Ames City Council Tables Slogan and Approves Alcohol Ordinance

Talk on a new slogan for the city was tabled Tuesday by the , which also took the first step toward allowing alcoholic beverage tastings in retail establishments.

City officials and residents have been discussing a city tag line since completing a visioning process in June. When they discovered that “Heartland's Leading Edge” was taken in , Ames Community Visioning Steering Committee was recalled to vote on a new phrase.

Now the leading line seems to be “Where Discovery Grows.” A close second is “Heartland Inspiration, World-Class Innovation.”

Councilman Jeremy Davis said, “I wasn't thrilled by either of the two recommendations. 'Where Discovery Grows,' doesn't excite me too much.”

“I'd like to send it back,” he said.

Councilman Peter Orazem said he didn't think “anything was wrong with, 'Where Discovery Grows.'”

Davis said he thought the Ames Community Visioning Steering Committee should be given the freedom to develop its own tag line.

He suggested tabling the conversation because Councilman Jami Larson was not there and Davis wanted all six members to agree on whatever line is chosen.

Council voted 3-2 to table discussions with Orazem and Riad Mahayni voting no.

Alcohol tastings allowed

Council members on Tuesday also approved a first reading of an ordinance that would allow retailers to host alcoholic beverage tastings. Businesses must have the correct permit and file a plan with the Ames police to let them know how the retailer plans to ensure no one consumes too much and that minors don't have a taste at all.

The ordinance aligns city code with standards set by the state's Alcoholic Beverage Division and adds a restriction by requiring the plan to be filed with the police department.

Councilman Tom Wacha said that he would vote against the ordinance because he thought it would benefit too few people and could potentially cause problems. 

The council would have to approve two future readings before it becomes law.