Feb 12, 2024 City Council

ALL RIGHT. MY GREEN LIGHTS ON ANYWAY.

[00:00:04]

[WELCOME/CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL]

I DON'T KNOW IF THE MICS ARE WORKING RIGHT NOW.

THEY ARE. OKAY. WE JUST HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE.

SO WE'RE GOING TO START OUR MEETING.

IT IS OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR COLUMBIA HEIGHTS MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12TH.

AND SO WELCOME EVERYONE HERE WHO'S IN THE CHAMBER AND ANYONE WHO IS VIRTUALLY WATCHING THE MEETING AS WELL.

THANK YOU FOR COMING. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION IN OUR COMMUNITY'S GOVERNMENT.

I'D LIKE TO ASK OUR CITY CLERK TO DO A ROLL CALL, PLEASE.

COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER HERE.

HERE. THANK YOU, CITY CLERK.

AND BEFORE WE BEGIN, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK AUDIENCE MEMBERS TO PLEASE NOT HAVE ANY SIGNS DISPLAYED.

IT IS DISRUPTIVE TO THE MEETING.

YOU'RE WELCOME TO BE HERE. WE'D LOVE TO HEAR YOU, BUT WE JUST DON'T WANT TO HAVE ANY SIGNS BECAUSE THAT WILL DETRACT AND DISTRACT FROM THE REST OF OUR MEETING.

SO APPRECIATE IF YOU COULD PUT YOUR SIGNS DOWN.

THERE'S SOMEBODY OUT IN THE HALLWAY WITH THEIR SIGN BY THE WINDOW.

IF SOMEONE COULD HELP, I DON'T KNOW IF HE CAN HEAR IT.

HEAR ME? SO IF SOMEONE COULD LET HIM KNOW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING HERE.

I WILL START WITH OUR MISSION STATEMENT.

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS IS A VIBRANT, HEALTHY, AND CONNECTED CITY.

WE ARE HERE TO ACTIVELY SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY, DELIVER EQUITABLE SERVICES, BUILD AND STRENGTHEN CONNECTIONS, IMPROVE UPON OUR PAST, AND UPHOLD OUR SUCCESSES. WE STRIVE TO BE BETTER AND ENSURE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS IS A GREAT PLACE FOR EVERYONE TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE.

AND NOW, IF YOU'RE ABLE, PLEASE STAND AND SAYING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WITH ME.

THE SIGN OFF. OKAY.

IF THE SIGN COULD PLEASE COME DOWN IN THE HALLWAY.

FOR EVERYBODY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THIS IS MY FIRST TIME WEARING A HIJAB, SO I'M GOING TO BE TRYING TO ADJUST IT ALL EVENING.

SO TONIGHT WE ARE GOING TO START OUR MEETING WITH OUR APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA AND COUNCIL.

[APPROVAL OF AGENDA]

I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO MOVE THE COMMUNITY FORUM TO THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING, BUT IT WILL BE AFTER PROCLAMATIONS, PRESENTATIONS AND GUESTS.

SO WE'LL BE MOVING THE COMMUNITY FORUM BEFORE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

COULD I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVED IN A SECOND.

SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS, AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES TO APPROVE THE AGENDA, AS AMENDED.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

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

AND AGAIN, I'M JUST GOING TO ASK ONE MORE TIME TO PUT THE SIGN DOWN.

IT IS JUST DISTRACTING.

WE TRIED. OKAY.

WE'RE HERE TO LISTEN, BUT THE SIGNS JUST MAKE IT VERY DISTRACTING, THAT'S ALL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE IT.

SO FIRST, FOR OUR PROCLAMATIONS, WE HAVE OUR BLACK HISTORY MONTH PROCLAMATION.

[PROCLAMATIONS, PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITION, ANNOUNCEMENTS, GUESTS]

IT IS FEBRUARY 12TH, SO IT IS THE MIDDLE OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

YOU MAY WONDER, WHY ARE WE DOING THE PROCLAMATION NOW? WE HAVE OUR MEETINGS TWICE A MONTH, AND IF WE WOULD HAVE DONE IT SOONER, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MID JANUARY.

SO THAT FELT A LITTLE TOO EARLY.

SO WE THOUGHT IT'S BLACK HISTORY ALL MONTH LONG.

AND WE COULD ALSO CELEBRATE IT ON THE 12TH.

FOR THIS BLACK HISTORY MONTH, WE HAVE A GUEST COMING IN TO SING TO US, AND THEY'RE GOING TO SING THE BLACK NATIONAL ANTHEM.

I DID PASS OUT SOME SHEETS OF PAPER WITH THE LYRICS TO THIS WRITTEN DOWN, AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY MY FRIEND AND COMMUNITY MEMBER, KIKI LATHAM, IS GOING TO SING THE BLACK NATIONAL ANTHEM, ALSO KNOWN AS LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING.

THIS SONG IS OFTEN, AND THIS SONG IS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS THE BLACK NATIONAL ANTHEM.

IT WAS A HYMN WRITTEN AS A POEM BY NAACP LEADER JAMES WELDON JOHNSON IN 1900.

HIS BROTHER, JOHN ROSAMOND JOHNSON COMPOSED THE MUSIC FOR THE LYRICS.

A CHOIR OF 500 SCHOOL CHILDREN AT THE SEGREGATED STANTON SCHOOL, WHERE JAMES WELDON JOHNSON WAS PRINCIPAL, FIRST PERFORMED THE SONG IN PUBLIC IN

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JOHNSON'S LYRICS ELOQUENTLY CAPTURED THE SOLEMN YET HOPEFUL APPEAL FOR THE LIBERTY OF BLACK AMERICANS, SET AGAINST THE RELIGIOUS INVOCATION OF GOD AND THE PROMISE OF FREEDOM.

THE SONG WAS LATER ADOPTED BY NAACP AND PROMINENTLY USED AS A RALLYING CRY DURING THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT IN THE 1950S AND 1960S.

SO THANK YOU FOR COMING, KIKI, AND THANK YOU FOR SINGING FOR US.

AND KIKI. I WOULD LOVE IF YOU COULD USE A MICROPHONE.

YOU'RE WELCOME TO STAND ON THE SIDE AND MOVE THE MICROPHONE SIDEWAYS IF YOU WANT, SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE YOUR BACK.

OH, THERE WE GO. THANK YOU.

OH, YEAH.

HURRAY! YEAH.

[00:10:56]

NOW TONIGHT, READING OUR BLACK HISTORY PROCLAMATION WILL BE OUR COUNCIL MEMBER, JUSTICE SPRIGGS.

IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO FOLLOW.

YOU CAN DO IT.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH, FEBRUARY 2024.

WHEREAS THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS IS COMMITTED TO RECOGNIZING AND HONORING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

AND WHEREAS NEGRO HISTORY WEEK WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1926 BY DOCTOR CARTER GODWIN WOODSON AS A WAY TO NEUTRALIZE THE DELIBERATE DISTORTION OF BLACK HISTORY. THIS MOVEMENT GREW OVER THE YEARS TO BLACK HISTORY MONTH TO GIVE AN OBJECTIVE AND SCHOLARLY BALANCE IN AMERICAN AND WORLD HISTORY.

AND WHEREAS THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY WAS SELECTED AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH BECAUSE IT MARKS THE BIRTH OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS, W.E.B.

DUBOIS, LANGSTON HUGHES, AND ABRAHAM LINCOLN LEADERS WHOSE ACTIONS GREATLY IMPACTED THE LIVES OF THE OF THE AMERICAN BLACK POPULATION.

AND WHEREAS THE CONTRIBUTIONS AFRICAN AMERICANS MADE AND CONTINUE TO MAKE TO OUR NATION'S ECONOMIC STRENGTH, AS WELL AS TO OUR HISTORY, MUSIC, ARTS, NATIONAL DEFENSE FROM THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR TO PRESENT DAY MILITARY OPERATIONS, WRITTEN WORDS AND DISCOVERIES AND INVENTIONS, AND ARE OFTEN OVERLOOKED.

AND WHEREAS, ON JANUARY 1ST, 1863, THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION SET THE UNITED STATES ON THE PATH OF ENDING SLAVERY.

ON AUGUST 28TH, 1963, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS JOINED THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON IN PURSUIT OF JOBS, JUSTICE, AND FREEDOM FOR THE MEMORIAL OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN, THE AUTHOR OF THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION IN PURSUIT OF FREEDOM AND EQUALITY FOR ALL.

AND WHEREAS, DESPITE ALL THE PROGRESS, THE LEGACY OF SLAVERY AND SEGREGATION STILL PERSISTS IN OUR NATION IN THE FORMS OF MASS INCARCERATION, THE SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE, RACIAL PROFILING, EDUCATIONAL INEQUALITIES, HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT, EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION, RACISM AND BIAS.

AND NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT I, AMANDA MARCUS, MAYOR OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY 2024 AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH IN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, COUNTY OF ANOKA, STATE OF MINNESOTA, USA.

AND TONIGHT, RECEIVING THE PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF OUR AMERICAN BLACK, COMMUNITY IS MY NEIGHBOR AND GOOD FRIEND, ZELIA HOKE. AND ZELIA, YOU CAN COME ON UP TO THE PODIUM HERE.

BUT INCORRECTLY.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

I'M DEPUTY HOKE WITH THE HENNEPIN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, BUT I LIVE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

I'VE RAISED MY FAMILY IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY AGAIN, THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

THANKS TO ARMADA.

THANKS TO THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS WORLD HIJAB DAY PROCLAMATION.

AND. WORLD HIJAB DAY IS SORRY WAS ON FEBRUARY 1ST, BUT AGAIN, WE WOULD HAVE HAD TO DO THE PROCLAMATION IN THE MIDDLE OF JANUARY.

SO WE'RE DOING IT NOW.

BUT IT IS ALSO IT IS ALSO RECOGNIZED FOR THE WHOLE MONTH OF FEBRUARY.

WORLD HIJAB DAY IS AN ANNUAL GLOBAL AWARENESS AND EDUCATIONAL EVENT WHICH INVITES WOMEN OF DIFFERENT CULTURES WHO DO NOT NORMALLY WEAR THE HIJAB, OR

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ITS PURPOSE IS TO PROMOTE PERSONAL FREEDOM OF RELIGIOUS EXPRESSION, CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING AND INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY.

THIS EVENT IS COMMEMORATED IN OVER 150 COUNTRIES IN BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO EDUCATIONAL, BUSINESS, RELIGIOUS, HEALTH AND POLITICAL SECTORS.

WORLD HIJAB DAY IS A GLOBAL INITIATIVE BY WORLD HIJAB DAY ORGANIZATION, WHICH IS A 500 AND 1C3 NONPROFIT.

AND AFTER WE HAVE OUR OUR PROCLAMATION, THIS WILL BE TRANSMITTED TO NAZMA KHAN, WHO IS THE FOUNDER OF WORLD HIJAB DAY.

AND THEN I JUST HAVE A WHEREAS STATEMENT TO READ BEFORE WE DO THE PROCLAMATION, ONE OF AMERICA'S GREATEST STRENGTHS AS A SOCIETY HAS BEEN OUR ABILITY TO EMBRACE OUR DIFFERENT FAITHS AND ALLOW MEMBERS TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES FREELY.

IN THIS SPIRIT, WORLD HIJAB DEPUTY HOKE WITH THE HENNEPIN COUNTY SHERIFF'SAY ENCOURAGES THE WEARING OF THE HIJAB AS A PROUD DISPLAY OF RELIGIOUS FAITH AND COMMUNAL BONDING, WHICH WILL MAKE US STRONGER AS A NATION.

AND WHEREAS IT IS WITH THIS IN MIND THAT I CHOSE TO HONOR THESE IMPORTANT, THIS IMPORTANT EVENT WHICH REMINDS US OF THE RICH AND DIVERSE HERITAGE OF OUR NATION, STATE AND CITY, WHILE ENCOURAGING GREATER RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE AND UNDERSTANDING IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND COUNCIL MEMBER RACHEL JAMES IS GOING TO READ OUR PROCLAMATION TONIGHT.

THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR THIS PROCLAMATION.

AND I'M PARTICIPATING AS A PERSON WHO NORMALLY DOES NOT WEAR THE HIJAB TO WEAR IT TONIGHT.

AND AS A WOMAN OF FAITH, THIS IS VERY MEANINGFUL TO ME.

SO THANK YOU. PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING FEBRUARY 1ST, 2024 AS WORLD HIJAB DAY.

WHEREAS THE PEOPLE OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS COME FROM A VARIETY OF BACKGROUNDS AND ARE UNITED IN CERTAIN FOUNDATIONAL BELIEFS, SUCH AS AFFIRMING THE INHERENT DIGNITY OF ALL PERSONS, THE RIGHT OF EVERY PERSON TO BE TREATED WITH RESPECT, AND THE RIGHT OF ALL CITIZENS TO PRACTICE THEIR RELIGION FREELY.

AND WHEREAS THE HIJAB, A TRADITIONAL VEIL WHICH COVERS A WOMAN'S HAIR, NECK AND CHEST, HAS BEEN VERY IMPORTANT TO THE HISTORY OF ISLAM, IT IS MEANT TO PROMOTE DIGNITY AND RESPECT FOR WOMEN WHILE MAINTAINING MODESTY AND RESPECT FOR RELIGIOUS FAITH.

AND WHEREAS WORLD HIJAB DAY WAS STARTED BY NAZMA KHAN, RESIDENT OF NEW JERSEY, AS A DAY SET ASIDE FOR WOMEN OF DIFFERENT CULTURES WHO DO NOT NORMALLY WEAR THE HIJAB TO EXPERIENCE WEARING ONE FOR THE DAY.

ITS PURPOSE IS TO ENCOURAGE RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE, CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING AND INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY.

AND WHEREAS ON FEBRUARY 1ST, 2013, THE WORLD CELEBRATED ITS FIRST ANNUAL WORLD HIJAB DAY IN RECOGNITION OF MILLIONS OF MUSLIM WOMEN WHO CHOOSE TO WEAR THE HIJAB AND LIVE A LIFE OF RELIGIOUS FAITH.

AND WHEREAS, TO COMBAT PREJUDICE, LEADERS IN THE AMERICAN MUSLIM COMMUNITY ARE WORKING TIRELESSLY TO SHOW THAT THE WEARING OF HIJAB IS A CHOICE OF FREEDOM AND A BLESSING, AS WELL AS TO EDUCATE THEIR FELLOW CITIZENS ABOUT ISLAM IN THE WAYS IN WHICH OUR RELEVANT AND MEANINGFUL.

AND NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT I AM MARTHA MARKUS SIMILA, MAYOR OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM AND RECOGNIZED FEBRUARY 1ST, 2024 AS WORLD HIJAB DAY IN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, COUNTY OF ANOKA, STATE OF MINNESOTA, USA.

AND HERE TO RECEIVE THE PROCLAMATION ARE TWO OF OUR COLUMBIA HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, MINA AL-DARBI AND NATI AHMED.

PLEASE COME UP TO THE PODIUM.

THANK YOU FOR COMING.

YOU CAN VENT THIS TOWARDS YOU.

SO OKAY, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO HAVE IT AT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING.

OF COURSE. THANK YOU. HI EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS MINA AND I FIRST WANT TO THANK MAYOR AMANDA AND OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THIS PROCLAMATION.

NEVER DID I THINK THAT WEARING THE HIJAB WOULD BE HONORED AND CELEBRATED BY A WHOLE CITY, LET ALONE ME ACCEPTING THE PROCLAMATION.

ALSO, I WANT TO HONOR THE SISTERS CURRENTLY FACING DISASTER AFTER DISASTER IN GAZA DESPITE EMOTIONAL, MENTAL AND PHYSICAL TRAUMA THEY HAVE FACED. I HAVE NEVER SORRY I HAVE.

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AND TO THINK ABOUT ALL THE REASONS I HAVE WANTED TO TAKE IT OFF.

SHOWS ME HOW STRONG THE MAN OF THE PEOPLE OF PALESTINE REALLY IS.

MORE THAN 20,000 LIVES LATER, I STILL SEE PALESTINIANS THANKING GOD FOR THE LITTLE THEY HAVE LEFT.

THE FACT THAT GOD IS STILL THEIR GUIDING FORCE THROUGHOUT A GENOCIDE IS ADMIRABLE.

THE COURAGE OF CIVILIANS TO GO OUT AND SEARCH FOR OTHERS UNDERNEATH RUBBLE.

JOURNALISTS LIVING IN DANGER ZONES TO REPORT ON THE ATROCIOUS ACTS BEING COMMITTED BY THE ISRAELI STATE.

DOCTORS STAYING BEHIND TO TREAT PATIENTS DESPITE THERE BEING A RISK OF THEIR FACILITIES BEING BOMBED TO THE GROUND.

THERE ARE COUNTLESS MORE EXAMPLES I COULD GIVE.

AND BECAUSE OF THIS PERSEVERANCE PALESTINE HOLDS IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY.

I CAN SEE THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.

THERE IS THIS EVERLASTING HOPE IN THE CIVILIANS IN GAZA, AND THERE IS HOPE IN US AS WELL.

DESPITE MANY POWERFUL COUNTRIES LIKE OUR OWN US VALUING DIPLOMATIC, ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL RELATIONSHIPS OVER THOUSANDS OF LIVES, THEY HAVE US CITIZENS TO COUNT ON. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

THE CEASE FIRE RESOLUTION IS MORE HUMANITARIAN THAN IT IS POLITICAL.

IT IS A QUESTION OF THE SAFETY OF ULTIMATELY MILLIONS OF LIVES.

THAT BEING SAID, FREE PALESTINE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

IT WAS A PLEASURE MEETING LAST WEEK.

WE ACTUALLY MET OR LAST WEEK WE ACTUALLY MET ON FEBRUARY 1ST, WORLD HIJAB DAY, AND TALKED IN THE HALLWAY AT THE SCHOOL ABOUT WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT AND TOOK SOME SOME PICTURES IN THE HALLWAY.

AND SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN AND I REALLY APPRECIATE APPRECIATE YOUR WORDS AND YOUR TIME.

NEXT WE HAVE MARIA LAURIE BROWN AND DARCY HOGAN FROM THE ANOKA COUNTY JOB TRAINING CENTER.

WE MET HOW MANY TIMES MARIA AND I HAVE MET AND DARCY, AND I'M EXCITED TO HAVE THEM INTRODUCE THEMSELVES HERE.

YOU CAN SPEAK AT THE PODIUM RIGHT THERE IN THE MICROPHONE, AND THEY'RE GOING TO SHARE MORE ABOUT THE ANOKA COUNTY WORK JOB FORCE TRAINING.

LET'S PUT TOGETHER. I'M GONNA START OVER.

WELCOME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING US.

YOU CAN MAKE SURE TO SPEAK JUST BECAUSE IT DOESN'T GET RECORDED.

AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY AND FOR ALL OF THE PEOPLE.

WOW. THIS IS A LARGE GROUP.

WE ARE HERE REPRESENTING WHAT'S CALLED THE JOB TRAINING CENTER.

WE'RE DOWN IN BLAINE OFF OF 89TH, AND WE WERE ASKED TO REPRESENT A LOT OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT ARE GOING ON, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, BUT ALSO FOR ALL OF US.

ALL OF THE PEOPLE HERE IN THIS ROOM COULD BE SERVED BY THE, THE SERVICES THAT WE HAVE AT THE WORKFORCE OR CAREER FORCE CENTER IN BLAINE, AGAIN OFF OF 89TH.

SO MY JOB WITH THE COUNTY IS TO WORK WITH THE EMPLOYERS FOR THE COUNTY, THE SCHOOLS, THE COLLEGES, JOB COUNSELORS WHEN IT COMES TO ANYTHING WITH THE WORKFORCE, WHETHER IT HAS TO BE WITH PROVIDING RESOURCES, PROVIDING JOBS, LEADS, PROVIDING A PLACE THAT EMPLOYERS CAN COME IN AND DO HIRING EVENTS WITH US, DO JOB TALKS WITH US, DO EMPLOYER OF THE DAY, BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

WE'RE OUR GOAL HAS BEEN THE LAST FEW YEARS TO TO HIT THE SOUTHERN PART OF OUR COUNTY A LOT HARDER THAN WE'VE BEEN DOING.

SO WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME, DARCY AND HER TEAM, AS WELL AS ME WITH THE WORKFORCE SIDE OF THINGS DOWN HERE, REALLY WORKING HARD WITH THE SCHOOLS, WORKING HARD WITH THE CITY, JUST TRYING TO DO COLLABORATION AND PROVIDE MORE JOBS, MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR JOBS.

TRAINING. WE'VE HOSTED HIRING EVENTS DOWN AT THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS LIBRARY.

WE'VE DONE PARTNERSHIPS THERE.

WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE COMING UP HERE IN MAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING AT THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS LIBRARY.

SO OUR JOB JUST IS TO CONTINUE TO PUT THAT WORD OUT THERE, NOT ONLY JUST AS WE CONTINUE AS WE BECOME, LEARNING MORE WHAT THE NEEDS ARE DOWN IN THIS DISTRICT OR THIS PART OF THE COUNTY WORKING WITH OUR SCHOOLS, WHETHER IT'S THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS SCHOOL, FRIDLEY SCHOOLS, JUST TO GET DOWN AND AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO, WHAT MORE WE CAN OFFER WITH OUR WORKFORCE AND TRAINING, PIECES.

SO WE HOPE TO CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE AND LEARN ABOUT THE NEEDS AND THAT YOU GUYS CONTINUE TO REACH OUT TO US.

WE DO HAVE SOME INFORMATION HERE, SOME PACKETS THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THE COUNCIL.

WE CAN LEAVE EXTRA ONES, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE TO KNOW THAT THERE IS A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE JUST LIKE ANYTHING WITH EVEN WITH THE CITY OR THE COUNTY THAT'S EBB AND FLOW WITH DOLLARS RIGHT NOW, WE'RE WE'RE HEAVY ON DOLLARS ON A LOT OF OUR TRAINING AREAS ON THE, THE YOUTH SIDE OF THINGS AND, AND SOME OF OUR OTHER STUFF THAT WE'D LIKE TO CONTINUE

[00:25:09]

DARCY CAN JUST GIVE A LITTLE RECAP.

SO YOU GUYS KNOW OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING WITH OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW THE CITY COUNCIL, TO KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT JUST SAYING, HEY, WE'RE DOWN HERE.

WE ARE ACTUALLY DOWN HERE DOING A LOT AND IS DOING AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

FROM STAFFING AS WELL AS FINANCIALLY, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT ALL OF YOU IN THIS ROOM UNDERSTAND, AND ESPECIALLY WE'RE SO THANKFUL FOR THE COUNCIL AND MAYOR THAT ALL THE EMPLOYERS IN THIS CITY CAN SUPPORT OUR PROGRAMING.

WE SERVE YOUNG PEOPLE 14 TO 24 IN THE YOUTH PROGRAMS, AND I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE BEHIND ME AS WELL.

I WISH I COULD TURN IT FEELS AWKWARD HAVING MY BACK TO YOU, BUT.

WE ARE ALL ABOUT HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WANT TO FINISH SCHOOL, AND EVEN WHO WANT TO GO ON AND MAYBE DO A TWO YEAR COLLEGE PROGRAM.

UNDERSTAND THAT THE FUNDING THAT WE HAVE, JOBS AND TRAINING, MONEY THAT COMES FROM THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WE CAN HELP PAY FOR THAT TRAINING, PAY FOR THE BOOKS, AND THEN PAY FOR PAID INTERNSHIPS.

AND SO IF YOU'RE IN THIS ROOM AS A PARENT OR AS A NEIGHBOR OF SOMEBODY WHO FITS THAT AGE RANGE, PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE PROGRAMS TO HELP WITH THAT.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO APPLY RIGHT NOW.

IF YOUNG PEOPLE WANT A JOB FOR THIS SUMMER, ALTHOUGH WE DO SERVE YOUNG PEOPLE YEAR ROUND AS WELL, AS FAR AS SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO IN OUR COMMUNITY, THERE ARE MANY EMPLOYERS HERE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS THAT HAVE ALREADY SUPPORTED US, AND WE'RE HOPING THAT MORE WILL CONTINUE TO.

WE CAN PLACE YOUNG PEOPLE AT ANY OF THE EMPLOYERS.

THE ONLY RESTRICTIONS ARE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE CAN'T SUPPORT A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN, NOR TEACH A RELIGIOUS FAITH, BUT THEY CERTAINLY CAN SERVE IN A RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY, SUCH AS AT A FOOD SHELF THAT MIGHT BE AT A MOSQUE OR A SYNAGOGUE OR A CHURCH, OR A DAYCARE THAT MIGHT BE ANY OF THOSE PLACES.

BUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE HAD GOING, WE'VE HAD KIDS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL WORKING IN IT.

WE'VE HAD KIDS WORKING AS PARA SUPPORT KIDS WORKING IN THE MEDIA CENTER.

AGAIN, AS MARIA SAID, WE'VE HAD THINGS AT THE, LIBRARY IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

WE ALSO ARE DOING MANY OF YOU WHO I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU MIGHT BE SPANISH SPEAKING IN THIS ROOM, BUT WE'RE DOING A COLLEGE FAIR.

AND THEY ARE PROVIDING, INTERPRETERS FOR THE SPANISH LANGUAGE.

FOR THOSE FAMILIES WHO SPEAK SPANISH, WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT OUR SERVICES, TALKING ABOUT COLLEGE PROGRAMING, AND THAT WILL BE ON MARCH 23RD.

SO IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN THAT, PLEASE CHECK WITH THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL AND OUR STAFF WILL BE THERE AS WELL.

WE DID THIS ALSO IN THE FALL.

WE DO THIS TWICE A YEAR WITH THE SCHOOL.

WE ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT WE'VE GOT A COUPLE LARGE EVENTS, ANOKA TECH, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A HUGE HIRING EVENT.

SO IF ANYBODY IN THIS ROOM IS INTERESTED IN INTERESTED IN A JOB CHANGE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE ANY CERTAIN AGE.

IT CAN BE OLDER OR YOUNGER.

THAT'S GOING TO BE ON MAY, APRIL 10TH, APRIL 10TH.

EXCUSE ME, APRIL 10TH.

I'M GOING TO HOLD UP THIS FLIER FOR THE CAMERA, BUT FOR YOU GUYS BEHIND ME, WE'LL LEAVE THESE SOMEWHERE ON THE BACK TABLE.

THIS IS THE FLIER ABOUT THE YOUTH PROGRAM.

AND AGAIN, WE'D LIKE YOU TO CONSIDER, LOOKING AT THIS, HITTING THIS QR CODE AND THEN SEEING IF YOUNG PEOPLE MIGHT BE INTERESTED.

ALSO, AS MARIA TALKED ABOUT, WE HAVE THE ON SITE HIRING EVENTS, AND WE ARE SO PLEASED TO OFFER THAT WE HAVE SPANISH INTERPRETERS.

THERE WE HOPE TO OFFER SOME OTHER, HELP WITH DIFFERENT LANGUAGES IN THE FUTURE.

WE FOR SURE CAN USE THE LANGUAGE LINE TO HELP US AS WELL.

THAT IS AN EVENT WHERE WE HAVE 10 TO 12 EMPLOYERS EVERY TWO, TWO TIMES A MONTH THAT COME INTO OUR BUILDING, THAT ARE HIRING PEOPLE, SOMETIMES ON THE SPOT.

A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE WE'RE THE MOST, WE'RE A GREAT RESOURCE THAT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT.

AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL KNOW ABOUT IT.

SO IT'S COOL THAT YOU'RE ALL HERE TODAY.

SO YOU'RE AWARE IF YOU WANT TO FIND A JOB, IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN LOOKING FOR WORK OR YOU'RE NOT SURE HOW TO GET TRAINING.

WE HAVE PROGRAMS NOT JUST FOR YOUTH, BUT FOR ADULTS AS WELL.

ANYTHING ELSE? MARIA? NO, I THINK FOR THE MOST PART, LIKE I SAID, WE REALLY WE WANT TO GET PEOPLE DOWN THERE.

I KNOW IT'S IN BLAINE, SO I KNOW IT'S A LITTLE BIT HARDER OFF OF 89TH AND 65, BUT THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE'RE DOWN IN THE SCHOOLS.

LIKE WE ACTUALLY HAVE STAFF THAT COME INTO THE SCHOOLS DOWN HERE IN THIS PART OF THE COUNTY THAT ARE HELPING STUDENTS, WORKING WITH THE TEACHERS.

OUR COUNSELORS ARE DOING THAT, AS WELL AS WHY WE'RE HAVING THE HIRING OF OUT OF THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS LIBRARY, I BELIEVE, ON MAY 7TH.

SO WE WANT TO CONTINUE.

AND IF THERE'S MORE IDEAS AND OTHER THINGS, WE'D LOVE TO SIT AT THE TABLE AND FIND OUT WHAT ELSE WE CAN DO FOR THE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST OUR SPANISH SPEAKING COMMUNITY.

[00:30:02]

WE'VE JUST HAD THE SPANISH SPEAKING COMMUNITY REACH OUT TO ANOKA COUNTY, FOR THOSE INTERPRETERS AS WELL AS WE'VE TRANSLATED OUR HIRING EVENT FLIERS INTO SPANISH, WE'VE HAD AN INTERPRETER AT OUR LAST TWO EVENTS, AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HELP, TEN DIFFERENT PEOPLE COMING IN THAT ONLY SPOKE SPANISH.

SO THAT WAS A REALLY A HUGE THING FOR US AND A NEED THAT WE HADN'T BEEN ASKED FOR BEFORE.

WE THOUGHT WE'D JUST GIVE IT A LITTLE BIT OF A TRIAL RUN TO SEE.

AND IT'S BEEN, A GREAT THING FOR US TO SEE WHAT ELSE IS OUT THERE.

AND SO AGAIN, PLEASE COME TO US.

WHETHER IT'S LIKE DARCY SAID, WE WORK WITH YOUTH ALL THE WAY UP TO, WE HAVE A SENIOR, WE HAVE A SENIOR PROGRAM 55 PLUS.

SO ANY ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP AND AGAIN COLLABORATE WITH THE COMMUNITY, WITH THE CITY, WITH THE BUSINESSES, WE'RE ALWAYS HAPPY AND OPEN TO SEEING WHAT IDEAS THAT WE CAN COME UP WITH.

IF THERE'S NEW THINGS, WE HAVE EVENTS AGAIN IN BLAINE.

WE PLAY. WE DO HAVE SOME OTHER OFF SITE ONES THAT WE'D LIKE TO CONTINUE PARTNERSHIPS.

AND AGAIN, IF YOU IF ANYBODY'S LOOKING FOR WORK OR TRAINING OR CAREER CHANGES, PLEASE COME SEE US.

AND WE'D LIKE TO HAVE A CHANCE TO CHAT WITH YOU.

SO AND IF YOU ARE AN EMPLOYER IN THIS ROOM OR COUNCIL MEMBERS, IF YOU'RE AN EMPLOYER IN THIS ROOM, THE DOLLARS THAT WE GET FROM STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING PAY FOR THE WAGES AND THE WORKER'S COMP.

SO IT'S A WAY OF GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.

THE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO WORK IN THE COMMUNITY AND GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, AND IT'S NOT COSTING THE EMPLOYER ANYTHING, BUT THE EMPLOYER IS GIVING THEM THE JOB TRAINING SKILLS THAT THEY NEED TO GO ON AND BE SUCCESSFUL.

SO IT'S A WIN WIN, AND YOU'RE KEEPING YOUR YOUNG PEOPLE WORKING IN THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY LIVE IN AND REPRESENTING YOUR COMMUNITY.

SO WE REALLY HOPE AND APPRECIATE ALL THE SUPPORT FOR YOU AS A COUNCIL AND FOR YOU AS RESIDENTS IN THE COUNTY.

AND I HAVE A QUESTION, HOW DO WE GET A HOLD OF YOU? WHERE IS THE BEST WAY FOR THEM TO FIND THIS INFORMATION? THANK YOU. SO WE ARE ON OF COURSE BY ON THE WEBSITE.

YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND SEARCH US AT CAREER FORCE.COM COM.

I HAVE TO THINK IT KEEPS CHANGING.

AND I'LL GIVE YOU OUR GENERAL NUMBER.

IT'S 763 MARIA HELP ME WITH THAT.

(324) 324-2300. AND AGAIN SOME OF THESE FLIERS WE HAVE QR CODES THAT WILL TAKE YOU DIRECTLY TO A LINK IF YOU'RE INTERESTED AT ALL.

IF YOU GO TO OUR WEBSITE, EVEN IF YOU JUST GOOGLE JOB TRAINING CENTER OR, CAREER FORCE, YOU CAN LOOK UP IN BLAINE, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND, FIND OUR INFORMATION.

IT WILL TAKE YOU TO A SHORT QUESTIONNAIRE.

YOU'LL ANSWER TEN QUESTIONS.

MAYBE IT TAKES YOU LESS THAN TWO MINUTES.

YOU WILL BE CALLED BACK THAT DAY BY A COUNSELOR, NOT AN ADMINISTRATIVE PERSON.

NOT THAT THERE'S ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT, BUT YOU'LL BE CALLED BACK BY PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR TO TALK ABOUT YOUR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AND THE SERVICES THAT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN.

OUR COUNSELORS ARE CALLING PEOPLE BACK BETWEEN THE HOURS OF NINE AND THREE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING TODAY.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. AND I WILL ADD, IF ANYONE HAS QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WORKFORCE, CAREER CENTER, YOU CAN ALWAYS WRITE TO ONE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND WE'D BE HAPPY TO, YOU KNOW, CONNECT YOU AS WELL.

SO IF YOU FORGET AND THINK, I KNOW THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT WORKFORCE JOBS FROM ANOKA COUNTY.

WHAT IS THAT AGAIN? JUST JUST REACH OUT TO THE CITY.

NEXT WE HAVE LAURA PALMER HERE.

SHE IS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, AND SHE IS THE COUNCIL LIAISON.

SHE'S GOING TO GIVE US AN UPDATE ABOUT THE SCHOOL.

WELCOME, LAURA. THANK YOU.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

THIS IS MY FIRST TIME AS LIAISON TO THE THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

AND I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD, TO THIS PROCESS.

THIS IS A REALLY HARD ACT TO FOLLOW TODAY.

I MEAN, I AM JUST CONSTANTLY FLOORED BY BY HOW AMAZING OUR COMMUNITY IS AND AND SEEING, I MEAN, I SEE IT IN THE SCHOOLS AND SEEING IT IN THE COMMUNITY AND ALL THE SUPPORT THAT WE'RE THAT THAT'S GIVEN, YOU KNOW, INSIDE AND OUT.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST A WONDERFUL BIG FAMILY AND I AND I, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

THANK YOU. LET ME SEE.

WELL, I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO FILL YOU IN ON, BUT I GUESS I WILL START WITH WE ARE WORKING ON OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.

SO I THERE IS A, THERE'S QUITE A FEW, FOCUS GROUPS THAT ARE PARTICIPATING AND HELPING TO GIVE THEIR INPUT ON WHAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THEIR SCHOOL DISTRICT.

AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE AS MANY VOICES AT THE TABLE AS POSSIBLE, AND ESPECIALLY VOICES THAT WE SELDOM HEAR FROM, BECAUSE WE REALLY WANT TO BE ABLE TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS AND OUR FAMILIES BETTER.

SO, I JUST I GUESS THAT'S JUST IT IS THE STRATEGIC PLAN INFORMATION ON THE SCHOOL'S WEBSITE? YES IT IS, YES IT IS.

THERE ARE VARIOUS DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE, LIKE I SAID, MORE FOCUS GROUPS, BROAD SURVEYS, SO ON AND SO FORTH.

[00:35:03]

SO UP TO DATE IT'S ALL ON THE ALL ON THE WEBSITE.

WELL THANK YOU. I KNOW THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S BEEN IN THE NEWSPAPER A LOT THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS WITH THE ALL SCHOOL BAND, CONCERT AND THEATER AND, AWARD WINNING JOURNALISTS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.

AND SO OUR DISTRICT IS JUST DOING AMAZING THINGS.

OH, I WAS SO PROUD TO SEE TO SEE THAT ARTICLE.

IT'S JUST IT'S NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR FOR OUR STUDENTS.

AND, THEY ARE JUST SO INCREDIBLY, INCREDIBLY TALENTED AND THEY HAVE SUCH WONDERFUL SUPPORT FROM THE STAFF, YOU KNOW, EVEN ACTIVISMS I SEE SOME STUDENTS HERE TONIGHT AND, I JUST LOVE I LOVE HEARING THEIR VOICES AND SEEING WHAT THEY CAN DO.

SO DID YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO, IT LOOKS LIKE NOT.

NO, I IT'S IT'S HARD TO FOLLOW THAT SO.

OKAY. THANK YOU LAURA.

THANK YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU. AND NEXT ON OUR AGENDA, WE HAVE A RECOGNITION OF ONE OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS, BUILDING OFFICIAL RYAN SMITH.

AND I BELIEVE, AARON, ARE YOU GOING TO INTRODUCE THE LETTER? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. IF YOU'D LIKE, MADAM MAYOR.

SO ASSISTANT ASSISTANT, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, SLASH SLASH SLASH.

SO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY THIS EVENING TO RECOGNIZE, ONE OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TEAM MEMBERS, RYAN SMITH.

I WOULD START BY NOTING THAT, RYAN SMITH IS THE CITY'S ONE AND ONLY BUILDING INSPECTOR.

HE'S THE BUILDING OFFICIAL, BUT HE COVERS, PLAN REVIEW AND INSPECTIONS FOR THE ENTIRE CITY.

HE'S GOT A VERY BIG JOB.

AND IT'S NOT OFTEN THAT A PARTNER STATE AGENCY REACHES OUT TO THE CITY TO TELL YOU HOW GOOD ONE OF YOUR TEAM MEMBERS IS DOING, BUT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.

RECENTLY, RYAN WAS, A PRESENTER AT THE 68TH ANNUAL INSTITUTE FOR BUILDING OFFICIALS ON JANUARY 23RD, WHERE HE PARTICIPATED IN A DAY LONG DISCUSSION ON BUILDING CODE AND FIELD INSPECTIONS THAT HE LED.

AND JUST TO READ SOME OF THE WORDS FROM THE STATE'S BUILDING OFFICIAL, GREGORY MET.

SO THE HIGHEST KIND OF AUTHORITY IN IN BUILDING OFFICIALS FOR THE STATE, HE SAID THAT RYAN PROVIDED MUCH MORE THAN A DAY'S WORTH OF HIGHLY RELEVANT CONTENT AND DISCUSSION THROUGH PHOTOS AND PERSONAL STORIES, FACILITATING DISCUSSION AMONG A GROUP OF WELL OVER 60 BUILDING OFFICIALS FROM AROUND THE STATE, HE DEMONSTRATED AN OUTSTANDING CAPACITY FOR GRASPING THE COMPLEXITIES OF BALANCING BUILDING SAFETY AND WORKING WITH EXISTING CONDITIONS TO LAND ON GOOD SOLUTIONS TO TOUGH PROBLEMS OVER AND OVER. THE ENTIRE ROOM BENEFITED FROM HIS LEADERSHIP AND INSIGHTS, AS THEY ALL GRAPPLED AND SHARED STORIES ABOUT COMPLEX AND OFTEN VEXING CONDITIONS THAT THEY ENCOUNTER WHILE TRYING TO MAINTAIN AND UPHOLD PUBLIC SAFETY.

YOU HAVE AN AMAZING TREASURE IN RYAN SMITH, I'M SURE YOU KNOW, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT HE IS RECOGNIZED AND HIGHLY RESPECTED AMONGST HIS PEERS.

SO THOSE ARE THE WORDS OF THE STATE BUILDING OFFICIAL THAT I WHOLEHEARTEDLY EMBRACE AND WOULD REITERATE, EVERY DAY RYAN IS IS WORKING IN A CITY THAT IS, HAS VERY OLD HOUSING AND BUILDING STOCK WHERE 100 YEAR OLD COMMUNITY, HE HAS TO BRING HIS KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE TO WHERE, OLD BUILDINGS MEET NEW STANDARDS AND NEW CODES AND FIND, COMMON SENSE SOLUTIONS TO A LOT OF ISSUES.

AND IT'S REALLY REWARDING WATCHING RYAN APPROACH THOSE SITUATIONS WITH CALMNESS, PATIENCE AND FAIRNESS, ALL WITH THE DESIRE TO JUST PROVIDE EFFECTIVE OUTCOMES THAT LEAD TO GREATER SAFETY IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO WITH THAT, I JUST REALLY LIKE TO THANK RYAN FOR BEING SO AWESOME.

AND THANK YOU FOR THE THE CHANCE THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU. NICE WORK.

RYAN, DO YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? I'M NOT SURE. I'M NOT SURE WHAT TO SAY OTHER THAN THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. SO NEXT WE ARE DOING A LITTLE OF A LITTLE, ADJUSTMENT TO OUR AGENDA.

[COMMUNITY FORUM]

AND EVERYONE WHO IS HERE IS INVITED TO SPEAK.

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY, I KNOW MANY PEOPLE ARE HERE BECAUSE OF THE CEASE FIRE RESOLUTION, AND I WOULD LIKE TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT THIS WAS BROUGHT UP, A WHILE AGO, A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO TO OUR COUNCIL AND, WELL, BROUGHT UP TO ME.

I MEAN, I SORRY, I KNEW ABOUT THIS AND BROUGHT IT TO THE COUNCIL LAST WEEK.

SO WE STARTED WORKING ON A RESOLUTION TO BE BROUGHT FORTH AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING, WHICH IS FEBRUARY 26TH, AND THAT WILL BE BROUGHT FORTH FOR THE COUNCIL'S

[00:40:09]

AND I WOULD JUST SAY I'M GOING TO READ A KIND OF A LIST OF THE DO'S FOR WHEN YOU HAVE A, YOUR PUBLIC FORUM OR FOR THE COMMUNITY FORUM.

BUT, WE JUST WOULD LIKE PEOPLE TO COME UP WITH NEW INFORMATION.

SO IF SOMEONE HAS COME FORWARD AND SHARED SOMETHING THAT YOU THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY, BUT YOU KNOW SOMEONE ELSE IS SAYING THE SAME THING, IF YOU COULD, MAYBE JUST LET THEM HAVE THAT, THAT OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK JUST IN THE, IN THE IN THE PURSUIT OF EFFICIENCY WITH MOVING THE MEETING FORWARD.

ONCE WE HEAR FROM EVERYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TONIGHT, WE WILL JUST GO INTO OUR REGULAR, COLUMBIA HEIGHTS BUSINESS MEETING.

SO IF YOU HEAR SOMEONE AND THEY'RE SAYING THE SAME THING, WE JUST WOULD ASK YOU JUST TO MAYBE, KEEP YOUR REMARKS TO THINGS THAT ARE NEW AND OF COURSE, BUT WE DO WANT TO HEAR FROM EVERYONE. SO I'M GOING TO READ THROUGH OUR LIST OF DO'S WHEN YOU SPEAK AT THE 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 THOSE ARE OVER BY THE WINDOWS.

THERE'S A TABLE THERE WITH SPEAKER FORM.

SOMEONE'S HOLDING ONE UP AND YOU CAN FILL THAT IN.

AND THEN YOU WOULD HAND IT TO THE CITY CLERK, WHO IS SITTING AT THE DESK HERE ON THE FAR END, AND HAND THAT TO HER.

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

SO IF YOU LIVE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, YOU CAN SAY YOU'RE A COLUMBIA HEIGHTS RESIDENT.

IF YOU ARE NOT A COLUMBIA HEIGHTS RESIDENT, WE WOULD REALLY PREFER TO HAVE THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS RESIDENTS SPEAK FIRST.

SECONDLY, IF YOU HAVE ANOTHER REASON WHY COLUMBIA HEIGHTS IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO YOU, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE FAMILY HERE OR FRIENDS HERE YOU WORSHIP HERE, COLUMBIA HEIGHTS IS STILL A PART OF YOUR COMMUNITY, EVEN IF YOU DON'T LIVE HERE.

BUT JUST LET US KNOW THAT YOU DON'T LIVE HERE AND WHAT YOUR CONNECTION TO COLUMBIA HEIGHTS IS.

SPEAKERS ATTENDING VIRTUALLY SHOULD SEND A REQUEST TO SPEAK, AS WELL AS THEIR ADDRESS AND CONNECTION TO COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, TO THE MODERATOR USING THE CHAT FUNCTION, AND WAIT TO BE CALLED ON TO SPEAK. WHEN SPEAKING, VIRTUAL ATTENDEES SHOULD TURN THEIR CAMERA ON.

IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO LIMIT SPEAKERS BETWEEN 3 TO 5 MINUTES.

GENERALLY WE DO FIVE MINUTES, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AS MANY PEOPLE SPEAK AS POSSIBLE.

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

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

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

THANK YOU ALL FOR LISTENING AND I WILL ASK OUR CITY CLERK TO INTRODUCE THE FIRST SPEAKER.

JEFFREY BERGER WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

THANK YOU. WELCOME.

AND WE ASK EVERYONE TO PLEASE USE THE MICROPHONE, OTHERWISE IT ISN'T RECORDED.

THANK YOU. I SPENT SOME TIME TODAY TRYING TO WRITE SOME REMARKS FOR THE COUNCIL, AND I THINK I'M JUST GOING TO DISPENSE WITH THAT AND TRY AND SUMMARIZE WHAT I CAME UP WITH.

I STARTED THINKING ABOUT MY GRANDPARENTS AND MY GREAT GRANDPARENTS, WHO ARRIVED IN THE UNITED STATES AROUND 1892 AND 1900, AND THE KIND OF WORLD THEY WERE STEPPING INTO.

AND OF COURSE, IT WASN'T THAT LONG BEFORE THEIR ARRIVAL, WHEN THE CIVIL WAR HAD ENDED, WHICH WAS A WAR AROUND THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY.

FOLLOWING THAT, RECONSTRUCTION WAS AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE SOCIETY MORE JUST AND EQUAL, GIVEN THE HISTORY THAT HAD BUILT GREAT INEQUALITY INTO THE SOCIETY.

THAT ATTEMPT AT RECONSTRUCTION WAS DEFEATED, AND BY 1877 I THINK IT HAD ENDED AND THE ERA OF JIM CROW ARRIVED.

SO. THAT HAS A LOT OF IMPLICATIONS FOR THE WORLD WE LIVE IN TODAY.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS GOING ON WHEN MY GRANDPARENTS WERE HERE AND WHEN MY ACTUALLY MY PARENTS WERE GROWING UP, WAS THE KU KLUX KLAN WAS ACTIVE HERE IN MINNESOTA AND AROUND THE COUNTRY.

AND YOU MAY HAVE ALREADY SEEN THE PHOTOGRAPH OF THE LYNCHING THAT OCCURRED IN DULUTH IN 1920.

AND YOU WILL HAVE.

[00:45:01]

SMILING AT THE CAMERA TO HAVE THEIR PICTURE TAKEN.

AND AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF THESE PICTURES, THESE CELEBRATIONS.

SO WHITE PEOPLE IN PARTICULAR WERE BEING RECRUITED TO OPPRESS BLACK PEOPLE.

THAT BECAME THEIR BUY IN TO THE WAY THE SYSTEM FUNCTIONED.

THAT KIND OF PROCESS GOT ME THINKING ABOUT THE IDF.

AND WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW IN PALESTINE? ISRAEL. BECAUSE BASICALLY.

MOST OF THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO LIVE, WHO ARE ISRAELI CITIZENS, ARE REQUIRED TO SERVE IN THE IDF.

ONE OF THE MAIN FUNCTIONS OF THAT BODY IS TO MAINTAIN ORDER IN THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES.

AND RIGHT NOW, OF COURSE, THEY'RE CARRYING ON AN ONSLAUGHT AGAINST THE CIVILIAN POPULATION THERE.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION FOR MANY PEOPLE TO LOOK AT AND TO GRASP.

IT'S IT'S AS THOUGH A DOOR HAS OPENED INTO A REALITY THAT WE KIND OF SUSPECTED EXISTED, BUT NOW WE'RE SEEING IT IN REAL TIME.

I GUESS I'LL CUT MY REMARKS SHORT AND SAY THAT IN THIS KIND OF A SITUATION, THERE IS NO MIDDLE PATH.

THERE IS NO WAY OF SAYING, WELL, THERE ARE TWO SIDES HERE.

THEY'RE FIGHTING EACH OTHER.

I DON'T WANT TO GET INVOLVED IN CHOOSING BETWEEN ONE OR THE OTHER, BECAUSE CLEARLY HERE ZIONISM IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM AND WREAKING THE HAVOC.

THIS CANNOT BE AVOIDED.

WE MUST SPEAK THE TRUTH IN ORDER TO RESOLVE THESE TRAUMAS AND THIS INJURY.

THAT'S THE FIRST STEP.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

SOMEONE'S PHONE KEEPS RINGING.

COULD YOU PLEASE, OUT OF RESPECT FOR EVERYONE IN THE ROOM, AND ESPECIALLY THE CITY COUNCIL FOR LETTING.

PLEASE, EVERYONE, KEEP YOUR PHONES ON.

THANK YOU. I WILL ACTUALLY REPEAT WHAT AN AUDIENCE MEMBER JUST SAID, WHICH IS PLEASE TURN YOUR YOUR PHONES TO SILENT SO THAT WE CAN HEAR ONE ANOTHER.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NEXT, TO THE CITY CLERK.

WHO ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? LEO WALLACE WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

THANK YOU. WELCOME, LEO.

HELLO, EVERYBODY.

THANK YOU, CITY COUNCIL.

THANK YOU. EVERYONE HERE.

THANK YOU. CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

SO FIRST I'LL START OFF BY SAYING SORRY.

ALSO, SHOULD WE HAVE OUR SPEAKERS, ANNOUNCE IF THEY'RE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS RESIDENTS OR IS THAT SOMETHING THE CITY CLERK WOULD LIKE TO SAY? WOW, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH INFORMATION ON THESE FORMS TO ASCERTAIN THAT FOR EVERYONE WHO'S SUBMITTED ONE.

ALL RIGHT, THEN I WILL. I WILL, THEN I WILL ASK.

YES. ARE YOU A COLUMBIA HEIGHTS RESIDENT OR A VISITOR? I AM A VISITOR.

I AM ACTUALLY A RESIDENT OF SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA.

ALL RIGHT. AND THEN WHAT IS YOUR CONNECTION TO COLUMBIA HEIGHTS? SO MY CONNECTION IS I WAS ASKED TO BE HERE TODAY.

I ACTUALLY MET THE MAYOR, I MET YOU AND AS WELL AS A, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER THE OTHER DAY AT A, AT A BLACK PAGEANT AT LUSH. I WAS NOT GOING TO SPEAK, BUT, AFTER JUST HAVING SOME CONVERSATION AND REALLY THINKING ABOUT HOW, YOU KNOW, WE CAN REALLY BRING CHANGE TO THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AND FROM THE LOOKS OF IT, IT WE SEE THE CHANGE, RIGHT? BUT NOT JUST CHANGE, AS IN, HOW CAN WE MAKE THINGS FAIR AND EQUITABLE AND EQUAL FOR ALL BUT CHANGE FOR, OUR BLACK LGBT PLUS COMMUNITY, KIDS AND ADULTS ALIKE.

SO FIRST, AGAIN, LET ME STATE MY NAME.

MY NAME IS LEO WALLACE.

I'M THE OWNER AND FOUNDER OF LEO'S LIFTING FACTORY.

I AM A FITNESS COACH AS WELL AS A LIFE COACH.

I, DO I, I WORK OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, IF YOU WILL.

I MAINLY DO MY WORK IN THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND SAINT PAUL.

THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT I WORK WITH ARE AOTF WITH, WHICH IS, AMERICAN AIDS TASK FORCE, THE AMERICAN AIDS ASSOCIATION TASK FORCE.

I DON'T, I DON'T REMEMBER, YEP.

WHICH IS THE EUTHANASIA PROJECT, AS WELL AS POC, WHICH IS MINNESOTA PEOPLE OF COLOR.

[00:50:04]

SO I AM SOMEONE THAT I GET OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.

I WORK IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.

I'M ALSO IN THE PROCESS OF STARTING ANOTHER, 500 AND 13C, WHICH IS THE BALLROOM COUNCIL, NOT AS WHAT SOME OF YOU WOULD THINK BALLROOM LIKE WALTZ AND DANCE, BUT THE UNDERGROUND SCENE BALLROOM, WHICH ACTUALLY STARTED IN THE 70S AND 80S.

WELL, ACTUALLY A LITTLE BIT BEFORE THAT, BUT IT WAS AN UNDERGROUND SCENE FOR LGBT, YOUTH IN THIS IN IN THE SHADOWS OF NEW YORK, IF YOU WILL.

SO THAT POPULATION HAS GROWN TREMENDOUSLY.

AND WE ACTUALLY DO HAVE A BALLROOM SCENE OVER HERE IN MINNEAPOLIS.

SO WHAT I WAS ASKED TO DO IS TO COME OVER TO THE CITY OF, TO TO THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AND BRING THAT CHANGE TO YOU GUYS AS WELL.

AND I'M MORE THAN WILLING TO DO THAT AND PROVIDE THAT.

I LOVE TO SEE THE CHANGE.

I LOVE TO HEAR WHAT EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT.

SO I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU SAID.

AND I APPRECIATE YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT.

I JUST WANT TO LET THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES YOU HEAR, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT EVERYBODY HERE, BUT I KNOW SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE HALF MY LIFE, I'M ORIGINALLY NOT FROM MINNESOTA.

I'M ORIGINALLY FROM CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AND HALF MY LIFE.

I ALWAYS HEAR THAT THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF MINNESOTA'S RIGHT.

THERE'S MINNESOTA NICE, AND THEN THERE'S MINNESOTA NICE.

AND DEPENDING ON WHO YOU ASK, WILL DETERMINE THE TYPE OF ANSWER THAT YOU GET.

AND SO WHAT I WANT YOU GUYS TO KNOW IS, EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNEAPOLIS AND SAINT PAUL, WE GOT YOUR BACK.

AND IF YOU GUYS WANT THAT CHANGE, WE WANT TO HELP PROVIDE THAT CHANGE.

NEVER FEEL LIKE YOU CAN'T REACH OUT, NEVER FEEL LIKE YOU'RE IN THIS ALONE, AND ALWAYS KNOW THAT JUST BECAUSE YOU GUYS ARE OVER HERE, I MEAN, I MEAN LITERALLY GO FIVE MINUTES DOWN THE WAY AND YOU'RE IN MINNEAPOLIS ANYWAY.

BUT, JUST KNOW THAT WE ARE MAKING STRIDES TO HAVE THAT CHANGE, NOT JUST FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR, BUT FOR ALL AS WELL. AND I REALLY WANT TO FOOT STOMP.

ONE LAST THING BEFORE I GO.

I'M NOT JUST TALKING JUST BECAUSE I'M NOT JUST SAYING THAT JUST BECAUSE I MYSELF, I'M NOT ONLY A BLACK MAN, BUT I AM A MAN OF TRANS EXPERIENCE. I ALSO RUN A TRANS MASCULINE GROUP OVER IN MINNEAPOLIS ON THE SOUTH SIDE AS WELL.

SO I AM SOMEONE THAT I'M OUT.

I'M NOT JUST OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.

I ALSO LIVE THIS.

THIS IS MY LIFE.

IT IS NOT A LIFE CHOICE.

IT IS MY LIFE.

IT IS WHO I AM AS A PERSON.

IT IS WHO I AM AS A MAN.

IT IS WHO I AM AS A BLACK MAN.

AND I WANT TO THANK YOU, CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS FOR HAVING ME.

IF YOU WANT TO CONNECT WITH ME, I DO HAVE A WEBSITE.

LEO'S LIFTING FACTORY DOT NET.

YOU CAN CONNECT WITH ME THROUGH THERE AS WELL.

BUT AGAIN, I'M HERE TO HELP AND I'M READY TO GO TO WAR, SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. LEO.

AND WHO IS OUR NEXT SPEAKER, JOSH SPITZER.

RESNICK WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

THANK YOU. WELCOME.

JOSH. WE JUST ASK YOU TO SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE.

PERFECT. I'M JOSH RESNICK.

I AM NOT A COLUMBIA HEIGHTS RESIDENT.

I LIVE NEAR THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

AND I'M A JEWISH COMMUNITY MEMBER WHO IS FRIENDS WITH MANY OF THOSE WHO I SEE HERE WITH ME.

EXCUSE ME. JOSH.

SO COULD YOU JUST REMIND US WHAT YOUR CONNECTION IS TO COLUMBIA HEIGHTS THAT YOU HAVE FRIENDS HERE? IS THAT. YES.

AND SPECIFICALLY, MANY OF MY PALESTINIAN FRIENDS, YOUR CONSTITUENTS ASKED ME TO BE HERE.

THANK YOU. I SHORTENED TO THIS, BUT, LISTEN, I NEED YOU NOT JUST TO LISTEN AND PROVIDE LIP SERVICE RIGHT NOW.

I NEED YOU TO HEAR.

I NEED YOU TO HEAR DEEPLY WITH YOUR WHOLE HEART AND BODY.

I NEED YOU TO PUT YOURSELF IN THE SHOES OF MY FRIENDS FAMILIES IN GAZA AND IN RAFAH, AND IN THE SHOES OF THEIR FAMILIES WHO ARE HERE NOW IN FRONT OF YOU.

MY FRIEND ASKED ME TO COME HERE TO SHARE WHERE I'M COMING FROM.

I HATE THAT PALESTINIAN COMMUNITY IS FORCED TO TALK ABOUT JEWISH FEELINGS EVERY TIME THEY ASK TO LIVE, TO HAVE THEIR STOLEN BELONGINGS RETURNED TO THEM, TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES AND THEIR FAMILIES, TO BE TREATED THE SAME WAY AS ANYONE ELSE IN THE WORLD, TO HAVE JUSTICE AT THE SAME TIME, IN THIS MOMENT, THERE ARE THINGS THAT I CAN SAY THAT MY FRIENDS CANNOT.

THERE ARE THINGS THAT MY FRIENDS AND I CAN SAY THE EXACT SAME THING, AND YOU WILL NOT LISTEN TO THEM WHILE YOU LISTEN TO ME, OR YOU WILL EXPECT AND GET USED TO THEM, TO THEIR PAIN, TO THEIR LOVE, TO THEIR CARE, TO THEIR ANGER, TO THEIR RAGE.

WHILE YOU WILL PRIVILEGE AND CONGRATULATE MY VOICE AND MY PRESENCE OVER THEM.

[00:55:04]

I NEED YOU TO WATCH WHAT IS HAPPENING IN RAFAH RIGHT NOW, IN THE PAST DAY, AND FEEL AS I DO TREAT MY FRIENDS FAMILIES AS YOUR OWN WITH THE SAME LOVE, CARE AND RAGE WITH THE SAME RAGE AT EVERY PERSON AND EVERY INSTITUTION THAT IS QUIET DURING THE MASS MURDER OF THEIR FAMILIES WITH THE SAME WILL TO PROTECT THEM AS YOU WOULD PROTECT YOUR OWN CHILD OR PARENT OR SIBLING OR PARTNER.

MY FRIEND YAHIA WOULD SAY THAT THIS IS MUCH TOO LITTLE, MUCH TOO LATE.

MY FRIEND YAHIA IS A 25 YEAR OLD POET FROM GAZA WHO CAME FOR A LITERATURE FESTIVAL IN PHILADELPHIA IN SEPTEMBER AND HAS NO CLUE IF OR WHEN HE WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THOSE WHO REMAIN OF HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS AGAIN, THOSE WHO HAVE NOT ALREADY BEEN MURDERED OR STARVED BY MY FAMILY AND COMMUNITY.

HE IS DEEPLY DEPRESSED BY THE PACE AND LACK OF YOUR ACTION.

IT IS ABSOLUTELY DISAPPOINTING, SHAMEFUL, EMBARRASSING AND PATHETIC FOR IT TO TAKE OVER FOUR MONTHS OF A LIVE STREAMED GENOCIDE FOR THE WORLD TO LIFT A FINGER, TO CONSIDER, TO DO ANYTHING.

WHEN ASKED FOR HOPE IN THESE MOMENTS, HE HAS NONE TO GIVE YOU.

HE TELLS US, DO NOT LOOK FOR HOPE IN MY WORDS.

GIVE ME HOPE WITH YOUR ACTIONS.

HE IS NOT BEGGING FOR CRUMBS, NOR FOR YOUR AUTHORITY TO DECIDE WHETHER HIS FAMILY OR FRIENDS SHOULD EXIST, IF THEY SHOULD LIVE ANOTHER DAY, IF THEY SHOULD BE MURDERED, IF THEY SHOULD BE MURDERED WHILE HAVING FOOD IN THEIR STOMACHS OR NOT, IF THEY SHOULD RESIST GENOCIDE, APARTHEID AND COLONIALISM OR NOT.

GHASSAN KANAFANI, AN IMPORTANT PALESTINIAN WRITER WHO WAS MURDERED BY MY COMMUNITY, SAID, THEY STEAL YOUR BREAD, THEN GIVE YOU A CRUMB OF IT.

THEN THEY DEMAND YOU TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR GENEROSITY.

YOU ARE NOT BEING ASKED FOR GENEROSITY.

YOU ARE NOT BEING ASKED FOR BENEVOLENCE FROM YOUR POSITION OF POWER.

YOU ARE NOT BEING ASKED FOR CRUMBS.

WHY AM I HERE? THIS IS NOT TWO SIDES OF A CONFLICT.

IT'S A COLONIAL POWER, MASS MURDERING PEOPLE.

IT'S A COLONIAL POWER THAT HAS HAD ITS BOOTS ON THE NECK OF PEOPLE THEY DEEM LESSER THAN THEM.

FOR THE BETTER PART OF A CENTURY IN THE JEWISH COMMUNITY, WE CALL THAT GENOCIDE.

WE WANT IT TO STOP.

MY COMMUNITY HAS ENACTED THIS COLONIAL VIOLENCE FOR FAR LONGER THAN I HAVE BEEN ALIVE.

MY GENERATION FULLY UNDERSTANDS THAT THIS IS COMPLETELY INCOMPATIBLE WITH OUR VALUES.

IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS ALONE, HUNDREDS OF US IN THE JEWISH COMMUNITY HERE, YOUR NEIGHBORS HAVE FELT THE DEEP NEED TO STOP.

THIS PALESTINIAN COMMUNITY HAS IDENTIFIED WHERE AND HOW TO STOP THIS, AND WE HAVE GONE TO EVERY PLACE WE CAN TO WAKE THE WORLD UP AND FORCE IT TO ACT. WE HAVE ENGAGED IN CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE.

SO YOU WILL JUST WAKE UP AND LISTEN AND ACT WITH THE LOVE, CARE AND RAGE THAT WE DO.

YOU'LL NOTICE AN IMPORTANT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHY AND WHERE ME AND MUCH OF THE REST OF MY FAMILY IS OR IS NOT TODAY, AS WELL AS MANY OF YOUR NEIGHBORS HERE SPEAKING TO YOU.

THIS AMOUNT OF LOVE AND CARE AND RAGE AND ANGER AND UNRELENTING FIGHTING FOR THE LIFE OF LOVED ONES, AS WELL AS MY FRIENDS, LOVED ONES AS WELL AS THEIR FRIENDS, AS WELL AS THOSE I DO NOT KNOW COMES FROM DEEP LOVE.

THIS AMOUNTS OF PUTTING LIFE ON HOLD FOR MONTHS, FINDING WAYS TO STILL PAY RENT AND PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE AND TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER, WHILE RECOGNIZING THAT A PAYCHECK OR A GRADE CANNOT EVEN BEGIN TO COMPARE TO THE VALUE OF OUR FRIENDS FAMILY'S LIFE.

THIS LABOR AND EFFORT OF THOSE THAT HAVE COME HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU TO USE YOUR VOICE AND POWER TO DO ANYTHING, IN FACT, EVERYTHING TO STOP A GENOCIDE IS A DEEP AMOUNT OF LABOR CARE AND LOVE.

AT THIS MOMENT, MY FAMILY AND MANY OF MY COMMUNITY EITHER TURNS A BLIND EYE AND CONTINUES THEIR LIFE AS NORMAL, SHRUGS THEIR SHOULDERS AND SAYS THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO.

WHAT THEY CAN DO, SAYS IT IS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY, OR ACTIVELY ADVOCATES FOR, OR AGREES WITH, OR COMMITS THESE GENOCIDAL ACTS.

THIS DOES NOT COME FROM LOVE.

WHEN I ASK MY FAMILY TO NAME THEIR FRIENDS IN THEIR LOCAL PALESTINIAN COMMUNITY, THEY FALL SILENT.

WHEN I HEAR MY FAMILY AND MY COUSINS SAYING AND COMMITTING THESE THINGS, I HEAR THAT THEY HAVE THEIR SHIELDS UP AND THAT THEY HAVE REFUSED TO OPEN THEIR EYES.

THEY HAVE HARDENED THEIR HEARTS SO THAT THEY CANNOT HEAR THE SCREAMS FROM ANY AMOUNT OF PAIN THAT THEY INFLICT.

THEY HAVE GONE TO PLACES OF POWER TO EXPRESS FALSE CONDITIONAL PITY RATHER THAN SOLIDARITY, AND TO MAKE EXCUSES THAT ENABLE GENOCIDE TO CONTINUE.

THIS DOES NOT COME FROM LOVE.

UNFORTUNATELY, COLONIALISM DOES NOT UNDERSTAND LOVE.

COLONIALISM UNDERSTANDS RESOURCE EXTRACTION, CONTINUING TO STEAL AND DESTROY LAND AND PROFIT.

[01:00:02]

MY FAMILY DEEPLY UNDERSTANDS THAT THEY WANT TO BE WHERE IT IS SAFE, THAT THEY WANT TO BUILD A FORTRESS AROUND THEIR HOME SO NOBODY CAN HURT THEM, THAT THEY WANT TO LEAVE PLACES THAT ARE UNSAFE AND GO TO PLACES THAT ARE MORE SAFE.

IF THE ECONOMY IS REALLY POOR AND IT IS HARD TO FIND JOBS AND LIVE A NORMAL LIFE IN FREEDOM AND DIGNITY, THEN THEY WILL CONSIDER GOING TO PLACES WHERE THEY CAN DO SO.

IT IS NOT THE JOB OF MANY OF MY PALESTINIAN FRIENDS, OR THOSE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY TO TALK ABOUT ME OR MY COMMUNITY WHEN THEY ASK FOR LIFE OR ASK FOR YOU TO CORRECT YOUR MORAL COMPASS AND PROACTIVELY, CONSTANTLY ACT AS IF YOU HAVE THE LOVE, CARE AND RAGE THAT WE DO.

IT IS NOT THE JOB OF ANY OPPRESSED COMMUNITY OR COLONIZED COMMUNITY, OR WHERE A COLONIAL OR IMPERIAL POWER HAS EXTRACTED AND STOLEN LAND, WEALTH, LIFE, RESOURCES, POWER.

IT IS NOT THEIR JOB TO PROVIDE A PILLOW WHERE THE OPPRESSORS CAN RELAX UNTIL THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE ENOUGH TO TAKE THEIR BOOTS OFF NECKS.

IT IS NOT THEIR JOB TO PAT MY FAMILY ON THE SHOULDER ONCE THEY STOP MURDERING MY FRIENDS FAMILIES.

THAT IS SO FAR BELOW THE BARE MINIMUM.

IT IS NOT THEIR JOB TO BE FRIENDS WITH OR EVER FORGIVE MY FAMILY, COMMUNITY, OR ANYONE WHO HAS NOT ACTED WITH THE SAME LOVE, CARE AND RAGE.

I WANT TO BE EXTREMELY CLEAR HERE.

YOU'RE NOT HERE TO PAT YOURSELF ON THE BACK.

YOU ARE HERE TO STOP A GENOCIDE AND TO SEEK JUSTICE FOR ALL THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED COLONIZATION AND APARTHEID.

YOU'RE HERE BECAUSE YOUR CONSTITUENTS HAVE BEEN BEGGING YOU TO DO ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING TO STOP THE MASSACRE, THE MASS MURDER OF THEIR FAMILIES.

I'M HERE BECAUSE I AM TELLING YOU THAT EXACTLY WHAT YOU CHOOSE TO DO NOW IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE DONE FOR MY FAMILY IN THE EARLY AND MID 19 1900S. GENOCIDE IS NOT FORGIVABLE.

I SAY THIS FROM THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF MY OWN FAMILY IN ACTION IS NOT FORGIVABLE.

WE REMEMBER THIS IN OUR BONES AND IN OUR BODIES, AND IN OUR COPING MECHANISMS AND TRAUMA.

RESPONSES TO DANGER FROM POGROMS, FROM KRISTALLNACHT, FROM THE ERASURE OF OUR SHTETLS, OUR OUR VILLAGES, OUR HOMES, FROM THE MAP, FROM THE FORCED ERASURE OF OUR LANGUAGES.

WHO? MY BUBBE. MY GRANDMOTHER WAS THE LAST IN OUR FAMILY TO NATIVELY SPEAK BEFORE SHE DIED A FEW WEEKS AGO.

FROM THE DEEP DEPRESSION THAT MY BUBBE AND MY ALTA BUBBE, MY GRANDMOTHER AND GREAT GRANDMOTHER HAD THE ONE TIME IN THEIR LIFE WHEN THEY RETURNED TO THEIR HOMES TO SEE WHAT WAS LEFT, WHERE THEY FOUND NOTHING.

NO EVIDENCE OF OUR EXISTENCE, SAVE FOR A JEWISH GRAVESTONE REPURPOSED AS.

PAVEMENT. INSUFFICIENT ACTION IS NOT FORGIVABLE.

CRUMBS AND LIP SERVICE ARE NOT ENOUGH.

RABBI HILLEL SAID TO SAVE A LIFE IS AS IF YOU HAVE SAVED THE ENTIRE WORLD.

DO WHAT I WOULD HAVE DONE HAD I BEEN A NON-JEWISH, NON-ROMA, NON-QUEER, ABLED GERMAN OR POLISH PERSON THAT SMELLED THE SMOKE IN MY BACKYARD DO FOR MY FRIENDS FAMILIES WHAT WAS NOT DONE FOR MY AL-TABARI'S FAMILY, MY FATHER'S BUBBE, MY FATHER'S GRANDMOTHER, ANNA WOLPIN REZNIK.

WHY ALL BUT ONE SISTER AND ONE BROTHER FROM MORE THAN A DOZEN AND THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR COUSINS WERE MASSACRED AND ARE IN MASS GRAVES IN THE FOREST OUTSIDE THE SHUTTLE, THE SHTETL OF DAVYD-HARADOK IN WHAT IS NOW BELARUS.

BE ABLE TO ANSWER OUR CHILDREN, OUR GRANDCHILDREN, OUR GREAT GRANDCHILDREN, THOSE THAT COME AFTER US WHEN THEY ASK US WHAT WE DID IN THIS MOMENT. DO THE RIGHT THING IN THE STRONGEST OF TERMS WITH THE MOST LOVE, CARE AND RAGE AS YOUR CONSTITUENTS THAT ARE RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU.

THANK YOU. JOSH, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT JUST TO SAY THIS IS ALL EXTREMELY HARD AND WE ARE ALL HERE TO SHARE.

AND THE TRAGEDY THAT'S HAPPENING IS HAPPENING WHEN MANY, MANY, MANY FAMILY MEMBERS AND I JUST I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT COMING UP TO SPEAK IS NOT JUST TO SHARE WORDS, IT'S TO SHARE A WHOLE STORY.

AND I AND I SAY THAT ON BEHALF OF OUR COUNCIL AND OUR STAFF, THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE VULNERABILITY THAT IT TAKES AND THE STRENGTH IT TAKES TO SHARE THESE STORIES.

[01:05:04]

THANK YOU. TO THE CITY CLERK DIRK SCHMITZ WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

THANK YOU. DIRK SCHMITT, CITY RESIDENT I JUST CHANGED TOPICS HERE. FIRST, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A CORRECTION.

LAST TIME I WAS UP HERE WHEN I WAS TALKING ABOUT MEDTRONIC SITE, I BELIEVE I MENTIONED IT WAS 112 ACRE SITE.

MY MISTAKE FOR USING A VOICE TO PRINT PROGRAM AND NOT PRE-READING MY NOTES.

IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ONE COMMA 12 ACRE SITE.

HOPEFULLY THAT DIDN'T CREATE ANY TROUBLE.

SECOND MORE IMPORTANT THING IS I'D LIKE TO PUBLICLY COMMEND AND SAY THANK YOU TO CITY STAFF FOR THEIR, QUICK RESPONSE AND TAKING TIME TO MEET WITH ME IN PERSON TO ANSWER MY QUESTIONS.

I FEEL THE CITY IS LUCKY TO HAVE SUCH A TALENTED AND CARING TEAM OF EMPLOYEES WORKING FOR US, AND THEY DO THE BEST THEY CAN WITH, THE SITUATIONS THEY HAVE TO WORK WITH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

DIRK. I'LL ECHO.

I'LL ECHO. KUDOS TO OUR CITY STAFF.

THANK YOU, ERIN AND KEVIN.

SANTA WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

ALL RIGHT. WELCOME.

IF AS LONG AS THEY HAVE, PUT A FORM IN.

THANK YOU. HE SAID YES.

TO HER. I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

THANK YOU.

MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS TAHIR GHAZALA.

I'M A COLUMBIA HEIGHTS RESIDENT AND A MEMBER OF THE PARKS AND REC COMMISSION.

I'M A PALESTINIAN WITH FAMILY AND RELATIVES IN GAZA, AND I THANK YOU FOR HEARING US OUT TODAY.

I COME TO YOU AS SOMEBODY WHO HAS LOST SEVEN MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY TO THE BARBARIC ISRAELI ASSAULT ON GAZA.

THEIR BODIES, INCLUDING A SEVEN YEAR OLD BEAUTIFUL GIRL, WERE REMOVED FROM UNDERNEATH THE RUBBLE AND BURIED IN GAZA CITY, WHICH HAS NOW COMPLETELY EVISCERATED.

I COME TO YOU TODAY FROM A GAZA.

THERE HAS BEEN DEMOLISHED AND COMPLETELY DESTROYED BY US MADE BOMBS AND WARPLANES.

I COME TO YOU TODAY AS A GUARDIAN WHO IS WATCHING MY OWN FAMILY BURN DUE TO WEAPONS SUPPLIED TO ISRAEL BY MY OWN TAX DOLLARS. SOME MAY ASK, WHAT DOES COLUMBIA HEIGHTS HAVE TO DO WITH WHAT'S GOING ON IN GAZA? WELL, I'LL TELL YOU.

THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE RESIDENTS IN YOUR CITY, TAXPAYING RESIDENTS OF YOUR CITY WHO HAVE LOST FAMILY MEMBERS IN GAZA, THEN THIS IS A MATTER OF CONCERN TO YOU.

SOME MAY ASK, WELL, WHAT WILL A RESOLUTION FROM A LITTLE TOWN LIKE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS GOING TO DO TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR THE SITUATION IN GAZA? AND I'LL TELL YOU THE FACT THAT MORE THAN 60 MUNICIPALITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES HAVE PASSED RESOLUTIONS SUPPORTING A CEASE FIRE AND AN END TO THE GENOCIDE IN GAZA.

CITIES LIKE ATLANTA, CLEVELAND, CHICAGO AND OAKLAND MEANS THAT THIS IS ALL A LOCAL POLITICS ISSUE.

IT MEANS THAT WE ARE ALL COMPLICIT IN THE MASS MURDER OF PALESTINIANS, AND WE MUST RECOGNIZE IT AS SUCH.

WE HAVE A RIGHT AS PALESTINIANS, AS MUSLIM COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AS COLUMBIA HEIGHTS RESIDENTS TO DEMAND OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, EVEN OUR LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS TO STAND ON PRINCIPLE AND VOICE, FULLY REJECT THE NORMALIZATION OF THE MASS MURDER OF PALESTINIANS.

SOME OF YOU MAY GO ABOUT YOUR DAY NORMALLY AS IF NOTHING IS HAPPENING.

WAKE UP IN THE MORNING, MAKE YOUR COFFEE, GO TO WORK, COME HOME, WATCH TV, MAYBE A FOOTBALL GAME AND GO TO SLEEP.

BUT WE WAKE UP EVERY DAY WISHING THAT THIS NIGHTMARE WAS OVER.

WE WALK AROUND EVERY DAY WITH THE HEAVY WEIGHT AND BURDEN.

OF KNOWING THAT OUR FAMILY MEMBERS ARE STARVING TO DEATH IN THE SQUALID CAMPS OF RAFAH AND KHAN YUNIS.

LET COLUMBIA HEIGHTS BE AN EXAMPLE.

LET COLUMBIA HEIGHTS BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF JUSTICE AND HUMANITY.

[01:10:02]

VOTE FOR A CEASE FIRE NOW.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU TO. SABRI WAS WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

WELCOME. AND IF YOU COULD, STATE YOUR RESIDENCE AS WELL.

OR. MY NAME IS SABRINA WASWAS, AND, I LIVE IN BROOKLYN PARK, MINNESOTA.

I USED TO LIVE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS YEARS AGO BEFORE I GOT MARRIED, AND I HAVE LOTS OF FRIENDS THAT OWN BUSINESSES, COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

SINCE I CAME HERE FROM CHICAGO IN 1992, I AM IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS SEVERAL DAYS A WEEK, EVERY SINGLE WEEK SINCE I CAME HERE IN 1992.

SO COLUMBIA HEIGHTS PLAYS A BIG ROLE IN MY LIFE.

THANK YOU. OKAY, SO I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE I DON'T BRING UP WHAT THE SPEAKERS BEFORE ME WHO DID A PHENOMENAL JOB, BY THE WAY.

SO I WANT TO BRING UP BECAUSE YOU BROUGHT UP IN THE BEGINNING WHY IT MATTERS FOR COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

AND WHAT'S THE IMPORTANCE OF LIKE WHY IT SHOULD MATTER TO YOU GUYS? SO I WANT TO TELL YOU THE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT A TOWN LIKE YOU, WHAT WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE IN COMMON WITH TOWNS ACROSS AMERICA JUST DECADES AGO HERE IN AMERICA, IN AMERICA, NOT OVERSEAS, NOT IN GERMANY, NOT IN THE MIDDLE EAST, NOT IN RUSSIA, IN AMERICA, PEOPLE WERE SEGREGATED SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THEIR COLORED SKIN.

PEOPLE LIKE YOU ACROSS THIS COUNTRY THOUGHT IT WAS OKAY TO TREAT PEOPLE DIFFERENT SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF THE SKIN.

FAMOUS POET THAT WE TEACH OUR KIDS IN ENGLISH SCHOOL BY HENRY DAVID THOREAU A QUOTE JUST BECAUSE IT'S A MAN MADE LAW, IT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S MORAL.

JUST BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES STAYS QUIET AND SILENT AND ALLOWED AS A GENOCIDE TO HAPPEN.

WE CANNOT SIT QUIET AND ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN.

EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU MUST BE BRAVE TO STAND UP AND SPEAK OUT.

WHEN YOU SEE A GENOCIDE TAKING PLACE, YOU MUST UNDERSTAND IT WAS THE UN THAT DECLARED WHAT HAPPENED TO THE JEWS DURING THE HOLOCAUST A GENOCIDE.

SO WHY IS IT WHEN THE UN GOES AHEAD AND ADMITS THE ICJ RULING, WHICH THE UN BACKED AND SAID THAT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN GAZA IS A GENOCIDE, WHY ARE WE AFRAID TO SPEAK OUT? WHY COULD WE CRITICIZE THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES IN AMERICA? BUT WE CAN'T SAY A WORD ABOUT ISRAEL.

I'M A MUSLIM.

I ATTACK THE GOVERNMENTS OF SAUDI ARABIA AND EGYPT AND OTHERS LIKE IT ALL THE TIME.

I DON'T HESITATE. IT'S A GOVERNMENT.

WHY CAN'T I CRITICIZE THE GOVERNMENT OF ISRAEL WITHOUT BEING LABELED ANTI-SEMITIC? IT'S A GOVERNMENT.

TENS OF THOUSANDS OF JEWS CONDEMNED THE RACIST APARTHEID STATE OF ISRAEL.

TENS OF THOUSANDS OF JEWS ARE BEATEN DAILY IN ISRAEL.

I CHALLENGE ANY ONE OF YOU, ANY ONE OF YOU.

I WILL FLY YOU TO PALESTINE MYSELF, AND I WILL SHOW YOU WHAT YOUR VERY OWN EYES.

AND I DARE YOU TO SAY THAT YOU ARE NOT WITNESSING APARTHEID.

I HAVE FRIENDS, FRIENDS, CAUCASIAN, WHITE FRIENDS, AND I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE THEIR NAMES BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT ISRAEL TO KNOW THAT THEY'RE CONNECTED TO ME.

AND I'M FLYING HIM TO PALESTINE SO THEY COULD SEE FOR THEMSELVES WITH THEIR VERY OWN EYES, SO THEY COULD EDUCATE THEIR FAMILIES.

THAT IS BRAINWASHED BY WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON.

YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, YOU CANNOT KEEP SITTING BACK AND ACTING LIKE AS IF.

WHAT DIFFERENCE I CAN MAKE.

THAT'S WHY SLAVERY TOOK FOREVER TO END.

THAT'S WHY SEGREGATION TOOK FOREVER TO END.

AREN'T YOU EVER AREN'T YOU EVER SICKENED ENOUGH TO SEE PEOPLE DYING? DON'T YOU WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE? IT STARTED WAY BEFORE OCTOBER 7TH.

YESTERDAY, THE ANTIWAR COMMITTEE SHOWED A FILM IN MINNEAPOLIS CALLED FIVE BROKEN CAMERAS.

IT WAS AN AMAZING DOCUMENTARY THAT WAS NOMINATED FOR AN OSCAR.

AND IT STARTED WAY BEFORE OCTOBER 7TH.

THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO HAD TO WALK OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FILM BECAUSE THEY WERE CRYING, BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T HANDLE WHAT THEY SAW.

EVERYTHING'S OUT THERE.

YOU CANNOT KEEP THE REFUTING THE TRUTH.

DO YOU KNOW THAT SINCE THE 70S.

INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS.

INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS.

THE UN KEEPS TELLING ISRAEL WE WANT INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS IN ISRAEL AND LET THEM DOCUMENT.

DOCUMENT FOR THE REST OF US, FOR THE WORLD TO SEE WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON.

ISRAEL IS THE ONE THAT KEEPS SAYING NO, AND IT ONLY TAKES ONE POWER TO VETO IT, AND THE US KEEPS VETOING IT.

[01:15:07]

WHAT DO THEY HAVE TO HIDE? IT'S LIKE ME COMING TO YOU AND SAYING, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR NEIGHBORS ARE SAYING? THAT YOU'RE KILLING CHILDREN AND BURYING IT IN YOUR BACKYARD.

YOU IF YOU HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE, YOU DON'T MIND.

CORRECT. SO THEN WHY IS ISRAEL ALWAYS DENYING INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS? I'VE BEEN THERE SEVERAL TIMES.

I SAW ONE MYSELF.

APARTHEID IS APARTHEID.

THESE PEOPLE BEHIND ME.

EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM.

DOESN'T MATTER WHAT COLOR THE SKIN IS, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT ETHNICITY.

DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THEIR GENDER IS.

IF AN ARMED PERSON COMES IN RIGHT NOW, I WILL RISK THEIR LIFE.

EXCUSE ME? RISK MY LIFE TO SAVE THESE PEOPLE AND YOU IN HERE.

BECAUSE IT'S MY BELIEF THAT I MUST RISK MY LIFE TO SAVE AN INNOCENT LIFE.

ALL IT TAKES FOR YOU IS A PEN.

AND YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO SAVE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF LIVES.

THE WORD IS CEASE FIRE.

LET THAT SINK IN FOR A MOMENT.

BOTH SIDES STOP ATTACKING.

EVERYONE STOPS.

TAKES A PEN FROM YOUR HAND.

OR DO YOU WANT TO BE LIKE THE SAME CITY COUNCIL MEMBER ACROSS AMERICA THAT STOOD QUIET WHEN AFRICAN AMERICANS WERE BEING LYNCHED IN THIS COUNTRY? OR DO YOU WANT TO BE THE SAME THAT ALLOWED SLAVERY TO HAPPEN IN THIS COUNTRY, OR DO YOU WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE? SO IT'S NOT JUST CEASE FIRE NOW.

IT'S STAND UP FOR HUMANITY.

THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

AND I, I WE WERE THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING IN, SO I DO JUST WANT TO, SAY AGAIN THAT, WHEN YOU SPEAK, I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOUR RELATION IS TO COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

NOT THAT WHAT YOU'RE SPEAKING ABOUT IS RELATED TO COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

SO EVERYTHING ANYONE SAYS HERE, I WILL ASSUME IS RELATED TO COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

IT'S MORE JUST, ARE YOU A RESIDENT OR ARE YOU VISITING? SO JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS CLEAR, BUT I KNOW MANY PEOPLE WERE COMING IN AND FINDING PARKING, SO MAYBE PEOPLE DIDN'T HEAR THAT AT THE BEGINNING.

AND THEN ALSO PEOPLE MAY NOT HAVE HEARD THIS AT THE BEGINNING AS WELL.

WE DID START DISCUSSING A CEASEFIRE LAST WEEK, AND IT WILL BE FOR A VOTE AT THE COUNCIL ON FEBRUARY 26TH.

SO WE ARE WORKING ON THAT.

AND WHEN I SAY WE'RE WORKING ON IT, IT WILL BE FOR THE COUNCILS.

THE COUNCILS, HOW DO I PUT THAT? SORRY. CONSIDERATION.

YES. SO WE'RE WORKING ON IT TO THEN BRING FORTH TO THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER.

SO JUST SO YOU KNOW, WHERE WE'RE AT IN THE PROCESS, TO THE CITY CLERK.

CAROLYN LAINE WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

THANK YOU. WELCOME, CAROLYN.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND I WANT TO INTERRUPT THE SUBJECT AT HAND WITH A DIFFERENT SUBJECT SO THAT WE CAN GET BACK TO THAT.

I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON THE PART OF THE RECALL ELECTION SNAFU.

THAT BOTHERS ME THE MOST.

THE DEMOCRACY IN ACTION PART IS EXCELLENT, AND THE RULE OF LAW RESULT IS IMPORTANT AND EXCELLENT.

BUT WHAT BOTHERS ME IS THAT WE HAVE A CITY ATTORNEY HIRED TO PROVIDE CITY LEGAL ADVICE.

THIS ISN'T ONLY ADVICE IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTION OR TO DEAL WITH THE CITY'S LEGAL DOCUMENTS.

HE'S ALSO RESPONSIBLE TO KEEP US OUT OF LEGAL TROUBLE TO A POINT WHERE OUR ACTIONS MAY BE GOING THAT WON'T PASS THE MUSTER OF LAW.

WE ARE A CHARTER CITY, AND PART OF HIS CONTRACTED DUTIES IS TO WORK WITH THE CHARTER COMMISSION, AND PART OF THAT IS TO BE SURE THAT OUR CHARTER IS UP TO DATE REGARDING STATE LAW. IT IS OUR CHARTER THAT GIVES US PERMISSION TO DO A RECALL ELECTION.

STATUTORY CITIES CANNOT RECALL AN OFFICIAL.

HOWEVER, THE LANGUAGE OF THE OF OUR CHARTER IS SUPERSEDED BY STATE LAW IN MANY AREAS, INCLUDING THIS ONE, A RECALL COMMITTEE WAS FORMED AND WAS OPERATING OFF.

THE ONLY INFORMATION THEY AS PRIVATE CITIZENS HAD ARE CHARTER.

WHY DIDN'T THE PREVIOUS CITY COUNCIL CITY ATTORNEY, WHOM WE PAY TO KEEP US OUT OF LEGAL TROUBLES, TELL SOMEONE, SOMEONE THAT OUR CHARTER LANGUAGE WAS INCONSISTENT WITH STATE LAW REGARDING THE NEED TO PROVE MALFEASANCE IN ORDER TO CARRY OUT A RECALL ELECTION.

THE INFORMATION WAS READILY AVAILABLE TO ANY ATTORNEY.

IN FACT, I BUMPED INTO IT TOO LATE IN THE GAME AND WONDERED WHAT I MUST BE MISREADING THAT HAD IT HAD NOT BEEN BROUGHT UP BEFORE.

WHO COULD OUR ATTORNEY HAVE ADVISED ON THE PROBLEM THAT THE STRICT DEFINITION OF MALFEASANCE SUPERSEDED OUR CHARTER LANGUAGE? HE COULD HAVE CERTAINLY ADVISED THE CHARTER COMMISSION OF THE PROBLEM WITH OUR CHARTER LANGUAGE.

[01:20:03]

IT IS QUITE NORMAL TO BRING TO THE CHARTER COMMISSION A PROBLEM THAT IS CURRENTLY ON THE TABLE IN THE CITY, BUT FOR WHICH OUR CHARTER LANGUAGE IS OUT OF DATE.

WE'VE DONE THAT REPEATEDLY, ADDRESSING A CHANGE IN THE CHARTER FOR SOMETHING THAT THE CITY IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON THERE.

THIS COULD THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN INFORMATION THAT THE RECALL COMMITTEE NEEDED BEFORE GOING FORTH, EVEN THOUGH THE CHARTER COMMISSION WOULD HAVE HAD TO TAKE SEVERAL MONTHS TO MAKE THE CHANGE, THE KNOWLEDGE WOULD HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE EARLY ON.

HE COULD HAVE ADVISED THE COUNCIL THAT ACCEPTING THE RECALL PETITION AND SETTING INTO MOTION AN ELECTION WAS INADVISABLE.

HE CERTAINLY COULD HAVE SO INFORMED THE CITY MANAGER, PROBABLY THE PREVIOUS OR THE CURRENT ONE WHO WOULD HAVE COMMUNICATED WITH THE COUNCIL.

I PERSONALLY KNOW THAT THE PREVIOUS CITY ATTORNEY WAS ABSENT FROM THE CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING, AT WHICH QUESTIONS COULD HAVE BEEN ASKED, AND HE WOULD HAVE INFORMED US ABOUT THE LEGAL DEFINITION OF MALFEASANCE.

HE ONLY SENT TO THE COMMISSION A LAST MINUTE EMAIL ANSWER TO ONE QUESTION.

TO PUT THIS ANOTHER WAY, WHO SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE RECALL COMMITTEE, THE RESIDENTS? OUR CITY ATTORNEY AT THE TIME IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ENSUING WASTE OF TAX DOLLARS.

WE WERE REPRESENTED AT THE SUPREME COURT BY AN ATTORNEY WHO MADE THE BEST ARGUMENT HE COULD FOR US, BUT I ASSUME HE HIMSELF KNEW IT WAS A FOOL'S ERRAND.

THE CONSTITUTION, STATE LAW, AND THE 1959 COURT CASE MADE IT AN EASY DECISION FOR THE COURT.

OUR CITY CERTAINLY DESERVES QUALITY LEGAL SUPPORT.

I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT WE HAVE BEEN PROVIDED LESS THAN ADEQUATE SUPPORT, AND OUR COMMUNITY IS LEFT BEWILDERED.

IF I WERE YOU, I WOULD BE RECONSIDERING THE SOURCE OF OUR LEGAL SUPPORT.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

LAURA DAWLEY WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

THANK YOU.

THAT WAS LAURA DAWLEY.

IF SHE IS STILL THERE, SHE IS OUT IN THE LOBBY.

NO WORRIES.

CROWDED HOUSE.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

AND THANKS FOR EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE.

IT'S AMAZING TO SEE, CIVIL ENGAGEMENT AT WORK.

AND SO IF THERE'S ANY QUESTION GOING BACK, TO MAYOR, YOUR POINT OF WE DON'T NEED TO EXPLAIN WHY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS RELATING TO LOCAL ISSUES. I DO THINK IT NEEDS TO BE EMPHASIZED.

PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM, INCLUDING PEOPLE ON THE DAIS WHEN I RAN FOR OFFICE IN 2020, QUESTIONED MY RUNNING BECAUSE THEY SAID THAT I WAS TOO MUCH ABOUT GLOBAL ISSUES.

AND SO I WANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR, THAT I DO LIKE, SUPPORT AND STAND WITH THE STATEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE ALREADY ABOUT WHY A CEASE FIRE RESOLUTION, EVEN THOUGH ABOUT A CONFLICT THAT'S THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY, IS AN EXTREMELY LOCAL ISSUE.

WE HAVE SO MANY PALESTINIAN NEIGHBORS IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, AND SO I'M HERE TO NOT ONLY SUPPORT OUR CITY COUNCIL PASSING A CEASE FIRE RESOLUTION, BUT ONE THAT HAS SOME OF THE STRONGEST LANGUAGE IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY AND STATE.

WHY? BECAUSE.

WE MUST AS A, AS A COMMUNITY THAT IS SO REPRESENTED BY, REPRESENTED BY PALESTINIAN AMERICANS, BY PALESTINIAN NEIGHBORS.

IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT THEY ARE FRONT AND CENTER IN THE LANGUAGE THAT THIS RESOLUTION HAS.

AND SO I REALLY JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT POINT.

AND TWO REALLY CRITICAL THINGS TO THAT END ARE ONE, ACKNOWLEDGING WHAT SPECIFICALLY IS HAPPENING AND CALLING OUT, THE GOVERNMENT OF ISRAEL AND BY PROXY, OUR OWN GOVERNMENT FOR WHAT WE ARE PERPETRATING UPON, THE PEOPLE OF PALESTINE.

AND THAT IS GENOCIDE.

IT MAKES ME SICK.

AS SOMEONE WITH, WHO'S NEITHER JEWISH NOR PALESTINIAN, BUT I DO HAVE GERMAN ANCESTRY.

AND SO TO WATCH PEOPLE INVOKE, THE HOLOCAUST AS A REASON TO PERPETRATE YET ANOTHER GENOCIDE.

IS IS DISCUSSING AND IT'S IT'S HYPOCRITICAL.

AND ADDITIONALLY, I'M A CHRISTIAN.

I GREW UP CATHOLIC.

AND SO FOR WHAT THAT MEANS FOR ANYONE WHO'S, CHRISTIAN.

I THINK ABOUT WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE IF JESUS WAS BORN TODAY? AMONGST THE RUBBLE OF OF GAZA? AND I KNOW THAT IF HE WERE ALIVE TODAY, HE WOULD BE OUT IN THE STREETS WITH THE PEOPLE FIGHTING FOR THE LIBERATION OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE.

[01:25:07]

AND IN OUR WORLD, I TRULY BELIEVE THAT NONE OF US ARE FREE UNTIL WE ARE ALL FREE.

AND SO, JUST TO WRAP UP, I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE IT'S SO CRITICAL THAT THIS RESOLUTION CONTAIN LANGUAGE SPECIFICALLY CONDEMNING AND CONDEMNING THE GENOCIDE OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE PERPETRATED BY THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT, AND ALSO CALLING ON OUR STATE AND LOCAL LEADERS TO DIVEST FROM APARTHEID, AS HAS BEEN SAID, TO ASK OUR STATE BOARD OF INVESTMENTS TO DIVEST FROM ISRAELI COMPANIES AND GOVERNMENT BONDS.

COMPANIES LIKE ELBIT, WHO IS A DEFENSE CONTRACTOR, IN ISRAEL AND, YOU KNOW, EVEN OUR LOCAL WEAPONS MANUFACTURERS RIGHT HERE AT HOME. SO, YEAH, I HOPE THAT WE CAN BRING A RESOLUTION THAT, AGAIN, IS ONE OF THE STRONGEST AND CAN SHOW THAT THIS ISSUE SHOULDN'T BE DIVISIVE.

IF ANYONE THINKS IT'S, RADICAL, I WOULD ASK YOU WHAT'S MORE RADICAL TO CALL FOR ENDING, A GENOCIDE, CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE, CALLING FOR FREEDOM OR STANDING WITH OUR STATE, FEDERAL AND GLOBAL PARTNERS IN SUPPORTING A STATE GOVERNMENT THAT'S PERPETRATING SAID GENOCIDE.

SO. YEAH.

THANK YOU.

DAGGER. SHIBALBA WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

THANK YOU. WELCOME, DECA.

ASSALAMU ALAIKUM.

PEACE AND BLESSINGS BE UPON YOU ALL.

MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M HERE TO FIRST SAY THANK YOU.

I'VE SAID MANY TIMES AT THIS PODIUM.

THANK YOU FOR.

FOR YOU SEEING ME AS A MUSLIM, BLACK, SOMALI AMERICAN.

SOMETIMES I'M INVISIBLE.

TODAY I STOOD LISTENING TO THE HIJAB PROCLAMATION.

YOU AFFIRMED MY IDENTITY, WELCOMING ME LIKE ALWAYS.

IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, YOU HAVE BROUGHT UP THE PERIOD POVERTY PROCLAMATION AFFIRMING ME AS A WOMAN.

YOU HAVE BROUGHT SAFETY, AFFIRMING ME AGAIN AS AN IMMIGRANT.

AND AGAIN TONIGHT I WANT YOU TO SEE MY OTHER SIDE.

IF YOU LISTEN TO HOW I IDENTIFIED MYSELF, MUSLIM WAS MY FIRST IDENTIFICATION.

I AM MUSLIM FIRST.

I WILL ALWAYS BE MUSLIM.

I AM NOT PALESTINIAN.

I DON'T HAVE FAMILY IN PALESTINE.

BUT THEY ARE MY BRETHRENS AND THEY ARE MY SISTERS AND MY CHILDRENS.

THEY NOTICE THOSE OTHER CHILDRENS UNDER THE RUBBLE AS THEMSELVES.

YOU RECOGNIZE MY CHILDREN? YOU RECOGNIZE MY CHILDREN TO LIVE PEACEFULLY IN THIS CITY WITH THEIR HIJAB FULL OF GALORE, WITH THEIR SKIN COLOR, WITH THEIR NAMES THAT SOME OF YOU ALL COULD NOT ENUNCIATE BY MY NAME.

MY NAME IS NOWADAGA, IT'S DHAKA, BUT IT'S OKAY.

YOU CAN SAY DEGA ANYTIME YOU HAVE WELCOMED US.

BUT PLEASE.

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS IS KNOWN FOR DIVERSITY AND THEIR HUMANITARIAN RIGHTS.

I KNOW THAT RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF POLITICS.

WE NEED TO WORK ON LANGUAGE.

WE NEED TO WORK ON HOW THIS SHOULD GO AND HOW THAT SHOULD GO.

BUT WHEN WE COME BACK ON THE 26TH, I HOPE THAT IT IS VOTED WITH ALL EYES AND IT PASSES.

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS IS MY CITY.

I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE SUBURBAN CITIES.

THIS IS MY CITY.

HOME OF ALTADENA, HOME OF FILFLA, HOME OF BIG MARINA, HOME OF THE HILLS.

HOME OF THE FIRST MOSQUE IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

MY HOME.

SO I HOPE THAT YOU WILL GO WITH THE I FOR THE CEASE FIRE.

AND I HOPE THAT TONIGHT, THIS MOMENT, ALL OF US, WE PRAY.

WE PRAY FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE THE LIBERTY WE HAVE RIGHT NOW TO SPEAK OUR VOICE.

WE PRAY FOR THOSE WHO ARE BEING PRAYED FOR WHAT THEY WORSHIP.

AND WE ASK FOR PEACE, NOT ONLY IN PALESTINE, BUT WHEREVER IN THIS WORLD.

BECAUSE AS A MUSLIM, I BELIEVE THAT ALL LIVES MATTER.

NOW, IF REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU WORSHIP, YOU MATTER AND I SHOULD SAVE YOU.

[01:30:03]

PLEASE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS SAVE THE HUMANITY.

THANK YOU.

SANTA CLAUS WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING, CITY COUNCIL, AND THANKS TO EVERYBODY THAT SHOWED UP FOR THE DAY.

I WANT TO ECHO EVERYTHING THAT THE FELLOW SPEAKERS JUST SPOKE ABOUT, BUT I ALSO JUST WANT TO SPEAK TO A COUPLE OF MORE REASONS WHY I BELIEVE THIS IS NOT A FOREIGN ISSUE, BUT THIS IS THE MOST LOCAL ISSUE THAT COLUMBIA HEIGHTS COULD BE WEIGHING IN ON.

NOW. FIRST, I KNOW YOU GUYS ASKED HOW TO IDENTIFY MYSELF IN RELATION TO COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

I'M A. FIRST OF ALL, I'M AN ORGANIZER WITH AMERICAN MUSLIMS FOR PALESTINE AND WITH THE FREE PALESTINE COALITION, WHICH INCLUDES MANY CONSTITUENTS OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

I'M CLOSE FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCES WITH PEOPLE THAT HAVE SPOKEN UP HERE TODAY, AND ALSO PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE AUDIENCE AND THAT ARE CONSTITUENTS OF YOU GUYS AS ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES THAT HAVE LOST FAMILY MEMBERS IN GAZA.

I'VE GROWN UP WITHIN THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AREA, IN YOUR ROBUST COMMUNITY OF PALESTINIAN BUSINESSES, OF MUSLIM OWNED BUSINESSES THAT HAVE WORKED TO AMPLIFY THE PALESTINIAN COMMUNITY AND THEIR RICH CULTURE.

AND FOR THIS REASON, I BELIEVE THAT IT IS THE PLACE OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL TO STAND NOT ONLY FOR A CEASE FIRE, BUT AN END TO THE OCCUPATION THAT HAS PUT US IN THIS POSITION TO BEGIN WITH, THAT WE ARE WITNESSING RIGHT NOW.

SO I WANT TO SPEAK TO A FEW REASONS WHY I BELIEVE THIS IS NOT A FOREIGN ISSUE.

I WANT TO ELABORATE ON A FEW THINGS.

FIRST OF ALL, IN THE 1980S IT WAS MUNICIPALITIES LIKE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, LIKE MINNEAPOLIS, LIKE HASTINGS, LIKE MUNICIPALITIES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY THAT TOOK A STAND AGAINST THE APARTHEID REGIME IN SOUTH AFRICA.

AND IT WAS THIS GRASSROOTS CHANGE THAT EVENTUALLY LED TO THE DISMANTLEMENT OF THE APARTHEID SYSTEM.

CHANGE HAPPENS FROM THE BOTTOM UP.

I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN AFFECT THE SAME KIND OF CHANGE RIGHT HERE IN THIS CHAMBER.

SO FOUR REASONS WHY WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A LOCAL ISSUE.

THE FIRST REASON IS COLUMBIA HEIGHTS TAXPAYERS ARE FUNDING THIS AT THE EXPENSE OF THEIR OWN LOCAL INSTITUTIONS.

WE'VE HAD SPEAKERS HERE TODAY TALK ABOUT EDUCATION, TALK ABOUT ISSUES THAT AFFECT THEIR LOCAL CONSTITUENTS.

THESE INSTITUTIONS ARE LOSING OUT ON FUNDING BECAUSE OF THE ALLOCATION OF OUR TAX DOLLARS TO A FOREIGN MILITARY THAT IS SLAUGHTERING PALESTINIANS, AND MASS THAT IS SLAUGHTERING THE FAMILIES OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

AND TO QUANTIFY $314,057 OF TAXPAYER FUNDING FROM COLUMBIA HEIGHTS CONSTITUENTS ARE FUNDING THE ISRAELI MILITARY EVERY YEAR.

IF YOU TAKE THIS, IF YOU TAKE THESE TAX DOLLARS AND YOU DO SOME CALCULATIONS, THIS COULD GO TOWARDS APPROXIMATELY 894 HOUSEHOLDS WITH SOLAR ELECTRICITY.

IT COULD ALSO GO TOWARDS 109 KIDS WITH LOW COST OR FREE HEALTH CARE, RIGHT HERE IN YOUR CITY.

THIS IS ABOUT OUR CHILDREN.

THIS IS ABOUT OUR INSTITUTIONS AND THE HEALTH OF OUR PLANET, OUR CLIMATE THAT IS LOSING OUT BECAUSE OF FUNDING TO A FOREIGN MILITARY THAT IS MASS DISPLACING PALESTINIAN PEOPLE.

SO THAT'S THE FIRST REASON.

THE SECOND REASON IS, I TALKED ABOUT COLUMBIA HEIGHTS RESIDENTS LOSING THEIR FAMILIES, THE GHAZALA FAMILY, THE ABU AMO FAMILY, WHICH ARE ACTUALLY HERE IN THE AUDIENCE.

AND I THINK IT'D BE VITAL FOR THEM TO COME UP AND SPEAK TODAY.

BUT THE THIRD REASON IS, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NOBODY HAS MENTIONED, OUR TAXPAYER MONEY, THE VICTIMS OF ISRAEL'S WAR CRIMES ARE NOT AS FAR AS WE THINK THEY ARE.

OUR TAXPAYER MONEY IS FUNDING A DEADLY EXCHANGE BETWEEN US POLICE AND THE IDF, A DEADLY EXCHANGE IN WHICH THESE TWO INSTITUTIONS ARE SHARING BRUTAL TACTICS THAT ARE BEING USED TO SLAUGHTER BLACK AND BROWN AMERICANS RIGHT HERE AT HOME.

MINNEAPOLIS AND THE MINNESOTA AND TWIN CITIES COMMUNITY IS NOT A STRANGER TO EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLING OF CIVILIANS.

WE HAVE SEEN.

WHEN DEREK CHAUVIN KNEELED ON THE NECK OF GEORGE FLOYD IN 2020, THE OUTCRY THAT THIS PROMPTED, BECAUSE OF DECADES OF THIS SAME KIND OF BEHAVIOR BEING LEVERAGED AGAINST OUR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT THAT MANEUVER, THE NEON NECK MANEUVER THAT WAS ACTUALLY TAUGHT BY THE ISRAELI DEFENSE FORCE? THE VICTIMS ARE RIGHT HERE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

THE VICTIMS ARE RIGHT HERE IN THE TWIN CITIES.

AS A CITY THAT IS ADJACENT TO MINNEAPOLIS, OUR RESIDENTS COULD BE THE NEXT ONES THAT ARE VICTIMS TO ISRAELI INSTITUTIONAL VIOLENCE.

THE FOURTH REASON IS THAT WE HAVE SEEN AN EXPLOSION OF HATE CRIMES AGAINST CONSTITUENTS RIGHT HERE IN THE TWIN CITIES, AND WE KNOW THAT COLUMBIA HEIGHTS RESIDENTS COULD

[01:35:07]

WE HAVE SEEN THAT SABRINA YAHIA WAS STABBED.

A MUSLIM WOMAN, A MUSLIM HIJABI WOMAN, WAS STABBED ON FRANKLIN AVENUE, RIGHT IN MINNEAPOLIS.

WE HAVE SEEN THAT A SIX YEAR OLD IN CHICAGO WAS STABBED TO DEATH IN HIS OWN APARTMENT.

WE HAVE SEEN THAT THREE VERMONT STUDENTS WERE SHOT BECAUSE OF WEARING A GARB JUST LIKE THIS, A KEFFIYEH.

WE SEE PEOPLE RIGHT HERE IN OUR AUDIENCE TODAY THAT ARE WEARING THIS GARB.

AND HOW DO WE NOT KNOW THAT WHEN THEY WALK OUT HERE TONIGHT, THEY COULD BE NEXT.

NEXT ON THE LIST TO FACE THE HATE CRIMES.

SO THESE ARE THE FOUR REASONS.

BUT I WANT TO JUST END IT WITH THIS ONE THING MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL OR EXCUSE ME, COLUMBIA HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL.

WE CANNOT STOP AT A CEASE FIRE.

I AM DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF YOU TODAY THAT HAVE VALIDATED OUR VOICES AND HAVE SAID THAT WE HEAR YOU, WE HEAR YOUR TRAUMAS, AND WE.

WE ARE SUPPORTING A CEASEFIRE, BUT WE CANNOT STOP THERE.

I URGE ALL OF YOU TO CONSIDER STRONG LANGUAGE IN THIS RESOLUTION THAT DOESN'T OPT FOR BANDAGE SOLUTIONS, DOESN'T OPT FOR STOPPING THE VIOLENCE AND LETTING ALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN GAZA THAT HAS CRUMBLED CONTINUE TO CRUMBLE.

LET ALL THE CHILDREN, NINE AND TEN CHILDREN WHO ARE STARVING, WHO GO AT LEAST A DAY WITHOUT FOOD, LET THOSE CHILDREN CONTINUE TO SUFFER FROM LIFELONG DISEASES, LIFELONG TRAUMA. WE NEED TO END THE OCCUPATION.

WE NEED TO END THE FUNDING TOWARDS THE ISRAELI MILITARY, AND WE NEED TO DIVEST AND PUT SANCTIONS.

EVEN I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS LANGUAGE SANCTIONS ON THE APARTHEID REGIME OF ISRAEL, SANCTIONS ON THE GENOCIDE MACHINE.

THAT IS WHAT WE NEED TO SEE.

THAT IS WHAT I WANT TO SEE IN THIS RESOLUTION.

I WANT I WANT THIS RESOLUTION TO BE DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR WALZ, WHO SITS ON THE SBI.

I WANT IT TO BE ON BIDEN'S DESK FOR HIM TO SEE THAT THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS STOOD STRONG, THAT WE SAID WE WILL CHALLENGE THE STATUS QUO AND WE WILL NEVER, EVER AGAIN LET ONE MORE NICKEL GO TOWARDS THE GENOCIDAL MACHINE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. EDITOR HIGGINS WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

THANK YOU. EDITOR.

HIGGINS.

WELCOME. WELCOME.

THANK YOU FOR ALL MY READERS.

MADAM MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY.

I'M A RESIDENT HERE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

AND I WANT TO TALK TO YOU TODAY ABOUT A PHONE CALL I HEARD TWO WEEKS AGO OF SIX YEAR OLD HENRY.

JOB DETAILS ARE STARTING TO COME OUT NOW AS TO WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED.

THE DAY THAT SHE MADE A DESPERATE PHONE CALL TO THE EMERGENCY SERVICES.

SHE WAS ESCAPING WITH HER FAMILY FROM THE CONSTANT BOMBARDMENT ON A SO-CALLED SAFE ROUTE FROM THE NORTH OF GAZA TO THE SOUTH, WHERE THE ISRAELI MILITARY TOLD ALL THE PALESTINIAN CIVILIANS TO GO.

THESE SOLDIERS FIRED UPON THE CAR WITH TANK SHELLS, BOMBS AND GUNFIRE, DESTROYING THE CAR HENRY WAS IN.

ALL HER FAMILY MEMBERS WERE KILLED IMMEDIATELY, EXCEPT FOR HER.

IT WAS A MIRACLE SHE SURVIVED.

OF COURSE. HANDED WHAT WE TEACH MOST KIDS IN THIS WORLD TO DO IN THIS EMERGENCY SITUATION.

SHE CALLED EMERGENCY SERVICES.

SHE SAT ON THE PHONE WITH THEM, PLEADING FOR THEM TO COME GET HER.

THE EMERGENCY SERVICES WAS VERY PATIENT WITH HER AND SENT AN AMBULANCE TO GO GET HER.

THE AMBULANCE WAS GIVEN CLEARANCE BY THE SOLDIERS AND WHEN THE AMBULANCE GOT CLOSE TO THE CAR, THE ISRAELI MILITARY FIRED ON THE AMBULANCE, DESTROYING IT AND KILLING THE SIX YEAR OLD GIRL AND THE TWO AMBULANCE WORKERS.

WE THINK THEY DIED THEN, BUT WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE BECAUSE THE MILITARY LEADERSHIP REFUSED TO ALLOW ANYBODY NEAR THE VEHICLES FOR ALMOST 12 DAYS SHOOTING AND BOMBING.

ANYBODY WHO GOT NEAR THE GAZA STRIP IS OCCUPIED.

PALESTINE IN OCCUPIED PALESTINE HAS BEEN FLATTENED, DESTROYED BY AMERICAN BOMBS THAT WE HAVE READILY SUPPLIED TO THEM TO DEFEND THEMSELVES.

THE LAST REFUGE IN THE PRESENT CONCENTRATION CAMP THAT IS GAZA IS RAFAH, WHICH IS ON THE SOUTHERNMOST TIP ADJACENT TO EGYPT.

1.5 MILLION REFUGEES ARE THERE TAKING SHELTER IN PLASTIC TENTS, WITH THE ISRAELIS TOLD THEM TO GO.

WHILE MOST OF THE COUNTRY IS WATCHING THE SUPER BOWL LAST NIGHT, THE ISRAELIS USED THE DISTRACTION TO BOMB RAFAH.

[01:40:03]

PALESTINE IS ONE OF THE MOST EDUCATED COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD.

LITERACY RATE ARE LIKE 95%.

AND LINKEDIN IS FILLED WITH PALESTINIANS POSTING THESE IMAGES PLEADING FOR US TO STOP KILLING THEIR WHOLE FAMILY LINEAGES, INCLUDING HENRY JOBS AND MANY FAMILIES RIGHT HERE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

FOUR MONTHS AGO, I DIDN'T KNOW ANY OF MY DISTANT RELATIVES HISTORY.

MY ENGLISH AND IRISH RELATIVES HAVE BEEN ON THESE SHORES FOR AT LEAST 400 YEARS, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHEN MY POLISH ASHKENAZI FAMILY GOT HERE.

YET MY FAMILY HAS FOUGHT FOR THIS COUNTRY MANY TIMES IN MANY DIFFERENT WARS, INCLUDING MY GRANDFATHER STATIONED IN PARIS DURING WORLD WAR TWO AND MY FATHER IN VIETNAM. I MYSELF AM A UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS VETERAN.

AS AN AMERICAN, FOR ALL OUR FAULTS, I BELIEVED IN THIS COUNTRY TO HAVE ONE CORE FUNCTION THAT NO MATTER HOW HARD IT GOT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, I TRULY BELIEVED THAT I COULD COUNT ON AMERICA TO STOP THE NEXT HOLOCAUST.

WITH ALL MY KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE, I WAS NAIVE ENOUGH TO BELIEVE AMERICA WOULD STOP A GENOCIDE WHEREVER IT WAS HAPPENING.

THAT NEVER AGAIN MEANT NEVER AGAIN.

AFTER FOUR MONTHS OF EDUCATING MYSELF ON WHAT I DON'T KNOW, I DIDN'T KNOW.

I KNOW ALL OF THIS TO BE A LIE.

MY WHOLE WORLD VIEW IS COMPLETELY DESTROYED.

SHATTERED. MY IDENTITY IS LOST AND MY FAITH IN THIS COUNTRY IS GONE.

AND IT BREAKS MY HEART.

AT THE VERY BARE MINIMUM, ALL WE'RE ASKING IS FOR YOU TO JOIN MANY COUNTRIES AND MANY AMERICAN CITIES AND VOTE FOR A CEASE FIRE RESOLUTION. BECAUSE BASIC HUMAN DECENCY IS ALL WE HAVE LEFT.

REST IN POWER IN RAJAB.

WE SHOULD HAVE DONE BETTER.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. I WOULD ACTUALLY ASK TO HAVE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS.

FROM THIS, I JUST.

I FEEL LIKE WE NEED A BREAK OF FIVE MINUTES, PLEASE.

SORRY. YES. SO, JUST REALLY QUICK, COULD YOU GO TO THE MICROPHONE? I'LL LET YOU DO THAT. THAT'S FINE, BUT IT'S MY FAULT.

I FORGOT TO SAY THIS, SO HOPEFULLY YOU GUYS KNOW.

BUT IF YOU DON'T LIKE, LIKE I SAID, I LIVED HERE MY WHOLE LIFE.

MAJORITY OF AMERICANS DON'T KNOW THAT 30 TO 35% OF PALESTINIANS ARE CHRISTIAN.

THE OLDEST PALESTINIANS IN THE WORLD ARE CHRISTIAN.

I KNOW IT'S SAD, BUT I HAVE TO ALWAYS REMIND, ESPECIALLY THE YOUNG FAMILY AND FRIENDS I HAVE, THAT I FOUND OVER THE YEARS THAT MORE AMERICANS ONLY CARE. I KNOW IT'S SAD, BUT IT IS CHANGING.

BUT THROUGHOUT MY LIFE I FOUND AMERICANS.

MAJORITY OF THEM, NOT ALL MAJORITY OF THEM, ONLY CARE IF THEY FOUND OUT THAT EVERYTHING THAT YOU JUST HEARD ALSO IS HAPPENING TO CHRISTIANS.

I'VE SEEN IT WITH MY OWN EYES, SO IF THAT'S ALL IT TAKES FOR YOU TO CARE, THEN ANYTHING.

JUST PLEASE UNDERSTAND 30 TO 35% OF THE PALESTINIANS, THE PEOPLE WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT ARE ALSO CHRISTIAN.

SO PLEASE DO YOUR BEST.

WHATEVER IT TAKES TO MOTIVATE YOU, PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THIS HAPPENS TO BE CHRISTIANS AS WELL.

PLEASE TRY TO REMEMBER THAT.

IT'S SAD THAT I HAVE TO SAY IT, BUT IT IS THE TRUTH.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

AND THE FIVE MINUTES ISN'T TO JUST.

I JUST NEED TO STAND UP.

AND I'M HAPPY TO, YOU KNOW, JUST TO BE HERE IN COMMUNITY WITH PEOPLE.

BUT I JUST THOUGHT A FIVE MINUTE BREAK TO, GIVE US A TIME TO STAND UP AND TAKE A DEEP BREATH.

THANK YOU.

SO PRESENT AND CORRECT.

I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE EVERYONE HAVING A CHANCE TO STAND AND STAND AND TAKE A LITTLE WALK AND TAKE SOME DEEP BREATHS.

AS WE ALL KNOW, THIS IS.

VERY, VERY HEAVY EMOTIONAL TRAGEDY.

TRAGIC. I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S FLEXIBILITY WITH TAKING A BREAK SO THAT WE COULD TAKE A STRETCH, TAKE A DEEP BREATH. REMIND OURSELVES WE'RE IN COMMUNITY HERE.

AS I HAVE SAID AS WELL, THAT THIS CEASE FIRE, YOU KNOW, AS I SAID, THE COUNCIL IS DISCUSSING, WE ARE VOTING ON IT ON FEBRUARY 26TH.

IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK IF ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK WOULD LIKE TO HOLD THEIR SPEECH UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING.

[01:45:08]

I FEEL SO HONORED TO BE IN A POSITION AND A PLACE TO HEAR WHAT OUR COMMUNITY IS GOING THROUGH.

AND BALANCING WITH THE REST OF OUR MEETING THAT WE NEED FOR REGULAR BUSINESS, AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE TO BRING IT UP.

IT IS JUST A REALITY OF THE ROLE OF BEING MAYOR.

BEING ON THE COUNCIL IS WE ALSO HAVE OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES TO OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL.

SO WE DO HAVE TEN PEOPLE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK WITH THE CITY CLERK, AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ASK ONE IF WE COULD KEEP OUR COMMENTS TO 3 TO 5 MINUTES, IF WE'D LIKE TO GET THROUGH EVERYONE.

BUT IF THERE'S ANYONE WHOSE NAME IS CALLED AND THEY ARE WILLING TO COME BACK ON FEBRUARY 26TH, THIS CONVERSATION IS NOT FINISHED AND I IN NO WAY WOULD WANT ANYONE TO FEEL THAT THAT WE DO NOT WANT TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE.

BUT I ALSO KNOW PEOPLE MIGHT BE.

IT'S GETTING LATE FOR YOU AS WELL.

AND SO YOU MAY FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO COME BACK, BUT IT'S VERY MUCH UP TO YOU.

I JUST WANTED TO OFFER THAT UP.

SO THANK YOU. AND I BELIEVE WE CAN GET STARTED AS WELL.

SO I WILL ASK THE CITY CLERK TO READ THE FIRST PERSON'S NAME AND.

OR IF, YOU KNOW, IF YOU IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO NOT SPEAK TONIGHT, YOU COULD LET HER KNOW THAT AS WELL.

SO I'LL GO TO THE CITY CLERK AND ASK HER TO READ THE NEXT PERSON'S NAME.

AND LIKE I SAID, IF YOU'D LIKE TO POSTPONE AND SPEAK IN TWO WEEKS, YOU'RE VERY WELCOME.

AND OF COURSE, EVEN IF YOU SPOKE TONIGHT, YOU CAN COME BACK AGAIN IN TWO WEEKS.

TO THE CITY CLERK.

SIMA SHAQIRI WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

THANK YOU. THAT'S ME.

I WOULD ACTUALLY, LIKE TO GIVE MY.

THANK YOU.

DUNYA. ABU YOU KNOW, WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

WELCOME, DOUNIA. NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

THANK YOU. NICE TO SEE YOU, MAYOR.

MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS DUNYA ABU AMO.

I'M A RESIDENT OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

I ATTENDED ALL COLUMBIA HEIGHTS SCHOOLS, JUST AS ALL MY FIVE SIBLINGS ARE, AND I GRADUATED FROM COLUMBIA HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL IN 2020.

AND NOW I'M A STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

I AM PROUD TO BE A MEMBER AND RESIDENT OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AND ITS DIVERSE, CULTURALLY RICH, AND CLOSE KNIT COMMUNITY.

AS A PALESTINIAN-AMERICAN MUSLIM WOMAN, I HAVE ALWAYS FELT THAT MY IDENTITY WAS HONORED AND REPRESENTED IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, AND I HOPE IT WILL BE HONORED TODAY AND IN IN THE FUTURE.

WHEN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS VOTE ON A CEASE FIRE RESOLUTION THAT CALLS FOR THE END OF THE GENOCIDE OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE AND AN END TO THE EXTENSIVE SUPPORT AND MILITARY AID MINNESOTA AND THE US SENDS TO THE ISRAELI REGIME.

FOR THE PAST FOUR MONTHS, WE HAVE BEEN WITNESSES TO THE ATROCITIES AND GENOCIDE COMMITTED AGAINST 2 MILLION PEOPLE IN GAZA.

WE HAVE BEEN WITNESS TO THE MURDER, STARVATION AND DISPLACEMENT OF OUR FAMILIES FOR THE PAST 130 DAYS.

I WITNESSED MY COUSINS, KHALIL AND ALAA AND HER CHILDREN GET SENSELESSLY MURDERED BY THE ISRAELI REGIME.

ALAA WAS BOMBED INSIDE HER HOME AND SHE WAS KILLED WITH HER CHILDREN.

KHALIL WAS SHOT BY ISRAELI SNIPERS THAT WERE STATIONED OUTSIDE HIS HOME, AND HE BLED FOR THREE HOURS BECAUSE ANYONE THAT TRIED TO RESCUE HIM WAS ALSO SHOT AND KILLED.

WE HAVE NOT YET GRIEVED OR PROCESSED THEIR MURDER DUE TO THE ONGOING GENOCIDE AND THE DAILY MASSACRES COMMITTED BY ISRAEL.

MY FAMILY, WHO HAVE NOT LEFT THEIR HOMES IN THE NORTH, HAVE CONTINUED TO RESIST AGAINST THE ISRAELI REGIME AND ARE NOW EATING ANIMAL FEED.

THEY ARE EATING ANIMAL FEED, AND OUR TAX DOLLARS ARE SENT TO CONTINUE THEIR FOR STARVATION AND MASS MURDER.

FOR FOUR MONTHS, WE'VE BEEN WAITING TO HEAR ABOUT THE MURDER OF THE REST OF OUR FAMILIES, AS IF WAITING FOR THE FOR THEIR DEATH SENTENCE.

THE GENOCIDE IN GAZA IS NOT COMPLICATED OR COMPLEX, AND IT IS SHAMEFUL THAT THE WORLD HAS TURNED OUR GENOCIDE INTO A POLITICAL ISSUE WHERE INSTEAD OF FIGHTING TO END THE GENOCIDE IN GAZA, WE HAVE HAD TO DEFEND OURSELVES FROM THE FALSE NARRATIVE THAT EQUATES ANTI-ZIONISM WITH ANTI-SEMITISM.

A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR THE END OF THE AGGRESSION IN PALESTINE FOUR MONTHS INTO THE MASS GENOCIDE OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE IS THE BARE MINIMUM, AND IT IS MORALLY IMPERATIVE AND URGENT THAT A CITY AS DIVERSE AS COLUMBIA HEIGHTS JOIN MINNEAPOLIS AND OTHER CITIES AROUND THE NATION THAT HAVE STOOD

[01:50:05]

NOT ONLY IS IT URGENT THAT COLUMBIA HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS VOTE TO END THE GENOCIDE IN GAZA, BUT IT IS ALSO CRUCIAL THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS VOTE AND PROTECT AND WORK TO PROTECT AND SUPPORT THEIR PALESTINIAN RESIDENTS BY CONDEMNING THE VIOLENCE AND THE GENOCIDE COMMITTED BY THE ISRAELI REGIME ON THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE. WORK TO CONDEMN THE VIOLENCE AND ETHNIC CLEANSING OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE THAT HAS OCCURRED FOR THE PAST 75 PLUS YEARS, AND TO DEMAND AN END OF THE US AID TO ISRAEL THAT IS USED TO SURVEIL, MURDER AND ETHNICALLY CLEANSE OUR FAMILIES.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO SHOW UP FOR PALESTINE UNTIL COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AND LEADERS THAT WE PUT IN POWER TO SERVE AND REPRESENT US.

VOTE FOR A CEASEFIRE AND STOP THE KILLING.

THANK YOU.

OH. YOU KNOW.

WE'LL HAVE TO PUT A LITTLE PROTECTIVE SCREEN ON THAT OR SOMETHING.

IT'S A NEW CITY HALL, SO WE'RE STILL FIGURING OUT ALL THE TECHNOLOGIES.

NAIMA AL-ZAHRA WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

HELLO. MY NAME IS NIMA.

I LIVE IN SPRING LAKE PARK, BUT I AM OFTEN IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

I'VE BEEN TO YORK HEIGHTS THEATER 15 TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR.

CALENDAR YEAR 15 TIMES.

SO IT SAYS A LOT ABOUT HOW MANY TIMES I'M HERE.

I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING, IN GAZA THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE, I THINK, FORGET ABOUT.

AND THAT IS THE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

AND I AM PALESTINIAN AMERICAN.

I'M ACTUALLY HALF COUSIN.

MY BIOLOGICAL FATHER IS FROM GAZA, AND AT LEAST FIVE OF HIS RELATIVES HAVE BEEN KILLED.

I'VE NEVER MET THEM, BUT ONE OF THEM IS THE FAMOUS JOURNALIST RUSHDI AL-SARRAJ.

HE'S, HE WAS KILLED BACK IN NOVEMBER, I BELIEVE.

PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES BEFORE, BEFORE THIS CURRENT ATTACK GENOCIDE ON GAZA, THEY WERE ALREADY STRUGGLING AS IT IS. NOT ENOUGH HOSPITALS, NOT ENOUGH MEDICAL SUPPLIES, NOT ENOUGH SERVICES SUPPORTS REHABILITATION CENTERS FOR THEM.

PER CAPITA PEOPLE IN GAZA HAS THE MOST NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

THE CONCENTRATION OF ANY OTHER COUNTRY OR ANY OTHER REGION ON THIS GLOBE.

IT ALSO HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST RATES OF PTSD AND DEPRESSION.

ONE OF THE HIGHEST SUICIDE RATES, UNFORTUNATELY, IS IN GAZA BECAUSE OF THE ATROCITIES THAT THEY HAVE TO ENDURE, THE OCCUPATION THAT WAS ALREADY SUFFOCATING THEM, ALREADY PUSHING THEM ON THE BRINK OF OF DYING BEFORE ALL OF THIS HAPPENED.

AND SINCE OCTOBER, ALMOST ALL OF THE HOSPITALS EITHER STOPPED FUNCTIONING OR BARELY FUNCTIONING.

THEY HAVE NO MEDICAL SUPPLIES, AS YOU KNOW.

THE PRESIDENT SAID, WE'RE GOING TO NO FUEL, FOOD, NOTHING.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANYTHING ENTER IN THERE.

THEY HAVE NO REHABILITATION SERVICES.

PEOPLE WHO ARE DEAF, THEY HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING.

LIKE, NO, THEY CAN'T HEAR THE COMMANDS.

THEY DON'T HAVE TRANSLATORS OR INTERPRETERS TO HELP THEM OUT.

PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND CAN'T SEE WHERE THEY'RE GOING, SO THEY'RE TRYING TO WALK IN THE STREETS GETTING BOMBED AND SHOT AT, TRYING TO NAVIGATE WHERE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO GO.

PEOPLE WHO WERE IN WHEELCHAIRS AND PHYSICAL DISABILITIES, PHYSICAL HANDICAPS, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE ALREADY STRUGGLING AS IT IS.

AND WITH THIS WHOLE THING, THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO GO ANYWHERE.

THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO GET OUT.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE, IN THE BEGINNING, WHEN THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE NORTH, WHY DIDN'T THEY GO TO THE SOUTH? MOST OF THOSE PEOPLE ON THE NORTH THAT COULDN'T EVACUATE WERE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, PEOPLE WITH AUTISM, PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES, CEREBRAL PALSY, BLIND PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND, PEOPLE WHO ARE DEAF, PEOPLE IN INTENSIVE CARE UNITS THAT HAD NO WAY OF GETTING OUT.

AND THE TAXPAYER DOLLARS OF THIS CITY AND EVERY OTHER CITY IN THE UNITED STATES IS BEING USED TO PAY FOR THESE PEOPLE.

AND I AM A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY.

ON TOP OF BEING PALESTINIAN.

I WAS BORN WITH DISABILITIES.

I LIVE WITH DISABILITIES.

IT'S ALREADY DIFFICULT AS IT IS TO LIVE IN A PLACE LIKE MINNESOTA THAT HAS THE SERVICES, THAT HAS METRO MOBILITY, THAT HAS THE COUNTY SUPPORTS.

[01:55:05]

I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE FOR SOMEONE LIKE ME IN GAZA OR EVEN IN THE WEST BANK.

I MEAN, YES, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GAZA, WHICH IS THE MOST AFFECTED AREA, BUT THE WEST BANK IS ALSO SUFFERING AS WELL.

I MEAN, THE SETTLERS ARE GOING AROUND TERRORIZING PEOPLE, AND PEOPLE THAT HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS ARE NOT ABLE TO GO TO THEIR PROGRAMS. THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO GO TO THEIR SERVICES.

WE CANNOT ALLOW TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO SUPPORT THE SLAUGHTER OF ANY AS AN INNOCENT PERSON OVER THERE, BUT ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE, THE DISABLED, THE MENTALLY ILL, PEOPLE WHO ARE VOICELESS.

THEY ARE THE NUMBER ONE VOICELESS PEOPLE.

EVERYWHERE YOU GO, THEY ARE THE NUMBER ONE MINORITY GROUP IN THE WORLD, AND THEY ARE THE NUMBER ONE PEOPLE WHO ARE VOICELESS.

AND WE NEED TO BE A VOICE FOR THEM.

AND I DON'T THINK IT IS RIGHT FOR THE PEOPLE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS WHO HAVE DISABILITIES THAT, YOU KNOW, SHE WAS SAYING SOMETHING ABOUT 300, SOMETHING THOUSAND DOLLARS BEING SENT OVER THERE IN TAXPAYER MONEY PER YEAR.

WELL, THAT THAT MONEY CAN HELP PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES HERE IN MINNESOTA.

AND COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, YOU KNOW, BETTER SERVICES, YOU KNOW, METRO MOBILITY, PARATRANSIT, BETTER COUNTY SERVICES, PCAS, HOME CARE, REHABILITATION SERVICES, OCCUPATIONAL, YOU KNOW, OCCUPATIONAL SERVICES AND TO HELP THEM GET JOBS IN THE COMMUNITY.

THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE.

THEY'RE LOSING THAT MONEY.

THEY'RE ALREADY STRUGGLING AS IT IS HERE, AND YOU'RE HURTING THEM.

AND I WANT TO, END WITH THIS QUOTE BY.

ONE OF THE ISRAELI EDUCATION AND, SOMEONE WHO WORKED FOR ISRAEL, IN 2006.

HE HE WROTE AN OP ED.

HIS NAME IS AND I KNOW I'M GOING TO BUTCHER IT, BUT HIS NAME IS SHULAMIT ALONI, WHO WAS THE ISRAELI EDUCATION MINISTER AT THAT TIME.

HE WROTE AN OP ED FOR THE ISRAELI NEWS WEBSITE YNET IN 2006.

HE SAID THE STATE OF ISRAEL PRACTICES ITS OWN QUITE VIOLENT FORM OF APARTHEID WITH THE NATIVE PALESTINIAN POPULATION.

IT'S NOT JUST APARTHEID, IT'S A VIOLENT APARTHEID.

AND WE SHOULD NOT STAND FOR THAT IN THE DOLLARS OF THIS CITY SHOULD NOT GO TO THAT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

IN THE IN. IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO STOP AT THREE MINUTES.

THIS IS NOTHING TO ANY PRIOR SPEAKERS, SO EVERYONE WAS IS JUST FINE WITH WHAT THEY SAID.

AND SO IF WHEN YOU GET TO THREE MINUTES, I WILL SAY THANK YOU.

AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO THEN FINISH THAT LAST THOUGHT.

NIMA AL-SARI WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

HI MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS SEEMA SARI AND I'M AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

I DO NOT LIVE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, I LIVE IN SAINT PAUL AND I WORK IN MINNEAPOLIS.

BUT I COME TO COLUMBIA HEIGHTS QUITE OFTEN.

I'M MUSLIM AND I BASICALLY DO ALL MY GROCERY SHOPPING HERE, SO I'M HERE QUITE OFTEN.

BUT ALSO I HAVE STUDENTS, MANY STUDENTS, SOME OF WHOM YOU HAVE HEARD TODAY.

WE HAVE MANY STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA WHO LIVE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, PALESTINIAN STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN UNDER ATTACK, WHO HAVE LOST FAMILY MEMBERS.

AND IMAGINE IF YOU HAVE A CHILD WHO GOES TO THE UNIVERSITY, THESE STUDENTS HAVE MADE IT TO THE UNIVERSITY, AND THEY'RE BRILLIANT AGAINST ALL ODDS, AGAINST ISLAMOPHOBIA, AGAINST ANTI-PALESTINIAN SENTIMENTS.

THEY ARE ON OUR CAMPUS, BUT THEY HAVE TO GO TO SCHOOL.

THEY HAVE TO DO THEIR WORK WHEN THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS ARE KILLED, WHEN THEY HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THEIR GRANDMOTHER MAKING IT TO THE SOUTH, AND NOW THE SOUTH IS BEING BOMBED AND THEY HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THEIR FAMILY, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THEM.

SO I WANT TO MAKE A POINT THAT THIS IS A LOCAL ISSUE BECAUSE WE HAVE PALESTINIAN STUDENTS, WE HAVE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE, MANY OF WHOM LIVE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AND VOTE FOR YOU TO BE IN THE OFFICE.

SO I HOPE THAT YOU WILL VOTE FOR THIS CEASEFIRE.

AND ALSO I WANT TO SAY, AS A QUEER MUSLIM PERSON WHO OFTEN MENTORS STUDENTS, TRANS AND QUEER STUDENTS AND MUSLIM STUDENTS, I SEE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE STRUGGLING.

THERE IS NO FOOD IN FOOD SECURITY FOR MANY OF OUR STUDENTS.

THERE IS MANY OF OUR STUDENTS.

GRADUATE STUDENTS ARE HOUSELESS.

THEY COME TO SCHOOL WITH THEIR SUITCASES BECAUSE THE COST OF LIVING IS SO HIGH FOR THEM THAT THEY CANNOT LIVE ON THE STIPEND THAT THEY GET FROM THIS UNIVERSITY, FROM UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, THE MONEY THAT SHOULD BE GOING TO OUR EDUCATION.

[02:00:03]

IT'S BEING INVESTED IN THE WEAPON INDUSTRIES.

THAT IS KILLING AT THIS POINT, MORE THAN 28,000 PALESTINIANS AND 67,000 INJURED, 1.5 MILLION PEOPLE DISPLACED.

SO WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT IT IN TERMS OF HOW IT IS LOCAL, THE RELATIONSHIP TO US IN MINNESOTA IN GENERAL, AND COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AS A PLACE THAT HAS SO MANY PALESTINIANS, IS THAT THE MONEY THAT SHOULD BE GOING TO OUR EDUCATION, TO HOUSING, TO, FREE HEALTHCARE, TO UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE IS GOING TO BUMP PALESTINIANS IN GAZA.

I DON'T WANT TO TAKE THE TIME.

SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE ELOQUENTLY TALKED ABOUT SO MANY ASPECTS OF THIS, BUT AS AN EDUCATOR, I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE FOR A CEASE FIRE BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE MAKE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE MONEY THAT SHOULD BE SPENT HERE AT HOME, FOR OUR STUDENTS AND FOR OUR HOUSELESS PEOPLE, RATHER THAN BEING SPENT ON BOMBING PEOPLE IN GAZA.

THANK YOU.

MASSAGE WAS.

I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

THERE'S A LOT OF HARD TO READ NAMES.

NOT BECAUSE OF PRONUNCIATION, BUT BECAUSE OF WRITING.

SO IF YOU COULD CLARIFY THAT, THAT'S MY FAULT.

MY HANDWRITING IS REALLY BAD, I APOLOGIZE.

IT'S MY SON, WASWAS.

I'M GOING TO BE VERY SHORT.

AND IN RELATION TO COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, I HAVE FAMILY WHO LIVE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE FROM COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

SOME OF THEM HAVE SPOKEN.

I DON'T WANT TO TAKE UP TOO MUCH TIME.

IT'S BEEN A VERY EMOTIONAL WEEK FOR ME.

I WANTED TO READ THIS POEM.

IT'S BY DOCTOR RIFAT.

HE WAS KILLED IN GAZA, I THINK IT WAS AROUND DECEMBER AND HE WAS A PROFESSOR.

HE WAS A WRITER, HE WAS A POET.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, HE WAS A HUMAN BEING WHO VALUED LIFE.

AND I THINK WE DESERVE TO HEAR HIS WORDS.

IT'S VERY SHORT.

IF I MUST DIE, YOU MUST LIVE TO TELL MY STORY, TO SELL MY THINGS, TO BUY A PIECE OF CLOTH AND SOME STRINGS.

MAKE IT WHITE WITH A LONG TAIL.

SO THAT A CHILD SOMEWHERE IN BRAZIL, WHILE LOOKING HEAVEN IN THE EYE, AWAITING HIS DAD, WHO LEFT IN A BLAZE AND BID NO ONE FAREWELL.

NOT EVEN TO HIS FLESH, NOT EVEN TO HIMSELF.

SEES THE KITE.

MY KITE YOU MADE FLYING UP ABOVE AND THINKS FOR A MOMENT.

AN ANGEL IS THERE BRINGING BACK LOVE.

IF I MUST DIE, LET IT BRING HOPE.

LET IT BE ITS HAIL.

AND I BRING THIS POEM TO YOU.

BECAUSE TO ME WE TALK ABOUT THE TANGIBLE REASONS WHY CALLING FOR A CEASE FIRE CAN BRING CHANGE.

AND OF COURSE, I AGREE WITH THAT.

SENATE HAS BROUGHT THAT UP.

VARIOUS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BROUGHT IT UP.

BUT I ALSO THINK THAT THE FIRST AND FOREMOST REASON WHY I'M CONSISTENTLY CALLING FOR A CEASE FIRE IS BECAUSE I HEAR THE STORIES OF FRIENDS IN GAZA, AND I HEAR THE STORIES OF PEOPLE IN PALESTINE, AND I WANT EVERY PERSON, NO MATTER HOW SMALL THE CITY IS, NO MATTER HOW BIG THE GROUP IS TO SAY SOMETHING, TO SPEAK UP, TO, USE YOUR VOICE, TO SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? MAYBE I FEEL THAT I CAN'T DO WHAT JOE BIDEN CAN DO, BUT I CAN DO SOMETHING I HAVE THE POWER TO SAY NO.

SO WHEN ONE DAY WHEN PEOPLE LOOK BACK AND SAY, WHAT DID I DO FOR THE PALESTINIANS? BEING BOMBED TO DEATH, BEING STARVED TO DEATH, BEING PREVENTED FROM HAVING THE LIBERTY OF THE BASIC RIGHTS THAT ME AND YOU HAVE? YOU CAN SAY I SAID NO, THAT IS ALL I ASK.

AND I WANT TO SAY ONCE AGAIN THAT I AM SAYING THIS AS SOMEONE WHO WORKS WITH CHILDREN, AND EVERY TIME I LOOK AT THEM IN THE EYE, I SWEAR TO GOD, I'M NOT JUST SAYING THIS TO BE SANCTIMONIOUS. I SOMETIMES FEEL LIKE CRYING.

SOME OF THEM HAVE NOTICED ME SAYING, WHY ARE YOU GETTING SAD? IT'S BECAUSE LATELY WHEN THEY TELL ME ABOUT THEIR DREAMS TO BE PRESIDENT, THEIR DREAMS TO BE A DOCTOR, THEIR DREAMS TO GO TO THIS HIGH SCHOOL, THAT HIGH SCHOOL.

I SWEAR TO YOU, I THINK WHAT MADE THE CHILDREN OF GAZA ANY LESS VALUABLE OR ANY LESS WORTHY OF THAT? SO ALL I ASK IS FOR THEIR SAKE, NOT FOR MINE, NOT FOR ANYONE ELSE'S.

JUST FOR THEIR SAKE.

CAN WE JUST SAY NO? THAT IS THE BARE MINIMUM.

AND THAT IS ALL I ASK.

AND TO ANYONE WHO IS AGAINST SAYING NO OR CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE, WELL, BY GOD, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE IT WILL TAKE, BUT THIS IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

NAIM QURESHI.

I BELIEVE IT WAS NAHIM.

KARACHI. NAHIM.

IS THERE A NIGHTMARE? NO.

MAYBE THEY LEFT. OKAY.

[02:05:05]

I KNOW HE WAS IN THE THIRD SEED UP HERE.

KEVIN, I CANNOT READ HIS LAST NAME AS WRITTEN.

IT'S. THE HANDWRITING IS HARD FOR ME.

KEVIN, AND YOU CAN INTRODUCE YOURSELF, THEN WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE WORRY.

THE CITY CLERK, THEN.

HONORABLE, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS KEVIN ALDWARK.

I'M. I'M.

EXCUSE ME. THAT'S A PALESTINIAN FROM HEBRON.

I'M GOING TO ECHO SOME OF THE SENTIMENT THAT MY.

COMMUNITY HERE SHARED WITH YOU THE PALESTINIAN STRUGGLE THAT DIDN'T START ON OCTOBER 7TH.

THIS IS 100 YEAR OLD STRUGGLE.

AND WE ALWAYS BEAR THE.

FRONT OF IT. I'M GOING TO SHARE A PERSONAL STORY WITH YOU.

1990 4TH FEBRUARY I WAS ATTENDING PRAYER IN THE IBRAHIMI MOSQUE.

AN ISRAELI SETTLER, A US CITIZEN, A PHYSICIAN WALKED IN AN OPEN FIRE ON ON ALL OF US 27 DEAD.

MIRACULOUSLY, I SURVIVED.

PEOPLE. I'M JUST GOING TO SHOW THE INEQUITY IN OUR SYSTEM.

THIS IS A US CITIZEN THAT COMMITTED THAT CRIME.

HE WAS HAILED AS A HERO IN ISRAEL.

IF I DID SOMETHING REMOTELY CLOSE TO THAT, I'LL BE IN SOME DARK SIDE GETTING TORTURED RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE NOT ASKING YOU TO REINVENT THE WHEEL HERE.

WE HAVE POLICIES.

WE HAVE LAWS ON THE BOOK THAT WOULD PREVENT SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

ALL WE'RE ASKING IS USE YOUR DECENCY.

AND SUPPORT.

STOP THIS NOT ONLY FOR PALESTINE.

THERE IS A GENOCIDE IN SUDAN RIGHT NOW.

THERE IS A GENOCIDE IN YEMEN.

WE'RE BETTER THAN THIS.

WE'RE TIRED OF OUR TAXPAYER MONEY FUNDING STUFF LIKE THIS.

WE'RE OUT OF TEARS.

WE'RE. WE'RE EXHAUSTED.

WE'RE BEYOND JUST RESOLUTIONS.

WE DON'T WANT WORDS.

WE WANT ACTION.

WE WANT TO COUNT ON YOU.

TO DO YOUR BEST TO STOP THIS.

AND THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

LAURA NEWBY WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

THANK YOU. MY NAME IS LAURA AND I HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS FOR THE PAST 17 YEARS.

I LIVE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

I WORK IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AND I WORSHIP HERE.

AT THIS POINT, I HAVE NOTHING TO SHARE.

THAT HASN'T ALREADY BEEN SAID BETTER BY MY NEIGHBORS, SO I WOULD SIMPLY LIKE TO EXPRESS MY SOLIDARITY WITH WHAT HAS BEEN SHARED AND MY SUPPORT FOR CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION BY OUR CITY. THANK YOU.

MUHAMMAD. HELLO.

MY NAME IS KUMAR MOHAMMED.

I'M A YEMENI AMERICAN NON COLUMBIA HEIGHTS RESIDENT.

I HAVE FAMILY AND FRIENDS THAT LIVE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

I CAME FROM YEMEN, WHERE MY FAMILY HAD FACED WAR FOR MORE THAN SEVEN YEARS.

BUT I'M NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED, ABOUT MY FAMILY.

I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE PEOPLE.

CHILDREN, WOMEN, BABIES LIKE ME.

THEY ARE DYING IN EVERY MINUTE.

IT'S NOT FAIR.

IT'S NOT FAIR FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME TO DIE.

AND NOT BEING ABLE TO EVEN ATTEND SCHOOL, HAVE A HOME, HAVE FAMILY OR HAVE SHELTER.

THEY WERE DYING BECAUSE OF STARVATION AND BOMBING HAS BEEN HAPPENING EVERY MINUTE.

THIS IS NOT ONLY HAPPENING TO YEMEN, BUT ALSO HAPPENING TO IRAQ, SYRIA, PALESTINE, AFGHANISTAN AND ETC..

ALL I'M ASKING YOU TODAY, ON THE BEHALF OF THE PALESTINIAN CHILDREN AND THE YEMENI COMMUNITY, THAT THE US HAS TO STOP BOMBING.

AND HAS TO STOP THIS MADNESS.

AND I STAND WITH HUMANITY.

SO THE ONLY THING I WANT TO SAY IS THAT ME AND ALL OF THE PEOPLE HERE CAME TO CALL FOR A CEASE FIRE AND WILL ALWAYS SUPPORT AND WILL SUPPORT PALESTINE AND STAND WITH HUMANITY.

THANK YOU.

MIRIAM WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

I WOULD ASK THAT SHE GIVE HER LAST NAME AS IT'S NOT ON THE PAPER.

[02:10:03]

YOU CAN. YOU CAN SAY IT ON THE MICROPHONE.

HELLO. HI.

MY NAME IS MARIAM, AND I'M NOT A COLUMBIA HEIGHTS RESIDENT, BUT I GREW UP IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AS WELL AS I'M ALWAYS HERE.

I HAVE FRIENDS HERE AS WELL, AND I JUST WOULD JUST WANT TO SAY JUST REALLY SHORT POINTS HERE.

ONE IS THAT, YOU KNOW, DURING THE TIME OF UKRAINE, CITY COUNCILS AROUND THE UNITED STATES WITHOUT EVEN PEOPLE ASKING FOR IT.

I MEAN, AS THEY SHOULD PUT RESOLUTIONS OUT THERE, CALLING FOR THE CESSATION OF VIOLENCE AND STANDING UP FOR UKRAINE AND EVERY, EVERY LIKE IN ALL THE STATES OF THE US, EVERYONE WAS STANDING UP FOR UKRAINE.

NOW THAT THE VICTIMS ARE A DIFFERENT COLOR, FROM A DIFFERENT PLACE, ALL OF A SUDDEN PEOPLE ARE HAVING MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DESERVE TO DIE OR WHETHER THEY'RE HUMAN ENOUGH TO LIVE.

AND THEN WE HAVE TO ALSO TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHY THIS IS A LOCAL ISSUE.

WELL, HOW COME FOR UKRAINE, WE WEREN'T, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WEREN'T HAVING TO STAND UP HERE AND SAY, OH, THIS IS A LOCAL ISSUE BECAUSE, WELL, WE WEREN'T ARGUING THAT FOR UKRAINE.

SO WHY IS THIS ANY DIFFERENT? THAT'S ONE, TWO, AS I MENTIONED UP HERE, THAT, YOU KNOW, DURING THE TIME IN THE 1980S THAT CITY COUNCILS DID RESOLUTIONS TO END THE APARTHEID IN SOUTH AFRICA, THIS IS THE SAME THING THAT WE'RE DOING THAT WE'RE STARTING LOCALLY, LOCALLY, ACROSS THE US, SAYING WE DON'T WANT TAX DOLLARS TO GO TO FOREIGN MILITARY.

WE WANT IT TO GO TO AMERICANS.

SO WHEN YOU GUYS SIT HERE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW OFTEN YOU MEET EVERY WEEK OR EVERY MONTH TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

AND, YOU KNOW, HOW WE GET EDUCATION.

AND, A LOT OF TIMES I SEE CITY COUNCILS, THEY HAVE A BUNCH OF PROJECTS IN FRONT OF THEM WITH THE PRICING, AND THEY HAVE TO PICK, YOU KNOW, WHICH PROJECTS THAT THEY ARE GOING TO DECIDE ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT AND WHICH ONES THEY'RE ABLE TO FOCUS ON.

RIGHT NOW. WE WOULD BE ABLE TO FOCUS ON A LOT OF THOSE PROJECTS.

AS ANNETTE MENTIONED, THE MONEY, IF THAT MONEY CAME BACK AND WAS USED ON THE CITIES HERE, IT DOESN'T MATTER.

LET'S JUST SAY YOU DON'T EVEN LIKE PALESTINIANS.

YOU DON'T EVEN, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH SAYING THE MONEY SHOULD BE USED ON AMERICANS? IF YOU DON'T AGREE WITH THE SITUATION, WHAT'S GOING ON AND YOU HAVE MIXED VIEWS, AT LEAST YOU CAN AT LEAST SAY THAT THIS MONEY SHOULD BE USED FOR AMERICANS, FOR AMERICAN CITIES, THAT WHEN WE'RE SITTING HERE IN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, WE'RE NOT PICKING BETWEEN WHICH PROJECTS TO DO BECAUSE MILLIONS OF OUR TAX DOLLARS ARE GOING TO ISRAEL, THAT WE'RE SAYING THAT MONEY SHOULD BE USED IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, FOR EDUCATION, FOR, ETC..

AND WHY IS OUR TAX DOLLARS PAYING FOR IT? AND THEN JUST LASTLY, I KNOW THAT THIS WAS MENTIONED BEFORE THAT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE STOOD UP HERE AND TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THIS BEING A MUSLIM ISSUE AND A HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE.

AND, YOU KNOW, FOR THOSE IN CITY COUNCIL WHO AREN'T MUSLIM OR, YOU KNOW, MAYBE ON THE FENCE ABOUT THIS OR MAYBE FROM A DIFFERENT FAITH.

AND AS MY UNCLE MENTIONED, THERE ARE A LOT OF CHRISTIANS, IN PALESTINE.

SO IF YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN, I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT PASTOR, PASTOR ISAAC, HE IS A PALESTINIAN CHRISTIAN AND HE IS THE HEAD OF THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.

AND AS IT WAS MENTIONED THAT HE ASSERTED THAT IF JESUS CHRIST WAS BORN TODAY, IT WOULD BE UNDER THE RUBBLE, OF OF THE DEVASTATING ISRAELI WAR ON THE GAZA STRIP.

AND HE SAID THAT, HE WOULD NOT BE ACCEPTING ANY APOLOGIES FOR THE DESTRUCTION AND FOR THE PEOPLE WHO STAYED QUIET, THAT ANYONE WHO STAYED QUIET AND THEN STARTED TO TALK ABOUT HOW JERUSALEM AND BETHLEHEM ARE THE MOST HOLIEST SITES FOR CHRISTIANITY, THAT THE HEADS OF THESE CHURCHES WOULD NOT FORGIVE THE SILENCE WHILE THEY ARE THE ONES BEING KILLED, WHILE THEY ARE THE ONES BEING SPIT ON.

AND THESE HEADS OF CHURCHES WHILE THEY CLEAN THE MOST HOLIEST CHURCHES IN THE WORLD.

WE HAVE AMERICANS, WHO ALSO PRACTICE CHRISTIANITY, AND THEY'RE GIVING MONEY TO APARTHEID THERE.

AND THESE PASTORS ARE THE ONES WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, UPHOLDING THE HOLIEST SITES.

AND THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH APARTHEID BEING SPIT ON, THEIR SITES GRAFFITIED.

I'VE BEEN TO PALESTINE MYSELF, AND IF YOU GUYS KNOW HOW MANY TIMES THEY GRAFFITI THOSE CHURCHES AND HOW MANY TIMES THAT THEY HAVE TO COVER IT UP.

SO AGAIN, THIS DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU'RE FROM.

THIS IS AN ISSUE FOR EVERYONE, WHETHER IT'S LOCALLY, WHETHER IT'S, YOUR RELIGION, WHETHER IT'S JUST BEING HUMAN.

SO I ASK YOU GUYS TO STAND FOR A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION, IN ALL ASPECTS.

THANK YOU.

KAMARA. ABUBAKAR.

[02:15:05]

I'M HAMMAD ABUBAKAR, I'M NOT A RESIDENT AT THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS BUT I HAVE FRIENDS AND RELATIVES LIVE HERE AND I USED TO, WORSHIP AND AND, ONE OF THE MESSAGES, WORSHIP ISLAMIC WORSHIPING HOUSES HERE.

SO I FEEL BELONGING TO THIS PLACE.

THAT'S WHY I SELECTED TO COME HERE AND SPEAK UP.

SO, I'M EGYPTIAN, IMMIGRANT.

I CAME TO THE US IN 2013 AFTER PARTICIPATED AND CONTRIBUTED TO THE ARAB SPRING REVOLUTION IN EGYPT.

AND I REMEMBER THAT MOMENT WHEN WE WERE STANDING IN THE TAHRIR SQUARE AND AL QAEDA IBRAHIM SQUARE IN ALEXANDRIA, MY HOME CITY.

WHILE WE'RE CHANTING, REQUESTING THE OR DEMANDING THE, THE DEMOCRACY IN EGYPT.

AND WE'RE LOOKING UP TO THE AMERICAN DEMOCRACY AS A ROLE MODEL FOR US.

THIS IS THE MODEL THAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR.

WE HAD THE HOPE THAT TIME THAT WE CAN GET OUR PEOPLE FREE AND ENJOY THE FREEDOM OF DEMOCRACY IN OUR COUNTRY.

UNFORTUNATELY. AND I CAME HERE TO THE US IN 2013, BEFORE THE MILITARY COUP HAPPENED IN EGYPT AND JUNE 20TH, 2013.

AND THEN ALL OF THESE DREAMS HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED BY THE MILITARY COUP.

I LIVED FOR 30 YEARS IN MY LIFE UNDER DICTATORSHIP AND MILITARY RULE IN EGYPT.

AND WE KNOW HOW THAT DECORATIVE DEMOCRACY LOOK LIKE AND HOW THE FAKE DEMOCRACY LOOKED LIKE, LOOKED LIKE IN DICTATORSHIPS.

WHEN I CAME TO THE US TO DO MY PHD HERE, AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN I STARTED MY PHD, DID MY RESEARCH AND DID ALL OF THESE ACHIEVEMENTS, I WAS LOOKING UP TO THE US DEMOCRACY AS A ROLE MODEL, THAT WE HOPE THAT WE CAN CREATE SOMETHING SIMILAR IN OUR HOME COUNTRY.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY, AFTER THAT, I STARTED TO LOSE THAT HOPE AND SEE THIS ROLE MODEL IS BROKEN DOWN IN FRONT OF MY EYES BECAUSE ALL OF WHAT WE SEE NOW. I GOT SURPRISED WHEN I SAW THIS, BECAUSE I SAW NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT I OBSERVED AND EXPERIENCE IN EGYPT, AND WHAT I SEE HAPPENING IN THE US.

DEMOCRACY UNDER THE DICTATORSHIP OF EGYPT.

WE HAD A FAKE AND DECORATIVE DEMOCRACY IN WHICH POLITICIANS DO NOT REPRESENT AND REFLECT THE VALUES, THE HOPES AND THE OPINIONS OF THEIR OF THEIR PEOPLE.

WE EGYPTIANS UNDERSTAND AND ARE NOT SURPRISED, WITH THAT, WITH THIS BEHAVIOR, SIMPLY BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THESE POLITICIANS WERE NOT ELECTED BY THEIR PEOPLE.

ON THE OTHER HAND, WHAT WE ARE WITNESSING NOW IN THE US DEMOCRACY IS SURPRISING.

WE ARE WITNESSING AN ELECTED PRESIDENT AND HIS CABINET ARE NOT REFLECTING THE VALUES OF THE MAJORITY FREE AMERICANS WHO ELECTED THEM. WE ARE WITNESSING AMERICANS LOSE THEIR THEIR BELIEF AND HOPE IN THEIR DEMOCRACY.

WHEN THEY WITNESSED NETANYAHU'S IMMEDIATE BOMBING OF RAFAH LAST NIGHT WHILE THEY ARE WATCHING THE SUPER BOWL, THE SUPER BOWL.

AND THIS HAPPENED IMMEDIATELY AFTER FINISHING A PHONE CALL WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN, WHICH TELLS THAT HE GOT HIS APPROVAL TO COMPLETE HIS GENOCIDAL CRIMES IN GAZA AND SOUTHERN GAZA.

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS MAIER AND RESPECTED COUNCILS ELECTED MEMBERS REMEMBER THAT ALTHOUGH US DEMOCRACY HAS BEEN SICK SINCE A WHILE, IT IS STILL ABLE TO CORRECT ITSELF AND RESTORE ITS HEALTH.

WHY? BECAUSE THERE ARE STILL FREE AMERICANS IN THE US WHO DO NOT FEAR TO SPEAK UP AND STAND UP FOR FOR TRUTH AND HUMANITARIAN VALUES.

SO I AM NOT HERE TONIGHT TO URGE YOU TO STAND UP FOR THE VALUES AND THE OF THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN DEMOCRACY HERE IN THE US, BUT RATHER I'M HERE TONIGHT TO DEMAND AND WARN.

I'M HERE TO DEMAND THAT YOU ELECTED MEMBERS WELL, REPRESENT WELL, REPRESENT THE VALUES AND HOPES OF THE PEOPLE WHO ELECTED YOU.

I'M HERE TONIGHT TO WARN YOU THAT IF YOU STAND UP FOR THE WRONG SIDE OF HISTORY, LIKE WHAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE US DOES, YOU ARE OR YOU ARE GOING TO BE THE REAL LOSERS, NOT PALESTINIANS WHO SELECTED TO SACRIFICE EVERYTHING FOR THEIR LIBERATION OF THEIR NEW GENERATION, THEIR LIBERATION OR THE LIBERATION OF THEIR NEW GENERATIONS.

WE FREE PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD HAVE NO DOUBT THAT PALESTINIANS WILL BE FREE.

THIS IS BECAUSE HISTORY AND REALITY TELL US THAT THE TRUTH WILL WIN.

AND ONE DAY, SOONER OR LATER, AS LONG AS THERE ARE PEOPLE AND STRONG AND RESILIENT PEOPLE LIKE PALESTINIANS WHO INSIST NOT TO GIVE UP THEIR

[02:20:05]

SO I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO VOTE FOR THE SACRIFICE FOR THE CEASE FIRE RESOLUTION, BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT THIS RESOLUTION WILL LIBERATE PALESTINIANS.

NO, WE BELIEVE THAT WHAT LIBERATES PALESTINIANS IS THEIR OWN STRUGGLE AND THE PRICE THAT THEY ARE, THEY CHOSE TO PAY AND THEY ARE PAYING FROM THEIR BLOODS AND SOULS NOW.

SO I'M HERE ASKING YOU TO VOTE FOR THE CEASE FIRE RESOLUTION, NOT FOR PALESTINIANS, BUT RATHER FOR REAL AMERICANS WHO BELIEVE IN THEIR DEMOCRACY AND ITS VALUES.

ASKING YOU TO VOTE FOR THE RESOLUTION TO LET THE VAST MAJORITY OF AMERICANS RESTORE THEIR BELIEF IN THEIR DEMOCRACY AND ITS INSTITUTIONS, AND ITS VALUES THAT HAVE BEEN HAVE NOT BEEN MORE VULNERABLE THAN THE MOMENTS THAT WE ARE LIVING.

NOW. I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO VOTE FOR THE CEASE FIRE RESOLUTION, FOR YOUR REPUTATION AND YOUR DESCENDANTS, WHO YOU STAND, WHO YOU STAND ON THE RIGHTS WHEN YOU STAND ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HISTORY TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR DESCENDANTS FROM BEING CURSED BY THE FUTURE GENERATIONS OF AMERICAN AND FREE AMERICANS WHO WERE READ AND KNOW ABOUT YOUR COMPLICITY WITH THE BRUTAL GENOCIDE.

IF YOU CHOOSE NOT TO VOTE FOR THE CEASE FIRE RESOLUTION.

LASTLY, BUT NOT LEAST, I WOULD DIRECT THESE WORDS TO THE.

AUDIENCE HERE. BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

ALL THREE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD.

YOU. YOU HAVE TO REALIZE THAT THOUSANDS OF LIVES OF INNOCENT PEOPLE, CHILDREN AND WOMEN WERE SAVED BECAUSE OF THE FEW ACTIONS THAT WERE TAKEN.

NOW, BECAUSE OF THE SPEAK UP THAT WE ARE DOING.

IMAGINE IF THE RATE OF KILL CONTINUED AS THE SAME RATE AS THE FIRST 20 DAYS OF THE WAR AGAINST THE PALESTINIANS.

THERE COULD HAVE BEEN 1000, PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES THERE.

BUT BECAUSE OF WHAT WE ARE DOING NOW, BECAUSE OF WHAT WE ARE SPEAKING UP NOW, WE SAVED THOUSANDS OF LIVES.

THOUSANDS OF LIVES WERE SAVED BECAUSE OF YOU.

SO DO NOT BELITTLE WHAT WHAT YOU DO.

DO NOT BELITTLE YOUR ACTIONS.

YOU ARE THE FEW PEOPLE WHO WILL RESTORE THE VALUE AND ADVOCATE THE VALUES ALL OVER THE WORLD.

THANK YOU EVERY PERSON ALL OVER THE WORLD.

YOU HAVE TO BE PROUD OF YOURSELF.

THANK YOU. THE WORLD WHERE DARK MONEY AND POWERFUL LOBBYISTS WILL INFLUENCE ON THE POLITICIANS THEY SUCCESSFULLY.

THANK YOU, ABDULLAH, BUT I NEED TO HAVE I NEED TO MOVE TO THE NEXT SPEAKER WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CHANGE THE TRUTH AND TO CHANGE YOUR OPINIONS AND YOUR ADVOCACY FOR RIGHTS.

SO THANK YOU.

GREATEST. YOU KNOW, I SO PROUD OF YOU, AND I URGE EVERY ONE OF YOU TO CONTINUE YOUR STRUGGLES FOR THE TRUTH.

AND THANK YOU AND SORRY FOR THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. I WILL SAY THANK YOU LOUDER NEXT TIME TO HELP US STAY ON TRACK.

SO I JUST WANT TO HAVE MORE TIME TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE'S VOICES HEARD.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL. FIRST OF ALL, ALL OF YOU FOR BEING PATIENT AND.

YOU'RE WELCOME. IT'S HARD NOT TO BE PASSIONATE.

I ABSOLUTELY WE UNDERSTAND.

PATIENCE. PATIENCE.

IT'S AN HONOR.

CATHY COOPER WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

ALL RIGHT. IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK, YOU CAN.

DO YOU WANT TO WRITE DOWN YOUR NAME? TO SPEAK? YEAH.

YOU ALSO SPEAK.

OKAY. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GO PICK OUT WHICH FORM HE HAS, SHE CAN TAKE IT OUT OF THE PILE THEN.

THANK YOU. NO, THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

HOMEWORK IS GOOD. WE WANT.

YES. CATHY COOPER, THERE'S A GABBY COOPER.

I'M HERE. OH, HERE SHE IS.

SORRY. HELLO, KATHY.

WELCOME. HI. THANK YOU.

SO I'M A RESIDENT OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

I TRY TO MAKE IT TO MOST OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS.

I WAS.

SURPRISED I AM DISABLED.

I'M IN SEVERE, CONSTANT, DEBILITATING PAIN AND I HAVE MOBILITY ISSUES.

I'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO PARK IN THE PARKING RAMP.

EACH TIME I COME, IT'S ALWAYS.

IT ALWAYS SAYS.

YOU CAN YOU CAN ANGLE THE MICROPHONE DOWN.

YES. IT ALWAYS SAYS THAT IT'S FULL.

WELL, TONIGHT I WAS EXCITED TO FIND OUT THAT IT SAID IT WAS OPEN.

SO I PUSHED THE BUTTON, TOOK MY TICKET, AND I DROVE IN AND I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THAT THERE WAS NO PARKING PLACES IN THERE.

[02:25:06]

THERE'S NO PLACE TO TURN AROUND IN THERE ONCE YOU GET INTO THE PARKING RAMP.

AND THERE WAS SOMEBODY TURNING AROUND TRYING TO GET OUT AND CONSTANTLY, OTHER PEOPLE WERE COMING IN.

SO IT WAS QUITE A QUITE AN OPERATION THERE WITH PEOPLE COMING IN AND TRYING TO TURN AROUND AND COME OUT.

AND THIS IS MY PARKING TICKET THAT I RECEIVED WHEN I.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

I'M A LITTLE BIT SURPRISED THAT WITH THIS BRAND NEW FACILITY THAT THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE SUFFICIENT HANDICAP PARKING.

SO, DOES ANYBODY KNOW HOW MANY HANDICAPPED PARKING SPOTS THERE ARE IN THE GARAGE? I THINK. YES.

THERE'S TWO, MADAM MAYOR.

THANK YOU. DOESN'T SEEM SUFFICIENT, AT ALL.

AND IF YOU CAN'T PARK THERE, THERE'S NO REAL PLACE.

I ENDED UP PARKING AT THE PARKING LOT AT THE STRIP MALL NORTH OF HERE, BUT I WAS SURPRISED THERE WASN'T EVEN A DOOR THAT I COULD COME IN THROUGH THE PARKING RAMP, SO I HAD TO COME ALL THE WAY AROUND HERE.

IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM SUFFICIENT FOR A BRAND NEW FACILITY.

TO HAVE TWO HANDICAPPED PARKING SPOTS, AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT SAID IT WAS OPEN WHEN IT OBVIOUSLY WAS FULL.

SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND ANY OF THIS.

AND I'M WONDERING WHO COULD ADDRESS THIS ISSUE WITH ME AT A LATER DATE.

SURE, KATHY, WE CAN DEFINITELY DO THAT.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

YEAH. YES.

A RIDE TO YOUR CAR IF YOU NEED A RIDE.

THANK YOU. YEAH, I CAME IN TO.

I SAID OPEN. IF THERE WERE, THERE WAS ONE HANDICAPPED SPOT.

OBVIOUSLY, I'M NOT GOING TO PARK THERE, SO I LEFT.

BUT YEAH, IT SHOULD HAVE SAID FULL.

AND HONESTLY, FOR AS FEW SPOTS AS THERE ARE THERE, THEY'RE ALMOST ALL OF THEM.

THANK YOU ACTUALLY.

SORRY. THAT'S OKAY.

THANK YOU KATHY.

THANK YOU. KATHY, COULD YOU GIVE THE CITY CLERK YOUR PHONE NUMBER SO WE CAN MAKE SURE TO GET AHOLD OF YOU? I WILL, THANK YOU.

AND I WILL SAY THAT THE, WHEN YOU TAKE A TICKET TO COME IN THE PARKING GARAGE, IF WHEN THE DOOR OPENS, IF, LET'S SAY ONE PERSON OPENS THE DOOR WITH A TICKET AND A SECOND PERSON SEES THE DOOR OPEN AND THINKS, OH, I'LL JUST DRIVE IN THE TICKET IS HOW WE HOW THE MACHINE KNOWS HOW MANY CARS ARE IN THE IN THE GARAGE. SO IF ONE OR 2 OR 3 CARS COME IN THAT SAME TIME PERIOD WITH THE DOOR OPEN, IT NOW DOESN'T HAVE A COUNT.

UNFORTUNATELY. THAT'S SO.

THAT'S WHY IT DIDN'T SAY FULL.

BUT WE CAN DEFINITELY FOLLOW UP WITH KATHY FOR MORE QUESTIONS AND MORE ANSWERS.

I MEAN. HAS IT.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I APPRECIATE EVERYONE SHARING TODAY, EVERYONE BEING SO RESPECTFUL TO ALL OF THE SPEAKERS.

I JUST I MEAN, THAT ALMOST BRINGS A TEAR TO MY EYE JUST TO HEAR THAT THAT EVERYONE WAS SO RESPECTFUL.

THANK YOU. AND WE WILL.

YES. WE CAN DEFINITELY CLAP FOR THAT.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

AND, WE WILL BE HERE AGAIN IN TWO WEEKS, AND YOU'RE WELCOME TO STAY FOR THE REST OF THE MEETING WHERE WE DO REGULAR, REGULAR COLUMBIA HEIGHTS BUSINESS. AND OF COURSE, IF YOU'D LIKE TO GO HOME AND DO HOMEWORK OR OR NOT, YOU'RE WELCOME TO LEAVE NOW AS WELL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ATTENDING OUR MEETING, ALL OF YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HEARING US OUT.

THANK YOU FOR BEING PATIENT WITH US, AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO SOMETIMES GET EMOTIONAL.

ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU.

VERY GOOD. OKAY.

SOME ERROR IN THE PARKING.

GOOD TO HEAR. YEP.

AND TO THE COUNCIL AND STAFF.

DO WE NEED ANOTHER RECESS? OKAY. THANK YOU.

AND OF COURSE, IF ANYONE NEEDS A MOMENT TO.

EVERYONE'S A GROWN UP. SO IF SOMEONE NEEDS TO LEAVE FOR A MOMENT, THEY'RE WELCOME TO DO THAT EVEN IN THE MIDDLE OF A MEETING.

IT'S OKAY. ALL RIGHT, THEN WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA.

[CONSENT AGENDA]

[02:30:05]

ARE THERE ANY CHANGES OR QUESTIONS OR REMOVALS? I HAD ONE, I WAS JUST LOOKING AT NUMBER NINE.

I WOULD JUST LIKE A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION ON IT.

I DON'T THINK IT NEEDS TO BE REMOVED, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT OR.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

ANYTHING ELSE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? NO. ALL RIGHT THEN I THINK YOU CAN JUST ELABORATE A BIT MORE ON NUMBER NINE WHEN WE GET TO IT.

THAT'LL SUFFICE.

OKAY. THEN, THEN, TO OUR INTERIM CITY MANAGER.

IF KEVIN, IF YOU'D LIKE TO GO THROUGH THE ITEMS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MAYOR.

MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, YOU HAVE 14 ITEMS ON YOUR CONSENT AGENDA FOR TONIGHT.

THE FIRST OF THESE IS APPROVING THE MINUTES FROM YOUR JANUARY 22ND, 2024 REGULAR MEETING.

THE NEXT, THE SECOND ITEM IS TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE JOINT COUNCIL MEETING WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD HELD ON JANUARY 29TH, 2024.

THE THIRD ITEM IS TO APPROVE THE WORK SESSION MEETING MINUTES FROM FEBRUARY 5TH OF 24.

THE NEXT ITEM IS TO ACCEPT THE CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES FROM OCTOBER 19TH OF 2023.

THE NEXT ITEM IS TO ACCEPT THE PARK AND REC COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES FROM DECEMBER 6TH OF 2023, AND THE LAST FOR THE MINUTES IS ACCEPT THE SEPTEMBER 5TH AND OCTOBER 23RD REGULAR EDA MEETING MINUTES.

I'M GOING TO GO INTO A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL ON BOTH SEVEN AND NINE, BECAUSE THEY'RE BOTH RELATED, TO, THE, THE PROGRAM THAT WE RUN HERE FOR OUR, REALLY ORGANICS, PROGRAM.

AND THAT'S GOT TO CHANGE.

SO ITEM NUMBER SEVEN IS TO UPDATE THE CITY'S SWAP.

THE ACRONYM STANDS FOR THE SOLID WASTE OPERATING POLICY.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN, BOTH APPROVING AND UPDATING SINCE 2018.

AND REALLY WHAT THE SOLID WASTE OPERATING POLICY DOES IS IT GUIDES US IN THE PROGRAM, REALLY THE REFUSE PROGRAM THAT WE PROVIDE TO OUR CITIZENS, AND IT GETS UPDATED FROM TIME TO TIME.

IT'S BEFORE YOU TONIGHT BECAUSE THE THE PLACE THAT WE DO OUR COMPOSTING IS NO LONGER ACCEPTING COMBINED OR COMMINGLED YARD WASTE WITH FOOD WASTE. SO THAT HAS NOW HAS TO BE SEPARATED.

AND THERE'S A COST IMPACT FOR THAT ALSO.

SO THAT YARD WASTE IS NOT SUBSIDIZED THROUGH ANY GRANT PROGRAMS. SO THAT'S GOT TO BE, CHARGED TO THE PUBLIC AT FULL COST.

WHILE WE DO GET A GRANT FOR, FOOD COMPOSTING, AND WE CAN SUBSIDIZE THAT TO BRING THE RATES DOWN FOR THAT.

BUT, FOOD CAN NO LONGER BE PLACED IN YARD WASTE CONTAINERS, AND THAT'LL BE EFFECTIVE COME THIS APRIL.

SO TO REALLY DETERMINE WHAT WE WANT TO DO MOVING FORWARD FOR EVERYBODY THAT WAS DOING, THE CO-MINGLING OR DOING COMPOSTING, OUR REFUSE COORDINATOR DID SEND OUT A, REALLY A QUESTIONNAIRE TO THEM.

AND IF WE'RE DOING IT AS A SEPARATE, WOULD YOU STILL BE INTERESTED IN PERFORMING THE COMPOSTING SO WE COULD AT LEAST JUDGE WHAT WE WANTED TO DO FOR THAT SERVICE MOVING FORWARD? SO PROVING THE SWAP TONIGHT, REALLY ALL IT DOES IS IT IT ALIGNS OUR PRACTICE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING IN APRIL AND THEN ALSO ALIGNS THE COSTS FOR PROVIDING THE SERVICE NOW SEPARATED.

AND THAT'S FOR YARD WASTE.

AND THEN FOR FOOD ORGANICS.

SO THAT'S NUMBER SEVEN.

NUMBER EIGHT IS ADOPT RESOLUTION 2417 BEING A RESOLUTION ORDERING THE PREPARATION OF A FEASIBILITY REPORT FOR THE FIRST YEAR OR FIRST PHASE OF OUR ALLEY PROGRAM. AND THIS IS A STATE STATUTE 429 REQUIREMENT.

SO WE'LL BE COMING BACK TO YOU WITH THE FEASIBILITY REPORT FOR BOTH WHICH ALLEYS AND HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO COST.

AND THEN THE NINTH ITEM IS THE IT'S A CONTRACT FOR CURBSIDE ORGANICS.

SO BASED ON THE SURVEY THAT THE CITY CONDUCTED THERE IS STILL STRONG INTEREST TO PROVIDE CURBSIDE, REALLY COMPOSTING THROUGH FOOD WASTE.

SO THAT THROUGH THIS WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT STILL PICKING UP AT CURBSIDE.

AND THAT'S WHAT THIS CONTRACT IS FOR.

AND THEN GOING AHEAD AND PURCHASING CONTAINERS, SMALLER CONTAINERS IN THAT 7 TO 10 GALLON RANGE SO THAT OUR SERVICE CAN PICK UP THAT.

EXCUSE ME AND STILL HAVE IT BROUGHT TO THE SAME SORT OR THE SAME COMPOSTER SET THERE.

THERE. DIVIDING THE CO-MINGLING.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE SEPARATE YARD WASTE AND THEN SEPARATE ORGANICS FOR THAT.

SO WE'VE GOT THAT.

THE RECYCLING COORDINATOR WANTS TO ROLL THAT OUT COME APRIL AND REALLY HAVE ABOUT A TWO YEAR TIME FRAME TO EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF IT.

SO THAT'S WHAT THIS CONTRACT IS BEFORE YOU IS REALLY PICKING THAT UP FOR THE COMMUNITY, FOR, WHOEVER SIGNS UP, IT IS A SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE.

SO THEY DO NEED TO CONTACT US, TO HAVE THEIR FOOD WASTE PICKED UP.

BUT IT'LL CONTINUE TO BE A CURBSIDE SERVICE THAT COLUMBIA HEIGHTS PROVIDES.

[02:35:03]

THESE ARE ACTUALLY TWO SEPARATE ITEMS. THE FIRST OF THESE IS THE CAPITAL EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT OF A, ONE TON TRUCK.

AND IT'S OUR ITEM NUMBER 250 IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, AND THAT'S FOR A NEW CAB, AND THEN OUTFITTING IT WITH A TRADITIONAL PARK, DUMP TRUCK BOX.

ITEM NUMBER 11 IS FOR OUTFITTING A, HEAVIER DUTY, AN F 550 TRUCK, WITH A VERSATILE, CHANGE OUT SYSTEM THAT GOES ON THE BACK OF THAT.

SO THAT CHANGE OUT SYSTEM CONSISTS OF A MULTITUDE OF, REALLY ATTACHMENTS THAT GO ON THE BOX.

SO IT CAN BE JUST A REGULAR DUMP TRUCK BOX.

IT CAN BE FOR WHEN WE DO OUR, WOOD CHIPPING.

IT HAS A CHIPPER BOX THAT GOES ON THE BACK OF IT.

IT ALSO HAS WHERE WE CAN PUT ANY TYPE OF A DUMPSTER ON THE BACK OF THAT.

IT'S JUST A REAL VERSATILE QUICK CHANGE OUT BOX.

AND THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS BUDGETED FOR IN 2024.

SO THAT'S OUTFITTING A CHASSIS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE.

ITEM NUMBER 12 IS TO APPROVE THE RENTAL LICENSES AS AS PRESENTED BEFORE YOU.

ITEM NUMBER 13 IS TO APPROVE THE BUSINESS LICENSES.

THAT'S BEFORE YOU.

AND THE LAST CONSENT ITEM IS THE REVIEW OF BILLS TOTALING $2,651,461.38.

MAYOR. THANK YOU.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COUNCILMEMBER JAMES, SORRY TO BE A PICKY.

I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT GOING ON, BUT ITEM NUMBER 13 UNDER CONTRACT LICENSE, THERE'S ONE LICENSE THAT'S LISTED AT $0.

I, I KNOW I HAVEN'T COME ACROSS THAT YET SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE COUNCIL.

IT'S ON PAGE NUMBER FOR THE COUNCIL PACKET.

108 TACOS LOS FOR CANALS.

IS THERE A REASON WHY SOME DON'T PAY FOR THEIR REGISTRATION? YEAH, I'M NOT SURE IF THAT IS A MISPRINT OR IF THAT'S FOR A CITY SPONSORED EVENT.

IF IT'S FOR A CITY SPONSORED EVENT, THE FEE IS WAIVED, SO I'D HAVE TO FOLLOW UP.

COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES.

AND THEN I LEFT FOR FOR ITEM NUMBER NINE.

IS THE 1350 THE SUBSIDIZED RATE.

SO SO, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

THE ONLY THING THAT WE'RE SUBSIDIZING IS GOING TO BE FOR COMPOSTING FOR FOOD WASTE.

SO THE YARD RACE, YARD WASTE COST IS FULL PRICE AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE BEING CHARGED.

SO THE FOOD WASTE WE'RE BRINGING DOWN BECAUSE WE DO GET GRANT FUNDS FOR THAT.

AND THAT'S PART OF THE SCORE GRANT THAT WE GET FROM THE COUNTY.

SO IT IS SUBSIDIZED THEN FOR THE FOOD.

THE FOOD COMPOST. YES.

YEAH. THANK YOU.

I DON'T REALLY HAVE A QUESTION.

AS MUCH AS I'M VERY HAPPY TO HEAR THAT WE WERE ABLE TO FIND A SOLUTION TO THE COMPOST.

I WAS VERY MUCH MOURNING THE FACT THAT WE MIGHT NOT HAVE CURBSIDE COMPOST PICKUP.

SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE CREATIVITY TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

AND, I'LL MENTION THIS IN MY REPORT LATER.

BUT METHANE GASES IS A HUGE PART OF GREENHOUSE GASES FOR AND OUR CLIMATE NEEDING A CLIMATE SOLUTION.

AND SO BEING ABLE TO REMOVE METHANE GASES FROM FOOD WASTE IN LANDFILLS IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN FOOD WASTE IN A COMPOST PILE.

SO THIS DEFINITELY LEANS US TOWARDS BEING A BETTER GREEN STEP CITY AND A CLIMATE PARTNER.

ANYTHING ELSE FROM THE COUNCIL.

ALL RIGHT, THEN, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED? MOVE TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED.

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

ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING AND HEARING IS NOT.

THEN ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION PASSES.

THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE PUBLIC HEARINGS.

[PUBLIC HEARINGS]

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

THOSE SPEAKERS. CITY CLERK.

THE SPEAKER FORMS ARE OVER AT THE WINDOWS AT THE SMALL ROUND TABLE.

SPEAKERS 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 ITEM WILL BEEN VOTED ON AND THE ITEM FORMALLY CLOSED BY THE COUNCIL.

WE ARE AT NUMBER 15.

CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION 2020 4-011 VACATION OF EXISTING UTILITY EASEMENT SERVING 1650 40TH AVENUE NORTHEAST.

AND TONIGHT PRESENTING THIS IS ANDREW BOUCHER, OUR CITY PLANNER.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL. THANK YOU.

TONIGHT WE'VE GOT RESOLUTION 2020 4-011, A, PROPOSED SANITARY SEWER EASEMENT VACATION FOR THE PROPERTY, 1650 40TH

[02:40:03]

AND THIS IS, AN APPLICATION THAT THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, INITIATED.

WE'RE VACATING THE SANITARY OR THE CITY IS PROPOSING TO VACATE THE SANITARY SEWER EASEMENT BECAUSE THE CURRENT 30 FOOT, EASEMENT INCORPORATES, ADDITIONAL PROPERTY THAN WHAT'S REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN THE SANITARY SEWER.

EASEMENT VACATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO THE REQUIRED FINDINGS FOR EASEMENT VACATIONS PER 9.10 FOR J.

AND THIS IS JUST A DESCRIPTION OF THE EXISTING.

CAN YOU GUYS SEE THE EXHIBIT? NOT, DID IT? NOT? NO, IT DOES NOT SEEM TO.

YOU CAN SEE IT ON MY COMPUTER.

OKAY. I'M.

YEAH, I GOT NOTHING.

THAT'S FINE. IF YOU LOOK IN YOUR PACKET, THE CHOSE A 30 FOOT SANITARY EASEMENT.

AND THEN CONFIRMING WITH OUR CITY ENGINEER AS WELL AS OUR PIONEER ENGINEERING WHO DID THE SURVEY WORK.

WE FOUND THAT THIS JUST ENCUMBERED, MORE THAN JUST THE, SANITARY SEWER PIPE.

I HAVE ANOTHER EXHIBIT JUST KIND OF SHOWING THE PORTION OF THE EASEMENT THAT WOULD BE VACATED, AS WELL AS THE PROPOSED LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF THAT EASEMENT.

THERE'S ONE EASEMENT SERVING THE SIX, 1650 40TH AVENUE NORTHEAST PROPERTY PROPOSED FOR VACATION AND IS DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS, WITH LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS ATTACHED TO THE REPORT. ALL OF THE SANITARY SEWER EASEMENT AS DESCRIBED PER DOCUMENT NUMBER 177165.

AND LET ME KNOW IF YOU GUYS CAN.

IT'S HARD TO SEE. THANK YOU THOUGH.

THERE ARE TWO REQUIRED FINDINGS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL SHALL MAKE, BEFORE VACATING A STREET, ALLEY OR OTHER PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY.

THE FIRST IS THAT NO PRIVATE RIGHTS WILL BE INJURED OR ENDANGERED AS A RESULT OF THE VACATION.

THIS IS CORRECT. IT'S VERY MUCH AN ADMINISTRATIVE THING WHERE WE'RE JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE EASEMENT ALIGNS WITH WHAT IS ACTUALLY THERE.

AND THE OTHER ONE IS THAT THE PUBLIC WILL NOT SUFFER LOSS OR INCONVENIENCE AS A RESULT OF THE VACATION.

LIKE I SAID, NO ONE IS LOSING PROPERTY IN THIS SITUATION.

SO WE FEEL THAT THAT CRITERIA HAS BEEN MET AS WELL.

AS I SAID, WE'VE, STAFF HAS COORDINATED WITH THE CITY ENGINEER AS WELL AS PIONEER ENGINEERING, WHO DID THE SURVEY WORK AND PROVIDE COPIES OF THE APPLICATION MATERIALS AND HAD NO CONCERNS WITH THE EASEMENT, VACATION OR THE PROPOSED EASEMENTS.

STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT THE FOLLOWING TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

MOTION MOVE TO, WAIVE THE READING OF RESOLUTION NUMBER 2020 4-011.

THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC, AND THEN MOVE TO RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER 2024.

DASH 011 VACATING THE SANITARY SEWER EASEMENT AT 1650 40TH AVENUE NORTHEAST, SUBJECT TO TWO CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL.

THE CITY BE RESPONSIBLE, AS THE APPLICANT, FOR PROVIDING LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS OF ALL EASEMENTS THAT ARE SUBJECT TO BE CREATED AND REVIEWED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY, AND THAT THE CITY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FILING THE EASEMENT, VACATIONS, AND PROPOSED EASEMENTS WITH THE ANOKA COUNTY RECORDER'S OFFICE.

THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE CITY PLANNER? ALL RIGHT THEN THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING.

SO I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING TO THE CITY CLERK.

IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? THERE IS NOT.

ALL RIGHT, THEN, JUST TO HAVE DUE DILIGENCE, I WILL JUST ASK ONE MORE TIME IF ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE IS HERE TO SPEAK ON RESOLUTION 2024.

DASH 011 PROPERTY 1650 40TH AVENUE NORTHEAST.

AND SEEING AS NONE, THEN COULD I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE HEARING.

MOVE TO CLOSE THE HEARING AND WAIVE THE READING OF RESOLUTION 2020 4-011, THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

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

ANY DISCUSSION.

SEEING IS NOT.

THEN ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AND THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.

NEXT WE HAVE A MOTION TO RECOMMEND.

MOVE TO RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE RESOLUTION 2020 4-011.

VACATING THE SANITARY SEWER EASEMENT AT 1650 40TH AVENUE NORTHEAST AS PRESENTED.

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

ANY DISCUSSION?

[02:45:02]

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

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

THANK YOU.

NEXT WE HAVE ITEMS. THAT'S OKAY. NO, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE.

ALL RIGHT. NEXT WE HAVE ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION.

[ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION]

RESIDENTIAL SETBACK.

AND AGAIN TAKING US THROUGH THIS ITEM IS CITY PLANNER ANDREW BOUCHER.

THANK YOU, CITY COUNCIL.

THIS IS A RESOLUTION, A RESIDENTIAL VARIANCE.

SUBMITTED BY APRIL LAVECK AND KAREN THOMPSON, THE PROPERTY OWNERS AT 1650 40TH AVENUE NORTHEAST.

WE RECEIVED THE CITY RECEIVED A RESIDENTIAL VARIANCE APPLICATION FROM THE PROPERTY OWNERS TO ALLOW FOR A PROPOSED ATTACHED GARAGE TO ENCROACH FIVE FEET, FIVE INCHES INTO THE REQUIRED 25 FOOT FRONT YARD SETBACK PER 9.109 CE.

THE CITY HAS WORKED WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER OVER THE PAST YEAR, YEAR AND A HALF.

TO REPLACE AN EXISTING GARAGE WITH A LARGER GARAGE THAT WOULD ABUT OR ENCROACH WITHIN THE FRONT YARD SETBACK AND UPON AREA WHICH REQUIRED A VACATION OF THE EXISTING UTILITY EASEMENT.

THE SANITARY SEWER EASEMENT THAT YOU GUYS JUST APPROVED TO VACATE.

UPON REVIEW OF THESE EASEMENT VACATIONS, STAFF DETERMINED THROUGH DURING THE PROCESS THAT THE APPLICANT WOULD REQUIRE A VARIANCE TO ACCOMMODATE THE POTENTIAL BUILDING.

ADDITIONS AND VARIANCES ARE SUBJECT TO THE REQUIRED FINDINGS FOR VARIANCES PER 9.1 04G.

I HAVE EXISTING CONDITIONS.

EXHIBIT AND THEN.

THE ZONING REQUIREMENTS.

THE PROPERTY IS A CORNER LOT ABUTTING A DIAGONAL STREET, WITH UNIQUE SETBACK REQUIREMENTS THAT APPLY TO THE SUBJECT PROPERTY IN RELATION TO THE NEIGHBORING LOTS, AS THE SUBJECT PROPERTY TECHNICALLY DOES NOT HAVE A REAR LOT LINE.

THERE ARE THREE SIDES TO THE PROPERTY ESSENTIALLY A FRONT, A CORNER SIDE, AND THEN A SIDE.

THE CORNER IS A STREET FACING, SETBACK.

CITY CODE STATES THAT THE LOT LINE HAVING THE SHORTEST DIMENSION OF STREET FRONTAGE IS CONSIDERED THE FRONT LOT LINE.

BUT AT THE TIME OF CONSTRUCTION IN 1985, THE STREET FRONTAGE ALONG 40TH AVENUE NORTHEAST WAS CONSIDERED THE FRONT.

SO THAT GIVES THE PROPERTY THE FOLLOWING SETBACKS.

ALONG 40TH AVENUE.

THE FRONT YARD SETBACK IS 25FT.

THE INTERIOR SIDE LOT LINE, HAS A SIDE YARD SETBACK OF FIVE FEET, AND THEN THE SIDE ALONG JOHNSON STREET HAS A SIDE YARD SETBACK OF TEN FEET.

THE ATTACHED GARAGE IS PROPOSED TO BE LOCATED 20.4FT FROM THE NORTH FRONT PROPERTY LINE, WHICH IS THE EXACT SAME DISTANCE AS THE EXISTING PRINCIPAL STRUCTURE CURRENTLY ENCROACHES UPON THE FRONT YARD SETBACK.

SO THE HOUSE WAS CONSTRUCTED IN A WAY THAT, IT ALREADY IS ENCROACHING WITHIN THAT 25 FOOT SETBACK.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S KIND OF BEEN PRESENT THROUGH THE DURATION OF, THIS PROPERTY.

I HAVE A CONCEPT PLAN.

I'M NOT SURE IF YOU GUYS CAN SEE.

NOT A LITTLE FURTHER DOWN.

YOU'RE OKAY. THERE YOU GO.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT THIS, YOU CAN KIND OF SEE WHERE THE EXISTING GARAGE ARE.

THE EXISTING, PART OF THE HOUSE CONNECTED TO THE DRIVEWAY ENCROACHES UPON THAT 25 FOOT SETBACK.

THIS, THE PROPOSAL DOES NOT ENCROACH ANY FURTHER.

IT BASICALLY JUST, IT'S FLUSH WITH WHAT'S ALREADY THERE.

OTHERWISE, STAFF HAS REVIEWED THE VARIANCE MATERIALS THE BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATION SUBMITTED, INCLUDING FLOOR PLANS, APPLICANT NARRATIVE, AND THE SITE PLAN ILLUSTRATING THAT THE PROPOSED SIZE AND LOCATION OF THE NEW GARAGE AND ITS RELATION TO, ADJACENT PROPERTIES AND STRUCTURES, AS WELL AS THE EXISTING AND PROPOSED EASEMENTS DESCRIBED IN THIS EASEMENT VACATION ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROPERTY.

THE STRUCTURE AND PROPOSED ADDITIONS ARE WITHIN THE PRINCIPAL STRUCTURE.

BUILDING LINE THE FRONT YARD.

AS I SAID BEFORE, IT DOES NOT INCREASE THE ENCROACHMENT TOWARDS THE SETBACK BEYOND WHAT THE ORIGINAL STRUCTURE DID.

THERE ARE FIVE FINDINGS OF FACT THAT ARE REQUIRED TO BE FOUND BEFORE THE CITY CAN GRANT APPROVAL FOR A VARIANCE PER SECTION 9.104 OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE.

THE CITY COUNCIL SHALL MAKE EACH OF THE FOLLOWING FINDINGS BEFORE GRANTING A VARIANCE.

FIRST IS THE.

BECAUSE OF THE PARTICULAR PHYSICAL SURROUNDINGS, SHAPE, CONFIGURATION, TOPOGRAPHY, OR OTHER CONDITIONS OF THE SPECIFIC PARCEL OF LAND INVOLVED.

STRICT ADHERENCE TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE WOULD CAUSE PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES IN CONFORMING TO THE ZONING ORDINANCE.

THE APPLICANT, HOWEVER, IS PROPOSING TO USE THE PROPERTY IN A REASONABLE MANNER NOT PERMITTED BY THE ZONING ORDINANCE.

[02:50:05]

THE EXISTING SINGLE FAMILY HOME ON THE LOT WAS BUILT IN A MANNER THAT UTILIZED 40TH AVENUE NORTHEAST AS THE FRONT YARD, RATHER THAN JOHNSON STREET NORTHEAST, WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE FRONT IF YOU LOOK AT IN TODAY'S CODE.

THE CURRENT CONDITION DOES NOT PROVIDE REASONABLE SPACE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A STANDARD TWO STALL GARAGE THAT DOES NOT ENCROACH INTO THE FRONT YARD SETBACK.

THIS IS AN EXISTING CONDITION THAT WAS NOT CAUSED BY THE CURRENT OWNER, AND THE PROPOSED GARAGE WOULD ENCROACH FIVE FEET AND FIVE INCHES INTO THE FRONT YARD.

SETBACK. THE SAME DISTANCE AS THE EXISTING HOUSE CURRENTLY ENCROACHES AND WILL BE SERVED BY THE EXISTING DRIVEWAY ACCESS FROM 40TH AVENUE, SO THERE WOULD NOT BE AN ADDITIONAL DRIVEWAY OR CURB CUT BEING PROPOSED AS THIS.

THE CONDITIONS UPON WHICH THE VARIANCE IS BASED ARE UNIQUE TO THE SPECIFIC PARCEL OF LAND INVOLVED, AND ARE GENERALLY NOT APPLICABLE TO OTHER PROPERTIES WITHIN THE SAME ZONING CLASSIFICATION. STAFF FOUND THIS IS CORRECT.

THE ZONING. THE SUBJECT SITE IS UNIQUE AS IT'S A TRIANGULAR CORNER LOT WITH THREE SEPARATE FRONT STREET FRONTAGES ALONG ALL SIDES OF THE PROPERTY, WHICH CAUSES SOME DIFFICULTY IN APPLYING THE SETBACK REQUIREMENTS AS IT RELATES TO OTHER PROPERTIES IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY.

THIRD, THE PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES ARE CAUSED BY THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE AND HAVE NOT BEEN CREATED BY ANY PERSON CURRENTLY HAVING A LEGAL INTEREST IN THIS PROPERTY.

THE HOMEOWNERS BOUGHT THE PROPERTY AS IT WAS.

THERE ARE NO CONDITIONS OR CIRCUMSTANCES THAT THE HOMEOWNERS THEMSELVES HAVE CAUSED.

FOURTH, THE GRANTING OF THIS VARIANCE IS IN HARMONY WITH THE GENERAL PURPOSE AND INTENT OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

STAFF FOUND THAT THIS IS CORRECT, AS THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CALLS FOR REINVESTMENT, RENOVATION, AND MODERNIZATION OF THE CITY'S SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING STOCK.

AND THE LAST IS THAT GRANTING OF THE VARIANCE WILL NOT BE MATERIALLY DETRIMENTAL TO THE PUBLIC WELFARE OR MATERIALLY INJURIOUS TO THE ENJOYMENT, USE, DEVELOPMENT OR VALUE OF PROPERTY OR IMPROVEMENTS IN THE VICINITY.

THIS IS CORRECT, AS THE GRANTING OF THIS VARIANCE WILL RESULT IN A NEW FUNCTIONING, TWO CAR GARAGE FOR THE PROPERTY THAT WILL ENHANCE THE OVERALL FUNCTIONALITY AND ESTHETIC OF THE SITE, BY REMOVING SOME CARS FROM EITHER THE DRIVEWAY OR ON STREET PARKING.

THIS WILL PROVIDE MORE ADEQUATE ON SITE PARKING AND WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE IMPROVED VALUE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

STAFF RECOMMENDS THE FOLLOWING TO THE CITY COUNCIL, FIRST BEING A MOTION MOVE TO WAIVE THE READING OF RESOLUTION NUMBER 2020 4-012, THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC, AND THEN A MOTION TO MOVE TO RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER 2024.

DASH 012, A VARIANCE FOR A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY AT 1650 40TH AVENUE NORTHEAST, ALLOWING FOR A FIVE FOOT FIVE INCH ENCROACHMENT INTO THE FRONT YARD SETBACK SUBJECT TO THE CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL FOUND IN YOUR PACKET.

THANK YOU.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR ANDREW? THIS PROPERTY? NOW THEN.

SORRY. JUST MAKING SURE THIS ISN'T OKAY.

SO THEN, MAY I HAVE A HEARING? THERE'S NO QUESTIONS. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE HEARING? THIS IS NOT A PUBLIC HEARING THOUGH.

MOVE TO CLOSE THE HEARING AND WAIVE THE READING.

I'M JUST DOUBLE. MOVE TO WAIVE THE READING.

YEAH, I'M JUST DOUBLE CHECKING.

OKAY, OKAY. MOVE TO CLOSE THE HEARING AND WAIVE THE READING OF DRAFT RESOLUTION NUMBER 2024 012.

THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

SECOND HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER JACOBS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS TO CLOSE THE HEARING.

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

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES AND NEXT WE HAVE A MOTION TO RECOMMEND.

MOVE TO RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER 2024.

DASH 012 RESIDENTIAL VARIANCE FOR 1650 40TH AVENUE NORTHEAST TO ALLOW A FIVE FOOT, FIVE INCH ENCROACHMENT OF AN ATTACHED GARAGE INTO THE FRONT YARD.

SETBACK AS PRESENTED.

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

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

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

ITEM NUMBER 17.

APPROVE PURCHASE OF 675 37TH AVENUE NORTHEAST.

AND. YEAH.

THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

SARAH, WOULD YOU MIND BRINGING UP, PAGE 185 OF THE PACKET SO THAT WE COULD HAVE A VISUAL REPRESENTATION OF THE SITE.

SO THE ACQUISITION OF 675 37TH, HAS BEEN DISCUSSED BY THE COUNCIL PREVIOUSLY IN A CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION,

[02:55:03]

IT'S 1.7 ACRES, ROUGHLY INDUSTRIAL ZONE SITE THAT'S RIGHT BEHIND THE CITY'S, OR JUST SOUTH OF THE CITY'S MUNICIPAL SERVICE CENTER.

IT'S BEEN VACANT AND UNDEVELOPED FOR MANY YEARS, AND CAME ON TO THE MARKET AT A TIME WHEN THE CITY WAS LOOKING AT DIFFERENT DESIGN ITERATIONS FOR THE POTENTIAL REDEVELOPMENT OF THE CITY'S MUNICIPAL SERVICE CENTER.

THAT WOULD MAKE IT ADVANTAGEOUS TO CONSIDER THIS ACQUISITION, AS IT FREES UP A NUMBER OF NEW DESIGNS THAT THE CITY COULD CONSIDER THAT ARE ADVANTAGEOUS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE THAT THE CITY WOULD NOT HAVE TO POTENTIALLY CLOSE MADISON STREET NORTHEAST THAT YOU CAN SEE ON YOUR SITE PLAN, WHICH AT THE PRESENT BIFURCATES THE CITY'S PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY, PUTTING THE BUILDING AND SEPARATING IT FROM THE STORAGE YARD.

SO IF THE CITY WERE TO ACQUIRE THIS SITE IN ITS EVENTUAL REDEVELOPMENT GOALS FOR THE MUNICIPAL SERVICE CENTER, IT WOULD MAKE A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT AND BETTER DESIGN ALTERNATIVES OPEN TO THE CITY, WHICH WOULD NOT HAVE THE CITY POTENTIALLY VACATING AN EXISTING STREET AND RELOCATING IT AND ACQUIRING OTHER RIGHT OF WAY FROM ADJACENT PROPERTIES.

SO TAKING ALL THAT INTO CONSIDERATION, STAFF THINK THAT IT IS AN ACQUISITION THAT SHOULD BE PURSUED BY THE CITY, AND THAT IS THE REQUEST THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU.

SO AGAIN, ON THE 2ND OF JANUARY, THE CITY DID MEET IN CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS THIS, BECAUSE THE CITY CAN DO THAT WHEN THEY'RE DISCUSSING OFFERS ON, REAL ESTATE AND NEGOTIATIONS RELATED TO THE PURCHASE OF PROPERTY.

AND IN THAT MEETING, THE CITY DID DIRECT STAFF TO PURSUE THE PROPERTY UNDER CERTAIN PARAMETERS.

AND WITH THAT, DIRECTION, STAFF DID MAKE AN OFFER ON THE PROPERTY.

THE LIST PRICE FOR THE SITE WAS 1,078,000.

IN CONSULTATION WITH THE CITY'S BROKER, THE CITY DID PRESENT AN INITIAL OFFER OF 700,000, WHICH WAS COUNTERED BY THE SELLER AT 900,000.

CITY RESPONDED WITH A COUNTER OF 875.

THE SELLER DECLINED AND HELD FIRM, AND THE CITY ACCEPTED THAT OFFER CONTINGENT UPON, OF COURSE, REVIEW BY THE CITY COUNCIL THIS EVENING AND APPROVAL OF THAT PURCHASE. SO, AGAIN, TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE POTENTIAL COSTS OF A ROADWAY RECONFIGURATION THAT IS AVOIDED BY PURCHASING THE PROPERTY AND THE COST OF ACQUIRING ADDITIONAL ADJACENT PROPERTY, THAT WOULD EXCEED THE AGREED UPON PRICE.

STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL, AUTHORIZE THE PURCHASE, AND WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE COUNCIL MIGHT HAVE.

THANK YOU.

ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL OR COMMENTS? COUNCILMEMBER JACOBS, JUST A COMMENT.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT THE RESIDENTS UNDERSTAND THAT THE REASON WE'RE LOOKING AT PURCHASING THIS PROPERTY IS THAT IT TIES INTO WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT, WHAT WE HAVE TO DO FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS LOCATION, AND IT WOULD BE TO OUR ADVANTAGE TO DO THAT.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF THIS PURCHASE.

THERE'S NO APARTMENT BUILDINGS GOING IN.

YES, THAT'S CORRECT, COUNCILMEMBER JACOBS, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT THEN HEARING IS NOT THEN MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING MOVE TO WAIVE THE READING OF RESOLUTION 2024 DASH 15, THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

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

ANY DISCUSSION SEEING IS NOTHIN.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES.

NEXT. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

MADAM MAYOR, CAN I INTERRUPT FOR JUST ONE SECOND? FOR SOME COMMENTARY ABOUT THE RESOLUTION? I'M SORRY, I DID NOT INCLUDE.

THAT IN MY PRESENTATION, THE DRAFT RESOLUTION THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE PACKET WAS UPDATED, AND THERE'S A COPY IN FRONT OF THE COUNCIL AT THE DAIS.

THE ONLY CHANGE IS HIGHLIGHTED IN RED, WHICH SPECIFIES WHICH FUND THE CITY INTENDS TO APPROPRIATE THE MONEY FOR THIS PURCHASE.

AND THAT'S FUND FOR 11.

IT WASN'T AVAILABLE LAST FRIDAY WHEN THE PACKET WAS PUBLISHED, BECAUSE WE WERE TRYING TO COLLABORATE WITH THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.

FUND FOR 11 IS WHERE THE CITY HOLDS LAND.

LONG TERM, IT'S LIKELY THAT THE CITY WILL HAVE TO MOVE SOME MONEY AROUND AFTER THIS HEARING FROM SOME DIFFERENT FUNDS THAT WILL COME TO YOU WITH A SEPARATE ACTION, POTENTIALLY INCLUDING THE EDA, BUT THAT THIS THIS PROJECT WILL RESIDE IN THIS FUND OVER THE LONG TERM, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE CITY DOES GENERATE PROJECTS AND HOLD LAND FOR CITY OWNED FACILITIES.

SO, THAT'S REALLY THE ONLY CHANGE TO THAT RESOLUTION.

BUT IT DOES ALLOW US TO, LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF BUDGET AMENDMENTS THAT WILL COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL IN THE FUTURE.

THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT AND LETTING THE AUDIENCE KNOW IN OUR MINUTES KNOW THAT THIS IS REFLECTED.

SO THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS, DOES THIS CHANGE THE MOTION AT ALL? IT DOES NOT CHANGE THAT.

[03:00:01]

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS.

I THINK IT CAN BE CONTROLLED.

DO WE NEED TO REDO IT OR CAN WE JUST ADD IT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION? I THINK YOU CAN MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION, SUBJECT TO THE CHANGES CLARIFIED IN THE MEETING, OR SIMILAR LANGUAGE TO THAT.

THANK YOU. COULD I HAVE A MOTION THEN TO APPROVE? MOVE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2024 DASH 15, AS AMENDED.

A RESOLUTION APPROVING TO THE PURCHASE AGREEMENT TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 675 37TH AVENUE NORTHEAST COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS AND A SECOND OR SORRY MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS, AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION, AS AMENDED.

ANY QUESTIONS OR CLARIFICATIONS NEEDED.

HEARING IS NOT. THEN ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION PASSES.

THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE OUR ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS.

NUMBER 18. CONSIDERATION OF A RENTAL LICENSE EXEMPTION FOR 3815 SECOND AND A HALF STREET NORTHEAST.

AND. I THINK.

SORRY, I'M NOT ON THE RIGHT PAGE.

WHO'S ANDREW BOUCHER? ARE YOU LEADING THIS ONE? YEAH. IT'S A LOT OF PAPERS TO SCROLL THROUGH TO FIND THE RIGHT NAME.

THANK YOU. ANDREW.

CITY COUNCIL. WE HAVE A CONSIDERATION OF A RENTAL LICENSE EXEMPTION FOR DENSITY EXEMPTION FOR 3815 SECOND AND A HALF STREET NORTHEAST.

ON JANUARY 31ST, THE OWNER OF 3815 SECOND AND A HALF STREET, REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT REQUESTING AN EXEMPTION FROM THE SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL DENSITY CAP.

ATTACHED. AND IN YOUR PACKET IS THE LETTER THAT STAFF RECEIVED, AS WELL AS ORDINANCE 1685, WHICH ESTABLISHED THE SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL DENSITY CAP AND STATES THAT IF THE NUMBER OF DETACHED, SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL, DWELLING RENTAL PROPERTIES MEETS OR EXCEEDS THE PROVIDED NUMBER OF RENTAL PERMITTED, NUMBER OF RENTAL PROPERTIES PER DEFINED BLOCK ON THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE ORDINANCE, FROM WHICH THE SECTION IS DERIVED, A PROPERTY OWNER MAY REQUEST A TEMPORARY LICENSE TO ALLOW AN ADDITIONAL RENTAL PROPERTY FOR THAT BLOCK.

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

PEOPLE REQUESTING A TEMPORARY LICENSE MUST MAKE AN ANNUAL APPLICATION TO THE CITY, AND NO PROPERTY OWNER SHALL HOLD A TEMPORARY LICENSE FOR THE SAME PROPERTY FOR MORE THAN TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS, AS IT IS THE HOMEOWNER'S RIGHT TO APPEAL TO THE COUNCIL.

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

IF APPROVED, RESOLUTION 2020 4-014 WOULD GRANT A TEMPORARY RENTAL 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.

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

SO YOU GUYS ARE APPROVING THIS TONIGHT DOES NOT START THAT CLOCK.

IT'S JUST, WHEN THEY GET THROUGH THE LICENSE PROCESS.

SO AS SOON AS WE GET, LIKE, AN INITIAL LICENSE APPLICATION OR RENTAL INSPECTION APPLICATION, THEY WOULD HAVE THREE MONTHS TO BE FULLY LICENSED.

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

THIS PROVIDES THE HOMEOWNER INTENT, THE ABILITY TO RENT THE HOUSE OUT 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 CAN HOLD, A TEMPORARY RENTAL LICENSE FOR THE SAME PROPERTY FOR MORE THAN TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS.

WE'RE DOING RECOMMENDATIONS.

THE LISTED RECOMMENDATION IN THE PACKET IS SUFFICIENT, JUST THAT THE COUNCIL CONSIDER THE TESTIMONY BY THE APPLICANT TO MAKE A DETERMINATION AND THEN IF, IF INCLINED, THERE ARE SOME DRAFT MOTIONS THAT WOULD WORK FOR APPROVAL OR THAT, YOU KNOW, COULD FAIL FOR LACK OF APPROVAL.

THANK YOU. CAN THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS, CAN YOU SHARE THE SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FOR THIS RESOLUTION THAT WAS GIVEN TO US BY ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF DAN O'BRIEN, PLEASE? YEP.

DO YOU WANT ME TO GO THROUGH THAT OR ARE YOU GOING? I CAN COUNCIL MEMBER. ARE YOU ASKING IT JUST TO BE FULLY KIND OF RECAPPED? WELL RECAPPED TO SHOW THE HISTORY OF THIS OF THIS PROPERTY AND ITS RENTAL HISTORY.

[03:05:03]

YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

SO ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF DAN O'BRIEN DID PROVIDE ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE LICENSING HISTORY, THAT HE THOUGHT WOULD BE RELEVANT TO THE CITY COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION. SO JUST A TIMELINE.

IT APPEARS THAT IN 2009, THE PROPERTY WENT INTO FORECLOSURE, AND WAS PURCHASED OUT OF FORECLOSURE IN 2012 BY AL-SUDAN MUNA.

LATER ON IN 2012, IT WAS LICENSED AS A RENTAL BY THE SAME INDIVIDUAL.

THERE'S A RENTAL LICENSE HISTORY BY THAT INDIVIDUAL, FOR THE YEARS 2012 THROUGH 2016, WHERE IT APPEARS, IN AND AROUND 2016, THE LICENSING HAS HAD DROPPED OFF FOR THE PROPERTY.

AND, FROM WHAT STAFF CAN TELL FROM THIS REPORT, THAT WAS THE LAST TIME THAT IT HAD A VALID RENTAL LICENSE.

THERE IS SOME, I'M TRYING TO JUST SYNTHESIZE THIS IF I CAN, BUT, ON 310, 2016, AN INSPECTION NOTE WAS MADE, STATING.

SORRY, I'M LOSING MY PLACE IN THE PACKET.

STATING THAT PER THE PROPERTY OWNER, THE PROPERTY IS VACANT AND GOING UP FOR SALE.

SO THAT WAS 2016.

ON 1115, 2019, OWNERSHIP OF THE PROPERTY WAS TRANSFERRED BY QUITCLAIM DEED FROM AL-SUDAN MUNA TO ZAHIR AND ZAHID TO MAS ENTERPRISES LLC, PER STATE BUSINESS REGISTRY RECORDS MANAGER AND AGENT WAS ZIAD SARHAN.

ON 127, 2020, AN INSPECTION NOTE WAS MADE THAT STATES SEVERE WATER PROBLEMS WERE FOUND IN AN INCIDENT OVER THE WEEKEND THAT THE PROPERTY WAS FOUND TO BE ILLEGALLY OCCUPIED BY TENANTS.

THE INSPECTION OFFICE SPOKE WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER, WHO STATED HE WOULD GO TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TO SCHEDULE THE RENTAL INSPECTION TO OBTAIN A LICENSE.

LATER ON 130, 2020, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STAFF SENT A PROPERTY, THE OWNER, AN ILLEGAL RENTAL LETTER, ESSENTIALLY ACKNOWLEDGING THAT SAME THAT IT WAS IN NEED OF A LICENSE.

ON 219, 2020, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT RECORDS INDICATED THAT THE PROPERTY OWNER HAD NOT SCHEDULED THE INITIAL LICENSING INSPECTION AFTER THAT LETTER WAS SENT.

SO A FEW MONTHS LATER, THERE STILL HADN'T BEEN AN APPLICATION TO TO INITIATE THE RENTAL LICENSING PROCESS.

ON 220 OF THAT SAME YEAR, 2020, AN ILLEGAL RENTAL INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THAT LICENSE HADN'T BEEN APPLIED FOR AND A NOTICE OF RENTAL LICENSE REQUIRED LETTER WAS SENT TO THE OWNER WITH A DEADLINE OF TWO 2820 TO SCHEDULE THE RENTAL INSPECTION WITH THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.

ON 320 2020, THE CITY INSPECTORS FOUND THAT THE PROPERTY APPEARED OCCUPIED AND THEN ON SIX NINE, 2020, INSPECTORS FOUND THE PROPERTY APPEARED TO BE VACANT AGAIN AND THAT THE ILLEGAL RENTAL INVESTIGATION WAS THEN CLOSED.

EXCUSE ME. YEAH, I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU, BUT I FROM WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO ME THAT ALL THE STUFF YOU'VE READ IS A DIFFERENT OWNER.

WELL, THAT IT HAD TRANSFERRED ONCE IN THEIR RIGHT TO MAS ENTERPRISES AND THEN IN AUGUST OF 21, THEN IT WAS QUITCLAIM DEED TO AL SUDAN. MUNA THE FATHER MAYOR IF YOU IS THAT CORRECT? IF YOU LOOK AT AT THOSE THEY BASICALLY SOLD IT TO THEMSELVES.

IT'S HARD FOR ME TO DECIPHER RIGHT NOW WITHOUT THE THE, ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF TO HELP US WALK THROUGH SOME OF THAT.

I THINK THE, THE PATTERN OF NOT HAVING THE VALID RENTAL LICENSE, BUT, BEING A RENTAL PROPERTY IS WHAT IS TRYING TO BE ILLUSTRATED.

DESPITE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BY BOTH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL YEARS TO, TO TRY TO GET THAT LICENSURE IN PLACE AND THEN AT SOME POINT, YOU KNOW, NOW IT INTERSECTS WITH THE RENTAL DENSITY CAP.

AND THAT'S WHAT HAS BROUGHT US HERE TODAY.

I THINK THE APPLICANT COULD FILL IN SOME MORE OF THE HISTORICAL GAPS, BUT THAT IS THE THE TAKEAWAY OF THIS FULL HISTORY.

AGAIN, HAVING RECEIVED IT THIS AFTERNOON, IT'S HARD FOR ME TO COMMENT ON THE OWNERSHIP LINEAGE WITHOUT, A LITTLE MORE HELP. I AGREE WITH THE 2019, QUITCLAIM DEED SALE.

THEN IT SEEMS THAT THE ISSUES WERE BETWEEN THE YEARS OF 2019 AND THEN, 2021, IT WAS TRANSFERRED TO BACK TO THE SAME OWNER.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT'S THE SAME OWNER, BUT, IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A GAP BETWEEN WHEN THEY FIRST TOOK IT IN 2021 AND THEN TO 2024.

[03:10:01]

THANK YOU. MAIER.

COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS.

I DID SPEAK WITH DAN.

YEAH. IT'S ON. SPEAK WITH DAN O'BRIEN THIS AFTERNOON, I BELIEVE.

AND THE APPLICANT CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT THAT THEY LIKE.

COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS SAID THEY SOLD IT TO THEMSELVES THROUGH AN LLC AND THEN BACK TO THEMSELVES.

SO IT DIDN'T REALLY LEAVE.

IT JUST WENT TO A DIFFERENT ENTITY.

DAN O'BRIEN TOLD YOU THAT? YES, I WAS TALKING. I DIDN'T SEE IT.

CORRECT ME IF I HEARD IT WRONG.

I WAS TOLD, THAT'S OKAY.

I WAS TOLD THE SAME THING.

THAT'S WHY I HATED TO INTERRUPT YOU.

BUT ESSENTIALLY WHAT THEY DID WAS IN THE FIRST SALE, THEY SOLD IT TO THEMSELVES, BUT UNDER THE GUISE OF AN LLC.

AND THEN THEY SOLD IT BACK TO THEMSELVES LATER ON, SEVERAL YEARS LATER.

OKAY. AND THAT'S THE SAME THING THAT COUNCIL MEMBER BRISKIN'S HAS BROUGHT FORWARD WAS ALSO SAID TO ME BY DAN THIS MORNING OR THIS AFTERNOON.

OKAY. AND YES, I WOULD LIKE TO IF THERE'S NO COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL, I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE, THE PROPERTY OWNER.

IF YOU COULD JUST INTRODUCE YOURSELF.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS OZZY.

ZORAN. I'M NOT THE PROPERTY OWNER.

THAT WOULD BE MY FATHER.

OH, SORRY. THANK YOU. I'M HERE IN PLACE.

AND, I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU GUYS MIGHT HAVE FOR ME REGARDING THIS PROPERTY ON TWO AND A HALF STREET.

THANK YOU.

I GUESS THEN, IF YOU'D LIKE TO.

IS IT THE SAME PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY THAT'S KIND OF SHOWING THIS HISTORY OF NOT BEING ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THE WATER LEAKAGE AND THE ILLEGAL RENTER RENTING SITUATION AND ALL THAT? SURE. SO, A LITTLE BACKSTORY ABOUT THIS.

MY, MY FATHER GOT ILL ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO AND ENTRUSTED A PROPERTY MANAGER LOCAL, IN THE AREA.

HE HAD AN OPEN HEART SURGERY AND HAS BEEN BEDRIDDEN EVER SINCE.

THIS, PARTICULAR PROPERTY MANAGER, I BELIEVE, TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THAT SITUATION.

THIS IS THE SAME LINE OF WORK THAT I AM IN AS WELL.

I DON'T HAVE ANY RENTALS IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, BUT HEAVY IN NORTH MINNEAPOLIS AND IN SAINT PAUL.

THIS WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION RECENTLY.

AND THE VACANCY, YOU KNOW, OF THIS PROPERTY WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION RECENTLY, BY MY FATHER, WHEN THE WHEN HE FOUND OUT THAT THE PROPERTY MANAGER IS NO LONGER DOING WHAT HE'S SUPPOSED TO BE DOING.

IT FELL THROUGH THE CRACKS, UNFORTUNATELY, AND WE HATE TO SEE IT, ESPECIALLY IN A IN A GOOD AREA THAT THAT IT IS IN.

NOW, IT KIND OF FELL ONTO MY LAP TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY OVER THIS AND KIND OF GET THIS BACK ON TRACK.

I, APOLOGIZE BECAUSE I ENDED UP RENTING IT, IN FULL TRANSPARENCY IN JANUARY, ASSUMING THAT THERE WAS A VALID RENTAL LICENSE. AND BECAUSE MY FATHER ALSO ASSUMED THAT THE PROPERTY MANAGER KEPT UP WITH THAT.

AND THAT'S WHAT I WAS TOLD WHEN I RECEIVED THE, NOTICE ON THE DOOR.

THE TENANTS ADVISED ME OF THIS, AND THEN I IMMEDIATELY WENT DOWN TO THE CITY AND, FILLED OUT EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE TO TO BE IN FRONT OF YOU HERE TODAY AND EXPLAIN WHAT'S GOING ON. WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'M HERE.

IF ANYTHING, IF YOU GUYS NEED ANYTHING IN REGARDS TO THIS PROPERTY, I AM ON TOP OF MY GAME 100%.

I HAVE A GOOD TRACK RECORD TO SHOW WITH EVERY CITY THAT I'M IN.

PERSONALLY. AND I'D LOVE TO BRING THAT OVER HERE.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

QUESTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES.

JAKE JAMES.

REALLY? SHORT QUESTION.

WHERE IN WHAT CITIES DOES THE OWNER RESIDE? THE OWNER OF THE HOP STREET.

YEAH. MY FATHER? YES.

YOUR FATHER, HE RESIDES IN BROOKLYN PARK, BROOKLYN PARK.

AND YOU ALSO DO NOT RESIDE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS? I DO NOT KNOW. OKAY, SO THIS HOME IS A RENTAL INCOME PROPERTY FOR FOR THE OWNER.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS.

MY CONCERN IS, IS THAT FROM 2016 TO 2023 IS OVER SIX YEARS.

AND AND THIS IS FLUXED IN AND OUT OF.

RENTAL LICENSE AND NOT BEING LICENSED AND IT BEING OCCUPIED WITHOUT A LICENSE.

AS A BUSINESS OWNER.

I'M SORRY THAT YOUR FATHER HAD SOME HEALTH ISSUES, AND AND I WANT TO BE COGNIZANT OF THAT.

BUT AS A BUSINESS OWNER, IT'S A RESPONSIBILITY OF A OF A BUSINESS PERSON TO STAY ON TOP OF THEIR BUSINESS, EVEN IF THEY HAVE A MANAGEMENT COMPANY.

ULTIMATELY, IT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY THAT IS HELD LIABLE FOR ANY FRAILTIES.

I'M CONCERNED THAT THEIR THE SALE OF THE PROPERTY WENT BACK AND FORTH WITH BASICALLY THE SAME PEOPLE.

COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS. I'M ACTUALLY NOT AWARE OF THE HISTORY WITH THE WITH THE SALE, AND, WELL, THIS IS DOCUMENTED.

SO THIS IS LIKE I SAID, THIS IS NEWS TO ME AS WELL.

ALL I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT MOVING FORWARD, IF THIS WERE TO BE GRANTED THAT THIS WILL NOT OCCUR, THIS WILL NOT CONTINUE TO BE A PATTERN, AND THAT MY TRACK RECORD,

[03:15:05]

BUT YOU MOVED INTO THE PROPERTY.

I DID NOT. YOU SAID A FEW MINUTES AGO YOU HAD OCCUPIED THE PROPERTY EARLIER THIS YEAR AT EARLY.

AM I WRONG THAT YOU HAD SAID HE RENTED IT? OKAY. YOU RENTED IT OUT TO SOMEBODY? YES, MA'AM. JUST WITHOUT CHECKING TO SEE THAT IT HAD A RENTAL LICENSE IN PLACE.

THAT IS A RESPONSIBILITY THAT YOU NEED TO CARRY, WHETHER IT'S YOUR FATHER OR YOU.

IF YOU'RE ACTING IN YOUR FATHER'S PLACE, YOU NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE TO VERIFY THAT THAT RENTAL LICENSE IS IN PLACE, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE YOU HAVE STATED THAT THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY THAT WAS OPERATING THERE WAS NEGLIGENT.

SO IF I'VE GOT A COMPANY, A MANAGEMENT COMPANY THAT I KNOW IS BEING NEGLIGENT, I'M GOING TO DOT MY I'S AND CROSS MY T'S, AND I'M GOING TO CHECK AND MAKE SURE EVERYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE IN PLACE IS THERE BEFORE I POP SOMEBODY ELSE IN THERE.

ABSOLUTELY. WE DID NOT KNOW THAT THEY WERE NEGLIGENT UNTIL WE RAN INTO THE ISSUE OF FINDING OUT THAT THERE WAS NO RENTAL LICENSE, AND FROM 20 FROM 2016 TILL 2023, YOU HAD NO IDEA THAT THEY WERE NOT OPERATING APPROPRIATELY.

AGAIN, COUNCIL MEMBER I THIS IS NEWS TO ME.

I ALSO WANT TO STATE I AM 24 YEARS OLD, SO I'M VERY YOU KNOW, MY HISTORY HAS BEEN SINCE, YOU KNOW, 2016.

YOU HAVE TO FACTOR MY AGE.

I HAVE NOT BEEN, IN IN THE DISCUSSIONS THAT YOUR FATHER HASN'T BEEN VERY FORTHCOMING WITH YOU EITHER.

I THINK I THINK I THINK WE'VE WE'VE QUESTIONED ENOUGH ON THAT.

WELL, I'M, I MEAN, ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS IS ONE THING, BUT GIVING BUSINESS ADVICE IS PROBABLY NOT OUR.

I'M NOT GIVING BUSINESS ADVICE.

I'M HE'S HE'S ACTING.

HE IS HERE ON BEHALF OF HIS FATHER.

YES. AND I DON'T THINK WHAT I ASKED WAS INAPPROPRIATE.

I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO BELITTLE HIM FOR SOMETHING HE WALKED INTO.

I WOULD DISAGREE, AND IF I MAY, MAYOR, I COMPLETELY APOLOGIZE.

IN THE PROPERTIES THAT I OWN PERSONALLY, THE DUE DILIGENCE IS DONE VERY WELL.

NOW, BEING THAT HE'S MY FATHER, I DID ASK.

I SAID, IS THERE A VALID RENTAL LICENSE? AND HE ANSWERED ME THAT IT WAS SO I CAN'T SPEAK TO WHETHER OR NOT IF IT WAS, YOU KNOW, IF THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT HE WAS NEGLIGENT ON HIS PART.

NONETHELESS, I AM HERE IN GOOD FAITH, AND I WANT TO RESOLVE THIS WITH THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AND WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

WE ARE HERE TO MAKE THAT EFFORT.

THANK YOU. OUR CITY PLANNER HAS.

THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD SOMETHING.

THANK YOU. AND WE'LL WE PROBABLY WILL HAVE MORE QUESTIONS.

SO. YEAH, THE ONLY OTHER THING I HAD TO ADD WAS JUST THAT IN MY EXPERIENCE DEALING WITH THE APPLICANT, IT SEEMS LIKE HIS TIMELINE OF WHEN HE APPROACHED US WAS PRETTY MUCH IMMEDIATELY AFTER HE RECEIVED THAT NOTICE ON HIS DOOR.

SO AT LEAST IN THAT REGARD, HE'S BEEN PROACTIVE, OR AT LEAST AS TIMELY WITH HIS COMMUNICATIONS, WITH MYSELF AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AS HE CAN BE.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR ADDING THAT.

COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS.

I JUST HAD A QUICK QUESTION, BUT I THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE ALREADY ANSWERED IT.

SO YOU'RE NOT AWARE OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING WITH THE PROPERTY AFTER IT WAS NO LONGER LICENSED BETWEEN 2016 AND 2020? WHAT, 2020, I BELIEVE BECAUSE 2020, HE HAD THE HEART ATTACK OR THE ILLNESS, AND THEN 2024 IS WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW.

SO YOU HAVE NO CLUE WHAT THE HISTORY? NO, MA'AM. SO COUNCIL MEMBER, THIS FELL INTO MY LAP QUITE LITERALLY IN 2024, IN JANUARY.

SO, I HAD RENTED THAT OUT AND I THOUGHT THAT WE WERE OKAY IN THAT, IN THAT REGARD.

AND IT WASN'T UNTIL THAT I RECEIVED THAT NOTICE THAT I WAS AWARE OF HOW MANY UNSOLVED, UNRESOLVED ISSUES WE HAVE WITH THIS PROPERTY.

AT WHICH POINT I IMMEDIATELY CALLED BOTH CITY AND FIRE, TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER. JAMES, I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.

I JUST HAVE A COMMENT HERE, WHICH IS THAT, I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND FOR ANSWERING THESE QUESTIONS AND FOR BEING PROACTIVE.

HOWEVER, BECAUSE THE PURPOSE OF THE RENTAL CAP FOR ME IS TO REDUCE HOW MANY HOMES ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AND THE, EXEMPTIONS THAT I AM IN FAVOR OF ARE THOSE WHO IT'S A HOME THAT FAMILY WILL LIVE IN, OR HAS LIVED IN, OR PLANS TO LIVE IN AGAIN.

THIS HOME WAS PURCHASED FOR A RENTAL, AND THE GOAL IS FOR IT TO CONTINUE TO BE A RENTAL.

SO THEREFORE I BELIEVE THAT IT FALLS OUTSIDE OF WHAT EXEMPTIONS ARE ARE DESIGNED FOR.

SO, UNLESS I'M HEARING DIFFERENT, I, I DON'T SEE HOW, HOW THIS APPLIES TO MY GOAL IN HELPING CREATE OPTIONS FOR AFFORDABLE HOMES TO BE PURCHASED. AND I APPRECIATE YOU DOING A GOOD JOB IN YOUR OTHER RENTALS.

AND I THINK IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'LL BE DOING GOOD IN ALL YOUR OTHER ONES.

BUT THIS ONE, THE REASON WE CREATED THE CAP WAS SO THAT WE COULD LIMIT THE NUMBER OF RENTALS FOR THOSE WHO'VE LOST THEIR LICENSES, AND TO KEEP THE LANDLORDS WHO ARE CONTINUING THEIR LICENSES. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS YEAH, I WAS GOING TO SAY THE SAME THING.

COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES WAS GOING TO SAY, I APOLOGIZE FOR YOU BEING IN A TOUGH SITUATION AND HAVE NO DOUBT YOUR OTHER RENTALS ARE IN GOOD STANDING.

I THINK JUST WITHIN THE EXEMPTION OF THE RENTAL DENSITY CAP FOR WHAT IT WAS CREATED FOR.

IT WAS FOR SOMEONE WHO IS IN A SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCE THAT IS NEEDING SHORT TERM INCOME TO COVER SOMETHING ELSE, OR WITH THE PLANS TO COME BACK.

[03:20:02]

THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL? COUNCIL MEMBER BISCUITS.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT THEN.

THEN MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO.

WAIVE THE READING.

I'LL DO WHAT? I'M TRYING TO FIND IT.

MOVE TO WAIVE THE READING OF RESOLUTION 2020 4-01 FOR THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

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

ANY DISCUSSION.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES.

NEXT WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION.

MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2020 4-014A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL EXEMPTION REQUEST FOR THE RENTAL APPLICANT AT 3815 SECOND AND A HALF STREET, NORTHEAST COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA 55421.

AND A SECOND SECOND.

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

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AND ANY OPPOSED. SAY NAY.

NAY, NAY. AND THE MOTION DOES NOT PASS.

THANK YOU FOR COMING IN AND HANDLING THIS AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

YEAH. GOOD NIGHT. THANK YOU.

AND BEST OF LUCK WITH YOUR FATHER AS WELL.

WE HAVE NO BID CONSIDERATIONS TONIGHT OR BUSINESS NEW BUSINESS AND REPORTS, WHICH TAKES US TO OUR CITY COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS.

[CITY COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS]

COUNCIL MEMBER BEGINS.

FIRST OFF, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE IN OUR LIFE NEWSPAPER.

THERE WERE SEVERAL BUSINESSES THAT WERE VOTED, TOP VALUE THERE.

LET'S SEE IF I CAN FIND IT.

VOTED. READERS CHOICE AWARDS AND THREE OF OUR CITIES.

ONE IS KIND OF IN OUR CITY, BUT I STILL LIKE TO MENTION IT.

TASTY'S. WHICH IS IN HILLTOP, BUT WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF RESIDENTS THAT ATTENDED.

SO CONGRATULATIONS.

CRESTVIEW WAS NOMINATED OR AWARDED AND OUR, OUR CITY'S OWN TOP LIQUOR STORE WAS AWARDED.

SO I WANT TO CONGRATULATE THOSE BUSINESSES.

THE OTHER THING AND THE MINNEAPOLIS-SAINT PAUL MAGAZINE.

WE HAD THREE OF OUR BUSINESSES HIGHLIGHTED IN THE MAGAZINE FOR A WAY TO SPEND YOUR AFTERNOON OR EVENING.

AND ONE OF THEM WAS THEY STARTED THEM AT THE THEATER, OUR GREAT, WONDERFUL THEATER THAT WE HAVE.

AND THEN, FOLKS, THEY SUGGESTED GOING TO JIMMY'S POOL HALL, TO HANG OUT FOR THE AFTERNOON AND THEN GO TO MILLER'S FOR DINNER.

SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY COOL TO HAVE OUR BUSINESSES HIGHLIGHTED IN THIS MAGAZINE.

AND THEN AS FAR AS BUSINESS ATTENDANCE, I ATTENDED THE SENSIBLE LAND USE COALITION THAT DISCUSSED CURRENT HOUSING TRENDS IN MINNESOTA.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, ONE THING I REMEMBER IS THAT THEY SAID IT'S GOING TO TAKE US AT LEAST 20, 10 TO 20 YEARS TO RECOVER FROM OUR HOUSING SHORTAGE AT THIS TIME FOR MANY DIFFERENT REASONS. I HAD THE EXCITING, OPPORTUNITY TO TOUR THE WEST WALK WEST ROCK PAPER MILL, WHO'S BEEN RECYCLING FOR OVER 100 YEARS, AND IT WAS SO COOL TO SEE THE PAPER, HOW THEY GET THE PAPER.

THEY THEY GET 50, OVER 50% OF THEIR, PAPER AND CARDBOARD FROM HALF THE STATE.

SO HALF THE STATE SUPPLIES THEM WITH IT.

AND THEY, THE ONLY THING THAT WAS DISHEARTENING IS TO SEE, BECAUSE WE DO SINGLE CYCLE, RECYCLING WHERE EVERYTHING GETS THROWN IN, THERE'S A TON OF TRASH THAT THEY HAVE TO CLEAN OUT FROM THE PULP.

TO GET IT READY TO MAKE IT BACK INTO THE MAKE PAPER THAT DOES YOUR KLEENEX BOXES, YOUR CEREAL BOXES AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT THEY SELL BACK TO THE COMPANIES. BUT IT WAS A VERY INTRIGUING.

THE BUILDING IS VERY OLD.

THE BRICK, IT WAS JUST REALLY COOL.

I LOVE OLD BUILDINGS, SO IT WAS FUN TO WATCH.

AND THEN, I ATTENDED THE SCHOOL, CITY COUNCIL AND SCHOOL BOARD MEETING.

LEARNED A LOT. WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE SOME TIME TO DISCUSS AND ASK EACH OTHER QUESTIONS, SO IT WAS REALLY FUN TO GET ALONG, GET TOGETHER WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD AND, AND, MAKE STRONGER TIES WITH THEM.

I ATTENDED THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT MEETING FOR ANOKA, FOR THE CITY OFFICIALS, THE QUARTERLY MEETING, RETIREMENT FOR POLICE OFFICER PAUL AND I MEANT TO GET HIS LAST NAME, BUT I DIDN'T. BUT HE HAD BEEN WITH THE OUR CITY FOR MANY, MANY, MANY YEARS, SO I'LL BE SAD TO SEE HIM GO, BUT I'M SURE HIS, HIS RETIREMENT WILL BE WELL AND WILL BE A GOOD ONE. ATTENDED THE SNOW BLAST, AND DESPITE THERE NOT BEING ANY SNOW OR ICE, IT WAS WELL ATTENDED AND FOLKS SEEMED TO BE HAVING A GREAT TIME.

I ALSO ATTENDED THE KICK OFFS FOR OUR CITY.

THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT HAVE DONE GREAT, WORKED WITH OUR CITY TO HELP US WITH MANY THINGS.

MANDY, WHO'S OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONER.

I ATTENDED HER KICKOFF, ERIN CAGLE AND SANDRA FEIS, WHO ALSO BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD TO HELP US GET A BILL THROUGH TO HELP US PAY FOR OUR PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING.

[03:25:03]

ALSO ATTENDED THE STORIES FROM OUR PALESTINIAN NEIGHBOR AT FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH AND MARY KUNESH, OUR STATE SENATOR.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU GET HER, NEWSLETTER, BUT SHE HAD SOME THINGS TO REMIND PEOPLE.

ONE OF THEM IS THE TAX REFUNDS THAT YOU CAN GET FOR YOUR PROPERTY TAXES.

TO MAKE SURE YOU CHECK IT OUT, YOU CAN GO TO, IT'S ONLINE TO THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, I BELIEVE.

YEAH. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

HOMESTEAD CREDIT REFUND FOR HOMEOWNERS.

AND THERE'S ALL SORTS OF, DIFFERENT TYPES.

IT'S NOT JUST FOR SENIORS.

SO TO MAKE SURE YOU CHECK THAT OUT.

THE NEXT ONE IS THAT THERE ARE REBATES AGAIN FOR ELECTRICAL VEHICLES AND MORE ENERGY INFORMATION ON THAT.

THE OTHER ONE THAT'S COMING BACK AGAIN HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO HELP OUR POLLINATORS.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF MANY OF YOU ARE AWARE OF THERE WAS, I BELIEVE, 59% DROP IN OUR MONARCH POPULATION DOWN IN MEXICO.

IT COULD HAVE BEEN DUE TO SMOKE, SOME OF THE THE THINGS THAT WERE GOING ON LAST SUMMER.

BUT IT'S VERY, VERY, VERY SAD BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY REDUCED QUITE SIGNIFICANTLY.

SO FOR THOSE OF YOU INTERESTED IN HELPING OUT OUR POLLINATORS, THE STATE IS PROVIDING THE LAWNS TO LEGUMES APPLICATIONS.

THEY'RE OPEN RIGHT NOW AND I KNOW SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT HAVE APPLIED FOR IT AND IT WORKS REALLY WELL.

IT HELPS YOU PAY FOR THE PLANTS AND THE SETUP FOR YOUR GARDENS AND THAT TYPE OF THING.

AND, THAT'S IT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

AND I THINK OUR OUR CITY WEBSITE HAS ADDED A LOT OF THOSE REBATES ON THE ON THE WEBSITE TO FOR HOUSING AS WELL.

GREAT. COUNCIL MEMBER.

JAMES. THANK YOU MAYOR.

JANUARY 24TH, I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND A RETIREMENT WORSHIP SERVICE FOR CHAPLAIN BOB LINDERS OF CRESTVIEW.

HE SERVED AT CRESTVIEW FOR 18 YEARS IN THAT ROLE.

AND BEFORE THAT, HE SERVED IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS IN DIFFERENT ROLES.

HE WAS A PASTOR HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR OVER 30 YEARS AND BELOVED BY MANY.

I ATTENDED THE SWEARING IN CEREMONY FOR TWO NEW COLUMBIA HEIGHTS POLICE OFFICERS, MANNY ALVAREZ AND JOSEPH PUBLIC.

THAT WAS WONDERFUL.

I ALSO COMPLETED THE BOARD OF APPEAL AND EQUALIZATION TRAINING WITH THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, SO THAT I CAN LEARN HOW TO DO THAT AS A NEW COUNCIL MEMBER . THE JOINT COUNCIL MEETING THAT WE HAD WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD, THAT COUNCIL MEMBER BESKIN MENTIONED WAS REALLY WONDERFUL.

AND THERE'S MANY AREAS IN WHICH OUR CITY AND OUR SCHOOL BOARD WORK TOGETHER.

AND IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL TO HAVE THESE JOINT MEETINGS FOLLOWING THAT MEETING.

THERE WAS A CONCERN BROUGHT UP ABOUT 49TH AVENUE, ESPECIALLY SAFETY, IN FRONT OF COLUMBIA ACADEMY.

NEARBY THAT TACO BELL WALGREENS, ESPECIALLY DURING SCHOOL DROP OFF AND PICKUP.

AND SO I MET WITH A FEW PEOPLE FROM THAT, INCLUDING A MEETING WITH THE CITY ENGINEER, AND HE'S WORKING ON SOME IDEAS.

AND THEN THE ANOKA COUNTY ENGINEER IS WILLING TO DO WHAT THEY CAN.

AND I KNOW THE SCHOOL BOARD IS WORKING TO DO WHAT THEY CAN.

AND THE MAYOR CONNECTED ME WITH THE MAYOR OF HILLTOP.

SO PEOPLE ARE THINKING ABOUT IT.

IT'S A DIFFICULT SITUATION.

THERE MAY NOT BE AN EASY RESOLUTION, BUT IN THE MEANTIME, WE'RE ASKING DRIVERS TO BE VERY CAREFUL IN DROP OFF TIMES AND OTHERS THAT AREN'T DOING CHILDREN, BECAUSE THAT'S A DANGEROUS STRETCH OF ROAD.

I ALSO ATTENDED THE ANOKA COUNTY ELECTED OFFICIALS MEETING AND SNOW BLAST.

AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE STAFF AND ESPECIALLY PEOPLE WHO HAD TO PIVOT TO CREATE NEW IDEAS WITHOUT THE LACK OF SNOW AND ICE AND SLEDDING THAT WE ARE PLANNING ON.

TO ADD IN A HAYRIDE WAS WONDERFULLY FUN, AND I THINK WE SERVED OVER 450 S'MORES, SO THEY WENT WELL.

WE HAD A GOOD WORK SESSION.

I ALSO ATTENDED THE STORIES FROM OUR PALESTINIAN NEIGHBORS, AND BEFORE THAT THE TEACH IN THAT WAS HELD AT CHURCH OF ALL NATIONS TO HEAR FROM PALESTINIAN SCHOLARS AND JEWISH SCHOLARS. AND THEN LASTLY, TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND I WAS ABLE TO VISIT THE CAPITOL.

I SPOKE WITH OUR STATE SENATOR, KUNESH, AS WE WERE AT THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT RALLY.

SHE'S THE PRINCIPAL AUTHOR OF THAT BILL, AND WE'RE SUPPORTING THAT TO GET ENSHRINED IN THE MINNESOTA STATE CONSTITUTION, EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL PEOPLE.

AND SHE ALSO AND I JUST MENTIONED AGAIN ABOUT THE PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING, AND I ALSO MET WITH REPRESENTATIVE KEGEL TODAY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER JACOBS.

IN ADDITION TO ATTENDING SOME OF THE SAME MEETINGS THAT OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE REFERRED TO IN SNOW BLAST.

I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A QUICK STATEMENT.

ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9TH, 2024, THE STATE SUPREME COURT OF MINNESOTA DETERMINED THAT MALFEASANCE OR NONFEASANCE WERE MET THE METER REQUIRED TO EXECUTE A RECALL ELECTION IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA BY THE RULING OF THE HIGHEST COURT IN THE STATE.

I WILL LEGALLY AND ETHICALLY REMAIN A MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT NINE AND A HALF MONTHS.

IT IS MY EXPECTATION AND ENTITLEMENT, BY THE RULING OF THAT HIGHER COURT, THAT THE BIAS BEHAVIORS DISREGARD ACCUSATIONS AND PERPETUATION OF LIES DIRECTED AT AND ABOUT ME, ALL DOCUMENTED, WILL CEASE.

I LOOK FORWARD TO THE RESPECT AND TREATMENT EQUAL TO THAT GIVEN TO EVERY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBER SITTING AT THIS DAIS.

FINALLY, I'D WANT TO EXTEND MY DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO ALL THOSE THAT STOOD BY ME FOR THE PAST 19 MONTHS.

[03:30:05]

TO SAY THANK YOU JUST IS SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH.

DONE. ALL RIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS.

A COUPLE QUICK THINGS.

ALSO ATTENDED SNOW BLAST, WHICH WAS A GREAT EVENT.

DID WE FIND OUT WHICH PARK WON FOR FAVORITE PARK? OKAY. THERE WERE THERE WERE A COUPLE CLOSE ONES.

ALSO ATTENDED THE WORK SESSION AND AND LIBRARY BOARD MEETING AS WELL.

THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT POSSIBLY DOING SOME KIND OF CITYWIDE BOOK CLUB, WHICH I THINK MAY BE AN INTERESTING THING FOR PEOPLE.

AND THEN I BELIEVE IT WAS LAST SUNDAY, I ATTENDED A MEETING WITH MULTIPLE STATE REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS FROM ACROSS THE TWIN CITIES TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING CONCERNS WITH A LOT OF SENIORS, NOT ONLY AT DOMINION PROPERTIES, BUT AT A LOT OF PROPERTIES ACROSS THE TWIN CITIES, AND ABOUT HOW ONE WHAT CAN THE LEGISLATURE EXCUSE ME, WHAT CAN THE LEGISLATURE DO TO CORRECT THIS AND TO WHAT CAN CITIES DO TO SUPPORT THEM IN THIS? SO I THINK A LOT OF GOOD WORK UPCOMING THIS SESSION.

THANK YOU.

I HAVE A TWO PAGE LONG REPORT PER USUAL, BUT BEFORE I START MY REPORT, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A SHORT STATEMENT THAT WITH VERY SHORT NOTICE, THE CITY WAS GIVEN THE UPDATE TO CANCEL THE ELECTION.

AND I JUST WANT TO THANK OUR STAFF FOR PIVOTING AND BEING ABLE TO WORK THROUGH SETTING UP THE ELECTION, BUT ALSO GETTING THE INFORMATION OUT TO THE COMMUNITY THAT IT HAD BEEN CANCELED.

CANCELING WITH ALL THE ELECTION JUDGES, BUT ESPECIALLY OUR CITY CLERK COORDINATING ALL OF THAT WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY, WITH STAFF, WITH PUBLIC WORKS AS WELL. AT OUR FRONT DESK HERE AT CITY HALL, ALL OF THE STAFF I HAVE SEEN DOZENS AND DOZENS OF TIME HELPING PEOPLE UNDERSTAND AND NAVIGATING HOW TO FILL IN THE BALLOT, HOW TO REGISTER, AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

SO I KNOW IT HAS BEEN A LOT OF WORK AND JUST THE SUPER SHORT NOTICE TO DO THAT.

NOT ONLY WAS IT A LOT OF WORK, IT COST THE CITY A LOT OF MONEY AS WELL.

AND, PHYSICAL WORK, LEG WORK, STAFF TIME.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK AND APPRECIATE ALL OF THE SCHOOLS, THE CHURCHES, OTHER BUILDINGS THAT USE THAT WE USE FOR OUR PUBLIC ELECTIONS. THEY'VE HAD TO CANCEL EVENTS.

THEY'VE HAD TO RESCHEDULE THEIR PROGRAMING AS WELL FOR THIS.

AND ALSO JUST APPRECIATE HOW MUCH THE COMMUNICATION TEAM HERE AT THE CITY WORKED TO GET THIS INFORMATION OUT.

IT WAS VERY SHORT NOTICE.

AND, I THINK THEY DID A FANTASTIC JOB.

I KNOW THAT BESIDES ALL OF THE INSTITUTIONS, THE COMMUNITY WORKED VERY HARD AS WELL.

WITH GETTING INFORMATION OUT, WITH PEOPLE OPTING TO RUN FOR OFFICE AS WELL.

AND ANY TIME WE CAN GET THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED, ANYTIME THE COMMUNITY AND THE AND THE CITY CAN BE WORKING IN CIVIC WAYS TO BE MORE CONNECTED AND MORE INVOLVED AND COMMUNITY BUILDING.

I THINK THAT THAT IS A A WORK OF GOOD.

AND SO I JUST WANT TO KIND OF HOLD THAT UP AND JUST SAY, WELL, WELL WORKED TO THE STAFF AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

FOR MY REPORT, I TODAY I ATTENDED A REGIONAL COUNCIL OF MAYORS MEETING.

WE HAD PROFESSIONALS ON CLIMATE CHANGE FROM THE DNR THERE, AS WELL AS THE SCIENCE MUSEUM.

WE HAD A COP 28 UPDATE, AND AS I SAID EARLIER ABOUT GREENHOUSE GASES, THAT WE REALLY NEED TO REDUCE OUR METHANE GAS.

SO THE COMPOSTING PROGRAM WILL BE GREAT FOR THAT.

THIS WEEKEND I ATTENDED A POSSUM EVENT, WHICH IS A POLISH AMERICAN CULTURE CULTURAL INSTITUTE OF MINNESOTA.

THEY HAD THEIR YEARLY CARNIVAL BALL, THE BALL CARNIVAL, AND THAT WAS A LOT OF FUN.

AND OF COURSE, WHEN I ATTEND THESE THINGS, THIS IS ON MY OWN DIME.

SO GOING TO A BALL IS NOT A, IS NOT A IS NOT A REBATE FROM FROM THE CITY.

ATTENDED OUR STORIES OF OUR PALESTINIAN NEIGHBORS AT FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH.

IT WAS A FANTASTIC TURNOUT.

WE HEARD, ONE OF OUR SPEAKERS TONIGHT WAS THERE AS WELL, AND IT WAS HOSTED AT FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH, WHICH ALSO WON BEST CHURCH IN THE NEWSPAPER AS WELL. YEAH.

SO ANOTHER WINNER.

THIS PAST FRIDAY, I ATTENDED PRAYER AT THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS MOSQUE AND WAS LETTING THE COMMUNITY KNOW THAT WE WERE DOING WORLD HIJAB DAY, AND JUST MEETING WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS AND VISITORS THERE.

I SAW MANY OF OUR, OUR, MEMBERS HERE TONIGHT ARE ATTENDING AT THE MOSQUE, ATTENDED THE ANOKA COUNTY VIRTUAL BREAKFAST MEETING ON HOUSING RESOURCES THIS PAST FRIDAY.

SEN. KUNESH WAS ONE OF THE SPEAKERS SHARING ABOUT RESOURCES AND ALL THE AID THAT THE STATE, THE CAPITOL BROUGHT TO ON HOUSING RESOURCES.

[03:35:04]

I WAS CHOSEN AND ASKED TO BE A PART OF A CAPITOL MALL FOCUS GROUP.

SO THIS IS THE MALL IN SAINT PAUL, THE CAPITOL, I MEAN, THE CAPITOL MALL IN SAINT PAUL, NOT THE CAPITOL MALL IN D.C..

AND THEY ARE DOING A REDEVELOPMENT OF THAT.

AND I ACTUALLY HAVE SOME POSTCARDS I BROUGHT WITH ME.

ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO FILL IN A SURVEY FOR WHAT YOU'D LIKE TO SEE AT THE CAPITOL MALL? PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I WILL ALSO, SHARE THE LINK, AND, BUT THEY'RE JUST MAKING THE MALL MORE ACCESSIBLE, MORE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA AND AND MORE ACCESSIBLE, MOSTLY MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR ME.

THAT WAS A BIG CONCERN.

HAVING TAKEN WITH COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS, WE TOOK TWO BUSSES OF SENIORS TO THE CAPITOL LAST YEAR, AND WE'RE PLANNING ON DOING IT AGAIN THIS YEAR.

BUT WE SAW HOW IN ACCESSIBLE THE CAPITOL REALLY IS.

SO, HOPEFULLY THERE WILL BE SOME CHANGES THERE.

BUT LIKE I SAID, WE'LL HAVE THIS LINK.

SO YOU CAN ALSO ENTER A SURVEY.

SAINT ANTHONY'S MAYOR WENDY WEBSTER, THE NEW MAYOR OF SAINT ANTHONY, CAME OVER TO COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AND DID A TOUR OF THE CITY HALL, AND TOGETHER WE WROTE A LETTER SUPPORTING THE SILVERWOOD PROGRAMING AT THE PARK, AND WE SENT OUR LETTER TO THE SILVERWOOD BOARD LETTING THEM KNOW WE WOULD LIKE TO COLLABORATE AND JUST GIVE OUR SUPPORT TO THE BOARD AND THE PROGRAMING THAT THEY'RE CURRENTLY DOING WITH THREE RIVERS PARKS.

ATTENDED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ASSOCIATION MEETING LAST WEEK AND WHEN I GOT THERE THEY WERE DOING THEIR EMS DRILLS.

AND SO I VOLUNTEERED TO BE A VICTIM, SOMEBODY WHO WAS SLUMPED OVER.

AND SO IT WAS IT WAS GREAT TO BE A PART OF THAT.

MET WITH MEMBERS OF SENATOR TINA SMITH'S STAFF LAST WEEK, ATTENDED A ROTARY MEETING.

I'M A ROTARIAN, AND WE MEET EVERY WEDNESDAY AT 730 IN THE MORNING FOR A HOT BREAKFAST.

LET ME KNOW IF YOU'D LIKE TO JOIN.

OUR OUR COMMUNICATIONS.

WILL, WHAT IS WILL'S TITLE? SORRY. OKAY.

MEMBERS COUNCIL COMMUNICATION COORDINATOR.

COORDINATOR. THANK YOU. COMMISSION COORDINATOR.

WILL RODGER JUST JOINED ROTARY, SO I'M SO GLAD HE'LL BE THERE TO HELP GIVE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AND LISTEN TO WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY. I ATTENDED OUR COUNCIL WORK SESSION LAST WEEK, ATTENDED SNOW BLAST WHERE I CALLED, TOLD EVERYONE I'M JUST CALLING IT A BLAST SINCE THERE WAS A LACK OF SNOW, BUT I'LL ECHO COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES THAT, IT WAS, EVERYONE PIVOTED SO WELL WITH THE HAY RIDE, AND THE PEOPLE JUST HAD A GREAT TIME.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH TO STAFF FOR PUTTING THAT TOGETHER.

EVEN ANDREW BOUCHER WAS THERE, WHO WAS A CITY PLANNER AND NOT EVEN ON THE PARK AND REC, AND HE WAS THERE, ATTENDED COMMUNITY COFFEE, AND THEY HAD A SOFT OPEN AT THE CENTRAL MIX, WHICH IS GOING TO BE A COFFEE SHOP.

IT'S NEXT DOOR TO JIMMY'S BILLIARDS, AND THEY ARE HOPING, HOPING TO OPEN ON MARCH 1ST.

SO WE GOT A LITTLE TRIAL.

ATTENDED THE RETIREMENT PARTY FOR, PAUL BONESTEEL WITH A FEW OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO HIS SERVICE.

HE WAS HERE A VERY LONG TIME, SO WE WERE HAPPY TO HAVE HIM AND WISH HIM THE BEST OF LUCK.

I EMCEED THE ANOKA COUNTY ELECTED LEADERS MEETING A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.

WE HAD OUR JOINT COUNCIL AND SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, AS OTHER MEMBERS HAVE SAID, ATTENDED ALSO THE SWEARING IN FOR OFFICERS ALVAREZ AND PUIGBLANQUE.

I ATTENDED THE VIRTUAL LATIN GOVERNORS MEETING AND IN THAT, I ALSO HAVE CONNECTED OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT WITH OUR LATIN GOVERNOR MEETING.

AND SO WE GET TO HEAR ABOUT ALL THE RESOURCES THAT ARE FOR, THE LATIN COMMUNITY IN MINNESOTA.

I HOSTED, ALONG WITH SUPPORT FROM THE CITY STAFF AND INFRASTRUCTURE MEETING FOR CONGRESSWOMAN OMAR AND REPRESENTATIVE AARON CAGLE.

THERE WAS 30 PLUS ATTENDEES, INCLUDING OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS.

COUNTY COMMISSIONER MEISSNER WAS THERE, AS WELL AS A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, AND SHE JOINED US VIRTUALLY.

COUNCIL MEMBER BIGGINS WAS ABLE TO BE THERE AS WELL.

IT WAS KIND OF A A LAST MINUTE INVITATION.

SO I APOLOGIZE TO THE COUNCIL THAT THAT WAS NOT SENT OUT EARLIER.

ATTENDED OUR PARK AND REC COMMISSION MEETING AND.

SORRY. AND I HAVE A COUPLE SAVE THE DATES I WANTED TO PUT OUT THERE.

THESE ARE FORWARD THINKING, BUT SEPTEMBER 21ST IS OUR COLUMBIA HEIGHTS PRIDE FESTIVAL THAT WILL BE AT KODIAK PARK AND COMING UP VERY SOON.

MARCH 2ND AT MURZYN HALL WILL BE CODECON, WHICH IS A GAMING CONVENTION AT MURZYN HALL FROM 10 A.M.

TILL MIDNIGHT.

THIS IS PUT ON BY HEIGHTS NEXT, BUT ALSO PARTNERED WITH AN ORGANIZATION CALLED 2D CON.

2D CON IS A GAMING CONVENTION, SO THREE DIMENSIONS AND THERE'S TWO DIMENSIONS.

[03:40:04]

AND SO IT'S CALLED 2D CON.

AND THE PERSON WHO STARTED THAT, HIS NAME IS JOE OPSAHL.

AND HE FIRST STARTED A GAMING EVENT HERE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS IN 2004 AT HOUSTON PARK IN THE JEFFERSON BUILDING.

THEN HE MOVED TO THE MURZYN HALL, LOWER LEVEL.

AND NOW HE IS THE FOUNDER OF THE LARGEST GAMING CONVENTION IN MINNESOTA, WITH ABOUT 7000 ATTENDEES, AND MEETS IN MINNEAPOLIS.

AND THEY PARTNER WITH HEIGHTS NEXT TO.

SO WE CAN HAVE THIS GAMING CONVENTION ON MARCH 2ND.

SO THOSE ARE AVAILABLE ON EVENTBRITE FOR THOSE TICKETS.

AND, WE'D LOVE TO SEE YOU THERE NEXT WEEK.

WE ALSO HAVE COFFEE WITH A COP AT THE LEGENDS, APARTMENT BUILDING.

I THINK IT'S WEDNESDAY.

THURSDAY? THE CHIEF SITTING HERE, MAYBE HE KNOWS, THIS THIS COMING THURSDAY.

THIS THURSDAY? YEP.

THIS THURSDAY. THIS COMING THURSDAY, 2:00.

STAND BY. 2 TO 330.

THANK YOU. 2 TO 3 32 TO 3.

THANK YOU. THERE WE GO. ALL RIGHT, SO, EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO THAT AS WELL.

AND I WILL SEE YOU THERE.

SO THANK YOU. THANKS FOR JUMPING IN, QUICK.

SORRY TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT.

AND NOW TO THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER, KEVIN HANSEN.

WELL, THANK YOU, MAYOR. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, YOU REALLY COVERED MOST OF THE STUFF THAT I HAD COFFEE WITH.

THE COP WAS ONE OF THE LAST ONES.

BUT I'D ALSO LIKE TO EXTEND THANKS TO OUR STAFF AND REALLY THE RESIDENTS, TOO, FOR COMING OUT AND SUPPORTING DURING AN ODD WINTER, BUT FOR THE STAFF, FOR REALLY KIND OF PIVOTING AS YOU DESCRIBED AND REALLY MAKING A SUCCESSFUL EVENT, YOU KNOW, WILL PUT A LOT OF WORK AND EFFORT INTO THAT TO REALLY MAKE IT THE SUCCESS IT WAS.

SO, THE LAST THING I HAVE IS REALLY RELATED TO THE NEWSLETTER AND REALLY COMMUNICATIONS OUT TO OUR RESIDENTS.

SO OUR NEWSLETTER IS DONE AND IT'LL BE MAILED OUT HERE THIS WEEK.

BUT REALLY, TO PUT A PLUG IN FOR OUR NEWSLETTER THAT IS A SUBSCRIPTION.

BUT WE DO HAVE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR THAT.

SO THERE'S WAYS YOU CAN SIGN UP, EITHER BY CALLING US OR GOING OUT TO THE CITY'S WEBSITE AND JUST SIGN UP FOR THAT.

AND THAT COMES OUT MONTHLY.

SO IT'S JUST ANOTHER WAY WE HAVE THAT WE CAN COMMUNICATE OUT TO THE RESIDENTS HERE.

SO IF YOU'RE NOT OUT ON ALREADY JUST PUTTING A PLUG TO GO OUT TO THE WEBSITE AND GET YOUR EMAIL IN.

SO WHEN IT COMES OUT, YOU'RE PART OF THAT MAYOR.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT.

OH, ONE MAYOR, IF I CAN.

ONE LAST THING. COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS ASKED.

WILL IS ACTUALLY WATCHING THE MEETING, SO HE FORWARDED ME THE PARK.

THERE WERE TWO. THE THE MAIN PARK WAS HOUSTON WAS VOTED THE FAVORITE, AND THEN SILVER LAKE BEACH WAS A CLOSE RUNNER UP.

GREAT QUESTION. QUICK QUESTION.

COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS, WHAT ABOUT THE NAME OF THE TRUCK? DIDN'T COME THROUGH. DIDN'T COME THROUGH.

YEAH. NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT THEN.

WELL, THAT BRINGS US TO THE END OF OUR MEETING THEN.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE FROM THE COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT, THEN I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

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

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION PASSES.

THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.