The One Community Commission – designed to create cooperation between students and the city – is being given guidelines after getting a nod of approval by the Ames City Council on Tuesday.

The Commission would be a permanent body comprised of city government, Government of the Student Body and university administration to initiate, monitor and carry out “one community” efforts.

The commission has the ability to create ongoing conversation between all segments of the population on important issues, said Ames Mayor Ted Tedesco.

The idea for the commission came from the recommendations generated by the Veishea Task Force and Veishea Committee.

Tahira Hira, member of the One Community Implementation Committee, said Tedesco, ISU President Gregory Geoffroy and GSB leaders want the commission to create a sense of community and involve all community members in city governance.

“We wanted the council to approve the concept. Now we will put flesh on it,” said Hira, assistant to Geoffroy.

It was important for the council to approve the commission before any specific guidelines were established, she said. Hira said commission supporters did not want to establish guidelines without approval from City Council.

Hira said she anticipated “moving as fast as possible” in creating a protocol for the commission and going back in front of the council with specific details on the structure. She did not give a specific time frame.

The commission was needed because “we all live in the community and have different needs, objectives and are busy focusing on our own needs and not looking at different sides of the story,” Hira said.

Tony Borich, ex-officio city council representative, said the commission would be a way of fostering dialogue.

“I think traditionally we are primarily concerned with our own issues,” said Borich, senior in community and regional planning. “The commission can work on collaborative projects and make progress on certain initiatives.”