Ames City Council | October 27, 2026

The Ames City Council’s regular meeting on October 27, 2026, addressed several capital and development matters. For the Animal Services Facility project, staff reported a bid-budget shortfall of about $562,000 after applying available donation interest, and identified a $113,900 potential deduction through alternative product manufacturers, with further savings possibly bringing deductions to about $150,000. Council approved staff’s recommended alternative (1A–C), drawing the remaining required funding from the Council Priorities Capital Fund; the city had previously committed about $2.8 million to the project, with roughly $6.2 million remaining in the fund. Staff will continue discussions with the apparent low bidder about deducts and possible additional savings. Council also approved an RFP related to downtown parking and infrastructure planning; the schedule anticipates a final report by May 2029, while staff said an earlier completion would be pursued if federal review allows. The discussion included a request to incorporate relevant adopted city plans and consider schedule compression. No vendor award for that RFP was reported.

Other decisions included directing staff to return with proposed electronic message center sign standards for CGS zoning, alongside a report on illuminated signs near residential areas; the council did not approve the requested sign changes outright. It also advanced a text amendment to extend special-use permit validity from 12 to 24 months. On Manatt’s proposed voluntary annexation of its laydown area, Council directed staff to explore a potential agreement and conditions and return with further information; annexation itself was not approved. The council accepted the Duff Avenue corridor study as a long-term planning guide and approved near-term striping and intersection measures, but did not authorize a construction contract. The meeting also included a presentation of the city’s annual resident survey.