[00:00:03] HELLO, EVERYBODY. HI THERE EVERYONE. IT'S SO GREAT TO SEE A FULL ROOM HERE AT OUR CITY COUNCIL [WELCOME/CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL] MEETING. I'LL JUST CHECK IN WITH OUR CITY CLERK AND SEE IF WE'RE READY WITH ALL OF OUR TECHNICALS. WE GOT THE THUMBS UP. ALL RIGHT, WELL, WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR MARCH 24TH. WE WILL START WITH A ROLL CALL. THANK YOU AND AGAIN, WELCOME TO EVERYONE ATTENDING IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS HERE. WE DO HAVE A FULL HOUSE AND THEN ALSO WELCOME TO ANYONE WATCHING THE RECORDING OR STREAMING. WE'RE SO HAPPY TO HAVE YOU HERE AND PARTICIPATING IN YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT. WE WILL START OUR MEETING AGAIN WITH OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. SO IF YOU'RE ABLE, PLEASE STAND AND JOIN ME IN SAYING THE PLEDGE. ALLEGIANCE]. NEXT, WE HAVE OUR APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA. DOES THE COUNCIL HAVE ANY ADDITIONS [APPROVAL OF AGENDA] OR ALTERATIONS? NO. ALL RIGHT. THEN I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT AND APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED. SO MOVED. SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS. CORRECT. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING IS NOT, THEN ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. NEXT, WE ARE AT OUR PROCLAMATIONS. [PROCLAMATIONS, PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITION, ANNOUNCEMENTS, GUESTS] FIRST, WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION FOR NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK. AND COUNCIL MEMBER DENEEN WILL READ THIS FOR US. THANK YOU. MAYOR. LIBRARIES, SPARK CREATIVITY, FUEL IMAGINATION, AND INSPIRE LIFELONG LEARNING. OFFERING A SPACE WHERE INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES CAN EXPLORE NEW IDEAS AND BE DRAWN TO NEW POSSIBILITIES. LIBRARIES SERVE AS A VIBRANT COMMUNITY HUB, CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH KNOWLEDGE, TECHNOLOGY AND RESOURCES WHILE FOSTERING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, CRITICAL THINKING, AND LIFELONG LEARNING. LIBRARIES PROVIDE FREE AND EQUITABLE ACCESS TO BOOKS, DIGITAL TOOLS, AND INNOVATIVE PROGRAMING, ENSURING THAT ALL INDIVIDUALS, REGARDLESS OF BACKGROUND, HAVE THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO LEARN, CONNECT AND THRIVE. LIBRARIES PARTNER WITH SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS CONNECTING THE DOTS TO MAXIMIZE RESOURCES, INCREASE EFFICIENCY, AND EXPAND ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL SERVICES. STRENGTHENING THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. LIBRARIES EMPOWER JOB SEEKERS, ENTREPRENEURS, AND LIFELONG LEARNERS BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO RESOURCES, TRAINING, AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT SUPPORT CAREER GROWTH AND ECONOMIC SUCCESS. LIBRARIES NURTURE YOUNG MINDS THROUGH STORYTIMES, STEAM PROGRAMS, AND LITERACY LITERACY INITIATIVES, FOSTERING CURIOSITY AND THE LOVE OF LEARNING THAT LASTS A LIFETIME. LIBRARIES PROTECT THE RIGHT TO READ, THINK AND EXPLORE WITHOUT CENSORSHIP, STANDING AS CHAMPIONS OF INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM AND FREE EXPRESSION. DEDICATED LIBRARIANS AND LIBRARY WORKERS PROVIDE WELCOMING SPACES THAT INSPIRE DISCOVERY, COLLABORATION AND CREATIVITY FOR ALL. LIBRARIES, LIBRARIANS AND LIBRARY WORKERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE JOINING TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK UNDER THE THEME DRAWN TO THE LIBRARY. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT I AMADA MARQUEZ SIMULA MAYOR OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, PROCLAIM APRIL 6TH THROUGH THE 12TH, 2025 AS NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK. DURING THIS WEEK, I ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS TO VISIT OUR LIBRARY, EXPLORE ITS RESOURCES, AND CELEBRATE ALL THE WAYS THAT THE LIBRARY DRAWS US TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY. AND HERE TO RECEIVE OUR PROCLAMATION IS CHRIS POLLEY. CHRIS IS A MEMBER OF OUR LIBRARY BOARD AND A COMMUNITY MEMBER, AND HE WILL RECEIVE THE PROCLAMATION. [INAUDIBLE] . JUST WANTED TO SAY ECHO WHAT OUR MAYOR SAID DON'T NEED TO CHECK ANYTHING OUT. DON'T NEED TO HAVE A LIBRARY CARD. COME HANG OUT AND ENJOY THE SPACE. [00:05:03] IT'S LOVELY. AND BOARD MEETINGS ARE ALSO WELCOME AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CHRIS. AND BEFORE WE CONTINUE WITH OUR PROCLAMATION, I ASK THE REST OF THE COUNCIL TO BRING A BOOK WITH THEM THAT THEY'RE READING TO KIND OF SHOW HOW MUCH WE ENGAGE WITH EITHER OUR LIBRARY OR OUR OWN PERSONAL LIBRARY COLLECTIONS. HOW ABOUT WE START AT THE END WITH JUSTICE? SO SOMETHING I READ RECENTLY CALLED THE DEATH GAP BY DOCTOR DAVID ANSEL. HE WAS A INTERNAL MEDICINE PHYSICIAN IN THE HEART OF CHICAGO AT THEIR PUBLIC COUNTY HOSPITAL, AND TALKS ABOUT THE INEQUITIES HE SAW, YOU KNOW, OVER HIS 30 YEAR CAREER AND KIND OF HOW THOSE CONTRIBUTE TO HEALTH. SO REALLY TALKING ABOUT THOSE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH. AND THAT WAS A REALLY INTERESTING READ AND ALSO LIKE THINGS THAT THE COUNCIL CAN TAKE UP AS POLICY OF HOW DO WE IMPROVE HEALTH IN THE COMMUNITY? [INAUDIBLE]. I MISREAD YOUR EMAIL AND BROUGHT A BOOK THAT WAS IMPORTANT TO ME, BUT NOT NECESSARILY SOMETHING I AM READING AT THE MOMENT. NO PROBLEM. SO THERE YOU GO. BUT I BROUGHT THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA BECAUSE THIS, WHEN I FIRST STARTED READING, WAS THE FIRST CHAPTER BOOK THAT I BECAME OBSESSED WITH, AND I READ SO MANY TIMES THROUGH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. I WENT TO OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LIBRARY SO MANY TIMES UNTIL I EVENTUALLY BOUGHT MY OWN COPY TO READ LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND I JUST IT JUST CREATED THIS LIFELONG LOVE OF READING IN ME. AND SO I THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT BOOK TO BRING TODAY. AWESOME. I'M GLAD THAT YOU BROUGHT A BOOK THAT YOU LOVE SO MUCH. THANK YOU. I'LL GO ON TO COUNCILMEMBER JAMES. I DIDN'T BRING A PHYSICAL COPY, BUT I JUST CHECKED OUT THE HOUSE ON MANGO STREET. ONE OF OUR LIBRARY BOARD NEW APPOINTEES RECOMMENDED THIS BOOK, AND I FOUND IT AT THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS LIBRARY. IT'S BY SANDRA CISNEROS, AND IT'S A FICTIONAL BOOK WITH JUST A LOT OF SHORT VIGNETTES ABOUT LIFE IN CHICAGO FROM A LATINA WOMAN. AND IT WAS JUST AMAZING. AND IT WAS GREAT. AND I'LL BE RETURNING IT THIS WEEK. SO IF YOU WANT TO CHECK IT OUT, YOU CAN. I'M GLAD YOU HAD A BOOK AS AN OPTION TO AND COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS. HI EVERYONE. THE BOOK I JUST FINISHED WAS A COVENANT OF WATER, AND IT'S A PHENOMENAL BOOK THAT TAKES PLACE. THE STORY. THERE'S INTERMINGLED STORYLINES THROUGHOUT IN INDIA AND THE THING I LOVE ABOUT LIBRARIES AND ABOUT BOOKS IS IT TAKES YOU AROUND THE WORLD, AND IT CONNECTS YOU WITH PEOPLE YOU NEVER THOUGHT YOU'D HAVE A CHANCE TO MEET OR HISTORY. I MEAN, THERE'S JUST SO MANY COOL THINGS. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE OUR LIBRARY BECAUSE WHETHER IT'S BOOKS, RESOURCES, INTERNET, IT CONNECTS YOU WITH THE WORLD IT MAKES. AND IT'S A GREAT WAY TO BROADEN YOUR HORIZONS. SO VERY GOOD BOOK. VERY GOOD BOOK. HE WROTE. ABRAHAM VERGHESE, THE BEST SELLING AUTHOR OF CUTTING FOR STONE, WHICH IS ON MY LIST FOR THE NEXT ONE. SO ANYWAY, BOOKS ARE AWESOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL, FOR BRINGING IN YOUR BOOKS AND SHARING A BOOK THAT I BROUGHT IN IS EMOTIONAL SURVIVAL FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT. THIS IS A BOOK THAT WE HAND OUT. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HANDS OUT TO NEW POLICE OFFICERS AND TO THEIR FAMILIES. IT HAS IT'S A GREAT RESOURCE FOR JUST LEARNING TO WORK WITH AND UNDERSTAND A BIT MORE ABOUT BEING A POLICE OFFICER, A POLICE OFFICIAL, AND HOW FAMILIES CAN COPE AND WORK THROUGH IT. BUT WE REALLY, AS A COUNCIL, SUPPORT OUR POLICE OFFICERS WELL-BEING. WE HAVE REALLY WORKED WITH OUR POLICE CHIEF AND STAFF TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING AS MANY RESOURCES AS WE CAN SO THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO DO THEIR JOBS WELL AND REALLY SERVE OUR COMMUNITY IN A WHOLE CAPACITY AND IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN CHECKING THIS BOOK OUT, WE DO HAVE EXTRA COPIES, SO JUST LET ME KNOW. BUT THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH AND THANK YOU, CHRIS. AND BEING ON THE LIBRARY BOARD AND ALL YOUR WORK THAT YOU DO, AND EVERYONE ON OUR BOARD IS SO PASSIONATE ABOUT LIBRARIES AND ALL THE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT PEOPLE CAN ACCESS OTHER RESOURCES. SO PLEASE CHECK IT OUT. WE HAVE I MEAN, WE HAVE LIKE THE LAW, LIKE LAWYERS, WE HAVE COMMUNICATION CIRCLES, WE HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS AT OUR LIBRARY AND WE'RE JUST SO PROUD OF IT. SO THANK YOU AGAIN, CHRIS. OUR NEXT PROCLAMATION IS FOR FAIR HOUSING MONTH, AND COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES WILL READ THIS ONE. THANK YOU. FAIR HOUSING MONTH APRIL 2025. THE FAIR HOUSING ACT, ENACTED IN APRIL 11TH, 1968, ENSHRINED INTO FEDERAL LAW THE GOAL OF ELIMINATING RACIAL SEGREGATION AND ENDING HOUSING DISCRIMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. THE FAIR HOUSING ACT PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION IN HOUSING BASED ON RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, SEX, FAMILIAL STATUS, NATIONAL ORIGIN, AND DISABILITY, AND COMMITS RECIPIENTS OF FEDERAL FUNDING TO AFFIRMATIVELY FURTHER FAIR HOUSING IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. COLUMBIA HEIGHTS IS COMMITTED TO THE MISSION AND INTENT OF CONGRESS TO PROVIDE FAIR AND EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL OUR SOCIAL FABRIC. [00:10:08] THE ECONOMY, HEALTH, AND ENVIRONMENT ARE STRENGTHENED IN DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES. MORE THAN 50 YEARS AFTER THE PASSAGE OF THE FAIR HOUSING ACT, DISCRIMINATION PERSISTS AND MANY COMMUNITIES REMAIN SEGREGATED. ACTS OF HOUSING DISCRIMINATION AND BARRIERS TO EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY ARE REPUGNANT TO A COMMON SENSE OF DECENCY AND FAIRNESS. NOW, THEREFORE, I AMADA MARQUEZ SIMULA MAYOR OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF APRIL 2025 AS FAIR HOUSING MONTH. I FURTHER DECLARE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS IS AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY COMMITTED TO FAIR HOUSING AND TO PROMOTING APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES BY PRIVATE AND PUBLIC ENTITIES TO PROVIDE AND ADVOCATE FOR EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL RESIDENTS AND PROSPECTIVE RESIDENTS OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AND WE HAVE NO ONE RECEIVING THE PROCLAMATION THIS EVENING, BUT IT STILL WILL BE POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE. AND AND WE ARE JUST SO HAPPY TO BE A PLACE THAT SUPPORTS FAIR HOUSING. OUR NEXT PROCLAMATION IS TRANSGENDER DAY OF VISIBILITY RECOGNIZING TRANSGENDER DAY OF VISIBILITY FROM MARCH 31ST, 2025. TRANSGENDER DAY OF VISIBILITY HONORS THE MEMORY, RESILIENCE AND COURAGE OF TRANSGENDER PEOPLE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AND AROUND THE WORLD. THIS ANNUAL DAY PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR TRANSGENDER, NON-BINARY, AND GENDER NON-CONFORMING INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR ALLIES TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THEY FACE WHILE ALSO RECOGNIZING THEIR STRENGTH, CONTRIBUTIONS, AND VIBRANT PRESENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY. TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY MEMBERS EXPERIENCED DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGH LEVELS OF DISCRIMINATION, VIOLENCE, UNEMPLOYMENT, AND BARRIERS TO HEALTH CARE. THESE INEQUITIES MUST BE ADDRESSED THROUGH ACTION, POLICY AND UNWAVERING SUPPORT. THIS DAY IS A TIME TO RECOGNIZE, UPLIFT, AND CELEBRATE TRANSGENDER, GENDER NON-CONFORMING, AND NON-BINARY INDIVIDUALS WHO ENRICH OUR CITY WITH THEIR TALENTS, LEADERSHIP, AND ADVOCACY. COLUMBIA HEIGHTS HONORS AND APPRECIATES THOSE WHO WORK TIRELESSLY FOR EQUITY AND JUSTICE, ENSURING THAT ALL PEOPLE, REGARDLESS OF GENDER IDENTITY OR EXPRESSION, ARE TREATED WITH DIGNITY, RESPECT AND LOVE. COLUMBIA HEIGHTS STRIVES TO BE A CITY THAT ACTIVELY SUPPORTS, EMBRACES AND UPLIFTS OUR TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY, AFFIRMING THAT EVERYONE DESERVES TO LIVE AUTHENTICALLY AND WITHOUT FEAR. I AMADA MARQUEZ SIMULA , MAYOR OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 31ST, 2025 AS TRANSGENDER DAY OF VISIBILITY IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AND ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS TO CELEBRATE, SUPPORT, AND STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH OUR TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY AND RECEIVING THEIR PROCLAMATION TODAY IS ASA BOWERS, WHO IS A STUDENT HERE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS. IF YOU WANT TO COME UP TO THE PODIUM. YOU'RE WELCOME TO SAY SOMETHING. I JUST LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR ACKNOWLEDGING AND HONORING ALL LGBTQ PLUS PEOPLE AND BEING SUCH AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY AND JUST BEING SO GREAT AND COLUMBIA HEIGHTS IS SUCH AN AMAZING PLACE, EVEN STILL, LIKE STRUGGLING WITH SOME DISCRIMINATION. THERE IS SO MANY PEOPLE HERE WHO ARE SO WELCOMING AND SO AMAZING AND I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU. THANK YOU ASA. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR SUPPORTING OUR PROCLAMATIONS AND COMING IN TO SHARE AT OUR COUNCIL MEETINGS. WE WILL MOVE ON TOWARDS OUR COMMUNITY FORUM AND WE'LL JUST TAKE A QUICK BREAK WHILE WE TRANSITION OUR MEETING OVER. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU EVERYONE. WE WILL CONTINUE WITH OUR COMMUNITY FORUM. [COMMUNITY FORUM] THE COMMUNITY FORUM IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL REGARDING ANY MATTER THAT IS NOT SCHEDULED FOR A PUBLIC HEARING LATER IN THE MEETING AND I'LL ASK OUR CITY CLERK IF WE HAVE ANYONE SPEAKING THIS EVENING. [00:15:01] WE DO. THERE IS NO ONE ONLINE. ALL RIGHT. I'M WAITING. I THINK THEY CALLED A SHORT RECESS FROM THE VIDEO ROOM BECAUSE OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING A LITTLE MOMENT. OKAY. YES. SO I'M HOPING. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL WAIT FOR OUR TECHNOLOGY TO CATCH UP WITH US. I THINK WE SHOULD PROBABLY BE GOOD TO GO NOW. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR DOUBLE CHECKING THAT. SO DIANE EYER WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. WELCOME, DIANE. I'M NOT VERY GOOD AT THIS, SO WE'LL GO WHAT WE CAN. MY NAME IS DIANE MEYER, AND I LIVE AT 4218 SECOND STREET NORTHEAST IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AND WE'VE HAD SOME ISSUES. EVERYTHING HAS BEEN GOING GOOD UNTIL THE LAST FOUR WEEKS AND WE HAVE PEOPLE COMING DOWN OUR ALLEYS THROWING THINGS AND INSTEAD, WE GOT A PERSON WHO BROUGHT OUT A BOX SPRING, A CUSHION AND A BUNCH OF GARBAGE AND IT'S A PRIVATE HOME. HOME? IT'S FROM A CHURCH. AS FAR AS WE'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO TELL WHO BELONGS TO WHO AND ALL THAT. AND SO I WENT OVER HERE TO THE CITY AND ASKED IF THEY COULD PLEASE DO SOMETHING BECAUSE IT'S JUST TRASHED AND AT THE END OF OUR DRIVEWAY, GOING DOWN OUR AISLE, THEY THROW ALL THEIR TRASH IN THE ALLEY, AND THEN PEOPLE ARE BACKING UP AND GETTING RID OF IT OR GETTING BACK HOME. AND SO IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING TO ME TO SEE THAT. AND I'VE BEEN THERE FOR 40 YEARS AND BUT THIS IS AWFUL. AND THEN I DID ENCOUNTER A YOUNG MAN HERE LAST WEEK. AND I ASKED HIM, YOU KNOW, HE SAID, OH, DON'T WORRY, I'LL TAKE MY, I'LL GO TAKE CARE OF IT. WELL, NOTHING TOOK CARE. AND NOW MORE STUFF IS FALLING INTO THE ALLEYS. SO I, MY THE REASON I CAME HERE IS THIS HAS GOT TO STOP. I MEAN, IT'S BAD AND IT'S CAUSING MORE AS WE GO FROM 44TH UP TO 40TH AND THE ALLEYS ARE CAUSING A LOT OF ISSUES AND SO WE ARE TRYING TO JUST BE POLITE AND SAY, PLEASE, YOU KNOW YOU HAVE. AND THIS ONE GUY SAID TO ME, YOU JUST GO TAKE CARE OF IT. I SAID, NO, I'M NOT GOING TO DO THAT. SO I HAVE THE ADDRESSES OF THEIR HOMES IN THE GARAGES. I DON'T GO NEAR THEM. BUT YEAH, IT'S BEEN REALLY TOUGH. AND IT WAS CALM. IT WAS VERY CALM. AND ALL OF A SUDDEN NOW IT'S JUST STARTING TO FIRE UP. AND I DON'T LIKE THAT BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE GETTING HURT AND WE'RE HAVING A LOT OF SPEEDING ON SECOND STREET. FROM WHEN YOU COME OFF FROM THE LOWER END AND YOU GO UP. THAT'S JUST I MEAN, IT'S CHAOS AND YOU GOT TO STAND OFF TO THE SIDE IF YOU EVEN SEE IT COMING AND I KNOW THEY PUT THE YIELD SIGNS ON CROSSWISE, BUT THAT HASN'T EVEN STOPPED NOW AND SO WE ARE CONCERNED. I MEAN, WE'RE KIND OF OUR OWN ENTITY OVER THERE, AND I DON'T WANT TO BE RUINED OR RUN OVER BY NUMEROUS PEOPLE. SO WE JUST NEVER SEE A POLICE OFFICER AROUND UNLESS IT'S AN EMERGENCY, OBVIOUSLY. OTHERWISE, WE DON'T GET ANYBODY ON OUR END. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIRD STREET. I'M NOT GOING TO GO THAT WAY. I DON'T KNOW THAT MUCH ABOUT IT. BUT WE NEED SOME HELP BECAUSE IT'S GETTING WORSE AND I JUST APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. DIANE, COULD YOU LEAVE THOSE ADDRESSES WITH THE CITY CLERK, AND WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT STAFF CAN FOLLOW UP. THANK YOU. DWAYNE MORRELL WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL. THANK YOU. WELCOME, DWAYNE. DWAYNE MORRELL, RESIDENT. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MAYOR. I'VE STARTED THIS LAST WEEK. I'M GOING TO FOLLOW UP ON IT. I BELIEVE THAT YOU DESERVE THE RECOGNITION FOR YOUR POSITION AND TO HAVE AN OFFICE IN THIS FACILITY TO IGNORE THAT MEANS OR INDICATES THAT PERHAPS YOU'RE NOT AS IMPORTANT AS YOUR POSITION INDICATES, OR SHOULD INDICATE THAT YOU ARE. YOU'RE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PEOPLE, AND I THINK THAT YOU NEED THE RECOGNITION FOR THAT. WELL, THANK YOU, DWAYNE, I WILL. I DO NOT WANT TO INTERRUPT ANYONE WHO'S SPEAKING, BUT I WILL SAY, SINCE THE LAST TIME YOU SPOKE, WE NOW DO HAVE A MAYOR AND COUNCIL OFFICE. OKAY, WE ALL CAN SHARE. SO. VERY GOOD. THAT CONCERN HAS BEEN ADDRESSED. [00:20:03] OKAY. VERY GOOD. ALSO, I'M TRYING TO TRACK DOWN THE 5 TO 6000 MISSING BRASS WATER METERS. I'VE NARROWED IT DOWN. I'M NOT SURE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL SITUATION IS THE PLACE TO EXPLAIN IT, BUT IT HAS TO BE ONE OF FOUR PLACES. ONE IS THE HOMEOWNER. TWO THE INSTALLER. THREE THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. OR FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS STOLEN THE METERS FROM THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, I FOUND OUT THAT ONE INSTALLER WAS INSTRUCTED TO DROP THEM OFF NEAR THE PUBLIC WORKS ACROSS THE STREET, NEAR THE FENCE THAT'S OPEN FOR THEFT. THOSE METERS AS SCRAP ARE VALUED BETWEEN 7 AND $10. SO THAT'S 45 TO $60,000, DEPENDING ON WHAT THE SITUATION IS AND IF IT'S NOT THE INSTALLERS WHO TAKE THEM AWAY, THAT IS DECEPTIVE. I DON'T THINK THE CITY SHOULD BE GIVEN THAT KIND OF EXTRA CASH FOR THE INSTALLING. IF IT'S AT THE PUBLIC WORKS, THEN WHO AT THE PUBLIC WORKS IS POSSIBLY TAKING THEM FOR THEMSELVES? MY METER HAS 250,000 GALLONS OUT OF 10 MILLION USED. THAT METER CAN BE USED FOR ANYTHING. EXCEPT MAYBE THE SENDING UNIT IS NOT GOING TO BE ATTACHED. SO IF A CITY JUST WANTS A METER AND THEY FIGURE OUT HOW TO TRANSFER THE INFORMATION FROM THE RESIDENT TO THE CITY, THE BILLING DEPARTMENT, THAT'S THEIR BUSINESS. BUT THAT METER IS VERY VALUABLE AND OUR NEW METERS SOMEONE CONTRACTED FOR ALL OF THE RESIDENTS WITHOUT US KNOWING HOW MUCH THAT METER COST AND WERE CHARGED TWICE WHAT THE OLD METER WAS. AND IT'S PLASTIC. I DON'T WANT PLASTIC ON MY COPPER LINES. PLASTIC IS VERY LOOSE BONDED. THAT ALLOWS IT TO BEND, BREAK AND FRACTURE AND IT CAUSES THE MICRO PLASTIC CONDITIONS BECAUSE PLASTIC JUST STARTS DETERIORATING AFTER IT'S PRODUCED. I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO CHOICE. THE SENDING UNIT IS THE ISSUE. SO COULD WE HAVE ADOPTED A DIFFERENT SENDING UNIT? SO SOMEONE AT THE BILLING OFFICE COULD HAVE READ OUR METER WITHOUT CHANGING THEM OUT? PERFECTLY GOOD. THAT'S IT. I APPRECIATE THAT YOU'VE GOT A DESIGNATED OFFICE. THAT'S GOOD AND I HOPE YOU WILL HELP ME FIGURE OUT WHERE THOSE METERS ARE AND MAKE CERTAIN THAT EVERYTHING WAS HANDLED APPROPRIATELY AND REMINDS ME WASTE MANAGEMENT. GAVE THE CITY, I'M TOLD, OR I UNDERSTOOD, THAT WE GOT LIQUIDATED DAMAGES BECAUSE WASTE MANAGEMENT SERVED OUR COMMUNITY SO POORLY AND I ASKED THE PREVIOUS CITY ATTORNEY WHAT THE AMOUNT WAS OR WHERE THE MONEY WENT. I DIDN'T SEE ANY CREDIT ON MY BILLING. I DON'T THINK ANY RESIDENT SAW THAT. I WOULD APPRECIATE KNOWING WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT MONEY, HOW MUCH IT WAS, AND WHAT'S GOING TO BE DONE TO CORRECT THE SITUATION IF IT GOT MISPLACED OR MISHANDLED. SURE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YEP. WE'LL TAKE A NOTE OF THIS AND MAKE SURE THAT THIS GETS ADDRESSED AND WE FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION. THANK YOU. I'LL ASK OUR CITY CLERK IF ANYONE ELSE IS HERE TO SPEAK OR VIRTUALLY. THERE IS NOT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO OUR SPEAKERS. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA. THESE ITEMS ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ROUTINE BY THE CITY COUNCIL, [CONSENT AGENDA] AND WILL BE ENACTED AS PART OF THE CONSENT AGENDA BY ONE MOTION. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS THE COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO HAVE QUESTIONS OR PULL? ALL RIGHT. THEN I'LL ASK OUR I GUESS INTERIM CITY MANAGER. ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER HERE. KEVIN HANSEN TO TAKE US THROUGH THE ITEMS. THANK YOU. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, YOU HAVE TEN ITEMS ON YOUR CONSENT AGENDA BEFORE YOU TONIGHT. THE FIRST ITEM IS TO APPROVE THE MARCH 10TH REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING [00:25:09] MINUTES. THE NEXT ITEM IS TO APPROVE THE MARCH 13TH AND 14TH SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES. THOSE WERE FOR COMMISSION APPLICATION INTERVIEWS. THE THIRD ITEM IS TO APPROVE THE JANUARY 22ND PARK AND REC COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES. THE FOURTH ITEM IS TO APPROVE A CONTRACT WITH STRATEGIC PLANNING CONSULTANT AND THAT INDIVIDUAL'S NAME IS PHIL KERN. THIS WILL BE THE THIRD CYCLE THAT PHIL KERN HAS DONE FOR US TO DO BOTH STRATEGIC PLANNING AND GOAL SETTING WITH THE CITY COUNCIL. THOSE ARE DONE ON ABOUT EVERY 2 OR 3 YEAR CYCLE WITH THE CITY. THE FIFTH ITEM IS TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2532, AND THAT'S APPOINTING BOARD AND COMMISSION MEMBERS AND AS SELECTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, ARE APPOINTED, I SHOULD SAY, BY THE CITY COUNCIL. THERE ARE NINE BOARD OF COMMISSION OPENINGS THAT ARE BEING FILLED BY WAY OF THIS RESOLUTION. THE NEXT TWO ITEMS, ITEMS NUMBER SIX AND SEVEN ON YOUR CONSENT AGENDA ARE CAPITAL EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT ITEMS AND BOTH OF THESE ITEMS WERE BUDGETED FOR IN THE 2025 PUBLIC WORKS BUDGET. THE FIRST ITEM IS FOR A CATERPILLAR COMPACT WHEEL LOADER, AND THAT'S FOR THE PURCHASE PRICE OF $119,032, AND THAT IS OFF OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA PURCHASING CONTRACT. ITEM NUMBER SEVEN IS FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF A FORD PICKUP TRUCK. IN THIS CASE, IT'S A FORD F350 4X4 AND THAT IS FROM MIDWAY FORD IN THE AMOUNT OF $58,335 AND AGAIN, THIS IS OFF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA PURCHASING CONTRACT. ITEM NUMBER 8 IS 4A TO APPROVE THE PURCHASE ORDER FOR THE 2025 HIGHLANDER GYM MAINTENANCE. SO THIS IS BUDGETED FOR IN THE RECREATION DEPARTMENT, BUT IT EXCEEDS THE CITY MANAGER'S SPENDING AUTHORITY. SO VERY SIMILARLY LIKE PUBLIC WORKS DOES WHERE WE HAVE ROUTINE ITEMS THAT COME BEFORE YOU EVERY YEAR. IF THEY EXCEED THAT SPENDING LIMIT, YOU STILL NEED TO APPROVE IT FOR TO AUTHORIZE THE PURCHASE ORDER AND THAT'S IN THE AMOUNT OF 72,000 AND THAT WOULD BE TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. ITEM NUMBER NINE IS FOR THE RENTAL. OCCUPANCY LICENSES FOR APPROVAL AS PRESENTED. AND THE LAST ITEM BEFORE YOU TONIGHT. IS THE REVIEW OF BILLS TOTALING $1,217,385.86. MAYOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY QUESTIONS FOR KEVIN? ALL RIGHT THEN. HEARING IS NONE THEN. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED? SO MOVED. SECOND. HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER BUESGENS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER DENEEN TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING AND SEEING. NONE. THEN ALL IN FAVOR? SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE OUR PUBLIC HEARING. OR. SORRY, WE HAVE NO PUBLIC HEARINGS. AND THAT TAKES US TO OUR ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION UNDER ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS. [ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION] NUMBER 11 CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF NINE NORTH CONTRACT AND RESOLUTION 202533. TO AMEND THE 2025 BUDGET FOR CABLE EQUIPMENT. AND WE HAVE OUR IT DIRECTOR, JESSE HOFF, HERE TODAY. HI. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. STAFF HAS REVIEWED UPDATING OUR PROVIDER FOR CABLE PRODUCTION SERVICES. THIS REVIEW AIMS TO SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE PRODUCTION QUALITY, PROVIDE ENGINEERING SUPPORT AND ASSURE A PRODUCER IS AVAILABLE ON SITE. DURING THESE MEETINGS, HISTORICALLY, THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS HAS EMPLOYED PART TIME CABLE OPERATORS DIRECTLY, BUT SUSTAINING THAT MODEL PROVED CHALLENGING DUE TO THE LIMITED HOURS AND SPECIALIZED SKILL SET REQUIRED. IN RESPONSE, WE TRIED REMOTE PRODUCTION SERVICES, BUT THE NEED FOR AN ONSITE PRODUCER IS STILL APPARENT IN RECENT YEARS. LOCAL PRODUCTION COMPANIES HAVE STARTED INTEGRATING CABLE OPERATORS IN THEIR SERVICE OPERATION OFFERINGS. STAFF EVALUATED TWO PROVIDERS NORTH METRO TV OUT OF BLAINE AND NINE NORTH OUT OF ROSEVILLE. NINE NORTH AMERICA EMERGED AS THE CLEAR STANDOUT. TRANSPARENT, WITH TRANSPARENT UPFRONT PRICING, A DETAILED IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, AND A STRONG REPUTATION. BUILT SINCE THE 1980S AS PART OF THE JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT. AMONG THE NINE METRO CITIES THAT THEY STARTED PRODUCING FOR, NINE NORTH CURRENTLY PROVIDES PRODUCTION SERVICES FOR CITIES SUCH AS VADNAIS HEIGHTS, NORTH SAINT PAUL, AND MORE NOTABLY, SHOREVIEW AND MAPLEWOOD RELY ON NINE NORTH FOR BOTH ENGINEERING SERVICES AND THEIR MEETING PRODUCTION, WHICH IS VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS. AS WE EVALUATED NINE NORTH, WE FOUND THAT THERE WOULD BE A 61% REDUCTION IN PER MEETING COSTS COMPARED TO THE CITY'S CURRENT PROVIDER. ON SITE PRODUCTION SERVICES WOULD ON SITE PRODUCTION PRODUCER WOULD ASSIST WITH LIVE MEETINGS, [00:30:05] REDUCING THE OVERALL WORKLOAD FOR INTERNAL STAFF AND IMPROVED QUALITY CONTROL. WE ALSO HAVE IMPROVED RELIABILITY AND LONG TERM SUSTAINABILITY FOR STAFF DURING THESE MEETINGS. THE PROPOSED SOLUTION HAS TWO POINTS, SO NINE NORTH WOULD PROVIDE THE CABLE OPERATOR ON SITE HERE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS FOR MEETING PRODUCTION, AS WELL AS THEY PROVIDE AN ENGINEER OFF SITE FOR SUPPORT OF THE BROADCAST INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH WOULD SUPPORT OUR IT DEPARTMENT AND SUPPORTING THAT EQUIPMENT. THE OTHER PART OF THAT IS OUR CABLE CAST SYSTEM. SO THE CABLE CAST SYSTEM IS WHAT HOSTS OUR VIDEOS ON DEMAND ONLINE. SO WE'D EXPAND THAT SYSTEM TO TAKE OVER SOME OF THE SERVICES THAT OUR CURRENT PROVIDER PROVIDES, WHICH INCLUDES STREAMING AND MULTILINGUAL CLOSED CAPTIONING SERVICES. THE ACTUAL MULTILINGUAL PORTION OF THAT WOULD BE ADDED ON WITH THIS SYSTEM. SO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS. SO ALTHOUGH THERE'S A SUBSTANTIAL SAVINGS OF 61% FOR THE OVERALL SERVICES, THERE IS A COST WITH TRANSITIONING TO THAT WITH EQUIPMENT AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. SO. TRANSITIONING TO THE NEW MODEL WILL REQUIRE EQUIPMENT UPGRADES. THE AV ROOM TO. ACCOMMODATE THE HUMAN OPERATOR STAFF WORK WITH NINE NORTH TO IDENTIFY THE NECESSARY EQUIPMENT. THE PRIMARY PROVIDER THAT WE CHOSE FOR THIS EQUIPMENT IS AVI, WHICH IS A MINNESOTA. BASED COMPANY. THEY WERE CHOSEN FOR THEIR COMPETITIVE PRICING AND THEIR EXCEPTIONAL PRE-SALES SUPPORT. SO THIS AGENDA ITEM SERVES TWO PURPOSES ONE, TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A THREE YEAR CONTRACT WITH NINE NORTH FOR CABLE PRODUCTION SERVICES AND TO APPROVE A BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR FUND 225 CABLE TELEVISION TO COVER THE COSTS OF REQUIRED FOR THE EQUIPMENT AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ON-SITE OPERATOR FUND, 225 HAS AMPLE RESERVES TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THIS TRANSITION. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS. I DID HAVE A CHANCE TO LOOK AT BOTH THE MAPLEWOOD AND SHOREVIEW ONES I DIDN'T SEE. I DON'T KNOW IF MAYBE THEY DON'T DO IT. HOW WILL THE MULTILINGUAL SERVICES BE? WILL IT BE SUBTITLES? WILL IT BE SPOKEN? TRANSLATION CAN YOU SHARE A LITTLE MORE ON THAT. YEAH. SO THEY USE NINE NORTH. NINE NORTH DOESN'T NECESSARILY PROVIDE THE MULTILINGUAL TRANSLATION THAT'S DONE THROUGH THE CABLECAST SERVICES. SO I CAN GET YOU AN EXAMPLE OF THAT. WE DO HAVE ONE THAT WE LOOKED INTO. BUT ON YOUR TV WILL ACTUALLY SUPPORT TWO OPTIONS. SO LIKELY WHAT WE'LL DO IS ENGLISH AND SPANISH. AND THEN FOR THE ONLINE AND THE VODS WE CAN DO MULTIPLE LANGUAGES FOR THOSE. SO ON OUR WEBSITE YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE THE ADDITIONAL LANGUAGES FOR THE CLOSED CAPTIONS. THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL? COUNCILMEMBER DENEEN I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR IDENTIFYING THINGS THAT AREN'T WORKING. I KNOW IT'S REALLY HARD TO LIKE MAKE THOSE CHANGES INTERNALLY AND TO DO THAT RESEARCH AND MAKE THOSE STEPS TO GET SOMETHING BETTER FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND I REALLY APPRECIATED READING THE INFORMATION THAT YOU SUPPLIED IN THE PACKET AND SEEING THAT NOT ONLY ARE WE GOING TO BE EVENTUALLY SAVING A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR THE COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO WE'RE IMPROVING THOSE SERVICES FOR EVERYONE WHO'S WATCHING ONLINE OR AT HOME THROUGH MULTILINGUAL OFFERINGS. AND THEN ALSO JUST TO MAKING SURE THAT OUR QUALITY IS GOOD. SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU AND I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED AND EXCITED ABOUT THE CHANGE. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL? I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD THAT WE'VE JUST REALLY COME A LONG WAY FROM FIRST GETTING SORRY, CLOSED CAPTIONING, LIKE GETTING THE CAPTIONING. AND I'M SO GLAD TO SEE THAT WE CAN EVOLVE INTO THE NEXT LEVEL AND SAVE SOME MONEY TOO. BUT SUCH A GREAT WAY FOR US TO PROVIDE SERVICES. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR EXTRA RESEARCH ON THIS AND KIND OF COMING FULL CIRCLE WITH THESE SERVICES. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. IF WE HAVE NO OTHER COMMENTS THEN I HAVE A MOTION THEN TO APPROVE. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CITY MANAGER ENTERING INTO A CONTRACT WITH NINE NORTH FOR A THREE YEAR TERM FOR CABLE PRODUCTION SERVICES. SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER DENEEN AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES TO APPROVE THE CITY MANAGER ENTERING INTO A CONTRACT. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. NEXT, WE HAVE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING. MOVE TO WAIVE THE READING OF RESOLUTION 202533. THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 20. OH, SORRY. SECOND, FOR THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER DENEEN AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES TO WAIVE THE READING OF THE RESOLUTION. ANY DISCUSSION. HEARING IS NONE THEN. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. [00:35:02] AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. AND NEXT WE HAVE A MOTION THEN TO ADOPT. MOVE TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION 202533. AMENDING THE FUND 225 BUDGET TO AUTHORIZE THE PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FROM SPECIFIED VENDORS. SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER DENEEN AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER BEGINS TO ADOPT. ANY DISCUSSION? THEN ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN TODAY. THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER 12. CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION 2024- 34 APPROVING A RENTAL LICENSE. [CITY COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS] LICENSE EXEMPTION. EXEMPTION FOR 3,803RD STREET NORTHEAST. AND TAKING US THROUGH THIS IS CITY PLANNER ANDREW BOUCHER. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. CITY COUNCIL, BEFORE YOU, YOU HAVE RENTAL DENSITY EXEMPTION FOR THE PROPERTY. 03,803RD STREET NORTHEAST. ON MARCH 13TH, 2025, THE OWNER REACHED OUT TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IN WRITING TO REQUEST AN EXEMPTION FROM THE SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL DENSITY CAP THE WEEK PRIOR. THE PROPERTY WAS POSTED ON LAWFUL TO OCCUPY AFTER THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THE PROPERTY WAS AN ILLEGAL RENTAL, WHICH IS WHEN THE OWNER STARTED THE CONVERSATION ABOUT LICENSING. THE OWNER HAS A BROTHER THAT IS RENTING THE PROPERTY AND THEY WERE UNAWARE THAT THIS REQUIRED A LICENSE. THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED ON BLOCK SIX WITH TWO SINGLE FAMILY RENTALS OUT OF THE NINE TOTAL SINGLE FAMILY UNITS AND ALLOTMENT OF ONE SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL, WHICH IS WHY THEY ARE REQUESTING THE EXEMPTION. THE APPLICANT IS IN ATTENDANCE AND I'LL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU GUYS HAVE. THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL? NO. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE IN PERSON. WE ALWAYS APPRECIATE THAT. IF ANYONE'S HERE HAS ANY QUESTIONS WE DID SEE YOUR NOTE, YOUR LETTER OF ABOUT REQUESTING THIS AND THAT IS IN THE DOCUMENTATION AND I APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN AND BRINGING THIS INTO COMPLIANCE. I GUESS MY QUESTION WOULD JUST BE, IS EVERYTHING? HAS EVERYTHING BEEN MOVED FORWARD, OR ARE THEY ASKING FOR THIS BEFORE THEY MOVE INTO THE COMPLYING FOR RENTAL? SORRY, I DON'T KNOW IF I'M SAYING THAT CORRECTLY. THERE YOU GO. YEP. MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. YEP. THEY'RE JUST DOING THIS BEFORE THE INSPECTIONS AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT. THIS WILL GIVE THEM THE TIME OVER THE YEAR TO KIND OF FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH THE RENTAL PROPERTY. AS IN THE PACKET, THEY DO OWN ANOTHER PROPERTY THAT THEY'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON, SO THEN THEY'RE NOT SURE HOW IT'LL HAMMER OUT WITH THE BROTHER, BUT THIS WILL JUST GIVE THEM THE TIME AND SPACE THEY NEED, AND THEN THEY'LL ENTER THE INSPECTION PROCESS. THANK YOU. I IT'S NICE TO HAVE THAT EXTRA INFORMATION AT THE MEETING LIKE THIS. ALL RIGHT THEN, IF THERE'S NO OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL. OH, COUNCILMEMBER DENEEN. I GUESS I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE OWNER. DO YOU HAVE A PLAN AFTER THIS YEAR? BECAUSE, AS YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO COME BACK NEXT YEAR AND YOU CAN ONLY DO UP TO TWO YEARS FOR A RENTAL EXEMPTION. IS YOUR PLAN AFTER YOU'RE DONE WORKING ON THE OTHER PROPERTY TO SELL THIS HOUSE, OR ARE YOU ATTEMPTING TO KEEP IT AS A RENTAL LONG TERM? AND ACTUALLY, TO ANSWER THE QUESTION, YOU'LL HAVE TO COME TO THE MICROPHONE. YEP. GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU SO MUCH. KIND OF BEND IT DOWN. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I NEVER BEEN IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS. I AM JUST VERY NERVOUS. I'M SORRY. NO. IT'S OKAY. SO YEAH. AND IT'S YOU KNOW, I FIRST OF ALL, I WANTED TO APOLOGIZE TO, LIKE, THE CITY FOR. WE'RE VERY GOOD PEOPLE, AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, PAYING THE BILLS AND EVERYTHING, LIKE EVERYTHING IS ON RECORD. BUT WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS, AND IT'S KIND OF CRAZY. BUT RECENTLY WE ALSO PURCHASED ANOTHER HOME. SO AND NOW THAT WE KNOW THAT THE CITY HAS THESE RULES AND THESE THAT WE NEED TO FOLLOW I GUESS TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, WE WILL LIKE FOR THE 3800, WE WILL LIKE HOPEFULLY, IF YOU CAN GIVE US SOME TIME APPROVING THE LICENSE TO RENT IT OUT, AND THEN WHEN IT GETS CLOSER TO, THE END OF THE YEAR IT'S MORE LIKELY THAT WE ARE CONSIDERING PROBABLY SELLING THE PROPERTY BECAUSE IF WE KNEW THIS BEFORE, I COULD HAVE SOLD THAT HOUSE IN ORDER TO BUY THE OTHER PROPERTY AND, YOU KNOW, USE THAT YOU KNOW, THE MONEY THAT'S IN THAT HOUSE TO, YOU KNOW, HELP THE OTHER ONE. BUT I DIDN'T KNOW THIS. SO AND THIS HAPPENED RECENTLY THAT WE PURCHASED THIS NEW PROPERTY THAT WE'RE PLANNING ACTUALLY TO GO TO MOVE IN AS A FAMILY. WE HAVE LIVED IN THIS CITY FOR LIKE OVER 16 YEARS, AND WE LOVE HEIGHTS AND WE WOULD LOVE TO STAY HERE [00:40:06] AND HONESTLY, GOING FORWARD, I BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW, IT WAS A MISUNDERSTANDING. I WOULD LIKE TO FOLLOW ALL THE RULES, THE GUIDANCE THAT THE CITY IS PUTTING OUT THERE FOR US. SO. OKAY. THANK YOU. YEAH. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT THEN, IF THERE'S NO OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, THEN I HAVE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING. MOVE TO WAIVE THE READING OF RESOLUTION 2025-34. THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES TO WAIVE THE READING. ANY DISCUSSION. HEARING IS NONE. THEN ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. NEXT WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION. MOVE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2025-34. A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL EXEMPTION REQUEST FOR THE RENTAL APPLICATION AT 3,803RD STREET, NORTHEAST COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA 55421. SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES TO APPROVE. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING IS NONE. THEN ALL IN FAVOR? SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION PASSES. YOU HAVE AN APPROVAL. THANK YOU AND THANKS AGAIN FOR COMING IN PERSON. WE HAVE NO BID CONSIDERATIONS OR NEW BUSINESS THAT TAKES US TO OUR CITY COUNCIL REPORTS AND WE WILL START WITH I START WITH YOU. OKAY. SORRY I WAS GONE AT THE LAST MEETING, SO I FEEL LIKE I'VE BEEN GONE FOR LIKE TWO MONTHS, BUT I JUST MISSED ONE MEETING. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. I ON MARCH 11TH, I WAS THE LIAISON TO THE SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION, AND THE SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION IS WORKING ON SOME GREAT PROJECTS LOOKING AT A WASTE REDUCTION CHALLENGE, DOING SOME ASSESSMENTS ON OUR GREEN STEP CITIES GOALS, AND ALSO JUST LEADING US THROUGH A GOAL SETTING SESSION. SO WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON. ALSO, ON THE REALM OF THE SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION, THE EARTH DAY IS COMING UP, SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO SIGN UP FOR A STREET CLEANUP. THERE ARE SEVERAL HAPPENING. I KNOW THERE'S ONE HAPPENING ON APRIL 26TH, CLEANING UP CENTRAL AVENUE RIGHT HERE. WE'RE MEETING AT THE LIBRARY. ALSO, YOU COULD SIGN UP TO ADOPT A PARK BENCH, A BUS STOP, OR ADOPT A DRAIN. THAT WAS A REALLY GOOD TIME TO DO ALL OF THOSE THINGS. SO THINK ABOUT THAT AND THEN WE HAD OUR COMMISSION INTERVIEWS, THE REST OF THE COUNCIL AS WELL. AND WE HAD SO MANY GREAT APPLICANTS. IT WAS EVERY YEAR IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S SO MANY AMAZING APPLICANTS. SO THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO APPLIED AND WHO'S VOLUNTEERING IN OUR CITY. I ALSO ATTENDED WITH THE MAYOR AND A COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS A MEETING WITH DIFFERENT NONPROFITS, AND I'LL LET ONE OF THEM SHARE ALL THE DETAILS. AND IT WAS WONDERFUL TO BE THERE. THE LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES HAD A WEBINAR ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS. I ATTENDED THAT THE AND NEW BRIGHTON AREA LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS HOSTED A STUDY ON THE FEDERAL JUDICIARY AND THE NEED FOR REFORM, AND IT WAS VERY INTERESTING. THEY HAVE WEBINARS ON THE LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS WEBSITE, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED AND THEN I WATCHED SOME WEBINARS SENT BY OUR COMMUNITY DIRECTOR ON HOUSING RESEARCH. SO THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER BUESGENS. HELLO EVERYONE. FIRST I ATTENDED THE WMO BOARD MEETING. THEY ARE LOOKING AT HOPING TO GET APPROVAL FOR A NEW STUDY IN APRIL THAT FOCUSES ON EVEN MORE. HOW WOULD YOU PUT IT? WELL, BASICALLY FOCUSES ON STREET SWEEPING AND HOW TO MAKE IT EVEN MORE EFFECTIVE. THEY'RE GOING TO DO A STUDY WHERE THEY FOCUS ON PROBLEM AREAS AND SEE IF, BY FOCUSING ON THOSE, AS WELL AS THE GENERAL SWEEPING OF THE CITY, IF THAT ALSO REDUCES THE AMOUNT OF LITTER AND DEBRIS THAT GOES INTO THE MISSISSIPPI AND LAKES. THE OTHER THING THAT WAS PRETTY COOL IS GREEN RIVER TEAMS HAS OVER 18 YEARS OLD. THEY'VE SERVED OVER 250 YOUTH, CREATING A PIPELINE FOR FUTURE WATER AMBASSADORS. IT'S PRETTY EXCITING. AND OF THOSE, 250 15 WENT INTO ENVIRONMENTAL FIELDS FOR STUDY IN COLLEGE AND TWO ARE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING STUDENTS. SO IT'S PRETTY EXCITING. I MET THE MEMBERS OF OUR LIBRARY FOUNDATION GROUP FINALLY, AND THEY ARE MORE OF AN INDEPENDENT GROUP. SO IT WAS A LITTLE HARD TO TRACK THEM DOWN. BUT I GOT TO MEET THE MEMBERS AND FIND OUT WHO THEY ARE AND HOW THEY CAME ABOUT. AND IT'S A REALLY NICE GROUP THAT BRINGS A LOT OF SUPPORT. THEY'RE HELPING THEM. THEY DONATED, WHAT, 29,000 TO EXPAND THE PARKING LOT BEHIND THE LIBRARY, SO IT'S PRETTY COOL. I ALSO ATTENDED DOLORES STRAND'S FUNERAL AND GARY PETERS VISITATION, OUR PREVIOUS MAYOR AND ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE DID THE INTERVIEWS FOR OUR NEW COMMISSION MEMBERS, AND I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE THAT APPLIED. WE HAD 21 PEOPLE APPLY. [00:45:03] LOTS OF INTEREST, AND I HOPE THOSE THAT WEREN'T ABLE TO GET ON THIS TIME CAN APPLY NEXT TIME, BECAUSE THERE'S ALWAYS MOVEMENT OVER THE YEARS ON OUR COMMISSIONS. SO THAT WENT VERY WELL. ALONG WITH MY HUSBAND, WE CLEANED 17 STORM DRAINS. IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR, FOLKS, SO I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO GET OUT THERE WITH YOUR BAGS AND YOUR BUCKETS AND YOUR GLOVES, AND IT JUST FEELS SO GOOD TO KEEP ALL THAT PLASTIC THAT I FIND OUT OF THE STORM DRAINS, BECAUSE I JUST KEEP THINKING OF THE POOR TURTLES AND THE FISH OUT THERE. SO ANYWAY I WENT TO A SPECTACULAR COLUMBIA HEIGHTS ACADEMY SPRING MUSICAL. THE TALENT IN THESE MIDDLE SCHOOL KIDS. OH MY GOSH, IT WAS JUST IT WAS SO FUN TO WATCH. THEY DID A PHENOMENAL JOB. IF YOU EVER GET A CHANCE, CHECK OUT OUR SCHOOLS THEATER PROGRAMS. THEY'VE GOT REALLY TALENTED FUN. THEY WERE HAVING A GOOD TIME. IT WAS REALLY GOOD. IT WAS A GREAT PERFORMANCE. I ALSO ATTENDED THE HEIGHTS NEXT PLANNING AND PLANNING MEETING AND GARDEN MEETING. IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE SETTING UP THE GARDENS AGAIN OUT IN LOMIANKI AND I WATCHED PARTNERS IN ENERGY WEBINAR AND I ALSO TOO, ATTENDED THE LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA WORKSHOP ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOR PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND THAT'S IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. COUNCILMEMBER DENEEN. I TOOK PART IN THE TWO DAYS OF INTERVIEWS FOR OPEN BOARD COMMISSION POSITIONS, ALONG WITH MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR. WE HAD, AS THEY SAID, 21 APPLICANTS. IT'S SO EXCITING TO SEE SO MANY PASSIONATE AND KNOWLEDGEABLE APPLICANTS APPLY TO VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME. LIKE COUNCILMEMBER BUESGENS SAID, IF YOU DIDN'T GET ON THIS TIME, PLEASE DON'T THINK IT'S ANY REFLECTION OF YOU. WE HAD SUCH QUALITY APPLICANTS. IT WAS SUCH A HARD DECISION AND WE REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THOSE PEOPLE AGAIN AND APPLYING AGAIN IN THE FUTURE, BECAUSE IT'S JUST GREAT TO SEE JUST AN A ENERGETIC AND EXCITED COMMUNITY. I VOLUNTEERED WITH EVERY MEAL, HANDING OUT MEALS TO THE STUDENTS AT VALLEY VIEW ELEMENTARY. I ALSO ATTENDED HOPS FOR HUNGER, A FUNDRAISING EVENT FOR SAKE OF FOOD SHELF. ON FRIDAY IT WAS REALLY GREAT. I SAW A TON OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS RESIDENTS THERE, AND IT'S SUCH AN IMPORTANT THING RIGHT NOW TO ACKNOWLEDGE HOW TRULY IMPACTFUL THESE NONPROFITS ARE THAT REALLY SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY AND ORGANIZATIONS BEYOND EVEN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS. IT'S JUST REALLY IMPORTANT, AND I WAS SO GLAD TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE TURN OUT. AND THEN TOMORROW, COUNCIL MEMBER WILL BE GLAD TO KNOW I'LL BE CLEANING OUT MY STORM DRAINS THAT I HAVE ADOPTED AND IF YOU WANT TO ADOPT A DRAIN, IT'S A REALLY GOOD TIME OF YEAR TO DO SO. IT'S STARTING TO GET WARMER, AND YOU CAN GO TO ADOPT A DRAIN.ORG TO DO THAT. AND YOU CAN FIND SOME IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I GUARANTEE ARE NOT ADOPTED BY COUNCILMEMBER YET. BUT SHE'S GUNNING FOR THEM. BUT YEAH, DEFINITELY CHECK THAT OUT. ADOPTED DRAIN.ORG. AND THAT'S ALL FOR ME. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS. ALSO, SOME OVERLAP FROM THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS. ALSO ATTENDED THE TWO DAYS OF THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS MEETINGS AND INTERVIEWS. THOSE ARE ALWAYS GREAT TO HEAR THE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE INTERESTED IN GIVING BACK AND BEING INVOLVED. THANKS TO ALL WHO APPLIED, I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE NONPROFIT MEETING WITH THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER, JAMES, TALKING WITH SOME OF OUR NONPROFITS IN THE COMMUNITY AND CONCERNS ARE HAVING KIND OF WITH THE STATE OF FUNDING AND I'LL LET THE MAYOR ELABORATE ON SPECIFICS OF THAT. BUT IT WAS A REALLY GOOD MEETING TO JUST BRING IMPORTANT COMMUNITY MEMBERS INTO ONE SPACE AND TALK TOGETHER. I ALSO ATTENDED A MEETING WITH THE MAYOR, WITH A COMMUNITY MEMBER WHO WORKS FOR THE SALVATION ARMY, TALKING ABOUT IMPORTANT WORK SHE'S DOING, THINGS SHE'S SEEING IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND JUST OTHER THINGS WE CAN WORK ON AS A COUNCIL IN TERMS OF POLICY AND BEING PROACTIVE. AND THEN I ALSO ATTENDED OUR EVERY OTHER MONTH MULTICULTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING, WHICH WAS A GOOD SHOWING OF ABOUT 15 MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. AND AGAIN, THAT'S OPEN TO EVERYONE IN THE PUBLIC EVERY OTHER MONTH, THIRD THURSDAY OF THE MONTH, I BELIEVE IT IS AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING, AND WE GOT TO SEE A VIDEO FROM THE AXON BODY CAMERAS, WHICH WAS REALLY COOL TO SHOW THE COMMUNITY. I KNOW THE CITY COUNCIL GOT THE VIDEO EMAILED FROM THE POLICE CHIEF, BUT IT WAS REALLY COOL TO KIND OF SEE THAT INVESTMENT WE MADE IN ACTION AND SEE THE RESULTS. SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU. I WANT TO START WITH AND COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS MENTIONED THIS, BUT JUST I GUESS PASSING REFLECTION ON TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO PASSED AWAY IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS THAT WERE HUGELY IMPACTFUL TO OUR COMMUNITIES. OUR PAST MAYOR, GARY PETERSON, AND THEN ALSO DOLORES STRAND. PEOPLE THAT JUST GAVE SO MUCH OF THEMSELVES TO COLUMBIA HEIGHTS FOR DECADES AND DECADES. AND MAYOR GARY PETERSON WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS BECOMING THE 2016 ALL AMERICAN CITY. [00:50:01] AND THEN ALSO, I JUST WANT TO PERSONALLY, I LOVED SINGING SOME POLKAS WITH HIM AT THE JAMBOREE. HE LOVED MUSIC, LOVED TO SING, AND WAS REALLY INVOLVED IN OUR PARKS AND REC IN SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS IN THE COMMUNITY. AND THEN DOLORES STRAND WAS ALSO A FELLOW RECIPIENT OF THE HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR FOR COLUMBIA HEIGHTS. WE NAMED A DOLORES STRAND FOR HER A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, AND SHE WAS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF OUR SISTER CITY FOR WILL POLAND. A GREAT FRIEND AND ADVOCATE FOR OUR COMMUNITY, SO WE DEFINITELY, SORELY WILL MISS THOSE TWO AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS. I WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND THEIR FUNERALS. I WAS OUT OF TOWN AND THEN IN A MEETING DURING THOSE. BUT THEY WILL BE, AS I SAID, SORELY MISSED. DURING THE PAST WEEK, I MET WITH COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS AND KITA CURTIS FROM THE SALVATION ARMY, AS COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS SAID, AND WE TALKED ABOUT INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS RIGHT HERE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AND WE ARE PLANNING TO CREATE A HOUSING NONPROFIT MEETING LATER THIS SUMMER. SORRY. HOUSELESSNESS EXPERIENCING HOUSELESSNESS SORRY, I MEANT TO SAY EXPERIENCING NOT HOMELESSNESS UNHOUSED IS WHAT I MEANT TO SAY. UNHOUSED OR HOUSELESSNESS? HAS NOTHING TO REPEAT. THANK YOU, SIRI, FOR COMMENTING ON MY MEETING. SO UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IN OUR CONVERSATION, WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE REALLY GREAT TO HAVE A SPECIFIC MEETING INVITING HOUSING NONPROFITS TO DISCUSS WHAT WE CAN DO TOGETHER AND MAKE SURE WE'RE SUPPORTING EACH OTHER IN THE BEST WAYS WE CAN. I HOSTED A MEETING, AS COUNCILMEMBER JAMES MENTIONED AND SPRIGGS COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS MENTIONED WITH NONPROFIT LEADERS AND OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS. THE WHOLE COUNCIL WAS INVITED BUT UNABLE TO ALL ATTEND BECAUSE EVERYONE IS BUSY WITH THE REST OF THEIR LIVES. BUT WE REPORTED ON HOW PEOPLE ARE FARING WITH BUDGET CUTS FROM FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDS. ATTENDING WHERE CONGRESSWOMAN OMAR AND COUNTY COMMISSIONER MEISSNER, WHO REPORTED ON HOW THINGS ARE GOING BOTH IN WASHINGTON DC AND AT THE COUNTY LEVEL, OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES WERE UNABLE TO ATTEND, BUT ARE COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING OUR NONPROFITS AS BEST THEY CAN AND THEY WERE VERY MUCH IN THE EMAIL AND AWARE OF THE MEETING, JUST NOT ABLE TO ATTEND. BUT WE ARE GRATEFUL TO BE IN COMMUNITY TOGETHER, KNOWING THAT WE SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER THROUGH THESE LEAN, DIFFICULT AND HONESTLY SCARY TIMES OF UNCERTAINTY. WE HAD REPRESENTATIVES FROM SACA, HOPE FOR YOUTH, RISE, MEALS ON WHEELS, VETERAN SERVICES, MISSIONS INC. AND OTHERS WERE PRESENT. WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE CONVERSATION AS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CANNOT PROVIDE ALL THE SERVICES OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS WITHOUT OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS. I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL AND THE CITY FOR SUPPORTING THE MEETING AND MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN STAY IN TOUCH WITH ALL OF OUR NONPROFITS HERE. I ALSO ATTENDED THE HOPS FOR HUNGER EVENT FOR SACA ON FRIDAY NIGHT. A WONDERFUL TURNOUT AND OUR FOOD SHELF IS IN MORE NEED THAN EVER TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE FEEDING OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. I ALSO VOLUNTEERED AT EVERY MEAL ON FRIDAY MORNING DELIVERING BAGS OF FOOD AT VALLEY VIEW, BUT COUNCILMEMBER AND I SORT OF PASSED THROUGH THE HALLWAYS AND SAY HELLO. ALSO WAS A PART OF THE INTERVIEWING APPLICANTS FOR CITY COMMISSIONS AND BOARDS. AGAIN, THANK YOU TO ALL THE TALENTED AND PASSIONATE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO ARE SUPPORTING AND STANDING UP TO BE A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE HEARD, I THINK, FROM EVERY APPLICANT THAT WHAT IS HAPPENING NATIONALLY MADE THEM EVEN MORE INSPIRED TO DO THEIR PART FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THAT THEY REALLY WANT TO SHOW SUPPORT. SO JUST THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR BEING A PART OF THAT. ALSO, SAVE THE DATE I HAVE ON HERE FOR EARTH DAY STREET CLEANUP ON SATURDAY, APRIL 26TH AT 9AM WE'RE MEETING AT THE LIBRARY AND THEN ALSO SAVE THE DATE FOR CHEERS FOR BEERS, WHICH WILL BE ON FRIDAY, MAY 16TH FROM 6 TO 9 AT MURZYN HALL. AND THAT IS MY REPORT. THAT TAKES US TO OUR CITY MANAGER'S REPORT FOR THE NIGHT. THANK YOU. MAYOR. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. JUST A FEW THINGS. SO WE HAVE A COUPLE OF ANNUAL PROGRAMS THAT WILL BE STARTING UP SHORTLY, AND WE WON'T HAVE A COUNCIL MEETING BEFORE THEY START. SO I'LL BRING THEM UP HERE TODAY. SO WE DO HAVE OUR YARD WASTE PICKUP BEGINNING AND THAT ALWAYS STARTS THE FIRST FULL WEEK IN APRIL. SO IN THIS CASE IT WON'T BE NEXT MONDAY. IT WILL BE THE FOLLOWING ON APRIL 7TH. BUT OUR YARD WASTE PICKUP WILL BEGIN AGAIN FOR THAT. SO THAT'S IN TWO WEEKS. THE OTHER THING WE HAVE STARTING UP ON THE SAME TIME ON APRIL 7TH IS OUR ANNUAL FLUSHING PROGRAM. FLUSHING. IT DOES CAUSE SOME DISTURBANCE OR CAN IN CERTAIN AREAS OF TOWN, BUT IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT PROGRAM FOR US AS IT HELPS CLEAN OUT THE MAINS. [00:55:08] BUT REALLY A BIG THING FOR US IS IT HELPS US GO, AND IF WE HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH ANY OF OUR HYDRANTS, WE CAN CERTAINLY STAY ON TOP OF THOSE AND GET A LOG IDENTIFIED FOR WHERE WE NEED REPAIRS FOR THAT. SO IT'S REALLY JUST A GOOD TEST OF OUR SYSTEM, BUT ALSO IF WE NEED MAINTENANCE IN ANY AREA OF OUR SYSTEM. SO THE MAPPING FOR THAT. SO WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE WE GO BY QUADRANT IN THE CITY. COLUMBIA HEIGHTS GETS BROKEN UP INTO FOUR MAIN AREAS THAT CAN BE FOUND ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE. WE ALSO ARE GETTING DOWN. WE DO AN ANNUAL TREE SALE FOR OUR RESIDENTS HERE, AND WE ONLY HAVE A FEW TREES LEFT, SO THAT IS AVAILABLE EITHER THROUGH GOING ON OUR WEBSITE OR OTHERWISE CALLING PUBLIC WORKS TO GET THE LAST REMAINING TREES FOR OUR OR FROM, I SHOULD SAY, OUR CITY FORESTER. JUST A COUPLE OF NOTES, REALLY SOME HOUSEKEEPING, BUT REALLY REMINDERS FOR THE PUBLIC. THE CITY DOES OPERATE A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER, AND THAT'S WHERE STAFF PROVIDES UPDATES AND REPORTS FOR ONGOING, AND THE PUBLIC CAN SIGN UP FOR THOSE. SO IF YOU GO TO THE CITY'S WEBSITE, YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER AND JUST SEE WHAT'S EITHER HAPPENING OR WHAT'S COMING UP RELATED FROM ALL OF THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS HERE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS. AND THEN THE LAST IS THAT WE HAVE THE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AND OUTSTANDING CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARDS COMING UP. SO IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE EITHER OF THOSE BUSINESS OR CITIZEN, THEY CAN DO SO EITHER DIRECTLY HERE WE HAVE FORMS AVAILABLE OR THEY CAN GO TO THE CITY'S WEBSITE. SO THOSE DO CLOSE NEXT MONDAY, MARCH 31ST, MAYOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WILL JUST ECHO THE NOMINATING FOR CITIZEN AND BUSINESS OF THE YEAR. DON'T FEEL INTIMIDATED BY FILLING OUT THAT FORM. YOU CAN JUST SAY WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY ABOUT THAT CITIZEN OR A BUSINESS, AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO WRITE A FULL NOVEL. SO WE JUST REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ANY BUSINESS OR CITIZEN THAT YOU FEEL IS REALLY GIVING TO THE COMMUNITY IS NOTICED, AND WE WILL FOLLOW UP AND DO AND HAVE SOME INTERACTION WITH THEM. SO JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU. YES. AND MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, IF I COULD PLEASE. SO I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH BOTH DOLORES AND WITH GARY FOR PROBABLY 28 YEARS OR NEAR 28 YEARS, AND I REALLY APPRECIATED BOTH OF THEIR EFFORTS AND GOT TO KNOW THEM. SO I'M SADDENED BY THE PASSING. BUT WITH THE WITH GARY PETERSON, HE ALWAYS INDICATED OR AT THE END OF THE MEETING HE ALWAYS HAD A SAYING THAT JUST KIND OF RESONATED WITH ME. AND HIS WAS ALWAYS DO A RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS. SO I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE BEST WAYS FOR MYSELF. I'D REMEMBER GARY BY AND HE ALSO, I THINK, ADDED IN THERE, LET'S NOT TAKE OURSELVES TOO SERIOUSLY. AND THAT ONE TOO. VERY GOOD, I THINK. WORDS OF WISDOM. THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT. IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE, THEN WE ARE ABLE TO ADJOURN OUR MEETING. SO THANK YOU FOR THE REPORT AND STEPPING IN TODAY. AND MAY I HAVE A MOTION THEN TO ADJOURN THE MEETING? SO MOVED. SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER BARNES AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER SPRIGGS TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, THEN EVERYONE SAY AYE. THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TONIGHT. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.