FY 2026/27 City Council Budget Guidelines

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. Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center Update.
  Council is being given an update on the progress of the Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center. Due to construction delays, Council is being asked to approve a change order for an additional $211k for the construction management company.

• 23. Resolution approving first amendment to the Land Purchase Option with Keystone Equity Group for Surplus Land at Harrison and Welbeck to Extend Final Plat Deadline.
  Staff are recommending that Council allow a 60-day extension to the deadline for final plat approval for a 12-unit development at the intersection of Harrison and Welbeck.
  
  
• 25. Hearing on rezoning of property at 200, 204, 210, 214, 220 Southeast 2nd Street and 210 Sumner Avenue from Highway-Oriented Commercial (HOC) to Neighborhood Commercial (NC) with Master Plan.
  Overflow is hoping to develop a multi-use property to the east of their current location on Duff Ave. The property would consist of commercial and residential uses on the ground floor, with residential units on the 2 stories above that.
  
  
  
  
  
• 27. Staff Report regarding Developers' Request for Housing Incentives 
  This was presented to Council at the last meeting. This time, Council is being asked how to proceed with the proposals for incentivizing the development of housing. Council will also be asked for input on the George Washington Carver Ave. corridor, and if we have any interest in pursuing substantial changes (such as a roundabout at the intersection of GW Carver and Cameron School Rd.)
  
  
• 33. FY 2026/27 City Council Budget Guidelines.
  Every year, Council is presented with an overview of budget considerations, as we head into the next budgeting cycles.
  
  
• 35. Membership in the Iowa Public Power Agency.
  Council is being asked to consider joining the IPPA, a non-profit comprised of Iowa municipal power utilities. Benefits include the opportunity to pool buying power and potentially invest in improvements to the power grid.

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

$7,400,000 in developer incentives and Civil rights protection for gender identity on Council agenda

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.

• 23. Discussion on Municipal Code Chapter 14, Human Relations regarding civil rights protection for gender identity.
  At a recent Council meeting, Senator Herman Quirmbach asked Council to consider adopting an ordinance to financially hold accountable those who might discriminate because of an individual's gender identity. The Statehouse, in the last legislative session, removed civil rights protections based on gender identity, so the protections that once existed at the state level are gone. As described in the staff report from the City Attorney, Iowa law does allow Cities to establish protections beyond those of the State. Questions for Council if we proceed would be who would investigate claims of discrimination and what the fines for this proposed municipal infraction would be.
  
  
• 25. Hearing on Zoning Text Amendment for Landscaping Rock Mulch within Required Landscape Areas.
  This request was from the Research Park, which had erroneously used rock mulch instead of organic mulch in some planter beds. Staff mention that while organic mulch is preferred, the success of the plants in the planter bed is more often related to the soil quality underneath, and not the mulch material. However, the Planning and Zoning Commission considered this request, and recommended denial of the request by a vote of 5-1. They stated concerns about the city-wide application of this change of policy. 
  
  
• 27. Hearing on Amendment to Adaptive Reuse/Major Site Development Plan for North Grand Mall located at 2615 Grand Avenue.
  This relates to a proposal for a KFC (with drive through) in the old US Bank location at the North Grand Mall. The amendment is necessary because the Adaptive Reuse Plan (in place since 2007) has some parking and traffic flow requirements that need to be altered in order to facilitate the proposed KFC. 
  
  
• 28. Modifications to Municipal Code Chapters 4 and 19 to address Personal Transportation Devices.
  This item relates to personal transportation devices such as scooters, one-wheelers, electric skateboards, e-bikes, etc. 
  
  
• 29. Modifications to Municipal Code Chapter 19, Parks & Recreation, to clarify expectations of park use.
  There are a number of proposed changes, some minor, but notable ones including a speed limit of 10 mph for personal transportation devices within City parks. Other changes include allowing foraging and prohibiting swimming in ALL parks (it had only been explicitly prohibited in Ada Hayden before).
  
  
• 32. Staff Report regarding Developers' Request for Housing Incentives.
  A number of developers of subdivisions have asked Council for incentives to help open up new land for housing. These incentive requests totaled nearly $10 million, and Council asked staff to come back with more information about these requests, and how they might fit into our goals for additional housing. The staff report on this item again details the requests, the properties in question, and proposes three scenarios for funding some of the requested incentives.

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

Resource Recovery and Recycling Campus Project 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.

• 20. Request to Share Cost for the Paving of a 150 Foot Extension of SE 3rd Street in the Kingsbury's Fifth Addition Subdivision.
  A few lots north of Target are scheduled to be sold, and development of either of them would trigger a requirement to pave a tiny portion of SE 3rd St. The City is being asked to pay 50% of the cost of paving this section of road, and each abutting property owner would pay 25%. The City's portion would be $30,000. At one point a few years ago, the City planned to extend Cherry St., and SE 3rd would have been paved in conjunction with that. Since those plans are no longer imminent, staff recommend the cost sharing outlined above. 
  
  
• 23. Resource Recovery and Recycling Campus Project Update.
  
  
  
  The above layout is the latest design for the R3C (Resource Recovery and Recycling Campus). This first concept was presented to Council in June, and this 2nd iteration has a few changes, mostly related to traffic flow and truck loading. Staff also report the need for a new shredder, since the one at the current Resource Recovery Plant has a lot of damage and would be risky to move. The construction costs are estimated to be $16.8 million.
  
  

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 Text Amendment to the Hospital/Medical Design District (S-HM)

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.

• 30. Nuisance Ordinance Update.
  
  
  
• 31. Property Owner Request to Initiate Zoning Text Amendment to the Hospital/Medical Design District (S-HM).
  
  
  
• 32. FY 2024/25 Climate Action Plan Update.
  
  
  
• 33. 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.
  
  
  
• 34. Shared Use Path System Expansion Program Update.
  
  
  
• 36. Hearing on Annexation of Two Properties South of the Iowa State University Research Park at 4140 S 530th Avenue.
  
  
  
• 39. Modifications to Municipal Code for Renewable Energy Buyback Program.

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

Residential Curbside Recycling 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.

• 1. 2024 Ames Human Relations Commission (AHRC) Annual Report.
  Each year, Council receives a report from the AHRC detailing their activities and accomplishments for the prior year. For the first time since 2018, the Iowa Office of Civil Rights has refused to give us aggregate information about the number of claims filed in Ames and has refused to provide a clear reason for withholding this information, according to the staff report. 
  
  
• 8. Annual 2025 Urban Renewal Report.
  Each year, Council gets a report of all the TIF rebates in the community. A lot of them have been paid off so this year the TIF rebate to Barilla was the only one reported. Council is required to vote on releasing that rebate. 
  
  
• 12. Resolution approving Memorandum of Agreement with Mary Greeley Medical Center for Alternative Response to Community Health Calls for Service.
  The City has partnered with Mary Greeley for the past few years for the ARCH program, a team of an EMT and a social worker who pair up and take certain 911 calls pertaining to mental health crises. The City is being asked to contribute $132K this year, and if approved Mary Greeley will pay the remaining $176K of their budget for 2025/2026. 
  
  
• 31. Residential Curbside Recycling Program.
  Due to our transition away from waste-to-energy, increased recycling will be needed to divert some types of materials away from the landfill. Council received a preliminary report in August, and now staff are back with some additional information and feedback. Council will be asked to make decisions on a number of aspects of a recycling program, such as level of access (will all households participate, vs those that opt in), type of provider (contracted or not), frequency of service, and more.
  
  
• 34. Resolution approving Preliminary Plat with PUD Amendment for 3300 University Boulevard, known as Discovery Place, 1st Addition.
  This piece of Research Park property was recently rezoned to allow for a handful of apartment buildings. Staff recommend approval, as did the Planning and Zoning Commission by a vote of 6-0.
  
  
• 42. Hearing on Lease of City Property located East of 731 Billy Sunday Road now known as Lot 3 of Billy Sunday Subdivision to Lamar Advertising Company.
  Staff are asking this hearing be continued until November 25th to allow time for the agreement language to be finalized.
  
  

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

Pet Licensing

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. Motion accepting the Building Energy Audit Report
  As part of the City's Climate Action Plan, an energy audit of 16 municipal buildings was undertaken in late 2024, and the results are presented in the linked staff report. The report includes recommendations for improving systems such as HVAC, insulation, windows, water heaters, and lighting. The report also examines the feasibility of solar installations on select municipal buildings, as well as increasing electrical vehicle charging facilities at a number of municipal buildings.
  
  
• 17. Presentation of Resident Satisfaction Survey 2025.
  This year's survey yielded 464 responses. A snapshot of some demographics from this year: Half of respondents were non-student residents, half were students. Half the respondents make less than $50,000 annually. This year 58% of the respondents were male. The survey results continue to show high levels of satisfaction with City services. Respondents were asked their opinions on a range of topics from transportation to utilities to public safety. One new category of questions this year measured resident input on our social services process (ASSET).
  
  
• 18. Motion approving the Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center Monthly Update
  
  
  
• 19. Resolution approving Major Site Development Plan within a PUD Overlay for 3200 University Boulevard (ISU Research Park)
  A developer (Hunziker Construction Services, Inc.) is planning to build some duplexes and 4 apartment buildings on this property at the ISU Research Park, with a total of 74 residential units. The flagpole shaped entryway to the larger party of the property will be lined with the duplexes, while the apartment units will sit on the larger piece of the property. Some agreements with the County will need to be secured, as the site abuts the Tedesco Learning Corridor (a Story County park).
    
  
  
• 23. Resolution approving lease agreement with the Board of Regents, State of Iowa for University property located on State Avenue for the relocation of Ames Fire Station No. 2
  This is related to the Bond Referendum on November 4th. If that vote is successful, the City will need to enter into a lease agreement with the Board of Regents for the State Avenue property.
  
  
• 24. First reading of an Ordinance establishing a Pet Licensing Program 
  Council first heard of the proposed Pet Licensing Program (PLP) in January of 2025, when the Police Department presented their annual budget plan. Many Iowa communities have a PLP (of the 15 largest cities, only Ames and one other did not yet have PLPs). Staff recommend a licensing fee of $12 annually for each "altered" dog or cat, and $24 for "unaltered" dogs/cats.
  
  

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

Presentation of E Lincoln Way Corridor Study

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 the Updated City Council Values, Goals, and Tasks for January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2025.
  In May of 2025, the State Legislature passed a law prohibiting "public entities from engaging in certain activities relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion". Due to this new prohibition, our value related to a Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive Community will need to be removed to remain compliant with State code. 
  
  
• 29. Minor Final Plat for Billy Sunday Subdivision.
  With the relocation of the Ames Animal Shelter, this city-owned land will become available for other purposes (future commercial development). This subdivision will include rezoning some of the property to HOC (highway-oriented commercial) zoning. City staff recommend waiving the requirement to install a sidewalk along the north side of Billy Sunday road, citing topography issues and no clear future development date.
  
  
• 36. Updates to Chapter 28, Electric Rate Modifications.
  In 2024, EUORAB (the City's Electric Utility Operations Review and Advisory Board) commissioned a cost-of-service study, and recommended a 1.5% increase to electric rates beginning after the summer of 2025. 
  
  
• 37. Resolution recommending the proposed Chautauqua Park and Ridgewood Historic District for the National Register of Historic Places.
  In 2024 we began the process of recognizing the Chautauqua Park and Ridgewood area as a historic district. (This is the area from Brookridge to the train tracks from 6th to 13th St.) Listing a district on the National Register of Historic Places allows for state and federal grant possibilities, but does not place any restrictions on how the property owner can modify their property. 
  
  
• 38. Resolution approving Rezoning Agreement with Master Plan for 3220 Cameron School Road.
  The Master Plan attached details the proposed development at 3220 Cameron School Rd, the concept for which was presented at Council's August 26th meeting. The developer is proposing an independent living, assisted living, and memory care residential development, along with a convenience store at the corner of Cameron School Rd and GW Carver.
  
  
• 40. Presentation of findings for the E Lincoln Way (Duff Avenue to S Skunk River) Corridor Study. 
  The portion of East Lincoln Way from Duff Avenue to the South Skunk River is due for reconstruction/improvements, and a traffic study has suggested that the road could be reconfigured as a three lane road with improved pedestrian access and crossings, as well as an improved stoplight configuration at Duff and Lincoln Way.
  
  
  

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