An Ames budget meeting at City Hall on Tuesday night drew a mixed crowd, including citizens of Ames with a variety of concerns and ISU students interested in discussing Campustown issues.

City staff hosted the event in order to give residents the opportunity to voice questions and concerns over the Fiscal Year 2010/2011 city budget. After short introductions and a brief summary of the city’s budget by City Manager Steve Schainker and other staff, those in attendance were given the opportunity to share ideas for both potential projects and suggestions for possible cuts from the upcoming fiscal budget.

Chandra Peterson, vice president of the Government of the Student Body and junior in political science, spoke on behalf of the Campustown Action Association and presented several ideas.

Peterson said the association has plans for district flags unique to Campustown and expressed hope that the city will continue to fund the neighborhood intern position. She also discussed the partnership between the city, university and GSB for the One Community Event, an annual pizza and live music event late in the spring semester.

As part of a greater list of proposals, Peterson said she plans to present to the council in greater detail in the near future, she said the association hopes to put together a regular newsletter, develop a mural on one side of T-Galaxy, 206 Welch Ave., and create opportunities to sponsor live music events in Campustown, possibly in cooperation with the Student Union Board.

Also in attendance were a pair of Ames High School students, Kaitlin Estill and Tulika Biswas, who said they were “forced to be here” by their government teacher.

Estill, however, chose to speak up in the open forum, sharing her experience in Iowa City over the weekend.

She asked that the Council consider approving funds to support a year-round free fare CyRide initiatie for Ames residents.

Estill reminded the forum of the city’s decision to provide CyRide services fare-free over the summer months and suggested that the Council support the year-round option in order to replicate the success Iowa City sees on a daily basis in the Cambus transportation system.

Also raised at the meeting were concerns for the future of Carr Pool, city support for sustainability — both within public and private establishments — and street and traffic maintanence and control.