May 13, 2024 City Council

[00:00:05]

AND TO THE CITY CLERK.

ARE WE GOOD TO GO? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

MY NAME IS AMANDA MARQUEZ.

[WELCOME/CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL]

WELCOME TO OUR COUNCIL MEETING.

IF YOU'RE WATCHING THIS ON RECORDING OR IF YOU'RE HERE IN PERSON TODAY IS MONDAY, MAY 13TH.

COULD WE DO A ROLL CALL, PLEASE? COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS.

HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES.

HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS.

HERE. MAYOR MARQUEZ.

HERE. THANK YOU.

I WOULD LIKE TO READ OUR MISSION STATEMENT.

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS IS A VIBRANT, HEALTHY AND CONNECTED CITY.

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

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

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU.

AND NOW WE HAVE THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.

[APPROVAL OF AGENDA]

SEEING AS NO THEN I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED.

SO MOVED. SECOND.

I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES.

WE HAVE NO PROCLAMATIONS, PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITION, ANNOUNCEMENTS OR GUESTS TODAY.

[CONSENT AGENDA]

THESE ITEMS ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ROUTINE BY THE CITY COUNCIL, AND WILL BE ENACTED AS PART OF THE CONSENT AGENDA BY ONE MOTION.

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

DOES ANYONE ON THE COUNCIL HAVE ANY ITEMS TO REMOVE FROM THE AGENDA? SEEING HEARING AS NONE THEN I HAVE A MOTION OR.

SORRY. KEVIN, WOULD YOU THEN OUR INTERIM CITY MANAGER PLEASE PRESENT THE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? THANK YOU MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, WE HAVE 14 ITEMS ON YOUR CONSENT AGENDA FOR TONIGHT.

THE FIRST OF THESE IS TO APPROVE THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FROM APRIL 22ND, 2024.

THE NEXT FOUR ITEMS ARE TO ACCEPT PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES.

THOSE ARE FOR THE DATES OF JULY 5TH OF 23, OCTOBER, 24TH OF 23RD FEBRUARY, 6TH OF 2024 AND APRIL 2ND OF 2024. THE NEXT ITEM IS TO ACCEPT THE MARCH 12TH SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES.

THE SEVENTH ITEM IS TO AMEND CITY FEE SCHEDULE FOR THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TO INCLUDE FEES FOR THE TIME OF SALE INSPECTIONS, ESTABLISHING THE RATE FOR THAT.

THE NEXT ITEM IS TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 24-40, AND THAT AMENDS THE 24 BUDGET FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR FEES UTILIZED FOR THEIR GUN RANGE RENTAL.

THE NEXT ITEM IS TO FOR RESOLUTION 24-43, WHICH ACCEPTS A STATE MATCHING FUND GRANT FOR OUR SS4A OUR SAFE STREETS FOR ALL GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $48,000.

AND WHAT THIS DOES IS WE DO HAVE A FEDERAL GRANT FOR THIS.

THIS STATE GRANT COVERS OUR MATCHING COSTS FOR THAT.

THE FEDERAL GRANT IS 8020.

SO BASICALLY THIS PAYS FOR THE COST OF THAT PROJECT AT $250,000.

THE NEXT ITEM IS THE AWARD OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR CONSTRUCTION, SURVEYING AND STAKING FOR OUR 2024 CONCRETE ALLEY PROGRAM. THE 11TH ITEM IS THE ANNUAL DECLARATION THAT THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS DOES NOT WAIVE THE MONETARY LIMITS FOR MUNICIPAL TORT LIABILITY, AND THIS IS UNDER MINNESOTA STATUTES SECTION 46604.

THE NEXT ITEM IS TO APPROVE THE ITEMS LISTED ON YOUR LICENSE AGENDA.

AFTER THAT IS TO APPROVE THE ITEMS LISTED FOR YOUR HOUSING RENTAL APPLICATIONS.

AND THE LAST ITEM IS THE REVIEW OF BILLS.

AND THOSE ARE TOTALING $2,324,614.98 MAYOR.

THANK YOU.

ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT, THEN I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.

SO MOVED.

I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS TO ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA.

ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING AS NOT ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

[00:05:03]

NEXT IS OUR PUBLIC HEARING.

[PUBLIC HEARINGS]

SPEAKERS IN PERSON ARE ASKED TO COMPLETE A SPEAKER FORM, WHICH IS ON THE TABLE OUTSIDE OF THE ROOM, AND THEN SUBMIT THAT TO THE CITY CLERK SITTING IN FRONT.

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

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.

SO WE ARE AT NUMBER 15.

THE FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE 1698 CREATING A HOUSING TRUST FUND WITHIN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AND DESIGNATING THE EDA AS THE FUND'S ADMINISTRATOR.

AND MITCH, OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR COORDINATOR, WILL BE PRESENTING THIS.

MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL LIKE THE MAYOR, HAD STATED, THE ORDINANCE IN FRONT OF YOU THIS EVENING IS ORDINANCE 1698, WHICH ESTABLISHES A HOUSING TRUST FUND AND THEN ALSO DESIGNATES THE EDA AS THE FUND'S ADMINISTRATOR.

AS YOU RECALL FROM THE WORK SESSION, THE IN THE 2023 LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THE STATE OF MINNESOTA ESTABLISHED THE METROPOLITAN REGIONAL SALES AND USE TAX, WHICH REQUIRED THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL TO IMPOSE A SALES TAX ON THE TWIN CITIES METRO OF 0.25%.

AND WITH THE FUNDS FROM THAT ARE DESIGNATED SPECIFICALLY TO CREATING AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITHIN THE METROPOLITAN, 25% OF THAT GOES TO THE STATE'S RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

25% OF THAT GOES TO THE METROPOLITAN CITY AID ACCOUNT, AND 50% OF THAT GOES TO THE METROPOLITAN METROPOLITAN COUNTY AID ACCOUNT. THAT CITY AID ACCOUNT IS THEN DISTRIBUTED TO THE METRO CITIES WITH THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS EXPECTING TO RECEIVE ABOUT $260,000.

THAT ESTIMATION IS THE EXACT SAME ESTIMATION GIVEN PRIOR SAME ESTIMATION WE RECEIVED IN 2023 THAT HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED YET.

AS WE GET CLOSER THIS JUNE AND JULY, WE'LL GIVE THE CITY COUNCIL AN UPDATED AMOUNT OF FUNDS RECEIVED.

THOSE FUNDS WILL HAVE TO BE PLACED INTO THE TRUST FUND ACCOUNT.

IF THIS IS IF THIS IS APPROVED.

SO THE COUNCIL WILL BE CONSIDERING THAT AT A LATER DATE.

THE STATE LAW ALSO ESTABLISHES THAT ALL OF THE FUNDS THAT THE CITIES RECEIVED MUST BE SPENT ON QUALIFYING OBJECTS WITHIN THE TIME FRAME OF DECEMBER 31ST OF THE THIRD YEAR.

AS PART OF THAT QUALIFICATION, THE CITY CAN CONSIDER THE FUNDS SPENT, QUOTE UNQUOTE IF WE PUT IT INTO A TRUST FUND, SO DO THE FACT THAT WE DON'T HAVE A TRUST FUND.

CURRENTLY, THIS CREATES THE TRUST FUND THAT WE CAN PUT THOSE FUNDS INTO AND THEN HOLD ON TO THEM FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME AND START TO BUILD THE PROGRAMS AROUND THAT, AROUND THOSE FUNDS.

ALSO ESTABLISHED IN THE 2023 LEGISLATIVE SESSION WAS $4.8 MILLION GIVEN TO MHFA FOR LOCAL HOUSING TRUST FUND GRANTS.

THESE GRANTS GO TO SPECIFICALLY TO CITIES FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING CREATION IN THE COMMUNITY.

AS PART OF THAT, TO BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THAT GRANT, YOU HAVE TO HAVE CREATED A LOCAL HOUSING TRUST FUND, AND THAT LOCAL HOUSING TRUST FUND HAS TO COVER OR KIND OF WORK UNDER THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE AFFORDABILITY OF THAT GRANT PROGRAM.

SO ULTIMATELY, THIS TRUST FUND IS JUST SO THAT WE CAN PLACE THAT MONEY RECEIVED FROM THE THE STATE INTO THAT, THAT FUND AND THEN ALSO APPLY IN THE FUTURE FOR MHFA FOR GRANT FUNDING.

THAT GRANT PROGRAM MATCHES $150,000.

AND THEN I BELIEVE IT'S 50% OF THE NEXT $150,000 THAT YOU PUT INTO THAT.

SO THE EDA WILL CONSIDER ADDING FUNDS TO THE HOUSING TRUST FUND ONCE THEY HAVE THAT THAT ESTABLISHED AND THEN THAT LAST, THE EDA WILL BE THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE FUND.

THAT'S JUST BECAUSE THE EDA IS THE HRA DELEGATE WITHIN OUR CITY.

THEY RUN ALL OF OUR HOUSING PROGRAMS AT THIS POINT IN TIME, SO IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR US TO DISTRIBUTE THE FUNDS AND THE PROGRAMS THROUGH THE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. WITH THAT BEING SAID, IF THE CITY OR THE EDA DOES WANT TO DO A KIND OF A HOUSING PROJECT OR HOUSING PROGRAM THAT DOESN'T MEET AFFORDABILITY, WE JUST WOULD NOT PUT THE FUNDS INTO THE HOUSING TRUST FUND.

THAT WOULD JUST BE HELD SEPARATE.

SO IT DOESN'T HANDCUFF US FROM DOING A NON AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

THIS JUST GIVES US A PLACE FOR THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUNDS.

AND WITH THAT I CAN STAND FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

[00:10:05]

IF ANYONE IS HERE AND WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS ITEM 15.

THE FIRST READING OF THE ORDINANCE CREATING A HOUSING TRUST FUND.

IT LOOKS LIKE NOT.

AND I WOULD THINK WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE ON TEAMS BECAUSE I HAVEN'T HEARD THAT FROM THE CITY CLERK YET.

THERE IS NO ONE ON TEAMS AND NOBODY IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS WHO'S ASKED TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.

OKAY, GREAT. I WILL ASK ONE MORE TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT IF ANYONE WASN'T ABLE TO HEAR THE FIRST TIME, WE ARE DISCUSSING ITEM 15, THE FIRST READING OF CREATING A HOUSING TRUST FUND. ALL RIGHT, SEEING AS NOBODY IS HERE, THEN I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE HEARING.

MOVE TO CLOSE THE HEARING AND WAIVE THE READING OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 1698 THERE WILL BE AN AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BIGGINS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES TO CLOSE THE HEARING.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING AND SEEING AS NOT.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES.

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

MOVE TO SET THE SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 1698, BEING AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A HOUSING TRUST FUND, AND DESIGNATING THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AS THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE FUND FOR MAY 28TH, 2024 AT APPROXIMATELY 6 P.M.

IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS.

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

ANY DISCUSSION? YES, I HAVE A DISCUSSION.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. I KNOW THIS SEEMS LIKE A LITTLE BIT OF A PROCEDURAL BORING OPTION, BUT I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT WHAT WE COULD DO WITH THIS HOUSING TRUST FUND MONEY.

IT'S A GOOD AMOUNT OF MONEY COMING IN ANNUALLY, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT CREATIVE PROGRAMS TO BOTH DO NEW PROJECTS, AS OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR, MITCH SAID, BUT ALSO WORK ON AFFORDABILITY AND FIXING UP SOME OF OUR AGING HOUSING STOCK.

SO THERE'S MORE TO COME ON THIS BESIDES THE SECOND READING.

AND I'M REALLY INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO WITH THIS MONEY.

AND I'M THANKFUL FOR THE LEGISLATURE FOR APPROPRIATING IT.

SO THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADD AS WELL THAT THIS HAS COME UP.

THERE'S OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUNDING IN THIS WAY.

AND SO I'M REALLY GLAD THAT WE'VE HAD A CHANCE TO BE CREATIVE, SEE WHAT DIFFERENT WAYS WE CAN DO THIS.

SO THANK YOU TO OUR STAFF FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.

ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT, THEN HEARING IS NONE.

WE DO HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILOR BUESGENS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS TO SET THE SECOND READING.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION PASSES.

[ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION]

THE NEXT THREE ITEMS 16, 17 AND 18 WILL BE ADDRESSED BY ANDREW OR CITY PLANNER ANDREW BOUCHER.

SO NUMBER 16 IS THE CONSIDERATION OF A RENTAL LICENSE EXEMPTION FOR 3857 QUINCY STREET NORTHEAST.

THANK YOU COUNCIL, THIS IS ACTUALLY AN ITEM THAT WAS CONTINUED FROM THE PREVIOUS CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

THE OWNER OF 3857 QUINCY STREET REACHED OUT REQUESTING AN EXEMPTION FROM THE SINGLE FAMILY DENSITY CAP.

THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED ON BLOCK 143 WITH SIX SINGLE FAMILY RENTALS RIGHT NOW OUT OF 38 TOTAL SINGLE FAMILY UNITS, AND THIS BLOCK IS ALLOTTED FOR SINGLE FAMILY RENTALS.

IN YOUR PACKET IS THE LETTER THAT STAFF RECEIVED ALONG WITH ORDINANCE 1685 ESTABLISHING THE RENTAL DENSITY CAP.

STAFF RECEIVED NO FURTHER COMMUNICATION FROM THE APPLICANT AT THIS TIME, INDICATING WHETHER THEY ARE INTERESTED IN PURSUING THE EXEMPTION.

SO THAT IS WHY STAFF IS RECOMMENDING TO DENY THE APPLICATION.

I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU GUYS HAVE.

ALL RIGHT. ANY QUESTIONS FOR ANDREW? ALL RIGHT. HEARING NONE, THEN COULD I.

SORRY. I WOULD LIKE A MOTION THEN TO WAIVE THE READING.

MOVE TO WAIVE THE READING OF RESOLUTION 2020 4-034 THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER JACOBS AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER BUESGENS TO WAIVE THE READING ANY DISCUSSION.

SEEING AND HEARING AS NONE.

THEN ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION PASSES.

NEXT WE HAVE A MOTION TO DENY THE RESOLUTION.

MOVE TO DENY RESOLUTION 24 2024-34, A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL EXEMPTION REQUEST FOR THE RENTAL APPLICATION AT 3857 QUINCY STREET, NORTHEAST COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA 55421.

BASED ON THE APPLICANT'S INABILITY TO PRODUCE DOCUMENTS REQUESTED AT THE APRIL 22ND, 2024 CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS TO DENY THE RESOLUTION ANY DISCUSSION.

[00:15:07]

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION PASSES.

NEXT ITEM NUMBER 17.

CONSIDERATION OF A RENTAL LICENSE EXEMPTION FOR 4314 7TH STREET NORTHEAST, ANDREW.

COUNCIL MEMBERS YOU HAVE A RENTAL LICENSE DENSITY EXEMPTION REQUEST FOR 4314 7TH STREET NORTHEAST.

ON MAY 1ST, 2024 THE OWNER REACHED OUT TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT REQUESTING AN EXEMPTION FROM THE SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL DENSITY CAP.

THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED ON BLOCK 70, WHICH HAS FOUR SINGLE FAMILY RENTALS CURRENTLY OUT OF 23 TOTAL SINGLE FAMILY UNITS AND ALLOTMENT OF TWO SINGLE FAMILY RENTALS.

ATTACHED IS THE LETTER THAT STAFF RECEIVED, ALONG WITH ORDINANCE 1685, ESTABLISHING THE SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL DENSITY CAP AND STAFF HAS KIND OF COMMUNICATED WITH THE APPLICANT ON THIS ONE A LITTLE BIT MORE, BECAUSE WE WEREN'T SURE IF THIS WAS GOING TO BE A ROOMMATE SITUATION, BUT IT DOES SOUND LIKE THE PROPERTY OWNER WILL NOT BE RESIDING ON THE PROPERTY, THUS THE NEED FOR THE RENTAL LICENSE.

AND I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU GUYS HAVE.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS.

SO TO TO CLARIFY, IT'S A IT'S A AN INCOME PROPERTY.

YES. THE OWNER WILL BE NOT RESIDING IN THE PROPERTY AND IS RENTING IT OUT TO A FRIEND WHO WILL BE THE PROPERTY MANAGER, IN ESSENCE.

SO THEY WILL NOT BE MAINTAINING A PERMANENT RESIDENCE.

SO DOES THAT MAKE IT FALL UNDER THE THE AUSPICES OF BEING A RENTAL OR AN INVESTMENT PROPERTY VERSUS A HOME? IT'S A RENTAL PROPERTY.

CORRECT, CORRECT. OH, SORRY.

AND WE DO HAVE THE APPLICANT HERE.

ALL RIGHT. HOW ABOUT WE HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT? ALL RIGHT. YEP.

DID YOU. AND DID THEY HAND IN A FORM IN.

OH, OKAY. WE ALREADY HAVE THEIR INFORMATION.

THEY DON'T NEED A FORM. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. IF YOU CAN COME UP TO THE PODIUM AND IF YOU CAN JUST MAKE SURE THE LITTLE BUTTON IS GREEN AND SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE.

IT'S AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BASE OF THE MICROPHONE, ACTUALLY.

HELLO. WE LOVE SURPRISES HERE.

IT'S. WE JUST ROLL WITH ME TOO.

WONDERFUL. HAPPY TO BE A SURPRISE.

TO CLARIFY YOUR QUESTION, I AM THE OWNER.

HI. IT'S MY FIRST TIME BUYING A HOUSE.

IT'S VERY EXCITING, KIND OF NERVOUS.

AND I DO PARTIALLY HAVE TO TRAVEL FOR WORK, SO I'M NOT ABLE TO BE AT THE HOME FULL TIME, AND IT WOULD BE PART OF THE REASON I'M APPLYING FOR THIS IS BECAUSE BEING ABLE TO HAVE SOMEONE RENT WILL HELP ME TO PAY FOR THE MORTGAGE, BECAUSE I'LL HAVE TO NOT HAVE TO SPLIT RENT WHEN I'M HAVING TO BE AWAY FOR WORK.

MY INTENTION IS TO FIND WORK THAT WILL PREVENT ME FROM HAVING TO TRAVEL MORE SO I CAN BE MORE PRESENT, AS I AM VERY EXCITED TO ACTUALLY HAVE ROOTS.

I HAVE TRAVELED A LOT, WHICH IS A PRIVILEGE, BUT ALSO MEANS I'M CRAVING STABILITY DEEPLY.

AND SO THAT IS PART OF WHY GETTING A HOUSE IS VERY EXCITING.

I HAVE ROOTS IN MINNESOTA.

I'VE COME HERE A LOT AS A CHILD, AND LIKE ALL MY FAMILY, MOST OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS ARE HERE.

SO YEAH, THAT'S IS THERE OTHER QUESTIONS I CAN CLARIFY? SURE. COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS.

I HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS.

SO YOU'RE THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE YOUR PRIMARY RESIDENCE.

THIS IS MY PRIMARY RESIDENCE.

SO IF IT'S YOUR PRIMARY RESIDENCE AND NOT AN INCOME PROPERTY, THEN WOULDN'T YOU BE ABLE TO DO ROOMMATES? AND IT WOULDN'T REQUIRE ANY LICENSING? IT IS HELPFUL TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE THAT DOOR OPEN.

I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M KEEPING THE THE DOOR OPEN.

I GUESS I AM ALSO OPEN TO ROOMMATE SITUATIONS, BUT I WANT I MIGHT NOT KNOW ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO, LIKE, BE THERE.

AND SO HAVING THE STABILITY OF THE PAPERWORK TO PROTECT BOTH MYSELF AND THE RENTERS IS ALSO IMPORTANT.

I'M JUST THINKING IF YOU HAVE ONE PERSON RIGHT NOW THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO BE AT THE HOME WHEN YOU'RE ABSENT, IS THAT CORRECT? THE IDEA IS THAT IF THIS IS APPROVED, THEN I HAVE SOMEONE WHO IS READY TO MOVE IN AND HELP ME CARE FOR THE HOME, AND THEY WOULD BE THERE FULL TIME WHILE I AM ABLE WHILE I AM TRAVELING. BUT THAT WOULD BE IF THIS IS APPROVED.

SO CORRECT ME IF I CAN JUMP IN.

WELL, I JUST CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG WOULDN'T THAT QUALIFY AS A ROOMMATE SITUATION? MY UNDERSTANDING.

CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT YOU DON'T PLAN ON HAVING MAINTAINING LIKE A PERMANENT BEDROOM THERE, AT LEAST IN THE SHORT TERM, CORRECT.

IN THE THE IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE THE OPTION TO BE ABLE TO RENT OUT MY ROOM BECAUSE THERE WILL BE MONTHS AT A TIME THAT I MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO BE HOME.

AND SO THAT WOULD BE QUITE A LARGE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT I WOULD BE HAVING TO PAY RENT SOMEWHERE ELSE BECAUSE I HAVE TO TRAVEL FOR WORK AS WELL AS PAYING FOR MY SPACE IN MY

[00:20:04]

I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO RENT OUT MY ROOM.

OKAY, SO YOU'RE NOT PLANNING TO EVER SLEEP THERE AGAIN? NO, NO, I WILL COME HOME.

I JUST SOMETIMES HAVE TO TRAVEL FOR WORK FOR MONTHS AT A TIME.

OKAY. AND SO THAT'S WHY.

BUT IT WOULD BE CHUNKS FOR MONTHS OF A TIME.

SO THAT'S WHY IT'S NOT JUST LIKE WEEKENDS OR WEEKS.

IT'S LIKE I'D BE GONE FOR MONTHS AT A TIME.

SO YOU'D BE LOOKING TO RENT IT LIKE MONTH BY MONTH OR ROOM MONTH TO MY MONTH? IDEALLY, YES. JUST HAVING THAT ABILITY TO DO SO.

YES. AND SO IF THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO LIKE MOVE IN A BED.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS.

SO TO CLARIFY, YOU'LL BE FILING IF YOU GET THE RENTAL LICENSE, YOU UNDERSTAND THAT YOU NEED TO FILE AS NON-HOMESTEAD, THAT IT WON'T BE SEEN AS YOUR HOME AND YOU'LL BE PAYING HIGHER TAXES AS A LANDLORD.

BECAUSE IT'S SO YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO IF YOU'RE SAYING, WELL, IT'S MY HOME AND I'LL BE STAYING THERE PARTS OF TIME YOU CAN'T CALL IT AS YOUR HOMESTEAD.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO RENT THE PROPERTY AND GET A FORMAL LICENSE, YOU'LL BE NON HOMESTEAD AND WILL HAVE TO FILE THAT, AND THOSE TAXES ARE HIGHER.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS JUST THE APPROVAL TO APPLY, AND I WILL MAKE SURE THAT BEFORE TAKING THAT NEXT STEP, I'M FAMILIAR WITH ALL THOSE WORDS IN MORE DETAIL.

SO YES I'M.

YEAH, THAT'S KIND OF LIKE FREE ADVICE.

IT HAS REALLY NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS PART HER LETTER WAS CONFUSING AND SAID, WELL, I'M GOING TO HAVE ROOMMATES.

I'M GOING TO HAVE SOMEBODY MANAGING.

I WASN'T QUITE CLEAR ON WHAT WAS GOING ON.

YES. AND YET SHE'S SAYING, WELL, THIS IS MY HOME, THEN THAT MEANS TAX WISE, IT'S HOMESTEAD.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO BECOME A LANDLORD AND HAVE A GO THROUGH THE RENTAL PROCESS AND GET THE LICENSE, THAT'S NON HOMESTEAD, WHICH MEANS IT ISN'T HER HOME.

SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE CLARIFIED THROUGH THE TAXES THAT THAT'S HOW YOU SEE IT.

I APPRECIATE IT IS CONFUSING AS WELL ON MY SIDE AS THIS IS ALL VERY NEW FOR ME, BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR ADVICE THROUGH YOUR QUESTION AND I WILL MAKE SURE THAT I AM TAKING ALL THE FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS BEFORE MOVING FORWARD, INCLUDING THE CHANGES TO MY TAXES.

I MEAN, OTHERWISE I DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH I JUST WANTED CLARIFICATION.

THANK YOU. YEAH.

AND I, I WASN'T SAYING ANYTHING OTHER THAN YOU WERE GETTING CLARIFICATION.

BUT ALSO THERE WAS SOME ADVICE FOR YOU TOO.

GREAT TO KNOW. HONESTLY, LOTS OF READING.

YEAH. I WANT TO MAKE SURE.

YES. COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS.

OH. IT'S AN AGE THING.

I KNOW THAT FEELING.

COULD YOU TELL US WHEN YOU BOUGHT THE PROPERTY? I BOUGHT IT, I CLOSED JUST MID DECEMBER.

I SHOULD KNOW THE DATE OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT IT WAS REALLY QUITE A WHIRLWIND AND SO BUT I CLOSED IN MID DECEMBER AND THE PROCESS STARTED IN OCTOBER.

IT ALL MOVED VERY FAST.

OKAY. I THOUGHT THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL.

OKAY. THAT HELPS. ALL RIGHT.

COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS. YES? DID YOU HAVE THIS? I'M GOING TO ASK YOU IF YOU HAD THE SAME PROFESSIONAL OBLIGATIONS AND WHEN YOU BOUGHT THE HOUSE AS YOU DO NOW, OR DID THAT CHANGE? IN OTHER WORDS, WE'RE WHAT I'M ASKING IN PLAIN SIMPLE ENGLISH IS WERE YOU STILL IN DECEMBER WHEN YOU BOUGHT THE PROPERTY? WERE YOU TRAVELING THIS MUCH FOR YOUR JOB? BECAUSE YOU COMMENT THAT YOU HAD A VERY NOMADIC LIFESTYLE PREVIOUS TO BUYING THE HOME.

AND I'M. YEAH, THAT INDICATES THAT THAT THAT MIGHT BE, MIGHT HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE ISSUES.

MY INTENTIONS ARE TO SLOW DOWN.

I'VE BEEN TRAVELING A LONG TIME, AND I'M NOT SURE IF THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTIONS.

MY JOB IS THE SAME.

MY QUESTION IS, DID YOU HAVE THOSE SAME PROFESSIONAL OBLIGATIONS TO TRAVEL BEFORE YOU BOUGHT THE HOME? I DID OKAY, SO THAT HAS BEEN CONSISTENT AND NOT CHANGED.

SO YOU BOUGHT THE HOME KNOWING THAT THAT COULD BE A PROBLEM.

I WILL.

I BOUGHT THE HOME, KNOWING THAT MY INTENTIONS WERE TO SLOW DOWN, AND KNOWING THAT THAT WOULD REQUIRE A JOB CHANGE MOVING FORWARD.

BUT THAT HASN'T HAPPENED.

THAT HASN'T HAPPENED. I AM IN THE I AM IN THE SEARCH.

AND THAT COULD TAKE A WHILE.

HOPEFULLY NOT. FINGERS CROSSED.

YES. YEAH, I SEE IT'S KIND OF OPEN ENDED.

IT'S OPEN ENDED. BUT THAT IS THE INTENTION.

OKAY. WELL, I MY ONLY SUGGESTION IS I'M GOING TO PIGGYBACK ON COUNCIL MEMBERS, COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS COMMENTS AND NOT TO OFFER YOU ANY KIND OF LEGAL ADVICE, BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU BEFORE JUST SO THAT YOU UNDERSTAND IF YOU MOVE FORWARD AND GET IN AND YOU GET APPROVAL FOR THIS LICENSE, THAT YOU'VE ALREADY PUT THINGS IN PLACE THAT COULD AFFECT THAT HOMESTEAD TAX.

SO MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT THAT PRIOR TO PRIOR TO MOVING FORWARD.

[00:25:04]

THAT WOULD BE MY ONLY CONCERN IS BECAUSE THAT THAT DECISION FOR YOU IS IS NOT MADE.

SO THAT WOULD BE MY CONCERN AGAINST APPROVING IT.

THANK YOU FOR THAT.

I WILL BE TRANSPARENT IN SAYING THAT IF YOU ARE ABLE TO APPROVE AND IF YOU FEEL DRIVEN TO APPROVE, I WILL MAKE SURE THAT BEFORE I GET TO THE NEXT STEP OF THIS PROCESS, I WILL I WILL CONSIDER EXACTLY ALL THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF THAT.

I RECOGNIZE THAT THIS HEARING IS MORE TO GIVE ME THE FREEDOM TO MOVE TOWARDS THAT NEXT STEP.

KNOWING AS THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS TO LEARN THAT ARE NEW IN EVERY STEP, IT'S ONE STEP AT A TIME AND SEE WHAT WHAT THE WORLD SAYS.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU PROTECT YOURSELF.

THAT'S MY CONCERN. I GENUINELY APPRECIATE THAT.

I, I JUST WANT TO DOUBLE CHECK THAT HAVE YOU YOU UNDERSTAND THAT IF YOU WERE TO RECEIVE THIS, THAT THERE IS A TIME LIMIT OF HOW LONG IT CAN BE A RENTAL PROPERTY? ONE YEAR, AND THEN I FILE I.

I WOULD HAVE THE EXCEPTION, I BELIEVE, FOR ONE YEAR, AND THEN WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY FOR AN EXTENSION FOR ANOTHER YEAR.

YEAH. SO JUST TWO YEARS IN TOTAL, AND THEN YOU'D EITHER HAVE TO LIVE THERE AS FULL TIME OR HAVE A ROOMMATE.

AND I THINK, AS YOU KNOW, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HAVING A ROOMMATE THAT PAYS IS THAT YOU USE THE SAME KITCHEN, THAT YOU ALSO LIVE THERE AND THAT YOU USE THE SAME COMMON SPACES.

AND THAT BOTH PEOPLE HAVE KEYS TO IT.

SO IT'S A ROOMMATE SITUATION, EVEN IF THE ROOMMATE DOES PAY YOU.

IT STILL IS CONSIDERED A ROOMMATE SITUATION FOR US.

IT'S NOT RENTAL HOUSING.

BUT YES. SO THAT YOUR GOAL IS TO WITHIN TWO YEARS, HAVE A JOB CHANGE WHERE YOU WOULD JUST BE THERE THEN.

ABSOLUTELY. YES. AND AFTER TWO YEARS, I, I WILL SLOW DOWN.

IT'S. YEAH FOR SURE.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES.

YEAH. I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION, BUT WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE LETTER AND FOR COMING T HIS IS HELPFUL TO HEAR FROM THE RESIDENTS.

I APPRECIATE YOU IN YOUR LETTER THAT YOU'RE VERY AWARE OF ALL THE STEPS OF THE PROCESS, INCLUDING THE WHOLE INSPECTION AND REQUIREMENTS.

I THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SOMEONE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO WOULD WANT TO BE HERE.

SO I DON'T HAVE TOO MANY QUESTIONS OTHER THAN, I THANK YOU FOR COMING, AND I'M IN FAVOR OF THIS EXEMPTION FOR THE OPPORTUNITY OF A SHORT TERM TO SEE WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN NEXT. I APPRECIATE THAT.

ALL RIGHT, THEN IF THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS, THEN COULD WE HAVE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING? 17. SORRY.

ON 17. YES.

MOVE TO WAIVE THE READING OF RESOLUTION 2024-038, THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

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

SO SORRY, JAMES TO WAIVE THE READING.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? THANK YOU. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION PASSES.

NEXT WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION.

MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2024-038, A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL EXEMPTION REQUEST FOR THE RENTAL APPLICATION AT 4314 7TH STREET, NORTHEAST COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA 55421.

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

ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING AS NOT ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ADOPTING SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION PASSES.

YOU'RE ABLE TO RENT OUT YOUR HOME.

SHE HAS TO APPLY FOR THE RENTAL TO APPLY FOR IT.

YES. SORRY.

YOU'RE ABLE TO APPLY FOR IT.

DON'T QUOTE ME ON THAT ONE.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

NOW WE ARE AT ITEM NUMBER 18.

CONSIDERATION OF A RENTAL LICENSE EXEMPTION FOR 4356 QUINCY STREET NORTHEAST.

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

THANK YOU MAYOR.

BEFORE YOU IS A RENTAL LICENSE EXEMPTION REQUEST FOR 4356 QUINCY STREET NORTHEAST.

ON APRIL 28TH, 2023, THE OWNER REACHED OUT TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT REQUESTING AN EXEMPTION FROM THE SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL DENSITY CAP.

THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED ON BLOCK 123, WHICH HAS THREE CURRENT SINGLE FAMILY RENTALS OUT OF A TOTAL OF 20 SINGLE FAMILY UNITS.

AN ALLOTMENT OF TWO SINGLE FAMILY RENTALS.

ATTACHED HERE THE PACKET IS THE LETTER STAFF RECEIVED, ALONG WITH ORDINANCE 1685, ESTABLISHING THE SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL DENSITY CAP.

IS THE APPLICANT IN ATTENDANCE? 4356. THEY DO NOT APPEAR TO BE IN ATTENDANCE.

[00:30:03]

ALL RIGHT. ANY QUESTIONS FOR ANDREW? COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS.

I'M CONFUSED HERE.

IN THE LETTER IT SAYS I'D LIKE TO FORMALLY REQUEST A TEMPORARY LICENSE FOR 4356 QUINCY.

I PURCHASED THE PROPERTY IN SEPTEMBER AND MOVED A TENANT FROM 4205 QUINCY AVENUE.

SO HE MOVED A TENANT FROM 4356 TO 4205 BEFORE HE HAD A LICENSE.

OR DID HE ALREADY HAVE A LICENSE? I'M CONFUSED.

FOR THE 4205 PROPERTY.

YEAH. HE DID HE MOVE SOMEBODY IN PRIOR TO GETTING A LICENSE FOR THIS PROPERTY? LET ME TAKE A LOOK REAL QUICK.

I APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE. MY COMPUTER'S A LITTLE SLOW.

CAN I COMMENT WHILE YOU'RE WAITING? WHILE YOU'RE WAITING? SURE, WHILE WE'RE WAITING.

ANDREW, IS IT OKAY IF COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS OR JAMES HAS ANYTHING TO ADD? IT SAYS I'M LOOKING TO SELL THE HOME TO THE CURRENT OCCUPANT.

AND SO I KNOW THAT THAT MEANS THAT THAT PERSON IS LIVING IN 4356 QUINCY AT THIS TIME.

SO BUT HE'S LIVING IN THERE AS A TENANT, NOT AS A ROOMMATE.

SO THAT'S CONCERNS ME THAT HE DOESN'T HE IS RENTING IT WITHOUT A LICENSE.

AND NOW THAT THE PERSON, IT'S JUST SOMETHING DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT AND IT'S CONFUSING.

AND I MEAN, WHY DIDN'T HE JUST GO AHEAD AND APPLY FOR IT? OBVIOUSLY HE'S OUTSIDE THE 10% THAT WE DID AND ALL OF A SUDDEN HE'S COMING.

HOW MANY MONTHS LATER? YEAH I DON'T.

SO IT DOES LOOK LIKE THE APPLICANT DOES HAVE AN ACTIVE RENTAL LICENSE FOR THE 4205 QUINCY STREET PROPERTY, BUT NOT ONE FOR 4356, 4356.

DID HE MOVE THE TENANT FROM? IT DOES.

205 OR FROM WHEN DID HE MOVE THE TENANT? IS IT JUST. YES. HE CAN'T MOVE HIM UNTIL HE HAS A LICENSE.

SO IT SAYS HERE HE MOVED IT AND SAID I WANT TO MOVE.

WELL, IT DOESN'T REALLY SAY CLEARLY WHICH WHICH WAY THE PERSON MOVED.

DID THEY MOVE FROM 4356 TO WHERE THEY HAVE A PERMIT AT 4205.

HE MOVED THE TENANT FROM THE 4205 PROPERTY TO THE 43.

AND SO HE'S ILLEGALLY HE'S RENTING HE'S COLLECTING RENT.

AND THEN IF I CAN JUST ADD FURTHER CLARIFICATION, THE 4356 PROPERTY THEIR RENTAL LICENSE EXPIRED ON APRIL 30TH OF THIS YEAR.

SO IT HAD JUST RECENTLY EXPIRED.

EXPIRED. HE DIDN'T GET IN IN TIME THE 30 DAYS THAT HE HAD TO ROLL OVER THE LICENSE WHEN HE PURCHASED IT IN SEPTEMBER, HE DIDN'T.

WITH THE SALE AND THE RENTAL DENSITY CAP ORDINANCE, IF YOU SELL A SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL, THAT LAPSES AND THEN YOU HAVE TO REENTER THE PROCESS.

SO IT LOOKS LIKE AS IF THE THE SALE MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN CAUGHT, BUT IT GOT CAUGHT WHEN, WHEN IT CAME TO, TO REAPPLY FOR THE LICENSE THIS YEAR, HE DIDN'T DO HIS HOMEWORK AND FIND OUT TO GET THE LICENSE PRIOR 30 DAYS THOUGH WELL, YOU HAVE 30 DAYS AFTER YOU CLOSE ON IT TO GET THE LICENSE TRANSFERRED OVER IN YOUR NAME AND WITH THE WITH ORDINANCE 1685 IT HAS A THE IN THE ORDINANCE.

IF YOU PURCHASE A SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL YOU THAT LICENSE NO LONGER HAS THE ABILITY TO TRANSFER UNLESS YOU'RE IN A RENTAL DENSITY CAP ZONE THAT ALLOWS FOR IT.

SO DID HE BUY IT AS A HOME? SO IF HE BOUGHT IT AS AN INVESTMENT PROPERTY WITH AN AS AN LLC, BUT DIDN'T DO HIS HOMEWORK ON IF THE LICENSE COULD TRANSFER AS AN LLC.

SO AND HE ALREADY MOVED SOMEBODY IN THERE AND HE'S COLLECTING RENT, MAYBE COLLECTING RENT, I'M ASSUMING HE IS WITHOUT A LICENSE ON THIS PROPERTY. OH, IT LOOKS LIKE IF THE FIRST EMAIL WAS APRIL 25TH, SO HE HE WAS TRYING TO IF THE LICENSE LAPSED ON APRIL 30TH, IT SOUNDS LIKE HE HE CONTACTED BEFORE THE LICENSE LAPSED.

AND THAT'S WHEN HE FOUND OUT THAT HE COULDN'T RENEW IT.

SO HE HASN'T COLLECTED ANY RENT OUTSIDE OF THE OUTSIDE OF HE.

WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE, BUT IT DOESN'T.

THERE'S NOTHING FOR SURE IN HERE THAT HE'S COLLECTED ANY RENT WITHOUT A LICENSE.

[00:35:10]

SO HE ONLY WANTS TO HAVE A RENTAL LICENSE UNTIL THE OTHER PERSON CAN HAVE THE DOWN PAYMENT, CORRECT? BUT WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THAT'S GOING TO BE.

HE WOULD HAVE A MINIMUM OF THAT ONE YEAR PERIOD IF GRANTED, AND THEN THERE WOULD BE THE ABILITY TO APPLY AGAIN SHOULD HE NEED THAT EXEMPTION.

BUT IT'S THE APPLICANT HAS MADE IT CLEAR THAT HE LOOKS TO INTEND TO TRANSFER THE PROPERTY TO THE CURRENT OWNER.

OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS.

I'M TROUBLED BY THE FACT THAT HE PURCHASED IT AT AS AN INCOME PROPERTY.

I'M TROUBLED BY THE FACT THAT HE'S NOT PRESENT IN CHAMBERS OR ONLINE.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.

OKAY. I'M TROUBLED BY THE FACT THAT HE HAS MOVED SOMEBODY IN, WHETHER HE IS ACTUALLY COLLECTING RENT OR NOT.

HE'S MOVED SOMEBODY AND IS A TENANT.

AND I BELIEVE IF I'M CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.

I THOUGHT HE REFERRED TO THEM AS AS A TENANT SOMEWHERE IN THE LETTER.

MAYBE NOT. HE SAYS HE REFERRED AT A SEPARATE PROPERTY THAT ALSO DID HAVE A VALID RENTAL LICENSE.

HE WAS A TENANT THERE.

HE HE MOST LIKELY MOVED HIM IN AS A TENANT TO THE CURRENT LOCATION.

I WOULD LIKE TO ADD, BEFORE THE OTHER LICENSE EXPIRED, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A PROPERTY THAT WAS TRANSFERRED.

SO I WOULD SAY THAT HE AT LEAST TRIED TO DO HIS DUE DILIGENCE BEFOREHAND.

AFTER IT HAD EXPIRED.

THE THE RENTAL LICENSE ON THE 4356 PROPERTY, ALBEIT THE PROPERTY WAS TRANSFERRED.

THE RENTAL LICENSE WAS VALID UNTIL THE END OF THE MONTH.

SO I WOULD SAY THAT HE AT LEAST TRIED TO DO HIS BEST TO REACH OUT TO US PROACTIVELY.

DID HE PURCHASE IT IN SEPTEMBER 2023? YES, THAT THAT DOES LOOK LIKE ONE.

OKAY, SO THE RENTAL LICENSE STOPPED THEN AT THE TIME IT WAS PURCHASED.

SO IT WAS WITHOUT A LICENSE UNTIL APRIL AND AND GOT LOST IN THE SHUFFLE OF THE PURCHASE.

IT WASN'T UNTIL IT BECAME DUE IN APRIL.

SO IT WAS ALREADY THAT LICENSE THAT WAS DUE IN APRIL DIDN'T EXIST FROM, FROM SEPTEMBER ON.

CORRECT. CORRECT.

SO IT WAS WITHOUT A LICENSE FOR ALL THAT TIME.

AND IF HE'S, IF HE IS A LANDLORD WITH INCOME PROPERTY DOWN THE STREET, THEN I'M I'M GOING TO MAKE AN ASSUMPTION THAT HE AT LEAST KNOWS PART OF THE RULES. HE OR SHE, KNOW PART OF THE RULES.

AND IN RUNNING THIS TYPE OF A BUSINESS.

SO THOSE THINGS TROUBLE ME AND.

THERE'S OTHER OPTIONS.

THERE'S THERE'S CONTRACT FOR DEED.

HE CAN YOU KNOW, HE CAN THERE'S OTHER THINGS HE CAN DO.

HE COULD HAVE KEPT HIM IN THE OTHER THE OTHER RENTAL THAT WAS LEGAL AND MADE SOME PERSONAL CONTRACT ARRANGEMENT TO SECURE THE MONEY THAT THIS GENTLEMAN OR THIS PERSON WOULD PAY FOR RENT IN THE NEW LOCATION COULD HAVE BEEN PAID DIRECTLY TO THE LANDLORD AS A DOWN PAYMENT WHILE HE WAS STILL IN A LICENSED PROPERTY.

I THINK THERE'S JUST TOO MANY.

THERE'S TOO MANY UNKNOWNS, AND HE'S NOT HERE TO MAKE HIS CASE.

I AM, I WOULD BE VERY TROUBLED IN APPROVING THIS.

THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE? NO, NO. ALL RIGHT.

SOUNDS LIKE WE ARE READY TO MOVE FORWARD.

THEN CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING FOR NUMBER 18? MOVE TO WAIVE THE READING FOR RESOLUTION 2024-039, THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS TO WAIVE THE READING.

ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING AND HEARING AS NONE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES AND NEXT WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION.

ALL RIGHT. MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2024-039, A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL EXEMPTION REQUEST FOR RENTAL APPLICATION AT 4356 QUINCY STREET NORTHEAST COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA 55421.

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

ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING AS NONE THEN ALL IN FAVOR TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION, SAY AYE.

ALL OPPOSED SAY NAY.

[00:40:02]

THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE NO BID CONSIDERATIONS.

WE MOVE ON TO ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS.

UNDER NUMBER 19, WE HAVE A TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS RESOLUTION AND COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE THIS TOPIC.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR.

I KNOW THAT WE HAVE SOME EXPERTS HERE, BUT THE TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS RESOLUTION IS JUST AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR CITY TO CALL ON THE US DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY TO ADD THE COUNTRY OF ECUADOR TO THE LIST OF OTHER 16 NATIONS THAT ALREADY RECEIVE TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS.

IN THIS OPPORTUNITY THERE IS STILL AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE WHO COMES FROM ECUADOR TO GO THROUGH OUR IMMIGRATION SYSTEM.

BUT IN THAT INTERIM PERIOD, THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO RECEIVE WORK PERMITS AND TO BE FREE FROM DEPORTATION WHILE THEY'RE WAITING THEIR COURT DATE. THERE'S A LOT MORE ABOUT IT THAT I HAVE HEARD FROM OTHER PLACES, BUT I KNOW THAT MINNESOTA IS ONE OF THE STATES THAT HAVE RECEIVED MANY IMMIGRANTS FROM ECUADOR.

IN MY TIME HERE IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, I'VE MET MANY NEIGHBORS AND RESIDENTS WHO ARE WORKING IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND WHO WANT TO WORK IN OUR COMMUNITIES, I SHOULD SAY, WHO GO TO OUR SCHOOLS. WE HAD A JOINT MEETING WITH OUR SCHOOL BOARD AND WITH OUR CITY COUNCIL, AND WE HEARD FROM THE SCHOOLS THAT THEY ARE RECEIVING MANY ENGLISH LEARNER STUDENTS AND THAT ARE FROM ECUADOR, AND THEY'RE WORKING TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR THEM, AND THAT PARENTS ARE GETTING INVOLVED IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

AND I WORK HERE AT FIRST LUTHERAN, AND I'VE BEEN SEEING THEM IN OUR COMMUNITY AND TALKING TO THEM.

THEY'VE BEEN JOINING OUR CHURCHES AND BEING A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY EVENTS.

SO THIS RESOLUTION HERE THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE PAPER, I COULD READ THE WHOLE THING IF THAT WOULD.

BUT I DO KNOW THIS WILL URGE THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY TO CONSIDER ADDING IT TO THE LIST.

THIS SAYS, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA, THE CITY, AS FOLLOWS.

WHEREAS THE SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY MAY DESIGNATE A COUNTRY FOR TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS, TPS, DUE TO CONDITIONS IN THE COUNTRY THAT TEMPORARILY PREVENT THE COUNTRY'S NATIONALS FROM RETURNING SAFELY OR IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THE COUNTRY IS UNABLE TO HANDLE THE RETURN OF ITS NATIONALS ADEQUATELY.

AND WHEREAS THE SECRETARY MAY DESIGNATE A COUNTRY FOR TPS DUE TO ONGOING ARMED CONFLICTS SUCH AS CIVIL WAR, ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTERS SUCH AS EARTHQUAKES OR HURRICANES OR EPIDEMICS, OR OTHER EXTRAORDINARY AND TEMPORARY CONDITIONS.

AND WHEREAS DURING THIS DESIGNATED PERIOD, INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE TPS BENEFICIARIES OR WHO ARE FOUND TO BE PRELIMINARILY ELIGIBLE FOR TPS UPON REVIEW OF THEIR CASES ARE NOT REMOVABLE FROM THE UNITED STATES, AND CAN OBTAIN AN EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION DOCUMENT AND MAY BE GRANTED TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION.

AND WHEREAS ECUADORIANS HAVE ENDURED RECENT DISPLACEMENT DUE TO NATURAL DISASTERS, ECONOMIC DOWNTURN, SEVERE POLITICAL UNREST, AND ARMED CONFLICT.

AND WHEREAS ECUADOR EXPERIENCED A SURGE OF VIOLENCE FOLLOWING THE ASSASSINATION OF A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, FERNANDO VILA SIENDO EXCUSE ME IN AUGUST 2023.

AND WHEREAS THE NATIONS THAT CURRENTLY HAVE TPS STATUS INCLUDE AFGHANISTAN, BURMA, CAMEROON, EL SALVADOR, ETHIOPIA, HAITI, HONDURAS, NEPAL, NICARAGUA, SOMALIA, SOUTH SUDAN, SUDAN, SYRIA, UKRAINE, VENEZUELA AND YEMEN.

AND WHEREAS, MINNESOTA HAS THE 10TH HIGHEST ECUADORIAN POPULATION IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND WHEREAS, THE NUMBER OF ASYLUM CASES IN MINNESOTA'S IMMIGRATION COURT ORIGINATING FROM ECUADOR SURGED BY 900% IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

AND WHEREAS, THE ECUADORIAN COMMUNITY HAS CONTRIBUTED POSITIVELY TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS CITY, AND WHEREAS ECUADOR CONTINUES TO STRUGGLE WITH CONDITIONS THAT ARE NOT ADEQUATE FOR NATIONALS TO RETURN, AND THEN WE CAN RESOLVE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL CALLS UPON THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY TO DESIGNATE ECUADOR FOR TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS, TO PROVIDE TEMPORARY IMMIGRATION RELIEF TO ELIGIBLE ECUADORIAN NATIONALS.

AND THEN WE WILL RESOLVE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL CALLS UPON OUR US CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, REPRESENTATIVE OMAR, SENATOR SMITH AND SENATOR KLOBUCHAR, TO SUPPORT THE TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS FOR ECUADOR ACT OF 2024.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER JACOB JAMES.

TODAY WE ACTUALLY HAVE A GUEST WHO'S BEEN INVITED TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.

AND COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES, WOULD YOU LIKE TO INTRODUCE THEM? YES, WE HAVE, I THINK, IS JOSE HERE TODAY, OUR RESIDENT IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

AND IF YOU WOULD COME FORWARD AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF IN THE MICROPHONE, AND [INAUDIBLE] AND SHARE FOR JUST A MINUTE OR TWO ABOUT THIS RESOLUTION.

[00:45:01]

DO WE HAVE MISS ANGELA GALLO TO TRANSLATE FOR US? OH, WONDERFUL. THANK YOU.

ANGELA. THANK YOU. BIENVENIDOS.

YEAH. YEAH.

BUENOS TARDES.

GOOD AFTERNOON. [SPANISH] MY NAME IS JOSE NARVAEZ.

I LIVE HERE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS WITH MY WIFE AND MY SONS FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS.

[SPANISH] AND EVEN THOUGH I PAY TAXES AND I DO MY DUTIES AS A CITIZEN IN THIS COUNTRY, I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO RETIRE AND HAVE ANY BENEFITS THAT WILL NORMALLY HAVE JUST BECAUSE I AM UNDOCUMENTED.

[SPANISH] I HAVE CONSIDERED RETURN TO MY COUNTRY MANY OCCASIONS, BUT CONSTANTLY BECAUSE OF DELINQUENCY AND INSTABILITY, SOCIAL INSTABILITY A ND ECONOMIC INSTABILITY IN ECUADOR, AND EVERY TIME IS THE WORST.

I HAVE JUST DECIDED TO STAY IN THIS COUNTRY.

[SPANISH] TO THE RETURN.

I KNOW THAT MY LIFE AND MY FAMILY WILL BE IN DANGER.

WHOEVER COME BACKS TO ECUADOR FROM EXTERNAL COUNTRIES, THEY HAVE INTEREST FROM DELINQUENTS BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THAT WE ARE FULL WITH MONEY AND THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF VALUABLE THINGS WITH US.

[SPANISH] SO I DECIDED TO.

THEY DECIDED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE AND EXTORTIONS IN MANY OCCASIONS TO KILL ENTIRE FAMILIES IN AS AN EXAMPLE, WHO DON'T WANT TO COLLABORATE WITH THEM.

[SPANISH] SI. TAKING IN, TAKING MY SECURITY AND MY FAMILY SECURITY, I DECIDED NOT TO RETURN TO THE COUNTRY.

BUT BECAUSE I DO NOT COUNT WITH DOCUMENTS, APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTS.

AND I AM, YOU KNOW, ELDERLY ELDERLY AGE.

IT'S VERY HARD TO SURVIVE IN THIS COUNTRY.

[SPANISH] THE TPS EVEN THOUGH IT'S JUST TEMPORARY.

I WILL CONSIDER IT WILL GIVE ME A RELIEF OF BREATH OF NOT BEING DEPORTED AND SEPARATED FROM MY FAMILY.

[SPANISH]

[00:50:04]

[SPANISH] COLUMBIA HEIGHTS IS MY HOME AND I REALLY LOVE YOU ALL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.

WE HAVE ANOTHER SPEAKER.

IF YOU COULD JUST INTRODUCE YOURSELF.

[SPANISH] GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS ALEXANDRA, AND I'M FROM ECUADOR.

[SPANISH] I HAVE TO FLEE ECUADOR BECAUSE I SENT SOMEBODY TO JAIL.

SOMEBODY THAT VIOLATED MOLESTED MY DAUGHTER.

AND BECAUSE OF THE JAIL IN ECUADOR, THEY ARE ALLOWED TO MANAGE STUFF.

SO THEY WERE SENDING ME PEOPLE THAT WILL BE HARASSING ME AND MY FAMILY.

[SPANISH] THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE RUNNING JAILS IN ECUADOR ARE VERY POWERFUL AND THEY ARE NOT SAFE.

THEY ALLOWED PEOPLE THERE TO JUST DO UNBELIEVABLE THINGS.

THE THE PERSON WHO VIOLATED MY DAUGHTER HE IS VERY POWERFUL DOWN THERE AND I HAVE TO FLEE HERE.

I HOPE THAT TPS WILL GO FORWARD SO I CAN BE SAFE HERE.

YEAH. GRACIAS.

THANK YOU. [SPANISH] GRACIAS. I SAID THANK YOU FOR COMING TO OUR MEETING YOU ARE BRAVE AND YOU BELONG HERE.

THANK YOU. MAY I HAVE A I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES FOR BRINGING THIS TO OUR WORK SESSION.

WE DID HAVE A DISCUSSION ON THIS LAST MONDAY.

AND STAFF I THINK HELPED MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD THE RIGHT RESOLUTION WORDING.

SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.

YOU'RE WELCOME. AS IF YOU WERE INTERESTED, WCCO HAS DONE A REALLY FANTASTIC VIDEO STORY ABOUT OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND HOW MUCH WORK OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT IS DOING TO EMBRACE ALL OF OUR NEW, NEWER RESIDENTS HERE.

AND IT'S JUST VERY INSPIRING TO SEE THAT.

AND I DEFINITELY RECOMMEND FOR PEOPLE TO WATCH THAT AND JUST GOOGLE WCCO COLUMBIA HEIGHTS SPANISH SPEAKING.

OKAY. THIS IS ITEM NUMBER 19.

I HAVE A MOTION.

WE DID READ IT, SO I'LL SAY MOVE TO HAVE READ AND APPROVED RESOLUTION 2024-41, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS CALLING FOR TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS FOR ECUADORIAN IMMIGRANTS.

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

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

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION PASSES.

WE NOW WILL HAVE THE TPS SUPPORT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH [APPLAUSE].

AND I THINK IF WE COULD THIS IS A CELEBRATION AND I HOPE OTHER COMMUNITIES TAKE NOTICE.

IF WE COULD DO A PHOTO WITH EVERYONE HERE FOR THIS ITEM.

RIGHT UP HERE. THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

WE WOULD LOVE TO CELEBRATE THIS.

AND COUNCIL ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO COME UP.

[00:55:34]

IT'S NICE TO WHEN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS ARE FULL AND WE HAVE COMMUNITY MEMBERS HERE BEING A PART OF OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

ON TO ITEM NUMBER 20.

THIS IS THE MINOR SUBDIVISION FOR 5085 CENTRAL AVENUE NORTHEAST AND ANDREW, OUR CITY PLANNER, WILL TAKE US THROUGH IT.

REQUIRED SPACES FOR THE RESTAURANT.

SO YOU GUYS DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAME UP WITH THAT NUMBER, OUR CITY CODE REQUIRES THAT FOR RESTAURANTS.

FULL SERVICE OR COFFEE SHOP? DELI KIND OF RESTAURANTS.

THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE 30% OF THE BUILDING OCCUPANCY AS FAR AS PARKING.

SO THIS ACTUALLY CREATES A DEFICIT OF EIGHT SPACES.

WITH THE SUBDIVISION, THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING 14 PARKING SPACES FOR THE BANK, ONE PER 300 GROSS FLOOR AREA WITH UP TO NINE EMPLOYEES AT ANY ONE TIME. THIS MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTION, AS EMPLOYEES ARE NOT COUNTED IN OUR PARKING REQUIREMENTS UNLESS THE USE EXPLICITLY STATES THAT THEY ARE TO BE CONSIDERED.

SO THE BANK IS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE 11 PARKING SPACES BASED ON THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THE BUILDING, AND THAT REDUCES THE DEFICIT TO FIVE PARKING SPACES BETWEEN BOTH THE RESTAURANT AND THE BANK. AS A RESULT, A SHARED PARKING AGREEMENT IS A NECESSARY CONDITION OF APPROVAL, SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY THE CITY ATTORNEY AND FILED WITH THE ANOKA COUNTY RECORDER'S OFFICE WITHIN 60 DAYS AFTER APPROVAL OF THE SHARED PARKING USE, SO THAT BOTH USES HAVE COMPLIANT PARKING.

THE MEYERS SUBDIVISION IS SUBJECT TO REQUIRED FINDINGS FOR MINOR SUBDIVISIONS PER 9.104K.

I JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE YOU GUYS WITH AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THE EXISTING LA CASITA SITE LOOKS LIKE.

AND THEN THE PROPOSED CONDITIONS, THEY WOULD BE PROPOSING TO SPLIT THAT SOUTHERN PART OF THE PROPERTY INTO A STANDALONE LOT.

AND I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU GUYS A PROPOSED.

THIS IS WHAT THE SITE PLAN LOOKS LIKE.

THE SITE PLAN IS NOT PART OF WHAT IS BEFORE YOU TODAY THAT STOPS AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION, BUT AS A CONDITION OF APPROVAL.

THE SITE PLAN APPROVAL WOULDN'T TAKE EFFECT UNLESS THE MEYERS SUBDIVISION IS APPROVED.

[01:00:04]

AS PART OF THE CODE ANALYSIS, STAFF HAS DETERMINED THAT THE LOT AREA WITH BUILDING AND PARKING SETBACK REQUIREMENTS PER 9.110C IN THE SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS PER 9.116 OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE HAVE BEEN SATISFIED.

THIS IS JUST AN IDEA OF WHAT THE PROPOSED PARCELS WOULD LOOK LIKE.

BOTH OF THESE ARE MEETING THE MINIMUMS ALONG WITH THE PARKING SETBACKS AND THE BUILDING SETBACKS FOR THE ZONING DISTRICT GENERAL BUSINESS THAT'S DESCRIBED, AS WELL AS WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING.

ALL OF THE SETBACKS FOR PARKING IN THE BUILDING ARE COMPLIANT.

THERE ARE REQUIRED FINDINGS OF FACT THAT THE CITY COUNCIL MUST MAKE BEFORE A MINOR SUBDIVISION CAN BE APPROVED.

FIRST IS THAT THE SUBDIVISION OF LAND WILL NOT RESULT IN MORE THAN THREE LOTS.

THIS IS PROPOSING TO CREATE TWO CONFORMING LOTS.

THE PROPOSED SUBDIVISION OF LAND DOES NOT INVOLVE THE VACATION OF EXISTING EASEMENTS.

THERE ARE NO VACATION OF EASEMENTS BEING PROPOSED.

ALL LOTS TO BE CREATED BY THE PROPOSED SUBDIVISION CONFORM TO THE LOT AREA AND WIDTH REQUIREMENTS ESTABLISHED FOR THE ZONING DISTRICT IN WHICH THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED.

BOTH THESE LOTS DO CONFORM TO THE STANDARDS FOR THE GENERAL BUSINESS DISTRICTS.

THE PROPOSED SUBDIVISION DOES NOT REQUIRE THE DEDICATION OF PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY FOR THE PURPOSE OF GAINING ACCESS TO THE PROPERTY WE'VE ESTABLISHED THAT THE PROPERTY DOES HAVE A NON-EXCLUSIVE DRIVEWAY EASEMENT FOR PEDESTRIAN AND VEHICLE ENTRY.

WE WOULD BE RECOMMENDING IT.

WHERE IS THAT GOING TO BE? I'M TRYING TO LOOK THAT ON THE MAP.

HOW DO THEY GET IT GET TO CHASE? IT'S GOING TO BE FROM 51ST.

IT'S NOT REALLY SHOWN ON THIS ONE JUST BECAUSE THAT WAS MORE SO PART OF THE SITE PLAN REVIEW.

SO THEY'RE GOING TO GO DOWN 51ST AND TAKE A LEFT AND GO DRIVE THROUGH THE BACK OF LA CASITA.

YEP. GET TO CHASE ON THE OTHER SIDE.

CORRECT. ALONG THE IT'S GOING TO STILL BE IN THAT SOUTHERN PART.

SO THEY'D BASICALLY BE THERE'D BE A SPLIT DRIVE AISLE.

I THINK I THINK YOU CAN SEE IT IN THAT.

YEP. IN THAT ONE I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE THAT OUT.

IF YOU LOOK ON THE RIGHT THEY HAVE A MUTUAL NON-EXCLUSIVE ACCESS EASEMENT.

AND THEN WE WOULD BE RECOMMENDING, AS A CONDITION OF APPROVAL, A SEPARATE CROSS ACCESS EASEMENT ALONG THE.

IT'S ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF LA CASITA, NOT ON THE NORTH.

SO THEN THEY JUST COME IN THAT WAY, AND THEN THE OTHERS WOULD DRIVE.

OKAY. GOT IT. THANK YOU.

AWESOME. THE PROPERTY HAS NOT PREVIOUSLY BEEN DIVIDED THROUGH THE MINOR SUBDIVISION PROVISION, WHICH IT HASN'T.

THE PROPOSED SUBDIVISION DOES NOT HINDER THE CONVEYANCE OF LAND, NOR DOES IT HINDER THE MAKING OF ASSESSMENTS OR KEEPING OF RECORDS RELATED TO ASSESSMENTS.

AND FINALLY, THE PROPOSED SUBDIVISION MEETS ALL THE DESIGN STANDARDS SPECIFIED IN SECTION 9.116 AS A CONDITION OF MINOR SUBDIVISION APPROVAL.

ALL APPLICABLE DESIGN STANDARDS IN THIS SECTION OF CODE MUST BE SATISFIED AND AS CONDITION THE STAFF'S PERSPECTIVE THAT IT DOES.

IN THIS REGARD, STAFF IS COORDINATED WITH THE CITY ENGINEER AND FIRE DEPARTMENT, WHO HAVE BEEN PROVIDED COPIES OF THE APPLICATION MATERIALS AND INCLUDE THEIR COMMENTS IN THE MEMOS ATTACHED TO YOUR REPORT.

STAFF REVIEW FINDS THAT THE PROPOSED MINOR SUBDIVISION APPLICATION MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE AS CONDITIONED.

THERE ARE FOUR CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING AND STAFF.

FIRST IS BEING THE SHARED PARKING AGREEMENTS BETWEEN LA CASITA AND CHASE BANK, PROPOSED AND SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY CITY ATTORNEY AND FILED WITH THE ANOKA COUNTY RECORDER'S OFFICE WITHIN 60 DAYS AFTER APPROVAL OF THE SHARED PARKING USE TO ENSURE THAT BOTH USES HAVE COMPLIANT PARKING.

THE SECOND CONDITION IS THAT THE APPLICANT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FILING THE APPROVED SUBDIVISION WITH THE ANOKA COUNTY RECORDER'S OFFICE.

THE APPROVED SUBDIVISION SHALL BECOME INVALID IF NOT FILED WITHIN A YEAR OF THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL.

THIRD IS THAT THE APPLICANT SHALL ADHERE TO THE REQUIREMENTS AND COMMENTS PROVIDED BY THE CITY'S PUBLIC WORKS AND ENGINEERING DEPARTMENTS IN A MEMO DATED APRIL 17TH, 2024. THE APPLICANT HAS INCORPORATED THOSE CHANGES AND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FILING AND RECORDING ANY PROPOSED EASEMENTS WITH THE ANOKA COUNTY RECORDER'S OFFICE. AND THE FOURTH IS JUST THAT CROSS ACCESS EASEMENT FOR VEHICULAR MOVEMENT TOWARD THE NORTH OF THE PROPERTY, JUST TO ENSURE THAT BOTH SUBJECT PROPERTIES HAVE ACCESS TO THE FULL SITE.

I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU GUYS HAVE.

ALL RIGHT.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR ANDREW? COUNCIL MEMBER. I WAS JUST CURIOUS.

DO WE KNOW THE STORY BEHIND THIS HOW CHASE DID CHASE APPROACHED LA CASITA? WAS LA CASITA LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY TO DEVELOP PART OF THEIR LAND? I'M NOT SURE HOW EXACTLY IT CAME ABOUT, BUT IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT CHASE HAD APPROACHED LA CASITA AS THE PROPERTY OWNER, AND LA CASITA CAME TO AN AGREEMENT WHERE THEY

[01:05:03]

SO, AS I SAID, LA CASITA IS STILL GOING TO MAINTAIN OWNERSHIP.

THEY WOULD JUST BE TAKING ON MORE OF A LEASING ROLE, TOO.

THAT'S INTERESTING HOW THAT WORKS.

THE OTHER THING IS A LOT OF THIS TALK WAS ABOUT PARKING.

I'M NOT CONCERNED ABOUT PARKING.

I KNOW WITH TCF THAT TURNED INTO HUNTINGTON BANK VEER SINCE THINGS HAVE BECOME MORE AND MORE ONLINE, I NEVER SEE THAT BANK'S PARKING LOT FULL AND MOST OF OUR PARKING LOTS AREN'T FULL.

THERE'S A THERE'S EXCEPTIONS.

THERE'S 3 OR 4 RESTAURANTS OR GROCERY STORE LDS THAT ARE ALWAYS BUSY, BUT WE HAVE SO MUCH EMPTY PARKING SPACE, SO I'M FINE WITH.

AND THAT WAS PART OF STAFF'S PERSPECTIVE AS WELL AS JUST THAT, IF YOU LOOK AT THE OPERATING HOURS OF THE RESTAURANT COMPARED TO THE OPERATING HOURS OF THE BANK, THE PEAK PARKING DEMANDS WOULD BE OCCURRING AT DIFFERENT TIMES.

AND THEN, AS YOU SAID, THE NATURE OF BANKING.

I FEEL LIKE AT LEAST SINCE COVID HAS KIND OF CHANGED IN THAT I DON'T JUST NEITHER US NOR THE APPLICANT ANTICIPATE THAT THE DEMAND WOULD EXCEED THE PARKING BETWEEN THOSE TWO USES.

YES, I WAS THINKING THAT AS WELL.

AND ALSO WITH THE FACT THAT THERE'S SO MUCH MORE TAKEOUT FROM RESTAURANTS TOO, THAT PEOPLE ARE STOPPING IN, SO THEY MAY BE DOING SIMILAR SALES.

I DON'T KNOW FOR SURE, BUT BUT THEN THEY DON'T NEED THAT PARKING IF THEY'RE JUST DOING TAKEOUT, SO.

OR JUST HAS A DIFFERENT USE, IT'S KIND OF LIKE SHORT TERM.

YEAH, YEAH.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES J.

JAMES. JAMES. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, ANDREW, FOR SHARING ALL THIS INFORMATION.

AND THANK YOU TO THE, THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR THEIR IN-DEPTH LOOK AT THIS.

I'M EXCITED TO SEE DEVELOPMENT HAPPENING ON CENTRAL.

THAT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE THAT.

AND I THINK THAT ALL THE DETAILED ISSUES WERE DISCUSSED CLEARLY IN THE PLANNING COMMISSION, AND I NOTED THAT THEY VOTED SEVEN ZERO TO APPROVE.

AND I TRUST A LOT OF OUR PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBERS KNOW THE INS AND OUTS.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT WORK.

THE OTHER THING I'D LIKE TO ADD IS JUST THAT.

THIS IS ALSO CALLED OUT IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AS BEING PART OF THE OPPORTUNITY ZONE.

I THINK IT'S 2B ALONG CENTRAL.

SO THAT'S ANOTHER KIND OF SELLING POINT OF THIS.

IN THE.

SORRY, I'M TRYING TO SCROLL.

DO WE HAVE THAT IMAGE? WHICH IN THE PACKET.

THE ONE OF THAT ONE HERE.

NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE THIS WAS PART OF THE SITE PLAN REVIEW.

AND YOU GUYS ARE HAVE THE MINOR SUBDIVISION BEFORE YOU, YOU GUYS WOULDN'T TAKE ANY ACTION ON THE SITE PLAN REVIEW BECAUSE THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

I WAS MOSTLY MENTIONING THAT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME LANDSCAPING DEVELOPMENT.

SO RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, KIND OF AS TO COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS SAID ABOUT NOT BEING CONCERNED ABOUT THE PARKING LOT FOR PARKING RIGHT NOW, IT IS JUST BLACKTOP SPACE THAT DOESN'T HAVE CURRENT WATER RESTRICTIONS AND WATER USAGE SPACES.

SO THIS IS ANOTHER THING THAT WE WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY WHEN THEY COME TO THE CITY FOR DEVELOPING THIS, THAT WE WOULD WANT TO IMPLEMENT ANY, YOU KNOW NATIVE PLANTS OR RAINWATER OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

SO CAPTURING.

SO I JUST THINK THAT'S ANOTHER BENEFIT TO THE USE BEING CHANGED.

AND JUST TO KIND OF GO ON, IF I COULD JUST ELABORATE ON THAT, THEY ARE PROPOSING, AS PART OF THE SITE PLAN, A REDUCTION OF ABOUT 2000FT² OF IMPERVIOUS SURFACE. THEY'RE PROPOSING TO KEEP SOME OF THE TREES ADDING ADDITIONAL ONES.

AND THEN FOR THE LANDSCAPING THEY CALLED OUT A NATIVE BEE LAWN SEATING USE.

SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY WANTED KIND OF ACKNOWLEDGED AS THEIR COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY.

FANTASTIC. COUNCIL MEMBER.

I WAS JUST GOING TO MENTION I HAD READ SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.

THEY'RE VERY IN.

I CAN'T THINK OF THE WORD, BUT THEY'RE THEY'RE AWARE OF THE TYPE OF LANDSCAPING THAT WE NOW NEED FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE.

SO AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT THEY PROPOSED THEMSELVES.

THAT WAS THAT WAS HOW THE PLANS CAME IN.

SO IT'S NICE THAT THEY WERE KIND OF THINKING WITH THAT IN MIND.

YEAH. ARE THEY GOING TO I MEAN, IT'S THERE, SO YOU CAN DEFINITELY LOOK AT IT WHEN IT'S UP AND COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS JUST A COMMENT THAT I'M VERY I'M PLEASED WITH THE FACT THAT THEY'RE VERY PROACTIVE IN TAKING THE STEPS AND TAKING THE ENERGY AND INVESTMENT TO DO A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO SEE HAPPEN.

YEAH, THEY WERE REALLY FUN TO WORK WITH.

I CAN APPRECIATE THAT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OTHERWISE, I HAVE A MOTION THEN TO WAIVE THE READING.

MOVE TO NUMBER 20.

SORRY. SORRY. MOVE TO WAIVE THE READING OF RESOLUTION 2024-036 THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

[01:10:01]

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

AYE, AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES AND NEXT WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

MOVE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2024-036, A RESOLUTION APPROVING A MINOR SUBDIVISION FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 5085 CENTRAL AVENUE NORTHEAST, WITHIN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA, SUBJECT TO CERTAIN CONDITIONS STATED IN THE RESOLUTION.

SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION.

ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING AND HEARING AS NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION PASSES.

WELCOME, CHASE.

NEXT ITEM, NUMBER 21, THE FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 1696, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 9.106, GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS TO ESTABLISH TREE PRESERVATION AND PLANTING STANDARDS.

ANDREW. THANK YOU MAYOR.

AT THE APRIL WORK SESSION, CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSED AN AMENDMENT TO CITY CODE 9.106 AND DIRECTED STAFF CITY PLANNER AND URBAN FORESTER TO PREPARE A ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT FOR THE MAY 7TH, 2024 PLANNING COMMISSION.

THIS WAS SUBJECT TO THE REQUIRED FINDINGS FOR ZONING AMENDMENTS PER 9.104F.

AND THEN, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF KIND OF HOW STAFF APPROACHED THIS, WE PEER REVIEWED OTHER CITY'S TREE PRESERVATION REQUIREMENTS.

FRIDLEY, SAINT ANTHONY'S VILLAGE AND MINNEAPOLIS DO NOT HAVE TREE PRESERVATION ORDINANCES.

NEW HOPE, SHAKOPEE AND MAPLE GROVE DO HAVE ORDINANCES WHICH WERE INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET.

STAFF FELT THAT IT WAS NECESSARY TO AMEND THE EXISTING ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH A PROCESS AND INCLUDE THE CITY FORESTER IN DEVELOPMENT REVIEW AND ADOPT STANDARDS ALIGNED WITH THE INDUSTRY AND AGENCY BEST PRACTICES, AS WELL AS REFLECTING THE SECURITIES AND LETTER OF CREDIT LANGUAGE SEEN ACROSS MUNICIPALITIES.

THE CURRENT ORDINANCE DOES NOT REFLECT THE MOST UP TO DATE INFORMATION, STANDARDS OR PROCESSES THAT ENSURE SUCCESSFULLY MATURE TREE CANOPIES OR PRESERVATION OF THE EXISTING CANOPY. ANOTHER THING THAT STAFF LOOKED AT WAS JUST THE LEGAL ANALYSIS OF THE SIXTH US CIRCUIT COURTS OF APPEALS FP DEVELOPMENT LLC, VERSUS THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CANTON, MICHIGAN.

CANTON HAD AN ORDINANCE THAT CLASSIFIED CERTAIN TREES AS SIGNIFICANT.

THIS CREATED PERMITTING REQUIREMENTS, RESTRICTED TREE REMOVAL, AND REQUIRED MITIGATION.

PROPERTY OWNER WAS THAT REMOVED TREES WAS REQUIRED TO EITHER PAY INTO A TOWN FUND OR REPLANT TREES.

THE TOWN ENFORCED ACTION AGAINST A DEVELOPER THAT REMOVED 159 TREES, AND ARGUED THAT UNDER THE ORDINANCE THE DEVELOPER HAD TO REPLANT THE TREES OR PAY THE TOWN APPROXIMATELY $50,000.

THE SIXTH CIRCUIT FOUND THAT THE ORDINANCE VIOLATED THE FIFTH AMENDMENT'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL DOCTRINE CLAUSE OR CONDITIONS DOCTRINE, MEANING THAT IF A PERMIT IS CONSIDERED BASED ON THE WAIVER OF CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS THAT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT PERMITTING MAY BE FOUND TO BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

THE SIXTH CIRCUIT COURT AND THE LMC LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES BOTH TAKE THE POSITION THAT A LOCAL GOVERNMENT MAY CHOOSE WHETHER AND HOW A PERMIT APPLICANT MITIGATES DEVELOPMENT IMPACTS, BUT THAT THE THERE ARE BASICALLY THREE THINGS THAT MUST BE ESTABLISHED.

FIRST, THAT AN ESSENTIAL NEXUS AND ROUGH PROPORTIONALITY TO THE IMPACTS ARE MADE, BASICALLY, IS WHAT THE CITY IS REQUESTING OR DEMANDING, EQUAL TO THE IMPACT THAT'S BEING MADE OR ROUGHLY PROPORTIONAL TO IT.

AND THEN IN THAT ORDINANCE, THERE NEEDS TO BE LANGUAGE THAT ALLOWS FOR AN INDIVIDUALIZED DETERMINATION AFTER THE ORDINANCE IS APPLIED.

BASICALLY, JUST LOOKING AT THINGS ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS AND DETERMINING IS THE ORDINANCE CORRECT IN HOW IT'S APPLIED THESE FEES RELATIVE TO THE IMPACT, OR IS THE ORDINANCE FLAWED IN SOME WAY? THE CITY ORDINANCE MUST DEMONSTRATE AN ESSENTIAL NEXUS AND ROUGH PROPORTIONALITY TO THESE IMPACTS AND AS I SAID INCLUDE LANGUAGE THAT DESCRIBES A PROCESS FOR AN INDIVIDUAL TO MAKE A DETERMINATION SITE BY SITE BASIS.

THERE ARE FOUR REQUIRED FINDINGS FOR ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT.

THE FIRST IS THAT THE AMENDMENT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

THE SECOND IS THAT THE AMENDMENT IS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST AND NOT SOLELY FOR THE BENEFIT OF A SINGLE PROPERTY OWNER.

AND THEN THE OTHER TWO ARE REGARDING WHETHER THE CHANGES TO THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION ARE REFLECTIVE OF CHANGING CHARACTER, AND THOSE TWO DO NOT APPLY TO THIS. I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU GUYS AN OVERVIEW OF THE DRAFT ORDINANCE.

THE PROPOSED TAX CHANGES INCLUDE ADOPTING THE MOST RECENT VERSIONS OF SEVERAL INDUSTRY PUBLICATIONS THAT ARE REGULARLY REFERRED TO AND UPDATED.

SO I THINK HAVING THOSE AS THE MOST UPDATED, JUST LANGUAGE REFERENCING THE MOST RECENT PUBLICATIONS BASED ON MINE, THE CITY FORESTERS ANALYSIS, THAT SEEMS LIKE THE BEST WAY TO GO, AS WELL AS REFERENCING THE MINNESOTA DNR POCKET GUIDE TO PLANTING TREES.

[01:15:06]

I DON'T THINK THAT'S NECESSARY.

WHAT DID YOU SAY? COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS.

OKAY. I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU GUYS HAVE.

THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS FOR ANDREW COUNCIL MEMBER? I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS ORDINANCE THAT WE'RE PASSING.

I LOVE TREES, AND THEY THEY HAVE SO MUCH VALUE IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.

JUST WANT TO CLARIFY, BECAUSE THIS CAME UP DURING THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THAT THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO RESIDENTIAL HOMES PROPERTIES.

THIS DOES APPLY.

IT APPLIES TO EVERYTHING THAT REQUIRES A SURVEY.

OKAY. SO ANY SORT OF DEVELOPMENT OR ALTERATION THAT WOULD REQUIRE SO IT'S OUR CITY POLICY THAT LIKE BUILDING ADDITIONS, ANY TYPE OF NEW STRUCTURE OR ADDITIONS TO A STRUCTURE WOULD TYPICALLY REQUIRE A SURVEY.

OKAY. SO CURRENT HOMES THAT ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE A SURVEY OR AN ADDITIONS TO THEIR PROPERTY.

IT DOES NOT APPLY TO IF THEY DECIDE THEY WANT TO REMOVE A TREE FROM THEIR PROPERTY.

THE REASON I BRING THAT UP IS A RESIDENT CAME UP AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND WAS SAD THAT HIS NEIGHBORS, NEW NEIGHBORS WHO PURCHASED HOMES, CUT DOWN ALL THE TREES BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT TO DEAL WITH THE LEAVES.

AND ONE THING I'D LIKE TO BRING UP NOW FOR STAFF AND COUNCIL TO MAYBE CONSIDER IN THE FUTURE SOME KIND OF EDUCATIONAL PAMPHLET OR INFORMATION WE CAN SEND.

I KNOW WE HAVE A PACKET FOR NEW HOMEOWNERS, BUT TO EDUCATE THEM ON THE IMPORTANCE OF TREES, THE LEAVES MIGHT BE A NUISANCE, BUT THEY THEY COOL THE PROPERTY.

THEY'RE ESTHETIC.

THEY'RE IMPORTANT FOR DEALING WITH OUR RESILIENCY TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

THERE'S SO MANY REASONS WHY IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE BEFORE THEY MAKE THE DECISION OF REMOVING TREES.

THESE WERE FULL GROWN RED MAPLES AND SOME OTHERS, AND THE NEIGHBORS WERE VERY SAD TO SEE IT GO.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF WE CAN ENTERTAIN THAT IN THE FUTURE JUST FOR EDUCATION, EVEN THOUGH WE CAN'T ENFORCE IT.

BUT IT'S SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GREAT IDEA FOR THE SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION TO CONSIDER.

AND ALSO THEY COULD EVEN ADD IN THE TYPES OF TREES THAT HAVE THERE'S, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT THE WAYS THAT TREES SHED THEIR LEAVES.

SO FOR SOME HOMEOWNERS, THEY MIGHT PREFER A DIFFERENT TYPE OF TREE.

AND KNOWING THAT THERE ARE SO MANY OPTIONS OUT THERE THAT WOULD HELP TOO.

AND THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THIS ORDINANCE DOES, IS IT ESTABLISHES A PROTECTED TREE VARIETY.

AND THAT WOULD BE PRESENT IN THE ORDINANCE FOR HOMEOWNERS TO BASICALLY LOOK AT.

GREAT. AND COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES.

GOT IT. WE GOT IT. ALL RIGHT.

TODAY'S THE WORST FOR THIS.

I KNOW, I KNOW I AM ALSO EXCITED KNOWING THAT THE TREES IN OUR CITY, IN BOTH OUR PUBLIC AND OUR PRIVATE FOREST, BENEFIT ALL OF US AND IT'S SPECIFIC IN THE ORDINANCE THAT THEY SEQUESTER CO2 AND HELP WITH OUR EROSION AND STORM WATER, SO I'M THANKFUL FOR THIS.

I DID HAVE A FEW FOLKS TALK TO ME ABOUT THIS.

MOST PEOPLE ARE EXCITED, BUT THEY HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT IF YOU'RE BUILDING A HOUSE AND THE TREE IS IN THE WAY OF THE HOUSE, CAN YOU REMOVE THAT TREE AND PLANT A DIFFERENT TREE? OR IF THERE'S NOT ROOM ON YOUR LOT, CAN YOU PLANT A TREE? I KNOW THAT THOSE WERE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE IN THE PRESENTATION, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF DETAILED QUESTIONS.

WHERE DO PEOPLE GO IF THEY HAVE THOSE KIND OF DETAILED QUESTIONS? YEAH. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT BASED ON THE WAY THE ORDINANCE IS WRITTEN NOW, IT WOULD APPLY TO TREES THAT ARE WITHIN TEN FEET OF THE BUILDING FOOTPRINT THAT WE WOULD KIND OF IDENTIFY THOSE AS PROTECTED TREES.

AND THEY BASICALLY ANYTHING WITHIN THAT TEN FOOT SETBACK COULD BE TAKEN DOWN FROM THE HOUSE.

OBVIOUSLY THERE WOULD BE SOME MITIGATION REQUIREMENTS THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS.

AS I MENTIONED, WE HAVE TO MAKE THAT INDIVIDUALIZED DETERMINATION.

WHAT WAS THE REST OF YOUR QUESTION? SO WHERE DO PEOPLE GO FOR QUESTIONS? I SEE THAT YOUR PLAN, IT SAYS IN PART D HERE, THE TREE INVENTORY PLAN AND TREE PROTECTION PLAN MUST BE REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY FORESTER.

IS THAT WHERE PEOPLE WOULD GO IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT TO DO? I WOULD SAY SO. OUR CITY FORESTER IS AN EXPERT ON HIS FIELD, AND HE IS ONE OF THE SMARTEST PEOPLE IN HIS FIELD THAT I'VE ENCOUNTERED, SO I WOULD DEFINITELY DIRECT THEM TO LIAM. THANK YOU.

I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT THERE'S THAT THERE'S THIS PLAN THAT EACH PERSON WILL NEED TO MAKE OF HOW YOU'RE GOING TO KEEP YOUR TREES AND MANAGE THEM.

AND IT'S AN INTERACTIVE PROCESS.

SO IF YOU HAVE TREES THAT YOU WANT TO GO, LIKE YOU HAD MENTIONED DIFFERENT KINDS OF TREES.

BUT IN GENERAL, WE'RE OUR GOAL HERE IS TO HAVE THESE PROTECTED TREES KEEP OUR URBAN FOREST WELL.

AND SO YOU UNDERSTAND KIND OF HOW THIS WILL PROBABLY LOOK LIKE WHEN IT IS IMPLEMENTED.

WE WOULDN'T BE REQUESTING LIKE A FULL ON TREE INVENTORY UNLESS IT'S FOR LIKE PROJECTS OF SCALE.

WE'D BASICALLY JUST BE LOOKING FOR THE OWNER OR THE SURVEYOR TO JUST CALL OUT SIGNIFICANT TREES ON THAT PROPERTY SO THAT WE CAN KIND OF PROACTIVELY TAKE

[01:20:08]

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS.

JUST TO FOR CLARIFICATION, THIS IS NOT THIS DOES NOT ADDRESS ANY OF THE DISEASE TREES THAT MAY BE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY AT THIS TIME.

THERE IS A SECTION THAT'S A SEPARATE ISSUE.

THERE'S A SECTION IN THE ORDINANCE THAT DESCRIBES HOW TO REMOVE PROTECTED OR DISEASE TREES.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. AND I'LL JUST KIND OF RESTATE WHAT YOU HAD SAID THAT THIS IS THERE'S ALSO A CASE BY CASE THAT, YOU KNOW, THINGS WOULD BE LOOKED AT.

AND SO THE GOAL ISN'T TO STOP FROM SOMEONE FROM DEVELOPING A SPACE OR WORKING ON THEIR HOUSE.

IT'S REALLY JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ISN'T A CLEAR CUTTING OF JUST ALL THE TREES IN THE PROPERTY, IF THEY COULD BE SAVED, IS ONE PART OF THIS.

SO REALLY IN MOST CASE WHEN PEOPLE REACH OUT TO ME, I'M GENERALLY SENDING THEM RIGHT OVER TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TO GET ANSWERS TO THEIR QUESTIONS.

BUT WE REALLY DO WANT TO WORK WITH PEOPLE.

SO THESE ARE JUST CREATED.

THE ORDINANCE IS CREATED TO HELP US HAVE A STRONG WORDING FOR WHAT IT IS, SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD IN THIS PROCESS.

SO AND THE OTHER PART OF IT I'D SAY, IS THAT THE ORDINANCE ALSO ESTABLISHES SOIL VOLUMES.

SO I THINK THE INTENT IS BASICALLY TO JUST ENSURE THAT WHEN WE DO REQUIRE A DEVELOPER TO INSTALL TREES, THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY GETTING THEM TO REACH FULL MATURITY.

BECAUSE OTHERWISE IT DOESN'T REALLY SERVE A PURPOSE FOR US OR THE DEVELOPER.

I THINK THAT'S GREAT.

ALSO, WE ARE A TREE CITY.

SO I THINK THAT IT'S GREAT WE'RE DOING THIS AND THAT.

I MEAN, I AM A TREE HUGGER.

I LOVE TREES, AND WE HAVE SOME GLORIOUS HUGE COTTONWOOD TREES IN THE CITY.

AND ALSO AND JUST TO SAY HOW MUCH OUR CITY IS ALREADY SUPPORTING TREES, WE ARE A TREE CITY.

WE ALWAYS HAVE AN ARBOR DAY EVENT THAT OUR CITY FORESTER IS AT.

WE PLANT A TREE AND WE USUALLY HAVE A SCHOOL AS A PART OF THAT.

THIS PAST MONTH WE HAD IMMACULATE CONCEPTION SCHOOL HELPING WITH THAT.

AND, AND WE HAVE A CITY FORESTER.

SO WE VALUE IT SO MUCH THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE A CITY FORESTER EMPLOYED FULL TIME AT OUR CITY.

SO I JUST WANT TO SAY HOW MUCH WE ARE ALREADY BEHIND OUR LOVE OF TREES.

IF THERE'S NO OTHER QUESTIONS, THEN I HAVE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING.

MOVE AWAY. MOVE TO THE READING OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 1696 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 9.106.

GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS OF THE CITY CODE OF 2005 TO ESTABLISH TREE.

OOPS I'M SORRY, I DROPPED DOWN TO THE WRONG NUMBER 21.

MOVE TO WAIVE THE READING OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 1696, THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

THERE YOU GO. SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING AND SEEING AS NONE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES AND NEXT WE HAVE A MOTION TO SET THE SECOND READING.

MOVE TO SET THE SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE AMENDMENT NUMBER 1696, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 9.106, GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS OF THE CITY CODE TO 2005, TO ESTABLISH TREE PRESERVATION AND PLANTING STANDARDS FOR MAY 28TH, 2024.

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

ANY DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS? SEEING AND HEARING AS NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES.

THANK YOU. AND YOUR LAST ONE, ANDREW.

ITEM NUMBER 22.

THE FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 1697, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 9.107, SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS FOR DAYCARE CENTERS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, WE HAVE A ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT ON BEHALF FROM JDA DESIGN APPLICANTS INCORPORATED ON BEHALF OF MOHAMMED ABDUL, THE PROPERTY OWNER AT 2201 37TH AVENUE NORTHEAST.

MR. ABDUL IS IN ATTENDANCE AND THEN JOHN WITH JDA DESIGN IS IN THE TEAM'S MEETING.

HE DROPPED OUT.

JDA DESIGN ARCHITECTS INCORPORATED, REPRESENTING MOHAMMED ABDUL OF 2201 37TH AVENUE NORTHEAST, HAS MADE AN APPLICATION FOR A ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT PROPOSING TO AMEND 9.107 SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS FOR DAYCARE CENTERS.

THE APPLICANT IS SPECIFICALLY PROPOSING TO MODIFY 16C A THE REQUIREMENT THAT CHILD DAYCARE CENTERS SHALL PROVIDE AT LEAST 75FT² OF OUTDOOR PLAY AREA PER CHILD.

THE ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT IS IDENTICAL TO THE ADULT DAYCARE CENTER LANGUAGE, ALLOWING FOR THE SUBMISSION OF A WRITTEN PLAN TO USE A PUBLIC PARK WITHIN 1500 FEET OF THE PROPERTY, AND THAT WRITTEN PLAN IS SUBJECT TO APPROVAL OF THE CITY MANAGER OR THEIR DESIGNEE IF THERE IS NOT SUFFICIENT ONSITE PLAY AREA.

[01:25:02]

THE ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT THAT THE APPLICANT HAS PRESENTED IS THE SAME LANGUAGE FOR THE ADULT DAYCARE AS FOR CHILD.

THE PROPOSED ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT BRINGS THE CITY CODE INTO ALIGNMENT WITH MINNESOTA STATE STATUTE 9502.0425 PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTS. OUR CODE IS KIND OF A MISMATCH OF THE ADULT DAYCARE CENTER LANGUAGE COMPLIES WITH STATE LAW, AND THEN THE LANGUAGE ON CHILD DAYCARE CENTERS IS MORE RESTRICTIVE.

CITIES CAN BE MORE RESTRICTIVE.

WE CANNOT BE LESS RESTRICTIVE THAN THE STATE.

THE ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT IS REQUIRED IS SUBJECT TO THE REQUIRED FINDINGS FOR 9.104F.

STAFF HAS WORKED WITH THE OWNER OF THE 2201 37TH AVENUE NORTHEAST PROPERTY.

THIS WAS PREVIOUSLY THE UNIQUE THRIFT SHOP.

WE PREVIOUSLY BROUGHT A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR A BANQUET HALL EVENT CENTER LAST SUMMER.

IN THAT PROCESS, THE APPLICANT WAS PROPOSING A FEW OTHER SPECULATIVE OFFICE AND RETAIL SPACES.

SOME OF THOSE INCLUDED A MARKET WITH A PHARMACY, OTHERS WAS JUST OFFICE SPACE, A RESTAURANT, AND THEN A DAYCARE TENT EMERGED THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH ON A BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATION UNDER THE CURRENT CODE REQUIREMENTS.

SO THE APPLICANT IS PREPARED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH BUILDING THE ON SITE PLAY AREA ON SITE.

BUT THAT DOES LIMIT THE TOTAL OCCUPANCY OF THE DAYCARE CENTER TO APPROXIMATELY 37.

THEIR BUILDING OCCUPANCY ALLOWS FOR MORE, BUT RIGHT NOW THEY'RE CURRENTLY CONSTRAINED BY THAT ON SITE PLAY AREA REQUIREMENT.

STAFF HAS EXAMINED EXISTING DAYCARE FACILITIES AND THEIR OUTDOOR PLAY AREAS, ZONING DISTRICTS THAT ALLOW CHILD AND ADULT DAYCARE FACILITIES AS USES, AND THEN IDENTIFYING PARKS WITHIN 1500 FEET OF ANY COMMERCIALLY ZONED PROPERTIES TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF THE PROPOSED ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT.

THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 11 EXISTING CHILD DAYCARE CENTERS THAT THIS AMENDMENT WOULD APPLY TO, BUT THE MAJORITY OF THESE FACILITIES ALL APPEAR TO HAVE ON SITE PLAY AREAS, AS MANY ARE CENTERED AROUND EITHER SCHOOL FACILITIES OR PLACES OF WORSHIP WHERE THEY KIND OF HAVE THOSE FACILITIES ON HAND.

EXISTING CHILD DAYCARE CENTERS WOULD POTENTIALLY BE ABLE TO EXPAND THEIR OPERATIONS IF THEY'RE LIMITED BY THAT OUTDOOR PLAY AREA REQUIREMENT, BUT THE AMENDMENT WOULD LIKELY BE MOST APPLICABLE TO NEWER PROVIDERS THAT ARE COMING IN.

STAFF ALSO REVIEWED THE CITY CODE REQUIREMENTS FOR ANDOVER, BIG LAKE, MAPLE GROVE, MINNEAPOLIS, MINNETONKA, RIDGEFIELD, ROSEVILLE AND SAINT PAUL TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW CITIES ARE REGULATING DAYCARE FACILITIES AND ROVER RICHFIELD AND ROSEVILLE DO NOT HAVE SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS AND ADHERE TO THE STATE REQUIREMENTS.

BIG LAKE, MAPLE GROVE, AND SAINT PAUL REQUIRE THAT PLAY AREAS FOR DAYCARES BE ENCLOSED BY A FENCE, WHICH KIND OF RULES OUT PUBLIC PARKS IN THAT SITUATION.

AND THEN MINNEAPOLIS HAS A PROVISION ALLOWING FOR PUBLIC PARKS TO BE USED ACCESSORY TO A CHILDCARE CENTER.

SO THERE'S A VARIETY SOME HAVE CHOSEN TO JUST NOT ADDRESS IT AND LET THE STATE LAW DECIDE.

OTHERS ARE MORE RESTRICTIVE AND THEN OTHERS MINNEAPOLIS, FOR EXAMPLE, HAS JUST MADE EXPLICITLY CLEAR THAT THIS CAN BE USED ACCESSORY TO A CHILD DAYCARE FUNCTION. THE APPLICABLE PARKS.

THE PROPOSED TEXT AMENDMENT WOULD NOT BE APPLICABLE TO EVERY CITY PARK, JUST THOSE WITHIN 1500 FEET OF A COMMERCIALLY ZONED PROPERTY WHERE FUTURE CHILD DAYCARE CENTER COULD PROPOSE A WRITTEN PLAN TO USE ONE OF THESE PARKS.

THE REMAINING PARKS ARE EITHER OUTSIDE THAT DISTANCE ALLOWED, OR THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY COMMERCIALLY ZONED PROPERTIES WITHIN THAT DISTANCE THAT WOULD BE APPLICABLE.

SO WE IDENTIFIED SIX PARKS THAT THIS WOULD APPLY TO, AND THEN KIND OF TREATED THIS SIMILARLY TO HOW WE WOULD A DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL, WHERE WE IDENTIFIED THE RESIDENTS THAT WERE WITHIN 350FT OF EACH OF THE PARKS, AND THEN SENT THEM A NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING.

THE SIX PARKS ARE EDGEMOOR, GAVETTE, HOUSTON, LABELLE, PRESTON AND SULLIVAN LAKE PARK.

AND WE FELT THAT IF IF WE'RE GOING TO KIND OF ALLOW FOR THIS PROVISION FOR A PARK TO BE USED THIS WAY, THAT WE WANTED TO HEAR FROM THE PEOPLE MOST LIKELY TO BE USING THOSE PARKS TO KIND OF GET THEIR FEEDBACK.

THERE ARE FOUR REQUIRED FINDINGS FOR THE ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT, THE FIRST BEING THAT THE AMENDMENT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

THE SECOND IS THAT IT IS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST AND NOT SOLELY FOR THE BENEFIT OF A SINGLE PROPERTY OWNER.

WE'VE KIND OF LOOKED AND DETERMINED THAT THIS WOULD APPLY TO ALL THE DAYCARE CENTERS C URRENT PROPOSED.

AND THEN LOOKING AT THE 2017 PROPOSAL FOR THE ADULT DAYCARE CENTER, IT WAS CLEAR THAT THIS WAS A ROADBLOCK THAT HAD PREVENTED MULTIPLE PROSPECTIVE DAYCARE PROVIDERS FROM OPENING OR EVEN PURSUING IT BASED ON THAT REQUIREMENT.

[01:30:07]

THERE IS NO ZONING CLASSIFICATION CHANGE BEING MADE.

SO THOSE TWO KIND OF LIKE THE LANDSCAPING ONE DO NOT APPLY HERE.

PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 350FT OF THE SIX PARKS THAT WERE LISTED WERE SENT A NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BECAUSE WE REALLY WANTED TO GIVE THEM TIME TO MAKE THEIR COMMENTS KNOWN.

I WOULD SAY THAT WE'VE GOTTEN QUITE A BIT OF RESPONSE I THINK WE'VE GOT 5 OR 6 WRITTEN COMMENTS THAT ARE SUBMITTED, 5 OF WHICH ARE ATTACHED TO YOUR PACKET.

THE 6TH CAME IN SLIGHTLY AFTER THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING.

SO YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED A COPY OF THE LETTER THAT CAME SUBMITTED.

WE REALLY JUST WANTED TO GIVE THE PUBLIC AMPLE NOTICE OF THIS AND TO REALLY MAKE THEIR OPINIONS KNOWN SO THAT WE CAN KIND OF UNDERSTAND IF THIS GOES THROUGH, WHAT STAFF WOULD BE LOOKING FOR IN THAT WRITTEN PLAN.

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, POLICE DEPARTMENT AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS HAVE ALL BEEN PROVIDED COPIES OF THE APPLICATION MATERIALS AND HAD NO CONCERNS REGARDING THE AMENDMENT TO ALLOW CHILD DAYCARE FACILITIES TO USE A PUBLIC PARK IN LIEU OF AN ONSITE PLAY AREA.

THE BUILDING OFFICIAL HAS PROVIDED A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING REGARDING ACCESSIBILITY AND ON PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT AT DAYCARE FACILITIES.

THE CITY ATTORNEY IS HERE IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING LIABILITY.

MY UNDERSTANDING BASED ON THOSE CONVERSATIONS IS THAT THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE AN ABILITY FOR THE CITY TO REQUIRE A WAIVER OF LIABILITY.

AND BASED ON MY UNDERSTANDING AND, SCOTT, FEEL FREE TO JUMP IN IF YOU WANT, BUT I DON'T M Y UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE ANY LIABILITY CONCERNS.

SHOULD SOMEONE BE ABLE TO USE A PUBLIC PARK FOR THIS PURPOSE? AM I CORRECT IN THAT ASSUMPTION SCOTT? THAT'S CORRECT.

EXCELLENT. THE FOLLOWING.

ZONING ORDINANCE.

MODIFICATION TO CITY CODE 9.107 SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS IS RECOMMENDED BY STAFF AND HIGHLIGHTED IN RED.

WE ARE PROPOSING THE FOLLOWING LANGUAGE FOR CHILD DAYCARE FACILITIES AT LEAST 75FT² OF OUTDOOR PLAY AREA SHALL BE PROVIDED FOR EACH CHILD UNDER CARE.

IF THERE IS NOT SUFFICIENT SPACE FOR AN OUTDOOR PLAY AREA ON SITE, THEN THE PROPERTY OWNER MAY SUBMIT A WRITTEN PROPOSAL DEMONSTRATING RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN UNDER THE FACILITY'S CARE WILL BE PROVIDED OFF SITE WITHIN 1500 FEET OF THE FACILITY.

AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT BASED ON THE COMMENTS WE RECEIVED FROM THE PUBLIC THAT STAFF WOULD BE ANTICIPATING, THAT WRITTEN PLAN TO ADDRESS ARE THE HOURS OF INTENSITY OF OPERATION, FREQUENCY OF USE, STAFF ON HAND TO SUPERVISE THE CHILDREN AND REMOVE ANY GARBAGE FROM THE USE, HOW THE CHILDREN WILL BE SAFELY TRANSPORTED TO AND FROM THE PARK, AND WHETHER THE PARK IN QUESTION HAS ADEQUATE PROGRAMING REFLECTIVE TO THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN BEING SERVED.

THE ONLY PARK THAT REALLY CAME INTO QUESTION, OR THAT PEOPLE HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT IS LAPEL OR LABELLE.

SORRY ABOUT THAT. AND SO I THINK WE'D LOOK AT THAT ONE A LITTLE BIT MORE SPECIFICALLY SHOULD ANY PROPOSALS COME IN.

AND I WILL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS.

I ATTENDED THE PLANNING COMMISSION AS A LIAISON FOR THE CITY COUNCIL, AND ONE THING I LEARNED IS WE HAVE 13 DAYCARE CENTERS IN OUR CITY AT THIS TIME. THERE WAS QUITE A FEW PEOPLE.

THE ROOM WAS PRETTY MUCH FULL OF FOLKS FOR AND AGAINST THIS ORDINANCE.

FOLKS THAT WERE AGAINST IT WERE CONCERNED OF LIABILITY, WHICH WAS ADDRESSED ALREADY BY OUR CITY ATTORNEY.

THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN.

IF THIS PARTICULAR ONE AT UNIQUE HAD 60 KIDS, WERE THEY PLANNING ON BRINGING ALL 60 KIDS? THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THE KIDS WOULD GET THERE AND BACK AND, AND I'M HOPING THAT THEY WOULDN'T LEAVE A MESS BEHIND.

SO THERE WERE A LOT OF CONCERNS LISTING THAT.

HOWEVER, WE SENT NOTICES OUT AT THE MEETING I BELIEVE THEY SAID A THOUSAND RESIDENTS WERE NOTIFIED OF THIS.

AND I THINK UP TO THE PEOPLE THAT WROTE THE LETTERS, SEVERAL OF THOSE WERE AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING AND SPOKE.

SO MAYBE THERE WAS MAYBE 10, 15 OUT OF THE THOUSAND THAT CAME OUT AND PROTESTED AGAINST IT.

THE ONLY ONE QUESTION THAT CAME UP THAT I HAD A CONCERN ABOUT IS RESTROOMS. DO WE HAVE RESTROOMS AT THESE PARKS BY THE PLAY AREAS FOR THESE KIDS? OKAY. SO WE ALL BECAUSE I DIDN'T GET I WAS GOING TO GO OVER TO PRESTON AND I COULD SEE FROM A MAP IT LOOKED LIKE THERE WAS A RESTROOM NEXT TO THE PLAYGROUND, BUT I WASN'T SURE, AND I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO RUN OVER THERE TO LOOK.

BUT WE DO PROVIDE THAT, AND IF THERE ISN'T ONE, THEY WILL PROVIDE IT.

[01:35:04]

RIGHT. BUT ARE THEY NEAR THE PLAYGROUNDS? BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE KIDS WOULD BE FOR SOME.

SOME OF THEM, YOU HAVE TO WALK ACROSS THE PARK TO GET TO.

SO THAT'S THE QUESTION I HAVE WITH THESE, I DON'T IT'S A DAYCARE, SO YOU CAN HAVE KIDS OF ALL AGES.

THEY SAID THE BABIES WON'T BE GOING OVER TO THE TODDLERS, BUT THE OLDER KIDS, IT MIGHT BE A TRIP FOR THEM TO WALK ACROSS THE PARK FROM THE PLAYGROUND.

SO THAT'S MY ONLY CONCERN, IS THAT THE RESTROOMS, THERE'D BE SOMETHING CLOSE TO WHERE THEY WOULD BE USING THE PARK.

SO, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, I CAN'T ANSWER THAT RIGHT NOW, PARK BY PARK.

BUT YOU'RE RIGHT. I THINK YOU CAN HAVE SEVERAL EXAMPLES, OR AT LEAST A FEW EXAMPLES, I SHOULD SAY WHERE THE RESTROOMS AREN'T IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT OR CLOSE TO A PLAYGROUND OR PLAY AREA EQUIPMENT.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE'D HAVE TO LOOK AT FOR LOCATION.

OKAY. AND WE CAN BE SOMETHING THE CITY WOULD BE AMENABLE TO OFFERING IF THIS ORDINANCE PASSED AND THEY SUBMITTED THEIR PLANS AS FAR AS RESTROOM ACCESS AT THE PLAYGROUND, IS THAT SOMETHING WE'D WORK WITH THEM ON OR.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

AND I THINK THAT WAS IT.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES.

THANK YOU. I READ CAREFULLY ALL OF THE COMMENTS FROM PUBLIC, AND THERE WERE SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO COMMENTED ABOUT SCHOOLS, AND I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD SHARE WITH US WHAT ARE THE CURRENT RULES FOR IT SAYS PUBLIC PRIVATE CHARTER SCHOOLS AND HOW THEY MAY USE OUR PUBLIC PARKS.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THERE IS A CARVE OUT IN THAT SECTION OF STATE CODE REFERENCE THAT DOES ALLOW FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO USE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, PUBLIC RECREATIONAL FACILITIES SUCH AS PARKS.

THANK YOU. SO I KNOW FROM IN THE PAST, WE'VE HAD CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS USING OUR CITY PARKS.

AND I KNOW OTHER CITIES HAVE THAT AS WELL WHERE THERE'S SCHOOLS THAT USE THEM.

AND THESE DAYCARES THEY'RE JUST THIS REQUESTED REQUIREMENT IS TO BRING IT IN LINE WITH STATE STATUTE.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

AND IF I CAN JUST ELABORATE ON THAT, THERE'S NOTHING THAT WOULD PREVENT ANOTHER GROUP SAY THERE'S A DAYCARE OR A SCHOOL OUTSIDE OF CITY LIMITS.

THERE'S NOTHING TO MY KNOWLEDGE THAT WOULD PREVENT THEM FROM USING THE PARK AS IS.

SO THEY COULD JUST KIND OF COME FROM OUT OF TOWN, USE THAT AMENITY, AND THERE REALLY WOULDN'T BE ANY FORM OF RECOURSE.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS.

I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH BRINGING IT INTO COMPLIANCE WITH ADULT DAYCARE USE.

BUT I HAVE SOME CONCERNS WITH CHILDREN.

HOW THEY'RE GOING TO GET THERE.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF OVERSIGHT THAT NEEDS TO BE HAD THAT.

FORTUNATELY, WE'RE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT OVERSIGHT.

I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH HAVING A MUCH LARGER NUMBER OF OF CHILDREN IN, IN THAT DAYCARE.

BUT I'M REALLY LOOKING AT THIS LETTER FROM RYAN SMITH, OUR BUILDING OFFICIAL, WHO IS ASKING US TO TO KEEP PLAYGROUNDS ON SITE.

THAT CARRIES A LOT OF WEIGHT FOR ME.

IF I CAN JUST TOUCH ON THAT BRIEFLY.

BASED ON MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE MEMO AND DISCUSSIONS WITH MY DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR A LOT OF THOSE CONCERNS ARE REGARDING WHETHER OR NOT IF SOMEONE COMES IN AND BASICALLY MAKES A REQUEST OR BASICALLY TRIES TO VERIFY THAT SOMETHING IS ADA ACCESSIBLE THERE'S SOMETIMES GROUPS THAT WILL DO THAT JUST TO PROVE WHETHER OR NOT SOMETHING IS ACCESSIBLE.

SO IT'S KIND OF MY PERSPECTIVE THAT THE MEMO DOESN'T NECESSARILY CHANGE THE OVERLYING ISSUES.

THOSE ARE STILL ISSUES REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THIS PROPOSAL GETS ACCEPTED.

WE WOULD STILL BE IN THAT SAME POSITION WHERE THERE WOULD BE ACCESSIBILITY CONCERNS, REGARDLESS IF THIS WAS APPROVED OR NOT, THOSE CONCERNS WOULDN'T GO AWAY.

BECAUSE I'M, YOU KNOW, I'M LOOKING AT HIS HIS POINTS INCLUSIVITY, PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT LEGAL COMPLIANCE, SOCIAL INTERACTION, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, YOU GET DOWN TO THE END OF HIS MEMO CONSIDERING THE IMPORTANCE OF ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSIVITY.

AND HE'S REFERRING TO THE ABILITY FOR PRIVATELY OWNED ENTITIES TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE EQUIPMENT THAT WILL BEST SERVE THE CHILDREN IN THEIR DAYCARE. FOSTERS POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS.

CONSIDERING THE IMPORTANCE OF ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSIVITY, I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER KEEPING OUTDOOR DAYCARE PLAYGROUNDS ON SITE IN THE HANDS OF THE PROPRIETOR SO THE EQUIPMENT AND CONDITIONS CAN BE QUICKLY ADAPTED TO THE NEEDS OF THE CHILDREN.

AND IF I CAN JUST TOUCH ON THAT, THE APPLICANT HAS A CURRENT BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATION IN UNDER THE CURRENT REQUIREMENTS.

SO THEY'RE VERY COMFORTABLE MEETING EITHER STANDARD.

THIS WOULD JUST LIKE.

HOW BIG WOULD THAT DAYCARE FACILITY BE IF IT WERE IF THEY HAD TO HAD TO KEEP IT ON SITE? AT 37, THAT WOULD BE THE THE CAP BASED ON THE OUTDOOR PLAY AREA.

[01:40:05]

THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS SORRY, I FORGOT TO MENTION THE OTHER SIDE OF THE GROUP THAT WAS AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION WHO WERE FOR ALLOWING THE PARKS TO BE USED BY DAYCARE.

PEOPLE WERE FORGETTING THAT THESE ARE PROFESSIONALS.

THEY'VE BEEN EDUCATED AND LICENSED IN DAYCARE.

THEIR NUMBER ONE CRITERIA ONE CONCERN IS MAKING SURE THAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE SAFE AND THAT THEY WOULDN'T PUT THEM IN JEOPARDY.

SO THAT PART OF THE THINKING THROUGH THE PLANS OF HOW THEY WOULD DO IT, THAT'S PART OF THEIR JOB.

SO I'M CONFIDENT THAT THE DAYCARE CENTERS, BECAUSE THEY'RE LICENSED BY THE STATE, IF SOMETHING HAPPENS, THEY COULD LOSE THAT LICENSE.

I MEAN, THEY'RE GOING TO BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT KIDS CAN GO, HOW OLD THEY ARE.

THEY MENTIONED THAT BABIES AREN'T GOING, THE TODDLERS AREN'T GOING, BUT THE OLDER CHILDREN THAT THEY TAKE CARE OF AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE KIDS, ACCESSIBILITY. AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE SEEN SOME OF THE DAYCARE PLAYGROUNDS AND THEY DON'T ALWAYS AREN'T ALWAYS INCLUSIVE.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE THE STANDARD PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT.

AND IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE TO PUT IN AN ALL INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND, WHICH HOPEFULLY SOMEDAY WE HAVE.

BUT THESE PEOPLE ARE TRAINED AND WELL EDUCATED.

IF I CAN JUST KIND OF EXPAND ON THAT.

ONE OF THE ARGUMENTS TO BE MADE FOR THIS IS ALSO IF A BUSINESS DECIDES TO FOREGO THAT ON SITE PLAY AREA, THIS APPLICANT IS NOT THIS APPLICANT IS PREPARED TO MEET THE CURRENT REQUIREMENTS AS WELL AS PROPOSING TO CHANGE THE REQUIREMENTS.

BUT SAY A BUSINESS COMES IN AND THEY DECIDE TO FOREGO THE ON SITE PLAY AREA TO PURSUE JUST THE USE OF THE PUBLIC PARK.

IT'S MY PERSPECTIVE AS STAFF THAT IF A BUSINESS IS GOING TO IF THIS PARTICULAR BUSINESS WERE TO RELY ON PROVIDING THAT AMENITY OFF SITE ENTIRELY, THEN THAT WOULD BE A REALLY STRONG INCENTIVE TO FOLLOW THEIR WRITTEN PLAN TO THE DOT, BECAUSE AT THAT POINT, THEY'RE BASICALLY ASKING FOR PERMISSION TO USE PUBLIC AMENITY FOR THEIR BUSINESS FUNCTION.

IF THEY WERE TO EVER BE CONFLICTS WITH THE REGULAR USERS OF THE PARK OR ANY CONFLICTS WITH THAT WRITTEN PLAN WE COULD REVOKE THEIR PERMISSION TO USE THAT PARK AND SUDDENLY THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO DO THEIR BUSINESS.

SO I THINK THERE IS A VERY STRONG INCENTIVE NOT TO INTERFERE.

NOT NECESSARILY INTERFERE. JUST MAKE SURE THAT THEIR USE OF IT IS VERY CLEARLY ACCESSORY TO THE REGULAR USERS OF THE PARK, IF I MAY.

I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS.

I THINK I'M GOING TO ABSTAIN FROM THIS VOTE, AND I'M GOING TO SHARE WITH YOU A STORY WHY MY YOUNGEST CHILD WAS IN A LICENSED DAYCARE FACILITY AND HIS ARM, HE HAS A ABOUT A 12 OR 13 INCH SCAR DOWN THE INSIDE OF HIS ARM, WHERE HE WAS RIPPED OPEN BY A CUP HOOK BY LICENSED DAYCARE.

HE HAD 120 STITCHES ON THE INSIDE OF HIS ARM BEFORE THEY CLOSED HIM UP.

I'M SORRY TO HEAR THAT. SO I'M GOING TO ABSTAIN FROM THIS.

I'M VERY THIS IS A VERY EMOTIONAL SUBJECT FOR ME.

AND LICENSED LICENSES, THEY ARE THEY ARE IN PLACE AND THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO A JOB.

BUT THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS HAPPEN.

AND I THINK CHILD SAFETY IS FIRST AND FOREMOST.

SO THANK YOU. I'M SORRY TO HEAR THAT.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORY.

COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES.

I KNOW THAT THERE OUR WHOLE STATE IS IN A CHILD CARE SHORTAGE.

I WAS JUST DOING SOME RESEARCH WITH THE LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES, AND THEY ESTIMATE THAT THERE'S OVER 40,000 CHILD CARE SPOTS NEEDED IN THE TWIN CITIES THAT WE DON'T HAVE.

AND THIS REALLY AFFECTS OUR LOCAL ECONOMY, PEOPLE CAN'T WORK.

AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT AS WE CAN INCREASE THE SUPPLY OF CHILD CARE, THE AFFORDABILITY CAN GO DOWN.

THEY SAID THAT THE AVERAGE PAY FOR PER CHILD IN MINNESOTA IS GETTING CLOSE TO $20,000 A YEAR FOR CHILD CARE, AND I KNOW THAT IT CAN BE LESS OR MORE THAN THAT.

BUT I KNOW THIS IS BEYOND JUST ONE APPLICANT.

I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN USE OUR CITY PARKS SO THAT PEOPLE CAN OPEN LICENSED, SAFE DAYCARES SO THAT WE CAN INCREASE THE CHILD CARE OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE.

WE NEED THAT IN OUR CITIES BECAUSE THERE'S A MIX OF FACTORS THAT ALLOW PEOPLE TO WORK, AND ONE IS HAVING CHILD CARE.

SO I'M I'M THINKING THAT THIS IS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO ENGAGE IN A PROCESS WITH CHILD CARE PROVIDERS ABOUT HOW THEY CAN TAKE A RISK TO SET UP A NEW BUSINESS, BUT HOPEFULLY ALSO HELP OUR WHOLE CITY AND THE WHOLE METRO AREA.

THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS IS THAT THIS IF STAFF HAS A WRITTEN PLAN, WE KIND OF HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW OUR PARKS ARE BEING USED WHEN THEY'RE BEING USED, THE INTENSITY.

SO THAT JUST KIND OF HELPS US FROM A MAINTENANCE AND A PROGRAMING STANDPOINT, JUST BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW OUR PARKS ARE BEING USED.

THANK YOU.

SOME THINGS I'D LIKE TO ADD IS THAT I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A VERY THIS IS AN EQUITY CONCERN FOR NEW BUSINESSES.

FOR US TO ASK A NEW BUSINESS TO HAVE TO PAY, TO BUILD, BASICALLY A STRUCTURE, IT COULD EVEN JUST BE IN A HOT BLACKTOP PARKING LOT

[01:45:06]

MEANWHILE, WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL PARK, YOU KNOW, SAFE, SAFE DISTANCE AWAY.

SO I THINK THAT'S JUST SAYING THAT A, A NEW BUSINESS HAS TO NOW HAVE THOSE CHARGES.

WHEN, YOU KNOW, THOSE FINANCIAL, FINANCIAL COSTS, WHEN THERE'S A PUBLIC SPACE THAT THEY COULD USE.

AS WE KNOW, DAYCARES CAN USE PUBLIC PARKS ANYWAY, SO THEY MAY HAVE THEIR OWN PARK BUT STILL USE THOSE PARKS.

SO I THINK IT'S GREAT TO HAVE CHILDREN IN OUR PARKS.

I THINK WE'VE HAD AN AGING COMMUNITY OF WHERE THE CHILDREN HAVE KIND OF LEFT AND GROWN UP AND LEFT, AND NOW WE HAVE NEW FAMILIES COMING IN.

AND THERE'S NOTHING I, YOU KNOW, HEAR MORE ABOUT WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT CHILDREN IS I NEVER SEE KIDS PLAYING OUTSIDE.

THEY'RE ALWAYS PLAYING VIDEO GAMES OR ON THEIR PHONE.

SO WE DEFINITELY WANT TO SEE KIDS IN OUR PARKS.

IF WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE IN OUR PARKS, IT MAKES OUR PARKS SAFER AS WELL.

SO I THINK THAT'S A GREAT THING.

AND ALL THE CHILDREN THAT ARE IN THESE PARKS, THEY'RE LEARNING ABOUT COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, THEY'RE LEARNING MORE ABOUT THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN THEY'RE GOING ON WALKS.

AND THEY'RE LEARNING ABOUT A COMMUNITY, AND MAYBE THEY COME IN FOR DAYCARE AND THEY LEAVE AND THEY LIVE IN A DIFFERENT CITY.

BUT MEANWHILE THEY'RE HAVING A GOOD EXPERIENCE, AND MAYBE THEIR FAMILIES WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO COLUMBIA HEIGHTS TO BE CLOSER.

SO I THINK THOSE ARE SOME REALLY GREAT REASONS TO SUPPORT THIS.

AND I JUST I THINK THAT THIS WOULD BE A GREAT MOVE FOR US AND LIKE WE SAID, ALSO BRINGING YOU UP TO STATE CODE.

SO THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT, THEN, IF I COULD HAVE A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER 22.

MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND WAIVE THE READING OF DRAFT ORDINANCE.

SORRY, IT'S NOT A PUBLIC HEARING.

OH, OH. MOVE TO CLOSE.

MOVE TO WAIVE THE DISCUSSION.

NOPE. ON NUMBER 22.

MOVE TO WAIVE THE READING OF ORDINANCE.

OKAY. GOTCHA. MOVE TO WAIVE THE READING OF DRAFT ORDINANCE AMENDMENT NUMBER 1697 THERE BEING AN AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

SECOND. JUST WHERE DO YOU SEE THE WORD DRAFT? I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE.

I'M READING IT RIGHT HERE IN FRONT BECAUSE I, ON THE SCREEN THEY HAVE.

YEAH. ON THE SCREEN. IS THAT CORRECT? ONE THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN HOW IT LOOKS ON ON OUR AGENDA.

MY APOLOGIES. THAT'S OKAY.

OKAY. LET ME MOVE IT UP HERE.

OKAY. NUMBER 21.

NO. 22 OKAY.

LET'S START OVER. SORRY.

MOVE TO WAIVE THE READING OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 1697.

THERE BEING AN AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES TO WAIVE THE READING.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING AS NOT. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. AND COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS YOU'RE ABSTAINING FROM THAT AS WELL.

OKAY. YEP.

AND THEN MAY I HAVE A MOTION THEN TO SET THE SECOND READING MOVE TO SET THE SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE AMENDMENT NUMBER 1697, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 9.107, SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS, NUMBER 16 OF THE CITY CODE OF 2005 TO AMEND THE ON SITE OUTDOOR PLAY AREA REQUIREMENT FOR CHILD DAYCARE CENTERS FOR MAY 28TH, 2024. SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES.

I DO WANT TO MAKE ONE MORE POINT IS JUST THAT I HAVE READ ALL OF THE LETTERS THAT WERE SENT IN ABOUT THIS ISSUE, AND I UNDERSTAND PEOPLE HAVING CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS, BUT I FEEL THAT OUR STAFF HAVE ANSWERED THEM ALL, AND I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THIS IS A GOOD GOOD SORRY, GOOD ORDINANCE FOR OUR CITY TO GO FORWARD IN.

BUT I JUST DON'T WANT ANYONE TO FEEL THAT I DIDN'T DIDN'T READ THEM AND NOT COGNIZANT OF THE CONVERSATION AND WHAT HAPPENED AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION AS WELL.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION OR OR COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT, THEN, MAY I HAVE A MOTION THEN? SORRY. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? IN THE MOTION PASSES, AND COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS DID ABSTAIN.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THANKS, ANDREW.

WE HAVE SO NOW WE HAVE NO NEW BUSINESS AND REPORTS, BUT WE DO HAVE OUR CITY COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS.

[CITY COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS]

I'LL START. COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS.

THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN A BUSY THREE WEEKS.

I BELIEVE IT'S BEEN THREE WEEKS.

YES. STARTED VOLUNTEERING WITH A GROUP OF PEOPLE AT OUR BLOOMING SUNSHINE GARDEN.

WE ALREADY HAVE ASPARAGUS POPPING UP AND LOVAGE THAT YOU CAN USE IN PLACE OF CELERY.

IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN STOPPING BY AND PICK FOR FREE, IT'S A PICK YOUR OWN TYPE GARDEN OVER IN LOMIANKI.

WE DID A LOT OF PLANTING ALREADY.

VOLUNTEERED WITH THE VALLEY VIEW PTO.

WE WORKED WITH THIRD AND FIFTH GRADE, THIRD, FOURTH, AND FIFTH GRADERS PREPPING THEIR RAISED BEDS AND PLANTING VEGETABLES.

I ATTENDED THE METRO CITIES ANNUAL MEETING ATTENDED VIA ZOOM.

[01:50:03]

CLIMATE CHANGE UPDATES WITH BETTY MCCOLLUM ATTENDED THE POLICE CHIEF LENNY AUSTIN'S RETIREMENT PARTY.

SO SAD TO SEE HIM GO.

I'M HOPING HE HAS A GREAT RETIREMENT.

HE WILL BE MISSED.

I ATE DINNER AT APPLEBEE'S AT THE FUNDRAISING NIGHT 15% OF THE COST OF THE MEAL WENT TO SAINT MATTHEW'S WONDERFUL THEATER PROGRAM.

ATTENDED MATT MARKHAM'S SWEARING IN AS OUR NEW POLICE CHIEF.

ATTENDED THE HIGH SCHOOL PLAY THE DAY THE INTERNET DIED WAS QUITE AN INTERESTING PERSPECTIVE, HAVING NOT GROWN UP WITH INTERNET.

AND THEN TO ME IT WOULD BE NO BIG DEAL.

I MEAN, WE'D HAVE SOME ADJUSTMENTS, BUT THESE KIDS, THIS PLAY WAS WRITTEN IN THE IN THE EYES, THROUGH THE EYES OF KIDS THEIR AGE THESE DAYS AND GENERATIONS THAT WERE BORN WHEN THE INTERNET WAS HERE AND IT WAS HILARIOUS.

SOME OF THE SOME OF THE SETS THAT THEY PUT UP AND THEIR PERSPECTIVE IS VERY, VERY DIFFERENT DIFFERENT FROM OURS OR FROM MINE.

I STOPPED BY TO PAY MY RESPECTS TO MARILYN PETERS AT HER MEMORIAL.

SHE WAS THE DIRECTOR FOR SACA FOR 24 YEARS.

I ALSO WE ATTENDED THE ARBITRARY ARBOR DAY TREE PLANTING CELEBRATION.

VERY EXCITED. AND I ALSO GOT A TOUR AND FOUND OUT THAT WE HAVE THERE'S THESE BEAUTIFUL TREES IN LONDON THAT HAVE THESE MULTICOLORED FALL COLOR OF FLAKY TYPE BERT PLANT OR TRUNK, AND THEY'RE GORGEOUS TREES.

AND I WAS TALKING TO OUR FORESTER, LIAM, AND WE HAVE THEM.

HE HAS 20 OF THEM IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, AND HE SHOWED ME A NEW ONE THEY PLANTED BEHIND MURZYN.

AND IT'S SO EXCITING TO SEE THAT WE COULD ACTUALLY HAVE A TREE LIKE THAT.

IT'S A SYCAMORE. THERE'S ANOTHER NAME, BUT IT'S A SYCAMORE.

AND IF YOU GET A CHANCE AS IT GROWS, IT'S JUST REALLY PRETTY.

ATTENDED THE LIVE LET'S SEE.

I CAN'T READ MY WRITING.

OH, THE LIVE BURN.

OH, SORRY.

WROTE THIS FAST.

THAT WAS CONDUCTED BY OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.

PROVIDES REAL LIFE TRAINING FOR OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND I WAS THERE I ACTUALLY WAS ABLE TO GET THERE WHEN THEY STARTED.

THEY WENT THROUGH 14 DIFFERENT TRAININGS BEFORE THEY PUT THE TORCH, THE BUILDING.

AND IT WAS SO INTERESTING AND VERY COOL.

AND THAT HEAT WAS EXTREMELY INTENSE, EVEN 20, 30FT FROM IT.

IT JUST I FELT LIKE I WAS GETTING SUNBURNED.

I ATTENDED OUR WONDERFUL PERFORMANCE OF THE FIDDLER ON THE ROOF AT SAINT MATTHEW'S CHURCH.

THE CAST CONTINUES TO AMAZE ME WITH THEIR BEAUTIFUL SINGING VOICES.

THEY GAVE ME GOOSEBUMPS.

IT WAS A WONDERFUL PLAY.

PLANNING DISCUSSION WE HAD AN INTENSE DEBATE WHETHER WE SHOULD ALLOW DAYCARE CENTERS USE OF OUR PARKS, WHICH WE JUST WENT THROUGH.

I ATTENDED A PLAY AT THE PLYMOUTH THEATER WITH OUR SENIOR PROGRAM.

THAT WAS FUN TO ACTUALLY HAVE SOMEBODY TO JUST GET ON THE BUS, AND THEY DO ALL THE DRIVING AND DROP YOU OFF, AND IT WAS A GREAT PLAY.

IT WAS FUN. AND THEN WE HAD DINNER AFTERWARDS, SO IT WAS FUN.

AND THERE'S PEOPLE FROM OTHER CITIES THAT A LOT OF THEM THAT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR PROGRAMING.

THEY LIKE WHAT WE HAVE.

LET'S SEE. WASN'T ABLE TO GET THAT.

AND I THINK THAT WAS IT.

IT'S A LOT GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

SO THERE'S IF YOU HAVE IF YOU GET BORED AND YOU DON'T THINK THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON IN HEIGHTS, THERE'S LOTS OF THINGS GOING ON IN HEIGHTS.

SO CHECK OUT THE CALENDARS AROUND.

THANK YOU. YEAH.

COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES, THANK YOU.

WE DID HAVE A BUSY THREE WEEKS.

I'VE DONE A LOT OF THE SAME THINGS.

A COUPLE OF OTHER DIFFERENT THINGS AS I ATTENDED A WEBINAR TRAINING FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS ON HOW TO REDUCE EVICTIONS IN YOUR CITY.

I ALSO ATTENDED THE RETIREMENT CELEBRATION.

AND WE WISH CHIEF AUSTIN WELL.

BUT ALSO, WE GOT TO SEE A LOT OF FORMER LEADERS IN OUR CITY CAME BACK AND WERE THERE.

AND THAT WAS WONDERFUL TO SEE THEM.

AND I KNOW THAT CHIEF MARKHAM HAS GOTTEN TO WORK NOW, SO THANK YOU FOR HIM.

ALSO ATTENDED THE PLAY AND THE ARBOR DAY TREE PLANTING AND SHARED A POEM.

AND THANK YOU TO PUBLIC WORKS AND FOR ALL THE PLANTING THERE.

ANOTHER THING THAT THE MAYOR AND I WERE ABLE TO DO WAS TO HAVE LUNCH WITH OUR METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEMBER, WHO IS NAMED REVA CHAMBLISS.

SHE REPRESENTS OUR AREA, INCLUDING COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, AND THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL IS IN CHARGE OF REGION WIDE TRANSPORTATION, WASTE WATER.

AND THEY ALSO DO A LOT OF HOUSING INFORMATION.

AND SO IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE THAT CONNECTION.

AND SO IT WAS WONDERFUL.

SHE CAME TO COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, TOURED OUR CITY HALL AND MET SOME STAFF MEMBERS, AND HAD LUNCH RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET HERE AT ADAMA RESTAURANT.

SHE IS EXCITED TO CONTINUE WORKING FOR THE GOOD OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

ALSO STOP BY THE TREE THE HOUSE BURNING.

THAT WAS WONDERFUL TO SEE.

WE HAD OUR EDA MEETING AND WE APPROVED TWO MORE FAÇADE GRANT IMPROVEMENTS.

I'M THANKFUL FOR THE BUSINESSES IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS INVESTING AND THAT WE CAN SUPPORT THEM.

AND WE ALSO APPROVED AN EXTENSION FOR THE HOME ENERGY SQUAD, AND THAT THE TITLE MIGHT BE CHANGING, BUT THE AVAILABILITY TO RESIDENTS IS YOU CAN FIND INFORMATION ON THE CITY WEBSITE TO HELP YOUR HOMES BE MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT, AND THE CITY HELPS PAY A PORTION OF THAT.

AND WE WORK THROUGH XCEL ENERGY AND DIFFERENT VENDORS SO THAT YOU CAN HELP YOUR HOME BE MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT.

[01:55:02]

I ALSO ATTENDED THE BLOOD DRIVE AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING, AND THANK YOU TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR HOSTING THAT.

AND THEN FINALLY ON CENTRAL AVENUE, WE HAD A NEW COFFEE SHOP OPEN UP, AND I HAD VISITED THE FIX COFFEE AT THE CENTRAL MIX FOR THEIR SOFT OPENING ON SATURDAY.

AND CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM ON A WONDERFUL NEW BUSINESS THAT HAD DELICIOUS COFFEE AND TREATS FOR ALL OF US.

THAT'S IT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES.

COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS.

I AS WELL ATTENDED THE LIVE BURN ON CENTRAL AND WENT TO THE RETIREMENT PARTY FOR FOR THE CHIEF AND THE OATH CEREMONY FOR THE NEW CHIEF.

I VISITED THE KOREAN EXHIBIT AT MIA CELEBRATING ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH, THE TREE PLANTING AT HUSET PARK.

I ATTENDED THE TWINS GAME CELEBRATING ADOPTED DRAIN VOLUNTEERS, AND ATTENDED FIDDLER ON THE ROOF AND COMMENTING OR PIGGYBACKING ON COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS.

I'VE WATCHED THE MOVIE MORE TIMES THAN I CAN COUNT, AND I HAD THE PLEASURE OF SEEING IT ON STAGE WITH BOTH TOPOL, WHO WAS IN THE MOVIE, AND ZERO MOSTEL.

AND I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT SAINT MARK, SAINT MATT'S PRODUCTION WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY THEATER PRODUCTIONS I HAVE EVER ATTENDED.

ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC.

JOIN FRIENDS IN SAINT PAUL TO CELEBRATE CELEBRATE CINCO DE MAYO.

AND I'M PLEASED THAT THE CHICKEN ORDINANCE WAS ON, ON AND DISCUSSED PART OF THE REGULAR WORK SESSION AGENDA.

I RECEIVED SEVERAL RESPONSES FROM PEOPLE WHO WERE APPRECIATIVE, AND I WANT TO THANK INTERIM CITY MANAGER HANSEN FOR MOVING THAT FORWARD.

I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS POLICE WEEK, AND I WOULD SPECIFICALLY LIKE TO TURN OUR THOUGHTS TO FALLEN OFFICER CURT RAMSDELL.

IF YOU'RE NOT AWARE, HE WAS SHOT IN 1977 ON DUTY, AND RAMSDELL PARK IS IN MEMORY OF HIM.

IF YOU DID NOT KNOW THAT, I WANT TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU.

AND I WOULD ASK EVERYBODY TO KEEP ALL OF OUR OFFICERS IN THEIR HEARTS AND IN THEIR MINDS DURING THIS WEEK, AND ALWAYS BECAUSE IT IS A VERY THANKLESS JOB AND IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS JOB ON OCCASION, MORE OCCASION THAN WE PROBABLY WANT TO KNOW.

SO THAT'S IT.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS.

ALSO HAD A BUSY THREE WEEKS.

WHEN WE HAVE A FIFTH MONDAY IN THE MONTH, IT USUALLY MEANS WE HAVE A SLOW WEEK BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A COUNCIL MEETING, BUT IT HAS BEEN VERY BUSY.

ALONG WITH OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS, ATTENDED CHIEF AUSTIN'S RETIREMENT.

WE WERE SO HAPPY FOR HIS LEGACY THAT HE HAS LEFT HERE AND WISH HIM THE BEST.

ALSO FINISHED UP THE PROCESS OF CHOOSING OUR NEW POLICE CHIEF, MATT MARKHAM, AND HAD HIS SWEARING IN CEREMONY.

I WANT TO THANK THE COMMUNITY, OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND OUR COUNCIL FOR AND OUR COMMUNITY SURVEY THAT WAS PUT OUT WITH OUR COMMUNICATION STAFF TO REALLY GET EVERYONE'S FEEDBACK.

AND THROUGH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ON WHAT WE WANTED TO SEE IN OUR NEW POLICE CHIEF AND JUST REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S OPTIMISM AND WORK TO HELP ME AS THE MAYOR TO CHOOSE OUR NEW POLICE CHIEF, PER OUR CITY CHARTER.

THAT DOES FALL UNDER THE MAYOR'S RESPONSIBILITY.

AND I WAS SO HAPPY TO HAVE SO MUCH INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY TO TO CHOOSE OUR NEW POLICE CHIEF.

AND I BELIEVE HE'S DOING WONDERFUL ALREADY.

I ATTENDED OUR JLAC MEETING, WHICH IS A JOINT LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMITTEE FOR ANOKA COUNTY, AND WE HAD OUR MEETING HERE HOSTED WITH AND HERE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AT OUR PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING, ALSO ATTENDED THE METRO CITY'S ANNUAL MEETING IN ROSEVILLE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS.

ALTHOUGH WE SIT AT DIFFERENT TABLES SO WE CAN TALK TO MORE PEOPLE SO WE DON'T SPEND THE TIME TALKING TO EACH OTHER.

I SPOKE TO A CLASS AT BETHEL UNIVERSITY ABOUT PUBLIC SERVICE.

I ATTENDED OUR ANOKA COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION COUNCIL MEETING.

THIS WAS AT THE NEW COON RAPIDS FIRE STATION, WHICH IS INCREDIBLE.

IT IS AMAZING.

THEY HAVE A WHOLE SECTION, I BELIEVE IT'S FOUR STORIES HIGH THAT IS A PLACE FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OR ANY SAFETY TO PRACTICE.

AND THEY CAN MOVE THESE METAL WALLS AROUND.

THEY CAN OPEN AND SHUT WINDOWS.

SO EVERY TIME THEY GO IN TO A DARK BUILDING SPACE, THEY AREN'T GOING TO MEMORIZE WHAT THE WALLS HERE AND THE WINDOWS HERE.

THEY CAN CHANGE IT BETWEEN PEOPLE.

SO PEOPLE CAN EVEN COME OUT AND CAN'T SAY LIKE, WELL, YOU'RE GOING TO GO DOWN TWO ROOMS AND THEN TAKE A LEFT BECAUSE THEY BETWEEN PRACTICE GROUPS CAN MOVE ALL THE WALLS.

IT IS JUST INCREDIBLE.

AND THEY HAVE OUTDOOR PRACTICE SPACE AS WELL.

SO I'M HOPEFUL THAT THE COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENTS CAN ALSO BOOK SOME TIME TO PRACTICE IN THERE.

[02:00:03]

I WAS IN MADISON WITH FAMILY FOR CINCO DE MAYO, BUT I KNOW HOW MUCH OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS SO THANKFUL TO THE COUNCIL FOR ALLOWING THAT TO HAPPEN, BECAUSE THEY NEED TO PRACTICE, AND IT HELPS THEM BE BETTER FIREFIGHTERS WHEN THEY ACTUALLY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRACTICE WITH A REAL FIRE.

AND THANKFULLY, THERE AREN'T A LOT OF FIRES ANYMORE.

WITH, YOU KNOW, OUR FIRE SUPPRESSION, WITH SMOKE ALARMS AND SO MUCH EDUCATION, WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF HOUSE BURNING FIRES ANYMORE.

SO IT'S A GREAT THING.

BUT ALSO, OUR FIREFIGHTERS WANT TO BE ABLE TO PRACTICE AND MAKE SURE THEY'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING.

SO THEY WERE VERY THANKFUL FOR THE FIRE BURN EXPERIENCE.

I DID A FUN THING AND SAW WICKED LITTLE LETTERS AT THE HEIGHTS THEATER.

THE THEATER IS, OF COURSE, ALWAYS OPEN.

AND NOW DAIRY QUEEN IS OPEN AS WELL.

SO MAKE SURE YOU CHECK OUT THE HEIGHTS THEATER.

I HAD ATTENDED THE CORRIDOR PLANNING MEETING ON ZOOM.

IT'S A NEW COMMISSION THAT I'M A PART OF.

TO TALK ABOUT THE STATEWIDE HIGHWAY CORRIDOR PLANNING.

MET WITH COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES AND METRO COUNCILWOMAN REVA CHAMBLIS AT ADAMA AS RACHEL MENTIONED AND THE FOOD AT ADAMA IS SO GOOD. IF YOU HAVEN'T EATEN THERE.

OH, MY I COULD NOT STOP EATING.

IT WAS SO GOOD. BUT BIG PLATES.

YES, IT IS FANTASTIC.

ESPECIALLY IF YOU LIKE SPICY FOOD.

IF YOU DON'T LIKE SPICY FOOD, IT MIGHT NOT BE AS EASY TO EAT.

BUT IF YOU LIKE FULL FLAVOR.

OH MY GOODNESS. SO GOOD.

I MET WITH THE PAST CITIZEN OF THE YEAR RECIPIENTS.

ROGER ROGNE AND MARY THOLKES TO DISCUSS AND DECIDE WHO THE RECIPIENTS ARE FOR THIS YEAR, WHICH I BELIEVE IT'S NOT ANNOUNCED YET, SO THEY KNOW, BUT WE HAVEN'T ANNOUNCED IT YET.

SO THEY WILL BE COMING TO AN UPCOMING COUNCIL MEETING FOR THAT REVEAL, WE'LL SAY.

AND WE DID GO THOUGH, OVER TO PIZZA MAN.

WE WERE DELIVERED A PLAQUE, MET WITH HIM AND A STAFF MEMBER AND TOOK A PHOTO OUTSIDE.

SO THAT HAS BEEN NICE.

IT HAS BEEN NOTICED.

SO CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO PIZZA MAN FOR BEING THE RECIPIENT FOR BEST COLUMBIA HEIGHTS BUSINESS OF THE YEAR.

LAST FRIDAY, I SPOKE AT THE.

SORRY. NOT LAST.

TWO FRIDAYS AGO, I SPOKE AT THE STATE CAPITOL IN THE ROTUNDA FOR THE MINNESOTA COUNCIL ON LATINO AFFAIRS AND SHARED ABOUT HOW OUR COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO WORK TOGETHER, EMBRACING THE LATIN A COMMUNITY.

IF THEY HAVE BEEN IN MINNESOTA FOR OVER 100 YEARS, OR IF THEY'RE NEWLY IMMIGRATED AND ATTENDED THE REGIONAL COUNCIL OF MAYORS EXECUTIVE TEAM MEMBER FOR PLANNING.

NEXT MONTH WE ARE GOING TO MICROSOFT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT AI, AND I'M PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT THAT ONE.

AND THE ONE AFTER THAT IS GOING TO BE WITH REGIONAL COUNCIL MAYORS AND OUR SUPERINTENDENTS.

TODAY WAS OUR REGIONAL COUNCIL OF MAYORS MEETING.

WE HAD A PRESENTATION BY XCEL ENERGY TALKING ABOUT GRANT OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP CITIES TO WORK ON THEIR CLIMATE ACTION PLAN AND HELP WITH STAFF.

SO I'M EXCITED FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY.

WE HAD OUR EDA MEETING AND OUR WORK SESSION.

I ALSO ATTENDED AN OPERATION POLLINATION PLANNING MEETING, WHICH IS FOR MANY DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS.

THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, ROTARY, MWMO ARE ATTENDING AND BUT THEN THE NEXT DAY I GAVE A PRESENTATION AT OUR ROTARY CLUB ABOUT THE OPERATION POLLINATION EFFORTS.

AND I MENTIONED THAT I WAS INTERVIEWED BY BLOOMBERG NEWS.

THE CITY IS IN, OF COURSE WORKING WITH THE NO MOW MAY OPTIONS, AND I WILL.

I HAVE A FIELD OF DANDELIONS RIGHT NOW, AND THEY WILL BE GETTING MOWED THIS WEEKEND BECAUSE THEN THEY WILL START TURNING TO SEED.

SO WE WILL MOW IT.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, OUR MAYOR'S MONARCH PLEDGE EFFORTS THAT WE'RE DOING HERE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

THE YOUTH COMMISSION TOURED THE WATER PLANT, THE MINNEAPOLIS WATER PLANT.

I WASN'T ABLE TO STAY.

I JUST SAID HI, BUT I WAS REALLY GLAD WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT.

WE HAD TWO YOUTHS ABLE TO DO THE TOUR AND STAFF MEMBERS.

BUT JUST GREAT TO HEAR.

I GOT A LITTLE SUMMARY AFTERWARDS AND GREAT TO HEAR WHAT THEY'RE DOING THERE AND MAKING SURE WE HAVE SAFE WATER.

AND MY LAST THING TO SAY IS THAT I AM EXCITED FOR OUR NEW STATE FLAG AND LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING THE NEW FLAG HERE IN THE CHAMBERS.

COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS. WE'VE ALL BEEN BUSY.

[LAUGHTER] YES, I JUST I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT I STOPPED BY AT CENTRAL MIX, BUT I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT SOMETHING ELSE.

SO THE WOMAN THAT RUNS THE CENTRAL FIX COFFEE.

IS IT FIX CENTRAL.

FIX COFFEE AT THE CENTRAL MIX.

HER MOTHER IS A BAKER, AND HER MOTHER AND HER FATHER BOTH OWN CENTRAL MIX FOR AND I SAMPLED ABOUT FIVE DIFFERENT BAKED

[02:05:01]

THEY EVEN HAD A GLUTEN FREE BANANA BREAD THAT I'M NOT A FAN OF GLUTEN FREE ITEMS. I'VE TRIED MANY AND JUST DON'T LIKE IT.

IT WAS REALLY GOOD.

SO IF YOU WANT TO TRY SOME NEW BAKED ITEMS, THEY HAD A GREAT SELECTION.

I WAS THERE LATER IN THE DAY, SO I'M SURE THERE WAS MORE AVAILABLE EARLIER, BUT DEFINITELY TRY IT OUT.

IT'S GREAT. AND THEIR COFFEE IS REALLY GOOD TOO.

EVEN THEIR DECAF.

I THINK THEIR HOURS ARE MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

AND YEAH THERE'S SCONES ARE PERFECT.

YEAH. THEY'RE BLUEBERRY SCONE WAS AHH.

DO THEY ANTICIPATE HAVING MORE GLUTEN FREE ITEMS. I DON'T KNOW I DIDN'T ASK, BUT YOU CAN CHECK WITH THEM.

BUT THEIR HOURS ARE 6:30 IN THE MORNING TILL TWO, SO REALLY GOOD.

YES. THAT'S IT FOR MY REPORT, MADAM MAYOR IF WE CAN MOVE BACK BRIEFLY TO ITEM 22, THIS IS THE FIRST READING OF THE ORDINANCE AMENDING 9.107 SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS FOR DAYCARE CENTERS.

THE CITY CODE OR THE CITY CHARTER DOES REQUIRE, WHERE THERE IS NOT 4/5 VOTE TO WAIVE THE READING, THAT THERE BE A ACTUAL READING OF THAT ORDINANCE.

FORTUNATELY, IT IS A VERY SHORT ORDINANCE.

SO IF WE COULD POSSIBLY REVISIT 22 AND THE MOTION THE ORDINANCE DOES STATE AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 9.107 OF THE CITY CODE OF 2005 RELATING TO CHILDCARE, CHILD DAYCARE, ZONING REGULATIONS.

THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS DOES ORDAIN SECTION 19.107 SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS.

CITY CODE OF 2005 IS PROPOSED TO INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING ADDITION AND SHALL THEREAFTER SHALL HEREAFTER READ AS FOLLOWS TO WIT.

NEW LANGUAGE C 16 C FOR CHILD DAYCARE FACILITIES, AT LEAST 75FT² OF OUTDOOR PLAY AREA SHALL BE PROVIDED FOR EACH CHILD UNDER CARE.

IF THERE IS NOT SUFFICIENT SPACE FOR AN OUTDOOR PLAY AREA ON SITE, THEN THE PROPERTY OWNER MUST SUBMIT A WRITTEN PROPOSAL THAT DEMONSTRATES RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN UNDER THE FACILITY'S CARE WILL BE PROVIDED OFF SITE WITHIN 1500 FEET OF THE FACILITY.

THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE IS AUTHORIZED TO APPROVE OR DENY THIS PROPOSAL.

SECTION TWO IS THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT FROM 30 DAYS AFTER ITS PASSAGE.

SO I DIDN'T CATCH THAT BEFORE YOU GOT INTO ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS, BUT IT DOES REQUIRE A FULL READING.

THANK YOU FOR READING THAT.

DOES THAT THEN QUALIFY.

SATISFIES IT WE'LL DO IT ON THE SECOND READING AS WELL OKAY.

BUT THAT SHOULD CONCLUDE THAT ITEM.

OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CATCHING THAT.

AND NOW WE'RE GOING ON TO CITY MANAGER REPORTS.

THANK YOU. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, I JUST HAVE A FEW THINGS.

EACH ONE OF YOU TALKED TONIGHT ABOUT THE NEW POLICE CHIEF, MATT MARKHAM.

AND IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD REALLY FOR THE PUBLIC, IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET MATT, THE NEW POLICE CHIEF, WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TOMORROW.

AND THAT'S GOING TO BE ON CIRCLE TERRACE BOULEVARD AT THE PARK THAT'S LOCATED THERE.

IT'S REALLY REFERRED TO AS NAWROCKI PARK.

FROM 4 TO 5:30, REFRESHMENTS WILL BE SERVED.

AND IF YOU'D LIKE TO MEET MATT, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO STOP BY AND JUST SAY HI AND YOU KNOW, HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHAKE HIS HAND AND SEE WHAT MATT'S ABOUT.

THIS WEEK WE HAVE A COUPLE OF OTHER EVENTS GOING ON.

ON MAY 17TH, WHICH IS FRIDAY, THE RECREATION DEPARTMENT IS DOING THEIR OPEN HOUSE, AND THAT'LL BE OVER AT HOUSTON PARK.

AND THAT'S FROM 5:30 TO 7:30 WITH THE REC DEPARTMENT.

AND THEN ON SATURDAY WE HAVE ON THE 18TH, WE HAVE PETS IN THE PARK.

AND THIS HAS BECOME AN ANNUAL EVENT FOR US.

AND THAT GOES FROM 1 TO 4 IN KEYS PARK.

SO THAT'S ONGOING.

AND THEN I KNOW, MAYOR, YOU HAD MENTIONED ABOUT THE OUTSTANDING CITIZENS OF THE YEAR, THOSE THAT WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON THE 28TH.

SO THE SECOND MEETING HERE COMING UP, WHICH IS A TUESDAY BECAUSE OF THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

AND THEN THE LAST THING I HAVE IS THAT THE TIME OF SALE PROGRAM AND THE FEES FOR THAT WERE JUST INTRODUCED TONIGHT, BUT THAT BEGINS ON MAY 22ND. THAT'S WHEN THAT PROGRAM BECOMES EFFECTIVE.

SO IF ANYONE HERE HAS QUESTIONS FOR THAT, THEY CAN CERTAINLY CALL THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.

OR THEY CAN GO OUT TO THE CITY'S WEBSITE FOR THAT.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE MAYOR. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

WE ARE NOW AT OUR COMMUNITY FORUM.

[COMMUNITY FORUM]

SORRY. I'M JUST MAKING SURE.

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

[02:10:02]

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.

I ASSUME THERE'S NOBODY IN VIRTUALLY ON THE MEETING.

THANK YOU. 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.

ALL RIGHT, SARAH, IF YOU COULD INTRODUCE OUR FIRST PERSON, DIANE TEADON WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

THANK YOU. I'M NOT SURE IF SHE'S STILL HERE OR IF SHE'S LEFT.

DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT.

OKAY. DIRK SCHMITZ WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

ALL RIGHT. WELCOME, DIRK.

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE.

ONE OF OUR NATURAL RESOURCES THAT MAKES IT SO GREAT IS THE LARGE VOLUME OF MATURE TREES WE HAVE IN EACH NEIGHBORHOOD.

NOW, COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS AND COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES BROUGHT UP MOST OF THE THINGS I WAS GOING TO BRING UP, MAINLY PEOPLE CUTTING TREES DOWN BECAUSE THEY WANT TO.

I WAS CURIOUS NOW WE HAVE THE TIME OF SALE INSPECTION.

IF THE CITY FORESTER COULD BE INVOLVED TO KIND OF JUST TAKE INVENTORY AND MAKE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHAT OUR TREES SHOULD STAY, WHAT ARE DISEASED, WHAT SHOULD BE TRIMMED OF DEAD BRANCHES AND TAKEN CARE OF THAT WAY.

THE OTHER THING IS, I KNOW WE CAN'T STOP PEOPLE FROM CUTTING TREES DOWN ON THEIR PROPERTY, BUT I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT THE ONES ACTUALLY DOING THE CUTTING. I HAVE SEEN WHAT I'LL CALL GROUPS OF TWO GUYS AND A CHAINSAW COME IN AND UNPROFESSIONALLY DO THE WORK. NO TYING OFF, NO HARNESSES, NO SAFETY ROPES TO BOUNCING LARGE TREE BRANCHES OFF THE CABLING BETWEEN TELEPHONE POLES. I WAS JUST CURIOUS IF THERE WAS A WAY OF STOPPING THAT.

AND THEN ANOTHER THING, SINCE YOU BROUGHT UP ABOUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE LIVE BURN, BEING A 30 YEAR VETERAN OF PAID ON CALL FIRE SERVICE, EVERY DOLLAR YOU SPEND TOWARDS TRAINING IS HELPFUL.

ESPECIALLY LIKE YOU SAID, NOWADAYS WE DON'T HAVE FIRES AS OFTEN.

SO THE GUYS DON'T GET THE REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE AND KIND OF WHAT I SAY GET LAZY DURING THE NORMAL TRAINING.

OH, I DIDN'T GET THAT TOP BUTTON QUITE RIGHT ON MY TURNOUT GEAR.

AND WHEN YOU GET IN A LIVE FIRE AND YOU FIND OUT, OH, THAT STEAM IS HOT.

TO YEAH.

IN A UNRECOGNIZABLE LOCATION LIKE YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE NEW COON RAPIDS.

YOU LEARN? YEAH. TO NOT PANIC.

AND ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU GET LOST IN THE DARK AND YOUR BELL GOES OFF TELLING YOU YOU ONLY GOT A FEW MINUTES OF AIR LEFT.

ALL THAT TRAINING IS WORTHWHILE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU DIRK.

I'LL ADD TO THAT THAT I WAS REALLY LUCKY A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO TO GO TO A THEY CALL IT, LIKE, FIREFIGHTER 101.

I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS WAS THERE AS WELL.

BUT I WAS, I WOULD SAY EXTRA LUCKY BECAUSE I WAS ABLE TO GO INTO A SIMULATED FIRE TRAINING AND YOU KNOW, I WAS I HAD TO CARRY A HOSE UP TWO FLIGHTS OF STAIRS, LIKE, ON MY BELLY, WEARING THE WHOLE THING.

AND THEN WE WERE JUST TOLD THAT THERE WAS A BODY THAT WE HAD TO FIND IN THE SECOND FLOOR, AND WE JUST HAD TO.

IT WAS ALL DARK, AND THERE REALLY WASN'T SIMULATED SMOKE, BUT IT WAS SO DARK, YOU JUST COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING.

AND JUST KIND OF CRAWLING AND FEELING, OKAY, THIS IS A BED.

OKAY? THIS IS THE FLOOR.

OKAY? THIS FEELS LIKE A WINDOW.

IT WAS YOU KNOW, AND I'M BREATHING THROUGH THE APPARATUS AND EVERYTHING.

YEAH, IT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE.

AND I ALREADY KNOW THAT THE TRAINING, YOU KNOW, WOULD HELP, BUT HAVING THAT YOU KNOW, A SMALL EXPERIENCE IN IT WAS VERY, VERY IMPACTFUL.

AND I'VE BEEN ASKING THE CHIEF, CAN WE DO THAT AGAIN? WE HAVE SOME NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, WANT TO JOIN UP AND WELL, AND I KNOW YOU DIDN'T DO THE CLIMBING, BUT YOU STILL WERE IMPACTED BY IT.

I WAS SCHEDULED TO DO IT.

AND I WAS ACTUALLY A MEMBER OF THE KIDNEY DONATOR PROGRAM.

THAT'S RIGHT. AND THE TEAM OF DOCTORS AT THE U OF M SAID THAT IT WAS TOO RISKY FOR ME AND I COULDN'T DO IT.

AND I WAS VERY JEALOUS OF YOU WATCHING YOU WALK INTO THAT BUILDING, THAT SITUATION.

I REALLY WAS DISAPPOINTED.

I WENT THERE WITH KIND OF WITH MY HEART AND MY HAND THAT DAY BECAUSE I COULDN'T PARTICIPATE.

[02:15:04]

I DIDN'T REALIZE UNTIL I WAS AN ADULT THAT EVERY DAY THAT MY DADDY WENT TO WORK, I DIDN'T, HE MAY NOT HAVE COME HOME THAT NEXT DAY.

SO IT WAS, YOU KNOW, YOU THEY KEEP THAT AWAY FROM THEIR KIDS.

BUT IT I DIDN'T REALIZE UNTIL I WAS MUCH OLDER JUST HOW IMPACTFUL THAT WAS ON HIS LIFE.

AND HE LOVED HIS JOB.

LOVED HIS JOB. SO YEAH, I WAS A POTENTIAL KIDNEY DONOR.

SO I GOT CUT OUT OF THE CUT OUT OF THE TEAM.

YEAH. AND I WANT SAY TO WHAT YOU JUST SAID TOO, ABOUT YOU KNOW, HAVING A FAMILY MEMBER, HAVING YOUR DAD BE A PART OF THAT EVERY.

I JUST APPRECIATE HOW MUCH CHIEF THOMPSON, OUR FIRE CHIEF, COMMUNICATES WITH US ABOUT THE NEEDS OF ALL OF THE FIREFIGHTERS AND STAFF AND JUST REALLY SHARING WITH US WHY THINGS ARE IMPORTANT AND JUST EXPLAINING HOW MUCH THESE THINGS IMPACT EVERYONE, INCLUDING THEIR MORALE, TO HAVE REALLY GOOD EQUIPMENT. AND WE DID JUST VOTE ON USING SOME OF OUR ARPA FUNDS TO GO TOWARDS OUR FIREFIGHTERS FOR MORE, YOU KNOW, FOR IMPROVED AND UPDATED EQUIPMENT. AND WE JUST KNOW.

SO, DIRK, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING EVERYTHING YOU SHARED.

WE WILL DEFINITELY TALK ABOUT THE ITEMS YOU MENTIONED ABOUT TREES, BUT THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT ABOUT THE FIRE.

COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES.

THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO ANSWER YOU.

AND THEN FOR ANYONE WHO MIGHT BE LISTENING, WE DO REQUIRE TREE SERVICE CONTRACTORS TO BE LICENSED IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

AND THAT INFORMATION IS ON THE WEBSITE.

SO YOU CAN BE SURE THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING ON TREES IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS WHO ARE CONTRACTORS SHOULD BE LICENSED.

AND THAT'S ONE LAYER OF PROTECTION THAT WE HAVE.

AND HOPEFULLY PEOPLE ARE FOLLOWING THAT THROUGH THAT.

AND IF YOU'RE LISTENING AND YOU'RE GOING TO HIRE A TREE SERVICE, MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE A LICENSE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

OR IF YOU SEE WORK BEING DONE AND.

COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS. YOU'RE NOT SURE THEY'RE LICENSED CONTRACTORS, YOU CAN ALWAYS CHECK WITH THE CITY AND CALL THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE LICENSED.

THANK YOU. THAT DOES HELP MAKE OUR CITIES SAFER.

NEXT CITY CLERK LAUREL DENEEN WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

THANK YOU. WELCOME, LAUREL.

HI. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

I JUST WANT TO TOUCH ON THE CHILD CARE PARK USE ITEM A LITTLE BIT.

I AM ON THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION, SO I WAS THERE FOR THE VERY SPIRITED DEBATE THAT WE HAD EARLIER LAST WEEK.

A FEW THINGS I THOUGHT WAS IMPORTANT TO JUST MENTION IS THAT WE WERE BRINGING OUR OWN CODE INTO LINE WITH THE STATE AND WHAT THEY REQUIRE.

ALSO, I KNOW THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THESE KIDS MAY NOT BE FROM HERE AND THEY ARE EXPERIENCING COLUMBIA HEIGHTS PARKS.

THAT IS IMPORTANT. BUT ALSO MANY OF THESE KIDS ARE RESIDENTS, THE PEOPLE THAT WILL BE USING OUR PARK.

AND THEY DESERVE TO BE HAVING THOSE EXPERIENCES IN OUR PARKS.

ALSO, I HAVE A IN-HOME CHILD CARE DOWN THE STREET FROM ME, AND I SEE THEM WALKING TO RAMSDELL OR KORDIAK ALL THE TIME.

I'VE BEEN IN THE PARKS WITH MY NIECE AND NEPHEW, AND THEY'VE BEEN PLAYING THERE ON THE PARK EQUIPMENT, AND THEY'RE ALWAYS VERY RESPECTFUL.

THEY ALL HAVE MINDERS.

THERE IS A PART OF THE LICENSING IS A NUMBER OF ADULTS THAT HAVE TO BE WITH A NUMBER OF CHILDREN, AND THAT WOULD CARRY ON TO THE PARKS AS WELL, WHICH I THINK IS IMPORTANT TO NOTICE. I ALSO THINK THAT THERE WAS AN IMPRESSION BY THE PUBLIC THAT MAYBE BECAUSE WE'RE PUTTING THIS THROUGH, THERE'S GOING TO BE 20 NEW CHILD CARE CENTERS THAT OPEN UP AND THEN USE OUR PARKS, AND THE PARKS ARE GOING TO BE SO CROWDED WITH CHILDREN THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE USED BY THE PUBLIC IN THE WAY THAT THEY ARE MEANT TO BE USED.

BUT THE ORDINANCE WOULD ONLY AFFECT PEOPLE WHO ARE IN A VERY CERTAIN AREA OF OUR CITY THAT HAVE A LICENSE, WHO WANT TO OPEN A LICENSED DAYCARE CENTER AND DON'T WANT TO PROVIDE THAT SPACE.

AND TO BE HONEST, MOST PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO OPEN A DAYCARE CENTER WANT THAT SPACE TO BE ON PROPERTY.

IT'S NOT THAT PEOPLE ARE JUST WANTING TO BE CHEAP AND NOT PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES.

IT IS ACTUALLY A BARRIER BASED ON WHERE THEY ARE IN THE PHYSICAL LOCATION, THE BUILDING AND EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING TO BE INSIDE THAT, WHICH IS THE CASE WITH THE ONE INSTANCE WHICH WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER.

BUT OVERALL, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND FOR YOUR SUPPORT, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO BE EQUITABLE WITH OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AS THEY OPEN. SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? NOT AT THIS TIME.

ALL RIGHT.

CATHY COOPER WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

YOU CAN KEEP THAT.

WELCOME, CATHY.

I SPOKE AT THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, I BELIEVE IT WAS MAYBE POSSIBLY A MONTH AGO.

[02:20:01]

SO I HAD HIGH HOPES THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO RESOLVE SOME THINGS.

SO ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24TH, I MET WITH CAPTAIN ERIC JOHNSTON.

UNFORTUNATELY, THAT MEETING DID NOT GO WELL AT ALL IN MY OPINION.

HE REFUSED TO WATCH A VIDEO CALLED DECEPTION OF PROTECTION ANATOMY OF AN INVOLUNTARY GUARDIANSHIP.

HE REFUSED TO PROSECUTE.

I HAVE POLICE ISSUED NO TRESPASSING SIGNS IN MY YARD.

THEY'VE BEEN THERE FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

AT THAT TIME WHEN I GOT THE POLICE ISSUED NO TRESPASSING SIGNS.

I WAS A PARTICIPANT IN THE SAFE AT HOME ADDRESS CONFIDENTIALITY PROGRAM, AND I WAS HAVING A LOT OF TROUBLE WITH PEOPLE TRESPASSING AND COMING ONTO MY PROPERTY, SO THAT WAS THE REASON I GOT THEM.

WHEN I SAY THEY'RE POLICE ISSUED, I HAD TO FILL OUT A LOT OF PAPERWORK WITH BOTH SAFE AT HOME AND WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN ORDER TO GET THOSE SIGNS.

SO WHEN I MET WITH CAPTAIN ERIC JOHNSTON ON APRIL 24TH.

I WISHED TO HAVE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT PROSECUTE A DANGEROUS PERSON THAT HAD TRESPASSED ON MY PROPERTY ON MARCH 14TH.

POLICE CAPTAIN ERIC JOHNSTON FLATLY REFUSED TO PROSECUTE THE PERSON THAT HAD TRESPASSED ON MY PROPERTY ON MARCH 14TH, AND IT JUST PROCEEDED TO GO FROM BAD TO WORSE.

HE PROMISED ME SEVERAL THINGS.

HE HAS NOT FOLLOWED THROUGH WITH ANY OF THOSE THINGS THAT HE PROMISED ME.

I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTO GREAT DETAIL HERE, BUT I REQUESTED TO MEET WITH POLICE CHIEF MATT MARKHAM, AND I HAVE STILL NOT HEARD FROM HIM, SO I'M STILL WAITING.

I'VE BEEN WAITING SINCE APRIL 24TH TO GET A CALL FROM POLICE CHIEF MATT MARKHAM.

ON WEDNESDAY, THE 1ST OF MAY, I CALLED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WELL I ACTUALLY CALLED 911, BUT I ENDED UP SPEAKING WITH OFFICER NIGHTINGALE.

I MADE IT PERFECTLY CLEAR WHEN I CALLED 911 THAT I DID NOT WANT ANY POLICE OFFICERS ON MY PROPERTY, THAT I JUST WISH TO HAVE THEM CALL ME BY PHONE.

SO OFFICER NIGHTINGALE CALLED ME BY PHONE JUST BEFORE 11 A.M.

AND I, IN MY CONVERSATION WITH HIM, I REITERATED THAT I NEVER WANT ANY POLICE OFFICERS ON MY PROPERTY UNLESS I INVITE THEM. AND I HAD REITERATED THAT TO CAPTAIN ERIC JOHNSTON WHEN I MET WITH HIM.

POLICE OFFICER NIGHTINGALE TOLD ME HE UNDERSTOOD CLEARLY, BECAUSE I TOLD HIM THAT ABOUT FIVE TIMES IN THE CONVERSATION, AND HE SAID HE UNDERSTOOD COMPLETELY.

HE SAID, I MADE MYSELF CLEAR AND AT APPROXIMATELY I DON'T HAVE. AT APPROXIMATELY 11:25 THAT DAY, I GOT A VOICEMAIL FROM OFFICER BILL MALMBERG ASKING ME TO CALL HIM.

I WAS BUSY DOING THINGS AND I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO CALL OFFICER BILL MALMBERG.

SO AT 12:22 P.M., I WAS REALLY SURPRISED TO SEE HIM POUNDING ON MY DOOR ALONG WITH ANOTHER FEMALE POLICE OFFICER. JUST WITHIN AN HOUR OF WHEN I TOLD OFFICER NIGHTINGALE THAT I NEVER WANTED POLICE ON MY PROPERTY AND I AM OFF THE CHART EXTREMELY UNHAPPY WITH WHAT'S GOING ON WITH WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING FOR 20 YEARS WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW UPSET I AM, AND I'M SPEAKING HERE NOW JUST TO DOCUMENT WHAT IS HAPPENING.

I WANT TO MEET WITH THE POLICE CHIEF, MATT MARKHAM.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT HAPPEN.

AND I'M JUST DEAD TIRED OF WHAT'S GOING ON.

SO. THANK YOU.

[02:25:02]

IS THERE ANYONE HERE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TONIGHT? AND THERE'S NO ONE VIRTUALLY.

ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT, THEN MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.

SO MOVED. SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION PASSES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.