HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - January 31, 2025, Special Meeting of the Ames City Council Minutes1
SUMMARY OF MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE AMES CITY
COUNCIL
AMES, IOWA JANUARY 31, 2025
The Special Meeting of the Ames City Council was called to order by Mayor John Haila at 2:00
p.m. on the 31st day of January, 2025, in the City Council Chambers in City Hall, 515 Clark
Avenue, pursuant to law. Present were Council Members Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen, Gloria Betcher,
Amber Corrieri, Tim Gartin, Rachel Junck, and Anita Rollins. Ex officio Emily Boland was also
present.
SPONSORSHIP OF 2025 NAACP FREEDOM FUND BANQUET: Mayor Haila noted that
several City departments sponsor the event in addition to the City Council.
Moved by Betcher, seconded by Corrieri, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 25-037 authorizing the
expenditure of $1,000 from the Council Contingency Account to sponsor the 2025 NAACP
Freedom Fund Banquet.
Roll Call Vote: 4-0-2, Gartin and Rollins abstaining due to conflict of interest. Motion declared
carried unanimously.
THIRD READING AND ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 4546 ZONING TEXT
AMENDMENT TO ALLOW SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS IN THE SINGLE-
FAMILY CONSERVATION OVERLAY (O-SFC) ZONING DISTRICT WITH THE
APPROVAL OF SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR CERTAIN PROPERTIES ABUTTING
COMMERCIAL ZONING: Moved by Gartin, seconded by Beatty-Hansen, to adopt
ORDINANCE NO. 4546 on Zoning Text Amendment to allow Social Service Providers in the
Single- Family Conservation Overlay (O-SFC) Zoning District with the approval of Special Use
Permit for certain Properties abutting Commercial Zoning.
Roll Call Vote: 4-2, Betcher and Rollins dissenting. Motion declared carried.
BUDGET OVERVIEW FOR RECOMMENDED 2025/26 FISCAL YEAR: City Manager
Steve Schainker, Finance Director Corey Goodenow, and Budget Manager Nancy Masteller
presented the Special Reports for FY 2025/26 Budget and explained the recommended use of the
FY 2024/25 General Fund Balance. Budget Manager Masteller presented an overview of the City’s
funds from the Draft 2025-2026 Program Budget.
The meeting recessed at 3:04 p.m. and reconvened at 3:17 p.m.
There was discussion regarding the state-mandated Property Taxpayer Notification Statements that
would be mailed to taxpayers by county auditors across the state. The letters, which assume a 10%
increase in valuation, would not reflect actual local valuation increases and thus would not
accurately reflect local tax rates.
Moved by Gartin, seconded by Beatty-Hansen, to direct staff to explore developing a letter that
could be proposed to the Story County Auditor to be included with its required notice that would
explain this disparity to Ames residents and give direction to a calculator on the City website to
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help residents more accurately understand their taxes.
Vote on Motion: 4-2, Betcher and Rollins dissenting. Motion declared carried.
Council Member Gartin spoke about the purpose and expected uses for the Council Priorities
Capital Fund, a new fund created in FY 2024/25.
Moved by Gartin, seconded by Rollins, to place on a future agenda consideration of a policy for
the use of the Council Priorities Capital Fund.
Vote on Motion: 2-4, Betcher, Corrieri, Junck, and Rollins dissenting. Motion declared failed.
There was discussion regarding the staff proposal for use of the FY 2024/25 General Fund balance.
Moved by Junck, seconded by Corrieri, to direct staff to evaluate the list of possible uses for the
2024/2025 General Fund Balance to determine which projects could realistically be completed in
the next six months and which projects are highest priority.
Vote on Motion: 4-2, Beatty-Hansen and Gartin dissenting. Motion declared carried.
DISPOSITION OF COMMUNICATIONS TO COUNCIL: None.
COUNCIL COMMENTS: The Mayor and Council Members reported on various meetings
attended, upcoming meetings, community events, and items of interest.
ADJOURNMENT: Moved by Gartin, seconded by Corrieri, to adjourn the meeting at 5:16 p.m.
Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
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Jeramy Neefus, Principal Clerk John A. Haila, Mayor
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Renee Hall, City Clerk