REQUEST FROM AMES UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST FOR THEOLOGIAN IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2026
Ames United Church of Christ (UCC) is planning to host its annual Theologian in Residence Program on Saturday, October 17, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
In order to facilitate this event, Ames UCC has requested approval to waive parking fees and enforcement in Lot Q (north of the Library) to provide parking for event attendees. It is estimated that the waiver of metered parking fees will result in a loss of $84 to the Parking Fund. Ames UCC has agreed to reimburse the City for the lost parking meter revenue in the amount of $84 prior to the event.
The Council’s policy regarding parking waivers is to consider requests such as this one on a case-by-case basis, as opposed to requiring reimbursement for lost parking revenue. Lost parking revenue is only required to be reimbursed under this policy when the parking waiver is District-wide.
The City Council approved a similar request from UCC for last year's iteration of this program. In that instance, parking enforcement was suspended in Lot Q for the same hours as this year's request, and UCC reimbursed the City for the lost parking meter revenue.
- Approve the request for the Theologian in Residence Program for the waiver of parking fees and enforcement in Lot Q and require reimbursement for lost parking revenue.
- Approve the request for the Theologian in Residence Program for the waiver of parking fees and enforcement in Lot Q without reimbursement, resulting in an $84 loss to the Parking Fund.
- Deny the request.
The Theologian in Residence Program is an annual event at Ames United Church of Christ. Ames UCC has agreed to reimburse the City for lost parking meter revenue prior to the event. This request with required reimbursement was approved by the City Council in 2025. It is, therefore, the recommendation of the City Manager that the City Council adopt Alternative No. 1, as noted above.