Appointments shall take into consideration various racial, religious, cultural, and social groups and geographical areas within the City of Ames. The Commission issues reports, conducts educational activities, and participates in and/or sponsors community events that promote good will among various racial, religious, and ethnic groups and minimize or eliminate discriminatory practices. Prepares and submits annual report to Council. Generally meets the fourth Thursday of each month at 5:30 p.m. For more about the Ames Human Relations Commission, click here.

The mission of the Ames International Partner Cities Association (AIPCA) is to promote cultural and educational exchanges between the people of the City of Ames and those of our Partner Cities. Ames presently has one designated sister city: Koshu City, Japan. While the AIPCA is not an official board of the City, four delegates are appointed by the Mayor. To learn more about AIPCA, click here.

The Ames Resident Police Advisory Committee (ARPAC) is a unique board established to provide a resident perspective to the Chief of Police in the evaluations of complaints, provide thoughtful recommendations regarding policies and practices of the Ames Police Department, to provide an annual report of activities to the Ames City Council, and to increase the public confidence in the professionalism and accountability of the Ames Police Department. To learn more about ARPAC, click here. 

Analysis of Social Services Evaluation Team (ASSET) is a partnership between the City of Ames, United Way of Story County, Story County, Iowa State University Student Government, and Central Iowa Community Services. The purposes of ASSET are to promote coordination of human services planning and funding among the sponsoring organizations and to provide assistance in funding recommendations or allocations to any funding sponsor requesting such assistance. ASSET generally holds its meetings on the second Thursday of the month at 5:00 p.m. To learn more about ASSET, click here.

Appointed to hear appeals of persons in matters of building construction, safety and Code compliance within the scope of the building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing codes. Board shall consist of seven members from the following professions: one licensed architect, one professional engineer, one general contractor, one homebuilder, one licensed journeyperson or master electrician or electrical contractor, one licensed journeyperson or master plumber or plumbing contractor, and one licensed master HVAC technician or mechanical contractor. Meets as needed. To learn more about the Building Board of Appeals, click here.

The Campus and Community Commission provides a public forum to facilitate discussion of common interest to the City of Ames, Iowa State University, and Iowa State University Student Government. The members offer recommendations to the Council regarding issues that have been brought forward as common interests. Upon City Council approval, this commission will investigate those issues. The commission prepares and gives a report of its activities to the Mayor and City Council yearly. The Campus and Community Commission generally meets the fourth Monday of each month at 6:00 pm. To learn more about the Campus and Community Commission, click here.

The commission oversees city employment practices, including entrance examinations, appointments, promotions, and reduction-in-force procedures for permanent, full-time Civil Service employees. Holds hearings on appeals for decisions of suspension, demotion, or discharge of employees. An appointee must be a resident of Ames for five years. Meets early morning on the fourth Thursday of the month for regular meetings. To learn more about the Civil Service Commission, click here. 

The Commission on the Arts (COTA) is charged with setting goals and criteria for arts expenditures for City Council approval, and with preparing and submitting a recommended plan for distribution of arts funding. COTA meets as needed, but generally meets the first Monday of each month at 5:00 pm. To learn more about COTA, click here. 

The Electric Utility Operations Review and Advisory Board, called EUORAB, investigates and reviews all aspects of the operations of the Ames Municipal Electric Utility; reports to the Council regarding management practices, planning and proposals, including rate structures and power sale contracts; and, provides advice and proposals to the City Council on other matters as needed. Five members qualified by demonstrated expertise or experience in generation, distribution, or marketing of energy. This board typically meets monthly on the third Thursday. To learn more about EUORAB, click here. 

This commission shall consist of residents of the city with due regard to relevant fields of knowledge, including but not limited to, history, urban planning, architecture, archeology, law, and sociology. The commission reviews and makes recommendations on proposals for designating areas as historic districts; provides information within districts on preservation, renovation, rehabilitation, and reuse; holds hearings and reviews applications for new construction, alteration, demolition, or relocation of landmarks or property or structures within districts; and, reviews proposed zoning amendments that affect landmarks and districts. Regularly meets at 6:00 p.m. on the second Monday of each month. To learn more about the Historic Preservation Commission, click here. 

The duties of the board are to have charge, control, and supervision of the public library; responsible for budget; approves expenditures; develops/works to implement long-range goals; establish rules and regulations; accept gifts; and authorize use of the library by nonresidents. Regularly meets on the third Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. To learn more about the Library Board of Trustees, click here. 

The duties of the commission include: making rules and planning for development and continuation of City parks, swimming pools, and other recreational facilities, programs, and activities. Generally meets on the third Thursday each month at 4:00 p.m. To learn more about the Parks and Recreation Commission, click here. 

The powers of the commission include making surveys, studies, maps, plans, or charts of the City or of surrounding areas which have bearing upon Ames. The Council refers various plans to the commission for their recommendation prior to making a Council decision. The commission may recommend changes in zoning, offer advice relating to location of City facilities and streets, and may recommend a comprehensive plan for the City. Meets regularly at 7:00 p.m. on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. To learn more about the Planning and Zoning Commission, click here. 

Committee composed of the members of the Electric Utility Operations Review and Advisory Board (EUORAB), the Utility Accounts Supervisor for the City of Ames, and two appointed members to serve two-year staggered terms. The appointed members are to be from community or regional organizations active in assisting citizens with their winter heating bills. The purpose of the committee is to solicit and accept contributions from customers of the utility which will be used to assist low-income customers of the utility. To learn more about the Project Share Committee, click here. 

Appointed to study and propose amendments to the City's Rental Housing Code. This Board hears appeals on decisions of the Building Official in regard to interpretation and application of the City's Rental Housing Code. Consists of seven members representing the following citizen constituencies: one small/medium property landlord (owns fewer than 50 rental dwelling units), one large property landlord (owns 50 or more rental dwelling units), two neighborhood resident owner-occupants with no financial interest in residential rental property, one long term tenant (non-student renter for more than 5 years), one student tenant (full-time post-secondary student renter), and one general contractor - with financial interest in not more than 6 rental properties. Meets as needed. To learn more about the Property Maintenance Appeals Board, click here. 

Residents are appointed to the Public Art Commission (PAC) for the purpose of establishing public art philosophy and developing a public art plan for the City, monitoring the public art budget and recommending funding allocations for public art within City facilities, developing guidelines for selecting artwork, seeking private and governmental funding for public art, and developing educational, promotional projects for public arts programming. PAC meets the first Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. To learn more about PAC, click here. 

Appointed to hear appeals of nuisances as declared by the Building Official in accordance with Chapter 30 of the Ames Municipal Code. Board membership consists of seven members, one from each of the four wards, and three from the City at large. The Board has the authority to affirm or reverse the decision of the Building Official or to grant additional time for abatement. To learn more about the Public Nuisance Appeals Board, click here. 

The Transit Agency (CyRide) is an administrative agency of the City of Ames and is governed by a Board of Trustees which meets monthly throughout the year.  The six-member board consists of the Ames City Manager, Iowa State University's Senior Vice President for University Services, a member of the Ames City Council, an appointee by the Mayor of Ames, an Iowa State University Government of the Student Body (GSB) Senator, and an appointee by the President of GSB.  The board's responsibilities are to: oversee the operation, management, control and governance of transit services in the Ames community. To learn more about the Transit Agency Board of Trustees, click here. 

Hears applications/appeals by individuals on errors, exceptions, special permits, conditional use permits, and variances--all pertaining to zoning regulations. Meets regularly at 6:00 p.m. the second and fourth Wednesdays each month from April through October; meets the second Wednesday only from November through March. To learn more about the Zoning Board of Adjustment, click here.