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Home My WebLink AboutA009 - April 28, 2026, Regular Meeting of the Ames City CouncilITEM #:13 DATE:04-28-26 DEPT:ADMIN SUBJECT:REQUESTS FOR AMES PRIDEFEST COUNCIL ACTION FORM BACKGROUND: Ames Pride, a non-profit organization dedicated to building community for LGBTQIA+ people in the City of Ames, is proposing to host its sixth annual Ames Pridefest from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 10. Ames Pridefest is an all-ages and family-friendly event featuring various vendors, entertainment, and food trucks. An estimated 1,500 people are anticipated to attend. To facilitate this event, Ames Pride has requested the following for Saturday, October 10, 2026: Closure of Fifth Street from Kellogg Avenue to the alley east of Adams Funeral Home and closure of the 400 and 500 Blocks of Douglas Avenue from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. A blanket Temporary Obstruction Permit A blanket Vending License and waiver of fee ($50 loss to the City Clerk's Office) Closure of 84 on-street metered parking spaces along Fifth Street and Douglas Avenue within the event area, and waiver of fees (estimated loss of $189 to the Parking Fund) Suspension of enforcement for 24 metered parking spaces in Kellogg Lot S and 58 metered parking spaces in Library Lot Q to provide free parking to event attendees and Downtown visitors. Reserved spaces within these lots would remain available to the regular permit holders during the event. Event organizers have noted that Ames Pride will pay for these metered spaces (estimated $184.50 to the Parking Fund). The spaces in Lots S and Q would be available to attendees at Pridefest or anyone else visiting Downtown during the event. The spaces would not be reserved exclusively for Pridefest attendees. Staff has calculated the lost revenue for these spaces, which would be reimbursed by Ames Pride, to be $184.50. The City Council approved the parking request in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Ames Main Street has submitted a letter in support of the event. The organizers will notify affected businesses and residents about the event and will place signs in the affected area prior to the event. Organizers will also obtain a noise permit from the Police Department for this event. 1 ALTERNATIVES: 1. Approve the requests for Ames Pridefest on Saturday, October 10, including the requested waiver of fee for the Vending License, and waive the fees for metered parking only in the event location . Parking enforcement in Lots S and Q would only be suspended upon receipt of reimbursement for lost parking meter fees of $184.50. This would result in a loss of $189 to the Parking Fund ($0.50/hour * 50% est. utilization * 84 meters * 9 metered hours). 2. Approve the requests, but do not allow the suspension of meter enforcement in Lots S and Q. 3. Do not approve the requests. CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION: This event furthers the City Council’s goal of promoting a sense of one community by facilitating an event in the Downtown district that provides a variety of entertainment, music, and resources for the community. The organization has a history of holding this event successfully in previous years. Therefore, it is the recommendation of the City Manager that the City Council approve Alternative No. 1, as described above. ATTACHMENT(S): 2026 AMS Letter of Support for Pridefest.pdf Application - Pridefest 2026 Pridefest Site Plan.pdf 2 304 Main Street, Ames, IA 50010 | 515.233.3472 | AmesDowntown.org Ames Main Street advances and promotes Downtown Ames as the heart of the Ames community. February 25, 2026 Ames City Council City Hall 515 Clark Ave Ames, IA 50010 Subject: Letter of Support for Ames Pridefest 2026 Dear Mayor Haila and Members of the Ames City Council, On behalf of the Ames Main Street board of directors, I am writing to express our strong support for the annual Ames Pridefest, scheduled for Saturday, October 10, at the intersection of 5th St. and Douglas Ave. This event, organized by Ames Pride in partnership with the Ames Public Library, is an important celebration of diversity, inclusion, and community within our city. Ames Pridefest has become a staple event in our downtown, creating a welcoming and vibrant atmosphere for residents and visitors alike. It not only strengthens our community’s commitment to inclusivity but also contributes to the economic vitality of Ames by drawing attendees to our local businesses and downtown spaces. According to our reports, in 2025 nearly 20,000 people attended Ames Pridefest, creating the highest spike of visitors in Downtown Ames for the entire year. Ames Main Street has been proud to support this event in the past, and we look forward to seeing its continued success. We encourage the City Council to approve the necessary permits and resources to ensure another successful Pridefest. Ames Main Street is committed to fostering a downtown that is inclusive and thriving, and we believe this event aligns perfectly with that mission. Thank you for your time and consideration. Please feel free to reach out if we can provide further support. Respectfully, Travis Toliver, IOM Executive Director 3 4 Event Name Ames Pridefest 2026 Date 10/10/2026 If your event is more than one day, please specify date range. Location/Address Douglas Avenue from Main to 6th; 5th Street from Duff to Kellogg Rain Date (if applicable) Rain Location (if applicable) Upload the event site plan here:2026 Pridefest site plan.pdf Is this an annual event?Yes How many years?7 Region Ames Main Street (Downtown) Upload your letter of support from AREA here. Upload your letter of support from ISU here. Upload your letter of support from Ames Main Street here.2026 AMS Letter of Support for Pridefest.pdf Please explain: Timeline Friday, October 9 4-6p - hooding/signage on parking meters in event area, load-in at Ames Public Library (APL) Saturday, October 10 5-9a - Set-up - barricade placement - towing of vehicles - stage delivery and placement - trashcan/potty placement 9a - vendor and volunteer check-in - programming inside APL 11a - event begins - vendor fair and entertainment 6p - event ends 6-8p - teardown and cleanup Description of Event Activities Ames Pridefest 2026 will utilize street space for community vendors (businesses, non-profits and educational organizations, etc), food vendors and a stage for entertainment (bands, speakers, spoken word, drag performers). The event will also use indoor meeting space at the Ames Public Library for additional programming (educational/panel discussions, children's activities, etc). Our inaugural event was held in Bandshell Park in October of 2017. Ames Pridefest moved to Douglas Avenue and 5th Street after that and has used the same footprint for all of our in-person festivals since - Douglas Avenue between 6th to Main Streets and 5th Street between Duff and Kellogg Avenues. Event Category Festival/Celebration Is the event open to the public?Yes Event Details 2 of 7 5 Event boundary Barricades, cones, emergency access First aid station / information tent 20-foot access lane Food vendors/cooking locations Generator area Stage, tents Portable toilets, trash containers 6