Communications & Outreach

Disclaimers

The information on the City of Ames’s website is provided on an 'as is' basis without any warranties of any kind, express or implied. With respect to information available from this website, neither the City of Ames nor any of its employees, make any warranty, express or implied, including the warranty of merchantability, title, non-infringement of third parties’ rights, and fitness for a particular purpose, or assume any liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of such information.

The City of Ames reserves the right to make changes and improvements at any time and without notice, and assumes no liability for damages incurred directly or indirectly as a result of errors, omissions, or discrepancies. The City makes no warranties about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the sites.

Without limitation on the foregoing:

1. The City of Ames does not warrant that its website will operate error-free or that the site and their servers are free of computer viruses or other harmful mechanisms. If your use of the site results directly or indirectly in the need for servicing or replacing equipment or data, the City of Ames is not responsible for those costs.
2. The City of Ames makes no representations or guarantees regarding the content of its website, including, but not limited to, broken links, inaccuracies, or typographical errors.

Website Privacy Statement

The City of Ames operates this website in order to provide information and services to the residents of Ames. In providing these services, information about visitors to a website may be collected automatically or may be submitted by the website user.

The City of Ames recognizes the public's concern about privacy on the Internet. This privacy statement establishes how information gathered about you from your visit to our website will be used by this website's operators. As a visitor, however, you should be aware that much of the information submitted to the City is public information under the laws of the State of Iowa. Under some circumstances, we may be required to disclose such information in accordance with the Iowa Open Records Law or other legal requirements.

Ames On the Go Mobile Reporting App

The City of Ames is using Ames On the Go, an online and mobile service request system provided by SeeClickFix (a division of CivicPlus), to power its mobile app and reporting forms. Ames On the Go is an application that allows Ames residents to report non-emergency related issues. Ames On the Go can be used via the Web on a desktop computer, laptop, mobile phone, or tablet. Ames On the Go is a public application. The description entered will be visible to the public. Your display name will also be visible unless you choose to submit as Anonymous. Your email address will never be displayed publicly. Users registering on the mobile application also agree to CivicPlus’ Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Collection of Information

No personally identifiable information is collected about visitors who simply browse this site or who download information from it. If you participate in a survey or send an email, your email address and the contents of the email and information volunteered in response to the survey will be collected. Visitors who request services available through this site may be required to furnish additional information which may be required by law or which is necessary to provide the service requested. The additional information collected will be no more specific than if the visitor were requesting the service by any other means, including by telephone or in-person visit to a City facility. In all cases, the City strives to collect the minimum information necessary to comply with applicable law and/or provide the service requested.

Visitors may be requested to furnish information to assist the City in improving the facilities available on this site, or to be used in analysis and improvement of the City's service delivery systems. Such information is collected on an "opt-in" basis, which requires that the visitor provide specific approval for the collection of such data. A visitor who subscribes to a service available on this site may "opt out" of that service at any time.

Any information furnished by a visitor to this site, for any reason, may be filed and maintained by the City for its own use in performing statistical analysis, improving its service delivery system or responding appropriately to a request for service or information. Visitors should be aware that the collection of personal information requested from or volunteered by children online or by email will be treated in the same manner as information given by an adult and may be subject to public access.

We may collect specific and non-personal information about each visitor to this site. This information is collected automatically during site operations and includes Internet Protocol (IP) address of the visitor's ISP (Internet Service Provider) or computer, type browser used, the date and time of the visit, the Web pages or services you accessed at this site and the IP addresses of the locations to which the visitor linked during their visit to our Web site. This information is strictly used for statistical reporting, site maintenance, and/or trouble-shooting purposes. It is not connected to personally identifiable information that may be collected as described above.

We utilize third-party vendors for some aspects of our website. Each vendor has a privacy policy and the City of Ames is not responsible for how data given to the third-party vendors are used. These third-party vendors include: Paymentus, RecTracks, EnerGov, Ames on the Go, Granicus, and City of Ames pages on social media (Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, etc.)

Information Subject to Disclosure under the Iowa Open Records Law or Other Legal Requirements

Certain information that you provide to us is subject to disclosure under the Iowa Open Records Law (Iowa Code Chapter 22) or other legal requirements. This means that if it is specifically requested by a member of the public, we are required to provide the information to the person requesting it.

Website Links to Other Sites Not Covered by Our Privacy Policy

Our website also contains links to information located on websites maintained by other public agencies and private organizations. This privacy statement describes the information gathering practices and procedures of the City of Ames. Once you access a link to another website, you are subject to the privacy policy of the other website.

Protection of Information

The City of Ames does not sell, rent or otherwise distribute visitor's information, including electronic mail addresses, to any outside company or organization. We do not reveal specific information about subscribers or other personally identifiable data to unaffiliated third parties for their independent use, except if required to do so by the Iowa Open Records Act or other law.

Use of "Cookies"

Generally, this website does not use cookies. Cookies created on your computer by using this website do not contain personally identifying information and do not compromise your privacy or security. We use the cookie feature only to store a randomly generated identifying tag on your computer. Visitors may refuse the cookie or delete the cookie file by using any of the widely available methods. However, rejecting cookies will cause you to lose some functionality on those pages requiring them.

SMS Teams of Service link

By opting into SMS from a web form or other medium, you are agreeing to receive SMS messages from City of Ames. This includes SMS messages for appointment scheduling, appointment reminders, post-visit instructions, lab notifications, and billing notifications. Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. See privacy policy at [Privacy Policy URL]. Message HELP for help. Reply STOP to any message to opt out.

Thank you for participating on one of the City of Ames' social media sites (including CyRide, Ames Public Library, and Furman Aquatic Center). We ask that you treat others with respect, even if disagreements occur. Please do not post material that could be considered an infringement on the rights of others. The City of Ames reserves the right to delete postings, or block users, that it deems to be slanderous, obscene, soliciting or threatening.

If you find inappropriate content on one of our social media sites, please notify an administrator immediately by emailing printern@cityofames.org or by calling the Communications and Outreach department at 515-239-5204. The City of Ames is not responsible for inappropriate content submitted by other users.

Remember that these are public forums and whatever information you share will be viewed by others. Consider this carefully before posting detailed personal information. We caution you against posting any information that could make you vulnerable to identity theft. Even if your privacy settings are set to the maximum, never assume anything you post is private. The City of Ames has no control over the policies and practices of these third-party sites.

The City of Ames, IA has adopted a policy on links from the City's website. The City of Ames limits links to those sites that promote the economic welfare, tourism, and industry of the city, as well as links to government and educational institutions.

 The City will not permit an electronic link from its website except upon the following conditions, and only after written application to the City is approved by the Communications and Outreach department based upon information in the application showing that the applicant meets at least one of the following criteria:

• The State of Iowa or the federal government or an agency thereof;
• An educational institution in the State of Iowa funded with public funds;
• A not-for-profit corporation organized under the laws of the State of Iowa which promotes the economic welfare, tourism and industry of the City of Ames;
• A commission or agency funded in whole or in part by the City of Ames, Iowa;
• A party that has an established partnership with the City of Ames and which promotes the economic welfare, tourism, and industry of the City. 

Placement of the link is at the sole discretion of the City of Ames.

Links to many web sites are not controlled, maintained, or regulated by the City of Ames or any organization affiliated with the City of Ames, and the City of Ames is not responsible for the content of those web sites. Use of information obtained from those web sites is voluntary, and reliance on that information should only be undertaken after an independent review of its accuracy. Reference at those web sites to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, or otherwise does not constitute or imply endorsement or recommendation by the City of Ames.

Links to websites may be terminated if the City of Ames determines in its sole discretion that the linking party ceases to meet the criteria as outlined in this policy.

For additional information, contact:

Communications and Outreach, City Hall, 515 Clark Ave, Ames, IA 50010

Phone  515.239.5204 or email sgwiasda@cityofames.org

Policies:

In order for a program to be aired on Ames Television, it must meet one or more of the following criteria. The program must:

• Promote Ames City Government
• Be produced or sponsored by one of the following:
  (a) Ames Mayor and City Council
  (b) City of Ames Departments
  (c) City of Ames Boards & Commissions
  (d) If the program does meet the above requirements, coverage would be at the direction of the Ames City Council

Goals:

• To provide quality programming to the citizens of Ames that educates and informs about city government issues
• To provide live coverage and rebroadcasts of council and commission meetings

The purpose of Ames Public Access TV (Mediacom Channel 121-16) is to provide residents the opportunity to broadcast locally produced programs on cable television.  APATV provides cablecasting of non-commercial, public access programming independently produced by professionals or non-professionals in an electronic format.  This service is provided on a first-come-first-served, non-discriminatory, non-monopolistic basis.

Political promotions are prohibited on APATV.

APATV is administered by the Communications and Outreach Staff in conjunction with the Ames City Council.

Program Submission and Program Scheduling

Instructions for program submission:

1. Program MUST be accompanied by a signed APATV Program Agreement(PDF, 110KB) . Submit forms to the City Manager's Office in City Hall at 515 Clark Avenue.
2. Program must meet technical standards requirement and files must be labeled with program title and total running time (duration of the event/show).
3. Final decisions regarding specific airtime(s) are made by Communications and Outreach programming staff.

In the event that Communications and Outreach staff receives a complaint which indicates that the Program Agreement has been violated, the producer/sponsor agrees to allow staff to retain and review any production-related material which was submitted by the producer for cablecast on the Ames Public Access Television channel. The producer further agrees that program playback will be postponed until APATV staff can verify contract compliance.