Dec 12, 2022 City Council

[CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:03]

ALL RIGHT THEN. YEAH.

WELCOME, EVERYONE.

SARA, ARE WE READY TO START THE MEETING? ALL RIGHT, THEN. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR MONDAY, DECEMBER 12TH.

I WILL CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER NOW.

SARA, COULD YOU DO A ROLL CALL, PLEASE.

ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU, SARA. NEXT IS OUR MISSION.

OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE THE HIGHEST QUALITY PUBLIC SERVICE SERVICES WILL BE PROVIDED IN A FAIR, RESPECTFUL AND PROFESSIONAL MANNER THAT EFFECTIVELY ADDRESSES CHANGING CITIZEN AND COMMUNITY NEEDS IN A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND CUSTOMER FRIENDLY MANNER.

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

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU. NEXT IS THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.

DOES THE COUNCIL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE AGENDA OR LIKE TO MAKE CHANGES? NO. ALL RIGHT, THEN MAY HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED? SO MOVED. SECOND.

I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER MURZYN AND A SECOND BY COUNCILOR NOVITSKY.

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES.

NEXT ARE PROCLAMATIONS, PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITION ANNOUNCEMENTS AND GUESTS.

FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE OUR COUNCILMEMBER JOHN MURZYN JR.

FOR EIGHT YEARS OF SERVICE.

JOHN WILL NOT BE JOINING US THIS NEXT YEAR, BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY A MOMENT OF PRAISE FOR HIM AND THE WORK YOU'VE DONE.

WE WERE TALKING BEFORE THE MEETING STARTED THAT TRULY JOHN HAS HAD A LIFETIME OF WORKING FOR THIS COMMUNITY AS A COMMUNITY PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEE AND

[PUBLIC APPEARANCE]

WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING? I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AND I ENJOYED WORKING WITH YOU, AND I KNOW THAT YOUR HEART WAS WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THE RESIDENTS OF THIS CITY, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IT'S A SAD NIGHT.

I WOULD ECHO BOTH THE MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBER BUESGENS' COMMENTS.

IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOU FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS.

I'VE LEARNED A LOT AND I WILL MISS YOU.

I WOULD ECHO THEIRS AS WELL.

IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE AND I'M SURE WE'LL FIND STUFF TO DO HERE IN THE NEXT YEAR OR SO.

[CHUCKLING] OH, YEAH. I JUST WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL, ALL THE DEPARTMENTS WITH THE CITY .

THEY'RE A BUNCH OF GREAT PEOPLE TO WORK WITH, STAFF.

EVERYBODY'S JUST BEEN JUST SUPER.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, JOHN AND I DO HAVE A PLAQUE FOR YOU FROM THE CITY AND STAFF, BUT WE ARE GOING TO DO A PHOTO.

SO I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO HAND THIS WITH YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JOHN.

[APPLAUSE] AND NEXT IS OUR RECOGNITION OF COUNCILMEMBER NICK NOVITSKY FOR SIX YEARS OF SERVICE.

AGAIN, SOMEONE WHO TRULY HAS SPENT HIS WHOLE LIFE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AND WORKING TO THE BETTERMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY.

IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOU AND I WILL MISS WORKING WITH YOU.

IT'S BEEN FUN.

YES, IT IS. THANK YOU, MA'AM.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING? I'M GOING TO MISS YOU, NICK.

YOU AS WELL. YOUR HEART IS DEFINITELY WITH THE COMMUNITY AGAIN, JUST LIKE WITH JOHN.

YOU BOTH CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THE COMMUNITY AND THE RESIDENTS AND WISH YOU LUCK IN YOUR NEXT ENDEAVORS.

'WON'T HAVE ME TO PICK ON ANYMORE.

I WANT TO HAVE YOU EITHER [INAUDIBLE] EVERY NOW AND THEN.

YEAH, SO, BOTH OF YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANKS.

I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK AND THE THINGS THAT YOU DO THROUGH LIONS AND OTHER ENTITIES IN THE COMMUNITY AND WHAT YOU'VE DONE HERE, AND I WISH YOU THE BEST OF EVERYTHING. THANK YOU.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, NICK.

IT'S BEEN GREAT WORKING WITH YOU.

WE'VE HAD A LOT OF GOOD DISCUSSION AND ALL CAME OUT FOR THE GOOD.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU ALL.

IT'S BEEN REALLY BEEN AN HONOR AND A PLEASURE TO BE ON THE COUNCIL FOR SIX YEARS.

THANK YOU TO THE STAFF AND KELLI FOR LEADING SUCH A TREMENDOUS TEAM AND TO THE RESIDENTS THAT REALLY MAKE IT ALL HAPPEN, AND KEEP UP THE

[00:05:06]

THANK YOU, AND YOU'RE BOTH WELCOME TO COME BACK TO THAT COUNCIL MEETING, OF COURSE, ANYTIME AND SPEAK UP WHEN YOU NEED TO AND ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU DO IN THE COMMUNITY.

WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU COME AND MAKE ANNOUNCEMENTS AND INVITE PEOPLE TO COME AND ATTEND.

LOOK FORWARD TO IT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

I HAVE A PLAQUE FOR YOU AS WELL.

IF YOU COULD DO A FULL PHOTO WITH THE COUNCIL AS WELL.

[INAUDIBLE] YES, WITH THE PLAQUES TOO.

[INAUDIBLE]

[MAYORS COMMENTS]

[CONSENT AGENDA]

NEXT IS A PROCLAMATION FOR ASIA CHOW MEIN RESTAURANT DAY, AND WINNIE AND TIM NG ARE HERE TONIGHT TO RECEIVE THIS PROCLAMATION AND FAMILY MEMBERS, AND SO I WILL JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS ALL THE WORK YOU'VE DONE TO CONNECT OUR COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS AND SO MANY FAMILIES AND WE'RE GOING TO MISS YOU SO MUCH, BUT ONE OF THE BIGGEST PLEASURES HAVE BEEN AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER HAS BEEN HEARING ALL THE STORIES FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY YOUR BUSINESS AND YOUR FAMILY.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I'LL READ THE PROCLAMATION IF ANY OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING AFTERWARDS; YOU'RE WELCOME TO.

[REGULAR AGENDA (Part 1 of 2)]

WHEREAS THE ASIA CHOW MEIN RESTAURANT IS CLOSING ITS DOORS AFTER 50 YEARS OF BEING AN ICONIC DESTINATION IN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS FOR FINE CHINESE FOOD.

THE OWNERS, WINNIE AND TIM NG AND STAFF WILL SERVE THEIR LAST MEALS ON DECEMBER 23RD, 2022, AND WHEREAS, PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE REGION HAVE PATRONIZED THIS LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED RESTAURANT, MANY CELEBRATING MEMORABLE LIFE MILESTONES.

A STEADFAST ANCHOR OF THE COMMUNITY, ASIA CHOW MEIN RESTAURANT, HAS EMPLOYED DOZENS OF FAMILY AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, SEVERAL OF WHOM HAVE WORKED AT THE RESTAURANT FOR MORE THAN 22 YEARS, AND WHEREAS, COMPLETELY UNEXPECTED, THE PANDEMIC HAS HAD A DEVASTATING EFFECT ON THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY.

ASIA CHOW MEIN, LIKE MANY, HAS HAD A DIFFICULT TIME BEING OPEN SINCE MID-MARCH 2020.

THE COMMUNITY HAS CONTINUED TO PATRONIZE THE RESTAURANT, BUT WITH FOOD COSTS AND SHORT STAFFING CONCERNS, WINNIE AND TIM NG ARE CLOSING THE RESTAURANT AND SELLING TO A NEW OWNER , AND WHEREAS, LOCATED ALONG CENTRAL AVENUE NORTHEAST STATE HIGHWAY 65 IN THE CENTER OF THE CITY'S BUSINESS DISTRICT.

LOCAL FAVORITE ASIA CHOW MEIN IS SOLIDIFIED IN THE HISTORY OF THIS REGION FOR ITS INCOMPARABLE REPUTATION AS A DESTINATION FOR DELICIOUS CHOW MEIN AND OTHER EXCELLENT MENU CHOICES.

WE WISH WINNIE AND TIM NG MUCH ENJOYMENT IN THEIR FUTURE RETIREMENT.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT I AM AMADA MARQUEZ SIMULA, MAYOR OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM DECEMBER 23RD, 2022, TO BE ASIA CHOW MEIN DAY IN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS COUNTY OF ANOKA, STATE OF MINNESOTA, USA . [APPLAUSE] [INAUDIBLE]

[00:10:24]

AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR 50 YEARS AND EVERYONE'S BEEN REALLY SUPPORTIVE AND WE ARE SO HAPPY AND SAD RIGHT NOW.

SO I WANTED TO CONTINUE HAVING MY SON RUN THE PLACE, BUT THE SOCIETY NOW IS NOT LETTING THAT HAPPEN.

SO WE JUST HAVE TO HANG UP MY APRON AND GO ON WITH THE NEXT CHAPTER OF OUR LIFE.

SO AND I LIKE TO THANK YOU, THE COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU. THE RESIDENTS BEING PATRONS FOR THAT LONG, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY, BUT THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] I BELIEVE THERE IS GOOD SOME GOOD FORTUNE TO BE HANDED OUT TONIGHT.

THE NG'S BROUGHT ALONG A BOX OF FORTUNE COOKIES, SO PLEASE HELP YOURSELF.

THEY ARE IN THE BACK CORNER OF THE ROOM THERE, AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING SO GENEROUSLY WITH OUR COMMUNITY AGAIN.

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT 50 YEARS FOR A RESTAURANT, IT'S A TOUGH BUSINESS.

I WAS IN A FAMILY RESTAURANT, NOT FOR 50 YEARS, AND YOU GUYS ARE A LEGEND TO THIS COMMUNITY, AND I THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU GAVE, TREMENDOUS.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU.

YOU'VE BEEN A REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR COMMUNITY.

I'M SAD TO SEE YOU LEAVE.

I'M HAPPY FOR YOUR RETIREMENT, AND I HOPE YOU GO WELL AND HAVE MANY, MANY YEARS AHEAD TO RELAX AND ENJOY YOUR LIFE.

SO AGAIN, THANK YOU.

ANYTHING ELSE? WAS ALWAYS A PLEASURE GOING IN THERE TO GET YOUR GOOD CHOW MEIN AND STUFF.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I HATE TO SEE YOU LEAVING.

I AGREE. THANK YOU, FOR THE MANY NIGHTS I DIDN'T HAVE TO COOK AND ALL THE FULL TUMMIES AT MY HOUSE AND I DON'T EVER RECALL IT BEING THE WRONG ORDER WHEN I PICKED IT UP.

SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT; YOU DON'T GET THAT A LOT.

THANK YOU. OUR NEXT PROCLAMATION IS FOR JANUARY PLANT MILKWEED MONTH.

WHEREAS THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY IS AN ICONIC NORTH AMERICAN SPECIES WHOSE MULTIGENERATIONAL MIGRATION AND METAMORPHOSIS FROM CATERPILLAR TO BUTTERFLY HAS CAPTURED THE IMAGINATION OF MILLIONS OF AMERICANS.

WHEREAS, MORE THAN 85% OF FLOWERING PLANTS ON EARTH, INCLUDING WILD AND CULTIVATED SPECIES, REQUIRE THE ASSISTANCE OF ANIMAL POLLINATORS TO PRODUCE SEEDS, AND WHEREAS, GLOBALLY, POLLINATORS ARE IN DECLINE DUE TO PRESSURES INCLUDING HABITAT LOSS, CLIMATE CHANGE AND INCREASED USE OF CHEMICALS , AND WHEREAS, THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY IS AN ICONIC NORTH AMERICAN POLLINATOR WHOSE EASTERN POPULATION HAS BEEN REDUCED BY AT LEAST 90% SINCE 1996, AND WHEREAS, THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND THE US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE HAS DECLARED THE MONARCH TO BE A PRIORITY SPECIES FOR CONSERVATION BECAUSE HEALTHY MONARCH HABITAT BENEFITS A WIDE VARIETY OF OTHER SPECIES, AND WHEREAS, INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE IN SAVING THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY AND OTHER POLLINATORS BY PLANTING NATIVE HOST PLANTS SUCH AS MILKWEED MILKWEED THIS WINTER BECAUSE MILKWEED SEEDS NEED TO STRATIFY BEFORE THEY GERMINATE, PLANTING NECTAR PLANTS AND TAKING OTHER STEPS TO PROVIDE HEALTHY HABITATS IN YARDS, RIGHTS OF WAY, OPEN SPACES AND PRIVATE PROPERTY IS ALSO NECESSARY TO PROMOTE MONARCH BUTTERFLIES, HEALTH, HABITAT AND LIFE CYCLE.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT I, AMADA MARQUEZ SIMULA, MAYOR OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF JANUARY 2023 TO BE PLANT MILKWEED MONTH IN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, COUNTY OF ANOKA, STATE OF MINNESOTA, USA, AND LIKE IT SAYS IN THE PROCLAMATION THAT MILKWEED NEEDS TO STRATIFY OVER THE WINTER. SO YOU CAN'T JUST TAKE YOUR SEEDS IF THEY'RE IN THE HOUSE AND PLANT THEM IN MAY.

THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH A COLD FROST SO YOU COULD PUT THEM IN YOUR REFRIGERATOR OR YOUR FREEZER OR PLANT THEM UNDERNEATH THE SNOW.

SO THAT'S WHY, EVEN THOUGH IT MAY SEEM STRANGE TO PLANT SOMETHING IN JANUARY, THAT'S WHY WE DO THAT.

THANK YOU. NEXT IS OUR PRESENTATION OF THE 2023 CITY WALL CALENDAR AND BEN SANDELL

[00:15:06]

MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

HOT OFF THE PRESSES, THE 2023 ART CALENDAR IS HERE.

I PICKED IT UP THIS AFTERNOON AND WE HAVE 50 FOR NOW, AND I JUST WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THE CALENDAR IS AND HOW PEOPLE CAN FIND A PREORDER FOR IT.

SO THEME THIS YEAR, LET ME GET IT UP ON THE SCREEN WAS THE ART OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, AND WE DO CONTESTS.

THIS IS THE THIRD YEAR WE'VE DONE A WALL CALENDAR AND THE FIRST YEAR WAS 100TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION.

THE SECOND YEAR WAS PETS OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, THIRD YEAR ART OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, AND THEN WE HAVE A CALL FOR ARTISTS TO SUBMIT, AND WE HAVE JUDGES FROM LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES AND OTHER BACKGROUNDS JUDGE ON A 30 POINT SCALE EACH, AND THEN WE ADD UP TO COME UP WITH THE TOP IMAGES.

SO WE HAVE THE TOP IMAGES.

I TRY TO SPRINKLE AS MANY IMAGES AS I COULD FROM WHAT WE HAD AND THROUGHOUT THE TRYING TO GET.

THERE WE GO. SO WE HAVE SOME ARTISTIC PIECES FROM FOR EACH MONTH HAS SOMEBODY ELSE WHO'S FEATURED, AND THEN WE HAVE THESE LITTLE PHOTOS IN THERE THAT ARE OTHER PHOTOS THAT WERE SUBMITTED, AND WE HAVE DATES RELEVANT TO THE CITY PUT INTO EACH MONTH, AND THIS IS AVAILABLE AT THE CITY HALL FRONT DESK.

WE PRINT A SMALL BATCHES EACH TIME BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO OVER PRINT.

THEY'RE FOR $10, AND ANY OF THE REVENUE THAT WE GET BEYOND WHAT IT'LL COST TO PRINT GOES BACK INTO OUR EVENTS TO HELP OUR EVENTS JUST BE THAT MUCH BETTER, AND SO I JUST WANTED TO ALSO POINT OUT THAT IF YOU GO TO WWW.COLUMBIAHEIGHTSMN.GOV/PHOTOS, YOU CAN PREORDER AND WE ENCOURAGE PREORDER BECAUSE THE MORE WE HAVE A PREORDER, THE MORE WE KNOW HOW MANY MORE TO PRINT.

SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE PRINTED 50.

IF WE HAVE MORE PREORDERS AND WE KNOW TO PRINT MORE, WE WILL.

UNTIL THEN WE WILL HAVE THE SUPPLY THAT WE HAVE WILL BE SELLING A COUPLE AT THE HOLIDAY TRAIN TOMORROW AND A HANDFUL, AND THEN EVERY ARTIST WHO GOT SELECTED FOR THE CALENDAR GETS TWO CALENDARS FOR FREE EACH, AND I THINK THAT COVERS UP COVERS EVERYTHING.

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE 2023 CITY WALL CALENDAR? DO YOU HAVE IDEAS FOR THE NEXT YEAR'S CALENDAR THEME? IS IT TOO EARLY? IT'S JUST TOO EARLY. IT'S NOT EVEN 2023 YET.

[CHUCKLING] WELL, YOU KNOW, I WAS LOOKING AHEAD.

YEAH, WELL, THANK YOU FOR THINKING ON IT, BUT YEAH, IF YOU HAVE, ANYBODY HAS ANY IDEAS, JUST LET ME KNOW.

GREAT JOB. GREAT WORK.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, BEN.

NEXT FOR OUR MEETING IS OUR CONSENT AGENDA.

THESE ITEMS ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ROUTINE BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND WILL BE ENACTED AS PART OF THE CONSENT AGENDA BY ONE MOTION.

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

WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO PULL ANYTHING FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? NO. I HAVE THREE ITEMS THAT I'D LIKE TO PULL, ALTHOUGH I HAVE TO CHECK MY NOTES ON WHICH ITEMS NUMBERS THEY ARE. SORRY.

ITEM NUMBER 8, 12 AND 16, AND OTHER THAN THAT, KELLI, THEN COULD YOU GO THROUGH THE REST OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, PLEASE? YES, THANK YOU, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

ITEM NUMBER ONE IS APPROVAL OF THE NOVEMBER 7TH CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES.

ITEM TWO IS APPROVAL OF THE NOVEMBER 28TH CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES.

ITEM THREE IS APPROVAL OF THE OCTOBER 4TH SPECIAL ASSESSMENT HEARING MINUTES.

ITEM FOUR IS ACCEPTANCE OF THE NOVEMBER 2ND LIBRARY BOARD MINUTES.

ITEM FIVE IS ACCEPTANCE OF THE CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES FROM JULY 21ST.

ITEM SIX IS ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION 2022-114, ESTABLISHING PRECINCT AND POLLING LOCATIONS FOR THE 2023 ELECTION YEAR.

[00:20:01]

THERE WAS ONE REVISION ON PAGE 47 UNDER REC.

IT WAS ACTUALLY A CLERICAL ERROR ON THE 2022 NUMBER, BUT THE 2023 NUMBER IS CORRECT, AND THAT'S FOR THE [INAUDIBLE] MURZYN HALL RENTAL.

SO NO CHANGE THAT AFFECTS ACTION FOR TONIGHT, BUT JUST A BRIEF NOTE ON THAT, AND KELLI, CAN I MENTION ANOTHER ONE? YES. ON PAGE 40, ITEM SEVEN MENTIONS A SMOKE SHOP INDOOR SAMPLING FEE, AND THAT'S NO LONGER APPLICABLE.

CORRECT, WE DON'T WE DON'T ALLOW SAMPLING.

SO WE CAN WE'LL REMOVE THAT WHEN THE FINAL FEE SCHEDULE IS IS COMPLETED.

THANK YOU. YES, THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT.

ITEM EIGHT'S BEEN REMOVED.

ITEM NINE IS AWARDING OF THE E-COMMERCE AGREEMENT FOR THE TOP VALUE LIQUOR STORES TO CITY HIVE.

ITEM TEN IS ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION 2022-108 ESTABLISHING THE SENIOR CITIZENS RETIRED AND DISABLED PERSONS HARDSHIP SPECIAL ASSESSMENT DEFERRAL ITEM 11 IS APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION 2022-117 SUPPORTING A 2022 ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM GRANT APPLICATION TO BE SUBMITTED. ITEM 12 HAS BEEN REMOVED.

ITEM 13 IS APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO THE EXISTING TOWER LEASE AGREEMENT WITH VERIZON WIRELESS, AND THAT'S ON THE PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY PROPERTY.

ITEM 14 IS APPROVAL OF COMPOST CART SERVICES CONTRACT WITH HALL STAR.

ITEM NUMBER 15 IS THE FINAL PAYMENT FOR THE 2021 WATER MAIN IMPROVEMENTS PROJECTS.

NUMBER 2103.

THAT'S IN THE AMOUNT OF $19,534.23.

ITEM 16 HAS BEEN REMOVED.

ITEM 17 IS CANCELLATION OF THE DECEMBER 27TH, 2022 CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

ITEM 18 IS APPROVAL OF THE RENTAL OCCUPANCY LICENSES IN YOUR PACKET.

ITEM 19 IS APPROVAL OF THE LICENSE AGENDA ALSO IN YOUR PACKET, AND ITEM 20 IS A REVIEW OF THE BILLS TOTALING $1,821,835.18. THANK YOU.

IT'S A BIG, BIG LIST TONIGHT.

IT IS. DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT, THEN MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED? SO MOVED. SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER JACOBS AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER NOVITSKY.

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES.

NEXT, MAY HAVE A MOTION TO.

OH, SORRY. ITEM EIGHT, THAT HAD BEEN PULLED FROM THE CONSENT IS THE AUTHORIZATION FOR THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER CONTRACT WITH COLUMBIA HEIGHTS PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR 2023.

THE CHIEF OF POLICE IS HERE IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS FOR HIM.

YES. SO I WANTED TO PULL THIS.

I THOUGHT IT WAS A BIG TOPIC TO VOTE ON AS A CONSENT AGENDA ITEM.

WE HAVE NOT REALLY HAD A CHANCE TO DISCUSS OR HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT IS A STANDARD.

KELLI, IF YOU WANT TO EXPLAIN HOW THINGS ARE SORT OF ON CONSENT ITEMS AND SOMETIMES THEY'RE NOT.

SO THIS IS AN ANNUAL CONTRACT THAT THE CITY AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ENTER INTO.

THIS ALLOWS FOR OUR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS IN THE TWO SCHOOLS.

THE CONTRACT LANGUAGE HAS NOT CHANGED FROM LAST YEAR'S CONTRACT.

THE ONLY THING THAT'S CHANGED IS THE DOLLAR NUMBERS, AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE DIFFERENT SALARIES FOR OUR OFFICERS.

WORK COMP INSURANCE HAS INCREASED.

SO THE DOLLAR NUMBER IS WHAT THE ONLY CHANGE THAT HAPPENED WITH THE CONTRACT.

TYPICALLY, WHEN WE DON'T CHANGE THE SUBSTANCE OF THE CONTRACTS, WE DON'T BRING THOSE TO A WORK SESSION FOR DISCUSSION.

WE KIND OF JUST MOVE FORWARD AS WE HAVE IN THE PAST, AND IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, THOSE ARE TYPICALLY RAISED PRIOR TO GETTING TO THIS POINT.

SO THAT'S WHY THIS CONTRACT LANGUAGE HAS NOT CHANGED.

SO, IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS, THOUGH, WE ARE CERTAINLY HERE TO ANSWER THOSE.

OUR CURRENT CONTRACT DOES EXPIRE DECEMBER 31 OF 2022.

SO THIS IS THE LAST MEETING BEFORE THE CONTRACT EXPIRATION AS WELL.

SO JUST TO MAKE NOTE OF THAT.

THANK YOU. YES, SO THE CHIEF IS HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS WE HAVE ON THIS, BUT LIKE I SAID, I WOULD LIKE IT TO BE A ROLL CALL VOTE AND FEEL THAT IT'S AN IMPORTANT ENOUGH TOPIC THAT EVEN THOUGH IT IS KIND OF A STANDARD AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVE AGREED ON IN THE PAST, THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD MOVE TO HAVE IN OUR WORK SESSION MOVING FORWARD , AND SO I SO I JUST WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE.

THAT'S IT. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO. ALL RIGHT, THEN, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, MOVE TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR AND POLICE CHIEF TO ENTER INTO A JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT WITH COLUMBIA HEIGHTS PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR THE PROVISION OF POLICE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER PROGRAM, AS STIPULATED IN THE JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT

[00:25:05]

SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER BUESGENS AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER JACOBS TO MOVE TO AUTHORIZE, AND SARA, IF WE CAN DO A ROLL CALL VOTE.

COUNCILMEMBER BEUSGENS, AYE.

COUNCILMEMBER JACOBS, AYE.

MEMBER MURZYN, YES.

COUNCILMEMBER NOVITSKY, YES.

MAYOR MARQUEZ SIMULA.

I WILL VOTE NO ONLY BECAUSE I'D LIKE MORE INFORMATION AND DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE VOTING WITH A SUMMARY OF INFORMATION IN THE PACKET, WHICH IS ENOUGH, BUT I'D LIKE MORE INFORMATION FOR THE NEXT NEXT VOTE.

SO A VOTE OF NO AND THE MOTION PASSES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NEXT ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER 12.

APPROVE CHANGE ORDER NUMBER ONE FOR ZONES SIX AND SEVEN STREET REHABILITATION PROJECT 2202 47 AVENUE MILL AND OVERLAY PROJECT 2206 AND GOLD AVENUE STREET REHABILITATION PROJECT 2208, AND IF WE CAN JUST PRESENT SOME MORE, JUST SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION.

AS I SAID, JUST PULLING STUFF FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA GIVES US A CHANCE TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE ITEMS. WE HAVE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, CITY ENGINEER KEVIN HANSEN HERE HAS A LOT BETTER INFORMATION OR MORE COMPLETE INFORMATION THAN I COULD PROVIDE, SO I WILL TURN IT OVER TO HIM FOR BOTH ITEMS 12 AND 16.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, KEVIN.

SURE. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

SO OFTENTIMES WITH OUR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS REALLY ARE INFRASTRUCTURE WORK.

WE DO HAVE CHANGE OR CHANGE ORDERS RELATED TO THAT, AND THIS YEAR'S PROGRAM HAD MULTIPLE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS WRAPPED INTO ONE CONTRACT. SO THE ZONE SIX AND SEVEN WAS OUR ANNUAL STREET REHAB PROGRAM, AND WITH THAT, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS THAT WE HAD LINE ITEM CHANGES WHERE WE HAD BOTH INCREASES AND DECREASES.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO ADJUST THE CONTRACT SO THAT WE CAN PAY THE CONTRACTOR WITH A LINE ITEM INCREASE.

EXAMPLES OF THOSE WERE WE RAN INTO MORE EXTENSIVE SUBGRADE CORRECTION WORK.

WE HAD POOR SOILS.

ANOTHER EXAMPLE WAS THAT WHERE WE TYPICALLY DO LIKE A MILL AND OVERLAY WHERE WE GRIND BY 2 MINUTES OFF AND THEN INCORPORATE THAT BACK INTO FOR GRAVEL IS THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH OF AN UNDERLYING SURFACE TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

SO WE HAD TO GO FROM THAT TECHNIQUE TO A DIFFERENT TECHNIQUE OF A FULL RECONSTRUCTION FOR THAT TYPE OF WORK.

SO THAT REALLY WAS WHAT WAS ENTAILED WAS ZONE SIX AND SEVEN.

ADDITIONALLY, WITHIN ZONE SIX AND SEVEN EXCUSE ME, WE ADDED SOME CONCRETE ALLEY WORK.

WE HAD PRICING FOR EIGHT INCH THICK CONCRETE WORK AND THIS IS IN A PARTICULAR ALLEY FROM 42ND TO 43RD, BETWEEN FIFTH AND SIXTH. IT WAS JUST AN ALLEY THAT HAD REPEATED ISSUES AND IT'S ON A VERY STEEP SLOPE.

SO WITH THAT, WE WERE ABLE TO FIX THAT BY ADDING IN REBAR AND REPLACE ALL OF THAT CONCRETE.

SO THAT WAS THE REALLY WHAT ZONES SIX AND SEVEN WERE.

WITHIN THE 47TH AVENUE, THAT WAS MILL AND OVERLAY FROM CENTRAL UP TO FILLMORE.

THERE WAS NO ADDITIONAL OR NO CHANGES WITHIN THAT SCOPE OF WORK, AND THEN WE MOVED ONE PROJECT THAT WE HAD IN ANOTHER CONTRACT INTO THIS CONTRACT SIMPLY FOR WHAT WE SAW AN AVAILABILITY FOR OUR CONTRACTORS TO DO WORK IN 2022, AND THAT WAS KIND OF SEEN ACROSS THE INDUSTRY.

SO GOULD AVENUE WAS PROGRAMMED TO BE REDONE IN 2022 AS PART OF THE SANITARY SEWER WORK.

SO THE PAVING OF THAT WAS ORIGINALLY UNDER THE SANITARY SEWER AND WE WERE UNABLE TO GET THAT DONE IN A TIMELY MANNER.

SO THAT'S WHY THE WORK FOR THAT WAS SHIFTED INTO THIS CONTRACT AND WE HAD ALL BID PRICES FOR THAT.

SO THAT WAS PULLED AND MOVED FROM THAT CONTRACT INTO THIS CONTRACT AND THE PAYMENT SOURCES FOR THAT WOULD BE THE SAME, AND I JUST WANT TO SEE IF THERE IS ANYTHING ELSE RELATED TO THAT.

THAT WAS THE CULMINATION, AND WHAT CONSTITUTES THE REQUEST FOR THE CHANGE ORDER? WE'RE AT THE POINT RIGHT NOW WHERE WITH LINE ITEM QUANTITIES, WE PAID OUR CONTRACTOR WHAT WE CAN SO THAT WE CAN'T PAY THE CONTRACTOR ANYTHING FURTHER UNTIL THE COUNCIL WOULD AUTHORIZE ADDITIONAL PAYMENT THROUGH A CHANGE ORDER.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ANY QUESTIONS? [INAUDIBLE] OH, YES, YOU ABSOLUTELY CAN BE DISMISSED.

I'M SORRY THAT YOU WEREN'T.

YES, YOU MAY. [INAUDIBLE] YES, FOR THOSE WATCHING ON ZOOM IN THE RECORDING.

WINNIE AND TIM NG ARE STILL HERE WITH THEIR GRANDCHILDREN AND FAMILY AND ARE ASKING IF THEY CAN LEAVE THE MEETING.

ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.

[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU.

[00:30:05]

YES. THANK YOU, KEVIN, AND I JUST KNOW THAT OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WOULD HAVE QUESTIONS SPECIFICALLY ON GOULD AVENUE, AND THEN FOR ITEM 16, IF YOU CAN UPDATE US ON MY SPECIFIC QUESTION IS JUST TO ASK TO SEE THE MANHOLE COVERS WERE AND IMPROVEMENTS WERE DONE TO 44TH AND CENTRAL AND IF THERE'S ANY PLANS FOR THE REST OF CENTRAL.

SO, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THE SCOPE OF THIS WORK WAS WE DID SANITARY SEWER WORK FROM 37TH TO 44TH ON CENTRAL AVENUE, AND REALLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT DOING IS THAT WE HAD CAPACITY ISSUES IN THIS SEGMENT AND WE HAVE NEW DEVELOPMENT COMING IN.

CITY HALL AND THEN THE PLANNED PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT FOR RAINBOW, WHICH WOULD COME AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE.

WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO COORDINATE THIS WORK WITH OTHER.

BOTH COMBINED CITY WORK, BUT ALSO OTHER MINDAT WORK THAT'S COMING IN.

SO WE WANTED TO GET AT LEAST THIS SEGMENT DONE.

IT WAS ALSO TIMELY IN THAT THE FUNDING SOURCES THAT BECAME AVAILABLE THROUGH THE FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE MONIES GREATLY ASSISTED AND ALLOWED US TO DO THIS PROGRAM WORK RIGHT NOW. SO WE USED ALMOST EVERYTHING THAT WAS AVAILABLE THROUGH THAT FEDERAL MONEY TO GET THE EXTENT OF THIS WORK DONE.

NOW, ANSWERING YOUR QUESTION, YES, THERE IS ADDITIONAL WORK PLANNED ON CENTRAL AVENUE, NOT NECESSARILY BY THE CITY, BUT BY MNDOT.

SO MNDOT HAS A MAJOR REHABILITATION ON CENTRAL.

CURRENTLY PROGRAMMED FOR 28, BUT THERE'S BEEN SOME INDICATION THAT THEY MAY NEED TO DELAY THAT.

I DON'T REALLY KNOW THE EXTENT OF THAT MAJOR REHAB OTHER THAN THE ROAD WOULD BE TORE UP ALL NEW PAVEMENT BECAUSE OF THE AGE OF THE ROADWAY SURFACE, AND THAT ACTUALLY GOES NOT ONLY FROM 37TH.

WITHIN OUR OWN CITY LIMITS, BUT EXTENDS UP INTO FRIDLEY.

SO RIGHT NOW THAT'S TENTATIVELY BEING PROGRAMMED FOR 2028 AND IT MAY GO.

28, 29, 30.

IF THAT IS THE CASE, THEN WE WOULD WORK WITH MNDOT TO ADJUST AND/OR REPLACE THE UTILITIES THAT WE HAVE WITHIN THAT RIGHT OF WAY, EITHER RIGHT PRIOR OR CONCURRENT WITH THAT PROGRAM.

I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS THAT WE GET, IS THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT ONLY CITY MANHOLES, THERE'RE OTHER ENTITIES THAT HAVE MANHOLES WITHIN THAT DRIVE LANES OUT THERE, AND I THINK ONE OF THEM THAT WE OFTEN GET COMPLAINTS ON IS NOW CALLED LUMEN.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE FIBER OPTIC LINES RUN UP AND DOWN CENTRAL AVENUE.

AND THOSE ARE ANY CONNECTION POINT.

THEY'RE IN MANHOLES, SO WE'D WANT TO GET THOSE ADJUSTED ALSO, BUT THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO DO ANY TYPE OF WORK ON CENTRAL.

IT'S GOING TO BE WITHIN THAT PROJECT.

ALL RIGHT, GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION, THEN, TO APPROVE THE FINAL COMPENSATION.

WE DIDN'T DO 12? DID WE FINISH 12? NO. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

SO BACK TO ITEM NUMBER 12.

MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONTRACT.

MOTION TO APPROVE CONTRACT CHANGE, ORDER NUMBER ONE FOR ZONE SIX AND SEVEN STREET REHABILITATION PROJECT 2202 47TH AVENUE MILL AND OVERLAY PROJECT 2206 AND GOULD AVENUE STREET REHABILITATION PROJECT 2208 TO VALLEY PAVING IN THE AMOUNT OF $208,743.88 FOR A NEW CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $1,936,976.30. SECOND.

I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER JACOBS AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER NOVITSKY.

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES.

NEXT, WE HAVE A MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER 16.

FINAL COMPENSATION CHANGE, ORDER AND PAYMENT.

MOVE TO APPROVE THE FINAL COMPENSATING CHANGE ORDER AND ACCEPT THE WORK FOR CENTRAL AVENUE SEWER MANHOLE IMPROVEMENT CITY PROJECT 2204 AND AUTHORIZE FINAL PAYMENT OF $169,780.09 TO MEYER CONTRACTING INC.

OF MAPLE GROVE, MINNESOTA.

SECOND.

I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER NOVITSKY AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER MURZYN.

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION PASSES.

THANK YOU. NEXT, WE MOVE ON TO OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS.

ITEM NUMBER 21, RESOLUTION 2022-118 ADOPTING A BUDGET FOR THE YEAR 2023.

SETTING THE CITY LEVY APPROVING THE HRA LEVY AND APPROVING A TAX RATE INCREASE, AND I BELIEVE OUR FINANCIAL DIRECTOR, JOE KLOIBER, WILL GIVE US AN UPDATE ON THIS ITEM.

THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

THIS BUDGET RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU IS THE CULMINATION OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET PROCESS THAT REALLY BEGAN LAST APRIL, WITH STAFF

[00:35:02]

THAT'S BEEN, AS YOU KNOW, AND FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE AUDIENCE THAT'S BEEN REVIEWED AT THREE WORK SESSIONS BY THE COUNCIL SINCE AUGUST, AND THERE HAVE BEEN THREE CHANGES PROPOSED THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE RESOLUTION YOU HAVE TONIGHT.

CHANGES FROM THE AUGUST VERSION, AND I'LL REVIEW THOSE FOR YOU BRIEFLY AND HAVE SOME MORE COMMENTS.

THE FIRST CHANGE WAS LARGELY JUST AN ORGANIZATIONAL ITEM.

THE ACTIONS THE CITY TAKES WITH REGARD TO SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS, WHICH ARE PRIMARILY STREET ASSESSMENTS, BUT THERE ARE SOME OTHER TYPES AS WELL, HAS ITS OWN SEPARATE PROCESS IN STATE STATUTE FROM THIS BUDGET PROCESS, AND UNTIL THIS YEAR THE CITY REPORTED THOSE AND KEPT THOSE PROCESSES SEPARATE.

WITH THE CHANGE TO STATE LAW AND THE NOTICE THAT RESIDENTS WERE MAILED IN NOVEMBER OF THEIR PROPOSED TAXES.

THERE'S A NEW DISCLOSURE IN THE BACK OF THAT WHICH SEVERAL PEOPLE HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS YEAR, AND FOR THAT REASON, WE ADVISE THE COUNCIL TO INCLUDE THAT PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT REVOLVING FUND IS WHAT IT'S CALLED FUND 415 GENERALLY FOR STREET PROJECTS THAT ARE PAID BY SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS.

INCLUDE THAT INTO THIS REGULAR BUDGET ACTION SO THAT IT ALL ENDS UP IN THE SAME REPORTING PROCESS NOW, WHICH GETS INCLUDED IN THAT NOTICE MAILED TO HOMEOWNERS IN NOVEMBER BY THE COUNTY.

THE SECOND REVISION FROM THE AUGUST VERSION WAS BASED ON INFORMATION AT THE OCTOBER WORK SESSION, THE COUNCIL CHOSE TO REMOVE OR MORE APPROPRIATELY, ACCELERATE THE AUTHORIZATION OF TWO FIRE TRUCKS FOR REPLACEMENT.

THE MANUFACTURER WAS HAVING A PRICE INCREASE ON NOVEMBER 1ST, AND RATHER THAN MAKING THAT PART OF THE 23 BUDGET, THE COUNCIL TOOK ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THAT CONTRACT AS A 2022 APPROPRIATION IN OCTOBER, AND CONSEQUENTIALLY THAT'S DROPPED FROM THE 23 BUDGET.

FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WEREN'T AT THE WORK SESSION, THOSE ARE A LONG LEAD TIME ON THOSE FIRE TRUCKS.

IT'S AT LEAST TWO YEARS.

SO THE EXPECTED PAYMENT ON THAT IS 2024, 2025, AND THE TWO TRUCKS ARE SPACED OUT INTO DIFFERENT BUDGET YEARS NOW. THE THIRD REVISION WAS TO REFLECT WHAT I THINK EVERY RESIDENT PROBABLY HAS NOTICED IS SOMETHING GOING ON WITH REFUSE? THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH OUR REFUSE COLLECTION AND WE HAVE MULTIPLE HAULERS NOW OUT AMONGST THE CITY GETTING IT DONE AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO FIND NEW CONTRACTS.

SO THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATES IN THE AUGUST VERSION OF THE BUDGET DID NOT REFLECT THE MOST RECENTLY APPROVED CONTRACTS, AND I THINK THERE'S EVEN ONE JUST MOMENTS AGO THAT WAS ALSO APPROVED.

SO THERE NEEDED TO BE AN INCREASE TO THE 2023 BUDGET TO REFLECT THOSE HIGHER HAULER COSTS.

NONE OF THESE THREE CHANGES FROM THE AUGUST VERSION CHANGED THE PROPOSED PROPERTY TAXES THAT ARE WERE INCLUDED IN THE AUGUST VERSION.

THAT'S STILL THE SAME AND IN THIS CURRENT RESOLUTION FOR YOU TODAY.

THOSE PROPERTY TAXES ARE AN INCREASE OF 8% FOR THE AMOUNT COLLECTED BY THE CITY, WHICH IS COMPARABLE TO THE LAST YEAR.

HOWEVER--I'M NOT TRYING TO GET TOO TECHNICAL HERE--A PART OF THAT TOTAL TAX COLLECTION BY THE CITY IS PAID, NOT BY LOCAL TAXPAYERS, BUT BY A METRO WIDE REVENUE SHARING PROGRAM CALLED THE FISCAL DISPARITIES PROGRAM, AND THE FORMULA FOR THAT WILL REDUCE THE AMOUNT THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS COLLECTS FOR THAT BY 5% NEXT YEAR.

SO WITH THE 8% INCREASE IN THE TOTAL AND A 5% REDUCTION IN WHAT THAT SUBSIDY IS PAYING, THE NET EFFECT ON THE LOCAL

[00:40:08]

THERE IS SOME HOPE THAT SUBSIDY WILL RETURN AND IT'S TYPICALLY HAS A PATTERN OF BEING UP ONE YEAR AND DOWN THE NEXT.

SO WITH A DECLINE IN 2023, IT WOULD BE MOST LIKELY THAT IT WILL COME BACK AGAIN IN 2024.

AND OVER TIME, THAT WOULD AVERAGE OUT.

IN TERMS OF THE EFFECT ON LOCAL TAXPAYERS, THERE ISN'T A GUARANTEE THAT IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN '24, BUT OVER TIME THE FORMULA IS IT REACHES AN EQUILIBRIUM IN TERMS OF SHARING THE REVENUE BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT METRO COMMUNITIES.

TWO OTHER THINGS I WOULD NOTE.

I HAD MENTIONED THE INCREASE TO THE BUDGET FOR THE REFUSE FUND.

THE RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU IS JUST A BUDGET RESOLUTION.

IT DOES NOT ALSO INCLUDE THE EVENTUAL SEPARATE ACTION REQUIRED TO ADOPT A NEW UTILITY RATE THAT WOULD BE INCLUDED ON THE UTILITY BILL, AS WAS DISCUSSED AT THE WORK SESSION.

RATE RESOLUTIONS ARE USUALLY ADOPTED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.

IT'S NICE TO HAVE THEM BE AS DISTINCT ACTION AND NOT BURIED IN THE BUDGET SO THAT WE CAN PUT THE RATE RESOLUTION OUT ON THE WEBSITE THAT PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT'S DRIVING THEIR UTILITY BILL, AND QUITE FRANKLY, THE COMPLEXITY AND THE BRAND NEWNESS OF THE HAULER CONTRACTS IN THE COMBINATIONS OF THE HAULER CONTRACTS THAT YOU'RE ENTERING INTO FOR 2023, WE WOULD FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE TO GET AN ACTUAL BILL FROM THE HAULER, EVEN THOUGH WE CAN SEE WHAT THEY SHOULD BE UNDER THE CONTRACT.

THERE COULD BE SOME DIFFERENCE OF OPINION ABOUT QUITE HOW THAT'S CALCULATED.

WE'D LIKE TO GET AN ACTUAL BILL FROM THE CONTRACTOR AND THEN MEET WITH THE COUNCIL IN THE EARLIEST PART OF 23 TO REVIEW WHAT WE PROPOSE FOR THE RATES THAT WILL SUPPORT THE BUDGET YOU ARE CONSIDERING TONIGHT.

SO THAT'S I JUST WANT TO MAKE CLEAR THAT THE EXISTING RATE RESOLUTION.

YOU WOULDN'T HAVE EVEN COVERED THE BUDGET THAT WAS PROPOSED IN AUGUST.

IT WAS EXPECTED THAT WOULD BE REVISED AT SOME POINT WHEN WE KNEW MORE FINALLY, AND NOW ESPECIALLY THAT THE REFUSE RATES ARE HIGHER THAN THEY EVEN WERE EXPECTED TO BE IN AUGUST.

THERE WILL NEED TO BE AN ACTION TO HAVE RATES HIGH ENOUGH TO PROVIDE THIS AMOUNT OF BUDGETED REVENUE ESTIMATES ON THAT INCREASE BECAUSE REFUSE IS ONLY ONE PORTION OF THE TOTAL QUARTERLY UTILITY BILL FOR WATER, SEWER AND REFUSE, AND THAT INCLUDES RECYCLING YARD WASTE ORGANIC COLLECTION.

WE'RE ESTIMATING AT THIS POINT IT WILL BE ABOUT A 12% INCREASE IN THE TOTAL QUARTERLY BILL SO THAT YOU CAN SEE THAT THE REFUSE RATES THEMSELVES ARE QUITE A BIT HIGHER.

THE ENTIRE BILL FOR ALL UTILITIES WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY 12% HIGHER . THERE WAS A LOT OF INFORMATION ON A REFUSE BEFORE I GO TO THE LAST PART AND CHANGE, GET ANOTHER BULLET POINT.

ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? IF I REMEMBER RIGHT, IS THE CITY PARTLY SUBSIDIZING THE TRUE COSTS FOR THIS FIRST YEAR? I FEEL LIKE KEVIN HAS SAID THE COSTS HAVE GONE UP SO MUCH.

YES, WE'RE LOOKING AT WAYS TO PHASE IN THAT 12% INCREASE.

SO THE BUDGET BEFORE YOU ACTUALLY DOES NOT QUITE BREAK EVEN.

IT USES 300,000 OF EXISTING FUND BALANCE TO BE ABLE TO BALANCE IN 2023 WITHOUT HAVING THE RATE RAISE TO BE THE FULL 12% ON JANUARY 1ST, AND THAT WILL ALSO BE PART OF WHAT WE WOULD WANT TO WORK OUT WITH THE COUNCIL IN THE WORK SESSION AS TO WHERE THE RIGHT BALANCE FOR THAT IS BETWEEN USING THESE ONE TIME FUNDS TO TAPER IN THE INCREASE VERSUS ALL THE OTHER DEMANDS THAT ARE ON THE FUND BALANCE, TOO.

[00:45:02]

ANY QUESTIONS FOR JOE ON THIS ITEM? NO, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, THEN.

IT IS A PUBLIC HEARING, SO I WILL OPEN THIS UP TO THE PUBLIC.

IF ANYONE HAS A QUESTION ON ITEM NUMBER 21 ABOUT THIS RESOLUTION.

THAT'S ALL RIGHT. LET SARA KNOW THE CITY CLERK IN THE FRONT OF THE ROOM, AND IF YOU ARE ON ZOOM, THEN PLEASE LET THE MODERATOR KNOW.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO TALK ON THIS TOPIC.

IT LOOKS LIKE NO ONE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS.

ANYONE ON ZOOM? THERE IS NO ONE ON ZOOM.

ALL RIGHT, THEN. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

MOVE TO CLOSE THE HEARING AND WAIVE THE READING OF RESOLUTION 2022-118 THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

SECOND.

I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILOR BEUSGENS AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER NOVITSKY.

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES TO CLOSE THE HEARING.

NEXT, WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2022-118 BEING A RESOLUTION ADOPTING A BUDGET FOR THE YEAR 2023, SETTING THE CITY LEVY APPROVING THE A LEVY AND APPROVING A TAX RATE INCREASE.

SECOND.

I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER BEUSGENS AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER NOVITSKY.

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES.

THANK YOU, JOE. NEXT, WE HAVE OUR ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION.

ITEM NUMBER 22, CONSIDERATION OF A RENTAL LICENSE EXEMPTION FOR 4336 6TH STREET NORTHEAST , AND SORRY, MITCHELL WILL TAKE US THROUGH THIS ITEM.

MITCH FORNEY.

THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. MADAM MAYOR.

MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

ON SEPTEMBER 18TH, THE OWNER OF 4336 6TH STREET REACHED OUT TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STAFF REGARDING A SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL EXEMPTION FROM THE RENTAL MORATORIUM.

ATTACHED IS THE LETTER THAT STAFF RECEIVED AND SECTION TWO OF ORDINANCE 1678, WHICH THE ORDINANCE THAT ESTABLISHED THE RENTAL MORATORIUM SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THE CITY MAY MAKE EXCEPTION FOR ANY APPLICATION IN INDIVIDUAL CASES IN THE EVENT THAT EXTREME FINANCIAL HARDSHIP AS DETERMINED BY THE CITY AND ITS SOLE DISCRETION.

THAT'S JUST A SEGMENT OF THE ORDINANCE AS IT IS THE HOMEOWNER'S RIGHT TO APPEAL.

THAT'S WHY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STAFF HAVE BROUGHT FORTH THE LETTER, WHICH IS IN FRONT OF YOU.

IN THE PAST THE PROPERTY HAS BEEN HELD UNDER A FAMILY RENTAL LICENSE.

JUST LOOKING BACK, I BELIEVE IT WAS STARTED IN 2018.

THE PROPERTY WAS LICENSED UNDER A FAMILY RENTAL LICENSE.

IT WASN'T UNTIL A LITTLE BIT EARLIER THIS FALL THAT THE HOMEOWNER WENT TO REAPPLY IT, TO RENEW THAT FAMILY RENTAL LICENSE.

THAT THROUGH THE APPLICATION PROCESS, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THAT THE HOUSE WAS NO LONGER LEASED TO FAMILY MEMBERS AND THEREFORE WOULD BE KIND OF PULLED BACK INTO THE NORMAL RENTAL LICENSING PROCESS.

THIS IS WHERE THEY RAN INTO THE SINGLE FAMILY MORATORIUM ISSUE, AND THEREFORE THIS IS IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY.

TO SUMMARIZE THE LETTER, THE OWNER NO LONGER LIVES AT THIS RESIDENCE, BUT IS ASSISTING A FRIEND BY RENTING TO THEM.

WHILE TALKING TO THE OWNER. HE MADE IT CLEAR WHILE HE DOES NOT CURRENTLY LIVE AT THE PREMISE, HE WOULD LIKE TO RETURN TO COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE.

THE RESOLUTION IN FRONT OF YOU, RESOLUTION 2022-19, IS THE EXACT SAME RESOLUTION THAT YOU HAVE REVIEWED IN THE PAST WITH REGARDS TO OTHER RENTAL EXEMPTION APPLICATIONS.

JUST TO SUMMARIZE SOME OF THE MAIN POINTS, THE LIMITING TERMS, THEY MUST APPLY AND COMPLETE THE LICENSE WITHIN THREE MONTHS OF THE PASSAGE OF THIS ORDINANCE THAT MAKE SURE THAT IF THIS DOES PASS, THAT THEY ARE PROACTIVE AND ACTUALLY DOING WHAT THE COUNCIL IS EXPECTING THEM TO DO AND GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS.

THE RENTAL LICENSE IS VALID FOR ONE YEAR AFTER THE DATE THE LICENSE HAS BEEN APPROVED.

AS HAS BEEN STATED BEFORE, THIS IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE COUNCIL DOESN'T HAVE THAT POWER BEYOND THE MORATORIUM.

WE'RE JUST GRANTING THEM AN EXCEPTION TO THE MORATORIUM AS IS AFTER THE ONE YEAR TERM.

THEY WILL HAVE TO COME BACK TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND COMPLETE THE NORMAL RENTAL APPLICATION AFTER THE MORATORIUM AND AFTER THE ORDINANCES OR WHATEVER CHANGES HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED THROUGH THE MORATORIUM, AS WAS BROUGHT UP BY COUNCILMEMBER BEUSGENS IN QUESTION TO STAFF IN ANALYSIS OF THE BLOCK THAT THE RESIDENCE IS ON WITH REGARDS TO POSSIBLE RENTAL DENSITY CAP, THERE ARE FOUR RENTAL PROPERTIES ON THAT BLOCK, SO UNLESS THE RENTAL DENSITY CAP IS SET AT OVER 17%, I THINK IT WAS THE HOUSE, AFTER THE YEAR WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO RECEIVE, BUT THAT IS ALL

[00:50:08]

THE HOMEOWNER IS HERE TO RESPOND TO ANY QUESTIONS AND KIND OF MAYBE EXPLAIN THEIR STORY A LITTLE MORE, BUT I WILL STAND FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

ANY QUESTIONS? YES, COUNCILMEMBER JACOBS.

I HAVE MORE OF A COMMENT THAN A QUESTION.

I THINK THE FACT THAT IT WAS A FAMILY RENTAL AT ONE POINT AND IT WAS CHANGED WITHOUT THE APPROPRIATE LICENSING, IS THAT MY UNDERSTANDING? YES. I THINK WITH THAT CONSIDERATION I WOULD BE AGAINST GRANTING THE EXEMPTION. ALL RIGHT.

ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY COMMENTS? COUNCILOR BEUSGENS.

I WAS NOT HAPPY WHEN I READ THAT THEY HAD APPLIED AGAIN FOR A FAMILY RENTAL LICENSE, WHEN, IN FACT, THEY KNEW THAT IT WASN'T GOING TO BE A FAMILY RENTAL LICENSE.

THAT RAISED A BIG RED FLAG FOR ME, AND ALSO, I MEAN, IT JUST WE HAVE A MORATORIUM.

THIS APPLIES TO OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE WANTING TO CHANGE THE PROPERTIES TO RENTALS, AND AT THIS TIME, I'M NOT REAL HAPPY WITH THAT JUST BECAUSE IT JUST RAISED A RED FLAG.

IF THEY'D BEEN HONEST, MAYBE, BUT IT WAS NOT A GOOD THING TO SEE.

I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I DON'T THINK EVERYONE ALWAYS UNDERSTANDS THOSE KINDS OF, I DON'T WANT TO SAY GRAY AREA, BUT IF WE COULD LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF WAS INITIALLY WERE THEIR FAMILY THAT WERE LIVING THERE THERE WAS A CHANGE AND KIND OF HOW THAT HAPPENED THAT MAYBE I KNOW NOT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THOSE AND DIFFERENT CITIES HAVE DIFFERENT RULES TO, AND OF COURSE, IT'S EVERYONE'S JOB TO LOOK INTO ALL THOSE THINGS, BUT AS YOU SAID, WHEN THEY DID COME AND APPLY FOR IT, THEN THEY WERE TOLD THIS IS NOT WHAT THIS IS CONSIDERED A FAMILY RENTAL, AND THEN THAT MADE A CHANGE.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR MORE, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE APPLICANT'S HERE.

BEFORE THAT, THOUGH, ANY QUESTIONS FROM OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS? I JUST AGREE WITH WHAT CONNIE WAS SAYING.

THAT'S ALL. I WOULD AGREE WITH COUNCILMEMBER BUESGENS AND JACOBS.

IF IT WOULD HAVE BEEN CHANGED ON THE FRONT SIDE OF IT AND NOT AFTER FIRE DEPARTMENT STAFF FOUND IT MIGHT BE DIFFERENT.

WE MIGHT NOT EVEN BE IN THIS SITUATION THEN BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN CURRENT.

SO YEAH, I WOULD NOT BE FOR GRANTING THE EXEMPTION.

OKAY. WELL, I DON'T KNOW THAT IF WE NEED TO HEAR FROM THE OR, SORRY, DID YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING? I CAN ANSWER YOU QUESTION. OKAY, SURE.

REVIEWING THE RENTAL DOCUMENTS THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TODAY, THE PROPERTY WAS RENTED BY WHO IS NOW THE CURRENT OWNER.

I BELIEVE HIS PARENTS OWNED IT BEFOREHAND THEN HE WAS RENTING IT AND THEN CAME INTO OWNERSHIP OF THE PROPERTY AND THEN HELPED OUT A FRIEND.

FROM THE SOUND OF IT, IT WAS LIKE A ROOMMATE SITUATION AT FIRST AND THEN NOW HE HAS MOVED AWAY.

WHEN THAT HAPPENED, ONLY THE OWNER WOULD BE ABLE TO ASSIST US WITH THAT.

OKAY. THANK YOU. WELL, THEN I DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED TO HAVE THE APPLICANT COME FORWARD.

IT SOUNDS LIKE MOST PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

ALL RIGHT. ESPECIALLY IF HE HAD GOTTEN OWNERSHIP OF THE HOUSE AND KNEW THAT IT WASN'T A FAMILY MEMBER.

SO THAT CLARIFIED EVEN MORE, THEN APPLYING FOR A FAMILY LICENSE, BUT KNOWING IT WASN'T A FAMILY MEMBER.

YES. I ALSO UNDERSTAND MY COLLEAGUES' STAND ON THIS.

I WOULD BE MORE AKIN TO BEING FLEXIBLE ON THIS.

I UNDERSTAND THINGS DO HAPPEN SOMETIMES, AND THE LETTER DID STATE THAT EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES.

SO I WOULD BE MORE INTERESTED IN ALLOWING IT FOR JUST THE ONE YEAR, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE AS WE'VE DONE WITH ONE OTHER PROPERTY THAT IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THEY WOULD NOT CONTINUE ON WITH THE LICENSING MOVING FORWARD, BUT WE COULD BRING IT TO A VOTE.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION THEN TO WAIVE THE READING? MOVE TO WAIVE THE READING OF RESOLUTION NUMBER 2022-119.

THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

SECOND.

I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER BEUSGENS AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER MURZYN.

ALL IN FAVOR. OH, COULD WE DO A ROLL CALL VOTE, ACTUALLY, SARA? SORRY TO INTERRUPT.

SURE, THANK YOU.

SO MOVE TO WAIVE THE READING.

I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER BUESGENS AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER MURZYN.

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES.

NEXT, WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE, AND THIS ONE WILL HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE.

MOVE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER 2022-119,

[00:55:10]

THANK YOU. MAY I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILOR BEUSGENS AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER NOVITSKY TO APPROVE AND WE WILL DO A ROLL CALL VOTE.

COUNCILMEMBER BUESGENS NO.

COUNCILMEMBER JACOBS NO.

COUNCILMEMBER MURZYN NO.

COUNCILMEMBER NOVITSKY NO.

MAYOR MARQUEZ SIMULA.

YES. THANK YOU, AND THE MOTION PASSES.

IT DOES NOT. OH, SORRY.

IT DOES NOT PASS. THANK YOU.

NEXT, WE HAVE NO BID CONSIDERATIONS OR NEW BUSINESS OR REPORTS.

SO WE ARE AT OUR CITY COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS, WHICH IS OUR REPORT FROM THE CITY COUNCIL.

WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO FIRST? COUNCILMEMBER MURZYN. I JUST WANT TO WISH EVERYBODY A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR, AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE CITIZENS AND STAFF AND EVERYTHING FOR ALL THE GOOD YEARS THAT I PUT IN AND YOU GUYS PUT UP WITH ME.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU.

COUNCILMEMBER NOVITSKY.

ABOUT THE SAME: WISH, EVERYONE HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND MERRY CHRISTMAS, AND THANKS AGAIN TO EVERYBODY UP HERE AND IN THE AUDIENCE AND ALL THE RESIDENTS FOR BEING SO ACTIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY, BECAUSE TRULY THE RESIDENTS ARE WHAT MAKE IT GREAT AND KEEP UP THE PROACTIVENESS, I GUESS, WITH EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING. SO I HAVE A QUESTION.

DO WE HAVE ANY LIONS WINTER EVENTS COMING UP THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO--ACTUALLY, YES, SUNDAY IS THE BREAKFAST WITH SANTA AND THAT STARTS FROM AT TEN GOES TO ONE.

THE FIRE ASSOCIATION WILL BE PREPARING AND SERVING THE PANCAKES AND THEN AFTERWARDS THERE WILL BE A COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS MOVIE THAT WILL BE SHOWING FREE OF CHARGE AND THIS YEAR, IT WAS ACTUALLY CHOSE TO BE DIE HARD.

[CHUCKLING] IT'S A CHRISTMAS MOVIE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT UPDATE.

OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS, I FIRST OFF, WANT TO START BY SAYING CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CITY AND THANK YOU BIG THANK YOU TO PUBLIC WORKS AND ALL THE STAFF THAT WORKED ON ACHIEVING AND OBTAINING A GRANT, ABOUT 2 MILLION, I BELIEVE, FOR 43RD TO 47TH, WHICH WILL BE REPLACING OUR LIGHTING AND SIDEWALKS ARE 60 YEAR-OLD SIDEWALKS [INAUDIBLE].

I'M SUPER EXCITED AND IT WAS OUR THIRD ATTEMPT TO ACHIEVE THIS OR OBTAIN THIS GRANT MONEY AND SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THAT NO MORE DARK IT'S VERY NERVOUS ESPECIALLY 43RD TO 44TH IS VERY DARK AND I'VE SEEN PEOPLE ALL OF A SUDDEN I'LL SEE A SHADOW GOING ACROSS THE STREET WHEN I'M DRIVING AND IT RAISES THE

[EXECUTIVE SESSION]

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU TO MNDOT.

SO IT'S VERY EXCITING.

ALSO, I MET WITH MNDOT.

I WAS APPROACHED AS THE PRESIDENT OF HEIGHTS NEXT;, THEY ARE INTERESTED IN WORKING ON GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE FOR CENTRAL AVENUE.

IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN THIS, THEY'RE LOOKING AT POSSIBLY PUTTING IN A RAIN GARDEN SOMEWHERE ON CENTRAL AVENUE.

WE'RE WORKING WITH DIFFERENT ENTITIES AND GROUPS FOR FUNDING AND STUFF.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN WORKING ON THIS, PLANNING IT, MAINTAINING IT, PLEASE CONTACT ME.

MY NUMBER AND EMAIL ARE ON THE CITY WEBSITE.

I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU.

ALSO, I ATTENDED THE LAST TWO TRAININGS, POLICE JUSTICE ACADEMY.

IT WAS VERY INTERESTING AND I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE NEXT TO WHEN THEY HAVE THIS AVAILABLE TO ATTEND.

I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE ARREST, THE PROCESS THAT PEOPLE GO THROUGH AFTER THEY'RE ARRESTED AND HOW THAT WORKS OUT.

[ACTION PERTAINING TO EXECUTIVE SESSION]

I ATTENDED THE ADDAMS FAMILY PLAY AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.

THEY DID AN AWESOME JOB.

IT'S SO COOL WITH THAT NEW STAGE AND THE LIGHTING AND THE SOUND SYSTEM AND THE KIDS DID A WONDERFUL JOB, AND ALSO I STOPPED BY THE LIBRARY TO SEE THE MINI ART DISPLAY IF YOU GET

[REGULAR AGENDA (Part 2 of 2)]

THERE WERE SO MANY CUTE ONES.

IT WAS REALLY WELL DONE.

SO IF YOU GET A CHANCE, CHECK THAT OUT AT THE LIBRARY AND THAT'S IT.

THANK YOU. OH, AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

I KNOW THERE'S WHAT I THINK THE LAST THERE 13 DIFFERENT HOLIDAYS BETWEEN NOW AND NEW YEAR'S.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

COUNCILMEMBER BUESGENS. COUNCILMEMBER JACOBS.

FINISHED UP WITH THE CITIZEN JUSTICE ACADEMY, AND I ECHO COUNCILMEMBER BUESGEN'S COMMENTS.

[01:00:03]

I'M GLAD THAT WE HAVE IT BACK.

WE HAD A COVID BREAK AND DIDN'T HAVE IT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, SO IT WAS REALLY FUN TO BE BACK THERE.

I WILL REPEAT, BECAUSE I THINK KEVIN HANSEN WAS NOT HERE LAST WEEK.

I WANT TO THANK HIS HE AND HIS STAFF FOR THE SIGNS ON MONROE STREET FOR THE WRONG WAY TRAFFIC.

IT HAS GREATLY REDUCED THE WRONG THE WRONG WAY DRIVERS.

SO THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THAT.

THANK YOU, AND MAKE SURE THAT YOUR STAFF KNOWS HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE IT.

THAT'S IT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

I'VE HAD A VERY BUSY LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, STARTING WITH THIS AFTERNOON.

ATTENDED A REGIONAL COUNCIL OF MAYORS MEETING AT THE MINNEAPOLIS CLUB DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS.

TALKED ABOUT OUR IDEAS FOR NEXT YEAR AND DIFFERENT PROGRAMS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE.

ONE WILL BE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ACROSS THE REGION.

I VOLUNTEERED AT THE EVERY MEAL PROGRAM AT VALLEY VIEW SCHOOL LAST WEEK.

LAST EVENING ATTENDED THE PACIM, WHICH IS THE POLISH AMERICAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE OF MINNESOTA.

THEIR CHRISTMAS DINNER, WHICH IS CALLED THE WIGILIA, HAD GREAT FOOD AND COMPANY.

I ALSO ATTENDED THE CITY STAFF'S HOLIDAY POTLUCK MEAL THIS PAST WEEK IN OUR ROTARY, OUR COLUMBIA HEIGHTS FRIDLEY ROTARY

[REPORT AGENDA]

WE HAD A PRESENTATION ABOUT THE KKK IN MINNESOTA BY KRISTIN [INAUDIBLE].

JUST VERY IMPACTFUL, AND I LEARNED SO MANY THINGS, INCLUDING THAT THERE HAD BEEN A LYNCHING OF THREE AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN IN DULUTH AND THEN THIS WEEKEND I WAS IN DULUTH AND WAS ABLE TO SEE THAT MEMORIAL SO MUCH TO LEARN ABOUT OUR OWN STATE HERE AT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OFFICE.

I ATTENDED THE LATIN X RESOURCE FAIR IN OPERATION POLLINATION, MEETING WITH OUR ROTARY WITH HEIGHTS NEXT, AND AS THE MAYOR PUTTING FORTH THE MAYOR MONARCH PLEDGE FOR NEXT YEAR 2023, I GOT MY COVID AND FLU SHOT.

I ADDED THE [INAUDIBLE] GARDEN HERE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS TO THE ROSALYNN CARTER BUTTERFLY TRAIL AND WE RECEIVED OUR SIGN.

SO I'M VERY EXCITED TO DISPLAY THAT THIS SPRING, AND IF ANYONE'S INTERESTED, YOU CAN GO TO THE WEBSITE ROSALYNNCARTERBUTTERFLYTRAIL.ORG AND SEE OTHER GARDENS ACROSS THE NATION THAT ARE SETTING ASIDE SPACE FOR MONARCH BUTTERFLIES AND ALL POLLINATORS.

I ATTENDED THE ADDAMS FAMILY MUSICAL AT THE SCHOOL, AND THERE ARE MANY MEMBERS OF OUR YOUTH COUNCIL THAT ARE A PART OF THE MUSICAL.

IT WAS FANTASTIC.

IT WAS SO MUCH FUN.

I DID A PRESENTATION ON MY TRIP TO POLAND AT THE LIBRARY.

I ATTENDED THE TINY ART SHOW AT THE LIBRARY AS WELL, AND MANY GOOD ARTISTS THERE LAST WEEK ATTENDED THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS BUSINESS CHAMBER MEETING AT THE LIBRARY AND THEN FINISHED UP THE CITIZENS JUSTICE ACADEMY WITH FELLOW COUNCILMEMBERS.

VERY WELL DONE BY OUR POLICE, SOCIAL WORKERS AND COUNTY ATTORNEY AND MANY OTHER STAFF AROUND THE COUNTY AND JUST WANT TO SAY HAPPY

[CC REPORT AGENDA]

NEXT, WE HAVE OUR CITY MANAGER'S REPORT.

THANK YOU. JUST A FEW THINGS FOR YOU TONIGHT.

THE CP HOLIDAY TRAIN WILL BE COMING THROUGH COLUMBIA HEIGHTS TOMORROW, DECEMBER 13TH.

IT'S AT THE SAME LOCATION AS IT HAS BEEN IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.

THAT'S AT LYONS PARK ON 37TH.

IT WILL BE COMING THROUGH HEIGHTS AT 8:00 PM.

THE CITY WILL BE PROVIDING FREE HOT COCOA FOR AS LONG AS IT LASTS.

SO IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE CHILLY.

SO IT MAY NOT LAST ALL THAT LONG, BUT LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING EVERYONE OUT THERE TOMORROW.

IT'S ALWAYS A REALLY GREAT FUN THING TO SEE.

WE ALSO HAD CAPTAIN MATT MARKHAM ON DECEMBER 2ND.

HE GRADUATED FROM THE NORTHWESTERN SCHOOL OF STAFF AND COMMAND.

THIS IS A REALLY INTENSIVE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, MULTIPLE WEEK LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, AND IT REALLY HELPS PREPARE OUR EXPERIENCED HIGHER LEVEL LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALS FOR THOSE SUCCESSIVE CHIEF POSITIONS MOVING INTO THE FUTURE, AND THEN FINALLY, OUR SERGEANT TIM NOLL IS ALSO SCHEDULED TO GRADUATE, RECEIVING HIS MASTER'S DEGREE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE LEADERSHIP LATER THIS MONTH AT CONCORDIA.

SO I THINK AS WE'VE TALKED A LOT, EDUCATION IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I THINK WE FOCUS MORE ON THAT MANY DO, AND HAVING A LOT OF OUR OFFICERS AND OUR SERGEANTS AND EVEN ABOVE THAT, GOING THROUGH PROGRAMS LIKE THIS ON THEIR OWN TIME REALLY SAYS A LOT ABOUT THEIR COMMITMENT TO POLICING AND TO OUR ORGANIZATION.

[01:05:03]

I CAN'T BELIEVE 2022 IS ALMOST DONE.

IT FEELS LIKE IT JUST STARTED, BUT LOOKING FORWARD TO KIND OF WRAPPING SOME END OF YEAR THINGS UP WITH THE STAFF.

WE HAVE OUR STAFF HOLIDAY LUNCHEON ON WEDNESDAY, SO LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING EVERYONE FROM ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS THERE AND JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO 2023.

SO THANK YOU. ALSO THE SANTA TOUR.

OH YES, AND I DON'T HAVE ANY OF THE DETAILS ON THAT.

CHECK THE CITY'S WEBSITE.

I KNOW FACEBOOK. WE ALSO HAVE THE ROUTE POSTED.

WE WILL BE DOING THE SANTA TOUR ON THE FIRE TRUCK AGAIN THIS YEAR.

IT WAS A HUGE HIT LAST YEAR AND I'M SURE IT WILL BE JUST AS SUCCESSFUL THIS YEAR, AND WE'LL POST ANOTHER UPDATE ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE BEFORE IT GOES SO EVERYBODY KNOWS ABOUT IT. SURE, AND IT IS ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER THE 15TH.

SO AT LEAST GIVES PEOPLE A HEADS UP ON THE DATE.

I LEFT MY PHONE OVER ON MY CHAIR SO I COULDN'T LOOK IT UP, BUT IS IT WEDNESDAY? OH, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE 15TH.

THE 15TH IS THURSDAY.

I THOUGHT IT WAS THE SAME.

I'M PRETTY SURE IT'S THURSDAY.

MY KID'S GOING TO VOLUNTEER.

OKAY, SO FIRST, THERE'S A FIRE TRUCK THAT'S DECORATED WITH HOLIDAY LIGHTS, AND THEN SANTA IS ON THE FIRE TRUCK AND HE'LL TOUR AROUND THE CITY AND THAT MAP WILL BE POSTED ON THE WEBSITE, AND THEN IT ENDS AT MURZYN HALL.

YES, AND THEN MURZYN HALL HAS COCOA OR COOKIES, SOMETHING WITH SANTA THAT STARTS AT APPROXIMATELY 6:45 TO 8.

ALL OF THAT INFORMATION IS ON BOTH OUR WEBSITE AND OUR FACEBOOK PAGE.

I KNOW THE MAP, I CAN PICTURE IT IN MY HEAD.

SO I KNOW THAT ALL OF THAT IS THERE, BUT IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS, THEY CAN CERTAINLY CALL IN CITY HALL AND WE'LL GET THEM THE INFORMATION AS WELL.

GREAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, THEN WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE LAST PART OF OUR MEETING, OUR COMMUNITY FORUM.

AT THIS TIME, INDIVIDUALS MAY ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL IN A RESPECTFUL MANNER.

INDIVIDUALS SHOULD ADDRESS THEIR COMMENTS TO THE CITY COUNCIL AS A WHOLE, NOT INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS.

SPEAKERS THAT ARE IN PERSON ARE REQUESTED TO COME TO THE PODIUM.

ALL SPEAKERS NEED TO STATE THEIR NAME AND CONNECTION TO COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AND LIMIT THEIR COMMENTS TO 5 MINUTES.

ALL SPEAKERS ARE ALSO ASKED TO FILL OUT THIS INFORMATION AS WELL AS THEIR ADDRESS ON A FORM FOR THE COUNCIL SECRETARY'S RECORD.

THOSE IN ATTENDANCE VIRTUALLY SHOULD SEND THIS INFORMATION IN THE CHAT FUNCTION TO THE MODERATOR AND MAKE SURE TO TURN ON THEIR VIDEO AND AUDIO WHEN THEY ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

THE CITY COUNCIL WILL LISTEN TO THESE BRIEF REMARKS AS CLARIFYING QUESTIONS AND, IF NEEDED, REQUEST STAFF TO FOLLOW UP OR DIRECT THE MATTER TO BE ADDED TO AN UPCOMING AGENDA.

GENERALLY, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL NOT TAKE OFFICIAL ACTION ON ITEMS RAISED AT THE COMMUNITY FORUM AT THE MEETING ON WHICH THEY ARE RAISED.

SARA, DO WE HAVE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK THIS EVENING? RACHEL JAMES WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. GO AHEAD AND UNMUTE, RACHEL.

HOLD ON, RACHEL.

YOU'RE QUIET. WE CAN'T HEAR YOU YET.

THIS LIKES TO TURN OFF IF WE GO OVER AN HOUR WITHOUT USING IT.

TRY AGAIN, RACHEL.

I WAS TOO SOON. MAYBE.

ALL RIGHT, CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? YES, WE CAN. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. THANKS, SARA.

IN REGARDS TO THE PROCLAMATIONS, I WANTED TO ADD MY THANKS TO COUNCILMEMBERS NOVITSKY AND COUNCILMEMBER MURZYN.

YOU HAVE ADDED SO MUCH TO OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH YOUR SERVICE OF VOLUNTEERING AND LEADERSHIP.

I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOU BOTH AND FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT THE UPCOMING JAMBOREES AND PARADES AND OTHER CLEAN UP DAYS AND THE WAYS THAT WE WILL WORK TOGETHER SO YOUR PLAQUES AND RECOGNITION IS WELL DESERVE. THANK YOU, AND THEN REGARDING THE LEVY, I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE WITH THE REFUSE AND THAT AS A RESIDENT AND HOMEOWNER, I AM VERY HAPPY TO PAY A 12% INCREASE TO GET MY TRASH AND RECYCLING PICKED UP CONSISTENTLY.

SO AND WHATEVER THAT WILL NEED TO BE.

I'VE HEARD FROM MANY RESIDENTS IN OUR NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE SAID WHATEVER NEEDS TO GET DONE.

THEY'RE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE THAT, AND I REALLY SUPPORT THE IDEA OF HAVING AN ITEMIZED BILL SENT OUT SO THAT PEOPLE CAN SEE THE AMOUNT THAT IT'S COSTING.

I ALSO THINK IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL IF THE BILL COULD INCLUDE THE CITY IS HELPING TO PAY FOR SOME OF THAT COST SO THAT WE'RE ALL AWARE OF THE TRUE COST, AND I THINK THAT WILL HELP US AS RESIDENTS MAKE CHOICES ON OUR CONSUMPTION, KNOWING WHAT KIND OF WHAT THE TRUE COST OF REFUSE COLLECTION IS.

SO I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING THAT.

THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU.

SARA, DO WE HAVE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? NO. ALL RIGHT, THEN.

[01:10:01]

THANK YOU TO OUR OUTGOING COUNCILMEMBERS AND BEST WISHES AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE, AND THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED.

THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.