Jan 22, 2024 City Council

[00:00:03]

HELLO, EVERYONE.

AND WELCOME TO TONIGHT'S CITY COUNCIL CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR MONDAY, JANUARY 22ND.

WELCOME TO EVERYONE HERE IN THE CHAMBERS AND EVERYONE WHO IS WATCHING THE RECORDING AS WELL.

COULD WE PLEASE HAVE THE CITY CLERK DO A ROLL CALL FOR US? WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A LITTLE, SWITCH THIS MORNING.

WE'RE GOING TO [INAUDIBLE] THIS EVENING WE'RE GOING TO MOVE THE LETTER A AND LETTER B AROUND JUST AS A HEADS UP TO EVERYONE.

BUT FIRST WE'RE GOING TO START WITH OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

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

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.

[APPROVAL OF AGENDA]

ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA FROM THE COUNCIL? SEEING AS NONE.

THEN MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED.

MOTION TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED.

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

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING SEEING AS NONE.

THEN ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION PASSES.

NEXT WE ARE AT PROCLAMATIONS, PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITION, ANNOUNCEMENT AND GUESTS.

[PROCLAMATIONS, PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITION, ANNOUNCEMENTS, GUESTS]

SO WE WILL START WITH OUR INTRODUCTION TO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT STAFF.

AND TODAY WE HAVE CAPTAIN ERIK JOHNSTON HERE TO INTRODUCE EVERYONE.

WE'RE SO GLAD TO SEE YOU ALL.

THANK YOU FOR COMING TONIGHT.

GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

TODAY WE HAVE FOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT STAFF THAT WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU.

THE FIRST ONE SITTING NEXT TO ME IS JOSEPH POUBLANC.

JOSEPH, CAME TO US FROM MARRERO, LOUISIANA.

HE HAS A MASTER'S IN CRIMINAL CRIMINOLOGY AND JUSTICE.

AND, HE JUST RECENTLY COMPLETED OUR PATHWAYS PROGRAM, FOR, TO BECOME A POLICE OFFICER.

SO THEY STARTED, JUST LAST WEEK IN THEIR FIELD TRAINING.

AND SO WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE HIM ON BOARD.

AND I'LL LET HIM SAY A FEW WORDS.

ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING ME HERE.

YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T PLAN ANYTHING TO SAY, BUT, YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO JUST SPEAK FROM THE FROM THE HEART, YOU KNOW, AS THEY SAY.

SO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN A THERE'S BEEN A LONG JOURNEY FOR ME.

I CAME FROM LOUISIANA IN AUGUST.

SO I JUST CAME HERE, YOU KNOW, NOT TOO LONG AGO.

AND, YOU KNOW, ME AND MY WIFE.

YOU KNOW, WE MOVED AWAY FROM OUR FAMILY.

BUT, YOU KNOW, LIFE'S THIS THIS IS WHAT LIFE DO IT'S A MISSION.

AND SOMETIMES YOU'VE JUST GOT A CALLING FOR SOME THINGS.

AND, YOU KNOW, IN COLLEGE, CRIMINOLOGY AND JUSTICE, YOU LEARN A LOT ABOUT THE SYSTEM.

A LOT OF STUDIES, SO MUCH STUDIES THAT YOU READ.

AND AT SOME POINT, YOU KNOW, YOU GET A LITTLE FRUSTRATED BECAUSE YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING.

AND I DON'T JUST WANT TO SIT BEHIND BOOKS.

SO THAT'S WHY I GOT TO MEND THE ACADEMIC SIDE AND THE PRACTICAL SIDE.

AND THAT'S MY GOAL IN LIFE.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT'S GOING TO TAKE ME, BUT WHEREVER IT DOES, YOU KNOW, I HOPE I CAN BE A POSITIVE ASSET TO THE COMMUNITY AND BRING FORTH POSITIVE CHANGE IN THAT COMMUNITY. YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, I DON'T KNOW WHERE WHERE IT WILL BRING ME.

BUT LIKE WHEN MY MAMA SAID, YOU KNOW, GRANDMA, MY MAMA, SHE SAID, LIFE IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE SCHOOL.

YOU KNOW, NEVER STOP LEARNING.

AND THIS, THIS CAREER THAT I'M TAKING, TAKING UPON ME RIGHT NOW, IT'S I'M GONNA LEARN A LOT.

AND I'M HOPING TO BLEND WHAT I LEARNED HERE WITH THE ACADEMIC STUFF AND HOPEFULLY CREATE, WELL, NOT CREATE, BUT JUST BUILD UPON THAT AND CREATE SOLUTIONS FOR THE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, EVEN ABROAD.

SO THAT'S MY GOAL AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE.

AND I HOPE Y'ALL GET TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT ME JUST FROM THIS SPEECH.

THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING ME HERE.

THANK YOU. WELCOME [APPLAUSE].

ALL RIGHT. NEXT IN LINE HERE WE HAVE JENNIFER CORTEZ.

SO JENNIFER WAS RECENTLY HIRED AS A COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICER FULL TIME.

SO JENNIFER HAS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE FROM HAMLINE UNIVERSITY IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE, AND SHE'S CURRENTLY ENROLLED AT RASMUSSEN UNIVERSITY, WHERE SHE'S FINISHING UP HER LAW ENFORCEMENT CERTIFICATE AND DEGREE PROGRAM.

[00:05:03]

SHE DID SIX YEARS IN THE NATIONAL GUARD AND WAS RECENTLY A CORRECTIONAL OFFICER FOR SCOTT COUNTY.

I'M EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT, JUST LAST WEEK, JENNIFER ACCEPTED A CONDITIONAL OFFER FOR POLICE OFFICER.

SO AS SOON AS SHE FINISHES HER, LAW ENFORCEMENT DEGREE AND GETS HER POST, CERTIFICATE HERE IN MARCH, SHE'S GOING TO BE ALSO STARTING FIELD TRAINING AND JOINING OUR RANKS AS A POLICE OFFICER. SO DID YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? NO. I JUST APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

ALL RIGHT. SOUNDS GOOD.

THANKS, JENNIFER [APPLAUSE]. ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP WE HAVE TROY VAUGHN.

SO TROY IS AN OFFICER THAT WAS WITH US, LEFT A LITTLE BIT, CAME BACK FROM FLORIDA, AND HE'S REJOINED OUR RANKS.

HE'S HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE HE'S TAKING OVER A NEW ASSIGNMENT AS OUR COMMUNITY POLICING COORDINATOR.

AND SO THE COMMUNITY POLICING COORDINATOR IS REALLY KIND OF ONE OF OUR KEY, ORGANIZERS OF A LOT OF OUR OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITY EVENTS.

AND HE'S TAKEN THAT ROLE OVER FROM BILL MONBERG, WHO'S MOVING TO INVESTIGATIONS.

AND SO WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE TROY AND HIS IDEAS.

AND HE'S GOING TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HIMSELF AND JUST WHAT HE'S DOING.

HEY, GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY.

MY NAME IS TROY VAUGHN.

LIKE HE SAID, I JUST MOVED HERE FROM FLORIDA ABOUT 6 OR 7 MONTHS AGO WHERE I LEFT AND I JUMPED INTO EDUCATION AS A TEACHER, AND I WAS WORKING AT BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY DOWN IN DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA.

I GOT MY BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE FROM BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY, AND I GOT MY MASTER'S DEGREE IN EDUCATION FROM CONCORDIA.

THIS IS MY FOURTH GOING ON MY FIFTH YEAR WITH THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I'M EXCITED TO TAKE ON THE COP ROLE, AND I ALREADY GOT QUITE A FEW IDEAS THAT I'VE BEEN PASSING DOWN SO.

AND I REACHED OUT TO YOU ABOUT SOME SO, LIKE I SAID, I'M EXCITED AND I'M READY TO GET THE YEAR UNDERWAY [APPLAUSE].

ALL RIGHT. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE HAVE MANNY ALVAREZ.

SO MANNY HAS AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM HENNEPIN TECH.

HE JUST COMPLETED HIS PATHWAYS PROGRAM, PLAYED A LITTLE BIT OF FOOTBALL IN SCHOOL, AND HAS BEEN A HEIGHTS RESIDENT AND LOCAL KID FOR A LONG TIME.

WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE HIM ON BOARD.

HE ALSO FINISHED THE PROGRAM WITH JOE AND STARTED HIS FIELD TRAINING AS WELL, MANNY.

I DON'T HAVE MUCH TO SAY. I'M JUST REALLY EXCITED TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY I GREW UP IN, AND IT'S REALLY EXCITING TO BE HERE.

SO I'M REALLY THANKFUL FOR ALL OF YOU [APPLAUSE].

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

THAT IS IT FOR STAFF INTRODUCTIONS.

AND I JUST WANTED TO YOU KNOW, JOE MENTIONED THAT HE LEFT FAMILY, TO COME HERE, BUT I REALLY HOPE THAT HE FINDS THAT HE FINDS A NEW FAMILY IN OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSION AND IN OUR DEPARTMENT, AND WE GOT A GREAT GROUP, AND THEY WORK GREAT TOGETHER.

THANK YOU. COULD WE DO A GROUP PHOTO UP HERE WITH THE COUNCIL TOO? AND WELCOME YOU TO OUR FAMILY.

MIC] AND ONE OF OUR NEW OFFICERS PARENTS IS HERE AND ARE HERE IN THE AUDIENCE, SO SO PROUD [APPLAUSE].

THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR YOUR SON, YOUR FAMILY WITH US.

NEXT WE ARE GOING TO AS I SAID, WE SWITCHED AROUND A AND B, SO I'M VERY HAPPY TO INTRODUCE YOU ALL TO OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS.

FIRST UP WILL BE MINNESOTA STATE SENATOR MARY KUNESCH.

AND MARY, IF YOU WANT TO COME UP TO THE PODIUM AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND SAY HELLO, THANKS FOR COMING TO OUR NEW CITY HALL.

WELL, GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY.

I'M YOUR STATE SENATOR, MARY KUNESCH.

I'VE BEEN YOUR STATE SENATOR FOR THREE YEARS AND YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE FOR FOUR YEARS BEFORE THAT.

AND VERY EXCITED TO SEE THIS BUILDING AND SEE YOU ALL IN, IN THIS BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL NEW SPACE.

WELL DONE. I THOUGHT I WOULD GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF, A RUNDOWN, AND I HAVE SOME HANDOUTS.

I WAS A TEACHER FOR, 25 YEARS, SO I DO HAVE SOME HANDOUTS FOR YOU JUST TO, LET YOU KNOW ABOUT SOME OF THE GREAT LEGISLATIVE WINS THAT WE HAD HERE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS THIS PAST.

[00:10:13]

AND SO IF YOU LOOK ON YOUR HANDOUT UNDER INFRASTRUCTURE, COLUMBIA HEIGHTS RECEIVED $9 MILLION TO FOR REPAIRS ON CENTRAL AVENUE AND HIGHWAY 65 IMPROVEMENTS.

THAT'S PRETTY INCREDIBLE.

THEY ALSO RECEIVED $2.5 MILLION WITH, FOR OUR LOCAL FOOD BANK, THE [INAUDIBLE] SOUTHERN [INAUDIBLE] ANOKA COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE FOOD SHELF.

AND WE KNOW HOW VALUABLE AND IMPORTANT THAT IS TO OUR COMMUNITY AND NOT JUST OUR COMMUNITY, BUT THE COMMUNITIES THAT, THAT SURROUND US. OUR PUBLIC SAFETY, DEPARTMENT HERE IN, IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS RECEIVED $956 AND $956,556 AND THAT GOES TOWARDS THE LOCAL PUBLIC SAFETY INITIATIVES, AS WELL AS $14.1 MILLION IN THE ANOKA COUNTY PUBLIC SAFETY AS WELL.

SO I HOPE THAT YOU HAVE EITHER USED THOSE DOLLARS WELL OR HAVE GOOD PLANS ON HOW WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE SAFE. MANY FOLKS ARE ALWAYS WORRIED ABOUT THE LEGISLATURE AND THE KIND OF TAX BURDEN THAT THEY MIGHT, PULL DOWN. BUT WE WERE ABLE TO ALLOCATE $625 MILLION TO HELP HOLD DOWN PROPERTY TAXES AND PROVIDE QUALITY, TAX SERVICES, AS WELL AS TO ANOKA COUNTY.

THEY RECEIVED $5.8 MILLION TO HELP HOLD DOWN THOSE TAXES.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, MOST NEAR AND DEAR TO ME IS EDUCATION.

I AM THE CHAIR OF EDUCATION FINANCE IN THE MINNESOTA SENATE, AND WE HAD AN EXTRAORDINARY YEAR OF INVESTING IN OUR SCHOOLS.

SO WE ADDED $1.36 MILLION TO THE GENERAL FORMULA INCREASE.

WE ADDED $3 MILLION TO ELL AND SPED SPECIAL EDUCATION CROSS SUBSIDY INCREASE.

THOSE ARE TWO THINGS THAT REALLY, REALLY, WEIGH HEAVY ON THE GENERAL FUND FOR OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

SO WE DID OUR BEST TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF THOSE BURDENS.

OF COURSE, WE'RE STILL HOPING THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL COME THROUGH AND PAY THEIR FULL, PORTION.

BUT UNTIL THEN, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THAT.

AND THEN ANOTHER THING THAT I AM MOST MOST VERY PROUD OF IS THAT WE ALLOCATED ALMOST $100,000 TO STUDENT SUPPORT PERSONNEL AND LIBRARY AID, AND THAT LIBRARY AID WENT TO CITY COUNTY SCHOOL MULTI-PURPOSE LIBRARIES ACROSS THE STATE.

AND WE HAVE HEARD NOTHING BUT REALLY POSITIVE RESPONSES TO THAT.

AND SO I'M REALLY EXCITED TO CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK TO ADVOCATE FOR THIS COMMUNITY.

I SEE THAT IT'S, IT'S THRIVING IN WAYS THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.

AND I'M REALLY, REALLY EXCITED.

I JUST LIVE UP IN NEW BRIGHTON.

AND THEN THIS YEAR, I KNOW THAT, COLUMBIA HEIGHTS HAS A BONDING REQUEST TO HELP WITH THEIR PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY AND PROUD TO CARRY THAT LEGISLATION AS WELL.

SO IF THERE ARE THINGS IN THE FUTURE, IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, IF YOU'RE NOT SURE, WHAT TO DO, HOW TO DO OR OR WHAT THE ISSUES ARE, WHETHER IT'S FROM JUST ABOUT ANYTHING.

YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN ALWAYS REACH OUT TO ME AT THE LEGISLATURE, AND I'M HAPPY TO TO HELP IN WHATEVER WAY I CAN.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SENATOR.

ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANKS FOR SHARING ALL THAT DATA AND ALL THE ALL THE MONEY THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]. NEXT I HAVE, I WILL, MINNESOTA STATE HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE SANDRA FEIST, IF YOU COULD COME UP TO THE PODIUM.

WE WERE SO LUCKY TO GET THREE OF OUR THREE REPRESENTATIVES THE SAME EVENING TO COME IN.

WELCOME. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO I LIKE, TALK TOO MUCH.

AND I LOST MY VOICE.

BUT I'M NOT SICK. I JUST HAVE NO VOICE.

SO I'M REALLY GOOD TO BE HERE WITH ALL OF YOU THIS EVENING SENATOR KUNESH TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE GREAT WORK THAT WE DID THIS LAST SESSION.

[00:15:03]

AND I TOURED IT AND I HAD LIKE, I SEE THE FUTURE, LIKE RIGHT NOW IT'S JUST A BUNCH OF LIKE, WE THINK HERE, YOU KNOW, LIKE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FOOD.

BUT THERE'S THERE'S JUST SO MUCH MORE THEY CAN DO WITH THAT SPACE.

SO THAT'S SUPER EXCITING.

I'M THE VICE CHAIR OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, AND SO I FOCUS A LOT OF MY ATTENTION AND ENERGY THIS LAST SESSION IN THAT REALM.

SPECIFICALLY, I WORKED A LOT IN THE AREA OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND YOUTH JUSTICE.

AND WE CREATED A WHOLE NEW PARADIGM FOR YOUTH JUSTICE, FOCUSING ON RESTORATIVE PRACTICES.

WE CREATED A NEW OFFICE OF RESTORATIVE PRACTICES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY SO THAT WHEN KIDS ARE ACTING OUT, WHEN THEY ARE, MAYBE, A PROBLEM WITH PUBLIC SAFETY, WE CAN INTERVENE IN A REALLY STRATEGIC, ROBUST WAY.

AND SO I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE EFFECTIVE AND A MORE JUST SYSTEM OF JUVENILE JUSTICE.

AND THIS COMING SESSION, I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON THAT.

NEXT SESSION SENATOR KUNESH MENTIONED THE PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING.

SUPER IMPORTANT.

I'M REALLY EXCITED TO PARTNER WITH COLUMBIA HEIGHTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THAT FUNDING.

ALSO, WE HAD KIND OF STARTED THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

I'M KIND OF EXCITED TO SEE WHERE THE CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AND SAINT ANTHONY GO AROUND THAT POSSIBLE REGIONAL COMMUNITY CENTER.

SO IT'S GREAT TO ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS TO DO IS JUST BE LIKE, I KNOW THIS PERSON AND I KNOW THIS PERSON, AND THEY SHOULD TALK AND WE'LL SEE WHERE IT GOES.

SO GLAD THAT EVERYONE'S CONNECTED TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

I ALSO LAST SESSION WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH THE NURSES.

WHEN WE ADVOCATE FOR NURSES, WE ARE ADVOCATING FOR OURSELVES AND FOR ALL PATIENTS IN MINNESOTA.

WE DID NOT DELIVER FOR THE NURSES LAST SESSION, SO WE WILL BE COMING BACK THIS SESSION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN PROTECT OUR NURSES SO THAT THEY CAN PROTECT US.

SO STAY TUNED FOR DETAILS THERE.

I HAVE THE TENDENCY TO GO INTO THE WEEDS.

I'M GOING TO STAY UP HERE.

I ALSO, AS AN IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY, I'M REALLY FOCUSED ON SUPPORTING IMMIGRANTS IN OUR COMMUNITY HERE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

WE HAVE A REALLY, GROWING, ECUADORIAN COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE A VERY LARGE SOMALI COMMUNITY.

SO ONE OF THE BILLS THAT I'M WORKING ON WITH A LARGE COALITION OF ADVOCATES AND VARIOUS IMMIGRATION COMMUNITIES, IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES, WOULD ENSURE THAT WE ARE SPENDING OUR STATE DOLLARS WHERE THEY'RE MOST NEEDED AND NOT USING THEM TO ENFORCE AND COLLABORATE WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON THEIR BROKEN IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM.

SO STAY TUNED FOR MORE DETAILS ON THAT.

BUT VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT.

AND LIKE I SAID, MORE YOUTH JUSTICE BECAUSE WE CAN ALWAYS DO MORE FOR OUR KIDS.

AND I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT, BUT I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ANY QUESTIONS? WE KNOW HOW ACCESSIBLE YOU ARE.

SO OF COURSE, WHEN WE HAVE QUESTIONS WE CAN REACH OUT.

BUT THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND WORKING ON OUR BEHALF.

WE'RE SO LUCKY TO HAVE YOU AND THANK YOU ALL.

I SHOULD HAVE STARTED WITH THAT.

LIKE, YOU ALL ARE AMAZING LEADERS AND WHEN I DOOR KNOCK WITH YOU GUYS, IT'S LIKE LIKE THE QUESTIONS PEOPLE HAVE ARE ABOUT THE WORK THAT YOU DO.

SO WE'RE LIKE UP HERE AND WE'RE LIKE MILLIONS.

IT'S GREAT. BUT I APPRECIATE HOW ACCESSIBLE YOU ALL ARE AND PROVIDING ADVICE TO ME.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

CO-GOVERNANCE. [APPLAUSE] AND NOW MINNESOTA STATE HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE ERIN KOEGEL.

THANK YOU FOR COMING.

YEAH. GOOD AFTERNOON OR EVENING.

SO, A LOT OF THE STUFF THAT WE DID LAST YEAR HAS ALREADY BEEN COVERED.

EXCEPT FOR MY WORLD, WHICH IS TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND SO I'M A TOTAL GEEK ABOUT THAT KIND OF STUFF.

SO SUPER EXCITED ABOUT, F-LINE THE BUS RAPID TRANSIT THAT WILL BE COMING RIGHT UP, CENTRAL AVENUE AND THEN CUTTING OVER ON 53RD, GOING UP UNIVERSITY, TERMINATING AT NORTHTOWN.

AND SO THAT'S REALLY EXCITING.

I'M REALLY ALSO EXCITED ABOUT THE SAFETY PROJECTS THAT WE'VE DONE ON UNIVERSITY AND CENTRAL.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S BEEN A BIG PRIORITY OF MINE SINCE I FIRST GOT ELECTED, IS MAKING SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE CAN CROSS THE STREETS HERE AND THAT, THERE'S SAFE LIGHTING.

I LIVE UP ON UNIVERSITY AVENUE AND SEE THE ACCIDENTS ALL THE TIME.

AND SO, THAT WAS ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT I CAME TO THE LEGISLATURE WORKING ON.

AND I'VE BEEN UP THERE FOR EIGHT, ALMOST EIGHT YEARS NOW.

AND BUT THIS IS MY FIRST TWO YEARS OF REPRESENTING COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

SO IT'S KIND OF IT'S A COOL THING TO GET TO KNOW A DIFFERENT PART OF MY COMMUNITY.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S FUNNY HOW THIS SECTION OF CENTRAL AVENUE COMPARED TO THE BLAINE SECTION OF CENTRAL AVENUE, HOW THEY'RE SO DIFFERENT FOR THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, AND THERE'S REALLY DIFFERENT NEEDS FOR THE SAME ROAD.

AND SO, THAT KIND OF HAS LED ME INTO SOME OF THE WORK THAT I'M DOING NOW AND INTO NEXT SESSION WITH, THE INFRASTRUCTURE COUNCIL.

RIGHT NOW I'M CHAIRING A TASK FORCE FOR, I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER WHAT THE NAME OF THE TASK FORCE IS, LIKE THE RESILIENCY ADVISORY TASK FORCE COUNCIL FOR MINNESOTA OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

BUT BASICALLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS HOW DO WE COORDINATE, ALL OF OUR DIFFERENT ASSETS.

[00:20:02]

AND SO HOW ARE WE MAKING SURE THAT YOU GUYS ARE GETTING THE RESOURCES YOU NEED? HOW ARE WE MAKING SURE THAT OUR ASSETS THAT WE HAVE ARE BEING BEST MANAGED? AND HOW ARE WE COORDINATING PROJECTS? BECAUSE WE KNOW WITH A LOT OF THE FEDERAL MONEY THAT'S COMING IN, THERE'S A LOT OF LAYERS OF INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND SO IF WE CAN ADDRESS MULTIPLE LAYERS OF INFRASTRUCTURE AT ONE TIME ON ONE SITE, IT WILL SAVE OUR STATE A LOT OF MONEY.

AND SO I'M REALLY HOPING TO DO THAT KIND OF BUILD THIS INFRASTRUCTURE COUNCIL WHERE A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, FOLKS, OUR PUBLIC WORKS FOLKS CAN, GET TOGETHER AND SHARE BEST PRACTICES AND LEARN ABOUT, DIFFERENT FUNDS THAT ARE OUT THERE FOR ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT PROJECTS.

SO I'M PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT THAT LOOKING AT MICHIGAN AS KIND OF THE MODEL THERE, AND I'M EXCITED FOR THE BONDING THIS SESSION.

I KNOW PUBLIC WORKS.

WE GOT TO GET THAT BUILDING DONE.

AND SO, YEAH, BUT IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, ANY CONCERNS, YOU KNOW, FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO ME.

I HAVE MY CELL PHONE NUMBER ON PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING.

SO, YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME TO TEXT OR CALL.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS? DID THE RAIN GARDEN GET FIGURED OUT? UT THANK YOU, ALL THREE OF YOU FOR COMING TONIGHT.

I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING AND GIVING US UPDATES AND ALL YOUR SUPPORT YOU'VE PROVIDED FOR THE CITY IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.

SO YEAH, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW, FEEL FREE TO TEXT ME.

I KNOW WE WERE TEXTING THE OTHER DAY ABOUT THE PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING AND THE BONDING BILL.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU EVER NEED A QUICK ANSWER, OR, YOU KNOW, NEED ME TO GET YOU INFORMATION, FEEL FREE.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR COMING TONIGHT [APPLAUSE].

CAN WE DO A PHOTO WITH ALL THREE OF YOU? IT'S SO GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE IN OUR CITY HALL.

HOW GREAT IS IT THAT WE HAVE ALL THIS CO-GOVERNANCE AND WORKING WITH OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS.

ALL RIGHT. NOW WE ARE AT OUR CONSENT AGENDA.

[CONSENT AGENDA]

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

DOES ANYONE ON THE COUNCIL HAVE ANY ITEMS TO REMOVE OR DISCUSS? ALL RIGHT, THEN I HAVE A THEN MAY I HAVE [INAUDIBLE] OUR INTERIM CITY MANAGER, KEVIN HANSEN, GO OVER THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. THANK YOU MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, YOU HAVE 13 ITEMS ON YOUR CONSENT AGENDA FOR TONIGHT.

THE FIRST OF THESE IS APPROVE THE JANUARY 2ND, 2024 CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING MINUTES.

THE NEXT IS APPROVE THE JANUARY 8TH, 2024 CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES.

ITEMS NUMBER THREE AND FOUR ARE APPROVING OR EXCUSE ME, ACCEPTING THE JANUARY 19TH AND ACCEPTING THE APRIL 20TH, 2023 CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES.

ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS ACCEPT THE DECEMBER 13TH, 2023 YOUTH COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES.

ITEM SIX IS ADOPTING RESOLUTION 2408, WHICH DESIGNATES ELECTION JUDGES AND THEIR SALARIES FOR THE 2024 ELECTIONS.

AND THAT'S GOING TO BE SPECIFIC TO THE 2024 PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY.

ITEM SEVEN IS 20 OR EXCUSE ME, RESOLUTION 2409, WHICH AMENDS THE 2024 CITY FUND FOR 11 BUDGET AND AUTHORIZES CONFERENCE ROOM IMPROVEMENTS FOR SOUND MASKING FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING.

ITEM EIGHT IS THE AUTHORIZATION TO PURCHASE AN OUTFIT OUTFIT POLICE VEHICLES.

[00:25:04]

SO THERE'S A TOTAL OF FIVE VEHICLES, FOUR INTERCEPTORS AND THEN ONE UNMARKED.

AND THESE ARE ACQUIRED THROUGH THE STATE OF MINNESOTA PURCHASING CONTRACT.

ITEM NINE IS TO AUTHORIZE IS TO AUTHORIZE SERGEANT JACKIE URBANIAK’S ATTENDANCE AT THE NORTHWESTERN SCHOOL OF POLICE STAFF AND COMMAND. ITEM TEN IS AUTHORIZED THE ACQUISITION OF MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT FOR THE NEW AERIAL FIRE TRUCK.

AND THIS WAS BUDGETED FOR 2024 IN THE AMOUNT OF $74,000.

ITEM ELEVEN IS TO APPROVE THE RENTAL OCCUPANCY LICENSE AS LISTED.

ITEM TWELVE IS THE LICENSE AGENDA, FOR TONIGHT, JANUARY 22ND 24.

AND THE LAST ITEM IS A REVIEW OF THE BILLS TOTALING $950,751.96, MAYOR.

THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? SEEING NONE. THEN MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE, CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.

SO MOVED.

I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS, AND I'M SORRY.

COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS.

ANY DISCUSSION? JUST A COMMENT HERE.

SURE. I THERE'S A LONG LIST OF NAMES OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ELECTION JUDGES LISTED IN THERE, AND I'M SO THANKFUL FOR ALL OF THOSE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, MANY OF YOU ARE ARE PLUGGED INTO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND YOU'RE WATCHING THESE MEETINGS.

SO THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP, BECAUSE I KNOW OUR CITY CLERK WORKS REALLY HARD WITH ALL OF OUR ELECTION JUDGES TO MAKE OUR ELECTIONS RUN.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT.

ANYTHING ELSE.

ALL RIGHT THEN.

ALL IN FAVOR OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED SAY AYE.

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

NEXT, IT TAKES US TO OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS.

[PUBLIC HEARINGS]

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

WE HAVE NUMBER 14 CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION 2024-07.

AND DAN O'BRIEN WILL TAKE US THROUGH THIS ITEM.

MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

GOOD EVENING. THE PUBLIC HEARING THIS EVENING IS TO DISCUSS THE DECLARATION OF THE VIOLATIONS.

LOCATED AT 4411 3RD STREET AS A PUBLIC NUISANCE AND FOR THE APPROVAL OF AN ABATEMENT OF THOSE VIOLATIONS BY A CITY HIRED CONTRACTOR.

JUST SOME BACKGROUND. IN JULY OF 2022, OUR CITY'S SEASONAL INSPECTOR PERFORMED A COMPLAINT INSPECTION AND FOUND SEVERAL DEAD, DISEASED, HAZARDOUS TREE VIOLATIONS. WE COMPLIANCE ORDERS WERE SENT, AND A FOLLOW UP INSPECTION WAS CONDUCTED ON SEPTEMBER 6TH.

AND INSPECTORS FOUND THAT ONE OF THE LARGE DEAD TREE BRANCHES HAD FALLEN ONTO THE HOUSE.

WE GRANTED A SEASONAL EXTENSION TO ALLOW THE HOMEOWNER TIME TO CREATE, CREATE AND FINANCE A, SOME SORT OF MITIGATION PLAN.

ON JUNE 1ST OF LAST YEAR, 2023, WE SENT A SECOND NOTICE OF VIOLATIONS AS A REMINDER.

AND, HEARING NOTHING, WE SENT A CONTRACTOR OR WE SENT, I SHOULD SAY, THE VIOLATIONS TO, THE CITY'S FORESTER ON JULY 19TH FOR, AN ABATEMENT BY HIS CONTRACTOR.

HE RECEIVED BIDS FOR THE ABATEMENT AND REMOVAL OF THE TREES AND FOUND THAT THE BIDS EXCEEDED HIS, ALLOWED SPENDING LIMIT.

SO, AFTER CONFERRING WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY AT THE TIME, WE DECIDED THIS MATTER SHOULD COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL FOR DECLARATION AS A PUBLIC NUISANCE.

WE SENT A STATEMENT OF CAUSE AND NOTICE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING TO THE PROPERTY OWNERS OF THE, OF THE PROPERTY.

ON JANUARY 11TH OF THIS YEAR, OUR, INSPECTORS PERFORMED A FINAL PRE COUNCIL INSPECTION OF THE OUTSTANDING VIOLATIONS AND DETERMINED THAT SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS TOWARDS CORRECTION OF THE CODE VIOLATIONS LISTED IN THE INITIAL COMPLIANCE ORDER HAD NOT TAKEN PLACE.

I ALSO DROVE BY THERE TODAY, AND THE VIOLATION STILL REMAINS SO.

THAT'S WHAT I HAVE. I'M OPEN FOR QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU. AND THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING.

SO UNLESS WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR DAN, WE CAN START WITH THE PUBLIC HEARING.

ALL RIGHT. AND TO THE CITY CLERK.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? ATTENDING. PEOPLE SORRY SPEAKERS IN PERSON ARE ASKED TO COMPLETE A SPEAKER FORM AND SUBMIT IT TO THE CITY CLERK.

SPEAKERS. SORRY.

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

WHEN SPEAKING, 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

[00:30:03]

SO THERE ARE SPEAKER FORMS OVER ON THE TABLE BY THE WINDOW OVER THERE.

I'M NOT GOING TO WASTE YOUR TIME WITH THAT.

I'VE RECEIVED NO NOTIFICATION OF THIS.

IN ORDER TO HAVE ANY OF THIS CONVERSATION THOUGH.

YOU HAVE TO COME TO THE MICROPHONE.

OTHERWISE WE CAN'T LIKE WE CAN'T TALK BECAUSE IT'S NOT RECORDED.

SO WE WOULD WE'RE HAPPY TO HEAR FROM YOU.

THAT'S. YEP. WE'D LOVE YOU TO TO COME UP AND SHARE.

BUT WE JUST NEED TO HAVE YOUR NAME ON THE FORM.

FIRST [INAUDIBLE] FIRST THE NAME, THE NAME ON THE FORM FIRST.

I JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT THERE IS NO ONE ATTENDING VIRTUALLY.

YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT THE THE QUOTES WERE ABOVE THE $3,000.

WAS THERE A RANGE THAT WAS GIVEN FOR THE QUOTES? I DIDN'T HAVE THE BID.

SO IT WAS THE CITY FORESTER THAT HAD.

I JUST KNOW THAT THEY WERE ABOVE ABOVE THE $3,000.

SO SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 3 AND 5 IS WHAT I COULD REMEMBER.

GOOD QUESTION.

GOOD EVENING.

I'M THE PROPERTY OWNER OF 4411.

I DO TAKE.

I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FOR AN EXTENSION ON THIS.

SIR COULD YOU SHARE YOUR NAME? CLIFFORD PAUL RUDE.

THANK YOU. I WAS NOT AWARE OF EITHER OF THE INITIAL GRANTS OF EXTENSION FOR THIS.

AS FAR AS I KNOW.

WE'RE JUST EXPECTED TO PAY $450,000 OUT OF POCKET, AND FRANKLY, WE CAN'T AFFORD IT.

TAX RETURN TIME IS COMING UP.

YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO PULL OFF MOST OF IT OR ALL OF IT, BUT I WOULD LIKE AN EXPLANATION BARRING AN EXTENSION REGARDING WHY THE TWO PRIMARY CULPRITS WERE NOT MARKED.

AND NO MENTION OF THE DISEASE TREE REMOVAL PROGRAM WAS MADE INITIALLY.

TO MY KNOWLEDGE, AS WE HAVE GONE THIS ROUTE IN YEARS PAST AND IT'S BEEN A DONE DEAL.

SO WHY HAVE WE COME TO THIS POINT? THAT'S MY QUESTION.

OKAY. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

I GUESS THAT, BUT, YES, I REQUEST AN EXTENSION IF POSSIBLE.

AND AND ARE YOU, SO WE CAN OPEN THIS UP TO THE COUNCIL THEN IF WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS.

THIS STARTED IN 20.

JULY OF 2022.

AND IF I'M UNDERSTANDING YOU CORRECTLY, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND YOU.

YOU'RE CLAIMING THAT FROM JULY OF 2022 UNTIL JUST RECENTLY, YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTICE.

I HAVE NO RECOLLECTION OF THESE OF THE JULY 2022 AND JUNE OF 2023.

ASSISTANT CHIEF. WHO WOULD THOSE NOTIFICATIONS HAVE GONE TO? WOULD THEY, MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT GOES TO THE PROPERTY OWNER.

COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS.

YES, WE ACTUALLY SENT THE INITIAL NOTICE OF VIOLATION SENT ON JULY 5TH OF 2022 WHEN THE INSPECTION WAS DONE ON JULY 1ST, ONE COPY WAS [INAUDIBLE] ONE COPY WAS SENT TO CLIFFORD RUDE AT 2638 OAKLAND AVENUE SOUTH IN MINNEAPOLIS, WHICH IS WHICH IS THE OWNER OF RECORD ON COUNTY RECORDS.

A COPY WAS SENT TO THE PROPERTY, TO CLIFFORD AND JENNIFER RUDE AT THE PROPERTY ADDRESS, AND ANOTHER COPY WAS SENT TO, CLIFFORD A AND JENNIFER RUDE AT THE PROPERTY ADDRESS.

SO THREE THREE COPIES OF THE INITIAL NOTICE WAS SENT OUT.

SAME WITH THE STATEMENT OF CAUSE WE SENT OUT HERE IN DECEMBER, SAME THREE ADDRESSES.

YOU SENT NOTIFICATION TO ALL POSSIBLE ADDRESSES.

[00:35:01]

SO THE THE ERROR OF MARGIN FOR YOU NOT TO HAVE RECEIVED ONE OF THOSE IS PRETTY MINIMAL.

WERE THEY SENT CERTIFIED MAIL? THAT IS THE ACCEPTED STANDARD.

WE'RE NOT REQUIRED.

OKAY. NOR WERE THEY RETURNED UNDELIVERABLE.

OKAY. SO THAT ESTABLISHES THAT THE THE CITY HAS USED PROPER NOTIFICATION METHODS BECAUSE THEY'VE MAILED THREE NOTE THREE NOTIFICATION NOTIFICATIONS TO THREE DIFFERENT ADDRESSES AT LEAST TWICE.

WELL, THE FIRST 2638 OAKLAND WOULD HAVE BEEN INVALID WELL THEY ALSO SENT IT AT THAT SAME TIME.

THEY SENT IT TO, I BELIEVE, TO THE CURRENT ADDRESS.

YES, THEY SENT IT TO THREE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.

SO ONE OF THOSE SHOULD HAVE REACHED YOU.

OKAY. I HAVE NO RECOLLECTION OF ANY OF THEM AND NO RECORD OF ANY OF THEM.

NO RECOLLECTION RECOLLECTION IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN I DIDN'T RECEIVE IT.

FOR ME, CONSIDERING THAT THIS STARTED IN 2022 AND IT'S NOW JANUARY 2024.

I THINK YOU'VE HAD AMPLE TIME TO REACH OUT FOR AN EXTENSION AND TO TALK TO THE CITY ABOUT WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE.

HAVE YOU DONE THAT? HAVE YOU CONTACTED ANYONE IN THE CITY, EITHER THE FORESTER OR THE ASSISTANT CHIEF? OKAY. I'M NOT LOOKING TO GET OUT OF THIS.

I'M JUST.

TO HANDLE THIS IN ONE MANNER OR ANOTHER.

AND NOW AT THE MIDNIGHT HOUR, YOU'RE COMING FORWARD AND ASKING FOR AN EXTENSION.

THAT'S A LITTLE PROBLEMATIC FOR ME.

OKAY. THAT EXTENSION SHOULD PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN ASKED FOR IF IT WAS A FINANCIAL ISSUE, YOU PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE TALKED TO EITHER THE CHIEF OR THE FORESTER, PROBABLY THE ASSISTANT CHIEF SITTING HERE SOMEWHERE IN THE LAST 18 MONTHS.

OKAY. PIECE OF TIMELINE.

OKAY. WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU WANT ME TO DO, YOU CAN'T BLEED A STONE.

I MEAN, I HAVE NOTHING, NOTHING FURTHER.

FAIR ENOUGH. THANK YOU.

ASSISTANT CHIEF, FIRE CHIEF, CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW THE ABATEMENT WORKS? AS FAR AS HOW IT.

I BELIEVE IT GOES AGAINST THE TAXES AND AND SPREAD OVER A FEW YEARS? OR IS IT PAID ALL IN FULL? IT. I THINK IT DEPENDS ON THE AMOUNT OF THE ABATEMENT ITSELF.

SO TYPICALLY, IF YOU GUYS APPROVE THE ABATEMENT THIS EVENING, OR AT LEAST DECLARE THE PROPERTY A PUBLIC NUISANCE, WE CAN WORK WITH T HE HOMEOWNER TO GIVE THEM A LITTLE COMPLIANCE TIMELINE TO WORK ON, AND THEN IF IT'S NOT DONE, WE CAN THEN ABATE IT IF IT'S NOT DONE IN THE TIMELINE THAT WE AGREED ON.

SO DECLARING IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT WE WILL DO THE ABATEMENT IMMEDIATELY.

WE CAN WORK WITH THEM.

WE USE THE ABATEMENT.

WE DON'T USE THE ABATEMENT, BUT IT'S THERE AS A TOOL SHOULD WE NEED IT.

IT'S A PRE-APPROVED IF WE HAVE TO.

THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR YOU? ROOM TO MANEUVER THROUGH THIS.

COULD YOU EXPLAIN MORE LIKE WHAT AN ABATEMENT MEANS? KIND OF WHAT THE WHOLE FOR THE FOR THE AUDIENCE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO DON'T USE THIS WORD JUST, SO, YEAH, A ABATEMENT BASICALLY MEANS, CORRECTION, OR, YOU KNOW, REMOVAL OF WHATEVER.

SO, AN ABATEMENT OF A CODE VIOLATION IS BASICALLY THE REPAIR OF THAT CODE VIOLATION OR FIXING FIXING THAT, THAT CODE VIOLATION IN THIS CASE, IT WOULD BE THE REMOVAL OF THE TREES AND CORRECTION OF ANY DAMAGE THAT THEY'VE CAUSED TO THE STRUCTURE OR WHATEVER.

SO WHAT SO WHAT HAPPENS WITH A PROCESS IS, IF IT'S APPROVED, WE WE HIRE, CITY HIRES A CONTRACTOR.

ACTUALLY, I THINK THE CITY HAS A STANDING CONTRACTOR FOR TREE REMOVAL.

SO, WE WOULD HIRE USE THEM.

THEY WOULD REMOVE THE TREE.

THE CITY WOULD BE BILLED FOR IT.

THE CITY TURNS AROUND AND BILLS THE HOMEOWNER.

IF THE FEE ISN'T PAID, IT GETS ASSESSED TO THE, TO THE PROPERTY TAXES.

THE FOLLOWING YEAR, DEPENDING ON THE AMOUNT, IT COULD BE, I THINK IT MIGHT BE SPREAD OUT OVER REALLY I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT THAT MAGIC NUMBER IS.

KEVIN MIGHT KNOW, BUT YEAH.

SO BUT THERE'S THERE'S A NUMBER SOMEWHERE IN THERE WHERE THEY WOULD POTENTIALLY SPREAD IT OUT OVER SEVERAL YEARS.

AND SO THIS GIVES THE CITY PERMISSION TO MAKE THESE CHANGES CORRECT.

SO AND THERE ARE SOMETIMES THERE ARE THINGS THAT HOMEOWNERS ARE GOING TO DO ANYWAY BUT ARE NOT ABLE TO DO IT.

SO, THIS ISN'T ALL THAT UNCOMMON THAT THESE THINGS COME UP AND, SO.

[00:40:01]

THIS JUST GIVES US THAT, ABILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS GETS TAKEN CARE OF SO THAT IT DOESN'T BECOME A WORSE HAZARD FOR ANYTHING SO.

DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.

COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS.

YOU MENTIONED A TREE HAD FALLEN ON THE HOUSE.

IS THAT SITTING ON THE HOUSE? DID IT DAMAGE THE ROOF? IT APPEARS THAT IT MIGHT HAVE DAMAGED PART OF THE EAVE THAT THE HOUSE IS ON.

YES. IT'S ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE NORTH EAST CORNER OF THE PROPERTY OR OF THE OF THE MAIN STRUCTURE.

AND IT DID A LARGE TREE BRANCH HAS FALLEN ON THE HOUSE . YES. OKAY.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OH, YEAH. [INAUDIBLE] SORRY.

COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS. HOW LONG OF AN EXTENSION WERE YOU LOOKING FOR? OH, A MONTH OR TWO, BASICALLY UNTIL TAX RETURN MONEY COMES IN THANK YOU. AND ARE YOU, THINKING THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO TAKE THE ENTIRE TREE DOWN YOURSELF TO AVOID THESE? NO.

SORRY. COULD YOU COME BACK UP JUST SO WE...? NO THE THE THE TWO PRIMARY CULPRITS ARE, TOUGH TO DEAL WITH, AND AND WE DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DO THAT OURSELVES.

SOME OTHER THINGS I DID WANT TO MAKE SURE WITHIN THE ABATEMENT PROCESS, THERE IS AN OAK TRUNK THAT IS ALONG THE ALLEY, THAT WE'VE GONE ROUND AND ROUND IN THE PAST YEARS AGO.

AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT IT'S ON THE EASEMENT.

IT'S NOT OUR RESPONSIBILITY.

AND WE NEVER HEARD ANYTHING MORE ABOUT IT AND IT DIDN'T GET REMOVED.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M NOT ON THE HOOK FOR THAT SO.

OKAY. OKAY.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR THOUGHTS FROM THE COUNCIL? MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES.

YES. THANK YOU. I, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING HOMEOWNERS WE HAVE OFTEN WE DO THESE EVENTS WITHOUT ANY HEARING FROM PEOPLE.

SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE FIRE CHIEF.

I'M THINKING THAT WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW, IT MAKES SENSE TO GO AHEAD AND DO THIS PROCESS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A TOOL IN THE BOOK.

BUT I AM VERY AWARE, LIKE, I KNOW IF I HAD A $5,000 BILL UNEXPECTEDLY COME TO MY HOUSE, I MIGHT JUST HAVE TO GO THROUGH WITH ABATEMENT AND ADD IT TO [INAUDIBLE] DEPENDING ON THE BUDGET AT THE MOMENT. SO I KNOW THAT THAT'S A POSSIBILITY, AND I'M THANKFUL THAT WE HAVE A SYSTEM FOR THAT.

I'M THANKFUL THAT WE CAN DO THAT.

SO I'M HOPEFUL THAT IF WE CAN AFTER THIS MEETING, I DO ENCOURAGE YOU TO REACH OUT AND THEN ANY OTHER CITIZENS WHO HAVE PROBLEM TREES OR NEED HELP.

WE HAVE A LOT OF RESOURCES AND SUPPORT FOR GIVING YOU ADVICE, BUT SOMETIMES IT'S JUST OUT OF OUR BUDGET.

THAT'S JUST HOW IT IS FOR EVERYONE.

SO I'M FOR THE COUNCIL.

I'M INTERESTED IN CLOSING THE HEARING AND THINKING ABOUT SHOULD WE MOVE FORWARD TO PROVIDE THIS TOOL SO IT DOESN'T DRAG ON FOR ANOTHER, HOWEVER LONG IT MIGHT TAKE? THANKS. THANK YOU.

AND THAT WAS KIND OF MY, MY QUESTION.

BUT IF WE DON'T HAVE, DO WE HAVE ANYONE ELSE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? ALL RIGHT THEN. IF IT'S OKAY WITH THE COUNCIL, THEN I'LL TAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND WAIVE THE READING OF RESOLUTION 2024-07.

THERE WILL BE AN AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

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

ANY DISCUSSION.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I WANTED TO ASK THAT IF YOU'RE ABLE TO TAKE THE TREE DOWN YOURSELF BECAUSE IF NOT, WE STILL NEED TO HAVE A WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TREES ARE TAKEN DOWN.

SO, AND FROM WHAT THE CHIEF SAID, THERE'S ROOM THERE TO WORK WITH YOU ON.

ANY OTHER THINGS YOU CAN CLEAR OUT SO THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE FINANCIALLY, YOU KNOW, RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE THINGS.

AND WE CAN WORK WITH WORK WITH YOU.

ABSOLUTELY. AND I'LL JUST ECHO WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES SAID, THAT, WHENEVER ANYONE AND THIS IS NOT AIMED AT YOU, BUT WHENEVER ANYONE RECEIVES A LETTER TO, YOU KNOW, CONTACT THE CITY, PLEASE DO, BECAUSE WE DO WANT TO WORK WITH YOU AND WE WE WANT TO HELP GET THIS TAKEN CARE OF WITH YOU, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HOMEOWNER OR THE PROPERTY OWNER. SO IT ALWAYS LOOKS A LITTLE, OVERWHELMING AND AND, FINAL, BUT IT REALLY IS.

IT'S PART OF THE CONVERSATION SO.

[00:45:03]

WE HAVEN'T MOVED TO ADOPT YET.

WE JUST CLOSED THE PUBLIC HEARING? I KNOW THAT WOULD BE MY POINT.

OKAY. YES, I KNOW, I'M ASKING FOR THE DISCUSSION BEFORE WE MOVE TO ADOPT IS WHAT I'M ASKING.

IF ANYONE HAS ANYTHING ELSE THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT SINCE WE HAVE TWO PARTS PUBLIC HEARING PART AND THEN COUNCIL PART SO.

ALL RIGHT. CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION? MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2024-07 BEING A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS APPROVING DECLARATION OF A PUBLIC NUISANCE PURSUANT TO CITY CODE OF THE PROPERTY LISTED.

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

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT. HEARING AS NONE.

THEN ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

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

THANK YOU. AND DAN WILL MAKE SURE TO GIVE YOU HIS CARD.

YOU GUYS CAN TALK RIGHT AWAY TOMORROW AND AND FIGURE OUT NEXT STEPS.

THANK YOU, AND THANKS FOR COMING TO THE MEETING TONIGHT.

[ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION]

ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION.

APPROVE THE JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT WITH MINNESOTA BUREAU OF CRIMINAL APPREHENSION FOR COLUMBIA HEIGHTS PARTICIPATION IN THE VIOLENT CRIMES REDUCTION UNIT, AND POLICE CHIEF AUSTIN IS HERE TO TALK ABOUT THIS ITEM.

ALL RIGHT, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THANK YOU.

WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU IS THE JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT OR THE JPA.

THAT WILL BE WITH THE MINNESOTA BUREAU OF CRIMINAL APPREHENSION AND THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS POLICE DEPARTMENT, OR THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS FOR ITS PARTICIPATION IN THE BCAS, VIOLENT CRIME UNIT.

SO JUST TAKING YOU BACK TO NOVEMBER OF 2023, THE DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT, SCOTT MUELLER FOR THE BCA, CONDUCTED A PRESENTATION TALKING ABOUT THE BCAS VIOLENT CRIME REDUCTION UNIT AND WHAT IT'S BEEN DOING AS FAR AS TRYING TO COMBAT SOME OF THE VIOLENT CRIME ISSUES THAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS WITHIN THE TWIN CITIES METRO AREA.

PART OF THAT PLAN IS NOW TO ACTUALLY EXPAND THAT AND OFFER, ADDITIONAL POSITIONS WITH THE WITH THE BCA VIOLENT CRIME UNIT, WHERE AGENCIES OF FIRST RING SUBURBS OF THE OF MINNEAPOLIS AND SAINT PAUL WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASSIGN OFFICERS TO THE VIOLENT CRIME UNIT.

AND IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, IT'LL BE ONE OFFICER FOR THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, THAT WOULD BE ASSIGNED TO THE BCA VIOLENT CRIME REDUCTION UNIT.

AND THEN THIS AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO ALSO NOTE THAT THIS WOULD ALSO BE REIMBURSED THROUGH STATE DOLLARS BROUGHT BACK TO THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

AND SO IT IS OUR RECOMMENDATION ON THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO ENTER INTO THIS JPA, WITH THE BCA AND TO BE PART OF THE BCA VIOLENT CRIME REDUCTION UNIT.

THANK YOU, CHIEF.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR THE CHIEF OR ABOUT THIS ITEM? CHIEF, CAN YOU SHARE WITH US WHAT ARE SOME OF THE VIOLENT CRIMES THAT THIS WOULD ATTACK? THE ONLY THING I WANTED TO JUST MENTION, I NOTICED IN SOME OF OUR GREEN SHEETS THAT WE HAD, OFFICERS WORKING ON APPREHENDING CARJACKING SUSPECTS.

AND THEN ON THE OFFICERS MERIT AWARDS.

THERE WAS, OFFICER IBRAHIM FREEMAN, MOHAMED FARAH, WHO HELPED RECEIVE, AUTO THEFT.

LIKE WHAT? WHAT IS INCLUDED IN FIGHTING VIOLENT CRIMES? MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL AND COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

THE MAIN FOCUS WILL BE, THINGS SUCH AS ROBBERIES AS WELL AS CAR JACKINGS, WHICH WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, ALTHOUGH I THINK WE HAVE SEEN A DECREASE METRO WIDE ON THAT.

BUT I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT, OBVIOUSLY THE THE MAIN FOCUS WOULD BE IN THE METRO AREA.

HOWEVER, IF FOR SOME REASON, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE WAS A NEED, FOR THIS UNIT UP IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THIS UNIT WOULD, WOULD, ASSIST AGENCIES UP THERE.

BUT THE 90% OF THE WORK, 95% OF THE WORK WILL BE DOWN IN THE METRO AREA.

JUST AS AN EXAMPLE, AS WE'VE MENTIONED IN THE PAST, WE'VE SEEN A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN WEAPON VIOLATIONS SPECIFICALLY DEALING WITH FIREARMS. IN FACT, WE JUST HAD, JUST THE OTHER NIGHT, OUR ONE OF OUR OFFICERS, CONDUCTED A TRAFFIC STOP AND RECOVERED A STOLEN FIREARM, OUT OF THAT VEHICLE. THAT'S JUST ONE OF MANY EXAMPLES THAT WE'VE HAD.

AND IT'S JUST NOT SPECIFICALLY WITH COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, BUT WE'RE SEEING THAT TREND METRO WIDE.

AND AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, WE ALSO JUST, ONE OF THE AWARDS WE, HANDED OUT THAT OUR OFFICERS RECEIVED LAST YEAR, WAS FOR RECOVERING

[00:50:01]

SO AGAIN, THAT IS GOING TO BE THE MAIN FOCUS.

AND THE NICE THING ABOUT THIS AS WELL IS WHEN WE DO HAVE, ANY VIOLENT CRIME ISSUES, HERE IN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, WE'RE ABLE TO BRING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF RESOURCES, TO THE CITY IF NEEDED, WITH, BRINGING BY BRINGING THE BCA AND THE ENTIRE ALL THE RESOURCES THAT THE BCA MAY HAVE, IN A FAIRLY QUICKLY BY BEING PART OF THIS VIOLENT CRIME REDUCTION UNIT.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE CHIEF? I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD THAT I THINK THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR DEPARTMENT TO BE A PART OF THIS, AND THE FACT THAT WE WILL BE REIMBURSED IN OUR DOLLARS FOR THIS, I THINK THAT'S VERY IT'S A GOOD MOVE FOR OUR CITY AND [INAUDIBLE].

AND HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE INTERESTED IN APPLYING FOR THIS AT THE DEPARTMENT? SO, MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, WE ACTUALLY HAD FIVE, OFFICERS PUT IN FOR THIS.

IT'S A YEAH, I AGREE, THIS IS GOING TO BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE A VIOLENT CRIME REDUCTION UNIT LIKE THIS.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, AND JUST BASED ON SPEAKING WITH THE BCA LEADERSHIP AND WHO WILL BE OVERSEEING THIS, UNIT, WE'RE VERY WE'RE VERY PLEASED WITH, WITH JUST THE EXPERIENCE THAT'S COMING IN AND WILL BE OVERSEEING THE OPERATIONS.

THAT WAS ONE OF OUR CONCERNS, OBVIOUSLY, RIGHT OFF THE BAT.

BUT, THEY THEY REALLY DID SELECT A TOP NOTCH GROUP OF AGENTS TO OVERSEE THE VIOLENT CRIME UNIT.

VERY GOOD, AND I APPRECIATE YOU WITH THE COMMENT OF UNFORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE TO EVEN HAVE THESE THINGS.

YES, THAT IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

SO THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, THEN I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE, I GUESS.

MOTION TO AUTHORIZE.

MOTION TO TO AUTHORITY THE MAYOR INTERIM CITY MANAGER AND POLICE CHIEF TO ENTER INTO A JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT WITH THE MINNESOTA BUREAU OF CRIME APPREHENSION TO PARTICIPATE IN ITS VIOLENT CRIME REDUCTION UNIT.

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

ARE THERE ANY DISCUSSION FROM THE COUNCIL? SEEING AS NOT.

THEN ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION PASSES.

THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE OUR ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS.

ITEM NUMBER 16.

CONSIDERATION OF A RENTAL LICENSE EXEMPTION FOR 4411 6TH STREET NORTHEAST.

AND WE HAVE CITY PLANNER ANDREW BOUCHER HERE TONIGHT.

MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE ARE HERE, TO DISCUSS THE RENTAL DENSITY EXEMPTION FOR 4411 6TH STREET NORTHEAST.

ON JANUARY 18TH, 2024, THE OWNER REACHED OUT TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT REQUESTING AN EXEMPTION FROM THE SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL DENSITY CAP.

THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED ON A BLOCK THAT HAS 28 SINGLE FAMILY UNITS.

FOUR OF THESE ARE RENTALS AND HAS A LOT AN ALLOTMENT OF THREE.

SO THAT'S WHY THE APPLICANT IS COMING IN FOR THE EXEMPTION SECTION ONE OF ORDINANCE 1685, WHICH ESTABLISHED THE SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL DENSITY CAP, STATES THAT IF THE NUMBER OF DETACHED SINGLE FAMILY DWELLINGS DWELLING RENTAL PROPERTIES MEETS OR EXCEEDS THE PERMITTED NUMBER OF RENTAL PROPERTIES PER DEFINED BLOCK ON THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE ORDINANCE FROM WHICH SECTION IS DERIVED, PROPERTY OWNER MAY REQUEST A TEMPORARY LICENSE TO ALLOW FOR ADDITIONAL RENTAL PROPERTY FOR THAT BLOCK.

CITY COUNCIL MAY GRANT OR DENY A TEMPORARY LICENSE AT ITS SOLE DISCRETION.

THE PERSON MAKING REQUESTING A TEMPORARY LICENSE MUST MAKE AN ANNUAL APPLICATION TO THE CITY, AND NO PROPERTY OWNER SHALL HOLD A TEMPORARY RENTAL LICENSE FOR THE SAME PROPERTY FOR MORE THAN TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS.

I'D LIKE TO TURN THIS OVER PARTIALLY TO DAN SO HE CAN GIVE YOU GUYS SOME MORE INFORMATION.

THANK YOU. MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

GOOD EVENING. I'M JUST GOING TO PRESENT SOME ADDITIONAL, RELEVANT, RENTAL, FACTUAL HISTORY FOR THIS PROPERTY, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

MR. JINNAH PURCHASED THE PROPERTY IN NOVEMBER OF 2019, OUR OFFICE RECEIVED A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE PROPERTY BEING ILLEGALLY RENTED IN AUGUST OF 2020.

AFTER FINDING THE PROPERTY OCCUPIED, OUR OFFICE SENT A NOTICE OF RENTAL LICENSE, REQUIRED.

THE RIGHT, NOTICE CONTAINED INSTRUCTIONS FOR LICENSING THE PROPERTY OR IF THE PROPERTY WAS OCCUPIED BY THE OWNER, AN AFFIDAVIT OF NON RENTAL FOR THE OWNER TO COMPLETE A RETURN TO US. MR. JINNAH DID NOT ATTEMPT TO BEGIN THE LICENSING PROCESS, NOR DID HE RETURN THE AFFIDAVIT TO OUR OFFICE.

INSPECTORS POSTED THE PROPERTY AS UNLAWFUL TO OCCUPY FOR NOT HAVING A RENTAL LICENSE IN JANUARY OF 2020, 2021.

SO EXCUSE ME. AND AGAIN, IN JUNE OF 2021, THE PROPERTY PASSED AN INITIAL RENTAL INSPECTION BY THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, AND THE COUNCIL APPROVED A RENTAL

[00:55:04]

THE 2022 EXTERIOR LICENSE INSPECTION FOUND A SIMPLE STORM DOOR VIOLATION FOR A DOOR CLOSURE ON JUNE 20TH, AND IT TOOK THE PROPERTY OWNER UNTIL NOVEMBER 21ST TO CORRECT THE VIOLATION.

THAT WAS EIGHT INSPECTIONS.

IN MAY OF 2023, WE SENT MR. JINNAH, THE LICENSE HOLDER, A NOTICE TO RENEW THE RENTAL LICENSE.

THE NOTICE STATED THAT THE LICENSE HOLDER HAD TO COMPLETE AN APPLICATION, PAY THE LICENSING FEES, AND CALLED TO SCHEDULE AN INTERIOR INSPECTION OF THE PROPERTY PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF THE LICENSE ON JUNE 30TH OF 2023.

MR. JINNAH AGAIN FAILED TO TAKE ANY OF THE NECESSARY STEPS TO LICENSE THE PROPERTY PRIOR TO THE DEADLINE, AND WAS GIVEN NOTICE OF A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE REVOCATION OF THE RENTAL LICENSE ON SEPTEMBER 26TH OF LAST YEAR.

THE STATEMENT OF CAUSE AND NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING STATED THAT IF HE COULD, COMPLETE THE ITEMS PRIOR TO OCTOBER 11TH, THE LICENSE WOULD NOT GO TO REVOCATION.

MR. JINNAH AGAIN FAILED TO TAKE ANY OF THE NECESSARY STEPS, AND THE LICENSE WAS PRESENTED TO THIS COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION OF REVOCATION AND A PUBLIC HEARING HELD ON OCTOBER 23RD OF 2023.

MR. JINNAH DID NOT CONTACT OUR OFFICE OR ATTEMPT OR ATTEND THE PUBLIC HEARING, AND THE COUNCIL VOTED TO REVOKE THE LICENSE NOTICE OF THE LICENSE REVOCATION WAS GIVEN TO THE PROPERTY OWNER AND TENANTS.

THE PROPERTY WAS POSTED WITH A LICENSE REVOCATION NOTICE AND ON JANUARY 9TH OF THIS YEAR, THE PROPERTY BECAME UNLAWFUL TO OCCUPY FOR NOT HAVING A RENTAL LICENSE.

MR. JINNAH EMAILED HIS REQUEST FOR EXEMPTION ON JANUARY 18TH, EIGHT DAYS OR NINE DAYS AFTER THAT, I DID PERFORM AN OCCUPANCY CHECK OF THE PROPERTY TODAY AND FOUND THAT THE PROPERTY WAS UNOCCUPIED CURRENTLY.

AS IT IS THE HOMEOWNER'S RIGHT TO APPEAL TO THE COUNCIL.

STAFF BROUGHT FORTH THE APPEAL, ALONG WITH THE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS FOR DISCUSSION AND REVIEW.

IF APPROVED, RESOLUTION 2024-10 WOULD GRANT A TEMPORARY RENTAL LICENSE EXEMPTION TO THE HOMEOWNER WITH A FEW ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS.

THE HOMEOWNER IS REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE LICENSE APPLICATION PROCESS WITHIN THREE MONTHS FROM THE PASSAGE OF THE RESOLUTION.

THIS PUTS A LIMIT ON HOW LONG THEY CAN TAKE TO BRING THE HOUSE INTO COMPLIANCE IF NEEDED.

THE TEMPORARY RENTAL LICENSE WILL BE VALID FOR ONE YEAR FROM THE DATE THAT THE LICENSE IS APPROVED.

THIS PROVIDES THE HOMEOWNER AND THE TENANT THE ABILITY TO RENT THE HOME FOR A FULL ONE YEAR LEASE.

AFTER THE TERM OF THE TEMPORARY LICENSE THE PERSON REQUESTING A TEMPORARY LICENSE MUST MAKE AN ANNUAL APPLICATION TO THE CITY.

AS I SAID, NO PROPERTY OWNER SHALL HOLD A TEMPORARY RENTAL LICENSE FOR THE SAME PROPERTY FOR MORE THAN TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS.

STAFF IS RECOMMENDING APPROVING RESOLUTION 2024-10, A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL EXEMPTION REQUESTS FOR THE RENTAL APPLICATION AT 4411 6TH STREET NORTHEAST.

THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL? I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, BUT I HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS.

THIS OWNER HAS HAD NOT BEEN IN COMPLIANCE FOR SINCE 2019, WHICH IS FOUR YEARS.

STARTING THE FIFTH, AND THEY HAD A LICENSE, AND THEY DIDN'T FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THE THINGS THEY NEEDED TO DO WITH THE LANDLORD.

AND THEY'RE IN THE PICKLE BECAUSE THEY REFUSED.

THEY DIDN'T DO WHAT THEY WERE, WHAT WAS REQUIRED.

SO I HAVE A REAL PROBLEM WITH THEM ASKING FOR AN EXEMPTION TO TRY AGAIN.

DESPITE THE LETTER, THEY'RE THEY'RE NOT DOING WHAT THEY COULD HAVE DONE IF THEY WOULD HAVE FOLLOWED THE RULES AND GOT EVERYTHING IN THEY'D STILL HAVE THE LICENSE.

AT THIS TIME, THIS WOULDN'T EVEN BE AN ISSUE.

SO I HAVE A REAL PROBLEM WITH WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING WITH THIS PROPERTY.

DOES COUNCIL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT? WELCOME. AND YOU CAN SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE THERE.

HI [INAUDIBLE] JUST HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU GUYS HAVE OR ANY CONCERNS.

THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO AT LEAST LISTEN NOT TO THE EXEMPTION REQUEST.

AND I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS THAT YOU BROUGHT UP, AND YEAH SO IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR WANT TO HEAR ANYTHING ADDITIONAL? THIS IS YOUR TIME TO SHARE WITH US.

IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE.

ABOUT WHY YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THE COUNCIL HAS QUESTIONS JUST OF WHAT, DAN O'BRIEN HAD BROUGHT UP.

IT LOOKS LIKE THINGS WEREN'T TAKEN CARE OF AND SO IF WE WERE TO VOTE THAT YOU COULD CONTINUE TO RENT IT, WE WOULDN'T WANT TO BE IN THE SAME POSITION.

[01:00:08]

YEAH. NO, I DO UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS.

I DON'T WANT TO, LIKE, PUT BLAME ANYWHERE ELSE, BUT, YEAH, WE DID HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE WITH THE HOME.

AND I KNOW WE WEREN'T ABLE TO GET THE INSPECTION DONE, BUT IN THE PAST AND GET IT ACCEPTED.

AND I DO KNOW IT WAS LIKE SOMETHING VERY MINOR WITH THE STORM DOOR.

WE'VE. THE HOME HAS BEEN VACANT FOR THE LAST 2 OR 3 MONTHS.

WE'VE HAD WE'VE WANTED TO MOVE INTO THE PROPERTY AT THE TIME.

WE CAN'T BECAUSE WE'RE ALREADY IN A LEASE AT ANOTHER PLACE.

SO WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO IT UNTIL DECEMBER OF THIS YEAR.

BUT, WE DON'T WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THE HOME.

BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO MOVE INTO IT AGAIN.

I CAN'T REALLY MAKE THE PAYMENTS ON THE MORTGAGE AND THE RENT THAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.

I KNOW THAT WE STILL HAVE TO PASS THE INSPECTION.

AND ALL THE REQUIREMENTS TO RENT IT OUT AGAIN.

SO I'M HOPING IN THE MEANTIME, FROM NOW, IF WE DO GET IT PASSED UNTIL WE CAN GET OUR INSPECTIONS, THAT WE CAN PROVE THAT WE ARE TAKING CARE OF THE HOME AND THAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN DO SO THIS DOESN'T BECOME AN ISSUE AGAIN IN THE FUTURE.

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN'T GET THAT DONE, THEN WE WON'T BE ABLE TO GET, YOU KNOW, THE INSPECTION LICENSE TO GET ANOTHER PERSON IN THERE AT ALL ANYWAYS.

SO I'M HOPING IF IT GETS PASSED, WE CAN SHOW IN THAT TIME PERIOD THAT WE CAN DO ALL THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO FOR THE HOME.

AND, YOU KNOW, TAKE CARE OF IT.

DO YOU KNOW ALL OF THE THINGS THAT YOU WOULD NEED TO DO TO BRING IT TO COMPLIANCE? SO FROM THE LAST INSPECTION WE HAD, WE HAD AN EXTERIOR ONE DONE, AND THERE WAS JUST A STORM DOOR THAT'S ALREADY BEEN FIXED.

WE WERE NEEDED TO DO AN INTERIOR INSPECTION, AT THE TIME.

WELL, I MEAN, WE'VE HAD TO DO SOME, LIKE, RENOVATIONS OF THE HOME.

JUST PAINT AND, LIKE, FLOORING SINCE IT WASN'T, LIKE, NICE INSIDE.

FROM WHAT ELSE THAT I KNOW THAT WOULD BE, I WOULD, I DON'T KNOW, UNTIL WE GET THE INSPECTION DONE OR FROM THE CITY, WHAT'S LEFT TO BE DONE.

BUT, SO WE JUST HAVE TO WAIT.

BUT WE'VE, LIKE, MADE THE HOUSE INSIDE NICER.

I MEAN, THERE'S STILL SOME THINGS THAT WE NEED TO FINISH UP AND, LIKE, CLEAN UP.

BUT I JUST WANTED TO WAIT UNTIL TODAY TO SEE, LIKE, IF WHAT I NEEDED TO DO WITH THE HOME, IF THERE WAS, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THE HOUSE AT THIS POINT.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW, TO KEEP, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO MAKE IT NICER TO RENT IT OR I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THE HOUSE.

I JUST LEAVE IT VACANT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH IT.

OKAY. AND MY QUESTION IS MORE FROM THE LAST TIME YOU HAD THE INSPECTION AND THE FAILURE T HEN YOU WOULD KNOW, LIKE YOU WERE STILL AT THE SAME PLACE YOU WERE THERE, UNLESS YOU HAD DONE ANY REPAIRS. SO THERE WAS ONLY AN EXTERIOR INSPECTION AND IT WAS JUST FOR A STORM DOOR IN THE BACK.

I WAS A LITTLE CONFUSED ON WHAT WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE WITH THE STORM DOOR.

BUT FROM THE LAST TIME I MESSAGED THE, I THINK IT'S JERRY FROM THE CITY.

I ASKED HER IF IT HAD PASSED, AND SHE SAID THAT IT PASSED, BUT WE THEY'RE STILL WAITING ON AN INTERIOR ONE, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S LEFT IN THE INTERIOR ONE.

ANYTHING ELSE THAT WOULD COME UP.

BUT FROM THE EXTERIOR IT SAID IT WAS FINE FROM LIKE I THINK MAY OF THIS YEAR OR LAST YEAR.

YEAH. OKAY. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS.

I'M LOOKING AT THE LETTER YOU SUBMITTED AND ONE OF YOUR STATEMENTS.

LET ME FIND IT AGAIN.

THE EXTENSION NOT ONLY CAUSED A SIGNIFICANT DELAY, BUT ALSO LEFT THE HOUSE IN A STATE OF DISARRAY WITH LARGE AMOUNTS OF LEFTOVER TRASH, PROMPTING A NOTICE OF OVERFLOWING GARBAGE.

I PROMPTLY ADDRESSED ALL THESE COSTLY ISSUES AT OUR EXPENSE.

AND WHILE AT THE PODIUM, YOU SAID THAT THE THE HOME HAS BEEN THE HOUSE HAS BEEN EMPTY FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS, NOT TWO MONTHS SINCE LIKE THE 4TH OF DECEMBER Y EAH. SO IT'S A MONTH, BASICALLY A MONTH AND A HALF.

CAN YOU BE SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO UPGRADE OR CORRECT ANY ANYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED IN THAT TIME? WELL, WE HAD TO CLEAN OUT THE SO WE HAD GOT A NOTICE.

I DIDN'T I WASN'T AWARE OF THE NOTICE BECAUSE I HAD SEEN IT IN MY EMAIL, LIKE AFTER WE HAD ALREADY CLEANED IT, BUT WE HIRED OUT A DUMPSTER TO GET RID OF, LIKE AS THE TRASH WAS OVERFLOWING ON IT AND THEY HAD LEFT TRASH IN THE YARD.

SO THAT WAS SENT TO US ON THE 8TH AFTER THEY HAD MOVED OUT, BUT WE ALREADY HAD PEOPLE THERE CLEANING.

WE WENT TO GO CLEAN IT AND GET RID OF IT, SO WE HIRED OUT A DUMPSTER TO THROW AWAY ALL THE STUFF.

ASIDE FROM THAT, WE'VE JUST REPLACED THE FLOORING IN THE HOUSE BECAUSE THE CARPET WAS JUST DESTROYED AND A LOT OF THE VINYL PLANKS HAD BEEN LIKE, IT JUST LOOKED BAD, LIKE IT WAS JUST NOT LIKE YOU COULD SEE ALMOST THE PLYWOOD ON PARTS OF IT.

SO WE'VE DONE ALL THE FLOORING ALREADY ON IT, AND WE'VE DONE ALL THE PAINTS ON THE UPSTAIRS AND THE LIKE, THE LOWER LEVEL OF THE HOME.

AND THAT'S BEEN IN THE LAST SIX WEEKS, EIGHT WEEKS.

YEAH. BASICALLY I SPENT BEEN EMPTY.

YEAH. I SPENT BASICALLY SPENT ALL OF DECEMBER DOING THAT.

AND THEN ONCE WE HAD FINISHED, WHICH WAS EARLY JANUARY, I HAD REACHED OUT AGAIN TO GET THE REINSPECTION DONE FOR THE INTERIOR OF THE HOME.

[01:05:06]

SO I HADN'T REACHED OUT UNTIL THAT WAS DONE FIRST.

THERE'S SO SOME LITTLE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DO, LIKE WE HAVE TO DO LIKE, A LOT OF THE SWITCHES ARE BROKEN.

WHAT ARE WHAT ARE IS THERE A MAJOR EXPENSE IN GETTING THIS HOME RENTABLE? NO. LIKE, IT'S ALL MINOR STUFF.

LIKE LIGHT SWITCHES.

YEAH. LIGHT SWITCHES. YEAH. OTHER THAN THE FLOORING, THE FLOORING IS DONE.

YEAH, I HAVE PHOTOS OF IT BECAUSE WE DID IT LIKE TWO WEEKS AGO.

AND I HAVE TO ECHO COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS CONCERNS.

THIS. I WROTE DOWN AS AS THE ASSISTANT CHIEF WAS GOING THROUGH THIS FROM NOVEMBER OF 2019 THROUGH 10/ 30/23 AND BEYOND.

THAT'S A LONG TIME FOR THERE TO BE A LOT OF PROBLEMS. WE HAVE MOVED INTO THE HOUSE OF 2019.

WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY ISSUES FOR THE FIRST COUPLE MONTHS.

IT WAS BEING RENTED.

NO, WE LIVED IN THE HOUSE FOR THE FIRST COUPLE OF MONTHS.

WE LIVED THERE FOR LIKE SOME TIME.

OKAY, BUT BUT EARLY ON AFTER THAT.

THAT IS RIGHT. YEAH. AND IT TOOK YOU A WHILE TO GET THE LICENSE.

YOU FINALLY GOT THE LICENSE.

YOU LET THAT EXPIRE.

AND NOW YOU GOT AN EMPTY.

YOU GOT IT. YOU GOT THE TENANTS OUT OF THERE.

NOW YOU GOT AN EMPTY BUILDING THAT'S BEEN DESTROYED OR AFFECTED NEGATIVELY.

YEAH. AND WE'RE WE'RE MOVING DOWN THE ROAD AND I DON'T SEE WHERE YOU'VE NOT I HAVE NOT HEARD YOU TELL US WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO SPECIFICALLY TO CHANGE THIS PATTERN.

THIS IS A COUPLE YEAR PATTERN OF NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, WHETHER IT'S GETTING THE LICENSE RENEWED, GETTING THE INSPECTIONS DONE. WHAT ARE YOU DOING SPECIFICALLY IF WE GRANT YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO THAT'S DIFFERENT FROM THE PAST THREE YEARS? NO, I UNDERSTAND THAT.

I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY LIKE THE WHOLE THING, ME HAVING TO COME OUT HERE HAS OPENED MY EYES TO A LOT.

I'VE HAD TO LOOK A LOT INTO THE ORDINANCES CHANGED, AND I WASN'T BEING AWARE OF EVERYTHING THAT WAS GOING ON IN THE PAST.

I'M CLEARLY AWARE NOW BECAUSE WE'VE HAD THIS BIG ISSUE.

I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT A LOT.

I THINK ONE OF THE MAJOR ISSUES WAS FOR ME WAS THE A LOT OF THE NOTICES THAT WE GOT TWO SEPARATE ASIDE FROM THE EMAIL, WERE GOING TO AN OLD ADDRESS.

I'M NOT PUTTING THAT BLAME TO ANYTHING OR, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO TAKE BLAME BECAUSE IT IS MY FAULT.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT. SO I DO KNOW THAT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY.

BUT I DO KNOW THAT WAS A MISSING LINK OF COMMUNICATION FOR ME AND THIS HOME AS, I WOULD COME AND PICK UP, LIKE, THE RENT CHECKS AT THE HOME EXCEPT THE LAST, I THINK TWO MONTHS BEFORE THAT WASN'T ABLE TO I HAD TO I HAD TO LEAVE MINNESOTA FOR A WHILE FOR, A FAMILY EMERGENCY.

BUT BEFORE THAT, I WOULD COME BY, UNTIL I SAW THE SIGNS AND EVERYTHING I WASN'T AWARE OF EVERYTHING WAS GOING ON, AND I DON'T.

I KNEW THAT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY, AND MY MISTAKE WAS NOT HAVING THE ADDRESS CORRECTED TO MY CURRENT ADDRESS NOW.

SO I WASN'T ALWAYS BEING AWARE OF THESE NOTICES, NOT ALWAYS BEING ON TOP OF IT.

IF WE'RE ABLE TO RENT IT AGAIN, THESE NOTICES WILL BE MY TOP PRIORITY.

MAKING SURE ALL THESE DEADLINES DATES.

I KNOW THE NEXT RENEWAL WILL BE AROUND JUNE 30TH OF NEXT YEAR, BEING ALREADY ON TOP OF IT AND ALREADY ANTICIPATING THESE UPCOMING DEADLINES AND MAKING SURE EVERYTHING DOESN'T FALL TO A DISARRAY.

MAKING SURE EVERYTHING'S, TOGETHER FROM THE BEGINNING.

NOT LETTING THINGS WAIT.

THANK YOU. MAYOR, ONE THING YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND, LANDLORD BEING A LANDLORD IS A BUSINESS.

IT'S NOT WHERE YOU CAN JUST BUY THIS HOUSE.

SO I'M JUST GOING TO RENT IT, AND I CAN, YOU KNOW, JUST LET ANYONE IN.

I CAN DO WHATEVER I WANT, WHENEVER I WANT, HOWEVER I WANT.

IT IS A BUSINESS.

AND SO FAR, YOU'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO RUN THIS BUSINESS VERY WELL AT ALL.

YOU'RE NOT TAKING THE NOTICES SERIOUS.

YOU'RE NOT NOTIFYING THE PUBLIC, THE OFFICIALS WHEN THEY NEED TO CHANGE OF ADDRESS OR CHANGE OF EMAIL.

YOU'RE NOT REPAIRING THE THINGS IN A TIMELY MANNER WITH EIGHT NOTICES ON A SIMPLE DOOR.

ALL YOU HAD TO DO WAS CALL OUR ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF, AND HE WOULD HAVE MORE THAN WILLING TO HELP EXPLAIN HOW THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED.

THIS IS A BUSINESS A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK, WELL, MY PARENTS DIED.

I'M GOING TO RENT THEIR HOUSE AND THEY FIND OUT IT'S A LOT MORE INVOLVED THAN JUST RENTING THE HOUSE AND TAKING MONEY.

SO, SO FAR IT'S NOT WORKING OUT FOR YOU AS A BUSINESS, AND I DON'T SEE YOU TAKING IT SERIOUSLY.

I HAVEN'T HEARD YOU MENTION THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A BUSINESS, BUT, IT'S STILL YOU'RE YOU'RE NOT MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS AS A BUSINESSMAN TO RENT THIS HOUSE.

AND ONE THE OTHER THING YOU MENTIONED, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THIS HOUSE.

YOU COULD LIVE IN IT, WHICH YOU CAN'T DO BECAUSE YOU HAVE A LEASE.

RIGHT NOW YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO RENT IT.

BUT THE OTHER OPTION IS TO SELL IT.

THERE ARE MORE THAN THERE'S THREE OPTIONS YOU HAVE AVAILABLE TO YOU AS A PERSON BUSINESSMAN WITH THIS PROPERTY.

[01:10:04]

I WASN'T THROWING THAT OFF THE TABLE.

I WAS CONSIDERING THAT IF I WASN'T ABLE TO LIVE IN IT OR RENT IT FOR THE TIME BEING.

IF, I KNOW I DON'T IF I DON'T HAVE THE TRUST IN THE CITY COUNCIL TO MANAGE IT MYSELF WHAT AN ALTERNATIVE BE TO HIRE OUT A PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY TO HELP ASSIST WITH, WITH THE WITH EVERYTHING WE NEED TO DO WITH THE HOME.

WOULD THAT GIVE THE CITY COUNCIL MORE TRUST IF I HIRED AN EXTERNAL PARTY TO HELP WITH RUNNING THE THE HOME? I MEAN, YOU CAN YOU CAN OFFER THAT AS WELL.

I THINK WE'LL ALL WE'LL ALL THINK ABOUT IT, I GUESS.

OR IS THAT WOULD THAT FALL UNDER THE PROPERTY MANAGER? HE IS ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE AS THE LICENSEE, AS THE PROPERTY OWNER.

I WANTED THAT CLARIFIED.

I UNDERSTAND IT'S NOT A WORKABLE OPTION TO HAVE A MANAGEMENT COMPANY, BECAUSE YOU STILL HAVE TO BE LISTED AND YOU'RE STILL A PART OF THAT PROCESS.

AND I WOULD BE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT ISSUING ANOTHER LICENSE TO YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS MADE THE POINT.

THIS IS A BUSINESS ISSUING ANOTHER LICENSE TO A POORLY OPERATING BUSINESS.

OKAY. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT I CAN DO TO I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT TO SAY OR HOW TO PROVE IT, OTHER THAN JUST BY DOING IT IF I GET ACCEPTED, I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT TO LIKE, SAY, OR DO.

NO, WHAT YOU'RE DOING JUST FINE.

AND YOU, YOU CAN OFFER AND LIKE YOU SAID, THAT YOU HAVE AN IDEA THAT YOU MIGHT HIRE AN OUTSIDE COMPANY.

AND AND WE ALL CAN HEAR THAT AND WE CAN GIVE OPINIONS IF WE LIKE THAT IDEA OR NOT.

BUT THOSE ARE ALL THINGS YOU'RE WELCOME TO SAY.

AT THIS POINT, I THINK WE'VE ALL HEARD ENOUGH.

UNLESS THE COUNCIL HAS WOULD HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS.

ALL RIGHT. AND THEN WE CAN ALL MAKE OUR DECISION BASED ON WHAT YOU'VE SAID.

I DO SEE A STAFF MEMBER.

ANDREW, WOULD LIKE TO ADD SOMETHING.

THANK YOU FOR COMING IN TONIGHT.

AND JUST SO YOU KNOW COUNCIL KNOWS HOW THE EXEMPTION PROCESS IS KIND OF PANNED OUT SO FAR FOR THE THREE ISH THAT HAVE COME IN.

THE FIRST ONE WAS APPROVED, I THINK IT WAS, 685 43RD STREET.

THEY WENT THROUGH THE INITIAL RENTAL INSPECTION, CORRECTIONS WERE GIVEN, AND HE ULTIMATELY WITHDREW HIS APPLICATION AND SOLD THE PROPERTY OR PUT IT ON THE MARKET.

THE SECOND ONE ON 4TH STREET YOU GUYS DENIED.

AND THEN THE THIRD ONE ON CHATHAM I THINK THE LAST MEETING, WAS APPROVED, BUT, I THINK HE HAD ISSUES INSTALLING A LOCK BOX.

SO THAT'S BEEN PUSHED OUT TO LIKE MAY.

SO OUTSIDE OF THAT THREE MONTH SPAN.

SO JUST IF THAT, WEIGHS INTO YOUR CONSIDERATION AT ALL.

THANK YOU. YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD? YEAH. SORRY. I WAS A LITTLE NERVOUS.

I DON'T KNOW IF I SAID IT CLEARLY, BUT, WHEN I WAS READING IT, I DON'T KNOW IF I STATED THAT TO YOU GUYS, BUT LIKE I SAID, IF WE GET THE EXEMPTION PASSED, I KNOW THAT DOESN'T GIVE US THE RIGHT TO JUST GO AHEAD AND RENT IT RIGHT AWAY.

SO I WAS HOPING AGAIN TO PROVE.

BUT IF WE DO GET IT ACCEPTED, TO SHOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW ALL THE STEPS WITH THE CITY, BECAUSE CLEARLY, IF WE CAN'T GET IT, GO AHEAD WITH THE CITY AFTER THIS, GET ALL THE INSPECTIONS APPROVED, WE WON'T BE ABLE TO RENT IT.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE STILL HAVE IT VACANT.

SO I'M JUST HOPING JUST FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO JUST AT LEAST SHOW THAT WE WILL DO THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO TO RENT THE HOME, AND FOLLOW ALL OUR GUIDELINES.

THAT'S THE LAST THING I JUST WANTED TO SAY.

OKAY. THANK YOU. YEAH. MAYOR, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE HOMEOWNER.

YEAH. THANK YOU, SIR, FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

AND I APPRECIATE YOUR LETTER.

I CAN SEE THE SITUATION THAT YOU'RE IN ABOUT TO HAVE A BABY, AND IT'S A BIT DIFFICULT.

MY QUESTION IS, IS YOUR GOAL ULTIMATELY TO LIVE IN THIS HOME, OR IS YOUR GOAL TO JUST TEMPORARILY GET THROUGH THIS HARDSHIP TIME AND THEN MAKE A DECISION? JUST TEMPORARY AND MAKE A DECISION RIGHT NOW HOW WE HAVE IT SET UP WE'RE CLOSE BY TO OUR FAMILIES.

I HAD MOVED OVER HERE ORIGINALLY, WHEN WE HAD MET, WHEN WE WERE A LITTLE YOUNGER, IN A DIFFERENT SITUATION.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE RIGHT RIGHT NOW JUST I'M THE ONLY ONE WHO'S ABLE TO WORK.

SO WE'RE STAYING CLOSE TO FAMILY, HOPING THAT THEY CAN HELP US, WITH OTHER CARE AND NEEDS.

WE JUST WANT TO SEE HOW THIS HARDSHIP GOES.

I HAD THOUGHT OF MOVING BACK INTO HERE, EARLIER THIS YEAR WHEN WE HAD THE WHEN I THOUGHT WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK.

BUT I DON'T KNOW WE HAVE TO SEE HOW THE HARDSHIP GOES RIGHT NOW.

HOW WE HOW WE ARE, LIVING.

WE'RE REALLY CLOSE TO FAMILY.

[01:15:01]

IT'S LIKE A 30 MINUTE DRIVE.

IT WOULD BE A LOT HARDER TO NOT HAVE OUR FAMILY SUPPORT, BUT HAVING THE LOWER EXPENSES WOULD MAKE IT, I THINK, WOULD EVEN END OUT FOR US, WHERE IT WOULD MAKE MORE SENSE TO COME BACK OVER HERE. RIGHT NOW WE'RE RENTING, WE'RE PAYING MORE THAN THE HOUSES.

SO IT WOULD, I DON'T KNOW.

WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT. I CAN'T JUST SAY WE'RE GOING TO JUST RUN IN THERE.

BUT IT WAS A STRONG ENOUGH CONSIDERATION BEFORE WHEN WE HAD, WHEN I THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO MOVE OUT TO COME BACK.

SO I HAVE TO SEE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN LIKE A YEAR.

I DON'T, I DON'T THIS IS MY FIRST CHILD, SO I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH LIKE WORK IS GOING TO BE.

YEAH. YEAH.

LET'S SEE. SO IF WE WERE TO ALLOW YOU TO RENT THIS, AS YOU SAID, YOU'D STILL HAVE TO BRING IT ALL UP TO CODE.

YOU'D STILL HAVE TO PASS EVERYTHING.

YEAH, AND THEN YOU CAN RENT IT.

YOU CAN ONLY RENT IT FOR A YEAR.

YEAH. AND THEN YOU'D HAVE TO GO THROUGH IT AGAIN.

YOU CAN ONLY DO IT FOR TWO YEARS AFTER THAT.

YOU CAN'T RENT IT AGAIN.

YOU COULD MOVE IN THERE.

YEAH, BUT THAT'S IT.

YOU'D HAVE TO SELL IT OR YOU'D HAVE TO LIVE THERE.

YEAH. AND I'M OKAY WITH DOING EITHER VERY SHORT.

YES. IF, IF WE WERE TO VOTE THAT WAY, YOU WOULD HAVE TO JUST GO THROUGH THIS WHOLE THING AGAIN.

AND YOU KNOW, WHENEVER ANYONE HAS ANY RENTAL ISSUES AND THEIR HISTORY HAS NOT BEEN F ORTHRIGHT IN GETTING THINGS TAKEN CARE OF T HE COUNCIL YOU KNOW, HISTORICALLY IS NOT REAL LENIENT IF THINGS HAVE NOT GONE RIGHT.

YEAH. FOR YEARS WE'VE HAD MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVEN'T DONE STUFF, HAVE NOT CONTACTED US.

AND AND SO THEN SO YOU WOULD HAVE KIND OF A ONE AND DONE IF YOU, IF YOU DIDN'T GET IT YOU'D HAVE ONE CHANCE.

I UNDERSTAND THAT.

YEAH. IF THAT'S IF THE COUNCIL AND WE'RE ALL OUR OWN, YOU KNOW, INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW EVERYONE FEELS ABOUT VOTING FOR YOU ON THIS, ON THIS TOPIC, I SHOULD SAY [INAUDIBLE] VOTING FOR THIS TOPIC.

BUT JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT IT IS JUST FOR ONE YEAR.

IF YOU DO GET IT, YOU'D STILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS WHOLE THIS WHOLE PROCESS AGAIN.

NO, AND I DO UNDERSTAND I'VE REVIEWED EVERYTHING.

I'VE WATCHED THE LAST, COUNCIL MEETINGS ONLINE, LIKE I'VE LOOKED INTO A LOT.

JUST UNDERSTAND, JUST BECAUSE I WAS VERY, LIKE, SCARED, LIKE I DIDN'T I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTOOD EVERYTHING THAT WAS GOING ON.

I KNOW THAT WAS MY MISTAKE IN THE PAST AND I DIDN'T.

I WAS JUST A BIG LIKE, WAKE UP CALL FOR ME TO MAKE SURE TO PAY ATTENTION TO EVERY LITTLE THING THAT'S GOING ON.

YEAH. WELL, THANK YOU FOR COMING.

YEAH. THANK YOU. IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU COME IN.

AND SO WE CAN ASK YOU THESE QUESTIONS.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR TOPICS OR CONCERNS? COMMENTS. ALL RIGHT THEN.

ALL RIGHT, THEN, COULD I HAVE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING? MOVE TO WAIVE THE READING OF RESOLUTION 2024-10 THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

SECOND. HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER BUESGENS TO WAIVE THE READING ANY DISCUSSION.

SEEING AS NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES.

AND NEXT, A MOTION TO ADOPT.

[INAUDIBLE] MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2024-10 A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL EXEMPTION REQUEST FOR THE RENTAL APPLICATION AT 4411 6TH STREET, NORTHEAST COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA 55421.

SECOND.

HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION.

ANY DISCUSSION? BEFORE WE MAKE A FINAL COMMENT ON THIS, I'LL JUST SAY I'M IN FAVOR OF GIVING THE HOMEOWNER AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVE YOU KNOW, THAT THEY CAN BRING THIS UP TO CODE.

I MEAN, PERSONALLY, I GOT INTO CITY GOVERNMENT TO HELP PEOPLE.

I KNOW THERE'S A WHOLE ISSUE IN THE PAST WITH HOLDING PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE WITH THESE TYPES OF OF RENTALS THAT HAVE GONE TO WASTE AND WHATNOT.

BUT THE OWNER HAS SHOWN UP, DONE THE WORK AND IT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S A FREE PASS.

THEY STILL HAVE TO BRING IT UP TO CODE, AS WE'VE SEEN WITH 1 OR 2 OF THE PROPERTIES THAT THEY DON'T EVEN GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

I HAVE NO ISSUE WITH AT LEAST GIVING THEM A CHANCE.

WE KNOW IT'S A ONE YEAR OPPORTUNITY.

IF IT FAILS, WE REVOKE NEXT YEAR.

SO I DON'T PERSONALLY SEE THE HARM.

ADDITIONALLY, WE REVOKE OR DON'T ALLOW FOR THIS RENTAL LICENSE EXEMPTION.

THE HOUSE WILL SIT VACANT AND WE KNOW THE ISSUES THAT VACANT HOUSES BRING UP AS WELL.

THEY DON'T JUST SIT THERE.

THEY COME WITH THEIR OWN VANDALISM ISSUES, PEOPLE TRYING TO BREAK IN WHOLE OTHER SET OF THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT.

SO I PERSONALLY AM IN FAVOR OF ADOPTING THIS, GIVING THE HOMEOWNER AN OPPORTUNITY TO JUST BRING IT UP TO CODE TO RENT IT OUT, BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO BE A HUGE BARRIER IN ITS OWN RIGHT. SO I'M I'M PERSONALLY IN FAVOR OF THIS.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION OR COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT. THEN WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION.

[01:20:02]

AND THOSE OPPOSED? NAY, NAY.

AND I AM AN AYE ON THAT.

AND THE MOTION PASSES.

SO YOU RECEIVE YOUR RENTAL LICENSE EXEMPTION.

YOU'RE WELCOME. AND WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE YOU COME BACK IN.

WE WANT YOU TO PASS YOUR YOUR YOUR RENTAL PERMIT REQUEST.

THANK YOU FOR COMING IN TONIGHT.

ALL RIGHT THEN NEXT ON OUR ITEM IS BID CONSIDERATIONS WHICH WE HAVE NONE.

NEW BUSINESS AND REPORTS WE HAVE NONE.

TAKES US TO OUR CITY COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS.

[CITY COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS]

WOULD ANY COUNCIL MEMBER LIKE TO GO FIRST? I'LL GO. COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS.

ATTENDED THE AWARDS PROGRAM FOR OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL OF OUR OFFICERS WHO DEDICATE THEMSELVES DAILY TO PROTECTING OUR CITY, AND ESPECIALLY THOSE STEPPING ABOVE AND BEYOND THE EXPECTATION.

THEIR OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IS A SMALL EXAMPLE OF THE QUALITY CHIEF AUSTIN'S LEADERSHIP HAS BROUGHT TO THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND I APPLAUD ALL OF THEM. PARTICIPATED IN THE BAKER TILLY INTERVIEW AS PART OF THE SEARCH PROCESS FOR THE NEXT CITY MANAGER, OBSERVED THE CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING, ATTENDED THE ISD 13 COMMUNITY FEEDBACK MEETING THE OTHER MORNING.

AND IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THIS EVENING'S COUNCIL MEETING, I ATTENDED THE ANNUAL HOUSING REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.

I ATTENDED THE MEDTRONIC MEETING.

THE ROOM WAS STANDING ROOM ONLY AND THAT WAS VERY IMPRESSIVE.

I WAS VERY GLAD TO SEE THAT.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE COMMUNITY FOR THEIR INVESTMENT AND I FACILITATED EIGHT RESIDENT REACH OUTS.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS.

YEAH. I ALSO ATTENDED THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE MEDTRONIC PRESENTATION.

SUPER EXCITED FOR ALL THE POSSIBILITIES THAT PEOPLE HAVE BROUGHT UP TO GO THERE.

I THINK THAT'S A HUGE OPPORTUNITY REGARDLESS OF WHAT GOES THERE.

BEEN WORKING WITH CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE RESIDENTS FROM THE LEGENDS AS WE GET CLOSE TO THE THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AT THE STATE CAPITOL KICKING OFF.

ALSO DID A COUPLE LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITY TRAININGS.

AND THEN ALSO MET WITH A BOARD MEMBER FROM THE BAKKEN MUSEUM.

TALKING ABOUT POSSIBLE PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE CITY.

AS WE KNOW, EARL BAKKEN FROM THE THE FOUNDER OF MEDTRONIC WAS FROM COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

COOL. THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES.

THANK YOU. I ENJOY HEARING EVERYONE ELSE'S REPORTS TO SEE ALL THE GOOD THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING.

I ATTENDED THE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK MEETING FOR THE MEDTRONIC SITE AS WELL.

THANK YOU TO THE CITIZENS FOR SHARING YOUR IDEAS BOTH IN PERSON AND ONLINE.

AND CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR STAFF FOR SUCH A WONDERFUL JOB ANSWERING DIFFICULT QUESTIONS THOROUGHLY AND HELPFULLY.

SO THAT WAS GREAT. I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND TEACH A CIVICS CLASS FOR NINTH GRADERS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL ABOUT LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AND IT WAS WONDERFUL TO HEAR THEIR QUESTIONS AND THEIR CONCERNS, AND EXPLAIN TO THEM WHAT OUR FORM OF GOVERNMENT IS IN THEIR DAILY LIVES.

I ATTENDED THE CHARTER COMMISSION AS THE COUNCIL LIAISON.

I ALSO ATTENDED A TRAINING THROUGH THE LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES ON HOW CITY GOVERNMENTS CAN DEMONSTRATE A COMMITMENT TO UPHOLDING FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS, AND THEN A REALLY AMAZING WEBINAR PUT ON BY THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

THE TITLE OF IT YOU CAN FIND IT ON YOUTUBE IS FACTORS THAT POSITIVELY INFLUENCE DRIVERS YIELDING TO PEDESTRIANS.

IT'S A LONG TITLE, BUT, I ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ORIGINALLY DREW ME TO CITY COUNCIL WAS WALKING AROUND MY BLOCKS AND HAVING PEOPLE NOT STOP THEIR CARS AND ALMOST RUN INTO ME.

AND THAT HAPPENS A LOT WHERE I LIVE.

AND, SO THEY DID A BIG STUDY OF OVER THREE YEARS OF OVER 3,000 SITES WITH CAMERAS AND TRACKED WHEN DID PEOPLE STOP FOR PEDESTRIANS? WHEN DID THEY NOT? WHAT WERE THE FACTORS THAT WENT INTO THAT? AND THEY ARE RELEASING THIS STUDY THIS FALL, AND THEN THEY'RE GOING TO WRITE JOURNAL ARTICLES ABOUT IT.

BUT THE MAIN TWO THINGS THAT THEY SHARED IN THIS HOUR LONG WEBINAR WAS DRIVER SPEED IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR.

IF YOU'RE GOING LESS THAN 20 TO 25 MILES AN HOUR, YOUR CHANCES OF SEEING A PEDESTRIAN AND STOPPING ARE VERY HIGH.

SO THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION WAS ENCOURAGING FOLKS TO THINK ABOUT REDUCTIONS OF SPEED ON ROADWAYS.

AND THEN THE OTHER ONE, THEY SAID, WAS PRESENCE OF SIGNS THAT THE MORE SIGNS THAT ARE AVAILABLE, THERE'S A HUGE INCREASE IN YIELDING TO PEDESTRIANS, WHICH IS A CHANGE FROM SOME OF THE PREVIOUS STUDIES WHERE PEOPLE GET OVERLOADED WITH TOO MANY SIGNS.

SO, LIVING IN A PLACE WHERE THAT SO THAT WAS A REALLY INTERESTING STUDY I WENT IN.

UPCOMING I HAVE TWO THINGS TO THINK ABOUT.

ONE, I'M SURE WE'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT SNOW BLAST COMING UP THE CITY'S WINTER CELEBRATION, BUT, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING, WE COULD USE SOME HELP THROUGH THE CITY.

I'M HELPING COORDINATE THE S'MORES TABLE, SO IF YOU WANT TO HELP PEOPLE EAT SOME DELICIOUS HOT TREATS, COME AND DO THAT ON FEBRUARY 4TH AND LET ME KNOW.

AND THEN IN FEBRUARY, ON THE 19TH, THERE IS AN EVENT FOR THE PUBLIC CALLED WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT.

[01:25:02]

AT THE NEW BRIGHTON COMMUNITY CENTER, HOSTED BY THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, NEW BRIGHTON AREA.

AND IT'S IT'S A, A COMMUNITY CONVERSATION WITH THE BACKSTORY OF NEITHER MINNESOTA NOR THE US CONSTITUTION SPECIFICALLY PROVIDES EQUAL LEGAL PROTECTION UNDER THE LAW, REGARDLESS OF SEX AND GENDER.

AND THERE HAS BEEN A PUSH FOR MANY YEARS FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.

AND IT'S CONTINUING THIS YEAR.

AND SO IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING, THAT'S THE TITLE OF THE PRESENTATION.

YOU'RE ALL INVITED TO THAT.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS.

HELLO, EVERYONE.

I'D BE INTERESTED IN HEARING ABOUT THAT STUDY WITH THE 25 BECAUSE I KNOW AS A COUNCIL AT WORK SESSIONS, WE'VE JUST DISCUSSED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF TRYING TO LOWER THE SPEED LIMITS IN THE RESIDENTIAL AREAS AND ALSO REQUESTING FROM MNDOT IF WE CAN LOWER THE SPEED ON CENTRAL AVENUE, POSSIBLY UNIVERSITY, I'M NOT SURE ABOUT, BUT, AT LEAST CENTRAL AND ALSO THAT HOPEFULLY DO THINGS IN THE NEAR FUTURE, MAYBE OF PHYSICAL THINGS THAT CAN SLOW PEOPLE DOWN BECAUSE FOLKS ARE FLYING PAST THIS BUILDING WAY TOO FAST, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN WATCHING CARS GOING BY AND THEY GO WAY TOO FAST JUST HERE AT 40TH AND CENTRAL.

SO I'D BE INTERESTED IN SEEING THAT STUDY.

THANK YOU. I ATTENDED THE MWO BOARD MEETING, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, AND I WANT TO ANNOUNCE THAT SARAH EVANSON HAS STEPPED UP TO BE OUR CITIZEN ADVISORY, REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, AND I WANT TO THANK HER FOR THAT.

IT'S A REALLY FUN COMMITTEE TO BE ON.

YOU GET TO MAKE DECISIONS ON SMALLER PROJECTS THAT MWO DOES.

SO I'M REALLY GLAD THAT WE HAVE SOMEBODY LIKE SARAH REPRESENTING OUR CITY ON THAT COMMITTEE.

I ATTENDED THE MEDTRONIC OPEN HOUSE.

GREAT TURNOUT. IT WAS FUN TO SEE EVERYONE HERE AND ALL THE INPUT THAT FOLKS GAVE, AND I'M VERY EXCITED TO SEE WHAT WE END UP DOING WITH THAT SITE.

IT'S IT'S OUR LAST BIG CHUNK OF ACREAGE THAT OUR CITY HAS THAT WE CAN HOPEFULLY INVEST AND HAVE SOME VERY, QUALIFIED DEVELOPERS THAT COME IN AND DO A GREAT JOB AND MAKE EVERYONE, NOT EVERYONE, BUT MOST PEOPLE, HAPPY ABOUT WHAT ENDS UP IN THERE.

SO I HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS OF THE WHOLE PROCESS.

I ATTENDED THE POLICE AWARDS FOR OUR, POLICE OFFICERS WHO WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT THEIR JOB WAS.

AND I WISH, I WISH WE'D HAD A VIDEO BECAUSE I TELL YOU, HEARING THE STORIES AND WHAT THEY DID TO OBTAIN THESE AWARDS WAS VERY TOUCHING.

SO I'M HOPING HINT, HINT IN THE FUTURE THAT WE CAN VIDEOTAPE THIS AWARD CEREMONY BECAUSE, I THINK THE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO HEAR HOW GREAT OUR POLICE OFFICERS ARE IN THIS COMMUNITY.

THEY DO. THEY ARE A GREAT GROUP OF PEOPLE.

AND, THANK YOU, LENNY, FOR LEADING THEM.

AND OUR CAPTAINS, ERIK AND MATT.

YOU GUYS DO A SUPERB JOB.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. BUT, YEAH, THEY HAD ME CLOSE TO TEARS WITH SOME OF THE.

YOU'RE NOT THE FIRST PERSON THAT HAS MENTIONED THAT.

AND I THINK WE'LL BE MAKING SURE THAT THAT HAPPENS NEXT YEAR.

SO THANK YOU. I THINK IT'D BE A GREAT THING TO SHARE WITH OUR COMMUNITY.

SO AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR RIGHT NOW.

THANK YOU. I'LL START MY REPORT WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AWARDS.

JUST THAT. KIND OF GO OFF OF GO FROM THE REST OF THE COUNCIL WAS SAYING THAT HAD ATTENDED.

AND I KNOW EVEN FOR THE TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WEREN'T ABLE TO ATTEND, YOU KNOW, THAT YOU'VE SEEN THE POSTS ONLINE ABOUT IT AND YOU'VE READ ABOUT THEM IN THE GREEN SHEETS.

HOW MUCH OUR WHOLE COUNCIL JUST REALLY STANDS THERE WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND HOW MUCH THEY HAVE THEIR OWN FAMILIES THERE AT THE AT THE AWARDS.

THEIR FAMILIES ARE THERE CONGRATULATING THEM.

THE OTHER COLLEAGUES ARE THERE CONGRATULATING THEM AND JUST SEEING THE AMOUNT OF COMPASSION AND EMPATHY THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAS FOR ONE ANOTHER.

AND THAT ALL OF THE.

ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE GIVEN THESE AWARDS, EVERYTHING WAS SO DIFFERENT.

IT'S NOT JUST LIKE THEY ALL DID SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ALL THEY'RE ALL DOING WORK THAT'S GREAT ALL THE TIME.

BUT EVERY AWARD WAS, YOU KNOW, SO PARTICULAR TO A SPECIFIC SITUATION AND THE FACT THAT ENOUGH STAFF SEE THESE MOMENTS AND HAVE THE CLARITY TO REACT AND ACT THE WAY THEY DO IS JUST IT'S ASTOUNDING.

AND IT JUST MAKES ME SO PROUD TO LIVE IN A COMMUNITY LIKE THIS.

SO VERY WELL DONE.

I'M LOOKING AT CAPTAIN ERIK JOHNSTON, WHO'S SITTING HERE AND THEN AND OUR POLICE CHIEF AUSTIN.

BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND I THINK THAT WE COULD ALL DO A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR OUR DEPARTMENT [APPLAUSE].

AND FROM THERE I ALSO ATTENDED THE SCHOOL DISTRICT STRATEGIC PLANNING MEETING WITH ALONG WITH COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS.

I'M A MEMBER OF OUR ROTARY.

WE MEET EVERY WEDNESDAY MORNING AT 7:30 A.M..

IF YOU'D EVER LIKE TO COME TO A ROTARY MEETING WITH ME, LET ME KNOW.

HOT BREAKFAST IS INCLUDED.

AND WE HAVE AN OPERATION POLLINATION MEETING ONCE A MONTH ON ZOOM.

[01:30:04]

I ALSO MET WITH ANOKA COUNTY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNED ABOUT THEIR PROGRAM AND INVITED THEM TO JOIN OUR YOUTH COMMISSION, AND THEY'RE COMING TO OUR FEBRUARY MEETING.

SO THEY OFFER WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

THEY OFFER, PAYING FOR YOUTH AGED 14 TO 24 AND SENIOR CITIZENS.

MANY DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES, BUT ALSO FUNDING DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES SO THAT IF, IF YOU'RE WORKING SOMEWHERE AND THAT PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT COULD USE EXTRA FUNDING, THE COUNTY WILL HELP PAY FOR THOSE PEOPLE'S EMPLOYMENT.

SO IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN THAT ANOKA WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OR YOU COULD REACH OUT TO ME, BUT I'M EXCITED THEY'RE MEETING WITH OUR YOUTH NEXT MONTH.

ATTENDED OUR SISTER CITY MEETING WHERE WE DISCUSSED THE WORLD WAR TWO SCULPTURE THAT'S COMING TO COLUMBIA HEIGHTS THIS SUMMER.

ALSO ATTENDED THE MEDTRONIC OPEN HOUSE HERE AT CITY HALL.

WELL DONE. THANK YOU TO STAFF AND THANKS TO ALL THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR COMING OUT.

ATTENDED OUR YOUTH COMMISSION MEETING, ATTENDED OUR JOINT LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING.

WE MET DISCUSSING THE SRO PROGRAM AND WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE LEGISLATURE.

AND WE DO MEET EVERY MONTH.

IS IT EVERY MONTH? EVERY OTHER MONTH [INAUDIBLE].

EVERY MONTH. QUARTERLY.

QUARTERLY FOR THE JAIL. IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY OTHER MONTH IT DOES.

BUT I SUPPOSE WHEN WE HAVE EXTRA MEETINGS IN THERE, THEN IT'S THEN IT ENDS UP BEING.

SO WE ARE ALL, INTERESTED IN SEEING WHERE THAT'S COMING WITH THE LEGISLATURE, AND WE HAVE NEW NEW INFORMATION'S COMING OUT ALL THE TIME ABOUT THE SRO PROGRAM.

I VOLUNTEERED AT VALLEY VIEW SCHOOL FOR THE EVERY MEAL PROGRAM WHERE WE PUT FOOD IN KIDS BACKPACKS IN THEIR LOCKERS, ATTENDED THE SENIOR CONSORTIUM MEETING FOR ANOKA COUNTY AND THE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING FOR ALEXANDER HOUSE.

I'M ON THE BOARD FOR THAT.

MET WITH RESIDENTS FROM PARK VIEW VILLA HERE AT CITY HALL AND THEN ALSO WITH RESIDENTS AT THE LEGENDS.

OBSERVED THE CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING AS WELL, AND I RECENTLY STARTED DONATING PLASMA TWICE A WEEK AND JUST WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN DONATE BLOOD, DONATE PLASMA AS WELL.

IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WE CANNOT PRODUCE EXCEPT WITH PEOPLE HELPING OUT.

SO THAT'S MY SHOUT OUT FOR THAT AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

SO NEXT WE'LL GO TO OUR INTERIM CITY MANAGER, KEVIN HANSON, WITH THE WITH THE CITY MANAGER REPORT.

THANK YOU MAYOR. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL LAST TWO WEEKS HAVE BEEN KIND OF A BLUR.

I'M STILL RECOVERING FROM THE RESPIRATORY STUFF THAT A LOT OF US HAVE GONE THROUGH.

SO THE ONLY THING I HAVE TO ADD IS SNOW BLAST.

AND THE DATE FOR THAT IS ON SATURDAY, WHICH IS GOING TO BE FEBRUARY 3RD, AND SNOW BLAST RUNS FROM 4 TO 7 P.M..

AND I THINK FOR THE LIST OF ACTIVITIES THAT'S BEST EXPLAINED ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE.

BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY BEEN GROWING WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S RELATIVELY NEW FOR US HAVING A WINTER GATHERING EVENT LIKE THIS, AND WE REALLY ENCOURAGE, HOPEFULLY THE WEATHER COOPERATES, THAT WE GET THE COMMUNITY TO COME OUT TO THAT. AND THERE ARE S'MORES THAT I WAS JUST TALKING TO COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES ABOUT.

AND ALL OF THE MARSHALL MARSHMALLOWS THIS YEAR WILL BE HALAL MARSHMALLOWS, SO THAT WILL BE MUCH EASIER.

LAST YEAR I HELPED MANAGE THAT TABLE AND IT WAS HALAL MARSHMALLOW, REGULAR MARSHMALLOW, AND NOW WE CAN JUST BE ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYONE.

SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO STAFF FOR MAKING THAT HAPPEN.

SO IT'S ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND HMM LET'S SEE.

[COMMUNITY FORUM]

AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT.

AND I'LL ASK THE CITY CLERK IF THERE'S ANYONE HERE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK AT OUR AT OUR FORUM.

ALL RIGHT. AND IS ANYONE ON VIRTUALLY.

THERE IS NONE. ALL RIGHT.

SO THIS BRINGS US TO OUR 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.

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

AND THIS IS THE SAME SPEAKER FORM WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER.

IT'S ON THE TABLE BY THE WINDOWS ON THAT SIDE OF THE ROOM.

ONCE CALLED TO THE PODIUM BY THE CITY CLERK, THE SPEAKER SHOULD STATE THEIR NAME AND CONNECTION TO COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

SPEAKERS ATTENDING VIRTUALLY SHOULD SEND A REQUEST TO SPEAK TO THE MODERATOR.

WHEN SPEAKING, VIRTUAL ATTENDEES SHOULD TURN THEIR CAMERA ON AND 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 AS 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 TO THE CITY CLERK, WHO IS OUR FIRST SPEAKER. DIRK SCHMITT SCHMITT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

THANK YOU. WELCOME, DIRK.

[01:35:04]

TONIGHT I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT WHAT I COULD FIND FROM THE CITY MEETINGS AND PUBLIC SITES ABOUT THE MEDTRONIC'S BUILDING SITE.

WHAT I COULD FIND WAS ON THE FEBRUARY'S 2023 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING IT WAS NOTED THAT THERE WAS A DEVELOPER INTERESTED IN THE MEDTRONIC SITE.

THE NEXT THING I COULD FIND IS IS ON THE MAY 2ND PLANNING COMMISSION.

IT WAS MENTIONED THAT MEDTRONIC SITE HAS A MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPER WITH A LETTER OF INTENT WOULD LIKE TO SIT DOWN WITH THE CITY COUNCIL AT A WORK SESSION, AND MENTIONED THAT THE RAINBOW SITE IS CURRENTLY UP TO 700 UNITS RIGHT NOW.

IN THE JUNE 5TH WORK SESSION MINUTES.

IT MENTIONS THAT THERE WAS A THREE YEAR BUSINESS COMPANY NAMED LS BLACK, WHICH GAVE A SALES PITCH ABOUT HAVING A LETTER OF INTENT AND A POTENTIAL AGREEMENT TO BUILD IN THREE PHASES WITH TAX INCREMENT FINANCING A 600 UNIT COMPLEX. COUNCIL HAD MANY COMMENTS, BUT OVERALL THERE WAS AN AGREEMENT OF HOUSING ON THIS SITE.

NOT MENTIONED WAS WHO WAS IN AGREEMENT.

THE CITY MANAGER STATED IN THIS MEETING, WE ARE PUSHING THE ENVELOPE IN OTHER AREAS OF THE CITY AND NEED TO PUSH ON THIS SITE AS WELL.

HE ALSO MENTIONED THE NEED A NEEDED A CONVERSATION RELATED TO INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES.

I WAS CURIOUS WHAT IS MEANT BY PUSHING THE ENVELOPE.

THE NEXT THING I COULD FIND ON THIS SITE WAS DURING THE AUGUST 28TH COUNCIL MEETING, ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, WHICH APPROVED HKGI PROFESSIONAL SERVICE CONTRACT WITH COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

DURING THIS MEETING, IT WAS ALSO BROUGHT UP ITEM OR RESOLUTION.

I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY THE OFFICIAL NAME 2023-46, WHICH IS ANOKA COUNTY REGIONAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TARGETED FOR INDUSTRIAL, COMMERCIAL AND HIGH DENSITY HOUSING USED FOR MEDTRONIC SITE AND TALK ABOUT POTENTIAL REZONING. AND THAT'S ALL I COULD FIND ON THAT SUBJECT.

DURING THE COUNCIL MEETING REPORTS OF NOVEMBER 30TH 13TH, COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBSEN MENTIONED JACOBS SORRY MENTIONED SHE ATTENDED THE MOVING UPSTREAM USING EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES EVENT.

THE NOVEMBER 16TH WORKSHOP HAS NO MINUTES POSTED, BUT I FOUND SOME IN THE DECEMBER 11TH COUNCIL MEETING PACKET.

IN THERE I FOUND THAT HKGI GAVE A PRESENTATION TO THE CITY STAFF AND COUNCIL AND THAT THERE WERE MANY DISCUSSIONS AND A FINAL TWO OPTIONS WOULD BE PRESENTED TO THE CITIZENS OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

THEN ON JANUARY 8TH, 2024 COUNCIL MEETING IT WAS MENTIONED REPORT.

THAT ON JANUARY 9TH WOULD BE THE OPEN HOUSE FOR THE MEDTRONIC SITE.

WITH THIS BEING WHAT I COULD FIND ABOUT THE CITY INVOLVEMENT WITH THE MEDTRONIC SITE, MY QUESTIONS ARE ONE.

FIRST THE MOVING UPSTREAM PRESENTATION.

WHAT DID THE COUNCIL MEMBERS LEARN ABOUT RENTAL AND HIGH DENSITY HOUSING AND COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISE, HIRING OPPORTUNITIES AND TAX ALLOCATIONS IN THE CITY.

SECOND QUESTION WHY IS THE CITY SHOWING THE CITIZENS THE TWO 400 UNIT CONCEPT PLANS FROM HKGI AND NOT THE DEVELOPERS LS BLACK 600 UNITS THAT THEY WANT TO BUILD.

WELL, THERE'S 600 UNITS BE 300 SQUARE FOOT STUDIO UNITS OR MULTI BEDROOM UNITS THAT A FAMILY OF 4 OR 5 WOULD LOVE TO RAISE THEIR CHILDREN TILL THE EMPTY NESTERS PHASE OF THEIR LIFE STARTS.

QUESTION THREE IF THIS IS A THREE PHASE DEVELOPMENT, WHAT IS THE TIMELINE FOR COMPLETION? IS IT TWO YEARS, THREE YEARS OR 15 YEARS? AND DURING THE DEVELOPMENT, WILL 53RD AVENUE NEED TO BE TORN UP AGAIN? FOUR WHAT RECOURSE DOES THE CITY HAVE IF THIS YOUNG DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, FOR SOME REASON, CANNOT FINISH THE $125 MILLION PROJECT WHICH HAS HAPPENED IN THE CITY IN THE PAST? WILL THE CITIZENS BE STUCK LOOKING AT AN EYESORE FOR YEARS LIKE THEY DID WITH THE [INAUDIBLE] PROJECT?

[01:40:06]

WHY IS THE CITY STAFF PUSHING TO REZONE THIS SITE FOR THE FIRST RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPER THAT MAKES AN OFFER, AND NOT GIVING TIME FOR A COMMERCIAL DEVELOPER TO REDESIGN THIS SITE? QUESTION SIX I HEAR THE TERM TAX INCOME FROM THE CITY ABOUT THIS PROJECT.

WHAT IS THE TAX COST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 600 UNITS OF LOW INCOME HOUSING, AS COMPARED TO 112 ACRES OF JOB PRODUCING COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS? AND MY FINAL QUESTION TONIGHT IS WITH THE RAINBOW SITE REZONED FOR COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL, AND THE PROBABILITY OF THE MEDTRONIC SITE BEING REZONED AND CHANGING OF THE COMP PLAN.

WHAT IS STOPPING A DEVELOPER FROM PUTTING RESIDENTIAL UNITS IN THE FAIRVIEW CLINIC SITE? OR SAY, WHAT IF THE OWNER OF THE HEIGHTS THEATER WANTS TO RETIRE AND SELL TO A DEVELOPER WHO WANTS TO TEAR IT DOWN AND BUILD A 50 UNIT APARTMENT BUILDING? I DO HAVE MANY OTHER QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS WITH THE CITY STAFF AT A LATER DATE.

BUT MY BIGGEST COMMENT IS PLEASE LISTEN TO THE CITIZENS OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS YOU REPRESENT AND CONSIDER WHAT IS THE BEST INTEREST FOR THE FUTURE OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS BEFORE YOU VOTE, AND NOT THE FANCY SALES PITCH OF AN OPPORTUNIST DEVELOPER WITH NO CONCERNS FOR THE FUTURE WELL-BEING OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

AND JUST ANOTHER LITTLE CLARIFICATION.

YOU MENTIONED AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

WHEN ARE THESE AVAILABLE AND WHERE DOES ONE FIND THE COPIES? THANK YOU. THANK YOU DIRK.

WE ARE WHEN PEOPLE ASK QUESTIONS AT THE COMMUNITY FORUM, THESE ARE QUESTIONS THAT ARE THEN, TAKEN UP BY OUR ASSISTANT OR OUR SORRY INTERIM CITY MANAGER TO BE ANSWERED AT THE NEXT MEETING.

SO THAT WAY THEY CAN ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS AND MAKE SURE THEY HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION.

SO I KNOW THESE THESE QUESTIONS WERE TAKEN DOWN.

AND SO YOU CAN EXPECT TO HAVE ANSWERS THERE FOR THE PUBLIC.

BUT OF COURSE, ANYTIME ANYONE WANTS TO REACH OUT TO STAFF THEY CAN AS WELL.

SO PLEASE DO THAT.

BUT WE WILL DEFINITELY HAVE THESE ANSWERED AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.

INCLUDING THE AMPLE COPIES OF THE AGENDA.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS.

I'LL LET PROBABLY THE MAJORITY OF QUESTIONS YOU BE ANSWERED BY OUR STAFF.

BUT THERE'S ONE THING OUT OF CURIOSITY, BECAUSE I TOO WAS LOOKING AT THE TAX INCOME WE RECEIVE ON THESE ON THESE, PROPERTIES.

THIS PROPERTY CURRENTLY, THE MEDTRONIC SITE BRINGS IN 365, 365 OR $385,000 IN TAXES.

THAT'S DIVIDED BY THREE ENTITIES COUNTY SCHOOLS.

AND THE CITY.

I WENT OVER TO FRIDLEY DIDN'T GO PHYSICALLY, BUT I WENT ONLINE.

THEY JUST BUILT THREE BRAND NEW MARKET RATE OR TWO MARKET RATE AND 180% AMI BUILDINGS, APARTMENT BUILDINGS, WHICH IS ROUGHLY THE AVERAGE OF THE NUMBER OF UNITS SIMILAR TO WHAT WE HAVE IN THIS BUILDING AND WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO INTO THE RAINBOW, ALTHOUGH THAT SITE PLAN HAS NOT BEEN SUBMITTED YET THE FINAL ONE.

THREE BUILDINGS IN FRIDLEY BRING IN $1.275 MILLION IN TAXES.

THAT'S DIVIDED BY THREE ENTITIES COUNTIES.

SO EACH ENTITY WOULD GET APPROXIMATELY $400,000 IN TAXES.

SO THAT'S JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA.

I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AS FAR AS COMMERCIAL WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD ATTRACT THAT.

BUT FROM WHAT I CAN SEE AROUND THE COMMUNITY AND ONLINE FOR PROPERTIES UP FOR SALE, THERE'S A TON OF COMMERCIAL PROPERTY UP FOR SALE RIGHT NOW, AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE ONLY ONES THAT ARE BUILDING ARE SHOVEL READY SITES.

LIKE IF YOU GO DOWN TO MAPLE GROVE AROUND 494 TO 94, THERE'S LOTS OF STUFF GOING ON THERE.

THEY GOT SEVERAL COMMERCIAL, BUT IT'S ALL SHOVEL READY.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO CLEAN UP THE SITE.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO TEAR DOWN A BUILDING.

SO THAT'S ONE THING I CAN OFFER AS JUST INFORMATION.

I'LL LET THE STAFF FINISH ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS NEXT WEEK FOR YOU.

BUT THANKS FOR COMING. THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER. ANYTHING ELSE FROM THE COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT. TO THE CITY CLERK, WHO IS OUR NEXT SPEAKER, LORRAINE [INAUDIBLE].

THANK YOU. WELCOME, LORRAINE.

OKAY. THIS IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

IF YOU CAN SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE, THIS IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT WIND THAT'S COMING IN HERE.

IT IS QUITE DIFFERENT, BUT IT'S VERY SINCERE.

OKAY. I'M JUST GOING TO ADDRESS THIS WITH READING THIS AND I'LL GET THROUGH IT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

[01:45:02]

WITH REGARDS TO THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY, I BELIEVE IT IS A CRUCIAL AND SERIOUS NEED OF OUR CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS TO BUILD, DESIGN AND ESTABLISH AN ART CENTER OF GREAT INTEGRITY AND CALLING IT THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS CENTER FOR THE ARTS.

THIS DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE TO BENEFIT ALL PEOPLE OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT IS APPROPRIATE AND RELEVANT TO THE CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS THE RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO OUR CITY.

THIS WOULD ALSO BENEFIT ALL OF OUR SURROUNDING CITIES AND COMMUNITIES IN THE TWIN CITIES OF MINNEAPOLIS AND SAINT PAUL, AND BEYOND.

I BELIEVE THE CENTER FOR THE ARTS NEEDS TO BE ESTABLISHED AS A FINE ARTS CENTER THAT WOULD HAVE THE SAME KIND OF INTEGRITY AS THOSE THAT ALREADY EXIST IN OUR OTHER CITIES WITHIN THE TWIN CITIES.

I WILL NAME A FEW OF THEM HERE FROM THE DOCUMENTARY DOCUMENTATION FOR YOU, THE AMES CENTER FOR THE ARTS IN BURNSVILLE, THE WHITE BEAR CENTER FOR THE ARTS IN WHITE BEAR, THE HOPKINS CENTER FOR THE ARTS IN HOPKINS, NORTH STAR WATER MEDIA SOCIETY IN SAINT PAUL, TO NAME A FEW THAT ARE ESTABLISHED ART CENTERS WITH THE CALIBER I AM TALKING ABOUT TO ESTABLISH HERE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

FOR COLUMBIA HEIGHTS TO ESTABLISH AN ARTS CENTER WITH THE CALIBER I AM PROPOSING WOULD RAISE THE BAR IN OUR VERY CITY IN DEVELOPING OUR INTEGRITY CULTURALLY, AND TO PROMOTE GROWTH AND TRUE AWARENESS OF THE ARTS AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR LIVES.

WE HAVE VERY MANY OUTSTANDING ARTISTS IN OUR COMMUNITY, CITY AND SURROUNDING CITIES.

I PROPOSE THAT WE COULD HAVE THE SAME KIND OF MANAGEMENT AND CRITERIA ESTABLISHED AS THE ART CENTERS I HAVE TOLD YOU ABOUT.

WE COULD DO THE SAME IN HIRING AN EXECUTIVE ART DIRECTOR TO MANAGE THE ART CENTER, FUNDRAISING, HAVING VOLUNTEERS TO HELP IN AREAS THAT ARE FUN AND FULFILLING FOR PEOPLE TO GIVE OF THEIR TIME, THAT HAVE A LOVE AND SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR THE ARTS.

WE COULD DEVELOP A BOARD OF BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE COMMITTED INDIVIDUALS TO ASSIST WITH SCHEDULING EXHIBITS, PLANNING EVENTS, ETC.

IF IT IS DECIDED TO HAVE A FEW CLASSES, ADD THAT IN WITH THE CHOICE OF INSTRUCTORS AND TEACHERS TO GIVE THE CLASS JUST LIKE THE OTHER CENTERS OF THE ARTS DO.

OUR CULTURE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS NEEDS A CENTER FOR THE FINE ARTS TO RISE TO A CULTURALLY PROMINENT CITY THAT EMBRACES THE ARTS.

WITH THE JURORS ASSIGNED TO EACH NEW EXHIBIT, SO THAT THE QUALITY OF ART IS ALWAYS UPSTANDING AND SCREENED BY A JUROR TO MAINTAIN A LEVEL OF RESPECTABILITY AND NOBILITY FOR WHAT FINE ART IS ALL ABOUT WITH INTEGRITY.

AGAIN, THIS WOULD BE EXCELLENT FOR OUR CITY AND SOCIETY IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE ARTS THROUGHOUT THE TWIN CITIES AND BEYOND.

I MYSELF WAS BORN AND RAISED IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, AND I HAVE BEEN IN ART EXHIBITS AS AN ARTIST MY ENTIRE LIFE.

THE LAST 30 YEARS I HAVE BEEN IN WHAT IS CALLED A JURIED OR JURIED ART EXHIBITS, AS MENTIONED EARLIER.

I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE MINNESOTA ARTISTS ASSOCIATION.

ASSOCIATION HAS SEEN THE NEED, MOST ASSUREDLY, TO ESTABLISH A BEAUTIFUL CENTER FOR THE FINE ARTS HERE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, A NEW BUILDING AND IN THE BEST LOCATION WITH SINCERE PLANNING.

I WILL MENTION AGAIN HERE THE EXISTING CENTERS FOR THE ARTS IN THE TWIN CITIES THAT ARE WONDERFUL, ACTIVE, PROMINENT CENTERS FOR THE FINE ARTS.

THE AMES CENTER IN BURNSVILLE, WHITE BEAR CENTER FOR THE ARTS IN WHITE BEAR, HOPKINS CENTER FOR THE ARTS IN HOPKINS, THE [INAUDIBLE] CENTER FOR THE ARTS CLOSED DURING COVID, AND SO DID [INAUDIBLE] FOR THE ARTS AND THEY DON'T PLAN TO REOPEN.

SO LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO WORK TOGETHER TO DEVELOP AND BUILD HERE IN OUR WELL-LOVED CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, A CENTER FOR THE ARTS ENTITLED THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS CENTER FOR THE ARTS.

I KNOW WE CAN DO IT.

IT IS NOT A WHIM.

I HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS AND PRAYED ABOUT THIS FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS.

PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT AND CONSIDER THIS AS A PART OF THE PLANS THAT SHOULD ABSOLUTELY BE ADDED IN FOR OUR CULTURE AND GROWTH, IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR OUR PEOPLE AND GROWTH FOR THIS CITY.

IT HAS BEEN SAID IT TAKES A TEAM.

IT TAKES A VILLAGE.

LET'S TEAM UP AND TOGETHER MAKE THIS WONDERFUL ADDITION IN OUR CITY.

YES, IT IS INTRINSICALLY AND INTERNALLY KNOWN AND UNDERSTOOD BY SERIOUS AND HARD WORKING, HONEST PEOPLE INTELLIGENT THAT SAYS YES, IT TAKES A TEAM AND IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO GET THINGS DONE.

WE SIMPLY NEED TO DO OUR PART IN THIS REALM TO BECOME A CULTURALLY DEVELOPED CITY WITH OUR OWN FINE ARTS CENTER, CENTER FOR THE ARTS, OUR FOR OURSELVES, OUR CITY, SURROUNDING CITIES.

[01:50:03]

WHERE DO WE BEGIN? I BELIEVE WE BEGIN RIGHT HERE WITH THIS PROPOSAL TO ADD THESE PLANS INTO THE SCHEME OF THINGS RIGHT NOW FOR OUR COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

DO I HAVE YOUR VOTES FROM THE CITY COUNCIL COLUMBIA HEIGHTS TO CHOOSE TO ADD INTO THE PLANS FOR COLUMBIA HEIGHTS TO HAVE A SINCERE PLAN FOR REPUTABLE, REPUTABLE, UPSTANDING, OFFICIAL, BRILLIANT CENTER FOR THE FINE ARTS TO BE CALLED THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS CENTER FOR THE ARTS.

I ASK YOU TO LOOK AT THE OTHER CENTERS AND JUST REALIZE HOW WE NEED TO GET OUT THERE.

WE NEED TO REALLY IMPROVE IN THIS AREA OF OUR CULTURE AND DEVELOPMENT.

SO I ASK YOU TO LOOK AT ALL THE OTHER CENTERS OF ARTS IN THE TWIN CITIES I MENTIONED, AND THEN LOOK AT OUR CITY BECOMING A SINCERE CITY THAT EMBRACES THE ARTS AND EVEN BUILDING A BEAUTIFUL ARTS CENTER.

WHAT'S NEXT? LET'S BEGIN. LET'S MAKE HISTORY.

WE CAN DO THIS.

LET'S GO. LET'S DO THIS.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU LORRAINE.

I LOVE IT.

LOVE TO HAVE SOME ART HERE.

YES KEVIN.

MAYOR MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

I HAVE A COPY OF THE LETTER FROM MISS [INAUDIBLE].

I'LL DISTRIBUTE THAT TO THE COUNCIL ELECTRONICALLY.

THANK YOU. SURE.

[INAUDIBLE] SORRY, CLARIFYING QUESTION FOR YOU.

DO YOU KNOW HOW THE OTHER CITIES STARTED OR SET UP THEIR ART? WAS IT THROUGH THE CITY OR THROUGH AN ORGANIZATION THAT.

LORRAINE, ACTUALLY, IF YOU CAN COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE, IF YOU WANT TO SHARE THAT AGAIN, SORRY ABOUT THAT.

I DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WAS A QUICK ANSWER OR NOT.

WHAT WAS THE QUESTION AGAIN? ARE YOU AWARE OF HOW THESE, HOW THE CITY SET UP THEIR ART CENTERS, IF IT WAS THROUGH THE CITY OR THROUGH ORGANIZATIONS THAT RAISED BUT I KNOW THAT NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE.

WE CAN DO IT, YOU KNOW? I MEAN. WE DON'T HAVE LIMITATIONS, YOU KNOW, AND I FOR THEM TO GET THEM ESTABLISHED AS WELL AS THEY ARE, YOU KNOW, WE CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN.

FUNDRAISING, WHATEVER.

WE CAN DO IT, I BELIEVE.

THANK YOU LORRAINE. WELL, I THINK IT'D BE GREAT.

I'D LOVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE COULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT AT BE.

VERY EXCITING.

ALL RIGHT. THE CITY CLERK.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER.

HI THERE. KIND OF ECHOING WHAT WAS SAID EARLIER.

I KNOW THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING A LOT IN THE CITY.

WE'VE HAD THIS GREAT NEW CITY HALL WHERE WE'RE WORKING ON A PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING.

I THINK THAT ONE THING THAT I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO SEE THE CITY REALLY FOCUS ON COMING UP IS A COMMUNITY CENTER, WHICH COULD ALSO BE PART OF AN ARTS CENTER, SOMETHING WHERE OUR COMMUNITY CAN COME TOGETHER, ESPECIALLY OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS ARE SO BENEFICIAL TO THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO NOT ONLY LEARNING OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM, BUT GETTING INTO THINGS THAT YOU MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO LEARN AT SCHOOL, GETTING TO DELVE INTO HOBBIES THAT MAY BE TRANSFORMATIVE FOR YOUTH, AND THEN THEY CAN BRING THAT BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY AS MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY AFTER SCHOOL.

AND ALSO AS PART OF THE MEDTRONIC SITE.

I'VE MENTIONED THIS A COUPLE OF TIMES BECAUSE I AM PART OF THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO SIT ON SOME OF THE MEETINGS THAT WE'VE HAD ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT.

I'D LOVE TO SEE ART INCLUDED THROUGHOUT THE PARKS.

I KNOW THAT, LIKE SILVERWOOD PARK HAS, GREAT ART WITHIN THE PATHS THAT THEY, THEY HAVE THERE.

SO I'D ALSO LOVE US TO CONSIDER THAT VERY SERIOUSLY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

SO HEARING THERE ARE NO OTHER SPEAKERS FROM THE CITY CLERK.

I WILL JUST PAUSE AND MAKE SURE THAT NO ONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO COME UP TO THE PODIUM AND SEEING AS NOT THEN, AND IS HEARING ALSO THAT THERE IS NO ONE VIRTUALLY IN THE MEETING THEN. COULD I ASK FOR A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING? SO MOVED.

SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING AS NONE.

THEN ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU.

THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.