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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - December 2022 Monthly Project HighlightsHIGHLIGHTS DECEMBER 2022 MONTHLY PROJECT Contact the City Manager's Office at 515-239-5101 515 Clark Avenue, Ames, IA 50010 Report compiled by Carly Watson, Deputy City Clerk City Manager's Office CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE A collection of four art-adorned fire hydrants has been installed at the Dog Park. This project is an initiative of the Public Art Commission (PAC), with assistance from Public Works Utility Maintenance and Parks and Recreation staff. PAC solicited proposals from Ames residents to paint the four decommissioned fire hydrants from the water distribution system. Four artists were selected, and the freshly sandblasted hydrants were delivered to their homes to be painted to match the proposals. Artists received an honorarium and reimbursement for their supplies. After being sealed with a protective coating, the hydrants were installed at the Dog Park on December two, where PAC expects them to remain for up to two years before being offered up to other artists for repainting. 2 FIRE The Ames Fire Department welcomed six new firefighters to the department on December 5th. Over the next 13 weeks, these new firefighters will be learning everything they can about how to safely fight fires and save lives. The new firefighters’ days are packed with a combination of classroom time and intense hands on skills training. The information they will learn over the next 13 weeks will provide the foundation needed for them to join a crew and start responding to incidents. Once out of the academy, their learning and skill development continues over the next year as new firefighters complete mandatory training requirements alongside their new crew. Each new firefighter is assigned a mentor for the year to help them navigate the year long probationary period. 3 LIBRARY All-APL Read: In January library staff along with Trustees and interested volunteers will participate in an All-APL Read of the short, but impactful book Anti-Racist Ally by Sophie Williams. There will be a variety of ways for readers to react, share, and follow up, including discussions at the Library’s Staff Development Day in February. Ames Repair Café: Following a successful Repair Café last fall, Ames Public Library will host another Ames Repair Café Saturday, January 14, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. This volunteer-led event in partnership with the Library and Resource Recovery welcomes the public to bring in items in need of repair. Volunteers will attempt to repair the item or suggest local repair resources. Volunteers can also teach basic maintenance. The goals are to reduce waste, share tools and resources, and help build self-reliance skills in our community. For more information, visit https://www.amespubliclibrary.org/event/ames-repair- cafe-0. Community Supply Drive: In honor of Martin Luther King Jr.’s philosophy of service, Ames Public Library is hosting a Community Supply Drive to support ACCESS. Needed items include new and unopened… • Bath towels, wash rags, kitchen towels • Shampoo and conditioner for all hair types • Toilet paper and paper towels Please bring donations to the Library lobby during the month of January. Get Involved through Boards and Commissions!: Do you know someone who would like to be more involved in the community? Check out “Get on Boards!” at Ames Public Library Thursday, January 26, at 7 p.m. In this panel presentation, attendees will hear from city and county board/commission members about why they chose to join, what their groups do, and how to get involved yourself. 4 PARKS AND RECREATION Ames City Auditorium: The Winter Concert Series at the Ames City Auditorium kicked off on December 9 with Great Caesar’s Goat and will continue through March. Remaining concerts feature Lily DeTaeye on January 13, J. Jeffrey Messerole on February 3, and Dang Lee Felton on March 31. Admission for the concerts is $5 and all shows start at 7:00 p.m. In December, ADA compliant hand rails were added to the walls of the Auditorium balcony and safety endcaps were added to the front balcony railing at the bottom of each staircase. The additional railings make navigating the steep balcony stairs safer for all audience members. In December, staff completed installation of a new sound system in the Community Center Gymnasium. The system includes four new speakers, a new digital mixer, a new power sequencer, and two new wireless microphones. The old radio tuners and amplifiers for the gymnasium and weight room stereo were also replaced. The new system is more compact, easier to operate, and all cabling and equipment was custom fit and labeled so any future modifications or repairs will be easier. The new system features Bluetooth connections for broadcasting music for classes, and an iPad that allows staff to walk out into the gymnasium or weight room when setting volume levels. 5 Ada Hayden Bank Clearing and Prairie Maintenance: Staff have begun to clear brush from the edges of Ada Hayden Lake and will continue throughout the winter months. In addition, the prairie between the walking trail and Hwy 69 will be mowed to replace the natural fire disturbance. Mowing was chosen as an alternative to prescribed fire in that location. Before After Franklin Park Fence Line Cleanup: Parks and Recreation staff removed shrubs and small and large trees from the north and south fence lines at Franklin Park. Work was completed to remove potential hazards and increase visibility. Before After 6 Oakwood Drive Ditch Clearing: The south ditch on Oakwood Drive, State Ave. to Bobcat Dr., was cleared of mulberry and honeysuckle shrubs. Crews also treated the stumps to prevent resprouting and mowed the ditch. This greatly improves the aesthetics along the road and makes the walking path more visible and safer. Before After Right-of-Way and Park Tree Pruning: Parks and Recreation crews have begun tree pruning in certain areas of the community and will continue throughout the winter months. The plan to visually inspect and prune right-of-way and park trees once every five years. Homewood Golf Course: Santa Claus visited the Homewood Clubhouse on December 3. A total of 34 youth, ages 7 & under, participated in the event. The children enjoyed meeting Santa, completing crafts, and eating donuts, fruit, and juice. 7 Ice Arena: During the Holiday Season, December 21 through December 31, the Ice Arena had 1,151 skaters attend 11 public skates. The Ice Arena held its first ever Winter Break Day Camp on December 21, 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Twenty-five youth, ages 7 to 12, played games on the ice such as dodgeball, soccer, broomball, and skating games. Staff Development: Matt Rochford, Maintenance Worker, recently added a professional credential from the International Society of Arboriculture called the Tree Risk Assessment Qualification. This is a rigorous program designed to train and assess candidates in a specialized field of arboriculture. Earning this credential recognizes the arborist as a tree care professional who has learned a standardized, systematic process for assessing tree risk and providing information to tree owners and risk managers when making decisions that will promote the safety of people and property and enhance tree benefits, health, and longevity. Mike Swartzlander, Maintenance Worker, completed a course and passed the exam to become a Certified Playground Safety Inspector. He is now able to complete playground audits and inspections to ensure the equipment and surrounding areas comply with the standards set forth for playgrounds and are safe for all users. Congratulations to Matt and Mike! Wellness: The final fall fitness session ended December 23 and free drop-in classes were offered December 26 through January 3 with approximately 325 participants. In lieu of payment, food donations were accepted and given to Food at First. The winter session of all Fitness classes will began Wednesday, January 4. Over 90 people attended the Ames Parks & Recreation Tae Kwon Do end-of-the-year celebration and awards ceremony held Sunday, December 18 at the Ames Public Library Auditorium. It was a fun afternoon of good food and 8 celebrating the Ames Parks & Recreation Tae Kwon Do Family. The winter session of Tae Kwon Do begins Tuesday, January 10.