HomeMy WebLinkAboutA002 - Council Action Form dated April 4, 2025To:Mayor Haila, Ames City Council
From:Mark O. Lambert, City Attorney
Date:April 4, 2025
Subject:Assigning annexed territories to Wards/Precincts for election purposes
Item No. 44
MEMO
BACKGROUND:
Following an annexation, the City needs to assign the newly annexed territories to the
appropriate Wards and Precincts for election purposes, per Code of Iowa Section 49.8(2).
State law specifies that the territories are to be assigned to a contiguous Ward and
Precinct.
There are two annexations that need to be attached to Wards/Precincts so that the
residents of those areas can vote in City elections. One is the “Huang/Soong
Annexation,” territory annexed by Resolution #21-544, 10/12/21. The other is the “West
Development Annexation,” Territory annexed by Resolution 24-572, 11/6/24. City staff
proposes attaching both annexations to Ward 3, Precinct 16, as this precinct is contiguous
with both annexations.
Staff is requesting that Council suspend the rules to complete all three readings and
adopt the ordinance at one Council meeting to assure that the territories will be
assigned to wards & precincts as quickly as possible because people in these areas
are registering to vote.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
State law requires that a territory annexed by the City needs to be assigned by ordinance
to the appropriate Ward and Precinct. There is little to no discretion in the assignments
since the Wards and Precincts must be contiguous to the newly annexed area. Therefore,
staff recommends that the Council suspend the rules to complete all three readings
and adopt the ordinance at one meeting.
ATTACHMENT(S):
Ordinance West Development Annexation.docx
City Clerk's Office 515.239.5105 main
515.239.5142 fax
515 Clark Ave. P.O. Box 811
Ames, IA 50010
www.CityofAmes.org
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ORDINANCE NO. _________
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF
THE CITY OF AMES, IOWA, BY ENACTING A NEW
SUBSECTION 6.14(4) AND (5), THEREOF, FOR THE PURPOSE
OF UPDATING WARDS AND PRECINCTS; REPEALING ANY
AND ALL ORDINANCES OR PARTS OF ORDINANCES IN
CONFLICT TO THE EXTENT OF SUCH CONFLICT; AND
ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
BE IT ENACTED, by the City Council for the City of Ames, Iowa, that:
Section One. The Municipal Code of the City of Ames, Iowa shall be and the same is hereby
amended by enacting a new Section 6.14 (4) and (5) as follows:
“Sec. 6.14. ANNEXATIONS.
. . .
(4) Territory annexed by Resolution #21-544, 10/12/21 (Huang/Soong Annexation) is attached to
Ward 3, Precinct 16.
(5) Territory annexed by Resolution 24-572, 11/6/24 (West Development Annexation) is attached
to Ward 3, Precinct 16.”
Section Two. All ordinances, or parts of ordinances, in conflict herewith are hereby repealed to the
extent of such conflict, if any.
Section Three. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and
publication as required by law.
Passed this day of , 2025.
____________________________________________________________________________
Renee Hall, City Clerk John A. Haila, Mayor
_____________________________________________________________________________________
DO NOT WRITE IN THE SPACE ABOVE THIS LINE, RESERVED FOR RECORDER
Prepared by: Mark O. Lambert, City Attorney, 515 Clark Ave., Ames, IA 50010 (515-239-5146)
Return recorded document to: City Clerk, City of Ames, 515 Clark Avenue, Ames, Iowa 50010
_____________________________________________________________________________________
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