Ames Mayor Ted Tedesco, other city officials and the public will have the chance to speak with state legislators at City Hall Day today.

City Hall Day will provide an opportunity for city officials and state legislators to talk about current issues that are of interest to local government, said Sheila Lundt, assistant to the Ames city manager.

Lundt said the meeting is “an education session” for officials and legislators.

“It allows them to learn what issues everybody believes are important right now,” she said.

Andrea Fogue, assistant director of governmental affairs with the Iowa League of Cities, said City Hall Day is “a really good opportunity for the public to get together informally with officials and legislators and discuss what they feel is important.”

State Sen. Johnie Hammond and Rep. Dennis Parmenter are expected to be at the event.

The city officials will all come from State Senate District 31, which covers Ames, Cambridge, Huxley, Kelley, Maxwell, Sheldahl and Slater.

Lundt said there is no set agenda for the meeting, but there were some issues discussed at last year’s City Hall Day that are likely to be addressed again today.

Those issues include the deregulation of the electric industry and land-use issues such as annexing and zoning.

“Since Ames is a growing community, issues over annexing and zoning as they apply to cities are very important,” Lundt said.

The first City Hall Day was held in 1997.

“The event has gone far to foster cooperation and understanding between state and local officials on issues that impact cities,” Lundt said.

The event will be held today at 6:30 p.m. in the Ames City Hall Council Chambers, 515 Clark Ave.