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Bronwyn's Council Preview |
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Usually some of the agenda items will have a period where members of the public may briefly speak to Council.
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Send email to MayorCouncil@AmesCityCouncil.org
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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.
Thanks for reading,
Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen
Ames City Council, Ward 1