[00:00:01] >> HELLO, EVERYONE. [WELCOME/CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL] MY NAME IS AMADA MARQUEZ SIMULA THE MAYOR OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR JUNE 10TH. WELCOME TO EVERYONE ON THE RECORDING AS WELL, AND TO EVERYONE IN THE CHAMBERS. AT THE END OF THE MEETING, WE DO HAVE COMMUNITY FORUM. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON A TOPIC THAT'S NOT AT THE MEETING, YOU'RE WELCOME TO PICK UP A FORM JUST OUTSIDE THE DOOR AND FILL THAT IN. OTHERWISE, WE WILL COMMENCE WITH THE MEETING. COULD WE PLEASE HAVE A ROLL CALL? >> COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS. >> HERE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS. >> HERE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES. >> HERE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS. >> HERE. >> MAYOR MARQUEZ SIMULA. >> HERE. THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO READ OUR MISSION STATEMENT FOR TONIGHT. 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. NOW, IF YOU'RE ABLE TO PLEASE STAND, ENJOIN ME IN SAYING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. >> >> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE OUR APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA. [APPROVAL OF AGENDA] ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL ABOUT THE AGENDA? I WOULD LIKE TO ADD UNDER PROCLAMATIONS AND GUESTS, MICHELLE PETTWAY FROM OUR SCHOOL BOARD TO GIVE US A SCHOOL UPDATE. IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT WITH EVERYONE, THEN MAY HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE AGENDA AS AMENDED. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS, AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES TO ACCEPT THE AMENDED AGENDA. ANY QUESTIONS? HEARING IS NOT THEN, ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU. THAT TAKES US TO OUR PROCLAMATIONS. [PROCLAMATIONS, PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITION, ANNOUNCEMENTS, GUESTS] TODAY, WE HAVE OUR PRIDE MONTH PROCLAMATION FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE. WHEREAS THE STONEWALL RIOTS FROM JUNE 28TH TO JULY 3RD, 1969, MARKED THE START OF THE FIGHT FOR LGBTQIA+ EQUALITY IN THE US, AND WHEREAS IN 2024 WE CELEBRATE THE 55TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE STONEWALL RIOTS WHEN LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITIES STOOD AGAINST POLICE HARASSMENT. WHEREAS EACH JUNE, PEOPLE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AND WORLDWIDE HONOR THOSE WHO FOUGHT FOR LGBTQIA+ RIGHTS. WHEREAS MINNESOTA PASSED THE HUMAN RIGHTS ACT IN 1993, PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION BASED ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER, AND WHEREAS MINNESOTA LEGALIZED SAME SEX MARRIAGE IN 2013, AND THE US SUPREME COURT UPHELD THIS RIGHT IN 2015. WHEREAS THE SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE SCHOOLS ACT OF 2014 PROTECTS STUDENTS OF ALL SEXUAL ORIENTATIONS AND GENDER IDENTITIES. WHEREAS IN 2023, MINNESOTA BANNED CONVERSION THERAPY AND ESTABLISHED ITSELF AS A SAFE PLACE FOR LGBTQIA+ INDIVIDUALS. WHEREAS MINNESOTA BECAME A TRANS REFUGE STATE IN 2023, ENSURING ACCESS TO GENDER AFFIRMING HEALTH CARE. WHEREAS WE RECOGNIZE AND AFFIRM THAT LGBTQIA+ PEOPLE DESERVE RESPECT, COMPASSION, AND A PLACE TO BE THEIR AUTHENTIC SELVES, AND WE RECOMMIT TO BEING A STATE AND A CITY WHERE OUR LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE SAFE AND THRIVING. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT I, AMADA MARQUEZ SIMULA, MAYOR OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 2024 TO BE PRIDE MONTH IN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, COUNTY OF ANOKA, STATE OF MINNESOTA, USA. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU ALL. I'M SO PROUD TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TODAY AND FOR KIHEI LATHAM, WHO'S A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY. IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME UP TO THE PODIUM, I CAN HAND YOU THE PROCLAMATION. [APPLAUSE] [00:05:19] >> THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR THIS PROCLAMATION. IT'S RARE, NOT ONLY AS A QUEER PERSON, BUT AS A PERSON OF COLOR THAT WE FEEL ACCEPTED ANYWHERE. COLUMBIA HEIGHTS HAS REALLY STEPPED UP IN ITS DIVERSITY, ITS INCLUSION, AND ITS ACCEPTANCE OF ALL. THANK YOU FOR THIS. I ALSO WANTED TO SAY THAT FOR US, PRIDE, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT WEARING RAINBOWS OR EVEN THE RAINBOW IN THE SKY, IT'S THE FULL ACCEPTANCE OF WHO WE ARE NO MATTER WHAT GENDER, PRONOUNS, COLORS, THE WAY WE DRESS, NONE OF THAT MATTERS. ALL WE CARE ABOUT IS LOVE, AND THAT'S WHY OUR THEME IS LOVE. THANK YOU, AND I FEEL VERY SAFE HERE. >> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] I WANT TO THANK ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE HERE TONIGHT FOR THIS PROCLAMATION. THANK YOU FOR COMING INTO OUR MEETING. OUR NEXT PROCLAMATION IS FOR GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS DAY, AND OUR COUNCIL MEMBER RACHEL JAMES WILL READ THIS PROCLAMATION. >> THANK YOU. NATIONAL GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS DAY, JUNE 7TH, 2024. WHEREAS THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS IS DEDICATED TO ENSURING THE SAFETY, JUSTICE, AND WELL BEING OF ITS RESIDENTS, FOSTERING AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE EVERYONE CAN THRIVE, AND WHEREAS GUN VIOLENCE REMAINS A GRAVE CONCERN AFFECTING COMMUNITIES ACROSS OUR NATION, INFLICTING IMMEASURABLE PAIN, LOSS, AND TRAUMA ON INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND SOCIETY AS A WHOLE, AND WHEREAS IT IS OUR COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE PROFOUND IMPACT OF GUN VIOLENCE, TO FOSTER DIALOGUE, AND TO UNITE IN EFFORTS TO PREVENT FURTHER TRAGEDIES. WHEREAS GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS DAY, OBSERVED JUNE 7TH, OFFERS A SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITY FOR INDIVIDUALS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND GOVERNMENT ENTITIES TO COME TOGETHER, HONOR THE VICTIMS OF GUN VIOLENCE, SUPPORT SURVIVORS, AND TAKE PROACTIVE STEPS TOWARD FINDING LASTING SOLUTIONS. WHEREAS, THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS RECOGNIZES THE URGENT NEED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF GUN VIOLENCE, TO ENGAGE IN MEANINGFUL DISCUSSIONS, TO PROMOTE EDUCATION, ADVOCACY, AND INITIATIVES AIMED AT REDUCING GUN VIOLENCE, AND CULTIVATING A CULTURE OF PEACE AND UNDERSTANDING. >> NOW, THEREFORE, I, AMADA MARQUEZ SIMULA, MAYOR OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 7TH, 2024, TO BE GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS DAY IN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, COUNTY OF ANOKA, STATE OF MINNESOTA, USA. THIS DAY SERVES AS A SOLEMN REMINDER OF THE LIVES LOST AND UNDERSCORES THE URGENT NEED FOR COLLECTIVE ACTION. [APPLAUSE] I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY THAT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS DONE SO MUCH WORK IN FINDING AND REMOVING GUNS FROM OUR STREETS. WE HAVE ALSO PARTNERED WITH A SCHOOL DISTRICT ON THE BE SMART PROGRAM, WHICH IS ALL ABOUT, IF YOU HAVE GUNS, KEEPING THEM LOCKED AND SAFE AWAY FROM OTHER PEOPLE. WE ARE PUTTING OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE DOING THESE THINGS TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY. OUR NEXT PROCLAMATION IS FOR JUNETEENTH, AND WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER JUSTICE SPRIGGS, WILL READ THIS FOR US. >> JUNETEENTH FREEDOM DAY, JUNE 19TH, 2024. WHEREAS IN AUGUST 1619, 20-30 ENSLAVED AFRICANS ARRIVED AT POINT COMFORT, VIRGINIA, MARKING THE BEGINNING OF SLAVERY IN THE PRESENT DAY UNITED STATES. WHEREAS ON JULY 4TH, 1776, THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AFFIRMED THE PRINCIPLE THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL. WHEREAS ON JANUARY 1ST, 1863, ABRAHAM LINCOLN SIGNED THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION, FREEING MILLIONS OF ENSLAVED PEOPLE, ALTHOUGH ENFORCEMENT WAS INCONSISTENT. WHEREAS IN TEXAS, SLAVERY PERSISTED DUE TO THE LACK OF UNION TROOPS, AND THE SLAVERS VIEWED IT AS A REFUGE FOR SLAVERY. WHEREAS, ON JUNE 19TH, 1865, UNION TROOPS ARRIVED IN GALVESTON BAY, TEXAS, DECLARING ALL ENSLAVED PEOPLE IN THE STATE FREE, A DAY NOW KNOWN AS JUNETEENTH. WHEREAS, JUNETEENTH ENCOURAGES REFLECTION ON OUR HISTORY AND CELEBRATES THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS, WHILE HIGHLIGHTING THE NEED TO ADDRESS SYSTEMIC RACISM AND ENSURE EQUAL PROTECTION AND DIGNITY FOR ALL. WHEREAS MINNESOTA LAW RECOGNIZES THE THIRD SATURDAY OF JUNE AS JUNETEENTH, AND JUNE 19TH IS CELEBRATED AS JUNETEENTH FREEDOM DAY, NOW A PAID HOLIDAY FOR MOST STATE EMPLOYEES. WHEREAS JUNETEENTH MARKS OUR COUNTRY'S SECOND INDEPENDENCE DAY, [00:10:03] CELEBRATING FREEDOM AND JUSTICE AND CALLS UPON US TO COMMIT TO EQUITY, EQUALITY, AND JUSTICE. >> NOW, THEREFORE, I, AMADA MARQUEZ SIMULA, MAYOR OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THURSDAY, JUNE 19TH, 2024, AS JUNETEENTH FREEDOM DAY IN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, COUNTY OF ANOKA, STATE OF MINNESOTA, USA. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU ALL. TO RECEIVE THIS PROCLAMATION, I HAVE HERE, CARINA SMITH, A COMMUNITY MEMBER, TO COME ON UP AND RECEIVE THIS. [APPLAUSE] >> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, AND FOLKS ONLINE. MY NAME IS CARINA SMITH, AND IT'S AN HONOR TO BE WITH YOU ALL TONIGHT TO RECEIVE THIS PROCLAMATION. JUNETEENTH IS AN IMMENSE DAY IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY, AND IT IS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE EMANCIPATION OF AFRICAN AMERICANS, AS WELL AS THE ONGOING STRUGGLE FOR EQUALITY AND JUSTICE. AS A REFLECT ON JUNETEENTH, I HOPE THAT WE CAN ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT THE BLACK COMMUNITY IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AND BEYOND HAS MADE TO SHAPING OUR SOCIETY. JUNETEENTH IS NOT ONLY JUST A CELEBRATION OF FREEDOM, IT IS ALSO A CALL TO ACTION, AND THERE'S STILL MUCH WORK TO BE DONE TO ACHIEVE EQUALITY FOR ALL, AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN RECOMMIT AND STAND IN SOLIDARITY TO FIGHT FOR OPPRESSION IN ALL ITS FORMS. TODAY, AS WE RECEIVE THIS PROCLAMATION, I HOPE THAT OUR COMMUNITY CAN ALSO COMMIT AND SEE THIS AS A SYMBOL OF COMMUNITY AND JUSTICE AND HONORING OF THE PAST AND CELEBRATING THE PRESENT AND TO BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR THE GENERATIONS TO COME. THANK YOU ALL IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR MAKING TODAY POSSIBLE.[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. NOW WE HAVE ITEM D, MICHELLE PETTWAY, OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER WILL GIVE US A SCHOOL BOARD UPDATE. WELCOME. >> THE FRONT OF THE ROOM, I KNOW HOW TO MAKE AN ENTRANCE PEOPLE. HELLO, EVERYONE. THE SCHOOL YEAR HAS COME TO AN END THE LAST DAY WAS JUNE 6TH, SO WELCOME TO SUMMER, EVERYONE. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL GRADUATES. THAT WAS A GREAT GRADUATION CEREMONY AND SEEING ALL THE FAMILIES AND HEARING ALL THE APPLAUSE AND SUPPORT FROM ALL THE STUDENTS TO THE OTHER STUDENTS, AS WELL, WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE. WE HAVE THE LUXURY OF HAVING THE BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE, BEING ABLE TO LOOK OUT AND SEE ALL THE GRADUATES THROW THEIR HATS UP AND CELEBRATE AND SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER SO THAT WAS GREAT. ALSO, CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE SCHOLARSHIP AWARD WINNERS. WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO CELEBRATE THE POW WOW THIS YEAR WITH OUR NATIVE AMERICAN FAMILIES, GET TO DIVE INTO THEIR CULTURE A BIT AND GET TO REALLY ENJOY AND CELEBRATE WITH THEM. THAT WAS A GOOD MOMENT AS WELL FOR OUR DISTRICT. WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON OUR STRATEGIC PLAN A LITTLE BIT, SO WE'RE GOING INTO ROUND TWO OF OUR SURVEYS IN GETTING MORE INFORMATION FROM THE COMMUNITY AND OUR FAMILIES SO THAT WE CAN SEE HOW WE CAN IMPLEMENT THAT INTO THIS NEXT COMING YEAR SO THAT WE CAN REDO THAT. ONE THING FOR NEXT YEAR'S REGISTERING OR ENROLLMENT, WE DO HAVE A CLOSED OPEN ENROLLMENT OVER AT HIGHLAND FOR KINDERGARTEN AND THIRD GRADE WHICH IS A GOOD PROBLEM TO HAVE, WHICH MEANS WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE ATTENDING THAT WE HAVE TO ACTUALLY CLOSE FOR PEOPLE WHO AREN'T RESIDENTS IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AND SO WE'RE OKAY WITH THAT. THE OTHER TWO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ARE STILL OPEN FOR THOSE GRADES, SO THAT'S GOOD FOR EVERYONE WHO MAY WANT TO STILL ATTEND SCHOOL IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AND JUST MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND HIGHLAND. I ALSO WANTED TO SAY THAT WE HAVE OUR JAMBOREE COMING UP, WHICH IS A LOT OF FUN. THERE'S A PARADE THAT STARTS AT SIX O'CLOCK AND IT'LL BE FOLLOWED BY A BIG FESTIVAL OVER AT HUSET PARK WHERE EVERYBODY WILL GET TOGETHER AND JUST ENJOY TIME TOGETHER. IT'S A GREAT COMMUNITY EVENT FOR EVERYBODY TO GET TOGETHER AND JUST ENJOY THOSE MOMENTS, CELEBRATING THE END OF THE YEAR AND ENTERING SUMMER. GOOD SUPPORT FOR EVERYBODY. WE STILL HAVE SOME SUMMER PROGRAMS THAT MAY NEED SOME FILLING. IF YOU ARE STILL LOOKING FOR THINGS TO DO FOR YOUR KIDS OR IF YOU'RE EVEN LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO FOR YOURSELF, EVEN CHECK OUT THE LIBRARY, AND THE SCHOOL HAS THINGS FOR ADULT PROGRAMS AS WELL. [00:15:02] YOU CAN CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE FOR THAT. I JUST WANTED TO PUT OUT THERE ABOUT OUR MEETINGS. WE HAVE REGULAR MEETINGS THAT ARE RECORDED AND LIVE STREAMED ON THE SECOND AND FOURTH TUESDAYS OF EVERY MONTH AND WE HAVE OUR WORK SESSIONS, WHICH ARE NOT RECORDED OR LIVE STREAM, BUT ALL ARE WELCOME. WE'VE BEEN MOVING THOSE AROUND OUR WORK SESSIONS, SO WE'VE BEEN PUTTING THEM AT THE SCHOOL, SO HOPEFULLY THE PARENTS WILL FEEL MORE WELCOME AND FEEL MORE INVITED TO SHOW UP AND SO WE'VE HAD THEM AT ALL THE OTHER SCHOOLS. THE LAST ONE THAT WE'RE DOING IS GOING TO BE ON THE 18TH, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE AT NORTH PARK SCHOOL FOR INNOVATION. YES, IT'S IN FRIDLEY, BUT IT'S IN COLUMBIA HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND IT IS AWESOME. I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO INVITE EVERYONE TO THAT WORK SESSION WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE DISCUSSING THE SCIENCE OF READING. WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT WITH THE TEACHERS ACTUALLY AS THEY GET READY TO HELP OUR STUDENTS IMPROVE THEIR READING SKILLS AND IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN A JOY. IT'S BEEN FUN GETTING TO SEE WHAT'S BEHIND, WHAT GOES INTO HELPING STUDENTS LEARN HOW TO READ AND SEEING WHAT INSPIRES TEACHER AND WHAT TOOLS THEY USE AND THINGS THAT THEY HELP THEM WITH. WE ALSO TALK ABOUT CERTAIN PLANS THAT WE PUT IN PLACE AS WELL AT THOSE MEETINGS. WORK SESSIONS ARE ALWAYS FUN TO ATTEND AS WELL. YOU ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO ATTEND ANY OF OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS AND SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH US WE'D LOVE TO HEAR THEM. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU, MICHELLE. DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? I WANTED TO ADD CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE STUDENTS. BUT ALSO, I'M A MEMBER OF THE REGIONAL COUNCIL OF MAYORS, AND EVERY SUMMER, WE HAVE A SUPERINTENDENT MAYOR MEETING, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE COMING UP IN A FEW WEEKS AND SO OUR SUPERINTENDENT AT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, SUPERINTENDENT STENWICK, WILL BE ATTENDING THAT WITH ME. JUST REALLY WANT TO SHOW WHAT A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAVE HERE AT THE CITY WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. THEN ALSO JUST A SHOUT OUT TO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS AND FIRE FOR HELPING WITH GRADUATION. WE TRIED A NEW WAY OF DIRECTING TRAFFIC TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS SAFE, AND EVERYTHING WENT REALLY WELL, SO I JUST WANT TO JUST SAY AGAIN, HOW MUCH WE HAVE A GREAT PARTNERSHIP AND KEEPING THE COMMUNITY SAFE. THANK YOU FOR THAT UPDATE FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. NEXT, IT BRINGS US TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA. [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 THE NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS. I ACTUALLY WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE ITEM NUMBER 6 TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT. ARE THERE ANY OTHER ITEMS THAT COUNCIL WOULD LIKE? THEN IF KEVIN HANSON COULD RUN THROUGH THE REST OF THE ITEMS, AND WE'LL HAVE NUMBER 6 AFTERWARDS. >> CERTAINLY. THANK YOU, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. YOU HAVE 10 ITEMS BEFORE YOU ON YOUR CONSENT AGENDA WITH ONE BEING REMOVED. THE FIRST OF THESE IS TO APPROVE THE MAY 28TH, 2024 COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES. THE NEXT ITEM IS TO APPROVE THE JUNE 3RD, 2024 COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING MINUTES. AFTER THAT IS TO ACCEPT THE MAY 1ST, 2024 LIBRARY BOARD MINUTES. AFTER THAT IS TO ACCEPT THE MAY 6 REGULAR EDA MEETING MINUTES FROM MAY 6. THE FIFTH ITEM IS THE SECOND READING OF THE ORDINANCE 1696, WHICH AMENDS OUR CHAPTER 9.106 AND REALLY WHAT THIS DOES IS IT ESTABLISHES A TREE PRESERVATION AND PLANTING STANDARDS. THIS WAS DELAYED FROM THE ORIGINAL READING DATE OF THE LAST MEETING SIMPLY TO GO BEFORE YOU HAD A WORK SESSION, AND THE CITY FORESTER HAD SOME MINOR AMENDMENTS TO THAT. THOSE AMENDMENTS WERE REALLY RELAXING AND MAYBE THAT'S NOT THE RIGHT WORD, BUT JUST PROVIDING A LITTLE BIT MORE LEEWAY WITH HOW TREES GET PLANTED, PARTICULARLY REVOLVING AROUND THE AMOUNT OF SOIL THAT IS REQUIRED, AND THEN ALLOWING PROPERTY OWNERS OR IN THIS CASE, DEVELOPERS SOME OPTIONS IF THEY HAVE SOME DIFFERENT IDEAS FROM WHAT THE TREE PRESERVATION CALLS OUT, BUT THOSE WOULD BE APPROVED BY THE CITY FORESTER HIMSELF THROUGH THAT PROCESS, LARGELY THROUGH DEVELOPMENT PROCESS ON THAT. IT RELAXES THE STANDARDS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT TREE PLANTING AND THE AMOUNT OF SOIL THAT'S NECESSARY FOR THAT. THE SIXTH ITEM HAS BEEN PULLED FOR DISCUSSION. ITEM NUMBER 7 IS RELATED TO THAT, BUT A LITTLE BIT MORE EXCLUSIVE, AND THIS IS TO ENTER INTO A THREE YEAR CONTRACT WITH EVOLVE SOFTWARE FOR DIGITAL PLAN REVIEW FOR MULTIPLE CITY DEPARTMENTS, AND THERE ARE TWO MOTIONS BEFORE YOU FOR THAT. ONE IS TO ENTER INTO A THREE YEAR CONTRACT WITH EVOLVE AT AMOUNT OF 17,600 PER YEAR AND THE SECOND MOTION IS [00:20:01] A ONE TIME COST AND THAT'S REALLY FOR SETUP AND TRAINING WITH EVOLVE FOR ONBOARDING THE NEW SOFTWARE ONCE IT GETS UP AND RUNNING. ITEM NUMBER 8 IS TO APPROVE THE LICENSE AGENDA AS SUBMITTED. ITEM NUMBER 9 IS TO APPROVE THE RENTAL OCCUPANCY LICENSES AS SUBMITTED, AND YOUR LAST ITEM IS THE REVIEW OF THE BILLS SUBMITTED BY THE CITY AND THAT'S IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,510,564.52. MAYOR. >> THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT RELAXING THE STANDARDS FOR THE TREES. OF COURSE, THIS IS STILL ENTIRELY THE HEALTHY OPTION FOR THE TREES, AND RELAXING DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE ARE LETTING GO OF THESE STANDARDS. IT'S JUST A DIFFERENT AS IT WAS ORIGINALLY WRITTEN. >> THANK YOU. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. THERE WAS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF SOIL REQUIRED DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF THE TREE, AND THAT'S JUST BEEN REDUCED SLIGHTLY. THIS REALLY CAME THROUGH ONE OF OUR PARK AND REC COMMISSION MEMBERS BASED ON SOME STUDIES THAT SHE'S READ AND SEEN AND PRESENTED TO THE CITY FORESTER. I THINK THERE'S A MUTUAL BENEFIT TO THOSE THAT THIS MAY IMPACT, BUT ALSO LONG TERM TO THE CITY, YOU'RE RIGHT. DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT'S GOING TO NEGATIVELY IMPACT TREE PLANTING, BUT I THINK IT JUST GIVES SOME LEEWAY IN TERMS OF HOW THE TREES ARE PLANTED. >> MORE ACCESSIBILITY FOR DEVELOPERS, PROPERTY OWNERS, ETC. >> THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO SAY IT. >> THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT TREES ARE TO US. THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE CITY MANAGER ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? THEN MAY I HAVE A MOTION THEN TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED WITH ITEM 6 REMOVED. >> MOVE TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED WITH ITEM 6 REMOVED. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS, AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS. ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? HEARING IS NONE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. THEN NEXT, WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER 6 AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE HER. [6. Approve City Manager Entering a 3-year Contract with Tyler Technologies for Enterprise Permit & License Software at $55,462 Per-year and $166,800 for Onboarding Professional Services.] >> MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL WILL HAVE OUR IT DIRECTOR, JESSE HOFF COME UP AND JUST GIVE A BRIEF PRESENTATION ON WHAT THIS IS. >> THANK YOU FOR SHARING EXTRA INFORMATION. I KNOW DURING THE WORK SESSION, WE ALL WERE ABLE TO ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND LEARN ABOUT THIS, BUT IT'S SO EXCITING AND SO IMPORTANT TO THE CITY. ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS AND THE COMMUNITY THAT I THOUGHT HAVING YOU COME IN TO GIVE A LITTLE EXTRA INFORMATION WOULD REALLY HELP SHARE THE WORK THAT THE IT DEPARTMENT'S DONE AND THE REST OF THE DEPARTMENTS TO COME THROUGH WITH THIS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE. >> SOLUTIONS FOR ENTERPRISE PERMIT AND LICENSE MANAGEMENT. ALONG WITH CITY STAFF FROM COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, FIRE, AND ENGINEERING, WE IDENTIFIED TYLER AND EVOLVE AS A CLEAR SOLUTION FOR THE CITY'S NEEDS. TYLER IS DESIGNED TO BRING BUILDING PERMITS, RIGHT AWAY PERMITS, BUSINESS LICENSING, RENTAL LICENSING, AND MORE ONLINE. THIS SOFTWARE ALSO HELPS WITH PLANNING, ZONING, AND CODE ENFORCEMENT. IT IS FULLY INTEGRATED WITH GIS, LASER FISCH, AND OUR CITY'S FINANCIAL PLANNING SOFTWARE. TYLER ALSO INCLUDES A CITIZEN REQUEST COMPONENT THAT ALLOWS CITIZENS TO COMMUNICATE NEEDS TO CITY DEPARTMENTS. A VALVE BRINGS OUR PLAN REVIEWS DIGITAL, EMPOWERING OUR INSPECTORS IN THE FIELD AND GREATLY ENHANCING THE EFFICIENCY OF OUR BUILDING OFFICIAL, ENGINEERS, AND FIRE INSPECTORS. THESE SOLUTIONS WILL SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE CUSTOMER SERVICE, STAFF EFFICIENCY, AWARENESS, AND BRING TRANSPARENCY TO PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CITYWIDE IN A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE MANNER. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THOSE. >> THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS FOR JESSE? >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. JUST AGAIN, I'M JUST SO EXCITED TO HAVE THIS ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY, ALL THE DEPARTMENTS WORKING SO MUCH MORE IN SYNC. I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE SUCH A GAME CHANGER FOR THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU AND THANKS TO THE COUNCIL FOR SUPPORTING THIS AS WELL. COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES? >> THANK YOU. I JUST HAVE A COMMENT. THANK YOU FOR WORKING ON THIS. THIS IS GOING TO INCREASE OUR CURRENT STAFF MEMBERS EFFICIENCY SO MUCH. IT'S GOING TO BE SO GREAT FOR EVERYONE AND WE JUST WORKED THROUGH OUR LICENSE AGENDA AND FOR OUR RENTAL LICENSE AGENDA. THAT TAKES SO MUCH TIME FOR BOTH THE CITY STAFF AS WELL AS THE PEOPLE WHO ARE APPLYING FOR LICENSES. YOU HAVE TO COME IN DURING THE DAY. NOW EVERYTHING WILL BE STREAMLINED FOR YOU AS A CITIZEN WHO'S WORKING TOWARD A LICENSE OR A PERSON WHO DOES BUSINESS IN OUR CITY. WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE HOW THIS WILL HELP ALL OF OUR STAFF BE MORE EFFICIENT AS THEY'RE DOING THEIR JOBS INSTEAD OF HAVING TO WORK [00:25:02] IN THE FIELD AND THEN COME BACK AND RETYPE IT ON THE COMPUTER. THEY CAN USE SOFTWARE THAT IS HELD IN THEIR HAND AND MOVE ALONG FROM PROPERTY TO PROPERTY. IT IS A LOT OF MONEY, AND WE DEBATED WHETHER THIS WAS WORTH IT, BUT THE COST SAVINGS, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS GOING TO BE SO EFFICIENT FOR OUR CITY. I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK, AND I'M HAPPY TO SEE WHAT WILL HAPPEN AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO APPLY FOR LICENSES, LET US KNOW HOW IT GOES. >> GREAT POINTING THAT OUT. THANK YOU. I WILL, ALSO, IF YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT HOW THE MONEY FOR THIS WAS ALREADY IN BUDGET, AND SO THIS ISN'T SOMETHING IF YOU JUST WANT TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT AS WELL. >> THE MONEY FOR THIS PROJECT FOR THE INITIAL IMPLEMENTATION WAS ACTUALLY, MITCH, WHAT WAS THE FUND IT WAS FROM? >> IT CAME FROM OUR BUILDING AND INSPECTIONS. BUILDING AND INSPECTIONS. THAT MONEY WAS ALREADY THERE AND THEN THE INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS ARE BUDGING THIS FOR 2025 FOR THE ONGOING COSTS OF IT. JUST TO ADD ON TO FOR EXPECTATIONS FOR THE PUBLIC, WE'RE LOOKING AT A SIX TO EIGHT MONTH ROLLOUT BEFORE WE START TO SEE THIS AVAILABLE ONLINE, BUT EXPECT IN 2025 TO BE ABLE TO START DOING YOUR PERMITS AND BUSINESS LICENSING ONLINE ON OUR WEBSITE THROUGH A NICE GUIDED WORKFLOW. >> GREAT. THANK YOU. THANKS FOR SHARING WHEN WE CAN EXPECT TO SEE THIS AS WELL. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> THAT'S GOOD TO POINT OUT AS WELL. ANYTHING ELSE FOR JESSE? ALRIGHT THEN, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THEN, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? >> APPROVE CITY MANAGER ENTERING A THREE YEAR CONTRACT WITH TYLER TECHNOLOGIES FOR ENTERPRISE PERMIT AND LICENSE SOFTWARE AT $55,462 PER YEAR. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS, AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS. ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? SEEING AND HEARING THERE'S NONE, THEN ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES AND NEXT, WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE. >> MOVE TO APPROVE ONE TIME COST OF $166,800 FOR ONBOARDING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FROM TYLER TECHNOLOGIES. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES TO APPROVE ANY DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS. SAYING AND HEARING THERE'S NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT, WE ARE AT OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS. [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. ANY COMMENTS MADE AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED, WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND WILL NOT BE INCLUDED AS PART OF THE FORMAL RECORD FOR THIS MATTER AS THE ITEM WILL BEEN VOTED ON AND THE ITEM FORMALLY CLOSED BY THE COUNCIL. TO THE CITY CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANYONE WHO'D LIKE TO SPEAK? NOT YET. WELL, WE WILL START ITEM NUMBER 11. THIS IS A PROPERTY 4616 TYLER STREET NORTHEAST AND IF ANYBODY IS HERE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, THE FORMS ARE OUTSIDE OF THE DOOR, YOU MAY FILL THAT IN AND HAND IT IN TO THE CITY CLERK. OTHERWISE, WE WILL GET STARTED, AND IF ANYONE WANTS TO SPEAK, THEY CAN ALWAYS COME UP LATER. WE WILL GET STARTED WITH ITEM NUMBER 11. >> MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. GOOD EVENING. I WILL REVIEW THE FINDINGS OF FACT FOR THE 4616 TYLER STREET PROPERTY. ON APRIL 5TH, 2024, INSPECTORS FOR THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS INSPECTED THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED ABOVE, 4616 TYLER. A COMPLIANCE LETTER LISTING THE VIOLATIONS WAS MAILED BY REGULAR MAIL TO THE OWNER AT THE ADDRESS LISTED ON THE RENTAL HOUSING APPLICATION. ON MAY 9TH, THE INSPECTORS FOR THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS PERFORMED A RE INSPECTION AND NOTED THAT VIOLATIONS REMAINED UNCORRECTED. AGAIN, A STATEMENT OF CAUSE WAS MAILED VIA REGULAR MAIL TO THE OWNER AT THE ADDRESS LISTED ON THE RENTAL HOUSING LICENSE APPLICATION. JUNE 3RD, INSPECTORS FOR THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS CHECKED RECORDS FOR THIS PROPERTY AND NOTED THAT VIOLATIONS REMAINED UNCORRECTED. BASED UPON SAID RECORDS OF THE ENFORCEMENT OFFICE, THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS AND VIOLATIONS OF THE CITY'S PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE WERE FOUND TO EXIST. SHALL REPAIR OR REPLACE CEILING SHEET ROCK IN LAUNDRY ROOM AND THE HOLES AROUND IT. SHALL REPAIR HOLE AND WALL NEAR THE ENTRY DOOR AND SHALL REMOVE THE DISCONTINUED STORAGE OF COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL IN THE HALLWAY. WITH THAT, MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, [00:30:01] I WOULD OPEN IT UP FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. >> THANK YOU, CHIEF. ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE CHIEF? COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS? >> JUST SO THAT THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS, CAN YOU GIVE US THE SIZE OF THOSE HOLES? WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT PENCIL HOLES OR GOLF BALL SIZE HOLES IN THIS DRYWALL. >> MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, PROBABLY YOUR FIST COULD GO INTO ONE OF THEM. AT LEAST ONE OF THEM, AND MAYBE BOTH OF THEM. >> THEN THE COMBUSTIBLES THAT ARE STORED INSIDE? >> THERE ARE COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS INSIDE AND THEY ARE OBSTRUCTING THE INGRESS EGRESS IMMEDIATELY OUT THE APARTMENT DOORS. IF YOU WERE TO HAVE TO EXIT THAT PROPERTY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, ESPECIALLY SMOKE FILLED, THAT COULD BE A COMPLETE DISASTER. >> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES. >> HAVE YOU HAD ANY CONVERSATION WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER ON FIXING THESE? I SEE THAT YOU SENT TWO STATEMENTS AND THEY WERE UNCORRECTED. HAVE YOU HAD ANY REPLY? >> MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHAT YOU MEAN BY FACE TO FACE CONTACTS, BUT THE PROPERTY OWNER DID RECEIVE THE VIOLATIONS. >> I MEANT DID YOU RECEIVE NOTIFICATION FROM THE PROPERTY OWNER THAT IT WAS CORRECTED? >> MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. OUR LAST VISIT INDICATED IT WAS NOT CORRECTED. THAT'S HOW OUR PROCESS WORKS. WE PHYSICALLY HAVE TO LOOK AT THE REPAIR WORK TO SEE THAT IT MEETS CERTAIN CRITERIA AS YOU'VE SEEN IN THE PAST, AND UPON OUR LAST VISIT, IT WAS NOT CORRECT. I'LL ADD ONE THING, I DID ASK STAFF BECAUSE I LIKE TO DO THIS TO SEE IF WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THIS PROPERTY. I ASKED MY STAFF TO PULL UP A RUNNING RECORD FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS, AND I CAME UP WITH 52 VIOLATIONS FOR THE PROPERTY. THAT WAS A FIVE YEAR TALLY OF THE PROPERTY. >> THANK YOU. THE COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS IS SIMPLY MOVING THEM OUT OF THE WAY, AND THAT ALSO WASN'T DONE. >> MADAM MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THAT'S CORRECT. THEY WERE NOT MOVED, PROBABLY JUST A COUPLE OF MINUTES OF TIME AND EFFORT. >>THANK YOU. AS WE JUST SAW THROUGH THE REALLY TRAGIC FIRE THAT WE JUST HAD IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, THERE WAS A SMOKE FILLED, VERY DANGEROUS DUPLEX, AND SOMEONE DID PERISH IN THAT FIRE THAT WE REALLY, SAFETY IS MOST IMPORTANT TO THIS COUNCIL, TO OUR CITY STAFF. EVEN HEARING THAT COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS ARE LEFT, AND THAT COULD JUST TAKE MOMENTS TO MOVE, BUT THE DAMAGE TO HAVING THAT THERE, I THINK ALSO SPEAKS A LOT TO NOT CONSIDERING THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT, I GUESS, OR A VERY GROSS OVERSIGHT AS WELL. ANY OTHER ITEM OR QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS OR ANYTHING TO POINT OUT FROM THE COUNCIL. I'LL JUST ASK ONE MORE TIME, I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. SORRY. THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING AS I READ EARLIER, SO IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, THEY ARE ABLE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME. >> THEN I WILL ALSO JUST SAY OUT LOUD, ASK IF THERE'S ANYONE ONLINE THAT'S WATCHING THE MOVIE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK. >> THERE IS NOBODY ATTENDING THE MEETING VIA TEAMS THIS EVENING. >> THANK YOU. THEN, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK FOR A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. >> MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND WAIVE THE READING OF RESOLUTION 2024-45. THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. ANY DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS. HEARING IS NOT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, AND NOW COULD HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT. >> MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2024-45, BEING A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, APPROVING REVOCATION PURSUANT TO CITY CODE OF THE RENTAL LICENSE LISTED. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS, AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION. ANY DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS? HEARING AND SEEING NONE, THEN ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AND THEN MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU, CHIEF. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> NEXT, WE ARE AT ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATIONS. [ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION] WE HAVE UNDER ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS NUMBER 12, APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION 2024-46, APPROVING ANOKA COUNTY HRAS AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT. KEVIN I DON'T KNOW WHO. [00:35:02] >> MAYOR, MEMBER THE MITCH FORNEY. >> MITCH FORNEY. >> MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. AT THE RECENT EDA MEETING IN JUNE, THE EDA, INCLUDING THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, RECEIVED A PRESENTATION FROM THE ANOKA COUNTY HRA WITH REGARDS TO A HOUSING STUDY THAT THEY RECENTLY COMPLETED. AT THIS MEETING, THE HRA STAFF OFFICIALLY RELEASED THE INFORMATION THAT THEY HAVE CLOSED AS OF MAY 31, ON 1515 44TH AVENUE. A PICTURE OF THAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PACKETS. THEY INTEND TO CONVERT WHAT IS NOW CURRENTLY A VACANT SENIOR HOUSING UNIT INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AS AN INTERNAL PART OF THEIR PROCESS, AS A COUNTY HRA, THEY NEED TO ESTABLISH TWO FINDINGS, THE FIRST BEING THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE COMMUNITY, AND THEN THE SECOND THAT THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS WELCOMES THIS TYPE OF PROJECT WITHIN OUR CITY. THE FIRST FINDING WAS QUANTITATIVELY IDENTIFIED IN THE ANOKA COUNTY HOUSING STUDY. WE ALL KNOW THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS A VERY BIG ISSUE PLAGUING THE ENTIRE TWIN CITIES AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME. THEN THE SECOND IS THAT THE CITY ITSELF APPROVES OF A DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT GOING INTO THE CITY. THIS DOES NOT ALLOW OR APPROVE THE PROJECT AS A WHOLE OR ANY CERTAIN SCOPE OF THE PROJECT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. THIS IS JUST THE CITY TELLING THE HRA THAT THEY ARE WELCOME TO START THE CONDUCT OF THIS PROJECT. THEY WILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH LOT LINE ADJUSTMENTS, ANY SUBDIVISIONS, STUFF LIKE THAT WE'LL BE MAKING ITS WAY TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION, AND THEN TO THE CITY COUNCIL AT A LATER DATE. THIS IS JUST LETTING THE HRA KNOW THAT WE WELCOME THIS PROJECT IN THE CITY, AND THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR IT WITHIN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AND WITH THAT, I COULD STAND FOR ANY QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU, MITCH. COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS. >> I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, BUT I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO BE AWARE THAT THIS TYPE OF HOUSING IS DESPERATELY NEEDED. SIX YEARS AGO, WHEN I WAS WITH STAFF AND COUNCIL WORKING ON THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. I ASKED ABOUT WHO'S BUILDING FOR THE 30% AMI AMERICAN AVERAGE MEDIAN INDEX OR INCOME. ANYWAY, NOBODY AT THE TIME IS BUILDING THIS TYPE OF HOUSING BECAUSE BASICALLY IT HAS TO BE ALMOST 90 PLUS PERCENT SUBSIDIZED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR THE STATE. IT'S VERY, VERY DIFFICULT FOR THESE PEOPLE TO FIND HOMES. I AM EXCITED THAT THE COUNTY HAS TAKEN THIS ON WITH THE MONIES THAT THEY HAVE, AND THE BUILDING WAS EMPTY. THEY WERE NO LONGER DOING ASSISTED LIVING UP AT CREST VIEW. THIS IS REALLY GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY AND FOR PEOPLE IN NEED THAT NEED THIS TYPE OF HOUSING AND ITS FAMILY. IT'S GOING TO BE 1, 2, AND 3 BEDROOM, I BELIEVE, DIFFERENT TYPES OF APARTMENTS. >> THEY'RE LOOKING AT LARGER UNITS AND COUNTS. >> THEY GOT A GOOD SIZED PARKING LOT, AND THEY HAVE BUS LINE CLOSE BY. THANK YOU TO ANOKA COUNTY FOR DOING THIS. I APPRECIATE IT. >> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES. >> I AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY WITH WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS SAID. THIS BUILDING FORMERLY WAS A PART OF CREST VIEW, AND CREST VIEW WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1952 BY PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY, DIFFERENT CHURCHES TO PROVIDE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE IN NEED, SENIORS AND OTHER PEOPLE AND THE BOARD OF CREST VIEW HAS WORKED VERY HARD TO DIVERSIFY THEIR OPTIONS. THEY HAVE ASSISTED LIVING IN BLAINE, AND THEY'RE KEEPING OUR BUILDING SAFE HERE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS. I'M SO THANKFUL FOR THE WORK THAT THE BOARD OF CREST VIEW HAS DONE WITH ANOKA COUNTY AND THE MONEY THAT ANOKA COUNTY IS INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITY. THIS IS THE FIRST PART OF THEIR MONEY THAT THEY'RE INVESTING TOWARD THIS, AND THEY CHOSE TO PUT IT HERE. THAT'S WONDERFUL AND I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT THIS PLACE BE FILLED AGAIN WITH PEOPLE WHO NEED HOUSING, AND IT WILL BE FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY. I DO AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS. IT'S A SIGNIFICANT, GREAT LOCATION FOR THAT RIGHT BY MY HOUSE, SO HOPEFULLY I CAN STOP BY AND SAY HI. ONCE IT'S BUILT IN A COUPLE OF YEARS. >> EXCUSE ME. ANYTHING ELSE FROM THE COUNCIL? I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS. I CAN'T TALK. I'M SO EXCITED FOR THIS PROJECT. I HAD MET WITH KAREN, AND I'M DRAWING A BLANK. RETIREMENT. WE JUST WENT TO. SHIRLEY BARNES IN THE WINTER ABOUT THIS POSSIBILITY AND JUST SEEING HOW EXCITED THE COUNTY HAS BEEN TO BRING THIS FORWARD, HOW MANY UNITS THAT WILL BE THERE HELPING AND THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THIS REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS SPECIFIC BUILDING TO NOT SEE THINGS TORN DOWN AND USED IN A NEW WAY IS A HUGE MOTIVATOR. BUT ALSO, THERE'S SO MANY THINGS WE CAN DO MOVING FORWARD. I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT, MORE WAYS FOR RAIN GARDENS AND WATER RETENTION, [00:40:02] AND WE HAVE ALL THIS LAND THAT RIGHT NOW IS LAWN, BUT THEY WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT BE USED IN A BETTER WAY. WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE TO JUST KEEP MOVING THAT PROPERTY FORWARD, AND IT'S A PRETTY LARGE PROPERTY. WE'LL BE DOING SOME GREAT THINGS THERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MITCH, FOR ALSO EXPLAINING HOW THE PROCESS OF THIS IS. THIS IS ABOUT THE HRA POINT, AND THIS ISN'T APPROVING NECESSARILY BUILDING PLANS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. THIS IS JUST THE FIRST PART OF IT. THANK YOU. SEEING THAT THERE'S NO OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING? >> MOVE TO WAIVE THE READING OF RESOLUTION 2024-46. THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING IS NONE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. NEXT I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE. >> MOVE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2024-46, BEING A RESOLUTION ACKNOWLEDGING THE CURRENT SHORTAGE OF HOUSING FOR LOW TO MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES AND AUTHORIZING THE ANOKA COUNTY HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITIES AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT AT 1515 44TH AVENUE, NORTHEAST. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES TO APPROVE ANY DISCUSSION. SEEING IS NONE, THEN ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU AND THANK YOU ANOKA COUNTY. NOW WE ARE AT OUR BID CONSIDERATIONS, NUMBER 13 RESIDENTIAL WATER METER REPLACEMENT PROGRAM INSTALLATION BIDS. >> THANK YOU. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. IN THE YEARS 1999 AND 2000, THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS INITIATED WELL, REALLY, THEIR FIRST RESIDENTIAL WATER METER REPLACEMENT. AT THAT TIME OF APPROXIMATELY 6,000 WATER METERS WERE REPLACED FOR RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES HERE IN THE HEIGHTS. THOSE WERE INSTALLED WITH APPROXIMATELY A 20 YEAR LIFE. WE'RE PRETTY MUCH GETTING WELL PAST THAT LIFE OF MOST OF THOSE METERS. WHAT HAPPENS WITH THOSE METERS WHEN THEY REACH A CERTAIN LIFESPAN IS THAT THEY STOP READING ACCURATELY. IT'S CRITICAL FOR US TO GET ACCURATE EQUIPMENT, BUT ALSO TO GET PROPER WATER METER USAGE FOR THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS. IN 2023, THE CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZED THE WATER METER REPLACEMENT PROGRAM REALLY FOR THE SAME GROUPING ACCOUNTING FOR GROWTH. ANOTHER 6,000 WATER METERS TO BE REPLACED. DUE TO LONG LEAD TIMES, WE ORDERED ALL OF THE MATERIAL IN '23, THAT WAS MAY OF '23, AND WE'RE NOW FINALLY STARTING TO GET THE WATER METERS AND RADIOS IN FOR THAT PROGRAM. AS PART OF THAT, WE ALSO NEED TO HAVE COMPANIES INSTALL THAT. WE WENT OUT SOOT BIDS, AND THE LOW BID CAME IN FROM REALLY A PARTNERSHIP OR A JOINT VENTURE FROM TWO COMPANIES. ONE IS CORE & MAIN, AND THAT IS WHO WE'RE GETTING THE WATER METERS FROM. THEN THE MAIN INSTALLER HERE IS HYDROCORP. HYDROCORP IS A NATIONWIDE COMPANY, AND THIS IS PRETTY MUCH THEIR BREAD AND BUTTER. THIS IS WHAT THEY DO. THEY DO METER INSTALLATIONS, NOT ONLY IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, BUT PRETTY MUCH ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE AMOUNT WE HAD BUDGETED FOR THIS INSTALLATION WAS $1 MILLION. THEIR BID CAME IN AT 750. IT'S WELL WITHIN OUR ESTABLISHED BUDGET FOR THIS PROJECT. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT TWO OTHER PARTS TO THIS. JUST DUE TO THE AGE, THE HOUSES IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, WE'RE NOT SURE FOR A LOT OF THE WATER MAIN WHEN IT COMES THROUGH IS PART OF THE HOUSES, ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY OR GROUNDING FOR THEIR HOUSE. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WITH THE NEW METERS, WHICH ARE PLASTIC, THAT THAT IS CONTINUED. THERE'S A GROUNDING KIT INCLUDED, BUT THOSE ARE JUST DONE BY A PER UNIT BASIS. WE DO EXPECT SOMEWHERE 30-50% OF THE HOMES HERE TO NEED THAT KIT. HYDROCORP WILL INSTALL THOSE BASED ON NEED, SO WHERE THEY SEE THAT NEED, THEY'LL GET THOSE INSTALLED. THE SECOND PART IS, IF THEY RUN INTO DIFFICULTY WITH THE INSTALLATION, IF WE RUN INTO VALVES THAT DON'T WORK ON EITHER SIDE OF THE METER, WHICH WILL HAPPEN, THERE IS A FREEZE KIT INSTALLATION. WHAT THAT DOES IS IT ACTUALLY FREEZES THE WATER THAT'S CURRENTLY IN THE SERVICE LINE THAT COMES IN AND ALLOWS THE EXISTING WATER METER TO BE REMOVED, AND THEN THE NEW WATER METER TO BE PLACED IN, AND THEN A OOZES IT OUT. THAT IS SOMETHING WE WILL SEE. WE DON'T EXPECT A HIGH NUMBER OF THOSE, BUT IT'S ALSO THERE IN THE BID, SO THEY CAN KEEP MOVING AND GETTING THESE WATER METERS INSTALLED. I THINK AT THIS POINT, STAFF DOES RECOMMEND ACCEPTANCE OF THE BID FROM CORE & MAIN AND HYDROCORP. THE OTHER PART OF THIS THAT I THINK IS REALLY CRITICAL IS THAT WE HAVE BEEN GETTING INFORMATION OUT TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH OUR CITY, REALLY THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, BUT OUR WEBSITE. JUST KNOW THIS IS COMING FOR '24. GETTING THIS APPROVED NOW ALLOWS US TO GET MORE DETAILED INFORMATION. I'M GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT IT IN THE CITY MANAGER REPORT JUST TO WHAT TO EXPECT FOR THIS AND WHEN TO EXPECT IT. [00:45:03] BUT I KNOW THEY'RE GETTING READY TO GO SO THAT WE'LL BE HERE SHORTLY THAT WE'LL BEGIN OUR WATER METER REPLACEMENT PROGRAM. THIS IS A PROGRAM. IT'S LARGE ENOUGH, WHERE IT'LL RUN NOT ONLY IN '24, BUT ALSO IN 2025. MAYOR? >> THANK YOU, KEVIN. ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROGRAM. HEARING IS NONE THEN. >> HOLD ON. DO WE NEED ANY ACTION FOR THIS ITEM? >> YES. >> OH, THEY'RE AUTHORIZED. SORRY. CAN I HAVE A MOTION THEN TO AUTHORIZE? >> MOVE TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR AND CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH CORE & MAIN FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF RESIDENTIAL WATER METERS AND RADIOS BASED ON THEIR PROPOSAL OF MAY 17TH, 2024 AT THE COST OF 750,000 FOR THE INSTALLATION OF APPROXIMATELY 6,000 SENSUS IPERL WATER METERS AND RADIOS, INCLUDING UNIT COSTS OF $40 EACH FOR FURNISHING AND INSTALLING JUMPER WIRES AND $220 EACH FOR FREEZE KITS. >> SECOND. >> THANK YOU. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES, AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT. THEN SEEING THERE'S NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS. I KNOW THAT IT'S GOING TO BE A MUCH MORE ACCURATE, AS YOU SAID EARLIER, AND JUST THE COMMUNICATION. ONCE AGAIN, WE'RE JUST ABLE TO USE TECHNOLOGY TO HELP OUR STAFF HAVE MORE EFFICIENCY. BUT THEN AT THE END, THAT ALL GOES DOWN TO OUR CITY RESIDENTS BENEFITING FROM THAT. ONE OF THE THINGS I KNOW THE CITY HAS SEEN IS, IF THERE ARE VERY SMALL LEAKS THAT ARE HARDER TO SENSE WITH THE OLDER METERS. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO SHARE ANYTHING ABOUT THAT AND HOW THAT'S A BENEFIT. >> MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I CERTAINLY WILL, IF YOU'D LIKE AT THIS TIME I WAS PLANNING OF DOING THAT AT THE CITY MANAGER REPORT. >> OKAY. >> SURE. THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF INFORMATION THAT WE NEED TO START GETTING OUT THERE, CERTAINLY THAT BEING ONE OF THEM, BUT I CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT. >> SURE. >> THE ONE THING WITH THESE TYPE OF METERS THAT WE'RE INSTALLING IS THAT THEY'RE MUCH MORE ACCURATE, AND ALSO THEY PICK UP THE LOW FLOW. I THINK MAYOR AS YOU HAD INDICATED, THE LOW FLOW ALTHOUGH IT MAY NOT SEEM LIKE MUCH A TRICKLE, IT REALLY CAN AMOUNT TO A LOT ON CUSTOMER'S WATER BILLS. I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE GET FEEDBACK ON THESE METERS, SO THEY ARE RADIO READ THAT WE DON'T HAVE WATER METER READERS ANYMORE. WE GET THIS INFORMATION CENTRALLY. SO IT SUBMITS INFORMATION BACK TO US SO WE CAN SEE WHEN WE'RE GETTING THESE UNUSUAL FLOWS COMING OUT, AND WE CAN CONTACT CUSTOMERS FOR THAT. SO I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE PRIMARY BENEFITS OF HAVING THIS TYPE OF SYSTEM AN AMID, AUTOMATED METERING INTEGRATION SYSTEM FOR THIS. SO THAT'S ONE BENEFIT, AND I'LL TALK ABOUT A FEW MORE WITH THAT. >> ALSO WE JUST KNOW HOW PRECIOUS WATER IS, AND WE DON'T WANT TO WASTE ANY WATER. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> SO GLAD TO HAVE THIS. THANK YOU. WE DO NOT HAVE ANY NEW BUSINESS AND REPORTS. SO THAT TAKES US TO OUR CITY COUNCIL AND [CITY COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS] ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS IS OUR COUNCIL MEMBER WHO WOULD LIKE TO START. COUNCIL MEMBER, BUESGENS. >> I'LL START THIS WEEK. >> THANK YOU. >> LET'S SEE HERE. WHERE ARE WE? FIRST OFF, I WANT TO OFFER CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY WHO LOST A LOVED ONE IN A HOME FIRE IN CIRCLE TERRACE IN THE LAST, I THINK IT WAS A WEEK AND A HALF AGO. THAT'S A TRAGIC EVENT. SECOND, I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE GARAGE SALES THIS LAST WEEKEND. I DIDN'T MAKE THE GARAGE SALES, BUT I DID GO TO THE LIBRARY BOOK SALE, WHICH IS A DANGEROUS PLACE FOR ME. IT'S NICE. BUT I WANTED TO EMPHASIZE AND ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DO GARAGE SALES, UPCYCLE THEIR BELONGINGS. OH, GOSH. I DRAW A BLANK WITH THE GROUP, BUY NOTHING GROUP ON FACEBOOK IN OUR COMMUNITY. THERE'S LOTS OF DIFFERENT PLACES THAT YOU CAN TAKE YOUR ITEMS WHEN YOU NO LONGER NEED THEM. JUST FOR INFORMATION FOR THE COMMUNITY, I'M ALWAYS AMAZED WHEN I GO THROUGH THE REGISTER OF ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'VE PAID FOR IN THIS LAST MONTH. OUR CITY, JUST FOR RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY, SPENT $226,000 PLUS FOR REMOVAL OF OUR TRASH AND RECYCLING. TO ME THAT ALWAYS SEEMS LIKE SUCH A LARGE NUMBER, EVEN THOUGH OUR COMMUNITY IS SMALL, AND ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF WASTE THAT WE HAVE, FOCUSING ON ZERO WASTE WHEN YOU'RE PURCHASING SOMETHING, THINKING OF THE END LIFE AND WHERE THAT'S GOING TO GO, PLASTICS, ALL THAT STUFF. ANY LITTLE THING THAT WE CAN DO TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF GARBAGE, BECAUSE WE SPEND A LOT AND COMES OUT OF OUR POCKETS A LOT ON GETTING OUR GARBAGE AND NOW IT GOES INTO LANDFILLS. I MEAN, WE NO LONGER HAVE THE ANOKA COUNTY WASTE TO [00:50:03] ENERGY WHERE THEY COULD USE THE GARBAGE FOR ENERGY, NOW IT ALL GOES INTO LANDFILLS, UNLESS WE RECYCLE IT, UPCYCLE IT, SEND IT TO CENTERS, NON-PROFITS THAT TAKE CARE OF VARIOUS DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE COUCHES AND MATTRESSES, THOSE TYPE OF THINGS. SO ANYTHING YOU CAN DO, I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONSIDER FINDING WAYS TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF GARBAGE THAT WE CREATE. THIRD, I ATTENDED THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS AWARDS NIGHT. I ATTENDED THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS ACADEMY, A CHOIR CONCERT AND ALSO THE POW WOW THAT CELEBRATED THE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATIONS OF OUR NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENTS. I CONTINUE TO VOLUNTEER WEEDING AND MOWING RIGHT NOW AND PLANTING IN BLOOMING SUNSHINE GARDEN OVER IN LOMIANKI PARK. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THE BOOK SALE, WHICH THEY STILL HAVE, THEY'RE EXTENDING IT. SO IF YOU WANT TO GO CHECK IT OUT, THEY HAVE A ROOM FULL OF BOOKS, DVDS, AND ALL STUFF IN THERE FOR YOU. THEN THE LAST THING I WANTED TO SAY, BECAUSE I NOTICED IT TONIGHT EVEN MORE WITH THE SUN SHINING, I WANT TO THANK THE STAFF AND THE PEOPLE WHO PLANTED ALL THESE BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS IN OUR POCKET PARK HERE IN CITY HALL. IT REALLY IS PRETTY TO LOOK AT, AND THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB. IT'S JUST NICE, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR DOING THAT, AND THAT'S IT. >> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES. >> THANK YOU. I ALSO ATTENDED THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS AWARDS CENTER AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS, BOTH A FULL TIME AND PAID ON CALL, AND OUR STAFF, THEY DID A WONDERFUL JOB, AND IT'S ALWAYS EXCITING TO HEAR THEIR STORIES OF THE WAY THEY SERVE OUR COMMUNITY. I ATTENDED A COURSE WITH THE LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES ON FIRST AMENDMENT AND THE REGULATION OF SIGNS, AND THAT'S A INTERESTING OPPORTUNITY FOR US AS A CITY TO LEARN HOW CAN WE SUPPORT PEOPLE'S RIGHTS. THEN I ATTENDED A LECTURE WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA CENTER FOR URBAN AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS ON LOCALLY OWNED AND CONTROLLED HOUSING. ANOTHER WAY FOR US TO HAVE SOCIAL HOUSING HERE IN MINNESOTA, AND IT HAD SOME EXAMPLES OF OTHER CITIES THAT WERE DOING THAT IN MINNESOTA. I ATTENDED THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS POW WOW, AND I WANT TO CONGRATULATE ALL OF OUR NATIVE STUDENTS. AGAIN, WE HAD 100% GRADUATION RATE HERE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS FOR OUR NATIVE STUDENTS. SO THAT'S ANOTHER YEAR OF EXCITEMENT. THEN THIS FIRST WEEKEND OF JUNE IS ALWAYS A LOT OF GRADUATION PARTIES. CONGRATS TO ALL THE GRADUATES. THEN I ATTENDED ANOTHER WEBINAR WITH THE LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES ON THE 2024 LEGISLATIVE SESSION RECAP. ALTHOUGH THERE WASN'T AS MUCH SPENDING THIS YEAR, THERE WAS A LOT OF POLICY CHANGES THAT IMPACT CITIES. SO THERE'S A LOT FOR US TO LEARN AND GOT A BIG PICTURE OVERVIEW, BUT MORE WILL BE COMING OUT EACH WEEK THROUGHOUT THE LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES ON HOW THE LAWS APPLY TO OUR CITIES. SO THAT WILL BE IMPORTANT. I HAD A MEETING WITH THE ELDER VOICES ADVOCACY GROUP, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. WE'VE HAD PEOPLE SPEAKING HERE AT THE PUBLIC FORUM REGARDING THE ADULT GUARDIANSHIP PROCESS, AND SO I MET WITH THE ELDER VOICES GROUP, AND THERE'S A LOT THAT'S GOING ON INCLUDING A GOVERNOR'S TASK FORCE ON REVIEWING THE ADULT GUARDIANSHIP LAWS. SO IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE ADULT GUARDIANSHIP, I RECOMMEND YOU CONTACT ELDER VOICES. THEN I ATTENDED OUR EDA AND WORK SESSION, AND THE LAST THING IS, I'M A MEMBER OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, AND WE HAD OUR ANNUAL MEETING. THANK YOU. >> GREAT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS. SORRY. >> THAT'S OKAY. BY DECEMBER 31 YOU'RE GOING TO GET IT RIGHT. >> YES, EXACTLY. I ATTENDED A WEBINAR ON AVIAN FLU AND PREVENTING THE NEXT PANDEMIC WAS VERY INTERESTING BECAUSE IT TALKS ABOUT THE EXPOSURES AND POSITIVE TESTING THAT'S NOW APPEARING IN OTHER SPECIES OTHER THAN BIRDS, AND THIS IS PROVIDING A LARGER CONCERN THAN PREVIOUSLY. IT RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT IF AND WHEN HUMANS MAY ALSO BE AFFECTED. I ALSO ATTENDED CROSSING TO SUCCESS, WHICH TALKED ABOUT RAILROAD CROSSINGS, ALTHOUGH WE DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, WE HAVE SOME VERY NEARBY AND ADJACENT TO OUR COMMUNITY. THEY TALKED ABOUT HOW AND WHEN TO CONSIDER ELIMINATING THOSE RAIL CROSSINGS AND HOW THE CROSSINGS IMPACT RESIDENT SAFETY. I ATTENDED THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS AWARD CEREMONY AND FACILITATED THREE RESIDENT REACH OUTS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS. THANK YOU. A COUPLE OF THINGS. I RECENTLY ATTENDED THE LAST LIBRARY BOARD MEETING, WHERE A MAIN EXCITING UPDATE IS THAT THEY ARE PROPOSING AND THEY APPROVED ELIMINATING THEIR LIBRARY CARD REPLACEMENT FEES, WHICH WILL COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL. A SMALL CHARGE OF $2, I BELIEVE IT WAS PREVIOUSLY, BUT THEY'RE ALIGNING THEIR POLICIES WITH ANOKA COUNTY IN TERMS OF THEIR LIBRARY CARD REPLACEMENT FEES, JUST TRYING TO PROVIDE MORE ACCESS TO PEOPLE AND NOT NECESSARILY PUNISHING THEM FOR LOSING THEIR LIBRARY CARD, BECAUSE I BELIEVE YOU CAN ONLY PAY FOR THAT IN CASH, [00:55:01] AND NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE CASH NOWADAYS. AN EXCITING THING THAT WILL BE COMING BEFORE THE COUNCIL. I ALSO ATTENDED THAT LMC LEGISLATIVE SESSION RECAP TO LEARN ABOUT MORE OF WHAT HAPPENED AT THE CAPITOL AND HOW THAT WILL AFFECT OUR CITY, THEN I ALSO HAD A COUPLE OF DISCUSSIONS WITH A FEW ANOKA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABOUT ROAD SAFETY ON COUNTY ROADS, BECAUSE AS WE KNOW, WE ARE VERY LIMITED IN TERMS OF WHAT WE CAN DO AS A CITY IN THAT ASPECT, BUT SEEING, IF THEY HAVE ANY PLANS ABOUT CERTAIN ROADS IN OUR CITY ABOUT THAT AND JUST MAKING THEM AWARE OF SOME CONCERNS THAT I HAVE ABOUT A COUPLE OF THOSE. THANK YOU. OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, I'VE BEEN BUSY. I WAS OUT OF TOWN AND UNABLE TO ATTEND THE POW WOW, BUT I HAD ASKED COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES TO PLEASE SHARE MY FEELINGS OF SOLIDARITY AND EXCITEMENT FOR THE COMMUNITY TO CELEBRATE. ALSO, ONCE AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE GRADUATES IN OUR COMMUNITY, NOT JUST FOR COLUMBIA HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL, BUT THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE HERE THAT ARE GRADUATING IN OTHER WAYS. WELL DONE TO EVERYONE AND BEST WISHES. THIS MORNING, WE HAD A SISTER CITY PREPARATION MEETING FOR OUR SEPTEMBER WORLD WAR II SCULPTURE EVENT. MORE INFORMATION WILL BE COMING ABOUT THAT. THIS PAST FRIDAY, WE HAD A GSA PROM HOSTED AT MERSEN HALL, BY THE GROUP, HATE IS WRONG. IF YOU DON'T KNOW, GSA MEANS THE GAY STRAIGHT ALLIANCE THAT IS IN HIGH SCHOOLS AND SOME MIDDLE SCHOOLS. THIS WAS A PROM. IF YOU'D LIKE TO LOOK IT UP, ACTUALLY, THERE'S A GREAT VIDEO ON WCCO, I BELIEVE. IF YOU JUST GOOGLE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, GSA PROM OR HATE IS WRONG, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE THAT VIDEO, BUT JUST REALLY HOW COLUMBIA HEIGHTS IS A WELCOMING PLACE FOR ALL, AND WE WERE HAPPY TO HOST THAT PROM HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY. I HAD A MAYOR MONARCH PLEDGE MEETING WITH OUR LIBRARY TO SEE ABOUT HOW WE WOULD CONTINUE TO HAVE MONARCH PROGRAMMING IN OUR LIBRARY. ATTENDED THE TAINT HIGHWAY CORRIDOR MEETING. I HAVE JOINED THAT GROUP, AND WE'RE GETTING STARTED ON THOSE PLANS. FOR THE REGIONAL COUNCIL OF MAYORS, WE MET AT THE MICROSOFT BUILDING IN EDINA AND LEARNED ABOUT AI AND HOW THAT'S GOING TO BE AFFECTING CITIES, SPECIFICALLY PLANNING AND HOW WE CAN USE AI TO REALLY LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT WE CAN SEE IN THE FUTURE, HOW WE CAN EXPECT PEOPLE TO BEHAVE IN BUILDINGS AND WATER, AND TRAFFIC, ET CETERA. FOR THE CITYWIDE GARAGE SALE, I PARTICIPATED IN THAT THIS YEAR BY HOSTING THE BY NOTHING GROUP EVENT WITH MY FRIEND LAUREL DINEEN. WE USED MY DRIVEWAY FOR PEOPLE TO BRING THEIR ITEMS. WE HAD PEOPLE, I DON'T KNOW, AT LEAST 20 PEOPLE BROUGHT IN ITEMS TO DONATE AND SET THEM OUT ON THE TABLES ALL DAY LONG, AND PEOPLE WERE TAKING THINGS. AT THE END, WE WERE ABLE TO GIVE ALL OF OUR CLOTHING TO A GROUP THAT GIVES CLOTHING FOR FREE TO ECUADORIAN FAMILIES THAT ARE NEW TO THE COMMUNITY, AND THEN THE REST OF THE STUFF WENT OVER TO SAVERS. WE ONLY HAD TWO BOXES BECAUSE WE HAD SUCH A BUSY DAY, AND THE WEATHER WAS GREAT FOR EVERYONE WHO WAS WANDERING AROUND OUTSIDE. I HAD AN OPERATION POLLINATION MEETING WITH ROTARY AND OUR OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THE BOARD GAME COHI CON, IN MARCH WAS A BOARD GAME AND VIDEO GAME EVENT AT MERGAN HALL IN PARTNERSHIP WITH 2D CON AND 2D MEANS TWO DIMENSIONAL FOR GAMING, BUT THEY ALSO DO VIDEO GAMES AS WELL. THAT GROUP HAS BEEN HOSTING A MONTHLY GAME DAY AT MERGAN HALL. AT ONE OF THEIR EVENTS, OR EACH EVENT, THEY ARE ASKING FOR FOOD DONATIONS. I DELIVERED THAT OVER TO SAKA. JUST MANY THANKS TO PEOPLE KEEPING IN MIND OUR FOOD SHELF. AT VALLE VIEW, ATTENDED A MEETING WITH STAFF THERE TALKING ABOUT HOW WE CAN CONNECT MORE WITH OUR SPANISH SPEAKING COMMUNITY, ATTENDED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AWARDS, AS WELL AS OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE, AND THE BIKE GIVEAWAY AT VALLE VIEW, WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ROTARY, AND THEN SPOKE AT THE HIGH SCHOOL CIVICS CLASS ABOUT BEING AN ELECTED LEADER AND HOW STUDENTS AND YOUTH CAN BE LEADERS THEMSELVES. THAT'S IT FOR MY REPORT ON TO OUR INTERIM CITY MANAGER. THANK YOU. MAYOR MEVIS OF THE COUNCIL. I JUST HAVE A FEW THINGS. I'D LIKE TO BRING UP THAT THE COMMUNITY ART AND INFO FAIR IS ACTUALLY NEXT WEEK, THE SAME WEEK THAT JAMBOREE STARTS, THAT'S ON JUNE 20 THURSDAY. IT'S AT HUSET PARK WEST, AND IT GOES FROM 4:00 TO 7:00 P.M. THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN DOING ON AN ANNUAL BASIS WHERE WE PARTNER WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS, BOTH FOR ART AND RELATED, BUT ALSO ALL OF THE CITY DEPARTMENTS HAVE TABLES OUT FOR ON GOINGS IN THE CITY, IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OF CITY DEPARTMENTS. [01:00:03] ONE THING THAT'LL BE NEW THIS YEAR, TO THAT IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A TABLE SETUP FOR OUR SS FOR A GRANT. I THINK IT WAS JUST BROUGHT UP BY A COUPLE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND THAT IS FOR OUR SAFETY ACTION PLAN. WE'RE JUST BEGINNING THAT. WE'RE JUST UNDER WAY WITH THAT, BUT WE'D CERTAINLY LIKE TO HEAR BACK FROM THE COMMUNITY AS IT RELATES TO, SAFETY AND OTHER ISSUES THAT YOU SEE WITHIN LOCAL STREETS. THEY'LL HAVE A TABLE THERE AT THAT MEETING ON THURSDAY. WE JUST TALKED ABOUT THE WATER METER PROGRAM. I THINK ONE THING I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT WITH THE WATER METER PROGRAM, THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, OUR CITY STAFF ARE NOT ESTABLISHING THE APPOINTMENTS. THAT IS ONE OF THE TASKS THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING THE INSTALLATION, THEY'LL BE MAKING THOSE APPOINTMENTS WITH OUR CITIZENS. THE FIRST WAY THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOING THE CONTACT IS BY DIRECT MAIL. THEY'LL BE MAILING OUT POSTCARDS FOR THAT. WE JUST WANT TO REMIND OUR CITIZENS, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT TO LOOK FOR POSTCARDS, AND THEN YOU CAN CALL TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT THAT'S CONVENIENT FOR YOU. WHEN THAT WORKS, BUT AFTER THAT THEY'LL ALSO BE DOING OTHER FORMS OF COMMUNICATION TO GET APPOINTMENTS ESTABLISHED WITH THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. I KNOW, MAYOR, YOU HAD BROUGHT UP WITH THE NEW METERS GOING IN. THEY ARE SMART METERS, SO THEY DO HAVE A LOT OF CAPABILITIES, BUT NOT EVERY CAPABILITY OF A SMART METER. I THINK FOR US, THE BIGGEST THING IS JUST COMMUNICATING INFORMATION BACK DIRECTLY THROUGH A RADIO SYSTEM BACK THAT WE CAN OBTAIN THROUGH THE CLOUDS. IT GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY IF WE DO SEE PROBLEMS, AND YOU PRESENTED ONE OF THEM, WHERE THERE'S SOME OVER USAGE OR IF THERE'S A LEAK. WE CAN LET OUR RESIDENTS KNOW AT A SOONER TIME OTHER THAN EVERY THREE MONTHS WHEN THEY GET THE BILL, I THINK THAT'S A BENEFIT. I ALSO THINK THAT THESE METERS ARE MUCH MORE ACCURATE, THE TYPE OF METER THAT THEY ARE, THEY'RE GOING TO GET. THE CUSTOMERS WILL KNOW THAT THEY'RE GETTING ACCURATE WATER BILLS. IT REALLY HELPS US BECAUSE WE BUY ALL OF OUR POTABLE WATER FROM THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS SO THAT WE ARE CHARGING THE CORRECT RATES. THERE'S NO DIRECT COST TO ANY RESIDENT FOR THIS INSTALLATION. THIS IS BEING PAID FOR THROUGH THE REGULAR THE UTILITY BILLS THAT YOU HAVE. I WOULD ALSO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT OUR OFFICES FOR RECOGNITION OF JUNETEENTH OUR OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED NEXT WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NOW THAT BRINGS US TO OUR COMMUNITY FORUM. [COMMUNITY FORUM] IS THERE ANYONE HERE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK AT THE COMMUNITY FORUM? THERE IS. THERE IS NOBODY ONLINE, THOUGH. THANK YOU. THE COMMUNITY FORUM IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THIS COUNCIL REGARDING ANY MATTER THAT HAS NOT HAD A PUBLIC HEARING EARLIER IN THE MEETING. SPEAKERS THAT ARE IN PERSON ARE ASKED TO COMPLETE A SPEAKER FORM AND SUBMIT IT TO THE CITY CLERK. ONCE CALLED TO THE PODIUM, THE SPEAKER SHOULD STATE THEIR NAME AND CONNECTION TO COLUMBIA HEIGHTS. ALL SPEAKERS SHOULD LIMIT THEIR COMMENTS TO FIVE MINUTES. PERSONAL ATTACKS, THREATS, AND 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. SARAH, COULD YOU LET US KNOW WHO OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS. LAUREL DINEEN WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS COUNCIL. THANK YOU. WELCOME, LAUREL. CHAIR FOR THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, I JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR ABOUT TINY HOMES ONCE AGAIN AND HOW IMPORTANT I THINK IT IS FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO START LOOKING AT THIS ISSUE WITHIN OUR CITY. I DID SUBMIT A PACKET OF INFORMATION TO ANDREW BOUCHER, AND IT WAS COMPILED BY MYSELF AND A COUPLE OTHER CITY PLANNING COMMISSIONERS THAT ARE REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT THE SUBJECT. I'M REALLY HOPING TO SEE SOME MEANINGFUL DISCUSSION AND MOVEMENT ON THIS ITEM SOON. I'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY SINCE I PRESENTED PREVIOUSLY AND PRESENTED THAT INFORMATION ANDREW BOUCHER TO HAVE A NUMBER OF MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE AND WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING A POTENTIAL RESIDENT WHO DECIDED NOT TO BUY A HOME IN OUR COMMUNITY, BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT PUT A TINY HOUSE ON THERE BECAUSE THEY ARE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR AGING RELATIVES. THAT IS A WAY THAT THEY FELT WAS APPROPRIATE FOR THEIR FAMILY AND BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T DO THAT HERE, THAT WAS A DETRIMENT TO THEM MOVING INTO THE COMMUNITY, ALTHOUGH THEY REALLY LIKED EVERYTHING ELSE ABOUT COLUMBIA HEIGHTS. I ALSO JUST WANTED TO TAKE THE MOMENT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT WE HAVE A REALLY DIVERSE MULTICULTURAL COMMUNITY, AND BEING ABLE TO HAVE TINY HOMES AND LIVE IN MULTIGENERATIONAL WAYS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE SEVERELY LACKING AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO LIVE IN A WAY THAT'S MORE TRUE TO THEIR VALUES AND THEIR CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS. IT IS IMPORTANT TO DISCUSS AND BRING FORWARD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. THERE'S NO ONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK. I WILL ASK ONE MORE TIME IF THERE'S ANYONE HERE IN [01:05:02] THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TONIGHT. YOU MAY SPEAK ON ANY ITEM THAT WASN'T ALREADY ADDRESSED IN THE AGENDA. THEN HEARING IS NONE, THEN HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. SECOND. THAT TOOK A WHILE. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER BISK. ANY DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS? SEEING IS NONE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED. THANK YOU. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.