AGENDA
REGULAR MEETING OF THE AMES CITY COUNCIL
COUNCIL CHAMBERS - CITY HALL
DECEMBER 16, 2025
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NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC: The Mayor and City Council welcome comments from the public during discussion. The Standards of Decorum, posted at the door and available on the City website, define respectful conduct for public participation. If you wish to speak, please fill out the form on the tablet outside the door to the Council Chambers or scan the QR Code to the right to fill out the same form on a personal device. When your name is called, please step to the microphone, state your name for the record, and keep your comments brief so that others may have the opportunity to speak.

CALL TO ORDER: 6:00 p.m.

PROCLAMATIONS:

1.

Proclamation for "Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month," January 2026

 

PRESENTATION:

2.

Downtown Ames Guiding Vision Update 

 

CONSENT AGENDA: All items listed under the Consent Agenda will be enacted by one motion.  There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a request is made prior to the time the Council members vote on the motion.

3.

Motion approving payment of claims

 

4.

Motion approving Summary of Minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting on December 9, 2025

 

5.

Motion approving the renewal of the following Beer Permits, Wine Permits & Liquor Licenses:

  1. Fuji Japanese Steakhouse, 1614 S Kellogg Avenue Ste 101, Class C Retail Alcohol License, Pending Dramshop Review
 

6.

Motion authorizing the Mayor to sign a Certificate of Consistency with the 2024-2028 City of Ames CDBG Consolidated Plan on behalf of YSS for renewal funding of a Rapid ReHousing Program

 

7.

Purchase of the sculpture "A Big Hello" by Craig Snyder:

  1. Resolution accepting letter of donation pledge from the Ames Regional Economic Alliance for funds to purchase the sculpture "A Big Hello" 
  2. Resolution awarding contract with Craig Snyder of Plymouth, MN, in the amount of $7,840 for the purchase of the sculpture "A Big Hello" for placement at the Main Street Gateway
 

8.

Requests from Ames Main Street for Art Walk on Thursday, June 11, 2026:

  1. Motion approving blanket Temporary Obstruction Permit and blanket Vending License in Central Business District
  2. Resolution approving suspension of parking meter fees and enforcement for 23 metered parking spaces for vendors from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
  3. Resolution approving waiver of parking meter fees and enforcement, usage and waiver of electrical fees, and waiver of fee for blanket Vending license for Ames Main Street from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
  4. Resolution approving closure of Kellogg Avenue and Douglas Avenue from Main Street to Fifth Street from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
  5. Resolution approving usage of Tom Evans Plaza
 

9.

Requests from Ames Main Street for 4th of July activities on July 4, 2026:

  1. Motion approving blanket Temporary Obstruction Permit and blanket Vending License in Central Business District
  2. Resolution approving waiver of Vending License fee
  3. Resolution approving closure of portions of Main Street, Northwestern Avenue, Fifth Street, Douglas Avenue, Burnett Avenue, Kellogg Avenue, Clark Avenue, Allan Drive, and Pearle Avenue from 6:00 a.m. until end of parade
  4. Resolution approving closure of Parking Lot MM and south portion of Lot M from 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
 

10.

Requests from Ames Main Street for Summer Sidewalk Sales on July 9 - July 12, 2026:

  1. Motion approving Blanket Temporary Obstruction Permit
  2. Resolution approving suspension of parking regulations and enforcement for the Downtown from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 11
  3. Resolution approving transfer of $1,370.25 from the Hotel/Motel Tax Fund to the Parking Fund
 

11.

Requests from Ames Main Street for Music Walk on Thursday, September 17, 2026:

  • Motion approving blanket Temporary Obstruction Permit and blanket Vending License in Central Business District from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
  • Resolution approving suspension of parking meter fees and enforcement of 23 metered parking spaces for vendors from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
  • Resolution approving waiver of parking meter fees and enforcement and usage and waiver of electrical fees, and waiver of fee for blanket Vending License for Ames Main Street from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
  • Resolution approving closure of Kellogg Avenue and Douglas Avenue from 5th Street to Main Street
 

12.

Requests from Ames Main Street for Witches Walk on Thursday, October 8, 2026:

  1. Motion approving blanket Temporary Obstruction Permit and blanket Vending License in Central Business District from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and waiving fee for blanket Vending License
  2. Resolution approving waiver of electrical fees on Ames Main Street from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
  3. Resolution approving closure of Kellogg Avenue from Main Street to Fifth Street from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
  4. Resolution approving suspension of parking regulations and enforcement for 14 parking spaces in Downtown from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on October 8, 2026
 

13.

Requests from Ames Main Street for Holiday Open House event from November 5 through November 8, 2026:

  1. Motion approving Blanket Temporary Obstruction Permit for Downtown 
  2. Resolution approving suspension of parking regulations and enforcement for Downtown 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 7, 2026
  3. Resolution approving waiver of parking meter fees and enforcement
  4. Resolution approving transfer of $1,370.25 from Hotel/Motel Tax Fund to the Parking Fund
 

14.

Requests from Ames Main Street for Small Business Saturday on November 28, 2026:

  1. Motion approving Blanket Temporary Obstruction Permit for Downtown and Campustown on November 28, December 5, December 12, December 19, and December 26
  2. Resolution approving suspension of parking regulations and enforcement for Downtown and Campustown from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on November 28, December 5, December 12, December 19, and December 26
  3. Resolution approving waiver of parking meter fees and enforcement
  4. Resolution approving transfer of $12,341.25 from the Hotel/Motel Tax Fund to the Parking Fund
 

15.

Requests from Ames Main Street for Snow Magic on December 1 through December 31, 2026:

  1. Motion approving Blanket Temporary Obstruction Permit
  2. Motion approving Blanket Vending License
  3. Resolution approving waiver of Vending License fee
  4. Resolution approving closure of four metered parking spaces on the east side of Douglas Avenue from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on December 3
  5. Resolution approving usage of electricity in Tom Evans Plaza and waiver of fees for electricity
 

16.

Resolution approving and adopting Supplement No. 2026-1 to the Ames Municipal Code

 

17.

Resolution adopting Amended Appendix P (CyRide Rates and Charges) of the Ames Municipal Code per authority granted by the Ames Transit Agency Board of Trustees

 

18.

Resolution waiving Purchasing Policy requirement for competitive bidding and awarding a contract to Carbon Day EV Charging, of Wheeling, IL, for the purchase of two Level 3 EV chargers in the amount of $121,312.32

 

19.

Resolution awarding a contract to Irby Utilities, of Rapid City, SD, for the purchase of steel poles for Electric Services in the amount of $61,008.19

 

20.

Resolution awarding contract to RESCO, of Ankeny, IA, for the purchase of a 2500 kVA three-phase pad-mounted distribution transformer in the amount of $58,710.90

 

21.

Resolution awarding contract to Petroleum Traders, Corp. for the FY 2025/26 Electrical Services Fuel Supply contract in an amount not-to-exceed $300,000

 

PUBLIC FORUM: This is a time set aside for comments from the public on topics of City business other than those listed on this agenda.  Please understand that the Council will not take any action on your comments at this meeting due to requirements of the Open Meetings Law, but may do so at a future meeting.

PARKS AND RECREATION:

22.

Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center Update

  1. Motion accepting the Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center monthly report
  2. Resolution approving Change Order #2 for Construction Manager services to Story Construction in the amount of $211,000
 

PLANNING & HOUSING:

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

 

HEARINGS:

24.

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 (continued from October 14, 2025)

  1. Motion to continue Public Hearing to January 13, 2026
 

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:

  1. First reading of ordinance
 

26.

Hearing on rezoning of part of a property located within the Iowa State Research Park located along South 530th Avenue from Agricultural (A) to Research Park Innovation District (RI) with Master Plan: 

  1. First reading of ordinance
 

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:

27.

Staff Report regarding Developers' Request for Housing Incentives 

  1. Motion directing staff on Preferred Incentive Options
  2. Motion directing staff regarding Cameron School Road and GW Carver intersection roundabout option
 

ORDINANCES:

28.

Modifications to Municipal Code Chapter 19, Parks and Recreation, to clarify expectations of park use

  1. Second Reading of Ordinance
  2. Motion to make changes based on Council discussion on December 9, 2025, meeting 
 

29.

Second reading on Zoning Text Amendment for Landscaping Rock Mulch within required Landscape Areas 

 

30.

Second reading on rezoning (with Master Plan) from Intensive Industrial to General Industrial for 23959 580th Avenue 

 

31.

Roosevelt Avenue parking prohibitions from 13th Street to 16th Street:

  1. First reading of ordinance
  2. Motion to suspend the rules and allow for second and third reading and adoption of ORDINANCE NO. 4578
 

32.

Third reading and adoption of ORDINANCE NO. 4579 on Zoning Text Amendment for the South Lincoln Sub Area Mixed Use District (S-SMD) Single Family Design Standards

 

FINANCE:

33.

FY 2026/27 City Council Budget Guidelines 

 

DISPOSITION OF COMMUNICATIONS TO COUNCIL:

REPORT OF GOVERNING BODY:

34.

Participation with agencies, boards and commissions:

  1. Discover Ames (ACVB)
  2. Ames Regional Economic Alliance (AREA)
  3. Story County Emergency Management Agency (SCEMA)
  4. Ames Transit Agency Board of Trustees
 

COUNCIL COMMENTS:

ELECTRIC:

35.

Membership in the Iowa Public Power Agency:

  1. Resolution approving Application and Agreement for Membership in the Iowa Public Power Agency
  2. Motion to authorize and approve Confidentiality Agreement regarding electric transmission planning and construction and critical energy infrastructure

 

 

CLOSED SESSION:

36.

Motion to hold Closed Session pursuant to Iowa Code Sections 21.5(1)(a), 388.9(1), and 21.5(1)(k), to review or discuss records which are required or authorized by state or federal law to be kept confidential; to discuss proprietary information and information required by a noncustomer contracting party to be kept confidential pursuant to a nondisclosure agreement which relates to electric transmission planning and construction and critical energy infrastructure; and to discuss information contained in records in the custody of a governmental body that are confidential records pursuant to section 22.7, subsection 50

  1. Resolution approving Joint Development Agreement and Payment of Initial Payment Required Therein
 

ADJOURNMENT:

Please note that this agenda may be changed up to 24 hours before the meeting time as provided by Section 21.4(2), Code of Iowa.