HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Packet of Communications to Council June 10, 2025
City Office 515.239.5105 main 515 Clark Ave. P.O. Box 811
515.239.5142 fax Ames, IA 50010
www.CityofAmes.org
MEMO
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Jeramy Neefus, Principal Clerk, City Manager’s Office
Date: June 6, 2025
Subject: Packet of Communications to Council
Listed below are the communications to the City Council known to staff as of June 6, 2025:
1. John Dunn, Water and Pollution Control Director – May 27, 2025
RE: Ada Hayden Water Quality Monitoring
2. Max Rothschild, Ames Resident – May 28, 2025
RE: Deer Hunting in Munn Woods
3. Taylor Francis, Wasker, Dorr, Wimmer, & Marcouiller, P.C. – May 30, 2025
RE: Request for Zoning Text Amendment Regarding Common Open Space
515.239.5150 main
515.239.5496 fax
18 00 E 13th Street
P.O. Box 811
Ames, IA 50010
www.CityofAmes.org/Water
Water and Pollution Control Department
Administrative Division
Memo
On May 9, 2023, the City Council awarded a two-year contract for water quality monitoring of
the lakes at Ada Hayden Heritage Park to the State Hygienic Laboratory at the University of Iowa
(SHL).
Monitoring of the lakes is included as a part of the Capital Improvements Plan for the Water and
Pollution Control Department. The long-range budgeting for that Plan includes a round of
monitoring of the lakes at Ada Hayden on five- to seven-year intervals. Each round of monitoring
is planned to be conducted over two consecutive summers. The rationale behind this monitoring
schedule was that the year-to-year fluctuations in the data can be too significant to be able to
draw any long-term conclusions; there is too much “noise” in the data. By averaging the results
from two consecutive years and then comparing the results every five to seven years, the year-
to-year fluctuations can be dampened, allowing trends to be more easily discerned.
The study found that the overall water quality is as good as, or better than, statewide values
published by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. They also found no significant
changes in water quality over the past 24 years.
Attached is a summary of the investigation and conclusions provided by SHL. The full text of the
report, including data and trends, is available on the City’s web site at this URL:
https://www.cityofames.org/My-Government/Departments/Water-Pollution-Control/Ada-Hayden-
Water-Quality-Monitoring
To: Mayor Haila & City Council
From: John Dunn, Director
Date: May 27, 2025
Subject: Summary of Ada Hayden Water Quality Monitoring
Water Quality Sampling at Ada Hayden Heritage Park
Summary of 2023-2024 Results
Water quality monitoring was conducted by the State Hygienic Laboratory Limnology Section
staff at Ada Hayden Heritage Park from June 28, 2023, to October 2, 2023, and from March 26,
2024, to October 16, 2024. Samples were collected from the north and south cells of Ada Hayden
Lake, the three wetlands that discharge to the lake, and the lake outlet. One hundred and sixty-
six samples were collected and analyzed for 28 different parameters.
Samples were collected twice per month at approximately two-week intervals in the north and
south cells of the lake, near the deepest point in each cell. Field measurements, depth profiles,
and integrated depth samples were collected from each cell during each visit.
Like many lakes in Iowa, sampling demonstrated that Ada Hayden Lake is a mesotrophic to
eutrophic lake. Both cells of the lake showed strong thermoclines throughout the entire sampling
period and reduced dissolved oxygen concentrations below the thermocline, indicative of a
eutrophic lake pattern.
Average concentrations of nitrate + nitrite nitrogen and orthophosphate in lake samples were
less than the detection limit during most of the study period, except for nitrate + nitrite nitrogen
in the south cell, which was above the detection limit in samples collected during the spring and
early summer of 2024. Average chlorophyll a, E. coli, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, total phosphorus,
total suspended solids, and turbidity were less than the current state-wide median values
reported by the Iowa DNR (https://programs.iowadnr.gov/aquia/Programs/Lakes). The
average trophic state indices, an indicator of the level of nutrients and algal productivity, were
also less than the current state-wide median. Average Secchi depths, a measure of the
transparency of the water, were greater than the state-wide median.
Measured algal toxins (microcystin, cylindrospermopsin, anatoxin-a, and saxitoxin) were below
the detection limit in both cells of the lake during both years, except for samples collected on
October 16, 2024. Samples collected from both cells on that date had results for saxitoxin that
were slightly greater than the detection limit.
The three wetlands studied intercepted surface water and storm water runoff before they
entered the lake, and were sampled once per month and after significant rainfall events. All
three wetlands were found to reduce the amount of nitrate + nitrite nitrogen and total nitrogen
entering the lake. Adversely, water flowing from the wetlands showed an increase in the amount
of chlorophyll a as water passed through the wetlands.
The lake outlet was sampled once per month, concurrent with lake and wetland tributary
sampling. Results from the lake outlet samples were similar to the results from the south cell
depth integrated samples, with the exception of E. coli. In 2024, the geometric means of E. coli
concentrations were higher in the lake outlet samples than in the south cell depth integrated
samples. The geometric means of E. coli concentrations in the lake outlet and south cell were the
same in 2023.
For more information, please contact Dustin Albrecht (City of Ames Water & Pollution Control
Department) at 515-239-5150 or Jim Luzier (State Hygienic Laboratory) at 515-725-1638.
1
Hall, Renee
From:Rothschild, Max F [AN S] <mfrothsc@iastate.edu>
Sent:Wednesday, May 28, 2025 12:01 PM
To:City Council and Mayor
Cc:goeff.huff@cityofames.org; Rothschild, Denise J; Maxrothschild18@gmail.com
Subject:Too Many Deer eating our expensive plants
Attachments:20250515_060001.jpg
[External Email]
Dear City Council Members, the Mayor, City Clerk and Chief of Police.
We are Ames residents for the past 45 years. We live at 511 Oliver Circle and our house backs up to the wooded
corridor next to Munn Woods and Emma McCarthy Lee Park. My neighbors and we suƯer from the constant over
running by herds (yes herds) of deer. Sometimes as many as 20 can be seen together on our front lawns. Please
see the attached picture of 7 deer across from my house in the middle of the day after I chased them oƯ my front
lawn and garden. Years ago the herd size was much smaller now there are too many and they have no fear of
humans. The damage to area landscaping and property value is considerable and some people are putting up ugly
fencing that in general does not work. Other deterrents have limited value. Other issues include the likely starving
of animals in the winter, possible wasting disease in the herd and frequent near misses by vehicles in our area.
As an animal lover and not a deer hunter I was reluctant to write this letter but enough is enough. While I have
discussed this with some of you, I am writing this letter with the purpose of kindly requesting that the City allow
supervised hunting in the region of Munn Woods and Emma McCarthy Lee Park. Hunting is allowed in some other
parts of the city but it is needed here, too . Please put this issue on the city council’s agenda and let’s get some
action to reduce this extensive problem.
Please feel free to call me (515-451-1362 or my wife Denise (515-451-3672) to discuss. Thank you.
Regards,
Max and Denise Rothschild
Maxrothschild18@iastate.edu
mfrothsc@iastate.edu
cell 515-451-1362
1
Hall, Renee
From:Moore, Justin
Sent:Monday, June 2, 2025 8:36 AM
To:Hall, Renee
Cc:Diekmann, Kelly
Subject:PUD Text Amendment Request
Attachments:copier@wdwm.net_20250530_155803.pdf
Renee,
Attached is a text amendment request for City Council for the next meeting.
Thanks,
Justin
From: Taylor Francis <tfrancis@wdwm.net>
Sent: Friday, May 30, 2025 4:03 PM
To: Joshua Moulton <moulton.josh@gmail.com>; Moore, Justin <justin.moore@cityofames.org>
Subject: RE: South 4th Update
[External Email]
This is the first stab at it. Expecting revisions to make sure it really accomplishes what you need it to, but this will
be the jumping off point. Give it a look, redline if you would like, and/or let me know what changes you want made.
I’ve currently addressed it from myself and signed it myself, but I can add in more context about this specific
development, get Josh’s name on it, etc. if we feel that is better. Doesn’t matter to me.
Thanks,
Taylor R. Francis
Wasker, Dorr, Wimmer & Marcouiller, P.C.
4201 Westown Parkway - Suite 250
West Des Moines, Iowa 50266
515-283-1801 (office)
515-283-1802 (fax)
http://www.wdwm.net
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From: Joshua Moulton <moulton.josh@gmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, May 24, 2025 12:13 PM
To: Taylor Francis <tfrancis@wdwm.net>; Justin Moore <justin.moore@cityofames.org>
Cc: Branden W. Stubbs <branden@stubbs3.com>; Tamijha Wilson <tamijha@stubbs3.com>
Subject: Re: South 4th Update
Justin
Could you set up a quick call with Taylor to draft the PUD letter?
Josh Moulton
Sent from my iPhone
On May 24, 2025, at 11:18 AM, Taylor Francis <tfrancis@wdwm.net> wrote:
Good Morning,
I would be happy to draft one. I may need a bit more context than just what I have in this
chain, though.
Thanks,
Taylor Francis
Wasker Law Firm
From: Joshua Moulton <moulton.josh@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, May 23, 2025 5:16 PM
To: Branden W. Stubbs <branden@stubbs3.com>; Tamijha Wilson <tamijha@stubbs3.com>;
Taylor Francis <tfrancis@wdwm.net>
Subject: Re: South 4th Update
Branden, see below, did we address this?
Taylor - Can you draft a letter on my behalf to address Justin Moore's
"Kelly and I spoke and we believe that it would be beneficial for you to submit a letter to
Council requesting a text amendment to clarify and address PUD sites less than 2 acres
with regard to the 10 percent open space being set aside on its own versus incorporated
into the other natural open space on site among/between the units (patios, walkout
spaces, etc). In order to move the process along it would be best to submit your letter this
week."
On Tue, May 20, 2025 at 10:38 AM Joshua Moulton <moulton.josh@gmail.com> wrote:
3
Tamijha
How should I respond to the south duplex patio question? Are we able to incorporate
these in?
And as far as submitting a letter…do we need our attorney to write this?
Josh Moulton
Sent from my iPhone
Begin forwarded message:
From: "Moore, Justin" <justin.moore@cityofames.org>
Date: May 20, 2025 at 10:34:45 AM CDT
To: Joshua Moulton <moulton.josh@gmail.com>
Cc: "Diekmann, Kelly" <kelly.diekmann@cityofames.org>
Subject: RE: South 4th Update
Josh,
Kelly and I spoke and we believe that it would be beneficial for you to submit
a letter to Council requesting a text amendment to clarify and address PUD
sites less than 2 acres with regard to the 10 percent open space being set
aside on its own versus incorporated into the other natural open space on
site among/between the units (patios, walkout spaces, etc). In order to
move the process along it would be best to submit your letter this week.
Site question,
I notice on the site plan that the south units don’t appear to have any
walkout/patio space on the south side of the units? Is there a plan to? I
noticed the grade does start to change right away. It appears there are
sliding door rear accesses based on the floor plans and elevations.
Thanks,
Justin
-----Original Message-----
From: Joshua Moulton <moulton.josh@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2025 11:11 AM
To: Moore, Justin <justin.moore@cityofames.org>
Cc: Diekmann, Kelly <kelly.diekmann@cityofames.org>
Subject: Re: South 4th Update
[External Email]
Ok great
4
Thanks!
Josh Moulton
Sent from my iPhone
On May 14, 2025, at 11:00 AM, Moore, Justin
<justin.moore@cityofames.org> wrote:
Josh,
They continued the hearing on it which delays decision until
the next meeting. The developer is redesigning an item which
they will be coming back with at the May 27th meeting. The
determination on open space requirement was not made but
should be at the next meeting.
In the meantime we are finishing review on the revisions your
engineer sent and I should have the remaining comments on
that, if any, sent out by end of day today.
Thanks,
Justin
-----Original Message-----
From: Joshua Moulton <moulton.josh@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2025 9:33 AM
To: Moore, Justin <justin.moore@cityofames.org>
Subject: Re: South 4th Update
[External Email]
Hey Justin
Checking to see how the meeting last night?
Josh Moulton
Sent from my iPhone
5
On May 9, 2025, at 8:31 AM, Moore, Justin
<justin.moore@cityofames.org> wrote:
Josh,
Its Tuesday next week.
Thanks,
Justin
-----Original Message-----
From: Joshua Moulton
<moulton.josh@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, May 9, 2025 8:19 AM
To: Moore, Justin
<justin.moore@cityofames.org>
Subject: Re: South 4th Update
[External Email]
Was that meeting Tuesday this week or next
week?
Josh Moulton
Sent from my iPhone
On May 6, 2025, at
2:46 PM, Moore,
Justin
<justin.moore@city
ofames.org> wrote:
Josh,
6
We will know more after Tuesday
night's Council meeting. I will
reach out after to discuss.
Thanks,
Justin
-----Original Message-----
From: Joshua Moulton
<moulton.josh@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 6, 2025 1:38
PM
To: Moore, Justin
<justin.moore@cityofames.org>
Subject: South 4th Update
[External Email]
Hey Justin
Checking in to see how you were
progressing with my
project? Were you able to find a
path forward for your other deal
P&Z denied?
Thanks!
Josh Moulton
Sent from my iPhone
--
Joshua L Moulton