Sep 11, 2023 City Council

[WELCOME/CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL]

[00:00:03]

HELLO, EVERYONE.

THAT SEEMS SO LOUD.

BEFORE WE START, I'LL JUST LET EVERYONE KNOW IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK DURING THE COMMUNITY FORUM OR DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING THAT YOU'LL NEED TO FILL IN A FORM BY THE ENTRY DOOR OVER.

THAT WAY I DON'T NEED A SIGN OR SOMETHING SO I CAN BE LIKE AT THE PINK FLOWERS, SIR.

DON'T WANT TO JUST CALL OUT A COMMUNITY MEMBER NEXT TO KUZMA, BUT.

ANYWAY, YOU'LL NEED TO FILL IN A FORM TO SPEAK LATER, SO JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A HEADS UP ON THAT.

ALL RIGHT. IT IS 6:00, SO WE WILL GET STARTED.

AND WELCOME EVERYONE TO THE CITY, COUNCIL MEETING.

SARAH, ARE WE READY TO GO? YES. TECHNICALS ARE ALL GOOD.

YEAH, WE'RE DOING GREAT.

GREAT. TODAY IS MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11TH, AND I ASK IF WE CAN CALL FOR A ROLL CALL, PLEASE.

CALL]. FIRST, I'LL READ 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 GREAT PLACE FOR EVERYONE TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE.

NOW, WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND AND JOIN ME IN SAYING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE IF YOU ARE ABLE? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU. AND I HAVE A FEW WORDS I'D LIKE TO READ TO REMEMBER THE DATE OF NINE OVER 11.

IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA, BUT SOMETHING I WANTED TO ADD.

ON THIS SOLEMN DAY, WE REMEMBER AND HONOR THE LIVES LOST AND FOREVER ALTERED BY THE TRAGIC EVENTS OF SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2001.

THE PAIN AND GRIEF OF THAT DAY CONTINUE TO ECHO IN OUR HEARTS, AND WE EXTEND OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHIES TO THE FAMILIES AND FRIENDS WHO LOST LOVED ONES.

AS WE COMMEMORATE THIS ANNIVERSARY, IT IS ESSENTIAL TO REFLECT ON THE PROFOUND IMPACT THESE EVENTS HAD ON COUNTLESS INDIVIDUALS, NOT ONLY IN THE UNITED STATES, BUT ALSO AROUND THE WORLD.

THE AFTERMATH OF 9/11 SHAPED THE LIVES OF SURVIVORS, RESPONDERS AND WITNESSES LEAVING ENDURING SCARS AND CHALLENGES.

WE MUST ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THE DISCRIMINATION AND FEAR THAT MANY IN THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY HAVE FACED IN THE YEARS SINCE 9/11.

INNOCENT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN UNFAIRLY STIGMATIZED AND TARGETED DUE TO THEIR FAITH, ETHNICITY OR APPEARANCE.

IT IS CRUCIAL TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE ACTIONS OF A FEW EXTREMISTS DO NOT REPRESENT AN ENTIRE RELIGION OR COMMUNITY.

IN OUR PURSUIT OF A WORLD FREE OF TERRORISM, WE MUST REMEMBER THAT UNITY, UNDERSTANDING AND COMPASSION ARE OUR MOST POTENT WEAPONS.

TOGETHER AS A GLOBAL COMMUNITY, WE CAN WORK TOWARDS A FUTURE WHERE PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS CAN LIVE IN PEACE AND HARMONY, FREE FROM THE FEAR OF VIOLENCE AND DISCRIMINATION.

LET US REMEMBER THE IMPORTANCE OF DIALOG, EDUCATION AND TOLERANCE AS WE STRIVE FOR A WORLD WHERE THE TRAGEDY OF NINE OVER 11 REMAINS A PAINFUL MEMORY OF THE PAST, AND WHERE ALL INDIVIDUALS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR BACKGROUND, CAN LIVE WITHOUT FEAR OR PREJUDICE.

IF YOU WILL, PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE.

THANK YOU. NEXT.

[APPROVAL OF AGENDA]

FOR ANY QUESTIONS, ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS.

SEEING AS NONE OF THEM EVER MOTION TO ACCEPT THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED.

I MOVE. I'LL SECOND THEN I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING IS NONE, THOUGH.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

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

[PROCLAMATIONS, PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITION, ANNOUNCEMENTS, GUESTS]

[00:05:04]

YOU HAVE MANY OF THEM UP HERE AND HERE TONIGHT TO RECEIVE THE CONSTITUTION WEEK PROCLAMATION IS JONI MOSES FROM THE DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

SHE IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE MINNESOTA CHAPTER.

IS THAT CORRECT? NO.

BEEN THE CHAIRMAN OF CONSTITUTION WEEK AWARENESS FOR 20 YEARS.

FOR 20 YEARS AND FOR 21 YEARS FOR ANOKA CHAPTER.

SO, THIS IS KIND OF A JOB THAT I ASSUMED FOR VR.

THANK YOU, JONI.

AND SO, I'LL READ THE PROCLAMATION AND THEN INTRODUCE OUR OTHER GUESTS HERE TONIGHT TO RECEIVE IT.

AND THEN WE'LL HEAR A FEW WORDS FROM BOTH OF YOU, OKAY? CONSTITUTION WEEK, SEPTEMBER 17TH THROUGH SEPTEMBER 23RD, 2023.

WHEREAS SEPTEMBER 17TH, 2023, MARKS THE 236TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DRAFTING OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BY THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.

AND. WHEREAS, IT IS FITTING AND PROPER TO ACCORD OFFICIAL RECOGNITION TO THIS MAGNIFICENT DOCUMENT AND ITS MEMORABLE ANNIVERSARY, AND TO THE PATRIOTIC CELEBRATION WHICH WILL COMMENCE COMMEMORATE THE OCCASION.

AND. WHEREAS, PUBLIC LAW 915 GUARANTEES THE ISSUING OF A PROCLAMATION EACH YEAR BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA DESIGNATING SEPTEMBER 17TH THROUGH 23RD AS CONSTITUTION WEEK.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT I, AMANDA MARCUS, SIMILAR MAYOR OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 17TH THROUGH SEPTEMBER 23RD, CONSTITUTION WEEK IN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS COUNTY OF ANOKA, STATE OF MINNESOTA, USA.

ADDITIONALLY, I ASK OUR CITIZENS TO REAFFIRM THE IDEALS OF THE FRAMERS OF THE CONSTITUTION HAD IN 1787 BY VIGILANTLY PROTECTING THE FREEDOMS GUARANTEED TO US THROUGH THIS GUARDIAN OF OUR LIBERTIES.

REMEMBERING THE LOST RIGHTS MAY NEVER BE REGAINED.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IT'S HONOR. SIT DOWN.

OKAY. THIS IS A NEW CITY HALL WE'RE GOING TO USE.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

THIS IS JUST A GORGEOUS SETTING.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR INVITING ME, MAYOR, AND I'M HONORED TO BE HERE.

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS HAS PROCLAIMED DONE A PROCLAMATION EVERY YEAR SINCE I TOOK OVER THE CHAIRMANSHIP.

SO NOT EVERY COMMUNITY CAN SAY THAT AND CERTAINLY NOT EVERY COMMUNITY IN IN ANOKA COUNTY, WHERE I TRY TO COVER ANOKA COUNTY AND SOME OF THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.

THE DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION IS A SERVICE AND SOCIAL GROUP THAT HAS CURRENTLY 185,000 MEMBERS IN THE COUNTRY AND OVER 20 CHAPTERS IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

AND WE SUPPORT EDUCATION, HERITAGE AND PATRIOTISM.

AND WE'RE A NONPOLITICAL, NON-RELIGIOUS GROUP.

WE HAVE. WE'RE EXTREMELY DIVERSE.

THE ONLY QUALIFICATION IS THAT YOU CAN TRACE YOUR FAMILY BACK TO SOMEONE WHO HELPED PROCURE THE FREEDOM OF AMERICA.

SO WE HAVE.

UH, DIFFERENT RACES AND PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER.

THE WORLD, REALLY.

I LIKED PERSONALLY, I LIKE TO VISIT SCHOOLS.

AND THE MAYOR ASKED ME TO MENTION TO YOU WHAT I DO.

WE HAVE MANY DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES THAT OTHER MEMBERS DO.

AND I LIKE TO READ TO THE CHILDREN.

[00:10:04]

I READ THEM ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION OR TALK ABOUT THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

IF IT'S OLDER CHILDREN AND I LIKE TO GIVE THEM A FLAG OF EVERY SCHOOL, A FLAG, USUALLY A COLONIAL FLAG. I BRING FLAGS WITH ALL DIFFERENT NUMBERS OF STARS SO THAT THEY CAN SEE HOW AMERICA HAS GROWN.

AND ONE OF THE SPECIAL THINGS THAT I LIKE TO DO IS TO GIVE THEM A CONSTITUTION IN BRAILLE.

AND THE NATIONAL BRAILLE INSTITUTE WILL GIVE ANYONE THEY WILL SEND ANYONE A COPY OF THE CONSTITUTION AND A COPY OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE IN BRAILLE AT NO CHARGE, SO I CAN AFFORD TO GIVE THEM OUT TO EVERY SCHOOL. AND ALSO, THE DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION HAVE A CARD WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE IN AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE.

AND SO, I USUALLY PASS THEM OUT AND GIVE THE SCHOOL A POSTER WITH IT PICTURED IN AMERICAN SIGN.

WE ALSO HAVE POSTERS THAT WE GIVE TO COMMUNITIES AND THAT WE PUT UP ALL OVER THE CITY.

AND THIS PARTICULAR ONE SAYS WHAT IS IN THE CONSTITUTION? SO, IF YOU'D LIKE TO POST THAT SOMEWHERE IN CITY HALL, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT.

I ALSO BROUGHT SOME BOOKMARKS OF THE PREAMBLE OF THE CONSTITUTION, BUT I THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND I'M KIND OF HAPPY I COULD PUT AWAY ALL THE WRITTEN MATERIAL AND JUST SPEAK TO YOU.

AND I'M VERY HONORED TO RECEIVE YOUR PROCLAMATION.

AND THANK YOU.

ENJOY, ENJOY MAKING OTHERS AWARE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CONSTITUTION AND ESPECIALLY DURING CONSTITUTION WEEK.

THANK YOU.

AND RENEE, IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF.

THANK YOU. I'M RENEE RIEMERSMA AND I'M THE REGENT OF THE HARRIET G.

WALKER CHAPTER IN SHOREVIEW.

OUR CHAPTER HAS GOTTEN TO KNOW MAYOR SIMULA THROUGH WORKING IN THE LOMIANKI PARK COMMUNITY GARDEN.

ONE OF OUR CHAPTER MEMBERS, CAT ODETTE LUPI, WAS WORKING WITH CONNIE AND THEY TRANSFORMED THIS UNUSED BASEBALL FIELD INTO.

A GREAT GROWING GARDEN FOR THE COMMUNITY.

AND SO WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH CONNIE AND WITH MAYOR SIMULA FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW.

PRACTICALLY, I THINK SINCE THE GARDEN STARTED.

AND SO,THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME TO COME TONIGHT AND THANK YOU FOR GIVING OUT THE PROCLAMATION FOR CONSTITUTION WEEK.

THANK YOU. THANKS FOR COMING HERE.

NEXT, WE HAVE OUR PROCLAMATION FOR HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH AND MY FRIEND MARGARITA IS HERE TO RECEIVE THIS PROCLAMATION.

THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME HERE.

I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE.

MY NAME IS MARGARITA VALDEZ.

I'M PERUVIAN BUSINESSWOMAN.

I HAVE BEEN HERE 20 YEARS, SO I BELONG IN THIS COMMUNITY.

I WAS VOLUNTEERED.

NORTH PARK.

NORTH PARK SCHOOL FOR INNOVATION.

A FOR SIX YEARS I WAS READING BOOKS FOR THE AMERICAN AND LATIN KIDS, SO NOW I AM THE COMMITTEE.

EDUCATION COMMITTEE ADVISORY COUNCIL.

I REMEMBER THERE. UM.

WELL, I'M HERE.

I HAVE FAMILY.

MY HUSBAND, MY THREE CHILDREN, MY GRANDCHILDREN.

FIVE GRANDCHILDREN.

SO, I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE.

I LOVE THIS COMMUNITY.

YEAH. THANK YOU, MARGUERITA.

THANK YOU. I'LL READ THE PROCLAMATION AND THEN COME OVER AND WE'LL DO A PHOTO.

SURE. PROCLAMATION FOR HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH, SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2023, THROUGH OCTOBER 15TH, 2023.

WHEREAS THE FIRST HISPANIC HERITAGE WEEK WAS HELD IN 1968 BY PRESIDENT LYNDON JOHNSON, AND 20 YEARS LATER, IN 1988, PRESIDENT BUSH DECLARED

[00:15:04]

AND. WHEREAS, THE HISPANIC AND LATINO COMMUNITY, A VITAL AND INTEGRAL PART OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT AND LASTING CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR SOCIETY, ENRICHING OUR LIVES THROUGH ART, MUSIC, CUISINE, LITERATURE, SCIENCE AND COUNTLESS OTHER FIELDS.

AND WHEREAS, HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH OFFERS US A REMARKABLE OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE THE HERITAGE, CULTURE AND INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS OF HISPANIC AND LATINO INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES TO THE UNITED STATES.

AND WHEREAS, HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH ENCOURAGES US TO REFLECT ON THE SHARED HISTORIES, CHALLENGES AND SUCCESSES OF OUR HISPANIC NEIGHBORS, FOSTERING A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING AND RESPECT FOR THE DIVERSITY THAT SHAPES OUR TOWN.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT I.

AMADA MARQUEZ SIMULA, MAYOR OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER TO BE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH IN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS COUNTY OF ANOKA, STATE OF MINNESOTA, USA.

ADDITIONALLY, I CALL ON ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN ME IN HONORING OUR HISPANIC COMMUNITIES, DISTINCT HERITAGE AND UNBENDING SPIRIT, AND TO PARTICIPATE IN EFFORTS THAT ADVANCE DIALOG BETWEEN CULTURES, UNITY AND EXCHANGE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. HAMADA, FOR GIVING ME THIS PROCLAMATION.

IT'S AN HONOR FOR ME, FOR MY COMMUNITY.

SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU. GRACIAS.

NEXT. WE HAVE OUR CONSENT AGENDA.

[CONSENT AGENDA]

INTERIM CITY MANAGER.

KEVIN, WOULD YOU PLEASE GO OVER THE ITEMS? THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, YOU HAVE A SHORT AGENDA BEFORE YOU TONIGHT CONSISTING OF SIX ITEMS. THE FIRST OF THESE IS TO APPROVE THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF YOUR REGULAR MEETING ON AUGUST 28TH, 2023.

THE SECOND ITEM IS TO APPROVE THE COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING MINUTES FOR SEPTEMBER 5TH OF 2023.

THE THIRD ITEM IS TO APPROVE THE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES FOR AUGUST 7TH OF 2023.

THE NEXT IS THE LICENSE AGENDA AS PRESENTED.

THE FIFTH ITEM IS TO APPROVE THE RENTAL OCCUPANCY LICENSES AS SUBMITTED.

AND THE LAST OF THESE IS THE REVIEW OF THE BILLS AND THE AMOUNT OF $1,141,410.65.

MAYOR, THANK YOU.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE ITEMS? ALL RIGHT. SEEING IS NOT HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.

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

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING IS DONE, THEN ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION PASSES.

THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ACCEPTED AS PRESENTED.

NEXT, WE GO TO PUBLIC HEARINGS.

THIS 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.

SPEAKERS ATTENDING VIRTUALLY SHOULD SEND A REQUEST TO SPEAK WITH THE INFORMATION TO THE MODERATOR USING THE CHAT FUNCTION AND WAIT TO BE CALLED ON TO SPEAK WHEN SPEAKING.

VIRTUAL ATTENDEES SHOULD TURN THEIR CAMERAS ON.

ANY COMMENT 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 FOR THE COUNCIL.

ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION.

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS.

SO ITEM NUMBER SEVEN IS THE CENTER POINT FRANCHISE AGREEMENT RENEWAL.

[ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION]

I JUST REALIZED THAT IT'S NOT THE SAME THING.

THIS IS NOT A PUBLIC FORUM FOR THE ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS.

ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, AS I SAID, IS A CENTER POINT FRANCHISE AGREEMENT, AND THIS IS JUST A RENEWAL FOR DISCUSSION AND PRESENTATION FROM KEVIN.

[00:20:09]

SO AS INDICATED IN THE STAFF REPORT, THIS IS ESSENTIALLY A RENEWAL.

THE EXISTING FRANCHISE AND THE NEW FRANCHISE, WHICH IS BEFORE YOU TONIGHT, WERE REVIEWED BY CITY STAFF ALONG WITH CENTERPOINT ENERGY AND ALONG WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY.

WE REALLY HAD MINOR CHANGES TO THAT.

AND I WANT TO GO THROUGH WHAT THOSE WERE.

THE CHANGES THAT WERE MADE WERE REALLY UPDATING THE ENTITIES.

IN OTHER WORDS, THE CONTACT INFORMATION ON BEHALF OF BOTH THE CITY AND CENTERPOINT ENERGY SO THAT WE HAD THE CORRECT MAILING ADDRESSES FOR BOTH.

THIS IS A 20 YEAR AGREEMENT.

THE LAST SEVERAL THAT WE'VE HAD, THE LAST COUPLE WE'VE HAD HAVE BEEN 20 YEAR FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE LAST FRANCHISE AGREEMENT THAT YOU APPROVED EARLIER THIS YEAR WITH XCEL ENERGY FOR ELECTRIC WAS A 20 YEAR FRANCHISE AGREEMENT.

PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO US IS THAT THE REFERENCE AND THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR HOW THEY DO THEIR WORK AND HOW THEY DO THEIR RESTORATION SERVICE WORK HERE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS HAS BEEN UPDATED.

SO, IT'S CONSISTENT BOTH WITH OUR ORDINANCE FOR STREET RESTORATION AND ALSO THE UPDATES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE THROUGH THE STATE'S REQUIREMENTS FOR STREET RESTORATION THROUGH THEIR PROGRAM.

THE OTHER THING THAT CENTER POINT HAD ASKED FOR IN THIS IS THAT WE PROVIDE THEM WITH ADEQUATE NOTICE, AT LEAST SIX MONTHS OF WORK THAT WE HAVE COMING UP MAJOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS SO THAT THOSE CAN BE COORDINATED AND IMPROVED COORDINATION FOR OUR WORK, ALONG WITH CENTERPOINT ENERGY.

AND THEN THE LAST THING IS THAT ALTHOUGH THIS DOESN'T PROVIDE FOR A FRANCHISE FEE, IT DOES ALLOW FOR A FRANCHISE FEE.

AND SIMILAR WITH XCEL ENERGY.

WE ARE WORKING ON THAT AND PLAN BEING BACK TO THE COUNCIL ON THE IMPACTS AND WHAT THOSE FEES WOULD BE FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION AT A LATER TIME WITHIN THE NEXT 3 TO 6 MONTHS FOR BOTH EXCEL AND FOR CENTERPOINT.

MAYOR, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, KEVIN.

ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT, THEN. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO.

QUESTION. THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ITEM.

IT IS. OKAY.

OKAY. THEN WE HAVE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING.

MOVE TO WAIVE. MOVE TO WAIVE THE READING OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 1689.

THERE BE AN AMPLE COPY AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER BASKINS AND THE SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES.

ANY QUESTION OR DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT, LET ME HAVE A MOTION.

SORRY. MAY HAVE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING HAS PASSED.

NEXT, WE HAVE A MOTION TO SET THE SECOND READING.

MOVE TO SET THE SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE 1689 PERTAINING TO THE RENEWAL OF THE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT WITH CENTERPOINT ENERGY FOR MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2023, AT APPROXIMATELY £0.06 PM ON THE CITY IN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS.

SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BEGINS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES TO SET THE SECOND READING ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION.

SEEING AS NONE THEN ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION PASSES TO SET THE SECOND READING FOR MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH.

NEXT, WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, WHICH IS THE SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE 1688 PROHIBITING SMOKING WITHIN PARKS AND AMENDING THE DEFINITION OF PUBLIC PLACE. AND AARON CHIRPICH WILL TAKE US THROUGH THIS.

YES, THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR.

MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE 1688.

IT'S PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD PROHIBITING SMOKING IN CITY PARKS.

THIS WOULD COVER TOBACCO AND CANNABIS PRODUCTS AS WE MOVE TO LEGALIZE CANNABIS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF MINNESOTA IN THE COMING YEARS PREEMPTIVELY TO TO KIND OF GET AHEAD OF THAT.

IT WAS THE CONVERSATION WAS BROUGHT ON WITH THE RECENT CHANGES TO LEGISLATION.

DURING THE FIRST READING, THE COUNCIL IDENTIFIED SOME LANGUAGE RELATED TO GENDER SPECIFIC GUIDANCE FOR CLEANING OF RESTROOMS IN PUBLIC PARKS.

AND AS A RESPONSE TO CONCERNS OVER THAT LANGUAGE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS JUST TO REMOVE IT AND NOT HAVE MAINTENANCE POLICIES CODIFIED IN AN ORDINANCE.

IN THIS MANNER, WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THAT IN POLICY, WHERE STAFF WOULD JUST RECOMMEND THAT PUBLIC RESTROOMS IN CITY PARKS ARE CLEARED OF ANY OCCUPANT BEFORE CLEANING, NO MATTER WHO'S DOING THE CLEANING.

SO WITH THAT, I WOULD STAND FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE COUNCIL MIGHT HAVE.

THANK YOU FOR THAT UPDATE.

I APPROVE. I THINK THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO TO DO THAT.

[00:25:03]

ALL RIGHT, THEN. THANK YOU.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING? MOVE TO WAIVE THE READING OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 1688.

THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS TO WAIVE THE READING.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES.

AND NEXT WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE.

MOVE TO APPROVE ORDINANCE NUMBER 1688 BEING AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER TEN, ARTICLE TWO OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS CITY CODE TO PROHIBIT SMOKING WITHIN CITY PARKS AND AMENDING THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS CITY CODE TO REDEFINE THE DEFINITION OF PUBLIC SPACE, PUBLIC PLACE AND DIRECT STAFF TO SEND THE SUMMARY ORDINANCE FOR PUBLICATION IN THE LEGAL NEWSPAPER.

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

ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING AND HEARING NOTHING.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED.

AND THE MOTION PASSES.

NEXT ITEM NUMBER NINE IS THE APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION 2023, DASH 49 AND 2023 DASH 50, REQUESTING FUNDS FROM THE ANOKA COUNTY HRA AND TRANSFERRING SAID FUNDS TO THE EDA.

AND I BELIEVE AARON CHIRPICH WILL TAKE US THROUGH THIS AS WELL.

YES, THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR.

SO THIS ITEM ADDRESSES THE ACQUISITION OF A COUPLE PROPERTIES ON CENTRAL AVENUE 38, 53 AND 3851 RESPECTIVELY.

ONE OF THEM IS A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME THAT'S BEEN CONVERTED TO OFFICE SPACE AND THE OTHER IS A SMALL COMMERCIAL STOREFRONT WITH AN APARTMENT ABOVE IT.

BOTH OF THESE PROPERTIES WERE RECENTLY REVIEWED FOR PURCHASE AT THE SEPTEMBER MEETING, WITH THE COMMISSION APPROVING AUTHORIZATION OF THE ACQUISITION.

BOTH OF THESE WOULD BE FOR DEMOLITION AND REDEVELOPMENT AT A FUTURE DATE.

THERE AREN'T ANY SPECIFIC PROJECTS IDENTIFIED FOR THESE TWO PROPERTIES AS PART OF THE TRANSACTION, STAFF RECOMMENDED THAT THE CITY HE USE ITS ANOKA COUNTY HRA LEVY, WHICH IS ADMINISTERED FOR THE CITY OR BY THE CITY RATHER, FOR THE PURPOSE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REDEVELOPMENT SO THE CITY CAN ACCESS THIS FUND AND THEN TRANSFER FUNDS TO THE EDA.

AND IT HAS DONE THAT IN THE PAST AND THAT IS ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING.

IT'S A TWO PART, TWO RESOLUTIONS BEFORE YOU.

THE FIRST REQUEST, THE FUNDS FROM THE ANOKA COUNTY HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY FOR THIS PROJECT.

AND THEN THE SECOND IS AN AUTHORIZATION BY THE CITY TO MOVE THOSE FUNDS ONCE RECEIVED BY THE ANOKA COUNTY HRA TO THE EDA.

IN THE INTERIM, THE EDA WOULD ANTICIPATE USING ITS FUND 408 REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT FUND TO CASH FLOW THE PROJECT, AND THEN RECEIVE THE FUNDS WHEN AVAILABLE.

AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR AARON? ALL RIGHT, THEN WE HAVE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING.

MOVE TO WAIVE THE READING OF RESOLUTION NUMBER 20, 23, 49 AND 2023 DASH 50.

THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER SPRIGGS AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER JACOBS.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING AND SEEING NONE.

THEN ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES.

NEXT, WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION.

MOVE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 2349.

A RESOLUTION REQUESTING FUNDS FROM THE ANOKA COUNTY HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TO SUPPORT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

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

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION PASSES.

AND NEXT I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE NEXT RESOLUTION.

MOVE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER 2023.

DASH 50. A RESOLUTION TRANSFERRING $780,000 FROM ACRA GRANT FUNDS FROM THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS TO THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY FOR THE PURCHASE ABATEMENT UTILITY WORK AND DEMOLITION OF 3853 AND 3851 CENTRAL AVE.

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

ANY DISCUSSION? I HAVE. COUNCILMEMBER JAMES.

THANK YOU, MAYOR MARQUEZ SIMULA.

WE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND SINCE I KNOW NOT EVERYONE IS ABLE TO SEE THOSE MEETINGS, I JUST WANT TO THANK THE STAFF FOR FINDING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO DEVELOP OUR CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT AND TO REMOVE PROPERTIES THAT ARE OLDER AND ARE NEEDING TO BE UPDATED WITH NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

OUR CENTRAL AVENUE IS OUR MAIN STREET, AS I HEARD FROM COUNCILMEMBER BESGUENS, AND IT'S OUR OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY PREPARE FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT.

[00:30:07]

THANKS. THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR ADDING THAT.

NEXT THEN. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER BUESGENS.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING AND SEEING IS NONE.

THEN ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION PASSES.

NEXT, WE HAVE NO BID CONSIDERATIONS OR NEW BUSINESS REPORTS.

WHICH BRINGS US TO OUR CITY COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS.

[CITY COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS]

THANK YOU. IN A FAIRLY QUIET TWO WEEKS, HOWEVER, I CONTINUE TO WORK IN THE BLOOMING SUNSHINE GARDEN.

THERE'S ROMA TOMATOES AND SOME PEPPERS AND GREEN BEANS AND A BUNCH OF HERBS, DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT THAT YOU CAN COME AND HARVEST FOR YOUR DINNER.

SO, COME CHECK US OUT AT 8030 NINTH AVENUE NORTHEAST AND LOMIANKI PARK.

SECOND, I ATTENDED THE METRO COUNCIL HOUSING ECONOMIC MEETING.

THEY TALKED ABOUT HOUSING ISSUES IN IN THE STATE.

ALSO ATTENDED THE HEIGHTS NEXT GATHERING AT LOMIANKI PARK AND ALSO ATTENDED OUR STATE.

US HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE ILHAN OMAR HAD A TOWN HALL LAST WEEK, SO I ATTENDED THAT ALSO TO HEAR THE UPDATES.

THANKS. THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I ATTENDED A TRAINING WORKSHOP PUT ON BY THE LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES, WHICH TEACHES HOW CITIES CAN PREPARE FOR THE NEW PAID FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE LAW AND EARN SICK AND SAFE TIME.

AND I'M EXCITED FOR HOW THAT WILL IMPACT OUR CITY.

I ATTENDED THE REPRESENTATIVE OMAR TOWN HALL AND I WAS APPRECIATING HER OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN CO-GOVERNANCE AND COLLABORATION WITH OUR FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS.

SO THAT WAS REALLY INTERESTING TO HEAR FROM THAT.

I ATTENDED THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS BUSINESS COUNCIL WITH ON FRIDAY HERE IN OUR NEW CENTRAL PLACE, AND WE WERE VERY EXCITED TO HEAR FROM THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS PUBLIC SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT STENVIG AND TO HEAR ABOUT WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING IN THE SCHOOLS.

THERE'S A LOT OF EXCITING THINGS, INCLUDING ENROLLMENT INCREASING AND SO MUCH SO THAT VALLEY VIEW AND SEVERAL GRADES OF THE HIGH SCHOOL ARE COMPLETELY FULL AND CLOSED OPEN ENROLLMENT. SO THAT IS REALLY GOOD NEWS FOR OUR CITY.

AND THEN WE ALSO HEARD ABOUT THE UPCOMING REFERENDUMS. AND THERE'S A MUCH INFORMATION ON THE CITY, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WEBSITE.

I ATTENDED THE OPEN HOUSE FOR SAKE OF FOOD SHELF AT THE NEW LOCATION.

IT'S REALLY WONDERFUL AGAIN TO SEE THE PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT AS WELL AS OUR LOCAL PHILANTHROPY COMMUNITY AND NORTHEAST BANK IN PUTTING THAT ON, THE NEW LOCATION WILL BE AT 3905 CALIFORNIA STREET IN HONOR OF LABOR DAY.

I DID SOME ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF PROTECTING WORKERS RIGHTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, SIGNING ON TO A LETTER FOR OUR BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION WORKERS TO HAVE SAFE WAGES, A SAFE WORKING ENVIRONMENT, AND TO HAVE A BETTER WAGES AND AGAINST HUMAN LABOR TRAFFICKING.

AND FINALLY, I'VE HAD LOTS OF MEETINGS WITH PEOPLE REGARDING OUR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS, INCLUDING MEETING WITH OTHER MAYORS AND LOCAL OFFICIALS, OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES AND STATE SENATOR.

I THINK THAT'S IT. THANK YOU.

COUNCILMEMBER JAMES.

COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS SURE.

I CONTINUE TO MEET REGULARLY WITH THE RESIDENTS OF GOULD IN PETER'S PLACE REGARDING THE PARKING ISSUES CREATED BY THE RATIO SITUATION AND HELPING THEM ADDRESS THEIR CONCERNS, AND ALSO WITH RESIDENTS ON UPLAND CREST.

I ATTENDED THE SPECIAL SESSION AT ISD 13, WHICH WAS REGARDING THE SRO SITUATION AND THE CLOSED ENROLLMENT.

I ATTENDED THE SACA PICNIC AS A KIWANIS MEMBER AND WAS VERY PLEASED TO HEAR SOME COMMENTARY FROM FRIDLEY.

MAYOR SCOTT LUND.

ANOKA ANOKA COUNTY COMMISSIONER MANDY MEISSNER AND THEN ALSO ILHAN OMAR HAD HAD SOME WORDS OF OF CONFIDENCE AND SUPPORT FOR SACA AS WELL.

I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AND FRIDLEY KIWANIS WILL BE CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF RECYCLING THIS COMING SATURDAY.

SEPTEMBER 16TH FROM 9 A.M.

TO NOON, AND THAT'S LOCATED AT THE RECYCLING CENTER, 3801 MADISON STREET.

REFRESHMENTS WILL BE AVAILABLE WHILE SUPPLIES LAST.

AND I HAD FACILITATED EIGHT RESIDENT REACH OUTS AND I DID.

I WANTED TO COMMENT OR MENTION THAT THERE WAS A EDITORIAL BY TARA MILLER FROM COLUMBIA HEIGHTS IN THE

[00:35:09]

BUT SHE BRINGS CONCERNS FORWARD ABOUT THE WAY RESIDENTS ARE TAKING CARE OF THEIR PROPERTIES.

AND IT JUST IT MOVED ME TO SAY THAT WE MAYBE NEED TO REMIND OURSELVES THAT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN B AND B GARDENS AND OTHER OTHER TYPES OF NATURAL HABITAT, AND THOSE SHOULD BE MORE DISTINCT.

AND RATHER THAN JUST LETTING OUR GRASS AND AND OUR WEEDS GROW AT AT THEIR OWN WILL.

IT WAS I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO READ THE THE EDITORIAL IT WAS WORTH READING.

AND THEN FINALLY, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO PAY HOMAGE TO MY FRIENDS, MY FELLOW FLIGHT CREW MEMBERS.

THE MANY WHOSE LIVES WERE FOREVER CHANGED IN SO MANY WHO LOST THEIR LIVES 22 YEARS AGO TODAY.

THE IMPACT OF MY FORMER INDUSTRY, OUR COUNTRY AND THE SURVIVORS WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER SPRIGGS.

YEAH. THANK YOU.

I ATTENDED OUR EDA AND WORK SESSION, AS WE ALL DID.

I ALSO VIRTUALLY ATTENDED THE LAST SCHOOL BOARD SPECIAL SESSION MEETING LAST WEEK.

I ATTENDED THE LIBRARY BOARD MEETING AS THE LIAISON, AND THE LIBRARY BOARD WANTED ME TO MENTION THAT ANY LOCAL GROUPS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN A PRESENTATION FROM THEM ABOUT THE DIFFERENT RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE AT THE LIBRARY TO REACH OUT TO ME AND I CAN CONNECT YOU WITH THEM.

I ATTENDED A MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH MINNESOTA HEALTHY PARTNERSHIPS MONTHLY MEETING, WHICH WAS INTERESTING TO HEAR.

I ALSO ATTENDED THE TOWN HALL REPRESENTATIVE OMAR AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LAST WEEK, AND THEN I ATTENDED A VIRTUAL WEBINAR FROM THE LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES ABOUT LOCAL HOUSING AID COMING FROM THE LEGISLATURE.

THANK YOU FOR MY REPORT TODAY.

I STARTED DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS AT THE SEATLE ART DISPLAY ABOUT WORKERS RIGHTS.

THERE WAS A PRESS CONFERENCE WITH MAYOR FREY.

MAYOR FREY AND I JOINED WITH OTHER LEADERS IN MAKING SURE THAT LABORERS CAN UNIONIZE AND ARE PAID EQUITABLY AND ARE ABLE TO WORK IN SAFE CONDITIONS. AS AS ALSO.

COUNCILMEMBER JAMES ALSO ATTENDED THE REGIONAL CONFERENCE OF MAYORS LUNCHEON, LEARNING ABOUT HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES AND FUNDING FROM THE STATE THAT WILL BE COMING THROUGH TO CITIES THROUGH THE COUNTY.

I LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING WITH STAFF ABOUT WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO WITH THOSE DOLLARS TODAY.

ALSO HAD MY MONTHLY POLICE CHIEF MEETING MEETING WITH THE POLICE CHIEF DISCUSSING.

PARKING ON GOLD PRODEO SCHOOL AREA.

THERE'S ALSO A CLERICAL POSITION OPEN AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND FINALIZING WINTER PARKING UPDATES, WHICH WILL BE COMING OUT SOON.

ATTENDED THE PSYCHO COMMUNITY PICNIC THIS PAST FRIDAY, ALONG WITH MANY OF OUR FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE.

JUST MANY CONGRATULATIONS TO SACA ON MOVING FORWARD WITH THEIR NEW PROPERTY AND I KNOW IT WILL BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY MUCH.

ATTENDED THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS BUSINESS CHARTER MEETING HERE IN OUR CENTRAL PLACE AND LEARNED ABOUT, AS COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES SAID, FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUT ALSO THE CITY ALSO PRESENTED ABOUT THE NEW PROPERTY ON OR NOT NEW PROPERTY, BUT THE DEVELOPMENT ON 45TH AND CENTRAL, 44TH AND CENTRAL.

ATTENDED REPRESENTATIVE CONGRESSWOMAN OMAR'S TOWN HALL AT THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER.

THE SCHOOL IS GENEROUS TO ALWAYS SHARE THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER WITH THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY.

AND THAT'S WHAT THAT'S WHAT IT WAS BUILT FOR.

NOT JUST THE SCHOOL, BUT ALSO FOR USE FOR COMMUNITY EVENTS.

AND SENATOR KUNESH WAS IN ATTENDANCE AS WELL AS MYSELF.

MANY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE THERE, AS WELL AS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OR SORRY, PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY AND EVEN FROM NEW BRIGHTON ATTENDED MISSION HEIGHTS SOBRIETY HOUSES EVENT THEY HAD LAST TUESDAY, WHERE WE WELCOMED CONGRESSWOMAN OMAR TO TALK TO RESIDENTS AND SHARE HER STORY. AND WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE THEM HERE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AND WELCOME THEM AS NEW NEIGHBORS.

ALSO LAST TUESDAY ATTENDED VALLEYVIEW SCHOOL WITH LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR PEGGY FLANAGAN, AS WE WELCOME STUDENTS TO THE SCHOOL AND WE'RE ABLE TO GIVE HER A TOUR, I DO EVERY MEAL PROGRAM THERE AS A VOLUNTEER, AND IT WAS GREAT TO SHOW THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ALL OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOLS. AND ONE OF THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S STAFF MEMBERS WENT TO SCHOOL HERE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AS A FIRST GRADER AND HER TEACHER IS STILL HERE.

SO, IT WAS SO FUN TO SEE HER WITH HER OLD TEACHER.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, WITH THE REST OF THE COUNCIL, ATTENDED OUR EDA MEETING AND OUR WORK SESSION AND WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THIS WEDNESDAY IS OUR FIRST YOUTH COMMISSION MEETING

[00:40:03]

AND THAT'S IT FOR COUNCIL REPORTS.

SO WE'LL GO TO OUR INTERIM CITY MANAGER, KEVIN HANSEN.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS.

THE FIRST IS REALLY A STATUS UPDATE ON OUR PROJECTS.

WE HAVE TWO PRIMARY PROJECTS THAT WE'RE DOING HERE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

THE FIRST IS 37TH AVENUE.

37TH AVENUE IS ABOUT 3 TO 4 WEEKS BEHIND SCHEDULE, AND THAT'S REALLY DUE TO SOIL ISSUES THEY FOUND OUT ON SITE AND REALLY ADDITIONAL UTILITY WORK THAT WE ENDED UP PERFORMING THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PROJECT AREA.

SO WHAT'S GOING TO BE HAPPENING IN THE SHORT TERM HERE IS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE PUTTING ON THE FINISHING LIFT ON THE NORTH SIDE OF 37TH AVENUE, SHIFTING TRAFFIC OVER TO THAT NEW PAVEMENT AND THEN WORKING ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

SO, IT'S STILL ANTICIPATED THAT THEY'LL GET THE ROADWAY WORK DONE AND HAVE IT OPEN BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

53RD AVENUE, WE HAVE TWO SEPARATE PROJECTS THERE.

WE'RE CALLING THE FIRST ONE ON THE EAST SIDE NEAR CENTRAL AVENUE, OUR TURNABOUT PROJECT THAT IS ON SCHEDULE.

AND THE CONTRACTOR INTENDS TO BE DONE MID TO END OF OCTOBER.

AND THEN THE OTHER PROJECT, WHICH GOES FROM MAIN OVER TO NEAR THE MEDTRONIC SITE OR SULLIVAN LAKE PARK, THAT JUST GOT STARTED RIGHT AFTER LABOR DAY.

SO WE'LL PROVIDE UPDATES TO THE COUNCIL ON HOW THAT ONE IS PROGRESSING.

BUT THEY'RE THEY'RE MOVING ALONG QUITE RAPIDLY ON THAT.

BUT WE'LL SEE ON THE COMPLETION OF THAT AND HOW THAT ONE COMES ALONG.

WE DO HAVE SOME BOARDS AND COMMISSION APPLICATIONS OPEN RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE ONE CHARTER COMMISSION POSITION, OPEN, WE HAVE TWO ON THE EDA AND THEN WE HAVE TEN ON THE YOUTH COMMISSION SO THAT ANY ANYONE INTERESTED IN THAT CAN APPLY EITHER HERE AT CITY HALL OR FIND THOSE APPLICATIONS ONLINE.

WE HAVE A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS.

WE HAVE ADOPT A TREE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED.

OUR CITY FORESTER HAS PUT THAT OUT THERE THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS TO HELP US WITH WATERING THROUGH THE FALL MONTHS WITH NEWLY PLANTED TREES IN AND ALONG THE BOULEVARD.

SO IF YOU HAVE INTEREST IN DOING THAT, YOU CAN VISIT OUR CITY'S WEBSITE TO FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT.

OUR FINAL MOVIE IN THE PARK, THAT SUMMER SERIES.

IT'S WRAPPING UP HERE THIS FRIDAY, AND THAT WILL BE AT MCKENNA PARK AT 730.

AND THAT IS A MOVIE CALLED THE TROLLS WORLD TOUR.

SO THAT SHOULD BE INTERESTING.

AND THEN THE FALL NEWSLETTER IS OUT AND IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY RECEIVED IT, IT SHOULD BE COMING HERE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.

MAYOR, THANK YOU.

AND I WILL MENTION IN THE FALL NEWSLETTER THAT THE WINTER PARKING HAS WILL HAVE AN UPDATE COMING IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.

SO THAT BRINGS US TO OUR COMMUNITY FORUM.

[COMMUNITY FORUM]

I WILL READ OUR COMMUNITY FORUM POLICY THEN.

OUR 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.

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.

ONCE CALLED TO THE PODIUM, THE SPEAKER SHOULD SORRY SPEAKERS ATTENDING VIRTUALLY SHOULD SEND A REQUEST TO JOIN 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.

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.

AND SARAH, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE FIRST SPEAKER.

DIANE TITAN.

WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

WELCOME, DIANE.

FEEL FREE TO MOVE THE MICROPHONE AS YOU NEED TO.

OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL TONIGHT.

I HAVE A FEW ITEMS. WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE THE FOCUS OF OUR CITY, OUR MAIN STREET.

I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE THE MALL OVER HERE.

THE PARKING LOT IS HORRIBLE.

SOME OF THE STOREFRONTS, THE WINDOWS, I MEAN, IF WE ARE GOING TO TRY AND IMPROVE THE LOOKS OF OUR CITY, I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

THEN I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT ASIA CHOWMEIN BUILDING.

IT APPEARS AS THOUGH THERE'S A NEW TENANT THAT HAS BEEN DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT'S MOVING IN THERE OR CAN WE NOT TALK ABOUT THAT? ARE WE ABLE TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT, AARON, WE'LL BE ABLE TO.

SURE. SO THE CITY IS AWARE THAT A NEW RESTAURANT IS GOING INTO THAT SPACE.

[00:45:03]

WE DON'T HAVE A TIMELINE FOR OPENING, BUT WE EXPECT IT TO BE SOON.

SO, NO DETAILS OTHER THAN IT IS A RESTAURANT THAT HAS ALREADY ESTABLISHED A RESTAURANT IN NORTHEAST.

AND IT'LL BE A SIMILAR TYPE RESTAURANT HERE.

OKAY. AND THE ONLY THING I WANTED TO SAY, I DON'T KNOW IF THE COUNCIL HAS ANY INPUT AS TO WHAT RESTAURANTS ARE BROUGHT INTO THE CITY, BUT PLEASE DON'T ANYBODY TAKE THIS WRONG BECAUSE I LOVE ETHNIC FOOD.

I LOVE MEXICAN FOOD, I LOVE THAI.

BUT WE HAVE ONE, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, AMERICAN TYPE RESTAURANT THAT WE CAN GO TO.

IT'S APPLEBEE'S.

AND IT WOULD JUST BE KIND OF REFRESHING IF MAYBE WE COULD GET ANOTHER RESTAURANT IN.

AND AGAIN, I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO TAKE ME BECAUSE I'VE BEEN TO ALL THOSE RESTAURANTS.

I LIKE THEM. I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GO THERE.

BUT WE NEED TO HAVE SOME DIVERSITY THAT WAY AS WELL.

OKAY. AND THEN IN THE MALL AND THEY DID SOME WORK ON REFINISHING THE SIDEWALK AROUND THE CORNER FROM PIZZA MAN.

THERE EVIDENTLY IS SOMETHING GOING IN THERE AS WELL.

IS THAT A RESTAURANT? IS IT A BUSINESS? DO WE KNOW THAT YET? AARON, IF YOU'D LIKE TO. YEAH.

RIGHT NOW, WHAT'S UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN THAT LOCATION OF THE STRIP MALL IS A BREWERY AND A RESTAURANT COMBINATION.

YEAH. SAME OWNER WITH A RESTAURANT INTEGRATED INTO A BREWERY EXPECTED TO OPEN IN THE FALL WITH NO SPECIFIC DATE.

OKAY. AND LAST AND SARAH ALREADY MENTIONED THAT YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THIS, BUT THE POLES IN THE INTERSECTIONS, THEY'RE KIND OF CRAZY. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? I GET THE I GET THE CONCEPT OF THAT.

BUT UP ON 50TH WHERE JIMMY JOHN'S AND ASIA ARE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE GOING TO THOSE RESTAURANTS USED TO GET OVER INTO THE FAR RIGHT LANE TO MAKE THE RIGHT TURN AND NOW THEY'RE ALL HAVING TO GET BACK.

IT'S IT'S CRAZY AS WHAT IT IS WHEN IT'S BUSY IT AND I'M SURE THERE'S GOING TO BE AN ACCIDENT THERE.

BUT MAYBE THEY'RE ONLY TEMPORARY.

I DON'T KNOW MUCH.

THANK YOU. KEVIN WILL ANSWER THAT ONE.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

SO, THE TEMPORARY POLES THAT WERE PUT UP ARE REALLY A DEMONSTRATION PROJECT.

THOSE WERE INSTALLED BY MDOT.

AND QUITE FRANKLY, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR FEEDBACK.

SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK, I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER THEY HAVE SOME QR CODES POSTED ON THE SIDEWALK, PAINTED IN OR OTHERWISE YOU CAN GO.

WE'LL PROVIDE A LINK.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE IT UP YET, BUT WE'LL PROVIDE A LINK ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE WHERE YOU CAN PROVIDE COMMENTS FOR OR AGAINST OR WHAT YOU LIKE DON'T LIKE ABOUT THOSE.

BUT THEY WERE INTENDED TO HAVE SOME SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS FOR PEDESTRIANS.

IN OTHER WORDS, SHORTENING THE CROSSWALK TIME FOR THAT.

SO, I THINK THEY WANTED TO PUT THOSE UP AND REALLY INVITE COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON THOSE.

OKAY. MAYOR, THERE IS A LINK ON THE NEWSLETTER ABOUT THE INFORMATION RELATED TO THESE INTERSECTIONS AND IT DOES LINK TO THE COMMENT FORM AND THE NEWS RELEASE SO WE CAN ADD THAT LINK TOO.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

AND SARAH, IS THAT ALSO IN THE FALL NEWSLETTER THAT'S PRINTED? IT UNFORTUNATELY DIDN'T MAKE IT IN TIME FOR THAT, BUT IT IS IN THE ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER AND THAT'S A PUSH TO SIGN UP FOR THAT.

AND I'M GOING TO HELP SIGN YOU UP FOR THAT AFTER THE MEETING AND WOULD LOVE TO GET THAT LINK UP AND WE'LL WORK ON GETTING THAT ON THE MAIN WEB PAGE AS WELL.

AGAIN, IF YOU HAVE ANY INPUT TO THE LOOKS OF THAT MALL AREA, I WOULD HOPE THAT MAYBE WE COULD MAKE IT LOOK A LITTLE BETTER.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

AND SARAH, WHO DO WE HAVE NEXT? STEVE VANCAMP WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

WELCOME, STEVE.

ACTUALLY, IT'S SCOTT.

SCOTT. GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR.

CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I AM SCOTT VANCAMP.

I'M A COLUMBIA HEIGHTS RESIDENT OF 18 YEARS.

MY WIFE ADDRESSED THE COUNCIL ON AUGUST 14TH REGARDING THE PROPERTY THAT ABUTS OURS.

535 40TH AVENUE, THE FORMER DENTAL OFFICE.

WE'RE BACK WITH A NEIGHBOR BECAUSE WE HAVE HEARD NOTHING BACK FROM THE CITY ON THE STATUS OF THE ADULT DAYCARE LICENSE AND INSPECTION PROGRESS ON THAT PROPERTY SINCE THE AUGUST 14TH MEETING, SINCE WE LAST ADDRESSED THE COUNCIL.

PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE ON CUTTING THE GRASS.

[00:50:02]

REFUSE FROM AROUND THE BUILDING AND IN THE FENCED ENCLOSURE HAS BEEN REMOVED.

THERE'S STILL WORK TO BE DONE.

THE DRIVEWAY AND UPHEAVED SIDEWALK BLOCKS HAVE NOT BEEN REPAIRED.

OUR CONCERN IS THAT AFTER TALKING TO ONE OF THE OWNER'S RELATIVES IS THAT CLIENTS WILL BE MOVED INTO THE FACILITY BEFORE THE PROPERTY IS PASSED AND INSPECTIONS AND LICENSING REVIEW.

THE RELATIVE TOLD MY WIFE DIFFERING VERSIONS OF WHEN CLIENTELE WILL BE MOVED IN.

ANYWHERE FROM TWO WEEKS TO TWO MONTHS.

WHEN MY WIFE ASKED HER IF SHE HAD A BUSINESS LICENSE, SHE SAID YES, THEY DO HAVE A BUSINESS LICENSE.

WE'RE ASKING THE CITY FOR CLARIFICATION ON THREE THINGS HAS A BUSINESS LICENSE BEEN GRANTED FROM COLUMBIA HEIGHTS? AND DOES THE BUSINESS HAVE AN ACTIVE ADULT DAYCARE LICENSE WITH THE STATE OF MINNESOTA? IS THAT PROPERTY ZONED FOR AN ADULT DAYCARE BUSINESS? OUR UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT IS NOT.

SO A VARIANCE WOULD HAVE TO BE APPLIED FOR THROUGH THE CITY FOR THE BUSINESS TO FULLY FUNCTION ON THAT SITE.

IS THAT ACCURATE? THIRD, WHEN IS A FINAL INSPECTION EXPECTED TO BE DONE ON THE PROPERTY? AND WILL NEIGHBORING RESIDENTS BE INVOLVED AT ANY TIME IN THAT PROCESS? OUR CONCERN IS THAT THE BUSINESS MIGHT MOVE CLIENTS IN BEFORE CODE.

PROTOCOLS HAVE BEEN SATISFIED.

IF THAT HAPPENS, WHAT IS OUR RECOURSE? IF THAT HAPPENS, WHAT ENFORCEMENT PROVISIONS DOES THE CITY HAVE? ANOTHER CONCERN IS THAT A DIFFERENT SET OF STANDARDS IS APPLIED TO THIS PROPERTY THAN FOR OTHER RESIDENTS.

RESIDENTS GET CITED FOR NOT CUTTING GRASS OR HAVING REFUSE IN THEIR YARDS, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN EGREGIOUS VIOLATIONS AT THIS PROPERTY.

THE MAINTENANCE OR NON MAINTENANCE OF THIS PROPERTY AFFECTS SURROUNDING PROPERTY VALUES.

THERE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINTS AND POLICE CALLS REGISTERED BY RESIDENTS AND WE'VE RECEIVED NO COMMUNICATION FROM THE CITY OTHER THAN RESPONSE FROM ONE COUNCIL MEMBER.

WHY? IS THERE A SHORTAGE OF INSPECTION STAFF? ARE THERE NO ENFORCEMENT PROVISIONS IN OUR CITY CODE? WE NEED ANSWERS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE AN UPDATE? BECAUSE I KNOW WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS, SO I'M SORRY YOU HAVEN'T RECEIVED A PHONE CALL, BUT THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF EMAILS AND MOVEMENT ON THE PROPERTY TO GET THEM. YEAH, I'LL LET STAFF EXPLAIN.

THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR.

I'LL TRY TO ADDRESS ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT I CAN HEAR THIS EVENING AND HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP INDIVIDUALLY WITH THE RESIDENTS THAT HAVE CONCERNS.

SO THERE ISN'T A CITY LICENSE FOR ADULT DAYCARES.

THERE IS A STATE OF MINNESOTA THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES LICENSE.

I DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT TIMELINE, BUT WITHIN THE LAST TWO YEARS, THE PROPERTY OWNER, CURRENT PROPERTY OWNER DID PRESENT THE CITY WITH LICENSING PAPERWORK FROM THE STATE THAT ASKED THE CITY TO SIGN OFF ON ZONING AND LAND USE.

AND WE DID WORK WITH THE OWNER TO ENSURE THAT THE ZONING FOR THE REQUESTED USE IS PERMITTED AND IT IS SO THERE ISN'T A VARIANCE NEEDED.

IT'S A PERMITTED USE WITHIN THE DISTRICT.

AND THERE ARE SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS THAT WERE REVIEWED FROM A ZONING PERSPECTIVE.

THERE WERE ALSO SOME BUILDING CODE IMPROVEMENTS THAT TOOK PLACE AT THAT TIME, THE INSTALLATION OF FIRE SPRINKLERS AND SOME OTHER ITEMS THAT HAD ALL BEEN CLEARED BY THE CITY'S BUILDING DEPARTMENT FROM A PERMITTING PERSPECTIVE, AT WHICH POINT THE CITY DID SIGN OFF ON THAT AUTHORIZATION, ESSENTIALLY SAYING THAT FROM A ZONING AND BUILDING CODE PERSPECTIVE, THE PROPERTY WAS READY TO BE LICENSED AS AN ADULT DAYCARE.

ONCE THAT LICENSURE WAS ACHIEVED TO TO THE BEST OF STAFF'S KNOWLEDGE, THERE WAS NO DAYCARE ACTIVITY THAT TOOK PLACE ON THE PROPERTY WITH THE CURRENT OWNER.

NO RESIDENTS WERE MOVED IN.

IT SAT LARGELY VACANT AND DID SUFFER FROM SOME PROPERTY MAINTENANCE ISSUES THAT I THINK ARE FRUSTRATING TO ALL STAFF. AND YOU KNOW, WE WE WOULD COLLABORATE WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ON THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE LONG GRASS AND AND OTHER THINGS THAT HAD DETERIORATED. WE'RE COMING TO KNOW THROUGH THE RESIDENTS THAT HAVE THIS DIRECT LINE OF COMMUNICATION WITH THE OWNER THAT IT SEEMS THAT THEY'RE SWITCHING

[00:55:02]

SO IT'S A CROSS JURISDICTIONAL ISSUE, BUT WE'RE WORKING THROUGH WE HAVE YET TO MEET AS CITY STAFF WITH ANY NEW PROSPECTIVE OWNER OPERATOR AT THIS LOCATION.

AND I THINK THAT'S ALL I CAN OFFER FOR FOR THE VARIOUS QUESTIONS INVOLVED.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS.

AARON, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.

WOULD THAT PROCESS HAVE TO START OVER FOR THE STATE LICENSING IF IT WERE A DIFFERENT OPERATOR? OR AM I MISUNDERSTANDING WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE HOW THE STATE WORKS WITH THE TRANSFER IN THEIR EYES, IF THEY'RE GOING TO REQUIRE THAT A NEW OPERATOR COMES TO THE CITY FOR THE ZONING VERIFICATION.

WE WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT ISSUE IN THE CITY.

IF IF IT DOES REQUIRE THAT, THEN THE CITY WOULD GO THROUGH AN ANALYSIS TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THOSE ZONING ELEMENTS ARE IN PLACE.

BUT TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, THEY WOULD BE.

I MEAN, IT WAS FAIRLY, FAIRLY BASIC STANDARDS FROM A SITE SPECIFIC PERSPECTIVE.

THEY HAD TO PROVIDE AN OUTDOOR RECREATION SPACE THAT WAS FENCED IN.

I KNOW THEY HAD PUT A LOT OF STICKS AND BRUSH IN THAT AREA THAT HAVE SINCE BEEN CLEARED.

BUT THE ZONING CHECKLIST IS RELATIVELY SMALL.

ONCE YOU DETERMINE THAT IT'S PERMITTED WITHIN THE DISTRICT, THE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS ARE ARE FAIRLY MINIMAL.

THEN MY SECOND QUESTION IS WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT KNOWLEDGE OR AN ASSUMPTION THAT THERE'S BEEN NOBODY RESIDING IN THAT PROPERTY, I KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN A PROBLEM WITH SQUATTERS THAT WOULD BE EXCLUDED FROM THAT STATEMENT THAT YOU MADE.

SQUATTERS WOULD BE A DIFFERENT ENTITY.

THAT'S CORRECT. COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS.

THANK YOU. I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN TALKING AFTER THE MEETING IF YOU'RE STILL.

IF YOU'RE STILL HERE.

YES. ALL RIGHT.

SARAH. DO WE HAVE ANYONE ELSE WHO'D LIKE TO SPEAK? CHARISMA MCINTYRE WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

WELCOME, KARISMA.

THANK YOU. HI ALL.

IT'S A LITTLE REDUNDANT, BUT THE PARKING, THE THOSE STRUCTURES AROUND THE THOSE LITTLE BARRICADES AROUND THE PARKING AREA, THEY'RE ACTUALLY DANGEROUS. I'VE SEEN BUSSES AND I TOOK A PICTURE OF A BUS THAT WAS TRYING TO MAKE ITS TURN ON 40TH AND CENTRAL AND. THE CARS BEHIND IT.

COULDN'T SEE TO TO SEE IF THEY WERE CLEAR TO GET AROUND THE BUS, EVEN EVEN WHEN THEY WERE IN THE PROPER LANE.

SO IT'S I THINK IT'S IT'S JUST ACCIDENTS WAITING TO HAPPEN.

AND I AND I MEASURED THE THE AREA AND IT'S NINE FEET INTO THE ROAD.

I MEAN THAT'S A BIT EXCESSIVE.

SO AND ALSO THE PARKING ALONG THIS APARTMENT BUILDING HERE, THERE ARE SOME YELLOW AREAS WHERE I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY'RE EVEN THERE AND THEY'RE TAKING UP TO TWO PARKING SPOTS.

AND I KNOW PARKING IS AT A PREMIUM AT THIS POINT.

AND SO MAYBE THAT COULD BE RECTIFIED.

THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

THANKS FOR HOLDING THE MEETING.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

COULD SOMEONE ANSWER WHAT THE YELLOW YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT? THE YELLOW CURB? YES. YEAH. COULD SOMEONE ON STAFF ANSWER WHAT THE YELLOW CURB MEANS? MANY MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

SO YELLOW CURBING IS PUT IN TO SIGNIFY EXACTLY THAT.

NO PARKING IN TERMS OF WHAT WAS PAINTED IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE DEVELOPMENT.

THERE WERE A COUPLE OF AREAS THAT WERE PAINTED.

ONE IS CLOSER TO CENTRAL AVENUE, SO THAT VISIBILITY IS PROVIDED AND THE OTHER ONE IS WHERE THE OVERHANG EXTENDS OUT BEYOND THE CURB FOR THE ENTRANCE LOOP THAT GOES INTO THE RATIO APARTMENTS WHEN IT WAS REVIEWED, THAT THAT EXTENDS OUT FAR ENOUGH WHERE VISIBILITY BECAME A PROBLEM FOR CARS SITTING THERE AND ALSO FOR VEHICLES DRIVING BY.

SO THAT'S WHY THAT WAS PAINTED YELLOW.

SO THAT VISIBILITY WAS IMPROVED FOR BOTH ACCESS OUT OF THAT PORTICO AREA FOR DROP OFFS, BUT ALSO SO THAT DRIVERS COULD SEE VEHICLES EITHER COMING IN OR OUT.

THANK YOU. NEXT, SARAH.

DUANE MORRELL WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

[01:00:02]

I'VE GOT SEVERAL ITEMS. I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED ON A COUPLE OF THINGS.

LET'S SEE. IT'S THE PUBLIC HEARINGS.

IS THAT A SEPARATE CATEGORY OR IS THAT THE PUBLIC TO RESPOND TO ITEMS THAT YOU'VE ALREADY GOT ON THE AGENDA? I WAS CONFUSED BECAUSE I'VE GOT SOME COMMENTS FOR THE ITEMS UNDER CONSIDERATION.

ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION ARE SEPARATE FROM THE PUBLIC HEARING.

IT IS. OKAY.

SO WE CAN'T COMMENT ON THAT.

YOU CAN COMMENT NOW, BUT THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN TAKEN CARE OF.

BUT YOU CAN DEFINITELY SHARE YOUR YOUR REGARDS TO THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE TWO PROPERTIES ON CENTRAL.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE URGENCY OF IT.

I'VE GOT SOME BACKGROUND.

THE $780,000.

IT JUST SEEMS TOO MUCH UP FRONT.

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS BOUGHT THE.

BURGER KING RESTAURANT JUST A LITTLE BIT SOUTH ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE THEATER FOR 900,000.

THAT DIDN'T GET A VERY GOOD RETURN ON INVESTMENT.

THE CITY BOUGHT THE ARBY'S RESTAURANT AT 47TH AND CENTRAL.

FOR 600,000, I HEARD.

THAT'S STILL UNDEVELOPED.

NOT REALLY A GOOD RETURN ON INVESTMENT.

AND WHY NOT BUY THOSE PROPERTIES WHEN YOU HAVE A PROJECT IN DEVELOPMENT? THAT'S AS NEEDED.

WE'RE AHEAD OF THE MARKET AGAIN.

AND THAT'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER ISSUE WHICH I RAISED LATER ON.

AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING IN OUR DEVELOPING OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

ALSO, WHEN THE SPEAKERS DO NOT SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE DIRECTLY, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO HEAR WHAT IS BEING SAID.

SO THERE'S GOT TO BE AN EMPHASIS FOR THEM TO SPEAK DIRECTLY.

AND SO THE PEOPLE IN THE GALLERY CAN ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S BEING SAID.

AND I WOULD APPRECIATE THE ACOUSTICS JUST DON'T SEEM TO CARRY THE VOICES VERY WELL.

AND A MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

WHY IS COLUMBIA HEIGHTS A TOP TEN ALL AMERICAN CITY? I MEAN, IT GETS BANDIED ABOUT A LOT, BUT EXACTLY WHAT IS THE REASON FOR US BEING A TOP TEN AMERICAN CITY? LET'S SAY EUROPEAN OR NOT? EUROPEAN FOREIGN VISITORS COME TO COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO BE VISITING? I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.

WOULD YOU LIKE AN ANSWER TO THAT? YES, I THINK. I DON'T KNOW IF ONE OF OUR STAFF ARE ABLE TO ANSWER IT.

IT WAS KIND OF BEFORE KEVIN WAS INTERIM CITY MANAGER.

YOU WERE HERE, OF COURSE, AND BEFORE AARON'S TIME, BUT.

MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

THE ALL-AMERICAN CITY WAS AWARDED TO COLUMBIA HEIGHTS IN 2016.

SPEAK INTO THE MIC. RIGHT INTO THE MICROPHONE.

NOW YOU CAN HEAR IT. OKAY.

SO THE ALL-AMERICAN CITY WAS AWARDED TO COLUMBIA HEIGHTS IN 2016, AND THAT WAS AN APPLICATION PROCESS THAT THE CITY APPLIED FOR AND WENT THROUGH IN AND AMONGST MANY CITIES.

AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS I DON'T KNOW IF I'D NECESSARILY DESCRIBE IT AS TOP TEN, BUT THERE WERE TEN AWARDS MADE, AND I THINK THE CATEGORIES MIGHT HAVE BEEN A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

BUT IN ANY CASE, IN 2016, THERE WERE TEN CITIES THAT WERE AWARDED THE ALL-AMERICAN CITY CATEGORY.

I DON'T KNOW THAT I'VE EVER HEARD IT BEEN REFERRED TO AS TOP TEN, BUT CERTAINLY WE'RE ONE OF THE TEN.

IS THAT A RENEWABLE? MAYOR MEMBERS. THE COUNCIL KNOW IT'S A ONE YEAR.

ONE YEAR. YEAH. IT WAS SO COLUMBIA HEIGHTS HAS THAT RECOGNITION FOR YEAR 2016.

SO IT'S ENDED.

SO THAT ALL-AMERICAN CLASSIFICATION IS OVER NOW.

WE WERE RECOGNIZED IN THAT YEAR.

OKAY. AND MANY PEOPLE TRAVELED.

THERE'S A WHOLE WEBSITE, ALL-AMERICA CITY, THAT YOU CAN SEE WHAT IT'S ABOUT MORE.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. VERY GOOD.

UM, THE SPEEDS ON RESERVOIR.

I TAKE ISSUE WITH WHAT THE POLICE CHIEF SUGGESTED I DO.

GO TALK TO THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION ON THE SPEED OF THE BUSSES ON RESERVOIR.

AND I'VE GOT THREE INCIDENTS TO BRING TO YOU THAT HAPPENED.

FOLLOWING WEEK.

THAT WEEK ONE WAS A SCHOOL BUS DRIVING ABOUT 50 TO 60 MILES AN HOUR, HEADED SOUTH AND JUST CLEARED A POLICE CRUISER GOING EAST ACROSS RESERVOIR AT 42ND.

IT WAS SO CLOSE.

I WITNESSED IT.

IT WAS SO CLOSE.

I WAS CONCERNED.

NOT SO THAT I COULD MAKE A POINT TO YOU, BUT FOR THE RESIDENTS.

[01:05:02]

THE SECOND WAS THURSDAY.

AFTER THE MONDAY MEETING, TWO CARS ACTUALLY DID COLLIDE.

THE CAR.

ONE CAR WAS GOING WEST ON 42ND AND COLLIDED WITH A CAR GOING SOUTH THAT BROUGHT THREE POLICE CARS, A FIRE TRUCK, AN AMBULANCE AND A LOT OF OVER.

A LOT OF CORRECTIVE OR.

CITY ACTION FOR AN EVENT WHICH I THINK CAN BE PREVENTED BY GETTING A STOP SIGN AT 42ND AND RESERVOIR FOR THE TRAFFIC ON RESERVOIR.

IT'S. IT'S A FREEWAY.

AND I SEE THEM TRAVELING ROUTINELY, 45 TO 70 MILES AN HOUR, EVEN FASTER, 45 TO 70 IS YOUR FREEWAY SPEEDS.

IT SHOULDN'T BE IN A RESIDENTIAL SECTION, ESPECIALLY A STREET THAT'S MARKED.

SPEED LIMIT 30 MILES AN HOUR.

AND THE SCHOOL BUS ISSUE IS ACTUALLY A POLICE ISSUE BECAUSE IT'S SPEEDING ON OUR STREETS, IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

WE NEED POLICE ACTION.

WE NEED SOMEONE TO GET RESULTS BECAUSE THAT'S A VERY DANGEROUS INTERSECTION.

IT'S PROBABLY THE MOST DANGEROUS INTERSECTION IN THE CITY.

THE THIRD INCIDENT WAS A SEMI USING RESERVOIR PROBABLY AS A SHORTCUT AROUND THE SLOW TRAFFIC.

AND A CAR WAS CROSSING RESERVOIR AGAIN AND THE DRIVER LAID ON ITS AIR HORN.

AND IF THE DRIVER HAS TIME TO LAY ON THE AIR HORN, HE HAS TIME TO LIFT OFF THE ACCELERATOR, BRAKE, SLOW DOWN.

IF HE'S TRAVELING 30 MILES AN HOUR, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THAT DRASTIC OF A REACTION.

SO IT'S VERY LIKELY THAT THE SEMI WAS TRAVELING MUCH FASTER THAN THE SPEED LIMIT.

WE NEED SOMETHING TO SLOW THOSE PEOPLE DOWN.

IT'S GOT TO HAPPEN.

I'VE BEEN AFTER THIS FOR YEARS.

AND I EXPECT SOMETHING TO HAPPEN SOON AND I EXPECT THE CITY TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

I WANT THE CITY TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.

THANK YOU, DWAYNE.

EMMA SCHULTZ WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

HELLO. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS EMMA SCHULTZ.

I'M WITH VERSES RACE TEAM AND I HAVE WITH ME.

MY NAME IS HANNAH ERICKSON.

ETHAN NELSON.

WE ARE GOING TO BE HOSTING A CYCLOCROSS BIKE RACE AT HUSET PARK ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8TH.

AND WHEN I SPOKE AT THE PARK BOARD MEETING RECENTLY, THE MAYOR KINDLY ASKED THAT I COME TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO SHARE OUT THE EVENT THAT WE'LL BE DOING.

SO CYCLOCROSS RACING IS BICYCLE RACING ON DROP BAR BIKES, BUT OFF ROAD SO INVOLVES SOME SKILL, SOME FUN, SOME OBSTACLES, AND IT'S REALLY ENJOYABLE TO SPECTATE.

SO WE ARE BRINGING A REALLY FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENT TO CITY PARK ALL DAY SUNDAY.

STARTING RACES WILL BEGIN AT NINE RUN THROUGH MID AFTERNOON, WILL BE HAVING A VARIETY OF RACE CATEGORIES.

WE ARE GOING TO BE BRINGING IN OTHER THINGS TOO.

TO MAKE THE EVENT MORE FUN.

WE WILL BE HAVING A BOUNCY HOUSE AND WE WILL BE HAVING HOPEFULLY FROM SAUSAGE COMPANY IS GOING TO BE ON SITE VENDING THEIR SAUSAGES.

WE WILL HAVE ONE ON ONE BICYCLE STUDIO, WHICH IS A BIKE SHOP IN SOUTH MINNEAPOLIS ON SITE TO TO WRENCH POTENTIALLY THEY'LL BE DEMOING SOME BIKES AS WELL.

AND WE'RE JUST LOOKING TO CREATE A REALLY AWESOME ATMOSPHERE AND TO INVITE ALL OF THE COMMUNITY TO COME BY, SEE SOME REALLY FUN RACING.

PERHAPS IF YOU ARE A CYCLIST TO TRY RACING YOURSELF.

THERE IS A NOVICE BEGINNER CATEGORY AND WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE EVERYONE.

IN ADDITION FOR THOSE FEMME TRANS AND WOMEN RIDERS WHO WOULD BE LOOKING TO LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE COURSE BEFORE THE EVENT, WE'RE GOING TO DO A LITTLE COURSE PREVIEW FOR THEM THE NIGHT BEFORE TO HELP ALL RIDERS FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE TRYING OUT A NEW TO THEM EVENT.

SO WE HAVE FLIERS.

WE'RE HAPPY TO LEAVE THEM WITH FOLKS.

WE'VE GOT A VARIETY OF FLIERS HERE FOR THE SCREEN.

[01:10:01]

AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU DO THIS FOR CITIZEN COMMENTS, BUT WE'D ALSO LIKE TO GET A PICTURE, IF THAT'S OKAY.

SURE. YEAH, WE CAN DO THAT.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR COMING IN AND SHARING ABOUT THE BIKE RIDE.

COULD YOU TELL US THE DATE AGAIN? YES. IT'S SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8TH.

IT STARTS AT NINE UNTIL NINE UNTIL I THINK THE LAST RACE WILL BE AT THREE.

IS THAT RIGHT? 330 IS WHEN IT ENDS.

FOLLOWED BY A REALLY GREAT RAFFLE.

GREAT. GREAT.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR COMING IN.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME UP HERE WITH THE COUNCIL, THEN? YES, PLEASE. DO YOU WANT ME TO TAKE IT? OH, I DON'T KNOW. I WANT YOU ALL TO BE IN.

WELL, ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO BE IN THE PICTURE.

YOU KNOW. OH.

MAYOR. WE'LL GET ONE, TOO.

YOU'RE AWESOME FOR COMING IN.

YES. LOOK FORWARD TO IT.

CATHY COOPER WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

WELCOME, KATHY.

I HAVE SOME NEWS FOR YOU AFTER THE MEETING AS WELL.

MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS.

ADDRESS YOU TONIGHT.

I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS FOR 25 YEARS.

AND ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2ND, 2023, I WENT DOWN TO THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS POLICE DEPARTMENT AND FILLED OUT A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION FORM SO I COULD GET THE POLICE REPORT FROM FRIDAY.

OCTOBER 15TH, 2021.

ONE UNWELCOMED INDIVIDUALS, AIDED AND ABETTED BY THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS POLICE DEPARTMENT, TRESPASSED ON MY PROPERTY AND STOLE TWO VEHICLES THAT WERE IN MY FIANCÉ, ERVIN COOPER'S NAME.

IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE POLICE ARE TO PROTECT AND SERVE, NOT AID AND ABUSE IN FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION OF DISABLED ELDERLY CITIZENS. SO, AS I SAID, I FILLED OUT THAT FORM THE REQUEST FOR INFORMATION FORM ON AUGUST 2ND.

AND WHEN I WENT DOWN TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ABOUT A WEEK AGO, THEY HAD NO RECORD OF.

ME FILLING OUT THE FORM AND THEY WANTED ME TO FILL OUT ANOTHER FORM.

I'M NOT WILLING TO DO THAT.

THERE'S NO REASON THAT I SHOULDN'T HAVE THAT POLICE REPORT THAT I REQUESTED ON AUGUST 2ND, 2023.

UM, I ALSO THAT SAME DAY ON AUGUST 2ND.

I REQUESTED TO FILL OUT A THEFT REPORT FOR OUR VEHICLES, AND I WAS TOLD BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT I COULD NOT FILL OUT A THEFT REPORT BECAUSE THE VEHICLES WERE IN MY HUSBAND'S NAME.

NOT MY NAME.

I DON'T CARE WHOSE NAME THEY WERE IN, THEY WERE TAKEN OFF MY PROPERTY.

THEY HAD PERSONAL PROPERTY IN THEM.

IT CONTAINED MY I'M DISABLED AND IT THE VEHICLE I WAS DRIVING CONTAINED MY WHEELCHAIR.

MY TREKKING POLES THAT I NEED FOR MOBILITY CONTAINED MY GARAGE DOOR OPENER, MY RADAR DETECTOR AND ALL SORTS OF PERSONAL VEHICLES THAT ONE NORMALLY KEEPS IN THEIR VEHICLE.

I WOULD LIKE AN ANSWER AS TO HOW SOON I CAN GET THE POLICE REPORT FROM THAT DATE.

THANK YOU. UM, WE GENERALLY DON'T RESPOND IN THE MOMENT OF THE MEETING, BUT I'LL TALK TO YOU AFTERWARDS. THANK YOU.

SOUNDS GOOD. THANK YOU.

BARBARA DELARIA WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

HELLO. HELLO. WELCOME.

BARB. BARB DELARIA, RESIDENT.

AND A MONTH AGO I WAS IN AND I'M STILL WAITING TO HEAR SOMETHING.

SO I'M BACK AGAIN.

THANKS FOR COMING IN, BARB.

I THINK WE HAVE AN ANSWER FOR YOU.

I'D LIKE TO SPEAK WITH BARB AFTER THE MEETING, IF POSSIBLE.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE, SIR?

[01:15:03]

ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT THEN.

AND NO ONE ELSE ON ZOOM.

NO ONE HAS JOINED US ON ZOOM THIS EVENING.

ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT THEN.

SAYING THERE'S NO ONE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.

THE COMMUNITY FORUM AND NO ONE ON ZOOM.

THEN I WOULD ASK FOR A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.

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

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING IS DONE, THEN.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE, AYE. AND THE MOTION PASSES TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.