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Analysis of Social Services Evaluation Team (ASSET): Participating sponsors of the team are the City of Ames, Story County United Way, the Story County Board of Supervisors, the ISU Government of the Student Body (GSB), and the Story County Department of Human Services. The purposes of ASSET are to promote coordination of human services planning and funding among the sponsoring organizations and to provide assistance in funding recommendations or allocations to any funding sponsor requesting such assistance. Generally meets the second Thursday of the month at 4:30 p.m. Board of Review: Five members appointed by the Conference Board (City Council, School Board, and Story County Board of Supervisors) for the purpose of reviewing assessments made by the City Assessor. Could potentially meet several days each week during the month of May and into June. Building Code Board of Appeals: Appointed to study and propose amendments to the City's Building and Fire Codes. This board acts as the appeals board for these listed code sections. Consists of five members from the following professions: architect, consulting engineer, general contractor, home builder, and member of the construction business trade. This board also hears citizens' appeals from decisions of the Building Official. Meets as needed. Civil Service Commission: The commission oversees city employment practices, including entrance examinations, appointments, promotions, and reduction-in-force procedures for permanent, full-time Civil Service employees. Holds hearings on appeals for decisions of suspension, demotion, or discharge of employees. An appointee must be a resident of Ames for five years. Meets early morning on the fourth Thursday of the month for regular meetings (dates/times vary for hearings). Commission on the Arts (COTA):The commission is charged with setting goals and criteria for arts expenditures for City Council approval and with preparing and submitting a recommended plan for distribution of arts funding. Meets as needed. Electric Utility Operations Review and Advisory Board (EUORAB): Investigates and reviews all aspects of the operations of the Ames Municipal Electric Utility; reports to the Council regarding management practices, planning and proposals, including rate structures and power sale contracts; and, provides advice and proposals to the City Council on other matters as needed. Five members qualified by demonstrated expertise or experience in generation, distribution, or marketing of energy. Meets as needed. Electrical Examiners and Appeals, Board of: Appointed to study and propose amendments to the City's Electrical Code; hear appeals from decisions of the Electrical Inspector; and, approve applicants for electricians' licenses. One member shall be a licensed master electrician, one a journeyman, and the third member shall be either a master or journeyman electrician or shall have professional teaching experience or study in engineering of electrical systems. Meets as needed. Historic Preservation Commission: This commission shall consist of residents of the city with due regard to relevant fields of knowledge, including but not limited to, history, urban planning, architecture, archeology, law, and sociology. The commission reviews and makes recommendations on proposals for designating areas as historic districts; provides information within districts on preservation, renovation, rehabilitation, and reuse; holds hearings and reviews applications for new construction, alteration, demolition, or relocation of landmarks or property or structures within districts; and, reviews proposed zoning amendments that affect landmarks and districts. Regularly meets at 7:00 p.m. on the second Monday of each month. Human Relations Commission: Appointments shall take into consideration various racial, religious, cultural, and social groups and geographical areas within the City of Ames. The commission issues reports, conducts educational activities, and participates in and/or sponsors community events that promote good will among various racial, religious, and ethnic groups and minimize or eliminate discriminatory practices. Prepares and submits annual report to Council. Receives, investigates, and determines the merits of discrimination complaints. Generally meets the fourth Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Human Relations Commission Hearing Officers: Persons appointed must be educated in the law. Conducts hearings to determine probable cause upon complaints filed with the Human Relations Commission. No meetings. Human Relations Commission Investigative & Conciliation Officers: Members shall serve as staff to the Human Relations Commission. Conducts initial investigation of complaints regarding discriminatory practices. No meetings. Library Board of Trustees: The duties of the board are to have charge, control, and supervision of the public library; responsible for budget; approves expenditures; develops/works to implement long-range goals; establish rules and regulations; accept gifts; and, authorizes use of the library by nonresidents. Regularly meets the third Thursday each month at 7:00 p.m. Parks and Recreation Commission: The duties of the commission include: making rules and planning for development and continuation of City parks, swimming pools, and other recreational facilities, programs, and activities. Generally meets on the fourth Thursday each month at 4:00 p.m. Planning and Zoning Commission: The powers of the commission include making surveys, studies, maps, plans, or charts of the City or of surrounding areas which have bearing upon Ames. The Council refers various plans to the commission for their recommendation prior to making a Council decision. The commission may recommend changes in zoning, offer advice relating to location of City facilities and streets, and may recommend a comprehensive plan for the City. Meets regularly at 7:00 p.m. on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. Plumbing and Mechanical Board: Appointed to study and propose amendments to the Plumbing or Mechanical Codes and to hear appeals from decisions of the Inspector. This board shall consist of a journeyman plumber, a master plumber, a journeyman mechanical trade person, a master mechanical trade person, and a fifth member who shall be a journeyman or master of either trade or a person with professional teaching experience or study in the engineering of plumbing or mechanical systems. Meets as needed. Project Share Committee: Committee composed of the members of the Electric Utility Operations Review and Advisory Board (EUORAB), the Utility Accounts Supervisor for the City of Ames, and two appointed members to serve two-year staggered terms. The appointed members are to be from community or regional organizations active in assisting citizens with their winter heating bills. The purpose of the committee is to solicit and accept contributions from customers of the utility which will be used to assist low-income customers of the utility. Property Maintenance Appeals Board: Appointed to study and propose amendments to the City's Rental Housing Code. This Board hears appeals on decisions of the Building Official in regard to interpretation and application of the City's Rental Housing Code. Consists of seven members representing the following citizen constituencies: one small/medium property landlord (owns fewer than 50 rental dwelling units), one large property landlord (owns 50 or more rental dwelling units), two neighborhood resident owner-occupants with no financial interest in residential rental property, one long term tenant (non-student renter for more than 5 years), one student tenant (full-time post-secondary student renter), and one general contractor - with financial interest in not more than 6 rental properties. Meets as needed. Public Art Commission: Appointed for the purpose of establishing public art philosophy and developing a public art plan for the City, monitoring the public art budget, recommending funding allocations for public art within City facilities, seeking funding, and developing educational and promotional projects for art. Meets at 12:00 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month. Transit Agency Board of Trustees, Ames: Established for the purpose of undertaking the establishment, acquisition, operation, management, control, and government of the transit services in Ames. Meets monthly, but dates/times vary. Zoning Board of Adjustment: Hears applications/appeals by individuals on errors, exceptions, special permits, conditional use permits, and variances--all pertaining to zoning regulations. Meets regularly at 7:00 p.m. the second and fourth Wednesdays each month from April through October; meets the second Wednesday only from November through March. |