HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Special Meeting of the Ames City Council Minutes August 19, 2025MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE AMES CITY COUNCIL
AMES, IOWA AUGUST 19, 2025
The Ames City Council was called to order by Mayor John Haila at 6:06 p.m. on the 19th
day of August, 2025, in the Homewood Golf Course Clubhouse, 401 East 20th Street. City
Council Members present were Gloria Betcher, Tim Gartin, Rachel Junck, and Anita
Rollins. Council Members Amber Corrieri and Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen joined the meeting
electronically. City Manager Steve Schainker, Assistant City Manager Brian Phillips,
Assistant City Manager Pa Vang Goldbeck, and City Attorney Mark Lambert were also
present.
CONSENT AGENDA: Moved by Gartin, seconded by Betcher, to approve the consent
agenda.
1. RESOLUTION NO. 25-417 approving waiver of parking meter fees on the 2500
blocks of Chamberlain Street and Hunt Street and in Campustown Lot T on August
29-30, September 5-6, and September 26-27, 2025
Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and
hereby made a portion of these Minutes.
COUNCIL GOAL UPDATE: Mayor Haila referred the City Council members to an excerpt
from the ICMA “PM” magazine, distinguishing between Functional Governance and
Dysfunctional Governance. The City Council members discussed how effective they
believed they were at behaviors that support functional governance.
The discussion turned to the specific values, goals, and tasks that the City Council had
adopted. Assistant City Manager Pa Vang Goldbeck reviewed the status of each task.
Council Member Betcher stated that the status of some items was listed as “Completed,”
but those items could remain as ongoing activities.
During a discussion of the process for delivering City Council materials, Council Member
Betcher indicated that she has been unable to access the packet of Communications to
Council on the City’s website.
City Manager Steve Schainker then provided a document outlining several major pending
capital projects that need to be prioritized, along with their estimated costs. These
included:
1. Animal Control Shelter ($3,000,000)
2. Fire Station No. 2 Relocation ($10,500,000)
3. Ontario Park Development ($8,000,000 to $10,000,000)
4. Recreation Center ($12,000,000 to $15,000,000)
5. Fire Station No. 4 ($1,500,000)
6. Downtown Plan (Estimated Cost Currently Unknown)
7. Parking Ramp North of the Tracks ($16,000,000)
8. Incentive Requests from Developers for Four Subdivisions ($10,000,000)
9. Conference Center in the LINC (Estimated Cost Currently Unknown)
City Manager Schainker explained that he was seeking perspective from the City Council
as to how these initiatives should be prioritized. The Fire Station No. 2 Relocation project
was the closest to fruition, but the deadline to place a referendum on the November ballot
was soon. The City Council Members shared how they viewed the projects and initiatives.
It was desired that a discussion occur at the September 9 , 2025, City Council meeting
regarding the Fire Station No. 2 project.
COUNCIL COMMENTS: Council Member Betcher stated that she and Council Member
Rollins were participating in discussions to seek to host the International Town and Gown
Conference in 2027.
ADJOURNMENT: Moved by Betcher, seconded by Gartin, to adjourn the meeting at
8:45 p.m.
Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
_______________________________ _______________________________
Brian Phillips, Assistant City Manager John A. Haila, Mayor
_______________________________
Renee Hall, City Clerk