The Ames City Council moved to direct the City Attorney to file a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request during their meeting Tuesday night.
In 2019, the Ames Human Relations Commission ceased investigating cases of discrimination, contracting the responsibility out to the Iowa Office of Civil Rights. This year, the Iowa Office of Civil Rights declined to provide the City of Ames with information about discrimination cases within Ames.
“They say in the report that we didn’t get a clear reason for the refusal of our request from that office,” Ward One Rep. Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen said.
The City Attorney will pursue a FOIA request regarding discrimination cases within Ames.
Next, the council discussed modifications to Municipal Code Chapter 14. The modifications would prohibit discrimination based on gender identity in Ames and update the responsibilities and powers of the Ames Human Relations Commission.
In February, the Iowa Legislature enacted Senate File 418, removing gender identity as a protected class.
“It thereby legalized discrimination against transgender persons in housing, employment and public accommodations. Ames has no legal basis for preventing discrimination of gender identity,” Senator Herman Quirmbach said.
“I and others like me do not want our presentations and identities to decide whether or not we can find homes and keep jobs,” Erin O’Brien, a senior studying technical communications at Iowa State, said.
The council moved to address Municipal Code Chapter 14 in future meetings.
The council also discussed the residential curbside recycling program. From Sept. 2 to 30, Ames surveyed to gauge residents’ views on the program.
Of the 1,543 responses, 92% indicated they would participate, and 72% agreed that biweekly pickup is sufficient.
Two of the seven haulers in Ames currently offer recycling services.
“I just request that if the city chooses to pursue an RFP for a single hauler that there are criteria that are established that are in addition to price,” Thor Nelson, executive vice president of Aspen Waste Systems, said. “Experience in the community matters, having local employees, facilities in the community, I think it demonstrates historical investment in this community.”
The city will release a Request for Proposal (RFP) and receive bids to determine which hauler will provide city-wide recycling services.
For more information on the Ames City Council meeting, visit the City Council’s website.
