HomeMy WebLinkAboutA012 - Resolution approving waiver of parking enforcement in Lot Q from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Ames United Church of Christ for the Theologian in Residence Program on Saturday, October 25, 2025ITEM #:14
DATE:10-14-25
DEPT:ADMIN
SUBJECT:REQUEST FROM AMES UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST FOR THE
THEOLOGIAN IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25,
2025
COUNCIL ACTION FORM
BACKGROUND:
Ames United Church of Christ (UCC) is planning to host its annual Theologian in Residence
Program on Saturday, October 25, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The event is free and open to
the public.
In order to facilitate this event, Ames UCC has requested approval to waive parking fees and
enforcement in Lot Q (north of the Library) to provide parking for event attendees. It is
estimated that the waiver of metered parking fees will result in a loss of $84 to the Parking
Fund. The Council should note that the attached request letter includes waivers for other on-
street parking areas, but upon review those areas are already unmetered and no Council
action is necessary related to them.
The Council’s policy regarding parking waivers is to consider requests such as this one on a
case-by-case basis, as opposed to requiring reimbursement for lost parking revenue. Lost
parking revenue is only required to be reimbursed under this policy when the parking waiver is
District-wide.
The City Council has previously approved parking meter fee waivers for special events
occurring on city streets and for celebration events for non-profit organizations. The
City Attorney has advised that approving the waiver of parking meter fees for this event
will establish a precedent that parking meter fees are to be waived not only for events
occurring on streets and sidewalks or in public buildings, but also within private
establishments or businesses.
Staff can only recall one instance in recent memory where the City Council has
authorized a waiver of parking meter fees for a function taking place inside a non-
governmental building, and occurring during metered hours, for the Ames History
Museum Grand Reopening in 2024. For that event, the majority of the activities took
place inside the museum, and metered parking in front of the building was closed (and
fees waived) to allow for classic cars to be parked outside.
The City Council may find that the Ames History Museum event is distinct from the
present request, in that it was for an organization that the City provides direct financial
support for, and the parking spaces were used for classic cars to be parked rather than
for prospective attendees of the event.
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ALTERNATIVES:
1. Approve the request for the Theologian in Residence Program for the waiver of parking
fees and enforcement in Lot Q, but require reimbursement for lost parking revenue .
2. Approve the request for the Theologian in Residence Program for the waiver of parking
fees and enforcement in Lot Q, resulting in an $84 loss to the Parking Fund.
3. Deny the request.
CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION:
The Theologian in Residence Program is an annual event at United Church of Christ.
Although staff has identified one recent instance of a non-governmental organization
receiving a waiver for metered parking, the waiver was for parking classic cars in
conjunction with the event rather than for attendee parking, and the organization is one
that receives direct City funding. Staff believes that these are fundamental differences
than the request presently before the City Council.
Assuming the City Council agrees with that interpretation, and in order to avoid
establishing a precedent that parking meter fees are to be waived for events within
private establishments or businesses, it is therefore the recommendation of the City
Manager that the City Council adopt Alternative No. 1, as noted above.
ATTACHMENT(S):
10.25.25 Parking Requests from UCC.pdf
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