Ames City Council approves settlement and partial-occupancy agreement with Henkel Construction for downtown plaza

The Ames City Council, meeting in a February special session in Ames City, voted to approve a settlement agreement and a separate partial-occupancy or use agreement with Henkel Construction related to the Ames Downtown Plaza ice skating ribbon. Mayor called the meeting to order and the council authorized a closed session under Iowa Code section 21.51(c) to discuss matters in litigation or where litigation is imminent.

Mark, responding to the mayors question about legal authority, stated: "The council has authorization under Iowa code section 21.51 c, which allows council to go into closed session to discuss matters in litigation or where litigation is imminent." The council then moved to enter closed session and later returned to take formal actions as resolutions.

During open action, a council member moved "that we approve this settlement agreement with Henkel Construction regarding the Ames Downtown Plaza ice skating ribbon." The motion was seconded and passed by roll call, with those named in the roll call recorded as voting "Aye." A second motion, moved by a council member to "approve the partial occupancy or use agreement with Henkel Construction regarding the Ames Downtown Plaza," was likewise seconded and approved by roll call.

The transcript records the roll call votes for the two measures; the members called during the votes and recorded as voting "Aye" include Betcher, Junk, Coriieri (also transcribed as Coriarey in one place), Rollins, Beatty Hanson (also transcribed as Phoebe Hanson), Garton and Fletcher. The transcript does not record any "No," "Abstain," or recusals for these motions, and no amendments or alternate motions were recorded.

The meetings' motions and roll calls were brief and procedural; the transcript does not include the settlements monetary terms or other substantive contract details. The council asked that the action be presented as a resolution following closed session. After approving the two items, the mayor invited closing comments, none were offered, and the council moved to adjourn.

Votes at a glance: - Settlement agreement with Henkel Construction regarding Ames Downtown Plaza ice skating ribbon: motion moved and seconded; roll call recorded as unanimous "Aye" among those polled. (Motion moved by the council member who spoke at the motion; second recorded in the transcript.) - Partial-occupancy/use agreement with Henkel Construction for Ames Downtown Plaza: motion moved by the clerk-labeled speaker; second recorded; roll call recorded as unanimous "Aye" among those polled.

Next steps: The transcript records approval of resolutions but does not specify effective dates, release of settlement terms, or implementation steps. No further hearings or votes were scheduled in the transcript.