The Ames City Council spent a majority of their meeting Tuesday night discussing amendments to over-occupancy laws.

For almost two hours, the City Council discussed Mayor Ted Tedesco’s proposal, denying the portion of the plan that would allow more than three students to live together in certain neighborhoods.

Tedesco’s proposal would allow one person per bedroom in low density residential areas, with a maximum of four unrelated tenants per unit.

Nathan Johnston, ex officio student member to the council, approved of the proposal.

“It’s an exceptional idea,” Johnston said. “Students would like it to be one person per bedroom, but understand it’s a compromise.”

Allowing one person per bedroom makes sense, Johnston said.

“There are four-bedroom houses housing unrelated people,” he said. “If only three are allowed, how is this using space effectively?”

The council focused on how increasing the limit would also effect parking.

“There is a concern we would end up with concrete backyards,” said Councilwoman Sharon Wirth.

Wirth said other concerns included noise, garbage and traffic.

“I understand that students would like to have more people in a structure to decrease their costs, but there are other relationships that need to be looked at,” Wirth said.

Councilman Russ Cross attributed the problem back to tenants and landlords.

“No one would be here tonight if landlords were responsible for their units and tenants were responsible for their behaviors,” Cross said.

Throughout the discussion, the words “tenant” and “student” were used interchangeably by council members and the audience speaking to the council.

The council struck down the proposal in a 5-1 vote, bringing cheers from the audience filled with residents of low density areas.

No verbal votes were cast for the item, but Councilman Steve Goodhue raised his hand to approve the proposal.

“I feel strongly the council made the right decision,” Wirth said. “A low density residential neighborhood is supposed to be that — a low density residential neighborhood.”

Johnston said the decision to not allow four unrelated tenants affects students more than anyone else.

“[The council] can say that it isn’t directly [aimed at students] but the units are being rented to students,” Johnston said.

Laws, like the couch ordinance and the drinking buffet ban try to restrict and control students, Johnston said. “Students very much see it as a blatant shot at them,” he said.

Wirth said it is important to realize this is not a change. “If people were obeying the law then it doesn’t have an effect,” Wirth said. “It is the same as it was.”

Johnston said he does not feel the city purposely pushed this proposal through during the summer when students were not in Ames.

“The council thinks it is good to get this done now before the new students come,” Johnston said.

Even if students were in Ames, Johnston said he does not believe he would see them defending themselves.

“Students feel if they say something it doesn’t matter,” he said. “Students aren’t going to fight a battle they know they can’t win.”

The council also voted to approve the winner of the Landmark Challenge competition and award them $10,000 for first place. “The Ring” by Rashmi Ramaswamy and Mark Peters from Chicago won the competition. Money for the award was provided by Ames Electric Services.

Wirth said at this point there is no plan to implement the design. She said it wasn’t clear if implementing the concept was even possible and there are environmental concerns.

“I’d be concerned, if [the council] moved to implement, about the light pollution,” she said.