[00:00:03] MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL, PLEASE? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS HERE. [WELCOME/CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL] COUNCIL MEMBER DENEEN HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS HERE. COUNCIL PRESIDENT JAMES HERE. THANK YOU. PLEASE RISE AND JOIN ME FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. 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 ALL. AND I AM SO EXCITED THAT YOU ARE HERE TONIGHT. COUNCIL, DO YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONS OR APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA? [APPROVAL OF AGENDA] HOW ARE WE DOING? ALL RIGHT. NOTHING IS THERE. OKAY. DO WE NEED TO VOTE ON THAT I FORGET. DO WE HAVE TO VOTE ON THE AGENDA APPROVAL? YES. OKAY. NO. YEAH. WE DO. OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA? SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? NO. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR APPROVING THE AGENDA. OUR FIRST ITEM TONIGHT IS THE TIBETAN UPRISING DAY PROCLAMATION, AND I WILL READ THIS ON BEHALF OF OUR [PROCLAMATIONS, PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITION, ANNOUNCEMENTS, GUESTS] MAYOR, AMADA MARQUEZ SIMULA. TIBETAN UPRISING DAY, MARCH 10TH, 2025. ON MARCH 10TH, 2021, TIBETANS OR 2025 TIBETANS WILL GATHER IN THEIR HOST COMMUNITIES TO COMMEMORATE THE 60. IS IT THE 66TH? I'M SORRY, 66TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TIBETAN NATIONAL UPRISING AGAINST THE OCCUPATION OF TIBET, AND TO HONOR MORE THAN 1 MILLION TIBETANS WHO HAVE DIED IN THIS STRUGGLE. THE OCCUPATION AND ONGOING SUPPRESSION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOM IN TIBET AND THE CONTINUOUS DEGRADATION OF CULTURE, RELIGION, ECONOMIC, AND THE ANNIHILATION OF THE TIBETAN PEOPLE'S IDENTITY SHOULD BE A CONCERN FOR ALL. TIBETAN BUDDHISM AND ITS SPIRITUAL LEADER IN EXILE. HIS HOLINESS THE 14TH DALAI LAMA ARE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR TEACHING ON COMPASSION, FORGIVENESS, AND TOLERANCE. THE TIBETAN AMERICAN FOUNDATION OF MINNESOTA WAS FOUNDED IN 1992 AND HAS OVER 5,000 TIBETAN COMMUNITY MEMBERS, MANY OF WHOM LIVE IN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AND IS COMMITTED TO PROMOTING AND PRESERVING THE TIBETAN CULTURE, HERITAGE, AND RELIGION. IT IS ONLY FITTING THAT WE AFFIRM THE DETERMINATION OF THE TIBETAN PEOPLE IN TIBET AND IN EXILE TO RETAIN THEIR HERITAGE AND PROTECT IT FROM DESTRUCTION AGAINST OVERWHELMING ODDS, THROUGH NONVIOLENT AND PEACEFUL MEANS. ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR NOW, I THEREFORE AMADA MARQUEZ SIMULA, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 10TH, 2025 AS TIBETAN UPRISING DAY IN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS. AND HERE TO SPEAK TODAY WE HAVE THE PRESIDENT OF THE TIBETAN AMERICAN FOUNDATION OF MINNESOTA, TENZIN. COME ON. THANK YOU. ON THIS DAY, 66 YEARS AGO, IN TIBET'S CAPITAL, LHASA, TIBETANS FROM ALL THREE PROVINCES UNITEDLY ROSE UP AGAINST THE ILLEGAL OCCUPATION OF TIBET AND CHINA'S BRUTAL, INHUMANE POLICIES AND PRACTICES IN TIBET. UNDER THE VIOLENT SUPPRESSION OF CHINESE FORCES OVER A MILLION TIBETANS LOST THEIR PRECIOUS LIVES AND COMPEL THE LEGITIMATE TIBETAN GOVERNMENT LED BY HIS HOLINESS THE GREAT 14TH DALAI LAMA, FOLLOWED BY APPROXIMATELY 80,000 TIBETANS INTO EXILE. THIS MARKS THE DARKEST AND THE MOST CRITICAL PERIOD IN THE HISTORY OF TIBET. IN 1959, FOLLOWING THE CHINESE PEOPLE'S LIBERATION ARMY INVASION OF TIBET AND THE SUBSEQUENT POLITICAL UPHEAVAL, THE 14TH DALAI LAMA, TENZIN GYATSO, FLED TIBET AND SOUGHT REFUGE IN INDIA. HIS ARRIVAL IN INDIA MARKED THE BEGINNING OF TIBETAN DIASPORA AND ESTABLISHMENT OF TIBETAN GOVERNMENT IN EXILE. AS WE COMMEMORATE THE TIBETAN NATIONAL UPRISING DAY, WE HONOR THE BRAVE MARTYR AND EXPRESS SOLIDARITY WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS INSIDE TIBET WHO CONTINUES TO LANGUISH UNDER THE OPPRESSIVE CHINESE GOVERNMENT. TIBETANS, NURTURED BY THE FARSIGHTED VISION AND THE UNWAVERING COMPASSION UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF HIS HOLINESS THE DALAI LAMA. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM IN THE CENTRAL TIBETAN ADMINISTRATION, ALSO KNOWN AS CTA, WAS A SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT IN THE HISTORY OF TIBETAN PEOPLE IN INDIA. THIS TRANSITION WAS GUIDED BY THE DALAI LAMA, WHO WAS BOTH SPIRITUAL AND POLITICAL LEADER OF TIBETANS, [00:05:02] AND CURRENTLY ONLY HOLDS THE SPIRITUAL POSITION. AS ENVISIONED BY HIS HOLINESS TIBETAN PEOPLE REMAINS COMMITTED TO THE PATH OF NONVIOLENCE AND DIALOG IN FINDING A LASTING AND MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL SOLUTION TO RESOLVE THE SINO-TIBETAN CONFLICT THROUGH THE MIDDLE WAY APPROACH. IT ALSO REAFFIRMS OUR CONFIDENCE THAT THE TIBETAN PEOPLE, THE RIGHTFUL CUSTODIAN OF THE TIBETAN PLATEAU, SINCE ITS FORMATION EMBODY UNIQUE RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL TRADITIONS THAT CANNOT BE ERASED, AND INDOMITABLE SPIRIT THAT CANNOT BE BROKEN, AND AN UNPARALLELED LEADERSHIP OF HIS HOLINESS THE DALAI LAMA THAT CANNOT BE REPLACED. ON THE BRIGHT SIDE, MINNESOTA IS HOME TO ONE OF THE LARGEST TIBETAN COMMUNITIES IN THE UNITED STATES, WITH THE STATE BEING THE SECOND LARGEST TIBETAN POPULATION IN THE COUNTRY AFTER NEW YORK. THE TIBETAN COMMUNITY IN MINNESOTA BEGAN TO GROW IN THE EARLY 1990S, WHEN TIBETAN REFUGEES SETTLED IN THE STATE DUE TO ITS WELCOMING REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT POLICIES AND THE PRESENCE OF A STRONG COMMUNITY SUPPORT SYSTEM. THE COMMUNITY HAS SINCE FLOURISHED, AND THOUSANDS OF TIBETANS NOW RESIDING IN TWIN CITIES, MINNEAPOLIS AND SAINT PAUL. THE TIBETAN AMERICAN FOUNDATION IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION ESTABLISHED TO PRESERVE AND PROMOTE TIBETAN CULTURE, LANGUAGE, AND TRADITION WHILE BELIEVING IN ASSIMILATION AND FOSTERING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AMONG TIBETAN AMERICANS IN MINNESOTA. FOUNDED IN 1992, THE ORGANIZATION SERVES AS A CULTURAL AND SOCIAL HURT FOR TIBETAN IMMIGRANTS, REFUGEES AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO HAVE MADE MINNESOTA THEIR HOME. [INAUDIBLE] PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, CULTURAL EVENTS AND SOCIAL SERVICES THAT HELPS BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN TIBETAN HERITAGE AND AMERICAN LIFE. TODAY, WE GATHER TO MARK A PIVOTAL MOMENT IN TIBETANS STRUGGLE FOR AUTONOMY AND RESISTANCE AGAINST CHINA CONTROL BY RECOGNIZING THE PROCLAMATION OF MARCH 10TH. THE PROCLAMATION OF MARCH 10TH IS ESPECIALLY SIGNIFICANT FOR FOUR REASONS ONE; FOR TIBETAN RESISTANCE AGAINST CHINESE OCCUPATION. SECONDLY, TO RECOGNIZE DALAI LAMA ESCAPE TO INDIA. THIRD, FOR GLOBAL AWARENESS AND SUPPORT FOR TIBET. AND LASTLY, THE PROCLAMATION SYMBOLIZES TIBET CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS STRUGGLES. IN CONCLUSION, I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND MY HEARTFELT GRATITUDE TO MAYOR AMANDA AND A MEMBER OF THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THEIR UNWAVERING SUPPORT AND FOR ISSUING THE PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF MARCH 10TH AS A TIBETAN UPRISING DAY. YOUR RECOGNITION NOT ONLY HONORS THE SACRIFICES OF TIBETAN PEOPLE, BUT ALSO AMPLIFIES THE GLOBAL CALL FOR JUSTICE, PEACE, AND THE PRESERVATION OF TIBETAN CULTURE AND IDENTITY AND ASSIMILATION OF CULTURE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND WE ALSO HAVE JIGME UGYEN HERE FROM THE TIBETAN AMERICAN FOUNDATION TO SHARE AS WELL. ESTEEMED MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR WHENEVER SHE SEES THIS, THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND EVERYONE WATCHING AT HOME. I STAND HERE BEFORE TO SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT MARCH 10TH. THE PRESIDENT TALKED ABOUT THE COMMUNITY AND THE LARGER IMPACT OF MARCH 10TH, BUT I JUST WANTED TO GET A LITTLE BIT OF THIS DATE THAT IS PAINFULLY CARVED IN THE HEARTS OF EVERY TIBETAN, A DATE THAT CHANGED THE TRAJECTORY AND THE HISTORY OF OUR PEOPLE. SO TIBET WAS ILLEGALLY AND FORCEFULLY OCCUPIED BY THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY IN 1949. IF TIBET WAS A FREE, INDEPENDENT COUNTRY TODAY, IT WOULD BE THE 10TH LARGEST, THE 10TH LARGEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. SO ON MARCH 10TH, 1959, WHEN THE TIBETANS IN TIBET HEARD THAT THE 24 YEAR OLD DALAI LAMA'S LIFE WAS IN DANGER FROM THE COLONIZING ARMY 30,000 CITIZENS, THESE ARE NUNS, MONKS, NOMADS, TRADERS YOU KNOW SCHOLARS, MERCHANTS. THEY VOLUNTARILY MOBILIZED AND ACTED AS A BUFFER, A HUMAN SHIELD TO PROTECT THE DALAI LAMA AND DEMAND FOR TIBET'S INDEPENDENCE. THEY WERE NOT ARMED WITH WEAPONS. THEY HAD THAT COLLECTIVE COURAGE, AND THE UNBREAKABLE CONVICTION THAT THEY WALKED IN TOGETHER WITH. WHAT FOLLOWED WAS ONE OF THE MOST BRUTAL MILITARY CRACKDOWNS IN MODERN HISTORY. MARCH 10TH IS NOW COMMEMORATED AS THE TIBETAN UPRISING DAY. HIS HOLINESS THE DALAI LAMA, OUR BELOVED LEADER, WAS FORCED INTO EXILE ALONG WITH THOUSANDS OF TIBETANS. [00:10:04] 66 YEARS LATER TODAY, HIS HOLINESS IS 90 YEARS OLD. HIS LIFE STILL CONTINUES TO BE IN DANGER FROM AGENTS OF THE CHINESE REGIME. THE RESISTANCE IN TIBET CONTINUED AFTER UP UNTIL JULY 1959. AT THE END, A STAGGERING 87,000 TIBETANS WERE MASSACRED. CENTURIES OLD MONASTERIES, RELIGIOUS ARTIFACTS WERE DESTROYED, AND THROUGHOUT THE YEARS OVER 1.5 MILLION TIBETANS HAVE BEEN KILLED AND COUNTLESS MORE IMPRISONED OR DISAPPEARED. TODAY, TIBETANS INSIDE OCCUPIED TIBET ARE LIVING UNDER THE SHADOWS OF A SURVEILLANCE STATE SO EXTREME THAT EVEN POSSESSING A PHOTOGRAPH OF HIS HOLINESS AND A TIBETAN NATIONAL FLAG CAN RESULT UP TO 20 YEARS OF IMPRISONMENT, TORTURE AND EXECUTION. AND BECAUSE WE LIVE IN AMERICA, I BRING WITH ME THE TIBETAN FLAG. THIS IS THE TIBETAN FLAG WHICH IS BANNED IN TIBET BY THE CHINESE. AND HERE IS A PICTURE OF THE DALAI LAMA. THIS WOULD GET YOU KILLED, WOULD PUT YOU IN PRISON FOR 20 YEARS. OVER A MILLION OF OUR CHILDREN, SOME AS YOUNG AS FOUR YEARS OLD, ARE FORCED INTO COLONIAL BOARDING SCHOOLS AND GENERATIONS OF CULTURAL MEMORY BEING ERASED. CHINA KIDNAPED THE 11TH PANCHEN LAMA GEDHUN CHOEKYI NYIMA, WHEN HE WAS SIX YEARS OLD, MAKING HIM THE YOUNGEST POLITICAL PRISONER IN THE WORLD. IN 2007, THIS ATHEIST REGIME IMPLEMENTED AN OUTRAGEOUS LAW, MAKING ALL REINCARNATIONS OF TIBETAN SPIRITUAL LEADERS ILLEGAL WITHOUT THEIR APPROVAL. THIS CREATES COMPLETE CONTROL OVER OUR RELIGION, INCLUDING INTERFERING WITH THE DALAI LAMA'S REINCARNATION. THEY HAVE RENAMED TIBET AS XIZANG TO ERASE TIBET'S IDENTITY AND EXISTENCE IN THE WORLD. THE 2025 FREEDOM HOUSE REPORT STILL RANKS TIBET AS THE LEAST FREE COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. JUST SO THE FOLKS IN THE ROOM HAVE A REFERENCE, NORTH KOREA RANKS NUMBER THREE. YET THE SPIRIT AND THE ENDURANCE AND THE RESILIENCE OF THE TIBETAN PEOPLE INSIDE OCCUPIED TIBET REFUSES TO BE THOSE OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE CONQUERED. 168 TIBETANS HAVE SELF-IMMOLATED BURNED THEMSELVES, CALLING FOR TIBET'S INDEPENDENCE AND THE RETURN OF THE DALAI LAMA. COUNTLESS PROTESTS AND DIRECT ACTIONS CONTINUE INSIDE OCCUPIED TIBET, NO MATTER WHAT THE RETALIATION IS. AND AS PAINFUL AS MARCH 10TH IS FOR TIBETANS, THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT IS TERRIFIED OF THIS DAY, TOO, BECAUSE THIS IS THE DAY TIBET STOOD UP. THIS IS THE DAY TIBET'S VOICE WAS HEARD ACROSS THE WORLD. AND TODAY, WE ARE JUST AN ECHO OF WHAT HAPPENED IN 1959. MARCH 10TH PROVED THAT DESPITE DECADES OF OCCUPATION AND OPPRESSION, TIBETANS ARE NOT CONQUERED PEOPLE AND THEY REJECT THE FALSE NARRATIVE THAT TIBET HAS BEEN A PART OF CHINA. THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT FEARS MARCH 10TH BECAUSE IT EMBODIES OUR UNYIELDING SPIRIT, OUR COLLECTIVE MEMORY, AND OUR RELENTLESS QUEST FOR FREEDOM ON BEHALF OF THE TIBETANS ACROSS THE WORLD. I'D LIKE TO WISH MY DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS FOR RECOGNIZING MARCH 10TH AS TIBET DAY AND STANDING WITH TIBETANS IN OUR PURSUIT FOR JUSTICE. JUST LIKE THE RESOLVED TIBET ACT SIGNED BY PRESIDENT BIDEN INTO LAW LAST YEAR, IT CHALLENGES TIBET'S AUTHORITARIAN CONTROL BY REJECTING THE FALSE NARRATIVE THAT TIBET HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF CHINA. THE ACT AND THE LAW ALSO OPPOSES CHINA'S INTERFERENCE IN TIBET AND REINCARNATION PRACTICES, AND FURTHER CALLS FOR MEANINGFUL NEGOTIATIONS WITH TIBETAN LEADERS. THE US HAS ALWAYS BEEN SENDING A STRONG MESSAGE THAT THE TIBETAN STRUGGLE AND THE TIBETAN STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM IS FAR FROM FORGOTTEN. THIS PROCLAMATION TODAY IS YET ANOTHER REMINDER THAT THE TIBETAN STRUGGLE IS NOT ISOLATED, AND IT IS PART OF THE LARGER GLOBAL FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIGNITY. WITH ALLIES LIKE YOU AND THE MAYOR AND THE FOLKS WATCHING AT HOME, THE TIBETAN TRUTH WILL NEVER BE ERASED. AND SOON, SOON, WE WILL BE ABLE TO JOYFULLY WITNESS HIS HOLINESS THE DALAI LAMA, RETURN HOME, [00:15:08] BACK TO TIBET, AND REUNITE WITH HIS PEOPLE. SO I REALLY, REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU, THIS MEANS A LOT. AND ON BEHALF OF ALL THE TIBETANS, APPRECIATION, FREE TIBET AND PAGALU. AND ONCE AGAIN, BECAUSE WE ARE IN AMERICA AND WE CAN DO THIS LONG LIVE THE DALAI LAMA, FREE TIBET. THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU. OH. CAN WE TAKE A MOMENT TO HAVE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS? I THINK WE'VE DONE THIS IN THE PAST. WE'LL OFFER SOME SCARF AND IF YOU ALL WANT TO COME DOWN AND WE'LL TAKE A GROUP PHOTO WITH THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. MIC] THANK YOU MEMBERS OF TIBETAN AMERICAN FOUNDATION. OUR NEXT PROCLAMATION IS FOR THE MONTH OF RAMADAN. THE MONTH OF RAMADAN 2025. AS WE ARE CURRENTLY CELEBRATING THE MONTH OF RAMADAN, I WISH TO EXTEND MY WARMEST GREETINGS TO OUR MUSLIM BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN OUR COMMUNITY. RAMADAN IS A TIME OF REFLECTION, SELF-DISCIPLINE AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH. IT IS A TIME TO STRENGTHEN MUSLIMS CONNECTION TO GOD AND THE COMMITMENTS OF THE VALUES OF COMPASSION, GENEROSITY AND KINDNESS. THIS MONTH LONG OBSERVANCE BRINGS OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER IN A UNIQUE WAY, AND WE ARE ALL ENRICHED BY OUR EXPERIENCE. WE STAND FIRMLY WITH THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY IN REJECTING VOICES THAT SEEK TO DIVIDE US OR LIMIT OUR RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS OR OUR CIVIL RIGHTS, WE STAND COMMITTED TO SAFEGUARDING THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF ALL PEOPLE, NO MATTER THEIR RELIGION. WE STAND TO CELEBRATE OUR COMMON HUMANITY AND DEDICATION TO PEACE AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. DURING THIS BLESSED MONTH, I URGE ALL OF US TO SUPPORT AND UPLIFT OUR MUSLIM NEIGHBORS. LET US TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT RAMADAN AND ITS ASSOCIATED CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS. LET US SHOW OUR SOLIDARITY AND RESPECT FOR OUR MUSLIM FRIENDS BY HONORING THEIR OBSERVANCE AND SHARING IN THE JOY OF THEIR CELEBRATIONS. I READ THIS ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR. NOW THEREFORE, AMADA MARQUEZ SIMULA MAYOR OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS RECOGNIZES THE HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN AND [00:20:09] HONORS THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR MUSLIM COMMUNITY RAMADAN MUBARAK AND MAY THIS MONTH BE A MONTH OF PEACE, UNITY AND HARMONY FOR ALL [APPLAUSE]. WERE THERE ANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO WANTED TO SPEAK ON BEHALF AND RECEIVE THIS PROCLAMATION? COME FORWARD PLEASE. MIC] ASSALAMU ALAIKUM . MAY THE PEACE AND BLESSINGS OF ALMIGHTY ALLAH BE WITH YOU ALL. AND I'D LIKE TO THANK, ON BEHALF OF ICM, I'D LIKE TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR THIS PROCLAMATION, AMADA AND THE CITY AND WE DO APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR RECOGNIZING OUR HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'M SO GLAD TO BE APART OF IT. WE'RE GRATEFUL THAT YOU GUYS RECOGNIZE THE MONTH OF RAMADAN LAST TWO YEARS. I THINK THIS IS THE SECOND TIME. YEAH, WE'RE SO GRATEFUL ON BEHALF OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS MUSLIM COMMUNITY, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU BESHARA. THANK YOU SHAREM [APPLAUSE]. OUR NEXT ITEM IS OUR COMMUNITY FORUM. THE COMMUNITY FORUM IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL REGARDING ANY MATTER THAT IS NOT SCHEDULED FOR A PUBLIC HEARING LATER [COMMUNITY FORUM ] IN THE MEETING. SPEAKERS ARE ASKED TO COMPLETE A SPEAKER FORM AND SUBMIT IT TO OUR CITY CLERK. I WILL CALL YOU TO THE PODIUM AND YOU SHOULD STATE YOUR NAME AND CONNECTION TO COLUMBIA HEIGHTS. AND YOU SHOULD LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO FIVE MINUTES. PERSONAL ATTACKS, THREATS, USE OF PROFANITY AND OTHER DISRESPECTFUL COMMENTS ARE PROHIBITED. THE CITY COUNCIL WILL LISTEN TO PUBLIC COMMENTS, ASK ANY CLARIFYING QUESTIONS IF NEEDED, AND REQUEST STAFF TO FOLLOW UP ON THE MATTER OR HAVE IT BE ADDED TO AN UPCOMING AGENDA. GENERALLY, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL NOT TAKE OFFICIAL ACTION ON ITEMS RAISED AT THE CITY COUNCIL, AT THE COMMUNITY FORUM AND CITY CLERK. DO WE HAVE ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK TONIGHT? YES WE DO. LORRAINE, SAINT GABRIEL [INAUDIBLE] AND GREG LOZACH ARE HERE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL. THANK YOU. WELCOME. GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO PRESENT OUR REQUEST. ON BEHALF OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS SISTER CITY. WE, IN CONJUNCTION WITH LUBIANKA POLAND. MRS. DERGI AND I ARE HERE TO INFORM YOU OF A TENTATIVE PROPOSAL TO PLAN AND HOLD A MUSIC AND CULTURAL CELEBRATION IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS DURING FALL OF 2025 OR 2026. THIS CELEBRATION WILL BE A 1 OR 2 DAY EVENT MULTICULTURAL EVENT. THE SITE, DAYS, HOURS AND OTHER DETAILS ARE YET TO BE YET TO BE DETERMINED, BUT MURZYN HALL AND PARK NEAR IT WOULD BE AN IDEAL PLACE FOR THE LOCATION. MUSICAL, THEATRICAL, ARTISTIC AND FOOD VENDORS WOULD BE INVITED WITH PRIORITY GIVEN TO COLUMBIA HEIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS. THE COMMITTEE UNDERSTANDS THAT SUCH AN ENDEAVOR WILL REQUIRE SUBSTANTIAL HUMAN AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES. COLUMBIA HEIGHTS SISTER CITY WILL HOLD FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES, BUT WILL ALSO REQUEST AND NEED ASSISTANCE FROM [INAUDIBLE], THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, AND OF COURSE, PRIVATE DONORS. WE, THE COMMITTEE, ARE IN AN EXPLORATORY STAGE SO AT THIS OF THIS PROJECT, SO WE ARE UNABLE TO [00:25:04] PROVIDE AT THIS TIME MORE SPECIFIC INFORMATION. WHEN AND IF THE COUNCIL AND WE HOPE YOU DO, APPROVES OUR PROJECT THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS SISTER CITY COMMITTEE WILL INITIATE STEPS TO PUBLICIZE THE EVENT, RECRUIT PEOPLE, RAISE MONEY AND MEET LEGAL REQUIREMENTS AS STIPULATED BY THE COUNCIL. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD FOR A POSITIVE REACTION FROM THE COUNCIL, BUT WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION REGARDLESS. THANK YOU. YOU'LL FORGIVE ME FOR NOT USING MY FIVE MINUTES. MR. DERGI, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING? YES, I'M IN SUPPORT. CAN YOU USE THE MICROPHONE? THANK YOU. EXCUSE ME. LET ME SWITCH PLACES. IN IN SUPPORT OF FESTIVALS. BECAUSE THIS AT THE MEETINGS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED AS FESTIVALS. FIRST IT WAS POLISH FESTIVALS BECAUSE OF THE POLISH BASE WITH [INAUDIBLE] POLAND AS SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL'S MAIN YOU KNOW, CORE, YOU KNOW, FUNCTION ON A LOT OF ISSUES, BUT IT CAME UP AS FESTIVALS. YOU KNOW, SEVERAL TIMES, SEVERAL MEETINGS. AND THEN PRETTY SOON, GREG AND I, AT ONE OF THE MEETINGS SAID, YOU KNOW WE'RE NOT VOTING ON THIS. THERE WAS NOT A READINESS OF THE MEMBERS TO VOTE ON ANYTHING YET, BUT THEY VERY MUCH EXPRESSED THEIR OPINIONS IN SUPPORT OF FESTIVALS. THEY ALL HAD THINGS TO SAY TO BE, YOU KNOW, EXCITED ABOUT IT, INSPIRED. AND THEN GREG SAID, WELL, WHAT SHOULD WE DO? I SAID, WELL, LET'S GO TO THE CITY COUNCIL. LET'S SEE WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY, OR IF THERE'S GOING TO BE SUPPORT OR IF THEY'RE GOING TO APPROVE SOMETHING. AND RIGHT AT THIS POINT, LIKE HE SAID, THIS IS IN STAGES OF PLANNING, STAGES OF INTEREST, STAGES OF DISCUSSION, AND WE HAVEN'T VOTED ON ANYTHING OURSELVES YET, AND I'VE BEEN TAKING THE MINUTES AS A NEW MEMBER FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS. BUT EVEN TAKING THE MINUTES, YOU KNOW, WE STILL HAVEN'T MADE ANY DECISIONS ON ANY LEVEL. BUT WITH THE DEATH OF DOLORES, IT'S KIND OF LIKE, WOW, IT'S TAKEN OVER OUR THOUGHTS, FEELINGS, LIVES, AND IT'S VERY HEARTFELT. HARD ON EVERYBODY THAT LOVED HER. SO THIS IS JUST SOMETHING WE'RE BRINGING TO YOU TO SAY WE'D LIKE TO SEE FESTIVALS, AND WE'D LIKE TO INVOLVE NOT JUST POLISH, BUT ALL CULTURES AND HEARING ABOUT THE TIBETAN, YOU KNOW, PRESENTATION TONIGHT. YOU KNOW, THE MUSLIMS. I MEAN, WE WANT TO EMBRACE ALL CULTURES, BUT WE WANT THIS TO BE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS. WE WANT TO BE A VERY STRONG BASE OF SUPPORTING FESTIVALS BECAUSE WE WE BELIEVE IT BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY, THE PEOPLE, THE CULTURES, THE DIFFERENCES AND WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENCES AND SOME DIFFERENCES WE'RE NEVER GOING TO CHANGE OUR OPINION ON. BUT THERE'S BRIDGES, THERE'S PLACES WE CAN GET ALONG AND WE CAN MAKE THINGS HAPPEN. AND CELEBRATING TOGETHER IN THE FORM OF FESTIVALS IS A WONDERFUL PLACE TO JOIN. SO I'M IN SUPPORT OF IT, AND WE JUST WANTED TO BRING IT TO YOU TO START CONSIDERING THESE POSSIBILITIES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'LL REALLY BE LOOKING FORWARD TO INFORMATION THAT YOU PROVIDE US AS AS FUNDRAISERS OR MORE PLANNING DETAILS COME FORWARD. WE'RE REALLY GRATEFUL FOR OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SISTER CITIES, AND SO WE'LL BE LOOKING FORWARD FOR MORE INFORMATION. I HAVE ONE MORE THING TO SAY REGARDING A PROPOSAL I PRESENTED IN JANUARY OF 2024 ABOUT AN ART CENTER. I DO HAVE SOME CONTACT INFORMATION I'LL BRING UP AT ANOTHER TIME ABOUT SOME VERY SERIOUS FUNDING THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE, AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT COLUMBIA HEIGHTS HAS FOR FUNDING FOR AN ARTS CENTER. I HAVE NO CLUE. BUT I HAVE A VERY WONDERFUL POSITIVE SOURCE THAT IS LIKE, WOW. SO PLEASE SEND US ANY EMAILS OR ANY INFORMATION, CALL US. WE'D LOVE TO LISTEN. I PLAN TO LET YOU KNOW AS SOON AS I HAVE SOME REALLY MORE SOLID STUFF, BECAUSE A LOT'S BEEN HAPPENING LATELY, BUT I'LL LET YOU KNOW. ABSOLUTELY. THANKS FOR COMING. THANK YOU. AND OUR NEXT SPEAKER, DWAYNE MORRELL, WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL. THANK YOU. WELCOME, DWAYNE. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS DWAYNE MORRELL, RESIDENT OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS. DID THE MAYOR EVER GET AN OFFICE IN THE FACILITY? WE HAVE OFFICE SPACE HERE AVAILABLE FOR ALL OF US TO USE IN THE IN THE CITY HALL. IT'S NOT DESIGNATED. YOU CAN CHECK IN WITH OUR CITY MANAGER AFTER THE MEETING FOR THE DETAILS ON THAT. [00:30:02] ALSO, I'VE GOT A QUESTION OF WHO ACTUALLY OWNS THE WATER METERS THAT ARE BEING REMOVED. THAT WILL BE COMING UP IN A LATER MEETING TONIGHT. THAT'LL BE COMING UP IN OUR PRESENTATION TONIGHT. SEE, NOW THAT'S MY OTHER POINT. WHEN YOU HAVE THE COMMUNITY FORUM BEFORE THE AGENDA EVENTS, THERE'S NO WAY FOR US TO KNOW IF WE'RE IN CONFLICT. SO. BUT IT THROWS MY PRESENTATION OR MY QUESTIONS OFF. IS THE IMPOUND LOT ON THE AGENDA? OKAY. MY OPINION IS THAT THE CITY HAS PAID WAY TOO MUCH FOR THE IMPOUND LOT. I WAS THE ONE WHO ORIGINATED THE ACTION. AND I SAW IT FROM ITS INCEPTION WHEN KEVIN HANSEN ORIGINALLY PROPOSED A $550,000 PURCHASE FROM HILLTOP TRAILER SALES. I SAW THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST WHERE THE MAYOR THOUGHT HE COULD TAKE THE MONEY UP TO HIS FRIENDS AT HILLTOP TRAILER SALES AND GET IT SETTLED. TOO MANY ISSUES, AND IT SEEMS WE'RE BEING TOO GENEROUS FOR A PERSON WHO OWNED IT FROM THE INCEPTION AND WAS IN CONTINUOUS VIOLATION OF THE ORDINANCE, AND MAY HAVE ACTUALLY VOTED FOR THE ORDINANCE IN WHICH HE WAS IN VIOLATION. AND YOU HAVE A PRESENT COUNCIL MEMBER WHO SAT NEXT TO HIM AND DIDN'T EFFECT ANY CHANGE. AND WE HAD THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WHO APPROVED HIM OPERATING, AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, WHICH APPARENTLY LOOKED THE OTHER WAY IN VIOLATIONS WHILE THEY ABATED EVERYBODY ELSE. ONE PROPERTY IN PARTICULAR WAS I THINK IT'S 4259 OR 4239. I REMEMBER THAT ONE IN PARTICULAR, BECAUSE THEIR PARKING LOT WAS RUTTED AND THE CITY PATTED THEMSELVES ON THE BACK FOR GETTING THAT FIXED UP WHILE THE IMPOUND LOT SAT THERE AND SAT THERE AND SAT THERE AND NO ONE TOOK ANY ACTION. I JUST THINK THE OWNER SHOULD HAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO PUT IT UP FOR PUBLIC AUCTION OR SALE AND LET THE PUBLIC DETERMINE THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY. KEVIN HANSEN AGAIN, FIRST OFF I QUESTIONED WHETHER OR NOT HE ACTUALLY KNEW WHAT THE VALUE OF THAT PROPERTY WAS. IT'S UNBUILDABLE. IT'S BEEN A VACANT LOT FOR YEARS AND YEARS. I JUST THINK YOU ARE TOO GENEROUS. THE QUESTION IS, DOES COLUMBIA HEIGHTS NEED ANOTHER PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING? WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE PRESENT ONE? KEVIN HANSEN WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING THE ORIGINAL CITY OFFICES, AND THE ARGUMENT THEN WAS THAT THE BUILDING WAS DETERIORATING BECAUSE THE ROOF WAS LEAKING AND THE WATER AND ICE WAS FREEZING BETWEEN THE FOUNDATION AND THE BRICK AND GETTING INTO THE WINDOWS. THAT WAS ALL PUBLIC WORKS RESPONSIBILITY. SO IT'S YOU'RE NOT BEING CRITICAL ENOUGH OF THE STAFF TO RAISE THE PERFORMANCE LEVEL SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO GO INTO THESE EXCUSE ME. GENEROUS PURCHASES. EXCUSE ME. WE PREFER IF YOU DON'T MENTION NOT DIRECT IT TOWARDS A STAFF PERSON. YOU CAN DIRECT IT TOWARDS THE CITY, BUT NOT A STAFF PERSON. OKAY. OKAY. I APPRECIATE THAT. YEAH. IT'S I JUST THINK THAT YOU'RE AHEAD OF THE ISSUE, AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHERE THAT COMES FROM. AND AND I THINK THERE IS A RULE THAT VIOLATORS CANNOT PROFIT FROM THEIR VIOLATIONS OR THEIR ISSUES. IT MAY BE MORE LIKE A FOR A TV MOVIE ON A MURDER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT THIS IS ESSENTIALLY THE SAME THING. THANK YOU SIR. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. I'VE TAKEN NOTE OF YOUR COMMENTS AND SOME OF THE ISSUES ABOUT PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY WILL BE COMING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE, BUT I'VE TAKEN NOTE OF YOUR QUESTIONS. OKAY. THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR FIVE MINUTES TODAY. OKAY, I'VE GOT ONE QUESTION, THOUGH. ONE MORE QUESTION. LET'S SEE. I NEED TO KNOW IF THE WHEN A METER IS INSTALLED. IF IT BECOMES A REAL PROPERTY. IS THAT SOMETHING? I'LL TAKE A NOTE ON THAT QUESTION. WE CAN MAKE SURE WE GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT. OKAY. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL TONIGHT? [00:35:07] WE DO NOT. ALL RIGHT, WELL, LET'S MOVE ON TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA. [CONSENT AGENDA ] CITY MANAGER AARON CHIRPICH WILL TAKE US THROUGH. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. PRETTY SHORT CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING. SO THE FIRST ITEM IS APPROVAL OF THE FEBRUARY 24TH CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES. ITEM TWO IS APPROVAL OF THE FEBRUARY 27TH AND 28TH SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING MINUTES. ITEM THREE IS APPROVAL OF THE MARCH 3RD, 2025 CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING MINUTES. ITEM FOUR IS ACCEPTANCE OF THE FEBRUARY 3RD, 2025 REGULAR EDA MINUTES. ITEM FIVE IS THE LICENSE AGENDA WITH ROUTINE BUSINESS LICENSES. ITEM SIX IS THE RENTAL OCCUPANCY LICENSE FOR APPROVAL. AND FINALLY, ITEM SEVEN IS REVIEW OF THE BILLS FOR THIS PERIOD, WHICH TOTAL $884,007.49 AND MADAM PRESIDENT. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ALL RIGHT. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVED. SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER DENEEN AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS. ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE CONSENT AGENDA SAY AYE. AYE. NO. ANY OPPOSED? NO. ALL RIGHT. THAT PASSES, AND WE HAVE ONE ITEM FOR CONSIDERATION TODAY. [ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION ] AND IT IS A RESOLUTION 2025 - 31, ESTABLISHING A SURCHARGE ON NON-COMPLIANT WATER METERS. AND TO TAKE US THROUGH THIS ITEM IS OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR, JOE KLOIBER. THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. SO THIS RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU IS SIMILAR TO COMPLIANCE TOOLS THE CITY HAS USED MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE PAST FOR PROJECTS THAT REQUIRE ENTERING PRIVATE HOMES AND BUSINESSES TO ASSURE THAT CITY WATER OR THAT RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL WATER AND SEWER SYSTEMS ARE COMPLIANT WITH CITY CODE. AND THE CITY HAS FOR NINE MONTHS VERY ACTIVELY PROMOTED AND IN A LESSER WAY, EVEN GOING BACK, I WOULD SAY 15 MONTHS, THIS CURRENT PROGRAM OF WATER METER REPLACEMENT AND ALONG WITH THE WATER METER REPLACEMENT INSPECTION FOR THE TYPE OF WATER PIPING ENTERING THE PROPERTY, THE WATER SERVICE TYPE AND CONFIRMING THAT THERE'S NO CROSS, YOU KNOW, ILLEGAL CROSS CONNECT SUCH AS RAINWATER TO SANITARY SEWER OR IS ONE EXAMPLE OF A CROSS CONNECT. AND QUITE COMMENDABLY, MOST OF THE CITY'S RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES HAVE COMPLIED WITH THE CITY'S MULTIPLE REQUESTS TO MAKE APPOINTMENTS AND HAVE THIS PROJECT CARRIED OUT. SO APPROXIMATELY 6,700 CONNECTIONS IN THE CITY AND BY THE END OF THIS WEEK OR NEXT WEEK, THEY'LL BE DOWN TO ONLY LESS THAN A THOUSAND THAT HAVE NOT YET COMPLIED AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT. SO THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD COMPLIANCE RATE, BUT THE CITY NEEDS SUBSTANTIALLY ALL TO BE COMPLIANT. THE COSTS TO THE RESIDENTS AND THE AND OTHER PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE CITY, RENTERS IN THE CITY INDIRECTLY OF NOT GETTING FULL COMPLIANCE IS THAT UNTIL WE HAVE FULL COMPLIANCE, THE CITY WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR AND OPERATE TWO DIFFERENT READING SYSTEMS FOR WATER METERS AND THE STAFF TIME REQUIRED TO DO THAT. AND IN ADDITION, RIGHT NOW, AS LONG AS THERE ARE A FAIR NUMBER OF APPOINTMENTS HAPPENING ON A REGULAR BASIS, THE CITY CAN USE THE RELATIVELY LOWER COST OF HAVING A CONTRACTOR CARRY OUT THOSE APPOINTMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY, AT THE POINT WHERE THE APPOINTMENTS BECOME INFREQUENT ENOUGH THAT IT'S NOT EFFICIENT, OR THE CONTRACTOR ISN'T GOING TO CONTINUE THE CONTRACT BECAUSE THEY THEY CAN'T BOOK ENOUGH APPOINTMENTS IN A DAY, THEN IT WILL FALL TO CITY STAFF TO CARRY THESE OUT. AND IN GENERAL, BECAUSE MANY OF THESE APPOINTMENTS ARE IN THE EVENINGS AND SATURDAYS, IT'S GOING TO END UP BEING OVERTIME COSTS TO CARRY OUT THOSE APPOINTMENTS, WHEREAS CURRENTLY THERE IS A BETTER PRICE AT WHICH THEY CAN BE CONDUCTED. AND, AND SIMPLY ON TOP OF ALL OF THOSE COST FACTORS, IT'S CITY CODE. [00:40:06] AND THAT IS THE BASIS FOR THIS RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU IS THE CITY CODE SECTION FOR WATER METER AND WATER SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS PROVIDES FOR SUCH A CHARGE IF IT'S A NON-COMPLIANT CUSTOMER, PROVIDES FOR THE CITY TO SPECIFY WHAT WATER METER WILL BE USED, WHAT ONE IS THE STANDARD SYSTEM METER. THAT GOES A LITTLE BIT. AND I CAN ANSWER THE CUSTOMER'S QUESTION FROM EARLIER. AT THE POINT WHERE THE WATER METER IS MADE PART OF THE CUSTOMER'S SYSTEM, IT'S THE CUSTOMER'S PROPERTY. THE CUSTOMER IS PAYING FOR THOSE WATER METERS BY A $2 PER MONTH CHARGE ON THE WATER BILL OVER MANY YEARS. SO I SUPPOSE FOR THE THE QUESTION ON THE OLD METER, IT REALLY HASN'T COME UP YET. I MEAN, TECHNICALLY THAT IS THE PROPERTY OWNER'S PROPERTY, BUT IT'S A NON-COMPLIANT METER WHICH CAN'T BE INSTALLED LEGALLY ANYWHERE IN THE CITY. AS A PRACTICAL MATTER, WHEN MOST OF THEM ARE REMOVED, THEY BECOME INOPERABLE IN A WAY THAT IT WOULDN'T BE PRACTICAL TO EVER REDEPLOY THEM SOMEPLACE ELSE IN ANOTHER CITY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. AND BECAUSE THEY HAVE A UNIQUE READING SYSTEM IT REALLY WOULD BE A, IN GENERAL, WE'RE DOING THE CUSTOMER A FAVOR OF APPROPRIATELY DISPOSING OF THEM. COMING BACK TO THE SURCHARGE THAT'S ON THIS RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU, IT'S $100 PER MONTH, WHICH TRANSLATES TO $300 ON A QUARTERLY BILL. IT WOULD BEGIN TO SHOW UP ON QUARTERLY BILLS ISSUED BY MAIL OR EMAIL AFTER APRIL 30TH. DEPENDING ON YOUR PARTICULAR BILLING CYCLE AS A CUSTOMER, IT COULD BE TEN DAYS AFTER THAT DATE OR UP TO 70 DAYS AFTER THAT DATE AS TO WHEN YOUR FIRST BILL AFTER APRIL 30TH WILL BE ISSUED. THE RESOLUTION PROVIDES THAT THE SURCHARGE IF THE CUSTOMER FAILS TO MAKE THE APPOINTMENT, AND THE SURCHARGE GOES ON TO THEIR ACCOUNT, THE SURCHARGE CAN BE REFUNDED AT THE POINT WHERE THE CUSTOMER COMES INTO COMPLIANCE EITHER BY MAKING THE APPOINTMENT AND GETTING THE METER THE NEW METER INSTALLED, WHICH WOULD BE THE PREFERRED METHOD OR POTENTIALLY BY. BEING DISCONNECTED FOR SOME OTHER REASON SUCH AS THE PROPERTY IS VACANT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. OF COURSE, IN THAT CASE, TO RECONNECT WATER SERVICE, WE WOULD REQUIRE THE APPOINTMENT TO INSTALL THE CORRECT METER. WITH THAT, I COULD TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER DENEEN. I JUST ALSO WANTED TO MENTION, LIKE FOR THE PUBLIC, IS THAT THIS IS AN INFRASTRUCTURE PART OF YOUR HOUSE THAT HAS A LIFESPAN, RIGHT? WE ARE WE'RE USED TO THOSE THINGS WITHIN OUR HOMES THAT HAVE TO BE REPLACED ON A SEMI-REGULAR BASIS. THIS IS ANOTHER THING THAT'S NO LONGER FUNCTIONING THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO. IT'S NOT GOING TO GIVE US ACCURATE READING. IT'S NOT GOING TO DO ITS JOB, AND EVENTUALLY IT WILL BECOME OBSOLETE. SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE GET OUT THERE AND WE, YOU KNOW, REMIND OUR NEIGHBORS. I LITERALLY HAD TO REMIND MY PARENTS, WHO LIVE TWO BLOCKS AWAY THIS WEEK, THAT THEY STILL NEEDED TO DO THIS. THEY I ASKED THEM, THEY'RE LIKE, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? LIKE THIS THING YOU'VE GOTTEN IN THE MAIL? OH, I THOUGHT WE DID THEY DID THAT A WHILE AGO, THEY WERE OUTSIDE. NO, THAT'S NOT THAT'S NOT THE SAME THING. SO IT IS JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO TO REACQUAINT YOURSELF WITH WHAT'S GOING ON, CHECK THE CITY WEBSITE. IF YOU HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS OR NEIGHBORS OR FRIENDS IN THE CITY, JUST REMIND THEM, HEY, THIS IS COMING UP. THESE CHARGES WILL GO ON YOUR BILL, BUT IT WILL BE REFUNDABLE IF YOU TAKE CARE OF IT. SO IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT WE ALL NEED TO LIKE, PAY ATTENTION TO AND TACKLE, AND WE'LL GET THROUGH IT AS A CITY. AND I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS FORWARD, RACHEL. THANK YOU. AND I SAW COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS AND THEN I'LL GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS. YEAH, I TOTALLY AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER DENEEN, JUST WANTED TO MAKE THE POINT. IF PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS, THEY CAN GO ON OUR CITY WEBSITE AND TYPE IN WATER METER. AND THAT'S WHERE YOU CAN FIND THE NUMBER TO CALL HYDROCORN OR YOU CAN VIEW THE PREVIOUS LETTERS IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ACTUALLY HOW TO CONTACT HYDROCORN, JUST GO TO THE CITY WEBSITE AND SEARCH WATER METER. COUNCIL MEMBER [INAUDIBLE]. ONE OTHER THING THE THIS CHANGING TO THIS NEW METER IS MORE EFFICIENT AND IT'S MORE ACCURATE. SO YOU'LL ACTUALLY SEE THE ACTUAL AMOUNT OF WATER THAT YOU'RE USING RATHER THAN AN ESTIMATE. AND IT SAVES CITY TIME. STAFF WON'T HAVE TO. IT'S MORE EFFICIENT AND STAFF AND YOU CAN DO OTHER THINGS BESIDES MONITORING THE METERS BECAUSE IT'S SAVING TIME. SO THIS IS A BETTER SYSTEM THAT'S COMING IN. SO IT'S BETTER, IT'S GOOD FOR THE CITY AND FOR EVERYBODY THAT EVERYONE COMPLY. [00:45:06] THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND MY COMMENTS ARE THAT WE HAVE WORKED REALLY HARD. I'M SO THANKFUL FOR OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT AND ALL OF OUR COMMUNICATIONS. WE SENT OUT THREE LETTERS AND I AGREE, SOMETIMES PEOPLE DO THROW THEM AWAY BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT SURE WHAT THEY ARE. AND IF WE HAVE YOUR EMAIL OR YOUR PHONE, YOU'VE BEEN CONTACTED. AND ALSO, I'M SO THANKFUL THAT THE CITY HAS ACTUALLY HAD REPRESENTATIVES KNOCKING ON DOORS, PASTING NOTICES. AND SO WE'RE COMING TO THE SURCHARGE AS KIND OF OUR LAST RESORT. WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT YOU CAN THEN GET IT REFUNDED. BUT WE DO REALLY NEED EVERYONE TO DO THIS. NOT ONLY IS IT UPDATING OUR WATER METERS, WHICH WE NEED TO DO, OUR CITY COUNCIL HAS MADE THIS DECISION TO DO THIS AND THIS IS OUR, OUR, OUR VOTE THAT WE'VE DECIDED AND WE'VE BEEN LEARNING ABOUT LIKE PEOPLE ARE FRUSTRATED AND THEY MAY BE SHARING THAT WITH THE WRONG PEOPLE. IF YOU'RE NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT, WE DECIDED TO DO IT BECAUSE WE KNOW IT'S MORE EFFICIENT, AND WE ALSO WANTED TO TEST TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THE PIPES WE KNOW IF THERE'S LEAD IN YOUR PIPES, WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO TEST FOR THAT BEFORE, AND NOW WE HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY WHILE WE'RE SWITCHING OUT THE METERS TO CHECK FOR ERRORS, WHETHER IT'S WRONG INFILTRATION OR WHETHER IT'S WRONG CONNECTIONS OR WHETHER IT'S THIS. SO PLEASE DO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GET YOUR WATER METER UPDATED. SOME PEOPLE ARE HAVING A HARD TIME MAKING AN APPOINTMENT ONLINE. YOU CAN ALSO CALL AND WE WOULD LOVE TO HELP YOU GET THAT DONE. IS THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL. ALL RIGHT. I WILL RECEIVE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING. MOVE TO WAIVE THE READING OF RESOLUTION 2025-31, THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. SECOND, ALL IN FAVOR OF WAIVING THE READING SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT. THAT PASSES. AND MOVE TO ADOPT. MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2025-31, BEING A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A SURCHARGE ON NON-COMPLIANT WATER METERS. SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER DENEEN. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT PASSES AND THE SURCHARGE HAS BEEN ORDERED. OKAY. THE NEXT PORTION OF OUR AGENDA IS OUR REPORTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL. [CITY COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS] DO I HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO FIRST? ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS. I ATTENDED THE MWMO EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING WHERE WE PLAN THE AGENDA FOR OUR NEXT MEETING COMING UP TOMORROW. I ATTENDED OUR NEIGHBOR NEIGHBORS COOKING CLASS, TEX-MEX COOKING CLASS AT FRIDLEY COMMUNITY ED. THAT WAS VERY GOOD, VERY WELL ATTENDED. AND THE TEACHER WAS QUITE THE CHARACTER AND VERY GOOD SO. AND THEN ALSO ATTENDED THE PARK PARK AND REC. I'M THE LIAISON FOR THEIR COMMISSION, AND THEY ARE WORKING ON AND MOVING AHEAD WITH THE PASSPORT PROGRAM. SO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR IT. THEY'RE HOPING TO HAVE IT OUT THIS SUMMER. AND THEY'RE WORKING WITH WILL, WHO'S OUR COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR. I ATTENDED AS WELL WITH THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR OUR LEADERSHIP TRAINING LAST WEEK. IT WAS VERY INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT COLORS EVERYBODY WAS. SO AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE SOME LITTLE TIPS THAT WE CAN IMPROVE OUR, OUR LEADERSHIP AND OUR WORKING TOGETHER AS A TEAM. I ALSO ATTENDED THE [INAUDIBLE]. IT WAS WELL ATTENDED. PEOPLE WERE HAPPY. IT WAS A VERY NICE ATMOSPHERE. LOTS OF FOLKS PLAYING GAMES, GREAT VENDORS. AND ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE MY CONDOLENCES TO DOLORES STRAND'S FAMILY. SHE PASSED AWAY JUST RECENTLY. SHE WAS A VERY, VERY INVOLVED PERSON IN OUR COMMUNITY. SHE WAS THE FOUNDER OF OUR CITY'S SISTER CITY WITH LOMIANKI PARK. SHE WAS ALWAYS EVERYWHERE. SO SHE'S GOING TO BE DEARLY MISSED. AND I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO GIVE THE CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF GARY PETERSON, WHO ALSO RECENTLY PASSED. HE SERVED OUR CITY FOR MANY, MANY YEARS AND WAS WELL LOVED BY A LOT OF OUR MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. SO JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. I ATTENDED OUR EDA AND COUNCIL WORK SESSION. I ALSO ATTENDED OUR TWO DAY LEADERSHIP TRAINING AT CITY HALL HERE WITH THE MAYOR, COUNCIL AND CITY STAFF PUT ON BY THE SPANO GROUP ADVISORS. IT WAS A REALLY GREAT LEARNING EXPERIENCE. WE DISCUSSED CITY GOVERNANCE AND LEARNED MORE ABOUT THE ENTIRE GROUPS PERSONALITY TYPES AND WORKING STYLES TO FORM PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS, AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY GREAT AND VALUABLE. I DID VOLUNTEER AT [INAUDIBLE] AS WELL, WHICH WAS A GREAT EVENT, WELL ATTENDED. LIKE CONNIE SAID I LOVED SEEING OUR COMMUNITY AND FAMILIES COMING TOGETHER TO PLAY GAMES, SING KARAOKE, SHOP AT LOCAL VENDORS, AND I WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANKS TO THE HEIGHTS ORGANIZATION AND NEIL GRANLUND IN PARTICULAR, WHO SPEARHEADED THIS PARTICULAR EVENT. THEY DID A LOT OF WORK, A LOT OF ORGANIZATION, A LOT OF DECORATION. IT WAS SUCH A FUN EVENT. BUT YEAH, IT WAS A GREAT TIME. I ALSO ATTENDED OUR EDA AND WORK SESSION LAST WEEK, AND THEN OUR TWO DAY LEADERSHIP RETREAT THAT COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS AND COUNCIL MEMBER DENEEN HIGHLIGHTED. AND THAT WAS I ALSO AGREE A VERY GOOD PROCESS FOR ALL OF US TO GO THROUGH AND REALLY ENJOYED THAT. [00:50:04] I ALSO HAD A MEETING WITH PATTY CONSTANT FROM ANOKA COUNTY. SHE'S THE OPIOID REDUCTION SPECIALIST. JUST TALKING ABOUT SPECIFICS IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS. AND IF THERE'S MORE THINGS WE CAN DO TO COMBAT THE OPIOID CRISIS HERE IN OUR CITY. I ALSO HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH A GROUP THEY'RE CALLED ADVOCATES FOR BETTER HEALTH, BUT PREVIOUSLY USED TO BE TWIN CITIES METRO MEDICAL SOCIETY TO SOME MEDICAL STUDENTS ABOUT KIND OF POLITICS AND HOW THAT INTERSECTS WITH PUBLIC HEALTH AND MEDICINE. AND I'VE DONE THAT FOR A FEW YEARS NOW, AND IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO HEAR FROM THEM. AND THEY HAVE A LOT OF GREAT QUESTIONS. AND THEN LAST WEEK, THE LAST THING ON MY REPORT, I ATTENDED A VIRTUAL MEETING FROM THE COUNCIL OF FOREIGN RELATIONS. THEY HAD A TALK ABOUT KIND OF PUBLIC POLICY AND COMMUNITY HEALTH IN THE SETTING OF TRANSITIONS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. AND THEY HAD A REALLY GOOD SPEAKER WHO WAS THE DIRECTOR OF THE CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, JUST KIND OF TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC HEALTH, SPECIFICALLY ABOUT MEASLES AND KIND OF, YOU KNOW, GENERAL THINGS GOING ON. AND WHAT CAN CITIES AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS DO ABOUT THAT? SO THAT'S IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. MY REPORT, I DO ALSO WANT TO ECHO COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS ABOUT MY CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF GARY PETERSON. HIS SERVICE IN OUR CITY AS A MAYOR, AND THE YEARS BEFORE THAT MADE A HUGE IMPACT. OUR OUR PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING, OUR LIBRARY, OUR HIGHLANDER CENTER WERE ALL LEGACIES OF HIS TIME, AS WELL AS OUR CITY'S ALL AMERICAN CITY AWARD, AND OUR CITY OF PEACE DESIGNATION, AND SO MANY MORE THINGS. AND PERSONALLY HE WAS ALWAYS WELCOMING AND ENCOURAGING TO ME WHEN I FIRST BEGAN GETTING INVOLVED IN OUR LOCAL POLITICS, AND WE WILL MISS HIM. FOR MY REPORT, I ALSO ATTENDED THE CITY LEADERSHIP RETREAT AND GRATEFUL FOR THE TIME TO LEARN TOGETHER. HAD RESIDENT MEETINGS. I WAS ALSO ABLE TO ATTEND THE THE ADVOCACY DAY FOR CITIES ON THE STATE. FROM THE LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES. IT'S CALLED CITY DAY ON THE HILL, WHERE WE HAD OPPORTUNITIES TO LISTEN TO THE LEADERS OF BOTH THE MINNESOTA HOUSE AND SENATE, SPECIFICALLY REGARDING BUDGET AND BONDING ISSUES. AND THEN GOVERNOR WALZ GAVE A PRESENTATION ON THE DAY THAT THE MINNESOTA BUDGET WAS RELEASED, BUDGET FORECAST WAS RELEASED. AND THEN I HAD INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS WITH REPRESENTATIVE FEIST, REPRESENTATIVE KOEGEL WHO REPRESENT COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AS WELL AS SENATOR KUNESH, AND THEY LISTENED TO OUR PRIORITIES AS OUR CITY. WE'RE ABLE TO SIGN ON TO SOME OF OUR CITY SUPPORTED BILLS, AS WELL AS JUST HEARING WHAT'S HAPPENING IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, AND THEY RECOMMEND ANY CITIZENS WHO HAVE QUESTIONS FOR THEM. THEY'RE REALLY GRATEFUL TO HEAR FROM YOU. MY CHILDREN PARTICIPATED IN THE RECREATION SKI DAY TO WILD MOUNTAIN, AND THOSE ARE WONDERFUL BEYOND JUST THE ACTUAL AMAZING WORK BY OUR CITY STAFF. IT PROVIDES A LOT OF CONFIDENCE TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND THINGS FOR THEM TO DO. AND I PARTICIPATED IN THE LIBRARY PUZZLE CONTEST, DIDN'T WIN THIS YEAR, BUT DID HAVE A LOT OF FUN AND DID A GREAT PUZZLE. AND THANK YOU TO THE FRIENDS OF THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS LIBRARY TO SUPPORT THE CITY STAFF THAT DID THAT. TODAY I ATTENDED THE REGIONAL COUNCIL OF MAYORS MEETING AND WAS ABLE TO HEAR FROM THE US ATTORNEY WHO WAS IN CHARGE OF THE MINNESOTA DISTRICT, AS WELL AS THE SPECIAL AGENTS IN CHARGE OF THIS AREA FOR IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT. SO THAT WAS INTERESTING TO KNOW THAT. I WANT TO WISH EVERYONE A HAPPY LENT TO THOSE WHO ARE CELEBRATING THIS SEASON, AND TO THANK OUR PUBLIC WORKS TEAM FOR A FANTASTIC JOB ON SNOW REMOVAL. WE FINALLY GOT A LOT OF SNOW, AND THEY GOT TO GET OUT THERE AND DO A LOT OF WORK, AND THEY DID A GREAT JOB. AND TO THANK OUR COLUMBIA HEIGHTS POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE ANOKA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR THEIR WORK TOGETHER FOR WE UNFORTUNATELY HAD A HOMICIDE IN OUR CITY AND A YOUNGER ADULT PASSED AWAY. AND THEY HAVE ALREADY DONE AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION AND HAD ONE SUSPECT ARRESTED. AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THEIR WORK IN THIS VERY DIFFICULT TIME. AND I SEND MY CONDOLENCES TO THAT FAMILY AS WELL. BUT I THINK THAT IS IT FOR MY REPORT, AND WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR A REPORT FROM OUR CITY MANAGER. MADAM PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, JUST A FEW ITEMS. REMINDER THAT THE CITY'S ARBOR DAY TREE SALE IS UNDERWAY. A TREE SALE BEGAN ON MARCH 3RD AND 41 OF THE 60 TREES HAVE BEEN SOLD. RESIDENTS CAN VISIT THE CITY'S WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION IF INTERESTED. NOTE ON WINTER PARKING RESTRICTIONS THEY ARE ENDING ON SATURDAY, MARCH 15TH, BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO REMIND RESIDENTS THAT BETWEEN MARCH 16TH AND MAY 1ST, IT'S STILL UNLAWFUL TO PARK BETWEEN 2 AND 6 A.M. IF SNOW HAS ACCUMULATED TO TWO INCHES OR MORE, WHICH COULD HAPPEN. SO AND THEN FINALLY, NOMINATIONS ARE DUE FOR THE CITY'S BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AND OUTSTANDING CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARDS. THE DEADLINE IS MARCH 31ST. APPLICATIONS CAN BE FOUND ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE OR IN PERSON AT CITY HALL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IF THERE'S NO OTHER BUSINESS, I WILL ACCEPT A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. [00:55:05] THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED. THANK YOU. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.