[WELCOM/CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL] [00:00:02] >> WE ARE ALL READY TO GO. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. JUST CHECKING WITH OUR TECH FOR ALL GOOD TO GO. GREAT. THEN, WELCOME TO EVERYONE HERE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND WATCHING AT HOME ON THE RECORDING OR WHEREVER YOU'RE WATCHING THE RECORDING. THIS IS OUR FIRST CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR THIS NEW YEAR OF 2025. TODAY IS MONDAY, JANUARY 13TH, SO VERY MUCH WELCOME. THANK YOU FOR COMING IN. WE ARE GOING TO START WITH A ROLL CALL OF ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS. >> COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS? >> HERE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER DENEEN? >> HERE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES? >> HERE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS? >> HERE. >> MAYOR MARQUEZ SIMULA? >> HERE. THANK YOU. IT'S THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, SO I'LL READ 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. NOW WE HAVE OUR APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA. [APPROVAL OF AGENDA] [NOISE] WE JUST ASK FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED. SO MOVED. SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES. ANY DISCUSSION? SAYING IS NONE, THEN ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION IS APPROVED. THE AGENDA IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED. NEXT, WE HAVE OUR PROCLAMATIONS PRESENTATION, [PROCLAMATIONS, PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITION, ANNOUNCEMENTS, GUESTS] RECOGNITION, ANNOUNCEMENTS AND GUESTS. FIRST, WE HAVE OUR OATH OF OFFICE. WE WILL HAVE MYSELF AND COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS, AND COUNCILMEMBER DENEEN, TO HAVE OUR OATH OF OFFICE. WE DON'T DO THIS VERY OFTEN, SO PARDON US WHILE WE FIGURE OUT WHERE WE'RE STANDING IN ALL THOSE THINGS. [LAUGHTER]. >> [BACKGROUND] REPEAT. I AMADA MARQUEZ SIMULA. >> I AMADA MARQUEZ SIMULA. >> DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL. >> DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL. >> SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. >> SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. >> THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA. >> THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA. >> THEN I WILL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES. >> I WILL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES. >> OF THE OFFICE OF MAYOR. >> OF THE OFFICE OF MAYOR. >> OF THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS. >> OF CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS. >> WHICH I HAVE BEEN ELECTED. >> WHICH I HAVE BEEN ELECTED TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, ABILITY, SO HELP ME GOD. >> WHICH I HAVE BEEN ELECTED TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITY, SO HELP ME GOD. [APPLAUSE] [BACKGROUND]. >> I BUESGENS. >> I BUESGENS. >> DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR. >> DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR. >> FEDERAL SUPPORT CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. >> FEDERAL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. >> THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATES OF MINNESOTA. >> THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATES OF MINNESOTA >> I WILL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES. >> I WILL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY [INAUDIBLE]. >> DISCHARGE THE DUTIES. >> DISCHARGE THE DUTIES. >> OF THE OFFICE OF CITY COUNCIL. >> OF THE OFFICE OF CITY COUNCIL. [00:05:01] >> OF WHICH I HAVE BEEN ELECTED. >> OF WHICH I HAVE BEEN ELECTED. >> TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE OF ABILITY. >> TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITY. SO HELP ME GOD. >> SO HELP ME GOD. >> [BACKGROUND] [INAUDIBLE] >> DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL. >> DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL. >> SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. >> SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. >> THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA. >> THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA. >> THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES. >> THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES. >> OF THE OFFICE CITY COUNCIL. >> OF THE OFFICE CITY COUNCIL. >> OF THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS. >> OF THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS. >> TO WHICH I HAVE BEEN ELECTED. >> TO WHICH I HAVE ELECTED. >> TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITY. >> TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITY. >> SO HELP ME GOD. >> SO HELP ME GOD. [APPLAUSE] [BACKGROUND] >> THANK YOU ALL. BEFORE WE GET INTO OUR MEETING, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE DEVASTATING WILDFIRES IMPACTING COMMUNITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA. OUR THOUGHTS AT THE COUNCIL AND HERE AT THE CITY ARE WITH EVERYONE AFFECTED, INCLUDING THOSE HERE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, WHO HAVE CONNECTIONS TO LOVED ONES, FRIENDS, AND FAMILY IN THAT REGION. LET US HOLD THEM IN OUR HEARTS AND KEEP THEM SAFE, THEIR SAFETY AND RECOVERY IN MIND DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME. NOW WE MOVE ON TO OUR PROCLAMATIONS, PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITION ANNOUNCEMENT. OH, WE ALREADY STARTED THIS. OATH OF OFFICE, MOVING ON TO SECTION B OF OUR AGENDA, WHICH IS THE MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR DAY PROCLAMATION FOR JANUARY 20TH, NEXT MONDAY. DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR DEVOTED HIS LIFE TO ADVANCING EQUALITY, SOCIAL JUSTICE, AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL, AND CHALLENGED ALL AMERICANS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE NEVER ENDING WORK OF BUILDING A MORE PERFECT UNION. DOCTOR KING'S TEACHINGS CAN CONTINUE TO GUIDE AND INSPIRE US IN ADDRESSING CHALLENGES IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND THE KING HOLIDAY AND SERVICE ACT ENACTED IN 1994, DESIGNATED THE KING HOLIDAY AS A NATIONAL DAY OF VOLUNTEER SERVICE. THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS EMPOWERS US ALL. THE PRINCIPLES ENSHRINED IN THE DECLARATION ARE AS RELEVANT TODAY AS THEY WERE IN 1948. SINCE 1994, MILLIONS OF AMERICANS HAVE BEEN INSPIRED BY THE LIFE AND WORK OF DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR TO SERVE THEIR NEIGHBORS AND COMMUNITIES ON THE KING HOLIDAY. SERVING ON THE KING HOLIDAY IS AN APPROPRIATE WAY TO HONOR DOCTOR KING, MEET LOCAL AND NATIONAL NEEDS, BRING OUR CITIZENS TOGETHER AND STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITIES AND NATION. THE KING DAY OF SERVICE IS THE ONLY FEDERAL HOLIDAY COMMEMORATED AS A NATIONAL DAY OF SERVICE, AND OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR AMERICANS TO GIVE BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITIES ON THE HOLIDAY AND MAKE AN ONGOING COMMITMENT TO SERVICE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. CITIZENS OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA, HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN EVENTS THROUGHOUT OUR CITY ON THE KING DAY OF SERVICE, JANUARY 20TH, 2025, AS WELL AS CREATE AND IMPLEMENT COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS WHERE THEY IDENTIFY THE NEED. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT I, AMADA MARQUEZ SIMULA, MAYOR OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR DAY 2025 AS A DAY OF SERVICE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, AND CALL UPON THE PEOPLE OF THE COMMUNITY TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE LIFE AND WORKS OF DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR, THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS ON MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR DAY AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING SOME REPORTS OF WHAT WE ALL DO ON MONDAY, JANUARY 20TH AND SERVICE OF OUR COMMUNITIES. NEXT, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM JOHN CONNELLY, TWIN CITIES NORTH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. HERE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS. WELCOME, JOHN. IT'S SO GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN. [00:10:48] >> [INAUDIBLE] THAT REPRESENTS A VARIETY OF INDUSTRIES, HOSPITALITY, MANUFACTURING, LEGAL, AS WELL AS FINANCE. SO A WIDE VARIETY GIVES US, I THINK, AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THINGS FROM DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES, AND SO WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT VOICES, PLUS ALL OF OUR MEMBERS INPUT THAT WE HAVE ON A REGULAR BASIS. I ALWAYS LIKE TO ITEMIZED THAT WE'RE IN GOOD STANDING WITH THE STATE OF MINNESOTA AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. WE'RE UP TO SPEED ON ALL THOSE THINGS, SO NO SURPRISE IS THERE. WE HAVE A COMMITTEE STRUCTURE THAT INVOLVES FOUR DIFFERENT GROUPS, OUR AMBASSADOR TEAM, WHICH WELCOMES BUSINESSES INTO THE COMMUNITY. JUST LAST QUARTER, WE RECOGNIZED COLUMBIA HEIGHTS DENTISTRY THAT WAS JUST OPENED UP JUST ON THE ROAD HERE ON CENTRAL. WE DID A RIBBON CUTTING FOR THAT. WE HAVE OTHER TASK FORCE THAT WE ARE INVOLVED WITH. THEN WE ALSO HAVE A MARKETING COMMITTEE THAT GENERATES IDEAS ON HOW TO PROMOTE, COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, AS WELL AS ALL OF OUR MEMBER CITIES IN OUR FOOTPRINT. THEN FINALLY, WE GET, SOMEWHAT INVOLVED IN PUBLIC POLICY TOO, AS WELL, NOT INTIMATELY, BUT MORE ON A LOCAL LEVEL WITH OUR CITY MEMBERS, AS WELL AS THE COUNTIES, IOCA, AND RAMSEY. THAT'S A LITTLE BACKGROUND. I WAS PROBABLY WONDERING WHAT HAPPENED OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO, AND I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU A QUICK SUMMARY. AS FAR AS OUR MEMBERSHIP, WE INCREMENTALLY GREW OVER THAT TIME PERIOD. JUST THIS SLOW STEADY GROWTH, OBVIOUSLY, WE GOT THAT THROUGH TARGETING HIGHER RENEWALS, AND WE WERE PRETTY SUCCESSFUL IN THAT, AND THAT SUSTAINED OUR GROWTH. WE ALSO HAD A LOT OF GROWTH AND ENGAGEMENT. I'LL JUST ITEMIZE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AS ONE OF OUR BETTER ATTENDED BUSINESS COUNCILS. THANKS TO AARON AND MITCH AND HIS TEAM FOR GENERATING THAT INTEREST AND GETTING THE WORD OUT ABOUT, THE MEETINGS THAT COME UP ON A QUARTERLY BASIS AND THE TOPICS THAT HAPPEN. TOPICS SUCH AS WORKFORCE THINGS. WE JUST HAD HOSPITALITY IN MINNESOTA COMING UP. WE HAVE MULTIFAMILY HOUSING ASSOCIATION COMING UP. WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT TOPICS THAT TOUCH ON DIFFERENT AREAS OF A CITY'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY. OBVIOUSLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO ATTEND THOSE AS A GUEST AND PARTICIPATE. I WANT TO INVITE YOU TO THOSE. NEXT TO, ADMINISTRATION, THAT'S PART OF WHAT I DO ON A REGULAR BASIS, BUT THEN WE ALSO AGAIN, HAVE THOSE PUBLIC POLICY THINGS THAT WE GET INVOLVED IN AND JUST WANT TO COMMUNICATE THOSE LOCAL ISSUES FROM A BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE. IF YOU EVER HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR YOU HAVE WANT MORE INFORMATION ON ANY OF THOSE ISSUES, YOU KNOW WHO TO CALL BECAUSE USUALLY I KNOW WHO TO CALL THEN AFTER THAT TO GET YOU THAT INFORMATION THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR. NEW INITIATIVES. WE'RE ALWAYS STRIVING, ASPIRATIONALLY TO DO MORE THAN JUST YOUR REGULAR, SO CALLED GOLF EVENT OR MEETINGS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. THIS TIME AROUND, THIS YEAR, WE'VE GOT A INITIATIVE CALLED DRIVE FOR FIVE GRANT. THIS WAS OUT OF DEED, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, STATE OF MINNESOTA. THEY OFFERED GRANTS TO PROMOTE WORKFORCE AND CAREERS IN MANUFACTURING SPECIFICALLY. WHAT WE ARE DOING IS WE'RE CREATING A VIDEO YOUTUBE NETWORK THAT IS SPECIFIC FOR OPPORTUNITIES AND MANUFACTURING IN OUR AREA. THAT INCLUDES HEIGHTS, FRIDLEY, NORTH, NEW BRIGHTON, NEIGHBORS. EVERYONE IN HERE IS GOING TO BE FEATURED IN OUR FOOTPRINT ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR CAREER AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR, LIFESTYLE, ETC. IN THE WORLD OF MANUFACTURING BECAUSE IT IS ONE OF THE TARGETED AREAS THAT THE STATE OF MINNESOTA HAS REALLY TRIED TO BEEF UP ON, AND BECAUSE IT INVOLVES EXPORTS, AND THE MONEY COMES BACK INTO OUR COMMUNITIES AND SUPPORTS OUR, QUALITY OF LIFE. THAT'S ONE AREA. WE'RE ALSO INVOLVED. REFERENCE ONE OF OUR MEMBER CITIES GREEN TO GO. GREEN TO GO IS AN INITIATIVE THAT THE CITY OF ROSEVILLE IS INITIATING, BUT ALSO, I THINK WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM ON A TEMPLATE FOR COMPOSTABLE, RECYCLING, ETC. [00:15:04] IN ALL OF THESE CITIES. WE THINK BY CREATING A MORE WORKABLE TEMPLATE, MINNEAPOLIS HAS ONE, BUT I THINK WE CAN SET UP ONE THAT'S MAYBE EVEN A LITTLE BETTER AND HAS LESS HARDSHIP ON A BUSINESS, GIVES THEM A LITTLE BIT MORE RUNWAY TO ADAPT TO THE MARKET. GET THEIR SUPPLY CHAINS IN PLACE AND SO THAT IT'S NOT SUCH A SHOCK TO THEIR SYSTEM. WE'RE WORKING WITH ROOSEVELT ON THAT, AND WE THINK WE CAN PUT THAT TEMPLATE IN FRONT OF OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT ARE WHERE IT'S GOING TO WORK REALLY WELL. THAT'S ONE OF THE INITIATIVE AND WE ALWAYS TRY TO ENCOURAGE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS AND COLLABORATE WITH THEM. THEN WE INITIATED A FAIRLY BROAD SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN IN FOURTH QUARTER, EXPANDING ON META, AS WELL AS LINKEDIN THOSE TWO, AND JUST STARTING TO GET A LITTLE MORE INSTAGRAM. INSTAGRAM IS A LITTLE MORE ON A PICTURE SIDE, AND WE'RE GETTING INTO, LIKE I SAID, VIDEO WITH YOUTUBE ON OUR MANUFACTURING STUFF. WE'RE GOING TO BE LEVERAGING THOSE RESOURCES COMING UP. OPPORTUNITIES. I HAD REFERENCED THE GRAND OPENINGS AND RIMMING CUTTINGS, WELCOMING BUSINESSES. THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS A CHAMBER IS INVOLVED IN. WE ALWAYS LIKE TO ENGAGE AND LEVERAGE WHENEVER WE HAVE A CHANCE WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS, WHETHER IT BE ANOKA COUNTY OR RAMSEY COUNTY THAT WE WORK WITH TO AS WELL. IN FACT, COMING UP, THERE'S A REAL ESTATE FORM THAT ANOKA COUNTY IS DOING IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE PARTICIPATING IN. ALSO, I'M AWARE NOW THAT THEY JUST START PROMOTING WORKFORCE JOB FAIR ON 9TH OF APRIL, I BELIEVE, AND THAT'S WITH ANOKA COUNTY. THEY HAVE OVER 100 BUSINESSES AT THAT, AND WE PROMOTE THAT AND GET THE WORD OUT TO ALL OUR BUSINESSES ABOUT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES. WE ALWAYS LIKE TO SHARE VITAL INFORMATION TO ALL OF OUR BUSINESSES THAT ARE RESIDING HERE. WE DO THAT THROUGH OUR BUSINESS COUNSELS, NEWSLETTERS, REGULAR COMMUNICATIONS, AND INVITES, AND THROUGH SOME SELECT PUBLIC POLICY FORUMS THAT WE SCHEDULE ON A QUARTERLY BASIS. I GUESS YOU ASK WHY WE DO THESE THINGS, WHILE, IT'S FOR, ENHANCING THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, QUALITY OF LIFE, MAKING PEOPLE FEEL WELCOME. PEOPLE GO WHERE THEY'RE INVITED. WE ALWAYS TRY TO INVITE PEOPLE TO OUR REGULAR COMMUNITIES. WE ALSO DO WHAT ARE CALLED CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN, AND YOU PROBABLY WONDERED, WHAT'S THAT? WELL, THAT IS A PROCESS WHERE THROUGH A LOCAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, BUSINESSES CAN VALIDATE THEIR CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN THAT IS REQUIRED BY EXPORTERS TO OTHER COUNTRIES. A LOCAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, VALIDATES THAT, YES, THIS PRODUCT WAS PRODUCED IN THAT CITY, IN THAT STATE, AND THEREFORE, IT GOES THROUGH CUSTOMS MUCH FASTER. IT INVOLVES ONE OF THE BUSINESSES THAT USES OUR SERVICES IS [INAUDIBLE] RIGHT DOWN THE ROAD HERE. OFF OF UNIVERSITY. >> THE OTHER THINGS ARE REDUNDANT, JUST WELCOMING THINGS. BUT WE ALSO IN CLOSING, I JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT WE ALWAYS LIKE TO BUILD GOODWILL WITHIN THE NETWORK. EVERY YEAR WE DO A HOLIDAY SOCIAL IN DECEMBER, AND THAT RAISES FUNDS FOR TWO AREA FOOD SHELVES AND SAKE AS ONE OF THOSE FOOD SHELVES THAT WE SUPPORT. IT'S GOING TO BE FUN TO DROP OFF A CHECK TO THEM IN ABOUT ANOTHER WEEK WHEN THOSE PROCEEDS ALL GET CONSOLIDATED, AND WE CAN SHARE THAT CHECK WITH DAVE RUDOLPH, THEIR DIRECTOR. CASH IS KING THAT IS WHAT HE SAYS. EVEN BETTER THAN A DONATION. FINALLY, I REFERENCED HERE, I'M NOT GOING TO BRING UP VIDEOS BECAUSE YOU HAVE A BUSY AGENDA, BUT I ALWAYS ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO TO TWINCITIESNORTH.ORG AND THERE YOU FIND ALL WAYS AND RESOURCES. IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE PROMOTE THROUGH FACEBOOK LIVE. I HAVE A PROGRAM CALLED CHAMBER CHECKING. NO, IT'S NOT FAMOUS, BUT IT'S ON THERE, PROMOTING LOCAL BUSINESSES TO DO LOCAL COMMERCE AND ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES. I DO THAT EVERY OTHER WEEK. THIS FRIDAY, I'LL BE ON FACEBOOK LIVE AT 11:30. FINALLY, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP. WE HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE TEAM HERE, AND HAVE HAD IN THE PAST WHEN CITY MANAGER FEHST WAS THE CITY MANAGER. AND NOW IT'S AARON AND MITCH AND THE TEAM. JUST APPRECIATE AGAIN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE A VERY BRIEF UPDATE. IF YOU EVER HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, JOHN CONNELLY, TWIN CITIES NORTH CHAMBER PRESIDENT. I'VE BEEN THERE ABOUT SEVEN-AND-A-HALF YEARS. WANT TO BE A RESOURCE IN CASE YOU EVER HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE DOING HERE ON A LOCAL LEVEL. HOW IS IT IMPACTING BUSINESSES IN THE LOCAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY? HOPEFULLY, WE'LL HAVE AN ANSWER FOR YOU, OR BE ABLE TO STEER YOU IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THANK YOU AGAIN. >> THANK YOU, JOHN. GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE. NEXT CHAMBER MEETING IS MARCH 7TH, I BELIEVE. >> YES. MARCH 7TH IS THE NEXT BUSINESS COUNCIL, AND SO INVITES WILL BE GOING OUT PROBABLY IN ANOTHER TWO WEEKS. [00:20:04] >> THEN WHERE DO THOSE TAKE PLACE? >> THOSE TAKE PLACE USUALLY AT THE CITY HALL HERE. WE JUST HAD OURS IN DECEMBER AT CITY HALL HERE. IT MIGHT BE UP IN FRIDLEY THIS TIME, BUT IF NOT, IT'LL BE BACK AT CITY HALL HERE. WE GET YOU UP EARLY 8:00 AM TO 9:00 AM. >> THERE'S USUALLY DONUTS AND THERE'S COFFEE. >> HEIGHTS DONUTS. >> YEAH, HEIGHTS DONUTS. >> ONCE AGAIN, WE LIKE TO PATRONIZE LOCAL ECONOMY, RIGHT? >> YEP. EVERYONE IS WELCOME. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAPTURE THAT. >> EVERY BUSINESS THAT DOES BUSINESS IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS OR IS A VENDOR WITH THEM. ABSOLUTELY. WE ENCOURAGE THAT. WANT THEIR FEEDBACK AND WANT TO KEEP THEM INFORMED OF WHAT'S GOING ON. >> GREAT PRESENTATIONS. I'VE FOLLOWED-UP AND MET WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT I'VE BEEN INTRODUCED TO AT THE CHAMBER MEETINGS, BUT YOU MENTIONED THE WORKFORCE WE'VE HAD MARIA COME IN FROM LOCAL WORKFORCE MANY TIMES START COUNCIL MEETINGS HERE. WE'RE SO GLAD TO HAVE THOSE REALLY GOOD CONNECTIONS. >> NORTH COUNTY HAS BEEN A GREAT PARTNER, GREG, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SIDE, MARIA ON THE WORKFORCE SIDE. ABSOLUTELY. >> YES. ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL OR ANYTHING TO SAY? THANK YOU. >> TWINCITYNORTH.ORG AND JOHN CONNELLY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANKS, JOHN. HAVE A GREAT DAY. THANK YOU. WE ARE NOW AT OUR COMMUNITY FORUM, WHICH WE HAVE MOVED TO THE FRONT OF THE MEETING NOW AT THE BEGINNING. [COMMUNITY FORUM] THERE ARE SOME FORMS OUTSIDE THE CHAMBER DOOR ON THIS SIDE. IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK DURING THE COMMUNITY FORUM, WE JUST NEED YOUR NAME AND THAT IF YOU'RE A RESIDENT OR WHAT YOUR CONNECTION IS TO THE CITY. THEN I WILL ASK OUR CITY CLERK IF WE HAVE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK THIS EVENING? >> WE CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE ANYONE ONLINE, BUT WE DO HAVE SOMEBODY IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS. DEAN BEYER WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL. >> THEN BEFORE YOU COME UP, DEAN, WE JUST HAVE A SMALL THING TO READ HERE. THE COMMUNITY FORUM IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL REGARDING ANY MATTER THAT IS NOT SCHEDULED FOR A PUBLIC HEARING LATER IN THE MEETING. SPEAKERS ARE IN-PERSON ARE ASKED TO COMPLETE A SPEAKER FORM, AS I JUST SAID. WHEN CALLED TO THE PODIUM, THE SPEAKER CAN STATE THEIR NAME AND CONNECTION TO COLUMBIA HEIGHTS. SPEAKERS SHOULD LIMIT THEIR COMMENTS TO FIVE MINUTES, AND PERSONAL ATTACKS, THREATS, USE OF PROFANITY, AND OTHER DISRESPECTFUL COMMENTS ARE PROHIBITED. THE CITY COUNCIL WILL LISTEN TO THE PUBLIC COMMENTS, ASK CLARIFYING QUESTIONS, AND IF NEEDED, REQUEST STAFF TO FOLLOW UP OR DIRECT THE MATTER TO BE ADDED TO AN UPCOMING AGENDA. GENERALLY, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL NOT TAKE OFFICIAL ACTION ON ITEMS RAISED AT THE COMMUNITY FORUM AT THE MEETING ON WHICH THEY ARE RAISED. IF OUR FIRST SPEAKER CAN COME UP THEN. >> [INAUDIBLE] >> THAT'S RIGHT. WELCOME. WE JUST ASK YOU TO SPEAK IN THE MICROPHONE. >> DEAN BEYER, 56 YEAR RESIDENT OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS. BEEN IN MY CURRENT HOME FOR 27 YEARS. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT A FEW THINGS REGARDING POLICING. AS YOU-ALL KNOW OR MOST OF YOU KNOW, I HAD AN INCIDENT LAST WEEK AND I EMAILED ALL OF YOU THE DETAILS ON WHAT THAT WAS REVOLVING OR IT REVOLVED. THE ONLY REPLY I RECEIVED FROM A CITY MANAGER, AND I BELIEVE IT WAS A CITY ATTORNEY ON THERE TELLING ME THAT YOU-ALL WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET INVOLVED. RIGHT NOW, I HAVE NO ELECTED OFFICIAL I CAN TURN TO WITH THESE CONCERNS. I THINK I'M ON AN ISLAND RIGHT NOW. THE CITIZENS, I BELIEVE, THE CITY HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW HOW QUICKLY A PERSON CAN HAVE THEIR LIFE TURNED UPSIDE DOWN FOR MERELY WALKING THEIR DOG AND BEING VICTIMIZED. THEN, HONESTLY, I FELT LIKE I WAS VICTIMIZED AGAIN BY THE POLICE THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE THING. UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T HAVE TIME HERE TO GO THROUGH EVERY SINGLE DETAIL AND I WON'T. I'M JUST GOING TO TOUCH ON A FEW THINGS, A FEW POINTS. ONE IS, THIS ORDEAL HAS BEEN A COMPLETE NIGHTMARE FOR ME. NOT ONLY WHAT I'VE HAD TO GO THROUGH, BUT SEEING HOW STRESSED OUT MY DOG WAS AND HOW CLOSE I CAME TO LOSING HIM. HE'S LIKE A CHILD TO ME, AND HE REALLY IS, AND I WOULD WISH THIS ON NO ONE. THAT'S MY BABY RIGHT THERE. TO SEE THAT GUY ALMOST GET TAKEN OUT, THAT IS DEVASTATING. I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE TRAINING FOR THE POLICE AND AN INDEPENDENT AGENCY OR DEPARTMENT TO RECEIVE AND INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THE POLICE ARE POLICING THEMSELVES. I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT NO ONE WITH THE DEPARTMENT WOULD MEET WITH ME IN-PERSON. I HAD TO CALL AND CALL AND SPEAK WITH PEOPLE ON THE PHONE. [00:25:01] I WENT TO THE POLICE STATION, THEY WOULDN'T COME OUT. THEY SAID EVERYBODY WAS BUSY. I COULD NOT MEET INDIVIDUALLY WITH ANYONE. I HAD TO WAIT FOR PHONE CALL. WITH THOSE PHONE CALLS, IT TOOK SIX DAYS BEFORE I HEARD FROM CHIEF MARKHAM. SPEAKING TO HIM, I WASN'T GOING TO PUT THIS IN HERE, BUT IT WASN'T ONE OF MY PROUDEST MOMENTS. I LITERALLY BROKE DOWN, SPEAKING TO CHIEF MARKHAM. I HAD BEEN SO STRESSED FOR THOSE SIX DAYS, NO SLEEPING, NO EATING, AND FEELING LIKE I'M JUST UP AGAINST A WALL, AND NOBODY IS LISTENING TO WHAT'S GOING ON. ALL OF A SUDDEN, I'M JUST HUNG OUT TO DRY. NOW I'M LABELED A CRIMINAL. I HAVE A CHARGE, WHICH I SHOULD NOT HAVE RECEIVED. ONE OF HIS RESPONSES WAS, IT'S ONLY A MISDEMEANOR. I GET IT'S ONLY A MISDEMEANOR, BUT EVEN A PETTY MISDEMEANOR. I DON'T WANT THAT ON MY RECORD. I'VE HAD A CLEAN RECORD MY WHOLE LIFE. LET'S SEE. I DO BELIEVE I WAS BEING TREATED THIS WAY BECAUSE I HAD SUBMITTED A WRITTEN COMPLAINT ON HOW THEY HANDLED THE ENTIRE SITUATION INITIALLY, AND I FEEL LIKE THEY WERE MAKING IT KNOWN THAT THEY WERE NOT HAPPY ABOUT THAT COMPLAINT. BECAUSE A DAY AFTER THE INCIDENT, I HAD FOUND A THIRD-PARTY WITNESS WHILE SEARCHING UP DOWN THE BLOCK, TRYING TO FIND SOMEONE WITH A RING CAMERA, AND SURE ENOUGH, I FOUND SOMEONE WITH A RING CAMERA, SPOKE WITH THE WOMAN, AND THAT RING CAMERA WAS EXACTLY IN THE LOCATION WHERE I TOLD OFFICER YANG WHERE I ALMOST GOT RUN DOWN BY THIS CAR. ALL HE HAD TO DO WAS WALK THREE HOUSES DOWN AND SEE THAT RED BULL CAN, AND SHE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE CAME OUT BECAUSE SHE TOLD ME WHEN I MET HER, SHE WAS AFRAID TO COME DOWN BECAUSE TOO MANY POLICE OFFICERS DOWN BY MCKENNA AND WAS AFRAID TO COME DOWN, THERE WASN'T SURE IF SHE SHOULD, SO SHE JUST DID NOT COME DOWN. IF THE OFFICER WOULD HAVE WALKED OVER, DID JUST A LITTLE BIT OF INVESTIGATING, SAW THE RED BULL CAN WHERE I SAID I HAD TO DROP IT TO PICK UP MY DOG, IT WAS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THAT HOUSE. HE WOULD HAVE GOT THE THIRD-PARTY WITNESS RIGHT THERE, AND IT'D BE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT OUTCOME, I BELIEVE, BUT THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. BUT SHE WAS REALLY NICE AND SHE GAVE ME A VIDEO. IT WASN'T ON HER RING CAM. SHE ACTUALLY SAW IT HAPPENING, SO SHE STARTED RECORDING ON HER PHONE AND CAUGHT NOT ALL OF THAT, BUT SHE CAUGHT QUITE A BIT OF IT WITH THE CAR BACKING UP INTO ME. I'M ON THE PHONE WITH 911. THEY'RE ASKING FOR THE PLATE NUMBER. THERE'S NO PLATE ON THE FRONT. I'M TRYING TO GO BACK, HE'S BACKING INTO ME. I'M TRYING TO GO BACK ON THE FRONT TO GET AWAY FROM HIM, SO I'M LIKE BACK AND FORTH BACK AND FORTH, TRYING NOT TO GET HIT. I'M DODGING HIM WHILE I'M HOLDING MY DOG AND TRYING TO GET AWAY FROM HIM WHILE I'M TRYING TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. THAT'S A LOT OF CHAOS AND YOUR MIND DOES NOT PROCESS EVERYTHING QUICKLY ENOUGH TO GET OUT OF THE WAY. YES, WAS I IN THE STREET? OF COURSE, I WAS IN THE STREET TRYING TO GET AWAY FROM HIM. BUT I GOT THAT VIDEO OVER TO CAPTAIN URBANIAK, I GUESS I PRONOUNCE IT. SHE LOOKED IT OVER, AND HER WRIST REPLY WAS BASICALLY JUST MINIMIZED THE VIDEO AND SAID THAT I PUT MYSELF IN HARMS WAY. THAT I WAS THE ONE THAT PUT MYSELF IN HARMS WAY. TO SAVE THIS GUY FROM BEING RUN OVER, I PUT MYSELF IN HARMS WAY. I WOULD TAKE A BULLET FOR THIS GUY. THEY REFUSED TO DO ANY INVESTIGATION WITH THAT. LET'S SEE. THEY ALSO REFUSED TO INVESTIGATE THE THIRD-PARTY WITNESS. STILL, THIS IS I TALKED TO HER AT THE SCENE, NO INVESTIGATION OF THE WITNESS. I GUESS THEY DIDN'T KNOW IF THEY WERE WALKED OVER, THEY WOULD HAVE KNOWN. SATURDAY, NOTHING. I TALKED ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY, I TALKED TO THE CAPTAIN, NOTHING. IT WASN'T UNTIL I EMAILED THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL THAT THEY FINALLY SENT AN OFFICER OVER TO EMAIL THAT THIRD-PARTY WITNESS. ONCE THEY INTERVIEWED THAT THIRD-PARTY WITNESS, THE TAKE THAT THAT OFFICER GOT AND PUT INTO THE POLICE REPORT WAS, DEAN WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. THAT WAS THE TAKE ON WHAT ALL TRANSPIRED. NOT THAT THERE WAS A DOG BEING RUN OVER, OR POTENTIALLY RUN OVER, NOT THAT I WAS TRYING TO GET A PLATE, TRYING TO GET AROUND THE BACK. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. REGARDLESS, LET'S JUST SAY I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET, THAT DOESN'T GIVE ANYBODY A RIGHT TO MOW YOU DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET AND YOUR DOG. IF YOU SAW THE VIDEO, WE CLEARLY SEE THE DOG IS ON THE SIDE OF THE STREET, [00:30:04] I'M ON THE SIDE OF THE STREET, AND THE CAR IS ON THE SIDE OF THE STREET. ALL THESE PIECES ARE ALL THERE THAT IT'S JUST A NO-BRAINER TO ME. I'LL REITERATE, I'VE NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES WITH THE POLICE. I HONESTLY BELIEVE IT'S ONLY BECAUSE I QUESTIONED THEIR TACTICS AND THEIR LACK OF INVESTIGATING THAT I NOW HAVE THIS DISORDERLY CONDUCT CHARGE, WHICH, BY THE WAY, IS GOING TO COST ME A MINIMUM WITH ALL THE ATTORNEYS I'VE CALLED, A MINIMUM OF $3,500 TO HIRE AN ATTORNEY, AND EVEN AT THAT, THEY'RE NOT GUARANTEEING THAT, THAT CHARGE WON'T STICK. I COULD PAY 3,500 PLUS AND STILL HAVE THE CHARGE ON MY RECORD, WHICH I DID NOT DESERVE 100%. I WOULDN'T BE GOING THROUGH ALL OF THIS IF I REALLY BELIEVED I WAS GUILTY, I WOULD NOT WALK UP AND DOWN THE STREET LOOKING FOR A RING CAM. I WOULD NOT CONTACT THE POLICE REPEATEDLY FOR FEAR OF, ARE THEY GOING TO FIND SOME MORE INFORMATION ON IT THAT'S GOING TO WHATEVER, MAKE ME LOOK BAD. I WENT ALL OUT. I WANT EVERYTHING. I EVEN POINTED OUT THE FACT THAT WHERE IT FIRST HAPPENED, WHERE I TOLD THE GUY HE ALMOST HIT MY DOG WHEN HE'S PULLING INTO HIS DRIVEWAY. HE'S ALREADY OUT OF HIS CAR IN HIS DRIVEWAY. AT THAT POINT, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE. HE CHARGED ME, SOME WORDS WERE EXCHANGED. I'M A BLOCK AWAY, AND HE COMES CHASING AFTER ME. THIS IS AFTER THIS HAPPENED A BLOCK AWAY, HE STILL WOULD NOT LET IT GO. THERE'S A CAMERA RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIS HOUSE. IF HE REALLY SAID THAT I'M DOING THESE THINGS TO HIM, THERE'S A CAMERA ON HIS HOUSE. HE COULD HAVE EASILY SENT THAT INFORMATION TO THE POLICE, AND THERE YOU GO. I'M THE GUILTY GUY. YOU WON'T FIND ME GUILTY ON THAT CAMERA. AGAIN, I GOT ALL THAT THAT I'M DEALING WITH. NOW ON TOP OF ALL OF IT, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING ZERO PROTECTION FROM THE POLICE BECAUSE I CERTAINLY NOT PROTECTED IN THIS CASE HERE. I EVEN CALLED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ASKED, HOW DO I PROTECT MYSELF ON MY WALKS? I'VE BEEN WALKING THAT SAME ROUTE FOR 27 YEARS, WHETHER IT WAS WHEN MY DAUGHTER WAS A BABY AND A STROLLER, THE DIFFERENT DOGS WE'VE HAD WHILE WE'VE LIVED THERE. TWENTY-SEVEN YEARS WALKING INTO MY COUNTERPART, I NEVER HAD AN INCIDENT. I WAS TOLD, "YOU HAVE TO FIND A DIFFERENT ROUTE." I SAID, THAT'S NOT GOING TO WORK FOR ME. I HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO TAKE THIS ROUTE. I SHOULD FEEL SAFE TAKING THE ROUTE. AT THAT POINT, I WAS TOLD THAT, WELL, IF YOU TAKE IT, YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN. AGAIN, I SAID THAT'S NOT RIGHT. I LEFT AT THAT. THEN THAT'S WHEN I ENDED UP GETTING HOLD OF MARKHAM. MARKHAM GOT A HOLD OF ME. WE GOT A CHAT. I THINK BECAUSE I BROKE DOWN, I'M JUST LOST, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, THIS AND THAT, HE SUGGESTED MAYBE BUY A BODY CAM, WHICH I DID. BUT KEEP IN MIND, I'M PROBABLY THE ONLY ONE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS THAT HAS TO STRAP ON A BODY CAM TO TAKE MY DOG FOR A WALK, WHICH AGAIN, SOUNDS OUTRAGEOUS TO ANYBODY. I THINK RESIDENTS SEEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN TO ANY ONE OF THEM. ALL IT TAKES IS THE OTHER PARTY CAN JUST SAY HE CALLED ME A NAME OR HE YELLED AT ME, AND AS SOON AS THE OTHER PARTY SAYS ANYTHING, IT'S AUTOMATICALLY YOU BOTH GET DISORDERLY CONDUCT. THAT'S WHAT I WAS TOLD. THAT YOU EITHER BOTH DROP IT OR YOU BOTH GET DISORDERLY. I WAS NOT GOING TO DROP IT BECAUSE THIS WAS A MORE SERIOUS CHARGE, WHAT HE DID. HE TRIED TO RUN ME OVER, TRIED TO RUN MY DOG OVER. THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A MORE SERIOUS CHARGE, BUT INSTEAD, WE BOTH GOT DISORDERLY CONDUCT. >> THE OTHER THING I BELIEVE IS THAT, REITERATE, THERE NEEDS TO BE A THIRD PARTY TO VET THESE COMPLAINTS. BECAUSE THE WAY IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, I HAVE TO ASK THE SAME PEOPLE THAT I LODGED THE COMPLAINT AGAINST TO INVESTIGATE THAT SAID COMPLAINT. IT'S OBVIOUSLY GOING TO BE ONE-SIDED, IT'LL ALWAYS BE ONE-SIDED. YOU'RE INVESTIGATING THE COMPLAINT THAT'S BEING MADE ON YOU, CHANCES ARE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO INCRIMINATE YOURSELF, YOU ALL YOU'RE RIGHT. >> WELL, THANK YOU, DEAN, FOR COMING IN. IF YOU HAVE ANY SUMMARY REMARKS. >> I THINK THAT PRETTY MUCH COVERS IT ALL. [00:35:02] I JUST WANT TO ALSO ADD THAT THREE DAYS LATER, I HAD TO CALL THE POLICE AGAIN BECAUSE THIS GUY DIES BY ME, HE JUMPS OUT OF HIS CAR, STARTS INTIMIDATING ME, STARTS FILMING ME, HE'S HARASSING ME. I CALLED THE POLICE AND I TOLD THEM WHAT WAS GOING ON. THEY WENT AND TALKED TO HIM. MY FOLLOW UP CALL WAS, WELL, HE SAID YOU DID IT TO HIM. THERE WE GO. AGAIN, HE SAID I DID SOMETHING TO HIM, SO NOTHING HAPPENS TO HIM. THIS GUY, WHATEVER HE DOES, YOU CAN ALWAYS SAY, WELL, THE OTHER GUY DID IT TO ME, AND YOU'LL ALWAYS GET OFF. IF THE POLICE WOULD HAVE DONE SOME DIGGING, THIS GUY HAS CONVICTIONS FOR VIOLENT ASSAULTS RIGHT HERE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS. >> DEAN, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO MOVE ON TO JUST SAY THAT, AS COUNCIL, THIS IS SOMETHING I KNOW YOU WERE TOLD THAT WE JUST CAN'T RESPOND ON THESE THINGS. OUR ROLE AS COUNCIL AND AS MAYOR IS NOT TO GET INVOLVED IN CIVIL MATTERS. I'LL LET OUR CITY MANAGER EXPLAIN IT MORE. BUT I READ YOUR EMAILS, AND MY JOB IS TO BE INFORMED AND TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S MOVED ON AND MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE FOLLOWING UP AS THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO. I DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND HOW STRESSFUL THIS HAS BEEN. BUT IN OUR ROLE AS COUNCIL AND AS MAYOR THOUGH, WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY THAT ONLY GOES SO FAR, AND SO I'M JUST GOING TO SAY THAT TO YOU, AND I'M SORRY THAT YOU'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH SO MUCH, BUT THEN I HAVE TO PUT THE RESPONSIBILITY OVER ONTO THE CITY MANAGER AND OUR CITY ATTORNEY. >> AGAIN, IT BOILS DOWN TO THAT NOTHING IS GOING TO BE DONE. >> WELL, I'M GOING TO LET THE CITY MANAGER ACTUALLY RESPOND RIGHT NOW. >> MR. BEYER, THANK YOU FOR COMING IN. JUST A BRIEF STATEMENT. THIS ISN'T A PLACE WHERE WE CAN DISCUSS OPEN, PENDING CRIMINAL MATTERS. WE HAVE TO FOLLOW DUE PROCESS, PROCEDURES SET FORTH IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. COUNCIL HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THAT. THERE'S OTHER PARTIES THAT HAVE A STORY TO TELL, AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ALLOWS FOR THAT TO TAKE PLACE THROUGH DUE PROCESS. WE REALLY HAVE TO LEAVE IT AT THAT IN THE OPEN FORUM SETTING. THERE'S NO FURTHER COMMENT FROM THE CITY. >> I GO TAKE CARE OF THIS IN THE COURT WITH ANOKA COUNTY, AND THAT'S THE END OF IT. >> THAT'S CORRECT. THIRD-PARTY INVESTIGATION REALLY IS THAT COURT PROCESS. WE DO HAVE INTERNAL CHECKS AND BALANCES FOR CLAIMS AGAINST OFFICER CONDUCT THAT ARE REVIEWED THROUGH MY OFFICE IN CONCERT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY. IT IS AN ACTIVE INVESTIGATION ACROSS THE ENTIRE SPECTRUM. WE LOOK INTO THOSE COMPLAINTS AND TAKE THEM SERIOUSLY. IF THERE'S ANYTHING ACTIONABLE, WE DO TAKE ACTION. THERE ARE PROTECTIONS AND PROCESSES FOR STAFF AND OFFICERS THAT WE MUST ADHERE TO THAT ARE ALSO ENTITLED DUE PROCESS ON OUR END OF THE SYSTEM OUTSIDE OF THE COURTS. >> IT JUST SEEMS LIKE AN ODD WAY I'VE GOT TO LIVE NOW, THAT I NOW HAVE TO WEAR A BODY CAM WHEREVER I GO WITHIN THE CITY TO PROTECT MYSELF. >> I WILL SAY THAT, AT THAT COUNCIL FORUM, THIS IS A PLACE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO COME IN AND SHARE WITH THE COUNCIL, BUT IT ISN'T A PLACE WHERE WE CAN REALLY GIVE ADVICE OR EVEN ALWAYS RESPOND BECAUSE A LOT OF OUR COMMENTS AND STUFF, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ALL ADHERE TO WHAT OUR STANDARDS ARE AT THE CITY. JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, THIS FORUM IS A PLACE TO SPEAK, IT'S A PUBLIC RECORD, BUT IT ISN'T A PLACE WHERE WE CAN, I GUESS, RESPOND, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE IS EMPLOYER-EMPLOYEE RELATIONSHIPS, IF THAT MAKES MORE SENSE. THIS ISN'T THE PLACE WE CAN DO THAT, AND THEN ONCE THERE IS ANY CIVIL MATTER, WE CAN'T GET INVOLVED IN THAT AND ACROSS THE CITY. THERE'S MANY DIFFERENT WAYS, THAT ONCE THERE'S CIVIL CASES HAPPENING, THE COUNCIL MAY NOT GET INVOLVED ANYMORE. >> THIS IS GOING TO BE A CRIMINAL CASE ABOUT THIS CASE. >> CRIMINAL AND CIVIL THOUGH, CIVIL CASES WE ALSO CAN'T GET INVOLVED IN. >> I'M NOT EXPECTING AN ANSWER TO TODAY. >> WE DID HEAR YOU THOUGH, SO I GUESS THAT'S WHAT THIS FORUM IS FOR, IS FOR US TO HEAR YOU AND MAKE IT A PUBLIC RECORD. >> I HOPE THAT EVERYBODY THAT HEARD ME UNDERSTANDS WHAT I'M SAYING, AND THAT EVEN THOUGH YOU CAN'T TALK TO ME, AND THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW, [00:40:02] I JUST HOPE BEHIND THE SCENES YOU GUYS AT LEAST GET TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT IT AND TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU FEEL ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON, AND MAYBE THERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU CAN DO DIFFERENTLY SO THAT NO ONE ELSE HAS TO GO DOWN THIS PATH THAT I'M GOING DOWN, BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I'M IN AN UPSIDE DOWN WORLD. CALL THE POLICE, THEY'RE THERE, AND THEN HE DECIDES TO CALL RIGHT AFTER I CALL, AND NOW WE'RE BOTH GUILTY. >> IT IS OUR HIGHEST GOAL OF THIS FORUM, IS TO HEAR YOU, AND THEN WE DO TAKE IT THE NEXT STEP AS WE CAN. I CAN SAY THAT WE ARE LISTENING. >> I APPRECIATE IT. IF THERE IS ANY KIND OF A FOLLOW UP AFTER YOU GUYS SPEAK. >> FOR THIS THERE WON'T BE BECAUSE THIS IS A DIFFERENT MATTER. I'M JUST SAYING THAT THERE MAY BE CONVERSATIONS, BUT IT WILL NOT BE IN THIS VEIN. I GUESS I DON'T WANT TO TIE THINGS UP. >> IT WON'T BE ADDRESSED IN THIS MEETING, CERTAINLY, IF THAT'S THE QUESTION. >> YES. IT WON'T BE ADDRESSED IN THIS MEETING. >> BUT I WILL GET SOME KIND OF FOLLOW UP FROM YOU OR SOMEONE? >> MR. BEYER, IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS SPECIFICALLY, I'D BE HAPPY TO SET UP A PHONE CALL OUTSIDE OF THE MEETING, OR WE CAN GET TOGETHER HERE AT CITY HALL AND DISCUSS WHAT WE CAN DO, NEXT STEPS, AND WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON THROUGH THE PROCESS WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT IT WILL BE LIMITED BECAUSE OF THE ACTIVE PENDING CRIMINAL MATTER. BUT JUST PROCESSES, PROCEDURES RELATED TO PERSONNEL, COMPLAINTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, WE COULD DISCUSS FURTHER. >> I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR COMING IN. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? NO? ALL RIGHT THEN. THANK YOU. THEN WE WILL CLOSE OUR COMMUNITY FORUM AND MOVE ON TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA. [CONSENT AGENDA] THESE ITEMS ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ROUTINE BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND WILL BE ENACTED AS PART OF THE CONSENT AGENDA BY ONE MOTION. ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA APPROVAL WILL BE TAKEN UP AS A NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR ITEMS THAT'D LIKE TO BE DISCUSSED BEFORE THE CITY MANAGER TAKES US THROUGH THEM, AND SEEING IS NOT THEN? >> MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THANK YOU. THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR OUR FIRST MEETING OF 2025 IS FAIRLY LENGTHY. WE HAVE A BIT OF PENT-UP DEMAND HAVING NOT MET SINCE MID-DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR. BEAR WITH ME, I'VE GOT SOME ADDITIONAL NOTES ON SOME OF THESE, AND SOME OF THEM, AS YOU KNOW, HAVE HAD SOME SLIGHT CHANGES PER THE AMENDED AGENDA, SOME MINOR ADJUSTMENTS CLERICAL THAT I'LL GO THROUGH, AND THEN ALSO I'LL ASK THE POLICE CHIEF TO CONTRIBUTE TO SOME OF THE ITEMS AS WELL. WITH THAT, ITEM 1 IS APPROVAL OF THE DECEMBER 9TH, 2024 CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES. ITEM 2 IS APPROVAL OF THE JANUARY 6TH, CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING MINUTES. ITEM 3 IS ACCEPTANCE OF THE DECEMBER 4TH, 2024 LIBRARY BOARD MINUTES. ITEM 4 IS ACCEPTANCE OF THE JULY 18TH, 2024 CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES. ITEM 5 IS ACCEPTANCE OF THE DECEMBER 2ND, 2024 REGULAR EDA MEETING MINUTES. ITEM 6 IS ACCEPTANCE OF THE CITY MANAGER'S SIX-MONTH PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL. ITEM 7 IS DESIGNATION OF THE CITY'S LEGAL NEWSPAPER FOR 2025, WHICH IS THE LIFE. ITEM 8 IS CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION 2025-01, WHICH IS DESIGNATING THE CITY'S OFFICIAL DEPOSITORIES, SO DESIGNATING THE BANKS WHERE WE WILL TRANSACT BUSINESS WITH AND ALSO THE INVESTMENT FUNDS FOR THE YEAR. ITEM 9 IS CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION 2025-02, WHICH IS ACCEPTING CERTAIN DONATIONS RECEIVED BY THE CITY IN 2024. THIS IS ONE OF OUR AMENDED ITEMS. IN THE FIRST DRAFT OF THE AGENDA, WE MISSED A LIBRARY FOUNDATION DONATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $29,086 THAT IS PART OF THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO THE CITY'S PAVING OF THE VACANT LOT OUTSIDE OF THE LIBRARY. OTHER INITIATIVES THAT ARE INCLUDED IN DONATIONS ARE COMMUNITY EVENTS WHERE WE RECEIVED DONATIONS, POLICE AND FIRE EQUIPMENT, DOLLARS THAT WERE RECEIVED, RECREATION PROGRAMS, AND THEN OTHER LIBRARY FUNDS. ITEM 10, THERE WAS ALSO A CHANGE TO THIS ITEM, IS RESOLUTION 2025-03, WHICH IS DESIGNATING THE CITY COUNCIL LIAISON AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND APPOINTMENTS FOR THE YEAR. THERE WAS AN AIR. WE HAD [00:45:02] COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES IS SUPPOSED TO BE ASSIGNED TO THE ANOKA COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION COUNCIL. THAT CHANGE HAS BEEN REFLECTED IN THE UPDATED PACKET. ALSO, WORTH NOTING, COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES HAS ALSO BEEN NOMINATED FOR PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL THIS YEAR. THE OTHER APPOINTMENTS TO EXTERNAL BOARDS AND THE CITY'S BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ARE LISTED IN THE RESOLUTION. MADAM MAYOR, DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT HERE AS WELL? >> YEAH. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT AT THE JANUARY WORK SESSION IS WHEN WE DECIDE AND TALK ABOUT IF WE WANT TO SWITCH OUR ROLES TO BE LIAISONS TO DIFFERENT COMMISSIONS AND BOARDS, AND I'M JUST REALLY EXCITED TO SWITCH OUR ASSIGNMENTS, AND I'LL BE JOINING THE LIBRARY BOARD AND I JUST THINK IT'S GREAT THAT WE HAVE SO MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ARE PART OF THESE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, AND THAT WE GET TO HAVE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET WITH THEM AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WORK THEY'RE DOING. >> THANK YOU. AS FOR THE CITY'S COMMISSIONS, STAY TUNED, THE APPLICATIONS WILL BE OPEN FOR OPEN POSITIONS ON THE CITY'S BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS STARTING IN EARLY FEBRUARY. THERE'LL BE MORE COMMENTS ON THAT IN THE NEXT FEW MEETINGS. ITEM 11 IS ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION 2025-04, WHICH IS APPROVING THE CITY COUNCIL'S HANDBOOK FOR THE YEAR. SOME MINOR CHANGES WERE MADE AT THE LAST WORK SESSION, CLEANING UP THAT DOCUMENT, REMOVING OBSOLETE ITEMS, AND UPDATING THE FORMATTING. ITEM 12 IS ESTABLISHING THE INCOME ELIGIBILITY LIMIT FOR THE 2025 SPECIAL ASSESSMENT HARDSHIP DEFERRAL PROGRAM FOR SENIOR CITIZENS AND THOSE THAT ARE RETIRED AND DISABLED. A PROGRAM WHERE IF THERE'S AN ASSESSED PROJECT IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND YOU HAVE THIS HARDSHIP, YOU CAN APPLY AND HAVE 50% OF THAT ASSESSMENT DEFERRED OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. DETAILS ARE IN THE RESOLUTION, BUT THIS RESOLUTION IS ONLY UPDATING THE INCOME LIMIT TO BE CONSISTENT FOR 2025, NO OTHER CHANGES TO THE PROGRAM. ITEM 13 IS THE AWARD OF A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT FOR THE ALLEY RECONSTRUCTION FOR THE 2025 CONCRETE ALLEY PROJECT. DUE TO SOME STAFFING STRAINS THAT WE HAVE IN THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO RELY ON AN OUTSIDE CONSULTING FIRM TO HELP US DESIGN THOSE ALLEY PROJECTS FOR THE YEAR. THAT CONTRACT IS BEING RECOMMENDED TO BE AWARDED TO BOLTON & MENK AS THE LOW RESPONSIBLE BIDDER. ITEM 14 IS APPROVAL OF THE PUBLIC WORKS BLANKET PURCHASE ORDER FOR ROUTINE ITEMS THAT ARE PURCHASED BY THE CITY'S PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT EVERY YEAR. IT'S CUSTOMARY TO MAKE THIS PO SET AT CERTAIN DOLLAR AMOUNTS SO THAT THEY CAN PURCHASE ITEMS BECAUSE THEY EXCEED THE CITY MANAGER SPENDING AUTHORITY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. ITEMS INCLUDED ARE DE-ICING, SALT, FUEL, BITUMINOUS FOR PATCHING, AND THEN WATER SERVICE REPAIR PARTS. ITEM 15 IS A MINOR SUBDIVISION OF LOT LINE ADJUSTMENT. THIS IS FOR TWO EDA-OWNED PROPERTIES AT 48, 27 AND 48, 33 UNIVERSITY AVENUE. TWO LOTS BEING COMBINED INTO ONE. WORTH NOTING, JUST A PLUG FOR THE CITY'S PLANNING DEPARTMENT, THIS IS NOW AN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS WHERE PREVIOUSLY IT WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE CITY COUNCIL, AND IT'S REALLY MORE OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE LEVEL REVIEW. WE'RE HAPPY TO SEE THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL APPLICATION BEING THAT OF THE CITY TO CONCLUDE ONE OF THESE. ITEM 16 IS ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION 2025-12, WHICH IS APPROVAL OF A LABOR AGREEMENT WITH THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY, MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES. COUNCIL NUMBER 5, LOCAL 496, WHICH REPRESENTS THE CITY SUPPORT STAFF. THAT AGREEMENT IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH PREVIOUSLY APPROVED CONTRACTS THAT WERE APPROVED IN 2024 AS FAR AS THAT IT COVERS A THREE-YEAR TERM THROUGH 2027. ITEM 17 IS APPROVAL OF THE LABOR AGREEMENT WITH THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF OPERATING ENGINEERS, LOCAL 49, THAT REPRESENTS FULL-TIME MAINTENANCE WORKERS, MECHANICS, AND FOUR PERSONS, COMMONLY KNOWN AS PUBLIC WORKS WITHIN THE CITY. THAT'S A THREE-YEAR CONTRACT AS WELL. ITEM 18 IS APPROVAL OF THE LABOR AGREEMENT WITH THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIREFIGHTERS, LOCAL 1216, REPRESENTING THE CITY'S FULL-TIME FIREFIGHTERS, AND AGAIN, CONSISTENT WITH A THREE-YEAR TERM. I JUST WANT TO THANK THE CITY ATTORNEY, HR DIRECTOR, AND ALL THE BARGAINING UNITS FOR COMPLETING THESE NEGOTIATIONS EARLY IN THE YEAR. THERE'S A FEW CONTRACTS REMAINING. THE MANAGERS ASSOCIATION, POLICE SERGEANTS, AND POLICE CAPTAINS HAVE ALSO NOTIFIED THE CITY OF THEIR INTENT TO UNIONIZE AS WELL. WE HAVE SOME MORE THAT WE'LL BE TAKING THROUGH THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. ITEM 19, DON'T WANT TO LOSE TRACK, AUTHORIZATION FOR THE CITY TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO ANOKA COUNTY AS PART OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM. [00:50:01] THE GRANT WOULD BE GOING TO PAY FOR ITEMS RELATED TO THE SPORT COURT INSTALLATION THAT'S ANTICIPATED AT SYLVAN LAKE PARK IN 2025. THE GRANT APPLICATION IN YOUR PACKET REFLECTS A LOWER AMOUNT THAN WHAT'S BEING SOUGHT. STAFF HAVE BEEN RECOMMENDED BY THE COUNTY TO INCREASE THE REQUEST TO $260,000 BECAUSE OF ADDITIONAL AVAILABLE FUNDS, SO THAT AMOUNT WILL BE INCREASED TO THAT. ITEM 20 IS APPROVAL OF POLICE DEPARTMENT, PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF AXON SQUAD VIDEO CAMERAS, AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO THE POLICE CHIEF FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS ITEM AND POTENTIALLY THE NEXT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, CHIEF. I'M GLAD YOU COULD COME IN AND SHARE A BIT MORE ABOUT THIS CONSENT AGENDA ITEM. >> MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, GOOD EVENING. WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE BEFORE YOU IS A FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT FOR AXON. >> THAT WILL PROVIDE DASH CAM AND ALSO CAMERA OVER THE PRISONER BACK SEAT OF THE SQUAD CARS. THAT'LL INTEGRATE WITH OUR BODY WORN CAMERA SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE NOW. WE HAVE NOT HAD BODY OR DASH CAMS FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS. WE HAD THEM IN THE SQUADS, WE GAVE THEM UP TO BE ABLE TO PURCHASE BODY CAMERAS ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO. WE'RE LOOKING TO MOVE FORWARD AND HAVE BODY CAMERAS AND DASH CAMS AND CAMERAS INSIDE THE BACK SEAT OF THE SQUAD CARS, AND THEY ALL INTEGRATE TOGETHER WITH STORAGE AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO ACCESS THAT. THAT'LL IMPROVE EVIDENCE AT SCENES, IT'LL IMPROVE ACCOUNTABILITY AND FOLLOW UP INVESTIGATIONS, AND THINGS LIKE THAT. >> THANK YOU. JUST TO CLARIFY, WE DO HAVE BODY CAMS AND THESE ARE DASH CAMS THAT WE'RE ADDING IN. >> CORRECT. >> YES. ADDING BACK INTO OUR FLEET? >> CORRECT. >> YES. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL? THANK YOU. YOU MIGHT WANT TO JUST WAIT UP FOR THE NEXT ITEM. >> CHIEF, JUST BRIEFLY, ITEM 21 IS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S PURCHASE AND OUTFIT OF POLICE VEHICLES FOR 2025. IT'S TWO SQUAD EXPLORERS AND ONE FULLY ELECTRIC FORD MUSTANG, AND ALSO THE ACCESSORY EQUIPMENT THAT GOES INTO BUILDING THEM OUT FOR POLICE USE. >> CORRECT. THAT WOULD BE THE SAME CAPITAL BUDGET THAT WAS PRESENTED TO COUNCIL THAT WAS VOTED ON, IN DECEMBER. THIS WOULD BE JUST YOUR APPROVAL TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE THAT PURCHASE NOW. >> GREAT, THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> ITEM 22 ARE THE RENTAL OCCUPANCY LICENSES FOR APPROVAL. ITEM 23 IS THE CITY'S LICENSE AGENDA. ITEM 24 IS REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE BILLS AND IN THIS CASE, IN THIS PERIOD IT TOTALS $2,546,000 AND $0.54. MADAM MAYOR? >> THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR THE COUNCIL FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA? SAYING IS NONE. THEN ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. >> SORRY. [LAUGHTER] I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED. >> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED. >> SECOND. >> THANK YOU. [LAUGHTER] MOTION BY COUNCIL JANINE AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS. ANY DISCUSSION? SAYING IS NONE, THEN ALL IN FAVOR NOW, SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU. [PUBLIC HEARINGS] NEXT, WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 25, THE FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 1709, AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 9, LAND USE 9.104, ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT, 9.106 GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS, 9.107 SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS, 9.110 COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS, AND 9.111 INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS. OUR CITY PLANNER, ANDREW BOUCHER WILL TAKE US THROUGH THIS. >> THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. CITY COUNCIL TONIGHT BEFORE YOU, YOU HAVE A SERIES OF ZONING TEXT AMENDMENTS. IT'S PART OF KIND OF AN EFFORT BY THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO CONTINUALLY ENGAGE THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND JUST TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ZONING CODE CONTINUES TO JUST OFFER THE FLEXIBILITY IT NEEDS FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE LAND USE. AS MADAM MAYOR MENTIONED BEFORE, THERE ARE FIVE SECTIONS THAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO AMEND, 9.104, 9.106, 9.107, 9.110, AND 9.111. I'LL GO OVER THESE, STILL IN A LITTLE MORE DETAIL. THERE ARE FIVE TOTAL PROPOSED AMENDMENTS. THE FIRST IS AMENDING 9.104 ADMINISTRATION ENFORCEMENT. PREVIOUSLY, WE HAD INTERIM USES BUT IN ONE OF OUR PREVIOUS ZONING TEXT AMENDMENTS, WE ELIMINATED THOSE ESSENTIALLY MAKING THOSE PERMIT ACCESSORY USES. WE'RE PROPOSING TO REVISE THE INTERIM USE LANGUAGE. [00:55:02] IT'S NO LONGER APPLICABLE TO A ZONING REVIEW PERMIT, INCLUDE A SERIES OF SEVERAL ITEMS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE REQUIRE PUBLIC HEARINGS, PLAN COMMISSION APPROVAL, CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL, OR OTHERWISE WOULDN'T BE REVIEWED BY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. THESE USES INCLUDE OVERHEIGHT FENCES IN RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS FENCES OVER SIX FEET IN HEIGHT, COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS, THAT'S OVER SEVEN FEET IN HEIGHT. SEASONAL SALES STANDS. PREVIOUSLY, FIREWORK TENT PERMITS WOULD REQUIRE AN INTERIM USE PERMIT. I KNOW THE PLANNING COMMISSION WAS GUTTED BY THAT REMOVAL OF THEIR AUTHORITY. BUT THOSE APPLICATIONS DON'T TYPICALLY CHANGE APART FROM UPDATED INSURANCE AND PRODUCT INVENTORIES. WE BASICALLY TRIED TO COMBINE ALL OF THE SEASONAL SALES LANGUAGES OR ALL THE TEMPORARY USE LANGUAGES, AND THEN PUT THEM UNDER ONE USE AND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS, SEASONAL SALES STANDS WHILE ALSO INCLUDING THE PROVISIONS THAT FIRE USES WHEN THEY REVIEW FIREWORKS TENTS. OTHER ITEMS ARE ACCESSORY STRUCTURES UNDER 200 SQUARE FEET. WE DON'T ISSUE ANY PERMITS FOR THOSE, BUT THOSE DO REQUIRE ZONING COMPLIANCE AND THEN PARKING AND IMPERVIOUS SURFACE ADDITIONS TO BE REVIEWED ADMINISTRATIVELY. WE DO HAVE A MAXIMUM IMPERVIOUS SURFACE AMOUNT FOR RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES. THIS GIVES STAFF THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THESE PROACTIVELY AND MAKE SURE THAT WHEN SOMEONE BUILD SOMETHING, WE'RE HOLDING THEM TO WHAT THEY SAID THEY WOULD BUILD AND HEADING THINGS OFF BEFORE WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THEM AS ENFORCEMENT ISSUES. THIS WILL ALSO ESTABLISH A PERMIT FOR ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS THAT CAME UP WHEN WE WERE PASSING THE ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT LANGUAGE. SPECIFICALLY, THIS JUST GIVES STAFF A COUPLE OF TOUCH POINTS TO ENSURE THAT THE OWNER OCCUPANCY RESTRICTION IS REQUIRED AGAINST THE PROPERTY AND THAT THE PROPERTY IS LICENSED AS A RENTAL. IF THEY'RE BUILDING AN ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT, SOMEBODY BESIDES THE OWNER IS INHABITING IT SO THAT REFLECTS THE NEED FOR A RENTAL LICENSE. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING FOR 9.104. JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT THAT APPLICATION LOOKS LIKE, WE REALLY TRIED TO MAKE IT SIMILAR TO OUR EXISTING ONES. WE WOULDN'T BE REQUIRING A SURVEY FOR SOME OF THIS STUFF, BUT IF WE'RE GETTING TO A POINT WHERE THEY'RE UP TO THE IMPERVIOUS SURFACE MAXIMUM, THAT'S WHEN A SURVEY WOULD LIKELY BE TRIGGERED SIMILAR TO OUR OTHER FORMS OF DEVELOPMENT. THE SECOND AMENDMENT IS PROPOSING TO AMEND 9.106, GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS TO REDUCE THE MINIMUM REQUIRED PARKING FOR TWO BEDROOM OR MORE DWELLING UNITS TO TWO SPACES PER UNIT WITH ONE OF THOSE SPACES BEING ENCLOSED. THIS CAME AS A RESULT OF THE WORKSHOP WE DID WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND JUST KIND OF THE DISCUSSION ON HOW CERTAIN REDEVELOPMENT PROJECTS OR RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS OF A CERTAIN SCALE TYPICALLY HAVE DIFFICULTY MEETING THAT STANDARD. IT HAS BEEN THE ROUTE TO DO THOSE AS PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENTS TO ALLEVIATE THEM FROM THAT PARTICULAR STANDARD. IN THAT DISCUSSION, WE CAME TO THE CONSENSUS THAT IF WE'RE CONTINUALLY HAVING TO WORK AROUND THAT STANDARD AND NOT ACTUALLY APPLYING IT, IT'S NOT A VERY EFFECTIVE STANDARD. JUST LOOKING AT SOME OF THE OTHER CITIES THAT WE WERE COMPARABLE TO, THAT SEEMED LIKE A REALLY SOLID INCREMENTAL WAY TO CHANGE THAT. WHAT I WANT TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO MORE SPECIFICALLY IS THE INCLUSION OF LANGUAGE TO E, CALCULATING SPACE TO ALLOW DIRECT "THE COUNCIL" AT ITS DISCRETION MAY REDUCE THE MINIMUM REQUIRED PARKING TO NOT LESS THAN 1.5 PARKING SPACES PER UNIT FOR MULTIFAMILY STRUCTURES WITH SEVEN OR MORE UNITS AFTER CONSIDERATION OF FACTORS. INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE PRESENT AND FUTURE AVAILABILITY OF TRANSIT SERVICES, SHARED PARKING, PEDESTRIAN ORIENTATION, AND OCCUPANCY CHARACTERISTICS. THIS WAS LANGUAGE THAT WE REALLY ADOPTED IN CONSIDERATION FROM LOOKING AT RIDGEFIELDS PARKING REQUIREMENT. I THINK THAT FIRM 1.5 PARKING SPACE IS A REALLY RIGID STANDARD THAT I FEEL LIKE ONCE YOU START DELVING INTO PERCENTAGES OR RATIOS, I THINK THERE CAN BE SOME DIFFICULTY IN APPLYING THAT CONSISTENTLY, SO 1.5 FEELS LIKE A REALLY GOOD STARTING POINT ON HOW TO REDUCE THAT. OTHER AMENDMENTS TO 9.106 INCLUDES SOME LANGUAGE ON [01:00:02] ADUS THAT OUR BUILDING OFFICIAL RECOMMENDED AS FAR AS THE MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM SPACE REQUIREMENT GOES, THAT SPACE CONTAIN HABITABLE SPACE BASED ON THE ADOPTED MINNESOTA BUILDING CODE SO THAT YOU DON'T USE SPACE THAT'S NOT ACTUALLY CONSIDERED LIVABLE OR HABITABLE IN THE CONSIDERATION OF THAT MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM ADA SIZE REQUIREMENT. ADDITIONALLY, 9.107 SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS IS TWEAKING TWO SPECIFIC USES, CAR WASHES AND RECREATIONAL VEHICLE SALES, THOSE WERE THE TWO REMAINING AUTO USES THAT DIDN'T HAVE THE MINIMUM OF A ONE ACRE REQUIREMENT FOR ANY NEW USES. THE OTHER ADDITION WOULD BE A REQUIREMENT OF A SOUND STUDY AS A SPECIFIC CONDITION FOR CAR WASHES. THAT WAS A SERIOUS POINT OF CONTENTION, AND JUST LOOKING AT OUR ZONING DISTRICTS AS A WHOLE. ALL OF OUR COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL PROPERTIES ARE LARGELY ABUTTING RESIDENTIAL. I THINK THAT, THIS JUST MADE SENSE BASED ON SOME OF THE FEEDBACK STAFF RECEIVED FROM PLAN COMMISSIONER, CITY COUNCIL, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS A WHOLE. THIS JUST FEELS LIKE A REASONABLE EXPECTATION TO SET AS ANY NEW ONES COME FORTH. 9.110 AND 9.111 CONTINUED THAT TREND AND CALLED BACK TO A PREVIOUS ITEM, WHICH IS JUST REMOVING THE FENCES GREATER THAN SIX FEET AND SEVEN FEET IN HEIGHT FROM CONDITIONAL USES TO PERMITTED ACCESSORY USES. THERE'S A DELIBERATE EFFORT, I'D SAY FROM STAFF AND THE DEPARTMENT AS A WHOLE IN REMOVING THINGS FROM CONDITIONAL USES THAT DON'T HAVE SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS. BASICALLY, CONDITIONS THAT THE COUNCIL OR PLANNING COMMISSION WOULD BE ABLE TO PUT ON THEM. THESE ARE LARGELY FOR FENCES OVER SIX FEET IN HEIGHT. ONCE IT HIT SEVEN FEET, THEY TYPICALLY REQUIRE A BUILDING PERMIT AND ENGINEERING TO MY UNDERSTANDING. THERE WOULD STILL BE OPPORTUNITIES TO REVIEW THESE, BUT I DON'T NECESSARILY THINK THAT THESE ARE ITEMS THAT YOU GUYS WOULD REALLY HAVE ANYTHING TO WEIGH ON BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS FOR THOSE. IT'S ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO CLEAN UP THAT SECTION OF CODE. THEN OTHER ADJUSTMENTS ARE TO GENERAL BUSINESS TO MOVE MINOR AUTOMOBILE AND MOTORCYCLE REPAIR AND CAR WASHES FROM PERMIT USES TO CONDITIONAL USES. AGAIN, THIS IS LARGELY JUST BASED ON OVERWHELMING FEEDBACK THAT WE'VE GOTTEN FROM RESIDENTS, COMMISSION MEMBERS, COUNCIL MEMBERS. THE OTHER CHANGE IS MOVING CONSIGNMENT AND SECOND HAND STORES FROM A CONDITIONAL USE TO A PERMIT USE. MY UNDERSTANDING IS PRIMARILY THE MAIN THING WE WOULD ENFORCE IS A DISTANCE RADIUS. IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE CAN WEIGH WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD. BUT IF THAT'S THE SOLE SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENT STANDARD, IT SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING THAT WE COULD HANDLE ADMINISTRATIVELY. THEN THE I2 AND I1 DISTRICTS, JUST CONTINUING THAT CONSISTENCY, MAJOR AND MINOR AUTOMOBILE REPAIR IS PROPOSED TO BE CHANGED FROM PERMITTED TO CONDITIONAL USES. AGAIN, IT'S JUST THAT BASED ON THE FEEDBACK THAT WE'VE HEARD IN THE GENERAL DIRECTION OF AUTO USES IN GENERAL. IT SEEMS LIKE THE CONSENSUS IS, BECAUSE OF THE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES THAT TYPICALLY ABOUT THESE DISTRICTS. WE REALLY WANTED TO GIVE THE COMMUNITY AN OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN WAYS THAT THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO, BASED ON HOW WE PREVIOUSLY STRUCTURED THINGS. LET ME JUST SEE IF I COVERED EVERYTHING. ONE OTHER REQUIREMENT TO 9.106 IS JUST PROVIDING AN OFF STREET PARKING REQUIREMENT FOR ADUS. WE DID, WHEN WE PASSED THE LANGUAGE, ALLOW FOR DRIVEWAYS OR PAVED SPACES TO BE USED AS SUITABLE OFF STREET PARKING FOR THE ADUS, BUT WE JUST DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING IN CODE SPECIFYING ANY SORT OF PARKING REQUIREMENT. THIS IS JUST THE ADDITION OF ONE OFF STREET PARKING SPACE. THEN I THINK THAT HELPS CONFORM TO THE LANGUAGE THAT THE ADU AND SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING PROVIDE ADEQUATE OFF STREET PARKING. THESE ZONING TEXT AMENDMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO REQUIRED FINDINGS PER 9.104, THAT THE AMENDMENT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, THAT THE AMENDMENT IS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST AND NOT SOLELY FOR THE BENEFIT OF A SINGLE PROPERTY OWNER. THEN NEITHER, NONE OF THESE AMENDMENTS ARE CHANGING THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION SO THREE AND FOUR, I DO NOT BELIEVE ARE APPLICABLE. WITH THAT IN MIND, [01:05:01] RAY TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND TAKE ANY COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS IF YOU GUYS HAVE THEM. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THERE'S A LOT OF CLEAN UP TO THESE ORDINANCES. [LAUGHTER] THEN WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING. IF THERE'S ANYONE HERE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, YOU CAN JUST LET US KNOW. >> THERE IS NO ONE ONLINE, AND NOBODY HAS ASKED YOU IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS. >> THANK YOU. WELL, FOR TRANSPARENCY, WE'LL JUST ASK ONE MORE TIME. IF ANYONE'S HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 25, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND YOU'RE ABLE TO SPEAK ON ANY OF THESE CHANGES AT THIS TIME. THEN HEARING IS NO ONE IS HERE TO SPEAK ON THIS, MAY I HAVE A MOTION THEN TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. >> MOVE TO CLOSE THE HEARING AND WAIVE THE READING OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 1709. THERE BE AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER DENEEN TO CLOSE THE HEARING. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING IS NOT THEN. >> ACTUALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A QUICK ONE. I JUST WANT TO THANK ANDREW AND THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION FOR ALL THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE LATELY IN GOING THROUGH THESE ZONING ORDINANCES AND REALLY TRYING TO CLEAN THEM UP AND MAKE THEM APPLICABLE TO WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY AND REALLY TAKING NON-COMMUNITY FEEDBACK BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF THAT THAT YOU GUYS HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH LATELY AND TO TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT AND REALLY SHOW THE PUBLIC THAT WE'RE LISTENING AND WE UNDERSTAND THEIR CONCERNS AND WE WANT TO MAKE MOVES IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. THEN, PERSONALLY, THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS. I HAD EARLIER TODAY. I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO WITH THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION. I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THESE, AND I'M READY TO MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> I'LL COMMENT AFTER WE VOTE ON CLOSING THE HEARING. >> YES. DO YOU WANT TO COMMENT NOW BEFORE WE CLOSE? >> WHEN WE CLOSE THE HEARING THEN YEAH. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNSELOR BUESGENS, A SECOND BY DENEEN TO CLOSE THE HEARING. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES, AND NOW WE HAVE A MOTION THEN TO SET THE SECOND READING. >> WHEN IS THE DISCUSSION? NOW? >> FIRST, WE'LL DO A MOTION AND A SECOND, AND THEN WE'LL DO DISCUSSION MOTION. >> MOVE TO SET THE SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE 1709 BEING AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 9 LAND USE, 9.04 ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT, 9.106 GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS, 9.107 SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS, 9.110 COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS, AND 9.111 INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS IN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS FOR JANUARY 27, 2025, AT APPROXIMATELY 6:00 PM. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES TO SET THE SECOND READING. ANY DISCUSSION OR COMMENTS? COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS. >> THANK YOU. SEVERAL THINGS. ONE, I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT CHANGING OR ADDING THIS ORDINANCE ABOUT SOUND STUDIES FOR CAR WASHES. THAT'S GREAT. I'M VERY EXCITED THAT WE'VE CAUGHT THE MINOR REPAIR THINGS FOR CHANGING THEM TO CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS BECAUSE THAT GIVES US SOME CONTROL AS FAR AS WHAT THEY'RE DOING, WHICH HASN'T BEEN DONE IN THE PAST. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR USING THE PLANNING COMMISSION DURING THEIR DOWNTIMES TO HAVE THEM BE A PART OF THE PROCESS OF UPDATING THE CODE. I KNOW THERE'S A TON STILL WE HAVE TO LOOK THROUGH. IT'S GREAT BECAUSE HAVING BEEN IN MY SHOES FOR A WHILE, THERE'S CERTAIN TIMES WHEN THINGS POP UP THAT WE DIDN'T CATCH SO WE HAVE TO CLEAN IT UP LATER. THERE'S LITTLE THINGS THAT PEOPLE MAY THINK IT'S DRY AND BORING, BUT THERE'S STUFF IN HERE THAT COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN MISSED. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WE'RE DEALING WITH IT LATER AS AN AFTERTHOUGHT. I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN DOING ON THIS. I KNOW IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS, AND COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES. I AGREE WITH BOTH COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES AND COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS, BUT I WANT TO SPEAK SPECIFICALLY ON THE FLEXIBILITY REGARDING THE PARKING MINIMUMS. I THINK THAT WE ARE STILL AS A CITY, WE ARE WORKING HARD, IN MY OPINION, TO MATCH THE NUMBER OF PARKING SPACES TO THE DEMAND, BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT THIS WILL GIVE US MORE FLEXIBILITY SO THAT WE DON'T JUST HAVE A RIGID MANDATE, AND WE CAN REALLY WORK ON WHAT IS NECESSARY FOR EACH DEVELOPMENT WITH THAT MINIMUM OF 1.5, BUT NOT JUST HAVE PARKING SPACES THAT ARE ADDING TO THE COST OF DEVELOPMENT, SO IT'S REDUCING HOW MANY UNITS WE CAN HAVE. THIS IS JUST DEFINITELY CREATING A MORE SUSTAINABLE, AFFORDABLE ENVIRONMENT AS TRANSIT IS MOVING FORWARD. I THINK THAT WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT EACH DEVELOPMENT INDIVIDUALLY TO SEE WHAT PARKING IS NEEDED. BUT I AM VERY THANKFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THOSE PARKING STANDARDS BECAUSE THAT WILL HELP US AS WE'RE MOVING FORWARD. >> IF I CAN JUST ADD REAL QUICK. >> SURE. >> SPECIAL RECOGNITION TO COUNCIL MEMBER DENEEN. [01:10:01] YOU AND SOME OF THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS BROUGHT FORTH SEVERAL ITEMS THAT I FEEL LIKE WE TOOK ACTION ON AND REALLY HELPED FOSTER THAT WHOLE CONTINUED MONTHLY MEETING AND SO I'M REALLY HAPPY TO SEE YOU ON COUNCIL, YOU'RE ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION STILL, BUT I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS. >> THANK YOU. IT IS REALLY A JOY TO BE ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION. IT REALLY IS SUCH A REWARDING THING TO WORK ON WITH THE CITY. ANDREW, YOU'VE BEEN SO GREAT TO LEAD THAT SINCE AARON'S DEPARTURE, AND REALLY ENJOYED IT, SO THANK YOU. >> COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS. >> A LOT OF MY COMMENTS ALREADY WERE SAID. I WON'T REPEAT THOSE, BUT I JUST WANTED TO PIGGYBACK OFF SPECIFICALLY WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES SAID ABOUT THE PARKING REQUIREMENTS. I THINK IT'S A UNIQUE SITUATION AS THE CITY BEING LANDLOCKED AND TRYING TO UTILIZE THE SPACE THAT WE HAVE. IT'S GIVING US MORE FLEXIBILITY TO USE THOSE IN SITUATIONS. WE DON'T KNOW, WE POP UP IN 10, 20, 30 YEARS. I THINK THIS IS A ONGOING THEME, I'VE SEEN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS OF CLEARING THROUGH OUR CODE, SEEING HOW WE CAN CLEAN THINGS UP AND MAKE THEM MORE UTILIZABLE IN OUR SITUATIONS THAT ARE COMING UP. THANK YOU. >> GREAT. I'LL JUST ADD, AGAIN, THANK YOU. BUT ALSO, JUST TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT A LOT OF THESE THINGS WE'RE LOOKING AHEAD, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE STAFF LOOKING AROUND WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING TO SEE HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE I'M MEETING THE NEED IN THE FUTURE, AS WHAT JUSTICE JUST SAID. ONE OF THE THINGS I CAN SAY IS THAT IN THE PAST, STAFF HAD NOTICED OR MAYBE COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS MIGHT HAVE BROUGHT IT TO STAFF'S ATTENTION. THIS WAS A WHILE AGO IS THAT I KNOW I HAD ASKED ABOUT IT. MY HUSBAND AND I WERE INTERESTED IN BREWERIES, AND WE REALIZED THAT COLUMBIA HEIGHTS WOULDN'T ALLOW A BREWERY OR A TAP ROOM BECAUSE THAT'S JUST WHAT WE HAD HAD ON THE BOOKS, AND STAFF TOOK IT UP AND THEY RESEARCHED IT AND SAID, IF WE EVER WANT A BREWERY TO COME HERE, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE IT'S ALLOWED. THAT WAS BEFORE ANYONE AND BEFORE A BUSINESS APPLIED FOR THAT CHANGE. I JUST REALLY WANT TO UPHOLD STAFF FOR HAVING THE INITIATIVE TO LOOK AHEAD TO NOT SO MUCH MEETING THE NEED TODAY, BUT HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE WE'RE READY FOR THE FUTURE OF WHAT THIS COMMUNITY CAN BENEFIT AND BECOME, SO THANK YOU. YES. GREAT. WELL, WE ALL HAD A COMMENT. NO QUESTIONS, THOUGH. BUT WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS, AND A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES TO SET THE SECOND READING. IF THERE'S NO MORE DISCUSSION THEN, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT READING ON JANUARY 27. THAT IS THE END OF OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR TONIGHT, SO NOW WE ARE AT OUR ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION, ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS. [ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION] ITEM NUMBER 26 IS THE CONSIDERATION OF RENTAL LICENSE EXEMPTIONS FOR THE FOLLOWING PROPERTIES, 1122 40TH AVENUE NORTHEAST, 1234 44TH AVENUE NORTHEAST, 1426 PARKVIEW LANE NORTHEAST, AND 3912 TYLER STREET NORTHEAST. AGAIN, OUR CITY PLANNER ANDREW BOUCHER, WILL TAKE US THROUGH THESE ITEMS. >> THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL. FIRST, I'M JUST GOING TO BRIEFLY GIVE MY STAFF REPORT ON THESE PROPERTIES AND THEN LET YOU HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT BEFORE WE TAKE QUESTIONS. BUT DECEMBER 18, 2024, ERIC GENTRY AND SCOTT FERGUS OF BRICK BY BRICK B3 REACHED OUT TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT BECAUSE IN SEPTEMBER 2024, THE APPLICANT TOOK OWNERSHIP OF 10 SINGLE-FAMILY PROPERTIES IN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, THROUGH A BULK ACQUISITION OF 345 VACANT AND OCCUPIED SINGLE-FAMILY RENTAL PROPERTIES IN THE SEVEN COUNTY METRO REGION FROM A NATIONAL PRIVATE EQUITY FUND THAT WAS FACING LEGAL ACTION FROM THE MINNESOTA ATTORNEY GENERAL. CEO SCOTT FERGUS, WHO, ALONG WITH ERIC ARE IN ATTENDANCE. BUT THEY DESCRIBE BRICK BY BRICK TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT AS A NONPROFIT CORPORATION WITH OFFICES IN MINNEAPOLIS AND A MISSION TO INCREASE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS A MEANS TO BUILD GENERATIONAL WEALTH FOR AREA RESIDENTS WITH AN EMPHASIS ON FAMILIES THAT ARE AT OR BELOW THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME, MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES AND FIRST-GENERATION HOME BUYERS. B3, THE NONPROFIT CORPORATION, BUILDS A COALITION OF LOCAL PARTNERS, BANKS, AND COMMUNITY LAND TRUST TO PRESERVE VACANT PROPERTIES AND CREATE AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES. THE ORGANIZATION FOCUSES ON CONNECTING TENANTS TO HOMEOWNERSHIP BY SELLING PROPERTIES THAT BECOME VOLUNTARILY VACANT AS AFFORDABLE OWNER-OCCUPIED HOUSING AND NOT RELEASING THESE. MR. FERGUS ALSO STATES THAT ONE OF THE KEY OUTCOMES DESIRED IS THAT NONE OF THE TENANTS ARE DISPLACED AS MOST OF THE TENANTS HAVE BEEN ON MONTH-TO-MONTH LEASES THAT WERE PROVIDED BY THE PRIOR LANDLORD. [01:15:02] THE COMPANY SEEKS TO OFFER ANNUAL LEASES TO TENANTS, IF DESIRED TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL STABILITY IN THEIR HOUSING CHOICE AND TIME TO WORK TOWARDS A SHARED GOAL OF HOME OWNERSHIP. STAFF DETERMINED THAT THE 10 PROPERTIES THAT WERE ACQUIRED WERE SUBJECT TO TIME OF SALE INSPECTIONS PRIOR TO THE TRANSFER OF THE PROPERTIES, AS WELL AS BEING SUBJECT TO THE SINGLE-FAMILY RENTAL DENSITY CAPS. THESE INCLUDE THE FOUR PROPERTIES THAT WERE ON THE AGENDA, AS WELL AS SIX OTHERS, 4205 JEFFERSON STREET, 4407 MADISON STREET, 4516 FIFTH STREET, 2221 FOREST DRIVE NORTHEAST, 4241 FOURTH STREET NORTHEAST, AND 4427 MONROE STREET NORTHEAST. STAFF HAS RECEIVED TIME AND SALE APPLICATIONS FOR ALL OF THESE. BECAUSE THEY'RE THE BUYER, THEY DON'T HAVE TO EXECUTE THE TIME SALE INSPECTION, AS THE RENTAL INSPECTION IS TYPICALLY MORE ROBUST, MAYBE IS THE WORD I'M LOOKING FOR, BUT IT'S MORE THOROUGH. WE DETERMINED THAT ALL 10 OF THESE WERE SUBJECT TO THE TIME OF SALE. SIX WERE ELIGIBLE FOR PERMANENT RENTAL APPLICATIONS. STAFF FELT IT WAS PRUDENT THAT WE IMMEDIATELY GET THOSE APPLICATIONS IN JUST TO ENSURE THAT THOSE RESIDENTS ARE NOT DISPLACED OR FACE ANY HARDSHIP. THERE WERE STILL FOUR PROPERTIES THAT WERE AT OR OVER THE SINGLE-FAMILY RENTAL DENSITY CAP. WE WORKED WITH THE APPLICANTS TO PUT TOGETHER THE EXEMPTION REQUEST THAT'S ATTACHED TO YOUR PACKET FOR THOSE FOUR PROPERTIES. AT THE TIME OF THIS REPORT, ALL SIX OF THE PROPERTIES LABELED, 5-10 HAVE COMPLETE APPLICATIONS FOR TIME OF SALE, AND THE INITIAL RENTAL INSPECTIONS SUBMITTED FEES FOR THE RENTAL INSPECTIONS PAID, AND THE INITIAL INSPECTION SCHEDULED WITH THE LATEST DATE BEING 1/15/2025. I BELIEVE THAT'S A WEDNESDAY. THE OTHER FOUR PROPERTIES, WE BASICALLY PROVIDED OPTIONS FOR HOW THE APPLICANTS COULD PROCEED. NUMBER ONE, IF THE PROPERTIES ARE SOLD, THEN EACH OF THE FOUR WILL REQUIRE COMPLETED TIME OF SALE APPLICATIONS, FEES, AND INSPECTIONS TO RECEIVE THE CERTIFICATE OF PROPERTY MAINTENANCE PRIOR TO THE PROPERTIES BEING TRANSFERRED. NUMBER TWO, THERE'S POTENTIAL FOR PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN B3, THE CITY, AND HABITAT FOR HUMANITY TO TURN THESE HOMES INTO AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, AS BOTH THE CITY AND B3 HAVE PRIOR PROJECT EXPERIENCE WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY. NUMBER THREE, WHICH IS THE OPTION WE'VE LANDED ON TODAY. IS REQUESTING THE RENTAL DENSITY EXEMPTION APPLICATION FOR CONSIDERATION BY CITY COUNCIL TO PURSUE TEMPORARY RENTAL LICENSING FOR ONE YEAR PERIOD, NOT TO EXCEED TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS FOR THE SAME PROPERTIES. ATTACHED IS THE LETTER THAT STAFF RECEIVED FROM THE APPLICANTS, AS WELL AS A PRESS RELEASE, GIVING SOME MORE INFORMATION ON B3 BRICK BY BRICK AND THE WORK THAT THEM AND ANOTHER NONPROFIT HAVE DONE TO DO SOMETHING THAT I DON'T KNOW THAT HAS BEEN DONE BEFORE. BUT I'VE GOT THE APPLICANT HERE IF YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR IF THERE'S ANY OTHER INFORMATION STAFF CAN PROVIDE. >> MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THE APPLICANTS CAN COME UP AND TALK. I JUST WANT TO ADD A COUPLE OF ITEMS OFF ON TOP OF WHAT ANDREW HAS ALREADY DONE A REALLY GREAT JOB OF CONDENSING THIS SITUATION THAT IS THE RENTAL EXEMPTIONS THAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US. JUST SOME SPECIFICATIONS. THE PREVIOUS OWNER WAS FORCED TO SELL BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, MINNESOTA, TWO AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING GROUPS OR TWO OF THOSE GROUPS. THAT'S HOW THEY CAME TO HAVE THESE PROPERTIES. SOME OF THE OTHER GROUPS THAT THEY HAVE PARTNERED WITH IN THE PAST ARE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, PROJECT FOR PRIDE, AND LIVING AND THE GREATER METRO HOUSING FOUNDATION. THEN I KNOW, JUST TO CLEAR UP THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CAG AND BRICK BY BRICK. CAG AND THEY CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, IS THE FUND THAT IS TECHNICALLY THE OWNER. THAT'S WHAT THEY USED TO PURCHASE THE PROPERTIES. BRICK BYBRICK IS THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT OPERATES THAT FUND, AND THAT EXPLAINS WHY THERE ARE MULTIPLE CAG AND DIFFERENT FUNDS FOR THE DIFFERENT PROPERTIES THAT THEY HAVE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. WITH THAT, I CAN DEFINITELY LET THEM TAKE OVER. STAFF HAVE HAD AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE WITH THEM. WE'VE WORKED ON A COUPLE OF OTHER PROPERTIES THAT HAVE HAD SOME OTHER RENTAL ISSUES PRIOR TO THEM TAKING OVER. THEY'VE BEEN EXTREMELY RESPONSIVE AND HAVE BEEN GREAT TO WORK WITH US FAR. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. >> THANK YOU. THANKS FOR ADDING THAT. MITCH AND ANDREW, THANKS FOR GOING THROUGH THIS ITEM NUMBER. ACTUALLY, I WOULD LOVE IF OUR GUESTS, I DON'T KNOW IF GUESTS IS THE RIGHT WORD. [01:20:02] WOULD LIKE TO COME AND SPEAK ON THIS ITEM AND SHARE A BIT MORE ABOUT BRICK BY BRICK TO THE COUNCIL. >> I'LL BE HAPPY TO. MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE. PLEASURE TO BE IN YOUR COMMUNITY. IT'S BEEN GREAT WORKING WITH MITCH AND ANDREW AND THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TEAM. THEY HAVE BEEN REALLY OPEN-ARMED IN WELCOMING US, ESPECIALLY AFTER THEY HEARD ABOUT WHAT OUR GOALS ARE, WHICH IT IS ACCURATE. THIS HAS NOT BEEN TRIED BEFORE IN THE COUNTRY. WE LIKE TO SCRATCH OUR HEADS, I GUESS, AND BE A LITTLE GUINEA PIG ALONG THE WAY. BUT WHAT OUR GOALS WERE, AS MITCH MENTIONED, WAS THAT THE PRIOR OWNER, WHICH WAS A PRIVATE EQUITY FUND WAS IN LITIGATION WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. THEY KNEW COLLECTIVELY THAT THE BEST OUTCOME WOULD BE FOR THE PRIVATE EQUITY FUNDS TO SELL THE PROPERTIES, AND WE ARE A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT HAS OPERATED NATIONALLY. >> WE HAVE MADE LARGE SCALE TRANSACTIONS OCCUR. ALL OF THEM FOR THE BENEFIT OF ADVANCING AFFORDABLE HOUSING. OUR PRIMARY GOAL IS HOME OWNERSHIP. WE BELIEVE THAT HOME OWNERSHIP, AS I THINK EVERYBODY HERE KNOWS, IS THE KEY TO INTERGENERATIONAL WEALTH BUILDING. IT'S THE WAY THAT MOST PEOPLE WIND UP GETTING THEIR PIECE OF THE AMERICAN DREAM, AND WE FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT THAT REALLY IS OUR NUMBER ONE OUTCOME TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN, BECAUSE WE HAVE A COROLLARY GOAL OF MAKING SURE THAT STABLE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS AVAILABLE ANYWAY, EVEN IF THAT IS A SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL PROPERTY. AS WE EMBARK ON THIS, ONE OF THE PARTS OF OUR OUTREACH OF WHICH BOTH MITCH AND ANDREW REFERENCED ERIC, WHO IS OUR ASSET MANAGER, AND IT'S HIS JOB TO REALLY BE REACHING OUT AND TALKING WITH THE TENANTS THAT WE HAVE. THESE PROPERTIES HAVE GONE THROUGH THREE PRIOR OWNERS. I'LL GRATEFULLY SAY AND WITH A GREAT DEAL OF HUMILITY, THAT THE TENANTS SAID THAT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THEY'VE EVER BEEN CONTACTED BY AN OWNER. THAT IS JUST PART OF OUR NORMAL OUTREACH BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT THE CLOSER A TENANT KNOWS THE OWNER, THE MORE RESPONSIVE THEY'RE GOING TO BE, THE BETTER THEY FEEL ABOUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES THEY LIVE IN, AND IMPORTANTLY, THEY PAY THEIR RENT ON TIME THEN. ALL OF THOSE FACTORS LED US TO WANT TO BE AT THE TABLE TO TRY TO SEE IF THERE'S A SOLUTION HERE. ALL OF THE PROPERTIES THAT ARE VACANT THAT WE PURCHASED FROM PRETIUM WILL NOT BE RELEASED. THEY ARE ALL GOING TO BE REPAIRED AND SOLD AS OWNER OCCUPIED HOUSING BECAUSE THERE IS AN INCREDIBLE LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AS EVERYBODY HERE KNOWS. ON THE RENTAL HOUSING SIDE, AS TENANTS VOLUNTARILY VACATE, BECAUSE TENANTS WILL GO ELSEWHERE, WE WILL ALSO NOT RELEASE THOSE PROPERTIES, BUT WE WILL REPAIR THEM AND SELL THEM AS OWNER OCCUPIED HOUSING. WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF THOSE TENANTS WILL ACTUALLY VACATE, BUT WE WILL JUST CONTINUE TO DO THAT. BUT THEN OUR BIGGEST GOAL IS TO BE REACHING OUT TO THE TENANTS TO TRY AND SEE IF THEY HAVE ANY DESIRE TO OWN THE PROPERTY THEY'RE LIVING IN. THE TENANTS HAVE BEEN THERE, SOME OF THEM UP TO 14 YEARS. MANY OF THEM ARE AT LEAST EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE IT. NOW, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR FINANCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES ARE GOING TO BE. WE DON'T KNOW HOW SUCCESSFUL IT WILL BE, BUT EVERY TENANT WILL BE OFFERED THAT OPPORTUNITY, AND THEY WILL BE OFFERED THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH HOME BUYER COUNSELING AGENCIES, AS WELL AS ANY OTHER DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE SOURCES THAT WE CAN WORK WITH THEM TO HELP. AS PROPERTIES HERE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, WE NOW KNOW THAT THERE ARE SIX THAT CAN MEET YOUR PERMANENT APPLICATION STANDARDS, AND THAT FOUR DO NOT. WE APPRECIATE THE ABILITY OF IF YOU WOULD CONSIDER AND APPROVE THE EXCEPTION, [01:25:02] BECAUSE WHAT THAT WILL ALLOW IS SIMPLY A MORE ORDERLY NEXT STEP. WE WON'T BE PLACING ANY OF THE TENANTS THAT ARE THERE AT RISK, WHICH BECOMES AN IMPORTANT PART FOR US. WE WILL BE WORKING WITH THOSE TENANTS TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO BECOME HOMEOWNERS. BUT OF THOSE 10 THAT WE HAVE, WHETHER IT'S PERMANENT OR TEMPORARY, AS THEY BECOME VACANT, WE WILL BE FOLLOWING WHAT OUR PROGRAMMATIC GOALS ARE, WHICH WE WILL NOT RELEASE IT. WE WILL REPAIR IT AND SELL IT SO THAT YOU CAN HAVE ANOTHER AFFORDABLE HOUSE HERE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS GO TO AN OWNER OCCUPANT. I'LL CONCLUDE WITH THAT. IT'S PLEASURE TO BE HERE, PLEASURE TO MEET ALL OF YOU. I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. >> THANK YOU. IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND STAYING THERE, I'LL JUST SEE IF THE COUNCIL HAS ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS. COUNCILOR BUESGENS. >> HI. NICE TO MEET YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING BEFORE US. I JUST HAVE SOME QUESTIONS THAT CAME UP WHILE I WAS READING YOUR MATERIAL. FIRST OFF, BECAUSE I WAS TRYING TO DIG SOME INFORMATION. IS BRICK-BY-BRICK FILED AS A NONPROFIT IN MINNESOTA OR ANOTHER STATE? >> NEW JERSEY. >> THAT'S WHY WE COULDN'T FIND IT SO I WAS JUST A LITTLE CONFUSED. >> WE HAVE OFFICES HERE IN MINNESOTA BECAUSE I LIVE HERE. >> SECOND, ARE THE FOUR HOUSES EMPTY RIGHT NOW? THE FOUR THAT ARE UP FOR THE EXEMPTION? >> NO THEY'RE NOT. >> THEY HAVE TENANTS IN THEM. >> I JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU TO TALK IN THE MICROPHONE. >> YEAH, SO THEY CAN HEAR YOU. >> WHEN DID YOU PURCHASE THESE PROPERTIES? >> SEPTEMBER 27. >> THIS YEAR. >> 2024. >> YOU WERE AWARE OF THE DENSITY CAP RESTRICTION AT THE TIME? >> NO. >> YOU'RE A REALTOR? >> THERE ARE THERE ARE 345 HOMES THAT ARE SPREAD OVER SEVEN STATES. >> WAS IT A PACKAGE DEAL? YOU ONLY BOUGHT 10, BUT APPARENTLY THE REALTORS INVOLVED. >> THEY BOUGHT 345 PROPERTIES AND IT WAS A RESULT OF THE MINNESOTA ATTORNEY GENERAL'S ENFORCEMENT ACTION AGAINST THE RENTAL COMPANY. >> THERE WERE NO REALTORS INVOLVED. >> THAT'S PROBABLY WHY IT GOT MISSED. JUST FOR FOLKS TO CLARIFY THIS, BECAUSE YOU GUYS AREN'T MENTIONING WHO THIS WAS, AND I'D LIKE TO MENTION WHO THIS SELLER WAS, BECAUSE THERE WERE PEOPLE IN THE CITY THAT WERE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE 21 HOMES THAT WERE OWNED BY HAVENBROOK, WHERE 21 FAMILIES ALMOST LOST THEIR HOMES TO LIVE IN, AND IT WAS A VERY BUMPY RIDE. APPARENTLY, OUR STATE GENERAL ATTORNEY, KEITH ELLISON, PART OF THE DEAL WAS THIS HAVENBROOK HAD TO LEAVE THE STATE. THAT'S WHY THEY'RE SELLING THESE HOMES. I JUST WANT FOLKS OUT THERE THAT HAVE BEEN PAYING ATTENTION TO KNOW THAT THERE WAS A RESOLUTION DONE, AND THAT THEY WILL NO LONGER BE IN OUR CITY ANYMORE. I HAVE NO PROBLEM SAYING THE NAME. I KNOW THEY'VE CHANGED THE NAME A COUPLE OF TIMES, AT LEAST ONCE I KNOW OF AFTER THIS FIASCO WITH OUR CITY. IT WAS HAVENBROOK. I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT PUBLIC. LET'S SEE. I WAS CURIOUS. I HAVE A REAL REAL ESTATE BACKGROUND A LITTLE BIT IN MY BACK. DO YOU ACTUALLY HAVE A CONTRACT THAT YOU'VE WRITTEN UP FOR RENTERS TO RENT TO OWN? HAS THAT BEEN MAKING? >> NO. WE DON'T DO THAT. THAT'S NOT OUR PROGRAM. >> I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IT. I ASKED BECAUSE IF SOMEBODY IS GOING TO GET INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE LANDLORD WITH RENT TO OWN, SOMETIMES THOSE THINGS HAVE GONE SIDEWAYS, AND THE RENTERS END UP GETTING THE SHAFT BECAUSE THEY PUT ALL THIS MONEY IN AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE OWNER SAYS, NO, IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO HAVE A CONTRACT, SO THEY WOULD KNOW WHAT THE PARAMETERS ARE, WHAT THINGS ARE INVOLVED, AND THAT THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO HOLD IN CASE SOMETHING HAPPENED AND IT DIDN'T GO THROUGH AND THEY FOLLOWED ALL THE WAY. >> WHEN TENANTS ARE WILLING AND ABLE TO BUY THE PROPERTY, WE WILL HAVE A CONTRACT SALE WITH THEM. >> IT'S JUST GOING TO GO FROM ARE YOU INTERESTED, AND THEN THEY APPLY TO SEE IF THEY CAN GET MORTGAGE APPROVAL. >> YES. IT'LL BE A SERIES OF STEPS, BECAUSE IT WILL NOT BE A RENT TO OWN. THEY'RE GOING TO BE RENTING THE PROPERTY. WE WILL PROVIDE THEM MORE THAN ENOUGH TIME TO GO THROUGH HOME BUYER COUNSELING, ARRANGE TO BECOME MORTGAGE READY, TO GET DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE, AND THEN WE'LL ENTER INTO AN OFFER. >> THERE'S NONE OF THEIR RENT WILL BE GOING TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF THE HOME AT THE CUSTOMER? >> THERE'S NO RENT GOING TOWARDS THE PURCHASE THE HOME. >> GOT IT. LET'S SEE. THE SECOND OPTION THAT THEY HAD UP HERE IF THIS DIDN'T PASS TO GIVE THE EXEMPTION, HOW EASY WOULD IT BE FOR THE CITY AND YOU AND STAFF AND HABITAT FOR HUMANITY TO MOVE TO THAT DIRECTION INSTEAD OF GOING TO THE EXEMPTION FIRST. [01:30:03] THEN THE TENANTS WOULD HAVE TO MOVE IF THAT WENT THROUGH BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S A PROCESS FAIRLY EASY, OR IS IT REQUIRE QUITE A BIT OF WORK. >> MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THE SECOND OPTION WAS MORE OF AT THE SAME TIME. IT IS A LITTLE MORE OF A PROCESS, BUT AS THEY LOOK TO SELL THESE HOMES, STAFF HAVE TALKED ABOUT IN THE PAST, HOW WE HAVE WORKED WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY TO HELP FUND THE PURCHASE OF THESE HOMES AND THE REHABILITATION OF THESE HOMES GOING FORWARD. IT'S NOT IF NOT THE EXEMPTION THEN. THE EXEMPTION IS STILL NEEDED TO GIVE THE PROCESS TIME TO GO THROUGH, AND THEN FOR ANY PARTNERSHIP TO DEVELOP. >> THESE TENANTS, YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS JUST FOR ONE YEAR. IF THEY WERE STILL THERE, IT'S ONLY TWO YEARS, AND THEN IT WOULD HAVE TO BE SOLD. >> WELL, I DON'T THINK THEY UNDERSTAND IT YET, BECAUSE AS SOON AS THAT HAPPENS, WE WILL CERTAINLY BE REACHING OUT TO THEM. THE REASON WHY THE SECOND OPTION REALLY COULDN'T HAPPEN RIGHT NOW IS THAT WE HAVE TENANTS IN THERE. WE HAVE SOLD PROPERTIES AROUND THE COUNTRY TO HABITAT AFFILIATES, BECAUSE IN ONE OF OUR NATIONAL FUNDS, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY INTERNATIONAL AS AN INVESTOR. WE WORK WELL WITH LOCAL HABITATS. BUT IN ORDER TO GET TO THAT THAT STEP OF BEING ABLE TO WORK WITH HABITAT OR SELL THE PROPERTIES TO THEM, WE NEED VACANT PROPERTIES. AS LONG AS THEY'RE OCCUPIED BY TENANTS, THE EXEMPTION IS NEEDED, AND WE WILL CERTAINLY BE TELLING THE TENANTS OF WHAT THE TIMELINES ARE. >> THANK YOU. >> SURE. GOOD QUESTION. >> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES. >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND FOR THIS PROCESS IN OUR COMMUNITY. IT'S EXCITING TO HEAR. I WAS ABLE TO SEE THE MINNESOTA SECRETARY OF STATE FILING FOR YOUR NEW JERSEY NONPROFIT. IT IS A LITTLE CONFUSING WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT LLCS. BUT I'M EXCITED TO HEAR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO DO A GOOD JOB AS A LANDLORD IN OUR CITY AND TO HELP THE RESIDENTS WHO ARE RENTING AND OUR NEIGHBORS TO HAVE GOOD HOMES WHILE THEY'RE RENTING. I'M HOPEFUL WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUY THAT THEY'LL BE CONNECTED TO MAYBE LIKE NACA OR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION FOR COUNSELING SO THEY CAN GET HUD APPROVED COUNSELING TO GET THOSE LOW INCOME MORTGAGES. I KNOW I'VE WORKED WITH SEVERAL FAMILIES WHO'VE GOTTEN REALLY GOOD, REALLY AFFORDABLE MORTGAGES IN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH THOSE ORGANIZATIONS. I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN USE THE YEAR OR TWO, AND THAT DURING THIS TIME, YOU CAN CONTINUE TO BE IN CONTACT WITH THOSE RESIDENTS AND DO ALL OF OUR INSPECTIONS. I'M EXCITED TO SEE THIS MOVE FORWARD. >> GREAT. THANK YOU. >> I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT I KNOW IT WAS MENTIONED THAT MANY OF THE TENANTS HAVE MONTHLY LEASES, AND AT THE SAME TIME, MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN THERE FOR YEARS. I AM REALLY APPRECIATIVE THAT YOU HAD SAID THAT YOU'D BE INTERESTED IN OFFERING THEM A YEAR LEASE. >> WE WILL. >> I THINK THAT IS SUCH A RELIEF FOR FAMILIES AND FOR PEOPLE TO JUST KNOW THAT THIS IS TAKEN CARE OF FOR A YEAR, THAT THEY DON'T HAVE THAT MONTHLY. WHEN IT'S MONTH TO MONTH, YOU ALSO HAVE FLEXIBILITY IF YOU WANT TO MOVE, BUT THERE'S ALSO THE FLEXIBILITY ON THE LANDLORD'S END THAT THEY COULD CHANGE, AND YOU'D HAVE TO FIND A PLACE TO LIVE. I THINK THAT'S A REAL BENEFIT TO OUR RESIDENTS, OUR FAMILIES, AND INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE RENTING. I JUST THINK THERE'S JUST SO MANY OPTIONS AS COUNCILOR BUESGENS MENTIONED, WE HAD SUCH A STAB IN THE HEART AT OUR COMMUNITY WHEN WE HAD 21 HOMES FACING THE ISSUES WITH HAVENBROOK, AND IT WAS SUCH A HARDSHIP FOR THE COMMUNITY, THE FAMILY GOING THROUGH IT, BUT ALSO THOSE WERE OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS. TO SEE SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAVE AN AFFORDABLE TURN IS IN A WAY THAT YOU ARE REACHING OUT, AS I'VE HEARD FROM THE CITY MANAGER AND OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT THAT YOU'RE REACHING OUT TO THE LANDLORDS. LIKE YOU SAID, THIS IS THE WAY WE BUILD CONNECTIONS, AND THEN THEY BUILD FAITH WITH THEIR LANDLORD. THEN YOU HAVE LANDLORDS WHO I WOULD THINK WILL COMMUNICATE BETTER WITH YOU, AND THERE'S PROBLEMS, THAT THEY WILL ASK MORE QUESTIONS, AND THEY'LL PAY RENT ON TIME. THAT'S A TWO WAY STREET. I JUST THINK THESE ARE SUCH GREAT MOVEMENTS FORWARD, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING WHERE THESE PROPERTIES HAD BEEN IN THE PAST FOR US. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A HEALING MOMENT, AND I WILL VOTE FOR THIS WHEN WE COME TO THAT. >> THANK YOU. >> YES. THANKS FOR BEING HERE TODAY, TOO. COUNCILMAN SPRIGGS. >> ONE QUESTION. A LOT OF MY QUESTIONS ALREADY ANSWERED. JUST CURIOUS THOUGH. WHEN IT GETS TO THE HOME BUYING PROCESS IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT WHAT THAT PRICE IS, IS THERE A SPECIFIC LIKE EQUATION YOU'RE USING FOR WHAT THE HOME LIST PRICE WILL BE? [01:35:04] OF COURSE, THERE'S GOING TO BE REPAIRS AND WHATNOT. IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT TO TELL FOR EACH ONE, BUT JUST THINKING ABOUT KEEPING AFFORDABLE HOMES IN THE CITY AFFORDABLE, JUST CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT THE PROCESS IS ABOUT FIGURING OUT WHAT THAT SELL PRICE IS GOING TO BE. >> THE PROCESS WHEN WE SELL IT IS THAT IT WILL BE DONE AT THE CURRENT MARKET VALUE, 100 AND IT'LL BE BOTH THE BANK SIDE, WHO WILL HAVE AN APPRAISAL, WE'LL HAVE OUR OWN MARKET VALUE. IT'LL BE A PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD PROCESS. THE KEY PART AND ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE ARE SO INTERESTED IN THE PORTFOLIO IS THAT IT IS WHAT'S CALLED A NOA PORTFOLIO, SO IT'S NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING. OUR AVERAGE VALUES ARE 270,000. THAT'S ABOUT 70% OF THE AREA MEDIAN RESALE PRICE RIGHT NOW. AT THE TIME, WE'LL JUST GO THROUGH WHAT'S IT WORTH? MAKE SURE THAT IMPROVEMENTS ARE INCLUDED BECAUSE THAT'LL BE A BENEFIT. THE FLIP SIDE IN DOING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, WHY WE FEEL THAT THE METHOD OF SELLING IT AT MARKET VALUE, HAVING THEN NONPROFIT HOME BUYER COUNSELING, BEING ABLE TO BRING IN DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE WHERE IT'S AVAILABLE SO THAT THE MORTGAGE AND THE DOWN PAYMENT AND THE MONTHLY MORTGAGES FIT A LONG TERM SUSTAINABLE APPROACH FOR THE HOMEOWNERS AT THAT POINT. THE OTHER PART AND WHY SELLING IT AT MARKET VALUE BECOMES REALLY AN IMPORTANT KEY FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, IS THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE VALUES OF THE OTHER HOMES IN THE COMMUNITIES, STAY WHERE THEY'RE AT OR INCREASE BECAUSE THAT BECOMES INCREASED EQUITY FOR EACH OF THOSE NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS. WE'RE NOT HERE TO DISCOUNT THE SALE OF A PROPERTY. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S REPAIRED PROPERLY, THEN IT'S SOLD AT REALLY THE MARKET VALUE THAT EVERYBODY AGREES IT SHOULD BE SOLD AT. >> JUST TO BOUNCE FROM THAT, THE WAY THAT THIS WOULD BECOME MORE AFFORDABLE IS A POSSIBILITY LIKE A MORTGAGE OR A DOWN PAYMENT, DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT WILL HELP A FAMILY OR A PERSON AFFORD TO BUY IT. IT'LL STILL BE MARKET RATE, BUT THERE MAY BE AN EASIER WAY FOR THEM TO GET INTO IT. >> THERE ARE A NUMBER OF WAYS THAT THEY CAN DO THAT. >> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DENEEN, I THOUGHT I SAW YOU. >> I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE PROGRAM. I KNOW THAT YOU SAID IT'S ONE OF THE FIRST IN THE COUNTRY, IF NOT THE FIRST THAT IS GOING THROUGH THIS METHOD. I REALLY ENJOY THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE AN EMPHASIS ON EDUCATION AND PROVIDING RESOURCES TO PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY RENTING THOSE BUILDINGS. IT'S REALLY EASY TO COME IN AND SAY, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO EMPTY THIS OUT AND REPAIR IT AND PUT IT ON THE MARKET, AND THEN EVERYBODY HAS A SHOT AT IT. BUT THESE PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN RENTING FOR 14 YEARS, WHO MIGHT FINALLY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO OWN A HOME THAT THEY'VE LOVED AND LIVED IN, AND MADE MEMORIES IN FOR SO LONG, IT'S REALLY EXCITING TO ME, AND IT'S EXCITING FOR OUR COMMUNITY. I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THIS GO FORWARD. >> THANK YOU. >> I'LL ALSO ADD ONE MORE THING IS THAT WHEN YOU SAID THAT YOU ARE GOING TO TALK TO THE RESIDENTS ABOUT IF HOMEOWNERSHIP IS FOR THEM, I KNOW FOR SOME RENTERS, THEY'VE NEVER EVEN HAD THE CONVERSATION, AND IT HAS ALWAYS SEEMED NOT WITHIN THEIR GRASP. WHAT AM I SAYING? OUT OF REACH. I THINK SOMEONE HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH THEM AND JUST SAYING, DO YOU WANT TO LOOK INTO THIS? THERE'S PROGRAMS. I THINK EVEN THAT STEP, IF IT DOESN'T END UP WORKING FOR THEM IN THIS ONE, THEY'VE NOW HAD THE CONVERSATION, AND THEY'LL BE THAT MUCH CLOSER TO KNOWING HOW TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS. I THINK IT'S JUST AN INVALUABLE OUTREACH THAT YOU'RE DOING TO THE COMMUNITY, AND I WISH THAT IT WAS MORE THAN 10 PROPERTIES. [LAUGHTER] YES. COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS. >> I FOUND ONE QUESTION I MISSED AND THEN I CAME UP WITH TWO MORE. WHO WILL BE MANAGING THE RENTAL PROPERTIES? >> WE HAVE A THIRD PARTY PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY CALLED PURE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT. >> WHAT ARE THEIR RATINGS AS FAR AS MANAGING PROPERTIES? >> THEY'RE A NATIONAL PROPERTY MANAGER. >> THEY'RE RESPONSIVE? >> WE HAVE FOUND THEM TO BE VERY RESPONSIVE. >> JUST IN CASE SOMETHING HAPPENS AND THE TENANT ISN'T IN, DO THEY HAVE ACCESS TO SOMEBODY THAT'S IN THE OWNERSHIP GROUP THAT THEY CAN CONTACT IN CASE THEY HAVE AN ISSUE? >> YES. WE HAVE A DIFFERENT MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE. WELL, WE HAVE A PROPERTY MANAGER. THEY DO THE THINGS THAT PROPERTY MANAGERS DO. COLLECT THE RENTS, IF PROPERTIES ARE IN DISREPAIR FIX THEM UP, IF THERE'S A NEED FOR NEW APPLIANCES WORK REQUESTS ARE MADE. THAT'S THEIR KEY FUNCTION. WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT A PROPERTY MANAGER SHOULD BE THE VOICE FOR THE OWNER BECAUSE THAT BECOMES CONFUSING TO A TENANT, [01:40:02] AND THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY'RE BEING HEARD. WE HAVE A STRUCTURE IN WHICH WE HAVE A TEAM MEMBER, HE'S CALLED EVERY ONE OF THE TENANTS, HE'S SPOKEN WITH A MAJORITY OF THEM. THEY KNOW THAT IF THE PROPERTY MANAGER IS NOT RESPONSIVE, THEY'VE GOT SOMEBODY ELSE THEY CAN GO TO WHO HE'S A PART OF OUR MANAGEMENT TEAM THAT OVERSEES THE PROPERTY MANAGER. THAT PLACES, I THINK THE ACCOUNTABILITY MORE DIRECTLY WHERE IT SHOULD BE. I CAN TELL YOU, OUR EARLY EXPERIENCE. PURE IS A VERY GOOD PROPERTY MANAGER. THEY ARE RESPONSIVE. WE THINK THAT THEY'LL CONTINUE TO BE THAT WAY. >> SECOND QUESTION. NOT THE EXEMPTION REQUEST ONES, BUT FOR THE RENTALS, YOU SAID AS THE TENANTS MOVE OUT, THEN THE PROPERTY WILL GO UP FOR SALE. YOU MENTIONED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN TENANTS THAT HAVE BEEN IN THE PROPERTIES FOR 14 YEARS OR LONGER, SOME TENANTS RENT FOR 30, 40 YEARS, AND IS YOUR ORGANIZATION SET UP TO CARRY THAT? >> YES. >> WILL YOU PLAN ON BEING WITH THAT PROPERTY LONG TERM DECADES DOWN? >> IF THE TENANTS DO NOT WANT TO VACATE, AND THEY DO NOT WANT TO BE A HOMEOWNER, WE JUST HAVE IT AS A PART OF A PERMANENT RENTAL PORTFOLIO. >> THEN THE LAST QUESTION, WHEN THEY DO RESELL, IS THERE SOMETHING IN THE DEED OR THE PROPERTY RECORDING WHERE IT WOULD BE SOLD AS AN AFFORDABLE OR DOES IT GO BACK TO MARKET RATE? >> IT'S NOT SOLD AS WE HAVE NO DEED RESTRICTIONS, NO REQUIREMENTS BECAUSE WE HAVE NO GOVERNMENT MONEY. >> I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M CLEAR BECAUSE THE TENANT MOVES OUT, YOU SELL THE PROPERTY, THE TENANT 10 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD WANTS TO SELL THE PROPERTY, MOVE ELSEWHERE, THAT'S WHEN I WAS ASKING, WOULD IT REMAIN AFFORDABLE, OR WOULD IT GO BACK TO MARKET RATE? >> THAT IS GOING TO DEPEND ENTIRELY ON THE FINANCING THE BORROWER OR THEN THE NEW HOMEOWNER BRINGS TO THE TABLE. CERTAIN TYPES OF GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE REQUIRE DEED RESTRICTIONS AND WE CAN HAVE RESALE REQUIREMENTS AND OTHER STUFF. >> THANK YOU. >> SURE. >> IF THERE IS NO MORE COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL OR QUESTIONS, THEN MAY I HAVE A MOTION. IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE A MOTION TO WAIVE. WE'LL WAIVE ALL THE READINGS AT ONCE, AND THEN WE'LL DO ADOPT OR NOT SEPARATELY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION THEN TO WAIVE? >> MOVE TO WAIVE THE READING OF RESOLUTIONS 2025-007, 2025-008, 2025-009, 2025-010, THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS, AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER DENEEN. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING THERE'S NONE, THEN ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. >> AYE. [OVERLAPPING] >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. I ALSO JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING OUR QUESTIONS. SORRY, I WENT RIGHT INTO OUR MOTIONS. THANK YOU. >> NEXT, MAY I HAVE A MOTION THEN TO ADOPT. MOVE TO ADOPT? >> MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2025-007, A RESOLUTION APPROVING A SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL EXEMPTION REQUEST FOR THE RENTAL APPLICATION AT 1122, 40TH AVENUE, NORTHEAST COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA 55421. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING THERE'S NONE, THEN ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. >> AYE. [OVERLAPPING] >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. NEXT, I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT? >> MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2025-008, A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL EXEMPTION REQUEST FOR THE RENTAL APPLICATION AT 1234, 44TH AVENUE NORTHEAST, COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA 55421. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES TO ADOPT. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING AND SEEING THERE'S NONE, ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. >> AYE. [OVERLAPPING] >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. NEXT, MAY I HAVE ANOTHER MOTION TO ADOPT. >> MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2025-009, A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL EXEMPTION REQUEST FOR THE RENTAL APPLICATION AT 1426 PARKVIEW LANE, NORTHEAST, COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA 55421. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER DENEEN TO ADOPT. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING THERE'S NOT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. >> AYE. [OVERLAPPING] >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. NEXT, WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT. >> MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2025-010, A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL EXEMPTION REQUEST FOR THE RENTAL APPLICATION AT 3912 TYLER STREET NORTHEAST, COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA 55421. >> SECOND. [01:45:01] >> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS TO ADOPT. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING AND HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. >> AYE. [OVERLAPPING] >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. CLARIFYING, ALL FOUR MOTIONS PASS ON THAT ORDINANCE. THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE OUR LAST ITEM. NUMBER 27, CONSIDERATION OF A COMPLETE STREETS POLICY. TO TAKE US THROUGH THIS ITEM IS CITY PLANNER, ANDREW BOUCHER, AND ALSO OUR CITY ENGINEER, SULMAAN KHAN. I DON'T KNOW WHO'S GOING FIRST. TWO BRILLIANT PEOPLE RIGHT HERE. TAKE US THROUGH. >> MADAM MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, OVER THE PAST YEAR, WE HAVE BEEN AS STAFF WORKING WITH THE SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION, AND THEN SOME OTHER STAKEHOLDERS SUCH AS MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND THE MINNESOTA POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY TO BASICALLY COLLABORATE OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF A COMPLETE STREETS POLICY. THIS EFFORT INCLUDED MULTIPLE DRAFTS, REVISIONS, AND FOCUS WORKSHOPS, BEFORE ULTIMATELY BEING REFINED INTO THE POLICY PRESENTED. SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION GAVE A POSITIVE RECOMMENDATION AT THEIR NOVEMBER 2024 MEETING, AND STAFF PRESENTED THE POLICY TO CITY COUNCIL AT THE DECEMBER 2024 WORK SESSION, WHERE IT RECEIVED A POSITIVE RECEPTION, AND STAFF WERE DIRECTED TO PREPARE THE POLICY FOR CONSIDERATION. THIS REALLY WAS A ROBUST PROCESS. WE DRAFTED AND THEN SCRAPED DRAFTS. WE WORKSHOPPED WITH DOT, MPCA. WE REALLY TRIED TO GET A BUNCH OF EYES ON THIS AND WORK WITH EXISTING STAFF. KEVIN WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN, I THINK GETTING THIS TO A POINT WHERE IT WAS CONTEXT SENSITIVE, AND REALLY TOOK IT DOWN FROM SOMETHING THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN MORE APPLICABLE TO STATE OR FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS, BUT THE FINAL POLICY REALLY FEELS LIKE IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN TAILORED FOR COLUMBIA HEIGHTS. COMPLETE STREETS WAS IDENTIFIED AS A PRIORITY IN CHAPTER 6, TRANSPORTATION OF THE 2040 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, AND IS A REQUIREMENT TO RECEIVE STEP THREE RECOGNITION IN THE MINNESOTA GREENSTEPS PROGRAM. THERE'S TWO OTHER PREREQUISITES FOR STEP 3, A SUSTAINABLE PURCHASING POLICY, AND THEN SOME GOAL SETTING, WHICH WILL LIKELY COME UP AT A FUTURE DATE. BUT COMPLETE STREETS ARE DEFINED AS ROADWAYS DESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE ALL USERS, PEDESTRIANS, BICYCLISTS, VEHICLES, AND TRANSIT, REGARDLESS OF AGE OR ABILITY. THIS POLICY WILL PROVIDE A CONTEXT SENSITIVE FRAMEWORK AND DESIGN PHILOSOPHY FOR BOTH PRIVATE AND PUBLIC PROJECTS THAT CAN BE INCORPORATED INTO THE CITY ZONING CODE, DESIGN GUIDELINES, AND OTHER PROCESSES. JUST TO GO OVER THE COMPLETE STREETS POLICY, IT'S BROKEN DOWN INTO 10 SECTIONS. FIRST BEING PURPOSE, SECOND, POLICY, THE THIRD, DESIGN, THE FOURTH, DOCUMENTATION AND EXCEPTIONS, FIFTH, PERFORMANCE MEASURES, CONFLICTING OR COMPETING NEEDS TO CREATE A NETWORK, SUPPORTIVE LAND USE, PROMOTION, EDUCATION, AND TRAINING, AND THEN MONITORING AND REVISION. I DIDN'T MEAN TO DUPLICATE THIS TWICE, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SHOW YOU GUYS WHAT THE POLICY LOOKS LIKE, AND THEN WE CAN TALK ABOUT FURTHER. APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE. IT'S ABOUT A FOUR-PAGE DOCUMENT, BUT WHAT I REALLY WANT TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO IS THE WORKSHEET. FRIDLEY HAS AN ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN. THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE LOOKED AT AND TRIED TO REPLICATE BECAUSE IT FELT LIKE IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WOULD ACTUALLY BE APPLICABLE AND BE SOMETHING THAT WE COULD USE TO DRIVE FUTURE IMPROVEMENTS. BASICALLY, JUST WHAT IS THE PROJECT? WHAT IS THE ROADWAY JURISDICTION, PROPERTY BOUNDARIES, MANAGER? IS THE PROJECT AREA OR STREETS IT INTERSECTS REFERENCED IN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING PLANS? I FEEL LIKE IN MY TIME THAT I'VE BEEN HERE, TRANSPORTATION AND TRANSPORTATION SAFETY HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF, I WOULD SAY, MOST OF OUR CITY ACTIONS. I CAN JUST SPEAK TO WHAT I'VE SEEN SULMAAN DOING HIS TIME HERE. IT'S INCREDIBLE THE AMOUNT OF TIME HE SPENDS TALKING ABOUT ENGINEERING THINGS TO NON-ENGINEERING RELATED PEOPLE, MYSELF INCLUDED. I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE IN REGARDS TO THIS. BUT JUST SOME THINGS WE WANTED TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF AS FAR AS EXISTING CONDITIONS GO, [01:50:01] ARE WHAT ARE THE EXISTING AND PROJECTED MODEL VOLUMES OF AVERAGE DAILY TRAFFIC, TRUCK VOLUMES, SPEED CONDITIONS? IS THERE AVAILABLE CRASH DATA AND KNOWN CONFLICT POINTS? DO THESE CRASHES TEND TO BE BETWEEN CERTAIN MODES? ARE THERE CONFLICT POINTS BETWEEN SPECIFIC MODES? ARE THERE AREAS OF SPEEDING OR OTHER DANGEROUS DRIVING, BARRIERS TO PEDESTRIAN OR BICYCLISTS MOVEMENTS OR CHALLENGES OBSERVED OR INFORMED OF IN THE PROJECT AREA? ARE THERE ANY AREAS THAT ARE UNDERLIT? THEN SOME OTHER PROCESS RELATED METRICS SUCH AS HOW DO USERS IN THE PROJECT AREA TRAVEL? DESCRIBE WHETHER THESE USERS SPEAK A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH, AND HOW THOSE USERS HAVE BEEN ENGAGED. I KNOW THAT WAS A TOPIC THAT CAME UP DURING ONE OF THE WORK SESSIONS. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, PD HAS AN INFORMAL SYSTEM WHERE THEY KNOW WHERE CERTAIN LANGUAGES ARE SPOKE IF THEY NEED TO SEND OFFICERS WITH THOSE LANGUAGE CAPABILITIES. I THINK THIS JUST IS AN IMPORTANT PART TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE HEARING FROM THE PEOPLE THAT WE NEED TO HEAR, AND JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE COMMUNICATE THINGS IN THEIR LANGUAGES JUST TO BE AS ACCESSIBLE AS POSSIBLE. HOW DOES THE EXISTING AREA ACCOMMODATE DIFFERENT MODES, TRAVELING NORTH TO SOUTH OR EAST OR WEST? DESCRIBE ANY PUBLIC FACILITIES ALONG THE PROJECT AREAS OR SIGNIFICANT DESTINATIONS, OR FOR WHICH THE PROJECT AREA IS A CONNECTOR, SCHOOLS, PARKS, LIBRARIES, CIVIC CAMPUS, COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS. THOSE JUST FELT LIKE VERY EASY PLACES FOR US TO START IN IDENTIFYING GAPS. THEN THERE WAS HOW DOES THE EXISTING AREA MANAGE STORM WATER OR ARE THERE KNOWN WATER QUALITY OR QUANTITY CONCERNS IN THE PROJECT AREA, OR DOWNSTREAM OF THE PROJECT AREA? IT SEEMS LIKE STORM WATER IS A LEGACY ISSUE WE CONTINUE TO DEAL WITH AND TRY TO GET A HANDLE ON. IT'S CERTAINLY DRIVEN A LOT OF THE WORK THAT I'VE DONE IN TERMS OF ADAPTING OUR CODES AND POLICIES TO REFLECT THAT REALITY. I THINK YOU GUYS ALL SEE THOSE ISSUES. WHENEVER WE GET SOME OF THOSE RAIN EVENTS, IT BECOMES A LITTLE PERILOUS, AND THIS JUST FEELS LIKE A REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO DOCUMENT IF WE HAVE ANY OF THOSE KNOWN CONCERNS. >> THEN THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES TO DESCRIBE THE EXISTING LANDSCAPING AND THEN MARK WHETHER ANY LIVING STREETS, COMPLETE STREETS COMPONENTS EXIST IN THE PROJECT AREA, AND WHETHER THEY ARE PRACTICALLY FEASIBLE. WE REALLY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE THINGS THAT WE CAN'T DO TO BUDGETARY OR MAINTENANCE ISSUES, OR THINGS THAT JUST DON'T NECESSARILY FIT ON EVERY PARTICULAR INTERSECTION STREET. BUT WE REALLY WANTED TO HAVE A PROCESS WHERE WE UNDERSTOOD WHAT WAS POSSIBLE, SO THAT WHEN THESE OPPORTUNITIES CAME UP, WE WERE PREPARED AND HAD THESE REFERENCE IN OTHER PLANS AND POLICIES. IF I CAN JUST GO BACK. HOW WE IMPLEMENT THIS. AS THE CITY CONSIDERS MAJOR STREET RECONSTRUCTION OR NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, WE DETERMINED WHEN SHOULD THESE THINGS BE IMPLEMENTED AND WHEN SHOULD THEY JUST BE GATHERED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES? MINOR MAINTENANCE PROJECTS, SUCH AS REPAVING OR RESTRIPING, WHICH SEEMS TO BE DONE PRETTY CONSISTENTLY, WILL NOT REQUIRE CONSIDERATION OF COMPLETE STREETS ELEMENTS, BUT WILL REQUIRE THE DOCUMENTATION OF THE OPPORTUNITIES AND FEASIBILITY OF THESE ELEMENTS TO BE INCLUDED IN LARGER PROJECTS. COMPLETE STREETS ELEMENTS WILL BE INCLUDED IN RESURFACING OR REHABILITATION WHEN THESE ARE COST NEUTRAL, OR PROVIDE SUBSTANTIAL SAFETY BENEFITS BASED ON RESOURCE MATERIAL SUCH AS CMF CLEARINGHOUSE, AND THAT'S SUPPOSED TO SAY MINNESOTA BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY BEST PRACTICES. THE STATE HAS A REALLY GREAT ROBUST GUIDE, WHICH GOES INTO A COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS IN TERMS OF A RATIO AS DEFINED BY SAFETY, IF I'M UNDERSTANDING IT CORRECTLY. SULMAAN REALLY DID A GREAT JOB OF EXPLAINING TO ME HOW THOSE THINGS ARE BASICALLY QUANTIFIED INTO A RATIO THAT ALLOWS DECISION MAKERS TO MAKE AS INFORMED OF A DECISION AS THEY CAN. OTHER ESTABLISHED PLANNING DOCUMENTS OR OTHER REGIONAL CITY WIDE PLANS SUCH AS SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL, ADA TRANSITION, EVENTUALLY THE 2050 COMP PLAN. ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE INCLUDED IN THAT WORKSHEET. BASICALLY, THE WAY IT WOULD WORK IS, WE TRY TO IDENTIFY WHETHER A PROJECT AREA IS INCLUDED IN ANY OF THOSE REFERENCE DOCUMENTS. I THINK IT SUPPORTS THE DECISION TO EITHER MAKE [01:55:01] THOSE CHANGES OR TO DELAY THEM AT A TIME WHERE IT FEELS MORE APPROPRIATE. WHEN TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS ARE INITIATED BY OTHER DISTRICT JURISDICTIONS SUCH AS THE STATE OR COUNTY, BUT LOCATED WITHIN OR ON THE EDGE OF CITY LIMITS, STAFF SHALL ADVOCATE FOR THE INTEGRATION OF COMPLETE STREETS PRINCIPLES. I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF YOU HAVE HEARD THE FEEDBACK AROUND THE CENTRAL AVENUE PROJECT, THE UNIVERSITY PROJECT. I CAN ONLY SPEAK FROM A NON ENGINEER'S PERSPECTIVE, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE MINNESOTA DOT HAS DONE A LOT OF WORK INTERNALLY TO CHANGE HOW THEY VIEW THINGS FROM MOBILITY BEING THE PRIORITY TO SAFETY, AND IT FEELS LIKE WE ARE THE TEST LOCATION FOR A LOT OF THOSE PRINCIPLES. I'D LIKE TO THINK IT FEELS EMPOWERING KNOWING THAT THEY'RE CHANGING THINGS TO MEET WHAT THE DEMAND IS, BUT STILL MAINTAIN THOSE LEVELS OF SERVICE. THE DESIGN OF COMPLETE STREETS WILL NEED TO BE CONTEXT SENSITIVE AND MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AND SURROUNDING AREA, WHILE EMPHASIZING SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE TRAVEL FOR ALL PEOPLE. JUST TO DESCRIBE, BASICALLY, THAT WORKSHEET WILL INCLUDE SOME PROCESS AND SOME OUTCOME METRICS. WE'VE SPOKEN ABOUT THE PROCESS METRICS. WHO ARE THE USERS? HOW DO THEY TRAVEL? WHAT LANGUAGES DO THEY SPEAK? AGAIN, ARE THERE IDENTIFIED SPEEDING OR CONFLICT POINTS? HOW DOES THE AREA HANDLE STORM WATER? ARE THERE EXISTING COMPLETE STREETS ELEMENTS OR ELEMENTS ARE PRACTICALLY FEASIBLE? FOR OUTCOME MEASURES, BASICALLY, HOW DO WE DETERMINE WHETHER THIS IS SUCCESSFUL? ARE THERE PUBLIC TRANSIT FACILITIES OR DESTINATIONS WITH CONNECTIVITY GAPS? THAT WAS REALLY THE STARTING POINT FOR THIS POLICY, WAS JUST IDENTIFYING, I BELIEVE IT WAS MOSTLY RELATED TO OUR PARKS, THAT A LOT OF OUR PARK SYSTEMS DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE AN ACCESSIBLE WAY TO GET TO THEM WITHOUT USING A VEHICLE. THOSE FELT LIKE PRIORITY POINTS. THEN ARE THERE ANY AREAS THAT ARE UNDERLIT OR PRESENT BARRIERS TO PEDESTRIANS, BICYCLISTS, MOVEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED OR REMOVED. THEN IF WE DETERMINE THAT COMPLETE STREETS ELEMENTS ARE FEASIBLE, THESE SHOULD BE SCORED AND RANKED BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF MAINTENANCE REQUIRED. THAT SEEMED TO BE A REALLY BIG DRIVING CONVERSATION IN SOME OF THE ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS CONCERNS. SULMAAN, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD? >> THANKS, ANDREW. I THINK YOU SUMMED IT UP REALLY WELL. THE ONLY COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I REALLY WANTED TO ADD IS THAT THIS POLICY, I WOULD SAY THAT IT'S EXCITING FOR ME FOR TWO REASONS. ONE, IT REALLY, I WOULD SAY, FORMALIZES OUR PROJECT DEVELOPMENT PROCESS. SINCE I'VE BEEN WITH THE CITY HERE, I'VE HEARD OVER AND OVER AGAIN ABOUT JUST AREAS WHERE THERE'S JUST A LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE IN ORDER TO SAFELY WALK OR BIKE AROUND THE CITY. I THINK THAT THIS REALLY IS GOING TO FORMALIZE AGAIN, OUR THOUGHT PROCESS AND ALSO DOCUMENT OPPORTUNITIES WHERE WE CAN IMPROVE ON THAT WITHIN THE CITY HERE. THE SECOND PIECE, I THINK THAT THIS IS REALLY GOING TO ALSO HELP SET US UP REALLY WELL FOR FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES. I THINK THAT THIS IS A DOCUMENT AND ALSO A PROCESS THAT IS ONLY GOING TO HELP US IN ORDER TO GO AFTER SOME OF THE GRANT OPPORTUNITIES. ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION IS CERTAINLY ONE OF THEM. THERE'S OTHER GRANT OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH THE STATE AS WELL AS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT WILL BECOME AVAILABLE IN THE COMING YEARS. THIS CERTAINLY, I THINK WILL JUST HELP US GET SET UP FOR THAT. >> IF I CAN JUST ADD REAL QUICK, SULMAAN'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS REALLY CAN'T BE UNDERSTATED, AND JUST THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT HE'S PUT INTO THE TWO YEARS THAT HE'S BEEN HERE. YOU HAD TO NAVIGATE A WIDE VARIETY OF JUST COMPETING INTERESTS. SOMETIMES DIFFICULT, JUST SITUATIONS, AND IT WAS REALLY A PLEASURE AND A PRIVILEGE TO JUST WORK WITH YOU IN THIS CAPACITY. >> AWESOME. I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS. I THINK THE COUNCIL IS TOO, SO I'LL OPEN THAT UP TO COMMENTS. COUNCILMEMBER JAMES. >> I ACTUALLY HAVE A QUESTION. WHO WILL BE THE PERSON IN CHARGE OF COMPLETING THE DOCUMENTATION, AND WHERE WILL THAT DOCUMENTATION, IN WHAT FORMAT WILL IT BE REPORTED EITHER TO THE COUNCIL, OR HOW WILL WE KNOW AT THE END OF THE YEAR WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING, OR WHAT'S BEEN REPORTED? >> MY THOUGHT PROCESS IS THAT TYPICALLY THE CITY ENGINEER, THE ASSISTANT CITY ENGINEER WOULD DO THAT. I'M MORE THAN COMFORTABLE DOING THAT FOR THE MOMENT UNTIL WE GET A PERMANENT PERSON FOR THAT. I ENVISION IT BEING INCLUDED IN ANY STREET PROJECT THAT BASICALLY REQUIRES COUNCIL APPROVAL, [02:00:01] JUST SHOWING THAT THAT PROCESS HAS BEEN DONE, THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED ANY EXISTING CONFLICT POINTS, ANY OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE'VE BASICALLY DETERMINED AS STAFF OR FROM COMMUNITY FEEDBACK, COUNCIL FEEDBACK. WHERE THERE ARE LIKE CONFLICT POINTS, STORM WATER ISSUES, WATER QUALITY ISSUES, I THINK THAT JUST THAT HELPS YOU GUYS MAKE THE DECISIONS THAT YOU NEED TO MAKE AND HAVE ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED TO JUSTIFY CERTAIN INVESTMENTS, DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT THE BENEFITS OUTWEIGH THE COSTS, VICE VERSA. I JUST FEEL LIKE THIS REALLY HELPS US TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS WHENEVER WE HAVE TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS COME UP. THAT'S HOW I SEE THIS BEING INCLUDED. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. THERE IS INFORMATION ABOUT MONITORING AND REVISION, BUT THERE ISN'T ANYTHING IN THIS RECOMMENDED MOTION TO HAVE ANY PART THAT WOULD REPORT BACK. WHAT YOU'RE JUST SAYING IS WONDERFUL, BUT I WONDER IF WE NEED TO ADD THAT IN TO THE SET ON ANYWAY, OR WE COULD ALSO DIRECT THE STAFF WHEN WE DO HEAR A STRAIGHT PRESENTATION OR ANY VOTE TO INCLUDE THIS. >> JUST TO ELABORATE ON THAT, AS WE'VE REVAMPED THE ANNUAL REPORT, I THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO JUDGE WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS TOWARDS THE COMP PLAN GOALS OR OTHER GOALS THAT WE DEEM IMPORTANT. I THINK THAT THAT COULD BE A REALLY APPROPRIATE AVENUE. I THINK WE'D WANT TO FURTHER IN ON WHAT THOSE METRICS ARE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO REPORT. I THINK THE CONNECTIVITY GAPS AND JUST BUILDING THAT CAPACITY WHERE THERE CURRENTLY ISN'T ANY, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A REALLY VALUABLE WAY OF MEASURING WHETHER THIS HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL OR NOT OR FOR MAKING THAT PROGRESS. THEN, LIKE I SAID, JUST REDUCING THE NUMBER OF KNOWN CONFLICT POINTS, I THINK WOULD ALSO BE ANOTHER VALUABLE WAY TO MEASURE WHETHER THIS IS EFFECTIVE. >> INTERESTING. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER JAMES. COUNCILMEMBER BUESGENS. >> FINALLY. THANK YOU SO MUCH SULMAAN AND ANDREW FOR WORKING ON THIS, AND ALL THE OTHER STAFF THAT WAS INVOLVED WITH THIS LONG TIME COMING, AND APPRECIATE IT GREATLY. TWO, AND ALSO THE SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION MEMBERS THAT PUT A LOT OF INPUT AND WORKED ON THIS DILIGENTLY. I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THAT. TWO, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE GOING TO LEAVE RIGHT AFTER THIS SULMAAN, BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR CITY. YOU'RE GOING TO BE GREATLY MISSED. [OVERLAPPING] I WISH YOU GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR FUTURE ENDEAVORS, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. THEN ANDREW, THIS IS AN ASIDE QUESTION REAL QUICK, BUT I'M GOING TO SQUEEZE IT IN, WHEN IS THE 2050 WORK START FOR THE 2050 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN? >> THAT'LL LIKELY BEGIN IN FALL OF THIS YEAR. THE FIRST STEP IS WHEN MET COUNCIL RELEASES SYSTEM STATEMENTS. THAT'S LIKE THE FORMAL KICKOFF FOR THE 2050 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SESSION. I THINK THERE ARE ELEMENTS OF COMPLETE STREETS THAT ARE ALREADY POPPING UP IN SOME OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS, SPECIFICALLY, THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS SURROUNDING CLIMATE EQUITY AND HEALTH. I THINK THIS IS JUST A GOOD WAY TO START PREPPING FOR THE 2050 CYCLE. >> FOR ALL YOU, BECAUSE NONE OF YOU WERE HERE WHEN THEY DID THE 2040, IT'S PRETTY EXTENSIVE. WE GET LOTS OF OPPORTUNITY FOR INPUT. HOPEFULLY, A LOT OF STUFF'S BEEN DONE, BUT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT ELSE WE CAN PUT IN THERE IN THE PROCESS AND EVERYTHING. THANK YOU, AGAIN. >> ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL? >> SURE, GO AHEAD. >> REAL QUICK. JARED FINKELSON, ONE OF OUR SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSIONERS, WAS ALSO VERY CRITICAL IN THIS. IT DEFINITELY WAS DIFFICULT AT TIMES NAVIGATING THIS PROCESS, BUT I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE HIS NATURE. HE HELD US ACCOUNTABLE A LITTLE BIT, AND I THINK HE PUSHED US TO MAKE THIS SOMETHING THAT WORKS FOR COLUMBIA HEIGHTS. I THINK IT WAS A PLEASURE TO BRING HIM ALONG AND TRY TO JUST MAKE HIM FEEL LIKE HE WAS BEING HEARD. HE REALLY STARTED THE INITIAL DRAFT OF WHAT YOU SEE BEFORE YOU. IT WAS A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO JUST BUILD A LOT OF CONSENSUS AMONGST COMMUNITY MEMBERS, COMMISSION MEMBERS, STAFF. AS I MENTIONED, KEVIN WAS A VERY GREAT RESOURCE FOR THIS, AND IT WAS GREAT TO HAVE HIS BUY IN. >> ACTUALLY I WAS GOING TO MENTION JARED. I KNOW HE'S A COMMUNITY MEMBER, HE'S NOW IN THE SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION, BUT HE HAD BEEN ON THE TRAFFIC COMMISSION IN THE DAY. I SAT THERE WITH HIM, AND I KNOW HE REACHED OUT TO ME. I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS, MANY TIMES ABOUT HIS PASSION FOR COMING UP AND HAVING THIS PROGRAM BE THROUGHOUT THE CITY. [02:05:01] I'M SO GLAD THAT WE HAD STAFF TO BE RESPONSIVE AND WORK WITH HIM. ALSO, EARLIER IN OUR AUDIENCE, JACK ISRAELSON IS A NOW COLLEGE STUDENT, BUT HE'S A BICYCLIST OR A CYCLIST, AND WE'VE HAD SO MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS COME UP AND TALK ABOUT WALKING AND BIKING IN THE CITY. COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS HAS TALKED ABOUT HIS STREET, SO I'M SO GLAD TO SEE THIS COMING FULL CIRCLE. WE STILL JUST HAD THE SAFE STREETS FOR ALL. GRANT, WE JUST WENT THROUGH, BUT WE'RE STILL ALSO WORKING ON SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL. THEN WE'RE ALSO HAVING BIDS OUT FOR SAFE STREETS FOR ALL. ARE THERE BIDS OUT FOR THAT? SORRY. >> THE SAFE STREETS FOR ALL SAFETY ACTION PLAN IS CURRENTLY UNDER DEVELOPMENT RIGHT NOW, BUT THE PLAN IS TO GET IT SET UP BY THE SUMMER. >> THANK YOU. WE'RE WORKING ON THAT. WE'VE HAD ALL OF THESE SAFETY AND MOBILITY COMING THROUGH. I ALSO WANT TO MENTION THAT THIS WILL REALLY BUILD OUR TRANSPARENCY TO GIVE THAT GUIDE FOR DEVELOPMENT, ANYTHING HAPPENING IN THE STREETS. WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS. IT MAKES ME THINK OF OUR NEW TREE ORDINANCE, I THINK. >> PRESERVATION AND REPLANTING STANDARDS. >> WHAT WAS THAT, AGAIN? >> TREE PRESERVATION, REPLANTING STANDARDS. >> THANK YOU. JUST MORE STANDARDS ARE TRANSPARENCY ACROSS OUR CITY, SO WE CAN BE CONSISTENT WITH WHAT OUR GOALS ARE. I WANTED TO ALSO MENTION. YOU HAD MENTIONED, MNDOT, BUT ALSO THE COUNTY HAS REALLY BEEN ATTENDING ALL OF OUR MEETINGS, HAS BEEN VERY GENUINE AND WANTING TO KNOW WHAT WE COULD SEE, WHAT WE COULD DO BETTER. I'M ALSO WORKING WITH OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT BECAUSE WE HAVE FOUR SCHOOLS ON ONE COUNTY ROAD. I JUST WANT TO SAY HOW HAPPY I AM TO SEE SO MUCH COLLABORATION THAT WILL BRING ABOUT SAFETY, BUT ALSO ENJOYMENT OF OUR CITY STREET. THANK YOU, SULMAAN AND KEVIN WHO IS NOT HERE TONIGHT, BUT IT'S BEEN A BIG EFFORT AND CULMINATION IS HAPPENING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH, ANDREW, AND SULMAAN AND STAFF. IF WE'RE FINISHED THEN WITH THIS, COULD I HAVE A MOTION THEN TO WAIVE THE READING? >> MOVE TO WAIVE THE READING OF RESOLUTION 2025-006, THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. >> SECOND. >> A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER JAMES AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER DENEEN TO WAIVE THE READING. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING AND HEARING THERE'S NONE, THEN ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. >> AYE. [OVERLAPPING] >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. NEXT WE HAVE A MOTION THEN TO APPROVE. >> MOVE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2025-006, BEING A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS COMPLETE STREETS POLICY, AND DIRECT STAFF TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPLEMENT THE COMPLETE STREET POLICY. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER JAMES AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER BUESGENS TO APPROVE RESOLUTION. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING AND HEARING THERE'S NONE, THEN ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. >> AYE. [OVERLAPPING] >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A FIVE-MINUTE RECESS REAL QUICK. >> IF WE'RE READY, WE CAN RESTART. THUMBS UP. WAY TO GO. THANK YOU. WE'VE RECONVENED BACK FOR OUR MEETING. WE HAVE NO BID CONSIDERATIONS, NEW BUSINESS AND REPORTS, WHICH MEANS WE GO TO OUR CITY COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS, [CITY COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS] AND WE WILL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND HELLO TO EVERYONE. SINCE THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING, I HAD THE PLEASURE OF ATTENDING THE CITY STAFF LUNCH IN DECEMBER. IT WAS WONDERFUL TO CELEBRATE AND RECOGNIZE THE HARD WORK OF ALL OF OUR CITY STAFF. A SPECIAL CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR, DIANA ARNIE, AND TO ALL THE STAFF MEMBERS WHO WERE RECOGNIZED WITH THEIR YEARS OF SERVICE, AND THEIR COMMITMENT REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE TO OUR COMMUNITY, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I ALSO MET WITH OUR CITY POLICE CHIEF TO DISCUSS PUBLIC SAFETY AND ONGOING INITIATIVES. I WILL MENTION THAT WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE ITEMS THAT ARE PASSED TONIGHT TO ADD IN ADDITIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY EFFORTS. WE ALSO HAVE A CITIZENS MULTICULTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO THE POLICE. IF MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY ARE INTERESTED IN BEING INVOLVED WITH HAVING AN ADVISING ROLE TO THE POLICE, THAT'S A WAY THAT YOU CAN ATTEND THOSE MEETINGS OR EVEN ASK TO BE ON THAT COMMITTEE SO YOU CAN HAVE A WAY FOR RESIDENTS TO INTERACT WITH THE POLICE. WE HAD OUR FIRST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MEETING OF THE YEAR. [02:10:02] I WAS HONORED TO BE ELECTED AS CHAIR OF THAT, AND WERE WORKING HARD WITH A LOT OF GOAL SETTING AND IDEAS TO HELP DRIVE MEANINGFUL GROWTH HERE IN OUR CITY, AND OUR WORK SESSION WHERE WE REVIEWED OUR PRIORITIES FOR THE YEAR AND SET THE STAGE FOR OUR UPCOMING YEAR. ALSO, WITH THE LAST MONTH, I'VE NOTICED I'VE BEEN IN CORRESPONDENCE AND MEETINGS WITH A LOT OF OUR RESIDENTS, PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT HOW WE CAN SUPPORT OUR IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORS, AND THOSE FOLKS HAVE BEEN REACHING OUT TO ME. THESE CONVERSATIONS REALLY HIGHLIGHT THE WAY THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US AS A CITY TO FOSTER INCLUSIVITY AND EQUITY IN OUR COMMUNITY AND TO WORK TOGETHER TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY SAFETY. THERE'S A LOT THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN BE IN COMMUNICATION. THEN LASTLY, TOMORROW, I'M PLANNING TO GO TO THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT RALLY AT THE CAPITOL ROTUNDA. REGARDLESS OF WHATEVER HAPPENS WITH THE LEGISLATURE, THERE'S BEEN A 51 YEAR ORGANIZATIONAL PUSH IN MINNESOTA TO ADD AN AMENDMENT TO OUR STATE CONSTITUTION TO ENACT EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL IN MINNESOTA. IF YOU'RE AVAILABLE TOMORROW, THAT'S HAPPENING AT 10:00 AM AT THE CAPITOL. THANK YOU, EVERYONE. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES. COUNSELOR BUESGENS. >> I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE A QUIET TIME FOR THE CHRISTMAS BREAK, BUT IT'S THIS MONTH, BUT IT'S NOT. [LAUGHTER] WHICH IS FINE. FIRST, I ATTENDED THE PARTNERS AND ENERGY MEETING. WE'RE CREATING STRATEGIES TO CREATE ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN OUR CITY, AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE ONE MORE MEETING, AND THEN THEY'RE GOING TO PULL EVERYTHING TOGETHER TO PRESENT TO THE COUNCIL AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. IT'S COMING ALONG REALLY NICE. I ATTENDED THE SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION. THEY WERE WORKING ON THE COMPLETE STREETS POLICY THAT CAME BEFORE US THIS EVENING. ATTENDED THE STAFF LUNCHEON. IT'S ALWAYS FUN TO HANG OUT AND TALK TO STAFF, AND IT'S A GREAT TIME TO SEE HOW LONG PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HERE. IT'S AMAZING THE LENGTH OF TIME SOME OF OUR MEMBERS ARE VERY COMMITTED IN SERVING OUR CITY. WE HAVE A GREAT STAFF, TOO. THEN I ATTENDED THE MNDOT MEETING WHERE CHRIS BAUER, THE REGIONAL NORTH ENGINEER, THE ENGINE NORTH OF THE NORTHERN PART OF THE METRO AREA MET WITH RESIDENTS TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS WE LIKE TO SEE ON CENTRAL AVENUE. BROUGHT UP SOME CONCERNS ABOUT MAINTENANCE ISSUES FOR SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE LOOKING AT. I BELIEVE THEY WOULD LIKE TO INVITE MORE RESIDENTS FROM THE CITY TO ATTEND THIS MEETING, SO I'M NOT SURE WHERE IT'LL BE POSTED, BUT PLEASE KEEP AN EYE OUT IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN HEARING WHAT HE HAS TO SAY AND THEN ALSO ASK QUESTIONS. BECAUSE IT STARTED WITH ME HAVING A TON OF QUESTIONS AT A WORK SESSION, SO IT WENT OUT INTO MEETINGS AND HE'S MORE THAN WILLING TO MEET WITH THE COMMUNITY TO ADDRESS OUR QUESTIONS AND ALSO WHAT WE LIKE TO SEE. I ATTENDED THE MINNESOTA VIA ZOOM MINNESOTA CITIES CLIMATE COALITION. THEY DISCUSSED BUILDING DECARBONIZATION. I WENT TO THE CHRISTMAS TRAIN. IT WASN'T AS BIG OF A CROWD, BUT THERE WAS STILL A GOOD CROWD THERE AND THE MUSIC WAS GREAT, AND THE LIGHTS WERE DIFFERENT, I THINK THIS YEAR, FOR SOME REASON, THEY SEEM DIFFERENT. MAY HAVE BEEN JUST ME, BUT IT'S REALLY PRETTY. THE TRAIN IS REALLY PRETTY. I ATTENDED THE COMMUNITY CRAFT NIGHT AT OUR LIBRARY, HEIGHTS. THEY DID ONE FOR THIS YEAR JUST TO SEE WHAT THE INTEREST WOULD BE, BUT THERE ISN'T ONE FOR FEBRUARY, MARCH AND APRIL. JUST FOR FOLKS OUT THERE, HEIGHTS NEXT WILL BE HOSTING THE NEXT CRAFT NIGHT AT MERCAN HALL IN THE SENIOR ROOM. THERE'S PARKING IN THE BACK. IT'S ON JANUARY 30 ON A THURSDAY EVENING FROM 5:00-8:00. YOU CAN CHECK THE HEIGHTS NEXT FACEBOOK PAGE OR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION. MWO EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING. WE DISCUSSED THE DIRECTOR SALARY. THEN I MET WITH COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS AND POLICE CHIEF MATT MARTIN TO DISCUSS THE VEHICLE DASHBOARD CAMERAS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN PAST THIS EVENING AND ATTENDED THE PLANNING COMMISSION. THERE THEY UPDATED THE ORDINANCES THAT WE REVIEWED TONIGHT AND PASSED. I BELIEVE THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DENEEN, YOUR VERY FIRST COUNCIL REPORT AND WELCOME. [LAUGHTER] >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. WELL, I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY ON CITY STAFF FOR WELCOMING ME AND HELPING ME GET SET UP WITH EMAIL AND MY PHONE AND ALL THE TECH THAT GOES INTO THIS, AND THEN GETTING ME UP TO SPEED. IT'S A LOT OF WORK THAT YOU DO BEHIND THE SCENE, SO I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. AS SOME OF YOU KNOW, I COME FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION, SO THIS IS MY FIRST COUNCIL MEETING, BUT I'M FEELING VERY AT HOME AND I'M VERY WELCOME, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WENT TO MY FIRST WORK SESSION AND EDA MEETING. THAT WAS REALLY EXCITING TO GET UP TO SPEED WITH WHAT'S GOING ON THERE. THEN I'M JUST REALLY EXCITED FOR THE UPCOMING WEEKS TO GET MORE INVOLVED WITH THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN THE CITY. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR WELCOMING ME. I'M REALLY EXCITED TO BE HERE. >> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS. >> THANK YOU. A LITTLE BIT OF OVERLAP HERE. ALSO ATTENDED OUR FIRST ED AND WORK SESSIONS OF THE YEAR. ALSO BRIEFLY GOT OUT TO THE HOLIDAY TRAIN. [02:15:02] I THINK IT WAS A PRETTY COLD NIGHT. IF I'M REMEMBERING IT WAS A LONG TIME AGO, IT SEEMS LIKE AND I CAN'T REMEMBER IF THIS HAPPENED BEFORE THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING OR NOT, BUT ALSO GOT TO SEE SANT ON THE FIRE TRUCK COBYER. HOUSE ALMOST THREE-YEAR-OLD LOVES THAT. ALSO ATTENDED THE LIBRARY BOARD MEETING LAST WEEK. MAINLY WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT 2024 YEAR IN REVIEW, AND THEN 2025 GOALS. ALSO MET WITH COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS, AND THE POLICE CHIEF ABOUT THE COUPLE OF ITEMS THAT WE HAD ON THE AGENDA TODAY. THEN I ALSO GOT AN OPPORTUNITY FROM OFFICER VONG TO SPEAK TO THE BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM. THEY WERE BRINGING DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND TALKING ABOUT CAREERS AND WHATNOT. I GOT TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT BECOMING A DOCTOR AND WHATNOT. ALSO I TALKED ABOUT CITY GOVERNMENT. THEY WEREN'T AS EXCITED IN THAT ONE, BUT I DID TALK ABOUT IT, BUT IT WAS REALLY GOOD TO TALK TO THEM AND JUST HEAR QUESTIONS THEY HAD AND STUFF. >> GREAT. THANK YOU. WELL, AGAIN, I'M JUST GOING TO SAY, WELCOME TO COUNCIL MEMBER DENEEN. THANKS FOR JOINING US. I KNOW THIS IS YOUR FIRST MEMBER MEETING SITTING AT THE DIAS, BUT YOU'VE ATTENDED MANY MEETINGS SAT IN THE BACKGROUND AT WORK SESSIONS, AND I KNOW WATCHED ON ZOOM. IT FEELS GREAT TO WELCOME SOMEONE WHO'S SO PREPARED TO MOVE FORWARD, AND YOU'RE JUST JUMPING RIGHT INTO IT BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAVE YOU'RE ATTENDING THE LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES TRAINING NEXT MONTH. WE HAVE MULTIPLE CITY EVENTS ALREADY COMING UP AND YOU'RE LIKE, ALREADY ADDING TO YOUR SCHEDULE. I'M JUST SO GLAD TO BE ABLE TO SEE YOU BEING ABLE TO JUST JUMP RIGHT IN. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE FOR BEING HERE WITH US. CONGRATULATIONS TO COUNSELOR BUESGENS, YOUR THIRD TERM HERE IN THE COUNCIL, AND SO GLAD TO HAVE YOU ON BOARD. AGAIN, IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE, AND WE'RE DOING AMAZING THINGS. GLAD YOU'RE HERE. SINCE OUR LAST CITY COUNCIL MEETING IN DECEMBER, I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO RECHARGE AND REFLECT. WE HAD OFF THE LAST WEEK OF THE MONTH. WE USUALLY DO THAT IN DECEMBER. AS COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS SAID, IT'S A NICE LITTLE DOWN TIME FOR US IN MY EMAIL BOX. I HOPE OUR COMMUNITY WAS ALSO ABLE TO REJUVENATE AND PRACTICE SOME SELF CARE DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON. RECOGNIZING THOUGH, THIS TIME OF YEAR CAN BRING BOTH JOY AND SORROW. I KNOW THAT CAN BE A REALLY HARD TIME FOR MANY OF US AS WELL. I WANTED TO SHARE SOME CONDOLENCES RECENTLY, WE EXPERIENCED A TRAGIC FIRE FATALITY IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS. MY HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES GO OUT TO THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF THAT RESIDENT. THE NAME WASN'T SHARED WITH ME, AND THAT ISN'T REALLY ANYTHING I NEED TO SHARE, BUT I JUST WANT TO EXTEND MY GRATITUDE TO OUR FIRST RESPONDERS FOR THEIR HARD WORK, THE TRAUMA THAT THEY ALL GO THROUGH EVERY DAY AND THIS HARD JOB THAT THEY DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND THEIR COMPASSION IN HANDLING THE SITUATION. I ATTENDED THE BOOSTER HOLIDAY POTLUCK AT MERCAN HALL. GRATEFUL TO JOIN OUR LOCAL BOOSTER CLUB. I APPRECIATE ALL THEY DO FOR OUR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY AND THE CITY. I VOLUNTEERED AT THE EVERY MEAL PROGRAM AT VALLEY VIEW SCHOOL TO HELP PROVIDE FOOD FOR CHILDREN IN NEED. I KNOW LAUREL ALSO VOLUNTEERS THERE AS WELL. SOMETIMES WE GET TO VOLUNTEER TOGETHER. IT'S FUN. I ATTENDED THE CITY LUNCHEON AND MUCH LIKE RACHEL COUNSELOR JAMES SAID, CONGRATULATIONS TO EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR DIANA ARNIE. SHE IS A 24-YEAR CASHIER AT THE TOP VALUE ON CENTRAL AVENUE. SHE'S ALSO A RESIDENT, BUT 24 YEARS SHE'S BEEN HERE. LIKE CONNIE SAID, IT'S AMAZING TO BE HERE THAT LONG. A FEW WORDS THAT WERE SHARED ABOUT HER IS JUST THAT YOU CAN ALWAYS ASK HER TO BE THERE. SHE'S ALWAYS READY TO STEP UP AND HELP THE MANAGER WITH ANYTHING, AND SHE HAS EVEN GIVEN THE COAT OFF HER BACK TO A COMMUNITY MEMBER WHO NEEDED THAT. SHE'S JUST A VERY GIVING GIVING EMPLOYEE AND NEIGHBOR. I ATTENDED THE CITY STAFF COOKIE EXCHANGE. I MADE MEXICAN WEDDING COOKIES, AND THEN OTHER FESTIVE ACTIVITIES OVER THE WINTER HOLIDAYS. ST. CAROL'S AT LOCAL BUSINESSES, SAW ELF AT THE MINNESOTA ORCHESTRA, AND ENJOYED WHITE CHRISTMAS AT BOTH THE HEIGHTS THEATER AND CAN HASSEN. I ALSO VISITED THE NORWAY HOUSE TO SEE THEIR GINGERBREAD HOUSE DISPLAY. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN THERE. IT'S ON LAKE STRAIGHT RIGHT OFF LAKE. IT'S AMAZING THOUGH. THEN, MUCH LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES HAD SAID, I'VE BEEN HEARING FROM RESIDENTS, AND I'VE HOSTED A COUPLE LISTENING SESSIONS SPECIFICALLY WITH RESIDENTS, FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS TO SUPPORT OUR NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT POSSIBLE DEPORTATIONS AND TARGETED RACISM. IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THOSE, PLEASE REACH OUT TO ME, AND WE CAN SEE WHAT RESOURCES WE CAN GET FOR YOU, AND JUST KNOW THAT YOU'RE NOT ALONE IN THOSE CONCERNS. FOR MY MEETINGS, I ATTENDED THE REGIONAL COUNCIL OF MAYOR'S MEETING. TODAY, WE HEARD ABOUT GOVERNMENT ANALYTICS, ABOUT MEGA TRENDS. [02:20:01] ALSO HEARD FROM PETER FRASCH FROM GREATER MSP AND FROM BIG INNOVATION LAB. I LOOK FORWARD TO CONNECTING OUR EDA WITH THOSE BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS TO BENEFIT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES. I ATTENDED OUR HEIGHTS NEXT MEETING. WE ARE HAVING OUR ANNUAL MEETING ON JANUARY 25 AT THE LIBRARY AT ONE O'CLOCK. IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING OR LEARNING MORE ABOUT HEIGHTS NEXT, WE'LL HAVE OUR MEETING ON JANUARY 25, SATURDAY. I ATTENDED OUR EDA AND WORK SESSION LAST WEEK. I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE RACHEL JAMES ON BECOMING OUR NEW CHAIR OF THE EDA. IT IS A CHANGE THAT HASN'T HAPPENED FOR A LONG TIME, AND I KNOW YOU'VE LEARNED A LOT BEING ON THERE FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS, SO WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU AS OUR CHAIR. WE ALSO DID REALLY A LOT WITH PRIORITIZING GOALS. I'M EXCITED TO HAVE THAT. KEEP MOVING FORWARD. I ATTENDED OUR BIPOC ELECTED LEADERS NETWORK MEETING, AND THAT MEETING REALLY HELPS US TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER IN OUR ROLES AS LEADERS. THE MINOT CENTRAL AVENUE MEETING. AS COUNSELOR BUESGENS MENTIONED, REALLY WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY ABOUT CENTRAL AVENUE AND MNDOT JUST STARTED THEIR BUSINESS OUTREACH. I'VE EVEN STOPPED AT BUSINESSES ALONG CENTRAL THIS WEEK, AND THEY HAD BIG FLYERS WITH UPDATES ON WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH CENTRAL AVENUE AND QUESTIONS. THE NEXT MEETING IS GOING TO BE FEBRUARY 12, WHICH IS A WEDNESDAY. I'LL BE HERE AT CITY HALL IN THE FIRE ROOM IN CENTRAL PLACE. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 4:00-5:00, THE MNDOT CENTRAL AVENUE MEETING. THEN I RECENTLY JOINED THE MINNESOTA STATE CANNABIS EXPUNGEMENT FOCUS GROUP, AND I'M REALLY EXCITED. WE WILL BE WORKING ON THAT STARTING THIS WEEK, AND I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT MOVING FORWARD IN OUR STATE, AND I'M REALLY HONORED TO BEEN ASKED TO BE A PART OF THAT. I ALSO STARTED WORKING ON MY ROTARY UPDATE FOR THE MAYOR'S MONARCH PLEDGE, WHICH THIS WILL BE FOR AN INTERNATIONAL ZOOM CALL FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY ROTARY ACTION GROUP. I'M PROUD TO SHARE ABOUT WHAT COLUMBIA HEIGHTS HAS DONE. THEN I ATTENDED A BOARD MEETING FOR ART TO CHANGE THE WORLD, WHICH CONTINUES TO BRING SOCIAL JUSTICE, AND CREATIVE ART INITIATIVES FORWARD. THAT'S MY REPORT FOR THE MONTH. I HAVE ONE OTHER THING I'D LIKE TO ADD THAT I FORGOT TO ADD DURING OUR RENTAL DISCUSSION. BUT I JUST WANT TO PUT IT ON THE RECORD. I GUESS, JUST TO SAY THAT I'M REALLY GLAD THAT WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE THAT FORWARD AND WORK WITH BRICK TO BRICK. BUT I REALLY WANT TO ALSO BE LOOKING AT WAYS THAT WE CAN MOVE TOWARDS A 90-DAY DEADLINE WHEN RENTERS WOULD NEED TO VACATE IF A RENTAL LICENSE WASN'T RENEWED. RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT A 45-DAY, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US MOVING TOWARDS THAT. I WANTED TO MENTION THAT EARLIER, BUT FORGOT TO SAY THAT. THAT'S THE END OF MY REPORT. COUNSELOR BUESGENS. >> I FORGOT TO MENTION SOMETHING IN MY LIST. WITH THE TRAGEDY, AND HORRIFIC FIRES THAT ARE HAPPENING IN CALIFORNIA. MY NIECE IS DOWN THERE. SHE WORKS FOR AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS HELPING THESE PEOPLE WITH SUPPLIES AND JUST GETTING ORIENTED. IT'S CALLED DREAM CENTER. IF FOLKS ARE LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO DONATE, IT IS A RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION. I KNOW THE RED CROSS IS, I'M SURE TAKING DONATIONS, BUT I JUST THOUGHT I'D MENTIONED IT AS A LEGITIMATE ONE WHERE THEY'RE ACTUALLY ON THE GROUND WORKING WITH THESE PEOPLE, AND IT'S BEEN PRETTY CRAZY DOWN THERE, BUT IT'S JUST BEEN HORRIFIC TO SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THESE PEOPLE. ANYWAY, JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR ADDING THAT. THAT WILL BRING US TO THE END OF OUR MAYOR AND COUNCIL REPORTS, AND NOW WE'LL GO TO OUR CITY MANAGER. >> THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. I'LL TRY TO BE QUICK. JUST AN UPDATE ON THE CITY'S WATER METER PROJECT. CURRENTLY, AS THE CITY KNOWS, THE CITY HAS PARTNERED WITH HYDRO CORP TO REPLACE 6,000 WATER METERS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. THEY'VE ALREADY DONE 1,000 WITH ANOTHER 1,000 APPOINTMENTS SCHEDULED. MOVING ALONG QUICKER THAN EXPECTED, WHICH IS GREAT NEWS. BIKE RACKS AT CITY HALL. WE CAN'T SEE THEM QUITE WITH IT BEING DARK, BUT RIGHT OUTSIDE IN THE POCKET PARK, THREE NEW PERMANENT BIKE RACKS THAT ACCOMMODATE SIX BIKES WERE INSTALLED RECENTLY WITH THE CITY LOGO ON THEM. CHECK THAT OUT IF YOU GET A CHANCE. SNOW BLAST, FEBRUARY 1, FROM 4:00-7:00 AT HUET PARK EAST. FREE FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENT INCLUDES LIVE MUSIC, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, PONY RIDES, SMORES, AND MORE. THANK YOU TO BARNEGAZ AND STEPH AND LTD FOR SPONSORING THAT EVENT THIS YEAR. DIRECT INTERESTED PARTIES TO THE CITY'S JOB OPENING PAGE ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE. THERE'S CURRENTLY OPENINGS FOR A COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICER, POLIF OFFICER, RETAIL CLERK, AND A VARIETY OF POSITIONS WITH THE RECREATION DEPARTMENT. FINALLY, CITY OFFICES ARE CLOSED ON MONDAY, JANUARY 20 IN OBSERVANCE OF MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR DAY. THAT'S IT. [02:25:04] >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE TO ADD, THEN, I'LL ASK FOR A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. >> I MOVE. >> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNSELOR SPRIGGS AND A SECOND BY COUNSELOR BUESGENS. WAS THAT YOU? COUNSELOR BUESGENS ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING IS NONE, THEN ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED. THANK YOU, AND WE'LL SEE YOU IN TWO WEEKS. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.