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Votes at a glance: key outcomes from the May 12 Ames City Council meeting
Summary
Council approved the Stange Road Alternative A, authorized a $4,000 special assessment for tree removal at 624 Duff Avenue with flexible repayment options, approved the Ansley paving change (Option One), advanced multiple zoning and incentive motions for 608 Burnett, approved Animal Services design direction and base-bid foundation work for shade structures, accepted bids for the 13th & Grand power-line relocation, continued hearings on airport solar and Prairie View/ITC substation, and passed a water/sewer rate ordinance on second reading.
Below are action-by-action outcomes from the Ames City Council meeting on May 12, 2026. This is a compact reference for formal motions and recorded outcomes.
- Consent agenda: Approved with items 9, 10 and 12 pulled for discussion. (Roll call recorded ayes.)
- Item 9 (Memorial Day parade and program): Approved. (Roll call; Gartin abstained on one vote earlier.)
- Item 12 (Bridge/low-head dam discussion): Council discussed options and approved the consent item after staff explanation.
- Item 29 (2023–24 Stange Road multimodal improvements): Council approved Design Alternative A and authorized a contract amendment for additional design work; also directed Public Works to coordinate with Electric about providing power to the Crescent. Construction anticipated in 2027.
- Item 30 (Tree removal — 624 Duff Avenue): Council authorized assessing $4,000 to the property as a special assessment and directed staff to negotiate a five‑ or ten‑year repayment option for the property owner; motion passed by roll call.
- Item 31 (Ansley development paving): Council approved Option One, shifting the timing/target of City-funded paving to open more lots per the developer’s request.
- Item 32 (608 Burnett zoning/incentives): Multiple motions passed: • Begin NC parking reduction process for new construction to one spot per unit for units two bedrooms or less. • Prepare amendments to allow four stories in NC and evaluate NC design guidelines for edits to address urban housing projects. • Direct staff to pursue Option Two (site-focused study) for the Burnett site. • Provide a letter of support for the Workforce Housing Tax Credit program (City pledges $1,000 per unit) to enable developer application by the June 10 deadline. • Direct staff to investigate creating a URA and the implications of a custom abatement schedule (legal/fiscal analysis requested).
- Item 33 (Ames Animal Services): Council approved exterior design concepts, schedule and budget direction, authorized staff to proceed with plans/specs and bidding, and required base-bid foundations/footings to enable future shade structures for dog runs; approved as motions.
- Item 34 (13th & Grand power-line relocation): Council accepted report of bids and moved Alternative One per staff recommendation; hearing record closed.
- Item 35 (Airport solar revocable lease option): Hearing continued to May 19 (special meeting) at applicant request while final lease/option details are finalized for federal tax-credit safe‑harbor timing. Council recorded a motion expressing a strong preference that no solar be placed on parcels earmarked for future airport development in the airport master plan.
- Item 36 (ITC/Prairie View substation agreements): Hearing continued to the next council meeting to finalize agreements and confirm language with Alliant; no final agreement adopted tonight.
- Item 37 (Ordinance amending municipal code to increase water and sanitary sewer rates by 3.5%): Second reading passed by roll call.
- Settlement approval: Council approved a settlement payment of $100,000 with Janet Dreesman; Gartin abstained due to a conflict.
Where possible, recorded roll-call tallies and recorded yeas/nays are reflected in the meeting transcript. For items where council voted by voice, the minutes record the motion as approved.
