The Ames City Council will debate a resolution Tuesday opposing parts of the USA Patriot Act and calling for local government intervention when the federal government investigates Ames residents under the act.

The resolution was brought forward by the Ames Committee for the Defense of the Bill of Rights, the local arm of a national organization dedicated to preserving civil liberties.

“We’re making a strong statement, that’s the biggest thing,” said Caleb Christensen, senior in physics and group member. “It’s a statement letting people know this isn’t right and we’re not putting up with it.”

The Patriot Act is an anti-terrorism bill granting, among other things, broader surveillance and search and seizure capabilities for federal law enforcement, as well as the right for such agencies to detain suspected terrorists indefinitely without access to a lawyer.

The act has drawn much scrutiny since its inception in September 2001 — two weeks after the terrorist attacks in New York City, Washington and Pennsylvania. Three states and 271 cities across the country have passed resolutions similar to the one before the council.

The resolution calls for the city of Ames to:

* Request public schools and universities in the city to inform individuals whose educational records have been obtained under the Patriot Act,

* Encourage public libraries to post warning signs about the rights of federal agents to search library-borrower records and

* Instruct city employees to obtain approval of the mayor before complying with Patriot Act-authorized orders.

Aaron Fultz, 3920 Viola Mae Ave., a spokesman for the Committee for the Defense of the Bill of Rights, brought the possibility of a local resolution to the council’s attention at its March 2 meeting, and the issue was added to Tuesday’s meeting agenda with a 4-1 vote.

Councilman Steve Goodhue cast the one dissenting vote at the last meeting and said he opposes taking a stance on a federal bill.

“In my mind, this is a federal issue that needs to be broached with federal legislators,” Goodhue said.

The City Council should focus on matters directly related to Ames and avoid contentious national issues, he said.

“This [resolution] opens the door for the council to become involved in a number of federal issues,” Goodhue said. “We have plenty of local issues, from land use to zoning issues and on and on that we need to address.”

Councilman Riad Mahayni said he was in favor of action by local government, though everything suggested by the resolution may not be possible.

“My preference is that we make some kind of statement,” Mahayni said.

“We are a cosmopolitan city with quite a few international visitors. University towns should be more sensitive to these issues.”

A less-rigid opposition to the Patriot Act may be preferable, said Mayor Ted Tedesco.

“The resolution, as I’ve reviewed, is very specific and is generally not the kind of action city council has taken with regard to federal law,” Tedesco said.

Another option may be for the council to direct the mayor to send a letter to Iowa’s national legislators encouraging amendments to the act, he said.

The Ames City Council meeting Tuesday will immediately follow the Ames Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation Policy Committee meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 515 Clark St.