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

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