Ames City Council | March 10, 2026

The Ames City Council meeting on March 10, 2026, included several procurement and budget-related discussions. Key procurement actions involved awarding a five-year curbside recycling contract to Aspen Waste Systems of Iowa at a rate of $7.75 per month per household, with related municipal code amendments to implement fees. The council also accepted reports of bids and delayed contract awards for the Resource Recovery and Recycling Campus (R3C) project due to bids exceeding budget by $2.5 million, with plans to revisit contract awards on March 24, 2026. Additionally, the council approved multiple pavement improvement contracts totaling over $2 million and authorized a $150,000 budget allocation from the Sustainability Reserve for community and youth grants supporting climate action projects. A rapid needs purchase for transformer repairs at the Dayton Avenue substation was reported, funded within the existing budget. The council also discussed the 2026/27 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME program annual action plans, approving proposed activities and directing staff to conduct public forums. Other procurement-related items included approval of a $44,749 change order for the Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center and referral of a contractor responsibility determination to a future meeting. Policy discussions included urban renewal area designations and municipal code revisions related to licenses and permits. The meeting featured public hearings on rezoning, pavement improvements, and the R3C project, with motions passed to proceed accordingly.