Historic Preservation Commission asks city to help fund AIMS "A Glimpse Inside" event

The Ames City Historic Preservation Commission voted May 12 to ask the City Council to roll over the commission’s remaining fiscal-year balance to support AIMS "A Glimpse Inside," to commit $500 from the commission’s next fiscal-year budget and to recommend that the council consider additional funding.

Commission members said the one-day event, scheduled Oct. 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., is intended to highlight roughly 10 properties—about five to seven public buildings and four to five private residences—within walking distance of downtown. Organizers plan two easels at each site with foam-board panels of historical information and volunteer docents to answer visitors’ questions.

A Glimpse Inside organizers provided a written cost estimate and described in-kind support from the local museum, the Iowa State University Graphic Design Student Association and radio station KHOI. The written estimate lists items such as easels and foam boards, bollard banners, a real-estate-style sign to identify properties during the event, trifold brochures, water for docents, a $400 website expense and a small publicity fee to support student design work. The organizers also included a contingency under 10 percent; the group reported a single anonymous donation of about $1,000 so far.

During the May 12 discussion, Planning and Housing staff member Ray said the city’s new budget year begins July 1, and that carrying unspent funds into the next fiscal year would require City Council action. Commissioner Melissa asked about timing and whether the commission should request a rollover or ask the council directly for the full event amount. A Glimpse representatives and commissioners agreed the practical approach was to request that the commission’s remaining FY25 balance be carried forward, commit a small FY26 allocation and ask the council to consider supplemental funding.

Commissioner (unnamed) moved that the commission ask the city to apply the remainder of the existing FY25 balance to the event, intend to apply $500 of the FY26 budget to the event and recommend that the City Council consider additional funding. A commissioner seconded the motion and the commission voted in favor; the motion carried.

Next steps: the commission chair said a memo of support would be drafted and provided to Ray for submission to the City Council; the chair also said copies would be circulated to commissioners for any wording changes before submission.