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Home My WebLink AboutA030 - August 11, 2026, Regular Meeting of the Ames City CouncilITEM #:31 DATE:08-11-26 DEPT:ADMIN SUBJECT:ORDINANCE REVISING MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 14 (AMES HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION) COUNCIL ACTION FORM BACKGROUND: At the November 18, 2025, joint meeting of the Ames City Council and Ames Human Relations Commission (AHRC), staff and the AHRC Chair recommended that Council consider updating the Municipal Code Chapter 14: Human Relations to better align the code with its current activities and objectives. City Council directed staff to place an item on a future agenda for the ordinance update (see attachment). On March 10, 2026, Senate File 579 was approved by the Iowa Legislature. This bill states, "The term of a commissioner appointed to a local agency or local commission shall be for two years." Currently, six positions are serving a three-year term, and one commissioner serves a one-year term. The ordinance prepared by staff to modify Chapter 14 will: Clarify that discriminatory practices are prohibited. Correct a typographical error by adding a missing word. Update the Iowa Civil Rights Commission to reflect its recent renaming as the Iowa Office of Civil Rights. Revise the description of the Commission's powers and duties to use more accessible language and to emphasize the focus on community outreach and engagement. Align with Iowa law to ensure that Commissioners will serve a two-year term.* *The term length for two current commission members will be adjusted from April 1, 2026 - March 31, 2029 to April 1, 2026 - March 31, 2029. At the January AHRC strategic planning retreat, Commissioners emphasized that advocacy remains an important role AHRC plays in the community. ALTERNATIVES: 1. Approve first reading of ordianance on the recommended changes to Municipal Code Chapter 14: Human Relations Commission 2. Do not approve and provide further direction. 1 CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION: City staff agrees with the Commission that modifications would be appropriate, and it is beneficial to align the Municipal Code language with the Commission's current activities. Furthermore, changing the term length aligns with actions taken at the state legislature. Therefore, it is the recommendation of the City Manager that City Council approve Alternative No. 1 as described above. ATTACHMENT(S): DRAFT Ordinance Ch 14 (AHRC).pdf 2 ORDINANCE NO. __________ AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF AMES, IOWA, BY AMENDING SECTIONS 14.1, 14.3 AND 14.5 THEREOF, FOR THE PURPOSE OF ESTABLISHING POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE AMES HUMAN RELATION COMMISSION (AHRC) REPEALING ANY AND ALL ORDINANCES OR PARTS OF ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT TO THE EXTENT OF SUCH CONFLICT; AND ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. BE IT ENACTED, by the City Council for the City of Ames, Iowa, that: Section One. The Municipal Code of the City of Ames, Iowa, shall be and the same is hereby amended by amending Sections 14.1, 14.3 and 14.5 as follows: Sec. 14.1. PURPOSE OF CHAPTER. The purpose of this chapter is to implement the provisions of the Iowa Civil Rights Act, to prohibit discriminatory practices, and to further provide for the general welfare of persons in the City of Ames, Iowa, by establishing a to undertake projects of education to prevent discrimination and to effect cooperative undertakings with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission Office of Civil Rights and to aid in effectuating the purposes of the Iowa Civil Rights Act. * * * Sec. 14.3. COMMISSION APPOINTED. (1) Commission Appointed. The Ames Human Relations Commission shall consist of seven (7) members appointed by the Mayor with the approval of the City Council. Appointments shall take into consideration the various racial, religious, cultural and social groups and geographical areas within the City of Ames in so far as may be practicable. The term of office shall be two (2) three (3) years and shall begin April 1 of the fiscal year of appointment, except that the Mayor may prescribe a shorter term for any appointment or reappointment in order to stagger terms. Six (6) of the members shall serve 2 3- year terms, and one (1) of the members shall serve a special 1-year term. Vacancies shall be filled for any unexpired term in the same manner as original appointments. Any member or all members of the Commission may be removed from office at any time by the Mayor with the approval of the City Council, for good cause. No member who has served two (2) full consecutive terms is eligible for reappointment. The Commission shall elect one of their members to be chairperson, and develop their own rules of procedure, not inconsistent with this chapter. 3 * * * Sec. 14.5. POWERS AND DUTIES. The Commission shall have the following powers and duties: (1) To facilitate coordination and connection among community groups to amplify the impact of their efforts toward ending discrimination and reducing inequality in the community. (2) To collaborate with organizations and individuals in the community to plan and participate in events that connect various populations through celebration of culture and inclusion. (3) To listen to community members and provide access to resources that may help resolve discrimination complaints, including connecting residents with the Iowa Office of Civil Rights when enforcement action may be needed. (4) To gather information and provide an annual report to the city council about the status of human rights in the community and the commission’s activities promoting belonging among various populations recognized in the community. (5) To recommend policies and programs that promote human rights of persons and groups in the community to the mayor and city council. (6) To manage any city funds, donations, or grants given to the commission for promoting the purposes of this chapter. 1 (1) To investigate and study the existence, character, causes, and extent of discrimination in public accommodations, employment, apprenticeship programs, on-the-job training programs, vocational schools, credit practices, and housing in this city and to attempt the elimination of such discrimination by education. (2) To issue such publications and reports of investigations and re- search as in the judgment of the commission shall tend to promote good will among the various racial, religious, and ethnic groups of the City and which shall tend to minimize or eliminate discrimination in public accommodations, employment, apprenticeship and on-the-job training programs, vocational schools, career and technical programs, or housing because of race, creed, color, sex, national origin, religion, ancestry, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity. (3) To prepare and transmit to the Mayor and City Council from time to time, but not less often than once each year, reports describing its proceedings, and the other work performed by the commission. (4) To make recommendations to the Mayor and City Council for such further legislation concerning discrimination because of race, creed, color, sex, national origin, religion, ancestry, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity as it may deem necessary and desirable. (5) To cooperate, within the limits of any appropriations made for its operations, with other agencies or organizations, both public and private, whose purposes are consistent with those of this chapter, and on the planning and conducting of programs designed to eliminate racial, religious, cultural, and intergroup tensions. 4 (6) To adopt, publish, amend, and rescind regulations consistent with and necessary for the enforcement of this chapter. (7) To receive, administer, dispense and account for any funds that may be voluntarily contributed to the commission and any grants that may be awarded the commission for furthering the purposes of this chapter with the approval of the City Council. (8) To refer a complaint to the Iowa Civil Rights Commission under commission rules. * * * Section Two. All ordinances, or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed to the extent of such conflict, if any. Section Three. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and publication as required by law. Passed this day of , . _____________________________ ________________________________ John A. Haila, Mayor First Reading: Second Reading: Third Reading: Passed on: I, Renee Hall, City Clerk of the City of Ames, Iowa, hereby certify that the above and foregoing is a true copy of Ordinance No. ______________, passed by the City Council of said City at the meeting held on ______________________and signed by the Mayor on ___________________________, and published in the Ames Tribune on ___________________________. _______________________________ Renee Hall, City Clerk 5