HomeMy WebLinkAboutA012 - Resolution authorizing City staff to apply for and participate in 2026-27 Green Iowa AmeriCorps hostingITEM #:14
DATE:01-27-26
DEPT:ADMIN
SUBJECT:GREEN IOWA AMERICORPS HOSTING
COUNCIL ACTION FORM
BACKGROUND:
I n January 2025, City Council authorized staff to apply to become a Green Iowa AmeriCorps
(GIA) host site. This application was successful, and the City has hosted two GIA positions
since October 2025. Staff is seeking authorization to participate in the next program year,
including two positions from October 2026 to August 2027, and a summer position from June
to August 2026.
Green Iowa AmeriCorps is a state-wide community service program founded in 2009. The
program partners with over 20 city and county governments, school districts, non-profits, and
conservation organizations in Iowa to support community-specific environmental sustainability
efforts. Program partners that choose to participate are known as host sites. The members
commit to serving in a three-quarter time position, roughly 26-28 hours per week, for a set 11-
month term from October to the following August. Host sites may also receive one or more
three-month summer positions at no additional cost. Services host sites may receive through
the program can include, but are not limited to:
Energy efficiency audits and weatherization for homes and businesses.
Conservation work, including tree planting, prairie maintenance, water quality monitoring,
and prescribed burns.
Reduction in waste through waste auditing.
Promotion of recycling and composting within the community.
Greenhouse gas inventorying for climate action planning, and more.
The two members serving with the City are mainly focused on energy services and
environmental education. Energy services involve conducting energy audits and directly
installing energy-efficient measures such as weather stripping, caulking, pipe insulation, LED
lights, and low-flow sink aerators. Energy services are offered at no cost to Ames residents.
Examples of completed environmental education activities include elementary school science
nights, tabling at community events, and a pollinator-themed story time at the Ames Public
Library. The GIA program sets performance goals for each host site, including the number of
energy audits and educational programs completed. Detailed metrics for the City of Ames are
attached, and the members are on track to meet or exceed each metric.
The host site fee for the 2026-27 program year is $12,000. Funds are budgeted for this
program by the Electric Department Demand Side Management Program, as energy audits
and weatherization activities benefit the electric utility through energy efficiency and demand
reductions. GIA members work closely with the Electric and Water and Pollution Control
Departments to procure weatherization supplies and coordinate educational programs focused
on the utility.
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ALTERNATIVES:
1. Authorize staff to apply for and participate in 2026-27 Green Iowa AmeriCorps hosting
for two positions.
2. Do not authorize the City of Ames applying as a host site at this time.
CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION:
The Green Iowa AmeriCorps program aligns with the City's sustainability goals, and the
current positions are a key part of the City's boots on the ground implementation of the Climate
Action Plan. The program fee is a cost-effective investment for the City of Ames in peak
demand electric and water use reductions and community engagement. Therefore, it is the
recommendation of the City Manager that the City Council adopt Alternative No. 1, as noted
above.
ATTACHMENT(S):
Ames 25-26 GIA Metrics.pdf
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25-26 GIA Metrics for City of Ames Sustainability
This document provides a breakdown of GIA Metrics to be completed by Green Iowa
AmeriCorps members serving at the above host site. Please review the Reporting 101 Slides for
more detailed information about these metrics.
Required GIA Metrics for this site
Metric Minimum # to
Complete
Educational Programs 15
Educational Participants 250
Outreach Events 20
Volunteers 120
Volunteer Service Hours 220
Trees Planted 25
Tree Survey/Mapping Projects -
Water Quality Events 2
Waste Reduction or Removal Projects 2
School, Community, or Backyard Gardens installed or
maintained
-
Energy Audits 50
Weatherizations/Retrofits/Energy Saver Kits (ESKs) 50
Households Indicating a Reduction in Energy Use or Cost 15
Energy Efficiency Projects 1
Carbon Management Projects 1
GIA Program Metric Totals
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All sites play a role in contributing to our programs total
performance metric goals, each site is unique in what they bring to the table and
contribute each term. Here’s the minimum numbers of what we, as a program, are
planning to complete this term!
Program Totals
(Minimums)
Metric
500 Educational Programs
7,500 Educational Participants
420 Outreach Events
2,400 Volunteers
4,800 Volunteer Service Hours
1,500 Trees Planted
10 Tree Survey/Mapping Projects
50 Water Quality Events
25 Waste Reduction or Removal Projects
25 School, Community, or Backyard Gardens installed or
maintained
240 Energy Audits
240 Weatherizations/Retrofits/Energy Saver Kits (ESKs)
85 Households Indicating a Reduction in Energy Use or Cost
6 Energy Efficiency Projects
6 Carbon Management Projects
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