12. First Reading of Ordinance No.1682, an Ordnance Amending Chapter 9.111 of the City Code of 2005 to Establish Animal Kennels and Shelters as a Conditional Use in the City's I1, Light Industrial Zoning District.

[12. First Reading of Ordinance No.1682, an Ordnance Amending Chapter 9.111 of the City Code of 2005 to Establish Animal Kennels and Shelters as a Conditional Use in the City's I1, Light Industrial Zoning District.]

THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK REGARDING THIS MATTER.

ANY COMMENTS MADE AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND WILL NOT BE INCLUDED AS PART OF THE FORMAL RECORD OF THIS MATTER.

ITEM 12 TONIGHT IS THE FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 1682 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 9.111 OF THE CITY CODE OF 2005 TO ESTABLISH ANIMAL KENNELS AND SHELTERS AS A CONDITIONAL USE IN THE CITY'S I-1 LIGHT INDUSTRIAL ZONING DISTRICT.

AND AARON. WELL, I'LL START THIS OFF, MADAM MAYOR.

SURE. SO JUST I'LL GIVE A LITTLE INTRODUCTION TO THIS ITEM AND THEN I'LL HAND IT OFF TO BOB KIRMIS CITY PLANNER, CONSULTANT CITY PLANNER FOR THE CITY.

SO WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU IS A PROPOSAL FOR AN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT.

AND IN THIS CASE, THERE'S A COUPLE STOPS ALONG THIS JOURNEY, THIS BEING THE FIRST FOR THE CITY COUNCIL. THE PLANNING COMMISSION REVIEWED THIS CASE LAST WEEK, AND TONIGHT IS THE FIRST READING.

SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS THE CITY THIS EVENING IS CONSIDERING A TEXT AMENDMENT.

SO A CHANGE TO THE CODE LANGUAGE FOR THE CITY THAT WOULD INTRODUCE ANIMAL KENNELS AND SHELTERS AS A CONDITIONAL USE INTO THE CITY'S I-1 LIGHT INDUSTRIAL ZONING DISTRICT.

SO THAT'S TONIGHT IS THE FIRST READING OF THAT COMPONENT.

WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS SOME OF THE CONDITIONAL USE STANDARDS THAT STAFF ARE PROPOSING AS PART OF THIS PROPOSAL.

[00:10:03]

BUT THE ACTUAL CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, WHICH IS KIND OF THE FINAL LEG OF THE JOURNEY IF THIS ORDINANCE MAKES ITS WAY THROUGH FIRST AND SECOND READING AT THE NEXT MEETING IN FEBRUARY ON THE 27TH, THE CITY WOULD REVIEW IN GREATER DETAIL THE ACTUAL CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT THAT'S BEING APPLIED FOR BY THE APPLICANT. SO TWO PARTS TO THIS JUST WANTED TO FOCUS IN ON THE FACT THAT TONIGHT THE ACTION IS REALLY FOCUSED ON DOES THE CITY WANT TO INTRODUCE THIS USE TO THE I-1 DISTRICT AND THEN WE MOVE THROUGH THE PROCESS TO LOOK AT THE SPECIFIC CONDITIONS FOR THE ACTUAL PROJECT THAT'S BEING PROPOSED AT THIS SITE.

AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING, THERE WAS SOME TESTIMONY GIVEN IN OPPOSITION TO THIS.

IT WAS DETAILED IN THE REPORT, A LITTLE BIT GREATER DETAIL, BUT THAT OPPOSITION WAS SITE SPECIFIC TO THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.

SO I WANT TO BE ABLE TO SEPARATE THOSE TWO THINGS AND WE'LL GO THROUGH THAT, THOSE CONDITIONS IN GREATER DETAIL IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ALONG THE WAY, CERTAINLY ASK BOB OR MYSELF, BUT WANTED TO COMPARTMENTALIZE THE ACTIONS THAT THE COUNCIL'S GOING TO BE REVIEWING ON THIS.

DESPITE SOME OF THAT OPPOSITION, I THINK IN STAFF'S PERSPECTIVE WE WORK THROUGH THE ISSUES AND CONCERNS AND STAFF ARE CERTAINLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE AMENDMENT AS WELL AS THE PLANNING COMMISSION VOTING 6 0 UNANIMOUSLY TO MOVE THIS FORWARD FOR APPROVAL BY THE CITY.

AND WITH THAT I WOULD INTRODUCE BOB.

HE'LL TAKE YOU THROUGH KIND OF THE NUTS AND BOLTS NUANCES OF THIS PROPOSAL, AND WE'D BOTH BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT COUNCIL MIGHT HAVE.

THANK YOU. HI, BOB.

WELCOME. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

SO I'M JUST GOING TO KIND OF HIGHLIGHT WHAT'S IN THE AMENDMENT.

REALLY THERE'S THREE PARTS TO IT.

THE FIRST SECTION RELATES TO A PROPOSED CHANGE TO THE DEFINITION OF THE TERM KENNEL.

AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS SORT OF THIS IS MAYBE KIND OF A HOUSEKEEPING THING, BUT WITHIN THE GENERAL BUSINESS DISTRICT, ANIMAL KENNELS AND ANIMAL SHELTERS ARE AN ALLOWED CONDITIONAL USE.

THERE'S ALSO A SECTION IN THE ORDINANCE SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS, WHICH APPLY TO ANIMAL KENNELS AND ANIMAL SHELTERS.

SO WE WANT TO MODIFY OR WE'RE SUGGESTING THAT THE DEFINITION OF KENNEL BE MODIFIED TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE TERMS ANIMAL KENNEL AND ANIMAL SHELTER RATHER THAN DIFFERENT.

SO THEN THERE'S YOU REMOVE THAT SUBJECTIVITY.

DOES IT APPLY? DOESN'T APPLY? WE WANT TO BE CONSISTENT.

SO THAT'S RELATIVELY MINOR CHANGE.

ALSO, IN REGARD TO THE DEFINITION, WE'RE SUGGESTING THAT IT BE EXPANDED TO SPECIFICALLY REFERENCE THE ALLOWANCE OF ANIMAL DAYCARE CENTERS AS FALLING UNDER THAT TERM.

SO AGAIN, SO THERE'S NO QUESTION WHETHER OR NOT IN THIS CASE A DOGGIE DAYCARE IS ALLOWED.

AND SO THERE'S NO SUBJECTIVITY INVOLVED.

THE SECOND PART OF THE AMENDMENT IS SIMPLY ADDING ANIMAL KENNELS AND ANIMAL SHELTERS AS A CONDITIONAL USE IN THE DISTRICT.

AS YOU KNOW, AS A CONDITIONAL USE, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC INPUT.

THERE'S A BASE SET OF CONDITIONS WHICH I'LL COVER IN A MOMENT, BUT ALSO AS PART OF THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT REVIEW PROCESS, THE CITY HAS THE ABILITY TO APPLY CONDITIONS ABOVE AND BEYOND JUST WHAT'S IN THIS AMENDMENT AS YOU GUYS FEEL APPROPRIATE TO MINIMIZE ADVERSE IMPACTS.

SO IT'S NOT JUST WHAT'S IN HERE BASED ON PUBLIC INPUT AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OR WHAT IS CONVEYED TO THE CITY COUNCIL, THOSE CONDITIONS CAN BE EXPANDED TO SUIT THE SITE.

SO THIS IS NOT A THIS IS IT NECESSARILY IN TERMS OF CONDITIONS WHICH WOULD BE APPLIED.

AND THE FINAL PART OF THE AMENDMENT DOES RELATE TO THE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS WHICH APPLY .

PRESENTLY THERE ARE A FEW CONDITIONS WHICH APPLY TO ANIMAL KENNELS AND ANIMAL SHELTERS.

THOSE ARE IDENTIFIED IN BLACK TYPE IN THE AMENDMENT.

SPECIFICALLY, IT INDICATES THAT ANIMAL SHELTERS AND ANIMAL KENNELS ARE SUBJECT TO CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT PROCESSING.

ALSO, OUTDOOR KENNELS MUST BE PROHIBITED.

ALSO STATES THAT IT'S NECESSARY TO SCREEN OUTDOOR ACTIVITY AREAS FROM ADJACENT RESIDENTIAL USES.

AND FINALLY, THAT INDOOR ACTIVITIES INCLUDE SOUNDPROOFING.

SO THE AMENDMENT SUGGESTS A COUPLE CONDITIONS RELATED TO OUTDOOR ACTIVITY SPACES, SPECIFICALLY THAT THAT AREA BE CLEANED AS SO NOT TO CONSTITUTE A NUISANCE AS DEFINED BY THE CITY CODE.

[00:15:01]

SO WE'RE TRYING TO WRAP IN THE OR CONNECT TO THE NUISANCE ORDINANCE.

AND THEN SECONDLY, THAT ANIMAL WASTE PRODUCED WITHIN THE OUTDOOR ACTIVITY SPACE NOT BE ALLOWED TO DIRECTLY ENTER THE CITY STORM SEWER SYSTEM.

THE AMENDMENT ALSO INCLUDES A NUMBER OF CONDITIONS WHICH APPLY TO INDOOR ACTIVITIES.

THESE WERE TAKEN IN LARGE PART FROM AN EXAMPLE ORDINANCE USED BY THE CITY OF NEW HOPE.

STAFF DID LOOK AT A NUMBER OF CITIES IN TERMS OF WHICH CONDITIONS WE THOUGHT WERE APPROPRIATE TO INCLUDE RELATED TO THIS ACTIVITY.

IT INCLUDES A MINIMUM FLOOR AREA REQUIREMENT PER DOG, WHICH WAS SUGGESTED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF SHELTER VETERINARIANS, SPECIFICALLY TRYING TO ADDRESS DENSITY WITHIN THE STRUCTURE.

ALSO A CONDITION REGULATING TEMPERATURE 60 TO 80 DEGREES IS PROPOSED SOMETHING TO ENSURE THAT IT'S COMFORTABLE FOR THE ANIMALS.

ALSO, A COUPLE OF CONDITIONS RELATED TO IMPERVIOUS SURFACE COVERAGE WITHIN THE INTERIOR OF THE KENNEL, SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO WALLS UP TO FOUR FEET IN HEIGHT AND FLOORING.

SO IT'S SEALED. IT'S BASICALLY FOR SANITARY REASONS.

ALSO, CONDITION IS INCLUDED THAT ANIMAL WASTE BE CLEANED UP IMMEDIATELY AND BE DISPOSED OF ON A DAILY BASIS. AND THE FINAL CONDITION IS THAT THERE BE SUFFICIENT LIGHTING WITHIN THE INTERIOR SPACES.

SO AGAIN, THAT'S IT IN TERMS OF CONDITIONS, AS MENTIONED.

THIS DOES NOT MEAN THE CITY COUNCIL OR PLANNING COMMISSION CAN'T SUGGEST ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS TO INDIVIDUAL CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT APPLICATIONS WHICH ARE SITE SPECIFIC. SO AGAIN, WE THINK IT'S A GOOD FIT IN THE LIGHT INDUSTRIAL ZONING DISTRICT AND CONSIDERING IT'S A CONDITIONAL USE, THEREFORE PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY FOR INPUT IS AVAILABLE.

AND ALSO WE THINK THE REFINEMENT OF THE CONDITIONS ADDRESSES THE ACTIVITY IN A POSITIVE MANNER.

SO ANY QUESTIONS OR? THANK YOU, BOB. SURE.

DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL AT THIS POINT? I HAD A QUESTION FOR AARON BECAUSE I HAD ASKED HIM THIS ONE EARLIER VIA EMAIL, BECAUSE I KNOW IN THE PLANNING COMMISSION THERE WERE CONCERNS FROM THE RESIDENTS ABOUT BARKING AND NOISE.

AND I KNOW THAT THE KENNEL OWNER OR THE DAYCARE OWNERS HAD SAID THAT THEY NOT HAD AN ISSUE AND THEY HAVE DOGS THAT ARE WELL-BEHAVED AND THE BARKING IS NOT AN ISSUE FOR THEM, BUT JUST FOR PEOPLE TO HEAR.

HOW MANY WHEN YOU CHECKED WITH MINNEAPOLIS, HOW MANY COMPLAINTS DID YOU GIVE FOR DOG BARKING FROM THIS? BECAUSE THEY WERE THERE FOR 13 YEARS AND LIGHT INDUSTRIAL RESIDENTS ACROSS THE STREET I LOOKED UP THEIR SITE.

HOW MANY COMPLAINTS DID THEY GET? SO WE ARE WADING INTO THAT CUP SIDE OF THIS.

BUT THAT'S OKAY. WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT'S OKAY.

AT THE NEXT MEETING, WE'D HAVE MORE DETAIL AROUND THIS AS WELL.

BUT THE BUSINESS THAT IS LOOKING TO MOVE INTO THE CITY HAS RUN A DOGGIE DAY CARE FACILITY IN NORTHEAST MINNEAPOLIS FOR 13 YEARS.

WE REACHED OUT TO CODE ENFORCEMENT STAFF FROM CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS UPON COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS REQUEST, AND THEY HAD ZERO COMPLAINTS RELATED TO ANY SORT OF NUISANCE ACTIVITY.

THERE WAS ONE SIGN VIOLATION, A CODE FOR SOME TYPE OF SIGNAGE THAT ALL.

NO, THAT'S OKAY. IT'S HARD TO SEPARATE THE TWO BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A SPECIFIC PROPOSAL THAT WE'LL BE GETTING INTO.

BUT IT'S THE SEQUENCING OF THE PROCESS.

COUNCIL MEMBER ARE YOU? YES ARE YOU DONE? OTHER THAN THAT, I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA.

I DROVE AROUND AND IT'S A GOOD SITE FOR IT.

AND THEY'VE GOT THE OUTDOOR THINGS IN THE BACK FOR THE DOGS AND SURROUNDED BY OTHER BIG BUILDINGS AND FACING UNIVERSITY.

SO I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA, A GREAT ADDITION TO OUR CITY SO.

THANK YOU.

SORRY. I WOULD SAY MAYBE WE SHOULD WITHHOLD OUR COMMENTS UNTIL LATER FOR THE COUNCIL.

COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES.

I WAS LOOKING AT THE IDEA OF ALL LIGHT INDUSTRIAL.

I WANT AND I DO THINK KNOWING THAT THE OTHER CONDITIONAL USES ARE THINGS LIKE SALVAGE OPERATIONS OR CRUSHING CONCRETE THINGS THAT ARE POTENTIALLY DISTURBING TO NEIGHBORS. I FEEL LIKE THAT AN ANIMAL KENNEL PROBABLY FITS RIGHT IN THERE WITH OTHER THINGS THAT MAYBE A PARKING RAMP IS NOT.

SO, BUT IT FITS TO ME WITH THE DEFINITION WE WANT FOR LIGHT INDUSTRIAL AND KNOWING THAT ANIMAL KENNELS AND SHELTERS IN GENERAL ARE A HUGE GROWING INDUSTRY.

I WAS DOING SOME RESEARCH THAT THEY HAD SAID THAT IN 2022 IT WAS VALUED AT OVER $1.18 BILLION DOLLARS IN THE US, AND THAT'S PROJECTED TO BE OVER 2 BILLION IN THE

[00:20:07]

NEXT TEN YEARS. SO WE NEED TO BRING BUSINESSES INTO OUR COMMUNITY AND JUST THAT CATEGORY OF ANIMAL KENNEL SHELTER, OPENING THAT UP I THINK OFFERS US A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO GROW OUR CITY BUSINESS SPACE.

SO AND I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF THE THINGS.

I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION PERHAPS THIS IS BETTER FOR PLANNER BOB.

SURE. WHAT'S THE PROCESS ABOUT C-3 HOW THE ANIMAL WASTE IN THE OUTDOOR SPACE WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO ENTER THE STORM SEWER ? IS THERE A CATCH BASIN OR HOW DO THEY DO THAT? HOW DO WE DO THAT? WELL, I'LL MAYBE JUMP IN.

YEAH. I COORDINATED A LITTLE MORE WITH PUBLIC WORKS.

SO THAT CONDITION WAS BORN OUT OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND THEIR REVIEW OF THE PROPOSAL.

THEY DON'T HAVE A SPECIFIC SET OF STANDARDS OTHER THAN DIRECT ENTRY.

AND WHAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT TO DATE IS LIKELY TURF FOR THE OUTDOOR DOG OR ON SOME SORT OF PERVIOUS MATERIAL.

SO IT'S NOT JUST RUNOFF OF PAVEMENT INTO THE STORM SEWER.

SO THAT'S PROBABLY THE EASIEST WAY TO ACCOUNT FOR SOME SORT OF BUFFER TO STOP THAT DIRECT RUNOFF.

SO IT'S NOT THAT THE OUTDOOR RUN HAS TO BE FULL TURF, BUT THE WAY THE WATER FLOWS, IT SHOULD BE INTERCEPTED BY A FILTER.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL? SOUNDS GOOD. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. WELL, I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN THIS UP TO A PUBLIC HEARING.

AND I DID SEE SOMEONE RAISE THEIR HAND OUT IN THE.

I WAS JUST GOING TO HELP ANSWER THIS QUESTION.

OKAY. THAT IS OUR APPLICANT FOR THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.

AND I WAS GOING TO SAY IT IS PUBLIC HEARING.

SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING, YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME UP TO THE PODIUM.

WE JUST NEED YOUR NAME INFORMATION FOR SARA.

MY NAME IS JESSON COMO AND I AM THE OWNER OF THE DOG DAYCARE.

SO WITH OUTDOOR WASTE, JUST LIKE WE HAVE NOW, ALL FECES IS PICKED UP COMPLETELY AS SOON AS IT'S DONE.

AND THEN ALL URINE AND FECES IS THEN CLEANED WITH A BIODEGRADABLE, ECO FRIENDLY PET FRIENDLY CLEANER, AND THEN IT IS WASHED AWAY WITH HOSE.

SO, YOU KNOW THAT WATER IS GOING TO RUN SOMEWHERE.

THERE ISN'T REALLY A SYSTEM IN PLACE TO FILTER THAT FROM THAT POINT.

BUT JUST LIKE ALL ANIMALS THAT GO TO THE BATHROOM OUTSIDE, IT ALL FILTERS SOMEWHERE.

BUT THE SOLID WASTE IS ACTUALLY PICKED UP.

SOLID WASTE IS ABSOLUTELY. THE SOLID WASTE ISN'T BROKEN DOWN BY WATER.

NO SOLID WASTE IS YEAH, THAT'S I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT ALL THE SOLID WASTE IS PICKED UP, GOES INTO BIODEGRADABLE BAGS, THEN GOES INTO A MUCH LARGER BIODEGRADABLE BAG, AND THAT GOES INTO THE DUMPSTER WITH EVERYTHING ELSE AND BROKEN DOWN AND.

YEAH. GREAT.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. YEAH, SURE.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS WHILE WE HAVE SOMEONE AT OUR PODIUM? I HAVE ONE. ALL RIGHT.

COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES.

THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE INCLUDES SIZE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE CERTAIN NUMBER OF DOGS.

HOW DOES THAT RELATE TO YOUR EXPERIENCE IN RUNNING A SHELTER? SO THE WAY THE NUMBER THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH NOW.

SO THE SQUARE, SO THE LAYOUT OF THE NEWER THE NEW BUILDING WOULD HAVE A LOT MORE INDOOR SPACE TO ALLOW US A GREATER NUMBER OF DOGS.

AND FROM THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS TO HERE, WE'VE ACTUALLY INCREASED THAT SQUARE FOOTAGE NUMBER.

SO THE DOGS ACTUALLY GET A LITTLE MORE SPACE THAN THEY WOULD HAVE HAD IN MINNEAPOLIS PER DOG.

NOT TO SAY THAT THAT'S SMALL SPACE.

I THINK IT'S ABOUT SIX BY SIX SQUARE FEET.

SIX FEET BY SIX FEET FOR EACH DOG.

THANK YOU. AND THAT WOULD BE AT ABSOLUTE CAPACITY.

GREAT.

WONDERFUL.

NO OTHER QUESTIONS, THEN? ALL RIGHT, THEN. THANK YOU. THANKS FOR SHARING.

THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING, SO I'LL ASK IF ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO COME TO THE PODIUM AND SHARE OR ASK QUESTIONS OR ASK QUESTIONS.

SORRY TO SHARE.

IT LOOKS LIKE THERE IS NO ONE HERE.

AND IS THERE ANYONE ON ZOOM WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? ALL RIGHT, THEN.

THEN I WILL TAKE A MOTION TO.

I NEED TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, DON'T WE? YEAH. SORRY THAT'S NOT SCRIPTED.

OKAY. CAN I GET A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING PLEASE? MOVE TO CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ORDINANCE NUMBER 1682.

SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILOR BUESGENS AN A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. AND ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES.

NEXT MAY HAVE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING.

[00:25:02]

MOVE TO WAIVE THE READING OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 1682, THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

SECOND.

I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS AN A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS TO WAIVE THE READING.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES.

AND NEXT, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO SET THE SECOND READING.

MOVE TO SET THE SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 1682, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 9.111 OF THE CITY CODE OF 2005 TO ESTABLISH ANIMAL KENNELS AND SHELTERS AS A CONDITIONAL USE IN THE CITY'S I-1 LIGHT INDUSTRIAL ZONING DISTRICT FOR FEBRUARY 27TH, 2023, AT APPROXIMATELY 6 P.M.

IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS.

SECOND.

I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED AND THE MOTION PASSES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO OUR NEXT READING.

NEXT ON OUR AGENDA.

WE HAVE NO ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS, BID CONSIDERATIONS, NEW BUSINESS OR REPORTS, WHICH TAKES US TO OUR CITY COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS.

[CITY COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS]

WHICH CITY COUNCIL MEMBER WOULD LIKE TO GO FIRST? I'LL GO. ALL RIGHT.

COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS. I ATTENDED A SOCIO METRICS LECTURE ABOUT ADAPTING ROLES TO THE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND ALSO PRISONER OR PATIENT, WHICH WAS HELD AT THE BASILICA OF SAINT MARY AND THEN AN ENGAGEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY.

I ATTENDED THE FIRST OF THE TWO GOAL SETTING SESSIONS.

I OBSERVED BOTH THE WORK AND REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS AND YOUTH COMMISSION.

THAT WAS MY FIRST YOUTH COMMISSION THAT I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND.

AND IT WAS JUST IT WAS GREAT.

IT WAS EXCITING TO WATCH THESE THESE YOUNG PEOPLE REALLY STEP UP TO THE PLATE.

I ATTENDED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AWARDS NIGHT.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THOSE THAT WERE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING SERVICE.

AND AS AN UPDATE JUST RECENTLY, I SAW AN ISSUE OF UNDERCOVER BOSS AND THEY AIRED AN EPISODE FEATURING COLLEGE HUNKS.

COLLEGE HAUL. COLLEGE HUNKS ARE HAULERS, AND IT'S ONE OF OUR NEW VENDORS.

SO I FOUND IT ESPECIALLY INTERESTING.

THEY WERE LOOKING AT FOCUSING ON HOW THEY WERE GOING TO MAINTAIN THE ABILITY TO WITHSTAND THEIR GROWTH, WHICH THEY ANTICIPATE TO BE PRETTY LARGE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS AND ALSO MAINTAIN THEIR SERVICE STANDARDS.

AND ONE OF THE OUTCOMES OF VISITING WITH THEIR EMPLOYEES, THIS ONE GAL HAD TAKEN HER OWN TIME TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THE THINGS THAT THEY COLLECTED AND SHE WOULD UP I ALWAYS GET THIS PHRASE WRONG.

UPCYCLE THESE ITEMS. SO THEY'RE GOING TO INCORPORATE THAT NOW INTO THEIR PROGRAM ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS REALLY FANTASTIC.

AND KIND OF ALONG IT WAS UP SEASON 11 EPISODE ONE, IF ANYBODY WANTS TO, TO PULL IT DOWN AND WATCH IT, IT WAS WORTH WATCHING.

AND KIND OF ALONG THAT SAME THING AS A REMINDER NOW THAT WE'VE CRESTED THE HUB, JUST WANT TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT WE CAN PUT OUR TRASH BINS OUT 24 HOURS BEFORE AND 24 HOURS AFTER THE PICKUP DATE.

THEY SHOULD BE BACK UP BY OUR HOMES.

THINK WE'VE ROUNDED THAT CORNER SATISFACTORILY AND IT'S KIND OF AS WE TURN THE WINTER OFF A LITTLE BIT.

AND THEN LAST, I WANTED TO MENTION THAT RECENTLY THERE WAS NEWS, LOCAL NEWS STORIES ABOUT OTHER COMMUNITIES ENTERING THE PROGRAM FOR MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATES IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND WE WERE ONE OF THE FORERUNNERS OR THE PIONEERS IN THAT.

AND I HOPE THAT I WANT THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THAT THE RESULTS OF THAT HAVE BEEN JUST PHENOMENAL AND THAT WE ALL KNOW THAT WE'VE HIRED.

YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD US TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE'VE HIRED A SECOND MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL BECAUSE OF THE OUTCOME OF THIS, AND IT'S REALLY MAKING AN IMPACT WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND WHAT THE OFFICERS CAN DO.

AND THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CONTINUALLY STRIVE TO DO TO MAKE THE COMMUNITY HEALTHIER AND SAFER.

AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTAND AND KNOW THAT.

AND THEN I FACILITATED SIX RESIDENT REACH OUTS.

THANK YOU. PROBABLY JUST PICK AN ORDER AND WE SHOULD JUST DO THE SAME EVERY WEEK.

SURE. YOU JUST NEVER KNOW IF SOMEONE'S REALLY EXCITED TO SHARE, SO.

COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES.

THANK YOU. ON MONDAY, JANUARY 30TH, I ATTENDED THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS NEW BRIGHTON AREA MEETING.

THEY HAD COMMISSIONED A NEW STUDY ON FIREARMS IN MINNESOTA IN WHICH THEY'RE RECEIVING CONSENSUS VOTES.

IF YOU'RE INTERESTED ON THE STUDY, IT'S ON THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS MINNESOTA WEB PAGE, AND IT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC TO SEE WITH INPUT FROM EXPERTS THE STATE OF FIREARMS IN MINNESOTA. AND THEN ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 31ST, THERE WAS A MEETING AT THE LIBRARY HOSTED BY HEIGHT'S NEXT WITH INFORMATION ON THE PROPOSED PASSENGER LIGHT RAIL TO

[00:30:10]

DULUTH THAT WILL COME THROUGH COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

IT'S CALLED NORTHERN LIGHTS EXPRESS, AND THEY HAVE A WEBSITE CALLED NORTHERNLIGHTSEXPRESS .ORG.

THEY'RE WORKING NOW TO FINALIZE PLANS AND TO CONTINUE TO LOBBY FOR THAT TO BE INCLUDED.

THE EXCITING PART IS IT WOULD BE FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDS PAYING FOR 7/8 OF THE PROJECT AND MINNESOTA FUNDING PAYING FOR ONE EIGHTH ONLY.

AND IT WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS BECAUSE THEY WOULD BE DOING SOME WORK AT THE RAILYARD RIGHT HERE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS TO INCREASE CAPACITY.

SO THAT'S AN INTERESTING PROJECT THAT IS PROPOSED.

WE HAD A GREAT TIME AT SNOWBLAST.

I HAD A LOT OF FUN HELPING AT THE S'MORES TABLE AND JUST SEEING ALL THE FOLKS THAT WERE THERE.

A BIG SHOUT OUT TO WILL RATTLER FOR WORKING ON THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST AND COORDINATING ALL OF US AND TO THE HEIGHTSNEXT VOLUNTEERS AND THE KEY CLUB VOLUNTEERS I WORKED WITH. AND LASTLY, I FOUND OUT THAT ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAD THE IDEA LONG AGO FOR THIS EVENT WAS KATIE, OUR RECREATION COORDINATOR.

SO I WANTED TO GIVE HER A SHOUT OUT FOR THAT IDEA.

LAST TUESDAY, I WAS ABLE TO MEET WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CLERGY AND FAITH LEADERS IN MINNESOTA TO WORK WITH GOVERNOR WALZ.

AND ALSO PARALLEL TO THAT, I WAS A SIGNER ON A THING FOR THE 100% CLEAN ENERGY LETTER.

AND ON THAT DAY WE SPOKE WITH HIM AND HE WAS ABLE TO SPEAK WITH US ON TUESDAY IN ST.

PAUL AND THEN GO TO THE CAPITOL AND SIGN THAT BILL.

SO THAT WAS AN EXCITING DAY TO SEE HIM THERE.

AND THEN COUNCIL GOAL SETTING ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS.

AND FINALLY, I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE ELECTED LEADERS INSTITUTE COURSEWORK THROUGH THE LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES.

SO THIS MONTH IT WAS OPEN MEETING LAW, PUBLIC FINANCE, RISK, LEGAL OBLIGATION, AND DATA PRACTICES.

SO I COMPLETED THOSE COURSES.

THAT'S IT. THANKS.

I CAN GO NEXT. THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS.

YEAH. I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE A LOT OF OVERLAP.

BUSY COUPLE OF WEEKS FOR EVERYONE.

YEAH. IN ADDITION TO SOME OF THE ONES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN STATED, I ATTENDED OUR COUNCIL CORNER, THE VERY FIRST ONE ON THE 25TH OF LAST MONTH, WHICH WAS GREAT.

WE DISCUSSED A BOOK THAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT, WHICH WAS DISCUSSING CITIES AND HOW WE CAN IMPROVE THEM.

THAT'S A GREAT DISCUSSION THERE.

I ATTENDED THE LIBRARY BOARD MEETING THE FIRST WEEK OF LAST MONTH, WHICH WAS OUR FIRST MEETING SINCE IT WAS CANCELED IN JANUARY DUE TO WEATHER.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF EXCITING IDEAS COMING DOWN THE PIPELINE THERE, INCLUDING A DISCUSSION ABOUT POSSIBLY ELIMINATING THE ROOM RENTAL FEES IN THE COMMUNITY ROOM JUST TO MAKE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

SO THAT'LL BE COMING BEFORE THE COUNCIL MOST LIKELY IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.

ALSO ATTENDED OUR FEBRUARY 6TH ED AND WORK SESSION, THE GOAL SETTING SESSION ON THE 9TH.

MY FAMILY ALSO GOT OUT TO SNOWBLAST AND I BELIEVE WE WERE ALL THERE AND IT WAS A GREAT EVENT.

I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THAT HAPPEN AGAIN NEXT YEAR.

I'VE ALSO BEEN DOING THE ELECTED LEADERS INSTITUTE TRAININGS THROUGH THE LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES AND THEN A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS.

I'VE BEEN CONTACTING OTHER NEIGHBORING CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS JUST INTRODUCING MYSELF AND SEEING IF THERE'S ANY POSSIBLE PROJECTS THAT WE CAN HAVE HAPPEN ON THE PIPELINE.

SO JUST FORMING THAT RELATIONSHIP.

AND THEN ON FEBRUARY 28TH I'M SCHEDULED TO SPEAK IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL BOARD AS THE COUNCIL LIAISON, I THINK THAT WAS ABOUT IT.

THANK YOU, JUSTICE COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS.

COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS.

AS WITH THE REST OF THE COUNCIL, ATTENDED OUR NEW COUNCIL CORNER AND WE DISCUSSED THE BOOK FOR THE LOVE OF CITIES, WHICH DEALS WITH THE EMOTIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE OF CITIES, NOT JUST THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF FINDING WAYS WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT A REDEVELOPMENT OR A PROJECT OF CONNECTING PEOPLE TO IT SOMEHOW WHERE THAT HAS MEANING TO THEM.

MY FAVORITE SPOT IN TOWN IS THE LITTLE BIRDBATH BY MURZYN HALL.

I CLEAN THAT DURING THE SUMMER AND TAKE CARE OF THE FLOWERS AND THE FLOWER POTS, AND IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLACES BECAUSE OF THE TREES THAT COVER IT.

THE VIEW OF THE PARKS BELOW AND PEOPLE WALK IN AND STUFF.

IT'S JUST A VERY PEACEFUL, SMALL LITTLE SPACE THAT I'M VERY ATTACHED TO.

I MET WITH ZENA, OUR SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT, TO TALK TO HER ABOUT WANTING TO VISIT AND SEE HOW THE SCHOOLS ARE DOING AND ALSO TO SEE IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY AND MNDOT AND PUTTING TOGETHER A RAIN GARDEN ALONG SOMEWHERE ALONG CENTRAL AVENUE.

AND I AM ATTENDING A BEGINNER DRAWING CLASS THAT WAS SET UP BY OUR CITY PARKS AND RECS PROGRAM, WHICH HAS BEEN REALLY INTERESTING.

JUST TO TRY OUT. I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO MANY OF THEIR CLASSES BUT THOUGHT I'D TRY IT SINCE IT'S SOMETHING I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO TRY.

THEY HAVE SOME GREAT COURSES THERE, YOU KNOW, ALWAYS YOU CAN CHECK THE NEWSLETTER TO SEE WHAT'S COMING UP NEXT.

ALSO ATTENDED AS WELL WITH THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE SNOWBLAST, HUGE, HUGE CROWDS, LOTS OF KIDS, LOTS OF FAMILIES.

I LOVED WATCHING SOME OF THE KIDS BE BRAVE ENOUGH TO GO OUT THERE AND TRY SKATING, LEARNING HOW TO SKATE IN THAT SKATING RINK, WHICH FOR SO LONG, FOR MANY YEARS.

[00:35:03]

I WAS WONDERING WHY THAT BRIDGE WAS THERE IN THE EAST [INAUDIBLE].

AND IT WAS SET UP YEARS AND YEARS AGO FOR AN ICE SKATING RINK IN THE WINTERTIME.

AND NOW WE'VE BROUGHT THAT BACK TO LIFE.

AND IT'S REALLY FUN TO SEE EVERYBODY OUT THERE SKATING.

THE HORSES WERE, AGAIN, VERY POPULAR.

WE HAD SNOWSHOEING.

KIDS LOVED CLIMBING UP THE BIG MOUNTAINS OF SNOW THAT WE HAD THIS YEAR AND THE SLEDDING ALONG DOWN ON THE OTHER SIDE, LOTS OF ACTIVITY, LOTS OF FUN.

LET'S SEE. I ALSO ATTEND I'M THE LIAISON FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND WE DISCUSSED THE DOGGIE DAYCARE.

AND AGAIN, THEY VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO LET IT GO FORWARD FOR THE NEXT HEARING.

AND ALSO, AS WITH THE OTHERS, I ATTENDED THE VISION SESSION FOR THE COUNCIL AND THE STAFF OF OUR CITY.

THE DIRECTORS OF EACH DEPARTMENT WERE ALSO THERE.

WE'RE COMING UP WITH HOPEFULLY PRIORITIZE OUR GOALS FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, AND I'M HOPING I'VE ASKED TO REQUESTS OF THE CITY MANAGER THAT WE CAN SHARE IT ONCE WE'VE FINALIZED AND POLISHED OFF THE LANGUAGE TO SHARE THAT ON OUR WEB PAGE AND OUR FACEBOOK PAGE SO THAT RESIDENTS CAN SEE WHAT OUR COUNCIL HAS FOR OUR GOALS AND THE STAFF, WHAT WE'D LIKE TO WORK ON FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS FOR OUR CITY TO IMPROVE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.

AND ONE OTHER THING TAILING OFF, OR FROM WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES SPOKE ABOUT WITH THE GOVERNOR'S SIGNING OF THE CLIMATE GOALS FOR OUR 100% CLEAN ENERGY.

THERE IS A MINNESOTA CLIMATE ADAPTATION PARTNERSHIP THAT IS GOING TO HAVE A WEBINAR ON FEBRUARY 21ST AT NOON.

IF YOU LOOK UP THEIR SITE, YOU CAN REGISTER FOR THAT.

IT'S FREE AND IT'S ONLINE, SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO LEAVE YOUR HOME OR YOUR OFFICE TO ATTEND.

AND THEY WILL BE DISCUSSING WHAT THOSE PLANS ARE IN 100% CLEAN ENERGY BILL, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN THAT.

AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

YES. LIKE JUSTICE SAID THERE'S A LOT OF CARRYOVER.

WE'VE ALL BEEN ATTENDING SIMILAR THINGS.

SO I SOMETHING DIFFERENT, THOUGH, MYSELF AND OUR POLICE CHIEF AUSTIN SIGNED IN SUPPORT OF THE DRIVER'S LICENSE FOR ALL.

AND SO I WAS VERY THRILLED THAT WENT INTO ACTION.

AND WE'LL REALLY HELP MANY MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND KEEP OUR STREETS SAFER WITH PEOPLE HAVING THEIR OWN DRIVER'S LICENSE.

JUST TODAY, I PRESENTED AT THE MAYOR'S MONARCH PLEDGE NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION'S ZOOM CALL NATIONWIDE ZOOM CALL AND HAD A REALLY I THINK, AN INTERESTING SLIDE SHOW ABOUT ALL THE THINGS OUR COMMUNITY HAS DONE, INCLUDING WATERCOLOR PAINTINGS AT THE SENIOR CENTER, SHOWING MOVIES ABOUT MONARCHS TO THE SENIORS AND AN OUTDOOR MOVIE NIGHT, THE MONARCH FESTIVAL AND SEED GIVEAWAYS THAT WE'VE DONE.

SO JUST REALLY SHARED ABOUT THAT.

I ALSO PRESENTED ABOUT AN EQUITY.

I'M ON AN EQUITY TEAM FOR THE REGIONAL COUNCIL OF MAYORS AND PRESENTED TO THAT GROUP TODAY IN PERSON.

THIS PAST SATURDAY HEIGHTSNEXT HAD THE PET BED ACTIVITY WORKSHOP AT THE LIBRARY CO- WORKING WITH THE LIBRARY AND WE HAD 42 VOLUNTEERS AND WE MADE 91 PET BEDS THAT WILL BE DONATED TO THE MIDWEST ANIMAL RESCUE SERVICES IN BROOKLYN CENTER.

OUTSIDE OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, I ACTUALLY ATTENDED A CONCERT AT CROONERS ON SATURDAY, BUT LOCAL BUSINESS LIKE TO LIKE TO SHOUT OUT SUPPORT.

ATTENDED OUR ROTARY CLUBS OPERATION POLLINATION MEETING.

I TOURED VALLEY VIEW SCHOOL AND THE COLUMBIA ACADEMY WITH OUR SUPERINTENDENT STENVIK AND THE PRINCIPALS OF BOTH SCHOOLS, AS WELL AS OUR SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR, LORIEN MUELLER, AND MET SOME OTHER STUDENTS THERE.

AND IT WAS KIND OF FUN.

SOME PEOPLE WOULD SAY THAT'S THE MAYOR WHEN I WOULD WALK INTO THE ROOM, SO IT WAS PRETTY FUNNY.

OUR BLOOMING SUNSHINE GARDEN THAT BETHANY SPOKE ABOUT EARLIER IS WORKING WITH AN EAGLE SCOUT TO DO A RAISED GARDEN BED COME THIS SPRING.

SO HAD A FIRST MEETING WITH HIM AND HE'S GOING TO BE PRESENTING THAT TO THE HEIGHTSNEXT ORGANIZATION.

I ATTENDED THE ANOKA COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION COUNCIL MEETING, THE POLICE AWARDS CEREMONY WITH OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS.

SUCH A GREAT NIGHT AND SO MANY OFFICERS RECEIVING AWARDS.

AND EVEN OUR SOCIAL WORKER PROGRAM, THE PARKS AND REC COMMISSION I'M THE LIAISON TO THAT AS WELL NOW.

ATTENDED THE YOUTH COMMISSION MEETING AND OUR ROTARY MEETING.

THE TRAIN? NORTHERN LIGHTS EXPRESS. NORTHERN LIGHTS EXPRESS THE NLX TRAIN ATTENDED THE SNOWBLAST, WORKED ON THE SMORES.

AND MY FAVORITE HIGHLIGHT OF THAT WAS HAVING POLKA MUSIC, HAVING JOE MACKO PLAY THE POLKA PLAY.

THE ACCORDION WAS GREAT IN THE REALLY NICE HEATED TENT.

THAT WAS A GREAT ADDITION.

AND SEEING IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE THAT ISN'T REDUNDANT, THOUGH, I THINK THAT'S IT.

[00:40:01]

SO. VERY BUSY COUPLE OF WEEKS.

IT'S NICE TO HAVE THAT FIFTH WEEK OFF IN JANUARY, BUT WE ALL WERE BUSY WITH THINGS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR SECOND GOAL SETTING SESSION THIS WEEK.

THAT'LL BE FUN. THANK YOU.

AND AARON, IS THERE ANYTHING TO REPORT FROM THE CITY MANAGER'S? FEW THINGS, MADAM MAYOR.

FIRST, WE'D LIKE TO REMIND RESIDENTS THAT THERE ARE MULTIPLE SEATS OPEN FOR THE FOUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.

THERE'S A SEAT ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION, ONE ON THE LIBRARY BOARD, TWO ON PARKS AND RECREATION AND ONE ON THE CHARTER COMMISSION.

YOU CAN FIND DESCRIPTIONS OF THE BOARD AND COMMISSION DUTIES AND THE APPLICATIONS ONLINE AT THE CITY'S WEBSITE.

IF YOU JUST TYPE IN BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS IN THE SEARCH FUNCTION, YOU CAN GET THERE.

APPLICATION DEADLINE IS FEBRUARY 28TH.

YOU CAN BRING THOSE TO CITY HALL MAIL OR EMAIL THEM TO THE CITY CLERK, WHICH IS SION@COLUMBIAHEIGHTS MN.GOV OR CALL THE CITY IF YOU NEED HELP DIRECTING THAT APPLICATION, BUT WE'D LIKE TO SEE APPLICATIONS ROLLING IN.

THERE'S AN INFORMATIONAL MEETING FOR THE 53RD AVENUE STREET AND TRAIL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT TO BE HELD THIS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15TH AT 6:00 PM AT THE LIBRARY.

SO THIS IS JUST AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROJECT AND TALK TO CITY STAFF AND ENGINEERING STAFF REGARDING THAT PROJECT.

AND THEN FINALLY, JUST A BIT MORE DETAIL AROUND SNOWBLAST FROM THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT, SOME STATISTICS AND SOME SHOUT OUTS.

SO A BIG THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR THE THIRD ANNUAL SNOWBLAST ON FEBRUARY 4TH.

IT WAS THE BIGGEST TURNOUT YET WITH AN ESTIMATED 700 PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE, 600 SMORES ASSEMBLED, 650 CUPS OF HOT BEVERAGES HANDED OUT DURING THE THREE HOUR GATHERING. IT'S A COMMUNITY EFFORT WITH CITY STAFF RELYING HEAVILY ON VOLUNTEER SUPPORT AND CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE KIWANIS, HEIGHTSNEXT, COLUMBIA HEIGHTS LIONS, COLUMBIA HEIGHTS ATHLETIC BOOSTERS, COMMUNITY GROUNDS, COLUMBIA HEIGHTS FIRE EXPLORERS, CITY OF FRIDLEY RECREATION, COLUMBIA HEIGHTS PUBLIC SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY EDUCATION, COLUMBIA HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL KEY CLUB, COLUMBIA HEIGHTS YOUTH COMMISSION, COLUMBIA HEIGHTS RENTAL AND THE EVENT'S TOP SPONSOR BARNA, GUZY & STEFFEN LAW FIRM. SO THAT'S IT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANKS.

IT'S REALLY A COMMUNITY EVENT THEN.

I DIDN'T REALIZE WE HAD THAT MANY PARTNERS WORKING ON IT.

THAT'S WONDERFUL. THANK YOU, AARON.

WELL, THAT BRINGS US TO THE NEXT SECTION OF OUR MEETING, THE COMMUNITY FORUM.

[COMMUNITY FORUM]

IS THERE ANYONE HERE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? YES. ALL RIGHT.

THE COMMUNITY. I'LL READ THIS.

THE COMMUNITY FORUM IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL REGARDING ANY MANNER THAT HAS NOT HAD A PUBLIC HEARING EARLIER IN THE MEETING.

SPEAKERS THAT ARE IN PERSON ARE ASKED TO COMPLETE A SPEAKER FORM AND SUBMIT IT TO THE CITY CLERK, SARA, SITTING UP FRONT.

ONCE CALLED TO THE PODIUM THE SPEAKER SHOULD STATE THEIR NAME AND CONNECTION TO COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

SPEAKERS ATTENDING VIRTUALLY SHOULD SEND A REQUEST TO SPEAK AS WELL AS THEIR ADDRESS AND CONNECTION TO COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

SEND THAT TO THE MODERATOR USING THE CHAT FUNCTION AND WAIT TO BE CALLED ON TO SPEAK.

WHEN SPEAKING VIRTUAL ATTENDEES SHOULD TURN THEIR CAMERA ON.

ALL SPEAKERS SHOULD LIMIT THEIR COMMENTS TO 5 MINUTES AND ADDRESS OUR COMMENTS TO THE COUNCIL AS A WHOLE, NOT TO INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBERS.

PERSONAL ATTACKS, THREATS AND USE OF PROFANITY AND OTHER DISRESPECTFUL COMMENTS ARE PROHIBITED.

THE CITY COUNCIL WILL LISTEN TO THE PUBLIC COMMENTS, ASK CLARIFYING QUESTIONS AND IF NEEDED, REQUEST STAFF TO FOLLOW UP OR DIRECT THE MATTER TO BE ADDED TO AN UPCOMING AGENDA.

GENERALLY, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL NOT TAKE OFFICIAL ACTION ON ITEMS RAISED AT THE COMMUNITY FORUM AT THE MEETING IN WHICH THEY ARE RAISED.

AND SARA, WHO WOULD LIKE TO COME UP FIRST? JULIE ZAPH AND SHARON CURSON WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

THANK YOU. WELCOME.

SHARON AND JULIE.

ARE YOU PRESENTING TOGETHER THE TWO OF YOU? ALL RIGHT, WONDERFUL. IF YOU COULD USE THE MICROPHONE, YOU MAY NEED A SCOOTCH OVER TOWARDS THE MICROPHONE.

THANK YOU. WILL DO.

GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS JULIE ZAPH, AND I LIVE AT THE LEGENDS OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AT 3700 HUSET PARKWAY.

AND THE LEGENDS IS A SENIOR DOMINION PROPERTY WITH 196 UNITS.

AND DOMINION CONSISTENTLY RAISES OUR RENTAL RATES AS HIGH AS POSSIBLE AND PROVIDES THE VERY LOWEST AMOUNT OF MAINTENANCE TO THE BUILDINGS.

OUR RENTAL RATES ARE BASED ANNUALLY ON THE AVERAGE MEDIAN INCOME PUBLISHED BY HUD AND LAST YEAR DOMINION RAISED OUR RATES 12.5%, WHICH THEY COULD DO ACCORDING TO

[00:45:06]

THE AMI.

BUT MOST OF OUR RESIDENTS IN OUR BUILDING LIVE ON FIXED INCOMES.

AND SO IT'S REALLY CREATED SIGNIFICANT HARDSHIPS FOR MANY PEOPLE WITHIN THE BUILDING.

AND MANY RESIDENTS HAVE MOVED OUT OR PLANNED TO MOVE OUT IF THEY CONTINUE WITH THESE EXCESSIVE INCREASES.

LET'S SEE. OFTEN RESIDENTS HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THE ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD, FOOD OR MEDICINE, AND THAT HAPPENS ON AN ONGOING BASIS.

SOME HAVE GONE BACK TO WORK BECAUSE THE RENT INCREASES EXCEEDED THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY.

SO EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE RETIRED, THEY'RE BACK WORKING FULL AND SOMETIMES PART TIME.

WE HAVE OTHER PEOPLE IN OUR BUILDING THAT REALLY LIVE IN FEAR OF BECOMING HOMELESS IF THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY THE RENT, YOU KNOW, THEY COULD BE LIVING IN A SNOW BANK, AS I HEARD ONE PERSON PUT IT.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. MY NAME IS SHARON CURSON, AND I, TOO LIVE AT THE LEGENDS.

JULIE JUST TALKED ABOUT THE EXCESSIVE RENT INCREASES THAT WE'VE HAD AND WE WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR AND THERE'S ALSO MAINTENANCE ISSUES, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THE MAINTENANCE STAFF THERE DO A VERY GOOD JOB.

WE'RE NOT COMPLAINING ABOUT THEM, NOR ARE WE THE ADMINISTRATION IS ALSO VERY GOOD, VERY GOOD TO US.

SO IT'S OUT OF THEIR HANDS, THE RENT INCREASE.

SO THE THINGS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS WE KNOW IT'S NOT THEIR FAULT.

THEY WORK VERY HARD.

SOME OF THE BIG MAINTENANCE ISSUES ARE THE WINDOWS IN THE BUILDING THEY WERE WASHED ONCE IN FIVE YEARS.

AND ALSO THE CARPETING, THE CARPETING HAS NOT HASN'T BEEN CLEANED, THE CARPETING IN THE HALLWAYS AND THE COMMON AREAS.

SAFETY IS SOMETIMES AN ISSUE WITH SOME OF THE RESIDENTS ALSO.

AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, THE POLICE ARE THERE A LOT.

AND ONE OF THE REASONS I THINK IS THAT THERE'S EASY ACCESS TO THE GARAGE.

SO ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GET INTO THE GARAGE AND THEN YOU'RE ABLE TO WALK UP INTO THE BUILDINGS.

SO THAT'S ONE OF OUR CONCERNS.

ALSO, SOME OF THE, WE'VE HEARD, SOME OF THE RESIDENTS SAY THAT THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE WHEN SOME OF THE SAFETY DOORS TO THE BUILDING ARE OPEN OR [INAUDIBLE] YOU KNOW, LEFT OPEN, THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ANY QUESTIONS? WELL, AND WE COULD ASK QUESTIONS IF YOU'D LIKE TO.

ACTUALLY, I THINK WE COULD GIVE YOU AN UPDATE IF JUSTICE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEAD IT.

YEAH. SO I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH RESIDENTS OF LEGENDS REGARDING THIS ISSUE, AND WE ACTUALLY TODAY HAVE A LETTER THAT I CAN SHOW YOU AFTER THE MEETING THAT WE'VE WRITTEN AND WE'LL BE SENDING OUT TO THE SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM AT THE [INAUDIBLE] AND HOPEFULLY THAT THEY END UP RESPONDING TO US AND ARE ABLE TO CORRECT THE MAINTENANCE ISSUES AND HELP US WITH THE RENT BECAUSE THE CITY IS KIND OF LIMITED WHAT WE CAN DO ON OUR OWN IN THAT SITUATION.

BUT I'M ALSO PLANNING ON DISTRIBUTING THAT LETTER FURTHER TO OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO REPRESENT COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AND THE RESIDENTS OF THE LEGENDS AS WELL, TO SEE IF WE CAN GET DOMINION TO WORK WITH US AND HELP ALL THE RESIDENTS.

GOOD. YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES.

I HAVE A QUESTION. THE BUILDING WAS MARKETED AS AFFORDABLE SENIOR HOUSING WHAT WERE YOU SOLD WHEN YOU CHOSE TO LIVE THERE? WHAT DID THEY TELL YOU ABOUT THE PLACE? YEAH, I WAS TOLD THAT WE SHOULD EXPECT A RAISE OR A RAISE IN THE RENT EVERY YEAR.

RIGHT. AND THE PERSON THAT TOLD ME ABOUT THAT SAID IT PROBABLY WOULD BE LIKE TWO OR 3%.

SO AND WE KNOW THAT IT'S GOING TO BE RAISED, BUT THIS WAS KIND OF MUCH HIGHER THAN MUCH HIGHER THAN PEOPLE HAD PLANNED FOR.

AND THE [INAUDIBLE] MAYBE HIGH THIS YEAR.

I THINK IT'S NOT GOING TO BE ANNOUNCED UNTIL JUNE THIS YEAR.

AND SO THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE, YOU KNOW, THAT THERE'LL BE ANOTHER HIGH RENTAL RATE

[00:50:08]

THAT WE'LL HAVE TO FACE.

THAT'S WHY THERE'S A NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS FROM 15 DIFFERENT DOMINIONS, AND WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH A NUMBER OF LEGISLATORS AND IN HOPES OF BEING ABLE TO SUBMIT LEGISLATION.

AND ACTUALLY, GOVERNOR WALZ AND JENNIFER HO, THE HOUSING COMMISSIONER, HAVE SAID THAT IF LEGISLATION IS SUBMITTED THAT CAPS THE RENT AT 3% FOR FIXED INCOME, THEY WOULD SIGN THAT AND THEY WOULD PUT IT INTO THE MINNESOTA HOUSING'S COMPLIANCE MANUAL LIKE SOME OF THE OTHER STATES HAVE DONE.

SO THERE'S SOME OF THE LEGISLATORS FROM RIVER NORTH ARE GOING TO SUBMIT THE LEGISLATION FOR US, AND THAT'S ALL WE KNOW TO DATE THAT WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO DO POTENTIALLY PRIOR TO THE [INAUDIBLE] BEING ANNOUNCED.

OR WE'LL ALL BE IN MUCH DEEPER.

BECAUSE YOU ALL HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS SINCE LAST SUMMER.

YOU'VE BEEN MEETING AS RESIDENTS TOGETHER AND YOU'VE BEEN MEETING WITH OTHER BUILDINGS FROM OTHER DOMINION APARTMENTS AS WELL.

YOU GUYS HAVE REALLY BEEN DOING YOUR HOMEWORK AND WE'VE BEEN HELPING WITH CONNECTIONS AND STUFF, SO I'M THANKFUL YOU CAME IN TO PRESENT TODAY.

THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO GET THAT INFORMATION THROUGH THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.

COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS.

I WAS PART OF THE HOUSING AND ECONOMIC COMMITTEE FOR METRO COUNCILS IN THE CITY, AND I KNOW THEY'RE VERY MUCH AWARE OF WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE RENT INCREASES, WITH DOMINION.

AND THEY'RE NOT ONLY WORKING WITH MINNESOTA, BUT THERE'S ALSO PEOPLE WORKING WITH HUD BECAUSE THEIR FORMULA, THE WAY THEY SET IT UP, SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED THE WAY IT DID.

NO. AND BECAUSE YOU'RE BUILDING I BELIEVE WAS 60 TO 80% AMI AND THE INCREASE I MEAN I WAS A RENTER FOR 20 YEARS AND HAD 2 TO 3% INCREASES FOR TEN. AND THEN THE LAST TWO YEARS, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE RENT WENT UP LIKE IT TOOK TEN YEARS TO GO UP 200 BUCKS, AND THEN IT WENT IN TWO YEARS, UP ANOTHER 200.

SO I KNOW HOW HARD THAT IS WITH INCOMES WHEN YOU HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT THAT COMES IN AND THEN THEY JUMP IT UP.

BUT THEY ARE ALSO WORKING WITH THE FEDERAL LEVEL TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DON'T DO IT AGAIN.

THAT WAS MY QUESTION. WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE SURE THEY DON'T DO THIS AGAIN? IT'S NOT OKAY.

WHAT HAPPENED? NOT OKAY AT ALL.

SO, I MEAN, THE AMI IS REALLY FOR WORKING PEOPLE.

RIGHT. NOT PEOPLE ON FIXED INCOME.

SO THERE'S. GOOD POINT. THEY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING THAT COVERS THAT NICHE, WHICH WE ALL HAPPEN TO FALL INTO.

AND IT'S NOT SEPARATE SOMEHOW.

YOU'RE NOT MAKING AN INCOME.

YOU SHOULD NOT BE COMPARED TO THE AVERAGE MEDIAN INCOME.

YOU'RE NOT MAKING AN INCOME NECESSARILY.

YEAH, BUT WE APPRECIATE ALL THE EFFORTS ON OUR BEHALF AND EVERY RESIDENT WOULD.

I'M SURE LIKE TO PERSONALLY THANK YOU.

YES, ABSOLUTELY.

EXCUSE ME. THANK YOU.

I SEE COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS WOULD LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING.

JUST ONE MORE QUESTION FOR YOU, TOO.

IF YOU KNOW, DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY RESIDENTS SAY IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS HAVE MOVED OUT BECAUSE OF THE RENTAL INCREASES OR HOW MANY RIGHT NOW ARE CONSIDERING MOVING OUT BECAUSE OF THE PROPOSED RENTAL INCREASES? WE HEAR DIFFERENT THINGS KIND OF.

WE LAST HEARD THAT THERE WERE 20 TO 22 VACANCIES, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST IT'S EVER BEEN, I THINK.

AND THEN THERE'S OTHERS MOVING IN, TALKING ABOUT MOVING OUT.

THERE'S FOUR MORE MOVING OUT AT THE END OF MARCH, I'VE HEARD.

AND THERE'S SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE JUST I MEAN, THEY ARE GOING TO WAIT UNTIL THEIR LEASE IS UP, YOU KNOW, MAYBE AUGUST.

SOME ARE WAITING TO HEAR WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE NEXT INCREASE.

IT'S DIFFICULT.

I MEAN, I FEEL SORRY FOR I MEAN, A LOT OF THE PEOPLE, THEY I MEAN, THEY'RE RUNNING OUT OF MONEY.

THEY HAVE NO FAMILY TO HELP THEM MOVE.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S LOTS OF SAD SITUATIONS.

YEAH. I GUESS I WOULD CALL IT.

AND WE TRY TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO HELP THEM.

WE HAVE A FOOD SHELF AT THE LEGENDS OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS EVERY OTHER FRIDAY.

AND I'VE NOTICED A REAL INCREASE IN PEOPLE THAT ARE ATTENDING THAT.

[00:55:03]

I KNOW THAT MORE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SACA BECAUSE I'VE HELPED A FEW FILL OUT THEIR APPLICATIONS AND THAT.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU BRING THAT HOME OFTEN AND, YOU KNOW, THEY TRY TO TAKE AS MUCH FOOD AS THEY POSSIBLY CAN, WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY FINE BECAUSE, I MEAN, WE KNOW THAT THAT HAS TO LAST A LOT OF THEM FOR TWO WEEKS.

SOME OF THEM I'VE TALKED TO, THAT'S THEIR ONLY SOURCE OF FOOD WHICH IS HARD TO BELIEVE, BUT THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE SAYING.

WELL, THANK YOU AGAIN.

COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS WOULD LIKE TO ADD SOMETHING.

WHAT'S THE BUILDING CAPACITY? HOW MANY UNITS? 190 UNITS.

AND I THINK THERE'S.

196 UNITS AND 500 AND SOME PEOPLE.

YEAH. AND THEY'RE ALREADY THEY'VE GOT CURRENTLY HAVE AT LEAST 20 SOME VACANCIES.

COULD BE MORE THAT'S JUST KIND OF YOU HEAR NUMBERS.

YOU HEAR NUMBERS. THERE WAS A MEETING LAST WEEK AND IT HAD MULTIPLE DOMINION PROPERTIES IN ATTENDANCE AND THERE WERE MULTIPLE DOMINIONS THAT SAID THAT THEY HAVE AT LEAST 22 OPEN UNITS.

SO IT'S HARD TO SAY.

I MEAN, THEY TRY TO BE QUIET ABOUT IT AND KEEP THAT INFORMATION UNDER THEIR HAT.

AND THEN YOU CAN'T HELP BUT NOTICE HOW MANY PARKING SPACES ARE OPEN IN THE LOT.

YEAH, IT'S NOT EMPTY, BUT YOU CAN TELL THERE'S NOT THE SAME AMOUNT OF CARS IN THERE BECAUSE PARKING IS $75 A MONTH.

SO SOME PEOPLE HAVE GIVEN UP INDOOR PARKING SO THAT THEY CAN SAVE MORE PUT TOWARD THEIR RENT.

AND, YOU KNOW, I MEAN WE GOT OUR COLA INCREASE BUT YOU KNOW, THAT BASICALLY IS TAKEN BY DOMINION.

SO NO REAL INCREASE AT ALL, ALTHOUGH SOME OF THE PEOPLE COULD REALLY USE IT WITH THE INFLATION THAT WE HAVE.

SURE.

WELL, THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

AGAIN, OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO EVERYONE GOING THROUGH THIS HARDSHIP.

THANK YOU. SARA, DO WE HAVE OTHER SPEAKERS? KEVIN LYNCH WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

HELLO. WELCOME. THANK YOU ALL FOR LETTING ME SPEAK HERE, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

TWO WEEKS AGO, I LIVE IN TRANSITIONAL LIVING AND I WAS ASKED TO GET A JOB AND AND FIX MY CAR WITHIN THREE MONTHS.

OTHERWISE, I'M, YOU KNOW, SO I DID THAT.

AND THE DAY BEFORE, I GOT A JOB AND I FIXED MY CAR, I DID THAT.

AND THAT IT WAS SNOWING.

AND I SLIPPED AROUND THE CORNER RIGHT AND I ENDED UP PUTTING MY CAR IN THE SNOW BANK.

WELL, I LEFT IT THERE AND I WENT BACK TO MY HOUSE TO GET PEOPLE TO HELP PUSH IT OUT, BECAUSE IT WASN'T VERY IT WOULD COME OUT PRETTY EASILY.

I ALMOST HAD IT OUT AND I DID THAT.

AND BY THE TIME I GOT BACK, I COULDN'T FIND MY CAR.

I EVEN HAVE PEOPLE THAT HAVE STATED THAT AND I'VE WRITTEN TO THAT EFFECT AND WE COULDN'T FIND MY CAR AT ALL.

WE WERE ONLY GONE FOR LIKE IT TOOK ME 15 MINUTES TO GET TO THE HOUSE AND 15 MINUTES BACK.

I THOUGHT SOMEBODY HAD STOLEN MY CAR.

WELL, IT TURNS OUT THE POLICE HAD IT TOWED.

NOW I DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY.

I'M IN TRANSITIONAL LIVING.

I WAS GIVEN A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME TO FIX IT AND GET A JOB.

I DID ALL THAT.

I GOT A GOOD JOB.

BUT I ENDED UP. THEY ENDED UP TOWING ME.

I WASN'T GIVEN SUFFICIENT TIME TO TAKE IT BACK.

IT WASN'T STUCK THAT, YOU KNOW, VERY, VERY DEEP.

I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN IT OUT IF I WOULD HAVE HAD HELP AND TIME AND EVEN STATES IN THE STATUTE THAT I'M TO BE GIVEN PROPER TIME.

AND I WASN'T REALLY GIVEN TIME.

SO I SAID THAT I TALKED TO THE POLICE ON THE PHONE AND THEY SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU SHOULD HAVE CALLED 911.

I SAID, FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T HAVE A PHONE.

I'M YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE A PHONE.

I DON'T HAVE MONEY TO EAT EVEN.

SO I SAID, YOU KNOW, WHERE DOES IT STATE THAT I HAVE TO CALL 911.

WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT.

I SAID, WELL, I WASN'T IN AN ACCIDENT.

I SAID, IT'S A BEATER CAR.

IT'S A $300 CAR.

IT'S GOT SCRATCHES IN IT AND STUFF.

BUT I WASN'T IN AN ACCIDENT.

I DIDN'T NEED TO CALL ANYBODY FOR THAT.

I JUST NEEDED TO GET SOME HELP TO HAVE IT PUSHED OUT.

I SAID, I REALLY DON'T FEEL THAT WAS FAIR TO JUST TOW ME.

[01:00:03]

I MEAN, I HAD EVERYTHING I OWN IN THE CAR.

MY ALL MY, ALL MY TOOLS THAT I USED FOR WORK ARE IN THERE AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO GET IT.

I CAN'T EVEN AFFORD TO PAY MYSELF I CAN'T EVEN AFFORD TO EAT.

AND THE PRICES THEY CHARGE FOR THIS STUFF, I JUST I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

I JUST BESIDE MYSELF, I SO I STILL NOW IT'S UP TO $1,000.

I DON'T HAVE $1,000.

I DON'T YOU KNOW, I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO.

I CALLED THE COPS, BUT THEY WEREN'T VERY HELPFUL.

AND I JUST, YOU KNOW, IF THEY WOULD HAVE JUST LEFT IT ALONE, I WOULD.

AND I LOST MY JOB ON TOP OF IT BECAUSE I NEEDED A CAR TO DRIVE.

AND IF THEY JUST LEFT IT ALONE OR GAVE ME SOME TIME TO DO THAT OR A NEIGHBOR CAME OUT OR SOMETHING, I WOULD HAVE BEEN FINE.

BUT NOW I DON'T HAVE I DON'T HAVE MY CAR.

EVERYTHING I OWNED WAS IN THERE.

I WAS JUST GOING TO PUT GAS IN IT FOR MY JOB THE NEXT DAY.

AND, YOU KNOW, I COME HOME AND THE CAR WAS GONE AND I JUST LOST THE JOB.

I LOST ALL MY TOOLS. I LOST SOME MONEY I HAD IN A CUP FOR GAS.

IT WAS JUST A NIGHTMARE.

I JUST I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

I WAS HOPING I COULD GET MY CAR BACK SOMEHOW.

BUT I'VE TRIED ALL THE AVENUES THAT THEY SAID ONLINE, BUT I'M JUST TRYING TO GET MY LIFE TOGETHER AND I'M DOING THE DARN GOOD JOB.

BUT THAT KIND OF STUFF I THOUGHT WAS JUST UNFAIR.

YOU KNOW? HE GAVE ME 25 MINUTES TO GET IT OUT OF THERE AND BEFORE YOU TOW IT, I JUST DIDN'T THINK THAT WAS FAIR.

IT JUST I DON'T KNOW WHAT.

I JUST COME TO YOU FOR SOME TYPE OF HELP CALLING THE TOW COMPANY OR SOMETHING.

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, HERE'S A GUY TRYING TO GET ON HIS FEET AND YOU TOW HIS CAR AND EVERYTHING THAT'S IN IT.

I JUST THOUGHT THAT WAS UNFAIR.

AND I JUST WOULD HOPE THAT I HAVE AN EAR HERE OF SOMEBODY THAT COULD HELP.

I DON'T FEEL LIKE ASKING FOR MUCH.

I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING AND I APPRECIATE LIVING WHERE I'M LIVING, BUT I'VE DONE ALL THAT I COULD DO.

I'VE DONE ALL THAT THEY'VE ASKED ME TO DO, AND I WOULD HAVE HAD THE JOB THE NEXT DAY.

I WOULD HAVE HAD YOU KNOW, I WOULD HAVE BEEN FINE IF THEY HAD JUST LEFT OR HELPED OR SOMETHING.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU CAN DO, BUT IF THERE'S SOMETHING YOU CAN DO, I SURE WOULD APPRECIATE IT.

SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

I THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICES.

AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.

EXCUSE ME.

HAVE YOU LEFT YOUR NAME AND DO YOU HAVE A PHONE THAT WE CAN REACH YOU AT OR EMAIL? YES I DO. I JUST GOT A PHONE. WE CAN REACH YOU AT? IF YOU CAN LEAVE THAT.

MAKE SURE THAT SARA HAS THAT.

I WILL. WE CAN SEE WHAT SERVICES WE CAN HELP SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP.

[INAUDIBLE] SARA, THANK YOU.

AND I'M SO SORRY YOU'RE GOING THROUGH THIS.

IT SOUNDS SO HARD AND DIFFICULT.

I'M DOING THE BEST I CAN.

THANK YOU YOU CAN TAKE A MINUTE AND SIT DOWN.

THAT'S OKAY. YEAH.

SARA, DO WE HAVE ANYONE ELSE THAT'S HERE TO SPEAK? WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY ONLINE.

IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE HERE? NO.

ALL RIGHT, THEN. THEN IF THERE'S NO ONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, THEN MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING? SO MOVED. SECOND.

I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS.

EVERYONE IN FAVOR SAY AYE? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION PASSES? THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED. THANK YOU ALL.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.

Feb 13, 2023 City Council

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