Dear Residents of Ames,

For nearly 12 years, I have worked to make the City of Ames a community that looked to the future and leveraged its resources for the good of every single resident.

When I ran for council in 2003, I had no experience with how the city really worked. Mostly, I was just the Gyroman, who had a food cart in Campustown, and knew a little something about the student perspective – an underserved population. But 5 months later, after knocking hundreds and hundreds of doors, after wearing through my nicest shoes, after funding my campaign with my own money, and after being as honest and genuine as I knew how, I was elected to the Ames City Council.

My last name carried no weight, my job had no prestige, and no special interest had asked me to run. I ran to speak for those who were underrepresented, and this great community allowed me to do just that for the past 12 years. 

I will not be seeking re-election to the At-Large seat of the Ames City Council. I have spent over a decade loving this work, but upon hearing of Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen’s interest in running, I decided it was time for another young progressive entrepreneur to lead. We, as a community, continue to crave new, brave, young, independent thinkers who see more than where this world is headed; we want leaders who will imagine where it can go.

The many details of my first campaign, when taken together, are an unlikely story, and one that I love…but let’s be very clear: this never has been and will never be my story.

This is our story. This is the Ames story.

This is the story of a community looking to the future and taking chances on new ways of thinking. In the last 12 years I have tried to model your bravery, to channel your concerns and to lead with your convictions. Your confidence in a 30-year-old street vendor to take a role in leading our city shows a boldness I have always strove to match. I can never thank you enough for giving me this chance to serve you in this way. Thank you, Ames. I’ll be seeing you again, very, very soon.

Thanks for reading...all these years,

Matthew Goodman

Ames City Council At-Large

The Ames City Council begins at 6:00 PM  May 26th (note new time).  The agenda includes items:
 

• 2. Progress Update on 2040 LongRange Transportation Plan development. The City of Ames is looking to 2040 when considering its transportation investments. The transportation investments we make are going to be directed by this plan.
  

• 31. Hearing on annexation of 3535 South 530th Avenue. South Ames has been anticipated to be part of our future expansion for quite some time. It will amount to a 2o acre increase in Ames land.

• 32. Hearing on Zoning Text Amendment to exclude parking structures from the definition of Floor Area Ratio (FAR). FAR is how much building can be on a lot. This text change would remove all parking structures from FAR calculations. Removal of them, could impact the amount of built land in the floodway and henceforth increase flooding 

• 33. Hearing on Zoning Text Amendment to allow for a Lincoln Way Mixed-Use Overlay Zone. The City of Ames is currently in a Lincolnway corridor study exploring the possibilites of mixed used redevelopment opportunities. This project is ahead of schedule for the larger study, so staff has proposed a temporary version for this site. This site, very close to the old Edwards school location is adjacent to owner occupied housing. The design of the project, including aesthetics, vehicular routing, parking and noise all will impact its success. These issues should be considered before approval.

• 35. Hearing on Grant Avenue (Hyde Avenue) Pavement Improvements (Continued from May 12,2015). This road came in higher than the initial estimates.

• 40. Land Use Policy Plan Minor Map Amendment for Rose Prairie. Developers want to add commercial uses at the far North side of Ames near 190th. While these uses benefit those near this area, the current LUPP plan recommends not putting commercial nodes so close to one another. 

• 42. Resolution approving Grant Agreement with Iowa Department of Natural Resources for Low- Head Dam Safety Cost-Share Program for Water and Pollution Control. Here is a 

• 43. Staff report on Youth Collaborative Programming Workshop. Youth collaborative planning allows communities to work in concert on empowering young people. This workshop will explore what this might look like for the City of Ames and how it has been employed in other communities.

• 44. Staff Report on changes to process for considering outside funding requests. The council will explore setting criteria and goals for funding groups that are outside of the traditional funding streams of City Government.

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