Bronwyn's Council Review

As usual for the review, my comments are red and italicized in the context of the latest Council Preview by David Martin. 
 

The Ames City Council meets on Tuesday in an Informational Joint meeting with Iowa State University Student Government on Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. on Zoom. We meet in this format twice per year to share updates and address issues. The current agenda doesn't identify any specific topics, but we always seem to have plenty to talk about.

After the joint meeting the Ames City Council meets on Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. on Zoom.  This agenda includes:

• 36. Staff Report regarding Guest Lodging. After the City's multi-year effort to find a reasonable way to make Airbnb and other online-booking-style guest lodging legal in Ames, the Iowa legislature passed a law in late June overriding our ordinances along with any regulation "relating to short-term rental properties within the city." So, we currently have some unenforceable ordinances on the books and Council is being asked to decide how to adjust them to comply with the law.
  (video)
  
  Council voted 5-1 (Betcher voting Nay) to allow owner-occupied homes to apply for "Guest Lodging" standards, which are slightly less restrictive than the Rental Code standards. This would apply only to situations where the owner lives in the house and is renting guest lodging space while they still occupy part of the home. If the home is not occupied by the owner, but rather rented solely as guest lodging, they would have to meet the Rental Code requirements.
  
  
• 37. Presentation of 2020 Resident Satisfaction Survey results. Each year, the City conducts a statistically valid survey using random sampling to determine residents' satisfaction with City services and other aspects of living in Ames. This survey was performed in April after COVID-19 shutdowns had begun but before the derecho tore through. There's a huge amount of information in these results. Overall, the Ames Animal Shelter and Animal Control, ASSET, and Art Programs remain residents' favorites for increased operational funding, while street reconstruction, traffic flow improvements, and stormwater improvements top the list of residents' favorites for increased capital expenditures. 
  (video)
  
  Staff gave a thorough report of the results of this year's Citizen Satisfaction survey, which again show high satisfaction across nearly all measures. Staff were thoughtful to point out that timing is always important to consider, as this satisfaction survey was administered in the spring of 2020 at the beginning of the Covid pandemic, and before the death of George Floyd or the derecho.
   
• 38. Resolution approving Primary Health Care’s request for funding for the opening of a dental clinic at its Ames clinic location, in the amount of $95,000 and direct staff to draft a contract to be approved by Council at a future date. Council had previously approved a $95,000 allocation for dental services and was aware that the Dental Clinic services were being moved. As the City Manager states, "The co-location of the dental clinic at PHC’s Ames medical clinic creates better access to a broad array of services, promotes a holistic approach to care, and improves health outcomes."
  (video)
  
  Council voted to approve this proposal 6-0. 

Non-Agenda Packet: The following items are requests and communications to the council that are not on the agenda for full discussion.  This includes staff reports and communications or requests from constituents and developers. Typically the council will ask city staff for more information (a memo), put the item on a future agenda for deliberation and possible action, or just accept the communication, taking no further action. Council generally processes these requests and communications during the agenda portion called "Disposition of Communications to Council."
(video)
 

• 24th St. Sidewalk. This memo explains that Union Pacific is now asking for an additional $10,000 in "collaboration costs" to allow the City to construct a sidewalk crossing over their rail line on the north side of 24th St.
  No action was taken on this item, as we can pair this project with other future projects to save on the collaboration costs.
• Staff Report on Rose Prairie Purchase Request. This staff report concerns a recent request by Friends of Ada Hayden Heritage Park that the City consider purchasing the Rose Prairie land directly to the west of the park. 
  Council moved to put this item on an agenda for further discussion with a vote of 6-0.

COUNCIL COMMENTS: (video)

Thanks for reading,
Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen
Ames City Council,  At Large

P.S. All eligible voters living in Story County can early vote at these times and these satellite locations:

• Monday, October 12 -- Scheman Building, Room 004, ISU Campus 9:00 am –4:00 pm  1805 Center Dr., Ames
• Tuesday, October 13 -- Scheman Building, Room 004, ISU Campus 9:00 am –4:00 pm 1805 Center Dr., Ames
• Saturday, October 17 -- Ames Public Library, FT Brown Auditorium 9:00 am –4:00 pm 515 Douglas Ave., Ames
• Monday, October 19 -- Scheman Building, Room 004, ISU Campus 9:00 am –4:00 pm 1805 Center Dr., Ames
• Wednesday, October 21 -- Scheman Building, Room 004, ISU Campus 9:00am –4:00 pm 1805 Center Dr., Ames
• Saturday, October 24 -- Ames Public Library, FT Brown Auditorium 9:00 am –4:00 pm 515 Douglas Ave., Ames
• Saturday, October 31 -- Ames Public Library, FT Brown Auditorium 9:00 am –4:00 pm515 Douglas Ave., Ames

The Story County Administration Building will be open for in-person voting (until 5 p.m., Monday, Nov. 2) from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday - Friday.

If you requested an absentee ballot or have returned a ballot you may check your ballot's status at the Secretary of State's office.

The continued uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic makes mail-in voting in the November general election a compelling option. If you live in Story County and would like to vote by mail, you can fill out and mail in a postage paid mail in ballot request form.  If you live outside of Story County, look for the correct information via the Iowa Secretary of State's absentee ballot site.
 

And if you're not registered to vote -- the November election will be here before you know it! You can register to vote or update your voter registration online using your Iowa a driver’s license or ID number at Iowa Secretary of State website.  Those without a drivers's license or ID number can get forms and information here https://www.storycountyiowa.gov/638/Voter-Information-Forms.