►
From YouTube: This Week in Ames
Description
The Honorable Mayor Ann Campbell is our guest this week as we discuss boards and commissions and how you can get involved with your local government.
A
B
So
far
we
have
not
had
a
meeting
yet,
but
we
are
looking
forward
to
one
coming
up.
We
did
spend
all
day
Saturday
with
a
council
retreat
with
a
facilitator
talking
about
the
new
council
and
the
mechanics
of
working
together.
There's
I
have
tremendous
admiration
for
people
who
have
run
for
council
and
have
gone
through
a
very
intense
orientation.
It
is
a
big
learning
curve
and
they've
been
willing
to
devote
an
inordinate
amount
of
time
just
to
going
around
and
touring
city
facilities.
B
A
B
Extremely
large,
I
believe
it's
unprecedented
and
it
is
brought
about
for
a
variety
of
reasons,
but
certainly
one
of
them
being
that
tremendous
reconfiguration
of
the
wards
as
a
result
of
the
census
and
reapportionment.
As
you
know,
reapportionment
takes
place
mechanically.
Almost
it
has
2
awards
have
to
be
within
legislative
districts.
Those
lines
are
drawn
outside
of
our
purview
and
then
within
the
within
the
the
city.
It
has
to
accommodate
where
the
growth
has
taken
place.
A
Just
to
give
a
little
history,
the
census
you're
referring
to
is,
of
course,
the
2010
census
at
which
we
almost
hit
60,000.
It
was
a
really
we
had
really
encouraging
growth
in
the
area
and
we
have
had
every
census,
as
since,
since
the
census
was
taken,
the
wards
I
think
just
remind
our
viewers,
four
wards
in
the
city
of
Ames,
with
two
at-large
positions
and,
of
course,
the
mayor
and
at
this
new
orientation
we
had
four
new
people
well,.
B
We
did
and
one
thing
to
keep
in
mind:
I
I,
keep
this
in
mind
because
I
visit
with
other
mayors
and
City
people
around
the
state
who
say,
oh
ours,
didn't
change
that
much
certainly
I'm
State
University
population
is
one
of
the
factors
in
driving.
Our
apple
cart
upset
in
wards
and
the
growth
of
new
living
quarters
to
the
west
on
the
west
side
of
Ames
and
so
on.
So
so
that's
one
of
it.
B
We
we
had
the
unique
situation
of
two
wards
being
heading
sitting:
council
members
merged
and
I-
don't
recall
that
ever
having
happened,
so
it
impacted
this
election.
But
it's
going
to
impact
the
next
election
to
because
we,
of
course
have
four-year
terms.
However,
in
order
to
get
us
back
in
sync,
two
of
the
people
that
were
elected
this
time,
namely
Tim,
garten
and
Chris
Nelson,
will
have
to
run
again
in
two
years
rather
than
four
years.
So
if.
A
B
We
did
have
I
think
a
very
good
and
very
honest
and
forthright
all
day,
Saturday
meeting
we
this
year
we
are
going
to
have
spent
two
Saturdays
before
we
ever
meet
as
a
council
looking
at
where
we
are
going
for
the
next
two
years
and
with
the
next
one
will
be,
we
will
be
looking
at
goal-setting
just
what
are
the
things?
What
are
we
have
going
for
us
in
ames?
What
are
our
opportunities,
what
our
concerns
and
within
that?
A
What
we
want
to
do
now
really
important
issues
and
topics
of
discussion.
It's
always
interesting
to
see.
The
else
will
come
up
with
their
goals,
the
things
that
they
want
to
focus
on
there's
so
many
things
out
there
that
people
feel
very
strongly
about
and
to
really
concentrate
those
down
to
the
list
and
it
gets
down
to
just
the
list.
It.
B
Does
get
down
to
a
list
which
has
then
a
lot
of
tests
that
go
along
with
it,
and
this
year
again
is
going
to
be
unique.
On
one
hand,
we
have
more
people
than
ever
that
have
come
to
the
council
that
have
been
out
knocking
on
doors
and
hearing
what
the
people
are
asking
for
and
the
concerns
they
have.
On
the
other
hand,
we
have
four
people
who,
by
their
own
admission,
come
on
a
learning
curve
and
without
the
experience
so
hats
off
to.
A
Them
yeah:
you
mentioned
the
amount
of
time
that
the
council
members
are
going
to
be
putting
it
into
this
into
their
into
their
new
positions
and
sort
of
an
entry
level.
There's
a
way
for
community
residents
to
get
involved
in
local
government,
and
that's
one
of
the
things
I
wanted
to
talk
to
you
about
today
is
serving
on
a
board
or
Commission.
Well,.
B
Yes
and
that
this
is
very
timely,
because
that
is
what
we
are
out
advertising
for
right
now.
We
have
19
boards
and
commissions
that
have
a
total
of
115
appointees,
all
told
frankly,
it's
one
of
my
most
mind-boggling
tasks
to
take
applications
for
that
to
find
people
who
are
interested,
who
will
serve
in
that
role
and
be
a
good
voice
for
the
city
it
and
I'm,
always
looking
for
a
variety
of
people
to
get
involved.
B
I
look
at
each
of
the
boards
and
commissions
and
on
that
I
try
to
balance
the
appointments
by
geography
in
town
by
age,
by
gender,
by
interest,
and
so
we've
been
fortunate
in
having
a
variety
of
very
interested
people
apply,
and
unfortunately
it
also
means
that
interested
qualified
people
don't
always
get
appointed
to
what
it
is.
They're.
Looking
for,
but
I
keep
a
file
well.
A
B
And
in
your
mentioning
these
I
would
preface
it
by
saying
there's
no
there's
no
formula.
No
one
is
like
the
other
either
in
it,
it's
legal
background
or
in
its
its
responsibility.
We
have,
for
example,
boards
that
are
boards
and
commissions
that
are
purely
advisory
there.
Their
job
is
to
do
a
very
thorough
job
of
hearing
issues
be
and
asking
some
of
the
hard
questions
weeding
things
out
before
it
comes
to.
B
Ultimately,
a
decision,
that's
made
by
City,
Council
I,
think
in
that
Planning
and
Zoning
Commission,
for
example,
Parks
and
Recreation
Commission
does
does
just
that
and
on
the
so
they
they
basically
are
very
important
filter
process,
and
you
will
to
hear
hear
the
public
and
and
give
advice.
Then
there
are
others,
such
as
the
Zoning
Board
of
Adjustment,
which
is
not
a
link
to
City
Council,
it's
a
quasi-judicial
run.
B
So,
for
example,
if
you
want
a
variance
in
your
front
yard
setback
to
add
a
new
porch
to
your
house,
you
would,
and
it
is
not
provided
for
in
code.
You
would
come
to
the
Zoning
Board
of
Adjustment
and
if
you
were
displeased
with
the
outcome
there,
your
Avenue
of
appeal
is
to
the
court
system.
It
is
not
to
the
council,
so
we've
got
that
quasi-judicial
one,
the
library
board
you
mentioned,
that's
a
good,
yet
another
unique,
unique
board
that
has
ramify
regulations
by
state
law
and
thus
fits
in
a
world
unto
itself.
B
It
has,
in
some
respects
more
autonomy
than
any
of
these
others.
It
is,
for
example,
the
library
board
that
is
responsible
for
the
for
employing
the
library
director.
It
is
not
the
City
Council,
it's
not
the
city
manager.
Every
other
department,
head
and
employee
is
directly
it
with
the
exception
of
city
attorney
is
directly
responsible
to
the
to
the
city
manager
and.
B
And
actually
there's
one
other
that
I
ought
to
mention
in
its
unique
status,
unique
status
and
names,
but
I
think
unique
status
nationally,
and
that
is
the
Transit
board,
which
the
Transit
board
is
made
up
of
university
administration
city
of
Ames
administration,
an
appointee
which
I
by
the
way,
looking
for
right
now,
an
appointee
from
the
public
at
large
and
government
of
the
student
body.
And
they
too,
like
the
library
board,
hire
their
own
director
right.
A
B
I
do
ask
for
preferences,
and
my
my
personal,
leaning,
frankly
rightly
or
wrongly,
is
to
to
pay
particular
attention
to
the
preferences
they
have.
I
do
sometimes
get
people
who
say
oh
I'd
like
to
do
anything
and
I
I
like
to
I,
probably
do
maybe
my
bias
but
spend
more
attention
to
people
who
have
say:
I
have
a
specific
interest
in
you
know
it's
owning
board
of
adjustment
and
planning
and
zoning,
or
to
kind
of
hone
down
what
a
background
might
be
now.
B
I
always
encourage
anybody
who
is
interested
in
a
specific
thing
that
particularly
people
that
I
I'm,
not
that
I
not
know
personally
to
come
visit
me,
because
that
gives
me
an
opportunity
to
get
to
know
them
better
and
what
their,
how
they
they
might
fit
in
to
the
operation
and
I
again,
I
always
say
that
very
good
people
get
appointed.
There
are
very
good
people
that
there's
not
a
slot
for
at
that
particular
particular
time,
but
certainly
I
very
much
like
to
have
like
to
visit
personally
and.
A
B
On
those
ones
with
specific
skills,
which
are
skills
that
I
don't
have
or
have
contact
with
I
I
frequently
do
then
go
to
to
somebody
who
can
help.
Advise
me
in
that
that
area
and
say
do
you
know
somebody
that
I
don't
know
that
you
could
encourage
to
to
apply
and,
as
I
say,
all
told,
I
look
upon.
This
is
probably
one
of
the
most
important
things
I
do,
but
also
one
of
the
most
challenging
zai
made
mistakes
and.
B
Another
thing
I'd
like
to
to
a
point
out
is
that,
a
few
years
ago
what
we
did
was
try
to
synchronize.
All
of
these.
We
had
some
boards
that
were
five
years.
We
had
some
that
were
three
years.
We
had
a
whole
variety
of
things
and
that
was
more
than
I
could
get
my
arms
around,
and
so
we
have
put
by
ordinance
that
they
are
by
and
large.
Unless
there
are
extenuating
circumstances,
they
are
buying
large
three-year
terms
eligible
for
reappointment.
So
that
brings
me
to
looking
at
what
we've
got
on
our
plate
right
now.
B
A
Applying
for
a
board
or
commission
seat
has
really
been
streamlined.
It's
very
easy!
Now
you
take
the
applications
online
at
our
website,
city
of
ames,
org,
look
under
our
government
and
you
can
find
boards
and
commissions.
It's
also
nice
as
there's
a
description
of
each
of
the
board
and
commission,
and
it
says
when
they
meet
and
again
these
are
all
meeting
at
different
times
and
days
of
the
week,
typically
monthly.
That's.
B
B
A
B
Thank
you
and
may
I
add
I'm.
Also.
We
people
tend
to
think
that
Oh,
their
only
way
of
getting
involved
in
doing
something
in
a
volunteer
basis
is
to
apply
for
a
boarding
commission
but
I'd
like
to
put
in
a
pitch
for
the
fact
that
we
have
a
whole
host
of
volunteer
opportunities
in
the
the
city
that
I
don't
have
any
dozen
people
volunteer
at
the
library
day
in
and
day
out,
we
have
I
believe
10
or
11
people
working
volunteering
at
the
kiosk
down.
B
A
A
If
you're
interested
in
applying
to
be
on
a
board
of
commission,
you
just
need
to
be
a
names
resident
and
again
can
go
on
our
website
at
city
of
ames
org,
look
under
our
government
for
boards
and
commissions
and
click
on
the
link.
You
can
also
request
an
application
by
mail
by
calling
the
clerk's
office
at
two
three
nine
five
101
or
if
you
want
to
see
how
the
boards
and
commissions
meetings
are
run,
go
to
city
of
ames,
org
and
check
on
channel
12.