MINUTES OF THE JOINT MEETING OF THE

AMES CITY COUNCIL AND THE IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

AMES, IOWA MARCH 4, 2020

The Ames City Council met at 5:34 p.m. on the 4th day of March, 2020, in the Campanile Room
of the Memorial Union, Iowa State University, pursuant to law. Mayor John Haila and Council
Members Gloria Betcher, Tim Gartin, Rachel Junck, and David Martin and

ex officio

Council

Member Devyn Leeson were present. Council Members Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen and Amber
Corrieri were absent. City Manager Steve Schainker, City Attorney Mark Lambert, Assistant
City Manager Deb Schildroth, and Public Relations Officer Susan Gwiasda were also in
attendance.

2020 Census.

City Public Relations Officer Susan Gwiasda explained that the City is partnering with the
University for a complete and accurate account of the Census in Ames. She advised that, as ISU
students here in Ames, the students will claim Ames for the Census. She said that they need
students who will help get that message out; students are a hard to enumerate demographic. Ms.
Gwiasda also reported that $675 billion dollars of public funding is distributed every year via the
Census. CyRide is funded a good amount by that amount. It is important, safe and easy; it is the
first time you can fill it out online. According to Ms. Gwiasda, students are helping in the effort,
and the City/University is also partnering with Model Farm.

At the question of Devyn Leeson as to what the last Census funding allocation paid for, Ms.
Gwiasda advised that a lot of grant money comes through the federal government for different
street and public area improvements, buses, and bike paths.

Ms. Gwiasda stated that they are looking for a large number of part-time jobs this summer,
which is a great way for students to get involved.

Mayor Haila stated that he knows affordable housing is important to the student body. The City
recently received money for that because of the Census. He noted that some Census forms are
long; this one is short. There is no citizenship question on the form, and students’ help is needed
to quell fears that this will be used to check up on people. The Mayor commented that the
University benefits significantly from this, and businesses also look at population to see if the
population meets their threshold number of people before they come to a city.

It was asked by Student Government Member Johnson what should be stated to those who wish
the money would go to their home town. Ms. Gwiasda said that a lot of people take pride in
their home towns, but the rules state that you claim where you sleep and eat the majority of the
year.

Council Member Betcher pointed out that everybody counts, it doesn’t matter if you are an
international student or not. It is hard to count group quarters, like an apartment with one
mailbox and four residents. She asked that students get their house mates to also fill out the

form, as not everyone gets a form; it is sent to every address. Ms. Betcher also asked that
students check their mailboxes in the next couple of weeks for the form. She also noted that
public safety is one of the things that is funded with Census dollars

Council Member Blair asked if they can work with landlords to work with their tenants. Ms.
Gwiasda commented that that was a great idea; however, until spring break is over, it will be
difficult to get students’ attention.

Student Government Member Hoffman, who is a CA for Friley Hall, commented there has been
hesitation from residents. Some students don’t’ see the dorms as much as a house as apartments.
Ms. Gwiasda stated that the City works with the Department of Residency to get the Census
forms out. Student Government Member Hoffman asked if residents then do not have to fill the
form out individually. Ms. Gwiasda replied that she did not believe so.

Ex officio

Member Leeson suggested that the Student Government do a resolution emphasizing

the importance of the Census filling out the form.

Council Member Betcher stated that it is required by law to fill out the Census; it is a legal
obligation.

Campustown.

City Manager Steve Schainker pointed out that the summer is almost here, and the City tries to
get a lot of street work done in the summer before August 15. One of the big projects for this
summer is the reconstruction of Welch Avenue. Mr. Schainker stated that the water and sewer
systems there are over 100 years old and will require excavation from building to building.
There will be wooden paths. Mr. Schainker advised that the bids for this project came back
almost $800,000 over the estimate, so the project has been redesigned. The bad news is it will
lapse into the fall now. He asked that the students bear with the City during that time. The City
is going to try to keep the businesses open. According to Mr. Schainker, the City did a safety
study and have incorporated a lot of those ideas into the plans.

Mr. Schainker also stated that the City is looking to put in $1.2 million a year into bike paths. He
also advised that the extension of Grand Avenue is going to start this summer to help take away
from traffic on Duff.

At the suggestion of the Mayor for students to explain to prospective students what it will look
like and to turn the negative of the inconvenience of the construction to a negative, Student
Government Member Hanyang said that might be something that could be brought to the
attention of the Office of Admissions. Mayor Haila commented that, when leading tour groups, it
would be helpful to mention the improvements. He pointed out that the businesses in
Campustown depend on students and visitors.

City Manager Schainker said that micro-mobility is something people have been talking about,
and a lot of towns are getting scooters. Scooters can be left on streets and sidewalks and can
impair mobility. The City is looking to get an indepth study on this. The City Council will only

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make a policy for the City; the University may make a different decision regarding the Campus.
The Council has not been introduced to it yet.

Council Member Junck asked Mr. Schainker to talk about the possible relocation of Fire Station
2. City Manager Schainker replied that Fire Station 2 has been in its current location for a long
time. At one time, the University actually had its own fire service and then unified with the City.
The University pays about a quarter of the City’s Fire Department budget to service the
University as well. As Campustown grows, the City is looking to move Station 2, possibly to
State Avenue. Any movement of the Station will need a 60% vote. The City has been getting
questions about what to do with the present Station. It may get renovated, or become expanded
plaza area. It is a very expensive piece of property.

Ex officio

Member Leeson believes that

having it become a public plaza is a really cool idea; there is desire to make Campustown into a
student space.

Mr. Leeson shared that he gets a lot of complaints from the students about crosswalks. He asked
if there is a form that the students can use to lodge those complaints. City Manager Schainker
replied that the City has an app called “Ames on the Go,” or they can call the City Manager’s
Office. It would be best to make the complaint via email or a letter, if possible, so the City
Council will see it. Student Government Member Blair noted that the crosswalk on Welch is
terrifying past 7:00 or 8:00 p.m. and is excited to see the Welch Avenue Improvements project.
Also, moving the Fire Station and making it a public space would be a really good idea.

Council Member Betcher said, in regards to crosswalks, if you live in Ames, you have three
representatives on the City Council. She commented that the Council appreciates getting emails
telling them what you think and encouraged the students to send the Council emails. email. City
Manager Schainker noted that every street you travel on isn’t a City street or crosswalk. If there
is City or University property on both sides, it might not belong to the City.

Mr. Schainker stated that the City is trying to divert traffic from South 16th Street down Grand

instead of Duff. There is a portion by VetMed that narrows down to two lanes from four lanes.
The City approached the University to work together on this project. The City is going to fund
(from the Capital Improvements Plan) to widen the lanes. It will be a $2.7 million project to
improve that area.

Student Government Member Advait asked if there are any plans to improve Mortensen and
State, as that area can get really bad. Mr. Schainker replied that that is mostly University, and
there is a plan for that. Council Member David Martin advised that there is a plan now for a
traffic light to be installed there. There was discussion in doing a roundabout there, but a traffic
analysis said that shouldn’t be done due to the mass number of people exiting during football
games.

Student Government Member Kline noted that at 13th and Grand, there is no arrow and only one

car makes it through per light cycle. Mr. Schainker said that the City has talked about that, and
had a plan to have a full turning lane. However, it would take a major portion of ten household
yards out, and it got deferred. The City is looking for ways to redesign that. Student

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Government Member Kline then asked if there was a way to have a four-way stop there. City
Manager Schainker said that a light could be installed, which would make people stop, but it
would be less efficient. He also stated that the City has a $7 million dollar project for intelligent
traffic sensors. In a couple of years, the City will have that new technology that can detect traffic
and change signals. Council Member Betcher shared that the City is working to install voice
signals to enhance accessibility. However, they would require too much of a delay, and Grand is
Highway 69, so it would require input from the State of Iowa.

Sustainability.

Mayor Haila stated that Ames has been committed to being sustainable for a

long time. The City processes between 2 and 2 ½ million pounds of waste from surrounding towns. That waste would have to go down to Des Moines if the Resource Recovery Plant would not be operating. The City also has the greenhouse gas inventory results back. It has been something that has been front and center for a long time. Five snowplows have been converted to 100% plant-based fuel. Those five trucks are only 10% of the fuel costs. There are different ways and initiatives that the City is trying to get done. City Manager Schainker commented that the City is proud of its efforts to improve sustainability and the impact that they are having in the community. The City is starting a solar panel farm, about a Megawatt to start with. It is a $300 buy-in fee for a panel, and there is a small rebate associated with that. Council Member Betcher advised that the Rummage Rampage is being expanded this year ( July 24th until Aug 3

rd)

. That

event is when things people do not want anymore are brought in and sold to people who do want
them. Ms. Betcher told the students that if they want to volunteer, student organizations can
receive funds from helping out. Nineteen non-profits received funds last year’s event.

Student Government Member Conn expressed appreciation of the current plans, but asked if
there were plans for carbon removal. There are professors who talk about turning carbon into
asphalt and other products. It was asked if there were any plans to do something like that.
Council Member Martin answered that the City has mostly finished sending in the raw data and
compiling its greenhouse gas inventory. The City’s plan is to then go forward and make an
action plan to combat that. It is the Climate Action Plan that will take the baseline from the City
and issue recommendations to fight that over time. He noted that the City wants to engage the
community as much as possible.

Council Member Junck said the composting process is a great thing that students can get
involved with. She explained that you can purchase a starter kit and you get a punch card that
can be punched and dropped off at two different places. It is a great alternative to burning it. Ms.
Junck noted that the City sometimes struggle with the moisture in the burning of the waste and
composting would aid that.

Ex officio

Member Leeson mentioned that the barriers for both projects are that you have to be

the investor in the project yourself. He asked if there was any value in funding or helping work
toward assisting in some of these projects and to get more use from these projects from students.
It is hard for a student to use the solar rebate. According to Student Government Member Conn
there are currently plans for that, like at Freddy Court. There has been a lot of friction with the
DOR over who owns the bins. We are trying to have a larger scale pilot program with that, then
have the DOR take over.

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Mr. Leeson said he felt it would be cool to look into the Student Government helping out with
the solar project and talking to the University about that.

Student Government Member Zastrow said, for composting, it sounds like something that the
Green Initiatives Fund could help with. Student Government could also be helping subsidize the
solar panels. One reason students would help with those panels is due to the long-term nature of
the investment.

Student Government Member Searles asked if Student Government would be investing in the
solar farm to offset its own electrical usage. Student Government Member

Schrader said that a

lot of students are interested in that, so after this meeting, they could look into that suggestion.

Student Government Member Hanyang noted that a great resource for off-campus students is
property management. Student Government Member Mass said that another area is the Greek
life area. They are long-term members of this community and house owners. It is thought that
the Alumni boards would be willing to have those conversations.

Student Government Member Conn raised the issue of affordability of the compost bins
($20/four-gallon bucket and five bags, then $10 for five bags after that. Member Conn noted one
of the people he knows has tens of thousands of worms and they don’t stink.

Council Member Betcher stated that, because of the City’s type of fuel, keeping those
compostables out of the waste stream is important. The City can’t use those materials because
they are contaminated and wet. Keeping those out in any way is important, composing or not.

Mayor Haila noted that ISU had purchased some panels for their energy portfolios. City
Manager Schainker added that they had bought 25% of the panels, and have eight out of the
38KW of wind energy.

Open Forum.

Council Member Gartin thanked the students, stating that he had been impressed

by the number of ISU students who have been helping out and being involved in this
community. He wanted the students to know that the Council sees it and appreciates it.

Mayor Haila asked City Manager Schainker to talk on the City’s efforts to combat the spread of
the Coronavirus. Mr. Schainker stated that the City of Ames is taking this seriously. During the
first meeting with Mary Greeley, the County Board of Health, ISU, the City, and others will be
planning and partnering. This group will be focusing on continuity of service. It will be very
challenging, because it could happen to you, or happen in the Police Department, so officers
can’t patrol. The different agencies may have to suspend different programs. The City and
University do a great job partnering together and will be as ready as possible. Council Member
Betcher added that the Coronavirus is of concern of universities and colleges across the nation.
She urged the students to read President Wintersteen’s statement that had been sent out. The
President is asking for flexibility, if you do not have to be in class do not go when you are sick.
Do what you can to remain healthy.

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Mayor Haila asked for feedback on how students get information about the City. He said they
understand that we can leverage technology more; however, they can only push out so much.
Student Government Member Heasley commented that they generally get news from the
newspaper or an on-line source, but in an emergency, goes to social media sites to check. The
app would be much better and should be pushed by all of us. Student Government Member
Ludwig hears about it from other people and local news sources. The app sounds great, and they
could work with ISU to push it alongside MyState. Student Government Member

Hanyang

commented that going through the orientation process and downloading three apps when just
getting here at ISU may be a bit much. Feedback through email is good, but having forms that
students can submit would be nice and a good idea. Student Government Member Fritz said that
ISU uses texts sent to people; they have a text listserv, so if there was a way to subscribe to a
mass text listserv, that would help. Council Member Zastrow stated that if they needed to find
something out about Ames, they would go to the City’s Twitter. Also, the City could look into
doing a podcast. A good way is also an alert banner on the City of Ames Web site. Council
Member Martin stated that the app is designed as a reporting tool to let the City know about
problems. He noted that the Council did agree to look to adopt a civil app that can have all that
important information. One possibility that he has hopes for is collaborating with the MyState
app developer, but it hasn’t gotten anywhere yet. Student Government Member Johnson
commented that a user testing experience on the Ames Web site would be nice, as it is hard to
navigate the Web site.

Council Member Junck commented that they haven’t talked about having students connected to
regular business. She believes that they have great reporters that report on it, and input is
appreciated.

Ex officio

Member Leeson said that he uses Twitter to get info quickly. He suggested that if the

City is interested in getting a lot of info out, it could get the email list from ISU to push-out that
info.

There being no further topics to be discussed at this time, the meeting was adjourned at 7:04
p.m.

Minutes taken by Ryan Hillier

______________________________________

____________________________________

John A. Haila, Mayor

Diane R. Voss, City Clerk

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