HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - October 13, 2020, Special Meeting of the Ames City Council Minutes, Joint Student Government MeetingMINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE AMES CITY COUNCIL
AMES, IOWA OCTOBER 13, 2020
The Special Joint Meeting of the Ames City Council and Iowa State University Student Government
was called to order by Mayor Haila at 6:00 p.m. with the following Council members participating:
Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen, Gloria Betcher, Amber Corrieri, Tim Gartin, Rachel Junck, and David
Martin. Ex officio Member Nicole Whitlock was also present.
Mayor Haila announced that it is impractical to hold an in-person Joint Meeting due to the Governor
of Iowa declaring a public health emergency because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, limits
have been placed on public gatherings, and this meeting is being held as an electronic meeting as
allowed by Section 21.8 of the Iowa Code.
Student Government Vice-President Schrader explained to save time he will not be doing role call
tonight and will make note of who is online.
2020 ELECTION: Jacob Schrader, Student Government Vice-President asked if anyone within the
City would like to speak about what the City is doing regarding civic engagement. Mayor Haila
noted that this election is more of a County organized election. There are no City elections this time,
but there are County elections that will be on the November 3, 2020, ballot. The Mayor mentioned
that it is very important to exercise your right to vote and hopes students are already registered and
ready to vote. Council Member Corrieri stated that if there are any students that are interested in
working on Election Day, the County Auditor is looking for volunteers to help, due to the Pandemic,
they are trying to keep the older population safe and away from working at the polls. Council
Member Junck explained there is a form on the Story County Auditors website that anyone can fill
out to apply to help. Council Member Betcher noted that there were some satellite absentee voting
locations at the Public Library and at the Scheman Building. Ms. Betcher commented that she is
working with the NAACP and the League of Women Voters to help with answering phones, and if
anyone is looking to help, to let her know. The Iowa League is helping at all the voting locations and
Ms. Betcher noted that you can also drop off your absentee ballots in a secure location at those
locations.
Mr. Schrader asked Senator Sehba Faheem to give an update about what is happening on Campus
regarding what the Student Government’s efforts are with the Catt Center and working with other
organizations. Senator Faheem explained that the Civic Engagement Committee recently had a
seminar on voter information for students. She noted that in the past they had created the
vote.iastate.edu website and encouraged students to go to the site for further voting information.
They have placed voter registration forms and absentee ballot requests around Campus and in every
residence hall on Campus. Senator Faheem mentioned they were currently working on getting the
students excused absences on Election Day; this way the students can go out and vote.
Council Member Betcher stated it is important for the students to be a part of Ames and reminded
students to claim Ames on the current Census.
Senator Abigail Schulte wanted to know if the Council had any recommendations on how to promote
engagement in future elections. She pointed out that they always see a low turnout rate from students
on local elections, and she wanted to know how to continue to make sure students and citizens of
Ames vote in the future. Council Member Betcher stated the Council is continuing to work on
outreach and improving public engagement. Part of the public engagement will be trying to reach
out to students. The City is currently partnering with the Community and Regional Planning Class
to look at different methods of engagement for different populations in the community. Ms. Betcher
stated that Karen Kedrowski, Director of the Catt Center, is committed to getting students involved
in voting and working on how to get students more committed to vote. She is hoping that Ms.
Kedrowski will be reaching out to the Council and the Student Government with ideas. Senator
Mason Zastrow mentioned that he voted earlier at the Scheman building and it was busy all day. He
noted to try to give yourself 45 minutes when going to vote. Mayor Haila stated it is an excellent
question about student engagement and recommended broadening the question to how to get students
engaged in the community year-round. Within the last year, the Council has talked about how to get
more exposure on what is happening in the community to the students on Campus. They Mayor
thought if that could be accomplished it would help students to get out and vote.
Council Member Junck thanked the Civic Engagement Committee for all the work they have done
with providing resources to students. She noted from her experience about getting students involved
in elections is voter contact. She mentioned that having the Civic Engagement Committee put flyers
on everyone’s dorm doors may be helpful.
Ex officio Whitlock mentioned that a lot of students feel that when they are on Campus, they have
their own little community and don’t see the need to go anywhere else around Ames. She noted that
she came from a small town and it is a little scary to venture out. She recommended providing a list
to the students of things that are available to do in Ames as she didn’t think the students would
Google that information.
Vice-President Jacob Schrader stated he worked for the Census as a numerator and it was hard to get
the information needed. He reminded students to vote.
COVID-19: President Morgan Fritz mentioned that she had worked all summer long with the
academic continuity work group regarding to Campus, which was a working group that set up how
classes would go. She noted that a lot of mitigation efforts have been done and she listed a few.
Student Government President Fritz explained there is COVID-19 testing happening at the Hilton
Coliseum. Recently, ISU implemented randomized testing and a significant number of students have
been contacted to take part in the random testing. The Student Government provided some funding
for incentives to get students to stop in and get tested.
Vice-President Schrader asked for someone on Council to speak about what efforts the City of Ames
had taken with COVID-19. Mayor Haila stated he was impressed by the communication and
collaboration between ISU and the City of Ames. The Mayor mentioned that the City was brought
in early on with the “Cyclones Care” campaign. They have worked with partners in the community
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to get the message out. He explained that in late March, he organized a meeting with Story County
Emergency Management where they had weekly meetings to get updates and to understand what was
happening in the community. The City of Ames Police Chief and ISU’s Chief Newton have been
working closely with mass gatherings. ISU and the City of Ames have worked together to make sure
the same message about face coverings is given to all students and citizens of Ames. He noted that
there are very few citizens in Ames that have been in the ICU at the hospital. Mayor Haila pointed
out that the City has no influence on the Governor, and he had reached out to her on multiple
occasions to get information on face coverings, but has never received a phone call or email back.
He noted that he is not saying that to be critical of the Governor, but just more or less she is not
responding to anyone.
Council Member Betcher stated that a constituent wanted her to reach out to the Student Government
about having large parties with no face coverings as those are very disconcerting to neighbors. Ms.
Betcher noted that the constituent was not complaining about the party itself as they are used to
them, but because of the mask mandate, any large gatherings should be social distancing and have
face masks. The Story County Board of Supervisors had approved the Story County Board of
Health’s face covering mandate, and she noted it was the same as the City of Ames.
Senator Advait stated that he did hear about the mandate not having any penalties and wanted to
know if the City had any data about compliance. City Manager Steve Schainker stated there is not
any surveying being done as it is all antidotal, but if you are looking around town you will see people
are abiding the face covering mandate. The amount of complaints coming into the Police Department
have lessened. Mr. Schainker commented that he believes there are not a lot of large gatherings
happening and people are trying. He noted he went to the football game the other day and everyone
was in compliance. He wanted to encourage people to have fun, but still practice safety. Mayor Haila
stated that if a resident calls in a complaint of a nuisance parties to law enforcement and the party
is being hosted by some students; those students names are given to Iowa State law enforcement and
Administration. ISU Administration has been taking action on students that are not complying. ISU
had asked the City to turn into the names of those responsible if they happen to be students.
Council Member Betcher stated in regards to data, she is on the Ames Visitor and Convention
Bureau and they are not collecting data, but many members on the Board are happy with the mask
mandate as it allows them to refer to the City when people complain. It takes some pressure off some
of the hotels and businesses.
OPEN FORUM: Mayor Haila stated one way to get student engagement is for students to serve on
the City’s Boards and Commission. He noted that he has an immediate opening for a student renter
to serve on the Property Maintenance Appeals Board (PMAB). The PMAB is an ad-hoc board that
meets only when needed. The Mayor explained it would be a great education opportunity. Mayor
Haila mentioned that the only qualification is that you have to be a student and renting off Campus.
He requested anyone who is interested to email him. Mr. Schrader asked for the website for more
information about the Boards and Commissions. Mayor Haila asked for ex officio Whitlock to send
the website address to Mr. Schrader.
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City Manager Steve Schainker provided an update on Welch Avenue. He noted that they are hoping
to have the project completed by November.
Senator Faheem inquired to when the application deadline would be for the Boards and Commission
position. Mayor Haila mentioned that the application period will remain open until the position has
been filled. The Mayor then explained the normal Boards and Commission application process.
Senator Advait questioned a few construction projects and wanted to know about the extension of
Grand Avenue and the status of the project. Mayor Haila stated it is actively under construction and
it is anticipated by this time next year it will be ready. City Manager Schainker explained that there
is still a big bridge that needs to be built. Mayor Haila noted that the bike path that is just south of
Hy-Vee that goes to the ISU Research Park will be paved.
Senator Advait inquired about the area by US 30 and South Dakota and noted there are traffic lights
there now and he wanted to know about the traffic flow. Mr. Advait mentioned that anecdotally those
lights have been slowing traffic down. Mr. Schainker explained that there is any current data, but
previous data showed there was a need for a light at that intersection to help avoid back-ups onto
Highway 30 during rush hour.
Senator Mason Zastrow stated that the bridge has been out for a while on the trail from Oakland
Avenue to McCarthy Lee Park. He wanted to know if the bridge is scheduled to be fixed. Mr.
Schainker explained that the Council just approved the work to have the bridge redone, but there was
a delay as the City was waiting to see if would be able to get federal funding. Council Member
Martin stated that there is some construction equipment down around the missing bridge and this
should be done around November. Parks and Recreation Director Keith Abraham stated that they
are still awaiting to hear back from FEMA about some additional funding, but the goal is to have the
project proceed. Henkel Construction was awarded the contract and hoping to start later this month
and to have the bridge completed by the end of this month. Mr. Abraham noted that, from the
parking lot to the bridge on the McCarthy Lee side, they will be asphalting the path. Director
Abraham noted they are upgrading the sanitary sewer in Munn Woods, and they will be installing
some steppingstones from Munn Woods to the north side of the creek to McCarthy Lee Park. This
will make a continuous path on City property.
Council Member Gartin wanted to know what the students’ perceptions were about ridership with
CyRide. He noted that thankfully the City had received some federal funding to help get over the
impacts that COVID-19 has had on CyRide. Mr. Gartin wanted to know if students are riding the bus
as much as they did before COVID-19 or less. Mr. Schrader stated the numbers show about 40% for
this year, but explained that it feels like there are a lot fewer people riding the bus. Mr. Gartin hopes
that the ridership will rebound.
Council Member Beatty-Hansen was appreciative of the Joint Meeting. She told the student
government to always feel free to reach out to the City Council if there were any questions or if
anyone wishes to provide input on City topics.
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Council Member Betcher wanted to say thank you to Senator Zastrow for helping with the National
Town and Gown’s webinar series that was discussed the student perspective regarding COVID-19.
ADJOURNMENT: Moved by Betcher to adjourn the meeting at 6:01 p.m.
______________________________________________________________________
Amy L. Colwell, Deputy City Clerk John A. Haila, Mayor
__________________________________
Diane R. Voss, City Clerk
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