[00:00:02]
HELLO EVERYONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING TO OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
[WELCOME/CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL]
WE'RE GOING TO START NOW. HELLO. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH.COULD I PLEASE HAVE A ROLL CALL? COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS.
HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER DENEEN. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES.
HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS. HERE. MAYOR MARQUEZ-SIMULA.
HERE. THANK YOU. IF YOU'RE ABLE TO, PLEASE STAND AND JOIN ME SAYING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
OUR FLAG IS OVER ON THE WEST. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THANK YOU AND WELCOME TO EVERYONE HERE FOR OUR COUNCIL MEETING.
OUR FIRST MOTION FOR OUR AGENDA IS THE APPROVAL.
[APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
IS THERE ANY, COULD I GET A MOTION OF APPROVAL FROM THE COUNCIL? SO MOVED. SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED.ANY QUESTIONS? HEARING NONE. THEN ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. NEXT WE HAVE OUR PROCLAMATIONS.
[PROCLAMATIONS, PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITION, ANNOUNCEMENTS, GUESTS]
AND OUR FIRST IS FOR SCHOOL BREAKFAST WEEK. I HAVE A LOT OF PAPERS ON MY COUNTER HERE. THIS IS NATIONAL SCHOOL BREAKFAST WEEK.IT IS FOR NEXT WEEK, MARCH 3RD THROUGH THE 7TH FOR 2025.
THE SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM IS DEDICATED TO THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF OUR NATION'S CHILDREN.
THE SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM JOINS AND HAS BEEN JOINED THROUGH THE YEARS BY MANY OTHER EXCELLENT CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS, AND RECENT RESEARCH SHOWS STUDENTS ARE RECEIVING THEIR HEALTHIEST MEALS AT SCHOOLS.
THERE IS EVIDENCE OF THE CONTINUATION OF THE NEED FOR NUTRITIONAL EDUCATION AND AWARENESS OF THE VALUE OF SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAMS. SO NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT I AMADA MARQUEZ-SIMULA MAYOR OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE WEEK OF MARCH 3RD THROUGH THE 7TH, 2025 AS NATIONAL SCHOOL BREAKFAST WEEK. I ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS TO BECOME AWARE OF THE BENEFITS OF THE SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM AND SUPPORT GOOD NUTRITION HABITS FOR THEIR CHILDREN IN THE HOPE OF ACHIEVING A MORE HEALTHY CITIZENRY FOR TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE.
AND WE CAN HAVE AN APPLAUSE FOR OUR PROCLAMATION [APPLAUSE].
AND ALSO JOINING US TODAY IS TO RECEIVE THE PROCLAMATION IS JESSICA MEDEARIS AND MICHELLE PETTWAY, WHO ARE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. IF YOU COULD COME UP, I WOULD LOVE TO GIVE YOU A PROCLAMATION AND WE CAN DO A PHOTO.
BREAKFAST AND OUR NUTRITION PROGRAMS OVERALL ARE TO MAKING SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS CAN LEARN, MAKING SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS CAN THRIVE AT SCHOOL.
I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SHARE THIS PROCLAMATION WITH OUR FABULOUS FOOD SERVICE STAFF IN THE DISTRICT, WHO MAKE SURE EVERY DAY THAT OUR KIDS ARE NOT ONLY FED, BUT THAT THEY'RE CREATING CREATIVE, HEALTHY, CULTURALLY RELEVANT AND LOCALLY SOURCED MENUS FOR OUR STUDENTS.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN.
WELL, I'M JUST GOING TO START BY SAYING THAT I WAS THE I'M THE FORMER LIAISON TO THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD, AND I WILL BE PASSING THAT ON TO BOARD MEMBER MEDEARIS HERE.
AND SO SHE WILL BE GIVING YOU YOUR UPDATES FROM NOW ON.
AND I'LL MISS YOU GUYS. OH. THANK YOU. I WILL LET HER DO THAT.
[00:05:04]
AND I'M ALSO NEWLY APPOINTED AS THE SCHOOL BOARD LIAISON TO THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, TAKING OVER THE ROLE FROM MICHELLE PETTWAY AS SHE MENTIONED.SO I DO HAVE A FEW UPDATES TO SHARE WITH YOU THIS EVENING.
SO MICHELLE PETTWAY WAS SWORN IN AS WELL AS MARY GRANLUND.
AND THEN WE ALSO WELCOMED A NEW BOARD MEMBER, CORENIA SMITH, WHO JOINED THE BOARD IN JANUARY.
MARY GRANLUND WAS ALSO ELECTED AS THE NEW CHAIR OF OUR BOARD.
WE ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WELCOME TWO NEW STUDENT SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE GOING TO BE JOINING THE SCHOOL BOARD IN ALL OF OUR SUBCOMMITTEE WORK AND SITTING AT THE BOARD TABLE. WE'VE HAD A FEW MEETINGS WITH THEM ALREADY, AND THEIR PERSPECTIVES HAVE BEEN VERY VALUABLE TO DISCUSSION, TO HEAR WHAT LIFE IS LIKE AS A CURRENT STUDENT IN HEIGHTS.
A COUPLE OF STUDENT ACTIVITY UPDATES. WE JUST HAD A GROUP OF MUSIC AND ART STUDENTS WHO TRAVELED TWO WEEKS AGO TO CHICAGO, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN COLLEGE TOURS AND ATTEND ARTS EXHIBITS AND PERFORMANCES.
OUR COLUMBIA ACADEMY, OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS, WILL BE MOUNTING A PRODUCTION OF ANNIE JUNIOR AT THE HIGH SCHOOL COMING UP THE WEEKEND OF MARCH 14TH THROUGH 16TH. AND SO I WOULD INVITE EVERYONE IN THE CITY TO ATTEND.
THEY ALWAYS DO A REALLY FABULOUS JOB AT THOSE PERFORMANCES.
AND SO WE'RE CONTINUING TO LOOK AT THAT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. BUT I ALSO WANTED TO JUST MENTION THAT RESIDENTS, STUDENTS IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS ALWAYS HAVE A PLACE AT THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL.
SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT RESIDENTS WERE AWARE OF THAT.
AND THEN LASTLY, I WANTED TO MENTION THAT SUMMER PROGRAMING IS GOING TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON BY THE DISTRICT, AND I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT WE'RE ABLE TO BRING BACK PRETTY ROBUST ACADEMIC AND ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES THIS SUMMER.
SO I'D ENCOURAGE FAMILIES TO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THAT.
SO I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THOSE UPDATES AND YOU'LL SEE ME AGAIN AT FUTURE MEETINGS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU JESSICA. DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL? I JUST WANT TO ALSO SHARE MY THANKS TO THE FOOD SERVICE STAFF.
I THINK THAT THAT IS GREAT TO RECOGNIZE THE HARD WORK THEY DO.
SO I SEE THE KIDS COMING OUT OF HAVING SOME BREAKFAST TIME OR A SNACK TIME, AND IT'S JUST SO FUN TO SEE EVERYBODY IN THE CAFETERIA, YOU KNOW, ENJOYING THEIR TIME WITH THEIR FRIENDS AND EVERYTHING.
SO THANK YOU FOR SHARING THE PROCLAMATION WITH THEM AS WELL.
ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GREAT. NEXT WE HAVE OUR PROCLAMATION FOR WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH. AND WE'RE ALSO INCLUDING THIS WITH INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY AS THEY'RE IN THE SAME MONTH.
AND TO READ THIS PROCLAMATION WILL BE OUR COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES.
WOMEN HAVE PLAYED AND CONTINUE TO PLAY VITAL ROLES IN OUR SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, CULTURAL AND POLITICAL SPHERES, SHAPING THE WORLD THROUGH THEIR LEADERSHIP, RESILIENCE, AND ADVOCACY FOR JUSTICE AND EQUALITY.
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY, CELEBRATED ANNUALLY ON MARCH 8TH.
IT IS A TIME TO CELEBRATE PROGRESS WHILE ALSO ACKNOWLEDGING THE PERSISTENT CHALLENGES WOMEN FACE; INCLUDING THE GENDER PAY GAP, UNDERREPRESENTATION IN LEADERSHIP, AND VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN.
WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED IN 1987, BUILDS ON THIS CELEBRATION BY AMPLIFYING THE STORIES AND AND STORIES OF WOMEN AND THEIR VOICES WHO HAVE FOUGHT FOR SUFFRAGE, CIVIL RIGHTS, LABOR PROTECTIONS, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.
[00:10:08]
HISTORICALLY, WOMEN HAVE BEEN THE BACKBONE OF COMMUNITIES, PROVIDING ESSENTIAL LABOR INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE HOME, VOLUNTEERING IN CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS, AND SERVING COURAGEOUSLY IN THE MILITARY.DESPITE SYSTEMIC BARRIERS, WOMEN OF ALL RACES, CULTURES, GENDER IDENTITIES, AND SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS HAVE MADE LASTING CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR NATION'S PROGRESS. THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS IS PROUD TO HONOR WOMEN'S HISTORY AND ACHIEVEMENTS, AND REAFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO GENDER EQUITY AND INCLUSION.
WE ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS TO CELEBRATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF WOMEN, UPLIFT THEIR VOICES, AND CONTINUE THE WORK TOWARD A FUTURE WHERE EVERYONE HAS EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES TO THRIVE. NOW, THEREFORE, I AMADA MARQUEZ -SIMULA MAYOR OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 2025 AS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH AND MARCH 8TH AS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY IN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS COUNTY OF ANOKA, STATE OF MINNESOTA, USA. LET US HONOR THE WOMEN OF THE PAST, SUPPORT THE WOMEN OF TODAY, AND EMPOWER THE WOMEN OF THE FUTURE.
TOGETHER, WE BUILD A MORE JUST AND EQUITABLE WORLD FOR ALL [APPLAUSE].
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES. AND TO RECEIVE OUR PROCLAMATION FOR THIS TONIGHT IS GRACE GEE, WHO IS THE CO-CHAIR OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS IN THE NEW BRIGHTON CHAPTER, OF WHICH I'M A MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES IS ALSO A MEMBER, AND WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU.
SO IF YOU WANT TO COME ON UP, I'LL HAND THIS TO YOU, AND WE CAN DO A PHOTO.
MIC] I JUST THOUGHT I'D JUST GIVE YOU A LITTLE HISTORY ABOUT THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS.
IT WAS ESTABLISHED WHEN THE WOMEN GOT THE VOTE, WHICH WAS IN 1920.
AND THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION INITIALLY WAS AND CONTINUES TO BE EDUCATING AND EMPOWERING VOTING, UNDERSTANDING THE INFORMATION BEHIND HOW YOU SHOULD BE VOTING AND TO DEFEND DEMOCRACY AND MAKE IT FAIR FOR ALL, WHICH WAS SYMBOLIZED BY THE WOMEN FINALLY BEING ABLE TO VOTE.
AND WE HAD OUR 105TH ANNIVERSARY JUST IN THIS IN THIS YEAR.
SO IT'S PRETTY GOOD. I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THE LEAGUE IS.
IT'S NONPARTISAN. IT'S NONPROFIT. IT ENCOURAGES INFORMED AND ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNMENT.
IT INFLUENCES POLICIES. THE LEAGUE DOES NATIONWIDE STUDIES.
SOME EXAMPLES ARE HEALTH CARE PLANS, REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.
OVER THE YEARS WE HAVE MANY, MANY, MANY POSITIONS.
WE ARE SIMPLY ADVOCATING FOR THE POSITIONS THAT OUR MEMBERS BELIEVED IN AND SUPPORTED.
WE DON'T EVER GET INTO THE ELECTION PIECE. WE DON'T.
WE DON'T SUPPORT CANDIDATES, BUT WE SUPPORT ISSUES.
SO ONCE THE ISSUES ARE OUT THERE, THE THE CANDIDATES ARE ELECTED, THEN WE CAN SUPPORT THEM.
SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO REMAIN NONPARTISAN.
WE DID A FORUM FOR THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL.
WE WENT TO THE HIGH SCHOOL AND THERE WAS A NATIONAL REGISTRATION DAY IN SEPTEMBER, AND THE NEW LAW IN MINNESOTA WAS THAT WE COULD PRE-REGISTER 16 AND 17 YEAR OLD'S. THEN THEY WILL GET THEY WILL GET A NOTICE WHEN THEY'RE WHEN THEY ARE OF AGE, WHEN THE NEXT ELECTION IS WHERE THEY WILL BE 18.
SO WE DID THAT AND THAT WAS ACTUALLY THESE TWO GUYS WERE THE MAYOR AND THE AND RACHEL, AMADA AND RACHEL, I SHOULD CALL YOU BY NAME, SORRY. THEY WERE THERE HELPING OUT, AND IT WAS REALLY VERY FUN WHEN I HEARD THE STUFF ABOUT THE LUNCH HOUR JUST EARLIER.
IT'S A VERY FUN ENVIRONMENT. THEY'RE ENJOYING EACH OTHER.
[00:15:04]
AND SOME PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, I THINK THEY WERE JUST TRYING TO EGG US A LITTLE OR THEY SAID IT TO ME.THEY SAID, WELL, WE DON'T THINK WOMEN SHOULD VOTE, BUT I THINK THEY WERE.
I HOPE THEY WERE JOKING. BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE HIGH SCHOOLERS.
IT WAS A PRETTY ACTIVE ONE THIS YEAR BECAUSE THERE WAS A BIG ELECTION COMING UP.
SO WE WERE GIVING OUT PEOPLE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO REGISTER INFORMATION, NOT INFORMATION ABOUT CANDIDATES, BUT ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF KNOWING WHAT THESE CANDIDATES STOOD FOR.
OTHER AREAS THAT WE THAT OUR LEAGUE DOES, WE HAVE AN OBSERVER CORPS AND WE ARE WHEN THE LEGISLATURE IS IN SESSION, WE ARE THERE AND WE PICK CERTAIN ISSUES THAT AGAIN, I SAID WE HAVE STUDIED IN THE PAST.
WE ARE WE ADVOCATE. WE HAVE JUST VOLUNTEERS THAT LEARN ABOUT THE ISSUE AND THEY'RE THERE FOR US.
WE ALSO HAVE A CLIMATE CHANGE TASK FORCE. AND WE HAVE I WANT TO END ON A NOTE OF TAKING ACTION ON DEMOCRACY AND I'M GOING TO START WITH A QUOTE FROM JOHN LEWIS, WHO WAS A CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER AND A CONGRESSMAN WHO PASSED AWAY MAYBE 4 OR 5 YEARS AGO. SO THIS IS JUST A SMALL QUOTE THAT IS AT THE VERY TOP OF OUR LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS WEBSITE HERE IN MINNESOTA. " FREEDOM IS NOT A STATE, IT IS AN ACT.
FREEDOM IS THE CONTINUOUS ACTIONS WE ALL MUST TAKE, AND EACH GENERATION MUST DO ITS PART TO CREATE." SO I AM BRINGING SOME BUSINESS CARDS. I'LL LEAVE THEM WITH RACHEL TO WHATEVER, IF ANYBODY WANTS, I'LL LET THEM TAKE THEM.
WITHOUT GETTING INTO ANYTHING ABOUT HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT IT, I THINK IT'S IN JEOPARDY.
AND THERE IS A LOT OF IDEAS, INFORMATIONAL WEBINARS THAT YOU CAN LISTEN TO.
AND JUST LEARNING ABOUT WHAT OUR RIGHTS ARE AS CITIZENS AND IN THERE GIVES YOU A LINK WHERE YOU CAN CALL YOUR LEGISLATORS, AND ONE THAT I HAVE JUST DISCOVERED AND THE LEAGUE SUPPORTS IS THERE'S ONE CALLED MAKE SURE I GOT IT RIGHT, FIVE CALLS THE NUMBER FIVE AND THEN CALLS. IT'S A FREE APP AND IT LISTS ALL KINDS OF ISSUES THAT YOU MAY WANT TO YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T TELL YOU HOW TO VOTE. IT JUST TELLS YOU THESE ARE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE IN FRONT OF OUR COUNTRY RIGHT NOW.
AND TO START UP THE APP, YOU PUT IN YOUR ZIP CODE, AND MY ZIP CODE HAPPENS TO BE I LIVE IN SAINT ANTHONY, BUT IT'S COLUMBIA HEIGHTS. SO I PUT IN MY ZIP CODE AND THEN I CLICK ON ANY OF THE ISSUES, WHEN YOU GO INTO THE APP AND IT WILL PULL UP YOUR REPRESENTATIVES THAT ARE TIED TO YOUR, YOUR ZIP CODE. SO IT'S SOMETHING WHERE YOU CAN YOU CAN LOOK THERE.
SO THAT'S WHAT THE LEAGUE IS ALL ABOUT. AND WE'RE HAPPY TO BE PART OF THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AREA, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NEW BRIGHTON AREA. I'M SAINT ANTHONY, SO I GET IT.
WE JUST HAVE TO ALL WORK TOGETHER BECAUSE IT'S WE'RE TOO SMALL IN SAINT ANTHONY IN PARTICULAR.
SO I WILL LEAVE SOME OF THESE. YOU CAN ACTUALLY JUST IF YOU WANT TO JUST LEAVE THEM.
RIGHT. RIGHT THERE ON THE RIGHT HERE. YEP. RIGHT THERE WILL BE FINE. ALL RIGHT. AND IF THERE'S ANY LEFT, I'LL LET YOU KNOW I DON'T KNOW. YEAH. SO I'LL LEAVE THEM THERE.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE PROCLAMATION. AND THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME AND, GRACE.
DON'T FORGET TO VOTE THE NEXT TIME THERE'S AN ELECTION. THANK YOU. AND GRACE, BEFORE YOU SIT DOWN.
ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK A CLARIFYING QUESTION ARE ONLY WOMEN ALLOWED TO BE IN THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS? I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT YOU DON'T, A MAN CAN BE AND WE DO HAVE SOME MEMBERS.
AND ACTUALLY, BECAUSE OUR OUR NATIONAL LEAGUE IS GETTING READY TO DO A FEDERAL JUDICIARY STUDY SO THAT WE CAN DO ADVOCACY TOWARD WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR COURTS. WE DON'T HAVE A POSITION ON THAT NOW.
AND MY HUSBAND IS A RETIRED ATTORNEY, AND I'M MAKING HIM A MEMBER SO HE CAN JOIN IN THE STUDY AND HELP WITH THE WE DO A, WE DO AN INFORMATIONAL PIECE, AND THEN WE VOTE ON IT.
AND ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, ALL THE LOCAL LEAGUES ARE DOING THIS.
AND THE HOPE IS TO HAVE A POSITION SO THAT WE CAN ADVOCATE.
SO ANY YEAH GUYS. GUYS CAN AND WE DO. WE DON'T HAVE ANY IN OUR LOCAL LEAGUE.
BUT THERE ARE THERE ARE OTHERS OTHER PLACES. AND MY HUSBAND'S GOING TO BE JOINING.
SO THAT'S WHY I'M INTERESTED. YES. ANY GENDERS.
[00:20:03]
AND THEN DO YOU MEET MONTHLY? WE WE HAVE MEMBER MEETINGS MOST MONTHS.IT'S ACTUALLY A PRETTY BUSY TIME NOW WE'RE HAVING A MEETING, A MEMBER EDUCATION THAT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AT THE NEW BRIGHTON COMMUNITY CENTER NEXT TUESDAY, I BELIEVE IT'S THE 4TH OF MARCH. AND IT'S GOING TO BE ON CLIMATE ACTION.
AND ONE OF OUR LOCAL LEAGUE PEOPLE WHO HAPPENS TO BE ON THE COUNCIL OF SAINT ANTHONY'S COUNCIL, IS VERY INVOLVED IN CLIMATE WORK AND ENVIRONMENTAL WORK.
SO SHE'S DOING A PROGRAM. IT'S 7 TO 8:30, ANYBODY'S WELCOME, IT'S NEXT TUESDAY I DON'T KNOW, DO YOU HAVE COUNCIL MEETINGS ON TUESDAY? WE HAVE THEM ON MONDAYS HERE. OH YOURS ARE ON MONDAYS. YEAH. SO ANYWAY THAT WE DO WE DO PROGRAMS LIKE THAT.
WE'RE ACTUALLY AS LONG AS YOU ASKED, THERE'S ANOTHER ONE THAT NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT YET, BUT THERE IS A DOCUMENTARY CALLED JOIN OR DIE, AND IT'S TALKING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY.
AND IT'S IT CAN BE A BIG PART OF DEFENDING DEMOCRACY.
IT'S ABOUT OH, PUT ROBERT PUTMAN, WHO HAS WROTE THE BOOK BOWLING ALONE, IT'S A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT HIM, AND IT JUST SHOWS THAT WE HAVE LESS ENGAGEMENT.
AND IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR 20 YEARS. IT'S NOT JUST THE RECENT BLAMING IT ON THE PHONE.
SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SHOWING OF THAT SOMETIME IN APRIL.
WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN AGAIN AND SHARING A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE LOCAL CLUB, AND YEAH, WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU. AND ANYBODY'S WELCOME TO YOU CAN JOIN BY TAKING ONE OF THESE CARDS.
YOU CAN DO IT THROUGH THE THROUGH THE WEBSITE. SO GREAT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH GRACE. THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION FOR NATIONAL NATIONAL DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY AWARENESS MONTH AND READING THIS ONE IS OUR COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS.
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY AWARENESS MONTH MARCH 2025.
DISABILITY IS A SOCIAL CONSTRUCT. THE PROBLEM IS NOT THE MEDICAL CONDITION THAT RESIDES WITHIN THE INDIVIDUAL, THE PROBLEM IS THAT SOCIETY DOES NOT CREATE WELCOMING, SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENTS, POLICIES OR SYSTEMS FOR ALL.
WE OBSERVE DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY AWARENESS MONTH IN MARCH, A TIME TO CELEBRATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND TO PROMOTE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE CHALLENGES THEY FACE.
THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO INCREASE AWARENESS IS THROUGH EVERYONE'S OPENNESS TO LEARN ABOUT AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE SYSTEMIC BARRIERS THAT OPPRESS THOSE WITH DISABILITIES, SO THAT POLICIES ARE DEVELOPED, ATTITUDES ARE RESHAPED, AND EQUITABLE EXPERIENCES ARE OFFERED TO ALL INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING THOSE WITH DISABILITIES. SOCIETY MISSES OUT ON THE RICH TALENTS AND EXPERIENCES OF THOSE WITH DISABILITIES HAVE TO OFFER FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES.
CITIZENS SHOULD DO ALL IN THEIR POWER TO RECOGNIZE THE BARRIERS PRESENTED TO THOSE WITH DISABILITIES, RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF THE EXPERIENCES THOSE WITH DISABILITIES HAVE IN OUR LIVES FOR THE VALUED ROLE THEY PLAY IN OUR RICH DIVERSITY.
UNDERSTAND THE LOSSES, WHETHER THAT BE FINANCIAL, SPIRITUAL, HUMAN RIGHTS, CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY OR OTHERWISE WHEN OUR COMMUNITIES SEGREGATE AND CREATE BARRIERS FOR THOSE WITH DISABILITIES.
THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS IS COMMITTED TO AN INCREASING IS COMMITTED TO INCREASING PUBLIC AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF DISABILITY RELATED ISSUES, AS WELL AS ENSURING THAT ALL INDIVIDUALS, REGARDLESS OF DISABILITY, HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO AND FULL PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY LIFE.
NOW, THEREFORE, I MAYOR AMADA MARQUEZ -SIMULA, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 2025 AS DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY AWARENESS MONTH IN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, COUNTY OF ANOKA, STATE OF MINNESOTA, USA AND ENCOURAGE ALL CITIZENS TO SUPPORT AND PARTICIPATE.
AND THANK YOU JUSTICE [APPLAUSE]. AND TO RECEIVE TONIGHT'S PROCLAMATION IS TIM DICKIE, WHO IS THE CEO OF RISE. AND I DON'T KNOW IF EMILY IS COMING UP AS WELL, BUT.
NO. OKAY. SO THANK YOU. I'LL SEE YOU UP HERE.
MIC] WELL, THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE'RE HONORED THAT YOU'VE INVITED US HERE AND APPRECIATE THE PROCLAMATION.
[00:25:01]
AGAIN, MY NAME IS TIM DICKIE I'M THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF RISE INCORPORATED, AND RISE IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT SERVES PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.WE'VE BEEN AROUND SINCE 1971 SERVING ANOKA COUNTY, HENNEPIN COUNTY, KIND OF THE BROADER METRO AREA, AS WELL AS OUTSTATE, MINNESOTA. UP ON THE SLIDES, YOU SEE, OUR MISSION RISE UNLOCKS POTENTIAL AND OPENS DOORS TO SUCCESS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OR OTHER CHALLENGES THROUGH CREATIVE SOLUTIONS AND CUSTOMIZED SUPPORT.
SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WE PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, LIFE ENRICHMENT SERVICES, AND HOUSING SERVICES TO PEOPLE WITH REALLY A BROAD RANGE OF DISABILITIES. A FEW KEY FACTS ABOUT RISE THAT WE WANTED TO SHARE, WE'RE A PRIVATE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.
WE SERVE ABOUT 2,500 PEOPLE ANNUALLY ACROSS OUR PROGRAMS IN MINNESOTA AND ALSO IN NEW RICHMOND, WISCONSIN. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THE RANGE OF PEOPLE WE SUPPORT IS REALLY QUITE WIDE, FROM PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES TO MENTAL ILLNESS. PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
WE ALSO HAVE A SPECIALTY PROGRAM FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE DEAF, DEAF BLIND AND HARD OF HEARING, PEOPLE WITH BRAIN INJURIES AND PEOPLE WITH JUST OTHER BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT OR HOUSING.
IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS FOR PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, WE HAVE LIFE ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS. SO THESE ARE DAY SUPPORT TYPES OF PROGRAMS THAT ARE FOCUSED ON RECREATION AND SKILL BUILDING AND VOLUNTEERISM, HEALTH AND WELLNESS TYPES OF ACTIVITIES. FOR SOME PEOPLE, IT CAN BE A RETIREMENT OPTION.
AND WE ALSO HAVE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS. AND THOSE RANGE FROM COMMUNITY GROUP EMPLOYMENT, WHICH IS WHERE WE CONTRACT WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES TO DO A JOB A ND WE PROVIDE THE SUPERVISION, THE JOB COACHING AND SUPPORT TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ARE WORKING AT THAT EMPLOYMENT SITE IN THE COMMUNITY. AND THEN WE HAVE COMPETITIVE EMPLOYMENT, WHICH IS KIND OF THE LARGEST PIECE OF WHAT WE DO.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE HELPING PEOPLE FIND AND MAINTAIN JOBS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.
SOMETIMES THOSE SUPPORTS ARE REALLY BEHIND THE SCENES AND SOMETIMES THEY'RE VERY HANDS ON.
SO THAT'S A LITTLE BIT ABOUT RISE REAL QUICK.
I'M GOING TO LEAVE SOME BUSINESS CARDS UP HERE TOO.
IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME OR WOULD WANT TO REACH OUT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR SERVICES, I'D BE HAPPY TO CONNECT WITH YOU. SO THANK YOU AGAIN.
APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN.
IT'S GREAT TO HEAR MORE ABOUT YOUR SERVICES. AND I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES HAD REACHED OUT TO YOU AND MET YOU AT THE NORTH BUSINESS CHAMBER MEETING, IS THAT CORRECT? YES. YES. SO THANK YOU. OH, NOEL.
SORRY. SO THANK YOU FOR COMING IN TONIGHT AND SHARING ABOUT IT.
SO WE'LL DEFINITELY STAY IN TOUCH IF THERE'S WAYS THAT WE CAN HELP SHARE YOUR MESSAGE OUT.
AS GRACE MENTIONED EARLIER, WE HAVE THE ART AND INFO FAIR AND DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES TO TABLE.
I THINK. I KNOW WE'VE SEEN YOU BEFORE, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW YOU'RE ALWAYS INVITED.
YEAH. TERRIFIC. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
GOOD NIGHT. YOU CAN SHARE THAT WITH THEM ON THE MICROPHONE IF YOU COUNCIL MEMBER DENEEN SAID HER MOTHER WORKS AT RISE.
SO SHE WORKS IN ONE OF YOUR ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS. SO SHE WORKS WITH PEOPLE DURING THE DAY AND WITH SKILLS AND STUFF.
IT'S IN THE NORTHERN SUBURBS. I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHICH ONE IT IS, BUT YEAH, SHE REALLY ENJOYS IT.
THAT'S GREAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT.
THE NEXT PART OF OUR MEETING IS OUR COMMUNITY FORUM.
[COMMUNITY FORUM]
THE COMMUNITY FORUM IS FOR ANYONE TO SPEAK FROM THE PUBLIC, TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL REGARDING A MATTER THAT IS NOT SCHEDULED FOR A PUBLIC HEARING LATER IN THE MEETING. SPEAKERS THAT ARE IN PERSON ARE ASKED TO COMPLETE A SPEAKER FORM AND SUBMIT IT TO THE CITY CLERK WHO IS SITTING OVER HERE.AND THEN WE HAVE SPEAKER FORMS THAT ARE OUTSIDE THE DOOR.
AND THEN IF YOU'RE ATTENDING VIRTUALLY, YOU CAN SPEAK.
IS ANYONE VIRTUALLY ATTENDING OUR MEETING? ALL RIGHT.
AND SPEAKERS SHOULD LIMIT THEIR COMMENTS TO FIVE MINUTES.
NO PERSONAL ATTACKS, THREATS, USE OF PROFANITY OR OTHER DISRESPECTFUL COMMENTS ARE ALLOWED.
AND THE CITY COUNCIL WILL LISTEN TO PUBLIC COMMENTS, ASK CLARIFYING QUESTIONS AND, IF NEEDED, REQUEST STAFF TO FOLLOW UP OR DIRECT THE MATTER TO BE ADDED TO AN UPCOMING AGENDA.
AND SARA, DO WE HAVE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK THIS EVENING? WE DO, ADRIAN MURPHY WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.
THANK YOU. WELCOME, ADRIAN. AND THEN WE ASK, AS YOU SAW, JUST SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE, OTHERWISE,
[00:30:04]
IT DOESN'T GET RECORDED. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.I FIRST OF ALL MY SISTER WORKS IN FOOD SERVICE OVER AT ROBBINSDALE.
AND ONE THING I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DON'T POINT OUT YOU REALLY NEED TO GO IN AND TELL THAT STAFF, BECAUSE QUITE OFTEN THIS KIND OF STUFF HAPPENS AT A HIGHER LEVEL LIKE THAT AND THEY'RE NOT AWARE OF IT.
SO PLEASE PASS IT ON, BECAUSE I THINK THEY REALLY APPRECIATE THE FACT OF THAT THEY ARE APPRECIATED.
I ATTENDED THE MNDOT MEETING ABOUT THE THE ROAD RECONSTRUCTION ON UNIVERSITY AND CENTRAL.
OBVIOUSLY THESE ARE HUGE MAJOR PROJECTS. AND I WAS DISAPPOINTED WHEN I WENT TO THE MEETING I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION, AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT CAME FROM, THAT SOMEBODY WOULD BE REPRESENTING THE CITY THERE AND RELAYING INFORMATION AS FAR AS WHAT THE CITY'S, YOU KNOW, THOUGHTS ARE, OR WHAT ARE WE LOOKING TO DO AS A CITY BECAUSE THEY'RE CREATING THESE TWO PROPOSALS.
AND THE WAY I UNDERSTAND IT, THESE TWO PROPOSALS THAT THEY'RE THEY'RE KIND OF WINNOWING IT DOWN AND THEY'RE ASKING FOR PUBLIC INPUT, BUT THAT THOSE WILL ULTIMATELY BE PRESENTED TO THE CITY IN THE CITY THEN SIGNS OFF ON IT.
AND I'M WONDERING KIND OF WHAT YOUR YOUR THOUGHTS ARE, BECAUSE I LOOKED AT THE TWO PROPOSALS AS THEY EXIST NOW, AND I DON'T LIKE EITHER OF THEM, TO BE PERFECTLY HONEST.
I LIVE ON CENTRAL AVENUE ON THE 4400 BLOCK, AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I'M SEEING, I REALIZE I COULD SEE WHERE THE IDEAS MIGHT BE GOOD IDEAS AS YOU'RE SITTING IN AN OFFICE AND LOOKING AT AN OVERHEAD VIEW AND CREATING A MAP, BUT I DON'T SEE THEM AS SOLVING THE PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE SUPPOSEDLY TRYING TO SOLVE, WHICH IS THE SAFETY.
AND THAT MADE ME START TO WONDER, WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF ALL THESE ACCIDENTS THAT WE HAVE? I MEAN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REDOING. OBVIOUSLY, THEY NEED TO REDO THE ROADS JUST FROM A LIFESPAN, YOU KNOW, REASON. BUT WHY ARE WE CHANGING THINGS LIKE GOING FROM TWO LANES TO A SINGLE LANE? WE SAY, OH, WELL, THAT'LL BE SAFER, BUT IT'S SAFER AGAINST WHAT? AND YOU SAY, OH, AN ACCIDENT. BUT WHAT CAUSED THE ACCIDENT? WAS IT BECAUSE OF, YOU KNOW, VISIBILITY ISSUES? WAS IT BECAUSE OF AND THIS IS WHAT STRUCK ME IN THE DAYS SINCE THEN.
THERE WAS JUST A THING IN THE NEWSPAPER IT WAS THE SAINT PAUL NEWSPAPER TALKING ABOUT THE BUREAU OF CRIMINAL APPREHENSION HAS A DWI DASHBOARD THAT THEY JUST OPENED TO THE PUBLIC. AND WHEN I PULLED IT UP, IT SHOWED SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, THERE WERE SIX DWIS ON UNIVERSITY AND CENTRAL BETWEEN 694 AND SAY 36-7TH, WHATEVER. THREE OF THOSE INVOLVED CRASHES.
WELL, IF WE PUT IN ROUNDABOUTS, WHICH I AM NOT A FAN OF, AND THE PEOPLE THAT I'VE TALKED TO ARE, YOU KNOW, LAYMEN ON THE STREET AND THE SHOPS I GO INTO BECAUSE I TALK TO EVERYBODY, WE'RE NOT PARTICULARLY FOND OF THAT OR THE SINGLE LANE THINGS TO RESTRICT THE TRAFFIC AND THE FACT THAT THAT WILL PUSH THINGS ONTO OTHER SIDE STREETS AND WILL BE AN INCONVENIENCE.
THEY'RE SAYING, YEAH, I DON'T LIKE THIS. IS THAT GOING TO CHANGE THE DWI DRIVERS BEHAVIOR AND REALLY REDUCE THE ACCIDENT, OR ARE WE JUST GOING TO CHANGE A BUNCH OF STUFF HOPING AND STILL GOING TO HAVE THE ACCIDENT? OBVIOUSLY A BIG UPTICK IS BECAUSE OF PEOPLE WITH CELL PHONE USAGE.
I KNOW, AGAIN, BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY WHERE I LIVE, 45TH AND CENTRAL IS A DEATH TRAP.
AND I HAVE TO ASK, HAVE ANY OF YOU CROSSED THAT STREET? BECAUSE I ASKED THE PEOPLE FROM MNDOT ABOUT DIFFERENT THINGS THAT I WAS POINTING OUT AND SAID, HAVE YOU WALKED THAT? AND THEY SAY, NO. WELL, THEY HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED IT, HOW ARE THEY GOING TO DESIGN A STREET OR UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEMS OF IT? HAVE THEY EVER HAD TO SIT THERE TO TRY TO MAKE THE LEFT TURN GOING NORTH OFF OF 45TH? NO. BUT YET SOMEHOW ONE OF THE PROPOSALS THERE IS TO HAVE A SINGLE LANE OF TRAFFIC GOING NORTHBOUND WITH A BUS STOP IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE LIGHT. WELL, I UNDERSTAND WHY THE BUS WOULD WANT TO STOP THERE.
I UNDERSTAND THE LOGIC OF THAT. UNFORTUNATELY, THAT MEANS THAT WHEN THAT BUS IS STOPPING, NOTHING IS GOING TO BE MOVING NORTH OF THAT IF THAT CYCLE IS WITH THE LIGHT, WHEN SOMEBODY IS GOING TO TURN, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY TRAFFIC TURN. I JUST HAS ANYONE INVESTIGATED THE CAUSES AND THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO SOLVE? I GUESS IS, IS KIND OF MY CONCERN. AND WHAT WHAT IS THE CITY'S IDEAS? BECAUSE AS I SAY, I WALKED ACROSS THE STREET AND I CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR MY BLOCK BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY PEOPLE I'VE TOUCHED BASE WITH.
BUT THERE'S THE CAR WASH IMMEDIATELY ACROSS THE STREET.
[00:35:01]
AND ACCORDING TO THE PROPOSAL, A SINGLE LANE THAT WOULD STOP TRAFFIC.AND I WENT OVER AND I TALKED TO THE MANAGER AND HE SAID, OH NO, THIS WON'T THIS IS.
WHAT ARE THEY THINKING? THIS IS CRAZY. I SAID, WELL, BRING THAT TO YOUR ATTENTION.
LET THEM KNOW IT SAYS THIS. HE'S LIKE, THAT'S NOT GOOD FOR BUSINESS. NO.
AND HE SAYS, I CAN GO OUT AND TELL THE PEOPLE AND I DO TELL THEM YOU CAN'T BLOCK THE ROAD, BUT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DO IT. AND EVEN ONE OF THE PEOPLE FROM THE STATE SAID, YOU KNOW, I CAN MAKE THESE CHANGES, BUT I CAN'T CHANGE STUPID. AND THAT'S IT. THERE'S UNFORTUNATE PEOPLE'S BEHAVIOR.
AND SO THAT LEADS ME TO THE OTHER QUESTION. WE HAVE THINGS IN PLACE, THESE TOOLS THAT ARE VERY CHEAP OR, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE JUST NOT BEING IMPLEMENTED.
WE HAVE SPEED LIMITS. ARE THEY BEING ENFORCED STRICTLY? I KNOW ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT I TALKED TO AND I MENTIONED THIS, THEY SAID, YOU KNOW, SAINT ANTHONY APPARENTLY LOWERED THEIR SPEED LIMIT AND HAD STRICT ENFORCEMENT. AND SHE SAID TRAFFIC IS MUCH CALMER.
WELL, IF THAT WORKS GREAT. MINNEAPOLIS LOWERED THEIR SPEED LIMIT, BUT THEY DON'T ENFORCE IT.
SO THAT'S CREATED MORE OF A PROBLEM, BECAUSE I'VE HAD SOMEBODY PULL A GUN ON ME AND POINT IT AT ME CROSSING THE PLYMOUTH AVENUE BRIDGE, BECAUSE THAT USED TO BE FOUR LANES, BUT DUE TO THE BRIDGE'S POOR DESIGN AND MAINTENANCE, IT'S DOWN TO TWO.
SO YOU'RE IN A SINGLE LANE DRIVING OVER IT. BUT I WASN'T GOING FAST ENOUGH.
AND WHEN I SAY GOING FAST ENOUGH, I MEAN I WAS ONLY GOING 30 WHEN THE SPEED LIMIT IS 20 AND HAD SOMEBODY PULL AROUND AND POINT A GUN AT ME BECAUSE THAT WASN'T SATISFACTORY TO. AND WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT GRAY AREA IS GETTING BIGGER IS NOT GOING TO MAKE IT BETTER.
IT'S WHY I'M NOT A FAN OF ROUNDABOUTS, BECAUSE YES, THERE ARE INDIVIDUAL ASPECTS AND YOU CAN WORK THROUGH THE REASONING AND SAY, HEY, THERE'S ONLY ONE THING TO WATCH HERE, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S GOING TO REALLY WORK IF YOU TALK TO THE PEOPLE THAT AREN'T FAMILIAR WITH IT, AND OBVIOUSLY PEOPLE WILL LEARN AND THEY'LL CHANGE, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.
I WAS OUT SNOW BLOWING. LIKE I SAY, I'M RIGHT ON CENTRAL.
AND I SHOULD POINT OUT, I DON'T JUST DO MY HOUSE.
I DO THREE NEIGHBORS AS WELL. SO AS I'M GOING ALONG TRYING TO HURRY, SHE SEES ME AND DOESN'T WANT TO WALK BY THE NOISY SNOW BLOWER, SO SHE JUST CUTS DIAGONALLY OUT TO THE MEDIAN AND IS WALKING DOWN THE MEDIAN.
I DON'T THINK CHANGING THE ROADWAY IS GOING TO CHANGE THAT BEHAVIOR.
SO I THINK WE SHOULD PROBABLY LOOK AT THINGS LIKE, WHY DO WE HAVE TO HAVE IT AT 40? WHY CAN'T IT BE 30 MILES AN HOUR OR 35? IT DOESN'T COST MUCH TO CHANGE A SPEED LIMIT SIGN AND TO ENFORCE IT.
THEY HAVE THAT PRESENCE. I THINK THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DOES A FANTASTIC JOB.
YEAH. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN AND ASKING QUESTIONS.
I'LL JUST KIND OF WE SO WE HAVE A WE'VE HAD QUITE A FEW MEETINGS WITH MNDOT.
I KNOW THAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING STUDIES SINCE 2020 ABOUT THIS.
AND WE'VE DONE A LOT OF REACH OUT, REACH OUT AND REACH INFORMATION OUT TO THE COMMUNITY.
GENERALLY WHEN WE LISTEN AT THIS PART OF THE MEETING WE'RE HERE TO LISTEN AND NOT NECESSARILY, LIKE, ANSWER ALL OF YOUR QUESTIONS. YES. BECAUSE IT'S NOT NECESSARILY ON THE AGENDA, BUT I KNOW I COULD TALK TO YOU, A STAFF MEMBER COULD TALK TO YOU AS WELL, AND AND SORRY.
YEAH. SO WE COULD DEFINITELY GET YOU SOME MORE INFORMATION, BUT I JUST WANTED YOU TO NOT LEAVE THINKING THAT THIS ARE THE FIRST TIMES WE'VE SEEN THESE. SO AS A COUNCIL. SO I DIDN'T WANT YOU TO THINK LIKE THEY HAVE TWO PROPOSALS AND THEY'RE JUST GOING TO SHARE THEM WITH US.
NO NO NO BUT MY POINT IS, IS THAT THOSE MEETINGS WERE, YOU KNOW, I'M GOING THERE AND THEY'RE JUST WE'RE GIVING THEM OUR INPUT TO SOME MNDOT PEOPLE, AND THEY'RE TAKING POST-IT NOTES AND THEY'RE SAYING, GO ONLINE AND DOCUMENT IT, AND WE'RE DOING ALL THAT. BUT WE DON'T KNOW THE WORK IN PROGRESS, WE DON'T KNOW. AND YOU'RE THE DECIDERS AND THAT YOU HAVE THESE MEETINGS, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THOSE DECISIONS ARE.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR REASONING IS, WHAT YOU'RE LEANING TOWARDS.
ARE YOU THINKING ROUNDABOUTS ARE THE GREATEST THING IN THE WORLD? ARE YOU THINKING THAT SINGLE LANE TRAFFIC IS THE GREATEST? YEAH AND NO, I HEAR YOU. AND THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING, YOUR CONSTITUENCY DOESN'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TO HEAR KIND OF WHERE ARE WE GOING? AND IF WE DON'T UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE AND THEN IT'S LIKE, HERE'S A OR B AND YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE A DECISION AND SAY, OH, YOU HAD A CHANCE TO GIVE INPUT. BUT YEAH, I WILL SAY THAT WE HAVE HAD A LOT HEARD A LOT OF INPUT.
[00:40:02]
WE HAVE YOU KNOW, MANY PUBLIC MEETINGS AND, AND OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS ON THIS.AND WE'VE GONE THROUGH MANY DIFFERENT ITERATIONS AND DATA.
I WILL ALSO JUST SHARE TOO THAT I KNOW THAT THEY HAVE A TEAM OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE WALKED, SO IT'S POSSIBLE FOR SURE OBVIOUSLY, YOU'VE TALKED TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN AT THE MEETINGS, WHO HAVEN'T DONE THE WALKING AND WAITING AT THE LIGHTS. BUT THEY HAVE A LARGE STAFF, INCLUDING DIFFERENT PEOPLE, PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT DISABILITIES WHO ALSO WALK CENTRAL AND WAIT AT THE LIGHTS TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE INFORMED ON WHAT THE TIMING IS LIKE ON UNIVERSITY AND ON CENTRAL.
AND THEY ACTUALLY HAVE REACHED OUT TO ALL BUSINESSES ALONG CENTRAL AVENUE TO GET INPUT AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE HAVING AN ACTUAL CONVERSATION, WHICH WITH EACH BUSINESS OWNER EITHER TALKING WITH THEM IN PERSON OR LEAVING THEM A POSTCARD TO SAY, PLEASE CALL BECAUSE THEY THEY WILL HAVE TO BE YOU KNOW, BEHOLDEN TO KEEPING ACCESS OPEN.
AND SO THEY'RE DEFINITELY TALKING WITH US ON THAT AS WELL SO THAT WE DON'T.
SO I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT. OH NO, I KNOW I KNOW STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN.
BUT YES, MY POINT IS LIKE THAT OUTREACH. YEAH.
BECAUSE I'M ON CENTRAL. SOMEBODY CAME AND KNOCKED ON THE DOOR AND I BY THE TIME I GOT TO IT, THERE WAS A PAPER THERE THAT HAD A NICE COLOR GRAPHIC OF TWO, YOU KNOW, PLAN A AND B, BUT THERE WAS NOBODY THERE BECAUSE IT TOOK ME TOO LONG TO GET TO THE DOOR. RIGHT, RIGHT. AND WHEN I TALKED TO THE THREE BUSINESSES ACROSS THE STREET FROM IT, NONE OF THEM HAD ANY CONVERSATIONS. THEY SAID, OH YEAH, THEY CAME BY AND THEY GAVE US THIS MAP AND WE PUT IT IN HERE.
AND AND SO I SAID, WELL, DID YOU LOOK AT IT? AND I INTERACTED WITH THEM AND THEY SAID, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA. AND I HAD THREE. COMMUNICATION IS ALWAYS I SAID, CALL, CALL THE COUNCIL CALL AND LET YOU KNOW.
BUT THAT'S IT. I GUESS WHAT I'M SAYING IS PLEASE POST SOMETHING, WRITE AN ARTICLE, YOU KNOW, SAY, HEY, THESE ARE SOME OPTIONS AND WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS AND THIS OR WE FAVOR THESE IDEAS BECAUSE.
YEAH. OR YOU KNOW, GETTING THE FEEDBACK BECAUSE I JUST DON'T WANT TO.
I DON'T THINK IT'LL BENEFIT PEOPLE. SURE. WE'D LIKE TO HEAR.
DEFINITELY, YES. AND IF YOU I KNOW YOU HAVE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION THAT YOU'VE LEFT ON YOUR SHEET, THAT WHEN WE HAVE OUR NEXT MEETING, WE'LL DEFINITELY LOOP YOU IN SO THAT MNDOT CAN SPECIFICALLY MAKE SURE THAT YOU CAN GET SOME INFORMATION.
THEY'RE BEING REALLY GREAT ABOUT MAKING SURE PEOPLE ARE CONNECTED AND GETTING ANSWERS.
I CAN LET YOU KNOW THAT WE'LL DEFINITELY LET YOU KNOW OF OUR NEXT MEETING. OKAY. WONDERFUL.
YEAH. THANK YOU FOR COMING IN. AND FOR THE QUESTIONS THAT ARE MINOR THAT I'M GOING TO SEND AN EMAIL.
OKAY. I FIGURE THAT'S PROBABLY THE EASIEST TO COMMUNICATE TO ALL OF YOU ABOUT SOME OTHER THINGS LIKE CODE ENFORCEMENT, BECAUSE THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS I GOT A LETTER THAT SAID, WE'RE GOING TO BE ON THIS. AND THEN I WENT OUT AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL BUSINESSES UP AND DOWN CENTRAL THAT DON'T SHOVEL, APPARENTLY. AND THAT WAS 48 HOURS AFTER THIS LAST SNOW.
SO I DROVE THE LENGTH OF THE CITY AND WATCHED ALL THOSE AND WENT, WELL, THIS ISN'T VERY GOOD.
AND THAT MAKES ME GO WELL THAT'S WHY THE PEOPLE WALK OUT INTO THE STREET.
AND THAT'S NOT DOING MUCH FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
AND I KNOW LIVING ON CENTRAL, I SEE A LOT OF WHEELCHAIRS.
SO THIS IS TRUE. THIS IS VERY TRUE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
SO THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? I THINK I SAW SOMEONE DROP OFF A FORM. SO ALEC WALDOCK WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.
WHAT WAS THE FIRST NAME AGAIN? ALEC. OKAY. THANK YOU.
WELCOME. YEAH. THANK YOU. JUST A SMALL THING.
I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT GARBAGE AND RECYCLING AND HOW THE CITY HANDLES IT.
MY WIFE AND I OWN A DUPLEX IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.
AND JUST FOR SOME CONTEXT, IT'S A IT'S A SMALL ONE, IT'S A THREE BED, TWO BATH.
AND WE LIVE IN A VERY SIMILAR ONE IN NEW BRIGHTON JUST A MILE OR TWO AWAY.
WITHIN 50, YOU KNOW, SQUARE FEET OF THE SAME FOOTPRINT, SAME BEDROOMS AND BATHROOMS, DUPLEX.
SO FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES, A VERY SIMILAR BUILDING.
AND THEY, THEY HANDLE GARBAGE THE SAME WAY THAT THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS DOES WHERE IT'S OR, EXCUSE ME, RECYCLING WHERE THEY WILL NEGOTIATE ON BEHALF OF THE RESIDENTS FOR IT, AND WE JUST PAY IT WITH OUR WATER BILL.
BUT THEY DO HANDLE THE GARBAGE DIFFERENTLY. AND WHAT I'VE NOTICED IS THAT THE GARBAGE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS IS ABOUT DOUBLE GARBAGE, AND RECYCLING IS ABOUT DOUBLE THE PRICE. SO I GUESS A QUESTION AND A SUGGESTION FOR THE CITY I GUESS FOR A I'D JUST LIKE TO KNOW WHY IT'S DOUBLE THE PRICE.
[00:45:04]
AND THEN IF IT'S NOT POSSIBLE TO DO IT ANY CHEAPER HERE.I WONDER IF MAYBE WE COPY THE WAY THAT NEW BRIGHTON DOES IT, WHERE THEY KIND OF OPEN IT UP, THEY HAVE A HANDFUL OF DIFFERENT VENDORS, THEN WE CAN CHOOSE, BECAUSE I JUST DON'T REALLY SEE HOW IT SERVES THE RESIDENTS HERE TO NEGOTIATE IT ON BEHALF OF EVERYBODY. SURE.
WE JUST NEGOTIATED OUR WASTE MANAGEMENT CONTRACT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, AND I DON'T KNOW IF AARON, IF YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING. NOT A LOT TO ADD OTHER THAN IT IS A POLICY DECISION TO HAVE ORGANIZED COLLECTION OR NOT, AND SOMETHING THAT I THINK WOULD TAKE A LOT OF CONSIDERATION BY THE CITY TO TO MOVE FROM THAT TYPE OF SYSTEM.
WE FEEL LIKE WE'RE OFFERING MUCH BETTER SERVICE, BUT WE DO NEED TO BE AWARE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OTHER CITIES, LEVERAGE THAT KNOWLEDGE IN OUR CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS WITH OUR HAULER.
BUT I WOULD SAY AT THIS TIME, YOU KNOW, THE CITY IS NOT ACTIVELY CONSIDERING A WHOLESALE CHANGE TO YOU KNOW, TO A MORE FREE MARKET SYSTEM ALLOWING MULTIPLE VENDORS TO COME IN.
KEVIN, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD? I HAVE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR HERE AS WELL IN THE AUDIENCE.
I WOULD SAY BEFORE KEVIN COMES TO THE MICROPHONE OR JUST BECAUSE IT'D BE EASIER TO HEAR YOU.
BUT I ALSO KNOW THERE'S PROS AND CONS TO, YOU KNOW, WEAR AND TEAR ON THE ROADS WHEN THERE'S MULTIPLE TRASH HAULERS, TRAFFIC FROM DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS, HAVING MULTIPLE TRASH HAULERS.
AND THAT'S ALSO A CONCERN FOR OTHER COMMUNITIES.
SO YEAH, IT'S A REALLY HARD THING TO CHANGE FROM AS A, AS A I DON'T LIKE THINGS TO BE LIKE, WELL, THE STATUS QUO IS WE JUST DO THIS SO WE HAVE TO KEEP DOING IT.
BUT I JUST KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT THAT WOULD CHANGE WITH THAT.
AND ONE OF THEM BEING WEAR AND TEAR ON THE ROADS.
AND THE FACT THAT WE ARE NEGOTIATING A PRICE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY.
SO. RIGHT. AND THAT JUST CONFUSES ME A LITTLE BIT, BECAUSE I WOULD THINK THAT THE CITY HAS QUITE A BIT MORE NEGOTIATING POWER THAN ME AS AN INDIVIDUAL. YET THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE. YEAH. WELL, I'D LIKE TO TAKE DEFINITELY YOUR YOUR INPUT AND AS A CITY MANAGER SAID SOMETHING FOR US TO, TO LOOK INTO. AND YEAH, WE HAVE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION TOO IF WE NEED TO REACH OUT.
BUT DEFINITELY SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND BECAUSE WE DO WANT TO BE PROVIDING THE BEST SERVICE.
SURE. AND I DIDN'T MEAN. OKAY. NOTHING FOR NOTHING FOR OUR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR.
IF I COULD JUST ADD ONE MORE THING. SURE THING.
WE YOU MIGHT HAVE REMEMBER, IT WAS MAYBE A 2 OR 3 SUMMERS AGO, IT WAS KIND OF THE LAST, I THINK, YEAR OF OF THE CONTRACT WITH WASTE MANAGEMENT AND THEY WERE HAVING STAFFING ISSUES.
I MEAN, AND I ACTUALLY CALLED THE CITY TO ASK ABOUT THAT.
AND THEY SAID, WELL, THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO. WE'RE IN A CONTRACT WITH THEM.
SO WE HAD TO PAY THE BILL IN FULL, YET THEY WEREN'T FULFILLING THEIR PART OF THE CONTRACT.
SO IT'S JUST I MEAN, I JUST WONDER IF MAYBE SOME THOUGHT SHOULD BE PUT INTO THAT WHEN NEGOTIATING TOO, IS IF IF YOU CAN'T FULFILL THIS, WE'RE NOT GOING TO PAY YOU.
IT'S FAIRLY SIMPLE. BUT YOU KNOW OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER.
YEAH. THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT. I APPRECIATE THAT. THAT WAS A VERY TOUGH TIME.
IT WAS PRETTY GROSS. YEAH. FOR STAFF AND THE IDEA THAT HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR US TO TO HAVE OUR WASTE PICKED UP AND HOW LUCKY WE ARE TO BE IN A SOCIETY WHERE THAT IS OUR NORM. HOW QUICKLY IT CAN CHANGE. LIKE, IT WAS VERY HARD AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.
AND OF COURSE, I LIVE HERE TOO, SO IT WAS HARD, BUT I KNOW IT WAS SIMILAR IN MANY PLACES TOO.
EVERYONE WAS STAFFED AND AT THAT TIME EVEN WASTE MANAGEMENT SAID, WE HAVE TRUCKS SITTING HERE.
WE HAVE NO ONE TO DRIVE THEM. WE'VE INVESTED MONEY IN HAVING THE VEHICLES HERE.
YOU KNOW, IF THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE PICKING UP TRASH, IT'S JUST.
YEAH. SO ANYWAY, THANK YOU FOR SHARING. THANK YOU ALEC.
THANKS FOR COMING IN. DIRK SCHMITT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.
[00:50:01]
WELCOME, DIRK. GOOD EVENING. I JUST WAS QUESTIONING ABOUT THE SIDE STREET TRAFFIC.IF IT WAS UNDERNEATH MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE WERE HAVING SOME TYPE OF SURVEY OR SAFE STREETS WHERE THEY WERE GOING TO GO THROUGH ALL THE STREETS IN THE CITY. I WAS CURIOUS MORE ABOUT LINE OF SIGHT.
FOUR WAY STOPS ISN'T SO MUCH OF A PROBLEM, BUT UNCONTROLLED INTERSECTIONS, A CAR PULLS UP AND IT MAY NOT BE THE CORNER HOUSE, BUT LIKE A SECOND OR THIRD HOUSE WILL HAVE LANDSCAPING RIGHT UP TO THE CURB TO WHERE YOU'RE UNABLE TO SEE ANY ONCOMING TRAFFIC UNTIL THE CAR YOU KNOW, UNTIL YOU GET HALFWAY INTO THE TRAFFIC LANE. I WAS JUST CURIOUS IF THERE WERE GOING TO BE ANY CHANGES COMING ABOUT OR LINE OF SIGHT TYPE MOVING OF LANDSCAPING OR IF IT'S IN A RIGHT OF WAY OF THE ROAD, ACTUALLY.
AND THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE ANYTHING IN THE BEGINNING THERE.
AARON, IF YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.
I THINK THE SAFE STREETS FOR ALL ENGAGEMENT PROCESS IS WINDING DOWN, WHERE WE DID TAKE IN COMMENTS ACROSS THE WHOLE CITY WITH THAT INTERACTIVE MAP, SEVERAL ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS HERE AT CITY HALL WHERE WE COULD IDENTIFY ISSUES AT SPECIFIC INTERSECTIONS.
SO, KEVIN, DO WE WHAT IS THE TIMELINE FOR COMPLETION OF THE.
SO WE'RE HEARING THESE COMMENTS AND APPRECIATE ALL THE PARTICIPATION.
COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES. THANK YOU CITY MANAGER FOR THE UPDATE.
AND SO THERE IS A REPORT, A CONCERN PAGE ON, ON THE CITY WEBSITE, OR YOU CAN CALL CITY HALL.
IF YOU USE THE WEBSITE, YOU CAN ATTACH A PICTURE AND WRITE DOWN THE INTERSECTION.
AND THAT FOR IMMEDIATE SAFETY PURPOSES, ESPECIALLY AS SPRING IS COMING AND THINGS ARE LEAFING OUT, IF YOU'RE AT A CORNER AND YOU CAN'T SEE AROUND THE CORNER FOR ANYONE, YOU KNOW YOU PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REPORT A CONCERN AND IT'LL GET ON OUR WORK LIST.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YES. AND JUST TO ADD, OUR SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION ALSO WORKED ON THE AND YOU TOUCHED ON THAT ON ANY CONSTRUCTION THAT'S DONE.
SO NOW THERE IS MORE OF A ROBUST PLAN THAT WHEN THE CITY IS LOOKING TO REDO A ROAD THAT THEY HAVE TO LOOK AT IT FROM, IT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY WERE DOING ANYWAY. BUT NOW IT'S BEEN A BIT MORE LIKE TIGHTENED UP WITH THE SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION IN MIND FOR HAVING MORE COMPLETE STREETS. COMPLETE STREETS WAS THE INITIATIVE. YEAH.
SO A SYSTEM THAT WAS PUT IN PLACE THAT'S MORE FORMAL, THAT SAYS HERE ARE THE CHECKLISTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH FOR EVERY STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION ALL OF THE AREA WIDE PLANS KIND OF IN AGGREGATE.
AND AND MAKE SURE WE'RE LOOKING AT THOSE LENSES AND THEN PRODUCING AN ANALYSIS THAT'S PUBLICLY AVAILABLE, A REPORT THAT SAYS HERE WERE THE KNOWN ISSUES.
AND HERE'S WHAT WE WERE REALLY ABLE TO DO WITH THIS PROJECT.
SO KIND OF BALANCING AS WITH EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW, AVAILABLE FUNDING CONSTRAINTS WITHIN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT, BUT AT LEAST BEING AWARE OF ISSUES ON A MUCH HIGHER LEVEL THAN, THAN PREVIOUSLY, WHERE WE HADN'T GONE THROUGH THAT EXERCISE OF SAFE STREETS FOR ALL AND THE COMPLETE STREETS, ADOPTING THAT COMPLETE STREETS POLICY, WHICH NOW WILL BE A REQUIREMENT WHEN WE, WHEN WE GO TO, TO COMPLETE A PROJECT. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR ADDING THAT AND COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES AS WELL.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, IT IS A COMMON COMMUNITY FORUM.
I'LL JUST ASK ONE MORE TIME IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK THIS EVENING.
ALL RIGHT. AND HEARING IS NONE. THEN WE WILL MOVE ON IN OUR MEETING THEN.
[00:55:04]
THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING IN THIS NIGHT. THIS IS THE TIME FOR OUR CONSENT AGENDA.[CONSENT AGENDA]
THE 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.
AND WE'LL HAVE OUR CITY MANAGER WILL GO THROUGH THE ITEMS. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR.
ITEM TWO IS SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE 1711, WHICH IS A VARIETY OF LAND USE AND ZONING CODE AMENDMENTS THAT WERE REVIEWED AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING, JUST THE SECOND READING OF THOSE ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS.
ITEM THREE IS RESOLUTION 2025- 25, WHICH AMENDS THE CITY'S 411 BUDGET FOR CITY HALL IMPROVEMENTS.
SO OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF, AFTER LIVING IN THE BUILDING, THERE'S BEEN A HANDFUL OF IMPROVEMENTS THAT STAFF HAVE BEEN TRACKING, AND WE'RE BRINGING THOSE ALL IN ONE RESOLUTION, EVEN THOUGH INDIVIDUALLY THEY FALL WITHIN THE CITY MANAGER'S SPENDING LIMIT.
AND THIS WOULD GO TO AID IN THE REDEVELOPMENT OF SULLIVAN LAKE PARK IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FITNESS COURT MAXIMUM GRANT OF $350,000 AND WITH A 50% MATCH REQUIRED IF THE CITY IS SUCCESSFUL.
ITEM FIVE IS RESOLUTION 2025 - 27, WHICH IS APPROVING THE PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS AND ORDERING ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS FOR THE 2025 CONCRETE ALLEY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT. 2506 JUST APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL AT THE LAST MEETING.
ITEM SIX IS RESOLUTION 2025 - 28, DECLARING THE INTENT TO BOND FOR THAT SAME PROJECT.
SO IT'S NOT KNOWN IF THE CITY WILL BE PURSUING BONDS, BUT AT THIS TIME, IT'S PRUDENT TO PASS A RESOLUTION NOTIFYING OUR INTENT IF NEEDED. SO PULLING FUNDS FROM VARIOUS INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDS IN THE CITY AND UNTIL WE KIND OF HONE IN ON AVAILABLE FUNDS AND TOTAL PROJECT COSTS, WE MAY OR MAY NOT BE COMING BACK TO THE COUNCIL WITH A REQUEST TO BOND.
ITEM SEVEN IS ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION 2025-30, WHICH APPROVES ASSIGNMENT OF THE TIF NOTE AND REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT FOR THE RATIO APARTMENTS REFINANCE EFFORT. THIS WAS DISCUSSED IN GREATER DETAIL AT THE EDA MEETING BEFORE THIS EVENING'S COUNCIL MEETING.
ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE PRESENT. IT'S A DUPLICATE ACTION OF WHAT WAS TAKEN AT THE EDA, ESSENTIALLY CONSENTING TO ASSIGNING THE TIF NOTE FOR THIS PROJECT TO THE NEW LENDER THAT'S REFINANCING THE APARTMENT SIDE OF THE DEVELOPMENT.
ITEM EIGHT IS RENEWAL OF THE CITY'S MICROSOFT O365 CONTRACT AND AWARDING TO A NEW VENDOR.
SO WE'RE AT THE END OF OUR CURRENT CONTRACT. AND WE OF COURSE NEED TO RETAIN THIS SYSTEM FOR CITY OPERATIONS SWITCHING VENDORS AND SEEING A SLIGHT COST INCREASE OVER THE LAST THREE YEAR TERM.
SO WE'VE HAD A LONG STANDING AGREEMENT WITH ANOKA COUNTY TO PROVIDE FIBER OPTIC INTERNET CONNECTIONS TO SOME OF OUR FACILITIES. IT'S TIME TO RENEW THAT FOR ITS NEXT FIVE YEAR TERM.
AND WE WE DISCUSSED WITH THE COUNTY IF THE CITY WANTED TO GET OUT OF THE CONTRACT BEFORE THE FIVE YEAR EXPIRATION, WE CERTAINLY COULD. BUT THIS PROVIDES A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE CITY'S PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING AND HANDOVER FOR REDUNDANT STORAGE SERVICES, AND THEN ALSO BETWEEN THE CITY'S PUBLIC PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING AND OUR WATER TOWER.
SO WE'RE THINKING OF WAYS TO PROVIDE THESE CONNECTIONS WITH NEW INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS THAT ARE EXPECTED TO COME INTO TOWN AT THE SAME TIME THAT THE COUNTY IS SIGNALING TO CITIES THAT THIS SERVICE MIGHT BE WINDING DOWN FOR THEM AS WELL.
ITEM TEN IS A LICENSE AGENDA, SO ROUTINE BUSINESS LICENSE LICENSES FOR APPROVAL.
ITEM ELEVEN THE SAME FOR RENTAL OCCUPANCY LICENSES.
AND FINALLY, ITEM TWELVE REVIEW OF THE BILLS WHICH FOR THIS PERIOD ARE TOTALING $2,169,207.78.
[01:00:04]
COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES. I JUST WANTED TO SAY. COUNCIL MEMBER DENEEN, SORRY.SORRY. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE SULLIVAN LAKE DEVELOPMENT, AND I WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR LOOKING INTO THOSE GRANT PROGRAMS THAT HELP KEEP COSTS FROM THE COMMUNITY. AND I KNOW THAT THAT PARK HAS NEEDED WORK FOR A LONG TIME.
SO I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THAT AND ALSO TO PASS HAVE THE SECOND READING OF THE PLANNING RESOLUTION FOR WELL, I'M FORGETTING WORDS. SOLAR ENERGY INITIATIVE TOO.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK ON THOSE THINGS.
THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL? COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES. I AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER DENEEN, THAT'S GREAT. BUT I'M ALSO EXCITED ABOUT THE NEW SIGN ON THE OUTSIDE OF CITY HALL THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE CITY HALL BETTERMENTS. IT LOOKS GREAT WHEN YOU'RE ON THE CORNER OF CENTRAL AND 40TH TO SEE THAT NEW BRANDING THERE.
AND A LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT MAKE THE BUILDING FUNCTION BETTER, BUT THAT'S THE COOLEST.
AND SO JUST KNOWING SOMETIMES THAT WE CAN FIND PLACES WHERE THERE IS SOME FLEXIBILITY.
I APPRECIATE YOU AND STAFF ASKING THOSE QUESTIONS TO MAKE SURE WE KNOW THAT THERE'S OPTIONS.
AND WHEN WE NEED TO DO THE BEST THING, WE WE HAVE THOSE OPTIONS.
ANY DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS? SEEING AS NONE. THEN ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. AND I THINK I MAY HAVE SAID, LIKE IF THERE'S NO OTHER MOTIONS.
OUR NEXT IS WE HAVE NO WE HAVE NO PUBLIC HEARINGS.
SO THEN THAT TAKES US TO ITEM 13 UNDER ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION.
[ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION]
CONSIDERATION FOR RESOLUTION 2025-29 APPROVING CLOSING OF CITY HALL CONDOMINIUM TRANSFER AGREEMENT AND RELATED INSURANCE AGREEMENT.AND OUR CITY MANAGER CHIRPICH WILL TAKE US THROUGH THIS AS WELL.
THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
SO JUST A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY LESSON HERE. RATHER THAN FULLY CLOSING ON THE CONDO BECAUSE OF ISSUES RELATED TO TITLE AND RECORDING OF THIS NEW CIC PLAT, THE ORIGINAL DELAY WAS RELATED TO THOSE ITEMS. WE OPERATED AND MOVED INTO CITY HALL UNDER A MOVING AGREEMENT.
WE'RE STILL OPERATING UNDER THAT SAME AGREEMENT RIGHT NOW.
WE GOT TO THE POINT LAST YEAR IN MARCH OF 2024, THAT WE WERE ON THE CUSP OF CLOSING ON THE TRANSFER AND WE USED THE WORD TRANSFER BECAUSE IT'S NOT REALLY A SALE, THE SALE OR THE FINANCIAL TRANSACTION BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE DEVELOPER WAS BAKED INTO THAT INITIAL DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
SO IN 2024 OF LAST YEAR OR EXCUSE ME, OF MARCH, WE WERE CLOSING IN ON CLOSING.
AND AS THE COUNCIL RECALLS THERE WERE SOME ISSUES AND CONCERNS IDENTIFIED WITH THE PROPERTY AND LIABILITY INSURANCE THAT WAS PART OF THE TRANSACTION, AND WE BROUGHT THOSE CONCERNS TO ACCOUNT AUGUST 5TH WORK SESSION IN 2024.
AND SINCE THAT TIME, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIES TO FIGURE THIS OUT AND GET TO A POINT WHERE STAFF ARE COMFORTABLE RECOMMENDING MOVING FORWARD WITH THE CLOSING. I'LL TRY TO, YOU KNOW, SUMMARIZE THOSE ISSUES WHERE WE STARTED AND WHERE WE CAME FROM.
WE CAN VERY QUICKLY GET INTO THE WEEDS WITH INSURANCE.
BUT I WILL SAY THE TEAM AT [INAUDIBLE] HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB IN REPRESENTING THE CITY AND WORKING FOR SOME REALLY IMPORTANT CHANGES TO THESE AGREEMENTS AND TO FIND THAT MIDDLE GROUND.
SO EARLY ON. ONE OF THE CONCERNS WAS THE INSURANCE BEING PROPOSED BY [INAUDIBLE] WAS NOT SECURED SOLELY BY THE, THE CONDO ASSOCIATION. SO THE ASSOCIATION REPRESENTS THE ENTIRE PROJECT.
[01:05:01]
AND IN OUR DECLARATIONS IT WAS CONTEMPLATED THAT THE INSURANCE WOULD BE IN THE NAME OF THAT ASSOCIATION.THE DEVELOPER HAS PROPOSED AND WE'RE STILL IN THE SAME SPOT, WORKING UNDER A MASTER POLICY OF PROPERTY INSURANCE THAT ALSO COVERS ADDITIONAL PROPERTIES. AND THIS IS THROUGH THEIR ABILITY TO TO LEVERAGE A LARGE REAL ESTATE PORTFOLIO THAT'S HELD WITH THE PRIMARY EQUITY INVESTOR IN THE PROJECT.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF KIND OF PUSH AND PULL BACK AND FORTH ON WHETHER OR NOT THAT MASTER POLICY FULFILLED THE OBJECTIVES OR THE REQUIREMENTS OF OUR ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT. IN THAT ANALYSIS, IT WAS THE CITY'S POSITION THAT THE MASTER POLICY LEFT THE CITY EXPOSED TO SOME ELEMENT OF RISK THAT WE NEEDED TO COVER. SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A 95.5% SHARE OF COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH OUR ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT.
SO THEY'RE A MUCH BIGGER PORTION OF THE PROJECT.
THEY PAY 95% OF THE DUES ANNUALLY, AND THE CITY PAYS 5%.
THE WAY THAT THE INSURANCE CERTIFICATES, WHICH DELEGATE WHO'S WHO'S POSITIONED WHERE IN THE IN THE CASE OF A EVENT AND HOW THE PAYOUTS ARE GOING TO BE NEGOTIATED AND PROCESSED.
LEFT THE CITY AND THE CITY'S 5% PORTION OF THAT ASSOCIATION UNREPRESENTED IN THOSE DECLARATIONS.
THERE'S NUANCE THERE, BUT THE CITY'S BEEN ABLE TO PUT OURSELVES IN THE POSITION THAT WE NEED TO BE NAMED INSURED, IN PARTICULAR ON THE PROPERTY INSURANCE FOR THE ASSOCIATION RATHER THAN ADDITIONALLY INSURED.
SO THOSE ARE THE ISSUES. TO RECAP WHERE OUR EXCUSE ME, THERE'S ONE OTHER ISSUE ANALYSIS.
SO A LOT OF TIME WAS SPENT IN AUGUST ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT UNDER A CATASTROPHIC LOSS EVENT, LIKE MASSIVE TORNADO OR VERY LARGE SEVERE FIRE, WAS THERE A GUARANTEE WITH THIS INSURANCE ARRANGEMENT THAT THE ENTIRE BUILDING WOULD BE REBUILT? SO WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
SO TO START FROM THE BEGINNING OF WHERE WE'VE LANDED AND WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING TONIGHT.
ALTHOUGH THE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT A REFINANCE. RIGHT.
SO IT'S A NEW BANK SAME INVESTOR. SO THIS IS THEIR INSURANCE THEIR LEVERAGE THEIR PORTFOLIO.
SO BEING NAMED, INSURED OR ADDITIONALLY NAMED INSURED RATHER THAN, THAN WHERE WE WERE.
SO WE'VE CLOSED THAT 5% GAP AND HAVE BECOME COMFORTABLE.
THE QUESTION OF REBUILDING THE PROJECT IN A SIGNIFICANT EVENT REMAINS A LITTLE OPEN.
THE OTHER PARTY BELIEVES THAT THEY'VE CLOSED THAT, THAT THERE ISN'T THAT CONCERN, BUT THAT THEY CAN NEVER PROVIDE A 100% GUARANTEE THAT SOME TIME IN THE FUTURE THAT EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES WOULDN'T PRECLUDE THE PROJECT PARTNERS, IN THIS CASE, THE CITY AND RATIO. AND WE AND WE'RE ONLY A 5% STAKEHOLDER FROM POTENTIALLY NOT REBUILDING.
SO THERE'S BEEN AN INSURANCE AGREEMENT THAT THAT IS IN YOUR PACKET FOR APPROVAL THAT KIND OF SPELLS THAT OUT, THAT ARTICULATES WE'RE WILLING TO ACCEPT THIS ARRANGEMENT.
AND IF WE DID GET TO THAT POSITION WHERE, YOU KNOW, 90% OF THE BUILDING HAD BEEN LOST IN A CATASTROPHIC EVENT, THE CITY AT LEAST NOW HAS A SEAT AT THE TABLE THROUGH THESE ADJUSTMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE TO MORE FULLY NEGOTIATE THAT AND THEN TO DECIDE MORE AS A PARTNER OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO AND AT LEAST BE PARTY IN A MORE STRONGER POSITION TO HOW THOSE CHECKS ARE GETTING CUT.
BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO TO NOTE THAT THE LANDING SPOT HERE STILL WOULD LEAVE SOME DEGREE OF AMBIGUITY IF WE DID FIND OURSELVES FACED WITH THAT THAT CATASTROPHIC SITUATION. SO THE INSURANCE AGREEMENT SPELLS OUT ALL OF THE DETAILS OF THIS BACK AND FORTH. IT IS ONLY MEANT TO REPRESENT THE CURRENT INVESTMENT GROUP.
[01:10:05]
THE OPPORTUNITY ZONE TAX CREDITS THAT WERE RECEIVED AS PART OF THIS PROJECT HAVE A TEN YEAR, ESSENTIALLY TIMELINE FOR TO RECEIVE THE FULL BENEFITS.THIS INSURANCE ARRANGEMENT ONLY IS TO THE BENEFIT OF BRIDGE AND [INAUDIBLE] AT THIS MOMENT.
AND WHEN A NEW OWNER ENTERS INTO THE CONVERSATION THEY ARE BOUND BY THE KIND OF THE ORIGINAL WAY THAT THE CIC WAS SPELLED OUT. IT'S NOT TO SAY THAT A NEW GROUP WITH A SIMILAR, YOU KNOW, PORTFOLIO WOULDN'T BE APPROACHING THIS DEAL, BUT WE WOULD ADDRESS IT AT THAT TIME. SO IT'S A LOT TO UNPACK.
BUT STAFF CERTAINLY DO BELIEVE THAT WE'VE GOTTEN IT TO A POINT WHERE IT IS TIME TO CLOSE AND WE'VE CLAWED BACK AND MADE SOME SIGNIFICANT HEADWAY SINCE AUGUST OF LAST YEAR.
SO WITH THAT, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THE COUNCIL MIGHT HAVE.
THANK YOU. THANKS FOR ALL THE FOLLOW UP AND UPDATES.
SINCE WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH THIS ITEM FOR QUITE A LONG TIME.
WE STARTED IT BEFORE I WAS MAYOR, BUT WAS IN THOSE MEETINGS AND THESE DISCUSSIONS, BUT COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS WAS THERE AND LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE. IT'S BEEN A LONG HAUL, BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AND THE STAFF AND ALL THE ATTORNEYS AND PARTNERS THAT HELPED BRING THIS TO A TO A FINAL CLOSURE, LITERALLY CLOSING ON FRIDAY AND VERY EXCITED TO HAVE THAT DONE AND BEHIND US.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK ON THIS AND ALL THE STAFF THAT WERE INVOLVED.
THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE, AS YOU SAID, LIKE WE HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE IN THIS NEGOTIATION.
AND I REMEMBER SPECIFICALLY COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS SAYING THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES THAT THAT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A RISK AND EVERYTHING WE DO HAS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF RISK, AND WE JUST HAVE TO MAKE SURE IT WORKS FOR US AS A COMMUNITY.
SO YES. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER DENEEN. I WANT TO ECHO WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS AND MAYOR AMADA MARQUEZ -SIMULA HAS SAID.
BUT ALSO JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, BECAUSE I KNOW THESE CONTRACTS AND HOW PAINSTAKINGLY DRY THEY ARE AND LARGE, AND HOW YOU REALLY HAVE TO LOOK OVER EVERY SINGLE CLAUSE TO SEE HOW IT AFFECTS YOU.
AND IT'S SO EASY TO MISS SOMETHING. SO I UNDERSTAND THAT IT HAS TAKEN SOME TIME, AND THAT MIGHT BE FRUSTRATING FOR SOME PEOPLE, BUT I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE BEST STANDING THAT WE CAN.
AND I KNOW THAT OUR STAFF AND OUR LEGAL TEAM HAS TAKEN A LOT OF TIME TO REALLY WORK THIS THROUGH AND KNOW WHERE WE STAND, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. THAT'S A LARGE LIFT AND I APPLAUD YOU GUYS.
MOVE TO WAIVE THE READING OF RESOLUTION 2025 - 29.
THERE BE AN AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC.
ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING AND SEEING NONE THEN ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION PASSES. NEXT, HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
MOVE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2025 - 29, A RESOLUTION APPROVING CLOSING OF TRANSFER AGREEMENT, WHICH RECITES, DETERMINES TERMS FOR CONVEYANCE TO CITY OF CITY HALL AND PROVIDING AUTHORITY TO SIGN NECESSARY AND CUSTOMARY CLOSING DOCUMENTATION. SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION.
ANY DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS? SEEING AND HEARING NONE THEN ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION PASSES. WE'LL BE CLOSING THAT ON FRIDAY.
ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE NO BID CONSIDERATIONS OR NEW BUSINESS.
[CITY COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS]
SO THAT TAKES US TO OUR CITY COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS.WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES. THANK YOU MAYOR.
I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THAT ON FEBRUARY 13TH, AND IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SEE THE HARMFUL HISTORY OF RACIAL COVENANTS IN OUR CITY AND TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF RE OF IT'S NOT REMOVING THE COVENANTS, BUT ADDING TO THE DOCUMENTATION THAT WE DO NOT AGREE WITH THAT.
[01:15:03]
I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS AND MAYOR MARQUEZ PUT THAT.I ALSO WAS AT THE ANOKA COUNTY HAZARD MITIGATION MEETING WITH THE CITY MANAGER, AND WE WERE ABLE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT HAZARDS MAY HAPPEN IN ANOKA COUNTY AND HOW DO WE PRIORITIZE DEFENDING AGAINST FLOODING OR WIND DAMAGE OR ANY OTHER NATURAL HAZARDS THAT MIGHT HAPPEN.
AND THE COUNTY IS WORKING TO PUT TOGETHER A PLAN, AND ALL OF THE CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS IN OUR CITY, IN OUR COUNTY, WERE PRESENT THERE. THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS HELD AN EVENT AT SILVERWOOD PARK, AND SILVERWOOD PARK ISN'T IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, BUT IT BORDERS COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.
AND WE AS A CITY PARTNER WITH THE PARK ON SOME OF THE ISSUES WITH SILVER LAKE.
AND WE MAINTAIN SILVER LAKE BEACH PARK, WHICH ABUTS SILVERWOOD.
AND SO I JUST ENCOURAGE YOU TO CHECK THAT OUT.
AND THEN I WANTED TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT OUR COMMUNICATIONS TEAM HAS PUT TOGETHER A FANTASTIC NEW RESIDENT GUIDE, AND IT'S WELCOME TO COLUMBIA HEIGHTS. BUT EVEN IF YOU'VE ALREADY LIVED HERE FOR A FEW YEARS, I REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO CHECK IT OUT. IT'S A GREAT THREE PAGE PRIMER ON OUR CITY AND EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW, AND YOU CAN FIND IT ON THE CITY PUBLICATIONS OF THE WEBSITE.
AND I THINK THAT NEW RESIDENTS MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET A COPY OF THAT TO THEIR HOME.
BUT EVEN IF YOU CAN'T, IT'S DEFINITELY ON OUR WEBSITE. AND I REALLY I THINK IT'S WONDERFUL.
SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES.
COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS. HELLO. ATTENDED MNDOT DID HAVE SMALLER MEETINGS THAT WAS OPEN TO ALL THE PUBLIC TO COME AND LISTEN AND ASK QUESTIONS. AND I ATTENDED, JUST A RECENT ONE.
THEY WE WERE ABLE TO MEET THE SECOND THE ENGINEERS FOR THE SECOND PHASE, WHICH WAS NICE.
AND THEY DISCUSSED WHAT THEIR NEXT PLANS ARE DOING THEY'RE LOOKING LIKE THE COUNCIL WON'T BE MAKING A DECISION UNTIL 2026 EARLY ON, BUT THAT WAS A GOOD MEETING. I ATTENDED THE FIRE QUARTERLY RELIEF MEETING.
I GOT TO MEET SOME MORE OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT MEMBERS.
WE'RE DOING THIS END OF THE WEEK. I ALSO ATTENDED THE KORDIAK AND HIGHLAND LAKE MEETING.
QUINN FROM ANOKA COUNTY CAME AND GAVE US AN UPDATE ON THINGS THAT ARE GOING.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN QUITE A BIT OF DATA COLLECTED, IS THEY'RE LOOKING TO HIRE A PERSON WHO'S AN EXPERT ON LAKE QUALITY SO THEY CAN PUT TOGETHER THE DATA AND SEE WHAT WE HAVE, AND THEN ALSO SEE WHAT POSSIBILITIES ARE FOR IMPROVING THE LAKE.
THEY ALSO TALKED ABOUT AN UPDATE ON THE THE TRAILS AND PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE GOT IT DONE REAL QUICK. IT WAS IT'S REALLY NICE TO TO HAVE THAT AND THE TREES ARE STARTING TO, THE TRUNKS ARE GETTING BIGGER. SO THAT WAS GOOD.
AND THE OTHER THING, JUST AN ANNOUNCEMENT THIS SATURDAY, MARCH 1ST.
WE HAVE HEIGHTS NEXT IS SPONSORING A [INAUDIBLE].
IT'S ON SATURDAY FROM 10 A.M. TO MIDNIGHT. IT'S FAMILY FRIENDLY.
YOU CAN COME DRESSED UP IN COSTUMES. THERE'LL BE GAMES, ALL SORTS OF GAMES.
THAT'S HOSTED BY 2D, I BELIEVE. IS IT 2D? YEP.
AND THEY HAVE VIDEO GAMES THERE AND THEY'LL HAVE LOTS OF VENDORS.
AND IN THE EVENING THEY'LL HAVE KARAOKE. YOU CAN LOOK IT UP.
JUST PUT IN [INAUDIBLE] ON FACEBOOK AND YOU CAN FIND MORE OF THE DETAILS THERE.
AND I BELIEVE THERE'S COSTUMES ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO WEAR COSTUMES. AT 6:00.
OKAY. AND THE MAYOR CAN FILL US IN ON THE COSTUME PART.
AND THEN THE OTHER THING WITH ADRIAN THAT SPOKE THIS EARLIER THIS EVENING.
I SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT IT UP WHILE HE WAS TALKING.
BUT FOR THOSE WHO ARE STILL TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE WHERE MNDOT IS COMING FROM WITH CENTRAL AVENUE, THERE'S A WORD CALLED, THERE'S A WORD STROADS S T R O A D S.
IF YOU GOOGLE THAT, YOU WILL FIND OUT ALL ABOUT IT.
AND BASICALLY A QUICK DEFINITION OF A STROAD IS, STROADS ARE LIKE A TYPE OF HYBRID STREET HIGHWAY .
AND STROADS HAVE BEEN CRITICIZED BY URBAN PLANNERS FOR SAFETY ISSUES, FOR INEFFICIENCIES, WHILE STREETS SERVE AS A DESTINATION AND PROVIDE ACCESS TO SHOPS AND RESIDENCES AS SAFE TRAFFIC SPEEDS AND HIGHWAYS SERVE AS A HIGH SPEED CONNECTION THAT CAN EFFICIENTLY MOVE TRAFFIC AT HIGH VOLUME. WHEN YOU COMBINE THESE TWO, THEY BECOME STROADS AND THEY ARE OFTEN AS AN EXPENSE,
[01:20:05]
THEY ARE EXPENSIVE, INEFFICIENT AND A DANGEROUS COMPROMISE.AND AS WAS BROUGHT UP IN ONE OF OUR WORK SESSION WITH MNDOT LAST MONTH, COLUMBIA CENTRAL AVENUE AND JUST THE YEAR 2024 HAD 470 ACCIDENTS BETWEEN 37TH AND 53RD. THEIR GOAL BY DOING THE THINGS THAT THE PLANS THAT THEY'RE PUTTING TOGETHER, THEY'RE GOING TO PRESENT US WITH FOR A CHOICE IN 2026, IS TO REDUCE THAT NUMBER TO THE LOW TWO HUNDREDS.
SO IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT IT, WANT TO LEARN ABOUT IT? I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU JUST TYPE IN STROADS INTO GOOGLE, AND THERE'S LOTS OF INFORMATION THAT YOU CAN EDUCATE YOURSELF ON ON THESE TYPE OF ROADS, THE ISSUES, AND THEN HOW OTHER CITIES, THIS IS AN ISSUE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, HOW OTHER CITIES AND HOW MNDOT AND STATE TRAFFIC DEPARTMENTS ARE DEALING WITH THEM, AND HOW THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE THEM MORE SAFER AND TURN THEM INTO ONE OR THE OTHER BECAUSE COMBINING THEM IS NOT WORKING.
SO THAT'S JUST INFORMATION FOR FOLKS TO TO LOOK UP AND READ ABOUT.
AND THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DENEEN.
I ATTENDED THE MNDOT UPDATE AT CITY HALL ON FEBRUARY 12TH, WHERE WE REVIEWED THE LATEST DESIGN OPTIONS FOR CENTRAL AVENUE AND DISCUSSED MANY NOTED AND POSSIBLE ISSUES FOR BUSINESS OWNERS AND PEDESTRIANS, WITH THE GOAL BEING TO ENSURE THE BEST ACCESS AND SAFETY FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
I ALSO ATTENDED THE MAPPING PREJUDICE PROJECT MEETING HERE AT CITY HALL ON THE 13TH.
IT WAS SO EYE OPENING AND IMPORTANT TO HEAR ABOUT THE REDLINING AND OTHER PREJUDICIAL PRACTICES THAT TOOK PLACE IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR NEXT MEETING THAT WAS BEING RESCHEDULED.
I ATTENDED THE KORDIAK HIGHLAND PARK LAKE MEETING AS WELL AT CITY HALL ON THE 20TH, WHERE WE DISCUSSED THE HEALTH OF THE LAKE, WHAT PRIORITIES THE HIGHLAND LAKE COMMUNITY GROUP WOULD LIKE TO SEE BROUGHT FORWARD, AS WELL AS METHODS FOR FUNDING AND ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION OF THE LAKE ITSELF.
AND THEN THIS LAST WEEKEND, I ATTENDED THE TWO DAY LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES ELECTED LEADERS INSTITUTE TRAINING AND SEMINAR IN PLYMOUTH, WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT ITEMS LIKE ADVOCACY, PUBLIC FINANCE, OPEN MEETING LAWS, SOCIAL MEDIA AND A LOT MORE WITH SOME GREAT PRESENTERS.
AND I ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO [INAUDIBLE] THIS WEEKEND.
BUT THAT'S IT FOR ME. THANK YOU. AND COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS.
YEAH, A COUPLE OF THINGS. WITH THE REST OF THE COUNCIL ATTENDED THE SPECIAL ED MEETING JUST BEFORE THIS, TALKING ABOUT THE CLOSURE OF CITY HALL HERE. I ALSO ATTENDED THE JUST DEEDS PRESENTATION, THE INITIAL ONE.
AS COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS HAD MENTIONED, WAS WORKING ON SOME LEADERSHIP PREP FOR OUR LEADERSHIP MEETINGS WITH CITY COUNCIL AND CITY OFFICIAL OR EXCUSE ME, DEPARTMENT HEADS LATER THIS WEEK.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. I STARTED REWATCHING THE 2025 STATE OF THE REGION FROM THE MET COUNCIL.
AND JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT AND SHOUT OUT TO OUR CITY MANAGER FOR TESTIFYING ON THE CITY'S BEHALF FOR TAX EXEMPTION TAX EXEMPTION, EXCUSE ME, ON CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS FOR CITY HALL.
SO JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT. THANK YOU. LET'S SEE, THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS I HAVE ATTENDED OUR WEEKLY ROTARY MEETINGS. I HOSTED A LISTENING SESSION SPECIFICALLY AIMED AT DEPORTATION AND IMMIGRATION CONCERNS.
WE HAD ABOUT 75 PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE. AND WE HANDED OUT RED CARDS.
RED CARDS GO OVER YOUR FOUR OF YOUR RIGHTS THAT IF ANYONE ASKS YOU QUESTIONS, YOU CAN SHARE.
AND I HAVE COPIES OF THOSE IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THEM. BUT IF YOU LOOK UP RED REDCARD.COM, YOU CAN GET MORE INFORMATION. BUT ONCE AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO REASSURE PEOPLE THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE CITY, MEANING OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND FIRE DEPARTMENT, ARE HERE TO TAKE CARE OF ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
AND THEY ARE NOT AN ARM OF ICE OR THE NATIONAL HOMELAND SECURITY.
[01:25:04]
SO PLEASE CALL IF YOU HAVE AN EMERGENCY, IF SOMEONE IS SICK, IF YOU NEED TO CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OR THE POLICE, PLEASE CALL THEM SO THAT THEY CAN GIVE YOU SERVICES.WE DID HAVE A PUZZLE SWAP HOSTED AT OUR SISTERS, OUR SENIOR CENTER DOWNSTAIRS AT MURZYN HALL.
WE HAD ABOUT 100 PUZZLES CAME IN, AND ABOUT 25 PEOPLE ATTENDED.
AND WE TOOK TURNS WITH PEOPLE GOING IN, TAKING THEIR PUZZLES.
BUT WE HAD SOMEONE FROM, I WANT TO SAY ANDOVER CAME AND NORTHEAST AND KIND OF ALL OVER.
SO REALLY GLAD A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE CRAZY ABOUT PUZZLES.
I ALSO KNOW WE HAVE OUR PUZZLE CONTEST AT THE LIBRARY COMING UP TOO.
I DON'T KNOW THE DATE OF THAT, BUT IT'S COMING UP SHORTLY.
I WAS JUST AT THE LIBRARY TODAY AND THEY HAVE PUZZLES ON DISPLAY IN THEIR DISPLAY CASE.
SHE WAS VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE AND RESPECTFUL. IT WAS A VERY EASY INSTALLATION.
THERE ARE SOME SOMETIMES PLUMBING NEEDS THAT HAVE TO BE TAKEN CARE OF.
BUT SO WE ARE HEARING ABOUT THOSE. BUT THIS IS ONE WAY TO MODERNIZE AND MAKE A COHESIVE WATER METER, DATA COLLECTING AND MAKING SURE WE'RE, WE'RE BEING ABLE TO BILL PEOPLE PROPERLY.
SO WE DO APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S FLEXIBILITY IN WORKING WITH HYDRO CORP..
I ALSO ATTENDED AN ONLINE MEETING FOR CREATING SAFE RAILROAD CROSSINGS.
COLUMBIA HEIGHTS DOES OWN PART OF THE RAIL RAILROAD IN NORTHEAST MINNEAPOLIS AND FRIDLEY.
AND WE OWN A SECTION OF THAT SAME RAIL YARD. AND FOUND OUT THAT 25% OF FATALITIES AND TRAIN CROSSINGS ARE AND TRAIN TRACKS HAPPEN AT CROSSINGS WITH STOP BARS, 25%, AND THEY USUALLY ARE FROM TRAFFIC THAT'S BACKED UP AND CARS GET STUCK. AND THEN THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY.
BUT THIS KIND OF BACKS TO THE CONVERSATION WITH MNDOT.
ONE OF THE ONE OF THE PROPOSALS IS TO BLOCK RESERVOIR FROM BEING A THROUGH STREET.
AND THE REASON IS BECAUSE OF HAVING THAT FIFTH STREET AT THAT TRAFFIC LIGHT AT 37TH AND CENTRAL, THAT IT MAKES TRAFFIC BACK UP OVER THE TRAIN TRACKS.
AND IT'S AND WE ALL KNOW THAT TRAIN CAN BE 20-25 MINUTES.
SO THAT'S A LOT OF CARS THAT CAN BE BACKED UP.
BUT THEN HEARING THE FACTS, LIKE 25% OF FATALITIES ARE AT CROSSINGS WHERE YOU THINK IT'D BE SO SAFE THAT THERE'S THESE, YOU KNOW, ARMS THAT COME DOWN AND LIGHTS, TO HEAR NATIONWIDE, THAT THERE'S STILL THAT MANY FATALITIES.
I THINK LAST YEAR WAS LIKE 280 JUST IN THE UNITED STATES.
SO JUST LEARNING MORE ABOUT WAYS WE CAN BE SAFE AT RAILROAD CROSSINGS.
ALSO VOLUNTEERED AT THE EVERY MEAL PROGRAM AT VALLEY VIEW SCHOOL.
ATTENDED OUR BUY NOTHING OR, WHAT DO YOU CALL IT, THE FREE SALE.
THE FREE SALE. SO IT'S A BUY NOTHING LIKE A GARAGE SALE, BUT EVERYTHING'S FREE.
AND THAT GETS HOSTED SOMETIMES IN PEOPLE'S YARDS AT, LIKE, A GARAGE SALE IN THEIR DRIVEWAY.
BUT THIS WAS HOSTED BY FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH.
SO I THINK THERE'S PROBABLY AT LEAST 100 PEOPLE THERE.
IT'S A VERY WELL ATTENDED EVENT, AND IT'S A GREAT SUSTAINABILITY EVENT BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN JUST SHARE OUT OF THEIR GENEROSITY WITH THE COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE CAN EMPTY OUT THEIR HOUSES A LITTLE. ALSO ATTENDED THE LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES CONFERENCE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER DENEEN THERE.
I WAS THERE FOR THE ADVANCE ELECTEDS WHICH JUST MEANS YOU'VE BEEN THERE LONGER.
BUT THERE WAS UNION NEGOTIATIONS, A LEADERSHIP TRAINING, AND ALSO A SECTION ON GENERATIONAL TRENDS.
AND THAT WAS REALLY FASCINATING. ONE OF IT BEING IT'S GREAT TO UNDERSTAND ALL THE DIFFERENT GENERATIONS MORE FROM A STAFF PERSPECTIVE, FROM COUNCIL'S PERSPECTIVE, AND THEN ALSO FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
SO THAT WAS A REALLY FASCINATING SECTION. I HELPED HOST A KORDIAK PARK HIGHLAND LAKE MEETING.
JUST WANT TO SHARE THAT IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN JOINING THAT.
IF YOU SEND ME AN EMAIL, I CAN ADD YOU TO THE EMAIL LIST SO THAT YOU CAN KNOW ABOUT THOSE MEETINGS.
[01:30:03]
MNDOT. ANOKA IS LEADING THOSE THAT THEY'RE NOT LIKE A CITY MEETING.BUT EVERYONE'S WELCOME TO ATTEND. I ALSO APPRECIATE THE NEW SIGNAGE ON THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING, SAW THAT GOING UP. AND THEN JUST WANT TO SHARE A COUPLE OF THINGS COMING UP.
THIS SATURDAY, [INAUDIBLE] A VIDEO GAME BOARD GAME CONVENTION THAT TAKES PLACE ALL DAY.
SO IF YOU'RE REALLY INTO BOARD GAMES AND BEING A NERD, COME HANG OUT.
HAVE SOME COSPLAY AND SING SOME KARAOKE IN THE EVENING AND SHOP WITH THE VENDORS.
TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AT [INAUDIBLE]. ALSO, I JUST HELPED SET UP WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, A CRIMINAL EXPUNGEMENT CLINIC THAT WILL BE HOSTED AT OUR LIBRARY ON APRIL 24TH.
AND I'M JUST REALLY GLAD OUR LIBRARY IS OPEN TO HOSTING THAT.
AND THERE WILL BE A LOT OF OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AT THAT EXPUNGEMENT CLINIC AS WELL, INCLUDING ATTORNEYS AND DIFFERENT KIND OF A WRAPPED SERVICES FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE LOOKING FOR THOSE THOSE, I GUESS, RESOURCES.
AND I WANT TO ALSO SAY THAT OUR CITY NEWSLETTER WENT OUT.
ONCE AGAIN, OUR NEWSLETTER HAS JUST HAS SO MUCH INFORMATION, BUT SPECIFICALLY ON A COUNCIL SHOUT OUT WE HAVE OUR NEW COUNCIL PHOTO IS IN THERE, AS WELL AS SOME COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL ON WHY WE ARE EXCITED TO BE SERVING OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THIS WEEK WE ARE HAVING OUR SPANO GROUP LEADERSHIP.
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE OUR STAFF DEVELOPMENT, OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS AND THEN OUR COUNCIL TAKING TIME TO WORK ON OUR PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP AND HOW WE CAN WORK EVEN BETTER AS AS A GROUP TO FACILITATE THINGS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU. THAT'S MY REPORT. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR.
IF YOU DIDN'T RECEIVE A COPY AT YOUR HOUSE, THE 2025 ARBOR DAY TREE SALE IS ABOUT TO EMBARK.
IT'S AN EFFORT THAT STARTED IN 2021, IT BEGINS MONDAY, MARCH 3RD.
THE TREE SALE IS A GREAT WAY FOR RESIDENTS TO HELP BUILD THE CITY'S URBAN TREE CANOPY AT A LOW COST.
YOU CAN VISIT THE CITY'S WEBSITE FOR INFORMATION REGARDING TREE VARIETIES AND HOW TO PLACE AN ORDER.
IT'S ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE WEBSITE. AND THEN FINALLY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS DEADLINE.
WE HAVE OPENINGS ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION, LIBRARY BOARD, PARKS AND REC COMMISSION, SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION, AND AS ALWAYS, YOUTH COMMISSIONERS AS WELL. SO THAT'S IT.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THAT BRINGS US TO THE END OF OUR MEETING.
IF I COULD HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SO MOVED.
SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER DENEEN TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.
AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING IS NONE THEN ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE.
THE MOTION PASSES. THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.