After a week of meetings, the Ames City Council heard public input and made final decisions to the proposed 2011/2012 city budget at the City Council meeting Tuesday night.

Ames resident Lad Grove addressed the City Council about the increase in rental fees in the proposed budget.

“We [rental property owners] are not in a flush rental situation and have not been for a number of years,” Grove said. “We are living with 2010 expenses and 2000 income.”

Grove suggested as a way to cut costs for rental inspections is to have the inspection cycle every five years instead of every three years.

Judy Lemish, another Ames resident, spoke at the meeting about the cost and flexibility of the Ames aquatic center.

Lemish suggested having a monthly pass option, rather than just a season pass.

“I could budget better for that,” Lemish said.

Along with being cheaper than the season pass, Lemish said that a monthly pass would also allow her the choice of purchasing a pass for only a portion of the summer.

Following public input, the council made amendments to the proposed budget and discussed the salaries for City Council appointees.

“I don’t know if the city knows how lucky they are,” said Matthew Goodman, City Council member. “We are very very lucky to have this leadership team to run this city.”

The City Council voted to give a $4,845.47 increase to City Manager Steve Schainker’s salary and a $2,994.54 increase to City Attorney Doug Marek.

“One thing you rarely hear is that staff is not working hard enough,” Goodman said. “That’s a testament to Steve [Schainker]’s leadership … Steve can not possibly give more to this city.”

The City Council also voted to give $8,000 to VEISHEA for the pancake feed. This is equal to the amount the city gave for the event last year.

The proposed 2011/2012 budget, as amended, was approved by the City Council. March 1 was set as the date for the final public hearing for the budget.

During the regular City Council meeting that followed, the Intermodal Facility project was discussed. At this time, an operating agreement is being negotiated between Iowa State, the city of Ames and the Ames Transit Agency regarding the roles of each player in the project.

The plan was for the Operating Agreement to have the approval of the council before a project contractor is awarded a bid.

As the Operating Agreement is not completed, the council voted to delay awarding a construction contract bid for the project until the council meeting on Feb. 22. This will allow the council to approve the agreement, and then award a contractor bid.