HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - August 2022 Monthly Project HighlightsThe Ames Animal Shelter was recently featured on the Best Friends Network Partners website:
www.bestfriends.org. The Shelter participated in the three-day adoption event to help get animals
into their forever homes.
A total of 9,919 animals were adopted over those three days from 589 participating
organizations (plus Best Friends Animal Society’s sanctuary and lifesaving centers).
That’s a 73% increase in total adoptions compared to the same period last year, though
the increase was even greater for dogs at 89%.
Though we are clearly impressed by the numbers from the event, the stories shared by
participating partners had an even greater impact on our staff. Many participating
partners noted that the event promotion brought in new adopters, which helped them find
homes for long-time and harder-to-place pets. Other S shared some truly touching tales
that I admit had me getting a little misty-eyed.
While the City of Ames Animal Shelter and Animal Control in Iowa only did two adoptions
during the event, they proved to be very special. One of them was their longest resident cat
(Terri), the other an FIV-positive cat (Landon). The adoptions were so special, in fact, the
shelter decided to waive adoption fees entirely instead of simply cutting them in half, which
was the original plan.
“While we didn't do the number of adoptions we'd hoped we would, the two we did do were
very exciting for us,” says animal control clerk Abbey Weimann. “While getting quantity
of animals out of the building is always helpful for us and the animals, seeing animals leave
who have been passed over time and again go to really good homes made it worth it!”
Pictured below is Terri (left) and Landon (right).
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The City’s Inspection Team has been working diligently over the last two years with the new Ames
High School Team to get the new building project approved and up to code. The school was issued
a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy this month so classes could start on time in the new
building, while finishing touches to the building that are not related to life safety can be
completed.
The City of Ames
Training Site, nick
named COATS for short,
received five used
shipping containers to
build a basement training
prop. Windows and
doors were cut into the
containers before they
were moved into final
position. Crews will
enter the structure on the
ramp side and navigate
the first floor interior
rooms until they locate
the interior stairs to the
basement. Live fire will be used on the lower level of the two story prop to simulate a basement
fire. Crews will be able to practice search techniques, ventilation and different extinguishment
approaches when it comes to combating basement fires. Attached is a time lapse video of the
containers being moved into place.
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Food Waste Diversion at the Library: This summer, the Library added Food Waste Diversion
(FWD) bins to the Free Summer Meals program and to its break room. Volunteers at the Free
Summer Meals were instrumental in encouraging guests to use the FWD bins. Hundreds of pounds
of food scraps, coffee grinds, and waste were sent to be composted rather than filling up a landfill.
The Library's participation in FWD was proposed through "Novel Ideas," a Library program for
staff to develop and suggest new projects or ideas outside of their
normal area of work.
National Voter Registration Day: As the 2022 election
approaches, Ames Public Library is gearing up to help people
navigate the voting process. For National Voter Registration Day
on September 20, the League of Women Voters will be in the
Library's Lobby to help guide voters through the registration
process. Watch for satellite voting and more at the Library this fall.
Summer Reading: This year's Summer Reading
Challenge has wrapped up, and the numbers are in!
There were 2,982 participants: 936 adults, 307
teens, 1,573 children, and 166 babies and toddlers.
Together, they logged over 4.8 million minutes of
reading in less than three months. That's 80,181
hours or 3,340 days of reading!
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Ada Hayden Heritage Park Accessible Kayak Launch: Staff completed the installation of the
Accessible Kayak Launch along the bank of the north lake at Ada Hayden Heritage Park on August
24. JRM Construction, Ames, Iowa, completed the concrete walkway and bulkhead necessary for
the new launch system. Over $40,000 of the funds used to purchase the launch system were
donations and grants. Final grading and seeding will be completed in the near future. A ribbon
cutting has been scheduled for September 21 at 5:30 p.m. Pictures below show the newly installed
accessible launch. View the launch being used here: www.youtube.com/kayaklaunch.
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Furman Aquatic Center: The aquatic center opened later than normal this year due to a shortage
of lifeguards. Additionally, basins and amenities have been closed at times due to the availability
of staff. However, attendance is still on par with prior years.
2022 2021 2020** 2019 2018
May 1,764 560 0 2,412 6,903
June 27,750 27,583 0 24,674 25,123
July 29,362 30,456 0 31,874 29,991
August* 15,358 19,885 0 15,664 16,439
Total 74,234 78,484 0 74,624 78,456
*Numbers are through August 24 of each year
**Closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Homewood Golf Course: The golf course opens on April 1 every year, weather permitting. The
following table shows the number of rounds played April 1 – August 24 for each of the past four
years:
2022 2021 2020* 2019
Rounds Played 13,280 13,435 10,043 9,664
Inis Grove Playground Equipment:
Staff completed installing a new two-
bay swing, Engineered Wood Fibers
(EWF), and a concrete border at the
new playground adjacent Shagbark
Shelter on the northeast side of Inis
Grove Park. Pictures below show the
newly opened playground.
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Wellness: The State Games of America Zumba class was held at the Community Center on
Sunday, July 31 before the Community Center closed for annual maintenance from August 8-12
which included cleaning and waxing the weight room and cardio room floor and cleaning the group
fitness room carpets.
The Fall Session of classes is in session! Twenty-
two free drop-in classes were offered August 15-
19 with approximately 110 people attending the
classes. Participants brought 1-2 cans of non-
perishable food items for the food bank. Fitness
classes began August 22 with 408 registrations. In-
person (345), virtual (43) and outdoor (20) classes
continue to be offered. Aqua classes began at both
Forker Pool at ISU and Green Hills August
22. There were 41 registrations at Forker and 133
registrations at Green Hills. Tae Kwon Do classes
began Tuesday, August 23. Classes are now being
held at the Parks & Recreation Administrative
offices. There are 171 registrations in this fall
session. An end of the summer potluck was held
Sunday, August 14 for all the Tae Kwon Do
Participants and their families at Brookside Park
with 75-100 people participating.
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In working with the Health Promotion Coordinator and Media Production Services, a video was
made to promote the health promotion programs offered to City Employees. This video will be
shown at employee onboarding and other employee functions. Incentive bags were also created
and will be given out to employees, spouses, and dependents who register for any of the Wellness
programs. The video can be viewed here: www.youtube.com/coaemployeewellness.
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Ames Urban Fringe Plan: The Fringe Plan Update has been delayed while Story County reviews
public input. The Board of Supervisors is tentatively scheduled to review the draft Plan and make
recommendations on how to proceed at its September 13 meeting.
Baker Subdivision: The Request for Proposals (RFP) for Baker Subdivision 4% LIHTC
affordable housing apartment project is out. The deadline to submit a proposal is September 13.
Historic Preservation: Chautauqua and Ridgewood
Neighborhood Historical Surveys are nearing completion. This
historical resource survey is funded in part of through a state
Certified Local Government (CLG) grant. A neighborhood
meeting is scheduled at the library on September 23 to present
the initial findings. Updates on the survey project can be found
at this link.
Home Occupations: State law (Chapter 414.33) recently
changed regarding certain types of “no-impact” home
occupations. The change restricts the ability of a City to require
a permit for home businesses, subject to certain standards.
Current City zoning standards prohibit certain uses and require
a permit for all types of allowable home occupations. The City
will need to revise its zoning standards to comply with the new state law. City staff plans to present
a staff report for changes to home occupations at the September 27 City Council meeting.
Parking: Front Yard Parking changes will begin the public review process with the Planning and
Zoning Commission on September 21. The changes to allow additional front yard parking are
based upon City Council direction from July. City Council will review a new ordinance for
approval in October.
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The Police Department is currently
working on a history display in the public
hallway. The Department acquired some of
the trophy cases from the old Ames High
School and had them installed with lights
and power. They are working on locks and
then will begin putting items on display.
The Department had a lot of help from
Public Works to pick up the cases and John
Forth (Fleet Services) installed them.
Police staff are also in communication with
retired department staff to locate other
items that could go in the display.
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Resource Recovery Plant: The sixth annual Rummage RAMPage, a community rummage sale
designed to keep reusable items out of the waste stream, surpassed previous years in landfill
diversion totals and proceeds generated. The event, which was held over nine days, found new
homes for more than 143,838 pounds of furniture and housewares, and raised just over $49,000
for local non-profit agencies. The
City of Ames, in partnership with
the ISU Office of Sustainability,
held the sale from July 29 to August
6 at the Ames Intermodal Facility,
129 Hayward Ave. The event
spanned two weekends to better
meet the needs of those moving into
new apartments. Forty-one non-
profit groups sent dozens of
volunteers to staff the event and
shared the profits based on the
number of hours of donated labor.
Over the six years that the event has been held over 574,000 pounds of material have been rehomed
and almost $160,000 has been raised for different volunteer organizations in the community.
This event would not be possible without the wonderful volunteers and the support of many of the
City of Ames Departments and Divisions such as City Clerk’s Office, City Manager’s Office,
Electric Administration, Fire, Information Technology, Parks & Recreation, Police, Print Shop,
Public Relations, Public Works/Traffic, Stormwater, and Water/Water Pollution Control.