Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutA001 - June 23, 2026, Regular Meeting of the Ames City Council, Extended Minutes1 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE AMES CITY COUNCIL AMES, IOWA JUNE 23, 2026 The Regular Meeting of the Ames City Council was called to order by Mayor John Haila at 6:07 p.m. on the 23rd day of June, 2026, in the City Council Chambers in City Hall, 515 Clark Avenue, pursuant to law. Present were Council Members Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen, Amber Corrieri, Rachel Junck, Anita Rollins, and Tim Gartin. Ex officio Trey Anderson was also present. Council Member Gloria Betcher joined the meeting telephonically. Mayor John Haila opened the meeting with a welcome and acknowledgment of the attendees' interest in various topics, particularly the upcoming discussion on the data center project. He expressed gratitude for public involvement and assured that the City Council was taking into account the numerous emails and communications regarding residents' concerns. He emphasized that no decisions would be made about the data center project at the meeting, as it was intended for presentations and questions from the members of the City Council, with opportunity for public input scheduled for a future Special Meeting of the City Council on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. PRESENTATION ON DISCOVER AMES YEARLY REPORT : Kevin Bourke, President and CEO of Discover Ames, presented the annual report. He reported that visitor economic impact for Story County in 2025 reached $243.6 million, an increase of $15.5 million over 2024, and generated over $51 million in taxes. President Bourke noted that lodging accounted for only approximately 19 percent of visitor spending, underscoring the importance of attracting day visitors in addition to overnight guests. President Bourke outlined the five strategic pillars of Discover Ames: Marketing Leadership, Business Development, Community Engagement, Place Making, and University Relationship. Highlights included more than 2 million social media impressions across all channels, the secured Boys State Basketball Championship for March 2027, a two-year extension of the Girls State Soccer contract through 2029, approximately $1.3 million in economic impact from National Senior Games events held in Ames, and $119,000 in community grants supporting 39 events. Council Member Betcher asked President Bourke to identify the organization's greatest challenge in the coming years. President Bourke cited the lack of adequate event facilities as the primary constraint, noting that Discover Ames was actively booking events for 2029 through 2031 in anticipation of The Linc development. Rising costs and limited availability of Iowa State University facilities were identified as secondary challenges. CONSENT AGENDA: Mayor Haila pulled Item No. 14 for clarification. Moved by Corrieri, seconded by Junck, to approve the Consent Agenda less Item No. 14. 2. Motion approving payment of claims 3. Motion approving Report of Change Orders for period of June 1 -15, 2026 4. Motion approving Summary of Minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting on 2 June 9, 2026, and Summary of Minutes of the Special City Council Meeting on June 16, 2026 5. Motion approving new Class E Retail Alcohol License - World Liquor & Tobacco + Vapors, 111 Duff Avenue 6. Motion approving new Class C Retail Alcohol License with Catering Privilege - Los Compadres, 1610 S Kellogg Avenue, Pending Favorable Inspection 7. Motion approving new 5-Day (July 15-19, 2026) Special Class C Retail Alcohol License - Apres Bar Co, 520 6th Street 8. Motion approving Temporary Outdoor Service for Class C Retail Alcohol License with Outdoor Service - Torrent Brewing Company, LLC, 504 Burnett Avenue, Midnight Madness 9. Motion approving the renewal of the following Alcohol Licenses: a. Kwik Star #1158, 1910 Isaac Newton Drive, Class E Retail Alcohol License b. Northcrest Community, 1801 20th Street, Special Class C Retail Alcohol License with Outdoor Service c. Red Lobster #0747, 1100 Buckeye Avenue, Class C Retail Alcohol License d. Welch Ave Station, 207 Welch Avenue Ste 101, Class C Retail Alcohol License e. Botanero Latino, 604 East Lincoln Way, Special Class C Retail Alcohol License with Outdoor Service f. Ichiban Japanese Restaurant, 117 Welch Avenue, Special Class C Retail Alcohol License 10. RESOLUTION NO. 26-387 approving closure of 5th Street from Kellogg Avenue to Library exit and additional metered parking spaces for Ames History Museum Big Bash on July 3, 2026 11. RESOLUTION NO. 26-388 approving salaries for Council Appointees for FY 2026/27 12. RESOLUTION NO. 26-389 approving the FY 2026/27 Pay Plan 13. RESOLUTION NO. 26-390 approving and adopting Supplement No. 2026 -3 to the Municipal Code 14. RESOLUTION NO. 26-391 adopting annual fee schedule for FY 2026/27 15. RESOLUTION NO. 26-392 approving Commission on the Arts (COTA) Fall 2026 Special Project Grant Contracts 16. RESOLUTION NO. 26-393 approving an Interfund Loan from the Electric Fund to the Resource Recovery Fund 17. RESOLUTION NO. 26-394 approving amendment to Intergovernmental Agreement for Combined Law Enforcement Investigations of Controlled Substances 18. RESOLUTION NO. 26-395 approving contract renewal with ABM Industry Groups, LLC, of Des Moines, IA, for Custodial Services for Ames Public Library for the one - year period from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, in an amount not-to-exceed $101,620.44 19. RESOLUTION NO. 26-396 approving contract renewal with TEI Construction Services Inc., of Duncan, SC, for Boiler Maintenance Services Contract for Power Plant for the one-year period from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, in an amount not-to-exceed $250,000 3 20. RESOLUTION NO. 26-397 approving contract renewal with InfoSend Inc., of Downers Grove, IL, for print to mail services for the one -year period from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, in an amount not -to-exceed $208,500 21. RESOLUTION NO. 26-398 approving contract with Apache Industrial, of La Vista, NE, for the Scaffolding and Related Services and Supply Contract at the Power Plant for the one-year period from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, in an amount not-to-exceed $90,000 22. RESOLUTION NO. 26-399 approving contract with Open Systems International, Inc., of Medina, MN, for Monarch Support for Power Plant (SCADA System) for the one-year period from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, in the amount of $ 73,196 23. RESOLUTION NO. 26-400 approving contract with Schupan Recycling, of Des Moines, IA, for Recycling Processing Services in the amount of $203,500 24. RESOLUTION NO. 26-401 approving contract with Fleetside Ford, LLC, of Waukee, IA, for the purchase of a cargo van (prisoner transport vehicle) for the Police Department in the amount of $56,178 25. Underground Trenching Contract for Electric Services: a. RESOLUTION NO. 26-402 approving primary contract with Communications Data Link, of Grimes, IA, for the one-year period from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, in an amount not to exceed $150,000 b. RESOLUTION NO. 26-403 approving secondary contract with Ames Trenching & Excavating, of Ames, IA, for the one -year period from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, in an amount not to exceed $100,000 26. RESOLUTION NO. 26-404 approving Professional Services Agreement with Foth Infrastructure & Design, LLC, of Cedar Rapids, IA, for the Lincoln Way Corridor Study in an amount not to exceed $125,000 27. RESOLUTION NO. 26-405 approving Professional Services Agreement with WHKS, of Ames, IA, for the 2026/27 CyRide Route Pavement Improvements project, in an amount not-to-exceed $272,000 28. RESOLUTION NO. 26-406 waiving the City's Purchasing Policy requirement for competitive bidding and authorizing City staff to enter into FY 2026/27 software maintenance contract with Superion, LLC, a CentralSquare Company, at an estimated cost of $280,113.42 29. RESOLUTION NO. 26-407 approving preliminary plans and specifications for the 2025/26 Low Point Drainage Improvements Program project (Various Locations), setting July 22, 2026, as the bid due date and July 28, 2026, as the date of Public Hearing 30. RESOLUTION NO. 26-408 approving Change Order No. 7 with Keller Excavating, Inc. of Boone, IA, for the North River Valley Well Field and Pipeline Project, in the deduct amount of $505,353.34, and adjusting the substantial completion date by 209 days and the final completion date by 212 days Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Motions/Resolutions declared carried/adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and hereby made a portion of these Minutes. ANNUAL FEE SCHEDULE FOR FY 2026/27: Mayor Haila noted that there was an error in Schedule L and entertained a motion to amend. He emphasized that no dollar amounts 4 were incorrect. Moved by Gartin, seconded by Corrieri, to amend Schedule L, Rental Housing Inspection & Enforcement Fees, on page 8, so that the dollar and cents expressed in words match the numbers in parentheses and adopt RESOLUTION NO. 26-391 adopting annual fee schedule for FY 2026/27 as amended. Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Motion/Resolution declared carried/adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and hereby made a portion of these Minutes. PUBLIC FORUM: Mayor Haila opened the Public Forum. Ianka Mitchell-Conway shared concerns regarding the marketing and practice of a local medical clinic specializing in the care of reproductive health. Mayor Haila closed the Public Forum when no one else came forward to speak. REQUEST TO INITIATE PLAN 2040 LAND USE DESIGNATION AMENDMENT FOR 300 AIRPORT ROAD: Mayor Haila requested to table this item until the July 28, 2026, Regular City Council meeting or after. Moved by Junck, seconded by Beatty-Hansen, to table the item to a future meeting. Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously. PRESENTATION ON LIGHTEDGE DATA CENTER PROJECT: Mayor Haila prefaced the presentation by reiterating that no decisions regarding the Lightedge proposal would be made during the meeting. He emphasized that the City Council had scheduled a special community listening session for Tuesday, June 30, specifically to receive public feedback around the proposal in addition to data centers in general . He noted that the proposal would return to the City Council for consideration on Tuesday, July 14 , along with a report from the City Attorney addressing regulatory and policy concerns surrounding data center development. Assistant City Manager Brian Phillips and Director of Electric Services Donald Kom presented the request from Lightedge to lease property at the James Herman Banning Ames Municipal Airport in order to construct and operate a data center. Assistant City Manager Phillips described the proposed project as a colocation data center. The facility was proposed to provide the building, utilities, and cooling for server space that would be rented to private companies for data storage needs. He outlined three proposed phases of development. Phase 1 included an initial building shell of approximately 100,000 square feet with up to three megawatts of electrical demand, while Phase 2 included an expansion within the existing building shell to up to 10 megawatts. Phase 3 encompassed a full interior build-out reaching approximately 25 megawatts of demand. Lightedge representatives indicated the full build-out could take approximately 10 years depending on client demand. Assistant City Manager Phillips stated that Lightedge anticipated using a closed-loop 5 cooling system, which would initially require several thousand gallons of water to fill the loop, with heat dissipating to outside air and the water remaining within the loop. Beyond periodic top-offs, water demand would be comparable to standard domestic uses such as restrooms and a break room. Backup diesel generators were also anticipated as part of the facility's design. The proposed site was described as a 10.86-acre area on the west side of the airport property, just west of the existing Sigler building, and was designated for non-aeronautical use in the Airport Master Plan. The property was currently farmed under a cash rent arrangement. Assistant City Manager Phillips explained that zoning for the area was Planned Industrial, the same as the Sigler property. He outlined the regulatory preference for leasing over selling airport property under Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations, noting that a lease preserves City control and allows revenue to be reinvested back into airport operations and improvements. Assistant City Manager Phillips noted that the current cash farm rent yielded approximately $255 per acre, compared to substantially higher lease rates for developed properties, citing the original Sigler lease rate as a rough historical comparison. He further noted that a development of this nature would generate property tax reve nue for the City, Ames Community School District, and Story County. Referencing the Altoona facility operated by Lightedge, which included two buildings totaling 78,000 square feet on 7.3 acres, Assistant City Manager Phillips reviewed an estimated property tax generation of approximately $500,000 annually. Electric Services Director Donald Kom then addressed the utility implications of the project. He emphasized that all costs associated with the electric utility were borne by ratepayers, not taxpayers, and that the costs associated with the proposal from Lightedge would not be passed on to existing customers. Director Kom reviewed infrastructure requirements at each phase for the proposed airport site. For Phase 1, existing distribution infrastructure already in place to serve the Sigler building would be sufficient to serve the proposed three-megawatt development. For Phase 2, up to 10 megawatts, a dedicated distribution feeder from the VetMed substation would be constructed at an estimated cost of $4 million, requiring approximately three years of advance planning. For Phase 3, up to 25 megawatts, a dedicated 69kV substation would need to be built on airport property at an estimated cost of $12 million, requiring approximately five years of planning horizon, including a 30-month lead time currently experienced for transformer procurement. To provide scale, Director Kom noted that three megawatts was roughly equivalent to Jack Trice Stadium at full load, 10 megawatts approximates the City's largest industrial customer, and 25 megawatts would represent approximately one -fifth of the City's total peak load of 138 megawatts. He also provided a comparison of infrastructure requirements for two alternative potential sites, the former Danfoss building at 300 Airport Road and lots in the North Dayton Industrial Subdivision on Bailey Avenue , noting that the Bailey Avenue site presented greater infrastructure complexity and would require 6 collaboration with the transmission operator ITC. Director Kom addressed generation capacity, clarifying that Lightedge would be expected to bring its own capacity, either through purchasing Zonal Resource Credits (ZRCs) from the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) or through the MISO capacity auction on its behalf with any associated costs passed through directly to Lightedge rather than existing ratepayers. He described three proposed agreements that would need to be executed with Lightedge: a custom electric rate agreement ensuring capacity costs were passed-through to the customer; an excess facilities agreement requiring the customer to pay upfront for dedicated transmission and distribution infrastructure; and an interruption agreement under which Lightedge could operate its backup generation during periods of system constraint, benefiting the broader customer base. To measure benefit to the ultility, Director Kom noted that having a new load customer like Lightedge would allow fixed utility costs to be spread across a larger base, providing some modest benefit to existing ratepayers, and that future substation infrastructure built to serve the data center could also serve the planned growth along South Duff and South 16th Street. Assistant City Manager Phillips then reviewed the regulatory tools available to the City Council depending on which site a project might ultimately develop on. He explained that the airport property offered the greatest level of City control through zoning requirements, lease agreement conditions, and utility agreement s. A privately owned industrial site within the electric service territory would offer only zoning and utility agreement protections, and a site outside the City's electric service territory would provide only the baseline zoning framework. The presentation concluded with Assistant City Manager Phillips summarizing next steps before turning the presentation over to staff from Lightedge. Lightedge Chief Marketing Officer Matthew Biegacki thanked the Mayor, City Council, and the assembled public for the opportunity to present the proposal. He expressed appreciation for the community's engagement and staff’s transparency of the process. Officer Biegacki introduced his team: Mike McDaniel, Vice President of Development; Jody Gehl, Human Resources Director; Mehdi Benlaala, General Counsel; and Chris Wheeler, Chief Financial Officer. Officer Biegacki acknowledged the Public's concerns and the broader national anxiety around data centers, attributing much of it to the rapid and disruptive rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and hyperscale data center development. He emphasized the distinction between hyperscale AI data centers, which were typically enormous in scale, consumed vast resources, and operated on the cutting edge of unknown technology, and the edge colocation model utilized by Lighedge, which hosted legacy enterprise workloads such as accounting systems, enterprise resource planning software, and operational systems for local businesses and institutions. He noted that the Altoona facility owned by Lightedge had operated as a neighbor in that community for nearly 20 years and invited members of the public to view it on Google Maps or visit in person to better understand the scale of 7 the proposed project. Following introductions with the Lightedge team, staff opened for questions and conversations with the City Council concerning the logistics and impacts of the operation of the data center. Mayor Haila asked Officer Biegacki and Vice President McDaniel to explain the colocation model. Officer Biegacki explained that colocation data centers house servers and racks owned by client companies that no longer wish to maintain their own on-site data infrastructure. Lightedge provides those companies with the building, power, cooling, and network connectivity to run those systems in a professionally managed environment. He noted that for an edge colocation facility specifically, proximity to clients matters because latency-sensitive applications cannot always rely on connections to distant cloud regions. Mayor Haila asked about the closed-loop cooling system. Vice President McDaniel explained that a closed-loop system uses refrigerant and circulates water within a sealed loop to transfer heat from inside the data center to external air-cooled chillers, which then return cooled water to the loop. He distinguished this from cooling tower systems, which evaporate large quantities of water to dissipate heat, stating that advances in variable frequency drives and refrigerant technology now allow closed-loop systems to handle much larger loads than previously possible. He confirmed that the loop would require several thousand gallons of water to fill initially and that refills due to leaks would be rare and measured in hundreds of gallons. He noted that chemicals were added to the closed loop to prevent internal corrosion, but the water itself would not be come a contaminant risk. Assistant City Manager Phillips added that to qualify for the City's nonpeaking industrial water rate, a customer would need to average approximately 25,000 gallons per day, and that the usage expected from Lightedge would likely not approach that threshold, placing it in the range of a small to medium commercial user. Council Member Amber Corrieri asked Director Kom to elaborate on the rationale for custom electric rate agreements with large customers. Director Kom explained that the City already employed specialized rate structures for certain customers, including an interruptible industrial rate for a major manufacturing customer and reduced overnight rates for CyRide's electric bus charging, as tools that benefit both the customer and the overall system. He explained that for a customer like Lightedge, a custom agreement would ensure that capacity acquisition costs were borne exclusively by that customer and not socialized across the rate base. Council Member Corrieri also asked Director Kom to identify existing data centers served by Ames Electric. Director Kom confirmed there were at least two data centers currently served; a small facility of less than 500 kilowatts at the end of Duff Avenue, and one at the Iowa State University (ISU) Research Park served by a one-megawatt transformer. He listed the City's top electric customers by load for comparison, including Amcor at approximately nine to ten megawatts. Council Member Betcher asked about the zoning classifications that currently permit data centers. Planning and Housing Director Kelly Diekmann noted ambiguity in the current 8 ordinance, stating that all industrial zones, including zoning within the ISU Research Park, would permit data centers, with some potential applicability to commercial zones as well. He acknowledged that the Planning Department had already flagged this issue to the Planning and Zoning Commission and that a request for City Council direction on formally defining data centers within the zoning ordinance was pending. Council Member Betcher asked Director Kom to explain why, for Phase 3 at the alternatively proposed Bailey Avenue site, tapping the existing ITC 69kV line was insufficient and a separate City 69kV line would be needed. Director Kom explained that the ITC line could support a dedicated distribution feeder at 13.8kV for Phase 2, but that for Phase 3, the only way to deliver adequate capacity with redundancy would be to tap the City's own 69kV transmission line in an "in -and-out" configuration, building a double- circuit line through two private landowners' properties. He acknowledged the complexity and greater coordination required for this approach. Council Member Beatty-Hansen reported having visited the Lightedge facility in Altoona on the prior Saturday afternoon and described the noise level she perceived as comparable to the background hum of Interstate 80 in the distance. She asked about noise shielding. Officer Biegacki stated that decibel readings at the property line of their facilities typically measured between 45 and 50 decibels. He described 30 to 35 decibels as analogous to quiet background noise in a room, and 65 to 70 decibels as a busier street. He noted that insulation and enclosure of mechanical systems were the primary noise mitigation approaches. Vice President McDaniel added that backup generators were delivered in sound-attenuating enclosures designed to direct sound upward, and that noise and light modeling would be conducted as part of any formal site design process. Council Member Beatty-Hansen raised the issue of alternative decibel measurement scales, specifically the C-weighted decibel scale, which weights low-frequency sounds more heavily than the standard A-weighted scale used in the City's noise ordinance. Director Diekmann confirmed that the A-weighted scale was the current standard in Ames, and that C-weighted or other specialty scales were not typically used as a municipal standard but could be applied to specific project types. He noted that the Electric Department was already studying low-frequency noise and vibration considerations in connection with the new Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engine (RICE) installation for the new power plant. He also noted that other noise ordinance frameworks weighted nighttime noise with a penalty, which Ames did not currently employ. He cautioned that without knowing the specific equipment, meaningful noise modeling could not yet be performed, but that once equipment was specified, outcomes became highly predictable. Council Member Gartin stated that after spending considerable time reviewing emails and social media commentary, he perceived a significant disconnect between the fears expressed publicly and the project as described in the proposal. He acknowledged the concerns about water usage and electrical rates as the two most prominent themes in constituent communications, and stated that based on the evening's information, neither 9 appeared to represent a substantive risk. He noted the presence of a petition with over 3,200 signatures organized by the Heart of Iowa Democratic Socialists of America, expressing concern that the petition raised issues without providing corresponding factual context to help readers assess them accurately. Council Member Gartin then asked about vibration concerns, which had appeared in constituent emails. Officer Biegacki stated that Lightedge had never encountered ground vibration issues at its existing facilities. Council Member Junck asked whether Story County's existing moratorium on data centers would apply within City limits. Director Diekmann confirmed it would not, noting that county land use regulations had no jurisdiction within incorporated city limits. He added that Story County had recently extended its data center moratorium for an additional year while continuing to study the issue, having separately adopted rules for battery energy storage systems. Council Member Beatty-Hansen raised concern about the broader carbon footprint implications of any increased electricity demand, noting that even if Lightedge pays for its own capacity, that demand must ultimately be met by generation somewhere, and if that generation relies on fossil fuels, the community's carbon impact increases regardless of who bears the financial cost. She suggested exploring mechanisms to tie any such development to increased renewable generation. Officer Biegacki acknowledged the validity of the concern, noting it is an existential question not unique to data centers but common to all growth. He stated that Lightedge operates in cities with strong environmental standards, including Austin, Texas and San Diego, California, and has experience with carbon credits, carbon offsets, and renewable energy procurement . He shared that the company has a formal Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiative which he offered to provide to the members of the City Council. Council Member Junck asked what benefits, beyond tax revenue and lease revenue, Lightedge would bring to the community. Officer Biegacki acknowledged that the project would not generate a large number of direct jobs, a point he raised proactively rather th an allow it to become a source of criticism, but argued that the more significant value lies in Lightedge's role as infrastructure that enables local businesses to expand their data footprint without maintaining their own server environments. He cited approximately a dozen current customers in the ISU Research Park who were already utilizing the Altoona facility and noted that some had already expressed interest in growing with a closer facility. He also highlighted Lightedge's educational outreach around IT career pathways as a downstream community benefit. Council Member Beatty-Hansen asked about the project's fiber and communications bandwidth implications. Vice President McDaniel responded that a facility of this nature would attract multiple fiber carriers to build redundant paths into the site, which would likely expand overall fiber capacity in the area and provide infrastructure that other businesses and potentially residential customers could leverage. Mayor Haila closed the discussion by thanking everyone who attended the meeting, emphasizing that no action would be taken at the meeting, and that the presentation was 10 intended solely to inform the City Council and public. He reiterated the Public Input would be heard at the Special Meeting on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. He encouraged all those that were interested in attending the Special Meeting to check the City’s website later in the week for confirmation of the meeting location. Mayor Haila recessed the meeting at 8:17 p.m. The meeting was reconvened at 8:27 p.m. STAFF REPORT ON PEDESTRIAN CROSSING ALONG LINCOLN WAY AT SOUTH RUSSELL: Public Works Director Justin Clausen, alongside Transit Director Barb Neal and Traffic Engineering Manager Damion Pregitzer, reported on pedestrian safety at Lincoln Way and South Russell following a fatal accident. He outlined four options identified by staff to address both immediate and long-term concerns for the intersection. Option 1 would continue the existing Comprehensive Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan (Walk Bike Roll Ames) as adopted, meaning South Russell would advance in priority as higher- ranked projects were completed. Option 2 would evaluate increased lighting standards, potentially at this location and across arterial street crossings citywide, given that the ISU Patrol's accident report identified lighting as a contributing factor. Option 3 would accelerate priority within the plan for South Russell, potentially enabling treatments such as a pedestrian hybrid beacon or full signalization. Director Clausen noted that rapid rectangular flashing beacons (RRFBs) were not recommended for this location due to the multilane arterial configuration without a pedestrian refuge. Option 4 would evaluate transit stop spacing, given the presence of heavily used CyRide stops in the vicinity. Director Neal addressed the transit stop dimension, noting that the two Russell stops combined served approximately 6,100 passengers annually. She expressed uncertainty that relocating stops to signalized intersections would reliably redirect pedestrian crossing behavior, as riders tend to travel directly toward their destinations rather than backtracking to a safer crossing. Manager Pregitzer provided additional technical context. He noted Walk Bike Roll Ames had analyzed crossing conditions citywide but that, at the time of community input, the South Russell location had not risen to high priority. He explained the safe systems approach to transportation design focused on separation of modes, protection through refuge areas and barriers, or removal of conflict. He noted that at least half of the crossing projects in the constrained capital plan were site-right crossing improvements similar in nature to the South Russell concern, with the binding constraint being limited financial resources. The Public Input was opened by Mayor Haila. Dave Elliston addressed the City Council on behalf of his family and neighborhood. Mr. Elliston, a civil engineer, noted that the South Russell crossing was rated as the highest stress level and lowest service level for pedestrians under the Walk Bike Roll Ames Plan. He expressed concern that the options presented largely deferred action and called for immediate interventions including increased police enforcement of speeding, repainting 11 of the crosswalk, and installation of a radar feedback sign, as well as longer -term infrastructure improvements. Brooke Elliston described Lincoln Way as a barrier dividing the neighborhood and cited examples of neighbors choosing significant detours to avoid crossing the street. She called for the same level of planning urgency that had been applied to the East Lincoln Way corridor. She requested immediate enforcement, speed feedback signage, and a clearly marked crosswalk, in addition to longer-term redesign. Brooke Whitehouse echoed her neighbors' requests for immediate safety interventions including increased police presence, a painted crosswalk, and speed monitoring, along with future consideration of sidewalk widening and a road diet. Katie Chidister spoke to the emotional impact on the neighborhood after the fatal accident and the ongoing sense of danger residents feel when using Lincoln Way, and asked the City Council how many fatalities would be required before immediate action was taken. James Chidister expressed support for the positions articulated by his neighbors and requested both a concrete timeline for corridor improvements and near-term interim measures. The Public Input was closed by Mayor Haila when no one else came forward to speak. Following the Public Input, the City Council discussed a range of short and long -term responses. It was noted by Manager Pregitzer that the Lincoln Way corridor in this area would likely benefit from a corridor-level study similar to what was currently underway on the Duff Avenue and East Lincoln Way segments. He cautioned that simply installing RRFBs at South Russell without a pedestrian refuge could create a false sense of security, given the multilane, high-volume nature of the roadway of approximately 20,000 to 22,000 average daily trips (ADT), which exceeds the 15,000 ADT threshold at which RRFBs were typically appropriate. Council Member Beatty-Hansen highlighted that had the fatal accident occurred prior to the Walk Bike Roll Ames planning process, the South Russell intersection would likely have been identified as high priority during the community input process. Moved by Beatty-Hansen, seconded by Corrieri, to approve the purchase of a set of dynamic feedback signs to be placed at the South Russell intersection of Lincoln Way, with placement of the temporary speed feedback trailer until installation occurs, and request increased enforcement of speeding by the Police Department. Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously. Moved by Beatty-Hansen, seconded by Rollins, to place the intersection at South Russell and Lincoln Way on the list of high-priority intersections identified by the Comprehensive Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan (Walk Bike Roll Ames). 12 Council Member Gartin asked what practical effect adding the intersection to the priority list would have. Manager Pregitzer explained that it would signal the intent of the City Council and begin the process of incorporating a corridor-level study and eventual capital project into the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) planning cycle. Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously. Moved by Gartin, seconded by Beatty-Hansen, to request staff investigate lighting improvements along the Lincoln Way corridor from Grand Avenue to University Boulevard. Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously. Mayor Haila asked whether the ongoing Lincoln Way Corridor Study from Duff Avenue to Grand Avenue could be expanded to include Grand Avenue to University Boulevard. Director Pregitzer indicated that the expansion of the project scope could be explored, though Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) funding requirements for the current study may pose a procurement complication. Staff indicated a proposal could be returned to the City Council by the July 14, 2026, meeting. AMES REGIONAL ECONOMIC ALLIANCE CONTRACT: Council Member Betcher identified a drafting error in Section 5 of the contract, which described "two City Council members appointed by the Mayor and the City Manager" in a manner suggesting the City Manager participated in the appointment, rather than serving as the third board representative. Council Member Betcher proposed revised parenthetical language reading "the City Manager and two City Council members appointed by the Mayor." Moved by Betcher, seconded by Gartin, to amend the contract so the parenthetical of Section 5 reads "the City Manager and two City Council members appointed by the Mayor." Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously. Council Member Junck noted her interest in a more substantive future discussion of the direction of the contract and overall economic development policy goals but indicated she did not wish to hold up approval of the contract for the upcoming fiscal year and proposed discussing the matter at a City Council Workshop . Moved by Junck, seconded by Beatty-Hansen, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 26-409 approving renewal of the contract for economic development related services with the Ames Regional Economic Alliance for the one-year period of July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and hereby made a portion of these Minutes. Moved by Junck, seconded by Beatty-Hansen, to place the item on a future agenda for discussion at a City Council Workshop. Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously. 13 INSTALLATION OF SOLAR PANELS ON THE FITCH FAMILY INDOOR AQUATIC CENTER AND THE STEVEN L. SCHAINKER PLAZA BUILDING: Parks and Recreation Director Keith Abraham reported that proposals came in favorably and that sufficient funds were available to complete the project as proposed. Council Member Betcher asked that future bid evaluation scoring sheets include the total possible score as context, so the City Council can better assess where proposals fall on the scale. Staff acknowledged the request and agreed to include that information in future proposals. Mayor Haila opened and closed the Public Input when no one came forward to speak. Moved by Corrieri, seconded by Junck, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 26-410 awarding a contract to CB Solar, Inc., of Des Moines, IA, to install solar panels on the Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center and the Steven L. Schainker Plaza building in the amount of $463,760. Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and hereby made a portion of these Minutes. HEARING ON REZONING TO AMEND THE APPROVED FLOATING SUBURBAN RESIDENTIAL MEDIUM DENSITY (FS-RM) WITH MASTER PLAN FOR THE BLUFFS AT 4899 EVEREST AVENUE: Planner Justin Moore presented a request from Friedrich Land Development Company to amend the approved Master Plan for The Bluffs at Dankbar Farms. The proposed amendment would allow a broader mix of housing types within the approximately 10.86-acre medium density parcel, while maintaining the approved density range of 60 to 100 units. Planner Moore noted that the Planning and Zoning Commission voted in favor of recommending approval of the amendment. In response to Council Member Gartin's inquiry about the nature of the dissenting vote at the Commission level, Planner Moore explained that the dissenting Commissioners felt the broader neighborhood context, primarily single-family detached development to the south and anticipated growth to the north and west, called for maintaining lower-density character, notwithstanding the FS-RM zoning. The majority, however, found that allowing a mix of housing types, including small-scale apartments with appropriate transition and screening, was consistent with the goals of Ames Plan 2040 to provide a variety of housing types and was supported by the RN-3 land use designation for the area. The Public Hearing was opened by Mayor Haila. Kurt Friedrich, Friedrich Companies, described the strong absorption rate at The Bluffs to date and the anticipated mix of twin homes, single -family detached association homes, and condominium-style 12-plex apartment buildings similar in architecture to existing Somerset development buildings. The Public Hearing was closed by Mayor Haila when no one else came forward to speak . 14 Moved by Betcher, seconded by Gartin, to pass on first reading an ordinance rezoning to amend the approved Floating Suburban Residential Medium Density (FS-RM) with Master Plan for The Bluffs at 4899 Everest Avenue. Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously. HEARING ON ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT MODIFYING THE NORTHEAST GATEWAY OVERLAY DISTRICT (O-GNE) STANDARDS: Planner Moore reviewed a Zoning Text Amendment to update the Northeast Gateway Overlay District (O -GNE), which governed the area east of Interstate 35 on either side of East 13th Street. The overlay was originally crafted to set design standards for a regional mall that was never built. The proposed text amendment would remove provisions that were now irrelevant to realistic development scenarios while retaining quality design standards, protections for Kettleson Marsh, and a master plan approval process. Planner Moore highlighted that once a master plan was approved by the City Council, staff would be authorized to review individual minor site plans administratively, with only changes requiring a master plan amendment returning to the City Council. Director Diekmann noted that the property owners had not proposed specific changes of their own but had indicated they were evaluating multiple development options for the property, and that further amendments may be needed in the future as specific proposals emerge. Mayor Haila opened and closed the Public Hearing when no one came forward to speak. Moved by Gartin, seconded by Corrieri, to pass on first reading an ordinance on a Zoning Text Amendment modifying the Northeast Gateway Overlay District (O-GNE) Standards. Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously. HEARING ON 69KV TRANSMISSION LINE RECONSTRUCTION FROM TOP O HOLLOW SUBSTATION TO AMES PLANT SUBSTATION: Director Kom was available for questions. The Public Hearing was opened and closed by Mayor Haila when no one came forward to speak. Moved by Gartin, seconded by Junck, to accept the report of bids. Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously. Moved by Gartin, seconded by Junck, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 26-411 approving final plans and specifications and awarding a contract to Watts Electric Company, of Waverly, NE, in the amount of $3,356,570.41. Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and hereby made a portion of these Minutes. THIRD READING AND ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 4598 REZONING THE 15 PARCEL AT 5120 TABOR DRIVE FROM "A" (AGRICULTURAL) AND "FS-RL" (FLOATING SUBURBAN-RESIDENTIAL LOW DENSITY) TO "FS-RL" (FLOATING SUBURBAN-RESIDENTIAL LOW DENSITY) WITH MASTER PLAN: Moved by Rollins, seconded by Junck, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 26-412 approving the Master Plan and Rezoning Agreement for the parcel at 5120 Tabor Drive. Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and hereby made a portion of these Minutes. Moved by Rollins, seconded by Junck, to pass on third reading and adopt ORDINANCE NO. 4598 rezoning the parcel at 5120 Tabor Drive from "A" (Agricultural) and "FS -RL" (Floating Suburban-Residential Low Density) to "FS-RL" (Floating Suburban-Residential Low Density) with Master Plan. Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously. THIRD READING AND ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 4596 ON ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT FOR ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS (ADU): Moved by Beatty- Hansen, seconded by Junck, to pass on third reading and adopt ORDINANCE NO. 4596 on Zoning Text Amendment for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU). Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously. THIRD READING AND ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 4597 REGARDING PROPERTY REZONING FOR 3329, 3312, 3699 EAST 13TH STREET AND 1699 570TH AVENUE FROM PLANNED REGIONAL COMMERCIAL (PRC) WITH "O-GNE" (NORTHEAST GATEWAY OVERLAY) TO ONLY PRC WITH O-GNE THEREBY REMOVING THE CONTRACT ZONING AGREEMENT: Moved by Beatty-Hansen, seconded by Rollins, to pass on third reading and adopt ORDINANCE NO. 4597 regarding property rezoning for 3329, 3312, 3699 East 13th Street and 1699 570th Avenue from Planned Regional Commercial (PRC) with "O-GNE" (Northeast Gateway Overlay) to only PRC with O-GNE thereby removing the Contract Zoning Agreement. Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously. DISPOSITION OF COMMUNICATIONS TO COUNCIL: Mayor Haila noted that there were eight items for consideration. The first was from Deborah Pitt requesting the addition of four-way stops in the Bloomington Heights neighborhood. Moved by Beatty-Hansen, seconded by Rollins, to request the memo on the aforementioned topic already prepared by staff with updates related to the request if needed. Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously. A request to formalize Hyde Avenue as a snow route from Shelley Ackermann was the second item. Mayor Haila noted that the item had ready been addressed by staff and no action was needed. The third item was a proposed amendment to the Public Nuisance Ordinance to incorporate restrictions on garden containers from Sharyl Black. 16 Moved by Beatty-Hansen, seconded by Junck, to thank the sender for their feedback. Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously. Objections from Katy Phelps concerning the proposed roadway improvements along the Duff Avenue corridor comprised the fourth item. Moved by Beatty-Hansen, seconded by Junck, to thank the sender for their feedback and forward the concerns to the Public Works department for inclusion in the project feedback. Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously. The fifth item was a request from Steven Shickell for a waiver of covenants for the property located at 2702 North Dakota Avenue. Moved by Betcher, seconded by Rollins, to refer the item to staff for a memo. Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously. A memo from City Attorney Mark Lambert concerning the term of office for the City Assessor was the sixth item. Moved by Betcher, seconded by Rollins, to direct the City Attorney to draft an ordinance clarifying the term of office for the City Assessor to be placed on the agenda for the July 14, 2026, Regular Meeting of the Ames City Council. Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously. The seventh item was from Director Diekmann regarding a Request for Plan 2040 Urban Fringe Amendment to Change from Urban Reserve to Rural Residential for the 35 -acre parcel of land in Story County on the south side of West 190th and north of the Bella Woods development. Moved by Junck, seconded by Rollins, to place the item on a future agenda. Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously. The final item was from City Manager Schainker regarding the Impacts of Senate File 2472 related to property taxes. Moved by Junck, seconded by Rollins, to place the item on a future agenda. Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously. REPORT OF GOVERNING BODY: Council Member Gartin noted that the Discover Ames board received a clean audit report at its most recent meeting. No other reports were shared. COUNCIL COMMENTS: Ex officio Anderson acknowledged the students and community members who reached out about the data center and expressed hope that the presentation helped clarify the issues. He encouraged students remaining in Ames over 17 the Fourth of July holiday to attend the Downtown parade. Council Member Gartin reflected positively on the meeting overall, noting that despite the controversial subject matter of the data center, the community demonstrated civility and respect throughout. Council Member Beatty-Hansen echoed thanks to all who attended and expressed anticipation for the June 30 special listening session. Council Member Rollins thanked residents from the South Russell neighborhood for their continued advocacy and reminded the public of the final Juneteenth event , a story time at 10:30 a.m. and a lecture at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 27, featuring twin brothers Quentin and Quinlan Riser speaking on financial management and financial literacy . She highlighted that free books would be available for signing. Council Member Betcher expressed gratitude for all resident input received and noted that as many as 151 people had been watching the meeting live on YouTube, describing the engagement level as unusually high and a positive sign of community involvement. ADJOURNMENT: Moved by Rollins, seconded by Corrieri, to adjourn the meeting at 10:01 p.m. Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously. _______________________________ _______________________________ Carly M. Watson, Deputy City Clerk John A. Haila, Mayor _______________________________ Renee Hall, City Clerk