Mayor & Council
January 2008
What a shift of gears this is to be addressing the State of the City when, just a week ago, the eyes of the nation and the world were focused on Iowa as we lead the way in the presidential selection process. And Ames got its fair share of attention. Many of us were privileged to meet members of the national media, volunteers from around the nation, and every presidential candidate.
How many times did we hear pundits questioning, “Why Iowa?” And thus, “Why Ames?” How representative are we? I believe we answered that question. In Ames, and the state, voters caucused in record numbers indicating our unprecedented dedication to making each individual count and contribute to improvement of the nation and the world. Now we need to harness that enthusiasm for the improvement of Ames.
In Iowa, and in Ames, we are increasingly becoming “typical” of the nation as a whole – thus deserving our “first in the nation” status. We are a nation that is witnessing growing mobility and ethnic diversity, a nation answering the wake-up call to environmental sustainability, a nation witnessing challenges unknown to our parents, and a nation desiring to leave the world a better place for our children and grandchildren. We see all this in Ames, Iowa. While we are mere witnesses to history with some issues, there are a great number of others in which our involvement as individuals, and our collective energy as a community, can bring about a tremendously positive impact.
As we harness that collective energy, I am reminded of another subject that the caucus process kept measuring in the polls and interviews was the need for civility, respect, and ultimate consensus. Many concluded that was a factor in the final outcomes for each party’s caucus. I believe we in Ames should continue to be hungry for that same goal of seeking common ground and moving ahead.
Now it is time to roll up our sleeves, find consensus on important local issues, and prove to ourselves and to the nation that Ames, Iowa, really is a place where grass roots democracy can work at its best, people can treat those with differing opinions with respect, and common consensus can be found. Surely we all want a community where we can continue to enjoy our small town amenities while still seeing the best opportunities for recreation, education, shopping, dining, employment, and entertainment.
All that being said, I see this as a time when the challenges facing the collective citizenry of Ames are greater than any time that I have known in my time in city government.
What do we need to do in 2008 to meet these challenges?
First, I think we need to put the contentious mall subject behind us. This will not be a popular statement for some, but it has torn our community apart for way too long. I believe that “falling on the sword” on this subject has interfered with desired progress on many other significant fronts -- such as, environmental sustainability, positive development, and becoming an embracing inclusive community. As I travel around Iowa, the mall battle seems to be the subject that identifies Ames, Iowa. It is time to bring that to an end and move on.
We need to continue to put Ames in the forefront of the battle for environmental sustainability – thus giving our children and grandchildren a better land than they found it. As mayor, with the support of the Ames City Council, I signed the U.S. Mayors’ Climate Protection Act The city has dedicated itself to its “EcoSmart” programs – purchasing hybrid vehicles, building to LEED standards, upgrading the Resource Recovery Plant for efficient conversion of garbage to electricity, converting to LED traffic signals , encouraging reduction of water use, and more. But the battle cannot be won by city government alone. How many of us as individuals converted our home light bulbs, ridden Cy-Ride rather than driving to every destination, separated all glass from our garbage, reduced peak load summer electric use by installing the simple device to momentarily shut down air conditioners during peak usage, or calling the municipal utility’s energy doctor for a household energy audit? It is the responsibility of every one of us as we put our stamp on reducing the world’s carbon footprint.
We need to come to consensus on how Ames will grow responsibly. Next year’s total property valuation has only risen .4%. This is a shocking figure. We have not seen a number that low in decades. This comes at a time when requests for governmental services are increasing. As a community we need to determine how to reverse this startling trend and thus maintain the quality of life we have all come to expect.
A new subject that has risen to our community’s forefront this year is the changing cultural climate. We, like much of the rest of the nation, are seeing populations becoming more mobile. Many are new people desiring to make Ames their home. Other communities around the state and the nation have already seen these shifts whether from an immigrant population or a traditionally urban population. To address this subject, the City Council called a meeting on November 27 where an unprecedented nearly 400 citizens were in attendance. And I am pleased to announce that this week there has been the establishment of a community-wide Inclusive Community Task Force which is generously being co-chaired by Barbara Woods and Jane Acker. And I am also pleased to say that, to a person, everyone I asked to be involved on this diverse task force said an immediate “yes.” That doesn’t often happen when I enlist help. They have been given a challenging task and will be reporting back to the City Council in April.
Accompanying the effort of this task force, will be another informal group created by Chief of Police Chuck Cychosz. It will help advise the Ames Police Department on best practices to make Ames a safe and inviting home for all residents. The job of our law enforcement officers is an ever evolving one. We should all commend them for their outstanding service for the residents of Ames.
I come to another issue that is near and dear to my heart and is continuing to progress. That is the subject of a human service campus. I spoke of this subject a year ago. Ames is a community that has always prided itself in caring for those needing an extra boost and having quality human services. Now many of the agencies providing those services are at a critical juncture in space and facility needs. I am pleased to say that there has been a small community task force at work on determining the feasibility of locating a joint facility where a more efficient and cooperative delivery of service could happen. Hopefully more announcements can be made on that front soon. We will need the entire community’s support if this is to become a reality.
Having looked at the many opportunities ahead for 2008, I can’t conclude without noting some of the outstanding accomplishments of 2007 and using them as an example for what I hope is ahead.
First on that list would certainly be the unprecedented and unsolicited gift from Don and Ruth Furman, adding to the taxpayers’ bond vote, to make a new aquatic center a reality. That impact will be felt long beyond all of our lifetimes. The Furmans generosity has caused me to rethink my personal financial contribution to future generations of Ames. And I hope it has done the same for all of us who have found Ames a place to earn our livings, raise our children, and call home. All of our philanthropic capabilities vary, but certainly all are needed.
I am also proud to say that 2007 has seen great strides in partnering with surrounding, and sometimes overlapping, governmental entities. The complicated job of planning for the Ames Urban Fringe in conjunction with Story County, Boone County and the city of Gilbert has taken several steps forward. Additionally we have strengthened our alliance with the Ames Community Schools in an effort to ensure that our future growth is compatible with the best interests of the Ames School District. Any community is only as good as the education it offers to the next generation. And we continue to be the envy of university cities around the nation as the cooperation between the City and Iowa State University continues to flourish. Furthering these efforts to coordinate direction of all governing bodies, the City of Ames has scheduled an all Saturday morning meeting on January 19 where several of these entities will make presentations about their plans and impacts on the City of Ames. I invite all of you to attend at the Scheman Building starting at 8 a.m.
Finally, I cannot conclude without again enlisting volunteers for the many tasks that make the city of Ames work as we would all like. This, for me, starts with my perennial plea for applications from citizens willing to serve on city boards and commissions. Applications are now being taken for slots to begin service in April and are currently available on the city’s web site. But this is only one of the many avenues for volunteer service in Ames. I was pleased last week to have received an e-mail from an Ames High student inquiring how she and her friends could become more involved in volunteering to make Ames a better place. I hope everyone will use her example in 2008. By this time a year from now, I hope to stand here saying, “Look what we as a united community have been able to accomplish.”
Finally, I will conclude with the same thoughts I have articulated for the past two years. I can think of no city where I would rather live or be mayor than Ames, Iowa.