[WELCOME/CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL] [00:00:03] >> THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT. MY NAME IS AMADA MARQUEZ SIMULA. I'M THE MAYOR OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR NOVEMBER 12TH. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, WELCOME TO EVERYONE HERE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND WATCHING ON THE RECORDING AS WELL. IF I COULD ASK OUR CITY CLERK FOR A ROLL CALL, PLEASE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER SPRINGS. >> HERE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS. >> HERE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES. >> HERE. >> MAYOR MARQUEZ SIMULA. >> HERE. THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO READ OUR MISSION STATEMENT FOR COLUMBIA HEIGHTS. 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, PLEASE STAND AND JOIN ME IN SAYING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. >> >> THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE AN APPROVAL OF OUR AGENDA. [APPROVAL OF AGENDA] I DO HAVE ONE CHANGE, ITEM NUMBER D, THE SCHOOL BOARD UPDATE SINCE WE HAVE OUR MEETING TONIGHT ON A TUESDAY NIGHT, AND WE HAD INVITED OUR SCHOOL BOARD REPRESENTATIVE TO BE HERE. SHE'S ACTUALLY AT THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. NORMALLY WE MEET ON MONDAYS, SO SHE WILL BE INVITED BACK AT OUR NEXT MEETING TO GIVE US A SCHOOL BOARD UPDATE. BESIDES THAT CHANGE, DOES THE COUNCIL HAVE ANY OTHER ADDITIONS OR CHANGES? THEN MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED? >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE A FIRST PLACE COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRINGS. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. NEXT, WE HAVE OUR PROCLAMATIONS, [PROCLAMATIONS, PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITION, ANNOUNCEMENTS, GUESTS] PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITION, ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND GUESS. FIRST IS SARIE ERICKSON. SARIE RHYMES WITH MARIE. [LAUGHTER] SARIE IS HERE FROM MISSIONS INC. PROGRAMS PROVIDING HOUSING, EMERGENCY SHELTER, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO DOMESTIC ABUSE SURVIVORS, AND THOSE SEEKING RECOVERY FROM SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS. THEY OFFER A COLLABORATIVE AND SAFE COMMUNITY FOR CLIENTS TO HEAL AND TRANSFORM THEIR LIVES. SARIE, IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME UP TO THE PODIUM, AND YOU'VE BROUGHT A COUPLE OTHER PEOPLE WITH YOU. WE'RE SO GLAD YOU'RE HERE TODAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US. >> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS SARAH BUSCH. I AM THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH MANAGER FOR MISSIONS, INC. PROGRAMS. WE'RE HERE TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR SERVICES, PARTICULARLY THOSE THAT WE OFFER IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS. MISSIONS, INC. PROGRAMS IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT WAS FOUNDED IN 1895 TO ADDRESS THE GROWING ISSUE OF MEN WHO WOULD BE WORKING IN OUTSTATE MINNESOTA DURING THE SPRING SUMMER AND FALL AND THEN WOULD END UP BACK IN MINNEAPOLIS HOMELESS DURING THE WINTER. THE ORGANIZATION WAS FOUNDED TO PROVIDE THEM WITH HOUSING AND MEALS AND SUPPORT, PARTICULARLY AROUND ISSUES LIKE ALCOHOLISM. IN THE LAST 130 YEARS, WE'VE CHANGED A LOT BUT KEPT THAT CORE MISSION. NOW WE ARE LOCATED IN PLYMOUTH PRIMARILY. THAT'S WHERE OUR HEADQUARTERS IS. WE HAVE EIGHT PROGRAMS AROUND ISSUES OF HOUSING, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER. WE HAVE A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER AND LEGAL ADVOCACY PROGRAM, WE HAVE A DETOX AND WITHDRAWAL MANAGEMENT CENTER WHERE FOLKS WHO ARE ACUTELY INTOXICATED FROM DRUGS OR ALCOHOL CAN SAFELY GO THROUGH WITHDRAWAL OR DETOXIFICATION FROM THOSE SUBSTANCES. WE ALSO HAVE A PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN. WE JUST OPENED THAT IN ST. LOUIS PARK. THEN WE ALSO HAVE FOUR SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS IN RECOVERY FROM SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER. WE OPENED UP OUR MOST RECENT ONE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS CALLED MISSION HEIGHTS. I FIRST JUST WANT TO EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE FOR THE SUPPORT WE'VE RECEIVED FROM THE CITY COUNCIL AND ESPECIALLY THE MAYOR, AS WE'VE OPENED THAT PROGRAM ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO. TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT MISSION HEIGHTS, I HAVE SARIE AND ANDREW. >> HELLO, I'M SARIE ERICKSON. I'M THE PROGRAM MANAGER OF MISSION HEIGHT SUPPORT OF HOUSING. WE ARE A 14 BEDROOM SINGLE BED FACILITY. >> COULD YOU BE CLOSER TO THE MICROPHONE? >> YES. >> THANK YOU. >> WE HAVE 14 RESIDENTS WITH BACKGROUNDS OF MENTAL HEALTH AND/OR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER DIAGNOSIS. WHILE RESIDENTS ARE IN OUR PROGRAM, WE ASK THAT THEY DO AT LEAST FIVE MEETINGS [00:05:02] OR ACTIVITIES THAT ARE IMPORTANT FOR THEIR RECOVERY. MOST OF OUR RESIDENTS ARE COMING FROM ERTZ FACILITIES, SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TREATMENTS, JAIL, AND CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS AND ONE OF OUR RESIDENTS ANDREW IS HERE TO SHARE THIS EXPERIENCE. >> WELCOME, ANDREW. >> HELLO. MY NAME IS ANDREW. I LIVE HERE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MISSION HEIGHTS. BEFORE THAT, AROUND FIVE YEARS AGO, I LOST MY CHILDREN DUE TO MY ALCOHOLISM AND MY MENTAL HEALTH. I WAS COPING WITH MY MENTAL HEALTH, WITH MY ALCOHOL AND NOT TAKING CARE OF MYSELF, NOT IN MEDICINE, NOT IN THERAPY. I THEN SPIRALED DOWNWARD INTO FURTHER DRUG ADDICTION AND WAS SINCE THEN ABLE TO GET SOBER, BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO FIND STABLE LIVING WITH MISSION HEIGHTS THAT I WAS REALLY ABLE TO START TO THRIVE. I'VE BEEN SOBER ABOUT FOUR YEARS, BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL RECENTLY I ACTUALLY STARTED AA AND I GO TO AA ALMOST EVERY DAY AND IT'S A BIG PART OF MY LIFE. IT'S REALLY BECAUSE OF THE STABILITY THAT I RECEIVED FROM BEING IN MISSION HEIGHTS THAT HAS MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE FOR ME AND I'M ON MY WAY TO RECOVERY IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS. I HAVE A REGULAR ROUTINE OF THERAPY AND MEDICINE AND A CARE PROGRAM THAT I HAVE FOR MYSELF THAT IS GENERALLY AROUND MY RECOVERY. BUT NOW THAT I AM IN AA AND MADE THAT A REGULAR PART OF MY LIFE, AND I HAVE STABILITY, I HAVE HOPE THAT I HAVEN'T HAD IN A LOT OF YEARS, AND I'M ON MY WAY BACK TO REUNITING WITH MY CHILDREN. [APPLAUSE]. >> NICE. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US. >> THANK YOU, ANDREW, FOR SHARING AND BEING SO BRAVE TO SHARE YOUR STORY WITH US. I KNOW FROM ME PERSONALLY, WE KNOW WHEN YOU SEE PEOPLE, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT EVERYONE'S EXPERIENCES ARE. SO MANY PEOPLE WERE NODDING ALONG WITH YOU WHILE YOU WERE TALKING AND I FEEL LIKE PEOPLE'S HEARTS ARE WITH YOU, SUPPORTING. WE'RE SO GLAD TO HAVE MISSION HEIGHTS HERE AS WELL. I KNOW I'VE COME IN AND SPOKE, AND CONGRESSWOMAN OMAR CAME IN AND SHARED STORIES OF HOW WE CAN GROW, AND LOOKING FOR THE HELPERS IS REALLY WHAT I'M ALWAYS LOOKING FOR AS WELL. WE'RE SO GLAD YOU'RE HERE, AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING. YOU CAN ALWAYS REACH OUT IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE CAN DO FOR YOU HERE. I DID HEAR COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS WOULD LIKE TO SHARE SOMETHING. >> I'M VERY, VERY PROUD OF YOU. IT TAKES A LOT OF COURAGE TO DO WHAT YOU'RE DOING, AND YOU'VE DEVELOPED A GREAT SAFETY NET. I WORK IN THE SUBSTANCE USE FIELD, SO I KNOW HOW DIFFICULT IT IS AND CAN BE AND YOU HAVE MADE GREAT STRIDES ONE DAY AT A TIME. KEEP IT GOING. [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU, AND THANKS FOR COMING IN TODAY AND SHARING. WE HAVE A VERY LOVING AUDIENCE HERE TODAY BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME REALLY WONDERFUL PROCLAMATIONS TO SHARE, WHICH WILL TAKE US TO OUR NEXT PROCLAMATION, WHICH IS FOR HOMELESSNESS AWARENESS MONTH AND I WILL READ THE PROCLAMATION HERE. HOMELESSNESS AWARENESS MONTH FOR NOVEMBER HAS BEEN OBSERVED NATIONWIDE TO SPOTLIGHT THE CHALLENGES INDIVIDUALS AND THE FAMILIES FACE WITHOUT STABLE HOUSING. IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, WE RECOGNIZE THE URGENT NEED TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS AND THE SEVERE IMPACT OF THE SHORTAGE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHICH DIRECTLY AFFECTS MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS. THIS PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZES THE COMPLEX REASONS BEHIND HOUSING AND STABILITY, INCLUDING THE LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ECONOMIC HARDSHIPS, AND LIMITED ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. THESE FACTORS CREATE SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS FOR INDIVIDUALS SEEKING STABLE HOUSING. COLUMBIA HEIGHTS IS ACTIVELY EXPLORING COLLABORATIVE SOLUTIONS TO EXPAND AFFORDABLE, SAFE, AND SUSTAINABLE HOUSING OPTIONS FOR ALL. WE ACKNOWLEDGE AND DEEPLY APPRECIATE THE DEDICATED WORK OF LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND ADVOCATES WHO PROVIDE CRITICAL SERVICES, EMERGENCY SHELTER, SUPPORTIVE PROGRAMS, [00:10:01] AND FOOD SECURITY TO OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN NEED. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE TIRELESS EFFORTS OF THE LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, ANOKA COUNTY, AND THE MANY VOLUNTEERS WHO BRING RELIEF AND HOPE TO OUR NEIGHBORS. THEREFORE, I AMADA MARQUEZ SIMULA, MAYOR OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, PROCLAIM NOVEMBER 2024 TO BE HOMELESSNESS AWARENESS MONTH IN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, COUNTY OF ANOKA, STATE OF MINNESOTA, USA. [APPLAUSE] TONIGHT JOINING US IS QUITA CURTIS FROM THE SALVATION ARMY, AND THEN SHE IS ACCEPTING THE PROCLAMATION AND I WILL MEET YOU UP HERE WITH THE PROCLAMATION. [BACKGROUND] >> SHARE AT THE MICROPHONE HERE ABOUT YOUR SERVICE WITH OUR COMMUNITY. >> EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS GOING TO SHARE YET. [LAUGHTER] >>YES. WELL, I'M SURPRISED THE CHIEF DIDN'T SHARE THAT. >> NO, HE SHARED EVERYTHING BUT THAT. BUT I DO WORK GOOD UNDER PRESSURE. I'M STREET OUTREACH. >> YES, YOU DO. IF YOU WANT TO SHARE A FEW THINGS IN THE MICROPHONE AND THEN I WOULD LOVE IF THE GROUP WANTS TO COME UP, WE CAN DO A GREAT DISPLAY. >> THANK YOU BECAUSE MY GROUP CAME. [OVERLAPPING]. >> YES, I LOVE IT. >> HI, YOU GUYS. MY NAME IS QUITA CURTIS. I GET THE PLEASURE OF WORKING IN NEW GAZA CITY AS YOUR STREET OUTREACH. I'M CURRENTLY THE SALVATION ARMY. I ACTUALLY MET YOU GUYS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. YOU GUYS HAVE A LOT OF HOMELESS PEOPLE OUT HERE. I DO WELL WITH THE HOMELESS POPULATION. I MEET INDIVIDUALS WHERE THEY ARE AT. I'M NOT THERE TO JUDGE, I'M NOT THERE TO DISCRIMINATE. I DO HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH BACKGROUND ALSO, SO I DO THINK I'M A THREAT ON THE STREETS. I'M SORRY, IN A GOOD WAY. [LAUGHTER] I HAVE GREAT CO-WORKERS. I MEET GREAT INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE HOMELESS, UNSTABLE HOUSING. EVEN THAT TERMINOLOGY HOMELESS, I DON'T USE THAT. I REFER TO THEM AS MY FOLKS. WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, IF YOU CAN SEE TONIGHT, MY FOLKS ACTUALLY SHOWED UP AND SHOWED OUT FOR ME. IT'S STILL THE POINT WHERE MY MANAGER, SUE ROSENTHA, L I GET THE PLEASURE WORKING ALONG WITH HER. I REPORT TO JOHNSON. I CANNOT PRONOUNCE HIS LAST NAME. THIS IS PROBABLY NOT THE BEST SITUATION, BUT HEY, IT'S A PLEASURE WORKING WITH MY WHOLE SALVATION ARMY FAMILY. I DO MEET INDIVIDUALS ON THE STREET WHERE THEY'RE AT. WITH THAT BEING SAID, I HAVE MEALS, I HAVE HOT ITEMS, I HAVE TANGIBLE THINGS TO BE ABLE TO OFFER PEOPLE REAL LIFETIME AND AGAIN, THAT'S WHERE I MEET FOLKS WHERE THEY'RE AT. OUT OF ALL THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM, THAT I ACTUALLY DID ASK SOMEONE TO SPEAK FOR ME LAST MINUTE. AGAIN, I WORK GOOD UNDER PRESSURE. IT'S TO THE POINT WHERE THE LONGEST-RUNNING PERSON IN THIS ROOM, EVEN OLDER THAN MY KIDS, WHO KNOWS ME, IS ACTUALLY MY AFRICAN-AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER, MR. ROY MAGNUSSON, COMING OUT OF RAMSEY COUNTY. HE WANTS TO GET ME EVERY DAY TO RAMSEY COUNTY, BUT I'M HERE WITH YOU GUYS. I WOULD LIKE FOR HIM TO SAY A COUPLE OF WORDS ON MY BEHALF BECAUSE HE'S GREAT WITH PRESENTATIONS, TOO. >> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU, MAYOR, THANK YOU, CITY COUNCIL, THANK YOU, CHIEF. MY NAME IS ROY MAGNUSSON. I WAS QUITA'S TEACHER, COMO PARK SENIOR HIGH. I TAUGHT 20 SEMESTERS OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY IN THE '90S AND 2000S. I WAS A SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER. I TAUGHT OTHER CLASSES. QUITA AND I STAYED IN SOME CONTACT, AND THEN WE RECONNECTED DURING COVID WHEN I WENT TO WORK FOR RAMSEY COUNTY SHERIFF BOB FLETCHER, AS HIS PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER, BUT PRIMARILY AS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, PRIMARILY SOUTH OF LARPENTER, WHICH, IF YOU KNOW, YOUR GEOGRAPHY IS CODE FOR THE CITY. WHEN COVID HIT, AND PEOPLE LOST EMPLOYMENT, PEOPLE'S HOUSING BECAME AN ISSUE, MORE SO THAN BEFORE WE WERE ABLE OUR CREW IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TO WORK WITH THE SANTA FOUNDATION, SECOND HARVEST, AND A BUNCH OF ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE MEALS ON A REGULAR BASIS, AND THESE WERE COOKED MEALS, WHICH PART OF WHAT THE COVID MONEY DID, AND EVERYBODY HERE IS A FAN OF GOVERNMENT WORKING. GOVERNMENT HIRED, AMONG OTHER THINGS AT KAUFMAN UNION, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOOD SERVICE. THEY HIRED CALICO GIRLS COURTING. THEY HIRED A WHOLE BUNCH OF CATERING. THEY PROVIDED FULL MEALS AND QUITA WAS WORKING AT 700 SELBY, WHICH WAS A GROUP HOME, 13 UNITS, [00:15:03] AND SHE HAD A TRACK RECORD OF PEOPLE WOULD COME OFF THE STREET, AND I'VE SPENT ENOUGH TIME ON THE STREET, ENOUGH TIME IN THE ENCAMPMENTS, ENOUGH TIME ON THE TRAINS TO KNOW JUST HOW HARD IT IS FOR PEOPLE TO GO FROM THE STREET TO A PROGRAM AND THEN TO HOUSING. QUITA'S STRONGEST PLAYING CARD WAS SHE WAS ABLE TO GET PEOPLE AFTER NINE MONTHS TO A YEAR INTO SECTION 8 HOUSING, WHICH MEANT THEY HAD ALSO GAINED SOME STABILITY IN THEIR EMPLOYMENT, HAD CONQUERED SOME OF THEIR DEMONS AND THAT'S REALLY HARD TO DO. YOU'RE REALLY LUCKY TO HAVE HER OUT HERE IN ANOKA COUNTY. TO ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE BEHIND ME, QUITA WAS INVOLVED AS WE FOUNDED AND STARTED FROGTOWN RECOVERY CAFE, WHICH ALSO DEALS A LOT WITH PEOPLE COMING OFF OF UNIVERSITY AVENUE AND PROVIDE STABILITY. I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS GOING TO SPEAK, BUT I COULD TALK A LONG TIME SAYING VERY NICE THINGS ABOUT QUITA CURTIS AND THE ONLY OTHER THING I'LL SAY IS, I'M GLAD YOU RAN AWAY FROM NEW YORK CITY BACK HOME TO ST. PAUL. [LAUGHTER] THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> WELL, THANK YOU. HOW ABOUT WE ALL COME UP AND DO A PHOTO AND THEN, MS. [INAUDIBLE], I'D LOVE TO DO A PHOTO WITH YOU TOO BEFORE YOU WALK AWAY.[BACKGROUND] >> ONE, TWO, THREE. [OVERLAPPING] >> THANK YOU. [BACKGROUND] >> I WILL ALSO JUST SHARE BEFORE I SIT DOWN, SINCE I JUST ASKED PEOPLE, AND MAYBE, [INAUDIBLE] YOU KNOW WHAT WAS THE NEWS CHANNEL? BECAUSE YOU WERE IN THE NEWS TOO FOR DOING SUCH A GREAT JOB, OR WAS THAT THE NEWSPAPER? IS IT THE STAR TRIBUNE? >> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE NEWS NOW. [LAUGHTER] >> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU GET YOUR PROPS FOR ALL YOU'RE DOING AND THAT YOU'RE BEING RECOGNIZED NOT JUST HERE, BUT YOU'RE BEING RECOGNIZED FOR YOUR WORK, REALLY HELPING PEOPLE. I AGREE WITH THE WORDING TOO THAT I THINK PEOPLE WHO ARE, WHAT DO WE SAY, UNSTABLE HOUSING. ONE OF THE PROCLAMATION WORDING IS HOMELESSNESS AWARENESS, AND I ALSO THINK THE WORD IS NOT JUST SHOWING THE WHOLE STORY, SO I APPRECIATE YOU CALLING THAT OUT. BUT DID YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING ELSE? >> NO, BUT THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING. IT'S A PLEASURE TO WORK IN THIS COMMUNITY. [APPLAUSE] [BACKGROUND] >> HERE WE GO. ONE MORE. [00:20:22] >> WE HAVE ANOTHER PROCLAMATION, SO WE'LL BE DOING ANOTHER PHOTO. BUT IT'S GOOD TO SIT DOWN AND STAND UP. [NOISE] OUR NEXT ITEM IS THE NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE PROCLAMATION AND ALSO NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE DAY. MINNESOTA HAS BEEN HOME TO INDIGENOUS PEOPLES FOR OVER 10,000 YEARS. THE STATE HAS 11 TRIBAL NATIONS AND A RESILIENT URBAN NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITY. THE DAKOTA AND ANISHINAABE PEOPLES, ALONGSIDE OTHER INDIGENOUS NATIONS, SUCH AS THE HO-CHUNK, CHEYENNE, OTOE, IOWA, HIDATSA, AND ARIKARA, ARE CENTRAL TO THIS HISTORY AND OUR FUTURE. THESE LANDS ARE VITAL TO THEIR HERITAGE AND CONNECT US TO MINNESOTA'S MORE PROFOUND HISTORY AND STORY. NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE US AND THE FIRST NATIONS OF CANADA HAVE ENRICHED MINNESOTA'S SOCIAL, CULTURAL, AND ECONOMIC LANDSCAPE. INDIGENOUS VALUES CONTINUE TO INSPIRE MOVEMENTS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY. OUR HISTORY ALSO HOLDS A LEGACY OF BROKEN PROMISES AND HARDSHIP FOR INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES. CONFRONTING THIS PAST IS ESSENTIAL AS WE WORK TO ELIMINATE SYSTEMIC RACISM AND DISCRIMINATION. MINNESOTA RECENTLY UPDATED ITS STATE FLAG AND SEAL, REMOVING COLONIAL IMAGERY. THE NEW DESIGN INCLUDES 98 GOLDEN BARS, SYMBOLIZING THE 87 COUNTIES AND 11 FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED AMERICAN INDIAN TRIBES ALONGSIDE THE DAKOTA PHRASE MINI SOTA MAKOCE, MEANING LAND OF THE SKY-TINTED WATER. AS MAYOR OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, I, AMADA MARQUEZ SIMULA, PROCLAIM NOVEMBER 2024 AS NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH, AND I ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS TO CELEBRATE THE RICH HERITAGE OF INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES. ADDITIONALLY, NOVEMBER 29TH, 2024 IS RECOGNIZED AS NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE DAY, HONORING THE ENDURING LEGACY OF NATIVE PEOPLES IN OUR COMMUNITY AND STATE. [APPLAUSE] ATTENDING HERE FROM OUR COMMUNITY IS ELDER BRIAN JOHN FROM THE FOND DU LAC BAND OF LAKE SUPERIOR CHIPPEWA, WHO WILL ACCEPT THE PROCLAMATION. ELDER BRIAN? [APPLAUSE] >> GOOD TO GO. >> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> SHE HAS NO IDEA WHAT SHE JUST DID. [LAUGHTER] >> I'VE HEARD YOU SPEAK. I WANT TO HEAR IT. >> [LAUGHTER] [NOISE] [FOREIGN] AS INDIAN PEOPLE, WHEN WE COME INTO A COMMUNITY, WE INTRODUCE OURSELVES. WE HAVE OUR NAME, OUR CLAN, AND WHERE WE'RE FROM. I'M BRIAN JOHN. I'M A [INAUDIBLE] CLAN FROM THE FOND DU LAC RESERVATION IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA. IT IS AN HONOR TO BE ASKED TO SHOW UP HERE TONIGHT TO RECEIVE THIS PROCLAMATION. I DON'T KNOW IF I OWE THAT TO THE LUCK OF BEING THE NATIVE WHO LIVES CLOSEST TO CITY HALL OR NOT, BUT IT HAPPENS TO BE TONIGHT, AND I JUST ACCEPTED FOR ALL NATIVE PEOPLE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS IN MINNEAPOLIS AREA, STATE OF MINNESOTA. [00:25:03] THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU. WE ARE JUST SO BLESSED TO HAVE PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY WHO SHOW UP TO OUR MEETINGS. THIS IS OUR CITY COUNCIL, OUR COMMUNITY ROOM, AND IT'S JUST SO GREAT TO SEE PEOPLE THAT COME IN HERE AND SUPPORT ELDERS AND OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS DOING WORK HERE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL BEING HERE TONIGHT. APPRECIATE IT VERY, VERY MUCH. WE WILL NOW MOVE INTO OUR CONSENT AGENDA PART OF THE MEETING, WHICH IS A MORE BUSINESS PART. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO NOT STAY FOR THIS PART, YOU'RE WELCOME TO LEAVE, BUT YOU'RE WELCOME TO STAY. [LAUGHTER] I KNOW PEOPLE SOMETIMES ARE LIKE, I DON'T WANT TO BE RUDE. YES, THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE. IT'S HARD TO HAVE 40 PEOPLE LEAVE QUIETLY, SO FIGURE WE CAN GIVE EVERYONE SPACE AT THE SAME TIME. [LAUGHTER] NOW WE CAN HEAR THE CITY MANAGER MORE WHEN HE SHARES WITH US THE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. WE'LL TAKE US NEXT TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA AND ASK [CONSENT AGENDA] THE COUNCIL IF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONS OR QUESTIONS OR ITEMS TO POLL. SEEING AS NOT DONE, THE CITY MANAGER, PLEASE TAKE US THROUGH. >> THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. FIRST ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING IS APPROVAL OF THE OCTOBER 28TH, 2024 CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES. ITEM 2 IS ACCEPTANCE OF THE OCTOBER 2ND, 2024 LIBRARY BOARD MINUTES. ITEM 3 IS AN APPROVAL OF AN ACCESS AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF HILLTOP FOR WATER TOWER AMI INSTALLATION. WHAT THIS IS IS THE INSTALLATION OF RADIO EQUIPMENT ON HILLTOP'S WATER TOWER THAT COMMUNICATES WITH THE CITY'S WATER METERS, THE NEW WATER METERS THAT ARE ABOUT TO BE INSTALLED IN HOMES ACROSS THE CITY. A LITTLE MORE ON THAT IN THE MANAGER'S UPDATE. ITEM 4 IS ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION 2024-80, WHICH IS A RESOLUTION ORDERING PREPARATION OF A REPORT FOR THE 2025 ALLEY RECONSTRUCTION INITIATIVE. THE CITY'S SEEKING TO RECONSTRUCT UP TO SIX ALLEYS IN 2025. THE FIRST PART OF THE PROCESS, ACCORDING TO STATE STATUTE, IS TO PASS A RESOLUTION THAT CALLS FOR A REPORT THAT WILL OUTLINE THE NECESSITY, THE COST EFFECTIVENESS, AND THE FEASIBILITY OF THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED. ITEM 5 IS A CORRECTIVE RESOLUTION FOR A MINOR SUBDIVISION AT 5085 CENTRAL AVENUE. JUST A CLERICAL ERROR IN THE CITY'S RESOLUTION THAT AUTHORIZED APPROVAL OF A MINOR SUBDIVISION RELATED TO THE LEGAL DESCRIPTION JUST NEEDED TO BE CORRECTED. ITEM 6 IS THE LICENSE AGENDA FOR THE CITY, JUST OUTLINING BUSINESS LICENSES THAT ARE SEEKING APPROVAL AT THIS TERM. ITEM 7, THE SAME FOR RENTAL OCCUPANCY LICENSES. THEN FINALLY, ITEM 8 IS REVIEW OF THE BILLS FOR THIS PERIOD, WHICH IS TOTALING $2,623,192.90. >> THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR CLARIFICATIONS NEEDED? MAY I HAVE A MOTION THEN TO ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED? >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER SPRIGGS AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER JAMES TO ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED. WE'LL TAKE A MOMENT HERE. THAT'S OKAY. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER SPRIGGS AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER JAMES TO ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU. THAT TAKES US TO OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS. WE STILL HAVE A QUORUM, RIGHT? >> WE HAVE A MAJORITY AND A QUORUM. WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE. THANK YOU. >> I THOUGHT SO. WE'RE AT A PUBLIC HEARING FOR NUMBER 9. [PUBLIC HEARINGS] THIS IS CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION 2024-82, REVOCATION OF THE LICENSE TO OPERATE RENTAL UNITS WITHIN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AGAINST THE RENTAL PROPERTY AT 4308 4TH STREET NORTHEAST FOR FAILURE TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE RESIDENTIAL MAINTENANCE CODE. [00:30:01] TO PRESENT THIS ITEM, WE HAVE FIRE CHIEF DAN O'BRIEN, WHICH I WANT TO SAY, WELCOME. >> THANK YOU. >> YOUR FIRST TIME HERE AS FIRE CHIEF, NOT OUR ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF, SO CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. >> ON THE APPOINTMENT, AND THANK YOU. >> [NOISE] MADAM MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, WE'RE BASICALLY PRESENTING THIS LICENSE TO YOU TONIGHT FOR CONSIDERATION OF REVOCATION FOR FAILURE TO RENEW THE RENTAL OCCUPANCY LICENSE FOR THE PROPERTY. IN YOUR PACKET, YOU HAVE A COPY OF THE LICENSE RENEWAL NOTICE FOR AN EIGHT-UNIT APARTMENT BUILDING WE SENT TO THE LICENSE HOLDER, MR. JAMES CORTES, IN JULY OF THIS YEAR. THE NOTICE STATES THE NECESSARY STEPS TO THE LICENSE HOLDER TO RENEW THE RENTAL LICENSE. THOSE STEPS ARE COMPLETION OF AN APPLICATION, PAYMENT OF LICENSE FEES, AND TO CALL AND SCHEDULE AN INSPECTION OF THE PROPERTY PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF THE LICENSE ON AUGUST 31ST OF 2024. ON SEPTEMBER 6TH, OUR OFFICE DID AN EVALUATION, AND THE LICENSING HAD NOT BEEN COMPLETED. WE SENT A STATEMENT OF CAUSE AND SCHEDULED THE LICENSE FOR A NON-REMOVAL PUBLIC HEARING FOR REVOCATION AT THE SEPTEMBER 23RD MEETING. I CANCELED THE REVOCATION HEARING TO RESEARCH SOME CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING OWNERSHIP OF THE PROPERTY. SEPTEMBER 20TH, MR. CORTES CAME INTO THE OFFICE AND EXPLAINED THAT HE STILL OWNED THE PROPERTY AND THAT HE AND HIS TWO CHILDREN WERE LIVING IN THE PROPERTY AND HE HAD NO OTHER TENANTS. I EXPLAINED TO HIM AT THE TIME THAT HE COULD CONVERT THE RENTAL LICENSE TO A FAMILY-EXEMPT RENTAL LICENSE AND SENT HIM ON HIS WAY WITH A FAMILY EXEMPTION APPLICATION AND INSTRUCTIONS TO SUBMIT AND COMPLETE THE RENEWAL PROCESS BY OCTOBER 11TH. MR. CORTES NEVER APPLIED FOR THE APPLICATION, NEVER SCHEDULED THE REQUIRED INSPECTION OR PAID THE FEES FOR RENEWAL OF THE RENTAL LICENSE. ON OCTOBER 16TH, OUR RECORDS INDICATED THAT HE HADN'T FAILED TO DO THAT, AND SO WE SENT ANOTHER STATEMENT OF CAUSE, RE-NOTIFYING ALL THE TENANTS AND THE PROPERTY OWNERS OF THIS MEETING THIS EVENING. THE NOTICE STATED THAT TO RENEW THE LICENSE, HE HAD THE DROP-DEAD DATE, BASICALLY, OF NOVEMBER 1ST TO RENEW, AND THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED, SO HERE WE ARE THIS EVENING. IF REVOKED, IT WOULD BE THE ONLY REVOCATION THE OWNER HAS HAD IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS, WHICH MAKES HIM ELIGIBLE TO RE-ACQUIRE A NEW LICENSE. >> THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? YES, COUNCILMEMBER SPRIGGS. >> JUST ONE GENERAL QUESTION, NOT SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THIS PROPERTY, BUT FOR FAMILY-EXEMPT LICENSES, DO THEY STILL HAVE TO UNDERGO YEARLY INSPECTIONS? >> YES. THEY'RE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT, BUT WE DO, YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER JAMES. >> RELATED TO THAT, IF A PROPERTY LOSES ITS RENTAL LICENSE, IT'S STILL OWNED BY SOMEONE, IT SAYS THAT OCCUPANCY IS UNLAWFUL TO OCCUPY, WOULDN'T THEY JUST BE ABLE TO OCCUPY AS OWNER? >> THE PROPERTY OWNER CAN. HE CAN LIVE THERE ON SITE, BUT NO ONE ELSE CAN, SO THE CHILDREN THAT ARE OCCUPYING OTHER UNITS OF THE PROPERTY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE THERE. >> THANK YOU. THERE'S BEEN NO OTHER ADDITIONAL INFORMATION? >> HE HAS NOT CONTACTED OUR OFFICE SINCE I SPOKE WITH HIM ON THE 20TH. >> OF OCTOBER? >> OF SEPTEMBER. >> SEPTEMBER. OCTOBER 15TH WAS THE LAST SOMETHING WAS SENT. [OVERLAPPING] >> HE HAD TILL NOVEMBER 1ST TO ACTUALLY GET AHOLD OF US AND TAKE SOME ACTION. >> THEY'RE NOT HERE IN THE CHAMBERS THIS EVENING OR ATTENDING VIRTUALLY. THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING, THOUGH, SO I WILL OPEN THIS UP TO THE PUBLIC. MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE AVAILABLE. IF ANYONE HAS ANY COMMENT ON ITEM NUMBER 9. AGAIN, I WILL JUST REPEAT THAT THERE IS NO ONE HERE PHYSICALLY IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, AND THEN I'M CHECKING WITH THE CITY CLERK THAT THERE IS NO ONE VIRTUALLY ATTENDING. SHE IS SAYING NO. THEN, MAY I HAVE A MOTION THEN TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? >> MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND WAIVE THE READING OF 2024-82, THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. >> SECOND. >> I'VE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE? >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. NEXT, MAY I HAVE A MOTION THEN TO ADOPT. >> MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2024-82, BEING A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, APPROVING THE REVOCATION PURSUANT TO CITY CODE OF THE RENTAL LICENSE LISTED. >> SECOND. >> I'VE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION APPROVING THE REVOCATION. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE? >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU. NEXT, WE ARE AT ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION. [ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION] [00:35:02] WE HAVE ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS UNDER ITEM NUMBER 10, CONSIDERATION OF A RENTAL LICENSE EXEMPTION FOR 4302 2ND STREET NORTHEAST. TO TAKE US THROUGH THIS ITEM IS OUR CITY PLANNER ANDREW BOUCHER. >> THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. CITY COUNCIL, TODAY, YOU HAVE A CONSIDERATION OF A RENTAL LICENSE EXEMPTION FOR 4302 2ND STREET NORTHEAST. THIS IS ACTUALLY AN EXEMPTION THAT YOU GUYS HAVE PREVIOUSLY SEEN. THE THREE MONTHS EXPIRED. THEY DIDN'T INITIALLY REALIZE THAT THERE WAS A THREE MONTH TIME LIMIT, BUT THEY ARE NOT CURRENTLY TRYING TO RENT OUT THE PROPERTY. THEY WERE TRYING TO MAKE SOME IMPROVEMENTS, REPLACE A FURNACE/AIR CONDITIONER, WHICH PASSED INSPECTION AND JUST DO SOME GENERAL CLEANING AND UPKEEP OF THE PROPERTY PRIOR TO PURSUING THE EXEMPTION. ON JULY 22ND, THEY INITIALLY REACHED OUT TO US REQUESTING THE EXEMPTION. THEY REACHED OUT TO US AGAIN ON OCTOBER 29TH, ATTACHED AS THE LETTER THAT STAFF RECEIVED. AS I MENTIONED, THE PREVIOUS RENTAL EXEMPTION EXPIRED, AND THE PROPERTY OWNER REQUIRES CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL OF AN ADDITIONAL EXEMPTION. THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED ON BLOCK 19 WITH THREE SINGLE-FAMILY RENTALS OUT OF 24 TOTAL SINGLE-FAMILY UNITS, AND ALLOTMENT OF TWO SINGLE-FAMILY RENTALS. ITS THE HOME OWNER'S RIGHT TO APPEAL TO THE COUNCIL, AND STAFF BROUGHT FORTH THE APPEAL ALONG WITH THE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS FOR DISCUSSION AND REVIEW. IF APPROVED RESOLUTION 2024-083 WOULD GRANT A TEMPORARY RENTAL LICENSE EXEMPTION WITH A FEW ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS THAT THE OWNER HAS TO COMPLETE THE LICENSURE PROCESS IN THREE MONTHS, PUTS A LIMIT ON HOW LONG THEY CAN TAKE TO BRING THE HOUSE INTO COMPLIANCE. THEY CAN APPLY FOR NO MORE THAN TWO CONSECUTIVE TEMPORARY LICENSES, AND NO PROPERTY OWNER CAN HOLD THAT TEMPORARY LICENSE MORE THAN THOSE TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS. I DO HAVE THE APPLICANT ON TEAMS IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO SHARE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. >> THANK YOU. WOULD THE COUNCIL LIKE TO HEAR APPLICANT? SURE. IF THE APPLICANT WOULD LIKE TO UNMUTE AND TURN ON THEIR CAMERA, WE WOULD JUST ASK IF YOU WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS. WE DO HAVE YOUR LETTER IN FRONT OF US AS WELL. >> BARB, IF YOU WANT, PARTICIPATE, UNMUTE YOUR MIC. AWESOME. >> THERE YOU ARE. WE CAN SEE YOU NOW. >> BARB, DO YOU WANT TO TRY SPEAKING SO WE CAN? >> I CAN'T HEAR YOU. >> WELL, I APOLOGIZE FOR THE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES. IT'S PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD. THEY JUST NEEDED SOME ADDITIONAL TIME TO BRING THE PROPERTY UP TO CODE. THE WORK THAT THEY HAD CONDUCTED, THEY APPLIED FOR A PERMIT AND THAT HAS PASSED INSPECTION. THAT HAS CLOSED OUT. I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE. >> SOUNDS GOOD. I DON'T HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU FOR ASSEMBLING ALL THE INFORMATION AND BARB, WE DID SEE YOU ON THE CAMERA, SORRY, THAT'S NOT TECHNICALLY WORKING, BUT WE KNOW WE TALKED WITH YOU LAST TIME, SO IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN. DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? >> I JUST HAD ONE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES. >> THIS IS MORE OF A QUESTION FOR ANDREW, BUT I NOTICED IN THE PACKET THAT THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT SHORT TERM RENTALS AS WELL. IT'S SAME PROCESS OF LICENSING FOR SHORT OR LONG, IS THAT CORRECT? >> CORRECT. IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT BECAUSE OF THE BACKGROUND CHECK COMPONENT, WE DON'T NECESSARILY ALLOW SHORT TERM RENTALS, IS THAT CORRECT? >> YES. >> THAT WAS WHAT I WAS GOING TO GO NEXT, BUT FOR REGULAR RENTALS WITH A BACKGROUND CHECK AND A LEASE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, THEN, IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD THEN. MAY I HAVE A MOTION THEN TO WAIVE THE READING? >> MOVE TO WAIVE THE READING OF RESOLUTION 2024-083, THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES TO WAIVE THE READING. [00:40:01] ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE? >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. NEXT I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION. >> MOVE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2024-083. A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE SINGLE-FAMILY RENTAL EXEMPTION REQUEST FOR THE RENTAL APPLICATION AT 4302 2ND STREET NORTHEAST, COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA 55421. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, THEN ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE? >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THEN MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER 11. FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 1707, AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 3, ADMINISTRATIVE CODE, ARTICLE IV, ADMINISTRATIVE OFFENSES. OUR CITY PLANNER ANDREW BOUCHER WILL TAKE US THROUGH THIS ITEM. >> THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. CITY COUNCIL, YOU HAVE A FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE 1707, AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 3 ADMINISTRATIVE CODE, ARTICLE IV, ADMINISTRATIVE OFFENSES. AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN DOING SOME WORK TO ESTABLISH A ADMINISTRATIVE CITATION AND HEARING PROGRAM. PART OF THAT PROCESS IS TO CREATE A PROCESS FOR EVALUATING AND APPROVING A HEARING EXAMINER. IT'S LIKE A JUDGE, BUT NOT NECESSARILY SOMEONE WHO HAS TO BE TRAINED IN LEGAL OR IN LAW. THEY JUST HAVE TO BE FAMILIAR WITH THE LEGAL PROCESS. THIS IS ONE OF TWO CODE AMENDMENTS THAT ARE TO BE CONSIDERED AT THIS MEETING. THE OTHER IS A ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 9, LAND USE. CHAPTER 6 OF THE CHARTER EXPLICITLY STATES, CITY MANAGER HAS THE AUTHORITY TO PREPARE AND SUBMIT TO COUNCIL FOR ADOPTION AN ADMINISTRATIVE CODE TO SET A PROCEDURE FOR EVALUATING AND PRESENTING A LIST OF QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS FOR CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER BEFORE APPROVING SELECTED PEOPLE TO SERVE AS A HEARING EXAMINER. AS I MENTIONED, THESE INDIVIDUALS SHOULD BE TRAINED IN LAW OR HAVE SOME FAMILIARITY WITH THESE SETTINGS, BUT IT'S NOT REQUIRED TO BE LICENSED TO PRACTICE LAW IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA. THESE INDIVIDUALS CANNOT BE CITY EMPLOYEES OR HAVE ANY OTHER CONNECTION TO THE CITY, OTHER THAN TO SERVE AS A HEARING EXAMINER, AND THEY'RE REQUIRED TO BE COMPENSATED ON A PER CASE BASIS PURSUANT TO THE CITY'S FEE SCHEDULE. WE AMENDED THAT AT A PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETING ALONG WITH THE PREVIOUS AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 3. THIS IS JUST PART OF THE PROCESS THAT WE NEED TO FLUSH OUT IN ORDER TO MOVE THE PROGRAM FORWARD. WITH THAT BEING SAID, STAFF PROPOSES UPDATING THE EXISTING ORDINANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING AMENDMENTS. NUMBER 1 IS JUST CHANGING THE NUMBER SET TO REFLECT THE INCLUSION OF 3.505 HEARING EXAMINER EVALUATION PROCEDURE. THEN THE SUBSEQUENT SECTIONS WILL JUST BE RE-NUMBERED TO ACCOUNT FOR THAT INCLUSION. NUMBER 2 IS TO AMEND 3.504, ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS TO ALLOW FOR ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION, SATISFY WRITTEN COMMUNICATION REQUIREMENTS EXCEPT WHEN THINGS NEED TO BE MAILED OUT, LIKE THE NOTICE OF SCHEDULED HEARING AND THE NOTICE OF THE HEARING EXAMINER DECISION. THOSE WILL BE MAILED OUT JUST BECAUSE THAT IS A REQUIREMENT IN THE ORDINANCE, BUT THE INCLUSION OF ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION ALLOWS US FOR MORE TIMELY, PROMPT COMMUNICATION AND JUST SPEED THINGS ALONG IDEALLY. OTHER AMENDMENTS INCLUDE CHANGING THE HEARING EXAMINER FROM BEING ASSIGNED RANDOMLY TO DETERMINING THE BEST SUITED EXAMINER TO HEAR A CASE. CERTAIN TOPICS MAY REQUIRE EXPERTISE, OR IF WE HAVE SPANISH SPEAKING INDIVIDUALS OR PEOPLE WHO SPEAK A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE, I THINK THAT CHANGING THAT LANGUAGE FROM RANDOMLY TO BEST SUITED JUST ALLOWS FOR A FAIR AND EQUITABLE PROCESS. ANOTHER CHANGE IS SETTING THE MEETING SCHEDULED TO MONDAY-FRIDAY DURING BUSINESS HOURS, ALLOWING THE CITY CLERK'S DESIGNEE TO FULFILL CERTAIN RESPONSIBILITIES AS NECESSARY. THIS WAS JUST SOME FEEDBACK THAT I HAD FROM OTHER STAFF THAT ARE GOING TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS. WE CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT WE NEEDED TO CHANGE IT FROM 08:00 AM-8:00 PM TO BUSINESS HOURS JUST SO THAT WE COULD ATTRACT THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WOULD BE BEST SUITED TO SERVE IN THESE ROLES. THEN THE LAST AMENDMENT IS ESTABLISHING 3.505 AS HEARING EXAMINER EVALUATION PROCEDURE, INCLUDING SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS, GENERAL, AND DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS, A PROCEDURE FOR EVALUATING AND APPROVING THESE INDIVIDUALS, AND HOW THE CITY CAN TAKE STEPS TO ENSURE THE PROGRAM CONTINUES TO REFLECT THE NEEDS OF [00:45:03] THE RESIDENTS BY PRIORITIZING ACCESSIBILITY TO NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING RESIDENTS THROUGH INTERPRETERS, TRANSLATED MATERIALS, AND UTILIZING COMMUNITY CHANNELS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND TRUSTED COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AS WELL AS POSTING FORMS AND MEETINGS TO PROVIDE AN OUTLET FOR PARTICIPANTS AND RESIDENTS TO COMMENT ON THE PROCESS. THE ONLY OTHER ITEM THAT WILL REQUIRE FUTURE ACTION FROM CITY COUNCIL IS EVALUATING AND APPROVING THAT LIST OF INDIVIDUALS AFTER THEY'VE BEEN INTERVIEWED. >> THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS WORK. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE CHANGES. I'M WONDERING ABOUT THE EVALUATION OF THE THIRD PART. I'M READING THROUGH ABOUT THE EVALUATION PROCEDURE WILL BE CREATED OR HASN'T YET. THE ASSESSMENT, WHO'S DOING THAT? >> MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT WOULD BE THE CITY COUNCIL. YOU GUYS WOULD HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY WITH EVALUATING AND APPROVING THOSE INDIVIDUALS, DECIDING IF THEY ARE MEETING THE MANDATE OF THE PROGRAM. >> I MEAN THE SECOND HALF, NOT APPROVING THEM THE ASSESSMENT SIDE. >> I REALLY DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE A ROLE IN THAT NECESSARILY JUST BECAUSE I WOULD BE CONDUCTING SOME OF THE ENFORCEMENT. I THINK IT WOULD BE SOME COMBINATION OF YOU GUYS AND THEN ADMINISTRATION HAMMERING OUT THAT EVALUATION. I SEE IT BEING SIMILAR TO THE BOARDS AND COMMISSION APPLICATIONS. >> I'M LOOKING AT PAGE 97(E), EVALUATED DEVELOPED METRICS TO ASSESS PERFORMANCE. WONDERFUL, WE CAN WORK ON DEVELOPING WHAT THOSE METRICS WOULD BE. MY QUESTION IS JUST GOING TO BE WHO IS LOOKING AT THOSE? IS IT THE CITY MANAGER, WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY OR IS THAT A COUNCIL? WHO LOOKS AT THOSE METRICS? >> I WOULD SAY IT WOULD BE A COMBINATION OF THOSE. >> IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU'D LIKE MORE INFORMATION ON, DO YOU THINK? WHICH LETTER IS THIS AGAIN ON PAGE 97? >> LETTER E. THIS IS AFTER THEY'RE AN EXAM. >> USING DEVELOPED METRICS. SORRY. YOU SAID THIS IS AFTER? >> THANK YOU. I WAS JUST SAYING WE WILL I KNOW THE CITY COUNCIL IS LISTED IN THIS ORDINANCE AS SELECTING THOSE INDIVIDUALS. I WONDER IF IT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO DESIGNATE AT THIS TIME WHO WOULD EVALUATE THOSE INDIVIDUALS. IF SO, I CAN MOVE THAT THAT WOULD BE A CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY OPPORTUNITY. I JUST THINK IT SHOULD BE CLARIFIED WHO'S DOING THE ASSESSMENT. >> COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS? >> NOTHING SPECIFICALLY. I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT, THOUGH, JUST TO HAVE THAT LAID OUT IN THE POLICY ITSELF, JUST TO BE SPECIFIC OF WHO IS DOING THE EVALUATIONS. >> CAN I ASK THE CITY MANAGER IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD OR THE CITY ATTORNEY TO THAT SPECIFICATION? >> I'M FINE WITH THAT DESIGNATION, BUT I WOULD DEFER TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, IS THERE A NEED TO SEPARATE THE CITY MANAGER FROM THE SELECTION PROCESS OF THE EXAMINERS? >> MY EXPERIENCE ON THIS IS THE CITY HE HAS GOT A PRETTY ROBUST EFFORT AT FINDING HEARING OFFICERS. I THINK OUR AVAILABLE POOL MAY NOT BE AS BROAD AS ONE WOULD HOPE, JUST GIVEN THE QUALIFICATIONS ON THIS. I LOOKED AT THIS AND I ENVISION THIS AS BEING SOMETHING THAT THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY WOULD REVIEW. IT IS GOING TO BE SUBJECT TO, I THINK SOME PRETTY DEFINED METRICS, SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO OUT AND HIRE OUR COUSINS WHO DON'T NEED ANY OF THESE ANYWAY. IT'S ONE WHERE CITY MANAGER OR CITY ATTORNEY WOULD DO THAT INITIAL REVIEW, AND OBVIOUSLY THE COUNCIL HAS THE FINAL AUTHORITY ON THEM. I THINK THAT'S AN EXCELLENT APPROACH ON THIS. >> WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT? >> I LIKE THAT. I'LL OFFICIALLY MOVE THEN TO ADD THE WORDS TO BE EVALUATED AND THEN INSERT BY THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY TO LETTER E. >> THAT SOUNDS GOOD WITH ME TO ADD. >> PROBABLY NEED A SECOND. >> OR ARE YOU MAKING A MOTION? >> I MOVE TO ADD THAT AMENDMENT BEFORE. SOMETIMES I THINK YOU CAN ADD THE AMENDMENT BEFORE YOU VOTE ON THE WHOLE THING. >> THEY SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOTION THEN TO ADD THE WORDING ON PAGE 97, LETTER E TO BE PERFORMANCES OF THESE HEARING EXAMINERS SHALL BE EVALUATED BY THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY WILL BE ADDED. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THAT MOTION HAS PASSED TO ADD [00:50:04] THAT WORDING AS AN AMENDMENT TO THE ORDINANCE. IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, THEN I WILL ASK FOR A MOTION TO WAIVE THE REST OF THE READING. >> MOVE TO WAIVE THE READING OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 1707 AS AMENDED THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. >> SECOND. >> MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER SPRIGGS AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER JAMES. IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS THOUGH TO MOVING THE READING? >> NO. >> ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. NEXT HAVE A MOTION THEN TO SET THE SECOND READING. >> MOVE TO SET THE SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 1707 AS AMENDED, BEING AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 3 ADMINISTRATIVE CODE, ARTICLE 5, ADMINISTRATIVE OFFENSES IN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS FOR NOVEMBER 25TH, 2024 AT APPROXIMATELY 6:00 P.M. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER SPRIGGS, AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER JACOBS TO SET THE SECOND READING FOR THE ORDINANCE THAT HAS BEEN AMENDED IN THE PRIOR MOTION TO THE NEXT MEETING. OR THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR THEN, SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THE SECOND MEETING WILL THEN BE SET AND THAT PASSES. NEXT, WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER 12, THE FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 1708, AND ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 9 LAND USE, 9.104, ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT. AGAIN, WE WILL HEAR FROM OUR CITY PLANNER ANDREW BOUCHER. >> THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. CITY COUNCIL, TODAY WE HAVE THE SECOND OF THE TWO AMENDMENTS TO ORDINANCE NUMBER 1708, AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 9 LAND USE. SIMILAR TO THE LAST ONE, THERE ARE JUST SOME THINGS AS WE HAVE DEVELOPED THIS PROGRAM THAT NEED TO BE INCLUDED. ONE OF THOSE AMENDMENTS IS TO GIVE THE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR THE ABILITY TO USE ADMINISTRATIVE CITATIONS AS A FORM OF ENFORCEMENT. THAT'S ALL THIS AMENDMENT IS. IS JUST TWEAKING THE LANGUAGE OF 9.104 ADMINISTRATION ENFORCEMENT. P3 VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES WITH THE FOLLOWING AMENDMENT TO ALLOW FOR THE USE OF ADMINISTRATIVE CITATIONS AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO ENFORCEMENT OF A MISDEMEANOR PROCESS THROUGH THE ANOKA COUNTY CRIMINAL COURT SYSTEM. JUST A HOUSEKEEPING ITEM. AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER, THERE WERE COMPONENTS OF THIS THAT JUST WERE REQUIRED TO BE FLESHED OUT A LITTLE FURTHER, AND THIS IS ONE OF THEM. I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU GUYS HAVE. >> ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COUNCILMEMBER JAMES. >> THANK YOU. I JUST HAVE SOME COMMENTS. I'M REALLY IN FAVOR OF THIS. I ALSO WANTED TO NOTE I KNOW SOME PEOPLE WERE ASKING ME ABOUT HOW THIS WOULD WORK, THAT THERE'S AN OPTION IN THIS PROGRAM THAT YOU CAN CHOOSE NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE CITATION AND GO INSTEAD THROUGH THE COUNTY COURT. IT DOES STATE IN HERE. YOU MAY HAVE A HIGHER FINE SCHEDULE AS A RESULT OF STATE SURCHARGES AND/OR CRIMINAL PENALTIES, BUT THAT WE AREN'T REMOVING ANYONE'S RIGHTS. WE'RE JUST ADDING ANOTHER OPTION SO I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. IT ALSO GIVES ALL OF OUR STAFF THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GET IT RESOLVED QUICKER AND GET IT DONE, BECAUSE I KNOW, AS A HOMEOWNER, IF I HAD FAILURE TO OBTAIN A PERMIT OR IMPROPERLY STORED TRASH CONTAINER, I'D WANT TO TAKE CARE OF IT RIGHT AWAY. I WOULDN'T WANT TO WAIT FOR THE JUDGE. I'M VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF THIS. >> THANK YOU. I HAVE SIMILAR THOUGHTS AND HEARD SIMILAR QUESTIONS. WE'RE ALL NODDING OUR HEADS UP HERE. ALL RIGHT, THEN. IF THERE'S NO MORE COMMENTS, THEN I HAVE A MOTION THEN TO WAIVE THE READING. >> MOVE TO WAIVE THE READING OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 1708, THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER JAMES AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER SPRIGGS TO WAIVE THE READING. SEEING NO DISCUSSION. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. NEXT, I HAVE A MOTION TO SET THE SECOND READING. >> MOVE TO SET THE SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE 1708 BEING AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 9 LAND USE 9.104 ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT IN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS FOR NOVEMBER 25TH, 2024 AT APPROXIMATELY 6:00 P.M. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER JAMES AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER SPRIGGS TO SET THE SECOND READING. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU. I'M ALSO LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS. I THINK IT'S GOING TO HELP US BE MORE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND ENFORCING OUR ORDINANCES SO I'M GLAD WE'RE GOING FORWARD WITH OUR SECOND READING. FOR OUR MEETING TONIGHT, WE HAVE NO BID CONSIDERATIONS, NEW BUSINESS REPORTS. THAT TAKES US TO OUR CITY COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS. [CITY COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS] [00:55:03] IS THERE A COUNCILMEMBER WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO FIRST. COUNCILMEMBER SPRIGGS. >> A COUPLE OF THINGS. I ATTENDED OUR LIBRARY BOARD MEETING LAST WEEK. NOTHING MAJOR OUT OF THAT MEETING, BUT JUST ONE TO COMMENT THAT THEY'VE BEEN WORKING FOR THE PAST MONTHS ON THE NEW WEBSITE, AND THAT'S NOT OFFICIALLY LIVE, SO GO GIVE THAT A LOOK. IT IS MUCH IMPROVED FOR USERS TO VISIT THERE AND FIND SERVICES, FIND BOOKS, AND WHATNOT THERE. I ATTENDED OUR EDAN WORK SESSION WITH THE REST OF THE COUNCIL. I'M FINISHING BUDGET PRESENTATIONS, WHICH IS ALWAYS EXCITING AND THEN ATTENDED A MEETING HERE AT CITY HALL LATE LAST WEEK FOR CENTRAL AVENUE. MEMBERS OF MNDOT WERE HERE WITH CITY STAFF AND SOME MEMBERS OF THE SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION TALKING ABOUT SOME ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS THAT WERE LEFT OVER FROM THE OPEN HOUSE THEY HAD, AND THERE'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER UPCOMING MEETING THAT IS ALSO OPEN TO THE PUBLIC IF PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED. >> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER JAMES. >> THANK YOU. I FIRST WANT TO CONGRATULATE ALL OF OUR LOCAL ELECTED LEADERS, INCLUDING THE MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBER BISKINS, AND OUR NEW COUNCILMEMBER THAT'S COMING ON. ALSO TO THANK ALL THOSE WHO RAN. IT WAS A WONDERFUL SEASON, AND THANK YOU, ESPECIALLY TO OUR CITY CLERK, SARAH IAN, AND FOR ALL THE ELECTION JUDGES AND OTHER STAFF. IT WAS A BIG EFFORT, AND IT WENT REALLY WELL HERE IN OUR CITY SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. I HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR PASSIONS, AS WE HEARD EARLIER TONIGHT WITH THE FORMER HENNEPIN COUNTY COMMISSIONER WHO WORKS WITH PERMIT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING HERE IN MINNESOTA, AND ABOUT WHAT COULD WE DO TO BRING THAT MORE OF THAT TOWARD COLUMBIA HEIGHTS? I WAS ALSO AT THE MNDOT MEETING WHERE WE GOT TO HEAR A LOT OF GOOD WORK, AND THEY'RE VERY RESPONSIVE TO OUR QUESTIONS, AND WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THAT. HAD A MEETING WITH THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR AND THE CITY MANAGER. THEN I ALSO TALKED WITH A RESIDENT TODAY, UNFORTUNATELY, WHO HAS RECEIVED SOME TARGETED VANDALISM AND VIOLENCE AT THEIR HOME, AND THEY ARE WORKING THROUGH THE POLICE, BUT THERE'S BEEN SOME VOICEMAILS I'VE RECEIVED OF SIGNS BEING STOLEN AND PETTY VANDALISM, AND JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE OUR COMMUNITY TO LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER AND IF YOU HAVE CAMERAS TO HELP WITH THAT SO THAT THIS CAN FEEL LIKE A SAFE PLACE FOR EVERYONE. THEN FINALLY, I SIGNED ON TO A LETTER PETITION WITH THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES BY STATE AND LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS TO URGE CONGRESS TO SWIFTLY PASS EMERGENCY DISASTER SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS BILL. WE HAVEN'T HAD A NATURAL DISASTER RIGHT NOW IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, BUT WE KNOW THAT THAT'S ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, AND WE NEED THOSE IMPACTED COMMUNITIES TO HAVE THOSE RESOURCES. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. I WILL PIGGYBACK ON ONE OF YOUR LAST ITEMS, WHICH IS I HAVE ALSO HEARD FROM SOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE HAD THREATENING ACTIVITIES HAPPEN AT THEIR HOME OR ON THE PHONE OR TEXT MESSAGING. I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO PLEASE REPORT ANY VANDALISM. EVEN IF YOU FEEL THAT IT MAY SEEM SMALL OR THAT IT'S JUST KIDS. THE MORE THAT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT CAN INVESTIGATE AND KNOW IF THERE ARE PATTERNS TO THIS, THE MORE THEY CAN DO TO FIND OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING. IF YOU CAN JUST KNOW IT'S AN EMERGENCY, MAYBE AFTER IT HAPPENS, BUT PLEASE CALL 911 AND REPORT ANY VANDALISM. UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE A FEW THINGS HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY. PLEASE LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER AND MAKE SURE TO REPORT THAT. A FEW THINGS HAPPENED IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY, FOR THE ELECTION PROCESS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONGRATULATIONS. COUNCILMEMBER JAMES. I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING THE MAYOR FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, AND APPRECIATE ALL THAT THE JUDGES DID. I HAVE RECEIVED MULTIPLE E MAILS ABOUT OUR CITY CLERK, SARAH IAN, MICHELLE SHLUNDER, OTHER ELECTION JUDGES AT POLLING PLACES, AND JUST ALL OF THE WORK THAT WENT INTO THE ELECTION THIS YEAR. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYBODY FOR VOLUNTEERING AND SHARING SNACKS AND WORKING TOGETHER. THEY DID SUCH A GREAT JOB THIS YEAR. RIGHT BEFORE THIS MEETING, WE JUST HAD OUR MEETING TO VALIDATE THE ELECTION RESULTS. ALSO ATTENDED OUR OPERATION POLLINATION MEETING FOR ROTARY AND THE MAYOR'S MONARCH PLEDGE, ATTENDED THE MNDOT MEETING WITH THE REST OF THE COUNCIL AND MNDOT STAFF ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING ALONG CENTRAL UNIVERSITY. ONE OF THE THINGS I THOUGHT WAS SO GREAT ABOUT THAT MEETING IS HOW THEY WERE TAKING THE FEEDBACK FROM THE PUBLIC MEETING AND ANSWERING QUESTIONS AND COMING BACK WITH MORE IDEAS, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE YET ANOTHER PUBLIC MEETING.I JUST REALLY COMMEND THEM FOR FOLLOWING UP AND LISTENING TO OUR COMMUNITY. ATTENDED AN ART CLASS AT OUR SENIOR CENTER CALLED FOR THE OLD TIRE SWING. IT WAS A LOT OF FUN. CANDY TEACHES GREAT CLASSES AT THE SENIOR CENTER. [01:00:03] I VOLUNTEERED AT THE EVERY MEAL PROGRAM AT VALLEY VIEW SCHOOLS, WHERE WE HAND OUT FOOD FOR CHILDREN TO TAKE HOME SO THEY HAVE FOOD OVER THE WEEKEND. WE HAD A VETERANS DAY CELEBRATION AT OUR NEW WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL AT WEST HUSETT PARK. WE HAD BOY SCOUTS AND GIRL SCOUTS IN ATTENDANCE. IT WAS A FANTASTIC EVENT. THEN ON MONDAY, YESTERDAY, THE ACTUAL VETERANS DAY, THE PACIM GROUP, THE POLISH AMERICAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE OF MINNESOTA CAME OVER TO THE MEMORIAL AND HAD A WREATH. BUT THERE ARE STILL FLOWERS AND CANDLES AT THE MEMORIAL RIGHT NOW, IF YOU WANT TO GO SEE THERE, I'M VERY THANKFUL TO THE COMMUNITY FOR LETTING THE FLOWERS STAY THERE. AT A SISTER CITIES MEETING TODAY, I HAVE MET WITH OUR POLICE CHIEF AND CITY MANAGER ABOUT LOCAL EVENTS. I CHECKED OUT THE LIBRARY NEW WEBSITE, AND IT LOOKS GREAT. I REALLY LIKE THAT THERE'S A SEARCH FEATURE YOU CAN SEARCH FOR BOOKS AND SEARCH FOR CLASSES. YOU HAVE TWO DIFFERENT WAYS TO ACCESS INFORMATION. OUR PAST CITY MANAGER MALCOLM WATSON, WHO IS A WORLD WAR TWO VET, JUST RECEIVED A HE IS BEING I SHOULD SAY, HE IS BEING RECOGNIZED WITH THE SILVER LAKE BEACH BEING NAMED AFTER HIM. IT IS NOW MALCOLM WATSON BEACH. THERE IS A SIGN THERE, AND WE DID A PHOTO WITH THE FAMILY AND HIS OR THE KANAS GROUP, WHICH HE'S A MEMBER LAST WEEK. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL HIS PAST WORK THAT HE HAS DONE IN THE COMMUNITY. ATTENDED A DIA DE LOS MUERTOS EVENT AT THE HIGH SCHOOL. IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THE HIGH SCHOOL HAS DONE THAT WITH THE ASA GROUP HERE IN MINNESOTA. THERE WAS FOOD AND DANCING AND MUSICIANS. IT WAS A FANTASTIC EVENT. THIS HUGE OFRENDA THAT THEY MADE ON STAGE. IT WAS INCREDIBLE. WE HAD OUR EDA MEETING AND OUR WORK SESSION MEETING AND I ATTENDED A BIBLE STUDY CLASS AT ST. MATTHEW'S CHURCH. THEY ARE DOING A PROGRAM WHERE THEY'RE DISCUSSING HOW THEY AS CHURCH MEMBERS IN THEIR FAITH COMMUNITY CAN HELP THEIR CITY AND THEIR COMMUNITY. THE POLICE CHIEF HAS BEEN THERE TO TALK. I WAS INVITED TO GO AND SHARE WHAT PEOPLE CAN DO AND HOW WE NEED HELP IN THE CITY. THAT IS IT FOR MY REPORT. THAT WILL TAKE US TO THEN OUR CITY MANAGER'S REPORT. >> MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, JUST A FEW ITEMS. WE'D LIKE TO CELEBRATE THE APPOINTMENT OF A NEW FIRE CAPTAIN. THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS FIRE DEPARTMENT IS EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THE PROMOTION OF CAPTAIN EMILY KUZMAN. EMILY HAS BEEN A DEDICATED MEMBER OF THE TEAM SINCE 2011. THROUGHOUT HER CAREER, SHE HAS CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP, SKILL, AND COMMITMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RECORDS SHOW THAT EMILY IS THE FIRST FEMALE CAPTAIN IN THE DEPARTMENT'S HISTORY AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HER CONTINUED CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT AND CONFIDENT THAT SHE WILL LEAD WITH THE SAME EXCELLENCE THAT SHE HAS SHOWN THROUGHOUT HER TENURE. REMINDER FOR WINTER PARKING RULES BEGINNING NOVEMBER 15TH. THE CITY'S WINTER PARKING ORDINANCE, WHICH WAS APPROVED RECENTLY OR AMENDED, AMENDS THE DATES, WHICH WERE PREVIOUSLY NOVEMBER 115 THROUGH APRIL 1ST TO NOVEMBER 15 THROUGH MARCH 15. IT ALSO AMENDS THE AMOUNT OF SNOWFALL THAT TRIGGERS A SNOW EVENT FROM 3.5 INCHES TO TWO, AND THAT IS WHEN PARKING WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED ON THE CITY STREETS. NEWSLETTER IS GOING TO BE HITTING CITY'S MAILBOXES SOON IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. IT'LL INCLUDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CITY'S UPCOMING WATER METER REPLACEMENT PROJECT, WHERE WE'RE UPGRADING METERS THAT WILL BE MUCH MORE ACCURATE AND THEN ALSO NOT REQUIRE DRIVING METER READERS TO RUN THROUGH THE CITY WITH AS MUCH FREQUENCY, AND WILL BE COLLECTED THROUGH STRATEGICALLY PLACED RADIO EQUIPMENT ON HILLTOP'S WATER TOWER IN THE CITY'S WATER TOWER. MORE INFORMATION TO COME, THERE'LL BE A LOT OF ENGAGEMENT ON THIS ISSUE, BUT YOUR FIRST PRIMER WILL BE IN THE CITY'S NEWSLETTER AND THEN THE CITY'S WEBSITE. THE ADMINISTRATIVE FINES WILL ALSO BE HIGHLIGHTED IN THE NEWSLETTER AND THEN THE 2025 PROPOSED BUDGET. AS ALWAYS CAN BE FOUND ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE AS WELL. JUST A BIT ABOUT THE CERTIFICATION OF ELECTION RESULTS THAT TOOK PLACE THIS EVENING. IT IS THE CULMINATION OF A LOT OF REALLY HARD WORK THAT WE'RE VERY THANKFUL FOR FROM THE CITY CLERK AND ALL OF THE OTHERS THAT PARTICIPATED IN PULLING THAT OFF. BUT TONIGHT, THE CITY'S LOCAL ELECTION RESULTS WERE, CERTIFIED, IS THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE IT, [01:05:01] AND WE'LL BE SENDING THAT RESOLUTION TO THE COUNTY, JUST SIGNIFYING THAT ALL OF THE RESULTS, ALL OF THE VOTE TALLIES HAVE BEEN COUNTED AND ARE READY FOR FINAL APPROVAL, AND THAT'S FOR THE MAYORAL RACE AND THEN THE TWO CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES AS WELL. THAT IS IT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. IS THERE ANY ITEM THEN FROM THE REST OF THE COUNCIL? IF NOT, AND SEEING NO ONE HERE FOR COMMUNITY FORUM, AND I WILL ALSO JUST ASK THE CITY CLERK. THERE'S NO ONE ON VIRTUALLY. THEN WE ARE AT THE END OF OUR MEETING. COULD I HAVE A MOTION THEN TO ADJOURN? >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER SPRIGGS AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER JAMES TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. THE MOTION PASSES. THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.