The Ames City Council approved funding Tuesday for an educational campaign to inform student and nonstudent residents about occupancy restrictions in Ames.

The campaign, named “Three’s a Crowd, Four’s a Fine,” will help foster communication between students and non-student residents, said Clare Bills, public relations officer for the City of Ames.

“During the last year there has been frustration on both sides,” Bills said.

The campaign will occur twice a year, during the fall and spring, Bills said. In the fall, the program will educate students returning to Ames or those who are new to the city, she said.

The spring event will occur in February and March when students are signing leases for apartments. Iowa State may assist in funding the program in the spring.

“This has got to be an ongoing campaign to be successful,” she added.

Nathan Johnston, ex officio student member to the city council, said the program will help bridge gaps between residents and students, although he said he believes students will always have “ill feelings” about occupancy restrictions.

“I’m really excited to see this happen,” Johnston said. “It’s a very good thing the city is taking this step.”

Bills said elements of the campaign will include advertising on CyRide, a student button on the City of Ames Web site and changing the URL for the Web site to www.cityofames.org, which has already been completed.

Block parties for students and residents are also being planned, Bills said. Six neighborhoods have expressed interest in the parties so far.

The city would help by providing fliers and supplying some food for the event, Bills said.

The council also passed an amendment for a “dwelling house” use in residential medium- and high-density areas. The dwelling house would allow five unrelated people to live in the house, with one per bedroom.

Representatives for a group that supports a new recreation and aquatics complex also spoke at the meeting.

Trip Hedrick, 2502 Athlone Court, said there is a group prepared to support the campaign for a bond election to fund the complex.

“We’re pleased to report a friends group is in place with 50 enthusiastic members and is growing,” Hedrick said.

A bond date for the election will be proposed at the Oct. 14 or Oct. 28 city council meeting, he said.

A report on resident satisfaction was also presented by Bills at the meeting. The report included responses from students and non-student residents.

“I really feel our number one issue is our relationship with students,” Bills said.

The report included opinions on over-occupancy enforcement, upkeep of yards and parking in Campustown, which 72 percent found to be poor or very poor.

Public support for the fire department is one area that increased from the 2002 survey.

“The fire department has gone up 20 percent,” Bills said. “Public perception is that they are very effective.”

Bills said reasons for increased support of the fire department could include fire department school programs, the opening of a third fire station and the “tremendous feeling for the fire department since 9/11.”