Data Center Follow-Up (and more)

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 Ames City Council meeting is at 6:00 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. Motion directing staff to notify Mediacom Communications that the City of Ames is relinquishing Government Access Channel 12 and Public Access Channel 16.
  Over time the public has changed how they typically receive communications, and the number of residents using broadcast television has dropped drastically. Because of these trends and the difficulty in preparing less popular long-format video content, staff are recommending discontinuing these methods. 
  
  
• 15. Resolution approving the expansion of the Neighborhood Improvement Grant to encourage community connections.
  For many years, the City of Ames has had grants available for neighborhood improvement projects. These funds were typically used for permanent physical improvements to neighborhoods, such as corner gardens, sculptures, and the like. The program has seen declining use, with no requests received since 2022, so staff recommend expanding the program to include funding for other community building resources. 
  
  
• 16. Resolution approving the allocation of $20,000 in FY 2026/27 from the Council Priorities Fund sustainability reserve to be made available through the Net-Zero Ready High Performance Home Pilot Project.
  
  
• 17. Resolution accepting the update on the Homelessness Ames and Story County Action Plan 2025 Report.
  
  
• 47. Staff Report on Data Centers.
  This topic is back on our agenda after an informational session and then a special meeting dedicated to gathering public input. Council has received a large number of e-mails and other types of correspondence related to the Lightedge proposal and also data centers more broadly. Please know that we do read every e-mail, even if we might not have the chance to respond to each one. Council is now being asked to direct staff how to proceed. Staff recommend some possible changes to code to address the potential for any data center that might want to locate in any industrial zoning areas in Ames. 
  
  
• 51. Resolution approving Downtown Facade Grants for Spring of Fiscal Year 2025/26.
  
  
• 52. Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center - Staining Update.
  
  

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

Lightedge Data Center Proposal Listening Session

Bronwyn's Council Preview

 SPECIAL MEETING OF THE AMES CITY COUNCIL

 AUDITORIUM - CITY HALL

JUNE 30, 2026

Public input regarding both a recent proposal for a data center in Ames and establishing policy about any future data center development will take place at a special City Council Listening Session on Tuesday, June 30. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in the Ames City Hall Auditorium, 520 Sixth St.

In May, City staff received a letter from Lightedge, a data center provider headquartered in Des Moines, expressing interest in developing a data center on approximately 10.86 acres along Aviation Way, directly west of property occupied by Sigler Companies. The proposed facility would be constructed in phases based on customer demand over an estimated 10-year period. On June 23, the Council reviewed a staff presentation and received input from representatives of Lightedge. The staff report considered many aspects of the project including Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) impacts, lease considerations, electricity issues, and alternative properties.

The public input session will begin in the City Auditorium. Participants will move into the City Hall Gymnasium to share feedback in small groups with Councilmembers. The meeting will regroup in the City Auditorium for report-outs and next steps.

Due to the interactive nature of the meeting, the listening session will not be livestreamed. The City Council will meet again on Tuesday, July 14, for its next regularly scheduled meeting.

The June 23rd  "Staff presentation on overview of Lightedge Data Center Project and request to negotiate a lease of Airport property." gives additional valuable context.

DATA CENTER - CITY COUNCIL LISTENING SESSION 

CALL TO ORDER : 6:00 p.m

• 1. INTRODUCTION: 
• a. Goals of the listening session 
• b. Expectations 
• c. Agenda overview 
• 2. SMALL GROUP BREAKOUT SESSIONS (in City Gymnasium) 
• 3. REPORT OUT FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS ( in City Auditorium) 
• 4. NEXT STEPS 5. ADJOURNMENT: 

Receiving public feedback is important to Council. We have received a number of communications already, but we encourage people to reach out via email if they have thoughts and aren’t able to attend the meeting. You can always email us as a group with mayorcouncil@amescitycouncil.org

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

Lightedge Data Center

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 Ames City Council meeting is at 6:00 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.

• 11. Resolution approving salaries for Council Appointees for FY 2026/27.
  This is an annual item approve salaries for the two Council appointed positions (City Manager and City Attorney).
  
  
• 31. Staff presentation on overview of Lightedge Data Center Project and request to negotiate a lease of Airport property.
  A request from Lightedge came to Council in May, and knowing that it would be of high importance to the public, Council decided to put it on an agenda to discuss. We also voted to put a special listening session about data centers on our schedule of meetings, because we wanted to dedicate a whole meeting to public input. In addition, we asked the Legal Department to return in July with a memo about our ability to limit data centers in Ames more generally. So this item will be a public presentation of the proposal as we know it, with an opportunity for Council to ask clarifying questions about this proposal. Then, June 30th at 6 p.m. we will hold the public listening session, but still take no action. The meeting on July 14th is when we are expecting the report from the Legal Department about our legal mechanisms to pause, limit, or otherwise regulate data centers more generally.
  The proposal itself is for Lightedge to build a secure data storage facility, known as a colocation center (also a type of data center), to be used for companies to host data. The facility is proposed to be 3 MW to start, then 6-10 MW after a few years, with an eventual 10-year buildout of 25 MW. According to the staff report, they plan to use a closed loop cooling system, which would use a few thousand gallons of water to fill initially, but then wouldn't require much ongoing water. Other considerations include sound, backup power generators and the sound and exhaust they create, and stormwater drainage. 

• 32. Renewal of Ames Regional Economic Alliance Contract.
  During this year's budgeting time, Council asked for a more detailed report about our contract with the Ames Regional Economic Alliance.
  
  
• 33. Staff Report on Pedestrian Crossing along Lincoln Way at South Russell.
  This staff report was generated in response to resident requests regarding safety along Lincoln Way at South Russell. Staff outline several options, such as improved pedestrian crossing treatments or lighting. 
  
  
• 34. Resolution awarding a contract to CB Solar, Inc., of Des Moines, IA, to install solar panels on the Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center and the Steven L. Schainker Plaza building in the amount of $463,760.
  As part of our Climate Action Plan, we have aimed to improve the renewable energy infrastructure on City property. These bids for solar at the two locations mentioned were under the estimates, and staff recommend moving forward with both.
  
  
• 35. Request to Initiate Plan 2040 Land Use Designation Amendment for 300 Airport Road.
  This request came to us from the owner of 300 Airport Road, who has used the site for industrial purposes, and wishes to continue that type of use. (On a related note to item 31, there has been some rumor about this being a backdoor way to allow Lightedge to locate at this site, but the power transmission issues still remain at this location, so rezoning alone wouldn't be enough to allow Lightedge to locate at 300 Airport Rd.)
  
  
• 36. Hearing on rezoning to amend the approved Floating Suburban Residential Medium Density (FS-RM) with Master Plan for The Bluffs at 4899 Everest Avenue .
  
  
• 37. Hearing on Zoning Text Amendment modifying the Northeast Gateway Overlay District (O-GNE) 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.  Note interesting item for the City Manager about TIF and property taxes.

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

Construction Delivery Methods

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 Ames City Council meeting is at 6:00 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.

• 2. Staff Report on Construction Delivery Methods.
  This Workshop was requested by Council in order to learn more about the different methods for approaching City construction projects, and the pros/cons of each method.

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

Development Outline for The Bluffs

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 Ames City Council meeting is at 6:00 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.

• 42. Motion directing staff regarding annexation schedule for the Ames Golf and Country Club and adjacent The Irons Subdivision residential properties.
  A little over a year ago, Council decided to proceed with the annexation of The Irons Subdivision and the Ames Golf & Country Club. This is the next step in that process, and if approved, would be followed by the official hearing for annexation at Council's meeting on July 28th.
  
  
• 43. Development Outline for The Bluffs.
  (relates to item #44) The Bluffs is a residential development along Cameron School Road and GW Carver. Originally, the developer was responsible for roadway improvements, but would have been able to use TIF to cover $1 million of the cost. The developer is asking that the City take over the responsibility of roadway improvements and use the TIF money to do so. To further complicate matters, the City and County are examining the possibility of a roundabout at this intersection. Staff indicate that there would be some benefit to the City to do the whole road as one contiguous project, and provide several alternatives, including waiting until the roundabout costs are known before finalizing any repayment plan with the developer. 
  
  
• 44. Major Final Plat for The Bluffs Subdivision Located at 3220 Cameron School Road.
  
  
• 46. Staff Report on Electric Energy Upgrade Program and USDA Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP).
  The City was awarded a grant for a loan program for homeowners to convert to electric appliances, namely heat pumps rather than gas furnaces. Future uses for this funding might also include loans for solar installations or other energy-saving upgrades.
  
  
• 47. Steven L. Schainker Plaza Update.
  A punch list of final items has been completed, and we are awaiting approval from the state (which staff estimate might come yet this week). Other issues persist, such the fog nozzles, which become submerged when the water feature is running and then don't work very well. Oh fognozzles! But seriously, this project has been a long time coming, and has been a source of frustration for residents and City staff alike. If all works out, parts of the plaza will be open to the public by mid June. 
  
  
• 50. Hearing on Major Site Development Plan Amendment (Les Schwab Tire Center) to an Integrated Site Plan Subdivision for 1410 Buckeye Avenue.
  
  
• 51. Hearing on proposed Zoning Text Amendment for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU).
  
  

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

Proposed Solar Project

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 Ames City Council meeting is at 6:00 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.

Due to the Memorial Day weekend, I wasn’t able to summarize items below, so this will be an abbreviated version of the newsletter. My apologies, and thanks for reading!

• 9. Resolution approving Request for Funding for the Downtown Outdoor Dining Pilot Program in the amount of $10,000.
  
  
  
  
• 37. Presentation of Ames Regional Economic Alliance Annual Report.
  
  
• 38. Important update to the proposed Solar Project at the Airport .
  
  
• 39. 2025/26 Multi-Modal Roadway Improvements (Wilder Boulevard - Mini Roundabout Corridor Improvement).
  
  
• 41. Hearing on Property Rezoning for 3299, 3312, 3699 East 13th Street and 1699 570th Avenue from "PRC" (Planned Regional Commercial) with "O-GNE" (Northeast Gateway Overlay) with a Contract Zoning Agreement to only "PRC" (Planned Regional Commercial) with "O-GNE" (Northeast Gateway Overlay).
  
  
• 46. Hearing on rezoning of the parcel at 5120 Tabor Drive from “A” (Agricultural) and “FS-RL” (Floating Suburban - Residential Low Density) to “FS-RL” (Floating Suburban - Residential Low Density) 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

Stange roadway improvements, infill housing opportunity, and rebranding to Ames Animal Services

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 Ames City Council meeting is at 6:00 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.

• 11. Resolution approving a Lease Agreement between the City and Iowa State University (ISU) for ISU Land Adjacent Moore Memorial Park.
  This potential 20-year land lease would allow nearly 30 acres to be converted to prairie and maintained by the City.
  
  
• 12. Resolution approving an Easement Agreement between the City and Iowa State University (ISU) to place a bridge and future shared use path on ISU Property.
  This item would allow for a future pedestrian bridge and path from Moore Memorial Park to the west side of Ioway Creek, connecting to Scholl and Ontario Roads.
  
  
• 29. 2023/24 Multi-Modal Roadway Improvements (Somerset Improvements - Stange Road)
  Council saw this item before, but allowed extra time for feedback to be collected from property owners in the affected area. 
  
  
  
  
• 31. Request to amend Development Agreement to Change Paving of Cedar Lane to Aurora Avenue
  Some time ago, Council agreed to cost-share in the paving of Cedar Lane, but is now being asked to switch our financial commitment instead to the paving of Aurora Avenue, to better facilitate housing development in the affected area. 
  
  
• 32. Staff Report on 608 Burnett Zoning Text Amendments and Incentive Request.  (see google map)
  Council has been asked to consider a potential infill project at 608 Burnett Avenue. In order to facilitate the request, the developer is asking for a few changes to the Neighborhood Commercial zoning as well as a financial incentive that is different from the typical Downtown incentive structure.
  On a related note, you can see the communications to Council from Ames Post Master (as seen in the Council Packet Summary at the end of this week's newsletter)
  
  
• 33. Ames Animal Services Update.
  Along with the new facility as described in the staff report, the department formerly known as Ames Animal Control is rebranding to Ames Animal Services. This better reflects the work of a department that offers a number of services such as vaccination clinics, microchipping, and education beyond the traditional concept of animal "control". 
  
  
• 35. Hearing on a Revocable Lease Option with Ames Greenfield Development, LLC to develop, install, and operate solar facilities on approximately 165 acres located on portions of the following properties at the Ames Municipal Airport.
  This item is being introduced, but Council is being asked to wait until our special meeting on the 19th to make any final decisions on this lease option.

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