LOCAL LEAGUE POSITIONS

Please use link next to title to read the supporting studies  

Study without action is futile

"Study without action is futile. Action without study is fatal." This League axiom represents twin activities basic to advocacy. Members first choose topics of long-range local interest which can be affected by public policy. The League arrives at a position through research, study, intensive discussion and member agreement. Only after this study and consensus process can League take action to propose, support or oppose legislation. The Ames League has been in the forefront of many changes which citizens take for granted today. Imagine what Ames would be like without ...

• Cy-Ride
• Minimum health and safety housing code
• Resource Recovery Plant Greenbelt of Story County
• Expanded Ames Public Library
• 13th Street fire station
• Covered garbage trucks!
• Municipal Utility Plant with citizen board
• Long-term, comprehensive Land Use Plan 
• All-America City designation 
• Consolidated City Hall

Advocacy works when study leads to action. Members participate in study groups, attend information meetings, speak their minds, observe meetings o reg­ister voters, and develop leadership talents and sharpen their skills.

County Recreation (1976-77, updated 1986-87)

Support for acquisition of land to complete the Skunk River Greenbelt between Ames and Story City. Support for maintaining the Skunk River Greenbelt for nature study and other recreational activities that are compatible with the ecological balance of the area

Land Use (1976-77, amended 1981, 1985, 1998 & 2004-amended and organized into sections)

• Support for land use plans for Story County and Ames that include and consider the immediate and long-range economic, social, cultural, recreational and environmental effects of all proposed land use changes.
• Support for public participation at all levels of planning and zoning decision-making, with the objective of controlling growth. Support for flexible, multifaceted programs to protect open space, including zoning, financial incentives, acquisition and landowner education.
• Support for the development of dependable funding sources to ensure the acquisition and management of adequate amounts and types of open space to meet future public needs.
• Support for coordinated long-range land use planning among local agencies.
• Support for adequate funding to ensure strict enforcement of all zoning ordinances as part of comprehensive plans.

Land Use - Natural Resources:

• Support for policies that ensure stewardship of land, water and biological resources. The League supports preserving and ensuring sustainable use of prime agricultural land, greenbelts, high quality natural areas, environmentally sensitive areas and recreational open space.
• Support for ordinances that provide installation, monitoring and abandonment procedures for underground storage tanks.
• Support for comprehensive natural resource inventories and support for requiring the consideration of inventory data in land use decisions.

Land Use - Development

• Support for county and municipal policies promoting compact development patterns that are energy efficient and environmentally, socially and fiscally sustainable.
• Support for policies that emphasize the use and restoration of existing infrastructure and appropriate use of vacant land within developed areas.
• Support for action to encourage active use of concentrated commercial areas (such as downtown Ames and Campustown).
• Support for policies that include open space among infrastructure requirements for new development.

Electric Utility (1981, updated 1988, amended 2004)

· Support for a municipally owned electric facility for the city of Ames.  The League of Women Voters supports interconnection of power systems including possible expansion of the use of regional power pools; buying and selling of power; emphasis on the use of renewable resources (i.e., the utilization of refuse-derived fuel from the Solid Waste Recovery System and by-product steam for heating purposes, and wind generated power); a continued high level of reliable service; direct citizen access to the decision making process; a system of financial reporting that is accurate, accessible and understandable to the general public.

· An electric utility is a part of the total energy-planning picture.  This planning must consider the economic consequences to the community.  Continued priority should be given to conservation efforts, including use of energy audits and exploration of load management techniques.

• Support for participation of youth in decision making on public policies concerning leisure activities for youth.
• Support for additional facilities for both structured and non-structured public recreational activities for youth.

• Support for the continued development and implementation of public subsidies for low income persons for leisure activities in Ames.

Support the city of Ames' housing goal to "provide a wide variety of housing types and locations to serve the residential needs of the present and future populations" (from Ames Land Use Policy Plan). To accomplish this goal we must create and maintain an adequate supply of sound affordable housing for the very low, low, and moderate income individuals and families in our community by:

• supporting programs to maintain and expand home ownership opportunities
• creating new affordable housing units in both the city and university community (both rental and owner-occupied)
• conserving and maintaining existing housing stock
• exploring planning for affordable and accessible housing in all neighborhoods and communities
• supporting public/private partnerships to expand housing opportunities
• using a variety of financing approaches to help families secure adequate housing.

• Support for private and public comprehensive prevention programs such as good prenatal care, parenting programs and classes for caregivers. The League supports protection, treatment and on-going therapy for the abused.
• Support for increased emphasis on education and rehabilitation for abusers (in and out of prison).
• Support for enforcement of laws that require responsible reporting of child abuse.

• Support for providing citizens of Story County with information about the services, usage and financial status of Story County Hospital and Long Term Care Facility.
• Support for retention of the long-term care and ambulance services.
• Support for discontinuing acute care (inpatient) services.
• Support for alternative services to meet health and other social services needs of Story County residents.

Transportation Needs in Story County Adopted 2004

• Encourages providers of transportation in Story County to collaborate in designing a comprehensive, cost-effective, environmentally-friendly, and energy-efficient plan to meet the transportation needs of Story County;

• Encourages ASSET to survey member agencies that provide transportation to their clients to explore sharing of services or developing contractual arrangements with public transit agencies;

• Encourages non-profit organizations to contract with public transit agencies or other transportation providers as an alternative to operating their own vehicles;

• Encourages agencies to seek efficiencies through shared services such as centralized vehicle maintenance and driver training;

• Supports increased federal/state/local funding for public transit or, at a minimum, full funding of public transit through the existing state "use tax" formula;

• Supports expanded efforts to mitigate cost of public transportation for low-income people;

• Supports existing efforts by Wheels to Work to enable welfare recipients to become car owners; and

• Encourages expansion of opportunities for low-income families to become car owners through the development of additional car ownership programs that include elements found to support successful programs in other communities.

Living Wages Adopted September 2005 - Word revised April 2007

The League of Women Voters of Ames:

• Supports adequate income to enable working people to cover basic needs and to live with dignity and a sense of self-worth.

• Affirms the principle of equal pay for equal work.

• Supports the City of Ames and Story County adopting a Living Wage ordinance requiring a livable wage be paid:

  • to all full- and part-time city and county employees.

  • by firms whose contracts exceed $15,000 for any 12-month period. (This applies to the hours the employees are working on city or county contracts.)

  • by firms that receive economic development money or incentives from the city or county.

 League Of Women Voters Of Ames Report On Study Of Recreation Needs, Programs, And Facilities For Seniors In Story County

            The Ames League of Women Voters in January, 2011, surveyed individuals, medical professionals, commercial/public recreation facilities and programs to determine availability of facilities, programs and needs of Story County seniors.   Ames is the 3^rd fastest growing area in the state.   Story County senior population is expected to swell from 13,029 (State of Iowa Data Center) to 17,000 by 2020. This age group (over 60) is the county’s expanding demographic. In the study group’s research it was learned that communities in Iowa, as well as in neighboring states and across the nation, are competing to attract this demographic.  

Story County senior citizens are a valuable asset. They provide a substantial tax base, volunteer tens of thousands of hours of expertise, and play a vital role in organizations, city commissions and various nonprofit groups. Some are able to donate substantial amounts of money to causes and projects that contribute to a thriving community.    All of these contribute to Ames being cited as one of the Top Ten Places to Live (CNN Money.com), Fifth Best Place to Live a Simple Life (AARP) and Top Ten Real Estate Most Livable Bargain Markets (MSN).

Based on the survey information it was concluded that there are few programs offered specifically for seniors. None of the Story County communities reported a plan to address the recreation/wellness needs of the senior population.   Recognizing that senior citizens are a valuable asset, other communities, both within and beyond the state, provide a variety of leisure/recreational programs/activities specifically for seniors.            

Results from 180 individual questionnaires completed by Story County residents between the ages of 60-80 years, 39%of whom lived in Ames, listed wellness/recreational programs in which they participated.   While many seniors walk, twenty five percent cited participating in bowling, 22% aquatic activities, 16% yoga or tai chi, and 35 % various other activities.   When asked to name the activity in which they would participate in if available, 20% listed aquatic programs. Barriers to participation included availability and affordability, especially for ballroom dancing (41%), basketball (25%) and warm water pool (11%).  

Completed surveys were received from 30 wellness /recreation program/facilities located throughout Story County including Parks and Recreation departments, retirement communities, subsidized senior housing, wellness related businesses, and hotel/motels with  swimming pools. Just seven of those had a gymnasium, six had a walking place, four a lap pool and four a tennis court.    Water aerobics (23%) was the most commonly offered program in which seniors participated and all of those were fee or membership based.  Cost of providing such facilities/programs was identified as a barrier.  

            Physicians were asked what exercises or activities they most frequently recommend for seniors. All cited therapeutic water exercises and walking. Others cited walking, tai chi, yoga, dance, bicycling, zumba, yoga, bowling and golf.    A need for an indoor walking track was noted.    Members in the study group added that more opportunities for therapeutic warm water programs are needed.   The director of the Ames Free Medical Clinic which serves a large number of seniors emphasized that cost and transportation are large barriers for their senior population to any kind of wellness program. 

Conclusions:

             Indications from this study and accompanying research show that it is in the best interest of Story County to plan for the increasingly large demographic of older adults.   Quality of life for seniors includes facilities and programs for physical well being. Iowa communities that want to be prepared for the increase in senior population as the baby boomers enter retirement age need to plan for the future. Providing recreational and wellness activities benefit not only the elders among us and but makes the community more welcoming for everyone else. 

                In light of the results of this study, the League of Women Voters of Ames

• Supports programs that educate about the importance of exercise and an active life style in promoting well being and good health for Story Country seniors
• Supports adequate facilities for wellness/exercise activities including, but not limited to, indoor walking, warm water exercise, ballroom dancing, yoga and tai chi
• Supports public/private cooperation in providing recreation facilities and programs for Story County seniors, and
• Supports exploration of ways to subsidize fees for prescribed exercise/wellness programs for seniors in Story County for whom expense is an obstacle.   

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