City officials outnumbered attendees at the Ames City Council's neighborhood summit, where eight people came to share their comments and views.

City Manager Steve Schainker reviewed the city's developments from past neighborhood meetings, including a neighborhood grant program that has given out 104 grants for various improvement projects around the city. Schainker said the neighborhood grant program was not only "to help build that sense of place, but to forge relationships as neighbors work together on a common project."

Schainker said past input from neighborhood groups had prompted the city to publish the Good Neighbor Guide, a pamphlet of city information and contact numbers, and a quarterly neighborhood association newsletter.

The city has also been actively enforcing rental housing code in response to neighborhood requests, said Schainker, mentioning the creation of a neighborhood inspections position last year.

Pat Brown, from Ames Sustainable Neighborhoods, praised the increased levels of rental housing code enforcement.

However, Brown thought that in the face of property maintenance expenses, landlords may choose to sell their property.

Brown suggested encouraging conversion to owner occupied homes through a grant program that would help buyers with the necessary repairs. Brown also asked for the grant program at the council's town hall budget meeting earlier this month.

Dale Brentnall said he was somewhat disappointed at the lack of participation in the summit, but said he appreciated the opportunity the council provided for comment. In the past the City Council had hosted bus trips through the entire city so everyone could see neighborhood concerns in person, and Brentnall suggested this could be done again.

Deb Lee also praised the increased enforcement, and added that law enforcement had been very responsive in her neighborhood to complaints. She also thanked the city for the good neighbor guide pamphlet. "It has given us a way to diplomatically share information."

The group also requested:

More communication from the city regarding problems with a soil erosion control project in the Westbend Drive neighborhood.

Regularly updated lists of neighborhood contacts. Planning Director Steve Osguthorpe suggested an annual registration to keep lists current.

Continued traffic enforcement near the high school and at the intersection of 24th and Hayes avenues.

A regular publication deadline for the neighborhood association newsletter.

More communication from the city about road repair schedules.

City funding of neighborhood events, such as picnics, to encourage neighborhood relationships.

Laura Millsaps can be reached at 232-2161 Ext. 342 or lmillsaps@amestrib.com.