May 28, 2024 City Council

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ALL RIGHT. AND NOW WE'RE READY TO START WITH OUR TECHNICALS, TOO.

GREAT. WE ARE.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

WELCOME EVERYONE. MY NAME IS AMADA MARQUEZ SIMULA I'M THE MAYOR OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR TUESDAY, MAY 28TH.

AND WE DO HAVE AN AMENDED AGENDA IN FRONT OF US.

BUT I ALSO HAVE ONE MORE.

SORRY, WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT AT THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA, BUT WE DO HAVE MANDY MEISSNER, OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONER, HERE TONIGHT.

SO, SHE WILL BE A GUEST SPEAKER DURING OUR PROCLAMATIONS, AS LONG AS THE COUNCIL IS ALL RIGHT WITH THAT.

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

THIS IS AVAILABLE ON TEAMS, SO PEOPLE MAY BE WATCHING IT THERE.

AND COULD WE HAVE A ROLL CALL PLEASE FROM OUR CITY CLERK .

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 TO, PLEASE STAND AND JOIN ME IN SAYING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

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

THANK YOU.

AND NOW WE HAVE OUR APPROVAL OF OUR AGENDA.

COUNCIL, AS YOU HEARD, WE DO HAVE A GUEST SPEAKER OF COUNTY COMMISSIONER MEISSNER HERE IN ATTENDANCE.

IS IT ALRIGHT IF WE ADD HER TO OUR GUESTS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING? ALL RIGHT, THEN MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA, AS AMENDED.

[APPROVAL OF AGENDA]

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

AND I WILL ADD COMMISSIONER MEISSNER AS LETTER F.

FOR FRIEND FRIENDLY.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

[PROCLAMATIONS, PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITION, ANNOUNCEMENTS, GUESTS]

WE'VE BEEN DOING A YOUTH.

APPLICANT FOR RECOMMENDATION AND NOMINATION FOR A FEW YEARS NOW, AND I AM EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT TODAY WE ARE HIGHLIGHTING THIS THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF JACK ISRAELSON.

JACK, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME UP TO THE PODIUM.

JACK IS A COLUMBIA HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR.

HE'S A DEDICATED CITY YOUTH COMMISSION MEMBER AND A VOLUNTEER PHOTOGRAPHER WITH HEIGHTS.

NEXT, THROUGH HIS INVOLVEMENT WITH THE YOUTH COMMISSION, JACK HAS ENJOYED LEARNING FROM VARIOUS CITY STAFF AND GAINING INSIGHT INTO THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.

JACK SAYS, IT'S OPENED MY EYES TO MANY OF THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.

IT'S BEEN A VERY VALUABLE EXPERIENCE AND I'VE LIKED CONTRIBUTING TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

IN ADDITION TO HIS VOLUNTEER WORK, JACK IS A WRITER FOR THE HEIGHTS HERALD, WHICH FOCUSES ON STORIES ABOUT THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS COMMUNITY AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

AND THAT'S THE HIGH SCHOOL NEWSPAPER AT THE PUBLIC SCHOOL HERE.

HIS DEDICATION TO COVERING ISSUES THAT IMPACT THE CITY AND ENSURING HIS PEERS ARE WELL INFORMED CITIZENS HAS BEEN WIDELY RECOGNIZED.

AFTER GRADUATING THIS SPRING, JACK PLANS TO ATTEND THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA IN THE FALL, HOPING TO STUDY GEOGRAPHY OR URBAN STUDIES.

BEING INVOLVED IN THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS COMMUNITY HAS BEEN ESSENTIAL TO JACK.

IT'S A VIBRANT AND PROGRESSIVE COMMUNITY, HE SAYS.

I'M GLAD TO BE A PART OF IT.

IF YOU WANT TO GET INVOLVED, IT'S EASY TO DO.

JACK ISRAELSON'S STORY IS A TESTAMENT TO YOUNG PEOPLE'S IMPACT ON THEIR COMMUNITY, SO THANK YOU AND PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING JACK ISRAELSON, OUR YOUTH OUTSTANDING CITIZEN OF THE YEAR.

AND WE HAVE A PLAQUE FOR YOU, JACK.

THANK YOU.

AND IF YOU'D LIKE TO SAY.

THANK YOU.

YEAH, I JUST WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE ENTIRE CITY FOR HELPING FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GET INTO LOCAL

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AND I ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND I GUESS EVERYBODY THAT'S IN THE CITY, I GUESS BECAUSE I HAVE A LOT OF GOOD FRIENDS IN HERE.

THANK YOU.

NOW WE ARE TO OUR ADULTS GROWN UP SECTION OF OUR OUTSTANDING CITIZEN.

IT IS MY HONOR TO HIGHLIGHT DENISE JOHNSON AND DENISE.

YOU MAY COME UP TO THE PODIUM.

DENISE JOHNSON'S EXCEPTIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS, AND SHE HAS BEEN NAMED THE OUTSTANDING CITIZEN OF THE YEAR FOR COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AFTER AN IMPRESSIVE 47-YEAR HEALTH CARE CAREER.

DENISE EMBRACED THE SPIRIT OF VOLUNTEERISM INSPIRED BY HER PARENTS.

THE VOLUNTEERISM SPIRIT WAS ROLE MODELED AT HOME, SHE SAYS.

VOLUNTEERING WAS NEVER A QUESTION BASED ON THE EXAMPLE MY PARENTS SET.

ORIGINALLY FROM COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, DENISE WATCHED HER MOTHER VOLUNTEER AT SOUTHERN ANOKA COUNTY ASSISTANCE, SACA, EVERY WEDNESDAY FOR 20 YEARS.

FOLLOWING IN HER PARENTS' FOOTSTEPS, DENISE BECAME A SECOND-GENERATION VOLUNTEER AT SACA AND AFTER RETIRING, HELPING CLIENTS.

AFTER RETIRING, HELPING CLIENTS SHOP AND THEN ENSURING THEY HAVE A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE.

IN 2021, DENISE ALSO BEGAN WORKING WITH REACH OUT AND READ, WHICH PROVIDES BOOKS TO CHILDREN DURING THEIR ANNUAL CHECKUPS.

SHE ENJOYS WORKING ALONGSIDE YOUNG ADULTS FROM COLUMBIA HEIGHTS WHO VOLUNTEER WITH THE ORGANIZATION AS PART OF THEIR CAREER PATHWAYS PROGRAM.

DENISE IN 2023, WAS APPOINTED AS ONE OF THE FIRST COMMISSIONERS ON THE CITY'S SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION, AND SHE BRINGS HER DEEP LOVE FOR COLUMBIA HEIGHTS TO THIS ROLE AND SEES IT AS A GATEWAY TO OTHER VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES.

DENISE REMINDS US THAT THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT NEED FOR VOLUNTEERS RIGHT HERE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO FAR IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, SHE SAID.

IT'S RIGHT IN YOUR BACKYARD.

DENISE JOHNSON'S STORY IS A TESTAMENT TO THE POWER OF VOLUNTEERISM AND THE POSITIVE IMPACT ONE PERSON CAN HAVE ON THEIR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU. AND PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING DENISE JOHNSON, OUR OUTSTANDING CITIZEN.

A COUPLE OF WORDS. JUST A COUPLE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS VERY SPECIAL RECOGNITION.

I WAS VERY SURPRISED THAT THE MAYOR CALLED ME.

I WAS UP AT THE CABIN.

I SAID, WHAT? WHO WOULD DO THAT? I AM INDEED SURPRISED, HUMBLED AND HONORED.

AND AS MAYOR SAID MY PARENTS, DON AND PHYLLIS KROLL, INSTILLED IN ME AT AN EARLY AGE THE IMPORTANCE OF INVOLVEMENT IN YOUR COMMUNITY AND VOLUNTEERISM.

WHETHER THIS WAS HELPING A NEIGHBOR OR AT THEIR CHURCH, CHURCHES THEIR PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION OR IN COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, VOLUNTEERING WAS ALWAYS FRONT AND CENTER DURING MY WORKING YEARS, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN I RETIRED NEARLY THREE YEARS AGO, IT SEEMED NATURAL FOR ME TO TAKE THIS PATH TO.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS AWARD.

IT MOTIVATES ME TO WANT TO DO MORE.

I'M PROUD TO BE SELECTED THE OUTSTANDING CITIZEN OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS COMMUNITY FOR 2024.

IT'S QUITE AN HONOR. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

AND OUR NEXT AWARD IS FOR BRIAN BEANIE DREWES.

AND I AM HONORED TO RECOGNIZE BRIAN BEANIE DREWES AS AN OUTSTANDING CITIZEN FOR THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA.

THIS AWARD IS PRESENTED POSTHUMOUSLY, AND WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO HAVE HIS SON, CONNOR DREWES, HERE TO ACCEPT IT ON HIS BEHALF.

CONNOR, IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME UP TO THE PODIUM.

AND REALLY, IF ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO STAND UP AT THE PODIUM, THEY'RE WELCOME TO COME UP AS WELL.

IT'S HARD TO STAND THERE ALONE.

BANEE CALLED COLUMBIA HEIGHTS HOME MOST OF HIS LIFE AND HAD A GIFT FOR BRIGHTENING PEOPLE'S DAYS.

HE WAS EASY TO APPROACH, CONNOR SAID.

I DON'T THINK HE REALIZED THE IMPACT HE HAD ON PEOPLE.

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EVEN WHEN CONNOR PLAYED FOR SAINT ANTHONY, BEANIE STILL ROOTED FOR COLUMBIA HEIGHTS TEAMS. SINCE BEANIE'S PASSING LAST NOVEMBER, CONNOR HAS BEEN TOUCHED BY HOW MANY PEOPLE RECOGNIZE HIM BECAUSE OF HIS FATHER.

BEANIE'S SENSE OF HUMOR AND LIGHT HEARTEDNESS LEFT A LASTING IMPRESSION ON EVERYONE HE MET.

BEANNIE'S FAMILY IS DEEPLY ROOTED IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

HE ASSISTED WITH FUNDRAISING AT HIS LOCAL CHURCH AND STAYED ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY THROUGH SOFTBALL AND THE ITALIAN AMERICAN CLUB.

BRIAN BEANNIE DREWE'S LEGACY IS A TESTAMENT TO THE POSITIVE IMPACT ONE PERSON CAN HAVE ON THEIR COMMUNITY.

HIS MEMORY LIVES ON THROUGH THE COUNTLESS LIVES HE'S TOUCHED.

SO PLEASE JOIN ME IN HONORING BRIAN "BEANNIE" DREWE'S AS THE OUTSTANDING CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AND LET US EXTEND OUR HEARTFELT THANKS TO CONNOR DREWES FOR ACCEPTING THIS AWARD ON HIS FATHER'S BEHALF.

THANK YOU.

AS MAYOR. I ACTUALLY HAD ONLY MET HIM ONCE, SO I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW HIM.

BUT I'VE HEARD MANY PEOPLE.

SHARE. GREAT STORY.

SO, I KNOW THAT HIS LOVE.

WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR HONORING MY FATHER WITH THIS AWARD.

THE RECOGNITION WOULD HAVE MEANT A LOT TO HIM.

IT MEANS A LOT TO ME. AND IT MEANS A LOT TO MY FAMILY.

IT'S A MOMENT TO BE PROUD OF.

HE. HE LIVED A VERY SIMPLE LIFE.

BUT DOING SIMPLE THINGS IS WHAT MADE HIM WHO HE WAS.

AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE.

IF MY DAD WASN'T WHO HE WAS.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY TOUGH TO GET BACK UP ON MY FEET AGAIN AFTER COMING HOME TO WHAT I HAD TO COME HOME TO.

AND THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY THAT STEPPED UP AND OPENED THEIR HOMES AND OPENED THEIR HEARTS TO ME AND OFFERED HELP IN ANY WAY, SHAPE AND FORM AND.

LIKE I SAID, WITHOUT MY FATHER, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE.

BECAUSE OF HIM, BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND BETWEEN MY FAMILY.

IT REALLY SHOWED ME THAT A HOME IS JUST NOT JUST FOUR WALLS AND A ROOF, AND THERE'S A LOT MORE TO IT.

SO, THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY FOR COMING FORTH AND MAKING SURE THAT I CAN CONTINUE IN LIFE AT A NORMAL RATE, I GUESS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR EVERYTHING.

THANK YOU. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW, BUT THIS WAS A SURPRISE TO MY HUSBAND AND I, SO I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS.

IT'S REALLY OVERWHELMING.

BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

OUR SON IS VERY LOVED, AND I SEE THAT MORE AND MORE EVERY DAY.

SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH I APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU.

WHAT AN HONOR TO HAVE SUCH A CITY WHERE PEOPLE COME TOGETHER LIKE THIS.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

THE NEXT PART OF OUR MEETING ARE OUR PROCLAMATIONS THAT WE HAVE.

THE NEXT ONE IS OUR ARBOR MONTH PROCLAMATION.

AND. SORRY.

OH, SORRY. YES. THE BUSINESS AWARD WILL BE POSTPONED UNTIL OUR NEXT MEETING.

IT IS FOR HEIGHTS PIZZA MAN.

BUT HE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE HERE AT TONIGHT'S MEETING, SO WE WILL GIVE HIM HIS PLAQUE THE NEXT WEEK AND HAVE HIM IN, SO.

THANK YOU. SORRY ABOUT THAT.

THAT THEN BRINGS US TO OUR ARBOR MONTH PROCLAMATION.

AND, CONNIE, OR NO, RACHEL, COULD YOU READ THAT ONE? OH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

PROCLAMATION. ARBOR DAY.

ARBOR MONTH.

WHEREAS TREES AND FOREST SOILS KEEP OUR LAKES AND STREAMS CLEAN BY ABSORBING AND FILTERING POLLUTANTS AND SEDIMENTS, AND WHEREAS

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AND WHEREAS CAREFUL MANAGEMENT OF OUR FORESTS IS ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO PROTECT DRINKING WATER AND REDUCE THE COST OF WATER TREATMENT.

AND WHEREAS, SOUND MANAGEMENT OF FORESTED PUBLIC LANDS SURROUNDING THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER ENSURES CLEAN DRINKING WATER FOR MORE THAN A MILLION MINNESOTANS.

AND WHEREAS ABOUT THREE QUARTERS OF MINNESOTANS GET THEIR DRINKING WATER FROM THE FORESTED PARTS OF THE STATE.

AND WHEREAS PLANTING TREES IS A NATURAL AND EASY WAY TO KEEP OUR WATER CLEAN.

AND WHEREAS THE LAST FRIDAY IN APRIL AND THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF MAY, MINNESOTANS PAY SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO OUR TREES AS NATURAL RESOURCES AND REDEDICATE OURSELVES TO THE VITALITY OF OUR FORESTS.

THANK YOU. NOW, THEREFORE, I, AMADA MARQUEZ SIMULA, MAYOR OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA TO HEREBY PROCLAIM.

FRIDAY, APRIL 26TH, 2024, AS ARBOR DAY AND THE MONTH OF MAY 2024 AS ARBOR MONTH IN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

AND WE WILL PASS THAT ON TO OUR CITY FORESTER.

NEXT. OUR PROCLAMATION IS FOR PUBLIC WORKS WEEK.

IT'S FINE.

HERE WE ARE. NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK, WHEREAS PUBLIC WORKS SERVICES PROVIDED IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR CITIZENS EVERYDAY LIVES.

AND WHEREAS THE SUPPORT OF AN UNDERSTANDING AND INFORMED CITIZENRY IS VITAL TO THE EFFICIENT OPERATION OF PUBLIC WORKS SYSTEMS AND PROGRAMS SUCH AS WATER, SEWER, STREETS AND HIGHWAYS, PARKS, PUBLIC BUILDINGS, SOLID WASTE COLLECTION AND SNOW REMOVAL.

AND WHEREAS, THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND COMFORT OF THIS COMMUNITY GREATLY DEPENDS ON THESE FACILITIES AND SERVICES, AND WHEREAS THE QUALITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE FACILITIES, AS WELL AS THEIR PLANNING, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION IS VITALLY DEPENDENT UPON THE EFFORTS AND SKILL OF PUBLIC WORKS OFFICIALS.

AND WHEREAS, THE EFFICIENCY OF THE QUALIFIED AND DEDICATED PERSONNEL WHO STAFF PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENTS IS MATERIALLY INFLUENCED BY THE PEOPLE'S ATTITUDES AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WORK THEY PERFORM.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, AMADA MARQUEZ SIMULA, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE WEEK OF MAY 19TH THROUGH MAY 25TH, 2024, AS NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK IN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, AND I CALL UPON ALL CITIZENS AND CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS TO ACQUAINT THEMSELVES WITH THE ISSUES INVOLVED IN PROVIDING OUR PUBLIC WORKS AND TO RECOGNIZE THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT OUR PUBLIC WORKS OFFICIALS MAKE EVERY DAY TO PROTECT OUR HEALTH, SAFETY, COMFORT, AND QUALITY OF LIFE.

AND AS AN ADDENDUM, I ACTUALLY WORKED AT OUR PUBLIC WORKS BEFORE I RAN FOR MAYOR AND HARD-WORKING GROUP OF PEOPLE AND REALLY DO CARE AND COME IN ON THE WEEKENDS WHEN THEY NEED TO PLOW, AND IT WAS REALLY IMPRESSIVE BEING THERE.

OH YEAH. AND KEVIN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD SOMETHING? YEAH. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

THANK YOU. I THINK THE PROCLAMATION IDENTIFIES, I THINK, WHAT PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY REALLY SEE WHEN YOU THINK OF PUBLIC WORKS STREETS, OUR PARKS YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU TURN ON THE TAP OR FLUSH THE TOILET THAT THOSE THINGS WORK.

BUT I THINK A LOT OF THINGS THAT PUBLIC WORKS DOES IS BEHIND THE SCENES.

AN EXAMPLE OF THAT IS THIS WEEKEND WE HAD STORMS QUICKLY ROLL THROUGH WHERE WE HAD POWER OUTAGES, AND WE HAD 24 ALARMS, ALL IN A SUCCESSION OF ABOUT 15 MINUTES.

SO EVERY SINGLE REMOTE SITE THAT WE OPERATE HERE IN TOWN WAS OFFLINE.

AND THAT MEANS OUR WATER BOOSTER STATIONS, OUR SANITARY SEWER LIFT STATIONS AND OUR STORM SEWER PUMPING STATIONS WERE ALL OFFLINE AT ONCE.

SO, I MEAN, THOSE ARE THE THE MEN AND WOMEN, THE GUYS AND GALS WHO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S ALL OPERATING, WORKING, SO THAT WHEN YOU GO TO TURN ON YOUR TAP, YOU'RE GETTING WHAT YOU EXPECT. YEAH.

THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE SOMETIMES TAKE FOR GRANTED THAT THAT WATER IS ALWAYS GOING TO COME OUT CLEAN.

AND WE HAVE REALLY GREAT CLEAN WATER HERE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, AND THAT OUR STREETS ARE GOING TO BE TAKEN CARE OF.

AND WE NEED ALL THOSE PEOPLE.

SO YEAH. THANK YOU. VERY PROUD TO DECLARE THIS PUBLIC WORKS.

NEXT, WE HAVE OUR PROCLAMATION FOR.

ALS AWARENESS MONTH AND I WILL LET COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS SAY, I DON'T KNOW IF I SAID IF I CAN SAY THAT WORD CORRECTLY RIGHT AWAY.

SO, THERE YOU GO.

AMYOTROPHIC. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. WHEREAS AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS ALS, KNOWN AS LOU GEHRIG'S DISEASE, IS A PROGRESSIVE, FATAL NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASE THAT IMPAIRS NERVE

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AND WHEREAS AROUND 30,000 AMERICANS HAVE ALS AT ANY TIME, WITH 5000 NEW CASES ANNUALLY AND A PERSON DIES FROM ALS EVERY 90 MINUTES.

AND WHEREAS ALS AFFECTS ALL RACES, SEXES, AGES AND ETHNICITIES, WITH 90% OF CASES HAVING NO FAMILY HISTORY AND INCIDENTS EXPECTED TO RISE BY 70% WORLDWIDE BY 2040, AND WITH MILITARY VETERANS BEING MORE LIKELY TO DEVELOP AND DIE FROM ALS.

AND WHEREAS ALS HAS NO CURE, MAKING ACCESS TO NEW THERAPIES, DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES CRUCIAL, WITH CLINICAL TRIALS PLAYING A PIVOTAL ROLE IN EVALUATING NEW TREATMENTS AND ENHANCING QUALITY OF LIFE.

AND WHEREAS THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE RENEWS OUR COMMITMENT TO RAISING AWARENESS FOR FUNDING OF ALS RESEARCH, WITH THE ALS ASSOCIATION HAVING FUNDED OVER $154 MILLION IN RESEARCH GLOBALLY, SUPPORTING OVER 550 PROJECTS.

AND WHEREAS OUR COMMITMENT TO FINDING A CURE REMAINS STRONG, AIMING TO MAKE ALS A LIVABLE DISEASE UNTIL A CURE IS FOUND.

AND WHEREAS ALS AWARENESS MONTH HIGHLIGHTS THE SEVERE IMPACT OF ALS ON INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES ONGOING RESEARCH TO ERADICATE THIS DISEASE.

THANK YOU. NOW THEREFORE, I, AMADA MARQUEZ SIMULA, MAYOR OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF MAY 2024 AS ALS AWARENESS MONTH IN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, COUNTY OF ANOKA, STATE OF MINNESOTA, USA.

I URGE ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN IN SUPPORTING ALS RESEARCH, ADVOCATING FOR INCREASED FUNDING AND STANDING IN SOLIDARITY WITH THOSE AFFECTED BY THIS RELENTLESS DISEASE.

AND THIS PROCLAMATION WAS REQUESTED BY A COMMISSION, SORRY, A CONSTITUENT, A RESIDENT OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS WHO HAS THIS DISEASE AND ASKED IF WE WOULD RECOGNIZE THIS.

SO, THANK YOU, JUSTICE FOR READING IT.

AND NOW WE HAVE OUR PROCLAMATION FOR NATIONAL CITIES TOWNS, VILLAGES MONTH AND COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS WILL READ THIS ONE.

OKAY. WHEREAS THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES WAS FOUNDED IN 1924, IN LAWRENCE, KANSAS, AS THE AMERICAN MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION BY STATE MUNICIPAL LEAGUES SEEKING NATIONAL REPRESENTATION FOR RAPIDLY EXPANDING MUNICIPALITIES.

AND WHEREAS, THE NONPARTISAN NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES IS THE OLDEST AND LARGEST ORGANIZATION REPRESENTING OVER 19,000 CITIES, TOWNS, AND VILLAGES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, WORKING WITH 49 STATE MUNICIPAL LEAGUES TO STRENGTHEN LOCAL LEADERSHIP, DRIVE INNOVATION, AND INFLUENCE FEDERAL POLICIES IMPACTING LOCAL PROGRAMS. AND WHEREAS THE NLC, AS THE VOICE OF MUNICIPALITIES IN WASHINGTON, DC, HAS SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE SOLUTIONS AND EDUCATED POLICYMAKERS ON LOCAL IMPLEMENTATION. AND WHEREAS COLUMBIA HEIGHTS IS A PROUD NLC MEMBER BENEFITING FROM ITS RESEARCH, TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, FEDERAL ADVOCACY, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN FROM OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

AND WHEREAS, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE THE FOUNDATION OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY, PROVIDING 336 MILLION RESIDENTS WITH ACCOUNTABLE, RESPONSIVE, INCLUSIVE, ETHICAL AND TRANSPARENT GOVERNANCE AND HAVE BEEN ESSENTIAL IN TRANSFORMING THE UNITED STATES INTO A LEADING GLOBAL NATION.

AND WHEREAS COLUMBIA HEIGHTS BECAME A VILLAGE IN 1898, ESTABLISHED BY THE ANOKA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS CITY CHARTER WAS ADOPTED IN 1921 AND IS PROUDLY SERVED BY MAYOR AMADA MARQUEZ SIMULA, COUNCIL MEMBERS CONNIE ASKINS, KATIE JACOBS, RACHEL JAMES, JUSTICE SPRIGGS, AND DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANTS.

THANK YOU. NOW THEREFORE, I, AMADA MARQUEZ SIMULA, MAYOR OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 2024 AS NATIONAL CITIES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES MONTH IN CELEBRATION OF AMERICA'S LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND THE NLC'S HISTORIC CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY IN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

COUNTY OF ANOKA, STATE OF MINNESOTA, USA.

THANK YOU. AND NOW WE ARE AT LETTER F.

AND SO, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONER MEISSNER UP HERE TO THE PODIUM AND GIVE US A COUPLE UPDATES FROM THE COUNTY.

STICK THE WAY YOU KICKED OFF THE MEETING.

MY NAME IS MANDY MEISNER, SO I HAVE THE HONOR AND PRIVILEGE OF BEING THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER FOR THIS AREA.

I REPRESENT FRIDLEY, COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, AND HILLTOP, SO I'LL BE PRETTY BRIEF.

FOR MY UPDATE, THERE IS A BUILDING IDENTIFIED IN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

I CANNOT GIVE OUT THE EXACT ADDRESS SIMPLY BECAUSE IT IS NOT CLOSED YET.

WE ARE PREDICTING THAT THIS WILL BE CLOSED FRIDAY OF THIS WEEK.

BUT I CAN GIVE SOME GENERAL UPDATES ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR BUILDING.

SO, THIS BUILDING, WE ARE USING $2 MILLION FROM ARPA FUNDS FROM THE COUNTY.

WE WILL BE RENOVATING IT TO TRANSFORM IT INTO PERMANENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

[00:25:07]

THE OTHER UPDATE THAT I HAVE JUST KIND OF STAYING WITH THE THEME OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS PAST LEGISLATION? THERE IS A 25 CENT SALES TAX THAT IS DEDICATED TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

SO THIS IS COMING THROUGH COUNTIES.

AND SO ANOKA COUNTY WILL BE GETTING BOTH A LOCAL FUNDING AS WELL AS STATE FUNDING.

AND IT IS PREDICTED THAT THE COUNTY WILL HAVE RIGHT NOW THE NUMBERS ARE SHIFTING ANYWHERE FROM 8 TO $10 MILLION A YEAR TO 10 TO $12 MILLION EVERY YEAR, DEDICATED TO AGAIN DEVELOP AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THE COUNTY.

SO, THAT'S THE GREAT NEWS.

I WILL ALSO SAY, BECAUSE THIS IS A BRAND-NEW MECHANISM, WE NEED TO BE STARTING FROM THE GROUND UP.

SO, THIS IS A VERY HEAVY LIFT AND I KNOW THE STAFF CAN APPRECIATE THAT.

SO RIGHT NOW, IT IS LIVING IN OUR HRA FOR ANOKA COUNTY.

WE ARE LITERALLY THINKING ABOUT WHAT KIND OF PROGRAMING TO DO.

I PERSONALLY MY OPINION DON'T QUOTE ME ON THIS, BUT MY OPINION IS I THINK A LOT OF THAT WILL BE ALLOCATED FOR GRANTS.

RIGHT. SO, TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR FOLKS THAT ARE ALREADY DOING THIS WORK, THE COUNTY DOES NOT HAVE ANY DESIRE TO BECOME A DEVELOPER PER SE.

BUT OBVIOUSLY WE DO WANT TO SUPPORT THIS PARTICULAR INITIATIVE AND VERY GREAT NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

I KNOW THAT I'M EXCUSE ME, PREACHING TO THE CHOIR THAT THERE JUST ISN'T ENOUGH.

SO THAT'S REALLY MY UPDATES THAT I HAD THIS EVENING, BUT I WOULD STAND FOR ANY GENERAL QUESTIONS.

IF ANYONE HAS ANYTHING AND I WILL DO MY BEST TO ANSWER.

AND IF NOT, I WILL SEE YOU GUYS AT THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS PARADE ON.

I BELIEVE THAT IS JUNE 28TH.

YEAH. OKAY. VERY GOOD.

THANK YOU AGAIN SO MUCH.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR VISITING.

[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 CONSENT AGENDA APPROVAL WILL BE TAKEN UP AS A NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS.

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT NUMBER SEVEN HAS BEEN REMOVED.

THERE'S GOING TO BE AN UPDATE TO THAT WORDING, AND IT WILL BE AT A FUTURE COUNCIL MEETING.

AND ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT, THEN, IF OUR CITY MANAGER COULD TAKE US THROUGH THE ITEMS. CERTAINLY. THANK YOU. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, YOU HAVE 12 ITEMS ON YOUR CONSENT AGENDA FOR TONIGHT.

STARTING OFF WITH APPROVING AND ACCEPTING PAST MEETING MINUTES.

THE FIRST IS TO APPROVE THE MAY 6TH, 2024, WORK SESSION MEETING MINUTES.

THE NEXT IS TO APPROVE THE MAY 13TH REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES.

THE THIRD ITEM IS TO ACCEPT THE JANUARY 18TH, 2024, CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES.

THE FOURTH ITEM IS TO APPROVE THE APRIL 1ST REGULAR EDA MEETING.

MINUTES AFTER THAT IS TO ACCEPT THE APRIL 3RD, 2024, LIBRARY BOARD MEETING MINUTES.

THE NEXT ITEM IS TO APPROVE THE APRIL 9TH.

EXCUSE ME. ACCEPT THE APRIL 9TH, 2024, SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES.

AND MAYOR, AS YOU HAD INDICATED, ITEM NUMBER SEVEN HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SOME MINOR TWEAKS.

THE CITY FORESTER HAD REQUESTED THIS.

JUST DO SOME MINOR MODIFICATIONS TO SOILS AS IT RELATES TO THE TREE PORTION OF THIS ORDINANCE.

SO THAT'LL BE BACK BEFORE YOU ON JUNE 10TH.

ITEM NUMBER EIGHT IS THE SECOND READING FOR ORDINANCE 1698, CREATING A HOUSING TRUST FUND WITHIN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

AND THEN THAT DESIGNATES THE CITY'S EDA AS THE FUND'S ADMINISTRATOR.

ITEM NUMBER NINE IS TO APPROVE THE PERMITS FOR 2024 JAMBOREE.

AS THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER JUST INDICATED, THE PARADE IS GOING TO BE ON JUNE 28TH THIS YEAR, AND THERE ARE THREE MOTIONS FOR YOU.

ONE IS TO AUTHORIZE THE CLOSURE FOR HOUSTON PARKWAY, AND THAT GOES FROM TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY, ACTUALLY THAT WEEK AND CLOSING HOUSTON PARKWAY FROM 39TH TO 40TH THE NEXT IS TO AUTHORIZE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO ISSUE A PARADE PERMIT FOR THAT DATE ON JUNE 28TH.

AND THE LAST MOTION HERE UNDER THE PERMITS IS TO APPROVE FIREWORKS PERMIT FOR THE NEXT DAY ON SATURDAY, JUNE 29TH.

AND THAT WILL BE HELD AT HOUSTON PARK.

ITEM NUMBER TEN IS TO ACCEPT THE LICENSE AGENDA AS PRESENTED.

AFTER THAT IS THE RENTAL OCCUPANCY LICENSES FOR APPROVAL.

[00:30:04]

MAYOR. THANK YOU.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL SEEING AND HEARING NONE.

THEN MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED? SO MOVED.

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

JACOBS. ANY DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS? SEEING AND HEARING IS NONE.

THEN ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES.

THE CONSENT AGENDA PASSES.

[PUBLIC HEARINGS]

THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK REGARDING THIS MATTER.

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

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

WHEN SPEAKING, VIRTUAL ATTENDEES SHOULD TURN THEIR CAMERA ON.

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

SO, THIS IS ITEM NUMBER 13.

ADOPT RESOLUTION 2024-44 FOR ABATEMENT.

AND WE HAVE AARON CHIRPICH IS GOING TO TAKE US THROUGH THIS.

YES. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR.

MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

THIS ITEM IS A RESOLUTION SEEKING TO AUTHORIZE ABATEMENT OF A NON-PERMITTED NON CODE COMPLIANT STRUCTURE.

SO, ABATEMENT IN THIS CASE WOULD BE REMOVAL OF A STRUCTURE FROM THE PROPERTY.

SO, A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY IN AUGUST OF 2023 THERE WAS A COMPLAINT RECEIVED BY THE CITY ABOUT AN UNPERMITTED STRUCTURE UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

THE CITY'S BUILDING OFFICIAL COMPLETED AN INSPECTION AT 1041, 43.5 WHICH IS A LICENSED SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL PROPERTY.

THERE WAS CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY UNDERWAY, AND THE BUILDING OFFICIAL ISSUED A STOP WORK ORDER.

AT THAT TIME AFTER POSTING THAT ORDER THE OWNER DIDN'T CONTACT THE CITY.

THE STOP WORK ORDER WAS ACTUALLY REMOVED.

LEADING TO A SECOND STOP WORK ORDER BEING POSTED.

AND THEN NOTICE MAILED TO THE OWNER REGARDING THE NEED TO SECURE A BUILDING PERMIT TO REMOVE OR REMOVE THE STRUCTURE AND GIVING A 30-DAY COMPLIANCE PERIOD. SUBSEQUENTLY PROPERTY OWNER DID PULL AN ONLINE PERMIT FOR ROOFING AND SIDING.

WHICH IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE REQUIRES NO REVIEW BY THE CITY.

IT'S AN ONLINE PERMIT THAT CAN JUST BE PULLED OVER THE COUNTER, ESSENTIALLY.

AND HAD NOT DISCUSSED THE STOP WORK ORDER, THE CORRECTIONS WITH CITY STAFF FOR THE STRUCTURE IN QUESTION.

THAT ROOFING AND SIDING PERMIT WAS INSUFFICIENT TO COVER THE SCOPE OF THE WORK FOR THE STRUCTURE, BECAUSE IT'S ACTUALLY A PORCH LIKE STRUCTURE THAT WAS BUILT TO COVER AN EXTERIOR STAIRWELL STAIRWELL THAT ENTERS THE BASEMENT OF THE HOME.

AND IN CONVERSATIONS WITH THE OWNER, THE STRUCTURE WAS BUILT TO COVER THAT STAIRWELL BECAUSE DURING THE TIME OF THE RENTAL INSPECTION, IT WAS NOTED THAT THERE WAS A DRAIN IN THAT STAIRWELL THAT NEEDED TO BE DISCONNECTED OR FILLED IN BECAUSE IT WAS CONNECTED TO THE CITY SANITARY SEWER.

AND YOU CAN'T DO THAT.

AS THE COUNCIL KNOWS INFLOW AND INFILTRATION OF RAINWATER INTO THE SANITARY SEWER SYSTEM IS PROHIBITED BY CITY CODE BECAUSE THE CITY PAYS FOR ALL THE GALLONS THAT ENTER THAT SYSTEM.

THERE ARE OTHER WAYS THAT YOU CAN REDIRECT STORMWATER.

AND IN THIS CASE, THE OWNER, YOU KNOW, ELECTED TO BUILD THE STRUCTURE THAT'S IN YOUR PACKET THAT'S ATTACHED TO THE HOUSE.

SO THAT'S KIND OF HOW IT CAME TO BE WAS A REACTION TO THAT OTHER CITY REQUIREMENT.

JUST FOR PERSPECTIVE.

SO THE HOMEOWNER OR THE OWNER WAS INFORMED THAT THAT PERMIT WAS INSUFFICIENT, THE ROOFING AND SIDING, AND THAT A BUILDING PERMIT FOR AN ADDITION WOULD ACTUALLY BE REQUIRED, AND WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT PLANS WOULD BE NEEDED WITH THAT PERMIT APPLICATION.

IN OCTOBER OF 2023, THE OWNER DID SUBMIT AN ONLINE APPLICATION FOR THE ADDITION, BUT IT DIDN'T INCLUDE THE PLANS NEEDED.

AND HE WAS MADE AWARE OF THAT VIA EMAIL.

AND THEN LATER ON IN NOVEMBER, CAME TO CITY HALL WITH PLANS THAT WERE REPRESENTATIVE OF WHAT HAD ACTUALLY BEEN BUILT ON THE PROPERTY.

AND THE CITY'S BUILDING OFFICIAL INFORMED THE OWNER THAT THE PLANS AND THEREBY THAT STRUCTURE WERE DEFICIENT, AND THEY'D HAVE TO BE AMENDED TO COMPLY WITH THE BUILDING CODE.

AND THE OWNER WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE EXISTING STRUCTURE AS IT WAS BUILT HAS NO PATH TO COMPLIANCE WITH BUILDING CODE, AND THAT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE DECONSTRUCTED. THE BUILDING OFFICIAL GAVE DIRECTIONS TO THE OWNER ON WHAT REVISED PLANS WOULD NEED TO INCLUDE AND GENERAL GUIDANCE ON HOW A CODE COMPLIANT STRUCTURE SIMILAR TO

[00:35:08]

AND THAT'S WHERE WE KIND OF REACHED A STALEMATE, YOU KNOW WITH THE OWNER AND COULDN'T COME INTO AGREEMENT ON WHAT TYPE OF STRUCTURE WAS NEEDED, WHAT THE PATHWAY WAS, WHAT THE CITY'S BUILDING OFFICIAL BEING THE ARBITER OF THE STATE'S BUILDING CODE IS ABLE TO MAKE INTERPRETATIONS BASED UPON SIMILAR OR LIKE STRUCTURES.

AND THAT WAS WHAT WAS DONE IN THIS CASE.

SO, THE OTHER PATH TO COMPLIANCE, IF THERE WE COULDN'T REACH AGREEMENT ON METHODOLOGY FOR CONSTRUCTION AND HOW IT WOULD NEED TO BE BUILT.

THE CITY DID OFFER THE PATHWAY OF SECURING AN ENGINEERING OR DESIGN FIRM THAT COULD SUBSTANTIATE THE DESIGN AS BUILT, AND THAT WOULD ALSO BE ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY THAT HAS NOT BEEN PRODUCED AS WELL.

SO, A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH YOU KNOW, OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL MONTHS AND INCLUDING SOME CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE OWNER'S ATTORNEY TRYING TO BRING RESOLUTION TO THE MATTER.

AND THAT'S WHERE WE COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL TODAY.

STAFF NEED TO FIND A WAY TO MOVE ON FROM THIS ABATEMENT IS THE, YOU KNOW, THE LAST RESORT ACTION THAT THE CITY LIKES TO TAKE.

BUT IN CERTAIN INSTANCES.

IS IS COMPELLED TO DO SO.

SO WITH THAT IN MIND, ON MAY 2ND OF THIS YEAR, THE PROPERTY OWNER WAS MAILED THE STATEMENT OF CAUSE AND THE NOTICE OF THIS HEARING FOR THIS EVENING AND THE CITY'S INTENT TO PURSUE THE NUISANCE, NUISANCE ABATEMENT OR REMOVAL OF THIS STRUCTURE.

I DO KNOW THAT THE OWNER IS IN ATTENDANCE THIS EVENING AND WOULD LIKELY LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

STAFF WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE COUNCIL MIGHT HAVE AT THIS TIME BEFORE WE OPEN THE HEARING.

THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL TO START? ALL RIGHT. OKAY.

THEN THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING.

SO, IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, IS THERE ANYONE HERE WHO HAS PUT IN A FORM YET? NO ONE HAS PRESENTED A FORM AND THERE IS NO ONE ONLINE? OKAY, THAT'S OKAY.

I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY YEP. SO, IF THERE'S ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK THE FORMS ARE RIGHT OUTSIDE THE DOOR OR THERE'S ONE HERE.

SORRY.

BRENDAN GILBERT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

THANK YOU. WELCOME.

YOU MAY COME UP TO THE PODIUM AND.

AND SHARE WHAT YOU'D LIKE ON THIS ITEM.

[00:40:03]

THE STRUCTURE ITSELF IS A WELL-BUILT STRUCTURE OF SEVERAL OTHER AWNINGS IN THE AREA THAT ARE BUILT LESS EFFICIENT OR WELL-BUILT AS THIS ONE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T EVER EXPECT IT TO GO ANYWHERE BECAUSE IT CAN'T.

IF THAT IS TORN DOWN, THE BASEMENT WILL FLOOD AGAIN.

ANY SORT OF RAINFALL, IF YOU NOTICE THE TRIM ON THE BUILDING DOES NOT COVER THAT STAIRWELL, SO THERE IS NOTHING GOING OVER THAT STAIRWELL IN ANY SORT OF SIZE OR SHAPE.

AND IF YOU, YOU KNOW, SEE A FARTHER BACK PICTURE, WHICH I, WHICH I BROUGHT WITH ME, EVERYTHING RUNS TO THAT BACKYARD.

SO, ANY SORT OF SUMP PUMP OR PUMPING INTO THE BACKYARD HAS TO GO WAY TO THE END OF THE YARD.

OTHERWISE, IT JUST RUNS RIGHT BACK TO THAT STAIRWELL.

SO THAT DRAIN ENDED UP BEING A LOT MORE NEEDED AS WE WEREN'T WE WEREN'T PREPARED FOR THAT.

WE WEREN'T AWARE OF THAT WHEN WE TOOK IT OUT.

EXCUSE ME. SO, UPON HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS AARON GAVE AN OUTLINE.

IF THE CITY COMES AND THERE IS SOMETHING TO BE DONE, WE PULL A PERMIT OR WE ASK, HEY, WHAT CAN WE DO? SO, THIS MEETING FOR US IS TO HOW DO WE BECOME COMPLIANT, RIGHT.

HOW DO WE MEET THAT SO THAT THE BASEMENT DOESN'T FLOOD, THE HOUSE GROWS MOLD, BECOMES DILAPIDATED, AND RUINS THE HOUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY.

OR RUINS OUR HOUSE.

SO, YOU KNOW, AARON GAVE AN OUTLINE OF THOSE THINGS.

SO, I PULLED A PERMIT WHICH LOOKS THE BEST AVAILABLE, WHERE ACTUALLY I WAS LATER INFORMED BECAUSE UPON SUBMITTING THESE, NO ONE EVER REACHED OUT TO ME.

NOBODY EVER CONTACTED ME.

SO, I WOULD SUBMIT, JUST LIKE TODAY, THE PAYMENT THAT I HAD MADE BACK IN NOVEMBER OR OCTOBER, THEY STILL HAVE BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO THE PERMIT, BUT THEY HAVE NOT RELEASED THE FUNDS.

SO, NOBODY CONTACTED US BACK TO SAY, HEY, THIS IS RIGHT OR WRONG OR YOU CAN'T DO IT OTHER THAN GETTING A LETTER OR SOMEBODY SHOWING UP, WHICH WE IMMEDIATELY WOULD TURN AROUND AND HEY, ASK, HEY, WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO COMPLY AND OR WE'LL COMPLY.

SO, IN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS TO ADD TO FOR SOMETHING TO BE TOUCHING, THE BUILDING BECOMES AN AUTOMATIC ADDITION WHICH FALLS INTO A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT CATEGORY.

SO, IF YOU ARE BUILDING ANYTHING AND IT'S ATTACHED TO THE BUILDING, IT AUTOMATICALLY GOES TO A DIFFERENT CATEGORY COMPARED TO BEING, LET'S SAY, AN AWNING.

THERE IS NO CODE FOR AN AWNING.

SO NOW IT FALLS INTO AN ADDITION.

SO THAT FALLS UNDER A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SPEC OF RULES.

OKAY. SO, I ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS.

HEY, HOW CAN I, YOU KNOW, HOW CAN THIS BE? WELL, I'M BEING HELD TO DECK CODE.

OKAY. FIRST OFF, THE DEFINITION OF DECK WOULD BE PEOPLE WALKING ON IT, HOLDING UP HOT TUBS, HOLDING RAILINGS, BEING SECURED TO THE BUILDING TO HOLD THAT WEIGHT.

STAIRS WOULD BE A VERY, YOU KNOW, IMPORTANT ONE FOR PEOPLE GOING UP ON THERE.

THAT IS NOT ANY PART OF THIS AWNING.

SO, THE ISSUE BECOMES, IS BECAUSE OF THE WAY YOU SEE THAT BUILDING.

MOST HOUSES IN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS ARE NOT BUILT LIKE THAT.

RIGHT? LIKE MOST PEOPLE HAVE A BACKYARD OR A DOOR THAT JUST WALKS RIGHT OUT INTO THEIR BACKYARD.

THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY, THERE IS NO DOOR TO GO INTO THE BACKYARD OR THE SIDES OF THE BUILDING.

THIS IS THE ONLY DOOR BACK THERE AND IS YOU CAN SEE IT IS DOWN, I THINK 5 OR 6 STEPS.

SO, IT'S DEEPER INTO THE GROUND.

IF WE WERE TO MEET DECK CODE THAT AWNING WHICH I BROUGHT PICTURES.

IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHERE IT WOULD NEGATE THE BACK DOOR, THE FRONT OF THAT AWNING WOULD BE ABOUT THREE FEET OFF THE GROUND.

SO, IT WOULD LITERALLY BE ON THE GROUND ATTACHED TO SOMETHING CALLED THE RIM JOIST AND THE RIM.

JOIST IS, YOU KNOW, THE STRONGEST PART OF THE BUILDING WHERE EVERY DECK IS ATTACHED, JUST LIKE RYAN HAS STATED WANTING LEG BOLTS, WHICH I'M IN AGREEANCE WITH.

I AGREE THAT TO BUILD A DECK YOU NEED THOSE CERTAIN THINGS, AND WE CAN'T MEET THAT.

SO EVEN IF WE WANTED TO MEET IT, WE CAN'T MEET THAT.

AND I'VE BEEN HAVING THAT CONVERSATION BACK AND FORTH SINCE NOVEMBER THAT AS MUCH AS I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT HAPPEN IT CAN'T OTHERWISE, WE NEGATE THE BACK DOOR TOTAL, WHICH KIND OF DEFEATS THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THE AWNING ANYWAYS, AND OR JUST NOT HAVING A BACK DOOR IN GENERAL, WHICH IT WOULDN'T, YOU KNOW, WOULDN'T HELP THIS PROPERTY WHATSOEVER.

SO, WITH THAT BEING SAID SO THROUGH THEIR CONVERSATIONS SAYING, HEY, HOW DO WE BECOME COMPLIANT? CAN WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT OTHER THINGS? NO, WE CANNOT, I CAN'T HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT REINFORCING THIS.

I CAN'T HAVE CONVERSATIONS OF DETACHING IT.

I CAN'T HAVE CONVERSATIONS OF BUILDING SOMETHING ELSE TO DIVERT THE WATER, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO AT THE END OF THE DAY, RIGHT? JUST DIVERT THE WATER AWAY FROM THE HOLE SO IT'S NOT GOING IN THE BASEMENT.

I'M NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS AS LONG AS THIS EXISTS.

IF THIS IS REMOVED, LIKE I STATED, THE BUILDING, THE BASEMENT WITH EXCUSE ME, START FLOODING AGAIN.

THE THROUGH THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND TAKING THE TIME TO RESEARCH ON MY OWN, READING THE CODES THERE HAS BEEN HELPFUL PEOPLE AT THE CITY.

ANDREW. BUTCHER.

I DON'T KNOW HIS LAST NAME 100%.

BOUCHET. OKAY.

HE WAS FANTASTIC.

HE'S LIKE, HEY, HERE'S THE THINGS THAT YOU CAN HAVE, AND OR YOU NEED TO READ UP ON THESE, OR YOU NEED TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

[00:45:06]

WITH AARON AND KEVIN.

THE CONVERSATIONS THEY SAY THEY CANNOT HELP.

THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT RYAN EXACTLY DOES.

RYAN IS THE BUILDING OFFICIAL.

THEREFORE, WE CAN'T MAKE ANY SORT OF STATEMENT OR MOVE BECAUSE WE DON'T WORK IN THAT GENRE.

AND JUST BECAUSE WE'RE, YOU KNOW, AN ASSISTANT OR A DIRECTOR DOES NOT MEAN THAT, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THAT PARTICULAR DEPARTMENT'S DOING.

SO, WHEN I INVITED RYAN OUT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE STRUCTURE WITH THE CONTRACTOR AND HAVE THIS CONVERSATION OFF KEVIN'S RECOMMENDATION, I WAS TURNED DOWN.

I WAS TURNED DOWN ON ANY SORT OF MORE QUESTIONS THAT I CAN ASK.

AND REALLY, THERE IS OTHER SOLUTIONS.

THERE'RE OTHER SOLUTIONS THAT EXIST TO EITHER REINFORCE THIS, TO DETACH THIS, CREATE IT INTO A DIFFERENT STRUCTURE, ALL TO DIVERT WATER.

WE'RE NOT GETTING AWAY FROM THE SOLE PURPOSE OF THIS ALL THE WAY DOWN TO IN THIS COLUMBIA HEIGHTS CITY CODE, IF YOU BUILD A SHED OR IF YOU BUY A SHED UP HERE AT MENARDS OR GAZEBO, THERE IS NO CODE FOR THAT.

AS LONG AS YOU'RE UNDER THE 120 OR 200FT², THERE IS NO CODE FOR IT.

THIS IS 84FT².

SO, IF IT BECAME A SHED, IT WOULD NOT MEET CODE AT ALL.

OR IT WOULDN'T NEED TO. IT WOULDN'T REQUIRE A PERMIT.

IT WOULDN'T REQUIRE A CODE WHICH.

AND THAT'S WHERE IT STARTS TO GO BACK AND FORTH.

AND THE CONFUSION FOR ME OF WHY WOULDN'T THIS BE ABLE TO MEET SOME SORT OF CODE TO SOLVE THE PURPOSE OF DEFLECTING WATER FROM THE BASEMENT? AND HAVE TO MEET DECK CODE, WHICH IS MUCH MORE EXTREME NOW IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THAT.

AND I BROUGHT PICTURES ONCE AGAIN.

THERE'S A BUILDING DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET THAT HAS AN AWNING MUCH LARGER THAN MY OWN.

THAT DOES NOT MEAN. EXCUSE ME.

YES, PLEASE. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE STATED JUST ONE PROPERTY.

WELL, OKAY, SO YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S OTHER THINGS BUILT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THEY THERE'S A DIFFERENT RULE FOR THEM OR.

NO, THEY WOULD HAVE EXACTLY THE SAME ONE.

BUT IN THESE MEETINGS, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE TALK ONLY ON THE ONE PROPERTY.

SO, A COMPARISON TO ANOTHER PROPERTY IS NOT RELEVANT.

THIS WE HAVE TO KEEP ON THE TOPIC FOR THIS PROPERTY.

OKAY. WE DON'T WE DON'T WE DON'T HAVE DOCUMENTATION ON THIS PROPERTY.

LIKE IT'S JUST YOU GOING TO BE SHARING SOMETHING.

BUT WE NEED TO WORK WITH WHAT WE'VE, WHAT WE'VE BEEN GIVEN.

WE HAVE COMMUNICATION FROM RYAN AND YOU, BACK AND FORTH.

I'M SURE YOU SAW THE PACKET.

NO. OKAY. PACKET.

IT'S IT WAS ONLINE, BUT ANYWAY.

OKAY. SO, WE HAVE EMAILS BACK AND FORTH THE PHOTOS THAT YOU CAN SEE HERE, BUT WE HAVE TO KEEP THE CONVERSATION ON THIS PROPERTY.

WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT OTHER ONES.

WELL, I HAVE MORE PHOTOS HERE, SO IT'S JUST THOSE PHOTOS.

JUST THESE PHOTOS ARE INCLUDED IN THE PACKET THAT WE'VE SEEN.

SO. AND THROUGH THAT CONVERSATION NOW I'M ON BASICALLY AN INFORMATION BLACKOUT.

SO, AARON WON'T RETURN MY EMAILS.

RYAN WILL JUST COME BACK AND REPEAT THE SAME THING.

KEVIN'S NOT GOING TO PARTICIPATE BASICALLY SAID SO I'M ON AN INFORMATION BLACKOUT WHEN I DO REQUEST THE INFORMATION ON, LET'S SAY, ANOTHER BUILDING DOES THAT PARTICULAR BUILDING OR LET'S SAY A PARTICULAR BUILD.

RIGHT? THOSE ARE OBVIOUS QUESTIONS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO ASK OF WHY WOULD THIS AWNING BE SO EXTREMELY DIFFERENT THAN A BUILD, LET'S SAY NEXT DOOR? I'M JUST USING AN EXAMPLE.

RIGHT. SO, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE ANOTHER STRUCTURE.

IT HAS TO BE WHY ARE WE BEING HELD TO DECK CODE, WHICH WE ALREADY KNOW WE CAN'T MEET? WE KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE WE CAN'T DO IT PHYSICALLY BECAUSE OF THE SHAPE OF THE HOUSE.

NOW WE CAN APPLY FOR VARIANCES AND THINGS LIKE THIS, WHICH WE'RE HAPPY TO.

WE JUST DON'T WANT TO SPEND $200 EACH TIME TO NOT KNOW WHAT WE'RE EVEN APPLYING FOR AT THE END OF THE DAY, AND OR BEING ABLE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION BEFORE WE APPLY FOR THAT. SO IF WE APPLY FOR SOMETHING AND, YOU KNOW, NOBODY'S HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH US OR, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO CHECK IN TO TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY INFORMATION, JUST LIKE SUBMITTING INFORMATION TONIGHT, NOBODY, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THAT'S A THING NOT TO, YOU KNOW, NO TO BRING THAT OR HAVE THAT THERE AHEAD OF TIME OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE.

THERE ARE OTHER AWNINGS THAT DO NOT HAVE TO MEET DEC CODE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

AREA. WELL, MAYBE WE SHOULD SEE IF WE HAVE QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL.

SURE, YOU COULD ANSWER.

AND WE CAN. IF THAT WORKS FOR YOU, WE'LL START ON THAT PART OF THE.

THAT'S WHAT WE USUALLY USUALLY DO.

SO USUALLY, PEOPLE COME IN AND THEY SHARE AND THEN WE CAN HAVE SOME QUESTIONS AND KIND OF GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS.

ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS, I'M INTERESTED IN WHAT YOUR BACKGROUND IS.

DO YOU HAVE ANY BACKGROUND IN IN ORDINANCE OR STATE STATUTE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT OTHER THAN AS A PROPERTY OWNER? NOPE. JUST AS A PROPERTY OWNER CONSTRUCTION.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ENGINEERING BACKGROUND OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? I GREW UP DOING CONSTRUCTION, SO I'M AWARE OF.

BUT YOU DON'T HAVE ANY ACCREDITED ANY CERTIFICATIONS OR CREDENTIALS THAT WOULD.

[00:50:03]

THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS.

I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE CITY INSPECTOR RYAN.

I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS FOR HIM.

I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE APPLICANT BEFORE THAT.

BEFORE WE DO THAT, THOUGH COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES HAS AN APPLICANT AS A QUESTION FOR YOU, THE PROPERTY OWNER.

SURE. THANK YOU FOR COMING IN TONIGHT.

AND FOR THE INFORMATION, I SAW ONE OF THE EMAILS HAD SAID AN OPTION IS TO REMOVE AND REPLACE, WHICH I YOU'RE NOT READY TO DO THAT, BUT ALSO TO PROVIDE PLANS PREPARED BY A LICENSED DESIGN PROFESSIONAL ARCHITECT OR ENGINEER.

DID YOU HAVE ARCHITECT OR ENGINEER PLANS AND WERE THEY SUBMITTED TO THE BUILDING OFFICIAL? THIS HAS BEEN A PART OF THE DISCUSSION THE WHOLE TIME.

I HAVE TWO QUOTES RIGHT HERE.

ONE IS TO PUT IT IN A SUMP PUMP SYSTEM, WHERE YOU'D HAVE A DRAIN THAT WOULD GO TO A BASKET AND PUMP JUST LIKE A BASEMENT THAT WAS COLLECTING WATER.

AND THE OTHER ONE IS TO REMOVE THE STRUCTURE, REMOVE THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING AND REBUILD THE WALL, REMOVING THAT WINDOW, REBUILDING THE WALL ONE IS FOR 35,000 AND THE OTHER ONE IS FOR 41,000.

I SEE, SO THESE ARE JUST NUMBERS THAT WE CAN'T EVEN COME CLOSE TO.

JUST THANK YOU FINANCIALLY.

THANK YOU.

AND I'M SORRY. YOUR NAME IS BRANDON.

IT WAS KIND OF LIKE, DIDN'T HAVE A NAME FOR A MOMENT.

SO SORRY TO POINT AT YOU.

OKAY, THEN I THINK WE'LL GO WITH COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS REQUEST TO HAVE RYAN SMITH COME UP TO THE PODIUM.

HI, RYAN. YOU GOT THE NEED TO INTRODUCE MYSELF.

PARDON ME. DO I NEED TO INTRODUCE MYSELF? SURE. RYAN SMITH, BUILDING OFFICIAL FOR THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

THANK YOU. I UNDERSTAND THAT PART OF THE REASON WE HAVE INSPECTIONS FOR THESE TYPES OF STRUCTURES IS FOR SAFETY.

CORRECT. SO, CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO US HOW THIS STRUCTURE AS IT'S BUILT NOW IS UNSAFE? BECAUSE I LOOK AT THE TOP AND EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT A DECK, IT'S HEAVY.

SO, IF THINGS AREN'T BUILT CORRECTLY, THAT CAN FALL.

AS MR. GILBERT STATED, THERE IS NO SPECIFIC GUIDELINES FOR DESIGN OR BUILDING A STRUCTURE LIKE THIS IN THE CODE.

SO, WHEN WE WHEN WE HAVE A SITUATION LIKE THAT, ITS ENGINEERING IS REQUIRED.

YOU HAVE TO HIRE A LICENSED DESIGN PROFESSIONAL TO DESIGN THE STRUCTURE AND THEN SUBMIT THE PLANS.

THE LAYUP IN THIS SITUATION WAS TO USE DECK CODE BECAUSE IT RESEMBLES A DECK.

IT'S CONSTRUCTED SIMILARLY TO A DECK.

SO, A DECK WOULD BE DESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE A TOTAL LOAD OF 50 POUNDS PER SQUARE FOOT.

WHERE A ROOF STRUCTURE WOULD BE ABOUT 35 POUNDS PER SQUARE FOOT AND ONLY ACCOMMODATING SNOW LOAD AND THE WEIGHT OF MATERIALS.

SO, I DID HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH GREG METZ, THE STATE BUILDING OFFICIAL, ABOUT THE SITUATION.

HE THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS A FAIR ALTERNATIVE.

OKAY TO USE THOSE THAT GUIDANCE IN THE CODE TO DESIGN THIS STRUCTURE INSTEAD OF REQUIRING ENGINEERING.

OKAY. THANK YOU. AND THEN THE SECOND QUESTION I HAD WHEN I WAS READING IT TALKED ABOUT THE SUPPORT POSTS NEED TO BE BELOW THE FROST LINE.

AND WHY IS THAT.

WHAT IS IT SOMETHING TO DO WITH ROT OR PLANS THAT MR. GILBERT SUBMITTED SHOWED HIS FOOTINGS ONLY 36IN DEEP.

SO, FOOTINGS IN THIS PART OF THE STATE ARE REQUIRED TO BE 42IN DEEP.

AND WHEN THEY'RE NOT, FROST CAN PENETRATE UNDER THE FOOTING AND PUSH THE STRUCTURE UP.

OKAY. THANK YOU. SO, AND IT'S ATTACHED TO THE HOUSE AND THAT'S WHEN THE FROST PROTECTION IS REQUIRED.

AND IF IT'S NOT, IF THIS WHOLE STRUCTURE ISN'T BUILT AND ATTACHED TO THE BUILDING CORRECTLY, JUST LIKE A DECK, IF IT'S NOT SECURED TO THE BUILDING IN A SAFE MANNER, IT CAN PULL AWAY. I'VE HEARD OF DECKS WHERE THEY'RE NOT BUILT, LEDGERS ATTACHED OVER THE STUCCO.

OKAY, SO WHEN YOU WOULD BUILD A DECK, YOU WOULD REMOVE THE STUCCO AND ATTACH THE LEDGER DIRECTLY TO THE STRUCTURE.

AND YOU'VE GIVEN HIM, FROM WHAT I READ HERE, YOU HAD GIVEN THE OWNER AND WHAT REVISED PLANS WOULD NEED TO INCLUDE IN GENERAL GUIDANCE AND HOW A CODE COMPLIANT STRUCTURE SIMILAR TO THE ONE THAT THEY BUILT COULD BE DESIGNED.

AND YOU HAVEN'T RECEIVED THAT.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

THANKS. THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR RYAN? THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

WE DO HAVE A LOT OF DIALOG STARTING IN AUGUST THROUGH OCTOBER, NOVEMBER AND THEN INTO THE SPRING.

WHERE IT LOOKS LIKE EVERYBODY WAS COMMUNICATING AND THERE WERE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, GENERALLY.

WHEN STAFF CONTACT PROPERTY OWNERS ABOUT REPAIRS.

STAFF IS VERY FLEXIBLE ON GIVING PEOPLE TIME.

I DON'T WANT TO SAY FLEXIBLE AND LIKE ALLOWING THINGS TO GO, BUT LIKE WANTING TO GIVE TIME FOR PEOPLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND PROVIDE THE NECESSARY CREDENTIALS THEY NEED.

AND I'M SEEING THAT THAT CONVERSATION IS HAPPENING HERE.

SO, IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME BACK, YOU COULD TALK IN THE MICROPHONE.

AND, BUT FROM WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE RYAN WAS COMMUNICATING THIS AND WHAT, WHAT HE WOULD NEED TO SAY AS, LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER SAID.

[00:55:10]

IF YOU HAVE THAT THERE, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE WHERE OTHER THAN MEETING DEBT CODE NOW THE FOOTING SITUATION, THAT'S FINE.

THAT'S VERY EASY TO CORRECT.

WE'RE NOT DISPUTING ANY PART OF THAT.

IF THAT'S WHAT ALL THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, THAT'S FINE.

BUT IF WE CAN'T EVEN MEET THE LEDGER BOARD, THEN THERE'S NO POINT IN DOING THE POST BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MEET THAT CODE IN GENERAL.

RIGHT? SO, IF WE CAN'T GET PAST THAT PART, THE REST OF YOU KNOW, OR OTHER SMALLER THINGS, WE'RE NOT DISPUTING THAT THE OTHER OPTIONS THAT WE WERE GIVEN WERE NONE. EITHER MEET DEBT CODE OR HIRE SOMEBODY FROM 1000 TO $2500 TO COME IN AND ADVISE HOW TO BUILD TO MEET DEBT CODE, WHICH WE'VE ALREADY STATED.

I HAVE THE QUOTE RIGHT HERE FOR $41,000, BUT YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT TAKING OFF THE WHOLE SIDE OF THE BUILDING, WHEREAS RYAN JUST SAID TAKING OFF ENOUGH OF THE STUCCO TO GET TO THE LEDGE OR THE BUILDING STRUCTURE.

I MEAN, IT SOUNDS LIKE.

SO, DO YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH CHANGING THIS TO MEET DEBT CODE? I'M UNDERSTANDING WHAT RYAN'S SAYING IS THAT THEY'RE USING THAT AS AN EXAMPLE, THAT THIS ISN'T SOMETHING WE HAVE CODE AND THIS HAPPENS OFTEN WHERE WE HAVE TO BE FLEXIBLE WHEN SOMEONE HAS A NEED IN THEIR HOME OR THEIR PROPERTY, THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT DIFFERENT THINGS TO SEE WHAT WOULD WORK.

SO RYAN HAS SUGGESTED AND TALKED TO THE STATE BUILDING INSPECTOR, THAT DECK, THAT WOULD BE THE SAME STRUCTURAL GUIDELINES SPECIFICALLY FOR THE POSTS, HOW DEEP THE POSTS ARE BEING BURIED, WHAT THE SIZE IS, THE SNOW, SNOW LOAD AND ALL OF THAT.

SO, IF THEY'RE GIVING YOU A ROUTE TO MOVE FORWARD, ARE YOU WILLING TO TAKE IT DOWN? AND JUST I KNOW IT'S STARTING OVER.

BUT I ALSO SAW IN THE NOTES TO THAT YOU SAID THAT YOU'D USE A 36-INCH DRILL FOR THE POST DRILL.

I CAN'T THINK WHAT THE WORD IS, AUGER.

BUT IT NEEDS TO BE 42IN.

AND THAT'S THOSE ARE NOT THE SAME THING.

AND SO, YOU'D HAVE TO PROVE, YOU KNOW, THAT YOU DID GO DOWN 42IN.

AND SO, THERE'S JUST SOME THINGS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO ARE YOU OKAY WITH DOING THAT.

AND LIKE TAKING IT DOWN ALL THOSE PARTS EXCEPT FOR THE LEDGER BOARD.

LIKE IF IT'S JUST REMOVING THE STUCCO.

IF THAT'S ALL WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

THAT'S NOT WHAT HE'S EXPLAINING.

WHAT HE'S EXPLAINING IS THAT THE WAY THAT THE LEDGER BOARD IS BUILT AND ATTACHED TO THE BUILDING IS THE ISSUE, RIGHT? BECAUSE HE WANTS LEG BOLTS.

HE SAYS WE CAN'T USE THE TAP CON SCREWS THAT WE'VE USED.

WE'VE ATTACHED IT TO EVERY SINGLE STUD ACROSS.

AND THIS IS WHY WE HAVE TO, ON OUR END, AT LEAST HAVE TO EXPLORE MORE OPTIONS OF HOW CAN OTHER AWNINGS IN THE AREA BE USING BASICALLY JOIST HANGERS. JOIST HANGERS ARE JUST A PIECE OF METAL THAT GO RIGHT ON THE END, AND THEY'RE TIED TO THE WALL.

THAT'S NO, THAT'S NOT BEING SECURED AT ALL OTHER THAN A COUPLE OF NAILS UP AGAINST THERE.

THIS IS VASTLY OVERBUILT COMPARED TO THAT TYPE OF AWNING THAT IS MUCH, MUCH LARGER THAN THIS.

SO, MEETING THE OTHER THINGS, THERE'S NO DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT OR, YOU KNOW, SAYING THAT THAT'S A DEBATE.

WE'RE HAPPY TO DO THOSE THINGS.

IT IS ATTACHING IT TO THE BUILDING IS WHERE THE ISSUE LIES.

BECAUSE SINCE WE CAN'T GET CLARITY, SINCE WE CAN'T GET A DIRECT ANSWER OR, HEY, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I WANT TO SEE, HE SAYS, I HAVE TO GO FIND THIS FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE, PAY A BUNCH OF MONEY THAT MIGHT NOT EVEN BE APPROVED AT THE END OF THE DAY.

AND THAT'S WHERE THE DEBATE BECOMES, IS THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A CONTRACTOR COME AND TAKE THIS DOWN OR REBUILD IT, OR HAVE ANOTHER PLAN WITHOUT HAVING IT KNOWING THAT THAT CAN MEET THAT. AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO MEET WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO MEET, OF COURSE.

WELL, AND WE, WE, WE MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS FOLLOWING THE CODE SO PERFECT.

WE WANT TO DO THE SAME. WE'RE DOING THE SAME FOR EVERYONE.

I DO COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS HAS A QUESTION.

AND THEN THERE'S A GENTLEMAN IN A BLUE SHIRT RAISING HIS HAND.

SURE. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, I JUST NEED YOU TO FILL IN A FORM AND THEN COME UP TO THE PODIUM.

TWO SECONDS. NOPE.

OKAY, SURE.

OKAY. BUT PERFECT.

AWESOME. AWESOME.

PERFECT, PERFECT.

OKAY, SO I HAVE A QUESTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS.

WHAT I'M HEARING YOU SAY IS YOU AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT IN ALL OF WHAT I'VE HEARD YOU COME FORWARD WITH, YOU WANT IT.

YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO IT YOUR WAY AND YOU WANT AND HEAR ME OUT.

AND YOU WANT THE CITY TO APPROVE SOMETHING BEFORE THEY'VE SEEN WHAT THEY'RE APPROVING.

OH, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I'M HEARING.

YOU'RE SAYING. YEP.

I WANT TO BE COMPLIANT WITH WHAT? WHAT THE CITY WANTS US TO MEET.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT OUR RECORD OF THE PERMITS THAT WE PULLED AND EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE DONE, WE'VE DONE THAT UPON REQUEST, LIKE REMOVING A DRAIN THAT CAUSED US A BUNCH OF MONEY IN DAMAGE. SO, WE'RE MORE THAN WILLING TO DO ALL THOSE THINGS.

THIS SPECIFIC THING IS AN ASTRONOMICAL AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT JUST SIMPLY CAN'T BE MET BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN OF THE BUILDING.

WHEN WE LOOK AT OTHER AWNINGS, I WILL SAY TOO, THOUGH, IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE WAS MAYBE TWO DIFFERENT INFORMATION, TWO DIFFERENT INFORMATION THAT YOU'RE REMEMBERING FROM TAKING OFF

[01:00:07]

SO, YOUR QUOTE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE I MEAN, I DON'T, AS RELEVANT IN THIS HAS AS THE EVOLUTION OF THIS MEETING IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH MY UNDERSTANDING IS.

IT'S NOT CONSISTENT WITH WHAT OUR CITY INSPECTOR IS, HAS ASKED YOU TO DO.

SO, FOR ME, THOSE QUOTES ARE ERRONEOUS BECAUSE YOU'RE TRYING TO MAKE AN APPLE LOOK LIKE A BANANA AND IT AIN'T GOING TO EVER HAPPEN.

BUT HE SAID MEET THAT CODE, RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT HE'S GIVEN YOU SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS AS TO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO BE COMPLIANT.

YES, OR NO? MEET THAT CODE, RIGHT? YES, OR NO? YES, OR NO? WELL, THAT'S WHERE I'M CONFUSED THEN.

BECAUSE IF IT'S NOT, MEET THAT CODE.

I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT MEETING THE CODE.

I SAID THAT THAT RYAN HAS GIVEN YOU SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS ABOUT WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO BE COMPLIANT.

I'M NOT CLEAR ON THOSE.

CORRECT. HOW MUCH? WHAT ARE YOU NOT CLEAR ON? I'M NOT CLEAR ON EXACTLY WHY.

HOW WOULD THIS BUILDING MEET THAT CODE IN THE FIRST PLACE WITHOUT SPENDING $41,000 FOR AN AWNING? NOBODY IS SAYING $41,000.

YOU GOTTA. I'M SAYING THAT QUOTE IS ERRONEOUS.

BECAUSE WHAT RYAN HAS COME FORWARD WITH, AND I'M NOT GOING TO SIT HERE AND DEBATE THIS ALL NIGHT.

BUT WHAT RYAN HAS COME FORWARD WITH IS, MY UNDERSTANDING IS FAR LESS THAN $41,000 IS A REMEDY YES OR NO? OKAY, SO TAKE THE $41,000 QUOTE AND PUT IT OFF TO THE SIDE.

OKAY. TURN IT OVER.

IT'S NOT RELEVANT.

BEYOND THAT, WHAT DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND THAT RYAN HAS BROUGHT FORWARD THAT IF YOU ARE GOING TO MEET DECK CODE.

THAT LEDGER BOARD HAS TO BE TIED WITH LEG BOLTS TO SOMETHING.

IS THAT? AND MAYBE.

IS THAT WHAT RYAN HAS TOLD YOU? ABSOLUTELY. I GOT IT WRITTEN RIGHT HERE.

YEAH. OKAY. SO, HE WANTS AND THAT'S THEN THAT SHOULD BE UNDERSTANDABLE.

I COULD I ALSO JUST CAN I ADD SOMETHING TO WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM AS WELL.

THIS IS STANDARD FOR EVERYONE.

WHEN THEY ARE APPLYING FOR PERMITS, THE CITY GIVES THE INFORMATION, BUT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SIT THERE AND MAKE AND, YOU KNOW, PROVIDE BABYSITTERS.

WELL, THEY'RE NOT WELL, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO ENGINEER IT FOR YOU.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DESIGN IT FOR YOU.

THEY'RE GOING TO SAY YOU NEED TO DO THIS, AND THEN YOU HAVE TO TAKE THAT INFORMATION.

THIS IS HOW IT IS FOR EVERYBODY.

AND SOME PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, HIRE SOMEONE.

SOMEONE FIGURES IT OUT ON THEIR OWN.

SO, SO AND LOOKING AT THIS EMAIL, WE HAVE AN EMAIL FROM NOVEMBER 27TH WHERE RYAN SPECIFICALLY LISTS OUT EVERY SINGLE THING TO ALL OF YOUR QUESTIONS.

YOU KNOW, WHAT PARTS OF THE CODES HE'S GETTING AT, WHAT THE LOAD NEEDS TO BE? AND SO, HE THEY'RE HANDING YOU THE SOLUTION, BUT YOU HAVE TO COME UP WITH IT.

YEAH. AND I WANT TO MEET THE EXACT CODE AS THE AWNING ACROSS THE STREET.

THEN MY SUGGESTION. NO, NO, WE NEED TO.

WE NEED TO MEET THE CODE.

EVERYONE ELSE'S PROPERTY IS THEIR OWN PROPERTY.

AND WE. SO, THEY CAN BE APPLIED DIFFERENT CODES TO AWNINGS? NO. AND WE DON'T HAVE THAT PERSON HERE FOR YOU TO DECIDE THAT.

YOU KNOW WHAT THAT CODE IS? EVERYONE'S CODE IS THE SAME.

THEY'RE ALL MAKING SURE IT'S SAFE, THAT THAT'S THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

WELL, IT WOULD 100% BE.

AND I HAVE PICTURES OF IT RIGHT HERE.

THOSE ARE. THAT'S NOT THE, IT WOULD BE A DIFFERENT SELECTION FOR HIM TO CHOOSE DECK CODE WHEN HE KNOWS THAT YOU JUST SAID THAT THIS BUILDING IS LIKE NO OTHER BUILDING IN THE CITY.

SO NO, EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT IN THE COMMON ONE, CORRECT? OKAY. THE ONE THAT BUILT AN AWNING IS OFF THE ROOF LINE OF THE HOUSE.

IT'S NOT EVEN CONNECTED TO THE HOUSE.

AND THAT IS BEING REMEDIED THEN.

THAT'S NOT THAT'S NOT A PART OF THIS CONVERSATION.

WE HAVE TO STAY ON THE TOPIC OF THIS PROPERTY.

AND THAT'S THE BIG PART OF IT, IS REACHING OUT TO THEM.

COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS.

FROM WHAT I'M HEARING RIGHT NOW, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO FOLLOW THE INSPECTORS.

YOU'VE GOT ALL THESE REASONS WHY HE'S TOLD YOU EXACTLY WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

YOU NEED TO HIRE SOMEBODY AND YOU'RE NOT.

THIS IS ALL ABOUT SAFETY.

I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT OTHER HOUSES OR WAY OTHER THINGS WERE DONE IN THE PAST.

THIS IS TODAY. THIS IS YOUR PROPERTY, AND YOU NEED TO FOLLOW HIS INSTRUCTIONS.

AND YOU DIDN'T. YOU DIDN'T EVEN COME TO GET A PERMIT OR CHECK OUT WHAT YOU COULD DO OR COULDN'T DO WHEN YOU DID IT.

AND TO ME, WHEN YOU HAVE A FLOODED BASEMENT, MAYBE THE SUB PUMP SYSTEM WOULD PROBABLY BE THE EASIEST WAY FOR YOU TO DO IT.

MAYBE PUT A SIMPLE AWNING SO THEY DON'T GET RAINED ON? I UNDERSTAND I HAVE NEIGHBORS ACROSS THE STREET THAT HAVE SIMILAR SETUP LIKE YOU DO, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE FLOODING IN THEIR BASEMENT, SO THEY'VE COME UP WITH OTHER WAYS WITH SUBSYSTEMS, SUBS, SUB.

I CAN'T EVEN SAY THE WORD, BUT ANYWAY, I'M JUST GETTING THE FEELING THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS.

AND THAT'S WHY YOU'RE HERE.

BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T.

ON THAT NOTE TO SAY TO LOOK FOR OTHER AND EXPLORE OTHER OPTIONS RATHER THAN JUST SAY, BRANDON, THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO DO IT, AND IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO DO IT THE OTHER WAY.

IT'S NOT TRUE, BECAUSE IF WE DETACH IT FROM THE BUILDING, IT FALLS INTO A DIFFERENT BUILD CATEGORY, SO IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE ATTACHED TO THE BUILDING FOR HIM TO ENFORCE THAT CODE.

[01:05:01]

AND THAT IS THAT IS FOR OUR CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

SO, WHEN YOU SAY LIKE IT COULD BE A DIFFERENT THING, THAT'S IRRELEVANT AS WELL, BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT HAS BEEN DECIDED IS THE SAFEST THING.

AND THIS IS ALSO A PROPERTY.

AND YOU DON'T LIVE HERE, RIGHT? YOU OWN THIS AND IT'S RENTED.

SO, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE IT'S VERY MUCH SAFE FOR THOSE TENANTS.

THEY'RE NOT THE I'M NOT SAYING THAT YOU DON'T WANT IT TO BE SAFE, BUT LIKE THEY THEY'RE NOT HERE AT THIS CONVERSATION.

SO, THE CITY IS LOOKING OUT FOR TENANTS AS WELL.

ABSOLUTELY. SO, WE HAVE WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE FOR THAT.

SO, SAFETY. SO WHY IS IT SO CRIMINAL TO ASK OR EXPLORE OTHER OPTIONS SO THAT I DON'T HAVE TO PAY 35 OR $41,000 TO COMPLETE THIS? WHY IS IT IMPOSSIBLE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION OTHERWISE? IT'S NOT IMPOSSIBLE. AND BUT THEY WON'T TALK TO ME ABOUT IT.

AS I STATED EARLIER, THEY REFUSE YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS.

SURE. WHAT IS THE ESTIMATED COST OF WHAT YOU'VE ASKED HIM TO? IS THAT SOMETHING? I JUST INTERJECT, I DON'T WANT THE BUILDING OFFICIAL TO SPECULATE.

WE WOULD TAKE THE POSITION THAT THEY'RE.

WE'RE COMFORTABLE SAYING THAT.

THAT'S ALL I WANT. THANK YOU.

THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS.

YOUR LANDLORD. THIS IS A BUSINESS.

THIS IS AN UNFORTUNATE THING THAT'S HAPPENED WHERE YOU CANNOT HAVE CLEAR WATER, RAINWATER RUNNING INTO THE SANITARY SEWER SYSTEM.

SO, IT HAD TO BE CLOSED.

PART OF THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS IS FIXING THINGS THAT NEED TO BE FIXED.

THAT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY, YOUR BUSINESS.

MAN. THIS IS UNFORTUNATE, BUT YOU DIDN'T FOLLOW THE RULES.

YOU DIDN'T DO WHAT WAS REQUESTED AND I HAVE NO FURTHER NEED TO HEAR ANY MORE OF THIS CONVERSATION.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT. I WOULD GIVE YOU TWO MINUTES TO FINISH ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU HAVEN'T SHARED ALREADY.

IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO ADD? ABSOLUTELY. AND THEN WE'LL WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD.

SO, IN CLOSURE THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I GET FROM AARON AND KEVIN AND RYAN.

IS THAT TO GET IT ACCOMPLISHED, TO NOT PAY AN ASTRONOMICAL AMOUNT OF MONEY BECAUSE THE BUILDING DOESN'T MEET THAT, AND TO ENFORCE A CODE THAT THAT BUILDING CAN'T MEET, BUT RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET MEETS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT CODE THAT IS NOT DECK CODE IS COMPLETELY UNFAIR IN THE SIMPLE FACT THAT THERE ARE OTHER SOLUTIONS, THERE ARE OTHER SOLUTIONS THAT THAT TO THIS THAT ARE VERY EASY, THAT I BRING UP AND SIMPLY EVERYBODY JUST DOESN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT OR DOESN'T HAVE TO TALK ABOUT IT. SO THEREFORE, IT IS FOLLOW THIS RULE WITHOUT ANY OTHER EXCEPTIONS.

WHEN I'M SAYING WE WANT TO BE COMPLIANT, WE ARE LOOKING FOR A SOLUTION.

BUT SINCE NOBODY'S REQUIRED TO TALK ABOUT IT.

THEN. TOUGH.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

WOW. COUNCIL MEMBER.

JAMES. YES. I ENCOURAGE THIS RESIDENT AND THIS THIS OWNER AND OTHER OWNERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO HIRE AN ENGINEERING FIRM TO LOOK AT THE CODE.

THE THINGS THAT WE WERE GIVEN WERE, WERE QUOTES FOR WORK, NOT QUOTES FOR WHAT THE ENGINEERING FIRM WOULD BE.

THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE NEED IS THE ENGINEERING PLANS TO BE TURNED INTO THE CITY.

AND THERE'S ALWAYS MULTIPLE ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS, BUT THE CITY DOESN'T EMPLOY AN ENGINEER TO WORK ON BEHALF OF PROPERTY OWNERS.

SO THAT'S THE JOB OF PROPERTY OWNERS IS TO HAVE AN ENGINEER WHO WILL LOOK AT THE CODE OR AN ARCHITECT AND THEN SUBMIT THOSE PLANS, THAT THAT'S WHAT I UNDERSTAND, IF THAT'S CORRECT. SO THE THING THAT WE'RE ASKING, AND I KNOW YOU'VE I ASKED YOU IF YOU HAD THIS BEFORE AND YOU GAVE ME QUOTES FOR WORK, BUT I'M ASKING FOR A QUOTE FOR THE ENGINEERING STUDY, NOT THE QUOTE FOR THE WORK.

YEAH. THAT'S THE QUESTION THAT I ASKED EARLIER.

OKAY. IF YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT ANSWER THAN WHAT I SAID EARLIER, IS THAT THAT PART AND IF IT DOES COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT IT CAN BE DONE IN A DIFFERENT WAY, DO I MEAN, DO WE END UP THE ENGINEER WOULD HAVE I MEAN, IF I WAS HIRING AN ENGINEER, I WOULD ASK THEM TO MAKE IT COMPLIANT WITH THE CODE.

AND THEN I WOULD THAT ENGINEER WOULD BE A RESPONSIBLE FOR CHECKING THE CITY CODE THAT WAS GIVEN TO YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WRITE THE PLAN COMPLIANT TO THE CODE, AND THEN THAT'S TURNED INTO THE CITY. SO THE COST WOULD BE WHATEVER THE ENGINEERING WORK COST WOULD BE, OKAY.

AND THAT'S THE RECOMMENDATION THAT I HAVE FOR ANYONE WHO HAS A BUILD THAT'S OUTSIDE OF THE CODE THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ASKING FOR ANYTHING IS YOUR ENGINEER SHOULD BE ABLE TO OR ARCHITECT LOOK AT THE CODE AND MAKE YOUR PLANS AND SUBMIT THOSE PRIOR TO WORK BEING STARTED.

ACTUALLY, GOT IT.

SO WHERE WOULD I GO TO FIND OUT THE CODES THAT THE AWNING THAT.

SOMEONE ELSE HAS THAT DOES NOT HAVE TO MAKE CODE.

YOUR ENGINEER WOULD DO THAT.

YOUR ENGINEER, THE ENGINEER CAN COME, AND WE CAN BRING THAT TO CITY COUNCIL TO SHOW THAT ANOTHER AWNING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS NOT MEETING.

WELL, I MEAN, BUT YOUR ENERGY AND YOUR ENGINEER WOULD BRING WHAT YOURS IS AND WOULD ENGINEER YOURS TO THE ENGINEER SHOWS THAT THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE OR $41,000.

OR ARE WE JUST SAYING EAT $41,000? IS THAT WE'VE ALREADY WE'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED.

[01:10:01]

THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE DISCUSSING.

WE'RE DISCUSSING CODE COMPLIANCE.

RIGHT. WE'RE DISCUSSING THE CODE COMPLIANCE THOUGH.

CAN WE CALL THE QUESTION? YES.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND I NEED TO ASK FOR THAT, THOUGH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

COULD I PLEASE HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC? ACTUALLY, NO. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? EVERYONE'S MAKING ME ALL FLUSTERED WITH YOUR EXCITEMENT HERE.

WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 13? THERE IS NO ONE IN TEAMS, AND I DON'T HAVE ANYBODY WHO'S PRESENTED A FORM.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. THEN.

THEN I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND WAIVE THE READING OF RESOLUTION 2024-44, THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

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

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

AYE. ANY OPPOSED THE MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING PASSES? NEXT, I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION.

MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2024-44, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS DECLARING THE PROPERTY A NUISANCE AND APPROVING ABATEMENT OF ORDINANCE VIOLATIONS PURSUANT TO THE CITY CODE OF THE PROPERTY OWNED BY BRANDON GILBERT, HEREINAFTER OWNER OF THE RECORD OWNER OF RECORD.

SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACOB.

SORRY. MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BEGINS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS.

ANY DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS? HEARING AND SEEING IS NONE.

THEN ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION PASSES.

THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION.

[ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION]

WE HAVE NUMBER 14.

SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 1697, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 9.107 SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS 16 FOR DAYCARE CENTERS.

MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

THIS IS THE SECOND READING OF THE ORDINANCE AMENDING THE DAYCARE STANDARDS THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY REVIEWED AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING.

WE BROUGHT IT INTO ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION BECAUSE OF THE ABSTENTION VOTE AT THE LAST HEARING.

WE WANTED AN OPPORTUNITY.

IF THAT SAME RESULT IS DESIRED BY THE COUNCIL YOU KNOW, JUST TO PRESENT IT IN THIS FORM RATHER THAN ON CONSENT.

SO NOTHING HAS CHANGED.

BUT IN A NUTSHELL, IT'S PROPOSING TO ALLOW CITY PARKS TO BE USED FOR THE OUTDOOR PLAY AREA THAT'S REQUIRED IN STATE STATUTE RATHER THAN PROVIDING IT ON SITE AT DAYCARE FACILITIES.

EXTENSIVE INFORMATION IN THE PACKET, BUT SAME ITEM.

JUST THE SECOND READING AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

ALL RIGHT. ANY QUESTIONS? OR COMMENTS COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS.

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO COMMENT FOR ANY OF THOSE WHO DID NOT HEAR IT.

THE FIRST HEARING THAT I WAS THE ABSTENTION, AND I INTEND TO ABSTAIN AGAIN THIS EVENING BECAUSE OF A PERSONAL SITUATION WITH MY YOUNG SON, WHO ENDED UP WITH 120 STITCHES ON THE INSIDE OF HIS ARM BEFORE THEY CLOSED HIM UP.

I DON'T FEEL THAT I CAN BE FAIR TO EITHER SIDE OF THIS ISSUE, SO THEREFORE I WILL ABSTAIN FROM THE FROM THE VOTE.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

THEN ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL? HEARING IS NONE. THEN THANK YOU AGAIN TO AARON FOR GOING OVER THE ITEM.

COULD I HAVE A MOTION THEN TO WAIVE THE READING? MOVE TO WAIVE THE READING OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 1697, THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

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

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING AND SEEING IS NONE.

THEN ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

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

SORRY. YES, YOU HAD ABSTAINED, BUT IT'S STILL PASSED.

YES. OKAY. OKAY.

THANK YOU. AND THEN I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

MOVE TO APPROVE ORDINANCE NUMBER 1697 AND ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 9.107, SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS 16 OF THE CITY CODE OF 2005 TO AMEND THE ONSITE OUTDOOR PLAY AREA REQUIREMENT FOR CHILD DAYCARE CENTERS AND DIRECT STAFF TO SEND A COPY OF THE ORDINANCE AS PRESENTED FOR PUBLICATION IN THE LEGAL NEWSPAPER.

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

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES WITH COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS ABSTAINING.

YOU'RE WELCOME. NEXT, WE HAVE BID CONSIDERATIONS.

NUMBER 15.

ADOPT RESOLUTION 2024-42 BEING A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING BIDS AND AWARDING A CONTRACT FOR 2024.

[01:15:06]

THANK YOU. MAYOR. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

ON APRIL 8TH, THE CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZED CITY STAFF TO PREPARE PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS AND FOR US TO GO OUT TO BIDS.

WE DID ADVERTISE THOSE.

WE HAD 11 CONTRACTORS PULL PLANS AND WE DID RECEIVE TWO BIDS.

WE OPENED THOSE BIDS, AND IT APPEARS THAT IDC AUTOMATIC OUT OF COON RAPIDS IS THE APPARENT LOW BIDDER THERE.

LOW BID FOR THE FIVE ALLEYS BEING CONSIDERED FOR 2024 WAS ABOUT 15% UNDER THE ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE.

IDC AUTOMATIC IS A NEWER COMPANY, BOTH TO THE CONCRETE FIELD AND PUBLIC BIDDING, BUT ALSO TO COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

SO, WE DID TAKE THE EXTRA TWO WEEKS HERE FROM THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING, AND BOTH REVIEWED THE REFERENCES AND HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN WITH THEIR MANAGEMENT TEAM, BOTH MEETING THEIR FIELD PERSONNEL AND ALSO ACTUALLY THE OWNER OF THE COMPANY.

SO, WE DO FEEL CONFIDENT IN RECOMMENDING TO YOU AWARD OF BID TO IDC AND THEIR LOW BID AMOUNT OF $1,016,455.59. MAYOR.

THANK YOU. AND I LOVE THAT WE ALSO HAVE LOW QUALIFIED AND RESPONSIBLE BID.

YES, NOT JUST THE LOWEST.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL? OR COMMENTS.

I'M REALLY EXCITED TO BE WORKING ON SOME MORE ALLEYS AND WE KNOW THEY REALLY NEED TO BE DONE, SO I'M GLAD THAT WE'VE GOTTEN TO THE POINT TO TAKE CARE OF THESE.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THAT'S THE FIRST OF A TWO-YEAR PROGRAM FOR US.

AND I WENT OUT WITH THE POTHOLE REPAIR TEAM.

AND THERE ARE ALLEYS THAT ARE NOT ABLE TO BE REPAIRED BECAUSE THEY'RE IN SUCH BAD SHAPE THAT IT'S JUST SAND UNDERNEATH THEM.

THERE'S NOTHING FOR THE TAR AND BITUMEN TO, LIKE, STICK TO ANYMORE.

SO CONCRETE IS A MUCH BETTER MATERIAL FOR ALLEYS WITH ALL OF THE HEAVY TRAFFIC WITH GARBAGE TRUCKS.

SO, I'M REALLY GLAD WE'RE BRINGING THIS TO COLUMBIA HEIGHTS TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE ALLEYS.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I HEARD SOME. OKAY.

THANK YOU. THEN MAY I HAVE MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING? MOVE TO WAIVE THE READING OF RESOLUTION 2024-42, THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES TO WAIVE THE READING, ANY DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS.

HEARING AND SEEING IS NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES.

NEXT, WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT.

MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2024.

DASH 42 BEING A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING BIDS AND AWARDING THE 2024 CONCRETE ALLEY CONSTRUCTION CITY PROJECT 2406 TO IDC AUTOMATIC OF COON RAPIDS, MINNESOTA, BASED ON UPON THEIR LOW QUALIFIED RESPONSIBLE BID IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,016,455.59, WITH $996,455.59 FROM FUND OF 415.6400 AND 20,000 FROM FUND 653.9699, AND FURTHERMORE, TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR AND CITY MANAGER AND TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT FOR THE SAME.

SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER JACOBS AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER BEGINS TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING AND SEEING NONE.

THEN ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION PASSES.

THANK YOU. WE HAVE NO NEW BUSINESS REPORT, SO THAT TAKES US TO OUR CITY COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS.

[CITY COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS]

THANK YOU. MAYOR.

WE'VE HAD A LOT GOING ON.

I VISITED THE NEW CHIEF OF POLICE MEET AND GREET AT OUR BEAUTIFUL BRUCE NAWROCKI PARK, AND THAT WAS WONDERFUL TO SEE THE COMMUNITY GREET HIM. I WENT BROUGHT A GROUP OF TEENAGERS WITH CHURCHES THAT I SERVE TO SACA.

WE HAD 40 TEENAGERS, AND I WANTED TO SPECIFICALLY THANK ALL THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO DONATED TO THE MAIL CARRIER'S FOOD DRIVE, BECAUSE THERE WERE THREE GIANT BOXES THIS HIGH AND SIX FEET ACROSS, FILLED WITH FOOD THAT WE GOT TO SORT OUT.

AND IT WAS WONDERFUL. SO, THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO DONATED FOR THAT.

I ATTENDED THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS SCHOOL DISTRICT BAND, CHOIR AND ART SHOW THAT WAS AT SILVERWOOD PARK.

AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE STUDENTS WHO WERE SELECTED TO DISPLAY THEIR ART AND TO SING AND PERFORM.

IT WAS WONDERFUL.

THANK YOU TO THE PARK FOR THAT PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND PROVIDING THAT SPACE FREE OF CHARGE TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

YEAH, I ATTENDED A NEW BREWERY IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, SOFT OPENING RAIL WORKS BREWERY AND THEIR WONDERFUL NEW ADDITION TO OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THOSE WHO SET UP THE PETS IN THE PARK AT COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

[01:20:01]

BUT IT WAS A WONDERFUL EVENT.

I ATTENDED A POLICE AND SCHOOL AND CITY COUNCIL TASK FORCE AT THE FAMILY CENTER TO LOOK AT HOW DO WE KEEP OUR STUDENTS SAFE AND OUR IN OUR CITY.

AND OUR SCHOOL STAFF.

AND SO WE'RE ONGOING CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN THE CHIEF OF POLICE AND THE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT AND OUR MAYOR AND THE CHAIR OF THE SCHOOL BOARD TO THINK ABOUT THIS PARTNERSHIP TOGETHER.

I MET WITH A LOCAL RESIDENT REGARDING GUARDIANSHIP LAWS, AND THAT LED ME TO CONNECT WITH OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, SANDRA FEIST, WHO RECENTLY LED A BILL THROUGH THE LEGISLATION WHICH RECEIVED UNANIMOUS SUPPORT TO UPDATE OUR ADULT AND GUARDIANSHIP LAWS.

AND SO, I'M GOING TO BE WORKING WITH ELDER VOICES ON HOW TO DO THAT.

I VISITED WITH THE MAYOR.

WE WENT TO THE CRESTVIEW CEO SHIRLEY BARNES RETIREMENT CEREMONY AND IS REALLY WONDERFUL.

WE THANK SHIRLEY FOR ALL OF HER MANY YEARS IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, PROVIDING HOUSING AND HEALTHCARE AND LIFE FOR MANY SENIOR ADULTS, AND ALSO FOR ALL THE STAFF THAT SHE CARES FOR THERE.

AND LET'S SEE WHAT ELSE.

I LAST MEETING WE TALKED ABOUT THE TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS FOR ECUADOR, AND SINCE THAT TIME, THE MINNEAPOLIS AND SAINT PAUL CITY COUNCILS HAVE ALSO SUPPORTED RESOLUTIONS TO REQUEST THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ADDS ECUADOR TO THE LIST OF COUNTRIES.

AND SO, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM SAINT PAUL, MINNEAPOLIS, AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE COPAL ORGANIZATION, ALONG WITH MYSELF, ARE DOING A PRESS CONFERENCE TOMORROW, AND WE SIGNED ON TO A LETTER AS WELL TO HELP ELEVATE THIS ISSUE THAT WOULD HELP SO MANY PEOPLE IN OUR CITY GET OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK.

AND THEN MY LAST THING WAS TO SAY, ON THIS MEMORIAL DAY, WE HONOR THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE FOR OUR COUNTRY, AND THEIR COURAGE AND DEDICATION HAVE SECURED THE FREEDOMS THAT WE CHERISH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO NEXT? COUNCIL MEMBER. JACOBS.

I MET WITH APPROXIMATELY 18 RESIDENTS FOR DISCUSSION ON A VARIETY OF CONCERNS, AND IT WAS A BACKYARD GET TOGETHER.

I ATTENDED CHIEF MARKHAM'S MEET AND GREET AT [INAUDIBLE] PARK AND ALSO SHIRLEY BARNES RETIREMENT CEREMONY AT CRESTVIEW.

SHE WILL BE VERY SORELY MISSED, AND I CONGRATULATE HER AND WISH HER ALL THE BEST IN THE NEXT CHAPTER.

AND I ATTENDED THE COMMUNITY OPENING OF RAIL WORKS WITH FRIENDS AND GOT A CHANCE TO EXCUSE ME TO CHAT WITH SEVERAL DIFFERENT RESIDENTS WHO ARE ALSO ATTENDING. AND THEN I HAD FACILITATED AN ADDITIONAL FIVE RESIDENT REACH OUTS.

THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER. SO EXCITING.

SURE, IT'S WAITING FOR COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS TO JUMP IN.

ANYWAY, I, AS A BOARD MEMBER ATTENDED THE MWMO BOARD MEETING.

AND THE MEET AND GREET FOR OUR NEW POLICE CHIEF, MATT MARKHAM.

I'VE BEEN VOLUNTEERING A LOT AT THE BLOOMING SUNSHINE GARDEN.

WE'RE GETTING THINGS STARTED AND CLEANED UP OVER THERE.

ONE OF OUR VOLUNTEERS HOSTED A BUNCH OF SECOND GRADERS THAT CAME FROM THE SCHOOLS, AND THEY JUST HAD A GREAT TIME.

THEY DID TASTE TESTING AND ALL THE HERBS THAT WE HAD THERE, AND THEY FOUND WORMS, AND THEY WERE ALL EXCITED.

THEY HAD A GREAT TIME THERE.

I ALSO AM ATTENDED THIS AS THE LIAISON SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION MEETING.

AND WITH THAT THEY'RE VERY ACTIVE GROUP.

ON THE NEXT DAY, I BELIEVE IT WAS I HELPED CASSIE AND BECKY, WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION, AND WITH LIAM GENTER, OUR FORESTER, WE PULLED INVASIVE WEEDS OVER AT THE SILVER LAKE BOAT LANDING.

SO, I LEARNED ABOUT THREE DIFFERENT INVASIVE WEEDS, WHICH I FOUND IN BLOOMING SUNSHINE GARDEN, TOO, WHICH WE NEED TO REMOVE.

SO ANYWAY, DID THAT.

I ALSO ATTENDED THE SCHOOL ART AND BAND CONCERT AT THE SILVER LAKE PARK.

I'M ALWAYS AMAZED AT HOW MUCH HOW GOOD THE KIDS ARE IN THE ART IN THIS COMMUNITY.

IT'S JUST AMAZING.

AMAZING. EVEN THE YOUNGER ONES FOURTH, FIFTH, SIXTH GRADE HAVE A LOT OF POTENTIAL AS ARTISTS AND IT'S JUST OH, AND THE BAND WAS GREAT.

SO, AND THEN I ATTENDED ALSO ATTENDED THE SOFT OPENING OF RAILROADS WORKS BREWERY WAS VERY WELL ATTENDED THERE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR, AND THE LINE TO GET THEIR BEER WAS 10 TO 20 PEOPLE CONSTANT FOR THAT ENTIRE HOUR.

AND I HEARD IT EVEN PICKED UP MORE AFTERWARDS.

SO WELCOME RAIL WORKS BREWERY, YOU'VE WORKED REALLY HARD AND LONG AND YOU'RE FINALLY HERE.

SO, THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING OUR COMMUNITY TO PUT YOUR BREWERY IN.

I ALSO AFTER THAT ATTENDED THE PARK AND REC OPEN HOUSE.

WE HAD THE DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

THERE'S A GROUP THAT LIKES TO VOLUNTEER IN THE BLOOMING SUNSHINE GARDEN, SO I WORKED WITH THEM.

THEY DID AMAZING AMOUNT OF WORK.

[01:25:01]

AND IT'S THIS TIME OF YEAR WHERE WE START PLANTING THE FLOWERS AND THE MURZYN HALL PART MURZYN HALL POTS.

I'M IN CHARGE OF THAT, AND ALSO CLEANED OUT THE GARDEN AT THE MEMORIAL SITE AND PUT A LOT OF MULCH ON THERE, SO IT LOOKS A LOT BETTER NOW.

I ALSO STOPPED BY TO WELCOME SHIRLEY, THE DIRECTOR OF CRESTVIEW, ON HER RETIREMENT.

I'M HOPING I HOPE SHE HAS A LONG, HEALTHY RETIREMENT AND THANKED HER FOR HER SERVICE.

AND THAT'S SO ONE MORE TODAY.

OUR SENIOR PARKS AND REC PROGRAM HAS REALLY COOL THINGS THAT THE GO TO.

SO TODAY I WAS ABLE TO TOUR THE SAINT PAUL CATHEDRAL WITH OUR SENIOR PARK AND REC PROGRAM.

IT IS AMAZING IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN THERE.

I'VE BEEN WANTING TO GO THERE FOR YEARS.

AND THEN AFTERWARDS CANDY TOOK US TO A SAINT PAUL BREWERY.

THAT WAS REALLY COOL.

THE OWNER IS INTO THRIFTING AND THE PLACE IS JUST.

THE DECOR IS REALLY FUNKY AND FUN.

IT'S REALLY COOL, AND THEY HAVE A VERY INTERESTING COURTYARD THAT HE'S TURNED.

A LOT OF ART PIECES ARE IN THERE AND THERE ARE ART PIECES THROUGHOUT, SO I ENCOURAGE ANYONE TO SIGN UP.

CANDY'S GOT A GREAT SELECTION OF PROGRAMING FOR THE SENIOR PROGRAM AND HAD A GREAT AND WONDERFUL TIME.

THAT'S IT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER SPRIGGS.

YEAH. THANK YOU.

I HAD A COUPLE OF MEETINGS WITH A COUPLE OF OUR COMMISSION MEMBERS WITH TALKING ABOUT A COUPLE OF EXCITING IDEAS THAT THEY HAVE.

AND ONE OF THOSE WAS FROM THE LIBRARY BOARD.

AND I HAVE TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER WILKINS FOR FILLING IN FOR ME FOR THE LAST MEETING THERE.

I KNOW THEY HAVE SOME EXCITING THINGS THEY'RE WORKING ON THERE, ONE OF THOSE BEING A NEW WEBSITE FOR THE LIBRARY WHICH SHOULD HAVE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SOON.

SUPER EXCITING THERE.

AND THE ONE OTHER THING I WOULD COMMENT ON IS I HAD A MEETING WITH SOMEONE WHO IS INVOLVED WITH THE MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY CALLED BLUE ZONES.

IT'S A COMPANY THAT IS A WORLDWIDE COMPANY, AND THERE'S A COUPLE DOCUMENTARIES THAT THEY HAVE MADE.

ESSENTIALLY, THEY'VE STUDIED, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT MAKE COMMUNITIES AROUND THE WORLD HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE? AND I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS WAS THE FIRST ONE WHO BROUGHT THIS IDEA TO ME.

SO, I'VE BEEN TALKING WITH THEM ABOUT, YOU KNOW, POSSIBILITIES OF BRINGING SOME OF THEIR IDEAS OR THINGS TO THE CITY.

MORE TO COME ON THAT, BUT EXCITED ABOUT AT LEAST STARTING THAT CONVERSATION.

GREAT. THANK YOU.

IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS I ATTENDED MANY DIFFERENT EVENTS, SOME SHARED WITH THE REST OF OUR COUNCIL HERE.

I HAD ATTENDED A SISTER CITY MEETING WHERE WE HAD A PRODUCTIVE DISCUSSION ABOUT OUR UPCOMING SCULPTURE INSTALLATION AT WEST HOUSTON PARK, DISCUSSING LOGISTICS AND HOW THE COMMUNITY OR HOW THE CITY IS INVOLVED WITH THAT.

WE ARE GOING TO BE INVITING POLISH DIGNITARIES AND OTHER VIPS THAT WILL BE ON SEPTEMBER 21ST AT WEST HOUSTON PARK.

AND THE SISTER CITIES GROUP MEETS EVERY SECOND TUESDAY OF THE MONTH HERE AT CITY HALL.

AND ANYONE'S WELCOME TO STOP BY 1:00 AND LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

I ALSO ATTENDED THE WARM MEET AND GREET FOR OUR NEW POLICE CHIEF MARKHAM, AND WE'RE ABLE TO SHARE SOME FOOD WITH ALL OF THE KIDS THAT CAME OVER AND HUNG OUT PLAY BASKETBALL. SO THAT WAS REALLY NICE TO GET TOGETHER WITH FRIENDS, ATTENDED THE MNDOT OR MNDOT, ATTENDED OUR SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION MEETING, AND WE DISCUSSED DIFFERENT WAYS THAT THE PEL STUDY HAS PROJECTED FOR OUR CENTRAL AVENUE TO BE IMPROVED THIS YEAR.

AND WE ARE GOING TO BE RECEIVING $25 MILLION TO WORK ON CENTRAL AVENUE.

SO THAT WAS VERY EXCITING.

AGAIN, THERE'LL BE MORE COMMUNITY OUTREACH TO GET INFORMATION FROM THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND BUSINESSES ON THINGS THEY'D LIKE TO SEE ALONG CENTRAL AVENUE.

I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH TWO STUDENTS FROM BETHEL UNIVERSITY, AND THEY HAVE BEEN INTERNING ON WEDNESDAY MORNINGS WITH ME.

THEY JUST FINISHED THEIR INTERNSHIP, AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING TO CONNECT MORE WITH BUSINESSES IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

AND ON THEIR LAST DAY, WE HAD LUNCH AT SARNA'S AND VISITED SACA RIGHT AFTER THE POSTAL CARRIER FOOD DONATION.

SO, WE SAW ALL THE WORKERS IN THERE WITH ALL THE EXTRA FOOD.

BUT THEY ARE IN THE SOCIAL WORKER PROGRAM AT BETHEL AND REALLY GOT TO SEE A LOT OF THINGS AT THE CITY HERE WORKING WITH THE POLICE AND SEEING DIFFERENT WAYS THAT SOCIAL WORKERS HELP COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

CHIEF MARKHAM AND SERGEANT PINE, JP, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS AND I ATTENDED THE POLICE MEMORIAL DAY ON MAY 15TH IN SAINT PAUL.

THERE WAS ALWAYS THERE A WREATH IN HONOR OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS POLICE OFFICER CURTIS RAMSDELL, WHO WAS SHOT IN THE LINE OF DUTY ON JULY 30TH, 1977. EVERY YEAR THERE'S A POLICE REMEMBRANCE DAY FOR A 24-HOUR PERIOD.

AND SO, I ALWAYS GO OUT THERE TO BE THERE WITH THE WREATH AND MAKE SURE THAT IF THE FAMILY ISN'T AVAILABLE, THAT THERE'S SOMEONE FROM THE CITY WHO'S THERE. I ATTENDED THE FIRE ASSOCIATION MEETING WHERE WE DISCUSS BENEFITS FOR FIREFIGHTERS IF THEY'RE VOLUNTEER, PAID OR FULL TIME.

[01:30:03]

SO THAT WAS JUST SO GREAT TO SEE THEM SHOWING HOW COLUMBIA HEIGHTS SHINES.

PUPPIES, KITTENS AND LIZARDS.

OH MY. IT WAS A REALLY GREAT EVENT.

SO, THANKS TO STAFF FOR DOING THIS A SECOND YEAR.

I THINK OF PETS IN THE PARK SECOND AND JUST WAS REALLY WELL ATTENDED AND ALL OF THE DIFFERENT VENDORS I STOPPED BY, THEY SAID THEY JUST HAD A GREAT TIME WORKING WITH WILL AND SO WANT TO DEFINITELY SHARE THAT.

IT WAS WELL ATTENDED.

I SPOKE WITH STUDENTS AT THE CAPITAL PATHWAYS ORGANIZATION.

THEY ARE LEARNING ABOUT LEADERSHIP AND NETWORKING AT THE CAPITOL, BUT IT'S SO FUN TO ENGAGE WITH YOUTH AND LEARNING ABOUT HOW THEY SEE CIVIC INVOLVEMENT.

I MET WITH SOME LOCAL ART ENTHUSIASTS, BRAD PEASLEY AND GENE RABINOWITZ.

THEY ARE WORKING ON HAVING A VISION FOR THIS ART STUDIO SPACE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS WITH A GALLERY AND A MAKERSPACE, AND THEY'RE PLANNING ON AN ART FESTIVAL THIS SUMMER, SO THAT WAS FUN TO MEET WITH THEM AND INTRODUCE THEM TO SOME DIFFERENT CONNECTIONS IN THE CITY OF HOW TO MAKE THEIR DREAM A REALITY.

WE HAD A MEETING, A CRUCIAL MEETING WITH POLICE AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS ABOUT THE SRO PROGRAM OR HOW THAT'S EVOLVING.

THAT WAS OUR FIRST KIND OF REACH OUT MEETING TO SEE WHERE IT GOES.

BUT I'M VERY INSPIRED BY OUR CONVERSATION AND HOW THIS IS EVOLVING IN OUR SCHOOLS, BECAUSE WE ALL WANT OUR KIDS TO BE SAFE, OUR FAMILIES TO BE SAFE.

AND I JUST AM SO THANKFUL WE HAVE SUCH A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SCHOOLS TO MOVE THAT FORWARD.

ALSO ATTENDED SHIRLEY BARNES RETIREMENT.

WE HAD A LOT OF INTERVIEWS WITH STAFF THAT SAME DAY, SO OUR STAFF WAS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND THE MEETING, BUT I DEFINITELY SHARED WITH HER THAT I WAS THERE ON BEHALF OF OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, PUBLIC WORKS, THE CITY, BECAUSE SHE HAS BEEN AT CRESTVIEW.

I DON'T REMEMBER HOW LONG. IT HAD BEEN 90 SOMETHING, 44 YEARS.

OKAY? OKAY.

LONG, LONG TIME. YES.

AND SHE WAS THE DIRECTOR OR THE CEO OF CRESTVIEW ON RESERVOIR AND FANTASTIC INSPIRING PERSON.

BUT SHE HAD HER RETIREMENT AND HAS HER SECOND GRANDCHILD AND IS SO EXCITED TO GO SPEND TIME WITH THEM IN SWEDEN.

SO, GIRL, SHIRLEY, I LOOK FORWARD TO COFFEE WITH YOU SOON.

I ATTENDED A TEACHER APPRECIATION AT VALLEY VIEW SCHOOL, OUR EDA, OUR NEW EDA MEMBER [INAUDIBLE].

HE INVITED ME TO COME AND CELEBRATE TEACHERS AT VALLEY VIEW.

FROM JUST THE HARD WORK THAT AND COMPASSION THEY'VE HAD WITH THEIR FAMILY.

AND IT WAS JUST AMAZING.

BUT THE NEWSPAPER WAS THERE. SO, I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE PICTURES OF THAT AS WELL.

THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS PRIDE FESTIVAL IS PLANNING IS UNDERWAY.

THAT WILL ALSO BE ON SEPTEMBER 21ST AT KODIAK PARK, SO SAVE THE DATE FOR THAT.

THERE IS ALSO A GSA PROM THAT STANDS FOR THE GAY STRAIGHT ALLIANCE HIGH SCHOOL ORGANIZATION.

THERE IS A PROM BEING ORGANIZED AND THAT WILL BE AT MURZYN HALL FRIDAY, JUNE 7TH AT 7 P.M.

AND TICKETS ARE $10, AND ATTENDEES MUST BRING THEIR HIGH SCHOOL ID.

AND IF YOU JUST GRADUATED THIS MONTH, YOU CAN STILL GO JUST TAKE YOUR ID WITH YOU.

BUT IT'S $10. AND IF THE COST IS EXPENSIVE FOR SOMEONE, THERE ARE SCHOLARSHIPS TO NOT HAVE TO PAY THAT FEE.

WANTED TO ALSO MENTION THAT I HAD A REFLECTIVE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND HONORING MEMBERS OF OUR ARMED SERVICES WHO HAVE DIED IN SERVICE, AND I AM VERY PROUD AND THANKFUL FOR OUR CITY STAFF THAT ARE ABLE TO THAT WE PUT THE BANNERS UP ALONG CENTRAL AVENUE HONORING VETERANS AND MEMORY OR THAT ARE STILL WITH US.

I WAS ABLE TO ADD A BANNER WITH MY HUSBAND FOR MY FATHER IN LAW, WHO WAS IN THE VIETNAM WAR.

BUT I'VE HAD MANY EMAILS.

WELL, TWO EMAILS AND CONVERSATIONS FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS SAYING THANK YOU TO STAFF FOR MAKING THAT HAPPEN.

THEY KNOW IT'S VERY MEANINGFUL TO SEE THAT.

TALK TODAY WITH VALLEY VIEW SCHOOL AND EXPLORED HOW THE CITY AND SCHOOLS CAN COLLABORATE, SHARE RESOURCES, AND BUILD STRONG RELATIONSHIPS SPECIFICALLY WITH OUR SPANISH SPEAKING COMMUNITY. AND THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS THAT OUR CITY, OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, PLANNING, THE LIBRARY, FIRE AND POLICE ARE REALLY WANTING TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PROVIDING A WELCOMING PLACE FOR OUR FAMILIES.

AND HOW ARE THERE WAYS WE CAN BUILD TOGETHER.

SO, WE'LL BE CONTINUING THAT COLLABORATION AND I GUESS THAT'S IT.

AND NOW WE'RE HERE TODAY.

SURE. COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS WOULD LIKE TO ADD SOMETHING.

I THINK MY AGE IS SHOWING BECAUSE THIS IS THE THIRD OR FOURTH TIME I'VE HAD TO ADD THINGS TO MY REPORT.

SO, IT'S GETTING A LITTLE A LITTLE OLD.

THE, THE I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT THE BANNERS ARE ACTUALLY A FUNDRAISER FOR KIWANIS, AND ALL OF THE FUNDS RAISED GO TO THE HIGH SCHOOL

[01:35:10]

SO, NONE OF THAT IS KEPT INSIDE THE COFFERS OF KIWANIS.

SO THAT'S REALLY EXCITING THAT THAT THEY DO THAT.

AND WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE STAFF FOR GETTING THOSE THINGS UP, ESPECIALLY THIS YEAR.

THERE WERE SOME SNAGS, AND IT WAS VERY SHORT NOTICE BY THE TIME THEY GOT THEM.

AND TED. TED DID A GREAT JOB GETTING THEM UP.

AND I WANT TO JUST MENTION THAT BEING HONORED TONIGHT, WE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS DO NOT GET THAT INFORMATION AHEAD OF TIME.

SO, I HAD THE HONOR OF BEING ABLE TO CALL BEANIE A FRIEND.

AND I AM SO PLEASED.

AND I THANK YOU FOR MAKING THAT SELECTION THAT IT WENT IT WAS SOMEBODY WHO REALLY, REALLY DESERVED TO BE HONORED.

SO, AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO SAY THAT RAIL WORKS TO JUST TO GIVE AN IDEA OF HOW LONG THEY HAVE BEEN AT THIS, THEY STARTED THIS PROJECT. AND HAD TO STOP.

THEY STARTED THREE DAYS BEFORE COVID SHUT DOWN EVERYTHING.

SO, THEY'VE BEEN AT IT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, AND THEY STAYED WITH THEY STAYED WITH THE PATH.

THEY STAYED ON THE PATH.

AND I'M VERY THANKFUL THAT THEY DID.

IT'S BEEN LONGER THAN THAT.

THEY WOULD, THEY CAME TO THE COUNCIL BEFORE THAT, AND THEY AND I TALKED TO THE OWNERS ABOUT IT, AND THEY SAID THREE DAYS LATER IT WAS SHUT DOWN.

SEVEN YEARS AGO. THEY DID A VIDEO WITH THE PREVIOUS MAYOR.

CORRECT. SO, THEY BUT ACTUALLY STARTED.

SO, IT'S BEEN A LONG HAUL COMING FORWARD WITH THE LOCATION THOUGH I THINK TO DEFINITIVE PROJECT WITH A LOCATION THREE DAYS BEFORE COVID. SO, STORY OF PERSEVERANCE.

YES. RIGHT. THANK YOU.

YES. AND THANK YOU.

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY IT WAS A SURPRISE WHO, YOU KNOW, WHO ARE THE RECIPIENTS OF THE OUTSTANDING CITIZEN? ONLY THE FAMILIES AND THE PEOPLE RECEIVING THOSE NEW.

SO, THE COUNCIL, IT WAS A SURPRISE.

AND IT'S NOT PRINTED IN THE AGENDA AS WELL.

SO, BUT JUST TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT IT'S BECAUSE IT IS A SURPRISE TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THOUGH, IT'S A SURPRISE TO THE COUNCIL AS WELL.

SO, THE FAMILY TOLD ME THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE COMING FOR SOME KIND OF VETERAN'S HONOR.

OH, THEY DID NOT KNOW.

THAT WAS A SURPRISE FOR THEM TOO.

SO, THEY WERE THEY WERE JUST AS BLOWN AWAY.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT.

ALL RIGHT. AND NOW WE WILL GO TO OUR INTERIM CITY MANAGER'S REPORT.

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

THIS IS THE LAST WEEK FOR CITIZENS TO REGISTER FOR OUR CITYWIDE GARAGE SALE.

AND THE BENEFIT OF DOING THAT IS IT GETS YOU ON A MAP, A PRINTABLE MAP.

SO, IF IT'S AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR PROPERTY IS AVAILABLE FOR FOLKS THAT GO OUT ON THE GARAGE SALE WEEKEND ON JUNE 7TH THROUGH THE NINTH, SO YOUR SALE DOES NOT GET MISSED.

SO WE'RE TAKING THOSE REGISTRATIONS THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK THROUGH MAY 31ST.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO GET YOUR PROPERTY ON AND ARE HOLDING A GARAGE SALE, THAT'S A GREAT WAY TO, YOU KNOW, BE PARTICIPATING AND MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS COME TO YOUR PROPERTY.

WE'LL START TALKING ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY ART AND INFO FAIR THAT'S GOING TO BE HELD OVER IN HOUSTON PARK AGAIN ON JUNE 20TH.

AND THAT'S REALLY AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS TO COME IN NOT ONLY TO MEET CITY STAFF AND THE DEPARTMENTS HERE, BUT ALSO THE CITY COUNCIL AND THEN ALSO VARIOUS PARTNERS AND OTHER CIVIC GROUPS THAT ATTEND THAT WITH Q&A.

TIME TO GET TOGETHER.

FOOD IS PROVIDED FOR THAT.

SO, WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO BE BRINGING THAT UP.

AND THE LAST IS THAT WE DO HAVE A CITY CHARTER COMMISSION OPENING.

AND IF ANYBODY IS INTERESTED ON APPLYING FOR THAT, THEY CAN FIND THAT APPLICATION INFORMATION ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE, ALBEIT, THOUGH, THAT THE THAT APPLICATION DOES CLOSE ON JUNE 14TH, SO IT'LL BE OPEN TILL THEN.

MAYOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

NEXT, WE HAVE OUR COMMUNITY FORUM.

[COMMUNITY FORUM]

IS THERE ANYONE TODAY WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? SO, THERE'S NO ONE ONLINE IN TEAMS AND I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A FORM.

OKAY. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, THERE ARE FORMS. ARE THEY OUTSIDE? THEN THERE'S A TABLE RIGHT OUTSIDE THE DOOR AND IT SAYS SPEAKER FORM.

IF YOU CAN JUST FILL THAT IN AND COME BACK IN.

THANK YOU. DOES ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? ALL RIGHT, WELL, WE'LL JUST WAIT FOR THAT GENTLEMAN, AND WE'LL HAVE HIS COMMENTS.

I'M ACTUALLY HAVING A GARAGE SALE AND I JUST SIGNED UP TODAY.

AND THERE ALSO ARE SOME YARD SIGNS AVAILABLE IF YOU.

SO, I STILL GOT I GOT A YARD SIGN.

EVEN SO, THERE'S STILL SOME TIME TO SIGN UP.

MINE IS ACTUALLY PART OF THE BUY NOTHING GROUP, SO MY GARAGE SALE IS ACTUALLY A FREE IT'S A BUY FREE, I DON'T KNOW, BUY NOTHING.

EVERYTHING'S FREE.

[01:40:01]

SO, AND THIS YEAR WE'RE COMBINING IT THE SAME WEEKEND AS FRIDLEY.

SO REALLY, IT'S KIND OF A DESTINATION.

IF PEOPLE ARE OUT AND ABOUT CHECKING THE SALES, IT'LL BE A REALLY GOOD THREE DAYS.

YEAH. ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

DOOR OPENER.

MOHAMED WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

THANK YOU. WELCOME.

IF YOU COULD JUST SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE.

DO YOU GUYS? MY NAME IS MOHAMMED. I'M A RESIDENT OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, AND I'VE BEEN ARRESTED IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS FOR 16 YEARS OR SO.

THIS IS MY FIRST TIME TO COME IN AND JUST MEET WITH YOU GUYS AND SIT DOWN.

ANY MEETINGS FOR CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS? AND IT'S A LOT OF INFORMATION I REALLY APPRECIATE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW I MISS ALL THIS, BUT I THINK I LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU ALL YOU GUYS DOING A GREAT JOB, INFORMATION GIVEN AND EVERYTHING ELSE. ALSO, I'D LIKE TO THANK RYAN.

HE MIGHT NOT BE. HE'S NOT HERE.

I HEARD HIS NAME BECAUSE I JUST BUILT A HOME RIGHT HERE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AND BEER STREET, AND HE WAS THE INSPECTOR WORKING WITH MY BUILDER, AND I TALKED TO HIM ON THE PHONE A FEW TIMES, AND HE WAS A LOT HELPFUL AND INFORMER.

AND ONE TIME HE EVEN CALLED ME WHILE I WAS OUT OF THE COUNTRY JUST TO INFORM ME, THE BUILDER KIND OF HAVE A DIFFERENT PLAN THAN THEY SUBMIT IT.

AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE IT WAS THIS IS OKAY WITH ME.

SO THAT'S GREAT TO HEAR.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT.

YEAH. SO, I REALLY APPRECIATE IT ALL.

AND I KNOW I HAVE TWO PROPERTIES IN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

SO, FROM HERE ON I'LL BE COMING IN AND JOIN AND LISTENING TO MEETINGS.

AND THIS FIRST TIME FOR 16 YEARS I'VE BEEN IN THE CITY TO JUST EVEN COME IN AND LISTEN TO PUBLIC HEARING AT ALL.

SO, THIS HAS BEEN INFORMED.

AND THANKS TO MY WIFE, SHE ENCOURAGED ME TO COME AND LISTEN TO IT, BECAUSE THE NEW PROPERTY I JUST BUILT IS ONE OF THE WE SUBMITTED A PERMIT FOR A RENTAL LICENSE, AND IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE IN THIS MEETING, BUT I DON'T SEE ANYTHING IN STATING IN MY PROPERTY HERE, SO I'M ASSUMING EVERYTHING'S BEEN APPROVED.

AS YOU SAY, IT'S PROBABLY IN THERE.

ONE OF THEM. I'M ASSUMING THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

AGAIN, IT LOOKS LIKE WE WOULD WE HAVE AARON WOULD LIKE TO ADD SOMETHING.

WOULD YOU LIKE AN ANSWER TO THAT? SURE. OKAY. LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE AN ANSWER NOT INCLUDED TONIGHT.

I WOULD ASSUME IT'S MAKING ITS WAY THROUGH THE PROCESS AND WOULD LIKELY BE ON THE NEXT MEETING.

SO, YOU CAN DEFINITELY CHECK IN WITH US FOR A PROGRESS REPORT.

CAN YOU SEE IT IN THE RENTAL? IS IT ON PAGE 68, ON THE BOTTOM, I SEE 3710 PROPERTY.

CORRECT. YEAH. OKAY.

OH, SO I GUESS THAT WAS INCLUDED IN OUR.

YEP. THERE'S THIS EARLY PART CALLED CONSENT AGENDA AND IT WAS LUMPED INTO THE LICENSE AGENDA THERE.

SO, IT WAS APPROVED THEN.

IF YOU, IF YOU WOULD LIKE, AT THE END OF THE MEETING AND ANYONE ELSE WHO'S HERE WE'D, I'D BE HAPPY TO SHOW YOU ON THE WEBSITE HOW TO FIND THE WHOLE THING THAT WE DISCUSSED SO THAT YOU CAN FIND EVERY DETAIL THAT WE DISCUSSED.

IT HAS TO BE POSTED THREE DAYS BEFORE THE MEETING.

SO, IT HAS TO BE POSTED BY FRIDAY SO THAT THE PUBLIC CAN SEE IT FOR THREE DAYS BEFORE TONIGHT'S MEETING.

BUT IF YOU'D LIKE, I'D BE HAPPY TO SHOW YOU WHERE TO FIND THAT FOR THE FUTURE.

YEAH, YEAH, I'LL BE HERE.

OKAY. YEAH, GREAT.

WELL. THANK YOU. FULLY APPROVED.

YOU'RE GOOD. OKAY.

THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU, GUYS. THANK YOU.

MOHAMMED. WELCOME.

ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK THIS EVENING? ALL RIGHT THEN.

THEN MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING? SO MOVED. SECOND, THAT WAS A LONG PAUSE.

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

ANY DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS? SEEING IS NOT. THEN ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE I AND THE MOTION PASSES.

THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU. GOOD NIGHT.

A THIRD AND FIFTH GRADE.

[01:45:03]

I ATTENDED THE METRO CITIES ANNUAL MEETING.

ATTENDED VIA ZOOM.

THE MINNESOTA CITIES CLIMATE COALITION MEETING ATTENDED VIA ZOOM.

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 PERSPECTIVES VERY, VERY 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 EXCITING. 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 BURT 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 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, I 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 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 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 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, WASTEWATER.

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 ADAMO 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 FACADE 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.

[01:50:01]

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

WE HAD OUR WORK SESSION.

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, COUNCILMEMBER JACOBS.

I AS WELL ATTENDED THE LIVE BURN ON CENTRAL AND WENT TO THE RETIREMENT PARTY 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 HOUSTON 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 MARTIN 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 HANSON 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 RAMSDALE 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, COUNCILMEMBER 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 CHOOSE OUR NEW POLICE CHIEF.

AND I BELIEVE HE'S DOING WONDERFUL ALREADY.

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

[01:55:01]

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

I KNOW HOW MUCH THEY BENEFIT, AND I WAS UNFORTUNATELY NOT HERE FOR THE HOUSE BURN.

CONTROLLED BURN.

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 CHAMBLISS 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 RODNEY AND MARY FULKS 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 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 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 [INAUDIBLE] 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.

YES, I JUST I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT I STOPPED BY ESSENTIAL MIX, BUT I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT SOMETHING ELSE.

SO, THE WOMAN THAT RUNS THE CENTRAL FIX COFFEE THAT FIXED CENTRAL FIXED COFFEE.

FIX COFFEE AT THE CENTRAL MIX.

[02:00:01]

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.

YEAH. THEIR BLUEBERRY SCONE WAS.

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 630 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 AN 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 IT DOES THAT THEN QUALIFY SATISFIES IT.

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

BUT THAT 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 AN IRAQI PARK.

FROM 4 TO 530, 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 530 TO 730 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.

DO WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK THIS EVENING? THANK YOU. THE COMMUNITY FORUM IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL REGARDING ANY MATTER THAT HAS NOT HAD A PUBLIC HEARING EARLIER IN THE MEETING.

[02:05:05]

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

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

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 [INAUDIBLE] 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.

DIRK SCHMITZ WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

ALL RIGHT. WELCOME, DIRK.

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 AND COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES BROUGHT UP MOST OF THE THINGS I WAS GOING TO BRING UP, MAINLY PEOPLE CUTTING TREES DOWN JUST 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 OUR 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 AN 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 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.

AND 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 THAT SITUATION.

[02:10:06]

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

BUT MY FATHER WAS A CAREER FIREMAN, AND I HAVE SO MUCH GRATITUDE AND RESPECT FOR OUR SAFETY PERSONNEL.

THEY I DIDN'T REALIZE UNTIL I WAS AN ADULT THAT EVERY DAY THAT MY DADDY WENT TO WORK, I DIDN'T.

THEY I 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 KIDNEY POTENTIAL KIDNEY DONOR.

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

YEAH. AND I WON'T 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.

JAKE 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 COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS DONE AND YOU'RE NOT SURE THEY'RE NOT 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 DINEEN WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

THANK YOU.

WELCOME, LAUREL.

HI. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

I JUST WANT TO TOUCH ON THE CHILDCARE 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 THIS WEEK.

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 GOING TO OUR RESIDENTS, THE PEOPLE THAT WILL BE USING OUR PARK, AND THEY DESERVE TO BE HAVING THOSE EXPERIENCES IN OUR PARKS.

ALSO, I HAVE AN IN-HOME CHILDCARE DOWN THE STREET FROM ME, AND I SEE THEM WALKING TO RAMSDALE OR KODIAK 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'S 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 CHILDCARE 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 IS THAT 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. ALL RIGHT.

CATHY COOPER WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

YOU CAN KEEP THAT.

WELCOME, KATHY.

[02:15:02]

A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.

I BELIEVE IT WAS.

MAYBE POSSIBLY A MONTH AGO.

I'M NOT SURE. BUT I MENTIONED THREE CONCERNS I HAD, AND THE MAJOR CONCERN I HAD WAS THAT THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS POLICE DEPARTMENT IS NOT TAKING SERIOUSLY MY REPORTS OF CRIMES AGAINST VULNERABLE ADULTS, AND.

THAT SAME DAY I HAD.

POLICE CAPTAIN ERIC JOHNSTON RETURNED MY CALL THAT DAY, THE SAME DAY AS THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING, JUST RIGHT BEFORE I LEFT TO COME TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING, AND HE SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH ME.

SO, I HAD HIGH HOPES THAT WE'LL 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 ON MY 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 THEIR 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 I JUST PROCEEDED TO GO.

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 MARKUM, 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 MARCUM.

ON WEDNESDAY, THE 1ST OF MAY, I CALLED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WHILE 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 AT.

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.

[02:20:06]

THANK YOU. KATHY.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TONIGHT? AND THERE'S NO ONE VIRTUALLY.

ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT, THEN WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.

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.