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Home My WebLink AboutA007 - Requests from Ames Main Street for Winter Sidewalk Sales on January 8-11, 2026ITEM #:7 DATE:11-18-25 DEPT:ADMIN SUBJECT:REQUESTS FROM AMES MAIN STREET FOR WINTER SIDEWALK SALES ON JANUARY 8-11, 2026 COUNCIL ACTION FORM BACKGROUND: Ames Main Street is again hosting Winter Sidewalk Sales from January 8-11, 2026. At this event, downtown businesses display merchandise on the sidewalks for pedestrians to browse. To facilitate this event, organizers are requesting suspension of parking regulations and enforcement for the Downtown from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 10 ($1,370.25 estimated loss to the Parking Fund). A blanket Temporary Obstruction Permit has also been requested for Saturday, January 10, 2026. In February 2020, the City Council adopted the following policy regarding metered parking waivers: Metered parking fees will not be waived for special events. Any event organizers intending to provide free parking or to close metered parking spaces must reimburse the City’s Parking Fund for the lost revenue. The City Council may consider waivers to this policy on a case-by-case basis for parking spaces that are obstructed by the event area (not for area-wide free parking). The adopted FY 2025/26 City budget contains $10,000 in funding in the Hotel/Motel Tax Fund to reimburse the Parking Fund for lost meter revenue associated with special events. With City Council approval, a transfer in the amount of $1,370.25 will be made from the Hotel/Motel Tax Fund to the Parking Fund to cover the lost revenue. ALTERNATIVES: 1. Approve the requests for Winter Sidewalk Sales as requested by Ames Main Street, including the waiver of fees for parking and vending, and transfer $1,370.25 from the Hotel/Motel Tax Fund to the Parking Fund. 2. Approve the requests for Sidewalk Sales, but require reimbursement for lost parking meter revenue. 3. Deny the requests. CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION: Winter Sidewalk Sales is a successful event for the Downtown that attracts people to the Downtown and promotes shopping locally. These requests further the City Council’s goal to strengthen Downtown. Therefore, it is the recommendation of the City 1 Manager that the City Council adopt Alternative No. 1, as described above. ATTACHMENT(S): Downtown Winter Sidewalk Sales Application.pdf 2 Travis Toliver, IOM Executive Director travis@amesalliance.com 304 Main Street, Ames, IA 50010 |515.233.3472 |DowntownAmes.org Ames Main Street advances and promotes Downtown Ames as the heart of the Ames community. October 30, 2025 Mayor and City Councill City of Ames 515 Clark Ave Ames, IA 50010 Dear Mayor Haila and Members of the Ames City Council, Ames Main Street is planning to hold the annual Winter Sidewalk Sales event from January 8 through January 11, 2026. Specific information about the event can be found on the included Special Event Application. Additionally, we request a Temporary Obstruction Permit and a waiver of fees for free parking in City of Ames meters throughout the Downtown Ames District on Saturday, January 10, 2026. By bringing residents to Downtown Ames for attractions such as this, Ames Main Street is able to fulfill its mission as a Main Street Iowa community and create an economically vibrant downtown with unique living, dining, and entertainment experiences. Thank you for your consideration of this request and continued support of Ames Main Street. We look forward to seeing you shopping in Downtown Ames! Sincerely, Travis Toliver Executive Director Ames Main Street 3 1 For Office Use Only Documents Received Date: ____________________ ___ Completed Application ___ Fireworks Application ($25 fee) ___ Insurance Certificate ___ Public Safety & Event Management Plan ___ Site Plan/Route Map ($25 fee) (Road Race) ___ Vendor List ($50 fee/each) ___ Parking fees Special Events Meeting Date ____________________ Time ____________________ Room ___________________ Documents Sent: ___ Alcohol License ABD ________________ ___ Fireworks Permit ___ Road Race Permit ___ TOP ___sĞŶĚŝŶŐ Permit ___ Other ________________ Departments Included ___ City Manager: Brian Phillips and Tasheik Kerr ___ CyRide: Jenny Bethurem or Rob Holm ___ Electric: Mark Imhoff ___ Fire: Jason Ziph or Rich Higgins ___ Parks & Rec: Craig Kaufman or Joshua Thompson ___ Public Works: Brad Becker or Dave Cole ___ Police:dŽŵ^ŚĞůƚŽŶ or DŝŬĞƌŬŽǀŝĐŚ ___ Water:,ĞŝĚŝ WĞƚĞƌƐĞŶ ___ Risk Management: Bill Walton CAA:^ĂƌĂŚǀŽƌƐŬǇ D^:^ĂƌĂŚǀŽƌƐŬǇ ISU: Events Authorization Committee City Council Meeting Date _____________________ ___ Added to Agenda with CAF Approved Y N Reminder Date ____________ SPECIAL EVENT APPLICATION Applications received less than thirty (30) days before the event may not be processed by the City in time for the event and will automatically be denied. Each application is viewed as a new event regardless of previous occasions. Event Name Location/Address Region (Select one or more) $PHVMain Street (Downtown) Campustown District Iowa State University Property City Parks Other (please explain) Please note that events occurring in the Downtown, Campustown, in City parks, or on ISU property require prior approvals. A letter of support will be required from CAA if the event occurs in Campustown or from $PHV0DLQ6WUHHW if the event occurs in Downtown. Please contact the appropriate office well in advance: Downtown -$PHV0DLQ6WUHHW: (515) 23- &ampustown Action Association: (515)- ISU - Events Authorization Committee: (515) 294-1437 GLUHFWRU@amesdowntown.org VDUDKG#DPHVFKDPEHUFRP eventauthorization@iastate.edu TIMELINE Detailed Description of Event Activities (written overview of event and what’s going to happen) Event Ends Date Time M T W R F Sa Su Teardown Complete Date Time M T W R F Sa Su Event Category Concert/Performance Farmer/Outdoor Market Other (please explain) Athletic/Recreation Exhibits/Misc. Festival/Celebration Parade/Procession/March Rain Date Rain Location Yes No Is this an annual event? If yes, how many years? Setup Date Time M T W R F Sa Su Event Starts Date Time M T W R F Sa Su Žƌ<ĞǀŝŶ'ƌŝĞƐ Downtown Ames Winter Sidewalk Sales Downtown Ames ✔ 1/8/2026 1/11/2026 Downtown Ames Winter Sidewalk Sales is a semi-annual event during which businesses will offer sales, promotions, and discounts on the sidewalk immediately in front of their place of business. Shoppers should also be drawn to the free parking in all Downtown Ames on Saturday! ✔ 4 2 CONTACTS State Zip Code Cell Phone Cell Phone Sponsor/Applicant Name Address City Daytime Phone E-mail Alternate Contact Name Daytime Phone E-mail ATTENDANCE Anticipated Daily Attendance Yes No Is this event open to the public? Is your event being held in conjunction with another event (e.g.Farmers' Market, 4th of July, etc.)? If yes, please list: ORGANIZATION STATUS/PROCEEDS For-Profit Bona Fide Tax Exempt Nonprofit Yes No Are patron admission, entry, or participant fees required? If yes, please describe and provide amounts: Are vendor or other fees required? If yes, please provide amounts: Percentage of net proceeds going towards fundraising % Percentage of net proceeds going towards for-profit entity % SECURITY Ames Police Department 24 hour non-emergency phone number: 515-239-5133 Please complete the course at https://www.crowdmanagers.com/training for crowd management training. Yes No Have you hired a professional security company to develop and manage your event’s security plan? If yes, please fill out the following information: Security Organization State Zip Phone Address City Email Travis Toliver, Downtown Ames 304 Main Street Ames Iowa 50010 515-232-2310 701-200-3871 travis@amesalliance.com Sarah Hurley 515-232-2310 319-930-2276 Sarah@amesalliance.com 1,000 ✔ 5 6