[00:00:01]
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
WELCOME. IT IS 6:00, SO WE'LL START OUR MEETING FOR TONIGHT.
I'D LIKE TO WELCOME YOU ALL TO OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR.
GOT LOUDER. MANY THANKS TO STAFF.
WERE WORKING SO HARD, ESPECIALLY THE LAST WEEK AND A HALF.
UM, THANKFULLY, THE MICS ARE WORKING, LIGHTS ARE WORKING.
SO SO THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING TODAY.
SO JUST IN CASE, IF YOU SEE ANYONE ELSE, THERE IS SPACE FOR THEM TO TO MOVE.
UM, WE WILL START OUR MEETING TONIGHT WITH ATTENDANCE.
AND SARAH, COULD YOU PLEASE DO A ROLL CALL? ABSOLUTELY.
I FEEL LIKE WE'RE IN A SPACESHIP OR SOMETHING.
ALTHOUGH THE CURTAINS ARE GOING.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR COMING, EVERYONE, AGAIN.
I WILL START WITH OUR MISSION STATEMENT.
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.
IF YOU'RE ABLE TO PLEASE RISE AND SAY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WITH ME.
THANK YOU. NEXT, WE'RE AT OUR APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.
THE COUNCIL UPON MAJORITY VOTE OF ITS MEMBERS.
THESE MAY BE ITEMS SUBMITTED AFTER THE AGENDA PREPARATION DEADLINE.
COUNCIL IS A, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED? SO MOVED. SECOND.
I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS.
AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER JACOBS TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING AS NONE, THEN ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[PROCLAMATIONS, PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITION, ANNOUNCEMENTS, GUESTS]
NEXT, WE HAVE OUR PROCLAMATIONS.THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF FRIENDSHIP IS COMING UP SOON.
IT WHEREAS THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS ACKNOWLEDGES THE AN IMPACT IN PROMOTING UNITY, EMPATHY AND COOPERATION AMONG.
AND. WHEREAS, FRIENDSHIP IS A CRUCIAL ASPECT OF LIFE, THAT DOESN'T STOP.
AND. WHEREAS, THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY DESIGNATED WITH THE GOAL OF FOSTERING COMMUNICATION, UNITY AND PEACE, AS WELL AS FOSTERING MUTUAL RESPECT AND.
WHEREAS THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, A CITY OF PEACE AND ALL AMERICA CITY 2016, HAVING TWO SISTER CITIES LOMIANKI, POLAND AND GOLDAP. IS DEVOTED TO FOSTERING INCLUSIVITY, DIVERSITY, BONDING AMONG ITS PEOPLE AND ACKNOWLEDGES THE IMPORTANCE OF FRIENDSHIP AND WHEREAS, THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF FRIENDSHIP OFFERS A CHANCE FOR CROSS BARRIERS AND FORGED DEEP BONDS THAT FOSTER COMMUNAL PEACE AND WHEREFORE FRIENDSHIP FOSTERS EMPATHY, COMPASSION AND A SENSE OF COMMUNITY, ALL OF WHICH ARE CRUCIAL FOR FOSTERING A WARM AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENT.
[00:05:09]
FRIENDSHIP IN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.SAY HELLO TO A NEIGHBOR, THANK A SHOPKEEPER, INVITE FRIENDS FOR A GATHERING.
FRIENDSHIP DAY, RIGHT? FRIENDSHIP DAY. OKAY, BRING IT BACK AROUND.
THANK YOU. WE ARE A VERY WELCOMING COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU. NEXT IS OUR NATIONAL NIGHT OUT PROCLAMATION, WHICH IS COMING UP ON AUGUST 1ST THIS YEAR.
WHEREAS THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TOWN WATCH IS SPONSORING A SPECIAL.
ON THE EVENING OF TUESDAY, AUGUST 1ST, 2023, THREE CALLED NATIONAL NIGHT OUT.
AND. WHEREAS, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT ALL CITIZENS OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS BE AWARE.
AND THE POSITIVE IMPACT THAT THEIR PARTICIPATION CAN HAVE ON REDUCING.
AND. WHEREAS, NATIONAL NIGHT OUT PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR.
THOUSANDS OF COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE.
AND. WHEREAS, NEIGHBORHOOD SPIRIT.
AND COOPERATION IS THE THEME OF THE NATIONAL.
AND PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN HELPING THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
NOW. THEREFORE, I AM THE MARCUS SMOLA MAYOR OF THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS DO HEREBY CALL UPON ALL.
FURTHER LET IT BE RESOLVED THAT I HEREBY PROCLAIM TUESDAY, AUGUST.
AS NATIONAL NIGHT OUT IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.
THERE HE. OKAY? THERE HE IS. ERIC JOHNSTON, POLICE CAPTAIN, IS HERE TO RECEIVE THE PROCLAMATION.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME DOING THIS.
MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, I JUST WANT TO THANK.
AHEAD OF THAT. THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF GET TO KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS, MAKE A NEW FRIEND AND JOIN WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS WE KIND OF MAKE THE COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE. AND WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
WE ANTICIPATE 30 TO 40 PARTIES THIS YEAR IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.
AND IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO REGISTER A PARTY, THEY CAN CONTACT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, TALK TO OFFICER BILL MOMBERG, AND WE WILL GET THEM ON THE BOOKS TO REGISTER A PARTY AS WELL. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. AND THEN ERIC, ARE YOU GIVING US A PRESENTATION THEN ABOUT ITEM C, GOLD AVENUE PARKING ENFORCEMENT UPDATE? I AM. ALL RIGHT. YOU CAN JUST TAKE IT RIGHT FROM THERE.
SOUNDS GREAT. IN A CONVERSATION WITH MAYOR MARQUEZ, YOU HAD REQUESTED AN UPDATE AT THE COUNCIL MEETING ABOUT THE GOULD AVENUE PARKING, WHICH WE KNOW IS AN IMPORTANT TOPIC FOR THE AREA HERE WITH THE THE ADDITION OF THE BUILDING AND A LOT MORE VEHICLES.
AND SO THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL PARKING COMPLAINTS.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS WORKED WITH THE CITY AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ON HOW TO RESPOND TO THAT.
WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE DONE A COMBINATION OF AWARENESS.
WE WENT ON AND WE DID A FLYERING CAMPAIGN.
AND SO WE WE STARTED ON A THURSDAY NIGHT.
WE ISSUED ABOUT 80 PARKING FLIERS THAT FIRST NIGHT.
THAT'S HOW MANY VEHICLES WE FOUND IN THIS IMMEDIATE AREA.
THE SECOND NIGHT, IT DROPPED DOWN TO ABOUT 60.
SAME WITH THE THIRD NIGHT. SO JUST JUST BY PUTTING SOME FLIERS OUT, WE GOT SOME GOOD COMPLIANCE.
THE WEEK AFTER THAT, WE FOLLOWED THAT UP WITH A COUPLE OF CITATION, A COUPLE OF ENFORCEMENT EVENTS.
[00:10:03]
WE FOLLOWED THAT UP A FEW DAYS LATER AND WE WERE DOWN TO FIVE CITATIONS.SO OVERALL, WE'RE SEEING SOME GOOD PROGRESS WITH THAT.
THE NEIGHBORS HAVE REPORTED THAT IT'S GOTTEN BETTER AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR THAT.
BUT JUST WANTED TO KIND OF PASS ALONG THAT.
WE'LL KEEP KIND OF MONITORING AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION.
MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL WE HAVE TONIGHT TO PROVIDE THIS PRESENTATION FROM REDPATH AND COMPANY.
AND I BELIEVE YOU JUST NEED TO ADVANCE THE SLIDE WITH THE CLICKER.
JUST WAIT. WE'RE GETTING THERE.
MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE THIS EVENING.
SPEAKING TO MOVE YOUR HEAD CLOSER.
MICROPHONE OR MAYBE THE MICROPHONE.
SORRY. MAYBE THE MICROPHONES CAN BE TURNED UP LOUDER.
WE'RE NOT HEARING. WE'RE NOT HEARING YOU YET.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE THIS EVENING.
I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH A SUMMARY OF THE REPORTS WE ISSUE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE AUDIT, AS WELL AS A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF SOME OF THE FINANCIAL INFORMATION INCLUDED IN THE AUDIT. THE FIRST REPORT THAT WE ISSUE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE AUDIT IS AN OPINION ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
AND THIS REALLY IS THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF OUR AUDIT, AND IT'S THE REASON YOU HIRE US.
SO WE LOOK AT A SAMPLE OF TRANSACTIONS, WE DO SOME ANALYTICAL PROCEDURES, AND THEN WE FOCUS ON AREAS THAT ARE HIGHER RISK FOR FRAUD OR ERROR IN THE COURSE OF OUR AUDIT SO THAT WE CAN OFFER AN OPINION AS TO WHETHER THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE FAIRLY STATED.
IT'S THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF ASSURANCE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
A NOTE ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS IS THAT THE CITY FINANCE DEPARTMENT WORKS REALLY HARD IN CONJUNCTION WITH US AS THE AUDITORS TO PREPARE THE CITY'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUBMIT IT TO THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION.
AND ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, THE CITY HAS RECEIVED AN AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING.
THE 2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS RECEIVED THE AWARD, WHICH YOU CAN SEE ON THE SCREEN UP THERE.
AND WE ANTICIPATE THAT THE 2022 STATEMENTS WILL BE AWARDED THE CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT AS WELL.
THE RESULTS OF THE AUDIT THIS YEAR IS THAT THERE WAS ONE INTERNAL CONTROL FINDING RELATED TO AUDIT ADJUSTMENTS ANY TIME DURING THE COURSE OF THE AUDIT, IF WE IDENTIFY A MATERIAL CHANGE IN NUMBERS, THE CITY IS PREPARED.
THE CITY PREPARED FINANCIAL INFORMATION.
WE'RE REQUIRED TO REPORT THAT AS A FINDING.
THIS YEAR THERE WAS ONE SIGNIFICANT ADJUSTMENT THAT RELATED TO AN ACCRUAL FOR A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT THE AMOUNT DUE TO THE CONTRACTOR AND WAS SIMPLY A FINANCIAL STATEMENT NUMBER ERROR.
THE AMOUNT ACTUALLY PAID TO THE CONTRACTOR WAS CORRECT.
SO SOMETHING WE'RE REQUIRED TO REPORT TO YOU.
THE THIRD REPORT WE ISSUE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE AUDIT IS A REPORT ON MINNESOTA LEGAL COMPLIANCE.
WE'RE NOT ATTORNEYS, WE'RE ACCOUNTANTS.
THE RESULTS THIS YEAR IS THAT THERE WERE NO ITEMS OF NONCOMPLIANCE IDENTIFIED.
AND AGAIN, THAT'S THE RESULT YOU WOULD HOPE FOR.
[00:15:05]
COULD SOMEBODY HELP ME ADVANCE THE SLIDE? IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE GOING.AND THAT'S REALLY A LETTER FROM US AS THE AUDITORS TO YOU AS GOVERNANCE.
AND IT'S FULL OF REQUIRED COMMUNICATIONS.
THERE WAS ONE CHANGE THIS YEAR.
IT'S CALLED GASB 87, AND IT CHANGES HOW THE CITY ACCOUNTS FOR LEASES.
THE FIRST ITEM THAT I HAVE BULLETED HERE IS THE LEASE RECEIVABLE.
AND WHAT THIS REPRESENTS IS IF THE CITY HAS LEASE AGREEMENTS WITH THIRD PARTIES THAT RESULT IN FUTURE INFLOWS TO THE CITY, THE CITY IS REQUIRED TO CALCULATE A PRESENT VALUE OF WHAT YOU ANTICIPATE THOSE INFLOWS TO BE AND RECOGNIZE A RECEIVABLE FOR IT.
AND SO THAT'S THE NEW LEASE ACCOUNTING STANDARD.
AND BECAUSE IT'S PRESENT VALUED, IT'S CONSIDERED AN ESTIMATE.
THE NEXT ITEM HERE IS THE NET OPEB LIABILITY.
OPEB STANDS FOR OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, AND THIS IS AN ESTIMATE OF THE COST OF HAVING RETIREES ON THE CITY'S HEALTH INSURANCE AND OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.
THE AMOUNT IS ROUGHLY $1.1 MILLION AND IT'S REFLECTED ONLY ON YOUR FULL ACCRUAL STATEMENTS.
THE THIRD ITEM I HAVE BULLETED HERE IS THE NET PENSION LIABILITY.
CITY STAFF PARTICIPATE IN THE STATE RETIREMENT PENSION PLAN AND GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS SAY THAT THE CITY HAS TO RECOGNIZE THEIR FAIR SHARE OF THAT LIABILITY WITHIN YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT IF PARA WASN'T ABLE TO MEET THEIR OBLIGATIONS TO RETIREES, THEY WOULD COME LOOKING TO PARTICIPATING EMPLOYERS TO HELP FUND THAT.
LAST YEAR, THE ESTIMATE OF THAT LIABILITY WAS ROUGHLY $6.
THIS YEAR, THE ESTIMATE OF THAT LIABILITY IS ROUGHLY $20 MILLION.
AND I DO WANT TO MENTION THERE WAS SOME TURNOVER WITHIN FINANCE DURING AUDIT TIME THIS YEAR.
THE CITY STAFF STILL MANAGED TO GET THE AUDIT DONE TIMELY AND REALLY NICELY PREPARED.
SO THAT'S A NOD TO CITY STAFF.
AND FINALLY, IF THERE WERE ANY OTHER SIGNIFICANT MATTERS, WE WOULD NEED TO COMMUNICATE THAT TO YOU.
THE ONLY THING I WANT TO MENTION IS THAT THERE ARE MORE CHANGES IN ACCOUNTING STANDARDS ON THE WAY.
BUT SOME OF THE UPCOMING STANDARDS WILL BE TIME INTENSIVE TO IMPLEMENT.
THIS IS A REQUIRED AUDIT ANY TIME THE CITY EXPENDS MORE THAN $750,000 IN A GIVEN YEAR DUE TO THE ARPA FUNDING THIS YEAR, MOST METRO AREA CITIES NEEDED THIS FEDERAL COMPLIANCE AUDIT, ALSO KNOWN AS A SINGLE AUDIT.
THE RESULT THIS YEAR IS NO QUESTION COSTS, WHICH IS THE RESULT YOU WANT.
AND THEN THERE WAS ONE FINDING THAT'S JUST RELATED TO THE AUDIT ADJUSTMENT.
SOME OF THE INTERIM REPORTING REFLECTED THAT ERROR.
IT WILL NOT HAVE ANY SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE CITY.
IT'LL BE CORRECTED IN THE FINAL REPORTING.
SO NO GREAT CONCERN IN THAT REGARD.
[00:20:02]
NEXT UP, I JUST HAVE A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF THE FINANCIAL INFORMATION THAT'S CONTAINED IN THE CITY'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.AND I'LL DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THE INCREASE OR DECREASE IN FUND BALANCE.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THE GENERAL FUND HAD A REDUCTION IN FUND BALANCE OF ROUGHLY 1.6 MILLION, AND THAT WAS PLANNED TO SPEND DOWN FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS TRANSFERRED OUT FOR THE NEW CITY HALL AND OTHER PROJECTS.
AND SO IT IS A NOTABLE REDUCTION, BUT IT WAS ALL PLANNED AND INTENTIONAL.
YOU CAN SEE YOUR ENDING FUND BALANCE IN THE GENERAL FUND IS $7.2 MILLION.
THE CITY'S FUND BALANCE POLICY IS A TARGET OF 45%.
THAT NUMBER COMES OUT TO 44% OF SUBSEQUENT YEAR EXPENDITURES.
SO 44 TO 45% IS NOT A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE.
BUT CERTAINLY NO CONCERNS AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
I BOUGHT A PIE CHART HERE OF THE GENERAL FUND REVENUES JUST BY SOURCE, AS I MENTIONED.
PROPERTY TAXES ARE A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THAT.
AND YOU CAN SEE HERE, DURING 2022, PROPERTY TAXES ACCOUNTED FOR 86% OF THE GENERAL FUND REVENUE.
OH, MY GOODNESS. THAT DIDN'T TRANSLATE VERY WELL.
AND THEN I ALSO WANT TO CALL OUT TRANSFERS OUT.
YOU'VE GOT ABOUT 12% OF YOUR GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES AND TRANSFERS BEING TAKEN UP BY THAT TRANSFERS OUT, AND THAT IS THAT CAPITAL PROJECT FUNDING THAT WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER.
NEXT UP, I HAVE A COUPLE CHARTS ON YOUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS, AND THESE ARE YOUR SELF-SUPPORTING FUNDS WHICH ARE INTENDED FOR THE CHARGES TO YOUR USERS TO SUPPORT THE ACTIVITY IN THE FUND. SO YOUR WATER, SEWER, REFUSE AND STORM SEWER.
AND THIS IS A CASH BALANCE OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, PRETTY STEADY AS I WOULD EXPECT.
THE FLUCTUATIONS IN SEWER ARE CAPITAL RELATED.
NEXT UP, I HAVE A CHART FOR LIQUOR OPERATIONS.
THE DARK BLUE BAR IS YOUR COST OF SALES.
THE COST OF SELLING THE MERCHANDISE WITHIN THE LIQUOR STORE.
LIGHT BLUE IS YOUR OPERATING EXPENSES, AND THAT GREEN BAR IS YOUR REVENUES.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR YOU TODAY.
BUT I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, IF THERE ARE ANY.
I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. ANYONE HAVE QUESTIONS? I HAVE A COMMENT. A COMMENT FROM COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING HERE TONIGHT.
AS A NEW COUNCIL MEMBER, IT'S REALLY HELPFUL FOR ME TO SEE.
WE'VE SEEN REWARDS FOR OUR FINANCIAL DEPARTMENT BEFORE AND IT'S WONDERFUL TO HEAR FROM THE AUDITOR.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
NEXT. WE ARE AT OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
THESE ITEMS ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ROUTINE BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND WILL BE ENACTED AS PART OF THE CONSENT AGENDA BY ONE MOTION.ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA APPROVAL WILL BE TAKEN UP AS THE NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS .
AND COUNCIL, DO WE HAVE ANY ADJUSTMENTS WE'D LIKE TO MAKE TO THE CONSENT AGENDA? NO. THEN MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED? MOVE TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED.
[00:25:01]
SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER JACOBS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING AND HEARING AS NONE.
WHICH TAKES US TO OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS.
[PUBLIC HEARINGS]
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK REGARDING THIS MATTER.SPEAKERS THAT ARE IN PERSON ARE ASKED TO COMPLETE A SPEAKER FORM AND SUBMIT IT TO THE CITY CLERK.
SARAH HAS JUST RAISED HER HAND.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE PUBLIC HEARING.
VIRTUAL ATTENDEES SHOULD TURN THEIR CAMERA ON 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, AS THE ITEM WILL HAVE BEEN VOTED ON AND THE ITEM FORMALLY CLOSED BY THE COUNCIL.
HELLO. AND MITCH WILL TAKE US THROUGH THIS ITEM.
MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THANKS FOR HAVING ME TONIGHT.
ORDINANCE 1687 CIRCLES BACK ON THE CONVERSATION WE HAD AT THE PREVIOUS WORK SESSION WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A MORATORIUM ON THE SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL LICENSES THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
AS YOU KNOW, THERE IS ALREADY A MORATORIUM IN PLACE.
YOU HAVE TO IDENTIFY THE EXACT THINGS THAT YOU GOING TO STUDY.
THIS ORDINANCE IS A NEW INTERIM ORDINANCE THAT ESTABLISHES A NEW MORATORIUM SPECIFICALLY TO PROTECT THE PLANNING PROCESS AND THEN ALSO CONDUCT STUDIES, NOT THROUGH STAFF TIME, BUT THROUGH THE PUBLIC HEARING PROCESS OF THE ACTUAL RENTAL DENSITY CAP ORDINANCE.
STAFF DO NOT EXPECT TO TAKE THAT LONG.
THE OR THE RENTAL DENSITY CAP IS BEFORE YOU TODAY.
AND ONCE THAT ORDINANCE IS IN PLACE AND THE PUBLIC HEARING PROCESS HAS BEEN COMPLETED, THE COUNCIL CAN REMOVE THAT, THAT OR THE MORATORIUM SO THAT BUSINESS CAN CONTINUE AS USUAL.
THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS FOR MITCH? NO. ALL RIGHT, THEN.
THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING, SO I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
SARAH, IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? THERE WAS NOBODY WHO TURNED IN A FORM TO SPEAK.
AND AT THIS TIME, NOBODY HAS CONTACTED ME VIA ZOOM.
THANK YOU. SARAH SAYS THERE'S NO ONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.
I WILL SAY ONE MORE TIME IF THERE'S ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.
SEEING AND HEARING AS NONE, THEN I WILL TAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC MEETING.
WAYS READING OR JUST TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THE READING OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 1687.
THERE WILL BE AN AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE.
FIRST, I NEED TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, THOUGH.
MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE 1687.
ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES.
NEXT, WE HAVE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING.
TO WAIVE THE READING OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 1687.
THERE WILL BE AN AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE.
ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING AND HEARING AS NONE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED THE MOTION PASSES.
AND NEXT WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE APPROVE ORDINANCE NUMBER 1687 BEING AN INTERIM ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A MORATORIUM WITHIN THE CITY ON NEW RENTAL LICENSE APPLICATIONS FOR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.
SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER BUESGENS, AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER JACOBS.
ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING AND SEEING AS NONE.
AND MITCH FORNEY WILL TAKE US THROUGH THIS AS WELL, ACTUALLY.
THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
AS A FOLLOW UP TO THE ITEM THAT WE JUST REVIEWED, THE ACTUAL ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A RENTAL DENSITY CAP FOR DETACHED SINGLE FAMILY HOMES IS BEFORE YOU ORDINANCE 1685.
[00:30:10]
COUNCIL. SO JUST IN BRIEF SUMMARY, THE RENTAL DENSITY CAP HAS BEEN AN INITIATIVE OR CONVERSATION OF THE CITY AND THE CITY COUNCIL FOR OVER FOUR YEARS NOW. WHEN THE CITY BEGAN TO LOOK AT WAYS TO COMBAT CORPORATE OWNERSHIP OF SINGLE FAMILY HOMES WITHIN THE CITY, WHILE ALSO PROMOTING HOME OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE RESIDENTS OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.AND ONE OF THE STRATEGIES THAT CAME OUT OF THAT RESEARCH WAS THE RENTAL DENSITY CAP, WHICH IN THIS CASE IS AN APPROXIMATE 10% CAP ON ALL SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL DWELLINGS WITHIN THE CITY.
AND THIS DENSITY CAP WOULD PRESERVE THE RIGHTS OF EXISTING RENTAL PROPERTIES, BUT STOP RENTAL LICENSES FROM BEING ISSUED FOR BLOCKS IN THE CITY WHERE THEY'RE ALREADY OVER THE 10% THRESHOLD.
SO THERE IS ROOM TO EXPAND SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL DENSITY IN AREAS OF THE CITY, BUT THERE'S ALSO AREAS OF THE CITY THAT ARE ALREADY AT THE PRESCRIBED 10% LIMIT.
THE CITY WAS DIVIDED INTO GEOGRAPHIC BLOCKS, SO DON'T THINK OF LIKE JUST A TRADITIONAL BLOCK OR A STREET, BUT GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES THAT ARE NATURAL WITHIN THE CITY FORM BLOCKS THAT ARE KEPT BY THE CITY IN A MAP.
SO THAT'S HOW IT WOULD BE MONITORED BY THE CITY MOVING FORWARD.
SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THE GRANDFATHERED RIGHTS, WE JUST THOUGHT THAT FOR THE FIRST READING IT WAS IMPORTANT TO NOTE EXISTING DETACHED SINGLE FAMILY LICENSES MAY BE RENEWED.
HOWEVER, SHALL A RENTAL LICENSE NOT BE RENEWED TERMINATED DUE TO THE SALE OF A PROPERTY BY THE CURRENT LICENSE HOLDER, TRANSFER OF PROPERTY OWNERSHIP OR THE LICENSE IS REVOKED OR LAPSED. IF IT'S IN A CAP AREA WHERE IT'S OVER THE 10%, THEN IT WOULD NOT BE REINSTATED.
SO. IN ESSENCE, THAT'S THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF THE ORDINANCE WITHIN THOSE STANDARDS.
STAFF DID WANT TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO ONE POSITION, ONE SPECIFIC PROVISION AND JUST GET A LITTLE FEEDBACK FROM THE COUNCIL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CONSISTENT WITH THE INTENT OF THE ORDINANCE, AND THAT IS THE TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP IF THE COUNCIL WOULD LIKE THAT LIFTING.
SO IF YOU HAVE A CURRENT RENTAL PROPERTY, SINGLE FAMILY AND YOU SELL IT THE WAY THE ORDINANCE IS DRAFTED, IF IT'S IN A CAP AREA THAT'S OVER THE 10%, THAT LICENSE COULD NOT BE TRANSFERRED TO THE NEW OWNER.
SO DIFFERENT CITIES THAT HAVE ENACTED CAPS, IT'S ABOUT 5050, DO IT THIS WAY AND THE OTHER 50% DO IT WHERE IT CAN BE TRANSFERRED. SO THAT'S THE ONLY BIT OF NUANCE THAT THAT WE MIGHT BRING TO THE COUNCIL'S ATTENTION THIS EVENING.
OTHERWISE WE WOULD STAND FOR ANY OTHER QUESTIONS THAT THE COUNCIL MIGHT HAVE.
THANK YOU, AARON. COUNCILMEMBER JACOBS.
I WOULD LIKE TO REMAIN AT THAT ESTABLISHED PARAMETER.
I THINK THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT ADDING RESOURCES FOR TENANTS AND FOR LANDLORDS, AND I THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE CONSTRUCTIVE IN MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT. THANK YOU.
SO IF A RENTAL PROPERTY OWNER SELLS TO A NEW OWNER, YOU.
SORRY, I MISUNDERSTOOD. THANK YOU.
UM, SO JUST TO CLARIFY, IF WE ACCEPT AND WAIVE THE READING AS IS THAT WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES JACOBS AND COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS BROUGHT UP IS ALREADY HOW IT'S WRITTEN? THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY, MADAM MAYOR.
ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COUNCILMEMBER JAMES. THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE THE STAFF FOR ALL THE TIME THAT YOU PUT INTO THIS MODELING.
I KNOW IT'S BEEN OVER A YEAR THAT YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT.
[00:35:01]
I WAS VERY ENCOURAGED IN OUR WORK SESSION BECAUSE I HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THIS WOULD WORK THAT THE STAFF BROUGHT UP.THIS IS JUST ONE PIECE OF THE PUZZLE TOWARD WORKING TOWARD HOME OWNERSHIP.
WE ARE LOOKING AT OTHER INCENTIVES AND PROGRAMS THAT WE COULD DO TO HELP INCREASE HOME OWNERSHIP.
THIS DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY FOREVER.
BUT RIGHT NOW WE ARE HAVING A BIT OF A CRISIS OF SINGLE FAMILY OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOME OWNERSHIP.
AND SO THIS IS ONE PIECE OF THE PIE.
AND SO I'M HAPPY TO VOTE FOR IT ON THIS PROCESS HERE WHERE WE'RE AT.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER SPRIGGS.
YEAH, I'D SECOND EVERYTHING THAT COUNCILMEMBER JAMES SAID.
IF WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS, I THINK THAT WE.
EXCUSE ME. WE SHOULDN'T ALLOW THE TRANSFER BETWEEN OWNERS.
I THINK THAT'S SOMEWHAT COUNTERINTUITIVE TO THE PROCESS ITSELF.
YES. AND I GUESS I'LL COMMENT WITH EVERYONE ELSE THAT WE DID HAVE A VERY LARGE CONVERSATION AT OUR LAST WORK SESSION AND ONGOING CONVERSATION OVER THE LAST YEAR WITH STAFF AND LOTS OF DATA.
AND THIS IS I'LL ALSO MENTION HAS GONE THROUGH TWO COUNCILS.
WE HAD TWO OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS LAST YEAR, BUT DEFINITELY WANT TO ECHO COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES THAT THIS IS MAYBE NOT NEEDING TO BE THIS WAY FOREVER, BUT RIGHT NOW WE DO VERY MUCH HAVE A CRISIS OF, OF I'M SORRY, LANDLORDS, CORPORATE, CORPORATE LANDLORDS THAT AS SOON AS A HOUSE IS ON THE MARKET, IT'S BOUGHT WITH CASH AND IMMEDIATELY IS RENTED OUT AND DOESN'T ALLOW FOR ANYONE TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE HOME OWNERSHIP. SO THIS IS A WAY TO CREATE SOME CHANGE FOR NOW.
THANK YOU. SO THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING.
I WILL OPEN UP THIS FOR A PUBLIC HEARING IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER.
AND SEEING AS NO ONE IS INTERESTED IN SPEAKING.
HEARING NONE. THEN MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING IS NONE.
ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE? AYE. ANY OPPOSED.
NEXT, WE HAVE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING.
MOVE TO WAIVE THE READING ORDINANCE NUMBER 1685.
THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING AND SEEING NONE.
AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES.
AND NEXT WE HAVE A MOTION TO SET THE SECOND READING.
MOVE TO SET THE SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 1685 BEING AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER FIVE, ARTICLE FOUR OF THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS CITY CODE TO REGULATE RENTAL DENSITY FOR DETACHED SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL DWELLINGS FOR AUGUST 14TH, 2023.
SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER JACOBS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS.
ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING AND SEEING IS NONE.
THANK YOU. NEXT, WE ARE AT ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION.
[ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION]
ITEM NUMBER NINE APPROVE RESOLUTION 20 2343, SETTING A SPECIAL ELECTION FOR FEBRUARY 13TH, 2024, AND OUR INTERIM CITY MANAGER KEVIN HANSON WILL TAKE US THROUGH THIS.MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THERE ARE THREE ACTIONS BEFORE YOU TONIGHT UNDER THIS ITEM.
THAT'S BEFORE YOU TONIGHT. THE FIRST IS JUST WAIVING THE READING OF THAT RESOLUTION.
AND THEN THE NEXT WOULD BE SETTING THE SPECIAL ELECTION DATE OF FEBRUARY 13TH.
ON JUNE 28TH, THE CITY DID RECEIVE A PETITION FOR A RECALL, AND THAT PETITION WAS REVIEWED.
IT WAS FOUND TO BE DEFICIENT JUST IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF VOTERS THAT SIGNED THAT PETITION AND WAS RETURNED TO THE COMMITTEE THAT PUT THAT PETITION TOGETHER. THEY WERE GIVEN TEN DAYS TO RESUBMIT THAT PETITION, AND THAT WAS DONE.
THE IT DOES ALSO CALL OUT FOR AN ELECTION ON FEBRUARY 13TH.
THERE'S AN ELECTION COMING UP IN NOVEMBER, BUT DUE REALLY TO A TIMING SEQUENCE OF CANDIDATES BEING ABLE TO FILE, WE WERE NOT ABLE TO MEET OR EXCUSE ME, THAT IT WAS NOT ABLE TO BE MET FOR THAT TIMING IN NOVEMBER FOR THAT ELECTION.
SO IT GOES TO THE NEXT ELECTION ESTABLISHED BY THE STATE, WHICH WOULD BE FEBRUARY 13TH.
[00:40:05]
MAYOR THANK YOU, KEVIN.ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT. THEN WE HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE PETITION.
I HEARD COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS FIRST.
ANY QUESTIONS? CALL. VOTE, PLEASE. REQUEST FOR A ROLL CALL.
THANK YOU. NEXT, WHEN WE HAVE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING OF RESOLUTION 2023-43, THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. MAYOR.
YES, I WOULD LIKE TO READ THE READING.
I'D BE LIKE TO READ THE RESOLUTION.
YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE THE RESOLUTION READ.
ALL RIGHT. DO WE NEED A SECOND THEN FOR THAT? NO. NO, WE JUST WITHOUT.
WITHOUT A SECOND, WE THEN READ IT.
OKAY. WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO MAKE A SECOND? ALL RIGHT, HEARING AS NONE.
THEN WE WILL ALLOW THE RESOLUTION TO BE READ.
WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO READ THE RESOLUTION? SURE. OKAY. THANK YOU.
A RESOLUTION SETTING A SPECIAL ELECTION.
WHEREAS PER SECTION 50 OF THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS CITY CHARTER, THE COUNCIL SHALL BY MOTION PROVIDE FOR THE HOLDING OF A SPECIAL RECALL ELECTION PER MINNESOTA STATE STATUTE 205.10 AND 205.13.
THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2023, DASH 43.
WE DON'T HAVE TO. I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT.
MOVE TO ADOPT. MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 20 2343.
SETTING A SPECIAL ELECTION FOR FEBRUARY 13TH, 2024.
POINT OF ORDER. WE DID NOT VOTE ON THE SECOND MOTION.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING.
YOU'RE WELCOME. I HAVE A FIRST MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER BUESGENS.
I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER BUESGENS AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER SPRIGGS.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING AS NONE. SARAH.
COULD WE DO A ROLL CALL? VOTE, PLEASE? ABSOLUTELY.
THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER TEN, THE THC MORATORIUM UPDATE.
ERIC JOHNSTON, I THINK, WILL TAKE US THROUGH THIS ITEM.
ACTUALLY MADAM MAYOR MITCHELL.
ALL RIGHT, MITCH, TAKE US THROUGH THIS ONE.
MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
LAST WORK SESSION, WE HAD A QUICK UPDATE FOR THE COUNCIL ABOUT TALKING ABOUT EXTENDING THE CURRENT THC MORATORIUM, WHICH IS ON HEMP DERIVED EDIBLE THC EDIBLES, WHICH WAS STARTED IN AUGUST 22ND OF 2022 AND IS GOES ON UNTIL AUGUST 22ND OF THIS YEAR AFTER RECEIVING THE LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES POLICY UPDATE AND THEN ALSO GOING OVER THE LAW WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STAFF COME HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE NEW LAW THAT LEGALIZES MARIJUANA DOES NOT ALLOW CITIES TO REGULATE HEMP DERIVED THC ITEMS ANY FURTHER PAST THE CURRENT MORATORIUM AND DUE TO STATE LAW AND ITS REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CURRENT MORATORIUM, THAT CURRENT MORATORIUM CANNOT BE EXTENDED GOING INTO THE FUTURE.
AS STATED IN THE LETTER, THE CITY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PUT THE SAME ZONING RESTRICTIONS ON THC OR LOW POTENCY THC BUSINESSES AS THEY WILL ON HIGH POTENCY THC OR MARIJUANA RETAILERS, DISTRIBUTORS, MANUFACTURERS AND ITEMS OF THE SAME.
[00:45:01]
WE EXPECT TO SEE LOW POTENCY THC TO BECOME MORE OF LIKE A TOBACCO TYPE PRODUCT WHERE, YOU KNOW THE LICENSE IS VERY EASY TO OBTAIN.IT'S NOT REALLY REGISTERED BY THE CITY.
THE CITY DOES HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLACE A MORATORIUM ON KIND OF YOUR HIGH POTENCY THC ITEMS UNTIL FEBRUARY 1ST OR JANUARY 1ST, 2025, IF THE CITY NEEDS TO.
WE CAN DEFINITELY TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.
BUT BETWEEN NOW AND WHEN THE STATE ACTUALLY STARTS LICENSING THESE PRODUCTS, WE HAVE PLENTY OF TIME AS STAFF TO ACTUALLY GET THOSE LICENSING AND REGISTRATION ITEMS IN PLACE BEFORE THE STATE STARTS LICENSING THESE BUSINESSES, WHICH ALLOWS THEM TO GO INTO EFFECT.
THANKS, MITCH. ANY QUESTIONS FOR MITCH? I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM THAT THAT MORATORIUM WILL FALL ON ITS OWN ACCORD.
YOU DON'T NEED ANY OTHER ACTION.
THAT THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS THAT.
YEP. THAT MORATORIUM WILL BE CANCELED AUGUST 22ND.
AND THAT BRINGS US TO OUR CITY COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS.
[CITY COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS]
A REPORT FROM THE CITY COUNCIL.FIRST OFF, WALT FACED WHO HAD THE FORETHOUGHT TO THINK YEARS AHEAD AND STARTED SAVING MONEY FROM THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AID MONEY WE RECEIVED FROM THE STATE YEARS AGO THAT HELPED PAY FOR THIS.
WE DID NOT BOND FOR THIS BUILDING OR THIS SPACE, THIS CONDO.
WE OWN IT. SO I WANT TO THANK HIM VERY MUCH FOR HAVING THE FORETHOUGHT TO DO THAT.
I WANT TO THANK KELLI BOURGEOIS, OUR PREVIOUS CITY MANAGER, FOR HER LEADERSHIP AND HER WORK WITH THE LEGAL PART, KEVIN HANSEN, FOR BRINGING THIS PROJECT INTO FRUITION.
ALSO WANT TO THANK THE PREVIOUS CITY COUNCIL.
THE FIRST COUNCIL I WAS SAT ON.
THANK MAYOR DONNA SCHMITT, COUNCIL COUNCIL MEMBER JOHN MURZYN, NICK NOVITSKY AND BOBBY WILLIAMS FOR JOINING ME IN VOTING YES FOR THIS NEW CITY HALL.
I STILL FEEL SURREAL BEING IN THIS BUILDING.
IT'S SO COOL. THE CITY DESERVES THIS NEW CITY HALL AND THANKS TO THE TAXPAYERS FOR SUPPORTING THIS.
I'M STILL GIDDY WALKING THROUGH HERE.
THE SECOND ONE IS MORE OF A SAD ONE.
MOVING ON. I ATTENDED THE MWO BOARD MEETING, BLOOMING SUNSHINE GARDEN.
WE CONTINUE WITH MANY VOLUNTEERS AND KEEPING THAT GROWING.
PLEASE KEEP AN EYE OUT ON THE FACEBOOK PAGE FOR HARVESTING.
WE'VE GOT LOTS OF THINGS GROWING THERE AND KIDS CAN COME PLAY.
WE CREATED SOME GREAT PLAYING PLACES.
SPACES FOR THE KIDS, ATTENDED THE COUNCIL CORNER FIRE DEPARTMENT AWARDS NIGHT.
PLEASE MEET AND GREET AT KEYS PARK.
I ATTENDED THE OPEN HOUSE FOR THE NEW MISSION FROM THE MISSIONS AT 47TH AND CENTRAL.
THEY BOUGHT THE APARTMENT BUILDING NEXT TO THE SMALL STRIP MALL.
THEY WORK WITH PEOPLE IN TRANSITION HOUSING FOR THOSE THAT HAVE FINISHED THEIR CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY TREATMENT AND ALSO WORK WITH DOMESTIC ABUSE VICTIMS. I WELCOME THEM TO OUR CITY.
I ATTENDED JIM HAAS GOODBYE PARTY.
WE LOST A GOOD PERSON WHO IS NOW GOING TO BE A PUBLIC DIRECTOR.
NO MEMBERS THE COUNCIL VADNAIS HEIGHTS, MAGNUS HEIGHTS.
I STOPPED IN AT THE TENANT MEETING FOR A LITTLE BIT WHERE THEY WORKED WITH TENANTS WHO WERE AFFECTED BY THE REVOCATION OF TWO LANDLORDS WHO LOST THEIR LICENSE FOR FIVE YEARS IN THE CITY. THEY HAD LAWYERS AND SERVICES THERE TO HELP THE PEOPLE MAKE THEIR TRANSITION FOR THEIR NEW HOUSING.
[00:50:02]
AND I ATTENDED THE NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH ZOOM MEETING FOR THE FOR CHIEF AUSTIN'S UPDATE.THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. I ALSO WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THIS BUILDING.
AND WE'RE ALSO THANKFUL FOR EVERYONE WHO IS HERE TONIGHT AND WATCHING ONLINE.
SO THANK YOU TO ALL WHO MADE THIS HAPPEN.
I ALSO WANT TO SEND MY CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF MS. RIVERO. AND I ALSO WANT TO NOTE THAT I HAD REACHED OUT TO MNDOT AND SENT A LETTER.
THEY HAVE PLANS IN PLACE TO UPDATE CENTRAL AND UNIVERSITY AVENUE, BUT MY REQUEST WAS AS THE COUNCIL MEMBER, WE CAN'T WAIT TILL 2027 OR LATER WHEN THOSE ARE HAPPENING. WE NEED A TEMPORARY SAFETY MEASURES INSTALLED.
NOW THIS WAS AN IMPAIRED DRIVER, BUT MANY THINGS CAN BE DONE TO MAKE CENTRAL SAFER.
IT WAS WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE IF YOU DIDN'T MAKE THAT MEETING.
SO HOPEFULLY YOU CAN CHECK THAT OUT.
THE CHARTER COMMISSION WAS CANCELED FOR THIS MONTH.
IF ANYONE'S HAVING A BLOCK PARTY, LET US KNOW.
I WOULD LOVE TO STOP BY AND MEET THE RESIDENTS.
UM, I ATTENDED A FOUR DAY LABOR CONFERENCE, A NATIONAL CONFERENCE.
GREAT INFORMATION, A LOT OF OF ISSUES THAT CITIES ARE FACING ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH THEIR LABOR, LABOR AND FORCES IN THEIR STAFF. I ALSO ATTENDED A ONLINE OPIOID CRISIS IN COMMUNITIES AND RESOLUTIONS AND RESOURCES ON HOW CITIES CAN ADDRESS THAT ISSUE.
THAT WAS A PROJECT OPIOID USA SEMINAR.
I ATTENDED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AWARDS TONIGHT.
I KEPT WANTING TO SAY RETIREMENT.
HE'S GONE TO A TO A NEW CHAPTER.
THE TENANT MEETING AND I HAVE CONTINUED TO ATTEND THE COUNCIL CORNER MEETINGS AS WELL.
I ALSO HELPED EIGHT RESIDENTS FOR THEIR WITH THEIR REACH OUTS DURING THE LAST 4 TO 6 WEEKS.
COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR.
I WASN'T ABLE TO ATTEND THE TENANTS MEETING THAT THE OTHER MEMBERS ATTENDED, BUT I WAS ABLE TO TALK TO THE TENANTS AT THE LEGENDS, STILL KEEPING COMMUNICATIONS OPEN WITH THEM ABOUT WAYS WE CAN SUPPORT THEM, KEEPING THEIR HOUSING AFFORDABLE AND SAFE FOR THEM.
I ALSO ATTENDED THE OPEN HOUSE FOR MISSION HEIGHTS, WHICH WAS A GREAT EVENT AND HAD REPRESENTATIVES FROM REPRESENTATIVE OMAR'S AND SENATOR KLOBUCHAR'S OFFICE THAT MADE BRIEF REMARKS IN SUPPORT OF IT.
I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO MUSIC IN THE PARK AND NATIONAL NIGHT OUT IN THE COMING WEEKS.
AND THEN I ALSO INDEPENDENTLY REACHED OUT TO MNDOT ABOUT THE UNSAFE NATURE OF OUR MAIN STREET AND THE THE URGENT NEED WE NEED TO TAKE TO FIX THAT AND MAKE IT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU. YES, WE'VE HAD SO MANY MEETINGS WITH MNDOT FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS, AND EVERY TIME THERE'S AN ACCIDENT OR UNFORTUNATELY A DEATH, IT JUST, JUST HITS YOU THAT HOW THINGS MOVE SO SLOWLY.
BUT MEANWHILE, IT'S PEOPLE WHO ARE PAYING THE PRICE FOR THIS.
UM. AND JUST WANT TO, OF COURSE, SHARE MY THOUGHTS WITH THE FAMILY.
OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, I MET WITH LOCAL YOUTH ABOUT THEIR ISSUES AND CONCERNS THROUGH FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH AT THE DAIRY QUEEN, AND I MEANT TO BRING OUR POSTERS.
I'LL BRING THEM NEXT WEEK. IT WAS KIND OF EXCITING TO COME HERE TO THE NEW CITY HALL, BUT THEY ALL ILLUSTRATED POSTERS OF CONCERNS THEY HAVE IN THE CITY AND WHAT THEY'D LIKE OUR COUNCIL TO WORK ON. SO I'LL SHARE THEM WITH THE REST OF THE COUNCIL.
I ATTENDED A YOUTH BOOK CLUB AT THE LIBRARY.
THIS IS AN ACTIVITY FOR THE MAYOR'S MONARCH PLEDGE.
[00:55:06]
IT'S A FANTASTIC BOOK AND IT'S A GREAT FAMILY BOOK TO READ.ATTENDED THE LA BESTIA ART SHOW AT THE LIBRARY WITH A LOCAL ARTIST WHO DOES WOODCUT ART, PRINTS ABOUT IMMIGRATION FROM LATIN AMERICA INTO THE INTO THE SOUTHERN BORDER OF THE UNITED STATES.
FANTASTIC ART, MUCH LIKE MY COLLEAGUES ATTENDED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AWARD NIGHT, THE POLICE MEET AND GREET AT KEYS PARK, THE MISSION HEIGHTS SOBRIETY HOUSE ON 47TH AND CENTRAL.
THE TENANT MEETING, WHICH I AM SO PROUD OF.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING AS A CITY TO CREATE SPACES FOR MORE RESOURCES FOR TENANTS.
WE HAVE A WEBSITE PAGE WITH MANY RESOURCES LISTED OUT, AND NOW THIS IS OUR SECOND TENANT MEETING AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO, I WILL SAY, LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE RENTERS IN A PROACTIVE MANNER.
SO FAR WE'VE MOSTLY BEEN REACHING OUT WHEN THINGS HAPPEN AND WE'RE LOOKING NOW TO HAVING MEETINGS COMING UP THAT ARE NOT BASED ON ANY RENTAL LICENSE CHANGES.
ATTENDED OUR ROTARY GOLF OUTING.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS FRIDLEY ROTARY CLUB AT THE REFUGE GOLF CLUB.
AND UH, THE PARK AND REC MEETING THIS WEDNESDAY HAS BEEN CANCELED.
THIS MORNING I ATTENDED THE METRO CITY'S TRANSPORTATION AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT'S ZOOM MEETING, WHICH GOES THROUGH IT'S A LOBBYING ORGANIZATION THAT GOES THROUGH ALL OF THE ITEMS THAT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT FOR ALL THE METROPOLITAN CITIES.
AND ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT WAS TALKED ABOUT WAS THE THC LACK OF ANY GUIDANCE YET FROM THE STATE AND THAT THEY'RE STILL HAVEN'T EVEN THEY'RE STILL IN THE IN THE MOMENT OF HIRING THE TEAM AT THE CAPITOL.
AND THEN JUST WANT TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT ANOKA COUNTY FAIR STARTS THIS WEEK.
AND THAT TAKES US TO OUR INTERIM CITY COUNCIL OR CITY MANAGER KEVIN HANSEN AND YOUR REPORT.
SURE. THANK YOU, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
I JUST HAVE A FEW THINGS FOR YOU TONIGHT.
AS YOU AS YOU'VE STATED AND AS THE COUNCIL HAS STATED, MOVING INTO THIS BUILDING AND REALLY GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE WE'RE AT WITH THIS BUILDING HAS REALLY BEEN AN INTERESTING PROCESS, CHALLENGING PROCESS.
BUT HERE WE ARE, AND I THINK WE'RE ALL VERY PROUD OF BEING NOW IN THIS SPACE.
WE NOT ONLY HAVE THE NORMAL CITY HALL STAFF THAT HAVE BEEN OVER AT 540TH, BUT WE'VE ALSO BROUGHT OVER OUR FACILITIES SUPERVISOR, WE BROUGHT OVER OUR REFUSE COORDINATOR AND WE BROUGHT OVER OUR ENTIRE ENGINEERING STAFF AND REALLY FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE SO THAT WE'RE ALL NOW IN ONE BUILDING FOR ANYBODY WHO NEEDS TO TALK TO ANY OF THOSE GROUPS, THEY REALLY HAVE A SINGLE SOURCE TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
I THINK I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT AND AGAIN, WE HAVE A GRAND OPENING COMING UP.
BUT I THINK RIGHT HERE, I'D REALLY LIKE TO POINT OUT TO PEOPLE FOR GETTING US HERE.
ONE IS CERTAINLY TO MY RIGHT, AARON CHIRPICH AND ALL THE WORK HE'S DONE.
SO REALLY A BIG THANKS TO AARON.
AND I THINK THE OTHER ONE, TOO, TO POINT OUT, HE'S BEHIND THE SCENES RIGHT NOW.
YOU KNOW, JESSE HOFF HAS REALLY DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB FOR US, GETTING US HERE.
AND IT REALLY TOOK THE LEAD ON A LOT OF THINGS.
WE HAVE MANY MORE PEOPLE TO THANK, BUT THAT WILL REALLY HAPPEN FOR US AT THE GRAND OPENING.
THE GRAND OPENING FOR THIS FACILITY WILL BE ON AUGUST 17TH.
THAT'LL GO FROM 5:00 UNTIL 7:30 P.M.
AND WITHIN THAT, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I'D JUST LIKE TO POINT OUT.
WE ARE DOING SOME ART DISPLAY HERE FOR THAT GRAND OPENING.
AND WE HAVE ON OUR WEBSITE A CALL OUT FOR ARTISTS.
SO WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF APPLICANTS DONE ALREADY, BUT WE COULD USE A FEW MORE FOR THAT.
IN ADDITION, FOR THAT EVENING, WE'D LIKE TO HAVE SOME MUSIC GOING ON HERE.
BUT AGAIN, IT'S ON AUGUST 17TH FROM 5:00 UNTIL 730 RIGHT HERE.
IN ADDITION, WE HAVE 37TH AVENUE.
THAT'S A LARGE CONSTRUCTION, ONE OF THE LARGEST CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS WE'VE EVER WORKED ON.
AND I DON'T HAVE MUCH TO ADD TO THAT OTHER THAN THE CONTRACTOR IS ON SCHEDULE FOR THAT.
[01:00:07]
THEY'RE SHIFTING OVER TO REMOVALS FROM JOHNSON OVER TO CENTRAL, AND WE'LL BEGIN WORK ON THAT WITH UNDERGROUND UTILITIES.CITY STAFF HAS THE MEETING WITH THE CONTRACTOR FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF 53RD AVENUE.
THAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING TO TOMORROW.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COMES OUT OF THAT IS WE NEED TO GET THEIR SCHEDULE SO THAT WE CAN MEET WITH THE RESIDENTS AND THEN WE'LL BE HOSTING A REALLY A PRE-CONSTRUCTION CONFERENCE TO GO OVER THE SCHEDULE.
SO THE BAND WAS WORRIED ABOUT PLAYING IN 100 DEGREE HEAT SO THAT ONE WILL BE RESCHEDULED.
THERE IS A FRIENDS OF CARDIAC PARK MEETING ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16TH, FROM 5:30 TO 6:30, AND THAT WILL BE A POTLUCK AND A MEETING WITH ANOKA COUNTY TO GIVE US AN UPDATE ON VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AND UPDATES ON THE PARK AND WATER QUALITY, ETCETERA.
NEXT THAT BRINGS US TO OUR COMMUNITY FORUM.
[COMMUNITY FORUM]
THE COMMUNITY FORUM IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL REGARDING ANY MATTER THAT HAS NOT HAD A PUBLIC HEARING EARLIER IN THE MEETING.SARAH, DO WE HAVE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TONIGHT? YES, WE DO.
OKAY. I'LL KEEP, I'LL FINISH READING THIS THEN.
THE SPEAKER SHOULD STATE THEIR NAME AND CONNECTION TO COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.
SPEAKERS ATTENDING VIRTUALLY SHOULD SEND A REQUEST TO SPEAK AS WELL AS THEIR 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.
PERSONAL ATTACKS, THREATS, THE USE OF PROFANITY AND OTHER DISRESPECTFUL COMMENTS ARE PROHIBITED.
JACK ISRAELSSON WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.
WELCOME, JACK. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
I AM A CITY RESIDENT AND I AM ALSO A PART OF THE YOUTH COMMISSION.
FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO TELL YOU ABOUT.
I. FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT THIS BUILDING IS AMAZING.
IT HONESTLY, THE ARCHITECTURE JUST GIVES ME VIBES FROM THE LIBRARY FOR SOME REASON.
I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S INTENTIONAL OR IF IT'S JUST LIKE THE TREND THESE DAYS.
BUT YEAH, I WAS GOING TO COME UP TO THIS PODIUM TO SPEAK ABOUT SOME BIKE RACKS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE INSTALLED ON AT THE CENTRAL AT THE CITY HALL.
BUT I HEARD FROM COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES THAT THAT IS MOVING FORWARD.
SO I DON'T REALLY WANT TO GET REALLY, REALLY TALK ABOUT THAT MUCH.
BUT JUST TO LET JUST TO SAY THAT, MAKE SURE YOU GET THOSE GET THE BIKE RACKS IN AS SOON AS YOU CAN, MAYBE BY BY THE TIME THE NEXT TIME I MAY COME AROUND TO THE CHAMBERS.
IF IT TAKES TOO LONG, WE WON'T HAVE SUMMER TO BE BIKING OUT THERE, RIGHT? SARAH IS ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.
DEB VANCAMP WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.
CAN PEOPLE HEAR ME? YES. IF YOU CAN BE CLOSER TO THE MICROPHONE, THAT WILL HELP.
THIS CLOSE? YES. THANK YOU. KIND OF SCARY.
MY HUSBAND SCOTT IS HERE WITH ME.
[01:05:02]
AND IT PEOPLE USED TO KNOW IT AS THE OLD DENTAL OFFICE.DR. LUTZ HAD IT PRIOR TO THAT IT WAS DR.
WEBER. A NEW OWNER, PURCHASED THE PROPERTY FROM DR.
THE PROPERTY IS CLASSIFIED AS COMMERCIAL PREFERENTIAL.
FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS, THE OWNER HAS ALLOWED THE PROPERTY TO SERIOUSLY DETERIORATE.
NO MOW MAY EXTENDS FROM MAY THROUGH NOVEMBER AND NO BLOW DECEMBER EXTENDS THROUGH APRIL.
IN THE WINTER, THE ACCUMULATED SNOW COVERS THE UPHEAVED SIDEWALK SECTIONS, AND IN THE SUMMER, IF PEOPLE AREN'T FOCUSING ON THEIR FEET, THEY TRIP AND FALL.
BECAUSE THE OWNER HAS NOT CONTRACTED FOR YARD WASTE OR GARBAGE PICK UP BOTTLES, BROKEN GLASS AND PAPER ARE EMBEDDED IN THE OVERGROWN WEEDS ON THE RARE OCCASION THE OWNER HAS CONTRACTED TO CATCH UP ON LAWN MOWING, FALLEN BRANCHES ARE HAULED BEHIND A MAKESHIFT FENCE WE JOKINGLY REFERRED TO AS THE GOAT PEN.
AND WE'RE HOPING WE GET HERD ANIMALS IN THERE TO CUT THE GRASS.
THE PARKING LOT IS OVERGROWN WITH WEEDS.
FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF, ONE IN SOMETIMES TWO MEN HAVE BEEN SLEEPING IN THE BUILDING.
THE OWNER ALLEGES THE PEOPLE LIVING THERE ARE CARETAKERS.
DIRTY DISHES AND SOLID AND SOILED TOWELS ARE STORED IN PLASTIC BAGS OUTSIDE THE BACK DOOR.
THESE ARE NOT DISPOSABLE CONTAINERS.
THESE ARE REAL DISHES THAT ARE NOT WASHED.
AND HE WAS WORKING FOR HER TO GET THE BUILDING READY.
SATURDAY I TALKED TO THE OWNER'S SISTER WHO WAS WORKING ON THE PROPERTY TRYING TO CLEAN IT UP, AND SHE CONFIRMED SHE WAS MOVING HER DAYCARE FROM FRIDLEY TO HER BROTHER'S BUILDING. I TOLD HER I WOULD BE GOING TO THE CITY COUNCIL BECAUSE THE PROPERTY IS BLIGHTED, NOT FIT FOR BUSINESS.
SHE ASSURED ME THE PROPERTY WOULD LOOK COMPLETELY DIFFERENT UNDER HER MANAGEMENT.
SINCE MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE HAD FIVE YEARS OF WATCHING THIS PROPERTY DETERIORATE, WE HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS THAT THE PROPERTY WILL BE RESTORED AND KEPT UP WITH OR WITHOUT A BUSINESS ON SITE.
THIS PROPERTY HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO DETERIORATE FOR TOO MANY YEARS.
I HAD NO IDEA THAT THIS WAS ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT TO VOTE ON A RECALL FOR KT JACOBS.
BUT I HAVE TO TELL YOU, MY HUSBAND AND I ARE SUFFERING FROM PETITION FATIGUE.
COLLECTING ALL THE SIGNATURES HAS DRAGGED ON FOR MONTHS.
AND PETITION GATHERING PROCESS.
BUT THAT MINNESOTA LAW REQUIRED PROOF OF MALFEASANCE IN THE OFFICE TO RECALL A COUNCIL MEMBER.
IF I WERE TO MAKE A BET, I THINK ATTORNEY JOSEPH WILL PREVAIL.
I'D ASK THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER, DO YOU WANT TO PUT THE RESIDENTS THROUGH A SPECIAL ELECTION? AND DRAG THE CITY THROUGH A CIVIL LAWSUIT.
IS IT OKAY TO PIT RESIDENT AGAINST RESIDENT AND WHAT I CALL KABUKI THEATER? HIGH DRAMA AND POLITICAL POSTURING.
[01:10:04]
OR IS IT POSSIBLE TO FIND A WAY TO PLAY NICE IN THE SANDBOX AND FOCUS ON CITY BUSINESS TOGETHER? PLEASE REMEMBER YOU REPRESENT ALL OF THE CITIZENS OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, AND ALL OF US ARE YOUR EMPLOYERS.THERESA STREICH WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.
AM I CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE MIC? OKAY, GOOD. THERESA STRIKE.
I'M A RESIDENT HERE OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.
I WANT TO SAY, IMPRESSED BY THE NEW BUILDING.
I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE NO ELEVATOR.
I THINK I HAD NIGHTMARES OF GETTING STUCK IN THAT THING.
I DO HAVE ONE CONCERN, THOUGH, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, THE CITY HAS POSTED THAT THERE'S LIMITED PARKING HERE AND THAT IF THAT'S FULL TO PARK IN THE PUBLIC PARKING ACROSS CENTRAL.
WE'VE HAD EXTENSIVE DISCUSSIONS OF THE SAFETY ISSUES ALONG CENTRAL.
SO I WON'T GO INTO THOSE, BUT I WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ALSO IS A CONCERN DURING TIMES OF BAD WEATHER.
I HAD THE RATHER LOVELY EXPERIENCE TODAY OF HITTING THE BUTTON FOR THE LIGHT AND NOT GETTING A WALK SIGNAL, SO I HAD TO STAND THERE THROUGH TWO ROUNDS IN THE HEAVIEST PART OF THE RAIN THIS EVENING.
I CAN TELL YOU THE AC IN HERE WORKS GREAT.
I KNOW WE DON'T HAVE MUCH CONTROL THERE, BUT ASKING THAT THE CROSSWALK LIGHTS WORK THE WAY THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO, I DON'T THINK IS TOO MUCH FOR THE CITY TO ASK. THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT WE CAN DO, UNFORTUNATELY, ABOUT THE WAY PEOPLE DRIVE.
I MENTIONED TO A COUPLE OF PEOPLE I'VE STOOD ON THOSE CORNERS AND LOOKED DOWN AND SEEN TIRE MARKS, WHICH IS DISTURBING, BUT WE CAN AT LEAST GET THE LIGHTS WORKING THE WAY THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. RODNEY SIEFERT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.
ALL RIGHT. I GOT MY HEARING AIDS IN.
BUT I DIDN'T HEAR WHAT THE POLICE OFFICER SAID.
WHAT? HE WAS UP HERE UNTIL WE GOT THIS FIXED UP.
IS THIS SEPARATE FROM YOUR GUYS MIC? BECAUSE I COULD HEAR YOU, BUT I COULDN'T HEAR THIS.
BUT WE WE ALSO HAVE MORE PRACTICE SPEAKING INTO THE MICROPHONE, SO.
IT IS HARD. WELL, I'M BACK AGAIN ABOUT PARKING.
IF IF IF THE REST OF MY NEIGHBORS ARE AFRAID TO PARK ON THE STREET LIKE I AM NOW BECAUSE I'M AFRAID I'M GOING TO GET A TICKET EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE.
SOMETIMES I'LL TAKE A NAP OR SOMETHING AND I FORGET MY CAR IS OUT IN FRONT AND I WAKE UP IN THE MORNING, WHERE'S MY CAR? OH, I STILL. I FORGOT TO PUT IT AWAY.
RIGHT. SO NOW EVERYBODY IS IN THAT MODE LIKE WE'RE GOING TO GET A TICKET.
AND. I NOTICED WHEN I DRIVE DOWN CENTRAL AVENUE TO THE PARKING LOT WITH THE STRIP MALL OVER THERE WAS COMPLETELY FULL.
A COUPLE OF TIMES I'VE DONE THIS, I'VE SEEN IT.
ARE THE PEOPLE WHO USED TO BE PARKING FROM THIS THIS FACILITY HERE? THAT USED TO PARK ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET.
NOW ACROSS THE STREET OVER HERE ON THE NORTH END, BECAUSE IF THEY ARE.
THE BUSINESSES THERE ARE NOT GOING TO LIKE IT.
YOU'RE GOING TO BE HEARING FROM THEM.
BECAUSE WHEN I SEE THAT AND I THOUGHT, OKAY, I'LL CHECK SOMETHING OUT.
SO I DROVE ALL THE WAY AROUND AND I WENT THROUGH THE PARKING STRUCTURE BEHIND THE CLINIC.
AND I'M THINKING, WELL, WE GOT TO FIND SOME KIND OF SOLUTION HERE.
[01:15:04]
WHAT'S WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? SO THERE WAS A FEW IDEAS AMONGST THE THE THE NEIGHBORS HERE.BUT WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WILL WORK.
AND EVERYTHING WE COME UP WITH WAS IT AIN'T GOING TO WORK.
IS THERE ANY WAY WE CAN GET THE OWNER OF THIS COMPLEX TO PUT THE PARKING WITH THE RENT? THAT WOULD SAVE THE WHOLE THING.
AND THAT'S AND I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO RUN ACROSS THE SAME THING WITH THE NEW.
APARTMENTS WHERE RAINBOW IS GOING TO GO IN.
YOU'RE GOING TO GET THE SAME THING.
IN THIS DAY AND AGE, IF YOU ONLY ALLOWED ONE ONE PARKING SPACE, WE GOT A PROBLEM.
WE GOT TO COME UP WITH SOME KIND OF A SOLUTION.
WE'VE GOT TO GET SOME KIND OF A WORKING CONCESSION CONCESSION HERE.
EXCUSE MY LANGUAGE. MY TONGUE TIED HERE.
MOVING ON. IT'S SNOW REMOVAL AGAIN.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ON MY BLOCK HAVE DRIVEWAYS GOING TO A GARAGE BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE AN ALLEY.
BUT THERE'S NO PLACE TO PUT THE SNOW.
EVERY YEAR I'VE BEEN GOING ALMOST ALL THE WAY UP AND DOWN MY, MY, MY ALLEY.
SNOW BLOWING. WELL, I GOT TO PUT A STOP TO THAT BECAUSE NOW I'M 80 YEARS OLD.
IS THERE ANY WAY THAT WE CAN PERIODICALLY GET A FRONT END LOADER TO COME DOWN THERE AND TAKE ALL THIS SNOW THAT GETS BUILT UP? AND HAVE IT CARTED AWAY, MAYBE DUMPED IN A PARK SOMEPLACE OR WHEREVER, YOU KNOW.
AND BUT I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT MY ALLEY BECAUSE I GOT A SNOW BLOWER.
THE SNOW BLOWER CAN'T GET IT OVER THE BIG HUMPS ANYMORE.
IS THERE SOMEBODY WE CAN CALL AND SAY, CAN WE GET A FRONT END LOADER TO? BECAUSE WE DID IT ONE YEAR AND IT WORKED OUT PERFECT.
BUT THEN THEY NEVER COME BACK.
ESPECIALLY ME, BECAUSE I CAN'T KEEP DOING THIS.
WELL, THANK YOU. WE CAN'T REALLY HAVE AN ANSWER, RIGHT? SORRY AT THIS MEETING RIGHT NOW, BUT DEFINITELY MAKING A NOTE OF IT.
AND IF YOU'VE GIVEN YOUR INFORMATION TO SARAH, THEN WE CAN CONTACT YOU.
BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING UP THE CONCERNS WITH THE SNOW, ESPECIALLY TO.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME.
THANK YOU. CATHY BENNETT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.
OKAY, FIRST OF ALL, ABOUT THE PLOWING.
IT'S NOT JUST I MEAN, THEY DON'T GET IT OUT OF THERE AT ALL.
THERE WERE RUTS TWO FEET DEEP, AND YOU HAD TO BE REALLY CAREFUL AND KIND OF DRIVE UP ON THE SIDE.
AND WE'VE GOT TWO CARS AND I ONLY GOT ONE PARKING SPOT.
I GUESS I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE CAN'T PARK OVERNIGHT IN THE SUMMER.
UM. WE NEED A SPEED MONITOR PUT ON OUR BLOCK BECAUSE NOW THAT THERE'S NO CARS ON THE ROAD.
EVERYBODY'S USING IT LIKE A RACETRACK.
UM, SAFETY IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS PERIOD AT THE GAS STATIONS.
BOBBY AND STEVE'S AND HOLIDAY, THEY HAVE A LIMIT.
THEY HAVE TO HAVE TWO EMPLOYEES OVERNIGHT FOR THE THIRD SHIFT.
[01:20:02]
THEY HAVE ONE PERSON AND THE ONE PERSON 2 TO 3 DAYS AGO WAS MY GRANDSON.BEAT HIM UP. HE HAD TO GO IN AN AMBULANCE.
AND IN THE MEANTIME, THEY DON'T ALLOW LOCKING.
THEY DON'T HAVE LOCKS ON THE FRONT DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE OR THE INSIDE.
SO HE HAD CUSTOMER WATCH THE STORE WHILE HE GOT IN THE AMBULANCE.
IT ACTUALLY, HE GOT BROKEN BONES IN HIS FACE.
OH. AND THEY TOOK HIS BIKE AND TORE IT APART.
SO AND PARKING IN THE ALLEY IS KIND OF DANGEROUS IN ANOTHER WAY BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE STEALING CARS. SOMEBODY TRIED TO STEAL MY CAR, RIP MY IGNITION.
RODNEY'S CAR AND THE APARTMENT BUILDING, KIND OF THE THE BIG WHITE ONE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ADDRESS IS ON THAT.
I DON'T KNOW EITHER. 1000 PETERS PLACE.
CARS LIKE CRAZY GETTING DUMPED THERE OR GETTING STOLEN.
SO THEY'RE DUMPING OFF A CAR AND THEN STEALING ANOTHER ONE.
THANK YOU. I'LL TAKE I'LL TAKE A MINUTE.
JUST TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT IF YOU SEE ANYTHING SUSPICIOUS, DANGEROUS, YOU SEE PEOPLE LIVING IN A BUILDING THAT THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE LIVING IN. PLEASE CALL THE POLICE IMMEDIATELY.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, IF WE HEAR ABOUT IT LATER, WE CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH.
BUT WE DEFINITELY WANT TO KNOW AS SOON AS YOU SEE ANYTHING.
IF WE SEE SOMETHING, WE NEED TO SAY SOMETHING.
IT'S US. IT'S OUR JOB AS A COMMUNITY.
IF WE THINK A BUSINESS IS DOING SOMETHING WRONG, WE NEED TO CALL THE CITY AND LET THEM KNOW INSTEAD OF JUST WONDERING, ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO BE DOING THAT? I DON'T THINK SO.
WE WANT TO TAKE CARE OF IT AND HAVE A SAFE CITY FOR EVERYONE.
AND THANK YOU, CATHY, FOR SHARING.
KATHY GOMEZ WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.
WELCOME. HI, MY NAME IS KATHY GOMEZ.
I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT FOR 30 YEARS.
OF COURSE, MY HOUSE IS RIGHT NEXT TO THIS WONDERFUL BUILDING, THE APARTMENTS AND STUFF.
BUT I THINK WE SHOULD CONTINUE IT A LITTLE MORE BECAUSE LIKE ON A FRIDAY, SATURDAY, IT'S ALL OVER.
THERE'S LIKE TONS OF CARS FROM THE APARTMENTS.
HE WAS THERE LIKE CLOSE TO 24 HOURS.
SO, I MEAN, I THINK THEY SHOULD CONTINUE IT ON THE PARKING.
IF IT'S GOING TO BE SIX HOURS.
THE OTHER THING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS, OF COURSE, MY HOUSE IS RIGHT HERE AND MY ALLEY THAT COMES IN THE ALLEY INTO MY GARAGE.
THE IT'S A TEMPORARY ALLEY, BUT THEY'VE NEVER DONE ANYTHING AFTER THAT.
SO IT'S STILL GOT THE STONES AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT ON IT.
AND THEY WERE SAYING THEY WERE GOING TO PUT BLACKTOP ON IT.
YOU GOT WHEN IT SNOWS, LIKE THE OTHER NEIGHBORS COMPLAIN, THEY DON'T PLOW THAT TEMPORARY ALLEY BECAUSE I BELIEVE THEY DON'T KNOW IT'S THERE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST THERE BECAUSE THERE'S ONLY TWO OF US THAT CAN GET IN THERE INTO IT.
UM, SO I'D LIKE SOMETHING TO BE ADDRESSED ABOUT THAT AT ONE TIME.
AND THEN, UM, WHEN THEY BUILT THE BUILDING AND STUFF, THEY HAD A, A SILVER CHAIN LINK FENCE THAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO COME DOWN BECAUSE, I MEAN, YOU COULD SEE THE, THE BROWN ONE THAT THEY PUT UP, BUT THEY STILL HAVE THE SILVER LINK ONE.
[01:25:06]
ARE THEY EVER GOING TO TAKE THAT DOWN? I MEAN, THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO TAKE IT DOWN, I THOUGHT, AND IT'S STILL SITTING RIGHT THERE.SO WE GOT PEOPLE WITH US BEING RIGHT NEXT TO THIS BUILDING, THE APARTMENTS.
WE HAVE PEOPLE CUTTING THROUGH AND GOING DOWN IN OUR YARD BECAUSE IT'S ON THE SIDE.
AND YOU TRY TO BE NICE AND SAY, PLEASE DO NOT WALK THROUGH BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND THE BUILDING.
IT'S RIGHT INTO THE SILVER ONE.
BUT THERE'S STILL A WALKWAY YOU CAN GET THROUGH.
OKAY. WHAT ELSE WAS IT? THE GARBAGE CAN. OH, YEAH.
GARBAGE. AND THEN THE OTHER COMPLAINT.
THANK YOU. THE OTHER COMPLAINT I HAD WAS LIKE WITH THE CARS PARKING IN THE FRONT AND STUFF.
I'M NOT SURE ABOUT ANY OTHER RESIDENT.
I'M ASSUMING SOME OF THEM ARE.
AND IT'S BLOCKING THE GARBAGE SO THEY WILL NOT PICK UP OUR GARBAGE.
SO NOW WE'RE LIKE SITTING AND PUTTING IT IN THE STREET BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE GARBAGE PEOPLE SAID, SO THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY COULD GET THEIR CLAWS OR WHATEVER AND THAT. SO, I MEAN, I KNOW THERE USED TO BE A LONG TIME AGO BECAUSE WITH ME BEING HERE FOR AGES, THERE USED TO BE PARKING, NO PARKING SIGNS ON GOULD.
YOU COULDN'T PARK ON THAT SIDE FROM DAIRY QUEEN UP ALL THE WAY TO PETER'S PLACE.
LIKE A COUPLE. WELL, MY HOUSE IS HERE, LIKE A COUPLE FEET DOWN.
YOU COULDN'T PARK IN FRONT OF ANYWHERE HERE.
AND THERE'S A COUPLE OTHER SIGNS LIKE IN MY ALLEY, DEAD END AND STUFF.
AND WHEN THEY DID THE CONSTRUCTION, ALL THESE SIGNS DISAPPEARED.
WHY CAN'T WE BRING SOME OF THOSE SIGNS BACK TO.
CATHY, DID YOU LEAVE YOUR NAME OR EMAIL WITH SARAH? YEAH. OKAY, THEN WE CAN GET BACK TO YOU WITH SOME UPDATES, AND THEN WE'LL WE'LL HAVE AN UPDATE FOR A I DON'T KNOW IF THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING, BUT WE'LL HAVE AN UPDATE ABOUT THESE QUESTIONS IN THE SOON MEETINGS NEXT, NEXT OR THE NEXT ONE.
THANK YOU. PAUL EDNER WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.
GOLD AVENUE HERE. ABOUT THE PARKING ISSUES.
PRIMARILY, I WANT TO THANK THE CITY COUNCIL, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY FLIERS HAS BEEN EFFECTIVE.
IT HAS DRAMATICALLY CUT DOWN ON THE NUMBER OF CARS ON THE STREET.
AND THEN THERE'S STILL ALL THE ADJACENT STREETS THAT PEOPLE ARE USING FOR PARKING.
IT'S STILL A LITTLE BIT DANGEROUS DOWN HERE AT THE CORNER, AS THE PREVIOUS SPEAKERS TALKED, WHEN PEOPLE ARE PARKED AT THE END OF THE BLOCK ON BOTH SIDES, GETTING IN AND OUT OF GOLD IS VERY DANGEROUS THAT PEOPLE TURNING IN HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE TRAFFIC THAT'S COMING NORTHBOUND AND FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO GET OUT OF GOLD.
THAT IS, I'M CONCERNED THAT THOSE RESIDENTS OF RATIO WILL END UP GETTING PARKING PERMITS AND IF THE PARKING PERMITS ARE ALLOWED FOR TOO MANY VEHICLES, WE'LL END UP WITH THE SAME ISSUE.
A CONCLUSION IF I CAN MAKE A COMMENT ON THE THC ISSUE.
THEN. I HAVE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE LEGALIZATION BY STATE OR CITY OR FED WITH THE USE OF THC.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ALL OF IT KEPT IN DISPENSARY TYPE SITUATIONS.
BUSINESSES THAT ARE EXCLUSIVELY FOR THC AND RELATED PRODUCTS.
HAVING IT AT THE GAS STATION IN THE FIVE MILLIGRAM BEVERAGES AND GUMMIES AND SUCH.
[01:30:04]
THAT CONCERNS ME.BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND HAVE A GREAT DAY.
THANK YOU, PAUL. MARK VERONICAS WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU GUYS DO THIS EVERY WEEK OR EVERY TWO WEEKS.
MARK VERONICA'S 1055, PETER'S PLACE.
BUT IS IT JUST A ONE AND DONE KIND OF THING OR ARE YOU GUYS GOING TO DO WHAT, EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS? BECAUSE THIS IS AN APARTMENT BUILDING.
SO ARE WE GOING TO STILL BE DOING THIS SAME THING EVERY EVERY OTHER MONTH TO LET THE NEW PEOPLE KNOW THAT THEY CAN'T PARK OUT THERE? OR IS IT JUST A ONE AND DONE TYPE OF DEAL? YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE A SPECIFIC ANSWER FOR YOU, BUT WE WILL DISCUSS IT AND AND AND LET YOU KNOW A PLAN AND WE'LL GIVE AN UPDATE ABOUT THAT. IT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
YEAH. YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IT'S A GOOD POINT.
YEAH. NEW PEOPLE COME IN. THEY NEED TO KNOW, YOU KNOW.
AND YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR BEFORE ANYONE MOVED INTO THIS PLACE, ME AND A FEW NEIGHBORS, WE WERE HERE AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT PARKING BECAUSE WE ALREADY KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE A WELL, ENTERTAINING.
IF WE HAD ANYTHING OUT ON THE STREET, IT WAS JUST GOING TO BE GUEST PARKING.
WELL, WE KNOW THE REALITY IS FAR DIFFERENT THAN THAN THE FANTASY THAT WE WERE LIVING IN LAST YEAR.
ARE YOU DOING ANYTHING TO HELP MAKE THE RENT A LITTLE MORE AFFORDABLE FOR THE PEOPLE LIVING HERE TO GET THEM OFF THE STREET, WHICH TAKES CARE OF THE PROBLEM? OR IS IT JUST A WE'RE JUST GOING TO KEEP FIGHTING THIS EVERY THREE MONTHS.
I MEAN, AND YOU KNOW, YOU GOT, WHAT IS IT, 750, 850 UNITS GOING ON OVER AT RAINBOW.
ARE WE GOING TO STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM THERE? THERE'S GOING TO BE PARKING FOR EVERYONE, BUT IT'S NOT INCLUDED IN THE RENT.
I MEAN, THE PARKING AT THIS PLACE, IT'S LIKE DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS PARKING RATES.
TO PARK ON ONE FLOOR AND IT'S 150 ON ON THE OTHER.
I MEAN, YOU HAVE STUDIO APARTMENTS THAT ARE 1400 BUCKS A MONTH, AND THEN YOU FACTOR IN THEIR MANDATORY INTERNET THAT YOU HAVE TO GET TO EVEN GET INTO THE BUILDING THAT'S NOT INCLUDED IN THEIR RENT.
BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE IT OR YOU CAN'T EVEN GET INTO YOUR OWN BUILDING.
IF IT'S MANDATORY, I SHOULD DEFINITELY BE INCLUDED IN THE RENT.
AND THEN IF YOU DO THE PARKING A STUDIO APARTMENT THAT DOESN'T EVEN INCLUDE OR A STUDIO APARTMENT THAT DOESN'T EVEN INCLUDE A BEDROOM IS $1,600 A MONTH. I SAID, WHO CAN AFFORD THAT? THAT'S JUST THAT'S INSANE.
I MEAN, I MEAN, PEOPLE DO BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THE PLACE IS FILLING UP.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THAT'S THEM.
I THINK THAT YOU GUYS REALLY NEED TO.
TRY TO MAKE THE PARKING MORE REASONABLE FOR THE PEOPLE LIVING HERE BECAUSE ALL OUR PROBLEMS UP IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WILL DISAPPEAR IF YOU TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. YOU KNOW, I MEAN, CUTTING ACROSS CENTRAL, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE OTHER LADY WITH THE DELIGHT.
WAITING AND WAITING IN THE RAIN.
YOU WANT TO PARK BY YOUR HOUSE, YOU WANT TO.
SO IF YOU CAN DO ANYTHING TO TAKE CARE OF THE CORE PROBLEM, THAT WOULD MAKE ALL OUR DAYS WAY BETTER.
WE DEFINITELY HEAR YOU. WE WILL HAVE SOME UPDATES.
SO ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME.
ALL RIGHT. I'M NOT SEEING ANYONE RUSH UP TO SPEAK, SO I DON'T HAVE TO FILL OUT A FORM.
YOU DO HAVE TO FILL OUT A FORM, BUT THANK YOU.
OKAY. THE FORM IS MOSTLY JUST SO WE CAN INTRODUCE YOU.
[01:35:06]
THAT'S ALL THERE IS TO IT.YES. SO COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS WOULD LIKE TO MAKE TO SAY SOMETHING BEFORE WE ADJOURN.
EVERYBODY WOULD JOIN ME IN GIVING A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
MOST OF THE STAFF WILL NOT KNOW ABOUT IT TONIGHT, BUT THEY WILL HEAR ABOUT IT TOMORROW.
BUT FOR ALL OF THOSE THAT HAVE PUT IN SUCH DILIGENCE AND HARD WORK AND ENERGY AWAY FROM FAMILY.
AND FRIENDS AND TYING THEMSELVES TO THE DESK FOR THE LAST YEAR OR TWO YEARS.
IF YOU WOULD JOIN ME IN WISHING.
THANK YOU. THEN MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING? HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER BUESGENS AND A AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER JACOBS TO ADJOURN THE MEETING ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION.
HEARING IS NONE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES.
THANK YOU. THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.