>> THEN IF WE COULD, WE'RE READY TO START. [WELCOME/CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL] [00:00:10] THEN I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYONE HERE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND WATCHING THE RECORDING FOR OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, MY NAME IS AMADA MARCUS SIMLA, AND I'M THE MAYOR OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, WELCOME. FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK IF WE COULD HAVE A ROLL CALL, PLEASE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS. >> HERE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS. >> HERE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES. >> HERE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER BISKINS. >> HERE. >> MAYOR MARCUS SIMLA. >> HERE. >> THANK YOU. IF YOU ARE ABLE TO PLEASE STAND AND JOIN ME IN SAYING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. THEN MAY I HAVE THIS IS THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA? [APPROVAL OF AGENDA ] DOES THE COUNCIL HAVE ANY ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO THE AGENDA? SEEING AND HEARING NONE, THEN MAY HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED. >> SO MOVED. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER BISKINS, TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE THEN ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. NEXT, WE HAVE OUR PROCLAMATIONS PRESENTATIONS, [PROCLAMATIONS, PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITION, ANNOUNCEMENTS, GUESTS ] RECOGNITION, ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND GUESTS. AND FIRST IS OUR POLISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH PROCLAMATION, WHICH I WILL READ. OCTOBER IS NATIONAL POLISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH. CELEBRATION OF POLISH HERITAGE FOUNDED IN PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, IN 1981, TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE MANY NOTABLE AND IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS BY POLES AND POLISH AMERICANS TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE WORLD. OUR COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA, WOMANKE, POLAND, SISTER CITY INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION IS CELEBRATING ITS 35TH ANNIVERSARY. THIS ALL VOLUNTEER GROUP HAS BEEN DEDICATED AND ACTIVE EVER SINCE A TASK FORCE OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS WAS CALLED TOGETHER BY FOUNDER D LORRES PUENTE STRAND IN LATE 1989, AFTER RECEIVING APPROVAL FROM THEN MAYOR DALE HADRITH. OUR SISTER CITIES MEMBERS HAVE BEEN TRUE IN SPIRIT AND IN DEEDS TO OUR ORIGINAL GOALS, PROMOTING EDUCATIONAL, HUMANITARIAN, CIVIC AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES. ADDITIONALLY, A NUMBER OF OUR MEMBERS ARE ALSO OFFICIAL MEMBERS OF POLISH AMERICAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE OF MINNESOTA, PETCHEM, AND THEY PARTICIPATE IN THEIR ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS. EVERY SEPTEMBER SINCE 1993, THE PEOPLE OF OUR SISTER CITY, WOMANKE, POLAND GATHER AT THE WAR CEMETERY IN KILPIN, TO HONOR AND REMEMBER THE SOLDIERS WHO FOUGHT IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR, THE WARSAW INSURGENTS, AND THE ALLIED PILOTS WHO HELPED THE INSURGENTS WHEN A US AIR FORCE PLANE WAS SHOT DOWN. THIS COMMEMORATION HAS BEEN TAKING PLACE FOR OVER 30 YEARS. THIS PAST WEEKEND, MEMBERS OF OUR SISTER CITY WELCOME DIGNITARIES FROM POLAND AND THE MINNESOTA POLISH COMMUNITY TO UNVEIL AND DEDICATE A SISTER MEMORIAL HERE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS IN HOUSE PARK. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT I, AMADA MARCUS SIMLA, MAYOR OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF OCTOBER 2024 TO BE POLISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH IN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, COUNTY OF ANOKA, STATE OF MINNESOTA, USA. HERE TO RECEIVE THE PROCLAMATION IS GLORIA BERGSTROM, THE PRESIDENT OF OUR SISTER CITY ORGANIZATION. GLORIA, IF YOU CAN COME TO THE PODIUM. >> I'M MARRIED THE SWEDISH NORWEGIAN. THANK YOU. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH. I KNOW THE SECOND TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH IS OUR MEETING. I'M GOING TO MAKE COPIES OF THIS AND HAND IT OUT TO ALL THE MEMBERS. THEN WE'RE GOING TO PLAN ON WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO FOR OCTOBER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, GLORIA. >> NEXT IS OUR PEDESTRIAN SAFETY OCTOBER MONTH PROCLAMATION. [00:05:04] READING THIS IS COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES. >> THANK YOU. PEDESTRIAN SAFETY MONTH, OCTOBER 2024. THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS JOINS THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, AND THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL PEDESTRIAN SAFETY MONTH IN OCTOBER. THE PERSONAL, PHYSICAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF WALKING CAN LEAD TO HEALTHIER, QUIETER, CLEANER, AND SAFER STREETS. WALKING CAN ALSO IMPROVE LOCAL ECONOMIES AND ENHANCE SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, WHICH CAN LEAD TO MORE VIBRANT, RESILIENT, AND LIVABLE SPACES. AT LEAST 7,318 PEDESTRIANS WERE STRUCK AND KILLED IN THE UNITED STATES IN 2023, WHICH IS AN AVERAGE OF 20 PEDESTRIANS PER DAY, INCLUDING 44 IN MINNESOTA LAST YEAR. ADDITIONALLY, OVER 60,000 PEDESTRIANS WERE INJURED DUE TO ACCIDENTS WITH VEHICLES NATIONALLY IN 2023. OUR CITY HAS ALSO FALLEN VICTIM TO PEDESTRIAN DEATHS, INCLUDING THE TRAGEDY ON CENTRAL AVENUE THAT OCCURRED IN JULY OF 2023. SAFE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM PRIORITIZES THE SAFETY OF ALL PEOPLE, AND TRANSPORTATION DESIGN CAN GREATLY INCREASE SAFETY FOR PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS BY IMPLEMENTING SPEED REDUCTION MEASURES, SEPARATED PATHWAYS, SIDEWALKS, AND PROTECTED BIKE LANES AMONG OTHERS. NATIONAL PEDESTRIAN SAFETY MONTH IS A REMINDER THAT WE ARE ALL PEDESTRIANS. THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS IS DEDICATED TO ENSURING THAT WALKERS, ROLLERS, AND THOSE WHO RELY ON MOBILITY ASSISTING DEVICES ARE SAFE WHEN THEY NAVIGATE OUR CITY, AND THAT WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO ALWAYS LOOK AT WAYS TO IMPROVE OUR PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AND INFRASTRUCTURE FURTHER. >> NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT I AMADA MARCUS SIMLA, MAYOR OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF OCTOBER 2024 AS OCTOBER AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY MONTH IN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, COUNTY OF ANOKA, USA. I URGE THAT WE ALL REDEDICATE OURSELVES TO ENJOYING THE BENEFITS OF WALKING AND ENSURING THE SAFETY OF PEDESTRIANS IN OUR COMMUNITY. TO RECEIVE THIS PROCLAMATION IS COLUMBIA HEIGHTS RESIDENT AND SUPREME WALKER JOE SCHLUNDER. >> JUST WANT TO SAY, I APPRECIATE THE CITY CALLING ATTENTION TO PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AS SOMEONE WHO'S WALKED EVERY STREET IN THE CITY. IT'S ALSO A GREAT WAY TO CONNECT WITH YOUR COMMUNITY. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET OUT THERE AND WALK AND ANSWER THE TRANSPORTATION ACTION PLAN MAYBE WE CAN CONTINUE TO BUILD ON A GREATER WALKABILITY FOR COLUMBIA HEIGHTS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, JOE. AT ONE POINT, JOE LITERALLY, HE LOVES MAPS, AND HE LITERALLY HAD A MAP OF THE CITY, AND HE WAS MARKING OFF AS HE WENT THROUGH EVERY STREET. WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, AND I THOUGHT I KNOW JUST WHO WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE THIS PROCLAMATION, HENCE, THAT'S WHY HIS TITLE IS SUPREME WALKER. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN. OUR NEXT RECOGNITION IS FOR OUR RECYCLING CHAMPIONS FROM THE PARKVIEW VILLA APARTMENTS. ANOKA COUNTY PROVIDES GRANTS, EDUCATION, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO HELP MULTI UNIT PROPERTIES START OR ENHANCE THEIR RECYCLING PROGRAM. RECENTLY, PARKVIEW VILLA AT 965 FORTH AVENUE, UTILIZED THESE PROGRAMS, RESOURCES, AND SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE ANOKA COUNTY MULTIFAMILY RECYCLING PROGRAM. PARKVIEW VILLA HAS A TEAM OF MANAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY BOARD MEMBERS OWNERS THAT ASSISTED IN IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDED IMPROVEMENTS. TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS WITH THE PROGRAM, PARKVIEW VILLA USED GRANT MONEY FROM ANOKA COUNTY TO ASSIST WITH IMPROVING AND INCREASING RECYCLING. ALL RESIDENTS RECEIVE RECYCLING, TRAINING AND A RECYCLING GUIDE. ADDITIONALLY, THEY IMPLEMENTED A PROGRAM UTILIZING RESIDENTIAL AND COMMON AREA SORTING CONTAINERS AND RECYCLING SIGNAGE. PARKVIEW VILLA ALSO PURCHASED WITH GRANT MONEY, REUSABLE FOOD SERVICE SUPPLIES FOR THE COMMUNITY ROOM SO THEY COULD STOP USING PAPER CUPS AND PLATES. COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AND ANOKA COUNTY WANT TO RECOGNIZE PARK VA VIA MANAGEMENT, RESIDENTS, [00:10:06] AND COMMUNITY BOARD GROUPS FOR SHOWING HOW A TEAMWORK APPROACH CAN IMPROVE RECYCLING IN MULTIFAMILY BUILDINGS. IN ADDITION TO THE RECOGNITION RECEIVED THIS EVENING, THE CITY ALSO OFFERS A ONE MONTH DISCOUNT ON CITY RECYCLING CHARGES FOR MULTI FAMILY PROPERTIES THAT COMPLETE THE PROGRAM. THIS EVENING, WE HAVE A RESIDENT BOARD MEMBER FROM THE AON BOARD, LINDA STAGE HERE TO RECEIVE THE RECYCLING RECOGNITION. AND THEN ALSO RESIDENTS DIANE KRUEGER, MARSHALL HALL, AND KENNY BLOCK. IF YOU COULD COME ON UP. AND PATTY. THANK YOU, AND WELCOME. >> YES. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING. ALL SEEING. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORKING. >> YES. WE CAN TOTALLY DO. >> SURE. YES. >> DO WE WANT THE GROUP? >> WE WANT THE GROUP. >> YES. >> NO. >> NO, WOULD WE LIKE THE COUNCIL TO STAND UP BEHIND US? >> YES, PLEASE. >> BECAUSE WE ALL TOGETHER. YES. I THINK WE'LL TRY THIS. I HAVE JUSTICE SO MUCH WORK. >> GLAD YOU COULD MAKE IT, PATTY. >> OH, WELL, WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU. IT'S CONVENIENT, SINCE YOU ALL JUST LIVED JUST ACROSS THE STREET A LITTLE BIT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE DO APPRECIATE, AND I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO WRANGLE PEOPLE INTO RECYCLING PROGRAMS AND MAKING SURE THAT ALL PEOPLE ARE USING THEM AND HOW MUCH WORK IT GOES TO IN OUR APARTMENT BUILDINGS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'VE DONE AND BEING LEADERS IN YOUR COMMUNITY THERE. IT'S VERY APPRECIATED. NEXT, ON OUR AGENDA, [CONSENT AGENDA] WE HAVE OUR CONSENT AGENDA. DOES THE COUNCIL HAVE ANY ITEMS THEY LIKE REMOVED OR EXPLAIN MORE AT ALL? IF NOT, THEN, AARON SHARPE OUR CITY MANAGER, IF YOU COULD GO THROUGH THE CONSENT ITEMS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. THE FIRST ITEM ON TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVAL OF THE SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES. ITEM 2, IS APPROVAL OF THE SEPTEMBER 16, 2024 CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING MINUTES. ITEM THREE IS ACCEPTANCE OF THE APRIL 24, JUNE 26, AND JULY 24, 2024 PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES. ITEM 4, IS THE SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE 1702, WHICH IS AN ORDINANCE THAT AMENDS CHAPTER THREE OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE OF THE CITY, ADDING THE ADMINISTRATIVE FINE ORDINANCE POLICY SYSTEM TO THE CITY. ONE CHANGE THAT WAS MADE SINCE THE FIRST READING AND TONIGHT'S SECOND READING IS THE ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE TO ALLOW VIRTUAL HEARINGS IN ADDITION TO IN PERSON. ITEM 5, IS ADOPT RESOLUTION 2020 4-61, WHICH IS THE DESIGNATION OF ELECTION JUDGES AND ELECTION JUDGE SALARIES FOR THE NOVEMBER 5, 2024 GENERAL ELECTION. I WOULD JUST DRAW ATTENTION TO THIS RESOLUTION AND POINT OUT THAT THERE'S OVER 100 ELECTION JUDGES THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO PARTICIPATE AND IT'S A REMARKABLE FEAT. I JUST WANT TO GIVE CREDIT TO ALL OF THESE PEOPLE FOR COMING OUT AND SHOWING UP FOR THIS. ITEM 6, IS ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION 2020 4-65, WHICH IS A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING THE AMOUNT OF THE CITY SHARE AND THE AMOUNT OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS SHARE FOR THE SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS ON THIS YEAR'S PROJECTS, WHICH WERE THE ALLEYWAY PROJECTS. THIS JUST MEMORIALIZES AND FORMALIZES THE COST SHARING ARRANGEMENT FOR THOSE PROJECTS. ITEM SEVEN IS CHANGE ORDER TO THE HIGHLANDER CENTER GYM MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. [00:15:01] >> THROUGH NEGOTIATIONS THAT TOOK PLACE THIS SPRING, AN INCREASED PARTICIPATION BY THE CITY FOR MAINTENANCE FEES THAT HADN'T BEEN RAISED SINCE 2012 IS REFLECTED IN THIS RESOLUTION. MONEY IN 2024 WILL COME FROM THE HIGHLANDER CENTER BUDGET. IT'LL JUST BE MOVED FROM STAFFING COSTS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN REALIZED. IT'S WITHIN BUDGET, BUT RE ROUTED FOR MAINTENANCE. ITEM 8 IS RENEWAL OF THE AUDIT CONTRACT WITH REDPATH AND COMPANY FOR THE CITY'S 2024 AUDIT AT A COST OF $59,000. ITEM 9 IS AWARDING THE CONTRACT TO PAYPROTEC FOR THE CREDIT CARD PROCESSING SYSTEMS AT THE CITY'S THREE LIQUOR STORES. LARGELY IN RESPONSE TO LOW POTENCY, THC EDIBLES AND DRINKS THAT ARE NOW SOLD IN THE LIQUOR STORES. SOME CREDIT CARD PROCESSORS AREN'T ACCEPTING OF THOSE TRANSACTIONS, ALTHOUGH THEY ARE LEGAL, OF COURSE, IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, SO WE'RE MOVING TO A PROCESSOR THAT WILL MEET THE CITY'S NEEDS AND REMOVE THE NEED FOR CASH TRANSACTIONS IN THE CITY'S LIQUOR STORES. ITEM 10 IS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF CRADLE POINTS AND SQUAD CARS. THIS IS HOW THE SQUAD CARS ESSENTIALLY GET ON THE INTERNET AND WI-FI AND RUN ALL OF THEIR SYSTEMS THROUGH THE VERIZON SYSTEM. ITEM 11 IS THE LICENSE AGENDA, ROUTINE BUSINESS LICENSES. ITEM 12 IS RENTAL OCCUPANCY LICENSES FOR APPROVAL. FINALLY, ITEM 13 IS REVIEW OF THE BILLS FOR THIS PERIOD, WHICH TOTAL $1,727,762.81 AND THAT IS THE CONSENT AGENDA. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE CITY MANAGER? HEARING THERE NONE, CAN I RECEIVE A MOTION THEN TO ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER BISGINS, AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS. TO ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED. ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? SEEING AND HEARING IS NONE, THEN ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. WE HAVE NO PUBLIC HEARINGS THIS EVENING, AND THAT TAKES US TO ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION. [ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION ] FIRST, UNDER NUMBER 14, WINTER PARKING ORDINANCE. NUMBER 1705, AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 3 ADMINISTRATIVE CODE 3.203 POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND CHAPTER 7 TRAFFIC CODE 7.202 PARKING AND STOPPING ZONES, 7.205 PROHIBITED NON MOVING VIOLATIONS, AND 7.301 AUTHORITY FOR IMPOUNDMENT. TO TAKE US THROUGH THIS ITEM IS OUR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, KEVIN HANSON. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. I ALMOST HATE TO USE THIS WORD, BUT WINTER IS NOT FAR FROM US IT'S AROUND THE CORNER. BUT THIS IS A DISCUSSION TOPIC THAT OVER THE YEARS, WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH THE COUNCIL AND REALLY MORE FOCUSING ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HOW WE DO OUR WINTER ACTIVITIES, SNOWPLOWING, SNOW REMOVAL, AND THEN WHAT REALLY NEEDS TO HAPPEN IN THE COMMUNITY TO ALLOW US TO DO THAT IN REALLY WINTER PARKING REGULATIONS. LAST YEAR, FROM AN ADMINISTRATIVE PERSPECTIVE, WE DID GO AHEAD AND WE SHORTENED THE WINDOW, THE TIME PERIOD FOR WHEN WINTER PARKING REGULATIONS ARE IN EFFECT. CURRENTLY, THEY'RE IN EFFECT FROM NOVEMBER 1 UNTIL THE END OF MARCH, AND WE SHORTEN THAT WINDOW BY A FULL MONTH, SO TWO WEEKS IN THE BEGINNING TO NOVEMBER 15, AND THEN TWO WEEKS AT THE END TO MARCH 15. I THINK THIS REALLY TIES IN A LITTLE BIT BETTER WITH WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN SNOW EVENTS, I THINK WITHIN CLIMATE CHANGE, THOSE TYPE OF THINGS. I THINK BASED ON ONE YEAR'S EXPERIENCE, BUT I THINK WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT TOO, IT REALLY TIES IN WELL FOR HOW WE CONDUCT OUR ACTIVITIES THROUGH THE WINTER MONTHS. THIS YEAR, BOTH IN APRIL AND AGAIN IN SEPTEMBER, WE HAD THOSE DISCUSSIONS AND IT WAS THE COUNCIL'S DIRECTION TO MAKE THOSE PERMANENT CHANGES. I THINK THE OTHER THING THAT STAFF SUGGESTED, AGAIN, MORE SO FOR HOW WE'RE CONDUCTING OUR ACTIVITIES IS THAT THE CURRENT TRIGGER FOR WHEN PARKING REGULATIONS WOULD GO INTO EFFECT IS 3.5 INCHES. FOR REALLY THE LAST DECADE, IF NOT MORE, WE'VE CHANGED OUR APPROACH TO HOW WE DO OUR WINTER ACTIVITIES FROM MORE OF A REACTIVE, WAITING FOR THAT AMOUNT OF SNOW TO MORE OF A PROACTIVE APPROACH. I THINK IN CONSIDERATION OF THAT, WE REALLY FEEL THAT TWO INCHES TO TRIGGER THAT IS MORE REFLECTIVE OF HOW WE ACTUALLY CONDUCT OUR BUSINESS THROUGHOUT CITY STREETS. TO AFFECT THOSE TWO CHANGES, AGAIN, THE WINDOW FOR WHEN PARKING REGULATIONS ARE IMPLEMENTED AND SHORTENING IT. THEN ALSO CHANGING FROM THE 3.5 INCH TRIGGER DOWN TO [00:20:03] A TWO INCH TRIGGER WAS REFLECTED IN MULTIPLE CODE SECTIONS. MAYOR, YOU WENT THROUGH, THERE WERE FOUR REALLY DIFFERENT CODE SECTIONS THAT WE HAD TO LOOK AT AMENDING TO HAVE CONSISTENCY WITHIN EACH OF THOSE. THEN I DO HAVE A COMMENT ON ONE OF THOSE BECAUSE AFTER REVIEW WITH THE POLICE CHIEF JUST TODAY, WE DO NEED TO MAKE A CHANGE ACTUALLY REMOVE IT, AND I'LL GO THROUGH WHAT THAT IS. BUT THE ORDINANCE BEFORE YOU TONIGHT AMENDS THOSE FOUR CODE SECTIONS SO THAT THEY ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE WINDOW OF NOVEMBER 15 UNTIL MARCH 15, AND THAT'S WHEN THE PARKING REGULATIONS WOULD BE IN EFFECT. THEN ALSO CHANGING THE TRIGGER FOR WHEN TO GET OFF CITY STREETS TO ALLOW US TO DO OUR OPERATIONS FROM 3.5 DOWN TO TWO INCHES. IN CODE SECTION 3.203, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND THAT'S WHAT REALLY SETS THEM UP, BUT IT DEFINES SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES OF WHAT THE CSOS CAN DO. UNDER SECTION 17, WE NEEDED TO CHANGE THE DATE OF WHEN THAT IS ALONG WITH THE AMOUNT OF SNOWFALL SO THAT'S THE FIRST SECTION. UNDER CODE SECTION 7.202, THOSE ARE THE PARKING AND STOPPING ZONES. WE NEEDED TO CHANGE THE DATE UNDER SECTION H AND CHANGING THAT AGAIN FROM NOVEMBER 15 TO MARCH 15. THEN ALSO, THERE WAS ANOTHER SECTION THERE, J SO THAT THE PERMITS EXPIRE CONCURRENT WITH THAT AT THE END OF THE TIME PERIOD FOR WHEN PARKING PERMITS WOULD BE ISSUED BY THE POLICE CHIEF, CHANGING THAT FROM MARCH 31, BACK TO MARCH 15. UNDER SECTION 7.301. THIS IS ONE WHERE WE DO NEED TO MAKE A CHANGE, AND UNDER THIS ONE, WE HAVE SECTION B. WE'RE NOT GOING TO REMOVE THAT IN REVIEW WITH BOTH THE CHIEF OF POLICE AND THEN ALSO OUR CITY ATTORNEY. THAT IS ACTUALLY A STATUTORY REQUIREMENT SO THAT WILL REMAIN IN, SO THAT WOULD NOT BE STRUCK AS PART OF THIS. WE HAVE IT ON PAGE 18 AS REMOVAL, AND WE CANNOT REMOVE SECTION B, BECAUSE NOW THAT KEEPS US CONSISTENT WITH STATE STATUTE SO THAT WOULD NOT BE REMOVED, AND THAT'S THE CHANGE THAT WE NEEDED TO MAKE. THEN UNDER THAT SAME SECTION, SECTION 7.205, WE NEED TO CHANGE C 1 AND 2 SO THAT THEY'RE CONSISTENT WITH THE TIME FRAME, AND THEN ALSO THE AMOUNT OF SNOW. MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, WE WOULD RECOMMEND THE REALLY MINOR CHANGES, BUT THEY'RE REPRESENTED ACROSS FOUR DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE CITY CODE. AGAIN, GETTING TO THE POINT OF CHANGING THE TIME PERIOD WHEN WINTER PARKING REGULATIONS WOULD BE IN EFFECT NOVEMBER 15 THROUGH MARCH 15, AND THEN ALSO CHANGING THE TRIGGER FOR WHEN THAT WOULD HAVE TO OCCUR WHEN FOLKS NEED TO GET THEIR VEHICLES OFF THE STREET FROM 3.5 DOWN TO TWO INCHES. MAYOR. >> THANK YOU, KEVIN. ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCILMEMBER BISGINS. CAN YOU PUSH YOUR BUTTON? >> I HAVE A QUESTION PAGE 129, ITEM C, WHERE YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT THE IMPOUNDING. I WAS GOING THROUGH THIS AND I WASN'T SURE, IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME, SO NO VEHICLE MAY BE IMPOUNDED SOLELY BECAUSE IT IS PARKED IN SUCH A MANNER AS TO CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF 7.205, WHICH HAS THAT SECTION DEALS WITH THE PERMITTING PROCESS. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? >> COUNCILMEMBER BISGINS, MAYOR, COUNCIL, IT'S A LITTLE BIT CLUNKY, BUT IT'S SAYING TO IMPOUND A VEHICLE OUTSIDE OF THE SNOW REGULATION TIME FRAME WINDOW, YOU KICK BACK TO THE OTHER REASONS YOU CAN IMPOUND A VEHICLE SO SOLELY BECAUSE IT'S ON A STREET DURING THE SNOW WINDOW JUST BEING THERE. IT'S A VIOLATION. BUT IN ALL OTHER INSTANCES, OUTSIDE OF THE WINDOW, YOU HAVE TO FALL WITHIN ONE OF THOSE IT LOOKS LIKE SEVEN OTHER REASONS WHY IT CAN BE IMPOUNDED. >> THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW THE SEVEN IN ORDER TO DO IT? >> YEAH. >> CARS THAT ARE LEFT OUT IF THEY ARE TICKETED CAN BE TOWED [00:25:02] BY THE TOWING COMPANY DURING A WINTER SNOW EVENT, IF THEY'RE TICKETED AND THE OTHER ONE. >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? COUNCILMEMBER JAMES. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. ON PAGE 127, NEAR THE TOP, WHERE IT SAYS 17, WE STRUCK THE OLD ONE WHICH SAID NO PARKING APRIL 1 TO MAY 1 AND IT WAS REPLACED BY MARCH 16 TO MAY 1. IS THAT JUST ACCOUNTING FOR LATE SEASON SNOWS OR IS THAT WHAT THAT IS FOR? >> MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL THAT'S WHAT THAT IS. WE STILL HAVE THAT AUTHORITY TO DO IT IF WE END UP WITH THOSE LATE SEASON SNOWS THAT ARE OVER TWO INCHES. >> THANK YOU. JUST A COMMENT MAYOR, IF I MAY. I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY. IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL TO SEE THE PLOWS GO OUT BEFORE IT HITS 3.5 INCHES SO CLEAN UP THE STREETS, AND SO I'M EXCITED TO HAVE TWO INCHES IN THE ORDINANCE AND ALSO TO SHORTEN THE TIME FRAME UP. I'M ALSO HOPEFUL THAT RESIDENTS WHO NEED STREET PARKING PERMITS CAN GET THOSE PERMITS, AND THEN ALSO BE AWARE THAT THEY HAVE TO MOVE THEIR CARS AT THE TWO INCH MARKER INSTEAD OF 3.5. FOR RESIDENTS WHO ARE WATCHING THIS, AND IF THIS WERE TO BE PUT INTO ORDINANCE SHORTLY HERE, THAT GIVES US TIME TO MAKE A PLAN SO THAT YOU CAN GET A PERMIT IF YOU NEED IT, BUT THEN MOVE YOUR CAR AT A LITTLE SOONER DATE SO THE SNOW DOESN'T PILE UP. THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER JACOBS. >> JUST TO CLARIFY, ARE WE GOING TO PUT IT ON THE ELECTRONIC SIGNS? I THINK IT'D BE A GOOD IDEA TO PUT ALL OF THAT CONCISE INFORMATION IN THE ACCUMULATION DIFFERENCE. >> MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE WANTED TO DO. IS WE'LL HAVE ABOUT A 30 DAY WINDOW, ASSUMING THAT THE COUNCIL WILL PASS THIS ORDINANCE, WE'LL HAVE 30 DAYS AFTER THE SECOND READING TO GET THAT INFORMATION CAMPAIGN OUT THERE THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, I THINK THROUGH THE NEWSLETTER. >> I DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD MAKE THE NEWSLETTER. IT WILL? [OVERLAPPING]. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. GREAT QUESTION OR COMMENT. QUESTION? I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY HOW I APPRECIATE THE COLLABORATION THAT THIS HAS BEEN TO GET TO HAVING THIS READING. WE'VE DISCUSSED IT OVER THE YEARS AND LOOKED AT A LOT OF DATA SO STAFF DID TAKE THE TIME TO LOOK AT PAST WEATHER EVENTS TO LEARN WHAT WOULD MAKE THE MOST SENSE. WE ALL HAD CONVERSATIONS AND TALKED TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS WELL AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE COLLABORATION TO BRING UP AND SHORTEN THIS TIME PERIOD. ALSO TO COUNCILMEMBER JAMES POINT ABOUT THE TWO INCHES. THIS DOES HELP THE PLOWS GET OUT THERE AND HOPEFULLY BE PLOWING QUICKER BECAUSE THERE WON'T BE SO MUCH SNOW SO THEY'LL BE GETTING THROUGHOUT THE CITY IN A FASTER TURNAROUND, WHICH, OF COURSE, KEEPS OUR STREETS SAFER SO I THINK THIS IS A GREAT CHANGE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. IF THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, THEN MAY I HAVE A MOTION THEN TO WAIVE THE READING. >> MOVE TO WAIVE THE READING OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 1705. THERE'D BE AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER JACOBS AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER JAMES TO WAIVE THE READING. ANY DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS? SEEING IS NONE, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. NEXT, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO SET THE SECOND READING. >> MOVE TO SET THE SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 1705 BEING AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 3 ADMINISTRATIVE CODE 3.203 POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND CHAPTER 7 TRAFFIC CODE 7.202 PARKING AND STOPPING ZONES, 7.205 PROHIBITED NON MOVING VIOLATIONS AND 7.301, AUTHORITY FOR IMPOUNDMENT IN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS FOR OCTOBER 14, 2024 AT APPROXIMATELY 6:00 PM. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER JACOBS AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER JAMES TO SET THE SECOND READING. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING IS NONE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM NUMBER 15 IS OUR FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE 1706, BEING AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 5 ARTICLE 7 OF THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS CITY CODE TO ESTABLISH THE REGULATION AND REGISTRATION OF CANNABIS RELATED BUSINESSES. TO TAKE US THROUGH THIS ITEM IS CITY MANAGER AARON CHIRPICH. >> THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. ORDINANCE 1706 IS REALLY THE CULMINATION OF MORE THAN ONE WORK SESSION WITH THE CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSING PREPAREDNESS FOR THE LEGALIZATION OF [00:30:02] RETAIL SALE OF CANNABIS IN THE CITY AND ACROSS THE STATE, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO ROLL OUT IN 2025. >> WHAT THIS ORDINANCE DOES, IT IS ESTABLISHING A LICENSING AND REGISTRATION PROCESS AND PROCEDURE FOR THE CITY FOR THE RETAIL BUSINESSES, AND IN PARTICULAR, IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL THROUGH DISCUSSIONS HAS SETTLED IN ON ALLOWING TWO LICENSES AS THE CITY IS ALLOWED BY STATE TO LIMIT THE NUMBER BASED ON THE POPULATION OF THE CITY. THIS ORDINANCE IS ESTABLISHING THE FACT THAT TWO LICENSES WILL BE ALLOWED IN THE CITY, AND THE PROCESS AND PROCEDURE, THE WAY THAT WE WOULD DO COMPLIANCE CHECKS, MUCH LIKE WE WOULD DO FOR LIQUOR STORES AND TOBACCO RETAILERS AND PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF ANY COMPLIANCE CHECKS. REALLY BRINGING ALIGNMENT TO RETAIL CANNABIS SALES WITH THE REST OF THE LICENSING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR OTHER ITEMS THAT ALREADY EXIST IN THE CITY. IT ALSO SETS HOURS OF OPERATIONS FOR RETAILERS, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, IT REALLY FOLLOWS THE SAME STRUCTURE AS CITY LICENSES AND THEN STATE LAW, MOST IMPORTANTLY. IT ALSO TOUCHES ON TEMPORARY CANNABIS EVENTS, WHICH ARE REQUIRED TO BE ALLOWED BY THE STATE, BUT CAN BE REGULATED BY THE CITY. IT'S ALL DETAILED IN THE ORDINANCE, BUT SOME OF THE BENCHMARKS DIRECTION FROM THE COUNCIL WERE A PROHIBITION OF SMOKING OR VAPING AT THESE TEMPORARY EVENTS, AND THEN ALSO ESTABLISHING PERMITTING PROCESS AND THAT THEY COULD NOT TAKE PLACE ON CITY PROPERTY. THEN ALSO, THERE'S ITEMS THAT SPELL OUT OUR MUNICIPAL LIQUOR STORES CAN SELL THE LOW POTENCY CANNABIS PRODUCTS. BUT THERE'S VERY LITTLE CONTROL FOR LOW POTENCY. IT'S MORE OF MEMORIALIZING THROUGH THIS ORDINANCE THAT THE CITY'S MUNICIPAL LIQUOR STORES CAN PARTICIPATE AS WELL. THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE CITY'S RESPONSE TO THIS NEW INDUSTRY. WE EXPECT THAT THERE'LL BE ADDITIONAL ROLLOUTS AND AMENDMENTS, BUT THIS WAS THE FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT STEP TO BE PREPARED FOR SPECIFICALLY THE LICENSING. STAFF ARE ALSO REVIEWING ZONING LAYERS. THERE MIGHT BE AMENDMENTS TO THE ZONING CODE, BUT THEY'RE NOT AS URGENT BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THIS LICENSING ORDINANCE, REALLY IS JUST RETAIL SALES. THE DIRECTION THAT WE'VE RECEIVED IS ALLOW RETAIL CANNABIS SALES IN RETAIL ZONED CENTERS, OR ALLOW CANNABIS MANUFACTURING TO TAKE PLACE IN AREAS THAT ARE ZONED FOR MANUFACTURING, AND THAT'S REALLY FOLLOWING IN GUIDANCE AND DIRECTION FROM THE STATE. AT THIS POINT, WE DON'T SEE ANY MAJOR ZONING LAYERS, BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE WHAT OTHER CITIES DO AND MONITOR THAT. BUT THIS IS OUR FIRST STEP IN ACTUALLY BEING MORE PREPARED FOR WHAT WE ASSUME WILL BE AT LEAST TWO CANNABIS RETAILERS IN THE CITY NEXT YEAR. AND WITH THAT, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL. COUNCIL MEMBER BISKINS. I JUST WANTED TO POINT SOMETHING OUT THAT I SAW BECAUSE WE HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS IN OUR WORK SESSION. ON PAGE 154 OF OUR PACKET, IT TALKS ABOUT THE MINNESOTA'S NEW ADULT USE CANNABIS LAW PERMITS, THE PERSONAL USE AND GOES ON ABOUT THAT. FOR INDIVIDUALS, IT TALKS ABOUT CONSUMPTION. THEY HAVE POSSESSION LIMITS, AND THEN CONSUMPTION ONLY ALLOWED IN PRIVATE PROPERTY OR TO LICENSE BUSINESSES WITH ONSITE CONSUMPTION ENDORSEMENTS. TWO QUESTIONS. SINCE WE DON'T ALLOW SMOKING IN ANY OF OUR BUILDINGS OR BUSINESSES, WE WON'T BE ALLOWING CONSUMPTION AND THERE WON'T BE ANY SMOKE LOUNGES FOR THC OR MARIJUANA? >> COUNCIL MEMBER BISKINS, THAT IS CORRECT. THE SMOKING AND VAPING ARE COVERED BY THE CLEAN INDOOR AIR ACT. >> THEN THE SECOND SENTENCE, IS CONSUMPTION NOT ALLOWED IN PUBLIC, WHICH MEANS THEY'RE TREATING IT THE SAME AS AN OPEN BOTTLE FOR LIQUOR THAT THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO CONSUME IT OUT IN A PUBLIC SPACE, ON A SIDEWALK, OUTSIDE A RESTAURANT. AM I READING THAT CORRECTLY? >> GIVE ME A MOMENT. THIS HANDOUT THAT'S BEING REFERENCED IS FROM THE STATES OFFICE OF CANNABIS MANAGEMENT. SCOTT, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON THAT? >> COULD REPEAT THE QUESTION? >> WELL, BASICALLY, IT SAYS, CONSUMPTION NOT ALLOWED IN PUBLIC, SO THE WAY I READ IT, THEY'RE TREATING SMOKING MARIJUANA, VAPING IT AS SAME AS AN OPEN BOTTLE LAWS THAT THEY HAVE IN CITY WHERE YOU CAN'T CARRY AN OPEN BOTTLE OF BEER AROUND IN PUBLIC. >> THAT'S GENERALLY CORRECT. >> THANK YOU. [00:35:01] >> COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS. WE'RE LIMITING IT TO TWO LOCATIONS. IT IS AS WE DISCUSSED, BUT IS THAT GOING TO BE TWO PRIVATELY-OWNED LOCATIONS, OR DO WE STILL ANTICIPATE THAT ONE OF THOSE WOULD BE OPERATED BY THE CITY? >> GREAT QUESTION. COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS. AT THIS TIME, IT'S ANTICIPATED PRIVATE LOCATIONS. THE MUNICIPAL CANNABIS RETAIL OPERATION IS AN ONGOING CONVERSATION THAT WE'VE TABLED FOR THE MOMENT. I THINK AT THE LAST WORK SESSION WHERE WE DISCUSSED THAT, IT WAS A WAIT AND SEE HOW THIS INITIAL ROLLOUT GOES TO SEE IF THE CITY FEELS THE NEED TO ENGAGE, AND KEEPING PLANS FLEXIBLE IN PARTICULAR FOR TOP VALUE THREE THAT COULD PIVOT IN EITHER DIRECTION. BUT THERE WAS ALSO A MOVING TARGET CONVERSATION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THE CITY WOULD QUALIFY FOR THE INITIAL EQUITY APPLICANT STATUS, AND WITH ALL OF THAT TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION ON HOLD FOR NOW. >> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT THEN. I HAVE A MOTION THEN TO WAIVE THE READING. >> MOVE TO WAIVE THE READING OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 1706. THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. >> SECOND. >> HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS TO WAIVE THE READING. ANY DISCUSSION? >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. NEXT, I HAVE A MOTION TO SET THE SECOND READING. >> MOVE TO SET THE SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE 1706, BEING AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 5, ARTICLE 7 OF THE COLUMBIA HEIGHT CITY CODE TO ESTABLISH THE REGULATION AND REGISTRATION OF CANNABIS RELATED BUSINESSES FOR OCTOBER 14TH, 2024, AT APPROXIMATELY 6:00 PM IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS. >> YES, SIR. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES, AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS. TO SET THE SECOND READING. AN CONVERSATION? ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. NEXT, WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER 16. THE APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION 2024-63, AUTHORIZING AN INCREASE TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITIES TAX LEVY AND TAKING US THROUGH THIS ITEM WILL BE FINANCE DIRECTOR JOE KLEBERG. HE MAY BE JOINING US ON TEAMS. YES. >> HELLO. >> MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, CAN YOU HEAR ME? >> WE CAN HEAR YOU. IT'S A LITTLE QUIET. >> CAN WE TURN HIS VOLUME UP IN HERE. HOLD ON, JOE, ONE SECOND. WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO TURN YOUR VOLUME UP IN HERE. >> JOE, CAN YOU TRY TALKING AGAIN? >> HELLO. THIS IS A TEST. >> THAT IS PRETTY QUIET. >> WELL, IS THIS BETTER? >> BARELY WE CAN BARELY HEAR YOU. >> WELL, I CAN MASK UP AND COME TO THE PODIUM. THAT'S THE OTHER OPTION. >> THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE PREFERRED, JOE, IF YOU DON'T MIND. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU JOE. >> NO PROBLEM. >> SORRY ABOUT THAT. JOE'S TRYING TO DO HIS BEST TO SOCIAL DISTANCE RIGHT NOW, BUT HAS A MASK AND COMING OFF THE RECOMMENDED GUIDELINE, HE'S IN THE RIGHT SPOT, BUT THIS WAS OUR PLAN B TO HAVE HIM COME IN, IF NEED BE. >> HE'S RUNNING. COULD WE SHUT THAT BLIND? THE FAR ONE. I CAN I SEE KENNIS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JOE. [00:40:06] >> THANKS FOR THE PATIENCE, EVERYONE. MAYORS, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. THIS RESOLUTION 24 63 BEFORE YOU? >> IS THAT MIC TURNDOWN? >> IS TO BEGIN A PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS FOR AUTHORIZING AN INCREASE TO THE EDA LEVY FOR 2025. THIS WOULD INCREASE THE EDA LEVY TO 375,000, AND IT WORKS OUT TO BE ABOUT $0.66 PER TYPICAL HOUSEHOLD PER MONTH FOR 2025. THERE'S A SET OF PUBLICATION REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE UNIQUE TO THE EDA LEVY, DIFFERENT FROM THE CITY LEVY, DIFFERENT FROM THE HRA LEVY, WHICH ACTUALLY ARE ADDRESSED IN THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA. BUT UNIQUE TO THE EDA LEVY, THIS PROPOSED RESOLUTION WOULD BE ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL, IT WOULD BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER, AND TWO WEEKS FROM NOW, AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING, THERE WOULD BE A PUBLIC HEARING TO AFFIRM THE INCREASE, AND THEN 30 DAYS AFTER THAT PUBLIC HEARING, THE INCREASE WOULD BECOME IN EFFECT FOR 2025, ASSUMING IT WAS INCLUDED IN THE OTHER PORTIONS OF THE CITY LEVY THAT WILL TAKE UP NEXT, AND CURRENTLY IT IS. LITTLE CONVOLUTED, THE PATTERN IS PARALLEL. WHAT WE'LL TALK ABOUT IN THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS THE STATES TRUTH AND TAXATION PROCESS, WHICH EVERYONE IS FAMILIAR WITH, WHERE THE CITY COUNCIL WILL ADOPT A PROPOSED LEVY TONIGHT, AND THAT WILL FORM THE BASIS OF A NOTICE MAILED TO EACH PROPERTY BY THE COUNTY, AND THE CITY COUNCIL THEN IN DECEMBER, WILL HAVE A HEARING. IT'S VERY PARALLEL TO THAT, BUT IT HAS ITS OWN SEPARATE TIMELINE AND TIME FRAME AND PUBLICATION REQUIREMENTS. THAT'S WHY WE'RE TAKING IT UP IN TWO RESOLUTIONS TO SIMPLIFY THE PUBLICATION, TO AVOID THE CONFUSION BETWEEN THE TWO DIFFERENT PROCESSES BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. >> THANK YOU, JOE. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR JOE? THEN, MAY I HAVE A MOTION THEN TO WAIVE THE READING? >> MOVE TO WAIVE THE READING OF RESOLUTION 2024-63. THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BISKINS, AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS TO WAIVE THE READING. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, THEN ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. NEXT I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION. MOVE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2024-63, A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A TAX LEVY INCREASE BY THE CITY FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PURPOSES. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BISKINS, AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING THERE IS NONE, THEN, ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU, JOE. >> [INAUDIBLE] >> YES. WELL, YOU'LL TAKE US THROUGH OUR NEXT ITEM, RIGHT? >> I'LL STAY UP [OVERLAPPING] >> ITEM NUMBER 17, RESOLUTION 2024-66, ADOPTING A PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE YEAR 2025, SETTING THE PROPOSED CITY LEVY, APPROVING THE HRA LEVY, APPROVING A TAX RATE INCREASE, AND ESTABLISHING A BUDGET HEARING DATE FOR PROPERTY TAXES PAYABLE IN 2025. AGAIN, TAKING US THROUGH THIS AS FINANCE DIRECTOR, JOE KLEBERG. >> YES, MAYORS, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THIS IS THE FIRST STEP IN THE STATE'S TRUTH AND TAXATION PROCESS FOR SETTING THE CITY LEVY PROPERTY TAXES FOR 2025, AS WELL AS THE INITIAL ADOPTED BUDGET FOR 2025. AS I HAD JUST MENTIONED A MOMENT AGO, THE ADOPTION OF THIS CITY WIDE BUDGET WILL BE CERTIFIED TO ANOKA COUNTY BEFORE THE END OF THE MONTH. THEY WILL PREPARE AN INDIVIDUALIZED STATEMENT OF PROPOSED PROPERTY TAXES AND NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING THAT GETS MAILED TO EACH HOME. YOU'VE TYPICALLY SEEN THESE BLUE NOTICES FROM THE COUNTY. I'M NOT SURE WHAT COLOR THEY'RE GOING TO BE THIS YEAR. THAT INFORMS THE TAXPAYER OF WHEN THE FINAL VOTE WILL HAPPEN THIS YEAR ON DECEMBER 9TH HERE, AND WHAT THE EFFECT PROPOSED WOULD BE ON THEIR INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY, [00:45:02] AND NOT ONLY THE CITY TAX, BUT ALL OF THE OTHER JURISDICTIONS ARE, OF COURSE, ON THERE AS WELL; THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE COUNTY, THE SPECIAL DISTRICTS. >> THE PROPOSED INCREASE TO THE GROSS CITY LEVY IN THIS RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IS 8.4%. THAT'S PRETTY COMPARABLE TO WHAT IT'S BEEN OVER THE LAST FIVE OR SIX YEARS. THE DIFFERENCE PERHAPS THIS YEAR IS THAT THE AVERAGE LOCAL TAXPAYERS INCREASE WILL BE LESS THAN THAT. THE AVERAGE LOCAL SHARE WOULD BE INCREASE CLOSER TO 5.6 THIS YEAR. THE DIFFERENCE BEING THAT FOR 2025, THERE IS AN INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF THE GROSS LEVY THAT'S SUBSIDIZED BY THE METRO AREA FISCAL DISPARITIES PROGRAM, THAT EXTERNAL SUBSIDY PAID BY TAX JURISDICTIONS THROUGHOUT THE METRO IS GOING UP BY 20% FOR 2025, AND THAT CREATES THAT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CITY COLLECTING 8.4% MORE, BUT THE LOCAL TAXPAYER IS ONLY PAYING 5.6% MORE. THE DETAILS OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET THAT UNDERLIE THIS RESOLUTION ARE OUT ON THE CITY WEBSITE, WITH THE ONE SMALL CHANGE NOT YET ON THE WEBSITE, IS THE ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE EDA THIS MONTH TO INCREASE THE EDA AND HRA LEVIES BY SLIGHTLY MORE THAN IS STATED ON THE WEBSITE. AFTER TONIGHT'S ACTION BY THE COUNCIL, WE WILL UPDATE THE WEBSITE TO REFLECT THE FINAL NUMBER, BUT IT'S NO CHANGE TO THE EXPENSE SIDE, AND IT'S SMALL INCREASE TO THE REVENUE SIDE THAT WE JUST DISCUSSED AT THE PREVIOUS ITEM. FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC WATCHING THE MEETING, AS I SAID, THIS IS THE FIRST PUBLIC STEP IN THE STATE'S TRUTH AND TAXATION PROCESS, BUT FOR INFORMATION OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC, CITY STAFF WITH COUNCIL REVIEW HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR A NUMBER OF MONTHS. IT STARTS IN MARCH AND APRIL, OF EACH YEAR, GETTING SOME PRELIMINARY ESTIMATES OUT FOR THE FOLLOWING CALENDAR YEAR. THROUGH THE COURSE OF THE SUMMER, EACH OF THE DIVISION AND DEPARTMENT HEADS MEETS WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND REVIEWS THEIR PROPOSALS BEFORE IT'S COMPILED IN THE DOCUMENT THAT WAS PROVIDED TO THE CITY WEBSITE IN AUGUST. IT'S BEEN REVIEWED ONCE AT THE WORK SESSION IN SEPTEMBER, WITH THE COUNCIL. FURTHER PLANS ARE FOR EACH OF THE NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER WORK SESSIONS, INDIVIDUAL DIVISIONS WILL PRESENT AT THOSE WORK SESSIONS THEIR DETAILED PORTIONS OF THE BUDGET TO THE COUNCIL FOR FURTHER REVIEW. BEFORE THE COUNCIL RECONVENES IN DECEMBER 9TH, TO HAVE A SECOND BITE AT THE APPLE, AS IT WERE, TO TAKE ITS NEXT DECISION ABOUT THIS PROPOSED BUDGET AND LEVY. THE STRUCTURE OF THE STATE TRUTH AND TAXATION PROCESS IS THAT THE COUNCIL WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RAISE THE LEVY BEYOND ACTION THEY TAKE HERE TONIGHT. AT THE FINAL MEETING THE COUNCIL COULD REDUCE THE LEVY. RAISING IT LATER WOULD UNDERMINE THE TRUTH AND TAXATION PROCESS BECAUSE THE AMOUNT REPORTED ON THE NOTICE TO THE HOMEOWNER WOULDN'T REALLY BE MEANINGFUL IF IT COULD BE CHANGED LATER. ANY QUESTIONS BASED ON WHAT I'VE SAID OR OTHER THINGS YOU ARE WONDERING ABOUT, THE BUDGET OR THE RESOLUTION, AT THIS POINT? >> THANK YOU. ANY COMMENTS? I'LL JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK AND APPRECIATE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO KEEP THINGS PRETTY STEADY FOR THE COMMUNITY WHILE WE'RE PROVIDING SERVICES. I KNOW WE'VE INCREASED SALARIES AND ALL THE HARD WORK THAT OUR STAFF DOES, ALL THE WAY THROUGH ELECTION JUDGES, FIREFIGHTERS, ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF, PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES. THOSE ARE ONE OF THE COSTS, BUT JUST LIKE FOR EVERYONE ELSE, THINGS KEEP INCREASING AND WE KEEP MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE A GOOD VALUE TO OUR BUDGET. THANK YOU, JOE, AND THE WHOLE TEAM. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. IF THERE ARE NO COMMENTS, I HAVE A MOTION THEN TO WAIVE THE READING. >> MOVE TO WAIVE THE READING OF RESOLUTION 2024-66, THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS, AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER BISKINS, TO WAIVE THE READING. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING IS NONE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. [OVERLAPPING] >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. NEXT WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT. >> MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2024-66, [00:50:02] BEING A RESOLUTION ADOPTING A PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE YEAR 2025, SETTING THE PROPOSED CITY LEVY, APPROVING THE HRA LEVY, APPROVING A TAX RATE INCREASE, AND ESTABLISHING A BUDGET HEARING DATE FOR PROPERTY TAXES PAYABLE IN 2025 OF DECEMBER 9TH, 2024, AT APPROXIMATELY 6:00 PM, IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS, AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER BISKINS, TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING IS NONE, THEN ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. [OVERLAPPING] >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT ITEM, NUMBER 18, CONSIDERATION OF A RENTAL LICENSE EXCEPTION FOR 4948 4TH STREET NORTHEAST. TAKING US THROUGH THIS ITEM IS CITY PLANNER, ANDREW BOUCHER. >> THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR, CITY COUNCILMEMBERS. TODAY WE HAVE A CONSIDERATION OF A RENTAL LICENSE EXEMPTION FOR 4948 4TH STREET. ON SEPTEMBER 17TH, 2024, THE OWNER REACHED OUT TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, REQUESTING AN EXEMPTION FROM THE SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL DENSITY CAP. THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED ON BLOCK 27, WITH TWO SINGLE FAMILY RENTALS OUT OF THE TOTAL 16 SINGLE FAMILY UNITS ON THE BLOCK. THIS COMES OUT TO AN ALLOTMENT OF TWO SINGLE FAMILY RENTALS, ATTACHED AS THE LETTER STAFF RECEIVED, AS WELL AS ORDINANCE 1685, AS IS THE HOMEOWNER'S RIGHT TO APPEAL TO THE COUNCIL, STAFF BROUGHT FORTH THE APPEAL WITH SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS FOR DISCUSSION AND REVIEW. IF APPROVED, RESOLUTION 2024-067 WOULD GRANT A TEMPORARY RENTAL LICENSE EXEMPTION TO THE HOMEOWNER WITH A FEW ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS, BEING THAT HOMEOWNER HAS THREE MONTHS FROM THE PASSAGE OF THE RESOLUTION TO COMPLETE THE LICENSE APPLICATION PROCESS. THIS PUTS A LIMIT ON HOW LONG THEY CAN TAKE TO BRING THE HOUSE INTO COMPLIANCE IF NEEDED, AND THEN THE TEMPORARY LICENSE WILL BE VALID FOR ONE YEAR FROM THE DATE THAT THE LICENSE IS APPROVED. THIS PROVIDES THE HOMEOWNER IN THE INTENT THE ABILITY TO RENT THE HOME FOR A FULL ONE YEAR LEASE AFTER THE TERM OF THE TEMPORARY LICENSE. THE PERSON REQUESTING A TEMPORARY LICENSE MUST MAKE AN ANNUAL APPLICATION TO THE CITY, AND NO PROPERTY OWNER SHALL HOLD A TEMPORARY RENTAL LICENSE FOR THE SAME PROPERTY FOR MORE THAN TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS. THE PROPERTY OWNER, ROLANDO BASIMANTE, OWNS MULTIPLE PROPERTIES WITHIN THE CITY, AND HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF SEVERAL UNLICENSED RENTAL EVALUATIONS AT THE 4948 4TH STREET PROPERTY SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED MARCH 7TH, 2023. THE OWNER HAS A HOMESTEAD PROPERTY IN FRIDLEY, AND SUBMITTED AN AFFIDAVIT OF NON RENTAL FOR THE 4948 4TH STREET PROPERTY, ON SEPTEMBER 21ST, 2023. HOWEVER THE UTILITY BILLING FOR THIS ADDRESS IS STILL UNDER THE OWNER'S NAME AND APPEARS TO SHOW A PATTERN OF 3-4 PEOPLE LIVING AT THE PROPERTY BASED ON WATER CONSUMPTION. THE OWNER HAS PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED A RENTAL EXEMPTION REQUEST, AS THREE OF HIS PROPERTIES HAVE BEEN RENTALS WITHOUT LICENSE. OF THE FOUR OTHER PROPERTIES OWNED THROUGHOUT THE CITY, ONE HAS BEEN LICENSED AS A RENTAL SINCE 2021, ONE IS FOR SALE. ONE WAS DENIED AN EXEMPTION AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING, AND ONE RECEIVED A RENTAL LICENSE IN 2024, AFTER NOTICE OF ILLEGAL RENTAL. >> THANK YOU. IS THE PROPERTY OWNER HERE? FIRST, BEFORE WE TALK TO THE PROPERTY OR HAVE QUESTIONS FOR THE PROPERTY OWNER, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ANDREW FROM THE COUNSEL? COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS. >> WITH THE PROPERTY THAT HAS BEEN I BELIEVE LICENSED SINCE 2021, YOU SAID, ARE THERE ANY VIOLATIONS IN REGARDS TO THAT PROPERTY? >> NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, I'VE NOT BEEN PERSONALLY INVOLVED IN ANY ENFORCEMENT CASES ON THAT PROPERTY. >> THANK YOU. WELL, THEN IF HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE OWNER, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME UP TO THE PODIUM. THANK YOU. WELCOME. >> GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU. >> DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE PROPERTY OWNER? >> COUNCILMEMBER [INAUDIBLE] >> [OVERLAPPING] [INAUDIBLE] BUT SINCE IT'S THE SECOND TIME THAT YOU'RE COMING BEFORE US, I HAVE REAL CONCERNS. PARTLY BECAUSE I HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS OF LANDLORDS, AND THAT COULD BE BECAUSE I'M BIASED. I LIVED IN RENTAL PROPERTIES FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS. I EXPECT THE LANDLORDS TO KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING WHEN THEY'RE DOING RENTAL PROPERTIES. 30 YEARS AGO, THIS MAY NOT HAVE EVEN BEEN AN ISSUE. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY WERE EVEN ISSUING LICENSES TO RENTAL PROPERTIES. BUT AS A NEW BUSINESS OWNER, THERE ARE A TON OF PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COURSES OUT THERE THAT YOU CAN TAKE SO THAT YOU CAN BE SUCCESSFUL. NOW WHAT I KEEP SEEING IS REASONS WHY YOU CAN'T DO THIS, [00:55:01] WHY IT'S NOT WORKING OUT, THAT TYPE OF THING. FOR ME, THAT'S NOT HITTING THE MARK. YOU NEED TO EDUCATE YOURSELF, NOT JUST THROUGH THE CITY, THE CITY THEIR JOB ISN'T TO TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO RUN A RESTAURANT, HOW TO RUN A BUSINESS THAT REPAIRS CARS, OR TEACH LANDLORDS HOW TO RENT A PROPERTY. THAT REALLY BOTHERS ME THAT YOU HAVEN'T DONE YOUR HOMEWORK BEFOREHAND, BEFORE EVEN PURCHASING THESE PROPERTIES TO RENT, AND I'D HIGHLY SUGGEST THAT YOU DO SO BEFORE YOU COME BACK TO HEIGHTS TO BUY PROPERTIES TO RENTAL. IF YOU DO SO, YOU MAY BE QUITE SUCCESSFUL, BUT YOU NEED TO GET A FOUNDATION. AS I SAID BEFORE, I HAVE VERY HIGH EXPECTATION, BECAUSE AS A COUNCILMEMBER I EXPECT RENTERS TO HAVE WELL MAINTAINED AND SAFE RESIDENCES TO LIVE IN. IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE BASE, THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. THANK YOU FOR COMING HERE TONIGHT, I APPRECIATE THAT. BUT I HAVE REALLY STRONG CONCERNS ABOUT THAT. >> YOU'RE RIGHT. THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER COMMENTS? OH, COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS. >> I THOUGHT ABOUT THIS AND I THOUGHT ABOUT THE LAST PROPERTY THAT CAME UP AS WELL. AS I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS, I'M MORE IN FAVOR OF PROVIDING THIS RENTAL DENSITY EXEMPTION TO THIS PROPERTY, GIVEN THE FACT THAT THIS PROPERTY THAT'S BEEN ACTIVE SINCE 2021, HAS NO VIOLATIONS. I KNOW WE HAVE THE RENTAL DENSITY CAP IN PLACE, HOWEVER I KNOW THAT'S A FAIRLY NEW RULE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE. I UNDERSTAND THIS RENTAL MAY HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR A FEW MONTHS AT THIS POINT, BUT SINCE THERE'S BEEN NO VIOLATIONS AT THIS PROPERTY SINCE 2021, AND THE FACT THAT THIS PROPERTY STILL HAS TO GO THROUGH A RENTAL INSPECTION AND PASS THAT, AND BE UP TO CODE AND COME TO COMPLIANCE IF THEY DO WANT TO ACTUALLY RENT THIS PROPERTY OUT, I AM IN FAVOR OF THIS. >> I CAN CLARIFY SOMETHING REAL QUICK. THE PROPERTY IN QUESTION IS NOT THE ONE THAT HAS BEEN LICENSED SINCE 2021. >> COUNCILMEMBER JACOBS. >> MY CONCERN IS THAT EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE NO ISSUES WITH THE PROPERTY FROM 2021, MY ISSUE IS THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE ISSUES, VIOLATIONS, NON-COMPLIANCE WITH, I'M NOT EVEN SURE HOW MANY PROPERTIES YOU OWN. I DON'T HAVE FAITH IN THE FACT THAT THE PROPERTIES WILL BE PUT UP FOR SALE. IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE PUT UP FOR SALE, YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO RENT IN THERE ANYWAYS, BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW HOW QUICKLY OR HOW SLOWLY IT WILL MOVE OFF THE MARKET. BUT I DON'T THINK THAT FOR ME PERSONALLY, AND AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, I DON'T THINK THAT THE FACT THAT THERE WERE NO KNOWN VIOLATIONS SINCE 2021, IN THE ONE PROPERTY, THAT THAT TAKES THE REST OF IT OFF THE BOOKS. I THINK THE REST OF IT WEIGHS HEAVILY AGAINST YOU, AND I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER BISKINS, FOR HER COMMENTS, BECAUSE I FEEL VERY MUCH THE SAME. >> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER JACOBS. COUNCILMEMBER, JAMES. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT. I HAVE A QUESTION I'M NOT SURE IF THE HOMEOWNER OR PERHAPS OUR CITY PLANNER, IN OUR PACKET AND WAS STATED TONIGHT, THAT THERE WAS AN AFFIDAVIT FOR NON-RENTAL AT THIS ADDRESS. USUALLY THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS UNLESS THERE'S A NEED. WHAT WAS THE PRECIPITATING INCIDENT THAT HE HAD TO SIGN AN AFFIDAVIT FOR A NON-RENTAL? WHAT HAPPENED THAT THAT WAS REQUIRED? DOES ANYONE KNOW? >> I WAS NOT PRIVY TO THAT. >> I THINK I CAN WEIGH IN, COUNCILMEMBER JAMES. IT WAS A SUBJECT OF AN INVESTIGATION FOR BEING AN UNLICENSED RENTAL PROPERTY. I BELIEVE THE AFFIDAVIT WAS SIGNED BY THE OWNER STATING, NO, IT'S NOT. IT REMAINED A SUBJECT OF CONCERN FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AS STILL OPERATING AS A RENTAL DESPITE THE AFFIDAVIT. THE AFFIDAVIT IS USED TO PLEDGE RESIDENCY IN THE HOUSE, AND THAT'S WHY THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE HOMESTEAD PROPERTY IN FRIDLEY, COUPLED WITH THE AFFIDAVIT SAYING, YES, IT'S NOT A RENTAL, WE LIVE HERE, BUT HAVING A HOMESTEAD ADDRESS IN AN ADJACENT CITY, THE EVIDENCE IS LEADING THE CITY TO BELIEVE THAT IT WAS STILL BEING USED AS A RENTAL DESPITE THE AFFIDAVIT. >> THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER. MAY I SPEAK THEN? >> YES. >> FOR ME, I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND NEW LAWS ARE DIFFERENT AND YOU DON'T KNOW THEM, AND THERE MIGHT BE CONFUSION. BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE WAS A INVESTIGATION, AND THEN THE OWNER, MR. BUSIMANTE, SIGNED THAT NO ONE WAS LIVING THERE, AND THAT WAS ABOUT A YEAR AGO, AND NOW WE'RE SEEING EVIDENCE THAT YOU'RE APPLYING FOR THIS WHOLE YEAR. I'M CONCERNED THAT THAT WASN'T A MISUNDERSTANDING, BUT THAT IT WAS A SPECIFIC CHOICE. I'M CONCERNED AT THE CHOICES AND THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION TO DENY THIS RESOLUTION, [01:00:01] IT MAKES SENSE TO ME BECAUSE IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT'S A MISUNDERSTANDING. THANK YOU. >> EVEN THOUGH I DO AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS IN A WAY ABOUT THE FACT THAT WHEN WE DO WAIVE THIS EXEMPTION, THAT YOU WOULD ONLY HAVE A YEAR TO RENT IT, AND THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY THING YOU COULD DO. SOMETIMES, I HAVE VOTED THAT THAT IS OKAY WITH ME, BECAUSE YOU WOULD BE GOING THROUGH ALL THE RENTAL PROCEDURES, WHICH MEANS ANYTHING THAT IS NOT CORRECT IN THE HOME WOULD HAVE TO BE UPDATED, AND THAT PROVIDES US BETTER HOUSING, SO THAT IS SOMETHING I'M IN FAVOR OF. BUT THE FACT, AS COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES, BROUGHT UP THAT YOU HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THE PROCEEDINGS, AND I THINK THAT ANY PROPERTY THAT YOU OWN FROM COMING IN BEFORE, YOU WOULD HAVE ASKED CITY, HEY, I ALSO OWN THIS, AND I OWN THIS. ARE ALL OF THEM CORRECT? DO ANY OF THEM NEED CHANGES, THAT WE WOULD WANT YOU TO BE ESPECIALLY FORTHRIGHT, WHICH MEANS VERY UPFRONT WITH EVERYTHING THAT ANY BUSINESS YOU'RE DOING IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS. AND THE FACT THAT THERE WAS A MENTION OF AN OFFICE THAT JUST KIND OF WORKING IN THE SPACE TO THEN HAVING PEOPLE LIVE THERE, THAT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF DIFFERENT STORIES, AND WE WANT EVERYONE'S BUSINESS TO BE VERY OPEN TO ALL OF THE FACTS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ALL PARTNERS. I'M NOT SEEING THIS IN THE PAST EMAILS BECAUSE WE HAVE COPIES OF ALL THE EMAILS IN HERE, EMAILS AND/OR LETTERS, I GUESS. I'M NOT SURE. SOMETIMES THEY MIGHT BE LETTERS. SO I WOULD NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS TONIGHT. ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCILMEMBER BUESGENS. >> I UNDERSTAND, COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS COMMENTS THAT THERE'S NO VIOLATIONS AS FAR AS HOW THE PROPERTY'S KEPT, BUT THE FACT IS YOU'VE HAD A RENTAL SINCE 2021, SO YOU KNEW YOU NEEDED TO GET A RENTAL LICENSE THREE YEARS AGO FOR YOUR OTHER PROPERTIES, AND YOU DIDN'T, FOR WHATEVER REASON, BUT YOU KNEW. THAT, TO ME, IS NOT RESPECTING OUR RULES. WE PUT THEM TOGETHER TO PROTECT PEOPLE. WE DON'T JUST ARBITRARILY CREATE THESE RULES, THEY'RE FOR PROTECTION OF THE TENANTS, AND ALSO THE LANDLORDS IN MANY WAYS AND THE CITY. FOR SOME REASON, YOU DECIDED NOT TO GET A RENTAL LICENSE FOR THESE OTHER PROPERTIES. IN THAT SENSE, THAT TO ME IS A VIOLATION, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE HOW THE PROPERTY IS KEPT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. IF THERE'S NO OTHER COMMENTS, THEN HAVE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING. >> MOVE TO WAIVE THE READING OF RESOLUTION 2024-067. THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER JACOBS AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER JAMES TO WAIVE THE READING, ANY DISCUSSION. SEEING THERE IS NONE, ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. >> AYE. [OVERLAPPING] >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. NEXT I HAVE A MOTION TO DENY THE RESOLUTION. >> MOVE TO DENY RESOLUTION 2024-067, A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL EXEMPTION REQUEST FOR AN RENTAL APPLICATION AT 4948 FOURTH STREET NORTHEAST, COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA 55421. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER JACOBS, AND A SECOND BY COUNCILOR BISKINS, TO DENY THE RESOLUTION. ALL IN FAVOR OF THE DENIAL, SAY AYE. >> AYE. [OVERLAPPING]. >> ANY OPPOSED? >> NO. >> THE MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU FOR COMING IN. WE HAVE THIS EVENING NO BID CONSIDERATIONS AND NO NEW BUSINESS, SO THAT TAKES US TO OUR CITY COUNCIL REPORTS. [CITY COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS] IS THERE A COUNCILMEMBER WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO FIRST THIS EVENING? COUNCILMEMBER JACOBS, THANK YOU. >> I ATTENDED THE DEDICATION AND RIBBON CUTTING FOR THE 37TH AVENUE PROJECT, THE 1944 UPRISING DEDICATION EVENTS ON SATURDAY, ALTHOUGH I WAS NOT AT FORT SNELLING CEMETERY. I WAS VERY MOVED BY THE NUMBER OF ATTENDEES AND THE TEXTURE OF THE CEREMONY. I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY WELL DONE AND VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THOSE THAT CAME FROM OUTSIDE OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AND OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTRY THAT WERE ABLE TO ATTEND THAT. I ALSO STOPPED IN AT THE COMMISSION COFFEE. THE CITY MANAGER, CHIEF MARKHAM AND, I MET WITH THE GOULD AND PETER'S PLACE RESIDENTS. WE HOPE TO RESOLVE THE RATIO PARKING ISSUES HOMEOWNERS HAVE FACED FOR MORE THAN THE PAST YEAR. I'VE MAINTAINED THAT THIS IS A RATIO MANAGEMENT IN A LATTICE ISSUE AND DO NOT BELIEVE AS A CITY, WE SHOULD BE SPENDING BUDGET AND STAFF TIME CORRECTING THE PROBLEMS. HOWEVER, WE DO SEE SOME SUN ON THE HORIZON TO THIS. THE CITY IS COMMITTED TO USING THE AREA. ISSUING THE AREA HOMEOWNERS SOME TYPE OF [01:05:02] A PARKING PERMIT FOR THEMSELVES AND GUESTS AS THEY DESIRE, AND HIRING A TOWING COMPANY TO REMOVE PROBLEM VEHICLES ASSOCIATED WITH RATIO. THE SITUATION HAS AFFECTED THEIR TRASH PICKUP. IT'S VISIBILITY ISSUES, AFFECTING THE DRIVER AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY, SPEEDING ISSUES, AND MORE. SO I WOULD OFFER OR WOULD LIKE CITY MANAGER CHIRPICH TO MAYBE GIVE A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL ABOUT HOW THAT'S GOING TO BE ACHIEVED. THANK YOU FOR DOING SO. >> RIGHT NOW. SURE. YEAH. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER JACOBS. I HAD PLANNED TO UPDATE THE COUNCIL WITH FINDINGS FROM THAT MEETING IN AN EMAIL AND JUST HADN'T GOTTEN TO IT YET. BUT THANK YOU FOR ADDRESSING IT THIS EVENING. SO, IN MEETING WITH THE RESIDENTS, WE WERE MADE AWARE OF, PROBLEMS THAT WE ALREADY KNEW. IT'S JUST A REAL MESS ON GOULD BEYOND JUST TAKING ALL OF THE AVAILABLE STREET PARKING. THERE'S VIOLATIONS OF PARKING ON YELLOW, PARKING HYDRANTSEN, PARKING WHERE THERE'S NO PARKING SIGNS. DESPITE OUR EFFORTS TO WORK WITH MANAGEMENT AT RATIO AND INSTITUTE DIFFERENT POLICIES AT THE LEASING LEVEL, THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE A CHURN OF NEW TENANTS COMING AND GOING TO RATIO, AND I THINK WE NEED A MORE PERMANENT SOLUTION. THE ONE THAT WAS PROPOSED IN CONSULTATION WITH THE POLICE CHIEF. WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF DETAILS TO WORK OUT, BUT WE THINK THAT A REGIONAL LOCALIZED PERMITTING SYSTEM FOR THE RESIDENTS OF PETER'S PLACE AND GOULD WOULD BE THE BEST ALTERNATIVE AND THAT WE WOULD RELY ON A TOWING COMPANY TO ENFORCE ANYONE THAT DOESN'T HAVE A PERMIT. SO WE'D LET OUT AS MANY PERMITS AS WERE NEEDED BY ANY RESIDENT SO THAT THEY COULD HAVE GUESTS PARKING AS WELL, BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM THAT TOWING INTERMITTENTLY IS A SOLUTION THAT'S VIABLE. WE'RE STILL WORKING ON A LOT OF DIFFERENT DETAILS, A LOT OF MOVING PARTS, AND HAVE TO CONSULT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY ON THIS AS WELL. BUT ONCE WE CAN PUT ALL OF THAT TOGETHER IN A PACKAGE, WE'D LIKE TO COME TO THE COUNCIL FOR A REVIEW, BUT THAT'S A SUMMARY OF WHAT WE THINK WILL BE A WORKABLE PLAN. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER JACOBS, THE CHIEF AND CITY MANAGER FOR WORKING WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. THE RATIO IS OUR APARTMENT THAT'S ABOVE CITY HALL HERE, AND THEY ARE ALL RESIDENTS AS WELL. SO THERE IS THIS INFLUX OF MORE PEOPLE THAN WE'RE HERE ORIGINALLY, AND I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE FIGURING OUT MORE WAYS THAT WE CAN ACCOMMODATE AND MOVE THEM IN AS WELL AS THE HOMEOWNERS WHO ARE HERE BEFORE. WELCOMING NEIGHBORS IS A BUSY OPPORTUNITY. COUNCILMEMBER JAMES. >> THANK YOU. I ALSO ATTENDED THE OPENING OF 37TH AVENUE WITH THE MINNEAPOLIS AND COLUMBIA HEIGHT STAFF. A SPECIAL CONGRATULATIONS TO KEVIN HANSON AND ALL OF OUR PUBLIC WORKS TEAM. I HEARD ABOUT THIS PROJECT BEING IN THE WORK SINCE 2012, AND IT FINALLY GOT COMPLETED, AND IT IS JUST BEAUTIFUL. I WAS ABLE TO SPEAK ON THAT EVENT. I ALSO HAD A MEETING WITH MANY OF THE OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS WITH THE ANOKA COUNTY ENGINEER, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, HILLTOP, AND COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, REGARDING 49TH AVENUE, SCHOOL SAFETY, AS WELL AS RESERVOIR BOULEVARD AND SOME OTHER COUNTY ROADS. IT'S WONDERFUL TO HAVE PARTNERS IN OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT WHO ARE VERY RESPONSIVE. BEYOND THAT MEETING, I WAS ABLE TO CORRESPOND WITH OUR COUNTY ENGINEER ABOUT IDEAS OF THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE OUR CITY SAFER. I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE'LL SEE MOVEMENT THROUGHOUT THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS. ON SEPTEMBER 17TH, I PARTICIPATED IN NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DAY. THIS YEAR, I WAS ABLE TO VOLUNTEER WITH THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS AT THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL TO GET 16 AND 17-YEAR-OLDS PRE REGISTERED AND 18-YEAR-OLDS REGISTERED TO VOTE. MAYOR AMADA MARQUEZ SIMULA AND I PARTNERED WITH OTHER LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTER VOLUNTEERS, AND IT WAS A OVER 200 SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE STATE. USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CHECK YOUR OWN VOTER REGISTRATION IF YOU HAVEN'T DONE THAT. ON THAT SAME DAY, I ATTENDED THE COLUMBIA HEIGHT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING WITH CHIEF MARKHAM. THERE WAS CONVERSATION ON THE YOUTH OUTREACH OFFICER CONTRACT. THIS IS A PERSON WHO WILL BE DOING THE DUTIES OF THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER IN OUR COLUMBIA HEIGHT SCHOOLS. WE TALKED ABOUT ALL THE DETAILS OF WHERE WOULD THIS PERSON BE HOUSED? HOW WOULD THE PAYMENTS BE HAPPENING, WHAT WOULD BE THE SCOPE OF WORK, AND HOW COULD WE BEST BE TRANSPARENT TO THE STUDENTS, THE PARENTS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT THIS ROLE. I'M EXCITED TO PARTNER WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR THIS. I ALSO STOPPED BY THE BOARDS AND COMMISSION SOCIAL. IT WAS WONDERFUL TO SEE ALL THE LEADERS IN [01:10:03] OUR CITY AND ALL THE WAYS THAT THEY VOLUNTEER AND SERVE. THEN FINALLY, ON SATURDAY, WE HAD A VERY FUN, BUSY DAY IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS. I WAS AT THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS PRIDE FESTIVAL. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE PRIDE FESTIVAL TEAM OF ORGANIZERS. THEY DID A FANTASTIC JOB. I HELPED AT THE CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES TABLE AND JUST SAW A LOT OF JOY AND OUR BEAUTIFUL CORDIAC PARK, A BEAUTIFUL DAY. THEN ALSO WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE PROGRAM PORTION OF THE I'LL BE SEEING YOU B-17 MEMORIAL UNVEILING. THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND ALL THE CITY STAFF FOR HOSTING SO WELL THIS BEAUTIFUL CEREMONY. IT WAS GORGEOUS. THAT'S ALL. OH, AND EARLY VOTING. I FORGOT TO SAY I VOTED TODAY. YOU CAN VOTE IN PERSON EARLY AT THE CITY HALL, AND THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS ON THE BALLOT. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE SOME MOMENTS TO LOOK AT THAT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. COUNCILOR BISKINS. >> HI, EVERYONE. IT'S BEEN A BUSY TWO WEEKS. I'M ON THE COMMITTEE EXCEL'S PARTNER IN ENERGY, ALONG WITH THE SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION MET TO DISCUSS GOALS AND TO GET THEIR INPUT AS WELL. I ALSO ATTENDED THE MWL BOARD MEETING. I HAD THE JOY OF WRITING ALONG WITH LIAM, OUR CITY FORESTER. WE TALKED ABOUT TREES FOR TWO HOURS, AND IT WAS SO FUN TO WATCH WHAT HE'S DOING. HE SHOWED ME A NEW FOREST HE'S CREATING, A SPOT THAT MAYBE SOME DAY COULD BE INTENT TO PARK. ANYWAY, IT WAS FUN, AND HE ALSO WAS KIND ENOUGH TO CHECK OUT A PEACH TREE AT THE BLOOMING SUNSHINE GARDEN. APPARENTLY, THE DEER USE THESE LITTLE TREES TO RUB THEIR ANTLERS TO GET THE VELVET OFF, SO THEY HAD AND FORTUNATELY FOR US, THE PEACH TREE IS NOT DAMAGED ENOUGH TO DIE. THAT WAS REAL NICE OF HIM TO DO THAT. I ATTENDED THE SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE FORUM FOR THE CITY. BLOOMING SUNSHINE I CONTINUED TO VOLUNTEER AND WORK IN THAT GARDEN, AND WE WERE ABLE TO DONATE PEPPERS SO FAR. WE HAVE QUITE A FEW PEPPERS IN THE GARDEN. SOME ARE STILL NOT RIPE YET. THEY HAVE TO TURN COLOR. PLEASE WAIT UNTIL THEY TURN COLOR IF YOU WANT TO COME AND PICK SOME. I HELPED A WOMAN, A NEW PERSON IN OUR CITY THAT WAS WANTING TO MAKE SALSA, SO I HELPED HER PICK TOMATOES AND SHOWED HER THE WALKING ONIONS AND SOME PEPPERS. IT'S REALLY FUN HOW PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO ENJOY THAT GARDEN IN THE PARK. ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE COUNCILMEMBERS, I ATTENDED THE NOCA COUNTY MEETING TO DISCUSS SAFETY ON OUR COUNTY ROADS AND OUR CITY. BRIEFLY, STOP BIKE GOLDEN NUTS FOR KUNAFA WITH A COP. I WAS ONLY ABLE TO STOP FOR A MINUTE OR TWO TO SAY, HI. THEY HAVE THE BEST CHOCOLATES. OH, MY GOSH. THEY HAD THEM AT THE SOCIAL FOR THE COMMISSIONERS WHICH IS THE NEXT THING WE TALKED ABOUT, ATTENDED THE SOCIAL FOR OUR COMMISSIONERS. IT WAS REALLY FUN TO SEE MORE PEOPLE ATTEND THIS YEAR AND GET TO KNOW NEW PEOPLE. I ALSO ATTENDED THE FRIENDS OF THE CORDIAC PARK, AND FROM WHAT I BELIEVE THE FIRST MEETING WAS SIX PEOPLE. THIS LAST MEETING, I COUNTED. IT WAS UP TO 80, AND THEN MORE PEOPLE SHOWED UP. WE HAD CLOSE TO A HUNDRED PEOPLE AT THE MEETING, AND ANOKA COUNTY SHARED WITH THEM THE PLANS FOR THE PAVILION. WHEN THAT'S COMING UP, I BELIEVE NEXT YEAR, AND THEY TALKED ABOUT MAINTENANCE OF THE TRAILS. THEN AGAIN, THE CONCERNS ABOUT THE LAKE. ONE THING I SUGGESTED, AND IF ANYONE'S WATCHING FROM THAT GROUP OR ANYONE ELSE THAT LIVES ALONG CORDIAC, PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT STORM DRAINS. I GOT A MAP OF ALL THE STORM DRAINS THAT DRAIN INTO THAT LAKE. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. SOMETHING WE CAN DO TODAY TO KEEP THAT LAKE TO AFFECT THE QUALITY OF THE WATER IN THAT LAKE IS BY ADOPTING A STORM DRAIN AND KEEPING IT CLEAN. I HAVE A MAP. CALL ME, EMAIL ME, CONTACT ME. I WILL SHARE IT WITH YOU. IF YOU'RE IN THAT AREA, OR IF YOU PICK ONE FROM ANOTHER AREA, IT DOESN'T MATTER. PLEASE CONTACT ME, AND I CAN HELP YOU WITH THAT. I'LL BE GOING OUT TOO. I'VE GOT PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I KNOW IN THAT AREA. WE'RE GOING TO BE POUNDING ON DOORS AND ASKING PEOPLE TO PLEASE ADOPT A STORM DRAIN. THEN I ALSO, WITH THE REST OF THE COUNCIL, ATTENDED THE POLISH MEMORIAL EVENT THAT WAS WELL ATTENDED. ONE HIGHLIGHT, ALONG WITH THE CEREMONY WAS WELL DONE. IT WAS VERY NICE. THE STATUE IS VERY PRETTY. WE GOT TO WATCH MONARCHS MIGRATE RIGHT OVER US. IT WAS LIKE ONE AT A TIME OVER THAT HOUR AND A HALF. IT WAS ONE OF THEIR ROUTES THAT THEY TRAVEL SOUTH ON, AND IT WAS REALLY COOL. WE NEED TO PUT SOME MORE NATIVE POLLINATOR FLOWERS IN THERE THAT BLOOM IN THE FALL FOR THEM. CAUSE THEY LANDED ON THE NEW PLANTS, BUT THEY'RE TOO NEW. THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY NECTAR FOR THEM. ANYWAY, THEN I RAN OVER TO THE RIBS FEST OVER AT VFW REAL QUICK. THEY SOLD OUT. SEVERAL OF THE VENDORS HAD SOLD OUT ON THEIR RIBS. PEOPLE WERE COMING WITH TAG CONTAINERS THIS YEAR, AND I FOUND ONE VENDOR THAT HAD RIBS. THEN THERE'S SOME RIB TIPS, BUT IT WAS VERY WELL ATTENDED, AND I CAN'T WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR AND I'LL TRY TO GET THERE EARLY THIS TIME. THEN I CAUGHT THE TAIL END OF THE PRIDE FESTIVAL. UNFORTUNATELY, WITH THE OTHER TWO PREVIOUS EVENTS, I WASN'T ABLE TO HEAR ANY OF THE MUSIC, [01:15:01] BUT I WAS ABLE TO WALK AROUND AND SEE THE VENDORS, AND THERE'S STILL PEOPLE WALKING THROUGH THE PARK. IT'S REALLY NICE TO SEE THAT GOING. WHAT IS THAT? THE FOURTH YEAR? >> 2019 WAS OUR FIRST. >> SO IS IT THE FIFTH YEAR WEEK? NO. WE DIDN'T HAVE IT DURING COVID. >> NO, WE DID. WE HAD A VIRTUAL. >> THIS IS OUR FIFTH YEAR, WHICH IS REALLY EXCITING. SO 45 DIFFERENT TABLES AND VENDORS AND PEOPLE THERE, SO IT'S GOING REALLY WELL. THIS CAN TAKE ME A MINUTE, SO I APOLOGIZE. BUT I HAD A RESIDENT CALL ME AND WANTED TO KNOW SOME OF THE DETAILS OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHAIN OFFENSES THAT WE APPROVED TONIGHT. SHE JUST WANTED SOME EXAMPLES OF WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT. ONE, FIRST OFF, THE CITY, IF THERE'S A CODE VIOLATION, THE CITY SENDS OUT A LETTER, AND THE PERSON WHO GETS THE THE LETTER NEEDS TO FIX THE PROBLEM WITHIN 14 DAYS. CORRECT ME IF I SAY SOMETHING WRONG. I'M TRYING TO READ FROM THE THING HERE. THEN WITHIN 14 DAYS, IF THEY HAVEN'T DONE IT, THEY WILL BE ISSUED A FINE. THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO PAY THE FINE AND CORRECT THE VIOLATION OR REQUEST AN EXTENSION OR REQUEST AN ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING OR PROCEED THROUGH THE ANOKA COUNTY CORE SYSTEM, SO THAT'S THE BASIC STEPS. THEN EXAMPLES OF WHAT THE FINES COULD BE FOR THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT LEVELS. LEVEL 1 VIOLATIONS. I'M NOT GOING TO READ ALL OF THEM, BUT JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT THIS COVERS. THE LEVEL 1 VIOLATION, IF THEY DON'T FIX THE PROBLEM WITHIN TWO WEEKS, IS $100. IT COULD BE FAILURE TO OBTAIN CERTIFICATE OF PROPERTY MAINTENANCE, UNAPPROVED HOME OCCUPATION, IMPROPERLY STORED TRASH CONTAINER, WEEDS, FAILURE TO MOVE GRAFFITI ARE JUST SOME OF THE EXAMPLES. IF YOU LOOK UP TONIGHT'S PACKET ONLINE, YOU CAN SEE THE REST THAT ARE LISTED HERE. LEVEL 2 VIOLATION. THE FINE WOULD BE AFTER TWO WEEKS OF NON COMPLIANCE, $140, THAT COVERS A VACATED BUILDING. FAILURE TO OBTAIN REQUIRED RENTAL REGISTRATION PERMIT OR COMPLETE REQUIRED INSPECTION, UNLICENSED AND OPERABLE VEHICLES, LEFT STORING JUNK VEHICLES, PARKING A VEHICLE, OR RECREATIONAL VEHICLE, ON AN UNIMPROVED SURFACE. LEVEL 3 VIOLATION, THE INITIAL FINE WOULD BE $200, AND THAT IS A MAJOR INFRACTION THAT INVOLVES UNSAFE CONDITIONS, CONSTITUTES A BLIGHTING INFLUENCE ON SURROUNDING PROPERTIES OR NEIGHBORHOOD, INVOLVES NEGLECTED PROPERTY MAINTENANCE AND SO FORTH. THE LEVEL 4 VIOLATION IS IMMEDIATE LIFE AND SAFETY MATTER, SUPPORTED BY THE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WRITTEN JUSTIFICATION AND THAT FINE IS $280. IF THERE'S CONTINUING NONCOMPLIANCE, THOSE FINES WILL GO UP. JUST TO GIVE RESIDENT AN IDEA OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR, AGAIN, IT'S IN OUR PACKET ONLINE, SO YOU CAN READ IN MORE DETAIL WHAT'S INVOLVED WITH THIS PROCESS. I'M VERY HAPPY TO SEE IT PASS. THANKS TO THE REST OF THE COUNCIL FOR PASS SAYING YES, AND LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING A LITTLE MORE TEETH IN OUR ENFORCEMENT WITH THE CODE, AND SORRY, ANDREW, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE WORK. [LAUGHTER] >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL. COUNCIL MAN BRIGGS. >> THANK YOU. A COUPLE OF THINGS I ALSO ATTENDED WITH THE REST OF THE COUNCIL, THE ANOKA COUNTY MEETING WITH THE COUNTY ENGINEER, TALKING ABOUT A COUPLE OF OUR COUNTY ROADS AND THOUGHT THAT IT WAS A REALLY PRODUCTIVE AND GOOD MEETING, ESPECIALLY AS THE CITY'S GONE ABOUT MAKING A SAFETY ACTION PLAN, AND THE COUNTY IS ACTUALLY DOING THE SAME THING, WHICH IS EXCITING TO HEAR. THEY'RE PROBABLY NOT AS FAR AS WE ARE IN OURS, BUT JUST TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE ALSO DOING THE SAME STEP WE ARE TO MAKE ALL ANOKA COUNTY SAFER IS SUPER EXCITING. I WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT TO COUNCIL MEMBER BISKINS FOR THE EDA PROPOSAL FOR SOME INCREASED FUNDING. SHE HAD BROUGHT THAT UP AT ONE OF OUR WORK SESSIONS. IT'S NOT A TON OF MONEY, BUT I THINK IT GIVES US A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY DOWN THE ROAD FOR POSSIBLE PROJECTS THAT MIGHT COME UP AND JUST INVESTING IN OUR CITY AND OUR BUSINESSES. I THINK IS A SUPER EXCITING THING FOR US. THEN I WAS UNFORTUNATELY OUT ILL THIS WEEK, AND SO I DID NOT MAKE IT OUT TO ANY OF THE EVENTS, BUT I WAS SENT THE MISSILES, I HEARD THEY WERE ALL GREAT. >> THANK YOU. YES, AS COUNCIL MEMBER BISKINS SAID, IT HAS BEEN A BUSY COUPLE OF WEEKS. I THINK WORKING BACKWARDS FROM TODAY. [LAUGHTER] I STARTED THIS MORNING TAKING OUR SISTER CITY FRIEND, MALGORZATA ZEBROWSKI, WHO IS THE PAST MAYOR OF ŁOMIANKI, POLAND AND IS NOW A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER. SHE AND HER FAMILY WERE VISITING FROM POLAND FOR THE WEEKEND. TODAY, WE STARTED OUT AT OUR POLICE STATION WITH THE TOUR WITH THE CHIEF. THEY WERE VERY IMPRESSED WITH OUR POLICE STATION, ESPECIALLY THE GUN RANGE. SHE HAS YOUNG CHILDREN, 20, AND 17, SO THEY WERE PRETTY FASCINATED WITH OUR STORAGE LOCKERS AND OUR CARS BECAUSE THEY LOOK VERY AMERICAN. THEN WE WENT OVER TO THE FIRE STATION AND HAD A TOUR. I JUST WANT TO SAY HOW LUCKY WE ARE AS A CITY TO HAVE [01:20:03] SUCH MODERN EQUIPMENT AND WONDERFUL STAFFING SPACES. THEY HAD EVEN SAID THAT AT OUR FIRE STATION, THERE WAS A ROOM FOR PEOPLE TO DECOMPRESS WHERE THEY'RE IN BETWEEN THINGS LATE AT NIGHT, AND THEY SAID THAT THEIR FIRE STAFF WOULD JUST DREAM OF A ROOM LIKE THAT. BUT OF COURSE, ŁOMIANKI ALSO HAS THE EQUIPMENT AND EVERYTHING THEY NEED. IT'S JUST A MUCH SMALLER ROAD. OUR TRUCKS ARE SO BIG COMPARED TO WHAT THEY HAVE THERE. AFTER THE FIRE STATION TOUR, WE CAME OVER TO CITY HALL, WALKED ALONG CENTRAL. CITY MANAGER CHIRPICH GAVE US A TOUR HERE AT THE CITY. IT WAS GREAT SHOWING THEM WHAT WE HAVE HERE, AND THEY LOVED THE IDEA OF THE APARTMENTS ABOVE THE CITY AND JUST THINKING THAT THAT'S SUCH A GREAT SPACE USAGE TO SHARE THOSE SPACES. THEN WE WALKED OVER TO THE LIBRARY. BUT OF COURSE, ON THE WAY, WE STOPPED AT DAIRY QUEEN FOR A LITTLE MINI BLIZZARD, AND IT IS PUMPKIN SEASON, SO THEY DO HAVE A PUMPKIN PIE ONE THAT IS SO GOOD. OH, MY GOODNESS. I HAD DAIRY QUEEN, WENT OVER TO THE LIBRARY, HOW TO TOUR THE LIBRARY, AND ALSO SHOWED THEM THE RAIN GARDENS IN THE BACK AND HOW MUCH WE ARE DOING WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PROTECTING THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER WITH OUR RAIN DIVERTING INTO OUR RAIN GARDENS. THEN AFTER THAT, WE WENT TO LOMIANKI PARK, WHICH IS NAMED AFTER OUR SISTER CITY, AND I GAVE THEM A TOUR OF THE BLOOMING SUNSHINE GARDEN, WHICH LOOKS SO FANTASTIC. MY GOSH, SO MANY BUTTERFLIES AND PUMPKINS AND CUCUMBERS, EVERYTHING. THEY WERE VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE GARDEN AND LOMIANKI PARK, NAMED AFTER THEIR CITY. FROM THERE, WE TOURED THE NEW NORTH PARK SCHOOL, WHICH IS IN THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUT ACTUALLY LOCATED IN SOUTHERN FREDLEY. IT IS A STEM SCHOOL, AND SO THEY REALLY HAD A FASCINATING TOUR THERE WITH OUR SUPERINTENDENT ZENA STENVIK, AND THE SUBSTITUTE PRINCIPAL MARY THERE. WE HAD A GREAT TOUR OF NORTH PARK, AND WHEN I WAS IN LOMIANKI I HAD THE SAME THING. I TOURED THE POLICE AND FIRE STATION AND THE SCHOOLS AS WELL, SO IT WAS SO NICE TO RETURN THE FAVOR. WE FINISHED OUR DAY WITH LUNCH AT RAIL WORKORKS AT 2:00 PM. WE HAD A LONG DAY. BUT OF COURSE, SUPPORTING A LOCAL BUSINESS WAS A LOT OF FUN, AND THEY REALLY ENJOYED CHEESEBURGERS AND MACARONI AND CHEESE, LIKE CAN'T GET MUCH MORE AMERICAN THAN THAT. THEY WERE HAPPY TO HAVE THAT. I WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH THIS WHOLE WEEKEND. THIS CITY DID A LOT OF WORK TO HOST OUR SISTER CITY MEMBERS, BUT ALSO WE HAD DELEGATES FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IN WARSAW. WE HAD THE COUNCIL GENERAL OF POLAND THAT STATIONED IN CHICAGO WAS HERE VISITING. WE HAD SENATOR CARRIE DICHEC WAS VISITING HERE ON SATURDAY, AS WELL AS REPRESENTATIVES FROM GOVERNOR WALL'S OFFICE AND SENATOR KLOBUCHAR OFFICE AS WELL. OUR COUNSEL WAS IN ATTENDANCE. COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS WAS NOT FEELING WELL, SO YOU COULDN'T BE HERE. BUT THE REST OF COUNSEL WAS THERE. AARON SHARPE, OUR CITY MANAGER, KEVIN HANSON, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR AND OUR POLICE CHIEF WERE ALL IN ATTENDANCE. IT WAS A FANTASTIC EVENT. WE HAD OVER 200 PEOPLE AT THE PARK, AND IT WAS JUST A WONDERFUL DAY. THE MORNING HAD STARTED AT FORT SNELLING CEMETERY AT WALTER SHIMSHAK GRAVE WITH THE SHIMSHAK FAMILY. THAT WAS VERY SPECIAL WITH A COLOR GUARD. THEN ALSO THAT DAY ON SATURDAY WAS THE PRIDE FESTIVAL, SO I HAD STOPPED OVER THERE QUICK. BUT HAPPY PRIDE MONTH FOR COLUMBIA HEIGHTS. WE'RE SO GLAD TO HAVE SUCH A GREAT TURNOUT AT THE PRIDE FESTIVAL. BACKING UP YESTERDAY WAS OUR GOODBYE TO PASTOR BONNIE AT FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH. SHE IS RETIRING, AND THERE WAS A BIG RESIGNING. THERE WAS A VERY LARGE CELEBRATION AT FIRST LUTHERAN AND I STOPPED BY TO SAY GOODBYE TO HER BEING SUCH A COMMUNITY LEADER HERE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AND THE AREA. PASTOR BONNIE, WE WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK, AND WE DO HOPE TO KEEP SEEING YOU AROUND. YESTERDAY, I ACTUALLY WENT TO A LOCAL BUSINESS CRUNORS, LOCAL GEM AND SAW THEIR DJANGO REINHARDT COVER BAND, WHICH WAS FANTASTIC. I ATTENDED THE FRESHWATER SOCIETY EVENT. [01:25:01] THEY ARE AN ORGANIZATION THAT PARTNERS WITH MANY FRESHWATER ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS MWMO, AND THEY HAD THEIR SOCIAL AT THE FORGOTTEN STAR BREWERY IN FRIDLEY. ALSO ATTENDED THE COUNTY SCHOOL ROUTE SAFETY MEETING WITH THE REST OF COUNCIL. AND THEY'RE SO OPEN TO HEARING OUR ITEMS AND DISCUSSIONS FOR HOW 49TH COULD BE SAFER FOR ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS ON THAT ROAD AND ANY OTHER COUNTY ROADS. AS OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE ALREADY MENTIONED, OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSION SOCIAL MEETING HERE. WE HAD OUR HEIGHTS NEXT BOARD MEETING LAST WEEK, BRINGING UP ALL THE REST OF THE THINGS FROM THE YEAR. OUR FRIENDS OF CORDIAC PARK MEETING WAS WELL ATTENDED, AS COUNCILOR BISKINS SAID, AND THAT IS JUST MOVING FORWARD WITH CONTINUING TO CREATE MORE COMMUNITY BONDS. THEY WILL BE PULLING BUCKTHORN IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, COUNCILOR BISKINS? >> I WAS JUST GOING TO ADD TO THAT MEETING AT ANOKA COUNTY, THE PARK ADMINISTRATOR WHO OVERSEES ALL THE PARKS IN ANOKA COUNTY HAD MENTIONED HE HAD NEVER SEEN THIS MANY PEOPLE SHOW UP REGARDING TO TALK ABOUT CONCERNS ABOUT A PARK OR A LAKE THAT THEY HAVE IN THE COUNTY. MAYBE SEE SIX OR SEVEN, EIGHT PEOPLE, I THINK HE SAID, AND THAT THIS WAS THE BIGGEST ATTENDED EVENT HE'S EVER BEEN TO, WHICH IS REALLY COOL BECAUSE WE DO THINGS HERE. WE GET ACTIVE, AND WE WANT THINGS DONE. [LAUGHTER] >> WE SHOW UP. YES. THAT'S MANY THANKS BECAUSE OF THE, I ASKED THE POLICE CHIEF IF THE CSOS WOULD HELP DELIVER FLYERS TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE CITY DID SEND OUT A CODE RED TEXT MESSAGE TO THAT COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY CAN REALLY SECTION IN ON WHERE THEY WANT TO SEND CODE RED TEXT MESSAGES. BUT ALSO THE POLICE CSOS DID GO OUT AND FLY THE HOUSES IN THE TWO BLOCK AREA OF THE LAKE. IT WAS REALLY MEANT TO BE A COMMUNITY MEETING FOR THAT AREA AS WELL, BECAUSE THOSE ARE PROBABLY GOING TO BE THE MOST PEOPLE WHO HANDS ON ARE GOING TO BE WORKING IN THE PARKS, BUT SO WELL ATTENDED AND BY MANY PEOPLE THAT DON'T LIVE IN THE AREA WHERE THEY'RE AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR ADDING THAT, CONNIE. I HAD MY COVID AND FLU SHOT LAST WEEK AND ALSO ATTENDED THE KUNAFA WITH A COP, VERY WELL ATTENDED AT THE GOLDEN NUTS, PARTICIPATED IN THE MAYORAL FORUM AND LISTENED TO THE COUNCIL FORUM THAT IS ON YOUTUBE. IF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD IT YET. I DEFINITELY SUGGEST YOU USE ALL THE RESOURCES YOU CAN TO BE AN INFORMED VOTER. AS COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES SAID, EARLY VOTING HAS STARTED AT CITY HALL. OF COURSE, YOU CAN VOTE ON NORMAL ELECTION DAY, NOVEMBER 5, AT YOUR NORMAL POLLING PLACE, BUT IF YOU WANT TO VOTE EARLY, YOU CAN COME INTO CITY HALL AND DO THAT. THAT IS ALL FOR MY REPORT. MOVING ON TO THE CITY MANAGER. >> YES. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. ALTHOUGH IT'S BEEN DISCUSSED, JUST A FEW MORE DETAILS ON IN PERSON ABSENTEE VOTING, RESIDENTS OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS CAN COME TO CITY HALL, 3989 CENTRAL AVENUE THROUGH NOVEMBER 4TH. CITY HALL IS OPEN 8:00 AM-4:30, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. AS MENTIONED, THE RECORDING OF THE CANDIDATE FORUM IS ON THE CITY'S YOUTUBE CHANNEL, AND ALSO RUNNING ON THE CITY'S CABLE CHANNEL AT 10:30 AM AND 4:00 PM DAILY. WE'RE HAVING COFFEE WITH A COP ON OCTOBER 1ST. COMMUNITY IS INVITED TO JEFF BOBBY AND STEVE'S RESTAURANT WITHIN THEIR GAS STATION ON THE FIRST. IT'S FROM 5:00-7:00 PM. MNDOT WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE TO DISCUSS THE HIGHWAY 65 CENTRAL AVENUE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS. THEN ONE FINAL PLUG FOR THE TRANSPORTATION SAFETY ACTION PLAN FEEDBACK. THE DEADLINE IS SEPTEMBER 30TH. AGAIN, THE CITY'S DEVELOPING A TRANSPORTATION SAFETY ACTION PLAN THAT EVALUATES SAFETY ISSUES FOR PEOPLE DRIVING, WALKING, BIKING, ROLLING, AND USING TRANSIT IN THE CITY. WITH YOUR HELP, THIS PLAN CAN IDENTIFY POTENTIAL SAFETY PROJECTS AND STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE SAFETY FOR THE RESIDENTS OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS. AGAIN, THE DEADLINE IS THE 30TH. YOU CAN VISIT THE CITY'S WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION. THERE'S ALSO AN OPEN HOUSE ON OCTOBER 10TH, FROM 5:00-7:00 PM AT CITY HALL. FINALLY, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS HOSTING AN OPEN HOUSE ON OCTOBER 12TH. THIS IS TO PROMOTE FIRE SAFETY. THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS FIRE DEPARTMENT INVITES YOU TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING FIRE STATION. ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12TH FROM 11:00 -2:00. KIDS YOUNG AND OLD CAN SPRAY A REAL FIRE HOSE, MEET DALMATIAN DOGS, WATCH A FIRE DEMONSTRATION, AND ALSO MEET LOCAL FIREFIGHTERS. THAT IS ALL. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT IT BRINGS US TO THE END OF OUR REPORTS. WE DO ARE AT THE COMMUNITY FORUM. IS ANYONE HERE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THE COMMUNITY FORUM? >> NO ONE HAS ASKED TO SPEAK, [01:30:01] AND THERE'S NO ONE ONLINE. >> THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT, THEN, SINCE NO ONE IS HERE TO SPEAK AT THE COMMUNITY FORUM, WE CAN END OUR MEETING, SO MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BISKINS, AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. ANY DISCUSSION? THEN EVERYONE SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. >> THE MOTION PASSES, AND THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED. THANK YOU. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.