Jun 12, 2023 City Council

[00:00:06]

LET'S GET STARTED WITH OUR MEETING HERE.

[CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL]

TODAY IS A VERY BIG CELEBRATION.

WE HAVE SOME AMAZING COMMUNITY AWARDS THAT ARE GOING TO TAKE PLACE, SO PLEASE HELP YOURSELF.

WE HAVE SOME TREATS, COFFEE AND WATER OVER THERE.

EVERYONE IS WELCOME. EVEN IF YOU DIDN'T WIN AN AWARD, YOU'RE WELCOME TO HAVE A TREAT.

SO AND IF YOU DON'T, THEY WILL JUST BE EATEN BY ALL OF US.

OKAY. HELLO? HELLO? HELLO? COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS HERE.

MAYOR MARQUEZ-SIMULA HERE.

THANK YOU. AND FIRST, I'LL START WITH OUR MISSION STATEMENT, WHICH WAS NEWLY CREATED THIS PAST SPRING.

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS IS A VIBRANT, HEALTHY AND CONNECTED CITY.

WE ARE HERE TO ACTIVELY SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY, DELIVER EQUITABLE SERVICES, BUILD AND STRENGTHEN CONNECTIONS, IMPROVE UPON OUR PAST, AND UPHOLD OUR SUCCESSES.

WE STRIVE TO BE BETTER AND ENSURE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS IS A GREAT PLACE FOR EVERYONE TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE.

NOW, MAY YOU, IF YOU'RE ABLE TO STAND, PLEASE JOIN ME IN SAYING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU NEXT IS OUR PROCLAMATIONS, PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITION ANNOUNCEMENTS AND GUESTS.

[PROCLAMATIONS, PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITION, ANNOUNCEMENTS, GUESTS]

THIS IS OUR FIRST TIME DOING IT, OUR INAUGURAL OPPORTUNITY HERE TO REALLY NOTICE A LOCAL BUSINESS THROUGH THE EDA.

AND SO I HAVE A LITTLE STORY TO TELL HERE ABOUT RAPID GRAPHICS AND WARREN.

IN LATE 2022, THE CITY'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY CREATED THE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD TO RECOGNIZE LOCAL BUSINESSES FOR NOTEWORTHY ACCOMPLISHMENTS, INCLUDING MAJOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY, SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS INVESTMENTS, SUSTAINABLE SITE IMPROVEMENTS AND SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY SERVICE EFFORTS.

WITH THE INAUGURAL YEAR OF THE AWARD BEGINNING IN 2023, THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY REVIEWED A LIST OF SUBMITTED NOMINEES IN APRIL AND SELECTED LOCALLY OWNED RAPID GRAPHICS AND MAILING TO BE THE CITY'S FIRST BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD RECIPIENT.

RAPID GRAPHICS HAS BEEN IN THE SAME LOCATION AT COLUMBIA HEIGHTS FOR 52 YEARS.

A LOT HAS CHANGED SINCE ITS CURRENT OWNER, WARREN KAPSNER, PURCHASED THE BUSINESS IN 1985 .

WITH A STAFF OF FIVE RAPID GRAPHICS RUNS, PRINT PROJECTS SUCH AS BROCHURES, ENVELOPES, PHOTOGRAPHS, BOOKS, NEWSLETTERS, POSTCARDS AND SIGNS FOR LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, INDIVIDUALS AND MAJOR NATIONAL COMPANIES.

RAPID GRAPHICS AND MAILINGS RECENTLY MADE HEADLINES IN THE LOCAL PAPER AND ON KSTP5 FOR ITS CREATIVE HOLIDAY DISPLAY.

OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, DURING NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER, THE WINDOW DISPLAY AT RAPID GRAPHICS HAS FEATURED A THREE DIMENSIONAL DIORAMA AND COLLAGE OF WORLD RELIGIONS AND CULTURAL GROUPS WITH PLACARDS AND DESIGNS REPRESENTING CHRISTIANITY, BUDDHISM, ISLAM, HINDUISM, ATHEISM, JUDAISM, LGBTQ GROUPS AND BIPOC POPULATIONS, TO NAME A FEW.

RAPID GRAPHICS AND MAILING IS BEING RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR LONG STANDING DEDICATION TO THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND THEIR EFFORTS TO BUILD TRUST AND FRIENDSHIP WITHIN THE CITY AND BEYOND.

CONGRATULATIONS TO WARREN AND HIS TEAM AT RAPID GRAPHICS [APPLAUSE].

WARREN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME UP? I'D LOVE TO GIVE YOU THIS AWARD.

THANK YOU ALL VERY, VERY MUCH.

THIS IS A REAL SURPRISE.

I GUESS IT'S ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF GETTING OLD AND HANGING AROUND.

BUT IT WAS OVER 40 YEARS AGO WHEN I BOUGHT RAPID GRAPHICS, AND IT'S REALLY BEEN IT WAS WORKED OUT.

BEING IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS REALLY WORKED OUT WELL FOR US.

ONE THING I REALLY APPRECIATE IS OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.

I THINK ALL THOSE YEARS THEY DID A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL JOB.

AND WE'VE GONE THROUGH SOME TOUGH TIMES, VERY TOUGH TIMES.

[00:05:02]

SO THAT REALLY HELPS IN A BUSINESS WHEN YOU'RE WHEN YOU'RE WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH RECESSIONS IN 2008 AND ALL OF THAT.

SO I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THIS.

WE ARE HONORED AND EVERYONE AT RAPID GRAPHICS APPRECIATES IT.

THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]. OKAY.

NEXT, WE HAVE OUR YOUTH AND ADULT CITIZEN OF THE YEAR PRESENTATION.

I'M GOING TO START OUT WITH OUR ADULT CITIZEN.

MARY FULKES.

IN HER CIRCLE SHE IS KNOWN AS THE GARDEN LADY, BUT NOW SHE HAS ANOTHER TITLE TO GO BY.

MARY FULKE'S COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

RESIDENT FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS, WAS RECENTLY NAMED COLUMBIA HEIGHTS 2023 OUTSTANDING CITIZEN OF THE YEAR IN THE ADULT CATEGORY.

13 YEARS AGO, MARY ESTABLISHED THE COMMUNITY GARDEN AT 40TH AND JACKSON.

SHE OUTLINED A PROPOSAL AND LEVERAGED SOME PARTNERSHIPS TO TURN THOSE THESE ABANDONED LOTS INTO COMMUNITY GARDENS THAT NOW SUPPORT UP TO 22 GARDENERS.

MARY COORDINATES AND OVERSEES THE USE OF THE LAND, WHILE ALSO TENDING TO HER OWN TWO GARDEN PLOTS WHERE SHE GROWS AND HARVESTS BETWEEN 500 AND 1,000 POUNDS OF PRODUCE EACH AND EVERY YEAR.

SHE DONATES ALL OF IT TO [INAUDIBLE] FOOD SHELF.

MARY SAID, I'M HONORED AND I'M HUMBLED ABOUT RECEIVING THE OUTSTANDING OUTSTANDING CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARD.

AND SHE REPEATED THE SENTIMENT THAT NEARLY EVERY OUTSTANDING CITIZEN OF THE YEAR SAYS, I DON'T FEEL I DO ANYTHING MORE THAN MANY OTHER PEOPLE DO IN MY COMMUNITY.

AND WE ALL KNOW THAT'S NOT TRUE.

MARY DOES SO MUCH.

AND BESIDES GARDENING, SHE VOLUNTEERS SO OFTEN IN HER CHURCH, WHICH IS GOING THROUGH A BIG CHANGE RIGHT NOW.

COMMUNITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH.

SHE ALSO COORDINATES THE EVERY EVERY MEAL PROGRAM, ALONG WITH SAINT TIMOTHY CHURCH FOR FRIDAY MORNINGS AT VALLEY VIEW SCHOOL. AND MARY AND I HAVE GOT TO KNOW EACH OTHER FOR THE LAST 3 OR 4 YEARS.

I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT WITH HER.

AND YOU JUST HAVE YOUR HANDS SO MANY PLACES BESIDES THE GARDENING BED.

MARY, PLEASE COME UP AND RECEIVE YOUR AWARD [APPLAUSE].

IF YOU'D LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING.

IT'S VERY MUCH A SURPRISE, AND I DON'T FEEL LIKE I DESERVE IT.

BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND I HOPE THAT IT JUST ENCOURAGES OTHER PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE AS THEY CAN IN ALL THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF COMMUNITY LIFE, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF NEED AND EVERYBODY CAN DO A LITTLE BIT.

THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU.

NEXT IS OUR YOUTH AWARD RECIPIENT, ROGER RODNEY.

ROGER, AGE 16, HAS LIVED IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS HIS WHOLE LIFE.

HE LOVES THE CITY, HE SAID, BUT THAT'S NO REASON TO GET COMPLACENT WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING POSITIVE CHANGES.

AS HE SAYS, THIS IS A VERY ACCEPTING COMMUNITY.

PEOPLE FROM ANY BACKGROUND ARE WELCOMED IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, THOUGH WE STILL HAVE A WAYS TO GO.

VERY WELL SAID, ROGER.

THIS SENSE OF PURPOSE HAS PUSHED ROGER TO TAKE PART IN SEVERAL COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND VOLUNTEER PROJECTS.

IT'S THE REASON HE WAS NOMINATED AND SELECTED TO BE THE 2023 OUTSTANDING CITIZEN OF THE YEAR IN THE YOUTH CATEGORY, WHICH IS AGED 14 THROUGH 18.

AT 15, ROGER WAS AMONG THE FOUNDING TEN MEMBERS OF THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS YOUTH COMMISSION, AND IN MARCH OF 2022, HIS FELLOW COMMISSIONERS APPOINTED HIM TO BE VICE CHAIRPERSON. THEY REELECTED HIM TO THE ROLE AT THE START OF THE NEW TERM.

I WANT TO SEE MORE YOUTH INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY, IS WHAT ROGER SAID.

IT'S ONE REASON I JOINED THE CONVERSATION.

ROGER, PLEASE COME UP AND RECEIVE YOUR AWARD [APPLAUSE].

I ACTUALLY THIS CAME AS A SHOCK TO ME BECAUSE I WAS IN THE TARGET PARKING LOT WHEN I GOT THE CALL THAT I WON THE AWARD.

BUT AS AMADA SAID, I REALLY LIKE WORKING WITHIN AND VOLUNTEERING WITH MY COMMUNITY AND I WANT TO SEE MORE YOUTH INVOLVED IN THAT, ESPECIALLY SINCE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVEN'T SEEN A LOT OF THAT AND A LOT OF INVOLVEMENT, EVEN FROM YOUTH AND ADULTS, HAS GONE DOWN.

BUT THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

SO THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU.

[00:10:01]

AND JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT NEXT YEAR WE WILL BE LOOKING FOR ANOTHER ADULT AND YOUTH OUTSTANDING CITIZEN.

THOSE NOMINATIONS USUALLY COME OUT IN THE SPRING, SO JUST BE KEEPING THOSE, YOU KNOW, THOSE THINKING HATS ON AS YOU LOOK AROUND THE COMMUNITY AND SEE PEOPLE WHO ARE WHO ARE OUT THERE DOING A LOT OF GOOD AND WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT, ENCOURAGE OTHERS, AS MARY SAID, AND AS WELL FOR THE BUSINESS.

SO, YEAH, PLEASE KEEP THINKING OF THAT FOR NEXT YEAR.

NEXT WE HAVE OUR JUNETEENTH PROCLAMATION AND THIS WILL BE READ BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS.

JUNETEENTH, JUNE 19TH, 2023.

WHEREAS IN LATE AUGUST 1619, 23 ENSLAVED AFRICAN AFRICANS LANDED AT POINT COMFORT, KNOWN TODAY AS FORT MONROE IN HAMPTON, VIRGINIA, ABOARD THE ENGLISH PRIVATEER SHIP WHITE LION, MARKING THE BEGINNING STAGES OF WHAT WOULD BECOME THE INSTITUTION OF SLAVERY IN THE PRESENT DAY UNITED STATES.

AND WHEREAS, OUR NATION WAS CONCEIVED ON JULY 4TH, 1776, WITH THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AND ITS OPENING STATEMENT OF: WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT, THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL, THAT THEY ARE ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR WITH CERTAIN UNALIENABLE RIGHTS, THAT AMONG THESE ARE LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. AND WHEREAS, ON JANUARY 1ST, 1863, ABRAHAM LINCOLN SIGNED THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION, WHICH GAVE FREEDOM TO MILLIONS OF ENSLAVED PEOPLE UNDER THE CONFEDERATE CONTROL AND NOT TO SLAVE HOLDING BORDER STATES OR REBEL AREAS ALONG THE UNION CONTROL.

HOWEVER, AS NORTHERN TROOPS ADVANCED INTO THE CONFEDERATE SOUTH, MANY ENSLAVED PEOPLE FLED BEHIND UNION LINES.

AND WHEREAS, PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN SIGNED THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION ON JANUARY 1ST, 1863, DECLARING THE SLAVES IN THE CONFEDERATE TERRITORY FREE, PAVING THE WAY FOR THE PASSAGE OF THE 13TH AMENDMENT, WHICH FORMALLY ABOLISHED SLAVERY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

AND WHEREAS, FREEDOM FINALLY CAME ON JUNE 19TH, 1865, OVER TWO AND A HALF YEARS AFTER THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION WAS SIGNED, WHEN THOUSANDS OF UNION TROOPS ARRIVED IN GALVESTON BAY, TEXAS, THE ARMY ANNOUNCED THAT ENSLAVED PEOPLE IN THE STATE WERE FREE BY EXECUTIVE DECREE.

THIS DAY CAME TO BE KNOWN AS JUNETEENTH, WHICH COMMEMORATES THIS DAY WHEN MORE THAN 250,000 ENSLAVED PEOPLE IN TEXAS WERE DECLARED FREE BY THE US ARMY.

AND WHEREAS, JUNETEENTH ENCOURAGES US TO REFLECT ON OUR FUTURE AND CELEBRATE THE MANY AFRICAN AMERICANS WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED GREATLY AND SELFLESSLY TO OUR NATION AND OUR COMMUNITY, WE MUST DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO DECONSTRUCT GENERATIONS OF SYSTEMIC RACISM THAT UNDERMINE THE STATE'S COLLECTIVE VALUES, IDEALS AND PROSPERITY SO THAT EVERY BLACK MINNESOTAN CAN BE AFFORDED EQUAL PROTECTION UNDER THE LAW AGENCY AND HUMAN DIGNITY.

AND WHEREAS, JUNETEENTH MARKS OUR COUNTRY'S SECOND INDEPENDENCE DAY, CELEBRATING FREEDOM AND JUSTICE.

THE OBSERVANCE OF THIS DAY CALLS ON US TO RECOMMIT OURSELVES TO THE WORK OF EQUITY, EQUALITY AND JUSTICE.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT I, AMANDA MARQUEZ-SIMULA, MAYOR OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 19TH, 2023, TO BE JUNETEENTH IN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS COUNTY OF ANOKA, STATE OF MINNESOTA, USA.

I URGE ALL CITIZENS TO BECOME MORE AWARE OF THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS CELEBRATION IN AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND IN THE HERITAGE OF OUR OUR NATION AND OUR CITY [APPLAUSE].

AND TO RECEIVE THIS PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF OUR COMMUNITY IS TANYA.

TONYA MOORE COMMUNITY MEMBER, SCHOOL DISTRICT EMPLOYEE.

COME ON UP, TONYA.

I'LL GIVE YOU THIS PROCLAMATION.

THANK YOU.

NEXT WE MOVE TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA.

[CONSENT AGENDA]

ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA WILL BE TAKEN UP AT THE NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS.

AARON WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE US THROUGH THE AGENDA ITEMS? THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

ITEM ONE IS APPROVAL OF THE MAY 22ND, 2023 CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES.

ITEM TWO IS ACCEPTANCE OF THE MAY 1ST 2023 EDA MEETING MINUTES.

ITEM THREE IS APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION 2023-29, WHICH IS A RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE PUBLIC SAFETY FENCE PROJECT BUDGET FOR CITY PROJECT 2207.

ITEM FOUR IS APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION 2023-30, A RESOLUTION ADOPTING OPTIONAL APPENDICES OF THE MINNESOTA STATE FIRE CODE.

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ITEM SIX IS ACCEPTANCE OF CORRECTIVE ASPHALT MATERIALS PROPOSAL FOR BITUMINOUS STREET SURFACE TREATMENT AND ALLIED BLACKTOP COMPANIES PROPOSAL FOR CRACK SEALING KNOWN AS PROJECT 2301.

ITEM NUMBER SEVEN IS THE RENTAL OCCUPANCY LICENSES LISTED IN THE PACKET FOR APPROVAL.

ITEM NUMBER EIGHT IS THE LICENSE AGENDA, AND ITEM NINE IS REVIEW OF THE BILLS, WHICH IN THIS CASE TOTALED $2,183,940.61. THANK YOU.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR AARON ABOUT THE ITEMS? HEARING NONE. THEN MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.

MOVE TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED.

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

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING IS NOT THEN ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION PASSES.

THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING.

[PUBLIC HEARINGS]

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 FOR THIS MATTER.

SO TO OPEN THE.

SO I NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

BUT FIRST WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SULMAAN COME UP AND PRESENT INFORMATION.

GIVE ME A SECOND. I'VE GOT A PRESENTATION THAT I'M GOING TO PULL UP.

SURE THING.

OKAY. SHOULD BE COMING UP AS FULL SCREEN SOON.

I'LL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.

SO WE'RE NOT SEEING THE SCREEN.

YOU'RE NOT SEEING IT. THERE'S A BOX ASKING FOR US TO CLICK.

OKAY. IF WE CAN SEE THAT SOMEWHERE.

MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET.

PACKET. AARON OKAY.

AS LONG AS. OKAY.

AS LONG AS THE ZOOM CAN SEE IT.

OKAY. WE CAN SEE IT.

THANK YOU.

WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR TRYING TO GET IT ALL.

HOW MUCH LONGER IN THIS? IN THIS COUNCIL CHAMBERS? YEAH. YEAH.

MADAM MAYOR? YEAH.

IT WON'T BE SOMETHING WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT FOREVER.

SO LESS CORDS RUNNING ACROSS THE FLOOR.

OKAY, SO I CAN'T EVEN.

OH, YOU'RE STUCK OVER THERE, TOO? NO, CAN'T EVEN MOVE MY SLIDES EITHER ON HERE.

[00:20:57]

I DON'T KNOW IF I'M GOING TO BE ABLE TO SHOW YOU.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO SHOW THE PICTURES ON THE SCREEN, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH IT.

I CAN'T FORWARD ANY OF MY SLIDES OR ANYTHING.

IT'S JUST KIND OF STUCK IN ONE PLACE.

SO WE'LL JUST GO AHEAD AND WE'LL ROLL WITH IT.

SO, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR GIVING ME THIS TIME.

SO MY INTENT HERE TODAY WAS JUST TO GIVE EVERYBODY AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE THINKING IS BEHIND CONVERTING 7TH STREET FROM 52ND TO 53RD, FROM A ONE WAY STREET INTO A TWO WAY, AND ALSO REMOVING THE BUMP OUT THAT'S IN THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF THE INTERSECTION.

SO AS YOU ALL PROBABLY KNOW, WE ARE GOING TO BE WORKING ON 53RD AVENUE THIS YEAR.

SO THAT IS ANTICIPATED TO GET STARTED IN JULY.

SO WE WILL BE WORKING FROM UNIVERSITY ON 53RD FROM UNIVERSITY ALL THE WAY TO CENTRAL ACTUALLY WE'LL START IN MAIN STREET IN FRIDLEY ALL THE WAY TO CENTRAL AVENUE. SO THAT'S KIND OF THE THE PROJECT LIMITS OF THAT PROJECT.

SO AS PART OF THE PROJECT, THE THE THINGS THAT WILL BE DONE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF 53RD AVENUE, WE WILL BE CONSTRUCTING A TEN FOOT WIDE BIKE TRAIL OR A SHARED USE PATH.

AND THEN ON THE NORTH SIDE, ON THE FRIDLEY SIDE, THERE WILL BE A SIX FOOT WIDE SIDEWALK THAT WILL BE ADDED TO THE TO THE NORTH SIDE OF THE ROADWAY.

SO IN ORDER TO CREATE ENOUGH ROOM FOR THAT TEN FOOT WIDE SHARED USE TRAIL ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF 53RD AVENUE, THAT THE CURB THAT IS ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF 53RD WILL BE SHIFTED TO THE NORTH BY TEN FEET IN ORDER TO CREATE SPACE IN ORDER FOR THAT NEW TRAIL THAT WILL BE GOING IN.

SO WITH THAT REMOVAL OF THE CURB, WE WILL NEED TO ALSO REMOVE THE BUMP OUT THAT IS ON 7TH STREET.

AND THAT'S BASICALLY BECAUSE WE WITH THAT CURB MOVING OUT, WE WILL NEED TO CUT BACK A LITTLE INTO THAT BUMP OUT IN ORDER TO MAKE PROPER GRADES AND ALSO IN ORDER TO MAKE IT TIE IN SMOOTHLY WITH THE STREET.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT WE HAVE TO COMPLETELY GET RID OF THE THE BUMP OUT.

WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT THE ONE THAT EXISTS RIGHT NOW, IT DOES HAVE TO BE REMOVED.

IF WE CHOOSE TO DO SO, WE WE CAN CONSTRUCT ANOTHER BUMP OUT THERE.

BUT AGAIN, IT WILL HAVE TO BE BRAND NEW BECAUSE THE EXISTING ONE THAT'S THERE WITH WHAT IS GOING IN, IT WILL HAVE TO BE REMOVED.

AND SO I JUST WANTED TO GIVE EVERYBODY AN UNDERSTANDING OF THAT, IS THAT IT'S NOT I'M NOT SAYING THAT IT'S 100% THING THAT WE NEED TO COMPLETELY REMOVE THE BUMP OUT AND THE STORY. WE CAN PUT IT BACK IN IF THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO DO.

BUT AGAIN, IT'LL HAVE TO BE COMPLETELY RECONSTRUCTED.

ONE OF THE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANT TO ALSO BRING ATTENTION TO.

SO ON THE NORTH SIDE OF 53RD AVENUE IN OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR, FRIDLEY CONSTRUCTED A BRAND NEW TRAIL THAT'S ON THE EAST SIDE OF 7TH STREET.

AND SO WITH THAT NEW TRAIL THAT HAS GONE IN, THAT BASICALLY BUMPED THEIR CURB LINE OUT.

SO IT DOES NOT IT IS OFFSET FROM THE CURB LINE THAT IS SOUTH OF 53RD ON 7TH STREET.

SO WITH THAT, AGAIN, IT'D BE BETTER IF I HAD THE PICTURE.

I'LL TRY TO DO WITH MY HANDS AS BEST AS POSSIBLE, BUT LET ME KNOW IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS.

BUT WITH WITH THE OFFSET CURB LINES.

SO BASICALLY ANY VEHICLES THAT ARE TRAVELING NORTHBOUND ACROSS 53RD ON 7TH STREET THEY KIND OF HAVE TO GO AT AN ANGLE SO THAT THEY DON'T RUN STRAIGHT INTO THE TRAIL THAT IS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF 53RD AVENUE.

NOW, YOU'D HAVE TO HUG THAT BUMP OUT THAT CURRENTLY EXISTS RIGHT NOW PRETTY, PRETTY TIGHT IN ORDER TO KIND OF SQUEEZE THROUGH AND NOT DRIVE

[00:25:01]

BUT AGAIN, IF YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT AREA OF THAT DRIVING LANE THAT'S THERE RIGHT NOW, YOU KIND OF HAVE TO GO AT AN ANGLE IN ORDER TO CROSS THE INTERSECTION THERE.

SO THAT'S DEFINITELY ONE REASON WHY IT IS MY OPINION THAT THAT BUMP OUT SHOULD BE REMOVED.

AND SO IF WE ARE ABLE TO REMOVE THAT BUMP OUT, WE CAN BUMP, WE CAN PROVIDE SOME STRIPING IN ORDER TO KIND OF LINE VEHICLES UP SO THAT THEY'RE MAKING A STRAIGHT PATH, I GUESS, ACROSS THE INTERSECTION GOING NORTH ON 7TH STREET.

SO WITH THIS, PARKING WILL NOT BE AFFECTED AT ALL.

SO BASICALLY, THERE'LL STILL BE THE SAME AMOUNT OF PARKING ON 7TH STREET BETWEEN 52ND AND 53RD.

THERE WILL BE NO IMPACT ON THAT.

THE ONLY IMPACT THAT THERE WILL BE WAS THAT ONE SIDE.

IF WE CONVERT IT FROM A ONE WAY TO A TWO WAY, THE VEHICLES ON THE WEST SIDE OF 7TH STREET WILL JUST HAVE TO PARK THE OPPOSITE WAY.

THAT'S REALLY THE ONLY DIFFERENCE WITH THE PARKING.

SO THE AMOUNT OF PARKING WILL NOT CHANGE AT ALL.

UM, I KNOW THAT ONE OTHER THING THAT HAS COME UP THERE IS A BUS STOP RIGHT AT THAT INTERSECTION OF 7TH STREET AND 53RD AVENUE. CURRENTLY, RIGHT NOW, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE BUS RIDERS WHO USE KIND OF THAT BUMP OUT RIGHT NOW AS A AS A WAITING AREA FOR THE BUS TO COME BECAUSE THERE IS GOING TO BE A BRAND NEW TEN FOOT WIDE TRAIL ON THAT SOUTH SIDE THAT IS, YOU KNOW, AN AREA THAT, YOU KNOW, CAN BE USED FOR FOR BUS RIDERS THERE.

SO AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, ROOM FOR PEOPLE TO WAIT FOR THE BUS, IT'LL ACTUALLY BE MADE SAFER.

THEY'LL HAVE A PATH.

THERE'LL BE SOME INFRASTRUCTURE THERE FOR PEOPLE TO WALK TO THE BUS STOP AND THERE'LL BE MUCH MORE ROOM FOR PEOPLE TO WAIT THERE.

AS JUST AS A HEADS UP, WE'VE BEEN WORKING PRETTY CLOSELY WITH METRO TRANSIT ON KIND OF WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.

METRO TRANSIT IS PLANNING TO CONSTRUCT, WHICH IS CALLED THE F LINE.

SO IT'S A BUS RAPID TRANSIT LINE THAT'S GOING TO BE GOING RIGHT ON TO 53RD AVENUE.

AND SO WITH THAT, WITH WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING RIGHT NOW, THE BUS STOP AT THIS INTERSECTION OF 7TH STREET AND 53RD WILL GO AWAY.

SO THERE'S GOING TO BE TWO STOPS THAT THEY'RE PROPOSING AS PART OF THE F LINE.

ONE IS GOING TO BE 53RD AND UNIVERSITY, AND THE OTHER ONE IS GOING TO BE 53RD JUST EAST OF MONROE.

SO THIS BUS STOP THAT THAT CURRENTLY EXISTS RIGHT THERE CURRENTLY EXISTS AT THE INTERSECTION RIGHT NOW WILL ONLY BE THERE FOR ABOUT ANOTHER FEW YEARS, IN 2026 IS WHEN THEY'RE ANTICIPATING THE THE NEW F LINE TO BE IN SERVICE.

AND SO ONCE THAT COMES AROUND, THE BUS STOP HERE WILL BE GOING AWAY.

I KNOW ANOTHER KIND OF CONCERN IS, YOU KNOW, TRUCK TRAFFIC, TRAVELING, YOU KNOW, COMING SOUTHBOUND ON 7TH STREET AND USING 7TH STREET AS KIND OF A CUT THROUGH BASED ON KIND OF WHAT I WHAT I SEE.

I MEAN, 7TH STREET IS NOT REALLY AN IDEAL TRUCK ROUTE.

IT'S ABOUT 30FT WIDE.

IT'S RESIDENTIAL ALL THE WAY FROM 53RD GOING ALL THE WAY DOWN TO 40TH.

FOR THE MOST PART, IT'S RESIDENTIAL.

THERE ARE SOME AREAS THAT PEOPLE COULD BE TRAVELING TO.

ONE IS MCKENNA PARK, AND THAT'S REALLY KIND OF THE ONLY, YOU KNOW, STOP IN BETWEEN 53RD AND 40TH ON 7TH STREET THAT WOULD BE KIND OF A TRAFFIC JAM THERE.

AND AGAIN, THAT WOULD NOT BE A VERY HIGH TRAFFIC GENERATOR.

SO I THE CONCERN OF, YOU KNOW, A LOT MORE TRAFFIC COMING DOWN 7TH STREET.

IF WE OPENED THAT UP AS A AS A TWO WAY IS MAYBE, YOU KNOW, BASED ON KIND OF YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THE SURROUNDING AREA, IT'S A HIGHLY RESIDENTIAL IT'S ONLY A 30 FOOT WIDE STREET.

IT'S NOT REALLY GOING TO BE AN IDEAL ROUTE FOR TRUCKS TO TO DRIVE ON.

SO OTHER THAN OTHER THAN THAT, A COUPLE OTHER OR ONE OTHER THING THAT I THAT I WOULD LIKE TO BRING ATTENTION TO.

SO WITH THE, YOU KNOW, THE BUMP OUT THAT CURRENTLY EXISTS RIGHT NOW IN REGARDS TO KIND OF SNOW PLOWING DURING THE WINTER, IT DOES TAKE MORE STAFF TIME AS WELL AS RESOURCES IN ORDER TO PLOW AROUND THAT AREA PROPERLY.

SO A REGULAR PLOW CANNOT GET THROUGH THERE.

THEY HAVE TO SEND ANOTHER KIND OF A SMALLER, SMALLER PLOW TRUCK OR VEHICLE IN ORDER TO KIND OF PLOW AROUND THAT AREA.

[00:30:08]

THAT IS AGAIN, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WILL GO ON IF WE IF WE DO CHOOSE TO TO HAVE THAT BUMP OUT THERE.

SO KIND OF ALL THOSE REASONS, THAT'S KIND OF THE THINKING BEHIND GETTING RID OF THAT BUMP OUT.

AND, YOU KNOW, IN MAKING IT A TWO WAY, IT JUST OFFERS MORE FLEXIBILITY.

AND SO THE CONCERNS OF, YOU KNOW, OF MORE TRUCK TRAFFIC OR MORE VEHICLES BASED ON THE TRAFFIC.

SO IF YOU LOOK AT MNDOT, AVERAGE DAILY TRAFFIC, IT'S ABOUT 2,700 VEHICLES THAT TRAVEL ON 7TH STREET NORTH OF 53RD.

SO AND AGAIN, KEEP IN MIND, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, BOTH DIRECTIONS OF TRAVEL, BOTH NORTHBOUND AND SOUTHBOUND.

SO OUT OF THOSE 2,700 VEHICLES, I MEAN, THERE'S LESS THAN THAT THAT WOULD BE POSSIBLY COMING, YOU KNOW, SOUTHBOUND ACROSS THE INTERSECTION AND GOING ONTO 7TH STREET.

SO IT'S NOT REALLY A HIGH TRAFFIC VOLUME THAT WOULD BE COMING DOWN THAT ROADWAY.

AND AGAIN, IT'S NOT A VERY HIGH THERE'S NO HIGH TRAFFIC GENERATORS AROUND THE AREA.

SO, AGAIN, IT SHOULDN'T BE TOO MUCH OF A CONCERN FOR FOR MORE VEHICLES TRAVELING DOWN.

THERE MIGHT BE THERE DEFINITELY WILL BE SOME MORE, BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE ANYTHING UNREASONABLE AND IT'S NOT GOING TO BE ANYTHING THAT WILL BE UNSAFE.

SO WITH THAT, THAT'S ALL I GOT.

IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, YOU CAN DEFINITELY OPEN UP THE FLOOR.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SULMAAN.

WE APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR TIME AND EFFORT PUT INTO THIS.

NOW WE'RE GOING TO OPEN UP THE PUBLIC FORUM.

SO IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, YOU'LL NEED TO FILL IN A FORM BY THE DOOR, AND THEN YOU HAND IN THE FORM TO SARA, WHO'S SITTING UP HERE IN THE FRONT, THIS FRONT DESK.

AND I WILL ALSO I KNOW THIS IS WE'VE RECEIVED EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS, SO WE REALIZE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HERE TO DISCUSS THIS MATTER AND APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN AND SHARING YOUR OPINIONS AND THOUGHTS.

WE'LL JUST MAKE SURE WE KEEP EVERYTHING VERY RESPECTFUL.

WHERE PEOPLE LIVE IS IS A IS A STRIKES A VERY PASSIONATE NOTE SO.

MIC] AND TO HELP SHARE AND MANAGE EXPECTATIONS.

ANY QUESTIONS THAT SPEAKERS HAVE SULMAAN WE'LL JUST HAVE YOU TAKE NOTE OF THEM AND THEN AFTER EVERYBODY SPEAKS, IF YOU COULD ANSWER THE QUESTIONS AND THEN WE'LL GO THROUGH IF COUNCIL HAS QUESTIONS, WE'LL GO FROM THERE.

MAYOR, ARE YOU READY? ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT SARA.

YES. WHO'S THE FIRST SPEAKER? STACY JOHNSON.

AND JUST A REMINDER TO STAND TO THE SIDE OF THE MICROPHONE.

WELCOME. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. YOU SAID STAND LIKE RIGHT HERE.

PERFECT. OKAY. HI, I'M STACY JOHNSON.

I LIVE ON 50TH AND 7TH.

I WALK THAT STREET EVERY DAY, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY TO TAKE THE BUS AND I STAND AT 53RD.

I CALL THAT LIKE IT'S VERY CRAZY THERE.

I STAND ON THIS SIDE WHERE THE BUMP IS, AND THEN I ALSO GET HOME ON THE BUS AND HAVE TO WALK ACROSS THAT LITTLE SECTION.

SO IT'S A LITTLE CRAZY.

I'M KIND OF CONCERNED THAT THERE'S A BIKE PATH OR WHATEVER.

SOMETHING'S GOING TO BE WIDENED.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S GOING TO HURT OTHER PEOPLE'S HOMES OR STUFF.

I DO SEE THE LITTLE BUMP OUT, I GUESS, IN THE FRIDLEY AREA.

BUT I AND I THINK IF YOU OPEN UP A TWO WAY ON A ONE WAY IN THAT LITTLE SECTION, IT'S GOING TO BE CRAZY.

IT ALREADY IS CRAZY. PEOPLE DRIVE DOWN 7TH STREET LIKE IT'S A FREEWAY.

SO THEY JUST THEY JUST FLY THROUGH IT.

SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE REALLY WRONG TO OPEN IT UP TO A TWO WAY STREET.

[00:35:03]

THANK YOU. AND I'LL JUST REMIND EVERYBODY, TOO, BECAUSE I KNOW EVERYONE WAS TRYING TO FILL IN THEIR FORMS. SULMAAN IS GOING TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS, AND THEN AFTER EVERYONE SPEAKS, HE'S GOING TO GO THROUGH AND ANSWER OR GIVE ANY FEEDBACK THAT WE HAVE.

AND AND AGAIN, SULMAAN IS THE CITY ENGINEER.

THANK YOU, STACEY. STEVE STROMQUIST WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

THANK YOU. WELCOME, STEVE.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL.

I'VE LIVED IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS NOW FOR ABOUT 40 YEARS AND LIVE ON 51ST AVENUE, WHICH RUNS BETWEEN CENTRAL AND UNIVERSITY RIGHT SOUTH OF LAKE SULLIVAN.

OKAY. AND.

I KNOW THAT MY AUNT IN LAW MY WIFE'S AUNT LIVED ON THE CORNER OF 7TH AND 52ND FOR MANY YEARS.

HER SON DAVID WAS SEVERELY INJURED BY A CAR RACING DOWN 7TH STREET AND CRIPPLED AND BRAIN DAMAGED FOR HIS ENTIRE LIFE AFTER HE WAS TWO YEARS OLD.

AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE ORIGINAL MOTIVATION FOR CHANGING THAT BLOCK TO A TWO WAY, BUT I THINK IT WAS TO RESTRICT TRAFFIC.

I THINK THERE WAS A THRUWAY FROM FRIDLEY DOWN 7TH.

AND I THINK YOU'RE CONCLUSIONS ABOUT TRAFFIC ON 7TH STREET NORTH OF 53RD CANNOT BE COMPARED TO TRAFFIC.

SOUTH OF 53RD, BECAUSE THERE'S THAT ONE WAY THERE AND THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN EVEN PREDICT HOW MUCH TRAFFIC MIGHT GO THROUGH THAT AREA. WE KNOW ON 51ST, THAT IS A RACETRACK WAITING FOR A DISASTER TO HAPPEN.

AND I LIVE RIGHT ON 51ST, A BLOCK FROM THE THE THE STOP SIGN THAT DOES SAY STOP.

IT DOESN'T SAY SLOW TO QUOTE A POLICE OFFICER THAT REMINDED ME ONCE THAT STOP SIGNS DO SAY STOP AND NOT SLOW.

AND I'VE SEEN THE SAME THING HAPPEN, OF COURSE, ON 7TH AND 52ND.

AND IN FACT, I THINK OUR OFFICERS HAVE OFTEN OR USED TO ANYWAY, I USED TO WATCH FOR THEM SITTING ON THE CORNER THERE JUST IN CASE TO ENFORCE THE LAW THERE. AND IT DOES HAVE A FLASHING RED LIGHT NOW TO REINFORCE THAT.

BUT MORE TO WHAT SULMAAN WAS SAYING, I DON'T HEAR ANY REASON FOR CHANGING THIS TO A TWO WAY.

I UNDERSTAND THE BUMP OUT.

I UNDERSTAND THE WIDENING OF A BICYCLE PATH.

I'M AN AVID BICYCLIST.

YOU MAY HAVE SEEN ME IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND I USE 5TH STREET A LOT BECAUSE THAT'S A REAL NICE BIKING STREET.

AND 7TH MAY BE A SAME BE THE SAME, BUT IT FOR CARS ESPECIALLY ON THAT ONE BLOCK.

IT'S VERY NARROW.

IT'S AN ALMOST AN ALLEYWAY.

AND I DIDN'T HEAR ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT THE USE OF THE ALLEYS, WHICH ARE, YOU KNOW, BETWEEN 7TH AND 6TH.

BUT I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CONSIDER THE TRAFFIC ON THOSE, BUT I DIDN'T HEAR ANY REAL MEASUREMENTS OF TRAFFIC.

AND I'M REALLY CONCERNED THAT TRAFFIC WOULD INCREASE.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CHILDREN THAT LIVE ON THAT BLOCK.

THREE OF THEM ARE MY GRANDCHILDREN, SO I HAVE A VESTED INTEREST.

THERE ARE BUSSES THAT STOP AT THE CORNER, AT LEAST THREE BUSSES TWICE A DAY FOR MULTIPLE SCHOOLS AND USE THAT BLOCK TO TURN. AND I DON'T KNOW OF ANY YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF CONCERNING THAT THE REST OF 7TH STREET DIDN'T GET A LOT OF NOTICE AND MAYBE THEY JUST MAYBE THEY AREN'T HERE BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T GET NOTICE.

BUT IT WOULDN'T JUST AFFECT THAT ONE BLOCK.

IT WOULD CONTINUE TO AFFECT THE CITIZENS THAT LIVE ON 7TH STREET, SOUTH OF 53RD.

SO MY CONCERN WAS TRAFFIC SAFETY AND SAFETY FOR OUR CHILDREN.

AND WITH THE HISTORY OF DAVID SANDFORD, YOU KNOW, RINGING IN MY MIND AND KNOWING DAVID IN THE LATER YEARS OF HIS LIFE, YOU KNOW, I JUST HATE TO SEE SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPEN AGAIN.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE HISTORY HAS GONE ON THE ORIGINAL REASON TO CHANGE THAT, BUT I THINK IT HAD TO DO WITH RESTRICTING TRAFFIC.

I THINK IT WAS A THRUWAY, YOU KNOW, FROM 53RD TO 40TH, 49TH, THE OTHER MAJOR STREETS. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU. PATRICIA GOETZ WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

[00:40:10]

I WAS THERE WHEN THE TRAFFIC ORIGINALLY WAS TWO WAY AND THE TRUCK TRAFFIC THROUGH THERE WAS HORRENDOUS.

THEN THEY DECIDED TO TAKE.

WHEN WE WENT TO HAVING ONE WAY, THEY TOOK AWAY OUR STATE AID, MOVED IT OVER TO WASHINGTON STREET.

SO NOW WE PAY FOR ANY STATE OR ANY MAJOR ROAD REPAIRS.

WE PAY FOR THOSE PERSONALLY.

THE STATE DOESN'T HELP US WITH THAT.

THAT'S NUMBER ONE.

AND THEN NUMBER TWO IS, AGAIN, THE TRAFFIC THAT IS WILL BE INCREASED BECAUSE WE HAVE WE LIVE ON THE ALLEY AND THE INCREASED TRAFFIC UP THAT ALLEY FROM [INADUIBLE] FOR THAT AREA BEING ONE WAY IS UNBELIEVABLE.

I MEAN, WE'VE LIVED THERE LONG ENOUGH.

WE KNOW WHOSE CARS ARE, WHOSE ON THAT WHOLE BLOCK, AND THE ADDITIONAL CARS THAT COME THROUGH THAT ALLEY IS UNBELIEVABLE.

THEY'RE COMING FROM THE NORTH.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO STOP.

THIRDLY, ALL OF THE CHILDREN, THERE'S SEVERAL CHILDREN THAT LIVE IN THAT BLOCK, AND THEY REALLY ARE ALL END OF THE STREET TO PLAY.

AND THERE ARE YOUNG KIDS AND I, I JUST REALLY WORRY ABOUT THEM GETTING HIT.

AND YES, CARS DO SPEED THROUGH THERE.

YES, THERE'S A LIGHT AT STOP LIGHT ON 52ND, BUT PROBABLY HALF OF THE PEOPLE THAT COME THROUGH THERE DON'T BEGIN TO EVEN SLOW DOWN.

THEY JUST BLOW THROUGH IT.

I'VE SEEN THEM DO IT.

I'VE SEEN CARS COME FROM THE NORTH, COME SOUTH ON 7TH ON THAT ONE WAY COMING FROM THE NORTH, GOING SOUTH. AND THEY JUST BLOW RIGHT THROUGH THERE LIKE THERE'S NOTHING THERE.

THAT CONCERNS ME A WHOLE LOT.

MY KIDS ARE OLDER THAN YOU PEOPLE, SO I'M OUT OF THAT AREA.

BUT I WORRY ABOUT THE OTHER LITTLE KIDS THAT LIVE IN THE AREA.

ALSO, IF WHEN THEY CAN WHEN IT WAS CONVERTED FROM THE STATE AID FOR THE ROAD FROM 7TH STREET OVER TO WASHINGTON.

NOW, IF THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE 7TH STREET A TWO WAY, ARE THEY GOING TO GIVE US BACK THE STATE AID THAT THEY MOVED FROM WASHINGTON TO REPAIR THE STREET FOR ALL OF THE EXTRA TRAFFIC THAT'S GOING THROUGH THERE? I WOULD LIKE TO AND I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHOSE IDEA WAS TO TAKE THAT BUMP OUT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

A PERSON CAME THROUGH THAT BUMP OUT FROM THE NORTH.

MY HUSBAND WAS STOPPED AT THE STOP SIGN ON 7TH STREET AND 53RD GOING NORTH.

THIS PERSON WAS COMING SOUTH, BLEW THROUGH IT AND SIDESWIPED HIM.

WE HAD TO GET A NEW CAR.

THAT WAS NOT A WHOLE LOT FUN.

SO THERE IS A LOT OF TROUBLE THAT'S GOING ON THERE.

AND MAKING THAT A TWO WAY IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE THAT AT ALL.

I THINK I'VE GOT MORE TO SAY, BUT I CAN'T THINK HOW IT IS RIGHT NOW.

SO I'LL MAYBE BE BACK.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

JANE STROMQUIST WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

THANK YOU. WELCOME, JANE.

HI, THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO REITERATE THAT IT DOESN'T JUST AFFECT THIS ONE LITTLE BLOCK.

I THINK IT AFFECTS ALL THE WAY FROM 53RD, POSSIBLY DOWN TO 40TH, AT LEAST DOWN TO 49TH.

AND I FEEL LIKE YOU ALL SHOULD OR NOT YOU ALL.

BUT YOU SHOULD HAVE TOLD EVERYBODY ON 7TH STREET FROM WHAT I KNOW IS ONE PERSON GOT A LETTER SAYING THAT THIS THING WAS GOING TO HAPPEN TONIGHT.

JUST ONE PERSON.

AND THEY POSTED IT ON OUR LITTLE NEIGHBORHOOD LAKE SULLIVAN NEIGHBORHOOD THING.

AND THAT'S HOW WE FOUND OUT ABOUT IT.

I THINK EVERYBODY ON 7TH STREET SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN IT OR OR THERE SHOULD BE MORE DISCUSSION TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.

AND YEAH, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE BUS STOPS AND ALL THE KIDS ON THAT BLOCK AND THAT THERE ARE NO SIDEWALKS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET.

I THINK THAT'S IT.

EVERYBODY ELSE SAID EVERYTHING ELSE I WANTED TO SAY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. SHERRY [INAUDIBLE] WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

THANK YOU. WELCOME SHERRY.

OKAY. I'M SHERRY [INAUDIBLE] AND I LIVE ON 5159 7TH STREET, SO I'M RIGHT AT THAT STOP SIGN THAT EVERYBODY BLOWS THROUGH [INAUDIBLE].

[00:45:10]

AND I REMEMBER I LIVED IN FRIDLEY MANY YEARS AGO WHEN 7TH STREET WAS STILL A TWO WAY.

AND IT WAS ACTUALLY A FREEWAY.

I MEAN, PEOPLE WERE JUST FLYING BACK AND FORTH UP AND DOWN THAT.

BUT NOW AS OF PEOPLE RUN THE STOP SIGN AND I'VE ALMOST BEEN HIT MANY TIMES AND MY GRANDCHILDREN CAN'T EVEN WHEN THEY WERE LIVING WITH ME, THIS WAS A COUPLE OF YEARS BACK.

I'VE CALLED MANY TIMES ABOUT THAT STOP SIGN THAT PEOPLE, THEY DON'T STOP AND IT'S DARK OUT IN THE WINTER AND THEY'RE GOING TO CATCH THEIR BUS.

CARS JUST FLY RIGHT THROUGH.

I MEAN, IT'S LIKE I HAVE TO STAND IN THE STREET TO STOP PEOPLE.

SO AND AND I ACTUALLY DO TRY TO DO THAT.

BUT ONE THING I WANTED TO SAY IS THAT IT WILL BE A FREEWAY BECAUSE THAT'S THEY TAKE THAT AS AN EXTENSION TO GET DOWN TO UNIVERSITY FASTER. AND ALSO THE STOP SIGNS.

ARE YOU GOING TO IF YOU DO THIS, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO PUT ANOTHER STOP SIGN IN UNTIL WHAT STREET? I MEAN, WOULD YOU TAKE OUT THE STOP SIGN THAT'S IN FRONT OF MY DRIVEWAY ON.

OKAY. YOU'LL WHAT ABOUT THEN IF IT BECOMES A TWO WAY, THE PERSON ACROSS THE STREET FROM ME, WOULD YOU MAKE THAT A STOP SIGN THERE SO THAT A STOP SIGN AT A THREE WAY SO THAT EVERYBODY WILL SLOW DOWN? HOPEFULLY. BECAUSE THE ONLY PROBLEM IS, IS I'VE ALMOST BEEN CREAMED SO MANY TIMES COMING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY THAT I CAN'T EVEN TELL YOU AND I CAN'T EVEN COUNT. AND WITH MY GRANDCHILDREN IN THE CAR, NOT GOOD.

NOT GOOD. I FOLLOWED SOMEBODY HOME AND TOLD THEM THAT THERE IS A STOP SIGN THERE AND YOU NEED TO, YOU KNOW, ABIDE BY IT.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU? SO AND IT'S PRETTY.

AND EVERY DAY I SEE AT LEAST 4 TO 5 CARS COMING DOWN THE STREET THE WRONG WAY.

AND THEY'RE NOT GOING SLOW.

THEY'RE GOING, I'D SAY AT LEAST 50.

I THINK IF SOMEBODY WOULD JUST STICK OUT THAT STREET FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, YOU WOULD REALLY, REALLY SEE A LOT OF OF WHAT GOES ON THERE.

IT'S IT'S NOT JUST I MEAN, I SEE LITTLE KIDS OUT RIDING THEIR LITTLE SCOOTERS AND I HAVE TO GO OUT AND WATCH THEM, I'M AFRAID, BECAUSE I SOMEBODY'S GOING TO GET HIT.

SOMEBODY IS AND IF IT GETS TO BE A TWO WAY I KNOW BECAUSE I I'VE USED I'VE USED IT.

YOU KNOW LIKE I SAID, I USED TO BE ON I USED TO DRIVE IT WHEN IT WAS A TWO WAY MANY YEARS AGO.

SO AND I KNOW IT'S A FREEWAY AND YEAH, THE BUSSES STOP AND I WORRY ABOUT THE KIDS AND, AND YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY I WANT TO KNOW WHO'S REALLY BENEFITING FROM DOING THIS, FROM MAKING IT A TWO WAY BECAUSE IT'S REALLY NOT A BENEFIT.

IT'S VERY DANGEROUS.

AND I'VE SEEN A LOT OF THE DANGER WHERE PEOPLE HAVE ALMOST HIT ME WHEN I'M COMING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY OR, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THEY DON'T NOBODY STOPS THERE.

I MEAN, THEY MAKE SOME SOME PEOPLE DO, BUT NOT MANY.

AND THEY JUST ROLL THROUGH WHEN I, YOU KNOW, AND I DON'T HAVE A STOP SIGN, BUT I'M ALWAYS VERY CAREFUL.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IF I START PULLING OUT AND THEY DON'T STOP, I MEAN IT'S GOING TO IT'LL HAPPEN.

AND AS SOON AS THIS IF IT OPENS LIKE THAT, THERE IS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM, THERE WILL BE AN ACCIDENT.

AND I DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN.

AND I JUST WANT SOMEBODY TO REALLY SIT AROUND AND WATCH THAT AREA FOR A DAY OR TWO OR WHATEVER, BECAUSE YOU'LL GET YOU'LL GET AN EYEFUL, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IF YOU DRIVE THROUGH THERE AND, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER, THAT'S FINE.

BUT SOMEBODY NEEDS TO SIT IN A IN A VEHICLE AND JUST WATCH THESE PEOPLE THAT FLY BY, FLY RIGHT, 50, 50 MILES AN HOUR THROUGH THAT STOP SIGN AT MY HOUSE.

AND AND THEN ALSO COMING DOWN THE WRONG WAY, TOO.

SO YOU CAN NEVER JUST WORRY ABOUT NO ONE COMING BECAUSE THEY DO COME.

AND THEN THE OTHER THING IS ON THAT BETWEEN 52ND AND 53RD, IF IT'S A TWO WAY, IT'S A SMALL IT'S NOT THAT WIDE OF A STREET.

PEOPLE HAVE TO WALK IN THE STREET.

THERE'S NO SIDEWALK ON THERE.

SO ANYBODY AND EVERYBODY WHO WALK OR GO OUT ON THAT STREET HAVE TO BE CAREFUL.

AND IF THERE'S A TWO WAY, THAT'S EVEN WORSE.

SO BUT I BUT I'VE SEEN IT.

I'VE SEEN IT ALL LIVING RIGHT THERE ON THAT AREA.

I MEAN, I EVEN CONTEMPLATED MOVING BECAUSE IT WAS SO DANGEROUS FOR FOR MY GRANDCHILDREN.

[00:50:04]

LET ME JUST MAKE SURE I GOT EVERYTHING.

THE BUSSES STOPPED. YEP.

SO ANYWAY, I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHO REALLY IS GOING TO BENEFIT FROM THIS.

I THINK IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A BENEFIT.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING BAD.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, SHERRY. AND AGAIN, WE ARE TAKING SULMAAN IS TAKING NOTES FOR ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT ARE BEING ASKED SO.

AUSTIN LEHANE WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

THANK YOU. WELCOME AUSTIN.

THANK YOU. SORRY IF THIS IS.

IT'S HARD FOR ME BECAUSE I DON'T DEAL WELL, SPEAKING IN PUBLIC.

I LIVE AT 5219 AND GOING OFF OF WHAT EVERYONE ELSE HAS SAID, IF YOU TURNED IT INTO A TWO WAY, THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE ACCIDENTS. PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET HIT.

MY NEIGHBOR HAS HAD FOUR MIRRORS PUT ON THEIR CAR BECAUSE PEOPLE PARK ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET.

PEOPLE GO RIPPING UP AND DOWN THAT ROAD BOTH WAYS.

THEY DON'T STOP AT THE 53RD.

THEY DON'T STOP AT 52ND.

THERE'S NO NO GETTING AROUND IT.

THERE'S CARS ALL THE TIME.

PROBABLY TEN CARS A DAY GO THE WRONG WAY DOWN THE ROAD.

THEY DON'T SLOW DOWN AT 52ND AT ALL.

THERE'S I HAVE TWO KIDS.

MY DAUGHTER HAS ALMOST BEEN HIT TWICE.

SHE LOOKS FOR CARS.

BUT GUESS WHAT? SHE'S NOT LOOKING WHERE THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE COMING FROM.

GRANTED SHE SHOULD.

IT'S SAD TO SAY, BUT SHE SHOULD.

AND THEN ALL THE DRIVEWAYS ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE ROAD, MY DRIVEWAY, I CAN WALK OUT AND TOUCH THE GRASS BECAUSE IT'S ALL HILLS.

AND IN THE WINTER TIME, SNOWBANKS ARE ABOVE MY HEAD.

CARS BACKING OUT.

THEY'RE GOING TO GET SMASHED.

MY NEIGHBOR, SHE DRIVES A LITTLE IMPALA.

ROOF IS ABOUT THAT TALL.

SNOW BANKS SAME [INAUDIBLE].

SHE HAS A HARD ENOUGH TIME SEEING CARS COMING FROM THE ONE WAY AND THEN HAVING TO TRY AND WORRY ABOUT LOOKING THE OTHER WAY TOO.

IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK THE WAY THEY THINK IT IS.

AND THEN AS FAR AS PLOWING GOES, THAT ROAD IS A NIGHTMARE IN THE WINTER TIME ALREADY BECAUSE THAT'S THE LAST ROAD THAT THEY COME THROUGH AND PLOW.

ALWAYS. DON'T KNOW WHY.

AND IF IT'S BECAUSE OF THE CUT OUT, THEN THEY NEED TO GO THERE RIGHT AWAY AND HIT IT.

AND WHICH THEY DON'T NEED SPECIAL PLOWS BECAUSE I WATCHED THE BIG PLOW WITH THE TEN FOOT WIDE BLADE WITH THE WING ON IT.

COME BY, COME THE WRONG WAY, WHICH FINE, THEY DROP THE BLADE OUT AND THEY SCRAPE IT.

THAT'S WHAT THEY'VE DONE EVERY YEAR.

SO GETTING AROUND THAT IS NOT AN ISSUE.

IT'S AN EXCUSE.

THERE'S NO REASON TO TURN THAT INTO A TWO WAY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? ALL RIGHT. CAN YOU GIVE YOUR NAME TO SARA RIGHT UP HERE IN THE FRONT? OKAY. IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE, THAT'S FINE.

YES, I DO. YOU KNOW, OKAY, WE SAY THAT THERE'S NO SIDEWALKS, NO BIKE PATHS ON 7TH STREET.

THAT'S BECAUSE ALL OF US THAT LIVE ON 7TH STREET ARE A VERY LARGE MINORITY.

CAME TO THIS CITY COUNCIL SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND BLOCKED IT WHEN THEY WANTED TO PUT IN BICYCLE PATHS AND SIDEWALKS ON THAT SIDE.

BECAUSE THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE ON THE EAST SIDE OF 7TH STREET, BETWEEN 52ND AND 53RD ALL HAVE DRIVEWAYS THAT COME UP LIKE THIS. YOU TAKE 7.5FT OFF OF THEIR DRIVEWAYS AND THEIR DRIVEWAYS ARE GOING TO GO LIKE THIS.

THEY WOULD HAVE NO WAY OF GETTING INTO THEIR GARAGES TO GET THEIR CARS OUT OF THE WAY AT ALL UNLESS THE CITY WAS GOING TO FIX THAT SOMEHOW.

AND I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY WERE GOING TO DO IT.

THAT HAS BEEN A STRONG CONTENTION, AND THAT'S ONE REASON THERE IS NO SIDEWALK AND NO BIKE PATH ON THAT SECTION OF 7TH STREET.

I MEAN, LIKE I SAID, I WAS HERE AT THAT COUNCIL MEETING MANY YEARS AGO.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

IS THERE ANYONE ON ZOOM WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? THERE IS NONE. ALL RIGHT, THEN.

ALL RIGHT. I WILL JUST ASK ONE MORE TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS A CHANCE IF THEY'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE ISSUE OF CONVERSION OF 7TH STREET FROM ONE WAY TO A TWO WAY.

ALL RIGHT. SEEING AS NONE THEN SULMAAN, HOW ABOUT YOU HAVE A TURN ANSWERING QUESTIONS?

[00:55:06]

I MEAN, FIRST I MEAN, I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY.

I THINK THIS IS DEFINITELY GREAT THAT EVERYBODY SHOWED UP HERE AND, YOU KNOW, STATING, STATING YOUR OPINION, YOU ALL LIVE THERE.

AND I CAN CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND HOW YOU WOULD BE PASSIONATE ABOUT A CHANGE IN FRONT OF YOUR HOME.

SO CAN YOU SPEAK CLOSER TO THE MICROPHONE FOR THE RECORDING? WE CAN HEAR YOU AND HEAR FINE.

BUT THEN PEOPLE WHO WATCH IT LATER CAN'T HEAR YOU.

ABSOLUTELY. YEP. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

SO I'M GOING TO START OFF AT THE TOP OF THE LIST.

SO ONE QUESTION WAS, WILL THE BIKE PATH TAKE WILL THAT HURT PEOPLE'S HOMES? SO I UNDERSTOOD THAT TO BE WILL THERE BE ANY AREA OR PROPERTY THAT WILL BE NEEDED THAT WILL NEED TO BE ACQUIRED IN ORDER TO PUT IN THE BIKE PATH AND THERE WILL NOT BE. SO THE BIKE PATH THAT IS BEING CONSTRUCTED IS GOING TO BE CONSTRUCTED 100% IN CITY RIGHT OF WAY.

SO WE ARE NOT ACQUIRING ANY RIGHT OF WAY OR EASEMENTS IN ORDER TO CONSTRUCT THAT.

SO IT'S NOT GOING TO IMPACT ANY OF THE HOMES THAT ARE IN THE SURROUNDING AREA.

SO ONE ONE THING THAT HAS BEEN MENTIONED BY SEVERAL PEOPLE IS SPEEDING.

SO SPEEDING ON 7TH STREET.

SPEEDING IS CERTAINLY A ISSUE THERE AS WELL AS MANY OTHER AREAS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THAT.

AND I KNOW THAT I'VE TALKED TO MANY PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THE CITY IN REGARDS TO KIND OF SPEEDING ISSUES.

THE BUMP OUT THAT'S CURRENTLY THERE.

AND THE ONE WAY CERTAINLY WILL PREVENT TRAFFIC FROM COMING DOWN THE ROADWAY.

THAT'S 100% THAT'S 100% CLEAR, TAKING OUT THAT BUMP OUT AND MAKING IT A TWO WAY.

YES, I COMPLETELY AGREE THAT THERE WILL BE MORE VEHICLES AND MORE OF A CHANCE FOR VEHICLES SPEEDING ON 7TH STREET. I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE AN ANSWER TO PEOPLE NOT STOPPING AT THE STOP SIGNS.

I THINK I WOULD MAYBE LEAN ON MY COLLEAGUES IN PD TO MAYBE HELP OUT WITH WITH THAT.

I KNOW I'M PUTTING YOU ON THE SPOT, LENNY, BUT YOU KNOW.

BUT THAT'S NOT I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR PEOPLE NOT STOPPING AT THE STOP SIGN.

THAT'S CERTAINLY AN ISSUE.

AND, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM.

IF PEOPLE ARE NOT STOPPING AT THE STOP SIGNS.

I MEAN, THEY'RE TYPICALLY WE LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, FROM AN ENGINEERING STANDPOINT, WE LOOK AT SEVERAL DIFFERENT THINGS WHEN CONSIDERING, YOU KNOW, WHY PEOPLE ARE NOT STOPPING AT A AT A AT A STOP SIGN.

ONE IS THAT WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE, YOU KNOW, STOP SIGNS FOR A LONG STRETCH OF ROADWAY, THEY KIND OF ZONE OUT.

SO DRIVERS HAVE, YOU KNOW, HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO JUST ZONE OUT AND JUST FLY RIGHT THROUGH A THROUGH A STOP SIGN.

THAT'S ONE.

ANOTHER THING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SEEN THROUGH STUDIES IS THAT THERE JUST ISN'T ENOUGH TRAFFIC AT A SPECIFIC INTERSECTION FOR PEOPLE TO STOP EVERY TIME.

SO, I MEAN, THEY MIGHT GO THROUGH AN INTERSECTION MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY, MAYBE ONCE IN YOU KNOW, ONCE IN A FEW DAYS, THEY'LL SEE ONE CAR THAT IS STOPPED AT THE STOP SIGN.

SO PEOPLE START TO KIND OF DISOBEY THE STOP SIGN THAT IS THERE BECAUSE THEY JUST IT DOESN'T RAISE THEIR ATTENTION BECAUSE THEY DON'T SEE ENOUGH CARS COMING THROUGH THAT INTERSECTION.

SO THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT, YOU KNOW, IS A IS A POTENTIAL.

ANOTHER THING IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY JUST DON'T SEE THE STOP SIGN.

IT COULD BE TREES THAT ARE IN THE WAY.

YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE, YOU KNOW, OTHER OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE BLOCKING VISIBILITY OF THE STOP SIGN.

THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT TO SEE IF ANY OF THOSE ARE PREVALENT IN KIND OF THE AREAS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TO SEE IF WE CAN MAKE ANY IMPROVEMENTS TO HELP IMPROVE PEOPLE STOPPING AT THE STOP SIGN.

SO AGAIN, THAT'S A THAT'S, I WOULD SAY A KIND OF A BIGGER CONVERSATION AROUND THAT.

SO THERE WAS MENTION OF THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC.

I THINK ONE ONE INDIVIDUAL MENTIONED THAT THERE WASN'T THAT I DIDN'T MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC.

[01:00:01]

I GUESS THIS STILL ISN'T WORKING, BUT I DO HAVE A SLIDE IN THIS PRESENTATION WHICH SHOWS THE TRAFFIC COUNTS TAKEN FROM THE MNDOT WEBSITE, WHICH SHOWS HOW MANY VEHICLES ARE TRAVELING ON THESE ROADWAYS.

SO I DID MENTION THAT NORTH OF NORTH OF 53RD ON 7TH STREET, THERE'S ABOUT 2,700 CARS THAT ARE TRAVELING ALONG THAT STRETCH.

AND AGAIN, THAT'S BOTH DIRECTIONS OF TRAVEL, BOTH NORTHBOUND AND SOUTHBOUND.

SOUTH OF 53RD AVENUE ON 7TH STREET, IT'S ABOUT 500.

SO THERE IS A BIG DEFINITELY A BIG DROP OFF THERE.

YOU KNOW, AGAIN, IT IS A ONE WAY.

SO THERE IS THAT RESTRICTION AS WELL AS IT'S YOU KNOW, IT'S A RESIDENTIAL AREA AS WELL.

SO WITH THAT, THERE'S GOING TO BE LESS TRAFFIC VOLUME WITH THAT, I GUESS, SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT.

SO I KNOW THERE WAS MENTION OF THAT WE CANNOT PREDICT THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC OR HOW MUCH MORE TRAFFIC WILL BE COMING THROUGH IF WE DO CONVERT IT FROM A ONE WAY TO A TWO WAY.

SO THERE'S A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE TAKE A LOOK AT WHEN TRYING TO PREDICT THE TRAFFIC INCREASES IN A CERTAIN AREA.

SO WHENEVER THERE IS A, YOU KNOW, A NEW DEVELOPMENT, YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE THAT, WE ALWAYS LOOK AT THE AREA AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT OUR TRAFFIC GENERATORS AND THAT'S KIND OF OUR CLUE AS FAR AS HOW MUCH MORE TRAFFIC WILL BE COMING TO THE AREA.

IF WE'RE DEVELOPING A, YOU KNOW, A COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENT, FAST FOOD RESTAURANT, YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE THAT, THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT MORE TRAFFIC COMING TO THE AREA, YOU KNOW, FOR VEHICLES FROM DIFFERENT LOCATIONS TRAVELING TO THERE TO VISIT THAT SPECIFIC LOCATION.

THAT'S CERTAINLY ONE ONE THING.

IF THERE'S MORE HOMES THAT ARE BEING BUILT IN THE AREA, YOU CAN EXPECT TO SEE MORE VEHICLES TRAVELING TO A CERTAIN AREA WHEN LOOKING AT WHAT CURRENTLY EXISTS RIGHT NOW.

AGAIN, WHAT I WHAT I MENTIONED IS THAT THERE IS NOT ANY HIGH TRAFFIC GENERATORS.

IF WE DO CONVERT IT INTO A TWO WAY.

AGAIN, THERE'S REALLY NO HIGH TRAFFIC GENERATORS ALONG 7TH STREET FROM 53RD ALL THE WAY DOWN TO 40TH, EXCEPT FOR MAYBE MCKENNA PARK.

BUT AGAIN, THAT IS NOT A HIGH TRAFFIC GENERATOR.

SO I WOULDN'T CONSIDER THAT TO BE, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING WHERE THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT MORE CARS COMING THROUGH.

I KNOW IT WAS MENTIONED THAT IT COULD BE USED AS A CUT THROUGH, YOU KNOW, FOR PEOPLE COMING DOWN TRYING TO GET TO EITHER 49TH OR 40TH, THAT THAT CERTAINLY COULD BE THE CASE.

THERE COULD BE VEHICLES COMING THROUGH AND USING 7TH STREET AS A CUT THROUGH.

BUT AGAIN, IT'S A IT'S A RESIDENTIAL AREA.

THERE'S STOP SIGNS, YOU KNOW, AT INTERSECTIONS, YOU KNOW, GOING DOWN TO 49TH AND ALSO 40TH.

SO THAT IN ITSELF IT DOESN'T MAKE IT IDEAL.

WE DO HAVE 53RD, WHICH, YOU KNOW, IT HAS A HIGHER TRAFFIC CAPACITY AND IT'S PROBABLY QUICKER IN ORDER TO GET EAST WEST, YOU KNOW, COMPARED TO 7TH STREET.

SO JUST LOOKING AT THAT, IT REALLY DOESN'T, YOU KNOW, JUMP OUT AT YOU AS SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, WILL BE USED AS A HIGH, YOU KNOW, CUT THROUGH AREA IN ORDER TO GET TO OTHER ROADWAYS OR DESTINATIONS KIND OF SOUTH OF 53RD AVENUE. COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS.

I HAVE A QUESTION TO WHAT YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT.

SO AND WHEN THEY TALKED ABOUT THIS, THEY SAID THAT, OH, CRAP.

SORRY. MY COMPUTER JUST JUMPED AT THAT.

PART OF THE REASON IT WAS CLOSED OFF AND CHANGED TO A ONE WAY IS DUE TO HEAVY TRUCK TRAFFIC.

AND I'M TRYING TO THINK IN THAT AREA OF ANY BUSINESSES THAT WOULD HAVE TRUCKS THAT WOULD BE MAKING USE OF THAT THESE DAYS.

I KNOW A LOT OF TRUCK TRAFFIC, TRUCK, TRAFFIC ON 37TH ON MAIN STREET COMING UP THE LIKE 40TH AND 49TH OR 44TH TURN AND GET ON TO UNIVERSITY.

BUT I CAN'T THINK OF ANY BUSINESSES NORTH OF 53RD OR SOUTH.

THAT'S WHAT YOU WOULD BE INCLUDING IN YOUR TRAFFIC GENERATOR, CORRECT? I MEAN, YEAH. YEP. THANK YOU, CONNIE.

YEP. THAT'S DEFINITELY ANOTHER THING THAT WE LOOK AT IS, YOU KNOW, DESTINATIONS FOR WHERE, YOU KNOW, TRUCKS WOULD BE TRAVELING TO.

SO AGAIN, I MEAN, LOOKING AT JUST LOOKING AT WHAT EXISTS FROM 53RD ALL THE WAY DOWN TO 40TH.

[01:05:01]

THERE'S NO BUSINESSES, I THINK, UNTIL YOU GET TO ALL THE WAY DOWN TO 40TH, EVEN 49TH.

I KNOW EAST OF 49TH THERE CERTAINLY THERE'S A SCHOOL THERE.

THERE'S BUSINESSES ALONG 49TH AND CENTRAL, BUT THERE'S NO OTHER BUSINESSES THAT I CAN THINK OF OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD WHERE TRUCK TRAFFIC WOULD BE TRAVELING TO UNTIL YOU GET DOWN TO 40, THERE'S SOME AT THAT INTERSECTION WITH 7TH STREET AND 40TH.

BUT AGAIN, IT'S NOT IT DOESN'T JUMP OUT AS A AS A IDEAL ROUTE FOR FOR TRUCKS TO TRAVEL DOWN TO GET TO THAT AREA. THANK YOU.

ONE OTHER COMMENT THAT I WROTE DOWN IS THAT WE DID NOT HEAR ANY REASON WHY WE SHOULD CONVERT 52ND AND 53RD ON 7TH STREET FROM A ONE WAY TO A TWO WAY AND WHY WE SHOULD TAKE OUT THAT BUMP OUT.

SO THE MAIN THE MAIN, MAIN REASON, MAIN COUPLE REASONS.

ONE, I THINK THAT AS I KIND OF WAS TALKING ABOUT WITH THE WITH THE TRAIL THAT'S ON THE NORTH SIDE OF 53RD AND THE NEED TO KIND OF TRAVEL AT AN ANGLE ACROSS THE INTERSECTION, I THINK THAT IS CERTAINLY ONE REASON WHY IT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO TAKE OUT THE BUMP OUT.

ANOTHER IS THAT THERE CERTAINLY IS A COST TO IT.

AND DOES THE DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO SPEND THE MONEY ON THIS BUMP OUT? AND WHAT IS REALLY WHAT ARE WE GETTING OUT OF IT? I KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE CERTAINLY FROM WHAT I HEAR, THE MAIN CONCERN IS, YOU KNOW, SAFETY IS CERTAINLY A HUGE CONCERN FOR PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW, BASED ON THE COMMENTS THAT I'VE HEARD TODAY, I REALLY GO BACK TO AGAIN, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT REALLY JUMPS OUT AS A REASON WHY PEOPLE WOULD, YOU KNOW, TONS OF TRAFFIC WOULD COME DOWN 7TH STREET? TO ME, IN MY OPINION, NO, I DON'T I DON'T NECESSARILY SEE ANY HUGE TRAFFIC GENERATORS.

WHY PEOPLE WOULD COME DOWN ACROSS 53RD, YOU KNOW, GOING DOWN 7TH STREET.

SPEEDING IS CERTAINLY THAT'S A THAT'S DEFINITELY AN ISSUE.

THAT'S CERTAINLY A CONCERN AND THAT'S DEFINITELY AN ISSUE.

AND CAN SOMEBODY SPEED DOWN 7TH STREET? YES. I MEAN, I'M NOT GOING TO SUGARCOAT THAT AT ALL.

I THINK THAT PEOPLE WOULD YOU KNOW, THERE THERE MIGHT BE THERE MIGHT BE MORE, YOU KNOW, VEHICLES TRAVELING DOWN AND SPEEDING. BUT AGAIN, I THINK THAT, AGAIN, BRINGS ME BACK TO THAT.

THAT'S KIND OF A BIGGER DISCUSSION.

AND, YOU KNOW, IF WE WANT TO PREVENT, YOU KNOW, VEHICLES FROM JUST BEING ABLE TO TRAVEL DOWN 7TH STREET, CERTAINLY KEEPING IT A ONE WAY IS IS DEFINITELY THE WAY TO GO.

BUT BASED ON WHAT I CAN SEE, I CANNOT SEE ANY REASON WHY THERE WOULD BE A LOT MORE TRAFFIC TRAVELING DOWN THAT ROADWAY BASED ON WHAT CURRENTLY EXISTS.

AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, THE TRAFFIC GENERATORS AGAIN IN THE AREA.

THANK YOU, SULMAAN, FOR THE DATA ON TRAFFIC STUDIES.

COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS HAS A COMMENT FOR YOU.

YEAH, I FIRST, I WANT TO TELL THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT I LIVE ON A ONE WAY STREET AND I GET WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

AND I AM ONE HOUSE FROM AN INTERSECTION THAT HAS A STOP SIGN.

AND I'M THE CROSS STREET IS A MAJOR NEIGHBORHOOD ARTERY.

I GET IT. PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YELLOW AND RED WHEN IT COMES TO SIGNAGE.

I DON'T. I CAN'T WRAP MY HEAD AROUND THAT EITHER.

I UNDERSTAND WHY THE BUMP OUT NEEDS TO BE REMOVED.

I'M OKAY WITH THAT AND I KNOW THAT IT ALSO INVOLVES DISABILITY ACCESS TO THOSE CURBS AND THAT PATH AFTER THE FACT.

I KNOW THAT IT WOULD MAKE PLOWING EASIER EVERY YEAR I DO AT LEAST 1 OR 2 PLOW RIDES.

I'VE BEEN ON THAT STREET WHEN THEY'VE BEEN PLOWING.

I GET IT. BUT I DON'T SEE ANY REASON WHY WE HAVE TO CONVERT IT TO A TWO WAY STREET.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT REMAIN ONE WAY HEADING NORTH.

I THINK THAT WOULD HELP.

I BOUGHT MY HOUSE ON A ONE WAY STREET BECAUSE I KNEW THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN LESSER TRAFFIC.

AND I'M SURE THERE ARE PLENTY OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE ALONG THAT STREET WHO MAY HAVE BOUGHT OR THAT MAY HAVE BEEN PART OF THEIR CONSIDERATION AS WELL, ESPECIALLY IF THEY HAVE KIDS.

[01:10:06]

YOU JUST YOU WAIT TO HEAR METAL.

YOU WAIT TO HEAR THE CRASH.

I JUST I DON'T SEE ANY REASON WHY REMOVE THE BUMP OUT.

I DON'T I DIDN'T HEAR A LOT OF OBJECTION TO THAT.

REMOVE THE BUMP OUT, INCREASE THE FOUR WAY STOP SOUTH IF THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO, INSTEAD OF IT BEING A 1 OR 2 WAY STOP SIGN AND KEEP IT ONE WAY HEADING NORTH.

I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE NORTH OF 53RD.

THEY'RE FRIDLEY. LET THEM FIGURE IT OUT [LAUGHTER].

COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS.

I JUST RELATING TO THE LAST THING YOU WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT WITH THE LINEUP OF THE ROADS, IF YOU TAKE THE BUMP OUT, OUT, IS IT THE TRAFFIC IS KIND OF SKEWED TO ONE WAY.

IF YOU ADD A TWO WAY, IS THAT GOING TO LINE UP THE ROAD AT THE INTERSECTION BETTER? SO YOU'RE GOING STRAIGHT ACROSS WITHOUT THE BUMP OUT AND WITH TWO WAY TRAFFIC, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY SKEWED ANGLES? NOPE. SO WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING CORRECTLY.

YEAH. SO WE WOULD BASICALLY SO WHAT I WOULD PROPOSE WOULD BE TO JUST STRIPE.

SO THE, THE CURB THAT'S ON THE SOUTH EAST CORNER OF THE INTERSECTION, THAT'S THE ONE THAT'S KIND OF OFFSET FROM THE NORTH.

SO WHAT I WOULD PROPOSE IS JUST TO KIND OF STRIPE THAT AREA IN ORDER TO KIND OF SHIFT VEHICLES OVER SO THAT THEY'RE LINED UP, GOING STRAIGHT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION SO WELL, SO THE PROBLEM.

WELL, YEAH.

SO YOU CAN DO IT WITH A ONE WAY.

YOU CAN STILL PUT IN THE STRIPING THERE BUT WITH THE BUMP OUT AND YOU PUT THAT STRIPING THERE, I MEAN THAT'S JUST NARROWING THAT SPACE DOWN TO A POINT WHERE, YOU KNOW, IT'S YOU CAN'T REALLY FIT A CAR THROUGH THERE.

THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH SPACE IN ORDER TO HAVE THE BUMP OUT AND THE STRIPING TO TO KIND OF LINE THEM UP WITH THE CURB ON THE NORTH.

THANK YOU. UM, I HAVE A QUESTION.

SOMEBODY HAD ASKED ABOUT ONLY ONE PERSON RECEIVING A LETTER WITH NOTICE.

I THOUGHT MAYBE IF YOU OR AARON COULD SHARE WITH WITH US HOW MANY PEOPLE RECEIVE NOTICE AND WHERE ARE THOSE LINES WERE DRAWN? YES. YEAH. SO WE WE SENT THE LETTER OUT TO EVERYBODY THAT'S ON THE BLOCK BETWEEN 52ND AND 53RD.

YES. WE DID NOT SHARE IT WITH EVERYBODY DOWN 7TH STREET.

IT WAS LIMITED TO RESIDENTS BETWEEN 52ND AND 53RD.

WE ALSO PUBLISHED NOTICE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING IN THE PAPER AS WELL.

AND SO THOSE WERE KIND OF THE TWO THINGS THAT WE DID TO COMMUNICATE THE PUBLIC HEARING THAT'S GOING ON TODAY.

MAY I SAY SOMETHING? THANK YOU.

NOT NOT QUITE YET.

I SAW A COUNCIL MEMBER.

SORRY, JAMES.

JAMES HAS A QUESTION.

THANK YOU AGAIN.

THANK YOU TO STACEY AND STEVE AND PATRICIA AND JANE AND AUSTIN FOR COMING TO SPEAK.

WE REALLY WANTED TO HEAR YOUR OPINIONS AND THANK YOU TO CITY ENGINEER SULMAAN KHAN.

HOW? THREE QUESTIONS.

I'M VERY CONCERNED, FIRSTLY, ABOUT THE PEOPLE DRIVING THE WRONG WAY ON A WRONG WAY, ON A ONE WAY, AND GOING THROUGH THE ALLEYS TO CUT THROUGH.

ONE THING THAT I THINK ABOUT HAVING DRIVEN THAT ROAD IN PREPARATION FOR THIS MEETING AND THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER JUST TO SEE IT'S THE ONLY ONE WAY IN THAT AREA, AS MY MY UNDERSTANDING AND I'M WONDERING HOW DRIVERS BECAUSE IT IS AN ANOMALY ARE MISSING THE SIGNS FOR WHATEVER REASON.

AND IN GENERAL, WOULD CHANGING THAT AFFECT HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE USING THE ALLEYS INAPPROPRIATELY OR GOING DOWN RUNWAYS? THAT'S MY FIRST QUESTION. AND MY SECOND ONE IS HOW DOES THE WIDTH OF 7TH STREET COMPARE TO 6TH AND 5TH? ARE THEY ALSO 30 FOOT STREETS AND OR ARE THEY LARGER? THOSE ARE THAT WASHINGTON IS LARGER.

I CAN SEE THAT EASILY ON THE MAP THAT WASHINGTON IS A STATE AID ROAD AND IT IS WIDER.

AND THEN MY THIRD QUESTION IS HOW WOULD THE SAFE STREETS FOR ALL GRANT THAT WE ARE GETTING TO STUDY TRAFFIC SAFETY THROUGHOUT THE CITY IMPACT THIS BECAUSE THE ISSUES OF NO SIDEWALKS, SPEEDING, PEOPLE BLOWING STOP SIGNS.

IN MY PART OF TOWN, I HAVE LITTLE KIDS.

THERE ISN'T EVEN STOP SIGNS OR YIELD SIGNS, THEY'RE UNCONTROLLED INTERSECTIONS.

SO THESE ISSUES ARE REALLY IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE.

SNOW REMOVAL, HOW THAT ALL IMPACTS ALL THIS.

SO I'M WONDERING HOW THE STUDY THAT'S COMING UP WILL IMPACT THIS ISSUE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.

SO YOUR FIRST QUESTION, SO YOU YOU ASKED A QUESTION ABOUT KIND OF PEOPLE GOING THE WRONG WAY.

AND IF WE IF WE CONVERTED IT FROM A ONE WAY TO A TWO WAY WAY TO REDUCE VEHICLES WHO ARE CUTTING THROUGH THE ALLEYS TO

[01:15:03]

AND SO I DON'T HAVE ANY DATA TO REALLY TELL ME WHERE EXACTLY VEHICLES THAT ARE GOING IN THE ALLEYS ARE COMING FROM. I DON'T HAVE ANY DATA TO SAY IT'S BECAUSE OF THE ONE WAY THAT EXISTS AT THAT INTERSECTION.

SO I CAN'T REALLY TELL YOU IF IT'S GOING TO MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE BECAUSE I HAVE NOTHING TO TO REALLY GO OFF OF.

IF THAT IS THE CASE I MEAN, HYPOTHETICALLY SPEAKING, YES, IF PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH THE ALLEYS, ALLEYS BECAUSE OF THAT ONE WAY.

YEAH, CERTAINLY. I THINK THAT THAT WOULD DEFINITELY REDUCE THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES THAT ARE GOING THROUGH THE ALLEY.

BUT AGAIN, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO BASE MY MY RESPONSE TO THAT.

ON YOUR SECOND QUESTION, YOU ASKED ABOUT THE WIDTH AND HOW IT COMPARES TO OTHER ROADWAYS IN THE AREA OF 5TH AND 6TH. SO, YES, THEY'RE ALL 30FT IN THAT AREA.

SO IT'S NOT ANY DIFFERENT THAN OTHER KIND OF ADJACENT ROADWAYS THAT ARE THAT ARE THERE.

YOUR THIRD QUESTION HAD TO DO WITH HOW DOES THE SAFE STREETS FOR ALL GRANT IMPACT KIND OF ALL THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY? YES, I THINK THAT THE SAFE STREETS FOR ALL GRANT, IT CERTAINLY WILL STUDY.

SO MY IN MY MIND THE SAFE STREETS FOR ALL GRANT IT REALLY IS GOING TO BE TAKING A LOOK AT SAFETY NOT ONLY AT INTERSECTIONS, BUT ALSO CORRIDORS.

YOU KNOW, IT COULD LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, THE SAFETY ISSUES THAT ARE ON CURVES.

THOSE ARE ALL A PART OF, I THINK WHAT WILL BE LOOKED AT AND SHOULD BE LOOKED AT AS PART OF THE SAFE STREETS FOR ALL GRANT AND THAT, YOU KNOW, SPEEDING I KNOW SPEEDING HAS A, YOU KNOW, BEEN ONE THING THAT HAS BEEN MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES TODAY.

YEAH. I MEAN THAT'S CERTAINLY A SAFETY RISK.

AND ANOTHER THING THAT I THINK WILL BE LOOKED AT AS PART OF THAT GRANT.

SO, YES, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, ALL OF WHAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP TODAY, YOU KNOW, THE LACK OF PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE INFRASTRUCTURE, YOU KNOW, WITH NON-MOTORIZED TRAFFIC, YOU KNOW, HAVING TO TRAVEL WITHIN THE STREET BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THAT INFRASTRUCTURE.

THAT'S CERTAINLY, AGAIN, SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, CAN BE STUDIED AND CAN BE A PART OF THE PART OF THE THE GRANT.

AND WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY SHAPE THAT STUDY TO KIND OF WHAT WE WANT IT TO BE.

SO WE ARE REALLY LOOKING AT PUTTING TOGETHER A RFP FOR THAT SAFETY GRANT AND REALLY TO TO KIND OF COMMUNICATE EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR, WHAT WE WANT, YOU KNOW, WHOEVER WE HIRE.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO THE AUDIENCE WHAT AN RFP IS? YES, SORRY. THANK YOU.

THE ACRONYMS. YEP. YOU YOU I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP.

RRP IS A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL.

SO BASICALLY WHAT THAT IS, IS IT'S A DOCUMENT THAT WE WOULD PUT TOGETHER WHICH EXPLAINS, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR AND WHAT WE EXPECT OUR EXPECTATION FOR THE SAFETY STUDY THAT WILL BE DONE AS PART OF THE SAFE STREETS FOR ALL GRANT THANK YOU, KT.

SO AGAIN, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY SHAPE WHAT WE WANT LOOKED AT.

WHAT ARE THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE SEEING WITHIN THE CITY? YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THE, YOU KNOW, THE COMMENTS THAT WE'VE HEARD FROM RESIDENTS, FROM BUSINESSES AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, YOU KNOW, WHO ARE IN THE AREA.

AND SO, YES, I DEFINITELY THINK THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN BE COVERED.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS HAS A QUESTION.

YEAH, ONE ADDITIONAL QUESTION THEN.

JUST A COUPLE COMMENTS.

I ALSO WANTED TO ASK ABOUT THE WIDTH OF THE OTHER ADJACENT STREETS.

SO THAT WAS ONE OF MY QUESTIONS.

AND THEN ADDITIONALLY, YOU HAD SAID THAT WE NEED A SPECIAL PLOW FOR THE CURRENT BUMP OUT TO GET THROUGH THERE.

WHAT IS THE WIDTH OF OUR LARGE PLOWS? AND THEN DO YOU KNOW THE WIDTH OF THE ACTUAL LITTLE AREA LEADING UP TO 53RD THERE? YOU KNOW, I DON'T I DON'T I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT WIDTH OF THOSE VEHICLES OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.

SO I'M BASING THAT COMMENT OFF OF DISCUSSIONS I'VE HAD WITH OUR STREETS GROUP.

SO OUR STREETS GROUP IS ARE THE INDIVIDUALS WHO HANDLE THE SNOW REMOVAL AND PLOWING THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND IN DISCUSSION WITH THEM, THEY'RE THE ONES WHO MENTIONED TO ME THAT THAT THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO SEND A REGULAR PLOW TRUCK THROUGH THAT AREA AND THAT THEY HAVE TO SEND ANOTHER STAFF PERSON IN A SMALLER VEHICLE WITH A PLOW TO BASICALLY PLOW AROUND THAT BUMP OUT THAT'S THERE.

SO I CAN CERTAINLY FIND OUT, BUT I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION WITH ME RIGHT NOW.

AND THEN I THINK JUST GENERAL COMMENTS.

I'M DEFINITELY IN FAVOR OF REMOVING THE BUMP OUT AS IS.

I'M JUST LOOKING HERE ON THE GOOGLE MAPS AND I'VE DRIVEN IT ONCE OR TWICE.

I ACTUALLY THINK REMOVING THAT IS GOING TO INCREASE SAFETY FOR PEOPLE TRAVELING NORTH UP TO 53RD BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE THAT TREE KIND OF OBSCURES THE VIEW THERE OF EASTBOUND

[01:20:05]

IT HAS BEEN, YES.

OKAY. I HAVEN'T DRIVEN IT IN MULTIPLE MONTHS, BUT JUST LOOKING HERE FROM OCTOBER 2022.

BUT SO THAT WAS ONE CONCERN I HAD.

I THINK I DO NOT NECESSARILY SEE THE UTILITY OF CONVERTING IT BACK TO A TWO WAY, JUST GIVEN THE CONCERNS OF THE CITIZENS AND THE THE CHANCE OF VEHICLES COMING SOUTHBOUND ONTO 7TH STREET ON OUR SIDE OF OR YEAH ONTO 53RD BECAUSE I JUST LOOKED ON GOOGLE MAPS HERE AND THERE'S NO STOP SIGN BETWEEN 59TH AND FRIDLEY COMING DOWN UNTIL YOU HIT THIS AREA.

SO I CAN SEE WHERE PEOPLE WOULD GAIN A LOT OF SPEED, KIND OF NOT NECESSARILY BE PAYING ATTENTION AND THEN COULD CROSS NOT NOT NECESSARILY SEEING THAT.

AND I THINK JUST KIND OF ECHOING WHAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAID WITH THE CURRENT SITUATION AND, YOU KNOW, HAVING LOTS OF KIDS AROUND IN THE AREA. I LIVE ON CHATHAM ROAD RIGHT BEHIND THE HIGH SCHOOL AND IT'S A VERY WIDE STREET.

NO SIGNAGE AT ALL.

PEOPLE ARE SPEEDING UP AND DOWN. AND WE HAVE A LOT OF KIDS ON THAT STREET AS WELL.

I THINK ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC GOING THROUGH AND LIMIT THE SPEEDS IS BENEFICIAL TO US.

AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT, LIKE TRAFFIC SAFETY IS NOT JUST ADDING SIGNS OR REDUCING THE SPEED LIMIT OR BUMP OUTS.

IT'S A COMBINATION OF ALL OF THESE THINGS.

AND WE KIND OF HAVE SOME OF THIS GOING HERE INTO TO REVERSE GOING FROM A ONE WAY TO A TWO WAY, I THINK WOULD BE COUNTERINTUITIVE AND TRYING TO IMPROVE OUR SAFETY OVERALL.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

I HAD A THOUGHT TO SOMETHING THAT COUNCILOR JAMES HAD SAID ABOUT ABOUT SIGNAGE ON THE ONE WAY STREET AND COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS HAS HAS BROUGHT UP AND ASKED FOR ADDITIONAL SIGNAGE.

AND I THOUGHT MAYBE YOU COULD, HAVING LIVED THROUGH THE EXPERIENCE OF TRYING TO IMPROVE THE SAFETY, MAYBE YOU COULD SHARE ABOUT THAT.

JUST A QUICK PIECE OF BACKGROUND.

I MOVED IN IN 94 AND AT THAT TIME IT WAS RARE TO SEE I'M RIGHT IN THE MONROE 41ST AREA.

SO YOU'VE GOT 40TH IS A MAIN THOROUGHFARE AND WE NOW HAVE 41ST IS A MAIN EAST WEST THOROUGHFARE BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY BUILDING IN PLACE.

IT WAS NOT IT WAS ALL UNMARKED AND THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD, NO CONTROLLED INTERSECTIONS.

AND ONE WE HAVE ONE WAY TRAFFIC GOING SOUTH TOWARDS 40TH.

WHEN I MOVED IN, IT WAS RARE TO SEE SOMEBODY GO UP THAT STREET THE WRONG WAY.

AND IN THE LAST 2 TO 3 YEARS, IF I SEE SIX CARS A DAY, IT'S LOW AND THEY FLY.

AND I'VE SEEN THEM EVEN REALIZE WHEN THEY GET TO 41ST THAT OOPS AND THEY KEEP GOING UP TO 42ND LIKE, OKAY, I'M GOING THIS FAR, I'M GOING TO CONTINUE.

I GOT TOGETHER WITH THE NEIGHBORS AND WE PUT GREAT EFFORT INTO GETTING BETTER SIGNAGE.

SO WHEN YOU COME OFF OF 40TH, THERE'S THERE'S A CHURCH RIGHT THERE ON THE CORNER OF 40TH AND MONROE AND BEFORE OR JUST JUST BEFORE THAT DRIVEWAY TO THAT CHURCH SO THAT THERE'S A TURNAROUND FOR THEM.

THEY PUT ADDITIONAL BOLD, BOLD SIGNAGE IN THE BIG CIRCLE WITH THE LINE THROUGH IT, YOU KNOW, THE LITTLE ONE WAY TRAFFIC DIDN'T DO ANYTHING IN THE PAST.

GET UP TO 41ST.

THEY PUT MORE SIGNAGE IN FROM TRAVELING WESTBOUND ON 41ST THERE'S A SIGN THAT SAYS NO RIGHT TURN.

I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SIT DOWN AND TALK WITH YOU AS TO HOW TO TO GET SOME OF THAT MOVEMENT.

BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME ORGANIZATION AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME SOME POUNDING ON DOORS.

AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, IT TOOK ME ABOUT I DON'T KNOW, 8 TO 10 MONTHS TO TO GET IT ACCOMPLISHED.

BIG DIFFERENCE.

THEY STILL SPEED. THEY STILL DON'T STOP AT THE STOP SIGN.

THAT'S A GIVEN.

SEE A ONE WAY, WRONG WAY.

DRIVER MAYBE ONCE A WEEK, TWICE A WEEK ON A BAD WEEK.

I'LL TAKE THAT. I'LL TAKE THAT.

SO IF YOU WANT TO REACH OUT TO ME AND WANT SOME IDEAS OR SOME DIRECTION ON HOW TO TRY AND ACCOMPLISH THAT, I'M CERTAINLY WILLING TO HELP YOU WITH THAT.

THANK YOU. UM, I THINK THAT WE ARE READY TO HAVE A DISCUSSION.

SO, SARA, IF THERE'S NO ONE ELSE WHO HAS YET TO SPEAK, THEN WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

UM, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

ANY CONVERSATION OR DISCUSSION? HEARING AS NONE THEN PLEASE SAY AYE IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR OF CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING.

AYE, AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES.

THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.

NOW WE CAN HAVE COUNCIL DISCUSSION.

COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS.

I'M GOING TO WAIT UNTIL WE HAVE DISCUSSION.

[01:25:02]

BEEN ON THE COUNCIL FOR SIX YEARS.

I'VE RECEIVED MANY, MANY CALLS.

MY STREET ALONE WHEN THEY WE HAVE A LITTLE NIFTY GADGET THAT THE POLICE CAN USE TO MEASURE THE SPEED ON WHICH FOLKS ARE TRAVELING.

ONE CAR WAS CAUGHT TO AN 82 MILES AN HOUR ON MY STREET, AND I'VE HAD NEIGHBORS THROW OUT A GARBAGE CAN TO SLOW DOWN THE CAR.

HE DIDN'T GET IN TROUBLE. THE GUY THE PERSON THAT RAN INTO THE NEIGHBOR'S WALL, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE THOSE LITTLE I CAN'T THINK OF THE WORD RIGHT NOW RETAINING WALLS.

THEY GOT IN TROUBLE BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T PAYING ATTENTION.

I'VE HAD ANOTHER NEIGHBOR GO OUT AT SEVEN IN THE MORNING AND HE'S RETIRED NOW.

HE GOES OUT AND WAVES HIS HANDS TO SLOW PEOPLE DOWN.

SO I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE WITH SPEEDERS IN OUR CITY AND IT'S NOT JUST OUR CITY.

IT'S HAPPENING IN A LOT OF OTHER CITIES IN OUR STATE AND AROUND THE COUNTRY.

SO IT'S I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH PEOPLE.

I DON'T KNOW WRONG EITHER, WHY THEY'RE DOING IT, WHY THEY DON'T SLOW DOWN AND THEY GET MAD AT ME WHEN I GO TO SPEED LIMITS AND PASS ME ON RESIDENTIAL STREETS.

SO I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THAT.

MY CONCERN IS I UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, WITH LINING UP, I KNOW TWO WAY STREETS.

WE DON'T HAVE TOO MANY ONE WAY STREETS IN TOWN, BUT TWO WAY STREETS TO LINE IT UP.

SO IT'S DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM THE OTHER TO ME WOULD INCREASE SAFETY.

I SUPPORT GIVING UP THE GETTING RID OF THE BUMP OUT BECAUSE WE ARE PUTTING THAT TRAIL.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WITHOUT KEEPING IT, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO LINE UP THE STREETS THE INTERSECTION.

SO THAT TO ME WOULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE NOT DOING THAT.

I HAVE TO THE OTHER CONCERN I HAVE IS BECAUSE I GET A LOT OF PHONE CALLS ON SPEEDERS AND SAFETY.

THE REASONS WHY YOU WANT TO KEEP IT A ONE WAY STREET TO INCREASE THE SAFETY IN YOUR STREET.

AND I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THAT.

HOWEVER, I GET A LOT OF PHONE CALLS TOO, AND WHEN THEY HEAR THAT WE KEPT IT ONE WAY FOR THE SAME CONCERNS THEY HAVE FOR THEIR STREET.

YOU KNOW, AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, I HAVE TO LOOK AT THE FOREST AND AT THE TREES THAT COME BEFORE US, THE INDIVIDUAL TREES.

AND SO WHEN I LOOK AT YOUR TREE, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

I ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT THE CITY, THE FOREST ITSELF, BECAUSE I HAVE A FEELING AND I KNOW FOR A FACT I HAVE NEIGHBORS AND ALSO PEOPLE THAT CALL ON A REGULAR BASIS.

WELL, THEY WERE ABLE TO TURN IT INTO A ONE WAY STREET FOR SAFETY REASONS.

NOW IF THERE'S NO MORE TRUCK TRAFFIC THAT WE KNOW OF THAT COMES THROUGH THAT STREET.

WHY CAN'T I GET A ONE WAY STREET IN MY PART OF TOWN? SO THAT'S A QUESTION I KNOW WILL COME UP.

AND I UNDERSTAND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT THERE'S MANY PEOPLE IN THIS TOWN THAT WOULD ASK US THE SAME QUESTION.

AND MAYBE IT IS SOMETHING THE COUNCIL AND THE CITY NEEDS TO LOOK AT.

MAYBE WE SHOULD CONVERT SOME OF OUR STREETS INTO ONE WAY STREETS MORE THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

BUT THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO CONSIDER WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS ONE.

AND I'M JUST GOING TO DO MY FAMOUS BUMP UP MY FAMOUS SOAPBOX.

STOP SIGNS DON'T WORK.

ONLY 20% OF PEOPLE STOP AT STOP SIGNS.

AND I'VE BEEN PLUGGING THIS FOR SIX YEARS.

I'VE ONLY BEEN ON THE COUNCIL SIX YEARS, BUT I'VE BEEN HERE FOR A WHILE AND HEARD QUITE A BIT ABOUT ROUNDABOUTS.

MINNEAPOLIS IS STARTING PUTTING LITTLE RESIDENTIAL ROUNDABOUTS, ROUNDABOUTS, DECREASE TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS AND PROBLEMS AND SPEEDERS BY 80%.

AND THERE ARE WAYS YOU CAN DO IT WITHOUT EATING INTO THE CORNERS.

MINNEAPOLIS IS STARTING IT.

WHEN I LIVED IN SEATTLE, MY FIRST TICKET WHEN I LIVED IN SEATTLE IN 87, WAS BECAUSE I WENT THROUGH A ROUNDABOUT IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD, JUST A LITTLE MINI ONE GOING LEFT INSTEAD OF GOING ALL THE WAY AROUND TO TURN LEFT AND I GOT A TICKET.

HE WASN'T HAD NO SYMPATHY FOR ME, GAVE ME MY TICKET.

BUT I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT OTHER THINGS.

AND ALSO I SEE IS IF YOU DO DO A TWO WAY, IF WE VOTE FOR A TWO WAY, I SEE THE TRAFFIC DOWN THE ALLEY.

I THINK THAT COULD DECREASE THE TRAFFIC THAT PEOPLE ARE COMING DOWN YOUR ALLEY THAT DON'T BELONG THERE.

AND ALSO, IT'S THE SAME WIDTH AS 5TH AND 6TH.

SO IT'S JUST SOME OF THE THINGS I'M THINKING ABOUT WHEN I GO THROUGH HERE.

SO AGAIN, I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THE SPEEDING, THE SAFETY ISSUES.

I CAN'T BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY EITHER.

SO THAT'S KIND OF WHERE I'M THINKING ABOUT.

BUT IF WE COULD DO MORE ROUNDABOUTS, HINT, HINT.

I'VE BEEN BEGGING FOR THEM FOR QUITE A WHILE, SO AT LEAST TO TRY ONE TO SEE HOW IT WORKS.

BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU.

YEAH. COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS, WITH ALL DEFERENCE, COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS, I THINK I DON'T WANT TO CONFUSE THAT THIS IS AN EXISTING ONE WAY STREET VERSUS DEVELOPING A ONE WAY STREET.

I THINK THOSE ARE THOSE HAVE TO BE APPROACHED DIFFERENTLY.

THEY'VE HAD THIS ONE WAY STREET FOR AT LEAST A COUPLE OF DECADES, FOUR DECADES, MORE THAN A COUPLE.

SO BUT I THINK THERE IS WE NEED TO WE NEED TO KEEP IN MIND THAT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CREATING ONE VERSUS KEEPING ONE.

BUT WE'RE AT AN OPPORTUNITY NOW WHERE WE CAN CHANGE IT, ONE TO MAKE THE INTERSECTION SAFER.

AND TWO, WE'RE RECONSIDERING IT AND SO TO ME, IT'S NOT DIFFERENT FROM OTHER PLACES IN TOWN.

[01:30:03]

THANK YOU. OTHER DISCUSSION IN THE COUNCIL? I'LL ADD IN THAT ALSO LOOKING UP 7TH NORTH AND SOUTH.

I DON'T I DON'T MAYBE AT ONE TIME THERE WAS A LOT OF TRAFFIC, BUT I DON'T SEE LIKE BUSINESSES OR WAREHOUSES WHERE TRUCKS WOULD BE COMING OUT OF.

BUT THAT BEING SAID, I THINK HAVING IT STAY A ONE WAY MAKES SENSE TO ME.

IF IT WAS UP TO ME, I WOULD HAVE EVERY STREET IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS BE ONE WAY AND THE NEXT WAY BE THE OTHER WAY, JUST LIKE IT IS IN MINNEAPOLIS.

PEOPLE WOULD JUST SO IF YOU HEAR THAT FROM ME IN THE FUTURE, I'M TAKING YOUR IDEA, BUT GOING TO AMPLIFY IT IF IT HAPPENS.

SO AND I AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS THAT THOSE SMALL ROUNDABOUTS IN MINNEAPOLIS, YOU CAN ONLY GO ABOUT FIVE MILES AN HOUR BECAUSE THEY'RE SO TINY AND TIGHT. BUT ALSO, AS AS MNDOT HAS SAID, GOING THROUGH A ROUNDABOUT, THERE MAY BE A FENDER BENDER, BUT PROBABLY THERE WON'T BE A DEATH. AND IF YOU GO THROUGH AN INTERSECTION 70 MILES AN HOUR AND YOU HIT SOMEBODY, SOMEONE'S PROBABLY NOT GOING TO LIVE THROUGH IT.

YOU GO THROUGH A ROUNDABOUT AND YOU HIT SOMEONE, YOU'RE GOING 20 MILES AN HOUR AND PROBABLY SOME CAR DAMAGE.

SO IF WE'RE LOOKING AT THE SAFETY ASPECT, NOT THAT THERE MIGHT NOT BE AN ACCIDENT, BUT THE THE LETHALITY OF IT WOULD BE VERY MUCH REDUCED.

AND THEN ALSO THE FACT THAT I HAVE ASKED FOR WE'VE ALL ASKED FOR A SURVEY ON OUR SAFER STREETS, WHICH COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES HAD BROUGHT UP, AND THAT'S COMING UP LATER THIS SUMMER.

SO WE ARE GOING TO BE TAKING AN IN-DEPTH LOOK INTO ALL OF THE STREETS IN THE CITY AND HOW WE CAN MAKE THEM SAFER AND BETTER FOR MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.

PEOPLE USE STREETS WALKING, BIKING, DRIVING, ROLLING IN A WHEELCHAIR, PUSHING A STROLLER.

THERE'S MANY WAYS PEOPLE MOVE ABOUT THE CITY.

SO THAT'S ALL GOING TO BE LOOKED AT.

SO THAT BEING SAID, I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP IT THE SAME WAY.

THE BUMP OUT.

I'M KIND OF NEITHER HERE NOR THERE ON IT BECAUSE I REALIZE IT'S JUST GOING TO CHANGE SO MUCH ONCE THAT LARGE TEN FOOT PATH COMES IN, I THINK IT'S JUST GOING TO FEEL LIKE A WHOLE DIFFERENT STREET ANYWAY.

BUT THE ONE WAY I THINK MAKES THE MOST SENSE JUST TO KEEP IT THE WAY IT IS.

AND I WOULDN'T WANT TO GO BACKWARDS IF I'M SAYING I'D LIKE THE CITY TO HAVE LOTS OF ONE WAY STREETS.

IT'D BE GOING BACKWARDS FOR ME TO TAKE ONE AWAY.

SO JUST THE FACT THAT AS AS THE OTHER ONE ON MONROE, WHEN THAT WENT IN, THAT WAS A BIG DEAL AND THAT WAS TO HELP WITH TRAFFIC, THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC THAT WAS THERE.

AND IT HAS SLOWED. THERE ISN'T AS MUCH TRAFFIC BECAUSE IT'S HALF WHAT IT WAS SO, COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS.

I GUESS JUST ONE QUESTION MAYBE ABOUT FEASIBILITY.

WE IF WE WERE TO REMOVE THE CURRENT BUMP OUT, WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO ADD A BUMP OUT ON EACH SIDE OF 7TH STREET TO LINE IT UP WITH THE NORTHBOUND LANE IN FRIDLEY, I GUESS IS MY QUESTION. SO DRIVERS DON'T HAVE TO GO AT A DIAGONAL LIKE THEY ARE NOW.

AND THAT WOULD MAYBE DECREASE SOME OF THE CROSSING DISTANCE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

IF WE COMPLETELY REMOVE THE CURRENT BUMP OUT.

IT WILL BE A DIAGONAL IF IT'S A ONE WAY RIGHT NOW.

THEY SHIFTED THEIR ROADS.

YEP. SO WE HAVE TWO BUMP OUTS GONE.

IT'S ONLY ONE WAY THAT'S COMING THROUGH.

SO THERE'S BUT BUT IT'S AT AN DIAGONAL.

IF IT'S A ONE WAY STREET, IT'S NOT GOING TO LINE UP WITH THE NORTH STREET GOING NORTH THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

SO YOU CAN BUMP OUT.

I MEAN, SO YOU CAN CERTAINLY DO A BUMP OUT ON THE SOUTH EAST CORNER.

I WAS PROPOSING STRIPING, BUT YOU CAN CERTAINLY DO A CURB BUMP OUT THERE.

THAT'S CERTAINLY POSSIBLE AS FAR AS KIND OF LINING UP.

SO THE CURBS THEY DO LINE UP ON THE WEST SIDE OF 7TH.

SO COMING FROM FRIDLEY, THERE'S BASICALLY TWO LANES COMING SOUTHBOUND.

THERE'S SO THE THE LANE TURNING, RIGHT.

I MEAN, IT CAN ONLY BE A RIGHT TURN BECAUSE YOU CAN'T GO STRAIGHT OR ELSE YOU'RE GOING TO HIT YOU'RE GOING TO GO STRAIGHT INTO THE THE CURB ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

SO BASICALLY IT'LL BE A RIGHT ONLY IN A LEFT.

THAT'S KIND OF HOW IT HAS BEEN.

IF IT'S CONVERTED IN A TWO WAY THAT THE LEFT AND THROUGH STRAIGHT THROUGH WOULD BE THE OTHER LANE.

DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? I THINK SO.

I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE STATE AID.

SOMEONE HAD MENTIONED THAT ALL THE STATE AID WAS [INAUDIBLE] AND MOVED TO WASHINGTON.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT? SO STATE AID ROUTES, REALLY HOW HOW YOU PICK STATE AID ROUTES IS BASED ON THE TYPE OF TRAFFIC THAT THE ROADWAY CARRIES.

AND SO IN ORDER TO BE CLASSIFIED AS A STATE AID STREET, YOU HAVE TO BE A COLLECTOR ARTERIAL ROADWAY.

[01:35:10]

AND SO REALLY THAT'S WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO AS FAR AS PICKING WHICH ROADWAYS GET THE STATE AID FUNDS.

IS THAT THE SAME AS 6TH AND 5TH THEN? CORRECT.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ITEMS. IS IT POSSIBLE TO DO BUMP LIKE THE SMALL BUMP OUTS SINCE THE OKAY SINCE THE WHOLE 53RD IS TO BE REDONE AND THERE'LL BE THE PATHS? IS IT POSSIBLE TO DO THOSE SMALL BUMP OUTS THAT ALLOW FOR LIKE A SMALLER ROADWAY FOR PEOPLE TO CROSS? NOT NOT NOT THE BIG ONE LIKE THAT'S THERE NOW, BUT IS THAT SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN DISCUSSED AT ALL? WE CAN LOOK AT IT.

SO 7TH STREET IN GENERAL IS NOT A WIDE ROADWAY.

TYPICALLY YOU HAVE BUMP OUTS WHEN YOU HAVE MUCH WIDER ROADWAYS THAN A 30 FOOT WIDE ROADWAY.

SO IT'S CERTAINLY POSSIBLE, I MEAN, THAT THEY'RE PROBABLY GOING TO BE SMALLER BUMP OUTS.

AND ARE YOU GOING TO GET THE SAME BENEFIT? YOU KNOW, MAYBE NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THE WIDTH OF THE ROADWAY? SORRY, I DIDN'T MEAN TO. WHAT ABOUT LIKE WASHINGTON? THAT'S A WIDER ROAD.

YEAH, I MEAN, THAT'S CERTAINLY CERTAIN.

WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK AT THAT, IF THAT'S KIND OF A ROUTE THAT THE COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO SEE, WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK INTO THAT AND SEE IF WE CAN IMPLEMENT THAT AS PART OF THE PROJECT. OFF TOPIC FROM THIS ONE, BUT JUST THINKING AHEAD.

ANY OTHER TOPICS FOR THE COUNCIL TO DISCUSS? ALL RIGHT, THEN.

THEN SARA I THINK WE'D LIKE TO.

I'D LIKE TO GET A MOTION TO VOTE ON THIS.

BEFORE WE DO THAT AND CITY ATTORNEY, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, CAN I MAKE A MOTION TO DIVIDE THE MOTION INTO TWO PARTS, INTO REMOVING THE BUMP OUT AS ONE MOTION AND THEN CONVERTING FROM A ONE WAY TO A TWO WAY AS THE SECOND MOTION JUST TO.

YOU CAN MAKE WHATEVER MOTION YOU LIKE.

OKAY. SO I MOVED TO DIVIDE THE MOTION JUST FOR CLARITY'S SAKE.

I THINK THAT'LL BE EASIER FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED INTO.

SO I MAKE A MOTION TO DIVIDE CONVERTING 7TH STREET FROM A ONE WAY TO A TWO WAY INTO ONE MOTION, AND THEN REMOVING THE BUMP OUT ON THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF 7TH STREET ON 53RD AS A SECOND MOTION.

OKAY, SO WHY DON'T YOU JUST MAKE THE FIRST MOTION AND THEN I'LL GET A SECOND TO THAT.

EXCUSE ME. MOVE TO CONVERT 7TH STREET FROM A ONE WAY ROADWAY INTO A TWO WAY ROADWAY BETWEEN 52ND AVENUE AND 53RD AVENUE.

SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS.

JUST TO REPEAT, THIS IS A VOTE TO MAKE THE ONE WAY INTO A TWO WAY.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT, THEN, SARA IF WE COULD DO A ROLL CALL, VOTE, PLEASE.

SPRIGGS. NO.

COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS. NO.

COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES. NO.

COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS NO.

MAYOR MARQUEZ-SIMULA NO.

THANK YOU. AND THAT MOTION PASSES.

THE ROAD WILL CONTINUE TO STAY A ONE WAY.

DOES NOT DOES NOT PASS.

SO IT CONTINUES TO SAY IT ONE WAY.

THANK YOU. NEXT MAY HAVE A MOTION TO REMOVE THE CONCRETE BUMP OUT.

MOVE OR YES.

MOVE. MOTION TO MOVE.

TO REMOVE THE CONCRETE BUMP OUT ON THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF 7TH STREET AND 53RD AVENUE INTERSECTION.

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

JACOBS THEY BOTH ARE A "J".

I HEARD YOU BOTH AT THE SAME TIME.

I DIDN'T HEAR. SORRY.

JACOBS.

TO REMOVE THE CONCRETE BUMP OUT AND LET'S DO A ROLL CALL VOTE ON THIS AS WELL.

COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS, YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS.

YES. COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES.

YES. COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS.

YES. MAYOR MARQUEZ-SIMULA.

YES. AND THE MOTION PASSES TO REMOVE THE CONCRETE BUMP OUT.

THANK YOU. I SEE SOME CONFUSION.

WE JUST VOTED TO REMOVE THE BUMP OUT.

BUT TO KEEP YOUR STREET ONE WAY HEADING NORTH . SIGNS. AND I'M HAPPY TO MEET WITH YOU AFTER THE MEETING TO DISCUSS THE POTENTIAL OR THE POSSIBILITIES FOR THAT.

[01:40:05]

YOU COULD DEFINITELY TALK WITH SULMAAN.

YOU GUYS NEED TO HEAR THIS TOO.

WELL, AND SO THIS IS A QUESTION THAT WE'RE INTERESTED IN HEARING ABOUT.

BUT THE VOTE HAS ALREADY HAPPENED.

WE'VE ALL WE'VE ALL READ A PACKET BEFORE WE GOT TO THE MEETING.

WE'VE WE'VE LISTENED TO ALL OF THE FEEDBACK AND EMAILS AND WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT, AS COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS SAID, THE CITY AS A WHOLE.

SO I UNDERSTAND THERE MAY BE SOME OPPOSITION, SOME PEOPLE MAY NOT BE ENTIRELY HAPPY WITH OUR DECISION, BUT THE VOTE HAS HAPPENED DOES NOT MEAN WE DON'T WANT TO HEAR FROM ANYONE.

BUT AT THIS MEETING, AT THIS TIME, WE NEED TO MOVE THE MEETING FORWARD.

BUT AS COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS JUST SAID, WE ARE ALL HAPPY TO CONTINUE MEETING WITH PEOPLE.

IF YOU HAVE MORE QUESTIONS AND WITH STAFF AS WELL.

WE ARE THE STAFF ARE HERE TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE.

BUT AT THIS MEETING RIGHT NOW, THE PROCESS IS WE HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE MEETING BECAUSE THE PROCESS HAS BEEN VOTED ON AND THE PUBLIC FORUM HAS ALREADY CLOSED.

OKAY.

MADAM MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO JUST WEIGH IN ON THAT BRIEFLY.

SURE. THANK YOU. AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

SO THIS HEARING, AARON, IS OUR AARON CHIRPICH IS OUR INTERIM CITY MANAGER.

WELL, OUR ASSISTANT INTERIM CITY MANAGER.

DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.

THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. SO THIS HEARING DIDN'T HAVE A SET PARAMETER OR REQUIREMENT FOR NOTICE.

IT WAS MORE OF AN UNDERSTANDING BY THE CITY THAT THERE WOULD BE CONCERN RELATED TO REMOVAL OF THIS FIXTURE THAT HAD BEEN IN THE COMMUNITY FOR A LONG TIME AND TOOK THE EXTRA LAYER OF STEP OF NOTICING WITH THE MAILER AND WITH THE NOTICE IN THE PAPER.

SO THERE WASN'T A RADIUS, THERE WASN'T A SET PARAMETER AND NOT A REQUIREMENT TO HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

SO I JUST WANT THAT TO BE KNOWN AND PUT IN THE RECORD.

SO NOBODY WAS MISSED BECAUSE THERE WASN'T A DESIGNATED . EVERYBODY ON 7TH WAS MAILED A LETTER.

I RECEIVED NOTHING.

PEOPLE ACROSS THE STREET FROM ME RECEIVED NOTHING.

PEOPLE DOWN THE STREET RECEIVED NOTHING.

I MEAN, WHEN STAFF SENDS OUT SOMETHING, THEY HAVE A MAILING LIST AND THEY THEY MAIL IT OUT.

THERE WOULD BE NO REASON FOR STAFF TO NOT DO SUCH A THING.

BUT AT THIS AT THIS MEETING, THOUGH, WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO MOVE FORWARD.

BUT SARA COULD WE TAKE ANYONE'S WHO HAS ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD? COULD PLEASE JUST LIKE MAKE A NOTE ON THEIR WHEN THEY SPOKE THAT STAFF COULD FOLLOW UP WITH YOU? NOTHING IS EVER NECESSARILY, THE VOTES DONE, BUT THE CONVERSATION CONTINUE FORWARD.

JUST NOT AT THIS MEETING THOUGH.

AND THEN YES, PLEASE LET SARA KNOW IF YOU HAVE US, IF YOU'D LIKE ANY FOLLOW BACK FROM THE COMMUNITY, FROM THE CITY COUNCIL OR CITY STAFF.

NEXT, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE.

AND THANK YOU, AARON, FOR CHIMING IN ABOUT THAT.

NEXT, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE THROUGH TO ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION, WHICH IS OUR ITEM NUMBER 11, NEW BUSINESS AND REPORTS.

[ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION]

AND CHIEF AUSTIN WILL LEAD US THROUGH THIS.

THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR.

MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

SO THE 2023 OPERATING BUDGET HAS ALLOWS FOR AN AUTHORIZED STRENGTH OF 29 OFFICERS.

CURRENTLY, WE'RE STAFFED AT 27, WITH ONE OFFICER STARTING WHO STARTED TODAY ON JUNE 12TH.

WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE THAT WILL BE STARTING IN AUGUST AND THEN THE 29TH OFFICER WILL BE SCHEDULED TO START IN JANUARY OF 2024.

AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, THERE'S A THERE ARE SOME STAFFING ISSUES AS FAR AS RECRUITMENT GOES RIGHT NOW WITHIN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

AND I'LL TOUCH ON THAT IN JUST A SECOND.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID DO IS WE CAPTAIN MARKHAM, WHO OVERSEES INVESTIGATIONS, CONDUCTED A STAFFING STUDY LATE LAST YEAR FOCUSING SPECIFICALLY ON THE INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION.

AND BASED ON THAT STAFFING STUDY, RECOMMENDED THAT WE ADD AN ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATOR TO THE INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION TO REDUCE THE THE HIGH VOLUME OF CASES THAT THE CURRENT TWO INVESTIGATORS ARE CARRYING.

IN 2024 OUR PLAN IS TO RECOMMEND INCREASING THAT TO INCREASE TO 30 OFFICERS, BUT ALSO GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE DON'T VOTE ON THAT OR THE COUNCIL DOES NOT VOTE ON THAT UNTIL DECEMBER, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE TO TO HIRE AN ADDITIONAL PERSON WHO WOULD WE WOULD BRING ON BOARD TO GO THROUGH THE PATHWAYS PROGRAM, WHICH IS WHICH IS GOES THROUGH HENNEPIN

[01:45:08]

THAT WOULD BRING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT UP TO 30 OFFICERS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S MENTIONED HERE IN THIS COUNCIL LETTER IS ALSO THAT THERE IS WE'RE ANTICIPATING A RETIREMENT IN THE SPRING OF 2024 OR AT LEAST ONE RETIREMENT.

AND SO SHORT TERM, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT COUNCIL APPROVES THAT 30TH THAT ADDITIONAL STAFFING FOR 2024, WE ARE ASKING TO AT LEAST HAVE A TEMPORARY STRENGTH OF 30 OFFICERS THROUGH MAY 1ST OF 2024.

WE JUST IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE AN APPLICANT COME THROUGH THAT SEEMS VERY QUALIFIED AND THAT IS ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE SEEING, NOT JUST HERE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, BUT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE STATE AS WELL AS THE NATION AS FAR AS BRINGING IN QUALITY CANDIDATES. AND THAT IS WHY WE'RE RECOMMENDING TO TEMPORARY GO UP TO THE 30TH OFFICER.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS.

CAN YOU SHARE WITH THE AUDIENCE PART OF THE REASON WE'RE ALSO INCREASING IS THE WORKLOAD OF OUR DETECTIVES.

WE HAVE TWO DETECTIVES, CORRECT? YES, MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, WE WE DID A CASE COUNT THE WEEK BEFORE LAST.

AND CURRENTLY EACH INVESTIGATOR IS HOLDING A CASELOAD OF APPROXIMATELY 125 CASES EACH.

QUITE FRANKLY, THAT'S JUST IT'S NOT YOU CAN'T YOU CAN'T WORK THAT MANY CASES.

TO ACTIVELY WORK THE I MEAN, I CAN'T GIVE YOU AN EXACT NUMBER, BUT THE REALITY IS IT HAS TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS.

RIGHT NOW WITH THAT THAT VOLUME OF CASES, QUITE FRANKLY, A LOT OF THESE CASES THAT OUR OFFICERS OR OUR INVESTIGATORS COULD INVEST TIME INTO WILL GO EITHER UNSOLVED INACTIVATED DUE TO THE FACT WE JUST CAN'T WE CAN'T GET TO THEM IN TIME.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE CHIEF.

JUST A COMMENT THAT I THINK THAT WE WERE ALL CONCERNED WHEN WE THOUGHT IT WAS 75 CASES PER INVESTIGATOR.

AND TO HEAR THAT IT'S DOUBLE THAT IS JUST ALARMING.

YES. COUNCIL MEMBER MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL THIS TIME OF YEAR, WE DO SEE AN INCREASED VOLUME, OBVIOUSLY.

BUT YEAH, IT'S IT'S JUST IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, NOT JUST AN INCREASE IN CASE CASELOAD WITH INVESTIGATORS, BUT ALSO JUST AN INCREASE IN IN OVERALL CALL VOLUME WITH OUR LINE OFFICERS AS WELL.

YES. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU TO TALK ABOUT WHEN YOU SAY LIKE OVERALL CALL VOLUME, IT'S SO IT CAN SOUND LIKE CRIME IS UP AND AND THERE'S A NEED FOR MORE AND MORE OFFICERS.

BUT I FEEL LIKE PART OF THIS IS JUST THE INVESTIGATIONS AND THE THOROUGHNESS AND THE TIME PUT INTO THIS.

JUST I JUST IF YOU COULD SPEAK ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE IT COULD SOUND LIKE THE REASON THERE'S MORE OF A WORKLOAD IS THAT THERE'S MORE CRIME.

AND THAT'S KIND OF NOT THEY'RE NOT PARALLEL.

IS THAT CORRECT? MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

THAT IS CORRECT. THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR CALLS FOR SERVICE ARE EXACTLY THAT, CALLS FOR SERVICE AND NOT NECESSARILY CRIMINAL IN NATURE.

GIVEN THE SIGNIFICANT VOLUME OF JUST REGULAR, LIKE I SAID, RUN OF THE MILL CALLS.

ONE OF THE ONE OF THE INCREASES THAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW AND IT'S IT'S FAIRLY WELL KNOWN IS JUST OUR NUMBER OF CRISIS CALLS AND THEN ALSO HOW WE RESPOND TO THOSE CRISIS CALLS.

NOT TOO MANY YEARS AGO, HOW WE RESPONDED TO CRISIS CALLS WERE VERY DIFFERENT.

AND NOW WE'RE DEFINITELY TAKING A DIFFERENT APPROACH, A BETTER APPROACH IN OUR OPINION.

BUT WITH THAT, IT DOES TAKE ADDITIONAL TIME.

THE OTHER THING AND I'LL JUST BACK UP, BACK IN 2008, WE ACTUALLY DID HAVE THREE INVESTIGATORS AND AT THAT TIME WE MADE THE DECISION TO GO DOWN TO TAKE ONE INVESTIGATOR OUT OF THAT INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION TO HELP WITH OUR COP INITIATIVES.

THAT HAS SINCE BEEN A MUCH MORE, MUCH MORE ESTABLISHED.

BUT WE NEVER WE NEVER REPLACED THAT.

AND WITH THAT, THE CALL VOLUME HAS GONE UP.

AND THEN ALSO, QUITE HONESTLY, HOW WE INVESTIGATE AND WHAT WE INVESTIGATE HAS CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY AS WELL.

AS YOU MAY KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, OUR SEX CRIMES, THOSE DO THOSE ARE INVESTIGATED BY [INAUDIBLE] COUNTY CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION.

[01:50:02]

THAT IS THE EXPECTATION HERE IN ANOKA COUNTY.

A LOT OF OUR CASES THAT WE USED TO OTHER CASES WOULD ALSO GO TO CID.

BUT MANY OF THOSE CASES WE TRY TO KEEP ON OUR OWN BECAUSE QUITE FRANKLY, WE JUST BECAUSE THERE IS SUCH A HIGH VOLUME OF SEX CRIMES IN THE ENTIRE COUNTY OF ANOKA, A LOT OF THESE OTHER FELONY LEVEL CRIMES THAT WE WOULD NORMALLY SEND UP TO CID THAT WE TAKE, THE REASON WE TAKE THOSE IS BECAUSE WE DO JUST WE JUST HAVE MORE TIME AND BETTER ABILITY TO WORK THOSE CASES BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES WE KNOW THE PERSONS INVOLVED. SO THERE'S THERE'S A LOT TO THE INVESTIGATIONS PROCESS THAT HAS CHANGED OVER THE YEARS.

BUT LIKE I SAID, THE CALL VOLUME, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, I BELIEVE WE'VE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE'VE PROBABLY SEEN ABOUT A 10 TO 15% INCREASE IN CALL VOLUME JUST OVER THE LAST LAST FEW YEARS.

I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBERS, BUT I BELIEVE WE WE JUMPED ABOUT 3 TO 5,000 CALLS JUST WITHIN THE LAST LAST YEAR.

AND CALL VOLUME IS IS CRISIS CALLS FOR THE MOST PART.

NO IT CAN VARY IT CAN BE ANYTHING FROM A CRISIS CALL TO A SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY CALL TO, QUITE FRANKLY, A BARKING DOG CALL.

SO IT RUNS THE IT RUNS THE WHOLE GAMUT.

SO WE RUN PROBABLY ABOUT ABOUT 67-68 CALLS IN A 24 HOUR PERIOD.

SO IT'S IT FIGURES OUT TO BE, I THINK, AROUND 28,000 CALLS A YEAR.

OKAY. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU, CHIEF. IT'S REALLY EXCITING TO HEAR THAT WHILE OTHER DEPARTMENTS AROUND THE TWIN CITIES ARE HAVING STRUGGLES FILLING THEIR DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE PEOPLE LINING UP THAT YOU'VE BEEN WORKING. AND I KNOW THAT IT'S ALWAYS A STAFFING ISSUE THROUGHOUT ALL THE TWIN CITIES AREAS AND THE WHOLE STATE.

SO I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE TO WANT TO FILL THESE POSITIONS THAT ARE QUALIFIED AND THE PATHWAYS PROGRAM WE REALLY SUPPORT, AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

I ALSO KNOW NOBODY WANTS TO SUBMIT A POLICE REPORT AND THEN NOT HAVE AN INVESTIGATOR HAVE TIME TO LOOK AT IT.

THAT'S THE WORST CASE SCENARIO.

YOU'VE BEEN A VICTIM OF A CRIME OR THINK YOU ARE AND NOTHING'S DONE.

SO I I'M VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF DOING THIS SO THAT THE INVESTIGATORS CAN CLEAR THOSE CASELOADS MORE QUICKLY.

YEAH. THANK YOU. THANKS.

ANYONE ELSE IN THE COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? THANK YOU, CHIEF. THEN MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? MOTION.

MOVE TO APPROVE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S REQUEST FOR A TEMPORARY INCREASE IN POLICE OFFICER STAFFING NUMBERS FROM 29 TO 30 OFFICERS EFFECTIVE JANUARY 2024.

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

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE THEN, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE, AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION PASSES.

THANK YOU, CHIEF.

AND ALSO, JUST TO CLARIFY, TOO, THIS IS JUST JUST TEMPORARILY THROUGH JANUARY.

SO I BELIEVE WE WILL BE DISCUSSING THIS AGAIN IN THE BUDGET WHEN WE GO FORWARD FOR 2024.

YES, THAT IS CORRECT.

SEE IF IT MAKES SENSE TO KEEP ON A THIRD INVESTIGATOR, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THIS IS JUST SET AS A TEMPORARY.

SO JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS REALLY CLEAR.

YES. AND MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, WE ACTUALLY PROBABLY WANT THIS IS JUST TO 2024.

IF COUNCIL APPROVES THAT, WE WOULD THAT'S WHEN WE WOULD ADD THAT THIRD INVESTIGATOR.

YES. YEAH. THANK YOU FOR THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING MY CLARIFYING REMARK.

NEXT, WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER 12 REQUEST TO PURCHASE MOBILE PRO SYSTEMS COMMANDER 3400 CAMERA TRAILER.

AND THE CHIEF IS GOING TO TAKE US THROUGH THIS AS WELL.

YES, THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS LOOKED AT OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

IT JUST NEVER WE'VE JUST NOT MOVED MOVED FORWARD WITH IT.

SOME RECENT EVENTS THAT HAVE COME UP THAT WE'VE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT MADE US DECIDE TO MOVE FORWARD AND MAKE THE RECOMMENDATION TO PURCHASE THIS CAMERA TRAILER.

THE PROBABLY THE BIGGEST ADVANTAGE TO THIS CAMERA TRAILER IS THE IS THE THE HIGH VISIBILITY THAT IT ALLOWS.

IT REALLY IS SOMETHING THAT IS A FORCE MULTIPLIER.

AND AND IT IS DEFINITELY BEEN A DETERRENT OR IT CAN ACT AS A DETERRENT IN AREAS WHERE THERE IS AN INCREASE OR WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITY OR DISORDER.

IT ALSO CAN BE USED FOR OTHER SECURITY EVENTS THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THE CITY.

JUST AS AN EXAMPLE, THE HOLIDAY TRAIN THAT WE HAVE EVERY YEAR, THEN AS WELL AS THE JAMBOREE AND OTHER OTHER PARK EVENTS.

THE ONE NICE THING ABOUT THESE THESE CAMERA TRAILERS IS THEY'VE COME A LONG WAY WITH RELIABILITY AND TECHNOLOGY AND THE WAY THEY'RE DESIGNED NOW, THEY CAN VIRTUALLY RUN ALMOST 24 HOURS A DAY, 365 DAYS A YEAR.

[01:55:06]

OTHERWISE THE GENERATOR HAS TO GET REFUELED TO CHARGE THE BATTERY, CONTINUE TO CHARGE THE BATTERIES.

SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE OUT QUITE A BIT, UNLESS IT IS DOWN FOR SOME TYPE OF REPAIR.

THANK YOU. UM, I JUST SAW I'M A ROTARIAN AND AT OUR ROTARY MEETING, THE POLICE CHIEF IN FRIDLEY WAS JUST SPEAKING ON VERY HIGHLY ABOUT THIS TRAILER AND HOW IT'S LIKE HAVING ANOTHER OFFICER, AND THAT'S HOW EFFECTIVE THEY ARE AND THAT THEY JUST THEY WOULD NEVER WANT TO GIVE IT UP.

AND THEY WERE, I THINK, APPLYING FOR A SECOND ONE IN THEIR CITY.

SO I'D ALREADY HEARD ABOUT IT BEFORE WE MET AND TALKED ABOUT THIS.

YES, MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THEY ARE GOING TO GIVE IT AWAY FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS DURING THE JAMBOREE.

AT LEAST THAT'S OUR PLAN RIGHT NOW.

SO WE ARE GOING TO BORROW IT? YES. GREAT.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE CHIEF FROM THE COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT, THEN. THEN MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? MOVE TO APPROVE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S PURCHASE OF A MOBILE PRO SYSTEMS COMMANDER 3400 CAMERA TRAILER IN THE AMOUNT OF $76,783. WITH THE EXPENDITURE COMING FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S OPERATING BUDGET.

SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS.

ANY DISCUSSION FROM THE COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT, THEN EVERYONE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION PASSES.

THANK YOU. NEXT WE GO TO.

AND THANK YOU, CHIEF, FOR BRINGING THOSE TO OUR ATTENTION.

NEXT, WE GO TO CITY COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS.

[CITY COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS]

HE WAS VERY INVOLVED WITH THE COMMUNITY FOR DECADES AND HE WILL BE SORELY MISSED.

HE WAS ON OUR HE WAS STILL ON OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.

AND WE JUST HEARD ON FRIDAY THAT HE HAD PASSED.

SO I'M TRULY SORRY.

AND I HOPE HIS FAMILY IS DOING OKAY RIGHT NOW.

AND THAT'S MY FIRST SECOND GOING ON TO THE REGULAR, STILL INVOLVED WITH THE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE AND TAKING CARE OF THE FLOWER POTS AT MURZYN HALL BECAUSE WE'RE MOVING WE'RE NOT TAKING CARE OF THE POTS HERE AT CITY HALL BECAUSE HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE OUR FIRST COUNCIL MEETING.

I THINK IT'S I THINK IT'S THE SECOND MEETING IN JULY.

BUT MATERIAL SHORTAGES OR DELAYS KEEP PUSHING IT OUT.

WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE AT IN MAY. BUT, YOU KNOW, SO ANYWAY, SO THAT'S WHY THE POTS AREN'T TAKEN CARE OF HERE AT THIS HALL.

ATTENDED THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT MEETING WITH THE MAYOR AT ANOKA COUNTY.

THEY HAVE A QUARTERLY MEETING THAT GOES ON AND SHARES BUSINESS THAT'S GOING ON IN THE COUNTY OF ANOKA.

THEY WENT OVER THE THE MONIES THAT WAS PASSED IN THE LEGISLATION AND HOW A LOT OF THE MONIES ARE GOING TO REALLY HELP ANOKA COUNTY WITH ROADWAYS, WITH BUILDINGS, LOTS OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

AND THEY'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT.

AND THEN LAST SATURDAY, NOT THIS PAST, BUT THE PREVIOUS VERY BUSY DAY IN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, I ATTENDED THE PET FESTIVAL.

I WAS ALSO SITTING AT THE COUNCIL TABLE, THE ART FESTIVAL AT KORDIAK.

WE ALSO HAD A POWWOW FOR THE NATIVE AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.

I CONTINUE TO WORK WITH BLOOMING SUNSHINE GARDEN WERE CREATED A DESIGN NOW AND WE GOT WATER THAT'S INSTALLED SO WE CAN DON'T HAVE TO DRAG A 300 FOOT HOSE ACROSS THE GARDEN.

SO WE'RE SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

ALSO STOPPED BY A FEW GARAGE SALES DURING THE CITYWIDE GARAGE SALE IS QUITE INTERESTING.

I TRIED TO BE GOOD BECAUSE I DON'T I DON'T HAVE MUCH ROOM IN MY HOUSE.

I CAN'T BUY A LOT OF STUFF.

BUT ANYWAY, IT WAS FUN TO GET OUT AND DO THAT AND THAT'S IT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS, COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES YEAH.

YES. JAMES THANK YOU, MAYOR.

IT'S GREAT TO BE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS IN THE SUMMERTIME.

EVERYONE'S OUTSIDE DOING THINGS.

IN MAY 25TH, I HAD A MEETING WITH THE FIRE CHIEF AND THE ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF, THE POLICE CHIEF AND THE MAYOR TO TALK ABOUT SOME UPCOMING ISSUES.

WE ALSO HAD A MEETING WITH THE POLICE CHIEF AND CAPTAIN MARKHAM, ALONG WITH ALL THE RESIDENTS THAT WERE INVITED OF STINSON BOULEVARD NEAR SILVER LAKE BEACH PARK, TO TALK ABOUT SAFETY IN THAT AREA AND WHAT'S HAPPENING.

THERE WAS SOME INCIDENTS AT THE PARK AND IT WAS WONDERFUL TO SEE THEM TAKE SO MUCH TIME TO ANSWER SO MANY QUESTIONS.

AND THE RESIDENTS WERE REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

AND I WAS REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE TIME AND ATTENTION TO THE THE WORRIES ABOUT CRIME THERE.

I ATTENDED THE LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES.

THEY PUT ON A LEGISLATIVE RECAP FOR THE CITIES FROM WHAT HAPPENED AT THIS LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

AND THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS WILL BE GETTING DIFFERENT WAYS THAT THE FUNDS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED WILL IMPACT OUR CITY IN GOOD WAYS.

AND SO THAT'S WONDERFUL, ALONG WITH RECEIVING MONIES.

SO THAT'S FANTASTIC.

[02:00:03]

IT WAS A STATE MEETING AND WE RECEIVED TRAINING ON HOUSING ISSUES AND WE MET WITH LOCAL COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM OTHER CITY COUNCILS, INCLUDING SAINT PAUL, MINNEAPOLIS, HOPKINS, MINNETONKA, NORTH SAINT PAUL AND OTHERS.

I SPENT A GOOD 30 MINUTES TALKING WITH THE CLOSEST COUNCIL MEMBER IN MINNEAPOLIS TO OURS THE THAT WARD THERE IS ELLIOT PAYNE AND SO WE TALKED ABOUT THE 37TH AVENUE RECONSTRUCTION AND HOW THAT'S IMPACTING BOTH OF OUR CITIES.

I ATTENDED ART IN THE PARK AND CONGRATULATIONS TO THE SHATTERED HILL ART COLLECTIVE FOR HOSTING THEIR SECOND ANNUAL ART IN THE PARK IN KORDIAK PARK.

MY DAUGHTERS BOUGHT SOME GREAT ART.

I HAD SOME FOOD AT THE FOOD TRUCK.

IT WAS A WONDERFUL DAY. WE SAW THE BOOK FAIRY.

I ATTENDED THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS POWWOW TO CONGRATULATE THE EIGHT SENIORS THAT ARE GRADUATING.

SENATOR MARY KUNESH CAME TO OUR CITY AND ALSO SPOKE AND ENCOURAGED THE SENIORS.

AND ON THAT NOTE, CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES.

WE HAD THE EDA IN THE WORK SESSION.

AND FINALLY, THE LAST THING I HAD WAS I HAD A MEETING WITH A LOCAL RESIDENT WHO HAS A HOUSING ADVOCATE, ALONG WITH COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS, TO WORK ON HOUSING ISSUES IN OUR CITIES. THANK YOU.

GREAT. COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS.

YEAH, A LOT OF OVERLAP THERE.

I ATTENDED OUR EDA AND WORK SESSION MEETINGS, ALSO MET WITH.

ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF O'BRIEN AND CHIEF AUSTIN ABOUT RENTAL LICENSING, ALSO ATTENDED THE MULTIPLE EVENTS ON THAT SATURDAY WITH PETS IN THE PARK, ART IN THE PARK, AND THE HIGH SCHOOL POWWOW. IT WAS DEFINITELY A WARM DAY, BUT AN ENJOYABLE DAY IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

I ATTENDED OUR LAST LIBRARY BOARD MEETING LAST WEEK WHERE THERE ARE SOME EXCITING THINGS THAT THE BOARD IS TALKING ABOUT.

I WASN'T ABLE TO ATTEND IT LIVE, BUT I WATCHED THE RECORDING OF THE LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES WEBINAR ON WHAT HAPPENED THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND THE IMPORTANT THINGS HAPPENING AT THE STATE LEVEL THAT WILL IMPACT US IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AND THEN ALSO WAS ABLE TO HIT A COUPLE OF THE GARAGE SALES AS WELL.

GREAT. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS.

NOTHING TO REPORT, BUT I WILL SHARE THAT I'LL BE HAVING MAKING A STATEMENT IN FUTURE WEEKS REGARDING MY FUTURE.

UM, FOR MY REPORT, I WANT TO ECHO COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS SYMPATHIES FOR JERRY HERINGER'S FAMILY AND ALL THAT HE'S DONE.

I'M SURE WE'RE GOING TO JUST HEAR MORE AND MORE ABOUT ALL THE WAYS THAT HE HAS HELPED OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.

HE WILL BE SORELY MISSED AND WE JUST NEVER KNOW.

LIFE IS TOO SHORT.

WOULD LIKE TO.

I'LL CONTINUE ON WITH MY REPORT FROM THERE.

ATTENDED THE PARK AND REC MEETING WHERE THE COMMISSIONERS BOARD MEMBERS TOURED THE PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING.

SO IT WAS KIND OF, I THINK THE FIRST TIME THAT THERE'S BEEN A TOUR AT A COMMISSION OR A BOARD MEETING AND ALSO HAD SOME CONSTITUENTS CAME INTO THE MEETING ASKING ABOUT BIKE RACKS IN THE CITY AND BIKE LANES AND BASKETBALL COURTS.

SO IT WAS A VERY ROBUST MEETING.

UM, ATTENDED THE LATIN A MEETING WITH GOVERNOR'S STAFF AND OTHER LATINO LEADERS ACROSS THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, ATTENDED THE ANOKA COUNTY ELECTED OFFICIALS MEETING WITH COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS.

AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE GO TO THESE MEETINGS, IT'S IT'S SO WONDERFUL, AS COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES SAID, TO TO HAVE THESE CONNECTIONS.

BUT YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU'RE WORKING ALONGSIDE ANOTHER COUNCIL MEMBER OR MAYOR, EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT LITERALLY NEXT DOOR TO US.

STAFF. WE ALL LEARN SO MUCH FROM WORKING ACROSS OUR REGION AND LEARNING HOW OTHER WAYS OTHER PLACES DO THINGS, QUESTIONS THEY'RE ASKING.

SO ANY TIME WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO NETWORK AND MEET WITH OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS, IT REALLY HELPS OUR CITY GROW BECAUSE WE'RE WE'RE MAKING THOSE CONNECTIONS.

SO IT'S GREAT WHEN WE CAN HAVE TIME TO DO THAT.

I ALSO ATTENDED AN ART EXHIBIT OF SOME OF MY ART AT THE GRAND HAND GALLERY IN SAINT PAUL.

UM ATTENDED THE LOCAL PROGRESS CONFERENCE WITH RACHEL JAMES AGAIN, AND I MISSED ALL OF THE CITY EVENTS BECAUSE I HAD MY NIECES BASICALLY THEIR DANCE AERIAL RECITAL WAS THAT DAY, SO I MISSED PETS IN THE PARK.

I MISSED THE ART FAIR AND I MISSED THE POWWOW.

BUT THANKFULLY I WAS BACK IN TOWN AND HAVE BEEN ATTENDING MANY GRADUATION PARTIES.

SO VERY MUCH CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2023 GRADUATE OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AND ATTENDED OUR REGIONAL COUNCIL OF MAYORS MEETINGS THIS PAST WEEK ABOUT RENTAL HOUSING, OUR EDA AND WORK SESSION, WHERE WE HEARD AN IDEA ABOUT THE MEDTRONIC SPACE THAT IS FOR SALE AND BROUGHT IN MNDOT TO COME TO OUR ROTARY MEETING LAST WEEK AND ALONG WITH AND INVITED MANDY MEISSNER AND CONNIE BERNARDY TO JOIN IN AND HEAR THE PRESENTATION MNDOT IS MAKING FOR CENTRAL AVENUE AND UNIVERSITY.

AND THEN TODAY I ATTENDED A LUNCHEON FOR WOMEN WINNING.

NEXT, WE HAVE A REPORT FROM THE CITY MANAGER.

[02:05:03]

THANK YOU. UM, SO JUST FROM A STAFF PERSPECTIVE, ALSO WANT TO SHARE CONDOLENCES FOR THE HERINGER FAMILY.

A HUGE LOSS.

THERE'S HARDLY A RESEARCH PROJECT IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WHERE YOU'RE LOOKING AT SOME HISTORY THAT JERRY DIDN'T HAVE HIS HANDS IN, BEEN A LONGTIME PUBLIC SERVANT, SO WE WILL MISS HIM DEARLY.

FOR RECENT EVENTS, THE CITY DID HOLD ITS SIXTH ANNUAL CITYWIDE GARAGE SALE AND JUST SOME STATISTICS AROUND THAT.

THERE WERE 71 ADDRESSES THROUGHOUT THE CITY REGISTERED FOR THE EVENT.

SO A REALLY GOOD SHOW OUT FOR THAT.

TWO WEEKS AGO, THE INAUGURAL PETS IN THE PARK EVENT HAD OVER 150 ATTENDEES WITH 19 REGISTERED BOOTHS.

THERE WERE CANINE DEMONSTRATIONS FROM FRIDLEY PD, FREE POPCORN, AND PROFESSIONAL PET PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN.

UPCOMING EVENTS. SO THE 2023 COMMUNITY ART AND INFO FAIR IS SCHEDULED FOR THIS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14TH, FROM 4 TO 7 AT HUSET PARK WEST.

AS OF MONDAY, THERE ARE 41 BOOTHS AND 16 ART VENDORS REGISTERED.

THERE WILL BE A LLAMA PETTING ZOO, PERFORMANCES BY THE COLUMBIA ACADEMY MARIMBA BAND, FREE SAMBUSAS WHILE SUPPLIES LAST, AND A CORN DOG FOOD TRUCK IN ATTENDANCE.

DEVIATION FOR THIS YEAR TO GET YOUR FREE SAMBUSA YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TALK TO STAFF.

IT'S A PUNCH CARD BINGO THAT YOU KNOW, AND YOU'LL HAVE TO MAKE A STOP TO THE FINANCE DIRECTOR TO LEARN ABOUT THE AUDIT.

SO YOU'RE GOING TO EARN YOUR SAMBUSA.

[INAUDIBLE] I THOUGHT THAT WAS A REALLY NICE TWIST.

AND IT'LL GET STAFF AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH MORE RESIDENTS.

MUSIC IN THE PARK SERIES BEGINS ON JUNE 28TH AT HUSET PARK EAST AT 6:30 P.M.

WITH THE CHANGEUPS AS THE SERIES OPENER.

IN THE NEWS, CITY STAFF WERE FEATURED ON FOX NINE FOR PETS IN THE PARK AND CITY STAFF TOOK A STAR TRIBUNE REPORTER ON A TOUR OF THE NEW CITY HALL AND CURRENT CITY HALL.

THERE'S A NICE ARTICLE IF THE RESIDENTS HAVE NOT SEEN THAT.

AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION APPLICATION DEADLINE IS THIS FRIDAY, JUNE 16TH.

APPLICATIONS CAN BE FOUND ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE.

AND JUST A NOTE THAT SPLASH PADS AND THE SPLASH PAD AND WADING POOLS ARE OPEN.

THE REC AND LIBRARY PROGRAMING WILL BEGIN SHORTLY AND TO VISIT THE CITY'S WEBSITE TO REGISTER FOR PROGRAMS. THE SUMMER PROGRAMS. AND THAT'S IT.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES.

IS THERE A TENANT'S MEETING THAT WE.

IS THAT A PART OF THE REPORT? OH, SORRY. NO, THAT'S OKAY.

YES, RACHEL.

SORRY. COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES IS MENTIONING TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6 P.M.

THERE IS A RENTAL MEETING AT THE LIBRARY AND IT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

SO IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN ANY OF THE.

UM, I'LL JUST SAY IT.

YOU'RE INTERESTED IN TENANT AND RENTAL ADVOCACY AND HAVE QUESTIONS FOR THE CITY.

I WILL BE THERE AS LONG WITH ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF DAN O'BRIEN TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

SO 6 P.M. AT THE LIBRARY TOMORROW.

AND THEN ALSO THERE'S A MEETING TOMORROW NIGHT AT SILVER LAKE BEACH TALKING TO THE NEIGHBORS.

ARE YOU ARE YOU ATTENDING THAT COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES? YES, WITH WITH POLICE CHIEF AT 5:30 P.M.

NEAR SILVER LAKE BEACH.

SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO DIVIDE UP TO GO TO ALL THE MEETINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AROUND THE CITY.

ANY OTHER UPDATES OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT'S COMING UP? NOTHING FURTHER. THANK YOU FOR THAT COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT THEN.

THANK YOU. THAT TAKES US TO OUR COMMUNITY FORUM.

[COMMUNITY FORUM]

SPEAKERS THAT ARE IN PERSON ARE ASKED TO COMPLETE A SPEAKER FORM AND SUBMIT IT TO THE CITY CLERK.

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 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 FIVE MINUTES AND ADDRESS THEIR COMMENTS TO THE COUNCIL AS A WHOLE AND NOT TO INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBERS.

PERSONAL ATTACKS, THREATS, THE 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 ON WHICH THEY ARE RAISED.

SARA DO WE HAVE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TONIGHT? DIANE MEYER WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

THANK YOU. WELCOME, DIANE.

I AM DIANE MEYER AND I LIVE AT 4218 2ND STREET NORTHEAST, AND WE'RE HAVING SOME ISSUES THERE.

[02:10:08]

AS A MATTER OF ABOUT 3 OR 4 OF US TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON.

BUT WE DO HAVE ON 2ND STREET IS 4201 AND 4203 AT NIGHT. MISTER AWESOME, YOUR STAFF PROBABLY KNOWS MORE.

15 TO 16 CARS PARKED ON THE STREET EVERY NIGHT.

THEY START ABOUT 10:30 AND THEY LEAVE ABOUT 6:30 OR 7 IN THE MORNING.

ALSO 4236 2ND STREET IS AT LEAST 8 CARS PARKED FOR ONE HOUSE.

I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE RUNNING A GARAGE INSIDE THE ATTACHED GARAGE OR WHATEVER, BUT IT'S TERRIBLE.

UM, THEN I ALSO HAVE 4246 MAIN STREET, WHICH FALLS UNDER STILL COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

THAT PLACE HAS A MOTOR HOME THAT HASN'T MOVED IN 10 YEARS.

EVERYTHING IS FALLING OFF AND IT LOOKS LIKE A CITY JUNKYARD.

AND 4207 MAIN STREET WE NOW HAVE A I DON'T KNOW IF THEY MISUNDERSTOOD.

THEY DUMPED A TON OF FURNITURE, ALL RUINED, SHREDDED AND IT'S SITTING OUT ON THE CURB.

SO FOR MYSELF, I'M VERY FRUSTRATED.

UM, I BELIEVE AND IT'S MY OWN OPINION, WE'RE A SMALL ENTITY OVER THERE FROM MAIN STREET TO UNIVERSITY.

WE DON'T SEE A LOT OF ACTION FROM CITY COUNCIL ANYWHERE WE'RE OUR OWN ENTITY IS WHAT IT'S TURNED OUT TO BE.

ON 3RD STREET ON 41ST THEY SENT THREE ORDERS IN TO GET THE GIANT POTHOLES FIXED AND NOTHING'S BEEN DONE.

I WAS ADAMANT ABOUT MY STREET.

MINE DID GET DONE, BUT I FIND IT VERY FRUSTRATING.

I THINK THE COUNCIL NEEDS TO LOOK AND I THINK SOMETIMES WE'RE A FORGOTTEN ENTITY OVER THERE AND WE DON'T GET ANY HELP.

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN GREAT TO US.

WE'VE HAD SOME INCIDENTS AND THEY HAVE BEEN VERY MUCH ON TOP OF IT.

BUT IT'S GETTING TO THE POINT I DID ASK AS AARON, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE STREETS AND ALL THAT.

THEY START AT 44TH AND I LIVE RIGHT AT THE INCLINE ON 42ND AND THEY GO TO 40TH AND THERE IS NO STOP.

TWO HOUSES HAVE BEEN HIT ALREADY WITH CARS AT THE INTERSECTIONS.

AND I ASKED IF WE COULD GET SOME STOP SIGNS, IF ANYTHING, AND THEY SAID IT WOULD BE IT HAS TO GO THROUGH EVERYBODY'S HOWEVER, THE DECISION IS MADE, BUT LITERALLY THAT'S HOW BAD IT IS.

AND WE'VE HAD A FEW NEIGHBORS TAKE A SOCCER BALL AND KICK IT OUT WHEN THEY CAN HEAR THEM COMING TO TRY AND SLOW THEM DOWN BECAUSE WHEN THEY HIT THAT INCLINE, THEY ARE FLYING AND THEY END UP ON 40TH.

SO I'M FRUSTRATED.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE.

COUNCIL BUESGENS YOU WERE AT MY HOUSE A FEW YEARS BACK, SO I DID VISIT WITH YOU.

BUT I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE RELOOKED AT WHAT'S HAPPENING OVER THERE.

THERE'S CARS EVERYWHERE ON 2ND STREET.

IF THERE'S A HUGE MEDICAL EMERGENCY, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET THROUGH.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS HAS A QUESTION.

CLARIFYING QUESTIONS OR INFORMATIONAL QUESTIONS FOR STAFF.

IT'LL BE WORKING. ONE IS 40, IS IT 4201 AND 4204? 4201 AND 4203.

IT'S A SIDE BY SIDE.

AND WITH THE 16 CARS AND 8 CARS, ARE THEY ALL DO THEY ALL LOOK ALIKE BY CHANCE? NO. OKAY.

AND ARE THESE TWO PROPERTIES RENTALS? YES.

THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU.

OKAY. THANK YOU DIANE.

SO I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND HOPEFULLY SOMETHING GETS HAPPENING OVER THERE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

AND I RECEIVED YOUR EMAIL EARLIER TOO, DIANE, AND HAD SENT THAT ON TOO.

SO THANK YOU FOR COMING IN.

SARA NEXT.

KAY MEYER WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

THANK YOU.

I'M NOT GOING TO SAY WHAT I CAME HERE TO SAY BECAUSE I AM SO GRIEVED AT WHAT I'VE SEEN HERE TONIGHT.

Y'ALL LISTEN, BUT YOU DON'T HEAR.

AND I THINK THE PEOPLE SITTING HERE AND THE ONES THAT HAVE LEFT HAVE TO BE VERY, VERY DISCOURAGED.

[02:15:01]

AND IT MAKES ME SO SAD.

BUT THIS IS GOVERNMENT.

I CAME TO SAY I WANT TO THANK THE POLICE SO VERY MUCH.

I HAD THREE POLICE OFFICERS OUT A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO TO HELP ME WITH SOMETHING, AND IT WAS NOT AN EMERGENCY.

IT WAS NO BIG DEAL.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO COME, BUT THEY CAME AND IT MEANT SO MUCH TO ME.

AND I JUST WANTED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO KNOW AND I WANTED TO SAY I WISH COLUMBIA HEIGHTS WOULD BE AS KIND AS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS TO ME BECAUSE I'M NOT SEEING IT IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS ANYMORE.

IT'S CHANGED AND IT GRIEVES ME HORRIBLY.

IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH TO SAY THANK YOU TO ANYBODY.

IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH TO SMILE TO SAY TO SOMEBODY, HAVE A GOOD DAY.

TO HEAR, EVERYBODY LISTENS, BUT NOBODY HEARS.

WHEN AN ENGINEER CAN SAY, WELL, I DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.

YOU KNOW WHAT I HEARD? I HEARD CHILDREN CAN GET HURT.

OLD PEOPLE CAN GET HURT.

PEOPLE ARE BREAKING THE LAW LEFT AND RIGHT.

AND WHO GIVES A RIP? WELL, WE'RE JUST GOING TO CHANGE THE STREET AND EVERYTHING WILL BE ALL RIGHT.

YOU DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING.

YOU DIDN'T HEAR WHAT THEY SAID.

AND I AM SO GRIEVED RIGHT NOW.

I CAME HERE HAPPY.

I'M GOING TO GO HOME AND HAVE A GOOD CRY.

BUT THANK YOU FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

AND I HOPE YOU STAND AND BE A GOOD EXAMPLE, AS ALWAYS, TO COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AND SMILE AND MAKE PEOPLE FEEL GOOD.

THANK YOU. YOU DID FOR ME.

THANK YOU, KAY. THERE'S NO ONE ELSE JUST TO GIVE A LITTLE, I THINK, INFORMATION ABOUT THE ROLE THAT THE COUNCIL PLAYS AS WE DO HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE WITH AN OPEN MIND, LISTENING TO EVERYONE, INCLUDING STAFF, AND BECAUSE STAFF ARE THE EXPERTS THAT WE'VE HIRED TO GET THIS DATA AND THIS INFORMATION FOR OUR CITY, AND I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE VERY, VERY QUALIFIED STAFF WHO DO A FANTASTIC JOB OF THEIR RESEARCH AND ANSWERING OUR MULTIPLE QUESTIONS, MULTIPLE QUESTIONS AND EMAILS.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE POSITION TO LISTEN TO EVERYONE.

AND SOMETIMES THAT CAN ALSO MEAN THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE A NEUTRAL FACE SO THAT WE CAN LISTEN.

AND IF WE LIKE WHAT SOMEONE'S SAYING OR WE DON'T LIKE, IT REALLY WOULDN'T BE FAIR TO ALWAYS BE SMILING AND NODDING ALONG WITH SOMEONE BECAUSE WHAT IF THE NEXT PERSON COMES ALONG AND SAYS SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND THEN WE DON'T NOD TO THAT PERSON? THAT PERSON'S EXPERIENCE NOW IS, WOW, THEY DIDN'T LIKE ANYTHING I SAID.

AND SO WE I THINK WE THAT'S HOW I FEEL ANYWAY.

AND I DON'T KNOW HOW THE REST OF THE COUNCIL FEELS, BUT I FEEL THAT IN ORDER TO BE NEUTRAL, TO HEAR THE INFORMATION AND AND ALL OF THE INFORMATION WE HAD BEFORE THE MEETING TOO, IT'S JUST IMPORTANT FOR US TO PLAY THAT ROLE SO MUCH TO WHAT KAY SAID.

IT IS HARD.

I'M A HUMAN BEING AND I HAVE CRIED UP HERE BEFORE DURING THE COUNCIL MEETING AND HAVE HAD MY VOICE BREAK WHEN I'VE HAD TO SPEAK.

BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S MY ROLE IS TO GET TOO EMOTIONAL.

I NEED TO MANEUVER THROUGH THE BUSINESS OF THE MEETING AND OF COURSE, IF I'M EMOTIONAL, THAT'S OKAY.

I'M A HUMAN BEING, BUT I DON'T WANT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THE STORY, FROM YOUR STORIES, WITH MY EMOTIONS.

I'M HERE TO MAKE A DECISION NOT TO CREATE AN EMOTIONAL SPACE THAT TAKES AWAY FROM THE COMMUNITY'S STORIES OR FROM WHAT OUR STAFF NEEDS TO SHARE.

AND SO I JUST I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT ON THAT, THAT WHEN YOU SEE A NEUTRAL FACE OR WHEN I JUST SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH, THAT'S KIND OF ALL I REALLY OUGHT TO SAY.

BUT IT DOESN'T DOESN'T MEAN I DON'T HAVE MORE HEART TO THAT AND AND TO QUESTIONS THAT EVERYONE HAS ON THE COUNCIL AS WELL.

I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS AND AND THEN MAKE A DECISION.

[02:20:01]

THEN SEEING THERE'S NO ONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TONIGHT.

ALL RIGHT THEN MAY I THEN MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED. SECOND.

I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT, THEN EVERYONE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION PASSES.

THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED. THANK YOU ALL.

THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.