Dec 09, 2024 City Council

[00:00:02]

>> HELLO, EVERYONE. ARE WE READY FOR STARTING THE MEETING WITH OUR TECHNICAL STUFF?

>> YES.

>> THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO CALL OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR WEDNESDAY,

[WELCOME/CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL]

COULD WE HAVE A ROLL CALL?

>> COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS.

>> HERE.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS.

>> HERE.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES.

>> HERE.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER BISKINS.

>> HERE.

>> MAYOR MARCA SIMLA.

>> HERE. THANK YOU. WELCOME, EVERYONE HERE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND ALSO WATCHING THE RECORDING.

WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HERE, GLAD YOU'RE A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY.

FIRST, I WOULD LIKE US TO START WITH OUR MISSION STATEMENT.

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS IS A VIBRANT, HEALTHY, AND CONNECTED CITY.

WE ARE HERE TO ACTIVELY SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY, DELIVER EQUITABLE SERVICES, BUILD AND STRENGTHEN CONNECTIONS, IMPROVE UPON OUR PAST, AND UPHOLD OUR SUCCESSES.

WE STRIVE TO BE BETTER AND ENSURE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS IS A GREAT PLACE FOR EVERYONE TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE.

NOW, IF YOU'RE ABLE TO, PLEASE STAND AND JOIN ME IN SAYING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

>>

>> THANK YOU. NOW WE HAVE OUR APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.

[APPROVAL OF AGENDA]

>> MOVED.

>> SECOND.

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

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

>> AYE.

>> AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES.

[PROCLAMATIONS, PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITION, ANNOUNCEMENTS, GUESTS]

TONIGHT WE HAVE A GUEST.

THIS IS PATTI CONSTANT.

SHE'S A SENIOR PROGRAM MANAGER FOR THE ANOKA COUNTY OPIOID SOLUTIONS INITIATIVE. WELCOME, PATTI.

I'M SO GLAD THAT YOU COULD MAKE IT.

YOU GAVE US A NICE PRESENTATION AT A ROTARY MEETING A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, AND I REACHED OUT AND SAID I THINK THIS WOULD BE GREAT INFORMATION TO SHARE WITH OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU FOR COMING IN TONIGHT.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE.

AS WAS STATED, MY NAME IS PATTI CONSTANT, AND I AM THE OPIOID PREVENTION SPECIALIST WITH ANOKA COUNTY.

THIS SLIDE THAT YOU WILL SEE AND THAT WILL GO OUT TO THE COMMUNITY SHARES ALL THE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT PEOPLE CAN CONNECT WITH ME AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE EFFORTS AROUND OPIOIDS WITHIN THE COUNTY.

PLEASE DO NOTE THAT OUR WEBSITE IS STILL WITHIN ITS INFANCY STAGE, AND AS WE EXPAND OUR EFFORTS, WE WILL BE EXPANDING OUR WEBSITE AS WELL.

MY ROLE WITHIN THE COUNTY IS TO DETERMINE, WITH THE COMMUNITY, HOW TO REDUCE OPIOID INITIATION, MISUSE, OVERDOSE, AND DEATH.

I HAVE WORKED IN THIS ROLE SINCE OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR, SO JUST OVER A YEAR.

SINCE THAT TIME, I HAVE BEEN CREATING A STRONG FOUNDATION, BUILDING A COMMUNITY TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY TO FIND SOLUTIONS FOR THIS CHALLENGING AND DEADLY EPIDEMIC. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

IN CASE YOU'RE WONDERING IF OPIOIDS REALLY ARE AN ISSUE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AND IN ANOKA COUNTY, THE SHORT ANSWER IS YES.

OPIOIDS HAVE BEEN A CHALLENGE WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS.

IN THE US, MORE THAN 130 PEOPLE DIE EVERY DAY FROM OPIOID-RELATED OVERDOSES.

IN MINNESOTA, IN 2023, THERE WERE 947 OPIOID INVOLVED OVERDOSE DEATHS.

IN 2022, ANOKA COUNTY HAD 64 OPIOID RELATED OVERDOSE DEATHS, AND THAT IS THE THIRD HIGHEST COUNTY IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

IN 2023, THAT DROPPED TO 43 OPIOID RELATED DEATHS, WHICH BROUGHT US TO THE NUMBER FIVE COUNTY IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

ANOKA COUNTY IS RIGHT UP THERE AT THE TOP.

IT IS ALSO HELPFUL TO KNOW THAT FOR EVERY ONE-OPIOID RELATED FATALITY, IT IS ASSUMED AND ESTIMATED THAT THERE ARE AT LEAST 13 NON FATAL OVERDOSES.

IF THAT IS ACCURATE, WE CAN SAFELY ASSUME THAT THERE WERE AT LEAST 550 NON FATAL OVERDOSES IN ANOKA COUNTY IN 2023. NEXT SLIDE.

THIS, AS YOU CAN SEE, IS A HEAT MAP FROM A PROGRAM CALLED OD MAPS OF WHERE MOST OF THE OPIOID RELATED OVERDOSES OCCUR WITHIN ANOKA COUNTY.

YOU CAN SEE THAT COLUMBIA HEIGHTS IS ONE OF THE BRIGHTER COLORS.

THE OVERDOSES DO SEEM TO FOLLOW OUR TRANSPORTATION AND MAIN THOROUGHFARES.

YOU WERE PROBABLY WONDERING WHAT IS THE COUNTY DOING ABOUT IT? WE DID RECEIVE THAT OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDING JUST OVER A YEAR AGO.

[00:05:04]

ANOKA COUNTY CREATED AND WORKED HARD TO CREATE THE ANOKA COUNTY OPIOID SOLUTIONS INITIATIVE, WHICH IS AN ADVISORY COUNCIL CONSISTING OF OVER 30 COMMUNITY MEMBERS ALL DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THE OPIOID CRISIS.

THIS INCLUDES INDIVIDUALS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE, COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, EMS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, RECOVERY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, MEDICAL AND PAIN MEDICINE PROVIDERS, AND SO ON.

THIS DIVERSE GROUP UNDERWENT MONTHS OF PRIORITIZING WHERE, WE, AS A COUNTY SHOULD START TO FOCUS WITH THE FUNDING AS WELL AS OUR EFFORTS.

THE TOP TWO PRIORITIES THAT CAME OUT OF THAT PROCESS WERE PREVENTION AND NALOXONE EDUCATION AND DISTRIBUTION.

WHILE THESE ARE OUR FIRST TWO PRIORITIES, THEY WILL NOT BE OUR LAST.

THIS WILL BE AN ONGOING EFFORT FOR THE NEXT 18 YEARS.

MAYBE I MAY NOT BE HERE FOR 18 YEARS, BUT CLOSE, BUT WE NEED A PLACE TO BEGIN THESE EFFORTS.

PREVENTION, WE KNOW, IS BEST ADDRESSED WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, AND I'M HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT OUR FIRST REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR OPIOID FUNDING RELATED TO PREVENTION WENT OUT LAST FRIDAY.

THIS FUNDING WILL BE AWARDED WITHIN THE COMMUNITY TO A HANDFUL OF ORGANIZATIONS WHO APPLY AND MEET THE FUNDING REQUIREMENTS.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT PROCESS, AND THOSE FUNDS CAN BE FOUND ON OUR WEBSITE THAT WAS LISTED ON THE FRONT PAGE.

AS WELL, REGARDING PREVENTION, I HOPE SOME OF YOU WERE AWARE THAT ON NOVEMBER 2ND, IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, WE HOSTED OUR FIRST OPIOID-RELATED COMMUNITY EVENT CALLED THE SPOTLIGHT ON OPIOIDS AND OVERDOSE.

WE HAD OVER 100 COMMUNITY MEMBERS ATTEND WITH OVER 35 VENDOR TABLES, FIVE PRESENTATIONS, AND WE HAD AMAZING FEEDBACK.

JUST TODAY, WE HEARD A STORY ABOUT AN ATTENDEE WHO WAS ABLE TO GET A BUNCH OF INFORMATION AND RESOURCES, BROUGHT IT HOME TO HER PARTNER WHO HAS HAD AN OPIOID ISSUE FOR YEARS, AND WE'RE FINALLY, WITH ALL THAT INFORMATION, ABLE TO MAKE THE STEPS TOWARDS MAKING A LIFE CHANGE.

THIS PERSON RECEIVED THE HELP THAT THEY NEED AFTER YEARS BECAUSE OF THE EVENT THAT WE HELD.

IT WAS A WONDERFUL EVENT.

THANK YOU COLUMBIA HEIGHTS FOR HOSTING.

OUR SECOND PRIORITY IS NALOXONE EDUCATION AND AWARENESS.

SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW NALOXONE BY ITS BRAND NAME NARCAN.

IT'S THE MEDICATION THAT CAN SAFELY BE USED TO REDUCE AN OPIOID OVERDOSE.

WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH STEVE RUMMLER HOPE NETWORK TO INCREASE ACCESS TO FREE NALOXONE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

NALOXONE ACCESS POINTS ARE PLACES WHERE COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN WALK IN AND PICK UP FREE NALOXONE AND HAVE IT AVAILABLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE ONLY ABOUT SIX SITES WITHIN THIS COUNTY, BUT WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH, ALL OF THE ANOKA COUNTY LIBRARIES WILL HAVE NALOXONE AVAILABLE.

THIS IS A HUGE STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

WE ARE SEEKING OTHER ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITY LOCATIONS TO BECOME ACCESS POINTS SO THAT IDEALLY ANYONE WITHIN ANOKA COUNTY CAN FIND NALOXONE WHEN THEY WANT IT OR NEED IT WITHIN ABOUT A 10-MINUTE DRIVE.

THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH INFORMATION THAT CAN BE SHARED WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME HERE TONIGHT, BUT THE IMPORTANT THING FOR YOU TO KNOW IS THAT THE COUNTY IS ACTIVELY ENGAGED, AND WE ARE SEEKING WAYS TO PARTNER WITH THE COMMUNITY TO INCREASE AWARENESS.

WE DIDN'T GET INTO THIS OPIOID CRISIS OVERNIGHT, AND WE WILL NOT RESOLVE IT OVERNIGHT WITH ONE OR TWO SIMPLE FIXES.

PLEASE KNOW THAT I AM AVAILABLE, I'M ACCESSIBLE, AND I'M LOOKING TO ENGAGE WITH A VARIETY OF OPPORTUNITIES IN THE COMMUNITY.

I GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND YOUR ATTENTION AND AWARENESS OF THIS IMPORTANT EVENT AND FOR ALLOWING ME TO SHARE HERE TONIGHT. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, PATTI. THANKS FOR COMING IN.

DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS.

>> I DO.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS.

>> PATTI, I WORK IN THE FIELD.

>> FANTASTIC.

>> TO HEAR ABOUT ALL THIS EXCITING STUFF, IT GETS ME JUICED UP.

>> THAT'S FANTASTIC.

>> THE BIGGEST THING IS GETTING THAT NALOXONE OUT THERE AND GETTING IT AVAILABLE.

IT NEEDS TO BE FIVE MINUTES, IT NEEDS TO BE TWO MINUTES AWAY AND WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO GET THAT MESSAGE OUT THERE AND GET THE PUBLIC EDUCATED.

BECAUSE I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR OVER 20 YEARS, AND I KEEP HEARING, WELL, WE DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

THEY WOULD BE STUNNED IF THEY WOULD SEE WHAT THE REALITY IS.

I THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.

YOU'RE DOING GREAT WORK, AND I HOPE YOU'RE STILL THERE IN 18 YEARS BECAUSE I KNOW, AT MY AGE, I WON'T BE.

>> I AM EXCITED AND PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT I DO.

>> I CAN TELL. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, PATTI. I WAS ALSO GOING TO SHARE TOO THAT WE TALKED A LITTLE BEFORE THE MEETING STARTED, THAT WE DO HAVE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE CITY WHERE WE DO COMMUNITY EVENTS.

[00:10:04]

LIKE YOU SAID, FROM THE ONE EVENT ON THE 2ND, THE RIPPLE EFFECT OF GETTING OUT THE COMMUNITY AND LETTING PEOPLE KNOW AND REDUCING THE SHAME AND THOSE THINGS AROUND THIS THAT THIS CAN HAPPEN AND DOES HAPPEN TO MANY PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK, AND WE'RE SO GLAD TO HAVE YOU COME IN.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> APPRECIATE IT.

>> NEXT, WE HAVE PROCLAMATION, WE DID THIS LAST YEAR AS WELL, FOR THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS.

I'M GOING TO READ OUR PROCLAMATION FROM OUR CITY.

THEN AFTERWARDS, COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES IS GOING TO READ A SHORTENED VERSION OF THE 30 ARTICLES.

THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, ADOPTED BY THE UNITED NATIONS ON DECEMBER 10TH, 1948, REMAINS A CORNERSTONE OF FREEDOM, JUSTICE, AND PEACE AROUND THE GLOBE.

IN THE AFTERMATH OF WORLD WAR II AND THE HOLOCAUST, THIS DECLARATION BROUGHT NATIONS TOGETHER IN A SHARED COMMITMENT TO UPHOLD THE FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS AND INHERENT DIGNITY THAT EVERY PERSON DESERVES.

COMPRISING 30 UNIVERSAL RIGHTS, THIS DECLARATION AFFIRMS THE EQUAL AND INALIENABLE RIGHTS OF ALL MEMBERS OF THE HUMAN FAMILY, SERVING AS A FOUNDATION FOR JUSTICE AND EQUALITY.

IT CHALLENGES US TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF SAFEGUARDING THESE RIGHTS THROUGH THE RULE OF LAW TO PREVENT TYRANNY AND OPPRESSION.

THE DECLARATION ALSO UNDERSCORES THE ESSENTIAL ROLE OF PROMOTING FRIENDLY RELATIONS BETWEEN NATIONS.

IT REAFFIRMS THE COMMITMENT OF THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY TO ADVANCING SOCIAL PROGRESS AND HIGHER STANDARDS OF LIFE IN LARGER FREEDOMS. AS A COLLECTIVE PROMISE, IT REMINDS US OF OUR DUTY TO UNIVERSALLY TEACH, PROMOTE, AND OBSERVE THESE RIGHTS.

TODAY, WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO REFLECT ON THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, CELEBRATE ITS IDEALS, AND RECOMMIT TO ENSURING THAT THESE RIGHTS ARE RESPECTED AND UPHELD FOR EVERYONE EVERYWHERE.

THEREFORE, I, AMAVA MARCA SIMLA, MAYOR OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, PROCLAIM DECEMBER 10TH, 2024, AS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS DAY IN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

LET US HONOR THIS DAY BY WORKING TOWARD A COMMUNITY AND WORLD WHERE HUMAN RIGHTS ARE FULLY REALIZED FOR EVERYONE.

IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, LET THIS SERVE AS A REMINDER THAT WE ARE UNITED IN OUR COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE, EQUITY, AND DIGNITY FOR ALL.

THEN RACHEL, YES, IF YOU WOULD READ THOSE.

>> WONDERFUL. THIS IS FROM THE AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL WEBSITE, A SUMMARY OF THE 30 RIGHTS.

ARTICLE 1, ALL HUMAN MEANS ARE BORN EQUAL AND FREE.

ARTICLE 2, EVERYONE IS EQUAL REGARDLESS OF RACE, COLOR, SEX, RELIGION, LANGUAGE, POLITICS, OR BIRTHPLACE.

THREE, EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO LIFE AND TO LIVE IN FREEDOM AND SAFETY.

FOUR, EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO BE FREE FROM SLAVERY.

FIVE, EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO BE FREE FROM TORTURE.

SIX, EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO BE RECOGNIZED BEFORE THE LAW.

SEVEN, WE ARE ALL EQUAL BEFORE THE LAW.

EIGHT, EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO SEEK JUSTICE IF THEIR RIGHTS ARE VIOLATED.

NINE, EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM FROM ARBITRARY ARREST, DETENTION, OR EXILE.

TEN, EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO A FAIR TRIAL.

ELEVEN, EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO BE PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY.

TWELVE, EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY AND FREEDOM FROM ATTACKS TO THEIR REPUTATION.

THIRTEEN, EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT AND TO BE FREE TO LEAVE AND RETURN TO THEIR OWN COUNTRY.

FOURTEEN, EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO SEEK ASYLUM FOR PERSECUTION.

FIFTEEN EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO A NATIONALITY.

SIXTEEN, EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO MARRY AND HAVE A FAMILY.

SEVENTEEN, EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO OWN PROPERTY.

EIGHTEEN, EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF THOUGHT, CONSCIENCE, AND RELIGION.

NINETEEN, EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF OPINION AND EXPRESSION.

TWENTY, EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT OF FREEDOM OF PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY AND ASSOCIATION.

TWENTY-ONE, EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN GOVERNMENT AND HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO PUBLIC SERVICE.

TWENTY-TWO, EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO SOCIAL SECURITY.

TWENTY-THREE, EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO WORK, TO EQUAL PAY, TO PROTECTION AGAINST UNEMPLOYMENT, AND THE RIGHT TO FORM AND JOIN TRADE UNIONS.

TWENTY-FOUR, EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO REST AND LEISURE.

[00:15:03]

>> TWENTY-FIVE, EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO A DECENT STANDARD OF LIVING, INCLUDING FOOD, CLOTHING, HOUSING, MEDICAL CARE, AND SOCIAL SERVICES.

TWENTY-SIX, EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO EDUCATION.

TWENTY-SEVEN, EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN AND ENJOY CULTURE, ART, AND SCIENCE.

TWENTY-EIGHT, EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO A SOCIAL AND INTERNATIONAL ORDER WHERE THE RIGHTS IN THIS DECLARATION CAN BE FULLY REALIZED.

TWENTY-NINE, WE HAVE A DUTY TO OTHERS AND SHOULD PROTECT THEIR RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS. ARTICLE 30, NO ONE CAN TAKE THESE RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS FROM US.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND YOU'LL SEE IN OUR PACKET, THE FULL UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS BY THE UNITED NATIONS IS INCLUDED.

WE HAVE OUR RECOGNITION OF COUNCIL MEMBER KT JACOBS FOR FOUR YEARS OF SERVICE.

TONIGHT, WE RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER KT JACOBS FOR HER FOUR YEARS OF SERVICE ON THIS COUNCIL.

YOUR TIME AND CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE PLAYED A ROLE IN SHAPING OUR COMMUNITY'S PATH FORWARD.

WE HAVE A PLAQUE IN RECOGNITION OF YOUR SERVICE, AND WE WISH YOU THE BEST IN YOUR FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

[APPLAUSE] [BACKGROUND] THANK YOU.

THAT TAKES US THROUGH OUR PROCLAMATION, PRESENTATIONS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND GUESS.

NOW THAT TAKES US TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA.

[CONSENT AGENDA]

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

WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER 13 AND 14, NOT TO BE POLLED BUT TO BE DISCUSSED A LITTLE BIT MORE IF THERE'S TIME FOR QUESTIONS.

>> NOT PULLED JUST TAKE SOME ADDITIONAL TIME.

>> LET ME JUST ASK IF ANYONE ELSE.

>> [INAUDIBLE] WHAT ENCOMPASSES ITEM NUMBER 14 IS.

>> ASK, ARE THERE COUNCIL MEMBERS IF THEY HAVE ANYTHING ELSE THEY WOULD LIKE TO PULL OR ADD? THEN THANK YOU TO OUR CITY MANAGER FOR TAKING THE ITEMS.

>> MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

FIRST ON THE AGENDA FOR CONSENT THIS EVENING IS APPROVAL OF THE NOVEMBER 25TH, 2024, CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES.

ITEM 2 IS APPROVAL OF THE DECEMBER 2ND, 2024, CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES.

ITEM 3 IS ACCEPTANCE OF THE NOVEMBER 4TH, 2024, EDA MEETING MINUTES.

ITEM 4 IS ACCEPTANCE OF THE OCTOBER 1ST, 2024, PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES.

ITEM 5 IS ACCEPTANCE OF THE NOVEMBER 6, PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES.

ITEM 6, ACCEPTANCE OF SEPTEMBER 25TH AND OCTOBER 23RD, 2024, PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES.

ITEM 7 IS ACCEPTANCE OF THE OCTOBER 8TH, 2024, SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES.

ITEM 8 IS ACCEPTANCE OF THE NOVEMBER 6, 2024, LIBRARY BOARD MEETING MINUTES.

ITEM 9 IS A RESOLUTION AMENDING THE FUND 411 BUDGET AND AUTHORIZING WINDOW FILM CONTRACT AND GARAGE FLOOR REPAIRS AT THE CITY'S POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AS PART OF AN AUDIT THAT WAS COMPLETED FOR SECURITY AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, IT WAS INDICATED THAT THE WINDOW FILM FOR THE WINDOWS FACING OUTSIDE NEED TO BE TINTED SO THAT SENSITIVE INFORMATION CAN'T BE REVIEWED FROM OUTSIDE THE BUILDING.

THEN THE GARAGE FLOOR FOR THE UNDERGROUND GARAGE IS RECEIVING A SEAL COATING.

THESE ARE APPROVING BUDGET TRANSFERS AND THEN PROJECT AUTHORIZATION FOR THOSE TWO PROJECTS.

ITEM 10 IS ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION 2024-096, WHICH ESTABLISHES THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS FEES SCHEDULE FOR 2025.

ROUTINE CHANGES FOR THE FEE SCHEDULE FROM VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS AS WE HEAD INTO THE NEW YEAR.

IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT THIS FEE SCHEDULE CAN BE AMENDED AT ANY TIME DURING THE YEAR, BUT WE TRY TO CLEAN UP AS MANY THINGS THAT HAD CHANGED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR IN 2024 TO MAKE IT REFLECT CURRENT ORDINANCES AND POLICIES.

ITEM 11 IS A RESOLUTION AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2024, PARKS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND.

THIS IS AUTHORIZING OR MOVING FUNDS TO ACCOUNT FOR THE SPORT COURT THAT'S GOING TO BE INSTALLED IN 2025 AT SYLVAN LAKE PARK.

[00:20:03]

THIS IS JUST A BUDGET AMENDMENT TO REFLECT THAT PROJECT.

ITEM 12 IS A RESOLUTION AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 CAPITAL BUDGET FOR CITY PROJECT 2412.

EXCUSE ME, I DIDN'T TRANSPOSE THOSE, KEVIN.

WE'VE GOT SO MANY ITEMS ON THIS.

I WAS RIGHT. THE PREVIOUS WAS THE SPORT COURT.

THIS IS THE PARKING LOT PAVING PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL AND MOVING FUNDS TO ACCOUNT FOR THE PAVING OF THE LIBRARY LOT AND THEN THE LOT JUST TO THE EAST OF CITY HALL THAT WAS PAVED THIS FALL.

CATCHING UP. ITEM 13, WE'VE ASKED FOR A LITTLE BIT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

BUT I'LL STARTED OFF WITH THE INTRODUCTION, AND THEN DEFER TO CITY ENGINEER, KEVIN HANSON, FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

BUT IT'S APPROVAL AND ACCEPTANCE OF A FEASIBILITY REPORT FOR THE 2025 CONCRETE ALLEY RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT, AND THEN SETTING THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT HEARING FOR THAT PROJECT.

THIS IS THE TYPICAL SLATE OF ALLEYS THAT IS BEING PROPOSED FOR NEXT YEAR RECONSTRUCTION, AND THEN THE ASSESSMENT AND HOW THOSE ASSESSMENTS WOULD BE LEVIED ON THE ADJOINING PROPERTY OWNERS.

KEVIN, IF YOU CAN JUST PROVIDE A LITTLE MORE CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND. THANK YOU.

>> WELL, THANK YOU. AS THE CITY MANAGER HAD INDICATED, THIS IS YEAR 2 OR THE SECOND ROUND OF ALLEYS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RECONSTRUCTING FROM EXISTING BITUMINOUS INTO CONCRETE.

AS PART OF THE PROCESS, WE FOLLOW STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS WHICH ARE FOUND UNDER MINNESOTA STATE STATUTE 429.

THIS RESOLUTION IS A REQUIREMENT TO DO THAT, JUST IN TERMS OF PREPARING A FEASIBILITY REPORT, IDENTIFYING THOSE ALLEYS, THAT THEY ARE FEASIBLE AND THAT THE METHODOLOGY IS COST EFFECTIVE FOR US.

IT ESTABLISHES THE PUBLIC HEARING AT THE END OF JANUARY, WHERE THE COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER MOVING FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT PROPOSALS.

PRIOR TO THAT TIME, WE ALSO MEET WITH THE ABUTTING PROPERTY OWNERS OR THE IMPACTED PROPERTY OWNERS FOR EACH PROJECT.

THIS IS TYPICAL OF WHAT WE DO FOR ALL OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE WHERE ASSESSMENTS ARE BEING CONSIDERED OR WHERE THERE'S GOING TO BE EXTENSIVE WORK IN ANY PARTICULAR AREA.

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS TO NOTE IS THAT, ONE OF THE THINGS WE TRY TO DO WITHIN THE FEASIBILITY REPORT IS ALSO IDENTIFY ARE THERE PAST ASSESSMENTS IN THIS PARTICULAR AREA.

IT'S NOT UNUSUAL.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE BEGAN IN 1997, OUR STREET REHAB PROGRAM, WHICH IS SET UP IN ZONES, AND IT'S INTENDED THAT THOSE ZONES REPEAT SO THAT WE ARE GOING ON A CYCLIC BASIS ABOUT EVERY 8-10 YEARS DOING WORK IN THESE PARTICULAR AREAS.

IT'S NOT UNUSUAL THAT WE WILL HAVE PROPERTIES THAT ALREADY HAVE EXISTING OR PAST ASSESSMENTS ON THEM.

WE TRY TO IDENTIFY THAT FOR THE COUNCIL, SO AT LEAST YOU UNDERSTAND AND YOU'RE AWARE THAT SOME PROPERTIES MAY HAVE PAST ASSESSMENTS.

WE DID THAT AGAIN THIS YEAR AND THAT THERE ARE A COUPLE OF ALLEY SEGMENTS THAT HAVE PAST ASSESSMENTS.

ONE IS FROM 37TH AVENUE, LEVIED IN 2023, AND THEN THERE ARE OTHER PAST ZONE WORK ASSESSMENTS FOR THAT.

IT'S JUST A CONSIDERATION.

I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE TWO THINGS WITH THAT.

ONE IS JUST TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE VALUE OF THE IMPROVEMENT, IT DOESN'T GET CHEAPER OVER TIME, SO THAT WE TRY TO DO THESE THINGS.

WE ALWAYS USE THE ADDED OF THE PHRASE, DOING THE RIGHT THING AT THE RIGHT TIME.

WE'RE CERTAINLY SEEING THAT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AS FAR AS HOW MUCH CONSTRUCTION COSTS HAVE GONE UP.

THAT IS A CONSIDERATION.

WE'LL ALSO NOTE THAT THAT HAS NOT BEEN A REASON IN PAST COUNCILS THAT WE HAVE NOT DEFERRED THESE.

I THINK RECOGNIZING THE SEVERITY OF OUR ALLEYS, AND PARTICULARLY, WE'RE PICKING OUT THE REMAINING FIVE WORST ONES HERE AS FAR AS CONDITION, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO MAINTAIN THE INTEGRITY, BUT ALSO REALLY THE QUALITY OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE HERE.

WHAT THE RESOLUTION DOES FOR YOU TONIGHT IS BASICALLY, ACCEPTS THE FEASIBILITY REPORT.

IT IS A STATUTORY REQUIREMENT, AND THEN WE'LL SET A PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT HEARING AT THE END OF JANUARY.

PRIOR TO THAT, WE'LL ALSO MEET WITH ALL OF THE IMPACTED PART OR THE PROPERTY OWNERS HERE, AND GO THROUGH THAT WITH THEM.

>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS FOR THIS ITEM? COUNCIL MEMBER, JANES.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, KEVIN HANSON.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

AS I WAS SPEAKING WITH THE CITY MANAGER TODAY, I DID DRIVE THE ALLEY THAT I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT, WHICH WAS NUMBER 6 ON THE LIST BETWEEN RESERVOIR AND TYLER FROM 37TH TO 39TH.

IT DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE DONE, AND I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ABOUT THE COST OF THE CONSTRUCTION.

[00:25:02]

THANK YOU FOR THAT. BUT JUST FOR RESIDENTS TO KNOW, WE'RE VERY AWARE THAT YOU MAY STILL BE CARRYING A BALANCE FROM THE LAST ASSESSMENT, BUT THAT THIS NEEDS TO BE DONE AND THAT WE'RE HOPEFUL THIS WILL HELP YOUR SERVICES FOR TRASH AND FOR PLOWING, AND JUST ACCESS TO YOUR PROPERTY.

I DO ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO CHECK THAT RESIDENT INFORMATIONAL MEETING AND THE PUBLIC HEARING, AND WE STILL HAVE TIME TO CONSIDER, BUT THIS IS AN IMPORTANT STEP ALONG THE PROCESS.

I THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

THANK YOU FOR ASKING ME ABOUT THAT ITEM.

I THINK WE'RE READY TO GO TO ITEM NUMBER 14.

>> THANK YOU. ITEM 14, I'LL KICK OFF AND THEN DEFER TO CITY ENGINEER, KEVIN HANSON, ONCE AGAIN.

IT'S THE RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE CITY'S 2025 AND 2026 SNOW AND ICE CONTROL POLICY.

IT'S BEEN A PAST PRACTICE OF THE CITY TO UPDATE THIS BI-ANNUALLY FOR THE LAST FEW DECADES.

THIS RENEWAL FOR THIS CYCLE COINCIDES WITH SOME SIGNIFICANT CHANGES THAT WERE MADE RECENTLY IN ORDINANCE FOR THE SNOW EVENT, WHAT AMOUNT TRIGGERS A SNOW EVENT, AND THEN ALSO THE DURATION FOR WINTER PARKING REGULATIONS.

WITH THAT, ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL, OF COURSE, AND THEN KEVIN, A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS, CAN YOU SPECIFICALLY STATE WHAT LOWERING IT TO THE TWO INCHES AND ALL THOSE DATES AND EVERYTHING? THAT'S WHAT I'M REALLY WANTING THE PUBLIC TO BE AWARE OF.

>> CERTAINLY. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

THE POLICY THAT'S BEFORE YOU TONIGHT, AS A CITY MANAGER INDICATED, HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE ABOUT 1999 OR 2000.

REALLY WHAT THE POLICY DOES IS, IT RELATES TO NOT ONLY PLOWING SNOW, IT ALSO ADDRESSES SNOW REMOVAL AND OUR ICE CONTROL.

IN OTHER WORDS, IT LOOKS AT OUR CITY AND REALLY PROVIDES GUIDANCE FOR US ON HOW WE DO THOSE ACTIVITIES.

IT IS THE WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHY FOR OUR SNOW MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES FOR COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

THE POLICY BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IS FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS, SO BEGINNING IN BOTH 2025 AND 2026, AND IT REALLY SPELLS OUT THE PERSONNEL, THE EQUIPMENT, AND THEN ARE THERE UNIQUE THINGS FOR HOW WE APPROACH OUR WINTER MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES THAT WE DO.

IN OTHER WORDS, AND OUR BORDER STREETS.

WE SHARE MAINTENANCE RESPONSIBILITIES WITH MINNEAPOLIS WITH NEW BRIGHTON, AND THEN ALSO ST. ANTHONY AND FRIDLEY.

IT SPELLS THOSE OUT.

WHO'S DOING WHAT IN A PARTICULAR YEAR.

THEN THIS YEAR, WE'VE HAD NEW EQUIPMENT COME ONLINE, AND WE'VE ALSO HAD NEW PEDESTRIAN FACILITIES.

IT ALSO INCLUDES THOSE FOR US, WHERE THE CITY MAINTAINS TRAILS.

WE DON'T MAINTAIN SIDEWALKS, BUT PAVED TRAILS WE DO MAINTAIN. IT SPELLS THOSE OUT.

I THINK THE BIGGEST CHANGE FOR US IN THIS POLICY YEAR IS WHAT THE CITY MANAGER HAD INDICATED.

THERE ARE REALLY TWO THINGS IN THAT.

WE USED TO GO OUT ON A FULL CITY PLOW ACTIVITY AFTER 3.5 INCHES OF SNOW.

THAT'S NOW BEEN REDUCED DOWN TO TWO INCHES.

I THINK REALLY THE BIGGEST THING IS THAT ALIGNS US MORE FOR WHAT OUR ACTUAL PRACTICE WAS.

WE'RE TRYING TO BE MORE PROACTIVE IN OUR ACTIVITIES, AND ALSO ONE OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF THAT IS, WE'RE TRYING TO USE LESS THINGS THAT ARE ENVIRONMENTALLY DAMAGING.

IN OTHER WORDS, SALT. OUR ACTIVITIES ARE, WE TRY TO GET SNOW OFF THE STREET SOONER, AND THE RESULT OF THAT IS, WE DON'T HAVE TO APPLY AS MUCH SALT OVER TIME.

DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE NOT USING IT, BUT WE STILL HAVE TO APPLY IT.

I THINK FOR THE CITIZENS OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, THE PROPERTY OWNERS OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, THAT THE SAME PROCESS JUST IN TERMS OF GETTING YOUR CARS OFF THE STREET REMAIN THE SAME WITH ONE EXCEPTION.

THAT'S THE DATES, BUT THE THRESHOLD IS LOWER, INSTEAD OF THREE OR 3.5 INCHES, WE'RE DOWN TO INCHES.

THAT IS ACTUALLY MORE COMMON WITH OUR NEIGHBORING CITIES IN ADDITION TO THAT.

I THINK THE OTHER THING IS THE ENFORCEMENT OF THIS, THE WINDOW FOR THAT HAS BEEN REDUCED.

INSTEAD OF A FOUR MONTH WINDOW WHERE WE WOULD GO OUT AND LOOK AT GETTING CARS OFF OUR STREETS IF THEY HAVEN'T BEEN MOVED, THAT'S NOW BEEN CHANGED FROM NOVEMBER 1ST, NOVEMBER 15TH, AND THEN ALSO BEEN REDUCED AT THE TAIL END FROM APRIL 1ST TO MARCH 15TH.

I THINK IF YOU ACTUALLY LOOK OUTSIDE, YOU LOOK AT THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, IT REALLY HAS A LITTLE BIT BETTER MATCHING OR ALIGNMENT WITH WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN TERMS OF SOME OF OUR WEATHER CHANGING, SO JUST IN TERMS OF SNOWFALL.

I THINK THOSE ARE THE TWO MAJOR CHANGES, AND THEN ALSO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO OUR OPERATIONS AND THEN ADDING ADDITIONALLY EITHER STREETS OR PEDESTRIAN FACILITIES.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER, JACOBS.

>> TICKET AND TOWING. MY UNDERSTANDING IS, WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING MORE TICKETING AND TOWING FOR CARS PARKED ON THE STREET DURING A SNOW EMERGENCY OR DURING A SNOWFALL, IS THAT CORRECT?

[00:30:05]

>> MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, I'D HAVE TO DEFER TO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT WHO DO THAT ENFORCEMENT, BUT I THINK INITIALLY, OUR APPROACH IS WE CERTAINLY TRY TO GET THAT WORD OUT SOONER AND MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTAND FOR 2" TO GET THE CARS OFF THE STREET SO THAT WE CAN PLOW CURB TO CURB.

>> THE ONE REASON I WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT IS BECAUSE IT IS ALSO MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE WILL NOT BE DOING ANY TICKETING OR TOWING ON HOLIDAYS SUCH AS THANKSGIVING, AT CHRISTMAS, AND I BELIEVE WE ALSO INCLUDED NEW YEAR'S AS WELL.

I'M NOT SURE ABOUT NEW YEAR'S, BUT I KNOW OVER THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY AND THANKSGIVING, WE WOULD NOT BE DOING ANY OF THAT. IS THAT CORRECT?

>> MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THAT HAS BEEN THE PAST PRACTICE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

>> BECAUSE I KNOW THERE WERE SOME OF THIS PAST THANKSGIVING THAT GOT TICKETED, SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY AND MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNOW THAT IF THE CITY HAS INTENTIONS OF TICKETING AND TOWING, THEY NEED TO BE AWARE OF THAT AND PUT MORE EFFORT INTO MOVING THEIR VEHICLES OFF THE STREET SO WE CAN SAFELY PLOW THEM AND GET THEM CLEARED SO EVERYBODY'S HAPPY IN THE MORNING WHEN THEY GET UP AND GO TO WORK. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, KEVIN, FOR THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

IF THERE'S NO OTHER COMMENT, THEN WE CAN GO TO ITEM NUMBER 15.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. ITEM 15 IS A TRANSFER OF FUNDS FROM THE CITY SPECIAL PROJECTS FUND 226 TO THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND 420.

WHAT THIS ACCOUNTS FOR IS SOME WORK THAT TOOK PLACE AT THE CITY'S MUNICIPAL PARKING RAMP ON VAN BUREN STREET, WHERE THE CITY PROCESSED A CHANGE ORDER AS PART OF THE ALLEY RECONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO DO SOME MAINTENANCE CONCRETE WORK ON THE RAMP BECAUSE THE CONTRACTOR WAS IN THE VICINITY, AND IT WAS A GOOD TIME TO COMPLETE THOSE IMPROVEMENTS, SO THIS IS MOVING FUNDS FROM SPECIAL PROJECTS TO THE CITY'S CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND TO FUND THOSE IMPROVEMENTS AT THE RAMP.

ITEM 16 IS RESOLUTION 2024-103, WHICH IS APPROVING CONTRACT WITH THE SPANO GROUP FOR 2025 LEADERSHIP WORKSHOP.

THIS WAS DISCUSSED AT THE LAST WORK SESSION AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MONTH, BUT AS PART OF THE CITY'S STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS FOR 2025, STAFF ARE RECOMMENDING THAT THE SPANO GROUP PROVIDE LEADERSHIP TRAINING TO THE COUNCIL AND DIVISION HEADS BEFORE WE EMBARK ON THE STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS THAT WE TYPICALLY UNDERGO EVERY TWO YEARS.

ITEM 17, 2024 SUPPLEMENTAL RECYCLING GRANT AGREEMENT WITH ANOKA COUNTY, SO THE STATE PROVIDES FUNDING TO COUNTIES THAT IS THEN PASSED THROUGH TO CITIES FOR DIFFERENT RECYCLING PROGRAMS, AND THE CITY HAS BEEN RECIPIENT OF THESE FUNDS ANNUALLY FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AND IN 2024, RECEIVED AN ADDITIONAL GRANT AWARD OF $24,962 TO SPECIFICALLY SUPPORT THE CITY'S NEW CURBSIDE ORGANIC COLLECTION PROGRAM, SO ADDITIONAL FUNDING ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT IS TYPICALLY SECURED FOR THE CITY'S RECYCLING ACTIVITIES.

ITEM 18 IS PURCHASE OF DISASTER RECOVERY SITE EQUIPMENT.

THIS IS A IT INITIATIVE THAT IS GEARED TOWARDS PROTECTING THE CITY'S DATA AND SECURITY OF OUR DATA, AND WAS ACTUALLY A PROJECT AND CONTRACT APPROVED IN 2024, BUT NOW WE'RE AT THE IMPLEMENTATION PHASE, AND THIS IS WHERE WE'RE PURCHASING STORAGE AND DATA BACK UP FROM ACTUALLY THE CITY OF ST.

CLOUD. CURRENTLY, WE'RE WORKING WITH THE CITY OF ANDOVER, AND WE'VE OUTGROWN THEIR CAPACITY AND ARE ABLE TO WORK A DEAL WITH THE CITY OF ST.

CLOUD TO HAVE STORAGE THAT WOULD HAVE US MORE RAPIDLY RECOVER OUR DATA IN THE CASE OF A SIGNIFICANT EVENT.

ITEM 19 IS THE CITY'S LICENSE AGENDA, SO ROUTINE BUSINESS LICENSES TO BE APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL.

JUST A MOMENT OF RECOGNITION, I THINK HERE FOR THE CITY'S COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT WHICH HANDLES THE BUSINESS LICENSING FOR THE CITY, EVERY YEAR, AS WE PREPARE FOR THE NEW YEAR, THERE'S A LOT OF STRESS AROUND THE RENEWAL OF BUSINESS LICENSES.

BUSINESSES ARE GOING ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS AND JUST TRYING TO DO WHAT THEY DO, PROVIDING SERVICES, AND THIS IS ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT INTERCEPTS THAT AT A TIME WHEN THEY HAVE A LOT ON THEIR PLATE ALREADY.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF OUTREACH BY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TO TRY TO GET THE APPLICATIONS IN IN A TIMELY FASHION, AND THERE'S ONLY JUST A FEW LINGERING BUSINESS LICENSES THAT'LL CARRY OVER INTO THE NEXT YEAR, BUT JUST WANTED TO GIVE A THANK YOU TO THE DEPARTMENT, PROACTIVE OUTREACH ON THE FRONT END THIS YEAR STARTING MONTHS IN ADVANCE AND SEVERAL REMINDERS.

[00:35:03]

THANK YOU TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

SIMILAR STORY FOR ITEM 20, WHICH IS APPROVAL OF THE RENTAL OCCUPANCY LICENSES.

THIS YEAR, FOR RENEWALS, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB OF NEARLY SECURING ALL OF THE RENEWALS FOR RENTAL OCCUPANCY LICENSES IN THE CITY.

I THINK WE'RE DOWN TO TWO, AND THEIR HOLDOVERS INTO NEXT YEAR BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN GIVEN ADDITIONAL TIME TO COMPLETE NECESSARY IMPROVEMENTS, SO A GOOD JOB ON THE LICENSING FRONT.

THAT SYSTEM AND PROCESS WILL ALSO BE BROUGHT INTO TYLER.

THEN FINALLY, REVIEW OF THE BILLS FOR THIS PERIOD, WHICH CURRENTLY FOR THE PERIOD IS $1,345,409.33. MAYOR.

>> THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS AT ALL ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? THEN, MAY I HAVE A MOTION THEN TO ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED?

>> SO MOVED.

>> SECOND.

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

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING IS NOT, THEN ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

>> AYE.

>> AYE.

>> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU.

SORRY. [LAUGHTER] PUBLIC HEARINGS.

[PUBLIC HEARINGS]

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

FIRST, I'LL ASK IF THERE'S ANYONE ONLINE ATTENDING THE MEETING AT ALL. THERE IS NOT.

TO ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE ITEMS DURING THE PUBLIC HEARINGS, THERE IS A FORM TO FILL OUT IN THE HALLWAY, AND THEN YOU'D HAND IT TO OUR CITY CLERK SITTING UP HERE IN THE FRONT.

WHEN SPEAKING, YOU'LL COME UP TO THE PODIUM TO SHARE AND ANY COMMENTS MADE AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND WILL NOT BE INCLUDED AS PART OF THE FORMAL RECORD FOR THIS MATTER AS THE ITEM WILL HAVE BEEN VOTED ON AND THE ITEM FORMALLY CLOSED BY THE COUNCIL.

WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER 22, THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE RENEWAL OF SJB ENTERPRISES CURRENCY EXCHANGE LICENSE.

FOR THIS ITEM, WE HAVE MITCH FORNEY WHO'S OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.

>> MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

BEFORE YOU TODAY IS THE CONSIDERATION OF THE RENEWING OF THE STATE CURRENCY EXCHANGE LICENSE FOR SJB ENTERPRISES, ALSO KNOWN LOCALLY AS YOUR EXCHANGE.

THE CITY DOES NOT HAVE A LICENSE FOR CURRENCY EXCHANGE LICENSES.

THOSE ARE STRICTLY HANDLED BY THE STATE.

CHAPTER 53A.04 GOVERNS THOSE LICENSES AND ALSO REQUIRES THE CITY TO REVIEW ANY RENEWAL APPLICATIONS THAT THESE LICENSES BRING FORTH.

AS PART OF THE STATE'S REVIEW, THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH BACKGROUND CHECKS CONDUCTED BY THE MINNESOTA BUREAU OF CRIMINAL APPREHENSION.

THEY HAVE TO SHOW A FEE SCHEDULE OF THE CURRENCY EXCHANGE SERVICES AND HOW MUCH THEY CHARGE THEIR CUSTOMERS FOR THOSE SERVICES, $10,000 SURETY BOND AND A $500 RENEWAL FEE.

AS PART OF THIS REVIEW, STAFF REQUESTED THE APPLICATION MATERIALS FROM THE STATE AND REVIEWED THE APPLICATION FROM THE APPLICANTS AND FOUND THAT THEY HAD COMPLETED ALL THE REQUIRED ITEMS WITH THE STATE OF MINNESOTA BEFORE BRINGING IT TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

CHAPTER 53A.04 ALSO MAKES THE CITY PUBLISH NOTICE OF AN INTENTION TO CONSIDER THE LICENSE RENEWAL, HENCE THE PUBLIC HEARING, AND ALSO TAKE ANY TESTIMONY FROM INTERESTED PARTIES.

IN REVIEWING THE RENEWAL APPLICATION, STAFF CONSIDERED COMPLIANCE.

THERE HAVE BEEN NO SIGNIFICANT COMPLIANCE ISSUES WITH THE SUBMITTED MATERIALS.

ALL THE BACKGROUND CHECKS CAME THROUGH GOOD AND THEN COMMUNITY IMPACT.

THE BUSINESS HAS NOT HAD ANY HIGH-CALL VOLUME OR HAS NOT HAD ANY LEGAL ISSUES WITH THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

STAFF RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE THE RENEWAL OF THE EXCHANGE LICENSE, UNDERSTANDING THAT CURRENCY EXCHANGE BUSINESSES ARE NOT ALWAYS THE MOST BENEFICIAL BUSINESS AND CAN HAVE SOME INTERESTING PRACTICES, BUT THEY DO MEET ALL OF THE STATE REQUIREMENTS FOR US TO APPROVE THAT LICENSE.

STAFF WOULD DEFINITELY STAND FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

[00:40:01]

>> THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR AND MITCH FORNEY FOR ALL THAT INFORMATION.

PREPARING THIS REPORT AND REVIEWING THEIR LICENSE TO THE STATE TOOK SOME SIGNIFICANT STAFF TIME.

IS THERE A REASON WHY WE DON'T HAVE A LICENSE? WE HAVE NO WAY TO COLLECT A LICENSE FEE TO COMPENSATE FOR THAT STAFF TIME AT THIS TIME, DO WE? BECAUSE THIS DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THEY PAID A FEE TO THE CITY.

>> NO, THEY DID NOT PAY A FEE.

I WILL ADMIT IT WASN'T A LONG TIME, BUT WE COULD DEFINITELY REVIEW IN THE FUTURE IF THE CITY IS ALLOWED TO LICENSE, AND IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN TAKING UP.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS.

>> THANK YOU FOR THIS. IS THIS GOING TO BE A YEARLY BUSINESS LICENSE FOR A TYPICAL BUSINESS IN THE CITY WHERE THIS WILL COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL FOR REVIEW EACH YEAR, OR IS THIS DIFFERENT?

>> MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, I WOULD HAVE TO DEFER TO SCOTT, OR OTHERWISE, I CAN LOOK AT IT.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S AN ANNUAL LICENSE.

I THINK IT MIGHT BE A MULTI-YEAR LICENSE.

I DON'T KNOW. CITY ATTORNEY, SCOTT LEPAK, ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH IT AT ALL?

>> I COULD ADD THAT IN MY TENURE WITH THE CITY ALMOST SIX YEARS, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE WERE APPROACHED BY THE STATE WITH THE REQUEST TO AUTHORIZE, SO WE HAD NOT RECEIVED THIS IN PRIOR YEARS, SO WE WERE LEARNING ALONGSIDE THAT REQUEST FROM THE STATE BECAUSE IT HAS NOT BEEN PART OF THE CITY'S LICENSING, OF COURSE, AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE REQUEST PREVIOUSLY.

>> I'M LOOKING AT 53A AND LOOKING AT THE LENGTH OF THE LICENSE AND I'M NOT FINDING IT.

[NOISE] MY APOLOGIES.

LAW IS NOT POPPING UP ON HOW LONG THE LICENSE IS GOOD FOR.

>> IN THE LETTER FROM THE STATE, IT INDICATES THAT THE STATE HAD RECEIVED THE RENEWAL APPLICATION FROM THE ENTITY TO THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, SO POTENTIALLY ELAPSE WITH THE COMPANY AT SOME POINT AS WELL.

WE'RE JUST UNCLEAR, BUT THE CHAIN OF COMMAND SEEMS TO BE STATE RECEIVED, THEY NOTIFY US.

>> I KNOW ATM LICENSE IS ANNUAL RENEWAL.

>> DO YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? ANY FURTHER COMMENTS, MITCH, ABOUT THIS BEFORE WE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING?

>> NO.

>> THEN THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING, SO I WILL OPEN THIS TO THE PUBLIC FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM.

SEEING NO ONE IN THE AUDIENCE, AND I'LL ASK THE CITY CLERK, IF ANYONE IS ABLE TO SPEAK OR INQUIRING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM?

>> THERE IS NOT.

>> THERE IS NOT. I'M LOOKING AROUND THE COUNCIL, THERE IS NO ONE COMING UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, SO THEN MAY HAVE A MOTION THEN TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING?

>> MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND WAIVE THE READING OF RESOLUTION 2024-99, THERE'LL BE AN AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

>> SECOND.

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

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

>> [OVERLAPPING] AYE.

>> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES.

PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED, AND NOW MAY I HAVE A MOTION THEN TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION?

>> MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2024-99, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA APPROVING THE LICENSE RENEWAL OF SJB ENTERPRISES CURRENCY EXCHANGE LICENSE.

>> SECOND.

>> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILOR BUESGENS, AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION.

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

>> [OVERLAPPING] AYE.

>> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES.

NEXT, WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER 23, RESOLUTION 2024-90, ADOPTING A BUDGET FOR THE YEAR 2025, SETTING THE CITY LEVY, APPROVING THE HR LEVY, AND APPROVING A TAX RATE INCREASE.

FOR THIS ITEM, WE HAVE JOE KLEINBERG, OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR TO TAKE US THROUGH THIS ITEM.

>> MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

BEFORE YOU, RESOLUTION 2024-90 IS THE SAME RESOLUTION THAT THE COUNCIL GAVE PRELIMINARY APPROVAL TO SEPTEMBER,

[00:45:05]

THAT NOTICE INCLUDE NOTICE OF TONIGHT'S MEETING, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S GENERATING, USUALLY, A LITTLE MORE INTEREST IN ATTENDANCE IN TONIGHT'S MEETING, AND SO BECAUSE OF THAT, I'LL ALSO GIVE A LITTLE MORE BACKGROUND ON THE PROCESS.

EACH YEAR IN APRIL, CITY STAFF BEGINS DEVELOPING BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR AND THAT CULMINATES IN JULY, WHEREUPON IN AUGUST, THE BUDGET IS MADE AVAILABLE TO THE COUNCIL IN THE PUBLIC ON THE CITY WEBSITE, AND THEN IT BEGINS SEVERAL MONTHS OF CONSIDERATION BY THE CITY COUNCIL IN ADDITION TO THAT SEPTEMBER PUBLIC MEETING OR REGULAR MEETING, THAT THE PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION WAS TAKEN UP.

THE DETAILS OF THE BUDGET AND THE PROPOSED 2025 TAX LEVY WERE REVIEWED BY THE COUNCIL AT THE SEPTEMBER, THE OCTOBER, AND THE NOVEMBER WORK SESSIONS.

THEN TONIGHT AFTER HAVING THE COUNTY DISTRIBUTED THE PUBLIC NOTICES, TONIGHT IS THE CAPSTONE, IF YOU WILL, TO THE STATE PROCESS FOR ADOPTING A PROPERTY TAX LEVY FOR NEXT YEAR.

THE AMOUNT THE COUNCIL APPROVES TONIGHT CANNOT BE GREATER THAN THE AMOUNT THAT WAS PRELIMINARILY APPROVED IN SEPTEMBER AND INCLUDED ON THE NOTICES.

ONE OTHER BIT OF BACKGROUND, OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, THE STATE OF MINNESOTA HAS TRIED TO PROVIDE TAXPAYERS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN THAT TRUTH AND TAXATION NOTICE.

THEY'VE TRIED SOME THINGS THAT HAVE WORKED AND HAVEN'T WORKED.

THIS YEAR, A NEW ATTEMPT THEY HAVE IS ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE NOTICE, THEY HAVE COMPARATIVE LEVY AMOUNTS FOR '24 AND '25 FOR ALL OF THE JURISDICTIONS IN ANOKA COUNTY, SO ALL OF THE CITIES IN ANOKA COUNTY, ALL OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND ANOKA COUNTY ITSELF, AND SHOWING THE PROPOSED CHANGE.

>> THE ONE FOR YOUR AVERAGE PROPERTY OWNER, I WOULD GIVE ONE CAUTION TO THAT IN THAT THOSE ARE THE GROSS PROPERTY TAX CHANGES, AND THAT'S NOT WHAT THE HOMEOWNER WOULD NECESSARILY PAY.

THAT'S PROBABLY A GOOD TRANSITION TO WHAT IS THE PROPOSED INCREASE HERE FOR 2025 FOR THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

AS STATED ON THE BACK OF THE NOTICE, THE PROPOSED INCREASE IS 8.4% IN THE GROSS LEVY, WHICH IS THE TOTAL AMOUNT COLLECTED BY THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS OF PROPERTY TAXES, BUT NOT ALL OF THAT AMOUNT IS PAID BY COLUMBIA HEIGHTS TAXPAYERS ABOUT 20% OF THAT TOTAL COLLECTION BY THE CITY COMES FROM A REVENUE SHARING AGREEMENT FROM OTHER COMMUNITIES OUTSIDE OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

THAT UNDER THAT REVENUE SHARING AGREEMENT FOR 2025, THERE IS A NICE INCREASE TO THAT EXTERNAL SUBSIDY.

THE NET INCREASE FOR THE LOCAL TAXPAYER IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS WORKS OUT TO BE 5.6% FOR THE CITY SHARE OF THEIR PROPERTY TAXES ON AVERAGE, ANY ONE INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY, OF COURSE, CAN VARY FROM THAT 5.6.

YOU CAN HAVE PROPERTY VALUE GO UP OR DOWN IN DISPROPORTION TO YOUR NEIGHBORS FOR VARIOUS REASONS.

THE DETERMINATION OF VALUE IS SOMETHING IS DONE AT EARLIER PART OF THE YEAR.

A TONIGHT, NEITHER THE COUNCIL NOR THE COUNTY THAT MAKES THE VALUATIONS HAS ANY ABILITY TO CHANGE VALUES AT THIS POINT FOR 2025.

THE ONLY THING THAT'S UP FOR CONSIDERATION IS HOW MUCH TAX TO ASSESS.

WRAPPING UP A COUPLE OF OTHER ITEMS. THE USES OF THAT PROPOSED LEVY ARE WORTH SPEAKING TO.

THE CITY IS ACTUALLY PROPOSING FOR 2025 A SLOWER RATE OF GROWTH IN EXPENDITURES.

[00:50:02]

THE 4.5% IS ALSO WITHIN THE REALM OF THE RANGE OF THE LABOR AGREEMENTS THAT THE CITY IS CURRENTLY UNDER NEGOTIATION FOR SO ALL OF THE CITY'S LABOR AGREEMENTS WITH THE SIX BARGAINING UNITS AND THE TWO NON UNION BARGAINING GROUPS EXPIRE AT THE END OF THIS MONTH AFTER A THREE YEAR AGREEMENT.

AND ONLY A COUPLE OF THEM ARE SETTLED FOR 2025 AND BEYOND.

BUT THAT'S WHAT THE RANGE THAT THEY HAVE BEEN SETTLING FOR IS WITHIN THAT PROJECTED RANGE FOR THE BUDGET.

THE LEVEL OF OTHER EXTERNAL AID, WHICH IS SIGNIFICANT.

THE STATE AID TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT, ALSO KNOWN AS LGA, WILL REMAIN RELATIVELY SIMILAR FOR 2025 AT 2.6 MILLION APPROXIMATELY.

THAT'S NOT KEEPING UP WITH INFLATION, BASICALLY IN TERMS OF THE CHANGE THERE FOR LGA.

THAT IS THE MAJORITY OF THE IMPACTS FOR THE TAX SUPPORTED PORTION OF THE BUDGET.

AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS, ALL OTHER AREAS OF THE BUDGET ARE INCLUDED IN THIS RESOLUTION, SUCH AS THE UTILITY FUNDS, THE MUNICIPAL LIQUOR OPERATIONS, SOME GRANT SUPPORTED FUNDS THAT DON'T HAVE TAXES INVOLVED WITH THEM.

THOSE ARE ALL WITHIN THE RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU AT THEIR ESTIMATED AMOUNTS OF REVENUES AND EXPENSES FOR 2025.

WITH THAT, BE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.

>> THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS FOR JOE? THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING.

I'LL ASK THERE'S PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK THIS EVENING.

>> THERE'S NO ONE ONLINE, BUT IN PERSON HERE IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS, WE HAVE MARK STEFFEL.

>> MARK, YOU MAY COME UP TO THE PODIUM, AND PLEASE SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE.

WE TRIE TO LIMIT COMMENTS TO ABOUT FIVE MINUTES.

>> I SAW THAT. MY NAME IS MARK STEFFEL, I'M A LANDLORD.

I OWN ONE DUPLEX IN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

I SAW THAT PROPOSED TAX THING THAT CAME IN IN NOVEMBER AND I SAW IT WAS UP THERE FOR ME.

I THINK IT WELL ABOUT 8.4% TO FOR ME, IT'S 13%.

THIS IS ON TOP OF A 10% INCREASE LAST YEAR.

LAST YEAR, I RECEIVED MY NOTICE AND I FELT, REALLY DEMORALIZED, THIS SEEMS EXCESSIVE. I'M NOT USED.

I'VE BEEN A LANDLORD FOR 20 YEARS, I'VE OWNED MY PROPERTY FOR 20 YEARS, AND I GENERALLY DON'T SEE SUCH JUMPS.

NORMALLY, I WOULD EXPECT TO SEE MAYBE 3% OR SOMETHING AROUND THERE.

I WOULDN'T BULK ABOUT THAT.

BUT, SEEING 10% LAST YEAR AND NOW 13% THIS YEAR JUST MADE ME FEEL COMPELLED TO COME HERE AND SPEAK, I'VE NEVER SPOKEN IN FRONT OF CITY HALL BEFORE, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.

I DON'T REALLY HAVE TOO MANY EXPECTATIONS EXCEPT THAT I JUST WANTED TO RENDER MY OPINION THAT, THIS DEMORALIZES ME, IT DOESN'T FEEL GREAT TO ME TO SEE SUCH A TAX INCREASE FOR SOMEONE WHO'S A PROUD PROPERTY OWNER FOR 20 YEARS.

I JUST WANTED TO OFFICIALLY RENDER MY VOICE ON THAT CONCERN.

JUST TO SAY, ASK WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT IT? IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO BESIDES SPEAKING OR HERE IN PERSON TO COUNTER THIS OR TO UNDERSTAND IT BETTER SO THAT, AM I GOING TO BE FEELING COMPELLED TO COME BACK HERE NEXT YEAR FOR SOMETHING EVEN MORE? I WONDER IF I COULD, JUST GET MORE INFORMATION ON THAT. THAT'S ABOUT IT.

>> THANK YOU. YES, THE CITY MANAGER WANTS TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE DO HAVE SOME THINGS TO TAKE THIS FORWARD.

WE HAVE AN ASSESSMENT MEETING WILL BE COMING UP WITH THE COUNTY FOR PROPERTY TAXES.

[00:55:08]

>> THE LOCAL BOARD OF APPEALS AND EQUALIZATION WILL MEET IN THE NEW YEAR.

WE DON'T HAVE A DATE FOR THAT YET, BUT GENERALLY, IT IS IN APRIL.

AND IF AT THAT TIME, YOUR PROPERTY, YOU WOULD LIKE IT TO BE REVIEWED BY THE ASSESSORS, YOU COULD ASK AT THAT TIME, OR YOU COULD DO THAT AHEAD OF TIME IN WRITING TO THEM AS WELL.

>> IN WRITING OR IN APRIL?

>> PEOPLE DO ATTEND THAT MEETING IN PERSON AS WELL, AND MORE QUESTIONS ARE GONE THROUGH AT THAT TIME AS WELL.

THANK YOU FOR COMING IN AND SHARING AND I WILL ALSO SAY THAT WE KNOW THAT THIS IS A DIFFICULT TOPIC FOR PEOPLE TO COME IN AND SHARE ABOUT? IT'S NOT EASY TO COME IN AND SAY, IT'S HARD TO ASK QUESTIONS.

IT'S HARD TO TALK AT THE MICROPHONE IN A COUNCIL MEETING.

WE ARE HERE TO LISTEN TO YOU, AND I KNOW IT'S NOT AN EASY SUBJECT.

I REALLY APPRECIATE SEEING SO MANY PEOPLE HERE THAT ARE INVESTED IN HAVING THIS CONVERSATION, AND SHARING THEIR VIEWS.

THANK YOU. WHO IS OUR NEXT SPEAKER?

>> TONY RETARO WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

>> HI, I'M TONY RETARO, AND I'M ON THE SAME PAGE AS THE LAST MAN UP HERE SPEAKING, ABOUT THE TAXES AND MY HOUSE VALUE HAS GONE UP AND DOWN OVER THE YEARS.

I'VE BEEN HERE 30 SINCE '92 SO I'VE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AND THE PROPERTY TAXES HAVE JUST KEPT ON GOING UP AND UP AND UP AND UP.

IT'S QUITE A BIG INCREASE, THIS YEAR, AND IT WAS ALSO BIG LAST YEAR.

I'M GREAT WAS GIVEN TO THE SCHOOLS AND EVERYTHING ELSE, BUT $500 THIS YEAR FOR ME, IT'S 471, ACTUALLY, BUT IT'S A LOT, AND I JUST RETIRED IN JULY.

I JUST WANT, YOU PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT IT'S IT'S EFFECTIVE ON PEOPLE.

I THINK WE'RE GETTING OUT OF TOUCH.

I LIVE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS. I'M NOT IN DINA, I'M IN TAKA.

I DON'T LIVE IN A LAKE.

I'M ON A CORNER, NOT EVEN A CORNER, ACTUALLY, MIDDLE OF BLOCK, BUT NO HOUSES NEXT TO ME, BUT I JUST THINK IT'S OUT OF CONTROL.

THAT'S ALL. THE WAY THE TAXES ARE GOING UP.

>> THANK YOU, TONY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> I DON'T HAVE ANYONE ELSE REQUESTING TO SPEAK.

THANK YOU. ANYTHING FROM THE COUNCIL? COUNSELOR BISKINS, IT LOOKS LIKE.

>> I JUST WANTED TO SAY I UNDERSTAND THE COST OF LIVING, THE COST OF TAXES ARE HITTING EVERYONE, STILL VERY HARD.

OUR CITY, JUST SO WHEN WE GET TOGETHER AND START REVIEWING THE BUDGET FOR THE YEAR, THE STAFF WORKS VERY HARD AND JUST PUTTING IN WHAT WE REALLY NEED WE HAVE A LOT OF NEEDS IN THE CITY, WE TRY VERY HARD TO KEEP THE RATES FROM GOING UP BETWEEN LABOR COSTS ARE GOING UP, COST OF MATERIALS.

JUST SO YOU KNOW AS FAR AS WHERE YOUR MONIES GO, FROM THE LAST DIVVY ON THE CIRCLE, ABOUT HALF OF THE BUDGET GOES TO PUBLIC SAFETY, OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE, QUARTER GOES TO OUR PUBLIC WORKS, WHICH TAKES CARE OF OUR STREETS, OUR WATER, OUR SEWER, OUR STORM WATER.

THEN THE REST THE LAST QUARTER IS DIVVIED UP BETWEEN THE LIBRARY AND ADMIN AND OTHER SERVICES WE WANT TO PROVIDE THE BEST SERVICES WE CAN FOR OUR RESIDENTS.

WE TRY TO BE VERY REASONABLE WHEN WE GET OUR BIDS FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF SERVICES WE PROVIDE.

I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE WORK VERY HARD.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S HARD ON A RESIDENT, ESPECIALLY WHEN ONLY 5% OF OUR PROPERTY IS COMMERCIAL.

WE DON'T HAVE LIKE BLOOMINGTON, WHERE THEY HAVE A TON OF COMMERCIAL PROPERTY TO HELP CARRY THE WEIGHT OF THE TAXES BECAUSE OF OUR SMALL AMOUNT OF COMMERCIAL, IT DOES FALL ON MOSTLY ON THE RESIDENTS.

I JUST WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND WE TRY VERY HARD TO TAKE CARE OF THAT.

>> IF YOU'D LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING ELSE, IF YOU COULD JUST COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> I HEARD THAT GENTLEMAN OVER THERE SPEAKING EARLIER.

I WAS JUST WONDERING THAT, WHEN I GET SOMETHING DONE AND SOMEBODY ELSE DOES IT, NOT MYSELF,

[01:00:05]

>> WE GENERALLY TAKE THE LOWEST RESPONSIBLE BID, NOT JUST THE LOWEST, BUT WE DO ALSO LOOK AT THEIR TRACK RECORD, OUR KNOWLEDGE ON THE CONTRACTOR.

BECAUSE IT'S A PUBLIC PROCESS, THEY HAVE TO BE PUBLICLY SENT OUT TO BE ACCEPTED.

I DON'T KNOW IF ERIN, IF YOU'D LIKE TO ADD ANYTHING ABOUT OUR PROCESS AND HOW WE GET THAT WORK DONE.

>> THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF VARIATION, BUT VERY GOOD GENERALIZATION, THAT LOWEST COMPETITIVE BIDDER THAT'S QUALIFIED.

DIFFERENT PROJECTS OF DIFFERENT SCALES ARE BOUND BY STATE STATUTE.

I BELIEVE THE PUBLIC BIDDING PROCESS IS TRIGGERED AT $175,000 CURRENTLY.

ANY OF THE CITY'S SIGNIFICANT ROAD RECONSTRUCTION OR LARGE PROJECTS UNDERGO A SEALED BID PROCESS AND COMPETITIVELY LET AND THEN OPEN SIMULTANEOUSLY PUBLICLY.

THAT PROCESS IS MORE HIGHLY REGULATED THAN SMALLER CONTRACTS, BUT THE CITY'S INTERNAL POLICIES, HAVE A SEEKING COMPETITIVE BIDS WHENEVER POSSIBLE.

THERE ARE SOME CONTRACTS WHERE THERE AREN'T OTHER VENDORS THAT PROVIDE A SERVICE, FOR EXAMPLE, A VERY SPECIALIZED SERVICE, CONSULTANT TRAININGS AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT WE CAN APPROVE WITHOUT MULTIPLE COMPETITIVE BIDS, BUT IT'S INGRAINED INTO ALL OF OUR PROCESSES AND THEN PUBLICLY APPROVED.

THE CITY MANAGER SPENDING AUTHORITY BEFORE ANYTHING WOULD GO TO THE COUNCIL IS SET CURRENTLY AT $15,000.

ANYTHING ABOVE THAT THRESHOLD FOR A CONTRACT WOULD BE APPROVED BY RESOLUTION OR A MOTION BY THE CITY COUNCIL.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU AGAIN. ANYTHING ELSE FROM OUR COUNCIL TO SHARE, COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES.

>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE EVERYONE THAT CARES ABOUT THIS.

BEFORE I CAME TONIGHT, I MADE SURE I GOT A COPY OF THE TAXES THAT WERE SENT TO MY HOME BECAUSE WE'RE ALSO RESIDENTS OF THE CITY.

I SEE, THERE'S A LARGE INCREASE.

THE COUNTY HAS THEIR TAXING AUTHORITY, OTHER GOVERNMENT BODIES HAVE.

I'M LOOKING AT THIS KNOWING THAT THE VALUE OF MY HOUSE HAS INCREASED.

IT'S OVER $4,000 THAT I'M PAYING IN PROPERTY TAXES, AND I KNOW YOU'RE ALL PAYING THAT TOO.

BUT EACH MONTH, AS WE'VE BEEN HEARING FROM EACH DEPARTMENT, WE'VE BEEN ASKING THAT QUESTION, ARE THESE ALL NECESSARY? WE DON'T INCREASE OUR STAFFING HARDLY AT ALL.

IT'S MAINLY JUST KEEPING THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE, GIVING THEM COST OF LIVING INCREASES SO THAT WE CAN RETAIN OUR GREAT STAFF.

I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE TO ADJUST OUR FAMILY BUDGET TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN KEEP THESE STAFF.

I DO HEAR YOU, I COMMUNICATED.

WE HAD ONE PERSON IN THE PACKET WHO HAD REACHED OUT TO US.

I WENT BACK AND FORTH WITH THAT.

IT WAS ALSO A SMALL LANDLORD AND JUST SHARED THE WHOLE PROCESS WITH THEM.

IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN WHERE WE SPEND THE MONEY, LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER BISKIN SAID, IT'S ALL PUBLIC ALL THE WAY THROUGH SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, REALLY DIG INTO THAT AND WE ASK HARD QUESTIONS.

THAT'S WHY I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LEVY TONIGHT BECAUSE WE'VE LOOKED AT IT FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS TOGETHER. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL? I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT I WAS GOING TO MENTION, TOO THAT WE ALL GET OUR PROPERTY TAX STATEMENT.

MINE ALSO HAS GONE UP.

IT IS REALLY HARD TO DECIDE WHAT COULD WE CUT? WE VERY MUCH OPERATE ON A VERY LEAN BUDGET, ESPECIALLY, COMPARED TO OTHER CITIES, BUT I DON'T LIKE TO COMPARE US.

I LIKE US TO JUST LIVE ON WHAT WE NEED FOR OURSELVES, AND AS WE ALL KNOW, THINGS ARE TIGHT, BUT IT'S THE SAME THING WITH STAFF.

AS COUNCILOR BISKIN SAID, OUR PUBLIC SAFETY GETS THE LION'S SHARE OF OUR BUDGET, AND I FEEL THAT THEY ARE DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB.

AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE POLICING, EMPLOYMENT IS REALLY HARD OUT THERE, AND WE DEFINITELY NEED TO DO THE WORK WE CAN TO RETAIN THE POLICE WE HAVE, PROVIDE THEM GOOD TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT.

WE WERE ABLE TO BUILD THIS CITY HALL WITHOUT TAKING ON EXTRA DEBT.

THAT IS SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR OUR PAST INVESTMENTS IS A RIGHT WORD, BUT SAVINGS AND INVESTMENTS THAT WE COULD DO THAT.

BUT AS THINGS BECOME MORE AND MORE EXPENSIVE, WE DON'T HAVE THAT.

WE ARE IN THIS POSITION OF HAVING TO LOOK AT RAISING TAXES ALSO WITH OUR WASTE REMOVAL.

>> PRICES HAVE GONE UP SIGNIFICANTLY, AND THERE'S NO CHOICE BECAUSE THERE'S ONLY SO MANY WASTE REMOVAL COMPANIES OUT THERE, AND THEY'VE ALL RAISED THEIR RATES.

[01:05:04]

BUT I DO WANT TO SAY WE DID START THIS CONVERSATION MUCH EARLIER.

WHEN I SAY THAT, IT ISN'T TO SOUND LIKE IF YOU CARE, YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN HERE IN AUGUST, THAT'S NOT AT ALL WHAT IT MEANS.

IT JUST MEANS THAT STAFF IS BRINGING THESE ITEMS TO US SAYING THIS IS WHAT WE'RE THINKING, AND THEN WE ALL HAVE CONVERSATIONS TO SAY, WHAT WE DO LIKE, WHAT WE DON'T LIKE, CAN THEY GO BACK AND LOOK AT SOMETHING MORE? THIS IS A MONTH LONG CONVERSATION.

I KNOW IT MAY FEEL LIKE IF YOU'RE COMING TONIGHT, THIS IS THE FIRST YOU'VE THOUGHT OF THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO COME IN HERE.

BUT FOR US IN THE DECISION THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR FOUR MONTHS AND HAD A LOT OF TIME TO ALSO HAVE QUESTIONS.

WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN THOUGH BECAUSE WE WANT TO HEAR YOUR STORIES AND WHAT YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH US.

BUT JUST WANT TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW WE COME TO SITTING HERE TODAY AND WHERE THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN.

I HAVE A LETTER THAT WAS SENT IN THAT I WOULD LIKE TO READ.

SHE REQUESTED THAT WE READ IT DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING SO I'D LIKE TO READ THIS.

THIS IS FROM, HER FIRST NAME IS PAM, AND SHE IS A LOCAL LANDLORD, AS COUNCILMAN JAMES SAID.

SHE ALSO SENT THIS TO THE COUNTY AS WELL, BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT ALL OF THE PROPERTY TAXES, INCLUDING COUNTY.

"DEAR ANOKA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AND COLUMBIA HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, PLEASE READ THE BELOW IN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS THIS EVENING.

I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT AS I AM A SMALL MULTIFAMILY OWNER IN ANOKA COUNTY, BUT I AM NOT ABLE TO BE THERE THIS EVENING.

WE RECEIVED OUR APPRAISAL INCREASE AND PROPOSED TAXES FOR 2025 FOR OUR TWO APARTMENT BUILDINGS LOCATED IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

LAST YEAR, OUR 2024 PROPERTY TAXES INCREASED $4,500 DUE TO THE FOLLOWING THREE THINGS: ONE INCREASED APPRAISAL VALUE, TWO, ANOKA COUNTY VOTED TO INCREASE PROPERTY TAXES, AND THREE, CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS ALSO VOTED TO INCREASE TAXES.

THIS YEAR, THE DIFFERENCE IN INCREASE FOR 2025 IS ANOTHER $3,100.

THAT'S 7,600 IN ONLY TWO YEARS.

INSANE. I AM REACHING OUT TO ATTORNEYS TO HELP US APPEAL OUR INCREASED VALUE.

WITH MORTGAGE INTEREST RATES AT OVER 6%, THERE IS NO WAY ANYONE WOULD PAY WHAT YOU ARE VALUING OUR PROPERTY FOR.

WE HAVE IT LISTED ON THE MARKET, AND HOPE TO GET OUT OF OWNING ANY PROPERTIES IN MINNESOTA.

YOUR COUNTY AND CITY ARE NOT BUSINESS FRIENDLY FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS DUE TO ALL THE VOTED IN PROPERTY INCREASES AND INCREASES IN PROPERTY VALUES.

WARMEST REGARDS, PAM.

"SHE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS READ AND THAT WAS IN OUR PACKET SO THAT IT IS PUBLIC RECORD THEN.

I WANTED TO READ THAT OUT LOUD.

IF THERE'S NO ONE ELSE TO TALK ON THIS ITEM, THEN WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

I HAVE A MOTION THEN TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING?

>> MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND WAIVE THE READING OF RESOLUTION 2024-90, THERE WILL BE AN AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

>> SECOND.

>> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BASKINS, AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING AS NONE, SAY, AYE.

>> AYE.

>> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES.

NEXT, I HAVE A MOTION THEN TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION.

>> MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2024-90, BEING A RESOLUTION ADOPTING A BUDGET FOR THE YEAR 2025, SETTING THE CITY LEVY, APPROVING THE HRA LEVY, AND APPROVING A TAX RATE INCREASE.

>> SECOND.

>> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BASKINS, AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION.

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

>> AYE.

>> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES.

NEXT, WE HAVE OUR ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION,

[ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION]

ITEM NUMBER 24, GOULD AVENUE NORTHEAST, AND PETER'S PLACE PARKING SOLUTIONS.

EMILY VOIT FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR WILL BE HERE PRESENTING THIS ITEM. IS THAT CORRECT?

>> GIVE THE COUNCIL JUST A SECOND HERE.

>> NO PROBLEM.

[01:10:08]

>> MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THANK YOU.

I'M HERE THIS EVENING TO DISCUSS PARKING SOLUTIONS FOR GOULD AVENUE NORTHEAST AND PETER'S PLACE.

THE COUNCIL AND STAFF HAVE HEARD CONCERNS FROM RESIDENTS ABOUT ON STREET PARKING CONGESTION IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD IMMEDIATELY SOUTH AND EAST OF CITY HALL, AND COUNCIL DIRECTED STAFF TO DEVELOP SOME SOLUTIONS FOR THESE CONCERNS.

THERE'S A MAP ON YOUR SCREENS, ITEM 24 IN THE PACKET.

I'LL BE DISCUSSING THE PROPOSED SOLUTIONS A BIT LATER IN THE PRESENTATION, BUT I'LL START WITH SOME GENERAL NEIGHBORHOOD CONTEXT.

THE TWO PRINCIPAL STREETS INVOLVED IN THIS CONGESTED AREA ARE GOULD AVENUE NORTHEAST RUNNING FROM CENTRAL AVENUE IN THE WEST TO RESERVOIR IN THE SOUTHEAST AND PETER'S PLACE, WHICH ZIGZAGS BETWEEN GOULD IN THE NORTH AND RESERVOIR IN THE SOUTHEAST.

THERE WERE THREE PRINCIPAL OBJECTIVES THAT STAFF WERE LOOKING AT WHEN EVALUATING THE SITUATION AND LOOKING INTO SOLUTIONS TO ALLEVIATE THE CONCERNS.

THE FIRST OBJECTIVE WAS TO PRESERVE DRIVEWAY ACCESS TO THE EXISTING OFF STREET PARKING.

THE SECOND OBJECTIVE WAS TO ENSURE THAT MUNICIPAL SERVICE OPERATORS LIKE TRASH AND RECYCLING CAN STILL PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES ON THESE SCHEDULED DAYS.

THE THIRD OBJECTIVE WAS TO PROTECT PASSAGE AND ACCESS NEEDS FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES VEHICLES AND SNOW PLOWS.

THESE OBJECTIVES ARE IN ALIGNMENT WITH CITY CODE, CHAPTER 7.102 B2, WHICH I'LL QUOTE, ''ANY PUBLIC STREET, ALLEY, MUNICIPAL PARKING LOT, OR PORTION THEREOF IS SUBJECT TO REGULATION BY THE COUNCIL OR BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE, AS IS NECESSARY TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS, TO ELIMINATE TRAFFIC CONGESTION, TO PROVIDE PUBLIC ACCESS TO ADEQUATE PARKING FACILITIES OR TO OTHERWISE PROMOTE THE SAFETY AND WELFARE OF THE CITY.'' REALLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE TONIGHT ARE THE TWO CORE STRATEGIES OF HEALTHY AND SAFE COMMUNITY AND STRONG INFRASTRUCTURE AND PUBLIC SERVICES.

I KNOW YOU'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THIS ITEM.

WE DISCUSSED IT LAST WEEK IN THE COUNCIL WORK SESSION, BUT I'LL GO THROUGH THE CURRENT STATUS AND SOME BACKGROUND AS WELL JUST TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS ON THE SAME PAGE.

REFERRING BACK TO THE MAP AS WELL, STARTING BY TALKING ABOUT GOULD AVENUE NORTHEAST.

IF WE LOOK AT THE GEOGRAPHY AND THE DEVELOPMENT PATTERN GOULD AVENUE NORTHEAST, WE SEE SOME PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE NORTH SIDE OF THE STREET AND THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE STREET.

THE NORTH SIDE BECAUSE THERE'S NO EAST WEST ALLEY RUNNING BETWEEN 40TH AND GOULD, MOST OF THE PROPERTIES ALONG THE NORTH SIDE OF THE STREET HAVE THEIR DRIVEWAY ACCESS DIRECTLY FROM THE STREET.

THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS BEHIND THE HOUSES FROM AN ALLEY, WHICH IS IN CONTRAST TO WHAT YOU SEE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE STREET WHERE ALL, IF NOT ONE OF THE PROPERTIES HAVE THEIR ACCESS FROM THE ALLEYS RUNNING BETWEEN PETER'S AND GOULD.

ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE STREET, THIS REALLY CREATES SOME INCONSISTENT SPACING FOR ON STREET PARKING.

IT CREATES AREAS OF NARROW PARKING SPOTS BETWEEN DRIVEWAYS OR WHAT MIGHT BE A PARKING SPOT THAT A CAR COULD TRY TO PARK AND END UP BLOCKING A DRIVEWAY, BLOCKING A MAILBOX, BLOCKING A TRASH CAN.

THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE STREET DOESN'T HAVE AS MANY OF THE SAME CONCERNS BECAUSE IT'S MOSTLY AN UNINTERRUPTED STRETCH WHERE CARS CAN PARALLEL PARK WITHOUT BLOCKING MOST DRIVEWAYS BECAUSE THERE IS A MUCH SMALLER NUMBER OF DRIVEWAYS.

WE'VE HEARD ABOUT THOSE CONCERNS.

WE'VE HEARD ABOUT CONCERNS AS WELL ABOUT PEDESTRIAN SAFETY ON THESE STREETS DUE TO THE SHEER NUMBER OF CARS, VEHICLES TRAVELING ALONG THEM.

THE NARROWNESS OF THE STREET COMBINED WITH PARKING ON BOTH SIDES OF THAT CAN ALSO CAUSE PROBLEMS, LIKE I MENTIONED FOR TRASH CANS, TRASH CAN AND RECYCLING PICKUP, I SHOULD SAY, BY THE VEHICLES THAT ARE QUITE LARGE AND NEED TO ACCESS THOSE CANS TO PICK THEM UP TO HAUL THEM AWAY, AND FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES.

WHETHER THAT BE AN AMBULANCE, WHETHER THAT BE A FIRE TRUCK, CAN THOSE GET DOWN THE STREET BETWEEN THE CARS ON EITHER SIDE? CAN THEY PARK WHERE THEY NEED TO AND ACCESS A RESIDENCE IF THEY NEED TO IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY? IF WE LOOK STILL ON GOULD, MORE AT THE WEST SIDE, THOUGH, THE AREA JUST BOUNDED TO THE NORTH BY CITY HALL, TO THE SOUTH BY THE HEIGHT THEATER BY THE CHURCH, THAT AREA IS ACTUALLY PART OF THE CITY'S CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT REFLECTED IN THE ZONING, AND IT WAS WIDENED DURING THE CITY HALL REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT.

IT DOESN'T FACE THE EXACT SAME CONGESTION CHALLENGES.

HOWEVER, STAFF LOOKED AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD COMPREHENSIVELY WHEN WE WERE LOOKING INTO THIS AND DETERMINED THAT IF ANY CHANGE WERE MADE TO THE PARKING IN THE WEST PORTION, WHETHER THAT BE MOVED, REDUCED, ETC., IT MIGHT SHIFT THE CONGESTION WEST, OR PARKING CHANGES MADE IN THE EAST MIGHT SHIFT THE CONGESTION WEST AND THEN HAVE AN IMPACT ON POTENTIAL COMMERCIAL PARKING, WHETHER THAT BE FOR BUSINESSES ALONG CENTRAL OR THE THEATER OR IN THAT ZONE.

WE'RE TRYING TO LOOK AT THIS FROM A HOLISTIC COMPREHENSIVE NEIGHBORHOOD VIEW.

TOUCHING REALLY BRIEFLY ON PETER'S, I'LL JUST MENTION THAT IT'S A VERY NARROW STREET.

AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE MAP, IT HAS SOME TWISTS AND TURNS IN IT.

THERE'S ALREADY A PORTION OF NO PARKING ALONG JUST THE SOUTHWESTERN CORNER DUE TO THE SHARP TURN AND THE FOLIAGE ALONG THERE,

[01:15:04]

THERE'S NO PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE OF ANY KIND ALONG PETER'S, SO NO SIDEWALKS, NO CROSSWALKS, ETC.

THAT'S THE NEIGHBORHOOD CONTEXT.

I'LL TALK BRIEFLY AS WELL BEFORE WE GET INTO THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION ABOUT WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN OTHER CITIES.

THAT'S A STARTING POINT.

STAFF LOOKED INTO PARKING DISTRICTS.

I KNOW THAT'S A SUBJECT THAT CAME UP IN PREVIOUS CONVERSATIONS WITH RESIDENTS ABOUT POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD SO STAFF LOOKED INTO THAT IN DIFFERENT LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES, ST. PAUL, MINNEAPOLIS, RICHFIELD, ST LOUIS PARK, AS FAR AWAY AS ROCHESTER, BUT ALSO IN A LARGER NATIONAL CONTEXT TO SEE WHAT OTHER CITIES HAVE DONE WHEN FACED WITH RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD CONGESTION.

WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT, YES, SOME CITIES HAVE CREATED THOSE.

THE CREATION IS SUPPORTED BY LEGAL PRECEDENT IN THE US SUPREME COURT.

BUT WHAT WE ALSO FOUND WAS THAT CITIES THAT HAVE CHOSEN PARKING DISTRICTS HAVE GENERALLY DONE SO IN ORDER TO REGULATE PARKING BETWEEN USES.

FOR EXAMPLE, THERE MAY BE AN INSTITUTIONAL USE LIKE A CHURCH OR A SCHOOL IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT OR WITHIN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.

THOSE DISTRICTS ARE TRYING TO BALANCE BETWEEN DIFFERENT INTENSITIES OF USE AND HAVE USED IT FOR THAT PURPOSE.

WHAT WE ALSO FOUND WAS THAT CITIES THAT HAVE CHOSEN PARKING DISTRICTS WERE TRYING TO SOMETIMES LIMIT ON STREET PARKING FOR THE SAFETY AND WELL BEING A RESIDENTS TO PREVENT HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES.

THOSE ARE SOME ADVANTAGES, SOME THINGS THAT PARKING DISTRICTS CAN DO. WE SAW THOSE.

WE SAW THAT THEY CAN LIMIT THE SHEER NUMBER OF CARS PARKED ON THE STREET, BUT WE ALSO FOUND THAT THEY DID HAVE SOME DISADVANTAGES.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE CREATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF A DISTRICT NOT ONLY INCURS STAFF TIME, BUT ALSO COST, WHEN IT COMES TO IMPLEMENTATION, WHEN IT COMES TO ENFORCEMENT, WHEN IT COMES TO ONGOING ADMINISTRATION.

IT'S NOT A SOLUTION THAT YOU CAN PUT IN PLACE AND JUST LET SIT.

THERE NEEDS TO BE CONTINUAL REEVALUATION OF IT, WHETHER THE FREQUENCY OF PERMITTING IS ON AN ANNUAL OR MULTI YEAR BASIS, THERE'S ONGOING COST AND TIME ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.

REALLY CRUCIALLY, IN THIS PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOOD, IN THIS CONTEXT, WE REALIZE THAT PARKING DISTRICTS CAN'T ENSURE THAT PARKED CARS ARE NOT BLOCKING TRASH CANS.

THEY CAN'T ENSURE THAT THEY'RE NOT BLOCKING DRIVEWAYS.

THEY CAN REGULATE HOW MANY CARS OR WHO DRIVES THOSE CARS, BUT THEY CAN'T REGULATE WHERE EXACTLY THOSE CARS ARE, FOR EXAMPLE.

ALL OF THAT TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT, WE CAME TO A STAFF RECOMMENDATION, WHICH I MENTIONED, WE DISCUSSED AT THE COUNCIL WORK SESSION, AND THIS IS REALLY BASED ON THE IDEA THAT THE CITY IS A STEWARD OF PUBLIC PROPERTY, WHICH INCLUDES STREETS, WHICH INCLUDES ON STREET PARKING LANES, WHICH INCLUDES PARKING ON PUBLIC PROPERTY.

IT'S THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY TO REGULATE THESE AREAS, THESE PUBLIC PROPERTIES FOR USE.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING HERE.

STAFF CONCLUDED THAT USING EXISTING REGULATORY TOOLS AVAILABLE TO THE COUNCIL WOULD BE THE FASTEST, LEAST EXPENSIVE, LEAST BURDENSOME, AND MOST EFFECTIVE METHOD OF ADDRESSING THE OBJECTIVES.

WE'VE QUOTED SOME MORE CODE ABOUT CITY POWERS IN THE LETTER, BUT I WANT TO JUMP RIGHT INTO THE PROPOSAL, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE CALLING A PHASED APPROACH OR A THREE STEP APPROACH.

THE IDEA IS TO HAVE THE MOST IMPACT TOWARD THE OBJECTIVES AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE WITH THE LEAST COSTS AND THE LEAST REGULATION.

NOT TO OVER-REGULATE AND TO PUT IN A REALLY HEAVY HANDED SOLUTION FROM THE START, BUT TO DO STEP BY STEP, BUILDING UPON WHAT WE'VE ALREADY DONE TO GET TO A SOLUTION.

THE FIRST TWO STEPS THAT I'LL DESCRIBE ARE PROVIDED FOR IN THE ATTACHED RESOLUTION 2024-93, AND THEN I'LL EXPLAIN HOW THE THIRD STEP WOULD WORK AFTER THAT AS WELL.

I WANT TO INSIST AS WELL HERE THAT THE IDEA IS TO NOT JUST TO PUT IN A STEP AND TO LEAVE IT BE, BUT TO PUT SOMETHING INTO PLACE TO CONTINUE TO EVALUATE IT, TO CONTINUE TO GET FEEDBACK FROM MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, FROM STAFF WHO ARE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, FROM RESIDENTS, AND IF NECESSARY, TO IMMEDIATELY PROCEED WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEXT STEP, SO REALLY TO BE RESPONSIVE HERE AND TO MOVE FORWARD.

WE'VE HEARD CONCERNS ABOUT THE TIMING OF THIS AND WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE WORKING AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

ALL THAT SAID, THE PROPOSAL THAT STAFF ARE MAKING THIS EVENING ARE TO DESIGNATE A THREE STEP PHASED APPROACH.

THE FIRST STEP WOULD BE TO DESIGNATE THREE PARKING ZONES IN THIS AREA.

THESE ARE THE FIRST THREE ZONES YOU CAN SEE ON THE MAP BEFORE YOU.

THE FIRST ZONE IS A NO PARKING AREA EXCEPT FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES ALONG THE ENTIRE NORTH STREET FRONTAGE OF GOULD BETWEEN PETER'S AND RESERVOIR, AND THAT'S REPRESENTED BY THE RED HORIZONTAL DASHES ON THE MAP.

THE SECOND ZONE IS NO PARKING EXCEPT FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES AND PORTIONS OF THE EAST AND WEST FRONTAGES OF PETER'S, WHICH IS REPRESENTED BY THE BLUE ZONES ON THE MAP.

YOU CAN ALSO SEE THAT LITTLE BLUE EXISTING NO PARKING ON THE CORNER OF PETER'S, IT'S ALREADY THERE TODAY.

FINALLY, THE THIRD ZONE WOULD BE A COMMERCIAL PARKING ONLY THREE HOUR LIMITS ON BOTH THE NORTH AND SOUTH FRONTAGES OF GOULD ON THE FAR WEST IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT BETWEEN CENTRAL AND PETER'S, REPRESENTED BY THE YELLOW.

A LITTLE EXPLANATION OF THE WORDS OR THE PHRASE EMERGENCY SERVICES,

[01:20:05]

THIS FIRST STEP IS, LIKE I SAID, A FIRST STEP.

IT'S A FIRST EFFORT, IT'S A FIRST ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE AND TO REACH THE THREE OBJECTIVES THAT I EXPLAINED AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS.

TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NO PARKING BLOCKAGES HAPPENING ALONG GOULD IN FRONT OF DRIVEWAYS OR TRASH CANS, TO GET RID OF THE PINCH POINTS FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES ALONG PETER'S, AND TO MAINTAIN THAT COMMERCIAL PARKING ON THE WEST SIDE OF GOULD FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES.

IF WE IMPLEMENT STEP 1, IF WE DISCOVER, GREAT, THIS HAS AN IMPACT, IT'S A GOOD IMPACT, IT'S MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT WE'RE NOT QUITE THERE YET, STAFF WOULD RECOMMEND MOVING IMMEDIATELY TO STEP 2, WHICH WOULD BE TO DESIGNATE A FOURTH PARKING ZONE, NO PARKING, EXCEPT FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES ON THE REMAINING WEST SOUTH AND SOUTH WEST FRONTAGES OF PETER'S.

THAT'S REPRESENTED ON YOUR MAP BY THE GRAY DASH LINES.

THAT WOULD MAINTAIN EVERYTHING FROM STEP 1, BUT JUST ADD ON IT, BUILD ONTO IT, ADD A LITTLE BIT MORE REGULATION TO TRY AND GET TO THOSE THREE OBJECTIVES.

THEN FINALLY, IF WE WOULD STILL DETERMINE THAT THAT'S NOT SUFFICIENT, THAT WE THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE REGULATION, MORE DONE IN ORDER TO ATTAIN THREE OBJECTIVES, AT THAT POINT, STAFF WOULD RECOMMEND CREATING TWO RESIDENTIAL PERMIT PARKING AREAS IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.

THOSE ARE NOT DEPICTED ON THE MAP, BUT I CAN DESCRIBE THEM TO YOU.

THAT WOULD BE PERMIT PARKING ALONG THE SOUTH REMAINING STREET FRONTAGE OF GOULD AND ALONG THE REMAINING EAST, NORTH, AND NORTHEAST FRONTAGES OF PETER'S.

IN STEP 3, AS WELL, THAT WOULD BE BUILDING UPON WHAT WE'D ALREADY DONE IN STEPS 1 AND 2, SO KEEPING THE COMMERCIAL ONLY, KEEPING THE NO PARKING AREAS, BUT ALSO ADDING THAT RESIDENTIAL IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET TO COMPLETE ATTAINMENT OF THE THREE OBJECTIVES.

>> THIS IS A LOT OF INFORMATION.

STAFF RECOGNIZE THAT IT'S A FAIRLY COMPLEX PROPOSAL.

WE'RE TRYING TO BE COMPREHENSIVE IN GETTING THE ENTIRE PROPOSAL BEFORE YOU TONIGHT.

YOU CAN FEEL LIKE THERE'S A PLAN FOR PHASING AND FOR HOW THIS MAY LOOK OVER TIME IF WE DISCOVER THAT THE FIRST STEP IS NOT SUFFICIENT, BUT ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT IT'S COMPLEX, AND TIMELINES ARE COMPLEX.

I'LL JUST GO INTO A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL ABOUT THAT AND THEN CAN OPEN UP TO QUESTIONS.

TONIGHT, WE'RE RECOMMENDING ADVANCING RESOLUTION 2024 93, WHICH EXPLICITLY PROVIDES FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF STEPS 1 AND TWO.

THAT WOULD MEAN THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS FOR STEP 1 COULD BEGIN IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE PASSAGE OF THE RESOLUTION.

STAFF COULD GET TO WORK ON ORDERING AND INSTALLING THE SIGNAGE FOR THE FIRST THREE PARKING ZONES.

THEN AS SOON AS IT BECOMES CLEAR BASED ON FEEDBACK THAT WHETHER OR NOT ADDITIONAL ACTION IS NECESSARY, STAFF WOULD ALREADY HAVE THE POWER TO INFORM COUNSEL AND PROCEED WITH IMPLEMENTATION OF STEP 2, WHICH WOULD BE THE FOURTH PARKING ZONE.

THOSE WOULD BOTH BE PROVIDED FOR IN TONIGHT'S RESOLUTION.

THEN, AS I ALREADY EXPLAINED IF WE DETERMINE AFTER THE IMPLEMENTATION OF STEP 2, THAT ADDITIONAL MEASURES, ADDITIONAL REGULATION IS NECESSARY IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.

AT THAT POINT, STAFF WOULD PREPARE AND PRESENT DRAFT LEGISLATION TO THE COUNCIL FOR ADDING ADDITIONAL RESIDENTIAL PERMIT PARKING DISTRICT POWERS TO THE CITY CODE BECAUSE THOSE POWERS ARE NOT CURRENTLY PROVIDED FOR IN THE CITY CODE.

WE CAN GO INTO CODE CITATIONS AGAIN IF WE NEED, BUT THE POWERS THAT ARE PROVIDED TO COUNCIL AT THIS POINT ALLOW FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF TIME LIMITED PARKING AND NO PARKING ZONES, BUT NOT SPECIFICALLY RESIDENTIAL PERMIT PARKING.

I'LL STOP THERE FOR THE MOMENT AND I'M HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS.

>> ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL? I HAVE COUNSELOR JACOBS.

>> I WANT TO ADDRESS AGAIN, EMILY, YOU'VE DONE A GREAT AMOUNT OF RESEARCH.

I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THE RESEARCH.

I CAME TO DURING THE WEEK LAST WEEK AND WANTED TO ENSURE THAT YOU UNDERSTOOD THAT.

BUT I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT WHAT THESE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN FACING.

TWO PLUS YEARS OF BLOCKED DRIVEWAYS AND ALLEY ACCESS.

PARKING THAT AFFECTS CURBSIDE TRASH PICKUP, PARKING IN YELLOW CURB ZONES AND IN FRONT OF HYDRANTS, TWO PLUS YEARS OF QUESTIONABLE ACCESS FOR FIRE SAFETY.

THANK GOD, THEY DID NOT NEED IT.

I DON'T KNOW HOW A FIRE I DON'T THINK ENGINE 4 WOULD HAVE GOTTEN UP THERE AND PUT THEIR SUPPORTS UP.

WARNINGS AND NO TICKETING OR TOWING VIOLATORS.

TWO PLUS YEARS OF NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS AND ATTENDANCE AT COUNCIL MEETINGS, TWO PLUS YEARS OF NON ANSWERS FOR THE CITY.

NOW THE HOMEOWNERS ARE PRESENTED WITH A PHASED REMEDY THAT WE WERE TOLD AT THE WORK SESSION WILL TAKE AN ADDITIONAL 1-3 MONTHS TO ROLL OUT BECAUSE THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE THE SIGNS AND THEY HAVE TO BE ORDERED.

COINCIDENTALLY, THERE ARE BUSINESS SIGNS, PARK BUSINESS SIGNS AT THE READY,

[01:25:04]

WINGS HASN'T BEEN ON THE LANDSCAPE FOR MORE THAN SIX MONTHS IF IT'S BEEN THAT LONG.

HOWEVER, THOSE SIGNS, CUSTOM SIGNS HAVE BEEN ORDERED IN OUR IN POSITION.

THAT'S TROUBLING TO ME AND I'M SURE IT'S EVEN MORE TROUBLING TO THEM.

ALL OF THIS IS FILED BY AN OPEN ENDED WINDOW TO SEE HOW IT WORKS BEFORE FURTHER INITIATING THE ACTIONS THAT WERE PROMISED BY THE CITY IN THE SEPTEMBER MEETING.

NO MENTION OF TICKETING VIOLATORS IS PROMISED BY CITY LEADERSHIP.

IS THE TOWING COMPANY IN PLACE? THAT WAS GOING TO BE DONE, YOU HAD THREE MONTHS TO ARRANGE THAT.

FURTHER, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO PROVIDE PERMITTED STREET PARKING FOR THE HOMEOWNERS ON GOULD EITHER TEMPORARILY OR PERMANENTLY, AND PETER'S PLACE IS PROMISED.

IF AN ORDINANCE CHANGE IS NEEDED, WHY HASN'T THAT PROCESS BEEN INITIATED? ADMITTEDLY THIS PAST WEEK, THE CURRENT FIX IS A START BECAUSE NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE PREVIOUSLY.

THAT WAS A STATEMENT THAT WAS MADE TO ME IN CITY HALL.

NOW WE MUST CONSIDER ALL RESIDENTS, INCLUDING THE RATIO TENANTS WHO HAVE BEEN REFUSING FOR TWO YEARS TO PAY THE FEE FOR UNDERGROUND PARKING BECAUSE IT'S EXORBITANT OR TO USE THE CITY PARKING RAMP.

WHERE IS ADDIS ACCOUNTABILITY IN STEPPING UP TO THE PROBLEM CREATED BY THEIR DEVELOPMENT? I HAVE SAID REPEATEDLY THAT THIS IS A RATIO A LATTICE PROBLEM, AND THE CITY SHOULD NOT BE ENCUMBERING ITS STAFF OR ITSELF FINANCIALLY ON THEIR BEHALF, UNLESS IT'S THE CITY'S INTENT TO PROTECT ATTIE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

ALL OF THIS WAS LEFT TO THE FINAL WORK SESSION AGENDA OF 2024.

THE REASONS PREVIOUS AGENDAS WERE FILLED WITH BUDGET ITEMS. HOWEVER, JANUARY TO AUGUST PROVIDED PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY TO TAKE ACTION IF THAT WAS THEIR INTENT.

INSTEAD, THE CITY USES A FLY SWATTER ON THE ISSUE AND SOLELY MISSED THE PRO THE TARGET.

THIS, ALONG WITH FRIVOLOUS COMMENTS AND SUDDEN INTEREST IN NOTE TAKING, AT THE LAST WORK SESSION, HAVE LEFT ME INCENSED AND DISAPPOINTED FOR THE GOULD AND PETER'S PLACE RESIDENTS.

THEY DESERVE MORE AND THEY'VE BEEN GIVEN LESS OVER THE PREVIOUS YEARS.

LESS WE FORGET THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM, THE CITY IS ALLOWED TO TAKE PLACE PREVIOUSLY AT GRAND CENTRAL FLATS FOR TWO PLUS YEARS, NOW AT RATIO, AND THE RAINBOW LOCATION DEVELOPMENT HAS ALREADY COME FORWARD WITH STREET PARKING, AND A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD IS PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THEIR PARKING REQUIREMENT.

WHEN IS A CITY GOING TO LEARN THIS DOESN'T WORK AND RESIDENTS DESERVE BETTER? HOW IS THIS ADDRESSING THE RESIDENTS NEEDS? IT'S TIME FOR THE COUNCIL AND LEADERSHIP TO RETURN TO BUSINESS WITHOUT EMPTY LIP SERVICE TO THESE PEOPLE.

THEN THE A COMMENT THAT WAS MADE IN YOUR REPORT, EMILY, IS VERY TROUBLING TO ME THE SAME CONGESTION PROBLEMS HAVE EXISTED.

BUT AGAIN, THESE PARKING SIGNS ARE IN PLACE, AND THE RESIDENTS ARE LEFT HOLD IN THE BAG.

WHO ARE WE WORKING FOR? I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE RESIDENTS TO HEAR WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY.

>> DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD TO THAT, EMILY?

>> NOT AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU.

>> THIS IS NOT A PUBLIC HEARING.

I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE PHOTO THAT YOU HAVE OF THAT SIGN, WHERE IS THAT SIGN?

>> THESE ARE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF GOULD, RIGHT ADJACENT TO THE DAIRY QUEEN PARKING LOT.

>> ON THE STREET?

>> ON THE STREET.

>> THANK YOU.

>> I HAVE A QUESTION. WHEN I WAS COMING OVER HERE TONIGHT, THERE IS A BUSINESS LOCATED AND HAS ORANGE CONES MARKED OFF FOR PARKING SPACES, I ASSUME IN FRONT OF THEIR BUSINESS.

IS THAT LEGAL? I THOROUGHFARE, AND I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF THAT'S LEGAL.

>> IT IS NOT. COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS.

>> BEEN THERE FOR A WHILE, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THOSE AREN'T ADDRESSED, AND YET THE PARKING IN FRONT OF THESE RESIDENTS HOMES IS BEING REMOVED BECAUSE THE CITY CONTROLS THE STREETS, THE RESIDENTS DO NOT CONTROL THEM, AND I RESPECT THAT.

BUT IT SHOULD BE EQUALLY APPLIED TO BUSINESSES.

>> I JUST WANT TO ADD THAT THE SIGN THAT WAS PRESENTED WAS NOT INSTALLED BY THE CITY.

STAFF ARE UNAWARE THAT THOSE HAVE BEEN INSTALLED AND WE CAN ADDRESS THAT INDEPENDENTLY WITH THE BUSINESS OWNERS WHO I ASSUME, ARE RESPONSIBLE, BUT THOSE ARE NOT THE SIGNS SANCTIONED BY THE CITY FOR THE COMMERCIAL PARKING DISTRICT.

>> THEY'RE CONTROLLING THE PARKING ON CITY STREETS AND THEY'VE BEEN UP THERE FOR AT LEAST A WEEK THAT I'M AWARE OF, MAYBE LONGER.

[01:30:04]

WHEN I LEFT THE WORK SESSION, THE MAYOR HAD EVEN AGREED THAT THERE NEEDED TO BE THAT YOU KNOW BY THE END OF THREE MONTHS, YOU KNOW IF THIS IS WORKING OR NOT WORKING.

TO LEAVE IT OPEN ENDED IS JUST ADDING SALT TO SOME WOUNDS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN RIPPED OPEN.

>> WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD ANYTHING TO THE CITY MANAGER?

>> I THINK I WOULD ADD, I THINK THAT STAFF ARE CONFIDENT THAT TWO MONTHS WE WON'T NEED THAT MUCH TIME.

THE SIGNS HAVE BEEN OR THE POSTS RATHER HAVE BEEN INSTALLED ALONG THE CORRIDOR IN ADVANCE OF FREEZING CONDITIONS.

WE JUST NEED TO ENGAGE OUR SIGN MANUFACTURER PENDING THE RESULTS OF THIS MEETING, BUT TWO WEEK LEAD TIME ON SIGNS IS PRETTY TYPICAL.

INSTALLATION SHORTLY THEREAFTER BY THE CITY'S PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE ABLE TO BEAT THE TWO MONTH TIMELINE SIGNIFICANTLY.

>> I WAS TOLD A MONTH TO TWO MONTHS AT THE WORK SESSION, WAS THAT NOT ACCURATE? LET ME HAVE THOSE SIGNS BEEN ORDERED?

>> THEY HAVE NOT PENDING THIS MEETING.

IT'S PRUDENT TO GET THE RESOLUTION PASSED, I THINK, BEFORE INVESTING IN THE SIGNS, BUT IT'S STAFF'S INTENT FOLLOWING, AGAIN, A SUCCESSFUL APPROVAL OF TONIGHT'S RESOLUTION, THAT THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE ORDERING AN INSTALLATION OF THE SIGNS IN PHASE 1.

>> I APPRECIATE WAITING TO ORDER THE SIGNS, NOT THAT IT'S TAKING LONGER.

THAT'S NOT WHAT WE HOPE FOR, BUT WE DO NEED TO HAVE A VOTE, SO WE HAVE COUNCIL DIRECTION TO MOVE THIS FORWARD.

I APPRECIATE THAT AT THE END OF A WORK SESSION, WE DIDN'T MOVE FORWARD AS MUCH AS WE GAVE THE COUNCIL OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE FULL, REPORT AND PRESENTATION TO MAKE OUR VOTE.

I ALSO WANT TO SAY HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE STAFF WORKING THROUGH THIS.

I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LONG HAUL, AND EMILY, YOU DID A GREAT JOB TAKING THE INFORMATION AND PRESENTING A LOT OF INFORMATION, BUT COMMUNICATING IT IN A WAY THAT I FEEL EASY TO UNDERSTAND.

I KNOW IT'S BEEN A HALL FOR THE COMMUNITY TO LIVE THROUGH ALL OF THIS.

IT HAS BEEN A LOT, BUT WE HAVE NOT BEEN TONED DEF, WE HAVE LISTENED, AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IT, AS YOU CAN SEE.

THIS HAS BEEN A LOT OF WORK, A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS BACK AND FORTH WITH POLICE WITH RATIO AS WELL AS LOCAL BUSINESSES.

THIS HAS BEEN A WORK IN PROGRESS.

>> ANYTHING ELSE FROM THE COUNCIL?

>> I'D LIKE TO REQUEST THAT THESE PEOPLE BE ALLOWED TO SPEAK DURING THIS PORTION RATHER THAN WAITING UNTIL AFTER A VOTE IS TAKEN.

I AM ASKING THE MERCY OF THE COUNCIL TO ALLOW THAT.

>> I FEEL LIKE WE LISTENED TO PEOPLE LAST WEEK.

>> THREE PEOPLE, THERE'S 15 PEOPLE.

>> I FEEL THAT WE HAVE ALREADY.

[OVERLAPPING] WHAT DOES THE COUNCIL THINK?

>> IT'S FAIR. [BACKGROUND]

>> WELL, WE EITHER HEAR YOU NOW OR WE HEAR YOU AT OUR COMMUNITY FORUM.

I WILL JUST LET YOU ALL SPEAK TONIGHT.

YES, SO THIS IS NOT A PUBLIC HEARING, BUT I WILL GRANT YOU THE FLOOR TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, AND WE WOULD JUST LIKE TO KEEP IT AT LEAST A FIVE MINUTE MEET FIVE MINUTES AT MOST.

THIS IS NOT OUR GENERAL AGENDA ITEM, BUT I DO WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU, AND I'D RATHER HAVE YOU BE ABLE TO DO IT NOW THAN HAVE TO WAIT THROUGH EXTRA TIME.

I JUST WANT TO DOUBLE CHECK THAT THAT WORKS OKAY WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY.

>> THAT'S WITHIN THE MAYOR'S PREROGATIVE.

>> MADAM MAYOR, I GUESS I WOULD ADD THAT SEVERAL OF THE RESIDENTS, I BELIEVE, HAVE SUBMITTED THE FORM TO THE CITY CLERK, SO WE COULD RUN THROUGH IT AND PROCESS IT IN A SIMILAR WAY AS THE PREVIOUS TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS.

>> ALL WE NEED TO HEAR IS YOUR NAME AND IF YOU'RE A RESIDENT OR NOT, AND THE CITY CLERK WILL INTRODUCE YOU.

WE JUST ASK YOU TO SPEAK AT THE PODIUM WITH THE MICROPHONE.

>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT.

>> WELCOME.

>> KATHLEEN BENNETT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

>> THANK YOU. WELCOME.

>> HI, I'M KATHY BENNETT.

[01:35:03]

JUST THE OTHER NIGHT, SOMEBODY EVEN THOUGH THERE'S PLENTY OF PARKING ON GOULD, SOMEBODY PARKED RIGHT IN FRONT OF A DRIVEWAY, AND INSTEAD OF THE POLICE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT TICKETING THEM OR TOWING THEM, THEY WENT TO ALL THE NEIGHBORS AND WOKE US UP.

COULDN'T FIND THE DRIVER OF THE CAR AND JUST LEFT IT THERE.

THE HOMEOWNERS COULDN'T GET OUT OF THEIR DRIVEWAY UNTIL THE PEOPLE FINALLY SHOWED UP AT 2:00 IN THE MORNING AND MOVED THEIR VEHICLE.

ANYWAYS, IF THEY MAKE IT ONE SIDE PARKING, EVERYBODY'S GOING TO PARK ON MY SIDE, AND NOBODY'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO COME AND VISIT ME BECAUSE THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE A PLACE TO PARK.

EVEN THOUGH THE SIGNS ARE OUT THERE FOR WINGS AND DAIRY QUEEN, THE PEOPLE ARE STILL PARKING THERE OVERNIGHT, RIGHT IN FRONT OF THOSE BIG BRIGHT SIGNS.

[LAUGHTER] THEY DON'T CARE, UNLESS THEY DO SOMETHING TO THESE PEOPLE AND MAKE THEM FOLLOW THE RULES, THEY'RE JUST GOING TO CONTINUE TO BREAK THEM.

THEY DON'T CARE. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, KATHY.

>> LA ROY AND NANCY.

I WASN'T ABLE TO CAPTURE YOUR LAST NAME, SO YOU COULD PLEASE DO THAT AT, [OVERLAPPING] COULD YOU DO THAT AT THE PODIUM?

>> MY NAME IS NANCY CHESNEY, AND I LIVE AT 1001 PETER'S PLACE.

I LIVE ON THE CORNER, HAVING A BIRD'S EYE VIEW 24/7 OF THE ACTIONS ON PETER'S PLACE.

WE GET TO SEE AN AWFUL LOT FROM VERY LARGE TRUCKS RUNNING DOWN THAT ARE OVERSIZED IN TERMS OF THE CONSTRUCTION DESTROYING A RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTED STREET, WHICH IS PETER'S PLACE.

THEREBY IT HAVING TO BE RESURFACED IN MAJOR SECTIONS.

THAT'S A BIG PROBLEM, WE ALSO HAVE SOME OTHER ISSUES WITH REGARD TO IT THAT YOU TALK ABOUT EMERGENCY VEHICLES AND OTHER VEHICLES SUCH AS THE GARBAGE, TRYING TO MAKE IT.

WELL, I HAVE SOME PHOTOS HERE THAT I THINK I WILL HAND TO THE CLERK IN WHICH DISPLAY THE DIFFICULTIES A LARGE VEHICLE, TRYING TO [INAUDIBLE]

>> EXCUSE ME. IF YOU COULD SPEAK AT THE MICROPHONE, OTHERWISE, IT WON'T BE RECORDED.

I KNOW WE CAN HEAR HERE, BUT IT WON'T BE RECORDED.

[OVERLAPPING] WELL, BUT IT WILL NOT LITERALLY BE RECORDED ON THE VIDEO BECAUSE THE MICROPHONE HAS TO BE UP.

>> IN TURN, I'VE HANDED TO THE CLERK SOME PHOTOS OF DIFFICULTIES OF THE LARGE VEHICLES TRYING TO GET IN THERE.

THAT IS, REALLY.

WE'VE ALSO GOT ANOTHER ISSUE THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

GARBAGE. I HAVE TO GO AND PICK UP EVERY SINGLE WEEK GARBAGE ALONG THE KIRBY.

'M HERE TO TELL YOU, IT IS DIFFICULT, ESPECIALLY WITH THOSE PRONG HORNED BUSHES WE HAVE BY THE CHURCH SIDE.

NOW, I REALLY DO HAVE BETTER THINGS TO DO THAN PICK UP OTHER PEOPLE'S GARBAGE.

ALTHOUGH ONE TIME I DID PICK UP A $20 BILL.

I HAVE TO SAY PRAISE TO ME.

BUT THERE ARE CONCERNS WITH THE PARKING, WE CAN'T CUT OUR LAWN ON THE ONE LONG SIDE THAT FACES GOING SOUTH IF THERE ARE VEHICLES THAT ARE PARKING THERE.

WE HAVE TO DO IT IN TWO SPLITS AND TRY TO WATCH TO SEE IF, IN FACT, WE CAN DO IT IN TWO SPLITS, OR IF WE'VE GOT TO WAIT SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE WE CAN DO IT.

THERE IS A CONCERN, AND I REALIZE THAT IS BASICALLY A SELFISH APPROACH, BUT IT IS A CONCERN BECAUSE IT IS A VERY LARGE SECTION OF THE LAWN.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, AND I APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU. PAUL EDNA, WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

>> HI, PAUL. WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. MY NAME IS PAUL EDNER, AND I'M A RESIDENT OF GOULD.

MADAM MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, GUESTS I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU ALLOWED THE SPEAKING TIME TO BE PRIOR TO THE VOTE RATHER THAN JUST AT THE COMMUNITY FORUM SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THE PARKING SITUATION ON THE STREETS ADJACENT TO CENTRAL AVENUE HAS GONE REALLY BAD.

I LIVE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF GOULD AVENUE, WHICH IS WHERE THE PROPOSED PARKING ONLY ON THE SOUTH SIDE IS LOCATED.

THERE'S ALREADY AN EXCESSIVE NUMBER OF CARS ON BOTH SIDES OF GOULD AND ON PETER'S PLACE.

[01:40:07]

I AM THE PERSON WHO HAS THE ONLY DRIVEWAY ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF GOULD AVENUE, AND MY DRIVEWAY IS FREQUENTLY BLOCKED BY CARS PARKING THERE.

SOME OUT OF IGNORANCE, NOT SEEING THAT IT'S A DRIVEWAY, AND OTHERS, IT'S AN OPEN SPOT WIDE ENOUGH FOR A CAR.

AT LAST WEEK'S WORK SESSION, WE WERE ASKED, PLAY NICE, PLEASE DON'T CALL THE POLICE.

WE WANT TO TRY AND RESOLVE THIS THROUGH MORE CORDIAL MEANS, THE PLAN TO TOW CARS THAT HAVE A TOWING COMPANY COME THROUGH, THAT PLAN WAS SCRAPPED SO THERE'S NO TOWING OF CARS IN VIOLATION, ONLY CITATIONS.

THE NEW THREE-PHASE PLAN AGAIN, MAY TAKE WEEKS OR MONTHS TO GET POSITIVE RESULTS.

I WISH I HAD A SOLUTION TO MEET EVERYONE'S NEEDS, BUT I DON'T.

WHEN I WANT TO GET OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, BUT SOMEBODY HAS PARKED IN FRONT OF IT I SHOULD NOT BE TOLD BY THE POLICE AS I WAS THAT IF THEY DON'T MOVE IN A COUPLE OF HOURS, GIVE US A CALLBACK, AND WE'LL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO, BECAUSE THEY SAID, WE CAN'T TOW THEM SO IF THEY'RE AT THE MOVIE THEATER, DEAL WITH IT FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS.

OPEN DRIVEWAYS ARE A BUZZ FOR EMERGENCIES AS WELL AS DAY-TO-DAY ACTIVITIES.

WITH THE SNOW, INEVITABLY, WHETHER WE GET A LOT OR A LITTLE, WILL BE ON ITS WAY AND WILL ONLY EXACERBATE THE PROBLEM.

I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS ISSUE. HAVE A GOOD DAY.

>> THANK YOU. DAVID OMBERG WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

>> HELLO. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS DAVID OMBERG RESIDENT JUST THE SECOND HOUSE DOWN HERE FROM THE RATIO BUILDING HERE.

I'VE BEEN HERE FOR 10 YEARS AS A RESIDENT AND I ONLY HAVE ONE OFF-STREET PARKING SPOT.

I DON'T HAVE A GARAGE.

I HAVE ONE SPOT OFF-STREET.

I HAVE A SHORT DRIVEWAY THAT GOES RIGHT TO THE FRONT OF MY HOUSE SO THAT'S THE ONLY OFF-STREET PARKING SPOT I HAVE.

YOU TAKING AWAY THE NORTH SIDE OF THE PARKING TAKES AWAY MY OTHER PARKING SPOT.

I'VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR THAT SPOT ON AND OFF FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS RATIO RESIDENTS COMING UP AND DOWN, PARKING THERE REGULARLY, AND AS A PREVIOUS PERSON MENTIONED, THROWING GARBAGE AND I DON'T KNOW WHY WE HAVE THIS 11:00-2:00 ORDINANCE.

I HAVE TO GO APPLY FOR A PARKING PERMIT TO A PARK BECAUSE THE CITY ORDINANCE SAYS THERE'S NO PARKING BETWEEN THE HOURS 2:00 AM AND 6:00 AM, I THINK, AND I SEE ALL KINDS OF CARS UP AND DOWN THAT BLOCK THAT DON'T HAVE PERMITS LAST YEAR THAT NEVER GOT TICKETED.

I GOT TICKETED THREE TIMES.

ONCE FOR HAVING A PARK ON MY LAWN NEXT TO MY OTHER CAR BECAUSE THERE WAS NO SPOTS AVAILABLE AND ANOTHER TWO TIMES BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T SEE THAT I HAD MY PERMIT.

I THINK IT HAD FALLEN DOWN ONCE BUT I'VE GOTTEN THREE TICKETS SO FAR IN THE FRONT OF MY OWN HOUSE.

I SEE ALL THESE OTHER CARS, THE RESIDENTS OF RATIO UP AND DOWN THE STREET I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THEY'RE ELIGIBLE FOR THAT PARKING PERMIT.

THAT EXONERATES US FROM HAVING TO MOVE THEIR CAR FROM BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 2:00 AND 6:00 BUT I SEE THAT UP AND DOWN THAT WHOLE SIDE, BOTH SIDES ARE PLASTERED WITH CARS WITHOUT PERMITS, AND NOTHING IS EVER BEING DONE ABOUT IT AND I'VE BEEN TICKETED THREE TIMES.

TAKING AWAY THAT NORTH-SIDE PARKING IS TAKING AWAY MY ONLY OTHER PARKING SPOT.

I HAVE ONE OFF-STREET PARKING.

I DON'T HAVE A GARAGE AND SO I'M GOING TO END UP PARKING ALL THE WAY UP TO RESERVOIR ON THE SOUTH SIDE. I CAN'T DO THAT.

IT'S JUST RIDICULOUS.

THEN ON THE OTHER NOTE, WE HAVE CARS ALL THE TIME COMING UP, AND THEY'RE SEARCHING FOR A PARKING SPOT, SO THEY GO UP AND THERE'S A CONSTANT PARADE OF CARS DOING U-TURNS, GOING UP LOOKING FOR A SPOT, TURNING AROUND, RIGHT WHERE PETERS AND GOULD COME TOGETHER.

[01:45:01]

LIKE I SAID, YOU TAKE AWAY THAT NORTH SIDE PARKING THAT TAKES AWAY HALF THE SPOTS.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE THESE CARS ARE GOING TO GO.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE ALL THE WAY UP AND DOWN RESERVOIR AND AFTER I PARK UP ON RESERVOIR I'M GOING TO HAVE TO WALK QUITE A WAYS TO GET TO MY HOUSE AND I WON'T BE ABLE TO SEE MY CAR EVEN, AND I CAN'T KEEP IT SAFE.

I DON'T KNOW. THE SOLUTION YOU'RE OFFERING OR PROPOSING DOES NOT SEEM PRACTICAL, AND IT'S NOT GOING TO SOLVE THE RATIO PROBLEM, WHICH IS THE PROBLEM.

THE PEOPLE FROM RATIO PARKING IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSES. HUGE PROBLEM.

>> THANK YOU. MARK VERONIKAS, WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THAT COUNCIL.

>> MARK, YOU CAN'T SWEAR.

>> WELL, WHILE I GET THIS OUT I'D JUST LIKE TO TELL YOU THAT YOUR PLAN IS AS BEAUTIFUL AS THE GRAPHICS ARE AND THE COLOR-CODED STUFF ON IT THAT'S A HORRIBLE PLAN.

ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE.

YOU'RE JUST GOING TO TAKE TRAFFIC AND YOU'RE JUST GOING TO THROW IT EVERYWHERE AND IT'S ALREADY CHAOS, AND IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE WITH THIS.

BY THE WAY, I'M MARK VERONIKAS, 1055 PETER'S PLACE.

SEE WHERE AM I? I GOT TO FIND THE FIRST PAGE OF MY NOTE.

DID I LOSE MY FIRST PAGE? WELL, THAT REALLY BITES. THAT WAS THE BEST PART.

GEEZ, GIVE ME A SECOND. LET'S FORGET THIS.

FIRST OFF, I'D LIKE TO SAY THANKS, THE PARKING FOR THE BUSINESS.

THAT'S GOOD.

OBVIOUSLY, THE BANK DIDN'T HAVE ANYWHERE TO PARK. THAT WAS COOL.

FOR KATHY OVER HERE, GETTING THE PARKING LOT BEHIND THE CITY HALL DONE FOR THE CITY VEHICLES SO SHE CAN GET IN AND OUT OF HER DRIVEWAY THAT'S PRETTY COOL, TOO, BECAUSE IT'S BEEN ROCK FOR THREE YEARS, I THINK BEFORE THIS SO THAT'S COOL BUT THE PARKING ON PETER'S AND GOULD THAT YOU HAVE PLANNED IS HORRIBLE.

YOU GUYS HAD A PLAN.

WE HAD A PLAN IN SEPTEMBER.

IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE PERMIT PARKING.

I BELIEVE YOU WERE THERE, THE POLICE CHIEF WAS THERE, SHE WAS THERE.

ALL THIS LAST MEETING WASN'T SUPPOSED TO BE DOTTING THE EYES AND CROSSING THE TS, AND WE WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE SANITY BACK TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

INSTEAD, YOU'RE JUST TURNING IT INTO COMPLETE CHAOS.

IT'S JUST GOING TO BECOME A COMPLETE FREE-FOR-ALL.

TWO WEEKS AGO, SOME LADY CAME UP FROM THE DAIRY QUEEN, GOT UP TO PETER'S PLACE, SOME GUY RAN PETER'S PLACE, HIT HER CAR, SHE FLIPPED OUT IN PANIC, STUCK HER CAR IN REVERSE, CAME HALFWAY DOWN THE ROAD, HIT THE FRONT OF ANOTHER CAR AND THIS THING HAPPENS ALL THE TIME BECAUSE OF THE RATIO.

THIS IS A RATIO PROBLEM.

WE NEVER HAD THESE PROBLEMS BEFORE RATIO CAME INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE HAD A PRETTY DARN GOOD NEIGHBORHOOD, AND WITH THE PEOPLE BEHIND ME, YOU CAN DEFINITELY TELL WE'RE A PRETTY TIGHT NEIGHBORHOOD TOO AND WE DON'T WANT THIS.

WE HAD THAT DEAL FOR THE PERMIT PARKING FOR THE RESIDENTS ONLY, WHICH WOULD HAVE CALMED THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD DOWN AND INSTEAD, YOU TOOK EVERYTHING AND YOU JUST THREW IT IN A TRASH CAN AND CAME UP WITH THIS HORRIBLE PLAN THAT YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO STICK DOWN OUR THROATS.

THIS IS HORRIBLE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH YOU GET PAID, BUT THIS IS A REALLY BAD PLAN AND WHATEVER YOU GET PAID, YOU SHOULDN'T BE GETTING IT FOR THIS.

THIS IS TERRIBLE.

SORRY, BUT IT'S TERRIBLE.

CAN YOU PLEASE JUST GO TO THE ORIGINAL PLAN THAT WE AGREED TO IN SEPTEMBER AND LET US HAVE OUR LIVES BACK? LET US HAVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD BACK.

PLEASE JUST LET US GET BACK TO NORMAL.

WE DON'T WANT TO BE HERE.

THIS IS THE LAST PLACE I EVER WANT TO BE, EVER AND HERE I AM NOT HAVING THE TIME OF MY LIFE.

PLEASE DON'T DO THIS.

DO WHAT WE AGREED TO IN APRIL, PLEASE.

THANK YOU.

[01:50:04]

>> THANK YOU. MIKE LEAS, WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

>> HELLO. I WAS HERE BEFORE AND TALKED TO YOU ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.

BY DOING THIS, ISN'T THAT GOING TO CREATE EVEN MORE IF WE HAVE PEOPLE COME OVER TO VISIT, THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANYWHERE TO PARK.

FIRST OFF, WEREN'T THEY TOLD THAT THEY WERE GOING TO GET ONE FREE PARKING SPOT WITH THEIR RENT? WHY AREN'T YOU GUYS HOLDING THEM TO THAT IF EACH ONE OF THEM HAD AT LEAST ONE SPOT? I LITERALLY COME HOME FROM WORK AT 5:00 IN THE MORNING, I GOT PEOPLE BLOCKING MY DRIVEWAY.

I GOT A GUY IN A TESLA ONE MORNING HE'S BLOCKING MY DRIVEWAY BY FOUR FEET HE'S IN THE CAR, SMOKING, FLASH MY LIGHTS HE DOESN'T MOVE.

HOW COMFORTABLE DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD FEEL GETTING OUT OF YOUR CAR, WALKING UP TO SOMEONE WINDOWS ARE TOTALLY BLOCKED OUT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO GET INTO? HE ROLLS HIS WINDOW DOWN AND HE LOOKS AT ME, WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? I SAY THE PROBLEM IS, YOU'RE ON MY WAY, I CAN'T GET IN MY DRIVEWAY.

WELL, THIS IS A PUBLIC STREET.

I SAID THAT'S FINE. I SAY I CAN CALL THE COPS RIGHT NOW.

HOW IS THIS GOING TO LOOK IF I CALL THE POLICE AND YOU'RE SITTING HERE SMOKING WEED IN YOUR CAR? WELL, THEN HE SPUT OFF WHEN I SAID THAT.

I'VE HAD THIS HAPPEN NUMEROUS TIMES.

WE'VE CALLED THE COPS THREE TIMES WITHIN A TWO-WEEK PERIOD.

THEY DIDN'T DO NOTHING. THEN FRIDAY, MY WIFE CALLS ME. I WORK NIGHTS.

I'M UP ON MY WAY TO FARGO.

SHE CALLS ME BECAUSE THE COPS KNOCKED AT THE DOOR BECAUSE SOMEONE BLOCKED THE NEIGHBOR'S DRIVEWAY, THE COMPLETE DRIVEWAY THAT KATHY WAS TALKING ABOUT.

THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES.

HOW ARE WE GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE PARK? IF YOU GOT THAT SOUTH SIDE ONLY WHY ISN'T THAT MADE PERMIT PARKING? I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHY YOU THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE THE WHOLE PROBLEM.

WE'VE HAD A MEETING WITH YOU AND IT'S AFTER TWO O'CLOCK, I COME HOME AND THERE'S CARS PARKED.

WHY AREN'T THEY TOWING THESE CARS? NOBODY'S GETTING A TICKET.

IF YOU START TOWING THESE CARS AND ACTUALLY TICKETING THESE PEOPLE AND HOLD THEM RESPONSIBLE, MAYBE THEY WON'T PARK THERE, OR IF THEY'RE THAT STUPID AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PAY A FINE EVERY NIGHT.

I'M JUST AT THE END OF MY WHAT CAN WE DO? WE HAD A NICE NEIGHBORHOOD.

YOU GOT PEOPLE SPEEDING UP AND DOWN THE ROAD, I'M SITTING IN THE LIVING ROOM ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU HEAR THESE GUYS ARE IN THEIR CAR, SMOKING WEED, MUSIC BLASTING.

MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MORE PATROL.

MAYBE COPS COULD START TICKETING THESE GUYS BECAUSE I KNOW DAMN WELL IF I WAS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY AND I WAS IN MY CAR, LISTENING TO MUSIC, WHICH I WOULDN'T, AND I HAD A BEER IN MY HAND, I COULD GET A DWR.

I DON'T CARE IF MARIJUANA IS LEGAL OR WHATEVER.

YOU CAN'T BE IN YOUR CAR HIGH AS A KITE. I DON'T KNOW.

I SEE WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH YOUR PLAN.

I KNOW YOU PUT A LOT OF TIME INTO IT, AND I'M NOT GOING TO SIT TO TEAR IT APART, BUT THERE'S GOT TO BE ANOTHER WAY BECAUSE HER DAD LIVES IN THE APARTMENT AND THEN WE HAD THAT ONE MEETING AND THEY PUT A SIGN UP THERE DIRECTING THEM TO PARK IN THAT RAMP, BUT THEY DON'T DO IT.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE WE CAN DO ABOUT THIS? THE PLAN THAT WE TALKED ABOUT, THAT WAS A GREAT PLAN.

AT LEAST IT'LL FORCE THEM GUYS, AND I AGREE WITH THE BUSINESS PARKING DOWN HERE, THAT'S A GOOD THING BECAUSE IT'S NOT FAIR TO DAIRY QUEEN AND THE HEIGHTS THEATER, BUT IT STILL ISN'T GOING TO SOLVE THE HEIGHTS THEATER PROBLEM.

THAT'S ALL I WANT TO SAY. I'M SORRY, BUT IT'S JUST GETTING SO FRUSTRATING AND I CAN'T GET IN AND OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND THEN YOU GOT TO DEAL WITH THESE PEOPLE AND THEN THEY WON'T EVEN DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE?

>> I HEAR YOU. WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THIS ITEM.

>> WELL, I KNOW, BUT THERE'S NO WAY THAT THESE PEOPLE CAN HAVE THEIR CARS TOWED?

>> NO, THEY CAN HAVE THEIR CARS TOWED.

I THINK THAT I'M DEFINITELY HEARING FROM YOU ALL THAT WE DEFINITELY NEED MORE POLICE PRESENCE THERE SO THIS MESSAGE WILL BE GOING OUT.

>> I THINK THE POLICE DO A GOOD JOB, AND I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT, BUT JUST START TOWING THESE PEOPLE BECAUSE AFTER YOU START TOWING THEM, EVENTUALLY, THEY'RE GOING TO LEARN THEIR LESSON AT HOME.

IF THEY DON'T, I GUESS THEY GOT DEEP POCKETS BECAUSE I TELL YOU IF MY CAR GETS TOWED ONCE, I'LL NEVER DO THAT AGAIN.

THAT'S THE ONLY THING I'M TRYING TO SAY.

>> I HEAR YOU. THANK YOU.

>> MELISSA RON KIO, WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

>> HI. I WASN'T PLANNING TO SPEAK TONIGHT, BUT JUST HEARING THE CONVERSATION HERE.

I FELT LIKE I NEEDED TO SPEAK MY MIND.

I'M MELISSA RON KIO. I AM A RESIDENT.

I AM A NEW HOMEOWNER HERE WITHIN TWO YEARS, MAYBE FEBRUARY NEXT YEAR.

I BOUGHT MY PLACE SEEING THIS CHARM OF THE CITY.

I WAS SO EXCITED TO SEE THIS THEATER AND PLAN MY LIFE WHERE I CAN HOST

[01:55:04]

I MET MARK. HE WAS ONE OF MY FIRST NEIGHBORS TO EVER INTRODUCE HIMSELF TO ME IN MY HOUSE.

HE DOES IT IN HIS MARKED TRADITIONAL WAYS, KNOCKING ON MY BACK DOOR AT A VERY DARK HOUR, AND I WAS SHOCKED BUT SURPRISED, AND I'VE DEVELOPED A REALLY STRONG FRIENDSHIP WITH HIM, AND HE'S BEEN KEEPING ME INFORMED AND INVOLVED ON THIS WHOLE PROCESS.

IT DIDN'T REALLY MEAN MUCH TO ME UNTIL I STARTED HEARING ABOUT THESE PLANS.

I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THEM. THEY ARE LOVELY.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF WORK AND THOUGHT THAT YOU GUYS ARE TRYING TO DO NOT ONLY TO ACCOMMODATE US BUT ALSO ACCOMMODATE THESE CITIZENS OF RATIO AS WELL AS THE BUSINESSES.

I DO DISAGREE WITH THE PLAN.

IT IS GOING TO IMPACT ME ON MY SIDE, WHICH IS GOING TO MEAN I'M GOING TO HAVE TO TELL PEOPLE WHO COME TO VISIT ME THAT THEY ARE NO LONGER GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAYBE FIND THAT PARKING SPOT AS CLOSE TO MY HOUSE AS THEY NEED TO.

SO I HAVE BEEN STARTING TO NOW DEVELOP ALTERNATIVE PLANS FOR MY PEOPLE THAT I'M GOING TO BE HOSTING AND/OR ACCOMMODATING AT MY RESIDENCE MOVING FORWARD.

I DID DO SOME RESEARCH, AND I DID LOOK UP AT RATIO.

THEY HAVE ABOUT 296 UNITS OR APARTMENTS FROM WHAT I'M RECOLLECTING THAT.

I'M HOPING THAT THEY DO HAVE THAT PARKING ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THEIR RESIDENTS AS WELL.

I DO HOPE THAT WHEN THEY BUILT THAT, THEY MADE THAT ACCOMMODATION.

I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO HAVE THOSE RESIDENTS, HAVE THOSE PARKING SPOTS, IN ADDITION, THEY'RE PAYING $14-2,000+ FOR A ONE-BED UNIT APARTMENT.

THAT'S OUTRAGEOUS AND NOT GETTING A PARKING SPOT.

I DO EMPATHIZE FOR THEM BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN A RENTER BEFORE I BOUGHT MY PROPERTY. WHY AM I HERE? WHAT DATE WAS IT? SEPTEMBER 12TH, WE HAD A MEETING HERE.

I MET WITH THE POLICE CHIEF AND THE CITY PLANNER, AARON AND KATIE, AND WE CAME UP WITH A SOLUTION WITH A A RESIDENTIAL-ONLY PARKING.

I WAS FOR THAT, I DIDN'T COMPLETELY AGREE WITH IT.

BUT IF IT WAS TO MAYBE GIVE ME SOME ASSURANCE THAT I MAY BE ABLE TO HAVE MY PARENTS AND MY SISTER AND HER CHILDREN TO SAFELY PARK ON THE STREET TO COME VISIT ME, I WAS FOR THAT.

BUT I DO DISAGREE WITH THE PLAN THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE VOTING ON FOR TODAY.

I WOULD LOVE TO COLLABORATE AND PARTNER WITH PEOPLE TO FIND MAYBE AN ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION THAT WOULD NOT ONLY BENEFIT THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE HERE TONIGHT BUT MAYBE ALSO SEE HOW WE CAN BRING AWARENESS TO ALSO HAVE A WIN-WIN SITUATION WITH RATIO BECAUSE THEY ALSO NEED TO PARK AS WELL.

WE HAVE VARIOUS SOLUTIONS HERE WITH THE MUNICIPAL PARKING ACROSS THE STREET.

THERE'S SOME AWARENESS, MAYBE SOME INCENTIVES THAT WE COULD BRING UP.

I'M OPEN TO COLLABORATING WITH YOU GUYS.

I'M NOT HERE TO FIGHT. THERE'S A LOT OF THOUGHT HAS BEEN ON THIS, BUT I DO KNOW AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF THIS IS TO GO TO PASS, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO TRY TO FIND ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS TO HOST PEOPLE, TO BRING INTO THE CITY AND SHARE THE HAPPINESS THAT I HAVE STARTED TO GROW WITH IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. THAT WAS THE LAST SPEAKER FORUM.

>> GREAT. THANK YOU ALL FOR SHARING AND YOUR PATIENCE WITH MY DELIBERATIONS OF IF WE SHOULD CHANGE THE WAY THE MEETING IS RUN TO HAVE YOU SPEAK RIGHT NOW [NOISE] I APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN WE MAKE THINGS A LITTLE DIFFERENT, I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S BALANCED.

THANK YOU. I DO WANT TO REITERATE THAT IN THE IDEA THAT RATIO ARE ALSO RESIDENTS ALONG GOULD, THAT WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ON HOW WE CAN DO THIS AS TO OUR LAST SPEAKER, RESPECTFUL TO ALL OF THE RESIDENTS.

THERE ARE THREE STEPS IN HERE, AND THIS IS A STEP TO SEE HOW THINGS CAN WORK.

I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY TALKED UPON WITH ONE OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE CITY MANAGER AND THE POLICE CHIEF.

BUT THAT STEP 3 SAYS IF OBJECTIVES ARE NOT ACHIEVED, AND I REALIZE THIS TAKES LONGER.

BUT A RESIDENTIAL PARKING PERMIT DISTRICT COULD ALSO BE DISCUSSED.

I THINK SOME OF THE DISCUSSIONS THAT WERE HAD IN SEPTEMBER, IT SEEMS ARE REFLECTED IN THIS PLAN, BUT THIS IS A WAY THAT, I FEEL VERY INTELLIGENT STAFF WHO HAS REALLY SPENT A LOT OF TIME WORKING ON THIS, HAVE COME UP THAT THIS WOULD BE WHAT THEY RECOMMEND.

I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE THAT THIS ISN'T THE END.

WE DO ACTUALLY TRY LOTS OF THINGS ACROSS THE CITY.

YES, PAUL, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK.

IF YOU CAN COME TO THE MICROPHONE, I'LL HAVE YOU UP HERE.

>> YES, IT JUST OCCURRED TO ME, DO YOU HAVE ANY ADMINISTRATION FROM RATIO, EITHER HERE TONIGHT OR AS PART OF YOUR REGULAR PLANNING, BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT NO ONE HAS MENTIONED YES.

WE'RE UPSET OVER OUR PARKING,

[02:00:01]

IF YOU HAVE CONTACTS AT RATIO, THAT WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT ADDITION TO THIS TO GET THEIR FEEDBACK.

>> THANK YOU. IT'S VERY GENEROUS OF YOU.

THANKS FOR SUGGESTING THAT.

OUR CITY MANAGER, ACTUALLY, I KNOW HE CAN ANSWER TO THAT.

>> I'D DEFER TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR MITCH FORNEY TO COMMENT.

>> MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

YES. BEFORE THE MEETING, TONIGHT, STAFF REACHED OUT TO RATIO MANAGEMENT TO INVITE THEM TO THE MEETING AND BE PART OF THE DISCUSSION.

THEN AS PART OF ANY THING THAT MOVES FORWARD, STAFF PLAN ON REACHING OUT AND WORKING WITH RATIO 2.

AS THE CITY MANAGER STATED MULTIPLE TIMES, IT IS A BEHAVIOR.

TRYING TO PUSH THEM TOWARDS THE PARKING RAMP, GIVING THOSE MATERIALS THAT SHOW THAT, THERE'S PARKING OVER HERE FOR YOU, THAT'S FREE, THAT'S SHELTERED FROM THE SNOW AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.

IT'S NOT JUST WE'RE GOING TO IMPLEMENT THIS SOLUTION, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE IT.

THERE'S GOING TO BE OTHER SOFT IMPLEMENTATION ITEMS THAT STAFF ARE GOING TO WORK ON TO TRY AND SOLVE THE PROBLEM HOLISTICALLY AND NOT JUST BY THROWING STUFF AT THE WALL.

>> THANK YOU. THEN, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS.

WE ARE GOING TO NOW MOVE TOWARDS UNLESS THERE'S ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL OR DISCUSSION ITEMS. IT'S NOT A PUBLIC HEARING, SO.

I WAS GOING TO MOVE TO WAIVE THE READING, BUT IF WE HAVE DISCUSSION ITEMS, WE CAN DISCUSS AS WELL.

>> I HAVE DISCUSSIONS.

>> SURE, THANK YOU.

>> AT LEAST COMMENTS TO MAKE OR REQUEST, POSSIBLY.

UNFORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT ABLE TO BE AT THE WORK SESSION LAST WEEK BECAUSE I WAS OUT OF THE COUNTRY, ACTUALLY ON VACATION FOR FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME.

ANYWAY, THIS IS ALMOST IT REMINDS ME SIMILAR TO SOME OF THE SITUATIONS WE HAD WITH OUR BAD LANDLORDS, WHERE FOR YEARS AGO WHEN I FIRST CAME ON THE COUNCIL, I REMEMBER OUR ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF VISITING A LANDLORD 23 TIMES IN ONE YEAR, WHICH WAS OUTRAGEOUS, IT WASN'T UNTIL WE TIGHTENED THAT UP THAT THINGS IMPROVED WITH OUR LANDLORD SITUATIONS.

NINETY PERCENT OF THEM DO A GREAT JOB.

THERE'S SOME THAT DON'T.

WE TIGHTENED THAT UP. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE TOWING.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE COUNCIL DECIDED AT THE WORK SESSION, BUT I WOULD BE FURIOUS IF SOMEBODY WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF MY DRIVEWAY, AND I HAD BEEN TOLD THAT TO WAIT UNTIL THEY'RE OUT OF THE MOVIE OR DOING WHATEVER THEY'RE DOING.

I THINK THEY SHOULD BE TOWED IMMEDIATELY.

I HAD AN EXPERIENCE IN MY 20S WHEN I PARKED, IT WAS SNOWED.

THERE WAS NO MARKING OF THE DRIVEWAY.

BUT WHEN I CAME OUT OF THE CHURCH I WAS AT, SOMEBODY WAS PUSHING MY CAR INTO THE STREET BECAUSE THEY WERE ANGRY THAT I HAD BLOCKED THEIR DRIVEWAY.

WE DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT ADDED.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN AMEND IT TONIGHT'S OR IF THAT'S SOMETHING.

WE'RE JUST VOTING SO WE CAN GET THE SIGNS ORDERED.

>> IF I COULD, MADAM MAYOR.

>> YES.

>> TOWING IS STILL AN OPTION UNDER THIS PLAN.

THE SIGNS THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED WOULD ACTUALLY INCREASE THE CITY'S ABILITY TO TOW MORE RAPIDLY ONCE IT'S DESIGNATED AS AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE PARKING ONLY IN THE CASE OF NORTH GOULD AND THEN THE BLUE LINES ON PETER'S.

RIGHT NOW A BARRIER TO IMMEDIATELY TOWING FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS THAT YOU HAVE TO TICKET BEFORE YOU TOW.

ONLY IN CASES OF A BLOCKED DRIVEWAY, THAT IS AN OFFENSE THAT YOU COULD TOW IMMEDIATELY.

THAT IS STILL IN PLAY.

I'M SORRY FOR THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THAT SPECIFIC ISSUE, AND WE NEED TO WORK WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO INFORM THEM OF THEIR RIGHTS AND BE VERY CLEAR UNDER THE NEW PLAN WHAT IS POSSIBLE.

I WOULD ADD THAT THERE HAVE BEEN TICKETING EFFORTS ALONG GOULD AND THERE HAVE BEEN A HANDFUL OF TOWED VEHICLES.

IT HASN'T BEEN A COMPLETE LACK OF THAT ACTIVITY.

IT IS OF COURSE, A BURDEN TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND SOMETHING THAT CAN BE A FILLER ACTIVITY DEPENDING ON THEIR STAFF LEVELS ON ANY GIVEN NIGHT.

BUT WE KNOW THAT WE NEED TO COLLABORATE CLOSELY WITH THEM AS WE IMPLEMENT A PHASED APPROACH TO IF THERE'S A SHIFT FROM NORTH GOULD TO SOUTH GOULD THAT'S BEING ANTICIPATED, AND WE FEEL THAT THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CERTAINLY TOW IMMEDIATELY ANYTHING ON NORTH GOULD THAT'S IN VIOLATION OF THOSE NEW PARKING SIGNS.

THEN TO MORE STRONGLY ENFORCE THE OVERNIGHT PARKING ON SOUTH GOULD.

THERE HAS TO BE ENFORCEMENT OF THOSE EXISTING ORDINANCES THAT ARE COMBINED WITH THIS.

>> BECAUSE TO ME, PAIN IN THE POCKETBOOK SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS, AS FAR AS I CONCERNED.

THE OTHER THING IS, IS IT POSSIBLE?

[02:05:03]

IS THERE A POSSIBILITY OF SOMEHOW FIGURING OUT A SIGN? AS PEOPLE ARE TRAVELING, I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU'D PUT IT ON THE STREET OR IN THEIR BUILDING, THAT THEY ARE BIG SIGN.

EXCESS IF YOU NEED TO PARK, YOU NEED TO PARK IN THE RAMP.

BECAUSE THE OTHER STREETS, THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE MUCH LEFT AFTER THIS IS DONE.

>> MADAM MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

WE CAN DEFINITELY REACH OUT TO RATIO ON THAT SOLUTION.

>> WE HAD TO DIRECT THEIR RESIDENTS TO STATE IF THEY HAVE COMPANY, THEY NEED TO PARK IN THE RAMP.

>> ONE IDEA STAFF DID HAVE WAS HAVING, LIKE A WELCOME LETTER.

I KNOW WHEN NEW RATIO RESIDENTS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DOING A WELCOME PACKET FOR NEW RESIDENTS, BUT MAYBE JUST FLYER MATERIALS, PUTTING TOGETHER THE CONTENT FOR RATIO TO HAVE ON THE TABLE, WHEN A NEW RESIDENT MOVES IN THAT THERE'S THE ACCESS PARK.

>> I MEAN, CITIES, DOWNTOWN, YOU HAVE TO WALK AT ONE OR TWO BLOCKS JUST TO GET SOMEWHERE.

IT SHOULD BE THE SAME THING HERE. LET'S SEE.

NEXT ONE, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO HAVE A FOR THE PERSON THAT HAD THE SHORT DRIVEWAY THAT'S HAVING DIFFICULTY WITH PARKING.

I DON'T KNOW IF HE'S DOING. IS IT POSSIBLE TO JUST GET PERMANENT PARKING JUST IN FRONT OF THAT RESIDENCE, LIKE WE DO WITH OTHER RESIDENTS THAT HAVE DISABILITIES? I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S POSSIBLE OR LEGAL.

I JUST WANTED TO ASK THAT.

>> IF I COULD RESPOND, IT IS A VERY UNIQUE SITUATION.

I WAS LOOKING AT HIS PROPERTY AS HE WAS SPEAKING AND THOUGHT OF POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS.

I DON'T WANT TO COMMIT TO ANYTHING RIGHT NOW, BUT HE'S VERY CLOSE TO THE PERIMETER OF THE NORTH GOULD NO PARKING DISTRICT.

IT COULD ONE SOLUTION MIGHT BE PULLING BACK THE SIGN JUST TO ACCOMMODATE A SPOT IN FRONT OF HIS HOUSE.

HOWEVER, THAT DOESN'T GUARANTEE HIM THAT SPOT.

>> YOU SEE WITH PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES THAT HAVE SPECIAL PARKING SIGNS SO THAT NOBODY PARKS IN THAT SPOT EXCEPT THEM [OVERLAPPING]

>> SO LONG AS HE QUALIFIED FOR THE DISABILITY EXAMPLE IS PROBABLY NOT THE BEST.

>> I JUST KNOW IF THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE OR NOT.

I THOUGHT IT'D BE WORTH ASKING, AT LEAST.

>> THERE'S ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND THAT AREA OF PARKING IN FRONT OF HIS HOUSE WHERE HE HAS BEEN PARKING ON THE GRASS WITH A PERMEABLE PAVER SYSTEM, SO THAT HE COULD GET A QUALIFIED SECOND PARKING PAD.

I WOULD ADD THAT BEFORE RATIO EXISTED, THAT INDIVIDUAL HAS ALWAYS BEEN LIMITED TO ONE EXCEPT FOR THE PERMIT THAT WOULD BE GRANTED IF HE WAS GRANTED ONE BECAUSE OVERNIGHT ON STREET PARKING APPLIES TO THE ENTIRE CITY.

IT SOUNDS LIKE HE'D BEEN RECEIVING THE PERMIT FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

BUT I THINK IT'S A TWIST ON A VERY SPECIFIC PROPERTY THAT WE NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE EXPLORATION FROM STAFF.

>> THEN I HAVE ONE MORE REQUEST THAT THE POLICE NO LONGER GO AROUND KNOCKING ON DOORS TO SEE WHOSE CARS, WHO, IF IT'S BLOCKING A DRIVEWAY, OUT IT GOES, OR IT GETS TICKETED.

THE PEOPLE LIVING ON YOUR SIDE, IF YOU'RE PARKING IN FRONT AND HOURS YOU SHOULDN'T BE PARKING, YOU MIGHT GET A TICKET, BUT IT'S SAVING TIME FOR OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND I THINK WE SHOULD BE DONE WITH THAT.

IF IT'S NOT PARKED WHERE IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE PARKED, OR IT'S PARKED WHERE IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE PARKED, TICKET OR TOW, DEPENDING ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

>> THANK YOU. COUNCILOR JAMES.

>> THANK YOU. I, TOO, WAS VERY DISTURBED TO HEAR ABOUT CARS BLOCKING DRIVEWAYS AND NOT BEING TOWED WHEN CALLED.

THAT WAS THE MOST CONCERNING PART OF THE COMMENTS TONIGHT.

I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THAT WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S BLOCKING A DRIVEWAY.

I THINK THAT'S DANGEROUS.

THIS PLAN THAT'S BEFORE US, I THINK IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE I AM CONCERNED WITH THE RESIDENT THAT SAID ABOUT, EMERGENCY VEHICLES AND TRASH TRUCKS, TRASH TRUCKS COME EVERY WEEK, AND WE CAN SEE THEM, BUT WE NEED THE EMERGENCY ACCESS, AND THIS PLAN BEFORE US IMMEDIATELY PROVIDES EMERGENCY ACCESS, AS SOON AS IT'S THERE.

I ALSO NOTICED THAT WHEN WE HAVE THE NO PARKING ZONES, AS OUR CITY MANAGER SAID, TOWING CAN HAPPEN IMMEDIATELY.

WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THIS DELAY BETWEEN TICKETING AND WAITING FOR THAT AND THEN TOWING.

I'M FOR THIS PLAN AS PRESENTED.

I DO THINK THAT THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTINUE.

I THINK PART OF THE RESIDENTIAL PERMIT PROCESS IS GOING TO TAKE A LONG TIME TO IMPLEMENT.

THIS GETS US STARTED ON THE PLAN, BECAUSE IF WE DO GO THAT ROUTE, WE HAVE A LOT MORE WORK TO DO.

I WANT TO GET STARTED ON HELPING THE RESIDENTS TODAY.

THAT'S WHERE I MINE IS THAT, AND I DO ENCOURAGE YOUR RESIDENTS TO CONTINUE TO CALL IF YOUR DRIVEWAY IS PARKED AT ALL, THAT NEEDS TO BE CLEARED FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY.

I INVITE THE MAYOR AND CITY MANAGER TO FOLLOW UP WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ON THAT. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MER JACOBS.

>> JUST A COUPLE OF CLOSING COMMENTS.

[02:10:01]

I FEEL THAT THE PROPOSAL TO SAY THAT THINGS ARE INCLUDED IN IT, I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE BETTER SPILLED OUT SO THAT WE UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE APPROVING AND WHAT WE'RE NOT APPROVING.

TICKET AND TOW HAS NOT BEEN MENTIONED IN THIS.

I THINK ALL OF THAT NEEDS TO BE CLEARLY MARKED, AND THERE NEEDS TO BE A TIMELINE ESTABLISHED, NOT AN OPEN ENDED TIMELINE, BUT A TIMELINE THAT IN THREE MONTHS, IT'S EITHER BETTER OR IT'S NOT BETTER AND WE MOVE FORWARD.

>> AS AN EXAMPLE, WHEN I STOPPED THE OTHER DAY TO TAKE THE PICTURE OF THOSE BUSINESS SIGNS, SOMEBODY AT RACIAL TOLD ME, LADY, GO PARK IN THE PARKING LOT, REFERRING TO THE DAIRY QUEEN LOT.

THAT'S HOW CARELESS THEY ARE ABOUT THE PARKING PARAMETERS AND RESTRICTIONS, AND THAT WAS SOMEBODY ON RACIAL PROPERTY TELLING ME TO DO THAT.

IT JUST DRIVES THE POINT HOME.

I DON'T THINK I'M GOING TO APPROVE THIS TONIGHT BECAUSE THERE'S TOO MANY OPEN ENDED UNLESS I GET DIRECTION FROM MY PEEPS OUT HERE.

I THINK THERE'S TOO MANY OPEN ENDED ISSUES.

IT NEEDS TO BE MORE SPECIFIED.

I CAN'T APPROVE WHAT'S BEING PRESENTED, AND I KNOW THAT'S PROBABLY NOT GOING TO MAKE A DARN BIT OF DIFFERENCE.

>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS.

>> THANK YOU. A FEW THOUGHTS. EXCUSE ME.

UNFORTUNATELY WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE MEETING LAST WEEK DUE TO WORK CONFLICTS.

BUT IT'S A VERY NUANCED SITUATION HERE WHERE YOU HAVE THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT AND OBVIOUSLY, THE RESIDENTIAL AREA HERE WHILE ALSO TRYING TO ENSURE THERE'S ADEQUATE PARKING OFF STREET, ENSURE THAT DRIVEWAYS ARE ACCESSIBLE, AND THEN ALSO EMERGENCY ACCESS.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S A PERFECT PLAN TO GET ALL OF THOSE, ESPECIALLY TO GET THAT DONE TODAY.

THIS IS GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF TWEAKING AND WHATNOT.

I AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER JACOB SAYING THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A TIMELINE ON THIS WHERE REGARDLESS OF, WHATEVER WAS APPROVED OR NOTHING WAS DONE TODAY, THAT WE SAY, WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK TO THIS IN SIX WEEKS, EIGHT WEEKS, WHATEVER IT MAY BE ADDRESSED TO SPECIFICALLY SAY, HOW IS IT GOING? WHAT CHANGES NEED TO BE MET? OBVIOUSLY, TALK WITH ALL THE RESIDENTS SINCE YOU'RE THE ONES MAINLY AFFECTED BY THIS.

IN TERMS OF THIS PLAN TODAY, I THINK IT'S A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT WENT INTO THIS.

IT DOES ENSURE SOME OF THE COMMERCIAL PARKING THERE DOWN AT THE WEST SIDE OF THIS DIAGRAM, BUT OBVIOUSLY MORE WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT, WHAT IS THE ACCESS TO THE DRIVEWAYS HERE? WHAT IS THE EMERGENCY ACCESS TO THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD? I THINK, IDEALLY, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO JUST PERMIT THE RESIDENTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET AND ALLOW THEM TO PARK ON BOTH THE NORTH SIDE AND THE SOUTH SIDE, BUT THEN YOU GET INTO THE ISSUE OF EMERGENCY ACCESS.

I THINK IN TERMS OF APPROVING THIS TODAY, I AM GOING TO VOTE FOR THIS KNOWING THAT THE PERMITTING IS SOMETHING I'M VERY INTERESTED IN, BUT ULTIMATELY THIS DOESN'T MEAN A LOT WITHOUT ACTUALLY ENFORCING IT.

IN TERMS OF TICKETING AND TOWING, WE NEED TO BE MUCH MORE AGGRESSIVE IN TERMS OF THAT BECAUSE WHATEVER PLANS WE LAY OUT HERE, IF IT'S NOT ACTUALLY EXECUTED, AND CARS AREN'T BEING MOVED AND STUFF, PEOPLE WILL JUST CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

I THINK THIS IS A RIGHT STEP IN TERMS OF GETTING SOME OF THE CARS FROM RATIO OFF OF THESE STREETS, BUT ULTIMATELY IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM IN ENFORCEMENT IN TERMS OF THE PARKING SPOTS HERE ARE FOR RESIDENTS, AND THERE ARE DEDICATED SPOTS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET.

IT'S NOT A PERFECT PLAN, BUT IT IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TODAY THAT I WILL VOTE FOR KNOWING THAT THIS IS LIKELY NOT THE END GOAL, AND THAT'S ALSO SPELLED OUT IN THIS PLAN IN TERMS OF STEPS OF NEXT STEPS TO GO FORWARD WITH.

>> THANK YOU. [INAUDIBLE] SOMETHING?

>> JUST ONE MORE THING. DID I HEAR YOU SAY THAT RATIO MANAGEMENT WAS CONTACTED AND THEY DID NOT SHOW UP FOR THIS MEETING?

>> MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, YES.

THEY WERE SENT PACKET AND INFORMATION.

WE DID NOT EXPRESSLY TELL THEM THAT THEY SHOULD COME HERE.

IT WAS JUST INFORMATION TO SPREAD OUT TO THEIR RESIDENTS.

>> THEY WERE MADE AWARE OF IT, AND THEY DIDN'T COME TO EITHER DEFEND, EXPLAIN, OR HAVE ANY INPUT INTO THIS PROCESS? YOU DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER THEN.

I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO.

>> MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, MAY I MAKE ONE MORE CLARIFICATION POINT? JUST ON A MATTER THAT'S COME UP A FEW TIMES ABOUT TOWING, I WON'T SPEAK SPECIFICALLY TO POLICE ENFORCEMENT OR OUR INTERACTIONS WITH THEM.

BUT I WANTED TO EXPRESS THAT TO AUTHORIZATION OF WHEN TOWING MAY AND MAY NOT OCCUR IS EXPRESSED BY STATE STATUTES.

CITY ATTORNEY, AND I HAVE DISCUSSED THOSE PREVIOUSLY ALONG WITH THE DIRECTOR FORNEY.

[02:15:04]

THANK YOU. COUNSELOR BISKIN, THANK YOU, EMILY.

>> [INAUDIBLE].

>> THERE'S BEEN TALK AMONGST COUNSEL AS FAR AS TIMELINES.

I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT.

IT'S 1, 2, THIRD SENTENCE OF THE FINAL PARAGRAPH BEFORE RECOMMENDED MOTIONS, WHERE IT SAYS, IF EVALUATION OF THE IMPACTS OF STEP 1.

I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE AMEND THAT TO SAY, IF IN THREE MONTHS OF THE SIGNS POSTED, EVALUATION OF THE IMPACTS OF STEP 1 SHOWS THAT ADDITIONAL ACTION IS NECESSARY, AND THEN MOVE ON A THAT'LL SEE WHAT THE COUNCIL.

IN THREE MONTHS. WE COULD DO SIX MONTHS.

USUALLY IT TAKES FOR A PERSON TO CHANGE HABITS, BUT I DON'T THINK THEY NEED THAT MUCH TIME.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO CHECK WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY IF WE CAN DO THAT.

>> ARE YOU REFERENCING THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION 2024-93?

>> YES.

>> IF YOU COULD POINT OUT WHERE IN RESOLUTION-.

>> I WAS READING WITH STAFF RECOMMENDED.

I WOULD LIKE ADD THAT WE WILL BE DOING EVALUATION OF THE IMPACTS WITHIN THREE MONTHS OF THE SIGN POSTING.

IS THERE ANY PART THAT THAT CAN BE ADDED SO THAT IT COMES UP? OR IS THAT JUST SOMETHING I WOULD REQUEST FROM THE STAFF THAT WE EVALUATE IN THE THREE MONTHS?

>> THAT BE MOST APPROPRIATE INSTRUCTION.

>> I'D LIKE TO REQUEST THAT THAT BE EVALUATED WITHIN THREE MONTHS OF THE SIGNS POSTED TO SEE HOW THINGS ARE GOING.

I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO GIVE THEM A TON OF TIME TO GET USED TO NO PARKING SIGNS AND THE OTHER RESTRICTIONS. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. I DO HAVE A MOTION, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO WAIVE THE READING STILL, SO COUNCIL VIRGINS.

>> WELL, BEFORE I MOVED AWAY WITH THE READING, I'LL JUST NOTE, THE RESOLUTION THAT'S BEFORE US INCLUDES ALL OF THE ACTIONS IN STEP 1 AND STEP 2.

AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE TIMING BETWEEN ONE AND TWO, WE'RE APPROVING BOTH OF THEM RIGHT NOW.

THE RESOLUTION DOESN'T LAY OUT EXACTLY.

IN THE STAFF LETTER, WHERE IT SAYS, AFTER THAT EVALUATION OF THE IMPACTS, THAT THERE'S NO TIMING LISTED IN OUR RESOLUTION, APPROVES BOTH OF THEM ALREADY.

>> THERE'S RESOLUTION APPROVED ONE AND TWO, BUT THERE'S NO TIMELINE FOR EVALUATION OF HOW THEY'RE WORKING.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT DONE WITHIN THREE MONTHS OF THE SIGNS POSTED TO START EVALUATING WHETHER IT'S WORKING OR NOT AND WHETHER WE NEED TO START WORKING TOWARDS A PERMITTED PARKING OR NOT.

IF IT'S GOING WELL AT THREE MONTHS-

>> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PHASE 3 OF THE PLAN?

>> YEAH. I'M TALKING ABOUT THAT BECAUSE HERE IT SAYS OF EVALUATION, BUT IT DOESN'T SAY WHEN, WHAT THE TIMELINE IS FOR DOING THE EVALUATION.

>> AGAIN, THAT'S IN THE LETTER. [INAUDIBLE].

>> I UNDERSTAND THAT. I REQUESTED IT OF STAFF.

I'VE CHANGED IT WHERE I'M NOT MAKING A MOTION, BUT I REQUESTED STAFF THAT WE SET SOME TIMELINE.

>> I UNDERSTAND NOW. THANK YOU.

I'M DOUBLE CHECKING THAT WE CAN DO THAT LEGALLY.

>> HAS THERE BEEN A MOTION FOR ANYTHING YET?

>> NO. I'M JUST ASKING BEFORE WE GET TO THAT POINT.

>> BEFORE WE GET TO THE MOTION IF-.

>> I REMOVED THE MOTION BECAUSE IT'S PART OF THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION, SO WE DON'T NEED TO MAKE A MOTION FOR THAT.

>> THE MOTION WOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE RESOLUTION.

YOU CAN ALSO ADD A COUNSEL DIRECTIVE TO STAFF.

ASKING THAT STAFF REPORT BACK IN THREE MONTHS.

>> THAT WOULD BE THE AMENDMENT. CORRECT?

>> YEAH. THAT'D BE APART FROM THE RESOLUTION?

>> COULD WE MAKE IT IN THE SAME MOTION, THOUGH?

>> I'M MAKING A MOTION OR NOT MAKING A MOTION? I'VE ALREADY ASKED STAFF IF WE CAN DO IT.

DO I NEED TO MAKE A MOTION, DIRECTING STAFF?

>> THE RESOLUTION COULD BE TO ADOPT 2024-93 AND DIRECT STAFF REPORT BACK.

>> THAT WOULD BE THE SECOND MOTION.

>> MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. PARDON ME.

POINT OF CLARIFICATION, COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS, YOUR POTENTIAL PROPOSAL TO ADD THE DIRECTIVE FOR STAFF TO REPORT BACK.

WOULD YOU PLACE THAT AFTER THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FIRST THREE PARKING ZONES?

[02:20:06]

>> IF IN THREE MONTHS OF THE SIGNS POSTED, SO WE HAVE TO WAIT TILL THE SIGNS ARE UP.

THREE MONTHS AFTER THAT TIME IT'S POSTED THAT WE TAKE A LOOK AND START LOOKING TO SEE HOW IT'S WORKING.

THAT WE EVALUATE AT THAT TIME, START EVALUATION AT THAT TIME. DOES THAT WORK?

>> MAY I REPHRASE TO MAKE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING PROPERLY? UNDERSTOOD. AFTER THE FIRST STEP THAT WE'VE PROPOSED, STAFF HAVE PROPOSED WOULD BE IMPLEMENTATION OF THREE PARKING ZONES.

YOUR PROPOSAL WOULD BE THAT AFTER THREE MONTHS FOLLOWING THE SIGNS BEING POSTED FOR THAT FIRST STEP THAT STAFF WOULD REPORT BACK FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF ADDITIONAL MEASURES?

>> RIGHT. THIS TONIGHT, WE'RE DOING ONE AND TWO. OR JUST ONE.

>> THAT WAS MY POINT OF CLARIFICATION.

THE RESOLUTION PROPOSED PROVIDES THE POWERS TO THE CITY MANAGER TO DO STEPS 1 AND 2 IN WHATEVER TIMELINE SEED FIT.

THAT WAS DELIBERATE ON STAFF'S PART TO ALLOW FOR AS SHORT OF A TIMELINE AS NECESSARY OR AS LONG OF A TIMELINE AS NECESSARY, DEPENDING ON HOW THINGS WENT IN EVALUATION, STAFF HERE THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL PRECISION ON THOSE MATTERS?

>> YES.

>> IT CAN BE FINEST.

MY UNDERSTANDING, JUST A QUESTION OF WHEN EXACTLY, THAT WOULD HAPPEN.

>> NOW, I'M CONFUSED A LITTLE BIT MORE.

I'M ASKING FOR MORE CLARIFICATION.

WE'RE DOING STEP 1 AND 2 AT THE SAME TIME, OR ARE WE DOING ONE AND THEN SEEING HOW IT GOES AND THEN ADDING TWO WITH THE PERMISSION OF COUNSEL THROUGH THIS RESOLUTION?

>> MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

THE COUNCIL THE RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU IS A DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY TO THE CITY MANAGER TO ENACT PARKING RESTRICTIONS.

THIS WAS PROPOSED SO THAT IF THERE WERE ANY ISSUES WITH THE INITIAL IMPLEMENTATION, THE CITY MANAGER HAD THE AUTHORITY TO GO IN AND MAKE MINUSCULE CHANGES TO THE PLAN, AND SO FORTH, AS THE THE SITUATION EVOLVED.

I SAY, ALL OF A SUDDEN, DAIRY QUEENS, LIKE, I NEED FOUR HOURS OF PARKING NEAR ME, THEN THE CITY MANAGER COULD MAKE THAT CHANGE WITHOUT HAVING A DISCUSSION WITH THE CITY COUNCIL.

STAFF CAN IMPLEMENT STEPS 1 AND 2 THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER'S DIRECTIVE AND THE AUTHORITY GIVEN TO THEM, AND THEN WE WILL REVISIT, DEPENDING ON HOW THIS SITUATION EVOLVES, WE WILL REVISIT WHATEVER DOES HAPPEN AT THE THREE MONTH POINT.

>> BEFORE YOU DO THE TRANSITION TO PHASE 2, YOU'LL BE COMING IN BEFORE THE COUNCIL AT A WORK SESSION TO LET US KNOW, OR ARE YOU JUST GOING TO DO IT?

>> THIS SWITCH COULD BE MADE INDEPENDENT.

>> INDEPENDENT?

>> OF THE COUNCIL OF FORMAL ACTION.

>> IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO IT, YOU HAVE THE DIRECTIVE, YOU HAVE A TIMELINE.

MY CONCERN IS THAT THAT THE STAFF HAS A TIMELINE THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT TO MAKE THAT DECISION, WHETHER THEY NEED TO GO TO STAGE 2.

>> AGREED. IF YOU PASS IT AS DRAFTED, AND WE'RE VERY CLEAR ON THE DIRECTION FROM THE COUNCIL.

THE BRIDGE WOULD BE THAT YOU TRUST STAFF TO REVISIT IT IF YOU'RE SAYING THREE MONTHS TONIGHT. WE CAN GO EITHER WAY.

IT CAN BE IN THE RESOLUTION SOMEHOW OR IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT WE WANT TO DO THAT.

STAFF HAVE TAKEN THAT FEEDBACK, THREE MONTHS TIME FROM THE SIGNS BEING INSTALLED.

WE CAN REPORT BACK TO THE COUNCIL, BUT I THINK STEP 1 IS PHASE 1, WE'LL GIVE IT THREE MONTHS, THEN STEP 2, THREE MONTHS FROM THAT TIME, THEN IT WOULD BE LOOKING AT THE ACTUAL ORDINANCE FOR THE PARKING DISTRICT AND THE PERMIT PARKING SYSTEM.

I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT THE AUTHORITY GRANTED IN THIS PROPOSED RESOLUTION IS FOR A SPECIFIC GEOGRAPHIC AREA THAT IS SPELLED OUT TO THE AREA IN QUESTION, SO NOT CITYWIDE.

>> COULD YOU CLARIFY WHEN YOU SAID THE FIRST THREE MONTHS WOULD BE STEP 1 AND SECOND SET OF THREE MONTHS WOULD BE STEP 2? BECAUSE THAT'S SIX MONTHS AN HOUR.

>> WELL, FOR THE TWO STEPS.

IF THE COUNCIL WANTS ONE AND TWO RIGHT AWAY, THAT CAN ALSO BE HOW WE GO WITH THIS.

>> IF TWO IS THE GRAY AREA.

>> CORRECT.

>> THE TWO IS IF IT'S NEEDED, THEN YOU WOULD ADD IN TWO.

>> THAT WAS THE PLAN AS PROPOSED.

BUT AGAIN, HAPPY TO.

IF THE RESOLUTION IS AMENDED TO IMPLEMENT PHASE 1 AND 2 IMMEDIATELY, THAT'S EASIER THAN CRAFTING THE LOOK BACK LANGUAGE, BUT VERY CLEARLY THE DIRECTION IS THAT WE'RE GIVING,

[02:25:04]

>> COUNCILOR JANE GIBBS.

>> ARE YOU SAYING THAT IF THE COUNCIL APPROVES STEP 1 AND 2 THIS EVENING, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE BASICALLY SIX MONTHS WORTH OF ASSESSMENT TIME?

>> IT ISN'T SPECIFIED.

THERE IS NOT A TIME. YES.

>> I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT BASING IT ON WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER DISTANCE IS REQUESTING.

THEN I HEAR YOU SAYING THREE MONTHS PLUS THREE MONTHS IS SIX MONTHS.

>> THAT'S THAT'S CORRECT.

>> HOW MUCH TIME IS THE STAFF GOING TO GET AT THE END OF THAT FIRST THREE MONTH ASSESSMENT? HOW MUCH TIME IS THE STAFF GOING TO GET TO LOOK AT WHAT THE PROBLEMS ARE THAT REMAIN OR THAT HAVE BEEN FIXED? IS THAT GOING TO BE ANOTHER SIX, EIGHT WEEKS? BECAUSE THEN WE'RE LOOKING AT FIVE MONTHS ON STEP 1.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER, MAYOR IF I MAY ADDRESS.

>> YES, PLEASE.

>> THE RESOLUTION 2024-93 HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED TO DELEGATE THE FUNCTION TO THE CITY MANAGER.

>> AS MITCH INDICATED, ONE OF THE INTENTS IN DOING THAT WAS TO ALLOW TWEAKING AS NEEDED, BUT IT WAS ALSO ALLOWED TO FACILITATE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS AND GET IT ROLLING.

THERE'S GOING TO BE NO MORE COUNCIL MEETINGS UNTIL JANUARY, AND THEN COUNCIL MEETS EVERY OTHER WEEK.

THIS GIVES DELEGATION TO THE CITY MANAGER TO SPEED THIS UP.

THE THREE MONTHS INTRODUCED TONIGHT, I MAY BE READING THIS WRONG FROM WHEN WE HAD STAFF DISCUSSIONS, BUT THAT'S LONGER THAN STAFF WAS PLANNING ON.

>> THEN I'LL JUST LEAVE IT IS.

>> YOU CAN ADD TIMELINES [OVERLAPPING] TO YOUR DIRECTION, BUT THE WAY THIS IS SET UP IS INTENDED TO EXPEDITE THIS AS QUICKLY AS THE CITY POSSIBLY CAN.

>> GOT IT. THANK YOU.

>> I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT WE DO HAVE OUR WORK SESSIONS EVERY MONTH AS WELL, SO I THINK WHAT THE CITY MANAGER HAS SAID IS THAT ITS STAFF IS VERY AWARE THAT WE DON'T WANT TO LET THIS DROP, WE DON'T WANT TO LET IT FALL BY THE ROADSIDE, AND THAT THE GOAL OF THE PROPOSED WORDING IN THE RESOLUTION IS THAT, YES, WE DON'T HAVE TO SAY WE WANT TO MOVE THIS SIGN 20 FEET.

NOW WE HAVE TO HAVE ANOTHER COUNCIL MEETING TO DECIDE THAT.

THIS IS TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF ALL OF IT TO MAKE IT A LITTLE LESS CUMBERSOME AND ABILITY TO TOW, WHICH WE DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE, IT QUICKLY, ANYWAY.

IS THAT CORRECT?

>> IT'S A FAIR CHARACTERIZATION, RIGHT THERE.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS.

>> I WANT TO THINK THE NEED OR RECOGNIZING THE NEED FOR EXPEDIENCY.

I GET THAT. I'M CONFUSED ABOUT THIS.

AT THE WORK SESSION, I HEARD NOTHING SAID ABOUT WHAT THE TIMELINE WOULD BE [NOISE] TO ASSESS HOW THIS SYSTEM WAS WORKING.

IF THAT WAS DISCUSSED WITH STAFF, IT WAS NOT CONVEYED AT THE WORK SESSION TO MY MEMORY.

I WAS A LITTLE PASSIONATE THAT NIGHT, SO I MAY HAVE MISSED IT.

BUT I DON'T REMEMBER THAT EVER BEING BROUGHT UP, SO THAT'S WHY I HAVE A CONCERN, AND IF THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT LESS THAN THREE MONTHS, BECAUSE I EVEN MADE THE POINT WITH THE CITY MANAGER AT THE WORK SESSION THAT THIS IS OPEN-ENDED, AND YOU BASICALLY AGREED WITH ME THAT THERE WAS NO TIMELINE INVOLVED IN TAKING A LOOK-SEE.

THAT'S WHY I WANT SOMETHING, WHETHER IT BE THE DIRECTION OF THE COUNSEL TO STAFF OR, AS COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS SUGGESTED, HOWEVER THAT'S GOING TO MANIFEST.

THERE NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING THAT SAYS, YOU DON'T HAVE NINE MONTHS, EIGHT MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD TO MAKE A DECISION ON THIS.

THEY'VE BEEN DEALING WITH IT FOR TWO YEARS.

IT NEEDS TO BE DONE EXPEDITIOUSLY.

IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, AND IF THERE'S PIECES OF IT THAT ARE NOT WORKING, THAT NEEDS TO BE TWEAKED, BUT NOT ANOTHER 6, 8 MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD.

I THINK FROM SPEAKING WITH THE RESIDENTS, I THINK I'M CONVEYING ONE OF THEIR CONCERNS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> I'M FINE WITH THE WAY THE CITY ATTORNEY APPROACHED THAT IT ACTUALLY GIVES THE CITY MANAGER MORE POWER OR MORE ABILITY TO DEAL WITH IT RIGHT AWAY INSTEAD OF WAITING, SO I'M FINE WITH THAT.

I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND.

>> I THINK, TOO, THAT IF WE HAVE INFORMATION TWO WEEKS BEFORE THAT THREE-MONTH DATE OR WHATEVER, THEN WE WOULD BE HAVING TO WAIT OR A MONTH BEFORE IT AS WELL.

I'LL SAY THANK YOU. WELL,

[02:30:04]

>> MOVE TO WAIVE THE READING OF RESOLUTION 2024-93, THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

>> SECOND.

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

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

>> [OVERLAPPING] AYE.

>> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES.

NEXT, HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION.

>> MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2024-93, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA, DELEGATING TO THE CITY MANAGER THE ACT OF ESTABLISHING PARKING REGULATIONS ON GOULD AVENUE NORTHEAST AND PETERS PLACE.

>> SECOND.

>> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS, AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION.

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

>> [OVERLAPPING] AYE.

>> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES.

>> MAY WE TAKE A FIVE-MINUTE RECESS?

>> YES, WE SURE MAY. THANK YOU FOR ASKING.

FIVE-MINUTE RECESS, AND WE'LL BE BACK.

[BACKGROUND] I THINK I'LL GET US GOING BACK ON THE MEETING HERE.

I'LL JUST CHECK WITH THE CITY CLERK THEN IF WE'RE READY TO MOVE FOR. LOOKS LIKE WE ARE.

BRINGING US BACK FROM OUR LITTLE FIVE-MINUTE BREAK HERE, WE ARE AT ITEM NUMBER 25, WHICH IS THE REUTER WALTON 3901 UNIVERSITY AVENUE PRELIMINARY BOND RESOLUTION.

TAKING US THROUGH THIS ITEM IS MITCH FORNEY, OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.

>> MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, AS YOU ALL WELL KNOW, EARLY IN OCTOBER, REUTER WALTON APPROACHED CITY STAFF REGARDING POTENTIAL REDEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

THEY IDENTIFIED 3901 AS A PRIME LOCATION FOR A DEVELOPMENT, AND THE BUSINESS OWNER CURRENTLY RESIDING AT THERE WAS LOOKING TO SELL THE PROPERTY.

AS EXPLAINED TO THE COUNCIL THROUGH THE REVIEW OF SOME OF THE SITE PLANS AT THE TWO WORK SESSIONS THAT REUTER WALTON ATTENDED, THAT SITE IS IN THE COMP PLAN FOR HIGH-DENSITY RESIDENTIAL.

REUTER WALTON PUT THE WORK IN AND WORKED WITH THEIR ARCHITECTS TO BRING FORWARD SITE DESIGN TO THE WORK SESSIONS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL WAS AT.

AT THE SECOND WORK SESSION, THEY BROUGHT BACK REDESIGNED SITE PLAN BASED OFF OF THE COMMENTS THAT THE COUNCIL HAD BROUGHT FORTH, THAT INCLUDING THEY HAD DONE EXTRA WORK ON WORKING TO FIND SOLAR ON THE ROOF OR A SOLAR GARDEN, SO THEY'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH THOSE ITEMS, POSSIBLE WATER WORK, NOT HAVING A FLAT ROOF, ACTUALLY DOING A PITCHED ROOF TO MAKE IT MORE SIMILAR TO THE AREA, AND THEN ALSO JUST SOME OTHER ADDING THE PATHWAY AROUND WHICH THAT AND THEN BALCONIES, AS WELL.

THEY ANSWERED THE BALCONY QUESTION TO THE SITE.

REUTER WALTON HAS PUT IN A LOT OF WORK TO BRING THE SITE UP TO WHAT THE CITY COUNCIL IS LOOKING FOR.

NOW, BEFORE YOU IS THE PRELIMINARY BOND RESOLUTION FOR THIS PROJECT.

THE PRELIMINARY BOND RESOLUTION IS REQUIRED TO APPLY TO THE STATE AND THE MMB FOR ACTUAL BONDING FOR THE PROJECT.

THEY PLAN TO GO FORTH AND APPLY FOR THE JANUARY ALLOCATION, BUT KNOWING THAT MMB HAS A LOT OF PROJECTS GOING ON RIGHT NOW, THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN UNTIL THE JULY ALLOCATION.

THIS PRELIMINARY BOND RESOLUTION IS JUST THE CITY SIGNING ON TO THE PROJECT, SAYING THAT WE WILL BE CONDUIT FOR THE BONDS.

THE CITY HAS NO OBLIGATION FOR THE BONDS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

IT IS 100% ON THE DEVELOPER AND THE RENTS THAT THEY PULL FROM THE PROJECT TO PAY BACK THE BONDS.

THE CITY DOES RECEIVE 1% OF THE BONDS, SO WHATEVER THAT IS ISSUED, WE WILL RECEIVE MONEY ON TOP OF JUST BEING THAT CONDUIT FOR IT.

THE REUTER WALTON WILL COME BACK AFTER THE APPLICATION FOR A OFFICIAL BONDING RESOLUTION, WHERE THE COUNCIL WILL APPROVE THE AMOUNT OF THE BONDS, THE PROJECT, AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT, AND THAT WILL BE HELD AT A PUBLIC HEARING.

THIS IS GETTING THE PROJECT STARTED, GETTING THEM IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS, GETTING EVERYTHING MOVING SO THAT WE CAN START THE PROJECT AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR.

WE HAVE DONE THIS FOR EVERY AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT WITHIN THE CITY, AND TO INCLUDE SYLVAN SHORES, CRESTVIEW SENIOR FACILITIES, AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.

WITH THAT, THE EDAS BOND COUNSEL WILL BE PUTTING TOGETHER THE ENTIRE PACKET FOR THIS BOND OR THE BOND APPLICATION.

[02:35:06]

REUTER WALTON, THROUGH THE BOND APPLICATION PUTS MONEY IN ESCROW FOR ALL OF THAT WORK, SO THEY PUT THE MONEY AHEAD OF TIME TO GET EVERYTHING READY.

THE CITY IS JUST HELPING WITH THIS BOND APPLICATION TO THE STATE.

WITH THAT, VERY GRACIOUSLY, REUTER WALTON HAS HUNG OUT HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, AND CITY STAFF ARE DEFINITELY OPEN FOR ANY QUESTIONS ON THE ITEM.

>> THANK YOU, MITCH. DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL? I WOULD LIKE TO SAY I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE TIME PUT INTO MAKING THE ADJUSTMENTS, REALLY LISTENING TO FEEDBACK FROM THE COUNCIL ON WHAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE AT THIS SPOT AND GOING OVER IF THERE'D BE OTHER OPTIONS FOR OTHER USES.

I JUST THINK IT'S SO GREAT THAT WE HAVE A WORKING RELATIONSHIP, BUT WE CAN BRING UP OUR TOPICS AND THEN WE HAVE A DEVELOPER THAT LOOKS TO MEET US IN THE MIDDLE AND/OR GO AHEAD WITH DIFFERENT SUGGESTIONS WE HAD, BUT THIS IS A PRELIMINARY BOND RESOLUTION.

THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION AND FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING.

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

>> MOVE TO WAIVE THE READING OF RESOLUTION 2024-101, THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

>> SECOND.

>> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS TO WAIVE THE READING.

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

>> [OVERLAPPING] AYE.

>> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES.

NEXT, I HAVE A MOTION THEN TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION.

>> MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2024-101, A RESOLUTION GRANTING PRELIMINARY AUTHORIZATION TO THE ISSUANCE OF REVENUE BONDS OR OTHER OBLIGATIONS UNDER MINNESOTA STATUTES, CHAPTER 462C AS AMENDED TO FINANCE THE COSTS OF A MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, APPROVING THE PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION OF A HOUSING PROGRAM WITH RESPECT THERE TOO, APPROVING THE SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION FOR AN ALLOCATION OF BONDING AUTHORITY, ESTABLISHING COMPLIANCE WITH CERTAIN REIMBURSEMENT REGULATIONS UNDER INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986 AS AMENDED AND TAKING CERTAIN OTHER ACTIONS.

>> SECOND.

>> I'M A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES, AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION.

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

>> [OVERLAPPING] AYE.

>> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU.

NEXT, WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER 26, CONSIDERATION OF A RENTAL LICENSE EXEMPTION FOR 3916 TYLER STREET NORTHEAST, AND TAKING US THROUGH THIS ITEM IS ANDREW BOUCHER, OUR CITY PLANNER.

>> THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. CITY COUNCIL.

TODAY, YOU HAVE A CONSIDERATION OF A RENTAL LICENSE EXEMPTION FOR 3916 TYLER STREET NORTHEAST.

ON DECEMBER 4, 2024, THE OWNER REACHED OUT TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, REQUESTING AN EXEMPTION FROM THE SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL DENSITY CAP.

ATTACHED TO YOUR PACKET IS THE LETTER STAFF RECEIVED.

SECTION 1 OF ORDINANCE 1685 ESTABLISHES THE SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL DENSITY CAP AND STATES THAT THE PROPERTY OWNER MAY REQUEST TEMPORARY LICENSE TO ALLOW FOR AN ADDITIONAL RENTAL PROPERTY FOR THAT BLOCK.

THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED ON BLOCK 229, WHICH HAS A TOTAL OF 46 SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES, AND ALLOTMENT OF FIVE RENTALS WITH THE BLOCK BEING OVERCAPACITY CONTAINING SEVEN EXISTING RENTALS.

CITY COUNCIL MAY GRANT OR DENY A TEMPORARY LICENSE AT SOLE DISCRETION, AS IS THE HOMEOWNER'S RIGHT TO APPEAL TO THE COUNCIL STAFF BROUGHT FORTH THE APPEAL, ALONG WITH THE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS FOR REVIEW.

IF APPROVED, RESOLUTION 2024-102 WOULD GRANT A TEMPORARY RENTAL LICENSE TO THE HOMEOWNER WITH A FEW ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS THAT THE HOMEOWNER IS REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE LICENSE APPLICATION WITHIN THREE MONTHS.

THIS PUTS A LIMIT ON HOW LONG THEY CAN TAKE TO BRING THE HOUSE INTO COMPLIANCE IF NEEDED.

THE TEMPORARY LICENSE WILL BE VALID FOR ONE YEAR FROM THE DATE THAT THE LICENSE IS APPROVED.

THIS PROVIDES THE HOMEOWNER IN THE TENT, THE ABILITY TO RENT THE ROOM OR THE HOME FOR A FULL ONE-YEAR LEASE.

AFTER THE TERM OF THE TEMPORARY LICENSE, THE PERSON MAKING THE REQUEST FOR THE 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.

STAFF RECOMMENDS DENIAL OF THE RENTAL DENSITY EXEMPTION REQUEST BECAUSE THE APPLICANT, RM HOMES, LLC, IS A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AND PURCHASED THE PROPERTY WITH THE SOLE INTENT OF ESTABLISHING A LONG-TERM RENTAL.

THIS ACTION RUNS IN DIRECT CONFLICT WITH THE PURPOSES OF THE RENTAL DENSITY CAP, BUT CITY COUNCIL HAS THE SOLE DISCRETION TO APPROVE OR DENY THE REQUEST.

>> THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL?

[02:40:09]

>> NO, I HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THEM SINCE FRIDAY.

>> THANK YOU. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT IN READING THE LETTER, SAYING THAT HE DID BUY THIS SPECIFICALLY AS AN INCOME PROPERTY, THAT WAS THE LOAN HE APPLIED FOR.

THE TITLE COMPANY REGISTERED IT THAT WAY, NOT AS A HOMESTEAD PROPERTY, AND THAT HE HAS BEEN COMPLETING THE REQUIRED REPAIRS AND RESTORATIONS IN ACCORDANCE TO OUR INSPECTOR.

EVEN THOUGH I REALIZE THAT THIS IS OVER OUR MORATORIUM OR OUR LIMIT, I DO THINK THAT WHEN SOMEONE HAS OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE A HOME AND INCREASE THEIR INCOME, EVERY CITY IS SO DIFFERENT.

I THINK IF WE WERE TO ALLOW HIM TO KEEP THIS AS A RENTAL, ONE HE STILL HAS TO GO THROUGH THE RENTAL INSPECTION, WHICH MEANS WE ARE AWARE OF A PROPERTY AND WHAT SHAPE IT'S IN, BUT TWO, IT'S ONLY ALLOWED FOR ONE YEAR.

I KNOW HOW EXPENSIVE IT IS TO BUY A PROPERTY, AND THEN TO TURN AROUND AND THEN NOT BE ABLE TO USE IT AND HAVE TO SELL IT IS A HUGE COST.

I DON'T KNOW INITIALLY WHAT HIS BUSINESS PORTFOLIO IS, BUT IF HE IS NEW AT THIS, THIS IS A HUGE COST ON THOSE CLOSING COSTS AND EVERYTHING TO THEN HAVE TO GO AROUND AND THEN SELL IT AGAIN, WHEREAS, IF WE DO LET HIM RENT IT FOR A YEAR.

THE MOST HE COULD RENT IT OUT IF HE'S APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL IS TWO YEARS, AND THAT WOULD LET HIM GET HIS TIME IN ORDER TO THEN SELL IT.

KNOWING THAT IT COULDN'T BE THAT WAY FOREVER, BUT THEN HE CAN AT LEAST HAVE A CHANCE TO SELL IT IN, I DON'T SAY, GOOD STANDING AND HAVE A CHANCE TO HOPEFULLY NOT COME OUT IN THE NEGATIVE.

I KNOW THE GOAL WHEN WE SET THIS WAS THAT WE DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE HUGE COMMERCIAL CORPORATIONS HAVING RENTAL PROPERTIES, BUT AGAIN, IT SEEMS LIKE THESE ARE SMALL OWNERS THAT ARE TRYING DIFFERENT THINGS.

EVERY CITY IS SO DIFFERENT TOO.

SOME CITIES DON'T HAVE THEIR OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT. EVERY CITY IS DIFFERENT.

IT'S A LOT TO LOOK INTO, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WHEN WE TAKE AWAY HOUSING, SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES FROM RENTERS, THAT ALSO MEANS PEOPLE CAN'T RENT A HOME, SO THIS IS A PROPERTY THAT I THINK THAT I WOULD BE OKAY SAYING YES TO OR NO TO THE DENIAL, I GUESS. COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS?

>> I DISAGREE FOR SEVERAL REASONS.

ONE, HE'S NOT HERE.

TWO, WE DON'T KNOW HOW BIG OR SMALL HE IS.

WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG HE'S BEEN DOING THIS IF HIS FIRST.

THREE, IT WAS HIS REALTOR'S JOB TO INFORM HIM OF OUR ORDINANCE THAT WE HAVE REGARDING RENTAL DENSITY CAP, AND HE COULD HAVE DONE HIS HOMEWORK TOO WHEN HE WAS LOOKING TO PURCHASE THE PROPERTY, SO I DO NOT SUPPORT THIS.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS?

>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER BISKINS.

YOU TOOK SOME OF MY ARGUMENTS AND LAID THEM OUT VERY WELL.

WHEN YOU HAVE AN LLC, YOU ARE MAKING A CONSCIOUS DECISION TO BECOME A BUSINESS PERSON.

AS A BUSINESS PERSON, I DON'T CARE WHETHER YOU'RE OPENING UP A BAKERY, A SHOE SHOP, A DRESS SHOP, OR YOU'RE GOING TO BE A LANDLORD, AND THIS IS GOING TO BE YOUR BUSINESS.

IT IS YOUR OBLIGATION TO FIND OUT WHAT IS REQUIRED OF YOU AS A BUSINESS PERSON.

THAT THE ONUS IS ON HIM ON THIS INDIVIDUAL.

I JUST CANNOT, AN LLC, WE DON'T KNOW HOW BIG HE IS.

HE COULD HAVE SEVEN OTHER HOMES IN SEVEN OTHER COMMUNITIES.

I WOULD NEVER ALLOW THIS.

>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL SPRIGGS.

>> I AM IN AGREEMENT WITH THE MAYOR.

I THINK THIS IS WHY I HAD SOME CONCERNS INITIALLY ABOUT THE RENTAL DENSITY CAP.

YES, I KNOW THIS WAS IN RESPONSE TO THE HAVENBOOK HOME SITUATION.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE TRYING TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE AT DIFFERENT LEVELS.

NOT EVERYONE CAN AFFORD TO PUT A DOWN PAYMENT ON A HOUSE AND BUY A HOUSE, BUT THEY STILL WANT TO LIVE IN A SINGLE FAMILY HOUSE.

THESE ARE OPTIONS THAT THEY CAN USE FOR THAT.

THEY STILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AND COME UP THE CODE, BE LICENSED, COME TO US EVERY SINGLE YEAR TO ENSURE THEY'RE DOING THE THINGS, AND THAT'S WHY I'M GOING TO BE VOTING YES FOR THIS.

>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES.

>> THANK YOU. I DEFINITELY APPRECIATE EVERYONE SHARING THEIR OPINIONS.

I DID SEE SEVEN OTHER HOMES LISTED UNDER THE RES LLC,

[02:45:02]

I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND BOTH OF THE ARGUMENTS ABOUT SAFE HOUSING, AND SO I'M GLAD THAT WE ARE ABLE TO JUST VOTE AND SHARE OUR DIFFERENT OPINIONS.

>> THANK YOU. IF THERE'S NO OTHER COMMENTS THEN, COULD I HAVE A MOTION THEN TO WAIVE THE READING FOR ITEM NUMBER 26?

>> MOVE TO WAIVE THE READING OF RESOLUTION 2024-102.

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.

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

>> AYE.

>> AYE.

>> AYE.

>> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES.

NEXT, I HAVE A MOTION THEN TO DENY.

>> MOVE TO DENY RESOLUTION 2024-102, A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL EXEMPTION REQUEST FOR THE RENTAL APPLICATION AT 3916 TAYLOR STREET NORTHEAST.

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA 55421.

>> SECOND.

>> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES TO DENY THE RESOLUTION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?

>> AYE.

>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED?

>> NO.

>> NO.

>> THE MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU.

WE HAVE NO BID CONSIDERATIONS THIS EVENING, BUT THAT TAKES US THEN AND NO NEW BUSINESS OR REPORT, SO IT TAKES US TO OUR REPORTS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

[CITY COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS]

FIRST COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS.

>> I'D LIKE TO TAKE I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE A REGULAR REPORT.

I ATTENDED DIFFERENT THINGS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, BUT I'D LIKE TO REPORT THAT BRIAN CLARKIN, AGE 47, DIED SATURDAY ON NOVEMBER 30TH.

HE'S THE SON OF JUDY AND JOHN CLERK AND HE PASSED VERY UNEXPECTEDLY.

THE CLERK AND FAMILY HAVE BEEN DECADES LONG CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS COMMUNITY, THEY'VE BEEN LION MEMBERS.

BRIAN HAS BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN THE LIONS AND IN JAMBOREE.

HE'S GOING TO BE SORELY MISSED, THE CLERKIN STARTED THE BOXING GYM LOCATED AT THE OLD CITY HALL AND CONTINUE TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT.

AS I SAID HE WAS 41-YEARS-OLD, A MEMBER OF LIONS VOLUNTEERING HUNDREDS OF HOURS OVER THE YEARS TO JAMBOREE AND OTHER CITY EVENTS THERE.

HE IS ONE OF THE FAMILY WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR BRINGING THE ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE AND THE DINNER INTO COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

HE, ALONG WITH HIS BROTHER, SEAN AND JOE CURRENTLY OWN TASTY PETES AND HANGER 45, AND I ASK THAT WE PLEASE KEEP THE CLERKINS IN OUR PRAYERS.

THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE WILL TAKE PLACE IN JANUARY.

FINALLY, THERE'S SO MUCH TO SAY ON THIS FINAL EVENING.

I'VE HELD STEADFAST IN MY COMMITMENT TO THE RESIDENTS OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

WE DID NOT ALWAYS AGREE ON DECISIONS MADE.

HOWEVER, I STAND FIRM IN KNOWING I DID NOT LET PERSONAL AGENDAS RULE THOSE DECISIONS.

ANYTHING LESS IS LEFT TO THE ACTIONS AND DESTINIES OF OTHERS.

I WANT TO THANK EACH OF THE MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT STOOD BY MY SIDE AND THE SUPPORT OF EMPLOYEES AND STAFF THAT CONTINUED THEIR BELIEF IN ME.

IT'S THROUGH YOUR PRIVATE WORDS AND ENCOURAGEMENT AND PUBLIC ACTION THAT I FOUND THE STRENGTH TO ENDURE.

I CARRY YOUR KINDNESS WITH ME TODAY TOMORROW AND ALWAYS.

I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE COUNCIL MEMBER BISKINS, AND CITY CLERK, SARAH ION.

CONNIE AND SARAH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROFESSIONALISM.

SARAH, YOUR POSITION PLACED YOU IN THE CROSS FIRE, AND I WILL NOT FORGET THE UPHEAVAL CAUSED TO YOU PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY.

CONNIE, NOT ONLY WERE YOU THE SOLE PROFESSIONAL ON COUNSEL, YOU ALSO OFFERED YOUR FRIENDSHIP BOTH IN AND OUT OF COUNCIL CHAMBERS.

IT HAS BEEN MY HONOR TO SERVE WITH BOTH OF YOU.

I WISH YOU BOTH EVERY SUCCESS AND THAT YOU STAY TRUE TO YOUR HONOR OF WHO YOU ARE.

REFLECTING BACK ON SOME OF THE COMMENTS BY A COUPLE OF THE FIRST TWO SPEAKERS THIS EVENING ABOUT TAXES.

I BROUGHT THIS UP BOTH AT THE COUNCIL MEETING AND THE EDA, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REPEAT IT AGAIN AND THAT I'VE IMPLOED THIS IN FUTURE COUNCILS WHEN CONSIDERING ACTION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO INCLUDE AGING IN PLACE PROGRAMS. GRANTS FOR BUSINESSES, THE UNDERPRIVILEGED, BUDGETING SKATE AND DOG PARKS, AND MORE IGNORE THE NEED FOR OUR SENIOR POPULATION TO REMAIN IN THE HOMES WHERE THEY RAISE THEIR FAMILIES AND HAVE LIVED FOR DECADES.

MANY SENIORS CANNOT OR WILL EVER AFFORD ALTERNATIVE HOUSING.

HOWEVER, WITH GRANTS AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES TO REHAB A BATHROOM OR PROVIDE HANDICAP ACCESS AMONG OTHER ADAPTATIONS, MANY WILL BE ABLE TO REMAIN IN THAT LIFELONG AFFORDABLE HOME.

WE'VE BEEN A CITY PRIDING OURSELF ON BEING A LEADER, YET WE ARE FAILING OUR CONSIDERABLE GROUP OF OUR RESIDENTS AGE 55 PLUS, WHICH IS 25-30% OF OUR COMMUNITY.

FUNDING FOR AN AGING HOMEOWNER CAN CHANGE THE WORLD OF A SENIOR'S LIFE.

IT IS TIME WE PUT THE CITY'S ENERGIES INTO SUSTAINING

[02:50:01]

LASTLY, I ENCOURAGE ALL OF US TO CHALLENGE A LIMITATION, BIG OR SMALL, PERSONAL OR CIVIC, A CATEGORICAL WIN OR LOSS.

BE THE PERSON THAT STILL TRIES, NO MATTER THE FRUSTRATION, DISAPPOINTMENT, EVEN AFTER EXHAUSTION AND HEARTACHE, TAKE UP THE CHALLENGE.

WITH COURAGE, WE COMMIT OURSELVES TO BELIEVING A NEW ATTEMPT CAN MANIFEST A NEW OUTCOME.

CHALLENGING A LIMITATIONS GIVES MEANING TO THE INDIVIDUAL THAT STRIVES FOR MORE.

IT IS WHEN WE SIT BACK WITH APATHY AND AMBIVALENCE, BELIEVING WE MAKE NO DIFFERENCE OR HAVE LITTLE TO OFFER THAT WE STEP AWAY FROM THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SERVE.

>> THANK YOU.

WHO ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? MADAM CHAIR, COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS.

>> THANK YOU. IN DECEMBER, I THE EDA AND THE WORK SESSIONS WHERE WE WORKED THROUGH MANY ITEMS. I WAS THE LIAISON TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON DECEMBER 3RF.

WE TALKED ABOUT WE DID SOME GENERAL CONVERSATION ABOUT PARKING REQUIREMENTS AND PERMITTED AND CONDITIONAL USES IN ZONES.

I THINK THE EDA I MEAN THE PLANNING COMMISSION IS DOING A WONDERFUL JOB THINKING AHEAD BEFORE ANY SPECIFIC PROJECTS COME BEFORE THE GROUP.

I ATTENDED A MEETING OF OTHER LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS HERE IN NORTHEAST MINNEAPOLIS.

THEN YES, ON THE WEEKEND, IT WAS THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS HOLIDAY LUNCHEON AND I WAS ABLE TO SPEND SOME TIME CONNECTING WITH OTHER LOCAL MAYORS AND COUNCIL FOLKS.

THEN FINALLY, I ATTENDED THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL PRODUCTION OF SCHRECK, AND IT WENT REALLY GREAT.

I APPRECIATE NOT ONLY THE STUDENTS WHO DID A WONDERFUL JOB, BUT THE STAFF AND THE TEACHERS AT THE SCHOOL WHO MADE IT VERY WELCOMING FOR ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY TO ATTEND.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

>> COUNCILOR BISKINS.

>> I MISSED THE MATINEE OR THE SCHRECK.

YOU GO EVERY YEAR, I KNOW, BUT I REALLY MISSED IT, THEY DON'T DO A RECORDING OF IT, DO THEY?

>> IT WAS FANTASTIC.

>> NO, I CAN IMAGINE, SO I'M SORRY, I MISSED THAT.

FIRST, THE COUNCIL ALLOWED ME TO REPRESENT OUR CITY AT THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES IN TAMPA, FLORIDA.

IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE. LEARNED A LOT.

THE BIG TOPIC IS AI AND HOW CITIES CAN USE THAT TO MAKE OUR SERVICES OR OUR JOBS MORE EFFICIENT.

BUT ALSO TO TALK ABOUT THE THINGS WE NEED TO BE WARY OF BUT IT WAS THEIR 100 YEAR ANNIVERSARY.

THEY WENT TO TOWN CELEBRATING IT EVERY DAY.

THERE WAS MUSIC THEY HAD A CITY HOSTED A PARTY FOR US ON FRIDAY, AND THEN THERE WAS A BIG PARTY ON SATURDAY.

THEY MANAGED TO HAVE ALL THE EXTRA CELEBRATION PAID FOR BY CORPORATE SPONSORS, WHICH WORKED REALLY WELL WITH THEIR BUDGET.

THANKS, COUNSEL FOR LETTING ME GO HOPEFULLY NEXT YEAR, MORE OF US CAN GO AT THE SAME TIME, BECAUSE I DEFINITELY ENCOURAGE EVERYONE ON THE COUNCIL TO ATTEND THAT.

IT'S A GREAT LEARNING EXPERIENCE, AND ALSO A NETWORKING EXPERIENCE, AND JUST HEARING STORIES FROM PEOPLE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WHO ARE TRYING TO DO THE SAME THING WE'RE TRYING TO DO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF OUR RESIDENTS.

THEN I ATTENDED EMILY, AND I CAN'T THINK OF HER LAST NAME OFF HAND, BUT SHE'S BEEN PROMOTED, SHE'S A FIRE PERSON, FIREWOMAN, AND SHE WAS PROMOTED TO CAPTAIN.

I'M SUPER EXCITED, SHE'S DONE A LOT OF WORK, AND SHE GREATLY DESERVES THIS POSITION, SO THAT WAS PRETTY EXCITING.

I ALSO ATTENDED THE SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION THAT SAME EVENING, THEY'RE WORKING ON THE SUSTAINABILITY PURCHASING POLICY STILL, AND THEY'RE FINALIZING THE COMPLETE STREETS POLICY.

THAT WILL BE COMING BEFORE THE COUNCIL IN A FEW MONTHS.

ATTENDED OFFICER SWAG STU OFFICIAL SWEARING IN CEREMONY AND THE METRO COUNCIL'S POLICY MEETING FOR ECONOMIC AND HOUSING.

I ALSO ATTENDED A OPEN HOUSE OF ONE OF OUR LOCAL ARTISTS KATY H, I CAN'T PRONOUNCE HER LAST NAME, BUT KATY H. IT WAS GREAT.

SHE HAS IT EVERY YEAR IF YOU EVER GET A CHANCE SHE POSTS ON FACEBOOK WHEN SHE HAS IT, BUT SHE HAS BEAUTIFUL ART PIECES THROUGHOUT HER HOME THAT YOU CAN PURCHASE RIGHT BEFORE THE CHRISTMAS SEASON.

THAT'S IT, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. FLORA BRAKES. NOTHING TO REPORT?

>> FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS I

[02:55:02]

WE WELCOMED ART TO CHANGE THE WORLD, AS THEY PRESENTED AT OUR ROTARY MEETING THAT WAS HOSTED HERE AT CITY HALL IN THE CENTRAL PLACE, AND WE WOULD JUST LIKE TO EXTEND INVITATION, YOU'RE WELCOME TO JOIN ME AT A ROTARY MEETING WEDNESDAY MORNINGS AT 07:30 A.M AND THERE'S A HOT BREAKFAST INCLUDED AS A GUEST.

ATTENDED THE NEW AMERICAN LEADERS ALUMNI MIXER.

ENJOYED SCHRECK, THE MUSICAL AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, AND IT WAS JUST FANTASTIC.

ALSO IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE MOVIE SCHRECK, IT'S VERY FUNNY, BUT THE MUSICAL TAKES IT TO A WHOLE DIFFERENT LEVEL.

IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'VE ALREADY SEEN THE MOVIE, THE MUSICAL IS A WHOLE DIFFERENT, SAME CHARACTER AS A DIFFERENT STORY IN A WAY.

I MET WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM LOCAL PROGRESS.

I PARTICIPATED IN THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS HOLIDAY GATHERING.

YESTERDAY, I ENJOYED WHITE CHRISTMAS AT THE HEIGHT THEATER, FEATURING MAD HICKSON DURING THE CAROLING AHEAD OF TIME.

IF YOU HAVEN'T TAKEN IN WHITE CHRISTMAS AT THE HEIGHT THEATER, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT IT IS A LOT OF FUN AS IN ANY OF THEIR PRODUCTIONS.

THEN TODAY I ATTENDED THE REGIONAL COUNCIL OF MAYOR'S MEETING AND THEIR EXECUTIVE PLANNING MEETING AS WELL.

NOW WE CAN GO TO OUR CITY MANAGER IF YOU HAVE A REPORT.

OH, AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SHARE MY CONDOLENCES WITH THE CLERKING FAMILY.

MUCH TO WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER, JACOBS HAD SHARED AN INSTITUTION HERE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

I STOPPED BY ON SATURDAY, THEY HAD AN IRISH BAND PLAYING AND JUST SEEING THE FAMILY.

IT IS JUST HEARTBREAKING.

BUT THE COMMUNITY IS HERE TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT.

JOE HAD MENTIONED THAT AFTER THE FOOTBALL SEASON IS OVER, THEY HOPE TO HAVE IRISH MUSIC ON THURSDAY EVENINGS.

SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO FOR MORE WAYS TO BE TOGETHER IN COMMUNITY.

>> THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR SO JUST A FEW UPDATES.

ANOTHER REMINDER OF THE CITY'S WATER METER REPLACEMENT PROJECT THAT'S UNDERWAY, THE CITY'S EMBARKING ON REPLACEMENT OF NEARLY 6,000 WATER METERS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

SECTION 1 HAS ALREADY BEGUN AND IS IN FULL SWING.

THE PROJECT ITSELF WILL CONTINUE THROUGHOUT 2025.

WE ASK RESIDENTS TO SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT WHEN YOU RECEIVE THE LETTER FROM THE CITY.

VISIT THE CITY'S WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA FOR UP TO DATE INFORMATION ON THE PROJECT.

OFFICE CLOSURES, AS WE APPROACH THE HOLIDAY SEASON, WE WANT RESIDENTS TO KNOW THAT CITY OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED FOR BUSINESS ON DECEMBER 24, 25TH AND JANUARY 1ST.

VEHICLE SAFETY REMINDER FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS, COLUMBIA HEIGHTS POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS SEEN AN UPTICK IN VEHICLE THEFTS, AND TO HELP COMBAT THAT, WE'RE ASKING MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO TURN OFF YOUR VEHICLE, REMOVE ANY VALUABLES, OR GARAGE DOOR OPENERS, AND LOCK YOUR DOORS, AND IF ANY SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY IS VIEWED, CALL 911.

UPCOMING EVENTS. WE'D LIKE TO REMIND RESIDENTS OF HOLIDAY EVENTS.

THE HOLIDAY TRAIN IS COMING TO TOWN ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12TH, THAT'S THIS THURSDAY AT 8:00 P.M.

IT'S AT THE INTERSECTION OF 37TH AVENUE IN STINSON BOULEVARD.

THAT EVENT WILL INCLUDE PERFORMANCES BY THE LONE BELOW AND TERA KENNEDY.

ADDITIONALLY, THE EASTSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES GROUP WILL BE COLLECTING MONEY AND NON PERISHABLE FOOD DONATIONS BEFORE THE TRAIN ARRIVES.

THE LAST CITY EVENT FOR 2024 IS THE CITY'S HOLIDAY TOUR, WHICH IS TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17TH, FROM 5:00-6:45 P.M. WATCH FOR A FESTIVE FIRE TRUCK TOURING THE CITY WITH SPECIAL GUESTS, FOLLOWING THE TOUR, JOIN THE FESTIVITIES AT MERGENT HALL FROM 6:00-8:00 P.M. WITH FREE COCOA CIDER COOKIES, CRAFT SCHEMES AND MORE.

SECA AND MAGNIFY FINANCIAL WILL BE COLLECTING TOYS ALONG THE ROUTE AND AT MERGENT HALL.

THANK YOU TO MAGNIFY FOR SPONSORING THE COOKIES AND COCOA AT MERGENT HALL.

FIND THE ROUTE AND TOY DONATION DETAILS ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE AND FACEBOOK PAGE AND THAT IS IT.

>> THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE FROM THE COUNCIL? IT LOOKS LIKE WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE HERE FOR OUR COMMUNITY FORUM.

I'LL JUST DOUBLE CHECK THAT. SOUNDS LIKE WE DO NOT.

THEN THEN I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.

>> SECOND.

>> THANK YOU. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS TO ADJOURN

[03:00:02]

>> AYE.

>> AYE.

>> ANY OPPOSED. THE MOTION PASSES.

THAT LAST OF OUR MEETING THEN FOR 2024.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS, EVERYONE AND STAY SAFE.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.