HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Packet of Communications to Council dated August 8, 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: August 8, 2025
Subject: Packet of Communications to Council
Listed below are the communications to the City Council known to staff as of August 8,
2025:
1. Michele Farnham, ISU Research Park Facilities Manager – July 21, 2025
RE: Request for Zoning Text Amendment Related to Landscaping
2. Jamie Beyer, Pollinator-Friendly Community Task Force Member – July 31, 2025
RE: Emerald Ash Borer Treatment Methods and Native Pollinators
3. Vanessa Baker-Latimer, Housing Coordinator – August 7, 2025
RE: Status on the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) CDBG -CV
Grant Fund Award to the City of Ames on Behalf of The Bridge Home
4. Kelly Diekmann, Planning and Housing Director – August 12, 2025
RE: Request for a Zoning Text Amendment to the Improvement of Off -Street
Parking Areas and Driveways Standards for Ag Equipment
1
Hall, Renee
From:Farnham, Michele M [ISRP] <mfarnham@iastate.edu>
Sent:Monday, July 21, 2025 4:18 PM
To:Hall, Renee
Cc:Diekmann, Kelly; Anderson, Ray; Sanders, Rick [ISRP]; Chuck Winkleblack
(chuck@hunziker.com); Farnham, Michele M [ISRP]; Bray, Heather [ISRP]
Subject:Zone Text Amendment
[External Email]
Renee,
The ISU Research Park would like to make a request to the City Council for a Zoning Ordinance text amendment to
allow rock mulch in the primary planter between the parking lot and the street of the building and any other
planters within the parking lot located at 3800 University Blvd. This will help the drainage in those areas and
prevent any further erosion.
Let me know if you need any additional information about this request.
Please note: Beginning July 1, 2025, I will be on phased retirement. My work days will typically be M/T/W or
T/W/Th. In my absence, please contact Heather Bray at hbray@iastate.edu or Marty Noe at 515-520-9708. I will
return emails and phone calls when I am in the office.
Thank you,
Michele Farnham
Manager of Facilities Services
1805 Collaboration Place, Suite 1250
Ames, IA 50010
O 515-296-6723
C 515-460-3892
mfarnham@iastate.edu
1
Hall, Renee
From:Jamie Beyer <beyersbog@aol.com>
Sent:Thursday, July 31, 2025 11:21 AM
To:City Council and Mayor; Edwards, Gabriele
Cc:Tim Stewart; Gina McAndrews; Lisa Kuehl
Subject:Treating Ash Trees for Emerald Ash Borer with Neonicotinoids
Attachments:Jamie Beyer 07 30 15min.mp3
[External Email]
This is a request of the Ames City Council to stop treating ash trees for Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) with
insecticides on city property. We have attached a recording of this issue that will be aired on KHOI FM
radio tomorrow morning (Aug 1) between 7 and 7:30.
Ames has been a state and national leader as a bird and pollinator friendly community, providing funds
towards several projects and in supporting best practices to enhance these causes. One practice,
however, may be counterproductive. The last few years, EAB has been killing the majority of ash trees in
central Iowa. Many ash trees in Ames have died already except for the trees that have been treated with
systemic insecticides which kill the EAB insects before the tree dies from the Borer damage. While the
borers may die, the treated trees will continue to require periodic chemical application and will likely die in
time.
The main four systemic insecticides that are currently used, emamectin benzoate, imidacloprid,
dinotefuran and azadiractin, which are in the class of chemicals called neonicotinoids (neonics).
The insecticide is applied as a ground drench or is injectable into the trunk of a tree, the
chemical is then transported to all parts of the tree to paralyze and kill insects. All the above
chemicals are lethal to not only EAB but also to most native pollinators. Most applications are a
treatment every other year.
While the chemicals can prolong the death of a tree, the neonics are also killing a lot of our native
pollinators. Some examples are bees, cecropia moths, tiger swallowtails, morning cloak butterflies, all of
which prefer ash trees. Up to 20,000 insects can visit or inhabit a mature ash tree. In addition, since most
of our untreated ash trees are dead the remaining ones are even more attractive to these important
pollinators. The neonics also negatively affect birds since they eat either the larvae or the adult insects that
are either laced with the poison or simply the insects are not there anymore. Consequently, we labeled
these trees "Poison Popsicles"!
Another aspect that is not thought of by the public is the chemical is in the leaves for up to 7 years. So,
using the leaves as a compost on a landscape can spread the chemical to other plants as they uptake the
nutrients (and neonics) from the decomposing leaves. This can make other plants lethal to our native
pollinators. Leaves used on a vegetable garden can impart the chemicals to the foods we eat. These
leaves need to be landfilled and not composted which is NOT done since most people do not associate
these leaves as being toxic.
According to Gabbi Edwards, the Ames City Forester, in the spring of 2023, the city treated 154 trees for
EAB at a cost of over $27,314. It has been two years since that treatment and, according to normal
treatment scheduling, they are due to be treated again!!!! Gabbi also mentioned that at the time, the
2
reason the city treated the trees was to spread out the cost of tree removal over a longer period of
time. What has changed since then?
The loss of almost every species of pollinators is becoming more evident, not just bumblebees, monarchs
and honey bees but ALL insect species. Science has shown that neonics are a huge factor in these
losses. The evidence is piling up. We are willing to bet that MOST citizens do not know that ash tree
treatments for EAB creates a poison popsicle for not only insects/birds but even humans.
Our request of the Ames City Council is for the Ames Community to support what we've been building, a
Bird and Pollinator Friendly Community, and to quit treating ash trees for EAB. The city can divert those
dollars to be used on tree removal. Admittedly there may be an initial higher cost, but we will no longer be
spending dollars on something that will happen anyway!!
Thank you for your consideration on this important matter and for caring about human/nature/pollinator
health. Knowing the above information we are confident that the citizens of Ames will support this.
We would be glad to appear before the Council to address any questions/comments you may have. All of
our emails are on this so you can respond to all of us. All four of us serve on the City of Ames Pollinator-
Friendly Community Task Force.
Sincerely, Ames residents and/or property owners
Jamie Beyer, Gina McAndrews, Lisa Kuehl, and Tim Stewart.
Jamie Beyer
269 U Ave.
Boone, Ia 50036
Home 515/433-0194
Work/Cell 515/231-0215
beyersbog@aol.com
< *)))~
Memo
Department of Planning & Housing
To: Mayor and City Council Members
From: Vanessa Baker-Latimer, Housing Coordinator
Date: August 7, 2025
Subject: Status on the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) CDBG -CV grant fund
award to the City of Ames on behalf of The Bridge Home (TBH).
On April 14, 2025, the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) notified City staff that due
to the return of funds from previously allocated awards, IEDA has $2,000,000 of unobligated
CDBG-CV funds that must be expended within the next year. IEDA informed staff that it was
pursuing an idea to support homeless shelters around the state that experienced increased
operating costs as they work to prevent, prepare for, and/or respond to the effects of the
pandemic. IEDA asked if the City of Ames would have an interest in being a recipient of CDBG-
CV funds for this purpose, which would then pass down to IEDA/IFA -identified shelter(s) in the
Ames jurisdiction via a subrecipient agreement.
IEDA outlined that the City of Ames can apply for $75,000 for Shelter Housing Corporation
(D/B/A The Bridge Home). IEDA would also be able to award the City an additional $1,500 for
activity delivery/admin purposes. The award would be to the City for the b enefit of The Bridge
Home. The City would have to administer the grant and verify the eligible expenses of The Bridge
Home for reimbursement through the grant program. The City of Ames would be responsible for
the proper expenditure of funds in accordance with State requirements.
At the June 24, 2025, City Council meeting, the City Council authorized staff to submit an
application to IEDA for this funding on behalf of TBH subject to verification of operational
elements of the TBH. The grant funding would cover expenses for, but are not limited to: utility
assistance, insurance costs, maintenance, shelter, furniture upgrades, appliances, technology,
transportation, etc., in order to provide and prepare safer environments for socially distancing
services for families, individuals, and the elderly to have access to shelter and other services as
needed.
On July 9, 2025, the City was informed that IEDA had awarded the City of Ames CDBG-CV
funds in an amount not to exceed $76,500 ($75,000 for shelter needs and $1,500 for
administrative costs). The contract from IEDA outlined the terms and conditions for
receiving the grant funds and stipulated that both agreements needed to be signed and
returned by August 15, 2025, or the funds would be deobligated.
Staff have been working with The Bridge Home Board and The Bridge Home Interim
administrative staff, Central Iowa Shelter & Services (CISS) out of Des Moines, to finalize the
terms and conditions for the City to administer this grant on their behalf, which includes
providing to the City:
• A copy of a signed new management agreement between TBH and CISS.
• The latest financial statements for TBH.
• A statement of intent for the use of the two properties (225 S Kellogg and 227 S Kellogg)
over the next two years.
• Disclosures on any liens and mortgages on 225 S Kellogg and 227 S Kellogg and
documentation on the status of these properties.
• Proof of insurance on 225 S Kellogg and 227 S Kellogg and a letter from the insurance
provider on intent to continue providing coverage through at least May 2026.
Furthermore, the City would require that grant funds be paid directly from the City to the
vendors, and a healthy and safety (radon, lead paint, asbestos, etc.) inspections of the
properties be completed. The City would hire a professional company to conduct those
inspections and will need TBH to agree to remediate the findings within a mutually agreeable
timeline.
The subrecipient agreement would also include language that obligates TBH to continue
operation of their services for a minimum of five years after the grant closeout. Failure to comply
will require the agency to repay the City of Ames all grant funds provided .
At the July TBH Board meeting, staff shared the need to have updated financials as a condition
to commit to administering the grant. On July 30, staff followed up with an email requesting the
above information. With no response, staff sent another email on August 4, 2025, stating that in
order to meet the state’s submittal deadline of August 15, 2025, the information would need to
be submitted by noon on Thursday, August 7, 2025.
No response or information was received. Without the necessary assurances and a sub-
recipient agreement with TBH, the City cannot proceed with the IEDA grant agreement
that is required to be returned to IEDA by August 15, 2025. Therefore, the grant agreement
item was removed from the August 12, 2025 City Council agenda.
Caring People Quality Programs Exceptional Service
MEMO
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Kelly Diekmann, Planning & Housing Director
Date: August 12, 2025
Subject: Request for a Zoning Text Amendment to the Improvements of Off-Street Parking
Areas and Driveways Standards For Ag Equipment
On July 8th, City Council received a request letter from the Iowa State University Research Park
(ISURP) to review paving requirements for agricultural equipment in the Research Park
Innovation District (RI) Zone (see attached request letter). ISURP seeks an amendment to
zoning to exempt maneuvering areas that serve agricultural equipment from paving
requirements. Due to a large amount of maneuvering area on a development site, it
would be substantial cost savings.
ISURP anticipates a new development south of its current boundaries that will entail large
agricultural equipment storage and testing with a combined vehicle maneuvering area for other
aspects of the site. The subject property is in the process of annexation, and once annexed, will
be rezoned (see attached location map).
Equipment will be parked on site, both in buildings and outdoor areas, and maneuvered to a test
track area and adjoining fields for testing. All parking and maneuvering areas are required to be
paved per the City’s Improvement Standards for Off-Street Parking Areas and Driveways. The
test track area and other testing areas where gravel or dirt are functionally required are
not required to be paved. By practice, equipment storage areas that are beyond the regular
maneuvering areas of a site have not been required to be paved. In this case, the areas will
likely be intermingled, which leads to the request.
Paving of vehicle maneuvering areas has been a long-standing requirement of the Zoning
Ordinance. The requirement is intended to promote high-quality site development, reduce dust
and noise, and ensure safe, defined travel areas. This is particularly important for high-traffic
sites, where unpaved surfaces degrade quickly.
Council has considered two recent amendments to this standard:
Caring People Quality Programs Exceptional Service
MEMO
1. Basic Utilities Exception: An exception for basic utilities and other similar uses,
which are anticipated to have a low traffic volume, warranting the exception. The
exception is subject to approval by the Planning Director.
2. Long Driveway Exception (pending approval): An exception for driveways over 300
feet in length for single-family homes on agricultural, rural, or wooded lots, approved
by the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
These exceptions still require paved approaches, paved vehicle parking areas, and landscaping
as otherwise required.
Options:
The issue of paving comes up from time to time for industrial properties. Rock or gravel
maneuvering areas are a lower-cost option compared to our paving requirements. The City has
required paving for all types of areas since 2000 to ensure sites are developed consistently and
in a compatible manner. To date, only equipment storage areas have been exempted from
paving.
The ISURP request is focused on ag equipment, but other industrial uses relying on heavy
trucks or other equipment would also likely desire to have an option for reduced paving, such as
batch plants, contractor storage, seed company, truck hauling, etc.
Option 1: Exclude agricultural equipment in the Research Park Innovation District (RI) from paving
requirements subject to approval by the Planning Director.
The initial letter did not identify an approval process or limitation on the amendments; the default
approval process is staff review if ag equipment is excluded.
The letter also indicated an amendment was requested only for the RI Zone, which is unique
zoning to the Research Park.
Option 2: Exception process to paving requirements for agricultural equipment with approval by
the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
As manufacturing and processing is approved by staff through a Minor Site Development Plan in,
ZBA approval offers greater discretion, particularly regarding potential nuisances from unpaved
surfaces.
Caring People Quality Programs Exceptional Service
MEMO
Option 3: Take no action and maintain current requirements.
All vehicle parking and maneuvering areas would be required to be paved under the current
standards. Storage areas and test areas would still be exempt.
Staff Comments:
The issue is primarily related to cost of site improvements rather than functionality or allowing
for a use. The amendment is not functionally necessary for the equipment testing use. Other
equipment testing tracks in Ames, such as at Danfoss, have a paved maneuvering area that
leads to the dirt and gravel testing area or test fields. Option 3, to take no action, would require
this type of design.
Previous amendments to the paving standard were for uses with low traffic volumes. Site
access and parking would still be required to be paved, but staff believes equipment testing
would be a daily occurrence and has concerns about the appropriateness of unpaved surfaces
for frequent heavy-duty use.
If Council desires to consider the requested amendment, Option 2 would require ZBA approval.
This would better guard against approvals that could cause nuisance factors allowing for
neighbor input. This is an important consideration given the broad range of uses allowed in the
RI zone and that are located in the ISURP.
With any exception option, a paved approach in the right-of-way and for a certain
distance on-site and paved passenger vehicle parking and circulation areas would still
be required.
If Council desires to review this request and provide direction, it should be placed on a future
agenda. At that time, Council would need to determine the scope of such an applicant-initiated
amendment and whether outreach is needed for an amendment before it could be approved.
1
Hall, Renee
From:Sanders, Rick [ISRP] <rsanders@iastate.edu>
Sent:Friday, June 27, 2025 2:09 PM
To:Hall, Renee
Cc:Diekmann, Kelly
Subject:FW: Zone Text Amendment
External Email]
Hi Renee,
The Iowa State University Research Park would like to request that Council refer study of a potential zone text
amendment to RI to allow for gravel in large ag machinery uses adjoining ag (testing) ground here at the Research Park.
As we continue to grow our partnerships with ISU and ag equipment manufacturers, we have a large project in
development that requires more clarity on this as the project scope is refined.
Let me know if you need any additional information for this request.
Thank you.
R
Rick Sanders
President
Iowa State University Research Park
From: Diekmann, Kelly <kelly.diekmann@cityofames.org>
Sent: Friday, June 27, 2025 1:58 PM
To: Sanders, Rick [ISRP] <rsanders@iastate.edu>
Subject: RE: Zone Text Amendment
Hi Rick, it would be a standard referral request. At this point just has to cover what you
need it to do. Send it to the City Clerk by next Wednesday the 2nd if you want it with the
non-agenda packet for July 8th.
Once it is referred staff will recommend to Council if it should be narrow or broad in its
application.
Kelly Diekmann
Planning and Housing Director
2
515.239.5400- main| 515.239.5181 direct| 515.239.5404 -fax
kelly.diekmann@cityofames.org | City Hall, 515 Clark Avenue | Ames, IA 50010
www.CityofAmes.org | ~ Caring People ~ Quality Programs ~ Exceptional Service ~
From: Sanders, Rick [ISRP] <rsanders@iastate.edu>
Sent: Friday, June 27, 2025 12:22 PM
To: Diekmann, Kelly <kelly.diekmann@cityofames.org>
Subject: RE: Zone Text Amendment
External Email]
Hi Kelly,
Just digging into this (FYI - Kyle left the RP for a great opportunity at Casey’s).
We would like to proceed with this request. We can make it as narrow as you would like to simply cover the
proposed new facility as well as the way that the Deere Spray Lab and ISU Digital Ag have evolved to operate in
practice.
Let me know what you need from me or if you would like to discuss further. As an FYI, I have Steve and Brian today
at 4pm if you want to stop up. I will mention this to them as well.
Best,
R
From: Martin, Kyle [ISRP] <kmartin5@IASTATE.EDU>
Sent: Monday, June 23, 2025 11:01 AM
To: Sanders, Rick [ISRP] <rsanders@iastate.edu>; Doyle, Alison M [ISRP] <adoyle@iastate.edu>
Subject: FW: Zone Text Amendment
My communication with Kelly regarding edit to RI zone. A email to council and mayor with Kelly cc’d is all that is needed
to initiate process.
The text amendment just needs to add gravel for large ag machinery.
Kyle
From: Diekmann, Kelly <kelly.diekmann@cityofames.org>
Sent: Monday, June 9, 2025 8:37 AM
To: Martin, Kyle [ISRP] <kmartin5@IASTATE.EDU>
Subject: RE: Zone Text Amendment
3
Is there confirmation by John Deere of proceeding with the project? I think you indicated
ISURP would know more the first week of June?
Kelly Diekmann
Planning and Housing Director
515.239.5400- main| 515.239.5181 direct| 515.239.5404 -fax
kelly.diekmann@cityofames.org | City Hall, 515 Clark Avenue | Ames, IA 50010
www.CityofAmes.org | ~ Caring People ~ Quality Programs ~ Exceptional Service ~
From: Martin, Kyle [ISRP] <kmartin5@IASTATE.EDU>
Sent: Monday, June 9, 2025 8:29 AM
To: Diekmann, Kelly <kelly.diekmann@cityofames.org>
Subject: RE: Zone Text Amendment
External Email]
Hi Kelly-
I’ll talk to Rick about when he wants to submit this. Thanks for the reminder.
Kyle
From: Diekmann, Kelly <kelly.diekmann@cityofames.org>
Sent: Thursday, June 5, 2025 7:44 AM
To: Martin, Kyle [ISRP] <kmartin5@IASTATE.EDU>
Subject: RE: Zone Text Amendment
Hi Kyle, I don’t think this ever was submitted to Council. I would recommend getting it in
this week if you can.
Kelly Diekmann
Planning and Housing Director
515.239.5400- main| 515.239.5181 direct| 515.239.5404 -fax
kelly.diekmann@cityofames.org | City Hall, 515 Clark Avenue | Ames, IA 50010
www.CityofAmes.org | ~ Caring People ~ Quality Programs ~ Exceptional Service ~
4
From: Diekmann, Kelly
Sent: Friday, April 11, 2025 9:35 AM
To: Martin, Kyle [ISRP] <kmartin5@IASTATE.EDU>
Subject: RE: Zone Text Amendment
It is a letter/email to the Mayor and City Council. CC the city clerk and me when you send
it.
Kelly Diekmann
Planning and Housing Director
515.239.5400- main| 515.239.5181 direct| 515.239.5404 -fax
kelly.diekmann@cityofames.org | City Hall, 515 Clark Avenue | Ames, IA 50010
www.CityofAmes.org | ~ Caring People ~ Quality Programs ~ Exceptional Service ~
From: Martin, Kyle [ISRP] <kmartin5@IASTATE.EDU>
Sent: Thursday, April 10, 2025 3:31 PM
To: Diekmann, Kelly <kelly.diekmann@cityofames.org>
Subject: Zone Text Amendment
External Email]
Kelly-
I’d like to being the process to submit a zone text amendment to RI to allow for gravel in large ag machinery uses. What
do you need from me to submit?
I didn’t see a formal document online. Let me know next steps.
Kyle
Kyle Martin
Operations Manager
1805 Collaboration Place, Suite 1250
Ames, IA 50010
5
P 515-296-0735
C 515-231-3770
kmartin5@iastate.edu
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