HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - September 2024 Monthly Project Highlights
Contact the City Manager's Office at 515-239-5101
515 Clark Avenue, Ames, IA 50010
Report compiled by
Jeramy Neefus, Principal Clerk
City Manager's Office
SEPTEMBER 2024
MONTHLY PROJECTHIGHLIGHTS
CITY OFFICE
Hunziker Youth Sports Complex Lease: The City’s leases for the Hunziker Youth Sports
Complex property expire in February 2025. Staff from the City Manager’s Office, Parks and
Recreation, Planning and Housing, and Water & Pollution Control departments have been
reviewing the existing documents to prepare a lease renewal. Once prepared, the draft will be
presented to the Ames Youth Sports Complex organization, which has operated the complex since
it was constructed in 1994. The new lease is expected to consolidate the two separate existing
leases into a single document, clarify groundskeeping expectations, and revise the site plan and
road maintenance obligations to reflect current conditions. Staff anticipates a Council revi ew of
the new lease this winter.
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FIRE
Fire Prevention & Safety Grant: The Ames Fire Department received a $247,292 Fire
Prevention & Safety grant though FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighter Grant (AFG) program. The
grant money will be used to replace the department’s 30+ year old fire prevention safety trailer,
nicknamed the Safe House. The grant was a joint request between the City of Ames and Iowa State
University, and both partners will split the 5% financial match requirement of the grant.
New Firefighters: The Ames Fire Department had all seven new firefighter recruits graduate on
Friday, September 6, from the department’s 10-week fire academy. The newest firefighters are
now out on shift serving the public alongside their new crews.
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LIBRARY
120 Years of Ames Public Library: Ames Public Library opened on October 20, 1904. This
October, the Library will celebrate its 120-year
anniversary with a display and a special
presentation!
Stop by the Library during October 1-31 to see an
exhibit in the entryway featuring photos and facts
about the 120-year history of the Library and its
building.
On October 22, the Library will host an event
called “Andrew Carnegie's Riches in Iowa and
Ames” at 7:00 p.m. Shana Stuart of the Carnegie
Libraries in Iowa Project will explore how the
Ames Public Library secured a Carnegie grant to
open the community's library in 1904. Stuart will
share the library's significance within the broader
context of Carnegie library funding in Iowa,
delve into the impact of this grant on the Library's development, and look at its place among other
Carnegie libraries in the state.
Brains & Brews Trivia Fundraiser: Ames Public Library Friends Foundation and Alluvial
Brewing are teaming up to provide a fun-filled night of trivia to support programs, materials, and
special events at Ames Public Library! Brains & Brews Trivia Fundraiser will be held Wednesday,
October 16, from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. at Alluvial Brewing. Find out more or register a team of up to
six people at http://weblink.donorperfect.com/APLFFTrivia.
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Voting & Civics at the Library: Ames Public Library offers a variety of events and resources
for voters, especially as this fall’s general election is approaching.
In October, the Library will hold events on Fact Checking Like a Pro, How Bills Become Law in
Iowa, and information about political polling. The space will also be used by community
organizations for candidate forums and serve as an official voting site for satellite voting and
voting day.
The Library’s voting information page at www.AmesPL.org/learn-explore/civics-center/voting
has dates and information for these events along with important dates for absentee ballot voting
and links to voter resources.
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PARKS AND RECREATION
Aquatics: Furman Aquatic Center closed for the season on September 2. Season attendance totals
for the last three years are shown below.
Furman Aquatic Center Total Season Attendance
2022 2023 2024
78,918 89,129 84,916
Fall swim lessons began on Sunday, September 29 at the Iowa State University (ISU) State Gym.
This is the first year that swim lessons will be held at the ISU State Gym Pool on Sunday mornings.
Currently there are 158 people registered for this session.
Auditorium Hosts First Open Mic Night: On August 29, 2024, The Auditorium hosted its first
ever “Open Mic Night” event. Over 20 performers took the stage for a total of three hours of
entertainment. Performances ranged from musical performance, comedy, dance, and performance
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art. This was a very enjoyable evening, and most audience members stayed for the duration of the
event. While it is not something that can be done every month, the Auditorium will consider doing
this event once a year. This month, on September 26, the Auditorium is expanding the open mic
night format to a full open jam. The sign-ups have been open a few weeks and there are individuals
already signed up. Staff are hopeful that these two events will become yearly traditions.
Community Center Gym Flooring: Due to warping issues with some areas of the Gymnasium
floor over the course of the last year, staff determined it was necessary to move up the full floor
restoration project to this fiscal year. After putting the project out for bid, Egan Supply was
awarded the contract, and the work took place from September 9-13. Contractors repaired sections
of the floor where cupping and warping was present and cut a 2” relief gap between the floor and
the West wall to prevent future warping issues. Upon examination by the contractor and Parks and
Recreation staff, it was determined that the source of the warping was from moisture that was
accumulating behind the wall mats along the West wall of the gymnasium. Mold and water streaks
were discovered behind the wall mats when they were removed. The wall was treated and re-
painted and Parks Staff re-mounted the wall mats with spacer boards to allow proper ventilation
of the floor and the walls. This should alleviate future moisture accumulation on the West wall.
After the damaged boards were repaired, the entire gymnasium floor was sanded to bare wood. All
court lines were repainted, and the floor was top coated with sealer. The newly sanded floor no
longer has a dark amber hue, and in turn has received a lot of compliments for both looking great
and making the gymnasium appear brighter.
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Fifth and Clark Fridays Kicks off
in September: The Auditorium’s
“Fifth and Clark Fridays” concert
series kicked off on September 13
with a performance from Ella and
Alex and Ben Schrag and the
Cautionaries. The second show was
held on September 20 and featured
Day’s Live Music and Hey, King!
The fall leg of the series will continue
with The Jenny Kohl’s Band with Ella
Slade on October 4, Lani on October
11, The Bird Hunters and Danny
Grause on November 15, and a
special holiday themed performance
from The Finesse on November 22.
Admission for these shows is only $5
and students can still receive 2-for-1
admission by showing their student
IDs at the door!
Free Movie Night at Bandshell
Park: Parks and Recreation hosted
its 7th annual “Free Movie Night”
Event at Bandshell Park on August
30, 2024. This year, the 1980s classic “Honey I Shrunk The Kids” was shown. Approximately 400
people attended this year’s event. Despite competing with an Ames High home football game, the
attendance was still close to average for
the event. The event was sponsored by
Duck Worth Wearing, Pyfferoen
Dentistry, and Perfect Games.
Homewood Golf Course: As of
September 23, 2024, Homewood Golf
Course has had 22,403 rounds played. By
that date last year, Homewood had 20,254
total rounds played. The table below
shows the current clubhouse rental hours
and revenue amounts compared to the
same time frame last fiscal year.
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July 1, 2023 –
September 23, 2023
July 1, 2024 –
September 23, 2024
Paid Event Hours 34 34.25
Revenue from Paid Events $3,570.00 $3,596.25
Non-Paid Events Hours 16 17
Homewood Golf Course hosted a public demonstration for a VertaCat golf cart on September 10,
2024. The VertaCat golf cart is an inclusive golf cart with top-of-the-line technology to get people
with any disability back on the course. VertaCat’s exclusive electric stand-up assist system allows
you to swing while being strapped in by the chest, waist, and knees. Eight City staff members and
six members of the public attended. Staff is reviewing the feedback prior to making a purchasing
decision.
Intermediate Sound Design Class Wraps Up: The Auditorium completed its first ever
Intermediate Sound Design course on August 27, 2024. Thirteen students participated in the course
in person and virtually. The course met on Tuesday nights throughout the month of August for two
hours for a total of eight hours of instruction. The course was led by Auditorium, Bandshell, and
Community Center Manager Craig Kaufman who spent over a decade working professionally as
a Theater Sound Designer. Overall, the course was a success and staff will explore the possibility
of offering similar courses in the future.
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Second Annual Scholarship Duck Derby: Parks and Recreation held the 2nd Annual
Scholarship Duck Derby at Furman Aquatic Center on the final day of operations, Monday,
September 2. A total of 588 rubber ducks were adopted and raced around the lazy river. The top
36 participants in the race were able to take home prizes donated by local businesses. First National
Bank was a returning Community Sponsor, and The Mucky Duck Pub was a new Mighty Duck
Sponsor this year! The local Retired Volunteer Senior Program (RSVP) also provided 4 individuals
to help onsite during the derby. A total of $4,065 was raised through this event and will benefit the
Parks and Recreation Scholarship Fund which assists youth and families with program registration
fees and annual swim passes. A video highlighting the event can be viewed here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPoLek6hJQY.
Wellness: Several wellness classes began in September with the following registrations:
Program Registrations
Line Dance 24
Beginner West Coast Swing 16
Intermediate West Coast Swing 17
Taekwondo 123
Healthy Foot 5
Yoga Basics 7