Standards

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.

• 26. Hearing on City of Ames Budget.
  On April 8th, Council held a public hearing about our proposed tax levy and also set April 22nd as the public hearing for our Proposed 25/26 Budget.
  
  
• 27. Hearing on proposed Zoning Text Amendment modifying Billboard standards and creating new Digital Display standards.
  In order for The Linc to eventually develop, the two billboards on that property need to be removed. In order to do so, the billboard company is asking for a digital billboard. (The best city-owned property for such a billboard is considered to be out by Hwy 30 off of Billy Sunday Rd.) Our current billboard ordinance already limits where billboards can be but staff make some recommendations for other considerations, such as a limit on “nits” (the unit of measurement most commonly used to describe brightness of an illuminated billboard screen). Council is being asked to approve standards for digital billboards, some of which are listed in the staff report.
  
  
• 30. Motion accepting Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center monthly update.
  This is a regularly scheduled update, news is mostly good, no crises and no need yet to spend much of the pollution mitigation budget, and the facility is on target to be complete in early 2026. 
  
  
• 31. Discussion of Ames Homebuilders Association's request for review of driveway regulations.
  Council was asked to revisit our driveway standards, to allow more room for driveways where they meet sidewalks. The Homebuilders Association has included some pictures (available in the staff report) to illustrate what they are asking for.
  
  
• 32. Notification Requirements Review for Mailed Notice, Public Hearings, Courtesy Notices, and Legal Notifications Webpage.
  Council had asked staff to research options for a webpage that could serve as a resource for all types of public notices. Staff present a few options, including an option to increase the distance for notice on certain zoning actions from 200 ft to 300 ft.
  
  
• 33. Motion to initiate voluntary annexation of property at 57258 220th Street (East 13th Street).
  This is a 100% voluntary annexation request from a property owner on East 13th St. 
  
  
• 34. Resolution awarding contract to Brown Reynolds Watford Architects, of College Station, Texas for Architectural and Engineering Services to construct a New Fire Station 2 in the amount not-to-exceed $78,800 .
  For a number of years, Council and Staff have been considering alternate locations for Fire Station 2. The City and Iowa State have identified land west of State Ave., and Council is now being asked to award a contract for the design of the new Fire Station #2.
  
  
• 35. Lease Agreement for Welch Lot T in Campustown.
  The City currently leases this property for use as a metered public lot, and the lease expires in 2025. Council is being asked if we want to renew, and because this lot does not generate the money it costs to rent, if we would consider raising meter rates in the lot.

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

Zoning Ordinance Update Discussion

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.

• 1. Resolution directing staff to bid the Ada Hayden Heritage Park Trail Replacement Project to include the closing of the trail during construction.
  The trail at Ada Hayden Park is due for replacement. The above staff report lists the reasons staff recommend a 12 foot concrete path instead of the existing 10' asphalt one. Two timing options are listed; either to do the whole thing at once or split it into phases for a greater cost and slightly longer time frame. If we do it all at once, it would be an estimated 5-6 weeks and $1.1 million, whereas if it is in phases it would be 7-9 weeks and from $1.3-1.4 million.  
  
  
• 2. Zoning Ordinance Update Discussion.
  In May of last year, Council directed staff to start looking at an overhaul of our zoning code to make it better match the goals of Plan2040. We also have a number of ancillary documents such as the Complete Streets standards and the Walk Bike Roll Plan that could be better integrated into our zoning. Staff are asking for Council input on the scope of the plan, public outreach strategy, and any other issues to cover other than those outlined by staff.

 

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

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

We start with at special meeting of the city council at 5:15pm for a Public Hearing regarding Proposed Property Tax Levy for Fiscal Year July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026.

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.

• 14. Requests from Ames Public Library for Ames Bike Fair on May 31, 2025.
  The Ames Public Library is hosting a Bike Fair, in partnership with Parks & Rec, the Ames Police Department, and other bike-related organizations. Helmets will be given out by Safe Routes to School to those that need them. The event organizers are asking Council for street closure of Douglas right in front of the Library from 9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 31st.
  
  
•  18. Resolution approving the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Water Resource Restoration Sponsored Project Performance Agreement for the Ioway Creek-Brookside Stream Restoration Project.
  This project was initially slated for 2019/2020, and will relocate and stabilize parts of the Ioway Creek as it passes through Brookside Park. $2.2 million in revenue is available for the project, with about half of that coming from state funding, and a generous and anonymous donation of $98,000.
  
  
  
  
  
• 19. Resolution approving Professional Services Agreement with WHKS & Co. of Ames, Iowa for the 2022/23 Bridge Rehabilitation Program (S. 4th Street Pedestrian Bridge over Ioway Creek) in an amount not to exceed $84,800.
  This project will improve the pedestrian situation along S 4th by adding a pedestrian bridge and path along the south side as it crosses Ioway Creek. 
  
  
  
  
• 34. Resolution accepting "Downtown Ames: A Guiding Vision for the Future" document.
  
  
• 35. Resolution approving naming the Mini-Pitch at Lloyd Kurtz Park "The Friedrich Pitch.
  Kurt and Sindy Friedrich have generously pledged $50,000 for the construction of this park amenity, and have been awarded naming rights. Three other companies pledged at the level of bench sponsor ($1,500); Central State Bank, Draintech, and Greater Iowa Credit Union.
  
  
• 36. Liquor License Renewals
  A number of liquor licenses are up for renewal, several of which the Ames PD recommends renewing. One notable recommendation for denial is for Perfect Games. The Iowa Department of Revenue has denied the alcohol license application for Perfect Games on the grounds that one of the owners, Carl Markley, is not of good moral character, as is required to obtain a liquor license.
  
  
• 39. Staff Presentation on FY 2025/26 Water and Sewer Rates.
  
  
• 43.First reading of Ordinance adopting regulations for carbon monoxide alarms in rental properties.

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.

Communications

 

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

Annexation of Ames Golf and Country Club and Irons Subdivision

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.

• 19. Annexation of Ames Golf and Country Club and Irons Subdivision.
  
  
  
  
  

• 20. Resolution approving Memorandum of Understanding with Ames Regional Economic Alliance to identify a developer for City surplus land located at the Harrison and Welbeck intersection.
  
  
• 21. Review Draft Urban Revitalization Area and Plan for the Southeast 5th Street.
  
  
  
  
  
• 22. Resource Recovery & Recycling Campus Real Estate Purchases.
  
  
• 24. Discussion on the viability of the Campus and Community Commission.
  
  
• 25. Alternative Landscaping Plan for 329 SE 5th Street.
  
  
• 29. Rezoning of property at 5119 Lincoln Way & 5001 Lincoln Way from Agricultural (A) to Suburban Residential Low Density (FS-RL) with Master Plan.
  
  
  
  
  
  

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.

Communications

 

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

Micromobility Ordinance

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.

• 13. Resolution approving Letter of Intent with Greenfield Wind Farm Developer.
  This resolution allows Electric Services to enter into discussions with a developer to build a utility-scale wind farm in order to increase the amount of renewable energy in the City's energy portfolio.
  
  
•  33. Update on Applications Received for North Ames Voluntary Annexation of Multiple Properties Generally Between George W. Carver Avenue and Hyde Avenue.
  Council was asked to annex the Borgmeyer property, shown below, and we directed staff to also prepare for annexation of the Ames Golf and Country Club and The Irons. (Nearly 10 years ago the City entered into an agreement with the developer of The Irons that said we could seek future annexation in exchange for some development standards they wanted at the time.) Now, some of the property owners in this area wish to delay these previously agreed upon covenants. 
  Staff are asking Council how to proceed, and if we should still pursue annexation of the AGCC and Irons now, or delay that to expedite the annexation of the Borgmeyer property. 
  
  
  
  
  
• 34. JT Warehouse Subdivision on E 13th Street Agreement Changes
  The map below shows the location of a proposed warehouse development. The developers are asking that a prior prohibition on industrial tax abatement be removed. (This prohibition was in place back in the days when it was thought that this land might be a mall.)
  
  
  
  
  
• 35. Request for Zoning Ordinance Changes to Standards Related to Property Zoned Residential High Density with the West University Impacted Overlay at Oakland Street and Hyland Avenue.
  A developer is proposing to redevelop the properties shown below. Council is being asked if we consider changes only for this property, or if we enter the longer process of creating a zoning type that is suggested in the Ames Plan 2040 and applying it more broadly.
  
  
  
  
  
• 37. Discussion on considering a micromobility ordinance.
  After researching best practices and other communities, staff are presenting some proposals for Council to consider regarding personal transportation devices. This includes things like e-bikes, skateboards, motorized scooters, the one wheeled things, etc. Ames already has a few ordinances in place for bicycles (requiring reflectors, front lights, brakes, etc.) and staff propose modifying that section of the code to include references to these other personal transportation devices. 

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

Prohibiting public camping on sidewalks

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.

• 22. Discussion on proposed ordinance prohibiting public camping.
  Council has heard a lot on the topic of homelessness. We have heard a spectrum of opinions ranging from those who consider it to be a safety concern to those who wish to help more. This discussion will be one of many upcoming discussions on the topic, and as of yet no specific proposal for an ordinance has been voted upon. (It is possible that a specific proposal could be floated at this meeting for future consideration.) We are in the midst of a study on the topic of homelessness, for which we have hired a consultant, and we expect the results of that study yet this spring. Staff have provided examples of ordinances from other Iowa cities, and a set of questions has been drafted for discussion. 
  
  
• 24. Resolution approving Historic Preservation Commission 2024 Accomplishments and 2025 Work Plan.
  
  
• 27. Hearing on Zoning Text Amendment to Chapter 29 of the Ames Municipal Code to Create Townhome Building Type Standards.
   
  
• 28. Hearing to Rezone Property at 5119 and 5001 Lincoln Way from Agricultural (A) to Suburban Residential Low Density (FS-RL) with a Master Plan.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

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

Downtown Visioning Proposal

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.

• 1. Downtown Ames: A Guiding Vision for the Future.
  This is Council's first official view of a visioning process that was undertaken by Ames Main Street. Information about stakeholder and public engagement is included in the report.
  
  
• 2. Resolution exercising the option to purchase real property addressed as 2715 Dayton Avenue, in the amount of $1,100,000.
  This is the site the City is pursuing for expansion of the Ames Animal Shelter.

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.

None this week

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