The Ames city council talked about the ISU Research Park, tree removal on city grounds and parking in the Greek community.

The University and the city of Ames are working together to usher in phase three of the Iowa State Research Park.

The city council passed three resolutions concerning the park.

Steve Schainker, city manager, presented the information on the Park.

This park will be an economic investment opportunity for the city. They will receive income on the park from taxes that will be paid by the University.

First, council approved a development agreement with the ISU Research Park Development Corporation. Next, they approved a RISE grant with the Department of Transportation. Lastly, the city council passed a resolution that established a Urban Renewal Area and a date set for a public hearing on November 10.

The University will fund the Research Park with the city providing water and sanitation lines, as well as the streets within the park.

The Iowa State Research Park is unique in nearly every aspect of its conception. The Park is moving into phase three and will cost the University a large sum of money in taxes and development.

The Research Park will begin building The Hub. This building will be held in the Park and combine many offices currently spread across campus into one building. Surrounding the building will be commercial businesses meant to support the research workers in The Hub.

The city also passed a resolution to approve the EAB Response Plan. This plan will remove and treat Ash trees on city owned property that have been affected by the Emerald Ash Borer.

The Response Plan is a 20-year plan, which will involve taking out Ash trees and replacing them. This will be a gradual process with only a percentage of trees coming out and being replaced each year.

The resolution passed by the city council will begin the removal of trees on city grounds only at this point. The budget on this project is around three million dollars.

Iowa State already has a plan in place to deal with trees affected by the Emerald Ash Borer Tim Gartin, ward two representative. said.

The city council decided to vote on an ordinance that would bring the parking for Greek houses from 1:1 to 3:1 at next month’s City Council meeting.

Karen Marren, planning and housing, talked about the issue of parking in the Greek community. This concerns 40 Greek houses.

The Greek Alumni Association provided information to Marren about the amount of Greek residents living in the impacted area.

Currently there are about 2,000 Greek members living in houses. Only 1,100 parking spaces exist for the members living in the houses. This means that five percent of Greek houses are compliant with the parking code in place for the Greek houses.

If a Greek house wishes to expand, they have to become compliant with the city code. This change in ratio makes it easier for Greek houses to expand because of the fewer amounts of parking spaces that would be required.

Loosing historical value was brought up by a number of council members as a possible problem with allowing the 3:1 parking ratio. By making the ratio lower, it encourages houses to expand. This results in loosing the historical look and value of the old homes that the Greek communities utilize.

Gloria Betcher, first ward, and Peter Orazem, third ward, voted against allowing the ordinance to be made.