Feb 26, 2024 City Council

[00:02:23]

>> FAMILIES ESCAPING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR SEXUAL ASSAULTS.

[PROCLAMATIONS, PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITION, ANNOUNCEMENTS, GUESTS]

WE DO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES AS WELL.

YOUTH SERVICES IN ALL OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN ANOKA COUNTY PROVIDING EDUCATION, ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT GROUPS.

LEGAL ADVOCACY.

WE PROVIDE LEGAL ADVOCACY TO ANYONE WHO IS NEEDING TO FILE AN ORDER FOR PROTECTION, A HARASSMENT RESTRAINING ORDER, OR WHOSE PERPETRATOR HAS BEEN ARRESTED AND IS BEING CHARGED, AND GOING THROUGH THAT CRIMINAL COURT PROCESS.

WE WALK FOLKS THROUGH THAT PROCESS, AS WELL AS ASSIST THEM IN SAFETY PLANNING AND OBTAINING THAT PROTECTION ORDER IF NEEDED.

WE ALSO RESPOND 24/7 TO MERCY HOSPITAL AND UNITY CAMPUS.

WE'VE HAD THAT PARTNERSHIP WITH UNITY AND MERCY HOSPITAL SINCE THE LATE '70S, SO A LONG TERM RELATIONSHIP THERE.

WE RESPOND 24/7 TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC OR SEXUAL ASSAULT OR ELDER ABUSE.

WE ALSO PROVIDE SUPPORT GROUPS.

WE HAVE SEVERAL SUPPORT GROUPS FOR SUPPORT GROUPS, ONE BEING A SEXUAL ASSAULT SUPPORT GROUP, A SUPPORT GROUP FOR OUR OLDER VICTIMS. THEN WE ALSO PROVIDE THERAPY REFERRALS.

WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH CONSCIOUS HEALING COUNSELING, WHERE THEY COME ON SITE EVERY SO OFTEN, I THINK IT'S THREE TIMES A WEEK TO MEET WITH EITHER FOLKS STAYING IN THE SHELTER OR FOLKS WHO ARE USING OTHER SERVICES.

THAT HAS BEEN A CRITICAL PARTNERSHIP AND VERY MUCH NEEDED BY THE FOLKS THAT WE WORK WITH.

WE ALSO PROVIDE COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND TRAINING, PROFESSIONAL TRAINING, LAW ENFORCEMENT, SCHOOL, EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, ANYWHERE.

WE PROVIDE EDUCATION TO CIVIC GROUPS, CHURCHES, BUSINESSES.

IF YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT ALEXANDER HOUSE DOES, YOU CAN CALL US UP AND WE'LL COME OUT AND DO A PRESENTATION FOR YOU.

[00:05:01]

THERE'S PLENTY OF VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AT ALEXANDER HOUSE.

IF YOU'RE WANTING TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH FOLKS THAT COME TO US FOR SERVICES, YOU WOULD NEED TO GO THROUGH OUR 50 HOUR VOLUNTEER TRAINING, WHICH IS A BIT OF A COMMITMENT.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES WHERE IF YOU WANT TO HELP US START DONATIONS, FACILITY MAINTENANCE, LANDSCAPING, WE HAVE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL.

YOU CAN FIND ALL OF THIS INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE AT ALEXANDERHOUSE.ORG.

I WANTED TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF A HIGHLIGHT TOO, BEFORE I TALK ABOUT THE WHOLE GALA, THIS PAST YEAR IN 2023.

WELL, WE SAW THIS IN 2022 AS WELL.

BUT IN 2023, WE HAD A PRETTY BIG INCREASE IN REQUESTS FOR SERVICES.

WE HAD A 19% INCREASE IN OUR EMERGENCY SHELTER SERVICES, A 38% INCREASE IN OUR HOUSING AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.

ASSISTANCE IN GETTING HOUSING, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IN THAT JOURNEY AS WELL.

WE ALSO HAD A 50% INCREASE IN YOUTH SERVICES, AND SOME OF THAT IS MORE KIDS BEING BACK IN SCHOOL, BUT DEFINITELY AN INCREASE THERE.

WE SAW 13% INCREASE IN OUR HOSPITAL BASED ADVOCACY SERVICES.

MORE CALLS TO ASSIST PATIENTS WHO COME IN FOR EITHER A SEXUAL ASSAULT EXAM OR WHO ARE THERE FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ASSAULT.

OUR LEGAL ADVOCACY SERVICES WERE UP 4%.

ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT I WANTED TO SHARE WITH FOLKS IS WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION OF GOING IN TO OBTAIN FUNDING BECAUSE AGENCIES ACROSS THE STATE, WE DID NOT GET THE HOPEFULLY ANTICIPATED FUNDING INCREASE THAT WE WERE HOPING FOR LAST YEAR.

IT'S BEEN NOW 10 YEARS SINCE WE'VE HAD AN INCREASE IN OUR STATE FUNDING, WHICH YOU CAN ONLY IMAGINE WITH INFLATION AND INCREASED COST, INCREASED DEMAND FOR SERVICES HAS REALLY A LOT OF AGENCIES IN A PRETTY BAD PLACE.

I KNOW SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE HEARD THAT LEWIS HOUSE IN DAKOTA COUNTY SHUT DOWN.

THAT WAS 22 BEDS, NOW THAT ARE GONE.

I DO KNOW THAT AGENCIES ACROSS THE STATE ARE LOOKING AT, AND ALEXANDER HOUSE IS LOOKING AT WHAT DO WE DO IF WE DON'T MAKE UP THIS DEFICIT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW IS WE'RE AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND WE'RE HOPING TO GET A BILL PASSED TO GET SOME INCREASED FUNDING FOR THIS YEAR.

THEN HOPEFULLY INTO NEXT YEAR WE'LL GET AN INCREASE TO OUR BASE FUNDING.

ANY CONVERSATIONS YOU HAVE WITH YOUR LEGISLATIVE ELECTED OFFICIALS, JUST REMIND THEM THAT DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE VICTIMS NEED AN INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR THEIR SERVICES.

SPEAKING OF FUNDING, HOPE GALA EVERY YEAR, I THINK THIS IS OUR 21ST YEAR FOR HOPE GALA.

WE'RE HAVING THE MASQUERADE BALL.

LAST YEAR WE HAD THE ROARING '20S IT WAS THE FIRST YEAR WE DID A THEME, PEOPLE REALLY ENJOYED IT.

WE HAD A LOT OF FUN.

THIS YEAR, THE PLANNING COMMITTEE, WHICH WE HAVE A SIZABLE COMMUNITY-BASED, REALLY FOLKS FROM THE COMMUNITY HELPING US PLAN THE EVENT.

THEY DECIDED, LET'S GO WITH A THEME AGAIN THIS YEAR, AND THEY CHOSE A MASQUERADE BALL.

IT WILL BE FUN, IT REALLY WILL, EVEN WITH THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.

THE EVENT ITSELF IS ON MARCH 23RD, AND IT'S FROM 5:39 PM AT LEOPOLD'S MISSISSIPPI GARDENS.

WE REALLY WANT YOU TO ATTEND, INVITE YOU TO BE THERE.

YOU'LL HAVE A GOOD TIME AND YOU'LL LEARN TOO, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE AN EXCELLENT PROGRAM.

THE OTHER THING THAT GOES ALONG WITH THE HOPE GALA IS WE'RE SELLING RAFFLE TICKETS.

IF YOU'RE INTERESTED ACTUALLY YOU CAN BUY THOSE ONLINE, BUT YOU CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE.

WE HAVE VENMO SET UP NOW BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T BUY THEM.

YEAH, IT'S A CHANGING WORLD, RIGHT? SO WITH THESE RAFFLE TICKETS, IF YOU WIN AND YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE PRESENT, ALTHOUGH IT WOULD REALLY BE GREAT IF YOU WERE YOU GET TO PICK YOUR DREAM VACATION OUT OF FOUR SEPARATE VACATIONS.

THERE'S CANCUN PARADISE TRIP FOR TWO, NEW ORLEANS JAZZ AND DINING TRIP FOR TWO.

SET SAIL IN BAR HARBOR TRIP FOR TWO.

[00:10:02]

KIND OF GIVES YOU A LITTLE BIT, BUT YOU CAN CERTAINLY GO TO OUR WEBSITE AND GET MORE INFORMATION.

I ALSO WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT IN 2023, COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, WE SERVED 86 UNDUPLICATED, WHICH MEANS SEPARATE HOUSEHOLDS OR SEPARATE INDIVIDUALS WITH OUR SERVICES.

WE GOT 129 CALLS ON OUR CRISIS LINE FROM COLUMBIA HEIGHTS RESIDENTS, WITH THOSE FOLKS THAT ACCESS TO OUR OTHER SERVICES, THEY ACCESS BASICALLY EVERY SINGLE SERVICE THAT I TALKED ABOUT EARLIER IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

THAT GIVES YOU A LITTLE BIT OF AN IDEA OF THE SERVICES BEING PROVIDED IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

I'M OPEN FOR QUESTIONS IF FOLKS HAVE QUESTIONS.

COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS? COST OF THE GALA? TICKET COLLECTIONS ARE 175.

THE EARLY BIRD IS SPECIAL, IT'S ALREADY GONE.

THANK YOU.

THERE'S SILENT AUCTION AND DINNER? SILENT AUCTION. LIVE AUCTION.

WE'VE GOT SOME, WELL, I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT THE LIVE ACTION IS.

[OVERLAPPING] BUT YEAH.

SILENT AUCTION. WE HAVE GAMES.

THE FOOD IS EXCELLENT.

IF YOU'VE BEEN THERE BEFORE, YOU'LL KNOW THAT BECAUSE YOU'VE EXPERIENCED IT.

BUT OUR VENUE DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB IN HELPING US PUT THIS EVENT ON.

IT'S, I THINK, VERY WELL MANAGED.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WELL, THANK YOU FOR COMING IN.

WE APPRECIATE ALL YOUR WORK AND I KNOW WORKING WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE DEFINITELY UTILIZE ALEXANDER HOUSE AND YES, IF ANYONE'S INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING OR KNOW SOMEONE WHO NEEDS SERVICES, PLEASE MAKE SURE TO REACH OUT.

PLEASE DO. THANK YOU.

YEAH, THANK YOU, CONNIE. THANKS. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU.

OH, I SEE.

I'D LIKE TO ASK ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE IF THEY HAVE A SIGN, IF THEY CAN ROLL IT UP.

WE DON'T DISPLAY THEM IN THE MEETINGS.

I'M SORRY, I SAW THERE'S A FLAG IN THE AUDIENCE AS WELL.

IT'S JUST DISTRACTING.

IT'S HARD TO CONCENTRATE ON PEOPLE WHEN THEY'RE SPEAKING.

IF YOU COULD ROLL UP THE SIGN. THANK YOU.

WE HAVE SEEN THE MESSAGE, BUT WE'LL JUST HAVE IT PUT AWAY DURING THE MEETING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ONCE AGAIN, APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S RESPECTFUL ATTENTION TO ONE ANOTHER DURING THE MEETING.

I WILL JUST MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT TWO WEEKS AGO WE DID HAVE COMMUNITY FORM AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING.

THIS WEEK, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE IT AT THE END.

THE AGENDA, AS IT IS PRINTED WILL BE HOW THE MEETING RUNS TONIGHT.

JUST TO GIVE EVERYONE A HEADS UP, OUR NEXT ITEM IS THE CONSENT AGENDA.

[CONSENT AGENDA]

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

WOULD ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS LIKE ANY ITEMS CHANGED OR ANYTHING? THEN KEVIN HANSEN, OUR INTERIM CITY MANNER.

COULD YOU TAKE US THROUGH THE ITEMS, PLEASE? THANK YOU, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, YOU HAVE EIGHT ITEMS ON YOUR CONSENT AGENDA FOR TONIGHT.

THE FIRST ITEM IS TO APPROVE THE FEBRUARY 12TH, 2024 CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES.

THE NEXT ITEM IS TO ACCEPT THE FEBRUARY 27TH, 2023 HRA MEETING MINUTES.

THIRD ITEM IS TO ACCEPT THE DECEMBER 12TH, 2023 SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES.

NUMBER FOUR IS TO APPROVE THE PERMIT FOR THE 2024 ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE.

THE PARADE ROUTE IS THE SAME AS IT HAS BEEN IN THE PAST.

STARTING AT VAN BUREN AND 40TH AVENUE AND THEN GOING WEST ON 40TH DOWN TO FIFTH STREET.

THEN TURNING SOUTH ON FIFTH STREET AND COMING BACK TOWARDS MERGENT HALL.

THE DATE OF THIS IS MARCH 16TH AND WILL BE BEGINNING AROUND 5:30 PM.

NUMBER 5 IS TO ACCEPT RESOLUTION 24-19 WHICH IS A FEASIBILITY REPORT FOR OUR CONCRETE ALLEY PROGRAM FOR 2024.

THIS INCLUDES FIVE ALLEYS.

AS WE PROJECT, THERE MAY BE ONE LESS, ONE MORE ALLEY THAT WILL BE DETERMINED ONCE WE RECEIVE BIDS ON THIS.

THE RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU TONIGHT SETS THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT HEARING DATE.

[00:15:02]

I WOULD ALSO NOTE THAT WE ARE HAVING A INFORMATIONAL MEETING WITH ALL OF THE ABUTTING PROPERTY OWNERS ON MARCH 20TH.

ABOUT A WEEK BEFOREHAND, WE'LL MEET WITH THE PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THIS AND THEN RESPOND TO ANY QUESTIONS THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE.

NUMBER 6 IS TO APPROVE YOUR BUSINESS LICENSE AGENDA AS PRESENTED.

NUMBER 7 IS TO APPROVE THE RENTAL OCCUPANCY LICENSES AS PRESENTED.

THE LAST ITEM IS REVIEW OF THE BILLS TOTALING $927,869.33 MAYOR.

I HAVE A QUESTION.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS HAS A QUESTION.

JUST A QUESTION ON ITEM 2, IT SAYS FEBRUARY 27TH.

IS THAT A TYPO OR IS MY CALENDAR WRONG?

>> IT'S NOT A TYPO. IT'S FROM LAST YEAR.

>> MY MISTAKE.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL? THEN MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED?

>> SO MOVED.

>> SECOND.

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

ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? SEEING AS NONE OF THEM AT ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

>> AYE.

>> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU.

NEXT, WE HAVE OUR ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION,

[ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION]

I HAVE A STATEMENT I'D LIKE TO READ BEFORE READING THROUGH THE RESOLUTION.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY AS WE CONVENE TO DISCUSS AND VOTE ON THE CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION.

THIS RESOLUTION, BORN OUT OF THE COLLECTIVE VOICES OF OUR COMMUNITY, HAS UNDERGONE A THOROUGH PROCESS OF DELIBERATION AND REFINEMENT SINCE ITS INCEPTION THREE WEEKS AGO.

REFLECTING ON OUR JOURNEY, I RECALL THE PIVOTAL MOMENT LAST YEAR, WHEN ALONGSIDE FELLOW ELECTED OFFICIALS NATIONWIDE, I PLEDGED SUPPORT FOR A CEASE FIRE.

THIS COMMITMENT LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR THE RESOLUTION WE NOW BRING BEFORE THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL.

OUR COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS, INCLUDING A CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE DURING THE FEBRUARY 5TH WORK SESSION, ALLOWED US TO CRAFT A VERSION OF THE RESOLUTION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BOTH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND COUNCIL PARTNERS.

I EXPRESSED GRATITUDE TO OUR CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY FOR ENRICHING THE RESOLUTION WITH INSIGHTS GLEANED FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE.

FURTHERMORE, I WISH TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE IMPASSIONED TESTIMONIES SHARED BY 18 MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, COMPRISING COLUMBIA HEIGHTS RESIDENTS AND NEIGHBORS DURING OUR RECENT COUNCIL MEETING TWO WEEKS AGO.

YOUR NARRATIVES DEPICTING THE HARROWING REALITIES OF VIOLENCE AND SUFFERING IN GAZA HAVE LEFT AN INDELIBLE IMPACT ON OUR DELIBERATIONS.

OVER THE PAST FORTNIGHT, I HAVE RECEIVED OVERWHELMING SUPPORT FOR THE CEASE FIRE RESOLUTION, EVIDENCED BY AT LEAST 57 PHONE CALLS AND 31 EMAILS FROM RESIDENTS, BUSINESS OWNERS, AND INDIVIDUALS ACROSS THE TWIN CITIES REGION.

HOWEVER, AMIDST THIS GROUNDSWELL OF ENDORSEMENT, IT IS IMPERATIVE TO ADDRESS THE INFLUX OF AUTOMATED EMAILS RECEIVED SINCE 1:00 PM TODAY.

WHILE POTENTIALLY ORIGINATING FROM NON LOCAL SOURCES OR AUTOMATED SYSTEMS, THEY UNDERSCORE THE COMPLEXITIES INHERENT IN ENGAGING COMMUNITY SENTIMENT.

NEVERTHELESS, I REAFFIRM MY COMMITMENT TO AMPLIFY THE AUTHENTIC VOICES OF OUR CONSTITUENTS, THOSE WHO HAVE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN OUR MEETINGS, AS WELL AS THOSE WHOM I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF CONVERSING WITH DIRECTLY.

BEFORE PROCEEDING TO THE READING OF THE RESOLUTION AND SUBSEQUENT VOTING, I INVITE ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS DESIRING TO SHARE THEIR PERSPECTIVES TO DO SO NOW, LET US COLLECTIVELY NAVIGATE THIS MOMENT WITH SENSITIVITY AND RESOLVE, GUIDED BY THE PRINCIPLES OF JUSTICE AND COMPASSION.

I'D LIKE TO ASK IF COUNCIL HAVE ANYTHING THEY'D LIKE TO SAY. COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS REACHED OUT TO ME.

I COUNTED 118 CALLS AND EMAILS BEFORE ONE O'CLOCK TODAY, AND I TALKED TO A LOT OF FOLKS.

ABOUT 50 PEOPLE IDENTIFIED THEMSELVES AS COLUMBIA HEIGHTS RESIDENTS.

OF THOSE GROUP, ALL 50 WERE IN SUPPORT OF THE RESOLUTION.

I'VE HEARD FROM OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE SOME CONCERNS AND WE'VE HAD GOOD DIALOGUE AS WELL.

FOR ME, I FEEL PERSONALLY CONVICTED BY MY OWN CONSCIENCE THAT WE MUST VOTE FOR THIS.

I HAVE HAD MANY ENCOUNTERS WITH FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS, AND IN MY LIFE I'VE WORKED WITH STUDENTS AND CHILDREN WHO HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS IN GAZA AND WHO HAVE SEEN THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS DIE.

FOR ME, THIS IS THE ONLY RIGHT PLACE TO BE.

I'M SO THANKFUL FOR THOSE WHO HAVE WORKED TO CRAFT THE WORDING OF THIS RESOLUTION AND

[00:20:05]

>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS?

>> YEAH. I HAVE A STATEMENT I'D LIKE TO READ ALSO, LET ME FIRST STATE VERY CLEARLY THAT I FULLY SUPPORT THE HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS FOR ALL AFFECTED BY THIS CONFLICT.

I'M DEEPLY MOVED BY THE STATEMENTS AND STORIES OF THOSE WHO SPOKE TONIGHT, WILL SPEAK TONIGHT AND AT THE FEBRUARY 12 MEETING, I WAS ALSO DEEPLY CONCERNED BY THE MAYOR'S VIDEO RECORDED STATEMENT AT THE FEBRUARY 12 MEETING THAT THE COUNCIL HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THIS ISSUE FOR MONTHS, IMMEDIATELY CORRECTING HERSELF AND STATING THAT SHE HAD THE ISSUE FOR MONTHS, ONLY SHE HAD THE ISSUE FOR MONTHS, BUT BROUGHT IT TO THE COUNCIL AT THE WORK SESSION ON FEBRUARY 5TH.

THE MULTI PAGE RESOLUTION WAS NOT A REGULAR AGENDA ITEM AND THEREFORE, NOT PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL UNTIL THE END OF THAT THREE-AND-A-HALF HOUR MEETING, THE MAYOR STATING HER INTENT TO HAVE IT ON THE AGENDA SEVEN DAYS LATER.

WHEN THE DISCUSSION INCLUDED THE NEED FOR MORE BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND THE POSSIBILITY OF EDITING THE FURNISHED COPY, THE MAYOR SUGGESTED WE UNDERTAKE IT AT 9:30 THAT NIGHT, ACCOMPLISHING HER GOAL FOR ITS PLACEMENT ON THE NEXT COUNCIL AGENDA IN SEVEN DAYS.

THAT FELT VERY RUSHED TO ME AND IRRESPONSIBLE WITHOUT THE FORETHOUGHT TO SOMETHING SO IMPACTFUL, IT NEEDED FULL COUNCIL INPUT AND DISCUSSION.

IN THE THREE WEEKS THAT HAVE FOLLOWED THE WORK SESSION THAT OPPORTUNITY HAS NOT TAKEN PLACE.

OF THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF COMMUNITIES ACROSS THIS COUNTRY, APPROXIMATELY 70, THE VAST MAJORITY WITH POPULATIONS OF 100,000 TO FIVE MILLION, HAVE UNDERTAKEN A CEASE FIRE RESOLUTION.

CONSIDERING THE NUMBER OF CITIES NATIONWIDE VERSUS THOSE SIGNINGS.

I WOULD NOT USE THE TERM A LOT TO DESCRIBE THE PARTICIPATION.

FURTHER, THIS IS NOT A SLAM DUNK ACTION.

CHICAGO'S MAYOR WAS REQUIRED TO BREAK A 23-23 TIE TO GET THE RESOLUTION PASSED.

LOCALLY, MINNEAPOLIS MAYOR FRY VETOED THE ORIGINAL RESOLUTION THAT WAS AMENDED TO SOFTER LANGUAGE.

SAN FRANCISCO'S MAYOR, DECLINING TO VETO THE RESOLUTION, FAULTED THE BOARD FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD, SAYING IT HAS LEFT THEIR CITY "ANGRIER, MORE DIVIDED, AND LESS SAFE." SAN FRANCISCO IS NOT ALONE IN THAT.

THE ONE SIDEDNESS OF THESE RESOLUTIONS IS FANNING THE FLAMES OF HATRED ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

OF THE OVER 70 EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS I PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED, ONLY THREE IDENTIFIED THEMSELVES AS COLUMBIA HEIGHTS RESIDENTS.

ADDING TO THE APPROXIMATE DOZEN THAT WERE IN CHAMBERS ON FEBRUARY TWO WEEKS AGO, STATING THEIR SUPPORT FOR THIS ACTION IS FAR LESS THAN 1% OF OUR 22,000 RESIDENTS, NOT ANYWHERE NEAR A MAJORITY.

THE REMAINDER OF THE CALLS AND EMAILS WERE FROM ACROSS THE NATION OR CITIES ACROSS THE METRO AREA IN THE STATE, BUT NOT RESIDENTS DECLARED RESIDENTS OF THIS COMMUNITY.

IF THIS CAUSE STANDS ALONE, ON ITS OWN MERIT, AS IT VERY WELL SHOULD, AND AS I BELIEVE IT SHOULD, IT SHOULD NOT TAKE OUTSIDE INFLUENCE TO ACCOMPLISH THE ACTION TO MOVE IT FORWARD IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

THE COUNCIL IS NOT ONLY READY TO ACT, BUT READY TO ENTHUSIASTICALLY UNDERTAKE AN ACTION THAT SPEAKS FOR ALL OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS RESIDENTS, WHICH IS CLEARLY UNSUBSTANTIATED.

WE ARE ELECTED TO REPRESENT AND ADDRESS THE BUSINESS OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

WE ARE NOT ELECTED TO ADDRESS STATE OR FEDERAL ISSUES.

WE HAVE ELECTED REPRESENTATION FOR THAT PURPOSE AND WE CERTAINLY DO NOT BELONG IN INTERNATIONAL POLITICS.

AS ONE COUNCIL MEMBER HAS PREVIOUSLY STATED, REGARDING A DIFFERENT TOPIC, THEY'RE FOCUSED ON OUR RESIDENTS, NOT OTHERS DRIVING THROUGH THE CITY.

IT BEGS THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THAT POSTURE SHOULD BE APPLIED CONSISTENTLY OR ONLY WHEN IT CONNECTS TO OUR PERSONAL CONSIDERATIONS AND DESIRES.

THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THIS IS AN EMOTIONAL AND VOLATILE ISSUE FOR ALL OF US.

MY PRAYERS FOR ALL THOSE BEING AFFECTED, INCLUDING THE FAMILIES OF MY FRIENDS WHO ARE DISPLACED AND HOMELESS OR WORSE, SHOULD NOT BE THE BASIS OF MY ACTION AS A COUNCIL MEMBER ELECTED TO REPRESENT THE RESIDENTS OF THIS COMMUNITY.

THOSE ARE SEPARATE POSITIONS THAT SHOULD NEVER OVERLAP.

IT IS INHERENTLY WRONG TO LET OUR PERSONAL OPINIONS FOR THE LACK OF HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS AND THE TREMENDOUS LOSS OF LIFE CROSS INTO OUR CAPACITY AS ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES HERE TO SERVE THIS OUR CITY.

IF YOU ARE PRIVATELY COMPELLED TO SPEAK ON EITHER SIDE OF THIS ISSUE AND BECAUSE 100, 200 OR MORE LETTERS SITTING ON THE ELECTED OFFICIALS DESK OR IN THEIR EMAIL HAVE FAR MORE IMPACT TO OUR STATE AND FEDERAL LEADERSHIP THAN ONE INAPPROPRIATELY PENNED AND SIGNED BY OUR COUNSEL.

I IMPLORE ALL OF US TO ENGAGE IN A LETTER WRITING CAMPAIGN TO OUR STATE AND FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES.

THAT IS HOW DO WE COME TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE A COMMON GOAL, NOT BY THE UNETHICAL OVERREACH OF A LOCAL CITY COUNCIL.

[00:25:04]

LANGUAGE THAT SPEAKS TO BOTH SIDES COULD BE AS SIMPLE AS, I AM REACHING OUT TO YOU TODAY TO ASK FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE, THAT ETHICAL AND REASONABLE ACTION IMMEDIATELY BE GIVEN TO THE ISRAELI PALESTINIAN CONFLICT TO ENSURE ALL POSSIBLE HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS ARE PROVIDED FOR THOSE WHO ARE DISPLACED AND IN NEED OF FOOD, WATER, HOUSING, MEDICAL CARE BECAUSE OF THIS CONFLICT.

I HATE TO THINK THAT WE'RE RISKING OFFENSE TO ONE GROUP IN OUR COMMUNITY, SPREADING HATRED AND DIVISION FOR THE SAKE OF ANOTHER.

IT'S NOT OUR JOB.

AS DIFFICULT AS IT IS, AND FOR THE PREVIOUS STATED REASONS, I CANNOT PUT MY NAME ON A DOCUMENT THAT IS NOT CLEARLY AND MAJORLY SUPPORTED BY THE RESIDENTS OF THIS COMMUNITY.

AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL A POINT OF ORDER AND MAKE A MOTION TO TABLE THIS UNTIL THE COUNCIL CAN HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSION AS A WHOLE ON THIS SUBJECT.

>> TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY CALLING A POINT OF ORDER.

WHAT ARE THE STEPS FOR THAT?

>> WE'VE GOT A MOTION TO TABLE UNDER ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER.

IT'S A MOTION THAT TAKES PRECEDENT OVER ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ITEMS. IT'S NON DEBATABLE, SO AT THIS POINT, THE GOVERNING BODY, CITY COUNCIL, WOULD WAIT TO SEE IF THERE'S A SECOND.

THERE'S NO DISCUSSION. IF THERE'S A SECOND, THEN THE MOTION WOULD BE VOTED.

IF THERE'S NOT A SECOND, THE MOTION WOULD FAIL.

>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE A CALL FOR A POINT OF ORDER TO TABLE THE VOTING ON THE RESOLUTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS. IS THERE A SECOND? SEEING IS NOT, THEN I WOULD SAY THAT THE MOTION FAILS.

>> THANK YOU. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD THAT I'M GOING TO HAVE THIS ADDED TO THE MINUTES AS A PERMANENT PART OF THE RECORD, AND I'LL GIVE THIS TO SARAH AFTER THE MEETING.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENT FROM THE COUNSEL? COUNCIL MEMBER BISKINS.

>> SORRY. YOU THINK I'D HAVE THAT BUTTON TAKEN CARE OF BY NOW.

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THIS HAS BEEN A JOURNEY FOR ME WHEN THIS FIRST CAME TO OUR ATTENTION AT THE WORK SESSION TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE WANTED TO DO THIS, AND I REMEMBER I WENT RIGHT HOME AFTER THE WORK SESSION AND SEARCHED FOR THE RESOLUTIONS THAT WERE DONE FROM OTHER CITIES, AND READ COMMENTS FROM OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT HAD VOTED YES FOR A RESOLUTION IN THEIR CITY, AND SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS IN HASTINGS AND IN CHICAGO.

A COMMENT WAS MADE IN CHICAGO, AND I BELIEVE HASTINGS TOO, IS THAT THEY DID IT BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO GIVE IT A VOICE TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS.

AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, I'M RESPONSIBLE TO MY CONSTITUENTS.

WE HAVE PEOPLE HERE THAT HAVE FAMILY IN PALESTINE.

WE ALSO HAVE MEMBERS WHO DON'T BUT SUPPORT THIS, AND I WILL NOT BE BULLIED INTO NOT DOING MY JOB AS A COUNCIL MEMBER TO AT LEAST GIVE VOICE [APPLAUSE] [OVERLAPPING] IT'S THE MOST THAT WE CAN.

IT'S THE MOST THAT WE CAN DO.

AT LEAST FOR ME PERSONALLY AS A COUNCIL MEMBER AND FOR THE OTHER MEMBERS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT SUPPORT THIS.

I WILL NOT BE BULLIED BY EMAILS FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT SHOWN UP HERE, HAVE NOT TALKED FROM WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY, AND I WILL NOT PUT UP FOR NAME CALLING, WHICH WAS ALSO PART OF THE EMAIL SO THAT WE RECEIVED ALL AFTERNOON.

ANYWAY, THAT'S WHAT I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGS?

>> YEAH. I ALSO HAVE A WRITTEN STATEMENT HERE.

I DO SUPPORT THE CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION BEFORE US TONIGHT AND WE'LL BE VOTING YES ON IT.

I'VE HEARD MANY TALK IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS ABOUT HOW A SMALL TOWN LIKE US PASSING A RESOLUTION WILL NOT BE MEANINGFUL AT ALL TO WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE MIDDLE EAST, I DO STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH THAT.

ALL POLITICS ARE LOCAL, AND I CAN TELL YOU THIS IS TRUE BECAUSE OUT OF MY ENTIRE TIME IN ELECTED OFFICE, THIS IS THE TOPIC I'VE RECEIVED THE MOST EMAILS ABOUT.

THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE TO PEOPLE BOTH HERE AND ALL OVER THE GLOBE, WHICH INCLUDES OUR RESIDENTS.

THE COUNTLESS STORIES OF TRAGEDY AND LOSS SHARED WITH US BOTH LAST MEETING AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA HAVE BEEN QUITE DISHEARTENING, AND SHARING ABOUT HOW FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE BEEN MISSING OR KILLED OR ARE CURRENTLY IN SHELTERS WITHOUT FOOD, WATER, BASIC MEDICINES, AND WHATNOT.

PEOPLE ARE HURTING IN CITIES, AND GOVERNMENTS ALL ACROSS THE GLOBE ARE CONDEMNING THE CURRENT SITUATION,

[00:30:02]

THIS IS A SITUATION WHERE THE FIGHTING MUST STOP ON ALL SIDES AND ALL HOSTAGES MUST BE RELEASED IMMEDIATELY.

IT'S BEEN EXTREMELY HARD TO SEE THE SENSES LOSS OF 30,000 PALESTINIAN LIVES, MANY OF THOSE WHO ARE WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, SEEING THE ATTACKS AND BOMBINGS ON HOSPITALS AND MY FELLOW HEALTHCARE WORKERS HAS BEEN EXTREMELY UNFATHOMABLE, AS THEY'VE MADE THE HEROIC DECISION TO STAY IN CARE FOR PATIENTS WITHOUT HAVING ACCESS TO BASIC NECESSITIES LIKE ELECTRICITY, MEDICATIONS, OR BASIC SUPPLIES.

THE ONLY THING THIS IS ABOUT IS ABOUT HUMANITY.

HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS IN GAZA ARE WITHOUT BASIC HUMAN NECESSITIES OF FOOD, WATER, MEDICINE, SHELTER, AND THE SHIPMENTS OF THESE MATERIALS ARE CURRENTLY BEING BLOCKED FROM BEING TRANSPORTED TO THEM.

I WANT TO BE COMPLETELY CLEAR THAT THE ACTS OF HAMAS ON OCTOBER 7 WERE HORRIFIC AND UNJUSTIFIABLE.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE MUST RECOGNIZE THAT THE PEOPLE OF PALESTINE ARE NOT HAMAS, AND THAT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PALESTINIANS ARE CURRENTLY BEING SUBJECTED TO COLLECTIVE PUNISHMENT.

HISTORY WILL REMEMBER HOW WE ALL ACTED DURING THIS TIME.

THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS DO SUPPORT A PERMANENT AND UNCONDITIONAL CEASE FIRE WITH THE RELEASE OF ALL HOSTAGES INVOLVED, AND WE MUST IMPLORE OUR LOCAL, STATE, FEDERAL, AND LEADERS ALL OVER THE GLOBE TO STOP AIDING AND THE SENSELESS KILLING IMMEDIATELY.

[APPLAUSE]

>> THANK YOU. IN MY REPORT THAT AT THE END OF THE MEETING, WE HAVE A THE COUNCIL WE ALL GIVE A REPORT ON WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

I'M JUST GOING TO SKIP AHEAD TO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DID IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, WAS I'M A MEMBER OF THE REGIONAL COUNCIL OF MAYORS.

THESE ARE OTHER MAYORS AND CITIES AROUND THE TWIN CITIES.

I'M ON THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, AND WE HAD A MEETING WITH A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SPECIFICALLY ABOUT INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, INTERNATIONAL WORK AND THE NATION'S STAGE BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE REGION'S INTERESTS.

ANY FOREIGN INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS THAT ARE ANY BUSINESSES THAT ARE IN THE UNITED STATES ARE IN CITIES.

THEY'RE NOT IN SOME, I DON'T KNOW, LARGE STATE.

THAT HAPPENS TO BE THE INTERNATIONAL STATE WHERE BUSINESSES GO? NO, THEY ARE IN TOWNS AND CITIES AND COUNTIES, AND PEOPLE TRAVEL FOR WORK INTERNATIONALLY ALL THE TIME.

WE HAVE MANY BUSINESSES HERE WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE FROM OTHER COUNTRIES.

I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE MORE BUSINESSES HERE FROM OTHER COUNTRIES AS WELL AND HAVE THIS WORLD ECONOMIC GROWTH AS WE SEE.

BUT IT IS IN SMALL COMMUNITIES, IT IS AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND WE ARE NO DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER CITY ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ATTENDING A US DEPARTMENT OF STATE MEETING AS THE MAYOR OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS UNLESS THERE WAS A REASON TO BE THERE.

THE REASON TO BE THERE IS TO BE AWARE OF THESE THINGS TO HELP ECONOMIC GROWTH FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

THE PRESIDENT JUST VISITED FRIDLEY LAST YEAR BECAUSE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES.

THIS DOES HAPPEN IN OUR CITY, BIG AND SMALL.

IT IS A REALITY FOR US AND I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S VOICE ON THE COUNCIL.

I'M GLAD THAT WE ARE A COUNCIL THAT SPEAKS UP.

WE'VE HAD COUNCILS IN THE PAST WHERE PEOPLE DON'T REALLY TALK MUCH, AND SO YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW WHERE THEY'RE AT.

BUT I'M GLAD THAT WE DO ALL SHARE THAT EVERYONE'S RESPECTFUL TO ONE ANOTHER IN THEIR OPINIONS.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND SHARING.

>> MAYOR, IF I CAN JUST SHARE THAT I HAVE I JUST WANT TO BE UNDERSTOOD THAT AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, I'VE READ TO YOU WHAT MY STATEMENT AS AN INDIVIDUAL MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY.

I HAVE TAKEN THE TIME TO WRITE THE PARAGRAPH THAT I SHARED WITH YOU TO ALL OF MY STATE AND STATE AND FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT CHANGES ANYTHING FOR YOU, BUT I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THAT IS PART OF WHAT I DID AS AN INDIVIDUAL.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME. IF THAT'S ALL FROM THE COUNCIL, THEN I WILL READ THE RESOLUTION.

ACTUALLY, BEFORE I READ THE RESOLUTION, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPLAIN, WE DID BRING THIS UP AT THE WORK SESSION.

I BROUGHT UP A COUPLE DIFFERENT VERSIONS AND ASKED THE COUNCIL IF THEY'D BE INTERESTED IN VOTING AND DISCUSSING IT, AND FOUR PEOPLE ON THE COUNCIL SAID YES.

THEY WERE INTERESTED IN WORK, SHOPPING IT, AND FIGURING OUT THE RESOLUTION THAT WORKED FOR COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

IN THAT CONVERSATION WAS DECIDED THAT COUNCILOR BISKINS AND I, AND THIS IS ALL PUBLIC IN THE WORK SESSION, SO THIS IS HOW IT WENT THAT WE COULD DISCUSS IT.

WE WORKED WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND OUR CITY ATTORNEY ALSO HAD A LOT OF INPUT INTO THE FINISHED RESOLUTION.

WE FELT THAT WAS A VERY GOOD WAY TO GO ABOUT THIS.

WE DO HAVE OPEN MEETING LAWS, AND SO WE CAN'T JUST GET TOGETHER AND DISCUSS HOW THINGS WORK, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE DO IT VERY TRANSPARENTLY,

[00:35:01]

WE REALLY WORK TOGETHER TO GET THIS DONE.

RESOLUTION NUMBER 2024-20 FOR CEASEFIRE AND HUMANITARIAN AID IN GAZA.

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA.

WHEREAS ALL HUMAN LIFE IS PRECIOUS AND THE TARGETING OF CIVILIANS IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR FAITH OR ETHNICITY, CONSTITUTES A VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW.

WHEREAS THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, IN A NEAR UNANIMOUS VOTE, ON OCTOBER 26TH, CALLED FOR AN IMMEDIATE AND SUSTAINED HUMANITARIAN CEASEFIRE.

WHEREAS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES POSSESSES SIGNIFICANT DIPLOMATIC AND APPROPRIATION POWERS CAPABLE OF SAFEGUARDING PALESTINIAN AND ISRAELI LIVES.

WHEREAS ON JANUARY 26TH, 2024, THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE INDICATED THE FOLLOWING PROVISIONAL MEASURES.

ONE, THE STATE OF ISRAEL SHALL, IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE CONVENTION ON THE PREVENTION AND PUNISHMENT OF THE CRIME OF GENOCIDE IN RELATION TO PALESTINIANS IN GAZA, TAKE ALL MEASURES WITHIN ITS POWER TO PREVENT THE COMMISSION OF ALL ACTS WITHIN THE SCOPE OF ARTICLE 2 OF THIS CONVENTION.

IN PARTICULAR KILLING MEMBERS OF THE GROUP.

HERE, GROUP REFERS TO PALESTINIANS IN GAZA.

CAUSING SERIOUS BODILY OR MENTAL HARM TO MEMBERS OF THE GROUP.

DELIBERATELY INFLICTING ON THE GROUP CONDITIONS OF LIFE CALCULATED TO BRING ABOUT ITS PHYSICAL DESTRUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART, AND IMPOSING MEASURES INTENDED TO PREVENT BIRTHS WITHIN THE GROUP.

THE STATE OF ISRAEL SHALL ENSURE WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT THAT ITS MILITARY DOES NOT COMMIT ANY ACTS DESCRIBED IN 0.1 ABOVE.

THE STATE OF ISRAEL SHALL TAKE ALL MEASURES WITHIN ITS POWER TO PREVENT AND PUNISH THE DIRECT AND PUBLIC INCITEMENT TO COMMIT GENOCIDE IN RELATION TO MEMBERS OF THE PALESTINIAN GROUP IN THE GAZA STRIP.

THE STATE OF ISRAEL SHALL TAKE IMMEDIATE AND EFFECTIVE MEASURES TO ENABLE THE PROVISION OF URGENTLY NEEDED BASIC SERVICES AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO ADDRESS THE ADVERSE CONDITIONS OF LIFE FACED BY PALESTINIANS IN THE GAZA STRIP.

THE STATE OF ISRAEL SHALL TAKE EFFECTIVE MEASURES TO PREVENT THE DESTRUCTION AND ENSURE THE PRESERVATION OF EVIDENCE RELATED TO ALLEGATIONS OF ACTS WITHIN THE SCOPE OF ARTICLE 2 AND ARTICLE 3 OF THE CONVENTION ON THE PREVENTION AND PUNISHMENT OF THE CRIME OF GENOCIDE AGAINST MEMBERS OF THE PALESTINIAN GROUP IN THE GAZA STRIP.

NUMBER 6, THE STATE OF ISRAEL SHALL SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE COURT ON ALL MEASURES TAKEN TO GIVE EFFECT TO THIS ORDER WITHIN ONE MONTH AS FROM THE DATE OF THIS ORDER, WHEREAS THE TEMPORARY TRUCE THAT ENDED ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, UNDERSCORED THE NECESSITY OF A NEGOTIATED CEASEFIRE TO RELEASE HOSTAGES, DELIVER AID, CEASE BOMBING, AND SAVE LIVES.

WHEREAS WE MOURN THE DEVASTATING LOSS OF LIFE AMONG PALESTINIAN AND ISRAELI CIVILIANS SINCE OCTOBER 7TH AND DENOUNCE ALL INDISCRIMINATE KILLING OF CIVILIANS.

WHEREAS ACCORDING TO THE GAZA-BASED HEALTH MINISTRY, OVER THE LAST FOUR MONTHS, THE CONFLICT HAS CLAIMED OVER 27,000 PALESTINIAN LIVES, INCLUDING OVER 12,600 CHILDREN.

WHEREAS OUR CONSTITUENTS, MANY OF WHOM FEAR FOR THEIR LOVED ONES, HAVE UNEQUIVOCALLY EXPRESSED THEIR DESIRE TO END THIS VIOLENCE AND DEMAND IMMEDIATE US ACTIONS TO CALL FOR CEASEFIRE.

WHEREAS WE SUPPORT PEACE AND MUST DEMAND A CEASEFIRE NOW TO WORK TOWARD A FUTURE WITHOUT ISRAELI MILITARY OCCUPATION AND SIEGE, WHERE ALL PALESTINIANS AND ISRAELIS CAN LIVE IN FREEDOM AND DIGNITY.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA CALLS UPON OUR US CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, BOTH IN THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, TO JOIN US IN URGING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO IMMEDIATELY CALL FOR AND FACILITATE DE ESCALATION AND CEASEFIRE TO END THE GENOCIDE IN GAZA.

CALL UPON THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO PROMPTLY SEND AND FACILITATE THE ENTRY OF HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE INTO GAZA ON THE NECESSARY SCALE.

CALL UPON THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO HALT ALL US WEAPONS SHIPMENTS TO ISRAEL THAT MAY BE USED IN A MANNER INCONSISTENT WITH INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE DEMANDS FOR IMMEDIATE AND EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROVISIONAL MEASURES DELINEATED IN ITS JANUARY 26TH ORDER.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA REAFFIRM ITS SUPPORT FOR ALL RESIDENTS AND CONDEMNS ALL FORMS OF RACISM, ISLAMOPHOBIA, ANTI SEMITISM, ANTI ARAB RACISM, BIGOTRY AND DISCRIMINATION.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS SUPPORTS THE US.

CONGRESS RESOLUTION HR 786 AND JOINS OTHER CITIES IN CALLING ON OUR CONGRESS MEMBERS TO DEMAND AN IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE,

[00:40:05]

VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS, SENATOR AMY LOBICHAR, SENATOR TINA SMITH, CONGRESSWOMAN ILHAN OMAR, REPRESENTATIVES AARON KEGEL AND SANDRA FEST.

SENATOR MARY KONISH OF THE MINNESOTA STATE ASSEMBLY.

GOVERNOR TIM WAS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR PEGGY FLANAGAN, AND ATTORNEY GENERAL KEITH ELLISON.

WE, THE UNDERSIGNED COLUMBIA HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, URGE THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO IMMEDIATELY CALL FOR AND WORK TO FACILITATE A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE TO HALT THE ONGOING VIOLENCE IN ISRAEL AND OCCUPY PALESTINIAN TERRITORY.

WE CALL FOR A LASTING CEASEFIRE AND END TO THE SIEGE ON GAZA.

NOW, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK FOR A VOTE THEN.

ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL OR FROM THE CITY MANAGER.

I'M SORRY, MAYOR. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, YOU SHOULD HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND REGARDLESS.

I WAS ASKING IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS BEFORE WE GO THERE.

THANK YOU.

ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE GO?

>> NO. MOVE TO READ AND APPROVE RESOLUTION 2024-20, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS CALLING FOR CEASEFIRE AND HUMANITARIAN AID IN GAZA.

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

>> ANY QUESTION OR DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION?

>> JUST THAT IT BE A ROLL CALL VOTE.

>> I THINK WE CAN DO THE BULLETIN, SEE IF WE NEED A ROLL CALL.

>> THAT'S NOT THE WAY IT WORKS.

WHEN A ROLL CALL IS REQUESTED BY ANY MEMBER, THAT IS WHAT SHOULD TAKE PLACE.

>> THE CITY ATTORNEY. IS THAT HOW YOU'D LIKE US TO PROCEED?

>> IF THAT'S A MATTER OF CUSTOM BY THE CITY, I'M UNAWARE OF IT.

BUT A MOTION CAN PROCEED SIMPLY BY ACTION OF A MAJORITY, THAT'S VOTES, AND A ROLL CALL IS NOT REQUIRED.

>> THANK YOU.

WOULD THE COUNCIL LIKE TO HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE? SURE. TO THE CITY CLERK.

SINCE THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS THEN AND WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BISKINS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES.

I THINK WE'RE READY TO VOTE THEN.

COULD YOU PLEASE DO A ROLL CALL VOTE? COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS?

>> AYE.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS?

>> NO.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES?

>> AYE.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER BISKINS?

>> AYE.

>> MAYOR MCSIMLAR?

>> AYE.

>> THANK YOU AND THE MOTION PASSES.

[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING INTO OUR MEETINGS.

THANK YOU FOR TRUSTING US WITH YOUR STORIES.

THANK YOU FOR TRUSTING US WITH YOUR VOICES.

AS COUNCILOR BUESGENS SAID, WE KNOW THAT WE ARE ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT ARE CLOSE TO YOU AND SO YOU CAN TRUST US WITH YOUR VOICE.

YOU'RE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO GET AN AUDIENCE WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN [LAUGHTER] OR THE GOVERNOR, BUT WE ARE A STEP TO THAT AND TO ELEVATE THE VOICE OF OUR COMMUNITY IS WHAT I THINK MY ROLE IS.

VERY OFTEN AS MAYOR, WE MOSTLY VOTE ON THINGS LIKE FIXING ALLEYS [LAUGHTER] AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE A CONTRACT TO PICK UP GARBAGE, AND THOSE ARE VERY IMPORTANT.

IF WE DON'T HAVE GARBAGE PICKED UP, THEY'RE VERY UNHAPPY PEOPLE.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I BELIEVE THAT MY ROLE IS TO ELEVATE THE VOICE OF THE COMMUNITY AND SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SHARING. THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE]

[00:45:01]

AT THE END OF THE MEETING IS THE COMMUNITY FORUM AND PEOPLE ARE WELCOME TO SPEAK AT THAT TIME AS WELL.

THANK YOU AGAIN, EVERYONE.

I'LL WAIT TO START UNTIL THE ROOM CLEAN JUST SO WE CAN HEAR EVERYONE EASIER.

>> WHAT'S UP?

>> IT'S INTERESTING WHEN ALL THE DOORS ARE SHUT.

IT'S SO QUIET IN THE HALLWAY TOO, SO PEOPLE ARE VISITING.

THIS REALLY SOUNDS LOW PROFILE.

[BACKGROUND] THANKS FOR WAITING, ANDREW. LET'S WAIT.

>> LET ME KNOW WHENEVER YOU GUYS ARE READY.

>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CAN HEAR THAT'S ALL.

IT'S A BIT ECHOEY STILL AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE DOOR WILL BE SHUTTING IN A MOMENT. THANK YOU.

ANDREW, THEN WE ARE AT ITEM NUMBER 10, REVIEW AND AUTHORIZATION OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE 2040 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, AND ALSO OUR SCREENS ARE BLACK UP HERE.

YOU DON'T KNOW? I KNOW WE HAVE TECHNICAL THINGS.

NO PROBLEM, NUMBER 10, REVIEW AND AUTHORIZATION OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE 2040 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. THANK YOU, ANDREW BUSH.

>> THANK YOU, CITY COUNCIL. AS YOU SAID, WE HAVE A REVIEW AND AUTHORIZATION OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE 2040 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AS THIS IS NOT BEING GUIDED BY A SPECIFIC PROJECT.

THE CITY WAS THE APPLICANT.

IN LATE 2022, STAFF WERE INFORMED THAT MEDTRONIC INTEND TO VACATE THEIR COLUMBIA HEIGHTS CAMPUS AT 853RD AVENUE NORTHEAST.

THE PROPERTY WAS THEN LISTED FOR SALE IN DECEMBER OF 2022, AND STAFF COLLABORATED WITH THE LISTING BROKER TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE ON POTENTIAL REDEVELOPMENT FOR THE SITE.

THE SITE IS 11.74 ACRES AND IT IS FULLY WITHIN THE SHORELINE OVERLAY DISTRICTS AND ZONE GENERAL BUSINESS, WHICH ALLOWS FOR A VARIETY OF COMMERCIAL USES BUT DOES NOT INCLUDE PROVISIONS TO ALLOW RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AT THIS TIME.

DESPITE THE REDEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL, THERE'S NO SPECIFIC GUIDANCE IN THE 2040 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO DIRECT A DIFFERENT USE OF THE PROPERTY BESIDES COMMERCIAL USE AS IT ASSUMES THAT MEDTRONIC WOULD BE THE CONTINUED USER.

STAFF ADVISED INTERESTED DEVELOPERS THAT THE CITY VIEWED THIS AS A PRIME REDEVELOPMENT SITE, BUT SPECIFIC GUIDANCE JUST HADN'T BEEN DEVELOPED AT THAT TIME AND THIS IS JUST AN AERIAL, SO YOU GUYS SEE THE EXISTING SITE AND THEN SOME NEIGHBORHOOD CONTEXT.

JUST SEE, I SEE IT'S ON THE EDGE OF THE CITY'S MUNICIPAL BORDER.

WE'VE GOT SOME BUSINESSES TO THE NORTH, TO THE IMMEDIATE EAST, AND THEN RESIDENTIAL TOWNHOME DEVELOPMENTS TO THE WEST AND SOUTH.

THE CITY UTILIZED AC RED ANOKA COUNTY REDEVELOP-

>> IT'S OKAY. ANOKA COUNTY IS A REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GROUP. THANK YOU.

>> WE USED THEM TO CONTRACT WITH THE CONSULTANT HKGI, WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY PREPARED THE CITY'S 2040 COMP PLAN TO DEVELOP A DESIGN FRAMEWORK AND THEN CONDUCT ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES OVER THE LAST FOUR MONTHS.

JUST A BRIEF RUNDOWN OF THAT.

IT STARTED IN OCTOBER WITH AN INTERNAL STAFF WORKSHOP WHERE WE EVALUATED THE REDEVELOPMENT SITE AND NEIGHBORHOOD CONTEXT AND JUST IDENTIFIED SOME INITIAL GOALS BEFORE WE HELD A JOINT SESSION IN NOVEMBER WITH THE CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION, WHERE THOSE GOALS WERE FLESHED OUT AND A FOCUS ON LAND USE PATTERNS AND DESIGN ELEMENTS WERE STRIKE FOR THE SITE.

SOME OF THE KEY FACTORS THAT DROVE THE CONVERSATION REGARDING THE SITE INCLUDE THE BRT LINE.

SULLIVAN LAKE IS AN IMPAIRED WATER BODY WITH INVASIVE SPECIES AND THE SITE IS LARGELY IMPERVIOUS TODAY AS YOU SAW ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE.

SOME OTHER DRIVERS THAT HELPED SHAPE THE PROJECTS IS RETAIL SITE SELECTION DEMANDS A DEPRESSED OFFICE MARKET, AND THEN A LISTING PRICE OF APPROXIMATELY 12.5 MILLION.

THEN THESE WERE THE FOUR CONCEPTS THAT WERE PRESENTED BEFORE THE COUNCIL AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION AT THE JOINT SESSION.

THEN SOME OF THE CORE LAND USE AND DESIGN ELEMENTS THAT CAME OUT OF THAT JOINT SESSION WERE A DESIRE FOR HIGH-DENSITY RESIDENTIAL TO BE SCALED TOWARDS CENTRAL AND THEN STEP DOWN IN INTENSITY AND DENSITY AS YOU GET CLOSER TO SULLIVAN LAKE.

[00:50:03]

FOCUS ON SULLIVAN LAKE AND EXPANDING SULLIVAN LAKE PARK AS AN EXISTING COMMUNITY ASSET, THEN IMPROVING SULLIVAN LAKE WATER QUALITY.

AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, IT'S AN IMPAIRED WATER BODY.

THE TARGETED RESIDENTIAL DENSITY OF 450-600 UNITS.

ONE OF THE FACTORS THAT WAS PRESENTED AT THE JOINT SESSION AND AT THE OPEN HOUSE WAS JUST SOME OF THE ECONOMICS.

IF WE WERE TO DO JUST SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSES ON THE SITE, IT WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY 2.5 MILLION IS WHAT WE SAID AND THEN LIMITED COMMERCIAL AND RETAIL DEVELOPMENT, MOSTLY ALONG 53RD.

WE DETERMINE THE SITES DEVELOPMENT CAPABILITY AND CONSTRAINTS BASED ON PREFERRED LAND USES, SITE ACCESS, VISIBILITY, AND ZONING.

THESE ANALYSES INCLUDE DRAFT DIAGRAMS AND ILLUSTRATIVE DRAWINGS THAT WE WERE PRESENTING FOR FEEDBACK AT THE OPEN HOUSE ON JANUARY 9TH.

THEN FROM THERE, THE CITY AND HKGI HELD A TWO WEEK ONLINE ENGAGEMENT CAMPAIGN FROM JANUARY 9TH TO THE 23RD FOR THE PUBLIC TO COMMENT ON THE PROPOSED CONCEPTS BEFORE HKGI SYNTHESIZE THOSE CONCEPTS INTO A FINAL DRAFT PRESENTATION AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT STAFF PRESENT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION THAT YOU SEE BEFORE YOU TODAY.

THIS IS CONCEPT 1.

SOME OF THE COMMENTS WERE ACCESS AROUND 53RD, AND CENTRAL IS ALREADY DIFFICULT WITH THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC IN THE AREA.

53RD BEING THE ONLY ACCESS TO THE PROPERTY WOULD BE DIFFICULT.

UTILIZE SOME OF THE MIXED USE SPACE CLOSEST TO THE LAKE AS A COMMUNITY CENTER OR EXPANSION OF THE PARK.

KEEP TRAIL LOOP WILL MAKE SURE THAT THE RETAIL SPACE WAS MOSTLY FILLED.

TAKE OUT TOWN HOMES AND EXPAND PARK.

JUST A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THE EXISTING PARK, THE WATER BODY, JUST KEEPING THOSE AS CORE FEATURES AND THEN JUST MAKING SURE THAT THE SITE CAN HANDLE THE DENSITY IT'S BEING PROPOSED.

THESE WERE VERY MUCH SIMILAR COMMENTS ON THE SECOND CONCEPT, I WOULD SAY THE PRIMARY DIFFERENCE IS MORE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT ON THIS CONCEPT.

THERE WAS CONCERN INITIALLY ABOUT LIKE WHEN PEOPLE WOULD BE ENTERING AND LEAVING, IF THERE WOULD BE TOO MUCH CONGESTION.

THIS WAS POSITIVELY RECEIVED JUST BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE IT EXPANDS THE PARK DESIGN A LITTLE BIT MORE.

THIS ONE DEFINITELY HAS LESS RETAIL THAN THE OTHER ONE, ABOUT HALF THE RETAIL FROM THE FIRST CONCEPT.

THEN THE ANTICIPATED DENSITY RANGE WOULD BE 500 FOR THE FIRST CONCEPT AND THEN APPROXIMATELY 520 FOR THE SECOND.

THE PLANNING COMMISSION REVIEWED THE AMENDMENT TO THE 2040 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND RECOMMENDED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE AND AUTHORIZED SUBMISSION OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT TO THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL PER 9.104B AND 4 AND 5.

THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT CONSISTS OF THE FOLLOWING CHANGES AND ADJUSTMENTS TO TECHNICAL TABLES.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE CHANGING IS THE INTRODUCTION OF A TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT, TOD, LAND USE DESIGNATION.

CHANGE IN THE SITE'S FUTURE LAND USE DESIGNATION FROM COMMERCIAL.

AS I SAID EARLIER, THE COMP PLAN DIDN'T HAVE ANY SPECIFIC GUIDANCE BESIDES JUST ASSUMING THAT METRO WOULD CONTINUE TO USE THE SITE AND THAT WOULD JUST BE GUIDED AS COMMERCIAL.

THIS IS BEING CHANGED FROM COMMERCIAL TO TOD AND THIS IS BEING IDENTIFIED AS AN AREA OF OPPORTUNITY, LIKELY FIGURE 5.

OTHER MODIFICATIONS INCLUDE TO THE CITY'S 2040 POPULATION AND HOUSEHOLD FORECASTS, AND THEN TECHNICAL TABLES, THEY'LL BE ADJUSTED BASED ON HOW THIS PROJECT SHAPES UP REGIONAL SETTINGS, SOCIOECONOMIC, HOUSEHOLD EMPLOYMENT, SEWER, TRANSPORTATION ANALYSTS ZONES, AND THEN TRANSPORTATION DEMAND.

THIS IS JUST I WANTED TO SHOW YOU GUYS THE MEMO THAT HKGI PUT TOGETHER FOR US.

A LOT OF THIS I FEEL LIKE HAS ALREADY BEEN COVERED.

LET ME SEE IF THERE'S ANY.

THE LAND CATEGORY TEXT CHANGE JUST ACKNOWLEDGES THAT TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE THEN THE HIGHEST INTENSITY LAND USE IN THE CITY.

THEN THE OTHER COMPONENT THEY ADD TO IT IS THAT SERVICE ORIENTED COMMERCIAL RETAIL DEVELOPMENT WITHIN MIXED USE PROJECTS SHOULD GENERALLY ORIENT TOWARDS MAJOR STREET CORRIDORS OR PROMINENT OPEN SPACE AMENITIES.

53RD IS WHERE THE MOST VIABLE COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY COULD OCCUR.

THEN THESE JUST SHOW THE FUTURE LAND USE AREA OF OPPORTUNITY CHANGES AND THEN SOME OF THOSE TECHNICAL TABLES THAT WE TALKED ABOUT.

THIS IS A PICTURE OF THE CURRENT PROPOSED FUTURE LAND USE MAP.

[00:55:01]

THEN THIS WAS THE REFINED CONCEPT AFTER WE HAD THE THREE, FOUR MONTHS OF ENGAGEMENT, THE JOINT SESSION, THE OPEN HOUSE.

I FEEL LIKE THIS HKGI REALLY TOOK TO HEART A LOT OF THE FEEDBACK THAT THE COMMUNITY HAD, AND YOU SEE THIS IN THE INCREASED RESIDENTIAL, THE COMMERCIAL SPACE.

OUT OF THE TWO CONCEPTS, THIS HAS, I THINK, ABOUT 4,000 SQUARE FEET MORE THAN THE OTHER TWO CONCEPTS THAT WERE PRESENT.

SO THEY RESPONDED TO THE DESIRE FOR MORE COMMERCIAL AND RETAIL SPACE.

THEN I THINK THIS WAS ALONG THE LOWER OF THE DENSITIES, 450 APARTMENT UNITS, AND THEN APPROXIMATELY 50 TOWNHOUSE OR ROW HOME UNITS.

THE LARGEST STRUCTURE YOU CAN SEE IS ALONG 53RD.

THEN IT STEPS DOWN INTO A SMALLER APARTMENT BUILDING ALONG CENTRAL.

THEN THE TOWNHOME DEVELOPMENT, VERY MUCH LIKE THE ONE IN THE SOUTH AND THEN SYLVAN SHORES TO THE WEST.

THE AMENDMENT IS READY TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL FOR REVIEW AND ADOPTION.

PRIOR TO THEIR ACCEPTANCE OF THE PLAN, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVING THE PLAN TO BE SUBMITTED IS REQUIRED.

STAFF RECOMMENDS THE FOLLOWING TO THE CITY COUNCIL, MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND WAIVE THE READING OF RESOLUTION NUMBER 2024-013.

THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

A MOTION TO MOVE TO RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER 2024-013, AUTHORIZING THE AMENDMENT TO THE 2040 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND RECOMMENDING THE CITY PROCEED WITH SENDING THE AMENDMENT TO THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL.

>> THANK YOU, ANDREW, ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL?

>> I HAVE A QUESTION.

>> JACOBS.

>> ON THE PREFERRED CONCEPT, WHERE IS THE COMMERCIAL SPACE LOCATED? HELP ME OUT HERE. I'M NOT SEEING IT.

>> IT'S IN THE BUILDING ALONG 53RD.

>> YARD PARKING STRUCTURE BUILDING?

>> YEAH.

>> FIRST FLOOR OF THAT?

>> YEAH.

>> OKAY. THANK YOU.

>> I BELIEVE THE PINK SHADED AREA.

COUNCIL JACOBS. JAMES, SORRY.

>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE CITY PLANNING STAFF AND THOSE WHO WORKED WITH HKGI.

I THINK THIS IS A WONDERFUL PLAN WITH THE TOWNHOMES MIRRORING THE SYLVAN SHORES TOWNHOMES AND THE APARTMENTS BELOW THAT.

I'M HAPPY TO SEE THE EXPANSION OF THE PARK.

I THINK MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS THAT WERE HERE SPOKE A LOT ABOUT THAT AND KEEPING THE WATER FEATURES IN AS WAS DESIGNED.

I'M REALLY EXCITED FOR THAT.

I AM STILL WONDERING ABOUT ACCESS.

THIS STILL ONLY HAS THAT ONE ACCESS POINT.

IS THAT ADJUSTABLE OR IS THAT WHERE WE ARE FOR NOW?

>> AT THE MOMENT, THIS IS JUST A CONCEPT. SORRY.

>> PARDON THE INTERRUPTION. BUT THERE ARE TWO ACCESS POINTS OFF AT 53RD THAT REMAIN RELATIVELY IN THE SAME POSITION AS THEY ARE TODAY IF YOU WERE TO TRAVEL.

THEY'RE FOR THE MOST PART, FIXED WITH THE RECENT ROAD IMPROVEMENTS ON 53RD AND NOT WANTING TO DISRUPT THAT TURNABOUT THAT WAS RECENTLY CONSTRUCTED.

>> I SEE THE LITTLE BUBBLE WENT OVER THE SECOND ACCESS, SO I COULDN'T SEE THAT IT WAS THERE.

THANK YOU. TWO SEEMS MUCH MORE REASONABLE THAN ONE. THANK YOU.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO ECHO THAT THESE ARE JUST CONCEPTS.

IF THE PUBLIC WERE TO LOOK AT THIS, THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT'S BEING BUILT.

>> CORRECT. THIS NOT A LAND USE ENTITLEMENT.

THAT PROCESS WILL COME LATER AFTER THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL TAKES ACTION ON THE AMENDMENT.

>> THESE EXAMPLES ARE TO SHOW US THE COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC, THAT THERE ARE OPTIONS FOR WHAT COULD HAPPEN, BUT IF WE DO NOT ALLOW FOR A CHANGE TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, WE WOULD BE LIMITED IN ITS USE.

TONIGHT'S MEETING IS SPECIFICALLY TO VOTE ON THE RECOMMENDATION TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLANS.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL? THEN I HAVE A MOTION TO, SORRY.

>> DO YOU WANT ME TO REPEAT THEM?

>> BECAUSE THE HEARING IS THIS A PUBLIC HEARING?

>> YEAH.

>> OKAY.

>> READY?

>> THEN I'D LIKE TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

[LAUGHTER]

>> IT'S OKAY. IT WAS NOT INTENDED TO BE A PUBLIC HEARING THIS EVENING.

NOT UNDER PUBLIC HEARINGS.

>> I'M NOT SURE, AARON, I'M SORRY.

>> I'M NOT SURE IF THE PACKET HAD THE SAME MOTIONS THAT WERE IN THE PRESENTATION, BUT IT IS NOT INTENDED TO BE A PUBLIC HEARING.

>> THANK YOU.

>> MY APOLOGIES.

>> READY?

>> SO WE DO NOT NEED TO CLOSE THE HEARING?

>> THAT'S CORRECT, MADAM MAYOR.

>> SURE.

>> MOVE TO WAIVE THE READING OF THE DRAFT RESOLUTION 2024-13.

[01:00:04]

>> SECOND.

>> SECOND.

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

JUST BEING VERY CLEAR, ANY DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS? THEN WE HAVE A MOTION.

>> VOTE.

>> WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A VOTE.

PLEASE SAY AYE IF YOU ARE IN FAVOR.

>> AYE [BACKGROUND]

>> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES.

NEXT, WE HAVE A MOTION TO RECOMMEND.

>> MOVE TO RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED DRAFT RESOLUTION NUMBER 2024-013, AUTHORIZING THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT OF THE 2040 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, PER THE STAFF REPORT, AND RECOMMENDING THE CITY PROCEED WITH SENDING THE AMENDMENT TO THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL.

>> SECOND.

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

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? SEEING NOTHING, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE?

>> AYE [BACKGROUND]

>> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES.

THANK YOU. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THEM AT COUNCIL, GETTING THIS INFORMATION.

>> ME TOO.

>> NEXT WE HAVE OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS. THANK YOU.

[PUBLIC HEARINGS]

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

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

WHEN SPEAKING, VIRTUAL ATTENDEES SHOULD TURN THEIR CAMERAS ON.

ANY COMMENTS MADE AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND WILL NOT BE INCLUDED AS PART OF THE FORMAL RECORD FOR THIS MATTER, AS THE ITEM WILL HAVE BEEN VOTED ON AND THE ITEM FORMALLY CLOSED BY THE COUNCIL.

ITEM NUMBER 11 IS THE FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 1691, AN ORDINANCE PROPOSING VACATION OF ROADWAY ALLEY AND RIGHT AWAY EASEMENT SERVING 1650, 40TH AVENUE NORTHEAST.

AND OUR CITY PLANNER, ANDREW BOUCHER, WILL TAKE US THROUGH THIS.

>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL. YOU GUYS HEARD A COUPLE CASES RELATED TO THIS AT YOUR LAST MEETING.

THIS IS FOR THE READINGS OF THE ORDINANCE.

FIRST ORDINANCE IS PROPOSED ORDINANCE NUMBER 1691, VACATING ROADWAY EASEMENTS SERVING 1650 40TH AVENUE NORTHEAST, AND AS THE CITY HOLDS THE EASEMENT, WE WERE THE APPLICANT FOR THIS.

THE CITY IS VACATING THESE EASEMENTS BECAUSE THE CURRENT CONFIGURATION DOES NOT ACCURATELY REFLECT THE RIGHT OF WAY THAT WAS CONSTRUCTED, AND WE ARE PROPOSING AN ORDINANCE TO CREATE NEW EASEMENTS TO SERVE THESE PROPERTIES.

THIS IS SUBJECT TO REQUIRED FINDINGS FOR EASEMENT VACATIONS PER 9.104(J) IN SECTION 111 OF THE CITY CHARTER FOR VACATION OF STREETS.

JUST SO YOU GUYS KNOW, THIS IS AN EXISTING CONDITIONS EXHIBIT.

THEN THESE ARE THE THREE PROPOSED ROADWAY EASEMENTS THAT ARE TO BE VACATED.

THE EASEMENTS ARE DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS, WITH LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS ATTACHED TO THE REPORT ROADWAY EASEMENT PER DOCUMENT NUMBER 217982, ROADWAY EASEMENT PER DOCUMENT NUMBER 72783, AND UNDEVELOPED ALLEY PER WALTON'S FIRST SUBDIVISION OF RESERVOIR HILLS.

THIS IS JUST AN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS SO WE CAN CLEAN THIS UP AND SHARE AN EASEMENT THAT REFLECTS WHERE THE RIGHT OF WAY WAS ACTUALLY BUILT.

THE CITY COUNCIL HAS TWO REQUIRED FINDINGS THAT THEY NEED TO MAKE.

SHALL MAKE EACH OF THE FOLLOWING FINDINGS 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. THAT'S CORRECT.

LIKE I SAID, THERE'S AN EASEMENT THAT ENCOMPASSES MORE OF THE PROPERTY THAN IT SHOULD.

THEN THE OTHER IS THAT THE PUBLIC WILL NOT SUFFER LOSS OR INCONVENIENCE AS A RESULT OF THE VACATION. THIS IS CORRECT.

I ALWAYS SAY THIS IS JUST MORE ABOUT CORRECTING THE EASEMENTS TO REFLECT WHERE THEY SHOULD ACTUALLY BE.

THE STAFF IS COORDINATED WITH THE CITY ENGINEER WHO HAS BEEN PROVIDED COPIES OF THE APPLICATION MATERIALS AND HAD NO CONCERN WITH THE EASEMENT, VACATION, AND PROPOSED EASEMENTS.

STAFF RECOMMENDS THE FOLLOWING MOTIONS TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

MOVE TO CLOSE THE HEARING AND WAIVE THE READING OF DRAFT ORDINANCE NUMBER 1691, THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

THEN A MOTION TO SET THE SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 1691.

AN ORDINANCE PROPOSING VACATION OF ROADWAY, ALLEY, AND RIGHT OF WAY EASEMENTS SERVING 1650 40TH AVENUE NORTHEAST FOR MARCH 11TH,

[01:05:02]

>> THANK YOU [NOISE] WELL, I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

IF THERE'S ANYONE HERE WHO HAS A COMMENT ON THIS?

>> NO ONE HAS PRESENTED A FORM TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.

>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

THEN I WILL JUST ASK ONE MORE TIME FOR DUE DILIGENCE.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE FIRST READING FOR ORDINANCE NUMBER 1691 ABOUT THE PROPERTY 1650 40TH AVENUE NORTHEAST.

THERE ARE TWO ITEMS FOR THIS PROPERTY.

THIS IS THE FIRST ONE.

ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS? SEEING THERE'S NONE, THEN I WOULD LIKE TO MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

>> MOVE TO CLOSE THE HEARING AND WAIVE THE READING OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 1691 THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

>> SECOND.

>> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND WAIVE THE READING.

ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING THERE'S NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE?

>> AYE [BACKGROUND]

>> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES.

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

>> MOVE TO SET THE SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 1691.

AN ORDINANCE PROPOSING VACATION OF ROADWAY ALLEY AND RIGHT OF WAY EASEMENT, SERVING 1650, 40TH AVENUE NORTHEAST FOR MARCH 11TH, 2024 AT APPROXIMATELY 6:00 PM IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS.

>> SECOND.

>> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS TO SET THE SECOND READING.

ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? SEEING THERE'S NONE, THEN ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE?

>> AYE [BACKGROUND]

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

NOW WE'RE ON TO NUMBER 12, WHICH I'LL LET ANDREW TO TALK, SAY WHAT IT IS.

>> SO THIS IS THE FIRST READING OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE NUMBER 1692 PROPOSING ROADWAY EASEMENTS SERVING 1650 40TH AVENUE NORTHEAST.

AGAIN, WE'RE THE APPLICANT AS THIS IS OUR EASEMENT.

WE JUST FINISHED VACATING THE PREVIOUS RIGHT OF WAY EASEMENT.

NOW WE NEED A NEW EASEMENT TO REFLECT THE ACCURATE LOCATION OF THE RIGHT OF WAY, SUBJECT TO REQUIRED FINDINGS FOR EASEMENT VACATIONS PER 9.104(J) AND SECTION 111 VACATION OF STREETS OF THE CITY CHARTER.

NORMALLY, WE WOULD DO THIS THROUGH A PLAT, BUT AS THERE AREN'T REALLY, WE'RE NOT PROPOSING ANY ADDITIONAL LOTS THAT DIDN'T FEEL APPROPRIATE FOR THIS.

AGAIN, EXISTING CONDITIONS.

THIS IS THE PROPOSED ROADWAY EASEMENT THAT WE WORKED ON WITH PIONEER ENGINEERING AND THEN WITH THE CITY ENGINEER.

THIS JUST REFLECTS THE ACTUAL LOCATION OF THE SANITARY SEWER AND THEN THE RIGHT OF WAY AS IT'S CONFIGURED.

CITY COUNCIL SHALL MAKE EACH OF THE FOLLOWING FINDINGS BEFORE PROPOSING A NEW ALLEY OR OTHER PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY EASEMENT.

NO PRIVATE RIGHTS WILL BE INJURED OR ENDANGERED AS A RESULT OF THE VACATION. THIS IS CORRECT.

THIS ENABLES THE PROPERTY OWNER TO USE HER PROPERTY THE WAY SHE WOULD LIKE TO IN A WAY THAT CONFORMS WITH THE ZONING ORDINANCE.

THEN THE SECOND IS THAT THE PUBLIC WILL NOT SUFFER LOSS OR INCONVENIENCE AS A RESULT OF THE VACATION.

THE AMOUNT ISN'T NECESSARILY CHANGING.

IT'S JUST, LIKE I SAID, REFLECTING WHAT'S ACTUALLY THERE.

STAFF HAS COORDINATED WITH THE CITY ENGINEER WHO HAS BEEN PROVIDED WITH COPIES OF THE APPLICATION MATERIALS AND HAD NO CONCERNS WITH THE EASEMENT VACATION OR THE PROPOSED EASEMENTS.

THEN STAFF HAS TWO RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CITY COUNCIL.

FIRST IS MOVED TO CLOSE THE HEARING AND WAIVE THE READING OF DRAFT ORDINANCE NUMBER 1692, THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

THE SECOND IS MOVED TO SET THE SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 1692, AN ORDINANCE PROPOSING A NEW ROADWAY ALLEY AND RIGHT OF WAY EASEMENT SERVING 1650 40TH AVENUE NORTHEAST FOR MARCH 11TH, 2024 AT APPROXIMATELY 6:00 PM IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS.

>> THANK YOU. THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING, SO I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

IF THERE'S ANYONE HERE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 12? SEEING AS NONE, I WILL JUST ASK ONE MORE TIME.

WE ARE SPEAKING ABOUT ITEM NUMBER 12, PROPERTY 1650 40TH AVENUE NORTHEAST.

SEEING AS NO ONE IS HERE TO SPEAK ON THAT ITEM, THEN I COULD I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

>> MOVE TO CLOSE THE HEARING AND WAIVE THE READING OF ORDINANCE 1692 THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

>> SECOND.

>> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER BUESGENS TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

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

>> AYE.

>> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES.

NEXT I HAVE A MOTION TO SET THE SECOND READING.

>> MOVE TO SET THE SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE 1692,

[01:10:01]

>> SECOND.

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

SECOND READING. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION IN THE COUNCIL? SEEING AS NONE THEN ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

>> AYE.

>> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU.

WE HAVE NOTHING COMING UP FOR ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS, BID CONSIDERATIONS, NEW BUSINESS REPORTS SO THAT TAKES US TO OUR CITY COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS.

[CITY COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS]

>> A COUPLE OF QUICK THINGS.

I SIGNED ON TO A COUPLE LETTERS.

ONE WAS TO END THE SALE OF ALL COMMERCIAL FLAVORED TOBACCO PRODUCTS IN THE STATE.

>> COULD YOU REPEAT THAT?

>> I SIGNED ONTO A COUPLE OF LETTERS.

THE FIRST ONE WAS TO END THE SALE OF ALL COMMERCIAL FLAVORED TOBACCO PRODUCTS IN THE STATE, AND THEN THE SECOND WAS REGARDING SUPPORTING LOCAL CONTROL REGARDING PLASTIC BAG POLICY.

I ATTENDED A VIRTUAL MINNESOTA HEALTHY PARTNERSHIP MEETING, WHICH IS RUN THROUGH MDH.

JUST TALKING ABOUT HEALTH UPDATES RELEVANT TO DIFFERENT REGIONS OF THE STATE.

AS I BASICALLY SAY, EVERY TIME I'M CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THE RESIDENTS OR THE LEGENDS ON LEGISLATION TO HELP KEEP THEIR RENTS AND THEIR UNITS AFFORDABLE.

BUT AN UPDATE IS THAT THERE ARE A COUPLE BILLS INTRODUCED AT THE LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW THAT THEY ARE CURRENTLY TRYING TO WORK THROUGH AND WE'LL BE LOOKING FOR LOCAL SUPPORT ON THOSE SOON SO UPDATES ON THAT COMING.

THEN LAST THING WAS I SPOKE WITH A GROUP OF MEDICAL STUDENTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA REGARDING DIFFERENT PATHS FOR ADVOCACY AND HOW MY PATH LED ME TO RUN FOR LOCAL OFFICE.

>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS.

>> JUST A SHORT ONE, FINALLY ON THE PATH TO RECOVERY, WHICH HAS PREVENTED ME FROM ATTENDING A LOT OF THINGS BECAUSE OF CROWDS AND SHOULDER SURGERY.

BUT I'M GLAD TO BE TURNING THE CORNER, I HOPE.

I DID ATTEND THE ISD 135 YEAR PLAN GROUP, COUNCILMEMBER BUESGENS AND I ATTENDED IT.

I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT NIGHT IT WAS.

VERY INTERESTING, A LOT OF GREAT IDEAS EXCHANGE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME OUT OF THAT FROM SOME OF THE PARENTS IS THAT THERE IS A GAP OF ACTIVITIES THROUGH THE DISTRICT AND THROUGH OUR PARK DISTRICT FOR KIDS AGED 3-5, AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR SWIMMING LESSONS AND SO FORTH.

I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO BRING TO THE PARKS AND REC AND BRING IT TO THEIR ATTENTION SO THAT HOPEFULLY WE CAN CLOSE IN THAT GAP.

CURRENTLY, THE PARENTS ARE GOING TO COMMUNITIES OUTSIDE OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS TO ATTEND THOSE ACTIVITIES FOR THEIR LITTLE ONES. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES.

>> THANK YOU. I FIRST WANTED TO JUST STATE THAT I WAS SO THANKFUL FOR ALL OF US HERE AND THE COUNCIL AND FOR THOSE WHO CAME IN FOR OUR CITY STAFF TO HELP US DEAL WITH SUCH A HEARTFELT ISSUE.

I'M REALLY THANKFUL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, MAYOR, AND HOW THAT ALL WENT FOR EVERYONE ON THE COUNCIL.

FOR MY REPORT, I WENT TO COFFEE WITH A COP AT THE LEGENDS.

THANK YOU TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR HOSTING THAT EVENT AND FOR DOING SUCH A WONDERFUL JOB.

WE GOT TO HEAR MANY ISSUES THAT PEOPLE ARE HAVING WITH THEIR BUILDING.

BUT JUST TO SEE COMMUNITY, I THINK THEY WERE GETTING READY TO START UP A NEW NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH THERE.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE A NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH IN YOUR AREA, YOU CAN START IT WHETHER YOU LIVE IN AN APARTMENT OR A 55 PLUS COMMUNITY, OR ON A BLOCK.

I ALSO WENT TO A MEETING AT ADAMA RESTAURANT HERE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AND MET WITH A FEW LOCAL OROMO BUSINESS LEADERS WHO ARE JUST TALKING ABOUT THE STATE OF THEIR BUSINESSES IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AND HOPEFUL FOR SUPPORT AND THANKFUL FOR COLUMBIA HEIGHTS TO BE A WELCOMING BUSINESS COMMUNITY FOR THE OROMO COMMUNITY.

I STOPPED BY THE BUY NOTHING GIVEAWAY EVENT THAT WAS HELD AT FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH.

IT'S AGAIN ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO SEE OUR GENEROUS AND CONNECTED COMMUNITY TOGETHER.

I HOSTED AN EVENT WITH THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS NEW BRIGHTON AREA CHAPTER TO HEAR REPRESENTATIVES SPEAK ON THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT TO THE MINNESOTA STATE CONSTITUTION.

IT WAS A POWERFUL AND MOVING PRESENTATION BY LEADERS, ONE OF WHICH WHO HAD BEEN WORKING, WELL, ACTUALLY BOTH OF THEM HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS ISSUE SINCE 1972.

WE GOT TO HEAR THEIR STORIES OF WORKING TOWARD PASSING THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT AND TO SEE WHERE THAT WOULD BE THIS YEAR IN THE LEGISLATIVE CYCLE.

I ATTENDED A CLIMATE COALITION MEETING OF OTHER LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS AND CITY STAFF.

THE SPEAKER WAS REPRESENTATIVE KRAFT, AND HE SPOKE ABOUT HIS CLIMATE BILLS THAT ARE THIS YEAR IN THE LEGISLATURE, INCLUDING THE MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING BILL, THERE'S LOTS TO IT, BUT THE GIST IS THAT CITIES WOULD HAVE TO REQUIRE HOMEOWNERS TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS OR DUPLEXES OR TRIPLEXES IF THEY WANTED TO TO INCREASE THEIR DENSITY.

[01:15:01]

I ALSO ATTENDED A POLICY PRIMER WITH LOCAL PROGRESS ORGANIZATION ONLINE AND RECEIVED SOME TRAINING AND SIGNED ONTO THE CLEAN WATER ACTION MINNESOTA LETTER TO ALLOW FOR LOCAL CONTROL OF THE PLASTIC BAG ORDINANCE.

I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS MENTIONED AND THAT'S IT. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER BUESGENS.

>> HELLO. I GOT MY GREEN LIGHT ON.

FIRST OFF, WAS THIS UNUSUAL? I'M NOT SURE I LIKE IT OR NOT.

MY NATIVE PLANTS ARE STARTING TO POP OUT OF MY YARD TWO MONTHS EARLY.

BUT IT'S A GOOD TIME IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR STORM DRAINS OR SEE TRASH, PLEASE JUST A REMINDER TO KEEP YOUR STORM DRAINS.

I CLEANED OURS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND THOSE AROUND THE HEIGHTS, NEXT BLOOMING SUNSHINE GARDEN SO IT'S A GOOD TIME TO DO THAT, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE SOME RAIN COMING UP IN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO.

I ALSO ATTENDED COFFEE WITH A COP AT THE LEGENDS ALONG WITH COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES AND MAYOR MARQUEZ.

I AM THE LIAISON TO THE SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION AND THERE'S TWO SUBGROUPS THAT ARE BEING FORMED.

ONE IS A SUBGROUP FOR INVASIVE PLANT REMOVAL AND SO KEEP AN EYE OUT IN THE FUTURE IF THEY'RE LOOKING FOR MORE VOLUNTEERS TO HELP THE CITY REMOVE SOME INVASIVE PLANTS.

THE SECOND SUBCOMMITTEE THAT'S STARTING, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY FOR GREEN CORP OR ANOTHER TYPE OF ORGANIZATION THAT BRINGS INTERN TYPE POSITIONS TO OUR CITY TO HELP US WITH OUR SUSTAINABILITY PLANS.

ONE PERSON IN THE GROUP IS GOING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR COMING UP WITH ZERO WASTE TIPS AND SUSTAINABILITY BITS OF INFORMATION THAT WE CAN PUT IN OUR PAPER NEWSLETTER AND IN OUR DIGITAL NEWSLETTER.

THEY'RE STARTING TO KICK IN. THAT'S PRETTY EXCITING.

I ALSO ATTENDED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS, THE SCHOOL STRATEGIC PLANNING, AND ECHO THAT THEY DID BRING UP A LAPSE OF ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS THAT ARE UNDER FIVE, THAT ARE NOT DURING NAP TIME WAS ONE OF THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE FROM SOME PARENTS THAT ARE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

LET'S SEE, I ATTENDED ONLINE A SMART SALTING FOR COMMUNITY LEADERS AND ONE I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT OUR PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN WELL-TRAINED IN HOW TO USE SALT IN OUR STREETS TO REDUCE THE USE OR THE REDUCE OF THE AMOUNT OF SALT GOING INTO OUR WATER ENCOURAGES RESIDENTS TO USE LESS SALT ON THEIR SIDEWALKS.

ONE TEASPOON CAN CONTAMINATE FIVE GALLONS OF WATER, SO YOU DON'T NEED A LOT OF SALT.

SPREAD IT SPARINGLY.

IT'LL HELP MAINTAIN OUR LAKES AND RIVERS.

IN FACT, LET'S SEE.

JUST TO ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO CHECK OUT THE U OF M'S EXTENSION, THEY HAVE ALTERNATIVE TURFS THAT DON'T REQUIRE FERTILIZER.

THEY'RE LOW MAINTENANCE.

I KNOW I'M TRYING TO PLANT ONE IN MY BACK IN MY BACKYARD THAT ONLY REQUIRES MOWING TWICE A SUMMER.

THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES OUT THERE THAT WILL STILL MAKE YOUR LAWN LOOK VERY NICE WITHOUT HAVING TO USE FERTILIZER AND CONTAMINATE.

BECAUSE EVEN IF IT ABSORBS INTO YOUR SOIL DURING HEAVY RAINS, THAT FERTILIZER, IF YOU JUST LAID IT DOWN, CAN RUN INTO THE STREET.

THE STORM WATER GOES DIRECTLY INTO THE RIVER AND INTO SOME OF OUR LAKES IN THE AREA HERE AND OUR PONDS.

I GOT THE WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO TOUR OUR CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION CLASSROOMS WITH SUPERINTENDENT ZENA AND HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL TODD WYNNE, AND THE SHOP TEACHER, MATT, FORGIVE ME, I CAN'T REMEMBER HIS LAST NAME, BUT IT WAS SO EXCITING.

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS MAINTAINED AND KEPT THEIR SHOP CLASSES FOR WOODWORKING, FOR CONSTRUCTION, FOR ELECTRONICS, THEY DO THAT.

THEY'VE ALSO EXPANDED ON A LOT OF TECHNICAL COMPUTER TYPE THINGS THE WHOLE NEW APARTMENTS ARE A LOT DIFFERENT THAN WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL AND ONLY HAD SHOP CLASS ROOM.

IT WAS SO EXCITING. WALKING INTO THE CONSTRUCTION ROOM, I LOVED THE SMELL OF FRESH WOOD.

MY DAD BUILT HOMES WHEN I WAS A KID, AND WE GOT TO PLAY IN THEM AND I LOVED THAT SMELL, SO IT WAS PRETTY COOL.

I THANK THEM FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME AND TAKE THE TIME TO GIVE ME THE TOUR.

I WATCHED THE NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH UPDATE ON ZOOM AND THEN I WAS READING IN THE NORTHEAST PAPER.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE READ IN THE EDITORIAL SECTION, IT WAS WRITTEN BY, LET ME SEE HERE.

SORRY, LET ME GET THIS ORGANIZED HERE FOR A MINUTE.

AVANA STARK, WHO'S THE MINNESOTA STATE DIRECTOR OF CLEAN WATER ACTION AND CLEAN WATER FUND.

I'M BIG ON SUSTAINABILITY AND TRYING TO REDUCE OUR WASTE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

AND SHE DISCUSSED HOW PLASTICS, AND WE ALL KNOW WHEN WE SEE ON THE NEWS, HOW MUCH PLASTIC HAS INFILTRATED OUR ENVIRONMENT AND EVEN OUR BODIES.

ONE OF THE THINGS SHE TALKED ABOUT,

[01:20:02]

THEY'RE ALSO WORKING ON A BILL THAT RIGHT NOW CITIES CANNOT BAN THE USE OF PLASTIC BAGS IN THEIR CITY.

SO THEY'RE DRAWING UP A BILL TO PREEMPT THAT BAN SO THAT CITIES CAN MAKE THEIR OWN CHOICES OF WHETHER THEY WANT PLASTIC BAGS USED IN THEIR CITY.

THEY'RE ALSO BRINGING STAKEHOLDERS TOGETHER TO CREATE A PACKAGE THAT WILL PROTECT OUR HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

I THINK I TRULY SUPPORT THAT.

THAT MANUFACTURERS REALLY NEED TO START TAKING RESPONSIBILITY IN HELPING TO NOT JUST RECYCLE IT, BUT ALSO TO COME UP WITH ALTERNATIVES BECAUSE EVERY TIME I THROW THE CRUNCHY PLASTIC INTO MY GARBAGE, I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE IN THERE FOR A LONG TIME AND THAT CONCERNS ME.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT WITH PLASTIC FROM A FRIEND OF MINE WHO IS A CHEMIST, PLASTIC ITSELF IS NOT THE PROBLEM, IT'S THE CHEMICALS THAT ARE ABSORBED INTO THE PLASTIC.

MINNESOTA HAS 101 LANDFILLS, 98 OF THEM ARE LEACHING INTO THE GROUNDWATER IN OUR COMMUNITIES, AND THAT'S A HUGE CONCERN FOR PEOPLE.

IF YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES OR WRITE A LETTER TO SUPPORT THESE BILLS TO REDUCE THE USE OF PLASTIC IN OUR COMMUNITY, OR AT LEAST GET THEM IN THE RECYCLE FACILITIES AND NOT IN OUR LANDFILLS AND NOT IN OUR LAKES OR HANGING FROM OUR TREES OR GOING DOWN OUR STORM DRAINS.

I THOUGHT THIS WAS A VERY GOOD ARTICLE TO SHARE WITH OUR COMMUNITY SO THAT WE CAN START REDUCING OUR USE OF PLASTIC AND ALSO THE WAY WE TREAT IT WHEN WE'RE DONE WITH IT.

THAT'S IT, I BELIEVE.

YES. THANK YOU.

>> SURE. COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS.

>> ONE THING I FORGOT, I GOT MY PLOW RIGHT IN THIS YEAR AND I'M HOPING IT'S THE ONLY OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SIGNIFICANT SNOW.

HAVING DONE THIS FOR SEVERAL YEARS IN A ROW, I WANT TO APPLAUD THOSE RESIDENTS WHO ARE NOW GETTING THEIR CARS OFF THE STREET SO THAT THEY'RE NOT TOWED.

I WOULD LIKE TO GENTLY CHASTISE THOSE RESIDENTS WHO CONTINUALLY, YEAR AFTER YEAR, ARE THE SAME ONES PARKING ON THE STREET.

THE OTHER ISSUE IS KEEPING YOUR TRASH CANS AND YOUR RECYCLING CANS OFF THE STREET AND KEEP THEM AT THE EDGE OF THE CURB BECAUSE THE PLOWS HAVE TO GO AROUND THAT.

IT REALLY MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE IN WHAT THEY CAN GET OFF THE STREETS AND GET OUT OF YOUR WAY, BUT IT WAS A GOOD RIDE.

I THINK WE GOT THE WHOLE AREA DONE IN PROBABLY ABOUT I STARTED AT FOUR O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING AND I THINK BY NOON WE WERE DONE.

THEY DO A GOOD JOB, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF OUR PLOW DRIVERS AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY PUT THE NEW KIT UP IN INSBROOK WHERE NO STREET IS STRAIGHT [LAUGHTER] AND HE SURVIVED.

I THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT HIM PIZZA FOR LUNCH.

>> BEST WAY TO LEARN [LAUGHTER]

>> THEY DID A GREAT JOB. THANK YOU.

>> SINCE OUR PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETING, I HAVE ACTIVELY PARTICIPATED IN THE FOLLOWING MEETINGS AND EVENTS.

OUR SISTER CITY MEETING, WHICH FOSTERS INTERNATIONAL BONDS AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE.

AGAIN, ANOTHER WAY THAT OUR SMALL CITY AND COMMUNITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS IS REACHING ACROSS THE WORLD TO HAVE CONNECTIONS AND IN OUR SISTER CITY MEETING, WE HAVE A SCULPTURE THAT'S COMING TO COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THAT, AND IT'S ALL MOVING FORWARD WITH A SUMMER OR EARLY FALL DATE FOR UNVEILING.

ATTENDED OUR YOUTH COMMISSION MEETING WHERE THE ANOKA COUNTY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CAME IN AND TALKED ABOUT THE YOUTH PROGRAMS AT THE COUNTY AND STRENGTHEN THEIR WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES.

IT WAS GOOD FOR ALL THE YOUTH TO HEAR ABOUT THE WAYS THAT THERE ARE ADULTS OUT THERE THAT ARE READY TO HELP THEM WITH THEIR NEW JOBS.

WAS HAPPY TO SET UP THE COFFEE WITH A COP AT THE LEGENDS WE HAD, LIKE WE SAID, A COUPLE COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE ABLE TO ATTEND.

I KNOW JUSTICE SPRIGGS IS THERE IN HEART, EVEN WHEN YOU CAN'T BE THERE IN PERSON.

BUT SINCE YOU WORK WITH THE RESIDENTS SO MUCH, AND THOSE MEETINGS ARE REALLY ABOUT BUILDING TRUST AND COLLABORATING.

BUT ALSO WE HAD A SECONDARY MEETING.

LEARNING THAT WHEN WE DO MEETINGS FOR COFFEE, USUALLY A COFFEE WITH A COP OR CONE WITH A COP IS A VERY SOCIAL, LET'S HANG OUT, WE HAVE ICE CREAM AND YOU CAN WANDER AROUND AND TALK WITH SOME POLICE OFFICERS.

YOU GET TO KNOW THEM. BUT WE'VE REALIZED THAT WHEN WE GO INTO AN APARTMENT BUILDING, WE'RE REALLY GOING INTO SOMEONE'S HOME.

IF WE HAVE COFFEE OR CONE WITH A COP, AND IT'S AT DAIRY QUEEN,

[01:25:01]

BUT WE REALIZE WHEN WE GO INTO SOMEONE'S HOME, THEY'RE GOING TO SHARE CONCERNS THEY HAVE WITH THEIR HOME.

THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR HOME.

THE MEETINGS END UP BEING A LITTLE DIFFERENT, AND SO WAS A GOOD EXPERIENCE FOR US TO DECIDE GOING FORWARD WHEN WE HAVE THE POLICE VISIT APARTMENTS, A DIFFERENT WAY TO LOOK AT IT, BUT OF COURSE WE'LL STILL BE DOING COFFEE WITH A COP AND ALSO PROBABLY PLAYING POOL WITH A COP, OR HOPING TO DO THAT AGAIN THIS YEAR AND ALL THE OTHER EVENTS ATTENDED THE MM SIFA.

I DIDN'T WRITE DOWN. M-M S-I-F-A REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION THEY'RE DOING.

I'LL HAVE TO JUST LOOK THAT ONE UP.

I'M SORRY [LAUGHTER] I CAN'T REMEMBER. I WROTE IT DOWN.

AS I SAID EARLIER, I HAD THE US DEPARTMENT OF STATE MEETING WITH THE REGIONAL COUNCIL OF MAYORS, ATTENDED THE BUY NOTHING EVENT AND HELPED COORDINATE THAT WITH FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH, AND THAT IS PROMOTING SUSTAINABILITY AND COMMUNITY GENEROSITY.

OH, YES. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR BRIDGETS.

THE MINNESOTA CLIMATE INNOVATION FINANCE AUTHORITY, LEARNING ALL THE WAYS THAT WE CAN GET OUR INFORMATION.

I ATTENDED THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS MEETING WITH COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS AND SHE HAD SET UP SIR JAMES.

IT'S DIFFICULT WHEN WE HAVE THINGS THAT ARE SIMILAR.

LISA ARE NOT ALL ANDERSON'S OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

IT COULD BE SMITH, IT COULD BE DIFFERENT.

JAMES WITH THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT, AND THAT WAS A VERY GREAT PRESENTATION AND I DEFINITELY AM WORKING TO ADVANCE GENDER EQUALITY AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.

I ATTENDED THE PARKVIEW VILLA BLACK HISTORY CELEBRATION.

THEY HAD A SINGER THERE, SOUNDS OF BLACKNESS, AND HAD SOUL FOOD.

AND IT WAS A REALLY GREAT EVENT OVER THERE.

WE HAD OUR HEIGHTS NEXT PET BED WORKSHOP ON SATURDAY AT THE LIBRARY.

THAT IS A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LIBRARY.

WE MADE 93 PET BEDS.

I BELIEVE WE HAD 45 VOLUNTEERS.

IT WAS VERY BUSY AS USUAL.

IN OUR PET BED WORKSHOP, WE NOT ONLY ARE CREATING PET BEDS THAT WE TAKE TO THE MIDWEST ANIMAL RESCUE SERVICES, BUT THOSE ARE ALL MADE WITH RECYCLABLE MATERIALS, SO OLD SWEATERS, OLD COMFORTERS MAYBE ARE STAINED OR HAVE HOLES IN THEM.

IT'S A GREAT WAY TO NOT HAVE THEM GO IN A LANDFILL AND THEY GET A SECOND LIFE AS A PET BED.

IN THIS YEAR'S REQUEST WERE FOR LARGE PET BEDS.

A LOT OF TIMES WE MAKE REALLY LITTLE CUTE ONES.

PEOPLE WANT TO DO THE LITTLE ONES.

THE CHIEF HAS A SMALL DOG, A LITTLE DOG.

BUT APPARENTLY, THEY NEEDED SOME BIG ONES.

WE MADE A LOT OF BEDS.

YESTERDAY, I ATTENDED THE ISLAMIC CULTURAL CENTERS BAZAAR IN FRIDLEY.

IT WAS AMAZING. THEY HAD SO MUCH FOOD.

I ACTUALLY SAW MANY MEMBERS IN THE AUDIENCE EARLIER THAT WERE AT THE BAZAAR.

WHILE I WAS THERE, I SAW A LOT OF WATERMELON JEWELRY.

I SAW A WOMAN IN THE AUDIENCE HERE, SHE HAD A WATERMELON HEART ON HER SWEATER.

I LEARNED THAT THE WATERMELON HAS SPECIAL MEETING IN PALESTINE.

I WANTED TO READ A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

THE PALESTINIAN FLAG COLORED WITH THE PAN-ARAB COLORS OF RED, GREEN, WHITE, AND BLACK HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN BANNED AT TIMES IN ISRAEL, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE 1967 SIX-DAY WAR.

PEOPLE COULDN'T WEAR OR DISPLAY THEIR PALESTINIAN FLAG AND SO IN AN ACT OF REBELLION THEY WORE A WATERMELON AND DISPLAYED A WATERMELON.

THEY'RE SHOWING THE FLAG COLORS, BUT IN A WATERMELON SHAPE.

I BOUGHT SOME EARRINGS AND MEANT TO WEAR THEM TONIGHT, BUT I FORGOT.

BUT NOW WE ALL KNOW THE WATERMELON HAS A SECONDARY MEANING.

ATTENDED THE NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH MEETING ON ZOOM AS WELL.

THANK YOU TO THE CHIEF.

THAT WAS ALWAYS GOOD TO HEAR WHAT'S HAPPENING.

AND WANTED TO MENTION THAT THERE ARE SOME BROKEN TREES OUTSIDE OF CITY HALL.

IT'S JUST SO DISAPPOINTING, THOSE WILL BE IN LINE TO GET REPLACED SOMETIME SOON.

I DID ACTUALLY HEAR COMMUNITY MEMBERS SAY THEY WOULD LOVE TO VOLUNTEER TO HELP PLANT THEM, SO IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT WE COORDINATE IF VOLUNTEERS WANT TO COME FORWARD.

BUT THAT WAS VERY DISAPPOINTING TO SEE THOSE TREES WERE BROKEN AND THEY WEREN'T BROKEN FROM WIND.

A PERSON DID THAT AS AN ACT OF VANDALISM.

SO THAT'S DISAPPOINTING.

WHO COULD BREAK A TREE? I DON'T KNOW. THAT IS MY FULL REPORT.

>> MAYOR, THE DOG BLANKETS HASN'T THAT SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED EVERY YEAR YOU'VE BEEN DOING IT? [OVERLAPPING] I THOUGHT SO. YEAH.

>> PET BEDS. YEAH. GIVE AND TAKE.

>> GOOD JOB.

>> THANK YOU. IT'S OUR SEVENTH YEAR I THINK, OF DOING PET BEDS, SIXTH OR SEVENTH.

>> AND THERE ARE PEOPLE FROM OTHER CITIES THAT KNOW IT'S A TRADITION.

ST. PAUL I MET SOME PEOPLE THERE.

I FORGOT TO MENTION I WAS THERE TOO, BUT YEAH,

[01:30:02]

SO IT'S A GREAT EVENT.

>> YEAH, IT'S A REALLY GREAT EVENT.

YES. THANK YOU. SORRY, COUNCIL MEMBER.

ASSISTANT TEAM MANAGER KEVIN HANSEN.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, JUST A FEW THINGS.

THE CITY DOES TWO NEWSLETTERS AND I'D JUST LIKE TO CONTINUE TO PROMOTE THAT.

SO OUR NEWSLETTER WAS JUST MAILED OUT.

AND REALLY IN THAT IT FOCUSES ON TWO THINGS, CITY NEWS, BUT ALSO ACTIVITIES THAT ARE COMING UP.

AND THAT'S A GOOD WAY FOR US TO REALLY COMMUNICATE THAT OUT TO OUR RESIDENTS.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE DO AN E-NEWSLETTER THAT'S DONE MONTHLY, WHERE OUR PRINTED IS DONE QUARTERLY.

OUR E-NEWSLETTER IS DONE MONTHLY AND IT'S A SHORTER VERSION.

IT DOES MORE IMMEDIATE, EITHER UPDATES FROM CITY ACTIVITIES OR ONGOING CITY NEWS. SO WE HAVE TWO VERSIONS.

FOR THE E-NEWSLETTER FOLKS DO HAVE TO SIGN UP, THAT IS A SUBSCRIPTION.

THEY CAN GO TO THE CITY'S WEBSITE AND GO TO COMMUNICATIONS AND SIGN UP RIGHT THERE ON THE CITY'S WEBPAGE FOR THAT.

NEXT WEEK, ON MARCH 7, WE'LL BE HOSTING AN OPEN HOUSE HERE.

AND THAT IS IN CONJUNCTION WITH ANOKA COUNTY FOR THE 40TH AVENUE PLANNING EFFORT FOR THE EVENTUAL RECONSTRUCTION OF 40TH AVENUE. SO THAT'LL BE HELD HERE.

AND THAT'S THE SECOND OPEN HOUSE THAT WE'RE DOING REALLY TO UPDATE THE COMMUNITY ON WHERE AT WITH THE PLANNING EFFORT.

THAT GOES ON FROM 5:30-7:00.

SO SPECIFIC INVITES HAVE BEEN SENT OUT TO ALL OF THE AREA BUSINESSES ON THAT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER BISKINS HAD BROUGHT UP THE UNUSUAL WEATHER, IT'S REALLY BEEN DRY.

BUT ALSO IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOME THINGS THAT WE'RE EITHER BEHIND ON OR JUST OTHERWISE WON'T BE ABLE TO DO IN THE WINTER.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME OUT OF THE MEDTRONIC OPEN HOUSE WAS THE CONDITION AROUND THE TRAIL.

SO WE'VE BEEN OUT WITH OUR CONTRACTOR AND PUBLIC WORKS STAFF REALLY CUTTING BACK AND GETTING THAT AREA CLEANED UP.

AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT AS LONG AS THE WEATHER COOPERATES OUT THERE FOR THAT.

AND THEN YOU MAY HAVE SEEN SOME PRINTED NEWS.

BUT I THINK IT'S JUST GOOD TO REASSURE OUR COMMUNITY THAT IN MINNEAPOLIS, THE UNION THAT PROVIDES SERVICE THAT OPERATES THE TREATMENT PLANTS, HAS VOTED TO GO ON STRIKE.

THEY'RE IN THE COOLING OFF PERIOD, BUT THAT WAS A VERY STRONG VOTE.

I THINK IT WAS 98-99%.

AND THEY PROVIDED US INFORMATION THAT THEY HAVE STAFFING AVAILABLE THAT THEY GUARANTEE CONTINUED SERVICE FOR OUR WATER AND WATER TREATMENT.

SO THEY DO HAVE A CONTINGENCY PLAN IN THAT.

SO IF YOU SEE THAT NEWS, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ANY TYPE OF INTERRUPTION.

AND THEY DO HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO GET WATER FROM THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS.

AND THEN THE LAST THING IS APPLICATIONS FOR OUR COMMISSIONS.

SO THOSE CLOSE AT THE END OF THIS WEEK, THEY CLOSE ON THE 29TH.

WE ALREADY HAVE APPLICATIONS IN, BUT AGAIN, IT'S JUST A GOOD TIME TO PROMOTE.

IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN SERVING ON ANY OF OUR CITY COMMISSIONS, ALL OF THE ADVISORY COMMISSIONS, I'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU APPLY FOR ANY OF THOSE.

WE HAVE OPEN PARK AND REC, LIBRARY PLANNING AND OUR SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION.

SO JUST AGAIN, TO GO OUT AND PROMOTE THAT, THAT THOSE CLOSE THIS FRIDAY. MAYOR.

>> THANK YOU. IT SEEMS SO SOON THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN THOSE APPLICATIONS ARE CLOSING.

THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP.

ANYTHING ELSE FROM THE COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT. AND I WOULD ASK IF THE CHIEF WOULD LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING. THANK YOU.

>> SURE MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

AS I MENTIONED, I BELIEVE I DON'T KNOW, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, BUT I'VE SUBMITTED MY LETTER TO YOU NOTIFYING YOU OF MY UPCOMING RETIREMENT FROM THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHICH WILL BE APRIL 26.

SO THAT'LL WRAP UP JUST OVER 29 YEARS HERE.

MORE TO FOLLOW ON THAT, BUT AGAIN, JUST THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE FOR BEING SO SUPPORTIVE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I GOT TO TELL YOU 29 YEARS, IT GOES BY VERY FAST, THE DAYS CREEP ALONG SOMETIMES, BUT THE YEARS CERTAINLY FLY BY.

AND ONE THING I HAVE TO SHARE ESPECIALLY WITH THE TRAGEDY THAT WE HAD JUST RECENTLY DOWN IN THE CITY OF BURNSVILLE.

IT IS STILL, IN MY OPINION, ONE OF THE GREATEST JOBS THAT A PERSON COULD EVER ASK FOR.

AND I'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE.

I'VE BEEN AT IT NOW AT THIS OCCUPATION FOR ALMOST 35 YEARS, AND THERE AREN'T MANY JOBS OUT THERE THAT YOU CAN SAY THAT YOU'VE ENJOYED MOST OF THOSE DAYS.

AND I'VE BEEN VERY LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO LOOK BACK AND SAY THAT THAT IS THE TRUTH FOR ME.

SO WITH THAT, MAYOR, I THINK YOU WANTED TO JUST SHARE A COUPLE THINGS AS WELL.

>> YES. THANK YOU.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY HAD HEARD THIS.

IT'S BEEN GOING OUT TO THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITY GROUPS.

WHEN WE HAD THE SCHOOL DISTRICT MEETING, YOU ANNOUNCED AS WELL.

BUT I WANTED TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT IN TWO WEEKS WE'LL HAVE A COMMUNITY SURVEY.

[01:35:05]

BUT I, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY, ARE INTERESTED IN HEARING WHAT THE COMMUNITY HAS TO SAY AND WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN OUR NEXT POLICE CHIEF.

SO THERE WILL BE A SURVEY COMING OUT.

AT OUR NEXT COUNCIL MEETING WE'LL ACTUALLY HAVE THAT READY TO GO, BUT I WANTED TO GIVE PEOPLE A HEADS UP THAT THAT IS COMING ALONG AND AND WE WILL BE READY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT SOON.

SO THANK YOU CHIEF, FOR YOUR SERVICE.

AND I LOOK FORWARD THE NEXT FEW MONTHS WE HAVE TOGETHER.

I GUESS TWO MONTHS, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> WHO'S COUNTING? THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT THEN.

THAT BRINGS US TO THE END OF THE MEETING AND IT TAKES US

[COMMUNITY FORUM]

IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TONIGHT? THERE ARE.

OKAY. 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.

ALTHOUGH THIS EVENING, IF YOU DO WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THE CEASE FIRE RESOLUTION, THAT IS OKAY. THAT WAS DOUBLE CHECKED.

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

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

SPEAKERS ATTENDING VIRTUALLY SHOULD SEND A REQUEST TO SPEAK, AS WELL AS THEIR ADDRESS AND CONNECTION TO COLUMBIA HEIGHTS TO THE MODERATOR USING THE CHAT FUNCTION.

AND WAIT TO BE CALLED ON TO SPEAK.

WHEN SPEAKING, VIRTUAL ATTENDEES SHOULD TURN THEIR CAMERA ON.

ALL SPEAKERS SHOULD LIMIT THEIR COMMENTS TO FIVE MINUTES.

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

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

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

>> SHERRY BROWN WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

>> THANK YOU AND WELCOME.

IF YOU COULD SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE THAT WAY WE CAN HEAR YOUR VOICE BETTER.

>> SURE.

>> I'M SHERRY BROWN AND I'M A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

AND AFTER CONSIDERING ALL THE WEIGHTING MATTERS YOU GUYS HAVE TALKED ABOUT TONIGHT, MINE IS LIKE FLUFF OR NOTHING.

AND I'LL ADMIT THAT I'M NOT SIGNED UP FOR THE CITY NEWSLETTER.

SO THERE'S PROBABLY SOMETHING THAT'S NEWER THAN WHAT I KNOW ABOUT.

WELL, ACTUALLY THE FIRST THING I WAS GOING TO SAY IS, THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK HERE.

THANK YOU FOR HELPING OUR GREAT CITY. THANK YOU.

BUT MY CONCERN TONIGHT, THE REASON I WANTED TO TALK TO PEOPLE IS THAT I HEARD EITHER A NEWSPAPER ARTICLE OR WHATEVER, THAT THERE'S A PROPOSED DEMOLITION OF 3851 AND 3853, THE BUILDINGS ON CENTRAL AVENUE.

SO THEY ARE THE TWO BUILDINGS THAT ARE NORTH OF 39TH AND CENTRAL.

MY CONCERN WAS, ONE OF THEM IS OLD AND I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT.

BUT THE OTHER ONE HAS JUST RECENTLY BEEN REMODELED.

AND SO THERE'S NEW DOORS, WINDOWS, SIDING, ROOFING DECK, WHATNOT, RATHER THAN A BULLDOZER DEMOLITION, ALL THIS NEW MATERIAL, IF THERE'S SOME WAY OF SALVAGING IT, EITHER SOMEONE FROM THE CITY OR HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, OR RESTORE, JUST NOT BULLDOZE IT DOWN AND DESTROY ALL THIS REALLY NEW STUFF.

SO THAT'S A CONCERN THAT I HAVE JUST OUT OF ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSERVATION OF MATERIALS.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING THERE.

THERE'S MORE I DON'T KNOW THAN WHAT I DO KNOW.

BUT I DO KNOW THAT IT'S NEW STUFF AND LET'S NOT TRASH IT.

>> THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT FORWARD.

AND I'VE RECEIVED SOME E-MAILS ON THAT AS WELL AND SHARED IT WITH STAFF.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE PREPARED TO ANSWER OR WE WANT TO ANSWER AT THE NEXT MEETING.

>> HE WANTS A RESPONSE.

>> IF YOU'RE READY. WE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE A RESPONSE IMMEDIATELY, SO I'D JUST LIKE TO LEAVE IT TO STAFF IF THEY'RE ABLE TO.

>> THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. JUST BRIEFLY, STAFF DEFINITELY RECOGNIZE THOSE COMMENTS AND CONCERNS AND AGREE IF THERE'S A WAY TO RECYCLE SOME OF THOSE MATERIALS, WE'D LIKE TO SEE THAT HAPPEN.

I KNOW THAT THE OWNER THAT WE PURCHASED THE PROPERTIES FROM, EVEN THAT OWNER HAS INTEREST IN RECYCLING SOME OF THE WINDOWS, IF POSSIBLE, AS A SPECIFIC ITEM.

WE HAVE WORKED WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY IN THE PAST, AND THEY DON'T HAVE CREWS THAT ARE ABLE TO DECONSTRUCT, BUT THERE ARE OTHER AVENUES THAT STAFF WOULD LIKE TO PURSUE TO SEE IF WE COULD GET SOMEONE IN THERE TO DO SOME OF THAT DECONSTRUCTION BEFORE DEMOLITION. THANK YOU.

>> BECAUSE THERE'S A BEAUTIFUL DECK, TOO.

DO WE KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THAT AREA?

>> THERE'S NO IMMEDIATE PLANS, JUST ASSEMBLING LAND FOR WHAT WE HOPE WOULD BE A LARGER REDEVELOPMENT EFFORT.

[01:40:03]

A LOT OF TIMES IT TAKES TIME TO CONNECT THE DOTS, SO IT'LL BE HELD FOR A WHILE.

>> SO IS THE BEST PLACE FOR ME TO KNOW ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON THERE BY SIGNING UP FOR THE CITY NEWSLETTER? WHAT'S THE BEST WAY FOR ME TO KNOW?

>> I WOULD DEFINITELY ENCOURAGE THE ENEWSLETTER AND THE PAPER FORM, WHATEVER IS CONVENIENT, BUT THAT'S A GREAT RESOURCE.

>> AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL YOU DO.

THANK YOU FOR COMING IN. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS COMING IN ON SUCH A BIG THING.

>> DIRK SCHMITZ WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

>> THANK YOU. WELCOME.

>> DIRK SCHMITZ, LIFELONG RESIDENT OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

THANKS FOR LETTING ME SPEAK.

THANK YOU, CHIEF, FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE RESIDENTS OF HEIGHTS AND I HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR RETIREMENT.

NOW, BACK ABOUT CHANGING THE COMP PLAN.

ACCORDING TO THE COMP PLAN, I READ THAT THERE'S ROUGHLY 6,000 PLUS RESIDENTIAL UNITS IN HEIGHTS.

I TAKE IT THAT INCLUDES BOTH SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND THE NUMBER OF UNITS IN MULTIFAMILY BUILDINGS.

THE CITY HAS A LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF RENTAL UNITS FOR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES PER NEIGHBORHOOD.

I WAS CURIOUS WHAT IS THE REASON FOR THIS NUMBER? SHOULD WE HAVE THE SAME RATIO IN THE CITY WIDE OF OWNER OCCUPIED UNITS AS COMPARED TO RENTAL UNITS FOR THAT SAME REASON? IF YOU WANT THE MET COUNCIL APPROVAL TO CHANGE THE METRONIC SITE FROM JOB PRODUCING AREA TO RESIDENTIAL UNITS, I THINK AND PROBABLY MANY OF THE RESIDENTS WILL AGREE WITH ME THAT THERE SHOULD BE MORE OWNER-OCCUPIED UNITS AND NOT AS MANY OF THE SAME LOOKING BOXY APARTMENT BUILDINGS.

LET'S FIND A DEVELOPER THAT HAS AN ARCHITECT THAT WILL DESIGN A DEVELOPMENT THAT IS UNIQUE AND SAYS, WELCOME TO COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, INCLUDING EVERYTHING FROM SMALLER UNITS WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE CAN BEGIN THEIR LIFE JOURNEY OF WEALTH-BUILDING TO THE HIGHER QUALITY TOWN HOMES AND CONDOMINIUMS THAT WILL ENTICE THEM TO STAY AFTER THEY ACQUIRE SOME WEALTH AND ARE WILLING TO RAISE THEIR FAMILIES.

THOMAS LAURIE STARTED DEVELOPMENT IN THIS AREA FOR PEOPLE, AND MAINLY AIMING TOWARDS YOUNG WOMEN AT THE TIME SO THAT THEY COULD HAVE PRIDE IN OWNING A HOME.

LET'S KEEP THAT IDEA ALIVE.

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS SHOULD BE A CITY WHERE THE RESIDENTS CAN HAVE PRIDE IN OWNERSHIP OF THEIR HOME AND NOT LIKE OUR NEIGHBORING CITIES WHERE PEOPLE'S RENT GOES TO LINE THE POCKETS OF OUT OF TOWN MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR CORPORATIONS.

IF THE MET COUNCIL APPROVES THE REZONING OF THIS SITE, LET IT GO DOWN IN HISTORY THAT THE MEMBERS OF THIS CITY COUNCIL HAD BROUGHT AN END TO THE GIANT OUT-OF-TOWN CORPORATIONS FROM BUYING UP OUR CITY AND FOR THEIR PROFIT AND RETURN THE PRIDE OF OWNERSHIP BACK TO THE PEOPLE OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> CHARISMA MCINTYRE WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

>> THANK YOU.HI, CHARISMA. WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU. I WROTE IT OUT SO I COULD STAY IN TIME FRAME.

MY NAME IS CHARISMA AND I HAVE RESIDED IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS.

I WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED TO FIND OUT THAT COLUMBIA HEIGHTS IS CALLED THE CITY OF PEACE.

I'VE BEEN A PEACE NICK ALL MY LIFE.

SO THAT FELT REALLY GOOD TO ME TO BE LIVING HERE AND TO BE A FIRST TIME HOMEOWNER HERE IN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, CHIEF, FOR ALL YOUR SERVICE.

YOU DID AN INCREDIBLE JOB, YOU GUYS, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE NUTTINESS AND I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE YOU.

THE FABRIC OF OUR SOCIETY IS COLLAPSING GLOBALLY FROM WHAT I CAN TELL,

[01:45:06]

THE GLOBAL ISSUES HAPPENING AROUND ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD ARE NOT BEING PUBLISHED.

WHAT'S HAPPENING, THERE'S WARS HAPPENING IN PLACES THAT WE ARE NOT EVEN AWARE OF, AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO FIND OUT ABOUT IT BECAUSE OF THE PRESENT SITUATION.

THERE ARE FLOODS, EARTHQUAKES, FIRES, TRAINED DERAILMENTS, TOXIC CHEMICAL SPILLS, OIL SPILLS IN OUR OCEANS, CHEM TRAILS RAINING DOWN ON US FROM THE SKIES, POISONS IN OUR CITY WATER, AND THE LIST GOES ON.

WE NEED TO FIX THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE NEAR TO US AND WITHIN OUR POWER TO DO SO AS A COMMUNITY.

WE NEED TO OPEN OUR EYES AND OUR HEARTS TO ONE ANOTHER IN ORDER TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR COMMUNITY IN ORDER TO HELP THE WORLD AROUND US.

THAT'S WHY WE HIRED ALL OF YOU, BOARD MEMBERS, AND MAYOR.

IF THERE'S A PROCLAMATION, LET IT BE TO STOP AND CEASE FIRE ALL OF THE WARS.

LET US LEARN TO LISTEN TO ONE ANOTHER AND PRACTICE THE GOLDEN RULE, TO LOVE GOD WITH OUR WHOLE MINDS AND OUR WHOLE HEARTS AND TO LOVE OUR BROTHERS AS OURSELVES.

WE MUST LOVE OURSELVES IN ORDER TO CREATE PEACE WITHIN SO THAT WE CAN CREATE PEACE WITHOUT.

I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL YOU GUYS FOR YOUR SERVICE.

THAT'S WHAT I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THERE'S A FEW PEOPLE WHO SUBMITTED FORMS THAT I'M NOT SURE IF THEY'RE STILL IN THE AUDIENCE.

>> OKAY.

>> ED HIGGINS WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

>> ALL RIGHT. I DON'T THINK HE'S HERE. WE CAN MOVE ON.

>> THEN NIMA ALSARI.

>> IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE NOT HERE AS WELL.

>> JENNIFER PIPER WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

>> HELLO. WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS JENNIFER PIPERBUNO, LONGTIME RESIDENT.

AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING, CAROLYN LANE GOT UP AND SPOKE ABOUT A FEW THINGS WITH THE RECALL.

I KNOW THIS CAN'T BE ANSWERED NOW, BUT IS THE CITY ATTORNEY, NOT YOU, THE FORMER CITY ATTORNEY, REQUIRED TO KEEP UPDATED TO HOW STATE LAW COULD AFFECT THE CITY CHARTER? WORKING ON THE RECALL, WE DID OUR BEST TO ASK ALL THE QUESTIONS WE HAD TO MAKE SURE WE WERE READY IN A GOOD SPOT SINCE IT'S A SHORT WINDOW, 30 DAY WINDOW TO COMPLETE THE PROCESS.

EVEN THOUGH THE RULING FROM THE SUPREME COURT DIDN'T GO OUR WAY, I DON'T REGRET THE WORK THAT WE DID AS I MET SO MANY WONDERFUL RESIDENTS WHO SUPPORTED OUR EFFORTS AND MADE SOME NEW FRIENDS ALONG THE WAY.

AFTER HEARING AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING FROM CAROLYN THAT WE MAY HAVE GOTTEN INCORRECT INFORMATION FROM THE FORMER CITY ATTORNEY.

THAT WAS A HUGE BLOW, AND I JUST WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW COULD THIS HAVE BEEN AVOIDED.

IS THE CITY DOING ANYTHING TO FIX THE CHARTER LANGUAGE OR TO HOLD THE FORMER CITY ATTORNEY ACCOUNTABLE FOR THAT? OBVIOUSLY, IT COSTS THE CITY A LOT OF MONEY.

ONE THING THAT I KNOW IS ANYONE WHO PLANS TO RUN FOR PUBLIC OFFICE IN THIS WONDERFULLY DIVERSE CITY THAT I LOVE, THE EXPECTATIONS AND TREATMENT OF ITS RESIDENTS MUST BE HELD TO THE HIGHEST STANDARD.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

THERE'S A PLACE BETTER FUTURES THAT I SENT YOU AN EMAIL ON THAT SHOULD BE ABLE TO DECONSTRUCT THAT HOUSE.

THANK YOU FOR VOTING ON THE CEASE FIRE.

IT WAS QUITE AN EXPERIENCE TO BE IN THIS ROOM.

IT WAS WONDERFUL.

[01:50:01]

>> THANK YOU, JENNIFER. SALAM SALA WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL?

>> THANK YOU. WELCOME.

>> HELLO. ACTUALLY, I INITIALLY CAME TO SEE ABOUT THE CEASE FIRE RESOLUTION, BUT I CAME LATE AND I GUESS I WAS READING ON MY PHONE THAT IT PASSED.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

BUT ANOTHER ISSUE THAT I WANT TO ADDRESS, I HAVE A BUSINESS ON THE FRONTAGE ROAD OF UNIVERSITY RIGHT ON 50TH.

JUST AN ISSUE THAT I WANTED TO ADDRESS THE CITY FOR SO LONG, BUT I NEVER KNEW HOW TO ADDRESS IT.

SINCE I WAS IN THE MEETING I SAID, WOOW THIS IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY.

>> YES.

>> WHICH IS THE PEDESTRIAN FRONTAGE ROAD OF THE UNIVERSITY AVENUE ESPECIALLY BETWEEN 49-53.

THAT'S BASICALLY A SMALL ROAD, KIND OF TWO WAYS.

THERE'S EVEN A BUS LINE ON THAT FRONTAGE ROAD.

THERE IS NO SIDEWALK BASICALLY AND THERE'S A BUNCH OF APARTMENT BUILDINGS RIGHT ON THE FRONTAGE ROAD, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT.

I USUALLY, WHENEVER I LEAVE THE OFFICE GOING HOME OR SO, SO MANY TIMES I GET TO HIT PEOPLE THAT I DON'T SEE HIM BECAUSE IT'S DARK AND THERE IS NO LIGHT AT ALL.

EVEN WITH MY LIGHTS ON STILL, I HAD A HARD TIME AND NOT ME ONLY ALL MY NEIGHBORS SAYING THE SAME THING.

I THINK THAT WAS ONE ISSUE WITH THE BUS LINE, AND ALL THE APARTMENT BUILDINGS RIGHT ALONG THAT ROAD.

I THINK THE CITY SHOULD CONSIDER HAVING A SIDEWALK, ESPECIALLY EVEN WHEN IT'S RAIN OR SO, OR SNOW, IT'S SO HARD FOR PEOPLE WALK IN AND THEN A LOT OF TIMES IT'S AN EASY CHANCES FOR ACCIDENTS AND THAT'S ALL THAT I WANT TO ADDRESS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU. WHEN QUESTIONS ARE ASKED AT THE COUNCIL MEETING, THEY'RE USUALLY ANSWERED AT THE NEXT MEETING OR POSSIBLY THE ONE AFTER, SO IT GIVES STAFF TIME TO HAVE AN ANSWER.

WE WILL COME BACK AT 1:00.

IF YOU LEFT YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION, STAFF COULD ALSO GET BACK IN TOUCH WITH YOU. THANK YOU.

>> KIKI LATHAM, WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

>> THANK YOU.

>> HELLO. CAN YOU HEAR ME?

>> YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU.

>> HI. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

I'M KIKI LATHAM, LONGTIME VOLUNTEER AND ACTIVISTS IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO BE SO.

COUNSEL, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE DIVERSITY THAT I HAVE SEEN BROUGHT FORTH IN THE PAST YEAR.

IT HAS REALLY TOUCHED ME AND I WANTED TO KEEP GOING.

I WANTED TO KEEP THRIVING.

I WAS HONORED TO SING IN FRONT OF THE COUNCIL LAST WEEK, AND THEN TO HAVE THIS CEASE FIRE PASSED THIS WEEK.

THERE'S NOTHING BUT COLOR HAPPENING AND IT'S SO AMAZING.

BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THAT MY HEART WAS GRIEVED DURING THIS SESSION.

MAYOR, I'M SO PROUD OF YOU FOR BRINGING FORTH THE CEASE FIRE AND KT, I KNOW YOU MAY HAVE FELT IT WAS NOT BROUGHT UP CORRECTLY, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT MATTERED.

I THINK WHAT MATTERED IS THAT WE WERE TRYING TO HELP BY PARK PEOPLE GET SOME FREEDOM.

BE HEARD, BE SEEN.

LIKE I NEVER FELT SEEN OR HEARD IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO BE FOCUSING ON IS RATHER THAN WHEN THINGS WERE BROUGHT UP, IS THAT THE POINT OF THE COUNCIL IS TO HELP THE CITY.

I ALSO HEARD YOU SAY KT THAT YOU FELT LIKE THAT WAS AN INTERNATIONAL MATTER, YET YOU WENT TO THE STATE SUPREME COURT TO GET RID OF YOUR RECALL.

YOU DID ALL YOU HAD TO DO SO THAT YOU COULD STAY IN YOUR CHAIR.

WE ALSO NEED TO DO ALL WE NEED TO DO TO HELP THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND SOMETIMES THAT IS INTERNATIONAL AND WE SHOULD CONSIDER IT AND HONOR.

I LOOK FORWARD TO NOVEMBER WHEN YOU'RE GONE.

[01:55:01]

>> THANK YOU.

>> THERE'S NO ONE ELSE.

>> NO ONE ELSE ON LINE THAT'S ASKED TO SPEAK.

>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THEN ANYONE ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE LIKE TO SPEAK THIS EVENING? SEEING EVERYONE'S SHAKING THEIR HEAD, NO, THEN I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.

>> SECOND.

>> HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BISKINS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.

ANY DISCUSSION HEARING IS NONE.

THEN ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

>> AYE.

>> THE MOTION PASSES AND THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.