HomeMy WebLinkAboutA002 - November 18, 2025, Joint Meeting of the Ames City Council and Ames Human Relations Commission1
SUMMARY OF MINTUES OF THE JOINT MEETING OF THE
AMES CITY COUNCIL AND AMES HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
AMES, IOWA NOVEMBER 18, 2025
The Joint Meeting of the Ames City Council and Ames Human Relations Commission
was called to order by Mayor John Haila at 6:00 p.m. on the 18th day of November, 2025,
in the City Council Chambers in City Hall, 515 Clark Avenue, pursuant to law. Present
were Council Members Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen, Gloria Betcher, Tim Gartin, Rachel
Junck, and Anita Rollins. Ex officio Emily Boland was also present. Representatives from
the Ames Human Relations Commission (AHRC) were also in attendance including Chair
Annabella Marquez and Staff Liaison Casandra Eames.
2024 AMES HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION ANNUAL REPORT: Chair Marquez
presented the annual report, highlighting engagement and outreach opportunities the
members participated in, and engaged with questions from the City Council.
Moved by Beatty-Hansen, seconded by Gartin, to direct the Mayor to reach out to the
Iowa Office of Civil Rights to request the civil rights complaints data or obtain an
explanation for the refusal to release it.
Vote on Motion: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
Moved by Beatty-Hansen, seconded by Gartin, to direct the City Attorney to pursue a
Freedom of Information Action request related to the civil rights complaints data.
Vote on Motion: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
DISCUSSION ON MODIFICATIONS TO MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 14: Staff Liaison
Eames discussed proposed modifications to Municipal Code Chapter 14, highlighting that
the revisions would clarify the function of the Commission.
Mayor Haila opened the Public Input.
Senator Herman Quirmbach, 1007 Jarrett Circle, noted that two recent changes at the
state level merit reconsideration of the City's approach in Chapter 14. He recommended
that the City Council direct the City Attorney to develop language for prohibitions against
gender identity discrimination in housing, employment, and public accommodations in the
Municipal Code, and create local procedures to implement such ordinances.
Lilian Atchison, 320 Hillcrest Avenue, representing the Coalition for University Equity,
expressed strong support for the City adding gender identity as a protected class in the
Municipal Code. She emphasized the necessity of these protections for maintaining the
cohesion of the community and ensuring the safety of all its members.
Erin O’Brien, 3008 West Street, a member of the Coalition for University Equity and
transgender student at Iowa State University, shared the personal impact resulting from
the recent changes in Iowa state law, specifically the removal of gender identity
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protections from the Iowa Civil Rights Act and urged the City to take decisive action by
enshrining gender identity protections in the Municipal Code.
Mayor Haila closed the Public Input when no one else came forward to speak.
Moved by Beatty-Hansen, seconded by Junck, to direct staff to place an item on a future
City Council agenda to discuss the proposed ordinance update based on
recommendations from Ames Human Relations Commission with consideration of the
comments received from Public Input and a memo from the City Attorney.
Vote on Motion: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
COMMISION COMMENTS: None.
ADJOURNMENT: Moved by Betcher, seconded by Rollins, to adjourn the meeting at 6:24
p.m.
Vote on Motion: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
_______________________________ _______________________________
Carly M. Watson, Deputy City Clerk John A. Haila, Mayor
_______________________________
Renee Hall, City Clerk