>> HELLO EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR COMING IN THIS EVENING. HELLO EVERYONE. ARE WE READY WITH ALL THE TECHNICALS? GREAT. THEN I'D LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYONE TO OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR MONDAY, APRIL 8.TH COULD WE HAVE A ROLL CALL, PLEASE? >> COUNCIL MEMBER [INAUDIBLE] >> HERE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS? >> HERE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER JAYMES. >> HERE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER BISGINS. >> HERE. >> MAYOR MARQUEZ SIMULA. >> HERE. THANK YOU. NOW, IF YOU'RE ABLE TO, PLEASE JOIN ME IN STANDING AND SAYING, THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. >> >> THANK YOU. COULD I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED UNLESS THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS OR ADDITIONS? >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAYMES AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER BISGINS TO APPROVE THE AGENDA. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE THEN, ALL IN FAVOR SAY, AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. NEXT WE HAVE OUR PROCLAMATIONS, PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITION, ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND GUESTS. THE FIRST IS THE ENGINEERING STAFF INTRODUCTION HERE AT CITY HALL AND SALMAN KHAN, OUR CITY ENGINEER, WILL INTRODUCE ONE OF OUR NEW ENGINEER TEAM MEMBERS. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR MARQUEZ SIMULA. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, I'M VERY EXCITED TO INTRODUCE OUR NEW EMPLOYEE IN THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT. RIDWAN ABDI. RIDWAN, HE COMES TO US WITH A LOT OF GREAT EXPERIENCE. HE'S WORKED FOR THE CITY OF LAKEVILLE, CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER, CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS, AND ALSO HENNEPIN COUNTY, SO HE BRINGS A LOT OF GREAT EXPERIENCE TO THE TABLE. WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE HIM ON BOARD. RIDWAN STARTED WITH US AT THE END OF FEBRUARY, SO HE'S BEEN DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB. HE WILL BE VERY HEAVILY INVOLVED WITH OUR ENGINEERING DESIGN WORK, ALSO WITH OUR CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION WORK TOO. WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU ALL TO GIVE A WARM WELCOME TO OUR NEW EMPLOYEE, RIDWAN. RIDWAN WOULD LIKE TO SAY A COUPLE WORDS TOO. >> WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. WELCOME, NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN. >> THANK YOU. NICE TO SEE YOU ALL. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THE CITY ENGINEER HAS DONE THE INTRODUCTION ALREADY, BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WARM WELCOME. IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE MEETING YOU ALL. I GET A LOT OF WELCOME, SO THAT'S A BENEFIT OF HAVING SUCH A SMALL CITY. I'M REALLY THANKFUL. AS THE CITY ENGINEER MENTIONED, I CAME FROM BROOKLYN, STATE OF LAKEVILLE. I WAS A GRAD ENGINEER THERE, BUT I I LIVED CLOSE BY. I LIVE CILICAL PINES, AND I USED TO LIVE HERE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS. IT'S A PLEASURE TO COME BACK HERE AND SERVE THE CITIZENS OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EVERYONE. >> WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. WELCOME. NEXT WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL, WHICH IS FAIR HOUSING MONTH. COUNCIL MEMBER JAYMES WILL READ THE PROCLAMATION. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> THANK YOU. >> WHEREAS THE FAIR HOUSING ACT ENACTED APRIL 11TH, 1968, ENSHRINED INTO FEDERAL LAW THE GOAL OF ELIMINATING RACIAL SEGREGATION AND ENDING HOUSING DISCRIMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. WHEREAS 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. WHEREAS COLUMBIA HEIGHTS IS COMMITTED TO THE MISSION AND INTENT OF CONGRESS TO PROVIDE FAIR AND EQUAL HOUSING FOR ALL. WHEREAS OUR SOCIAL FABRIC, THE ECONOMY, HEALTH, AND ENVIRONMENT ARE STRENGTHENED IN DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES. AND WHEREAS MORE THAN 50 YEARS AFTER THE PASSAGE OF THE FAIR HOUSING ACT, DISCRIMINATION PERSISTS, AND MANY COMMUNITIES REMAIN SEGREGATED. WHEREAS ACTS OF HOUSING DISCRIMINATION AND BARRIERS TO
EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY ARE REPUGNANT TO A COMMON SENSE OF DECENCY AND FAIRNESS. >> THANK YOU. NOW, THEREFORE, I, AMADA MARQUEZ SIMULA, MAYOR OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM AND DECLARE THE MONTH OF APRIL 2024 AS FAIR HOUSING MONTH. I FURTHER DECLARE THAT 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. I HAVE ASKED OUR INTERIM CITY MANAGER TO SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC SOME OF THE PROGRAMS AND THINGS WE'VE BEEN DOING HERE IN THE CITY. THIS ISN'T JUST A PROCLAMATION, JUST JUST TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT WHAT WE BELIEVE IN, BUT WE ARE REFLECTING THOSE VALUES IN OUR POLICIES AND DECISIONS HERE AT THE CITY. KEVIN, IF YOU COULD SHARE. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. SINCE WE HAVE FOUR FIFTHS OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, I THINK I'LL TURN IT OVER TO AARON CHIRPEK, OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR AND ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, TO GO THROUGH SOME OF THOSE PROGRAMS. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, KEVIN. MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, SOME OF THE RECENT THINGS THAT THE CITY HAS DONE WITHIN THE REALM OF FAIR HOUSING, THEN MAYBE SOME COMMENTS ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITMENT AS WELL THAT THE CITY HAS SHOWN. IN 2022 THE CITY ACTUALLY ENACTED OUR FIRST FAIR HOUSING POLICY. IT'S AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE, IT REINFORCES MANY OF THE SAME STATEMENTS THAT ARE IN THE PROCLAMATION WITH THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO TAKING FAIR HOUSING SERIOUS AND THE POLICY PARAMETERS THAT THE CITY BELIEVES IN WITHIN THAT CONTEXT. THE CITY CREATED A RESOURCE PAGE ONLINE FOR RESIDENTS WHERE YOU CAN FIND INFORMATION IF YOU'RE OR SOMEBODY THAT'S CONCERNED THAT YOUR RIGHTS HAVE BEEN VIOLATED, TENANTS RIGHTS IN GENERAL, OR DISABILITY RIGHTS, OR IF YOU FEEL YOU MAY HAVE BEEN DISCRIMINATED AGAINST IN YOUR SEARCH OF HOUSING, THERE ARE RESOURCES THERE. WHAT BROUGHT THIS TO LIGHT IN 2022 WAS ACTUALLY THE CITY'S PARTNERSHIP AT THE COAL, THE RODER WALTON PROJECT, WHERE THE CITY HAD APPLIED FOR A COMPETITIVE GRANT THROUGH THE LIVABLE COMMUNITIES ACT, WHICH ACTUALLY IDENTIFIED THE NEED FOR THE CITY TO CREATE THIS POLICY TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE FUNDS. THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT, I THINK IT'S WORTH NOTING, WAS A CITY OWNED PROPERTY. THE CITY PROVIDED TAX INCREMENT FINANCING SO FINANCING TO THE PROJECT, WENT OUT AND SECURED GRANT FUNDING, AND IT CREATED A KICKSTART, OR A MORE ROBUST FOCUS ON FAIR HOUSING IN GENERAL. BEYOND THAT, THE CITY HAS HAD A LONGSTANDING COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING THROUGH THE LEGENDS OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, GRAND CENTRAL FLATS, BOTH OF WHICH THE CITY PARTICIPATED IN, AND CONTRIBUTED FUNDING TO THOSE EFFORTS. THAT'S A SNAPSHOT, WE KNOW THERE'S MORE TO DO. THE COUNCIL HAS CHARGED STAFF WITH INCREASING EFFORTS AROUND FAIR HOUSING AND EQUITY AND WE'RE LOOKING AT WAYS THAT WE CAN DEPLOY SOME NEW RESOURCES. THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING SALES TAX THAT WAS RECENTLY PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE IN THE 2023 SESSION. WE ANTICIPATE THAT THERE'LL BE EFFORTS TO DRIVE AT THIS ISSUE ONCE WE CAN GET A STREAM OF FUNDING GOING FROM THAT SALES TAX, AND WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF ESTABLISHING A FUND THAT WE CAN THEN DEPLOY IN VARIOUS AREAS THAT WOULD DRIVE AT THESE EFFORTS. THANK YOU. >> GREAT. THANK YOU. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL AT ALL? WELL, THANK YOU. ANOTHER THING I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP TOO IS THAT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A FAIR HOUSING POLICY, BUT HOW MUCH WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR PROPERTIES ARE SAFE, AND THAT WE'VE INCREASED IN THE BUDGET, HIRING MORE INSPECTORS THROUGH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, BUT ALSO IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AS WELL, SO WE'RE JUST REALLY DOING THOSE THINGS. KEVIN, YOU WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THAT? >> MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, AS YOU JUST STATED, I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU, BY THE WAY, IT'S ALSO ON THIS AGENDA TO GET THAT WHOLE PROCESS GOING. WE'LL BE CONSIDERING THAT LATER ON THIS AGENDA. >> YES. THANK YOU. THEN NEXT WE HAVE OUR CONSENT AGENDA. THESE ITEMS ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ROUTINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND WILL BE ENACTED AS PART OF THE CONSENT AGENDA BY ONE MOTION. ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA APPROVAL WILL BE TAKEN UP AS A NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS. ANY REMOVALS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL. COUNCIL MEMBER JAYMES? >> I WAS ASKING TO REMOVE THE LEGISLATIVE FUNDING FOR PUBLIC SAFETY,
AND JUST TO TALK THROUGH THAT ONE, I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBER. >> WOULD YOU LIKE IT REMOVED OR JUST ELABORATED? >> ELABORATED ON. THANK YOU. >> WHICH? >> NUMBER 4. IS THAT ALL RIGHT THERE? IF YOU COULD GO OVER THE ITEMS THEN AND MAYBE ELABORATE ON NUMBER 4, PLEASE. >> THANK YOU, MEMBER VERSUS COUNCIL. ON YOUR CONSENT AGENDA FOR TONIGHT, YOU HAVE 10 ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION. THE FIRST OF THESE IS TO APPROVE THE MARCH 25TH, 2024 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES. THE NEXT ITEM IS APPROVED THE APRIL 1ST, 2024 CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING MINUTES. THE NEXT ITEM IS TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES FROM THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE 2024 LIBRARY BOARD, AND THAT'S FOR JANUARY, FEBRUARY, AND MARCH. ITEM NUMBER 4 WAS NOT REMOVED, BUT JUST TO GIVE SOME MORE INFORMATION ON THAT, AND THAT'S AN MOU WITH TWO OF OUR UNIONS WITHIN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. WHAT THIS DOES IS PROVIDES ADDITIONAL WAGE, ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION TO THESE TWO PARTICULAR UNITS REALLY IN AN EFFORT TO GET OUT IN FRONT OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE SEEING IN BOTH '24 AND '25, PARTICULARLY FOCUSING ON RETENTION OF THE CURRENT POLICE STAFFING THAT WE HAVE, AND THAT WE'VE DONE AN AWFUL LOT OF WORK TO BOTH ATTRACT AND RETAIN BOTH THE PATROL OFFICERS BUT ALSO OUR SERGEANTS THAT WE HAVE ON STAFF. THE PAYMENT OR HOW THAT'S BEING FUNDED AS COUNCILMEMBER JAMES HAD INDICATED, IS THROUGH FUNDING THAT THE POLICE HAD GOTTEN IN THE 2023 LEGISLATIVE CYCLE. PART OF THAT FUNDING WOULD BE USED FOR FUNDING THIS IN 2024. THE NEXT ITEM IS THE APPROVAL OF A GAMBLING APPLICATION FROM THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS ATHLETIC BOOSTERS, AND THAT IS FOR MAY 5TH FOR BENGAL. THE NEXT ITEM IS RESOLUTION 2429. THAT RESOLUTION APPROVES PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS AND THEN ORDERS ADVERTISEMENTS FOR BIDS FOR OUR 2024 ALLEY PROGRAM. THE CITY COUNCIL HAD A IMPROVEMENT HEARING LAST THURSDAY EVENING AND ORDERED THOSE IMPROVEMENTS, AND WE'LL BE LOOKING AT FIVE ALLEYS FOR OUR 2024 PROGRAM. THAT ALSO BEING THE FIRST OF A TWO YEAR PROGRAM TO RECONSTRUCT OUR CITY ALLEYS. THE NEXT ITEM IS ALSO RELATED TO THAT, AND THAT'S RESOLUTION 2430. WHAT THAT DOES IS DECLARES THE CITY'S INTENT TO BOND FOR ALLEY CONSTRUCTION FOR A 2024 PROGRAM. THAT DOES NOT COMMIT THE CITY TO BONDING, BUT PRESERVES THE RIGHT TO BOND IF WE FEEL OR DEEM IT NECESSARY IN THE FUTURE FOR THIS PROJECT. ITEM NUMBER 8 IS APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION 2431, AND THAT IS REQUESTING FUNDS FROM THE COUNTY HRA. ITEM 9 IS RENTAL OCCUPANCY LICENSES FOR APPROVAL AS LISTED. THE LAST ITEM ON YOUR CONSENT AGENDA IS A REVIEW OF THE BILLS IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,046,817.78. MAYOR. >> THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS? >> I JUST HAVE A COMMENT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> FOR THE NUMBER 4 THAT WE DISCUSSED. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER AND FOR THOSE WHO WORKED ON THIS AND ADMINISTRATION AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. I'M VERY EXCITED THAT WE RECEIVED THIS ONE TIME FUNDING FROM THE STATE, AND I THINK THIS IS A WONDERFUL WAY FOR OUR CITY TO UTILIZE KEEPING THE OFFICERS THAT WE HAVE. WE KNOW THAT WE ARE NOT COMPETITIVE WITH OTHER LOCAL DEPARTMENTS AND WE HAVE A GREAT PROGRAM HERE. I'M VERY EXCITED FOR THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING THAT WE ARE GIVING A BOOST NOW TO KEEP OUR GOOD OFFICERS AND USING THE FUNDING FOR THAT, AND THEN WE'LL WORK IN THE FUTURE TO BE COMPETITIVE SO THAT WE CAN RETAIN THIS GREAT PROGRAM. I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT FOR FOLKS AND WE STILL HAVE OTHER FUNDING THAT WE'RE ALLOCATING, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST MOVE THAT WE'RE MAKING IS TO RETAIN AND KEEP OUR SERGEANTS AND OFFICERS. SO I'M THANKFUL FOR THAT. THANKS. >> THANK YOU. WELL SAID. ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? THEN HEARING IS NONE, THEN WE HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED. >> MOVED. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER JACOBS AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER SPRIGS. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING A HEARING AS NONE, THEN ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. NEXT, OUR PUBLIC HEARING, ITEM NUMBER 11. THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK REGARDING THIS MATTER. SPEAKERS THAT ARE IN PERSON ARE ASKED TO COMPLETE A SPEAKER FORM, WHICH ARE ON THE TABLE RIGHT OUTSIDE OF THE DOOR HERE, AND SUBMIT THOSE TO THE CITY CLERK. SPEAKERS ATTENDING VIRTUALLY SHOULD SEND A REQUEST TO SPEAK WITH THE INFORMATION TO THE MODERATOR USING THE CHAT FUNCTION, AND WAIT TO BE CALLED ON. WHEN SPEAKING, VIRTUAL ATTENDEES SHOULD TURN THEIR CAMERA ON. ANY COMMENTS MADE AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND WILL NOT BE INCLUDED AS PART OF THE FORMAL RECORD FOR THIS MATTER, AS THE ITEM WILL HAVE BEEN VOTED ON AND THE ITEM FORMALLY CLOSED BY THE COUNCIL. NUMBER 11, THE FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE 1695,
CREATING A TIME OF SALE REQUIREMENT WITHIN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS. TO PRESENT ON THIS IS MITCH FORNEY. >> ACTUALLY, I MAY KICK THIS ONE OFF. MITCH WILL COME IN LATER ON IN THE PRESENTATION WITH A BRIEF SLIDE SHOW IDENTIFYING SOME OF THE HOUSING DEFICIENCIES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE TIME OF SALE PROGRAM. A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY FIRST. WE ALSO HAVE THE CITY'S BUILDING OFFICIAL IN ATTENDANCE THIS EVENING, IF THE COUNCIL HAS ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS FOR HIM. TIME OF SALE PROGRAMS, WHAT ARE THEY? ESSENTIALLY, IT'S A PROGRAM THAT WOULD SEEK TO CREATE AN INSPECTION PROCESS FOR ALL RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES IN THE CITY THAT ARE BETWEEN 1-3 UNITS, SO 1-3 UNITS, NOT MULTIFAMILY. THAT WOULD HAVE THE CITY INSPECT THESE PROPERTIES DURING THE SALE PROCESS OR A CHANGE IN OWNERSHIP TRANSFER OR CONVEYANCE, ESSENTIALLY, IN MOST CASES, MINUS SOME EXEMPTIONS THAT WE'LL DISCUSS LATER. BUT WHEN A PROPERTY IS TRANSFERRED, THAT IS RESIDENTIAL, IT WOULD HAVE AN INSPECTION COMPLETED BY THE CITY THAT'S GOING TO ENSURE BASIC HEALTH AND SAFETY ITEMS ARE CLEARED AND THAT THAT WORK IS ACCOUNTED FOR DURING THE SALE PROCESS. THAT'S THE OVERVIEW OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. WHY IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS? IT'S TO IMPROVE OUR AGING HOUSING STOCK. AGAIN, ENSURE THE BASIC HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR HOUSING AND MAINTAIN THAT AND BEGIN TO MAINTAIN IT AT A HIGHER LEVEL. SECONDARY EXPECTED OUTCOME OF THIS PROGRAM IS THAT THE CITY WOULD BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY AND CORRECT MORE UNPERMITTED AND UNLICENSED WORK THAT TAKES PLACE IN THE CITY BY HAVING THIS ADDITIONAL TOUCH POINT WITH PROPERTIES. RIGHT NOW, THE CITY WORKS ON A REACTIVE BASIS TO IDENTIFY PROPERTIES WHERE THERE'S UNPERMITTED AND UNLICENSED WORK GOING ON, AND IT CAN BE A LENGTHY PROCESS TO UNWIND THOSE. THIS WOULD BE A WAY THAT WE COULD DEDICATE RESOURCES AND MAKE A COMMITMENT THAT WOULD AID THE CITY IN CURBING THAT ACTIVITY AS WELL. FINALLY, THE THIRD PILLAR OF WHAT THIS PROGRAM SEEKS TO DO IS IT WOULD REQUIRE A SEWER INSPECTION AS PART OF THE PROJECT. REQUIRING PROPERTY OWNERS, HOMEOWNERS TO HIRE A QUALIFIED LICENSED CONTRACTOR TO TELEVISE THEIR SEWER LINE AND THEN GENERATE A REPORT ON ANY DEFICIENCIES IN THAT SEWER LINE. THE REASON BEING IS THAT THE CITY HAS A LONGSTANDING HISTORY OF WORKING TO COMBAT INFLOW AND INFILTRATION ISSUES. THIS IS WHEN RAINWATER SEEPS INTO THE CITY'S SANITARY SEWER SYSTEM. THE CITY CAN MAINTAIN AND TAKE CARE OF THEIR OWN INFRASTRUCTURE IN THAT REGARD. BUT THE PRIVATE LINES ARE STILL A GAP THAT REMAIN. WHAT'S IMPORTANT FOR MANY REASONS, BUT FROM A TAXPAYER PERSPECTIVE, THE CITY IS CHARGED FOR THE VOLUME OF WATER THAT GOES THROUGH ITS SANITARY SEWER SYSTEM, IT'S METERED BY THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL, AND ANY EXCESS WATER THAT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE IN THERE, WE END UP PAYING FOR AND END UP GETTING FINES. THE CITY CAN MITIGATE THOSE FINES THROUGH DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IN ALMOST ALL CASES, WE END UP HAVING TO PAY A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY EACH YEAR. THIS IS ONE ADDITIONAL WAY THAT WE CAN GET A HANDLE ON THAT AND UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE PROBLEM AREAS WITHIN THE PROPOSED PROGRAM THAT STAFF HAS LAID OUT IN THIS ORDINANCE. THE FIXING OF THE SEWER LINE, WHEN THERE IS AN ISSUE WOULD NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE ESCROW OR THE REQUIRED IMPROVEMENTS. WE WANTED TO START THE PROGRAM BY IDENTIFYING THESE ISSUES AND THEN LETTING THE TRANSACTION HOPEFULLY RECTIFY AND MAKE THAT CORRECTION OUTSIDE OF THE BASIC HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES THAT WILL HAVE TO BE FIXED. PRIMARY COMPONENTS OF THE ORDINANCE, AGAIN, IT'S 1-3 UNIT RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES WITH THE SEWER INSPECTION REQUIRED. THERE'S A LIST OF EXEMPTIONS IN THE ORDINANCE THAT I'LL JUST GO THROUGH QUICKLY FOR CLARIFICATION. EXCLUDED FROM THIS PROGRAM WOULD BE ANY NEWLY CONSTRUCTED DWELLING UNIT WHEN IT'S TRANSFERRED TO THE FIRST OWNER. NEW CONSTRUCTION, THIS DOESN'T APPLY TO. THE SALE OR CONVEYANCE OR OTHER TRANSFER OF TITLE OF ANY DWELLING TO A PUBLIC BODY. IF THE CITY BUYS A PROPERTY, WE WOULD WAIVE THIS PROCESS. THE SALE OR CONVEYANCE OF A DWELLING BY SHARE SALE, BANKRUPTCY, OR OTHER COURT ORDER. BASICALLY PROTECTING AGAINST FORECLOSURES, NOT REQUIRING OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO GO THROUGH THIS AS WELL.
SALE OF TRANSFER OF TITLE FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEMOLITION. THIS IS REALLY PLAYS WITH NUMBER 2, MOST OF THE PROPERTIES OF THE CITY CHOIRS ARE FOR DEMOLITION AND WE'RE WAIVING IT FOR OURSELVES. IF SOMEONE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR WAS ALSO SEEKING TO DEMOLISH AND WOULD COMPLETE THAT DEMOLITION WITHIN A CALENDAR YEAR OR 365 DAYS, THEY WOULD ALSO BE EXEMPT. PROPERTIES OWNED OR SOLD BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND THE SALE OF, AGAIN, MULTIFAMILY PROPERTIES WITH FOUR OR MORE UNITS. THOSE ARE ALL THE EXEMPTIONS. THE INSPECTION WOULD RESULT ONCE THE WORK IS COMPLETED IN A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY THAT HAS ONE YEAR OF VALIDITY. THE INSPECTION WOULD BE GOOD FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR. IF THE BUYER AND SELLER CHOSE, IT CAN GO TWO WAYS. INSPECTION CAN BE COMPLETED, REPORT CAN BE DRAFTED, AND THE SELLER CAN COMPLETE THE IMPROVEMENTS BEFORE THE SALE TRANSACTS. OR THE CITY IS PROPOSING TO ALLOW BUYERS AND SELLERS TO PUT THE REQUIRED. MONEY INTO ESCROW HELD BY THE TITLE COMPANY OR ATTORNEY, NOT BY THE CITY. THEN POST CLOSING, THE IMPROVEMENTS WOULD BE COMPLETED BY THE BUYER, AT WHICH POINT THE CITY WOULD DO A FOLLOW UP INSPECTION. THAT IS THE PROGRAM IN ITS MOST BASIC FORM. THE CITY HAS ENTERTAINED THIS IDEA A FEW TIMES OVER THE LAST DECADE, BUT MOST RECENTLY IN APRIL OF LAST YEAR, ABOUT THIS TIME IN 2023, THE CITY COUNCIL DID IDENTIFY AND DISCUSS THIS PROGRAM WITHIN YOUR STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS, AND IT EMERGED AS A PRIORITY FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE CITY. WITH THAT, I'D TURN IT OVER TO MITCH MONEY, WHO IS GOING TO SHARE A BRIEF SLIDESHOW OF JUST SOME OF THE EXAMPLES OF THE DEFICIENCIES FROM A HEALTH AND SAFETY PERSPECTIVE. SOME OF THESE CROSS OVER INTO THE UNPERMITTED, UNLICENSED REALM AS WELL, BUT SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO RESOLVE TO PROTECT THE RESIDENTS OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS. THANKS. >> MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, I WILL ATTEMPT TO SUMMARIZE THESE THE BEST I CAN, BUT WE ALSO HAVE THE BUILDING OFFICIAL HERE TO PICK UP ANYTHING THAT I MISS OUT ON. ON THE TITLE SLIDE HERE I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ONE OF THE PROPERTIES THAT REALLY EXEMPLIFIES WHERE THE TIME OF SALE PROGRAM FITS IN. THIS IS A PROPERTY ON RESERVOIR BOULEVARD THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD PURCHASED THE HOUSE, TORE OUT ONE OF THE WALLS, WAS DOING UNPERMITTED WORK, TRYING TO FIX THE BUILDING UP. THEY WERE, CAUGHT BY OUR INSPECTOR, TOLD YOU NEED TO COME APPLY FOR PERMITS. RATHER THAN APPLYING FOR PERMITS AND ACTUALLY DOING COMPLETING THE WORK, THEY JUST DECIDED, WELL, I'M GOING TO SELL THIS THING RIGHT AWAY, GET OUT FROM UNDERNEATH IT. IT HAS BEEN SOLD TO ANOTHER BUYER, BUT WITHOUT A TIME OF SALE INSPECTION IDENTIFYING THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SOMEBODY HAS TO DEAL WITH. THE HOUSE HAS BEEN SITTING VACANT FOR THE LAST TWO OR THREE YEARS. THE SALE PRICE, NOW THAT IT HAS PASSED HANDS ON MULTIPLE INVESTORS, THESE INVESTORS ARE INTO A HOME, THEY WANT TO GET THEIR SALE PRICE BACK EVEN THOUGH NOW YOU HAVE A DEGRADED HOME THAT WILL MORE THAN LIKELY NEVER SELL FOR THE AMOUNT THAT THEY HAVE PURCHASED THE HOME FOR. THIS FIRST PICTURE IS FROM A HOUSE THAT HAD SHIFTED OFF OF ITS ACTUAL FOUNDATION. RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE IS ACTUALLY A ROTTED BEAM IN THE BASEMENT THAT THEY'VE SANDWICHED WITH TWO, TWO BY FOURS, TRYING TO REPLACE THAT SECTION OF THE ROTTED BEAM. THERE'S BARELY ANY OF THE BEAM LEFT ACTUALLY CONNECTED TO THE FOUNDATION. IT WAS DONE UNPERMITTED AND IT DOESN'T MEET ANY OF THE MINIMUM STANDARDS. THIS NEXT PART IS FROM THE SAME HOUSE, WE'RE LOOKING OFF TO THE LEFT OF THE EYE JOISTS THAT HAVE BEEN PLACED THERE WITH A JACK. THIS IS THE SAME HOUSE, BUT THEY HAVE RIGGED UP A BEAM UNDER THE JOISTS, WHICH HAS BEEN PULLED OFF OF THE MAIN BEAM. THIS NEXT ONE IT'S FAIRLY OBVIOUS. >> [INAUDIBLE] >> YES. I TURNED MY MICRO MICROPHONE ON. MY APOLOGIES, MADAM MAYOR. THIS NEXT ONE IS FAIRLY OBVIOUS. THEY TOOK A SAW THOUGH PRETTY MUCH THE MAIN SUPPORT BEAM IN THE BASEMENT CUTTING AWAY IN A WAVY FORM THE MAIN SUPPORT BEAM FOR THE BASEMENT.
IT SUPPORTS HALF THE FLOOR SYSTEM. THIS WAS AN UNPERMITTED HOME RENOVATION THAT WAS ALSO CUT BY OUR BUILDING INSPECTOR. THIS NEXT ONE IS AN LVL, A STEEL LVL, SO THIS ONE'S A LITTLE MORE CREATIVE. THEY'VE CUT INTO THE MAIN STEEL BEAM THAT RUNS THROUGH THE BASEMENT. IT HOLDS 50% OF THE FLOOR SYSTEM AS WELL AND IT'S BEEN COMPLETELY COMPROMISED. THERE'S JUST A LARGE CHUNK MISSING OUT OF THIS. EXPLANATION WAS THEY NEEDED MORE HEAD ROOM IN THE BASEMENT SO THEY COULD BE COMPLETELY REMOVED THIS. WHERE THE TIME OF SALE INSPECTION REALLY GETS INTO PLACE WITH THIS IS THAT THIS COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN JUST COVERED UP WITH DRYWALL AND NO ONE WOULD HAVE KNOWN UNLESS THE TIME OF SALE INSPECTION UNCOVERS THAT UNPERMITTED WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE TO THE BASEMENT THAT FINISHING AND THEN STARTS TO DIG DEEPER INTO WHAT THE REAL ISSUES THAT WERE CREATED BY THAT UNPERMITTED WORK. THEN THIS LAST ONE IS A HOMEOWNER'S ATTEMPT AT REPAIRING A SAGING ROOF. IT APPEARS AS THOUGH THE RIDGE BEAM ALONG THE CENTER OF THE ROOF HAS BEEN REMOVED. THIS ONE STANDS OUT FOR ITSELF. I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THIS WOULD WORK ON A TREE HOUSE. IT JUST TOOK AS MUCH WOOD AS THEY COULD AND PLASTERED IT TOGETHER WITH AS MANY NAILS AS THEY COULD AND I GUESS HOPE AND PRAYED THAT IT STAYED UP. THOSE ARE THE MAIN PICTURES. I KNOW THE COUNCIL HAVE SEEN THESE IN THE WORK SESSION, BUT WE WANTED TO BRING THESE OUT TO THE PUBLIC SO THEY GET AN IDEA OF WHERE AND WHY THIS INSPECTION PROGRAM IS SUCH A NEEDED ITEM WITHIN THE CITY. JUST A FEW ANECDOTES AT THE END HERE. THE EFFECTIVE DATE IF THIS ORDINANCE IS PASSED, THE SECOND READING WILL BE AT THE 22ND MEETING AND THEN 30 DAYS AFTER THAT, SO THIS WON'T GO IN EFFECT UNTIL MAY 22ND. ANY HOUSE LISTED PRIOR TO THAT MAY 22ND DATE WOULD NOT FALL UNDER THE ORDINANCE, IT WOULD ONLY BE FOR HOUSES AFTER THE ORDINANCE IS IN EFFECT. COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES REACHED OUT TO STAFF REGARDING THE FEE SCHEDULE AND HOW IS THE INSPECTION FEE GOING TO BE CALCULATED, SO DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE WANT TO COVER. STAFF WILL BE BRINGING AN AMENDMENT TO THE FEE SCHEDULE TO THE APRIL 22ND MEETING ASSUMING THAT THIS PASSES THIS EVENING. STAFF ARE LOOKING AT SETTING THE FEE AT $160. THAT IS FAIRLY CLOSE TO WHAT OTHER SIMILAR CITIES, RICHFIELD ST. LOUIS PARK HAVE SET THEIR FEE, $160, $150. BUT IT'S ALSO VERY CONGRUENT WITH OUR CURRENT FEE SCHEDULE, SO OUR REINSPECTION FEES AND OUR RENTAL INSPECTION FEE IS $160. THE INITIAL RENTAL INSPECTION IS THE EXACT SAME INSPECTION THAT A TIME OF SALE INSPECTION IS GOING TO BE HAVING, A COMPLETE WALK THROUGH AND SO ABOUT AN HOUR LONG. IT PAYS FOR THE INSPECTORS TIME, AND LIKE I SAID, IT'S ON PAR WITH OUR OTHER ONES. THEN STAFF HAVE REACHED OUT TO KEY STAKEHOLDERS WITH REGARDS TO THIS ORDINANCE, ST. PAUL AREA REALTORS, MINNEAPOLIS AREA REALTORS, AND MINNESOTA REALTOR ASSOCIATIONS, AND THAT IS NOTICED BY THE LETTER THAT WE DID RECEIVE FROM ST. PAUL AREA REALTORS THAT IS IN FRONT OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THIS EVENING. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. YES, EVEN THOUGH WE'VE SEEN THOSE PHOTOS BEFORE, THEY'RE ALWAYS SHOCKING TO LOOK AT. ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL? YES, COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS. >> [INAUDIBLE] >> THERE YOU GO. >> I HAD TWO QUESTIONS. ONE IS, CAN YOU SHARE WITH US HOW THE INSPECTOR FOUND THESE FRAILTIES? WAS IT AT THE POINT OF THE HOUSE CHANGING HANDS OR DID YOU HAPPEN TO GO BY AND FIND THEM? JUST SO THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HOW IT WAS DISCOVERED. >> VARIETY. >> THERE WAS A VARIETY. >> COULD YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF TOO? >> HI. >> I KNOW WHO YOU ARE. >> ONE OF THOSE HOUSES WAS A RENTAL PROPERTY THAT POLICE CALLED ME IN TO COME TAKE A LOOK AT. ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE HOUSES WAS A FLIP THAT HAD GONE OFF THE RAILS. THAT'S THAT LVL THAT'S CUT WAVY LIKE THAT. THE ENTIRE HOUSE WAS GUTTED DOWN TO THE STUDS. THEY CHANGED LOAD PATHS. I HAVE 100 PICTURES ON THAT HOUSE. THAT'S JUST THE BEST EXAMPLE OF IT. THE ONE WITH THE ROOF, THAT'S SHORED UP. I WAS THERE FOR ATTIC INSULATION. THE HOMEOWNERS HAD NO IDEA THAT THAT HAD BEEN DONE. I RUN INTO A LOT OF THESE SITUATIONS EVERY DAY. I PLACED A STOP WORK ORDER ON A HOUSE BEING FLIPPED
TODAY WITH A DUMPSTER FULL OF DEBRIS FROM THE HOUSE. >> IS IT FAIR TO SAY THAT A GOOD NUMBER OF THESE ARE DISCOVERED AT THE TIME OF SALE OR TOUR DURING A TRANSACTION WHILST CHANGING HANDS? >> WE HAVE DISCOVERED A LOT OF THEM BEING POSTED ON THE MLS. ONE OF OUR MOST PROLIFIC HOUSE FLIPPERS WHO ONCE HE GOT CAUGHT, HE ADMITTED TO HAVING DONE 14 HOUSES IN THE CITY. WE CAUGHT HIM THROUGH THE MLS LISTING. >> THANK YOU. THEN MY SECOND QUESTION IS, IF YOU COULD ELABORATE ON, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE SEWER ISSUES AND EXCESS WATER GOING INTO THE SEWER SYSTEMS. IS THERE NO OTHER WAY THAT A CITY HAS THE ABILITY TO TRACK THAT? >> MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. THE I&I ISSUE IS A LONGSTANDING ISSUE. WHEN YOU THINK OF OLDER COMMUNITIES, AND WE'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE, THROUGHOUT THE METRO, THE WAY THAT THEY BUILT THE SEWER SYSTEMS WEREN'T NOT ONLY AIRTIGHT, THEY WEREN'T WATERTIGHT SO THAT IN COMMUNITIES WHERE YOU HAVE ANY LEVEL OF GROUNDWATER, THAT OFTEN ENTERS THE SANITARY SEWER SYSTEM. THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE DON'T WANT IN THE SEWER SYSTEM FOR THE REASON THAT THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR INDICATED, WE'RE PAYING FOR IT. IF THERE'S WAYS WE CAN KEEP THAT OUT, WE REALLY TRY TO ACHIEVE THOSE. A LOT OF OUR EFFORT, A LOT OF OUR WORK HAS BEEN DONE ON THE PUBLIC SIDE OF THINGS. WE'VE DONE A LOT OF LINING, A LOT OF REPLACEMENT, AND WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT. IN THE SURCHARGE OR THE FINE THAT THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR HAD INDICATED, YOU ARE ABLE TO OFFSET THAT SO WE DON'T END UP HAVING TO PAY IT. DON'T HAVE TO PASS IT ON TO OUR RESIDENTS BY DOING A CERTAIN LEVEL OF WORK. BUT I THINK IT'S REALLY RECOGNIZED FOR AS LONG AS THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN GOING ON THAT THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE IN THIS PROGRAM, THEY'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF WORK ON THE PUBLIC SIDE, BUT THE PRIVATE SIDE IS ONE THAT JUST ISN'T GETTING ADDRESSED. >> THAT'S BECAUSE, IN GENERAL TERMS, THE CITY HAS NO ACCESS TO IT UNTIL THE OPPORTUNITY SURFACES. >> CORRECT. >> SURFACE IS A BAD WORD, HOWEVER. >> WELL, WE HAVE NO ACCESS IN ORDER TO GET THAT INFORMATION. WE HAVE LIMITED ACCESS. WE TELEVISE OUR SANITARY SEWER SYSTEM EVERY YEAR. WITHIN THAT, WE CAN FLIP OUR CAMERA AND JUST LOOK UP A SANITARY SEWER SERVICE. WE CAN'T GET UP. THAT HAS TO BE DONE BY OTHER MEANS. WE DON'T HAVE THAT TYPE OF EQUIPMENT. BUT WE CAN SEE ABOUT TWO FEET UP. AT LEAST WE CAN SEE IF THE CONNECTION TO OUR SANITARY SEWER MAIN IS CONTRIBUTING TO THAT. IT'S LIKELY UPWARDS OF THAT TOO. IT HAS SOME INFORMATION BY DOING IT THAT WAY, BUT REALLY THE BEST WAY TO DO THIS IS TO LOOK AT AND TELEVISE THAT ENTIRE LINE. I WOULD ALSO POINT OUT THAT BY ORDINANCE OUR SANITARY SEWER SYSTEM, THE PROPERTY OWNER IN ALL CASES IS RESPONSIBLE FROM THE MAIN INTO THE BUILDING OR STRUCTURE. >> THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT THIS ISN'T THE EASY WAY OUT. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY NEED TO AGGRESSIVELY OR ASSERTIVELY GO AFTER. THANK YOU. >> YES. >> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS. I WOULD HAVE LOOKED THERE. >> HI. ONE QUESTION AND THEN I JUST HAD SOME COMMENTS. AFTER THIS GOES INTO EFFECT ON MAY 22, I BELIEVE YOU SAID, HOW DO THE HOMEOWNERS FIND OUT ABOUT? IF YOU HAVE SOMEBODY THAT DOES IT FOR SALE BY OWNER AND ISN'T CONNECTED WITH THE REALTOR, IS THERE A WAY THAT THE CITY WILL BE ABLE TO CONTACT THAT PERSON OR ARE WE POSTING ON LOTS OF DIFFERENT PLACES? >> MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. IN CONGRUENCE WITH REACHING OUT TO THE REALTORS, LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS HAS SAID, ALL THE REALTORS WILL BE AWARE THROUGH THEIR ASSOCIATIONS. WE'LL BE TRYING TO POST THIS AS MANY PLACES, ON FACEBOOK, NEWSLETTER. GET THAT INFORMATION OUT THERE AS MANY WAYS AS POSSIBLE. THEN THE NEW INSPECTOR WILL KEEP AN EYE ON THE MLS AND NOTICE ANY OWNER THAT HASN'T APPLIED FOR IT THAT THEY NEED TO GET THAT INSPECTION. >> I BELIEVE FSBO ISN'T LISTED ON MLS. IS THERE ANOTHER ROUTE OF COMMUNICATION WE HAVE WITH THAT? >> I THINK OUR TYPICAL CITY COMMUNICATIONS, WE ARE DIALING UP THE NEWSLETTER ARTICLE FOR THE SPRING, BUT THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME GAPS, I THINK, COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK THROUGH THOSE. IF YOU SLIP THROUGH THE PROCESS, THE CITY WILL WORK WITH YOU TOWARDS COMPLIANCE JUST LIKE WE WOULD FOR ANY VIOLATION AND JUST INFORM A RESIDENT OF THE REQUIREMENT AND THAT IT WOULD BE ENFORCED AFTER THE SALE. THAT WE HAVE TO COME IN WITH YOUR NEW OWNER, COMPLETE THE INSPECTION, AND CONCLUDE THE PROCESS. BUT THE ONBOARDING WE EXPECT WILL TAKE SOME TIME AND THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME HICCUPS AND PEOPLE THAT WE DON'T REACH,
BUT WE'LL DO OUR BEST TO PROMOTE AND GET THE WORD OUT. >> SOME OTHER COMMENTS I WANTED TO MAKE. YOU MENTIONED THAT THIS STARTED ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO. WELL, I HEARD A STORY THAT IT STARTED BEFORE THAT. I THINK IT WAS THE LATE 2000. I HEARD THAT THE COUNCIL AT THE TIME, I THINK LATE 2000S, HAD ATTEMPTED TO DO THIS BEFORE. THE COUNCIL CHAMBER IN OUR OLD BUILDING AND THE HALLWAY WAS COMPLETELY FULL OF DI WIRE'S SELFERS WHO PROTESTED SO MUCH THAT THE COUNCIL BACKED DOWN AND DIDN'T PASS THIS. THERE'S MORE OF A HISTORY ON THIS. I WANT TO THANK A RESIDENT OF OURS WHO SAT WITH ME TWO YEARS BEFORE I GOT ON THE COUNCIL. I USED TO GO TO COUNCIL MEETINGS ALL THE TIME BECAUSE I FOUND THEM FASCINATING. BUT FROST SIMULA BROUGHT THIS UP TO THE COUNCIL'S ATTENTION AT THAT TIME ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS UP. I KNOW IT'S TAKES A LONG TIME TO GET THINGS DONE, BUT AS A RESULT OF HAVING THIS ON OUR GOAL SETTING SESSION LAST SPRING, WE ARE ABLE TO DO THIS. AFTER SEEING ALL THESE PICTURES, AND I'VE SEEN MORE, IT'S JUST AMAZING WHAT PEOPLE WILL ATTEMPT TO DO THEIR HOMES. A NEW HOME BUYER SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS WHEN THEY MOVE INTO A HOUSE. THANK YOU, FROST SIMULA, FOR DOING THIS. THEN THE OTHER THING, FOR THE SEWER INSPECTION, I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THIS PART. THE FINES THAT WE ARE PAYING ARE PAID BY US, THE TAXPAYERS. WE SAY THE CITY, BUT THIS IS TAXPAYER MONEY THAT'S PAYING THIS. THE LAST FIGURE I HEARD, AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S CHANGED SINCE THEN, KEVIN, WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. THEY HAVE WAYS SO THE CITY CAN USE THAT AND MAKE UP FOR IT. IT'S NOT OUTRIGHT CASH, BUT THAT'S STILL TAXPAYER MONEY. THAT'S ONE POSITION IN THE CITY, FOLKS. I KNOW IT'S PAINFUL WHEN YOU FIND OUT YOU HAVE CLAY TILES AND THEY'RE LEAKING AND YOU HAVE TO GET IT FIXED, BUT THIS HELPS EVERYBODY IN THE CITY. IT REDUCES THE AMOUNT WE PAY. HOPEFULLY, ONE DAY WE WON'T HAVE THAT 100,000 FINE THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH EVERY YEAR. IT HELPS THE ENTIRE CITY AND IT HELPS THE NEW HOMEOWNERS. ANYWAY, BECAUSE WHEN WATER IS NOT GOING IN THERE, IF IT'S LEAKING, SEWAGE IS LEAKING OUT. THAT'S GOING INTO YOUR GROUND SURROUNDING YOUR HOUSE. IT'S A BENEFIT TO THE HOMEOWNERS AT THE SAME TIME. THAT'S ALL I HAD TO SAY. THANK YOU. >> COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS, AND ALSO THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AS WELL. IT'S TAXPAYER MONEY, BUT IT IS BAD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. WE'RE FINED. WE SHOULD BE DOING ALL THE THINGS THAT WE CAN TO MAKE SURE. IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WOULD GO TOWARDS A GREENSTEP CITIES PROGRAMMING, REDUCING OUR I&I? VERY GOOD. COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES. COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS. >> THANK YOU. I HAVE SOME COMMENTS ON THE ZONE FOR THE SECOND READING, BUT JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK QUESTIONS. FIRST, THANKS TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STAFF FOR WORKING ON THIS. I KNOW IT'S BEEN A BIG PROCESS TO TAKE THIS UP. BUT FOR SECTION B, ITEM 4, TALKING ABOUT THE 365-DAY EXEMPTION, IF THE PURPOSE IS FOR DEMOLITION, WHAT IS THE PROCESS IF SAY SOMEONE APPLIES FOR THAT AND THEN DOESN'T DEMOLISH WITHIN 365 DAYS? >> THEN THEY'D BE SUBJECT TO THE PROGRAM AND HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE INSPECTION PROCESS AND SCOPE OF WORK, IF ANY, AND COMPLETE THE CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY. >> GOT IT. THEN MY SECOND QUESTION WAS JUST, DO WE HAVE A NUMBER ON HOW MANY UNITS PER YEAR IN THE CITY CELL THAT ARE 1-3 UNITS THAT WOULD QUALIFY UNDER THIS PROGRAM? >> GOOD QUESTION. WE DID HAVE THAT INFORMATION AT OUR LAST PRESENTATION. WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO LOOK IT UP QUICK. WE CAN AT LEAST TRY. >> EVEN IF WE JUST HAVE THAT FOR THE NEXT MEETING JUST SO PEOPLE ARE AWARE, THAT'D BE GREAT. >> THANK YOU. >> ANYTHING ELSE FROM THE COUNCIL? WELL, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING, AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? THANKS. [LAUGHTER] >> IF YOU CAN FILL IN A FORM WHEN YOU'RE FINISHED. >> I WILL. THANKS, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. [INAUDIBLE], 1700, 49TH AVENUE. THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR EVEN LOOKING INTO THIS PROGRAM AND FOR PUTTING IT TOGETHER. I REALLY WANT TO APPLAUD OUR BUILDING INSPECTOR, RYAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'VE DONE TO FIND A LOT OF THESE PROPERTIES AND MAKE SURE THAT THESE ARE CAREFULLY LOOKED AFTER AND REALLY RAISE UP THIS ISSUE. AS CONNIE BROUGHT UP, I BROUGHT THIS ISSUE TO THE COUNCIL 10 YEARS AGO FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE. WE'VE DISCUSSED SO FAR IN THIS MEETING, HAS TALKED A LOT ABOUT WAYS THAT THIS CAN HELP PROTECT THE CITY, PROTECT THE CITY'S BUILDING STOCK OR HOUSING STOCK, I SHOULD SAY. THE THING I WANTED TO ADD WAS THAT FROM A HOME BUYER'S PERSPECTIVE,
THERE'S A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT HOME BUYERS MIGHT HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT. IS WHY WOULD WE WANT A CITY TO DO AN INSPECTION VERSUS JUST HAVING A REAL ESTATE HOME INSPECTOR DO IT? THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO. A REAL ESTATE INSPECTOR, THEIR PURPOSE IS TO GIVE AN INSPECTION OF THE PROPERTY, JUST VISUALLY WHAT THEY CAN SEE AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION, AND REALLY, THEIR POINT IS JUST TO MAKE YOU, AS A HOME BUYER, FEEL GOOD ABOUT YOUR PURCHASE. WHEREAS A CITY BUILDING OFFICIAL IS ACTUALLY LOOKING AFTER THE BUILDING CODES, THEY HAVE FAMILIARITY WITH THE BUILDING'S HISTORY. THEY CAN LOOK INTO THE BUILDING PROPERTY RECORDS, AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. THEY CAN ACTUALLY MAKE SURE THAT THE BUILDING IS SAFE. THE OTHER PROBLEM IS THAT WHEN A NEW HOME BUYER ENDS UP TAKING ON A PROPERTY THAT HAS PROBLEMS, THOSE PROBLEMS BECOME THE NEW HOME BUYER'S PROBLEMS. YOU CANNOT PUT THAT BACK ONTO THE INDIVIDUAL WHO MAY HAVE CREATED THE PROBLEMS. YOU'VE ALREADY SEEN AN EXAMPLE WHERE A HOME BUYER ONLY DISCOVERED THE PROBLEMS WITH THE ROOF AFTER AN ATTIC INSULATION INSPECTION. SO THOSE PROBLEMS BECOME THE PROBLEMS OF THE NEW OWNER. A LOT OF TIMES WHEN A NEW HOME BUYER LIKE MYSELF ENDS UP BECOMING A VICTIM OF THIS TYPE OF FLIPPING AND THERE'S A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE PROPERTY AS WE'VE ALREADY HEARD MITCH SAY LIKE SOMETIMES THE PROPERTY WILL JUST BE ABANDONED OR IT WILL BE UNOCCUPIED FOR A VERY LONG TIME. IF THERE'S A PERSON LIKE MYSELF, THEY JUST TOOK OUT A NEW MORTGAGE AND THEN WITHIN WEEKS, ALL OF THESE MECHANICAL AND STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS HAPPEN IN THE PROPERTY, WHAT MOST RESIDENTS CHOOSE TO DO IS SIMPLY ABANDON THE PROPERTY AND FILE BANKRUPTCY OR LET THE BANK TAKE IT OVER AGAIN, AND THAT'S A PROBLEM FOR EVERYBODY. I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR LOOKING INTO THIS PROGRAM, I FULLY SUPPORT IT, I APPLAUD ALL OF YOUR WORK ON THIS WHOLE THING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. APPRECIATE IT. >> THANK YOU. YES, AARON. >> FOUND SOME DATA FROM THE 2022 STAFF REPORT SUBMITTED AT A WORK SESSION. STAFF HAD WORKED WITH REALTORS ASSOCIATIONS TO PROJECT THAT OVER THE THREE-YEAR TIME SPAN, AT THAT TIME, WE HAVEN'T ADJUSTED THESE YET, THE CITY WAS SELLING ON AN AVERAGE OF 300 HOMES A YEAR THAT WOULD QUALIFY FOR THE PROGRAM. >> THANK YOU. MITCH. >> MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, JUST TO CLARIFY OFF OF AARON'S COMMENTS, I ACTUALLY FOUND OUR STAFF DATA REPORT FROM 2012-2022, THE AVERAGE TOTAL CLOSE SALES WAS 345 PER YEAR. THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE OFF-MARKET SALES THAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. >> DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANTED? OKAY. ANYONE ELSE, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING, SO IF THERE'S ANYONE ONLINE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK OR ANYONE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER. NO, ALL RIGHT THEN. THEN MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE HEARING? >> MOVE TO CLOSE THE HEARING AND WAIVE THE READING OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 1695, THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES TO THE PUBLIC. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING AND SEEING THERE IS NONE, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING HAS PASSED. NEXT, I HAVE A MOTION TO SET THE SECOND READING. >> MOVE TO SET THE SECOND READING ORDINANCE NUMBER 1695 BEING AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 5A OF THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS CITY CODE, TO ESTABLISH THE CERTIFICATE OF PROPERTY MAINTENANCE AND ITS ASSOCIATED REQUIREMENTS. ALSO, AMENDING PARALLEL REFERENCES TO REFLECT THE SECTION CHANGE FOR APRIL 22ND, 2024 AT APPROXIMATELY 6:00 PM IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS. ANY QUESTIONS? >> I HAVE ONE, CAN I? >> COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES. >> THANK YOU. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS ORDINANCE, I THINK IT WILL BE HELPFUL. I DID CAREFULLY CONSIDER BECAUSE I'M SOMEONE WHO PURCHASED A HOME THAT HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY IN FORECLOSURE AND WE'VE DONE MOSTLY JUST COSMETIC WORK, WE HAVEN'T HAD TO DO SERIOUS WORK. BUT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS INTERESTING. THE LETTER THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE REALTORS WAS SAYING THAT MAYBE THIS WOULD PUT IT ALL ON THE SELLERS TO MAKE THE REPAIR. I APPRECIATE HOW THIS ORDINANCE ACTUALLY GIVES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE SELLERS TO SELL IT AS IS, AND THEN THE BUYERS TO DECIDE TO PUT THE MONEY IN ESCROW, SO THERE'S OPTIONS, THERE'S NEGOTIATING ROOM, AND I THINK THAT REALLY HELPS. I ALSO APPRECIATE HOW THERE IS ONLY A ONE-YEAR TIME PERIOD. I KNOW THERE ARE SOME CITIES THAT OFFER LONGER, BUT IF THE SALE DOESN'T HAPPEN IN THAT TIME, THINGS COULD GET WORSE AND THERE COULD BE MORE ADDITIONAL THINGS THAT NEED TO GET DONE. I THINK THOSE TWO THINGS ARE REALLY HELPFUL. I ALSO THINK THAT OUR CITY,
WE DO HAVE A LOT OF INFLOW AND INFILTRATION PROBLEMS AND THIS WOULD BE A WAY FOR US TO AT LEAST FIND OUT WHERE THEY ARE. BUT IT DOESN'T MANDATE YOU FIX THAT BECAUSE USUALLY, THOSE ARE PRETTY EXPENSIVE REPAIRS. THERE'S ALSO YOU CAN WORK ON GETTING THE INSURANCE PROGRAM THAT YOU CAN FIND THROUGH THE CITY WEBSITE SO THAT YOU CAN START PAYING A LITTLE BIT EVERY MONTH, AND THEN WHEN THERE IS A NEED, YOU HAVE FUNDS TO HELP PAY FOR YOUR SEWER LINES AND HOMEOWNERS CAN PURCHASE THAT RIGHT NOW. I THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO BE HARD FOR SELLERS AND BUYERS AT FIRST TO GET INTO THE REALM OF IT, BUT I DO THINK IN THE NEXT 100 YEARS, THE CITY IS GOING TO LOOK BACK AND SAY THAT THEY'RE REALLY GLAD THIS HAPPENED, SO THAT'S MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. I WANTED TO MENTION THAT I'M GLAD FOR US TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION, I'M GLAD WE HAD THIS IN OUR GOAL SETTING LAST YEAR, AND THANK YOU TO STAFF FOR DOING THE WORK TO BRING THIS FORWARD AND ALL THE RESEARCH THAT YOU'VE DONE, AND ALSO TO THE COUNCIL FOR ALL THE CHANGES AND IMPROVEMENTS WE'VE MADE TO OUR BUDGETING TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE STAFF TO ENSURE THAT THIS IS TAKEN CARE OF IN A SAFE WAY. SOMETIMES I'VE HEARD PEOPLE SAY THAT WHEN A HOUSE IS INSPECTED, IT'S BUYER BEWARE, IT'S KIND OF YOUR OWN THING IF YOU BUY A HOUSE THAT HAS A ROOF THAT LOOKS LIKE THE PHOTO WE SAW. BUT ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT THESE ARE OUR NEIGHBORS. WHEN SOMEONE MOVES IN NEXT DOOR AND THEY SAY WE NEVER LOOKED AT THE ATTIC, WE COULDN'T FIND THE DOOR, BUT NOW WE DID AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE ROOF IS FALLING IN. THOSE ARE YOUR NEW NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBORS AND NEW PEOPLE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, AND THOSE BUILDINGS COULD BE CONDEMNED IF THERE'S SNOW, THEY WOULD SAY THE ROOF WOULD NOT HOLD UP, IT'S NOT SAFE. IF YOU THINK ABOUT, YES, THAT THERE'S DEFINITELY CAN BE SOME FINANCIAL INCONVENIENCE TO HAVING REPAIRS DONE, THOSE THINGS CAN BE PUT IN THE MORTGAGE AND WE'RE CREATING THIS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE SAFETY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT. THAT WAS DEFINITELY IN OUR GOAL SETTING IS HAVING A SAFE CITY FOR EVERYONE. JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE REMEMBER, THESE ARE FOR OUR NEW NEIGHBORS COMING INTO COLUMBIA HEIGHTS. ALL RIGHT THEN. IF THERE'S NO OTHER COMMENTS, THEN COULD WE TAKE A VOTE UNLESS THERE'S ANY MORE COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT THEN. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES TO SET THE SECOND READING FOR APRIL 22ND. THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE OUR ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION UNDER ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS. NUMBER 12, MINOR SUBDIVISION LOT LINE ADJUSTMENT FOR 334TH AND 344TH, 40TH AVENUE NORTHEAST. IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE ANDREW BOUCHE HERE. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. CITY COUNCIL, TODAY WE HAVE A MINOR SUBDIVISION, OR A LOT LINE ADJUSTMENT FOR 334 AND 344, 40TH AVENUE, NORTHEAST. THE APPLICANT WITH US TODAY IS MICHAEL GONDEK, OWNER OF GONDEK PROPERTIES, LLC. THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS RECEIVED AN APPLICATION FOR A MINOR SUBDIVISION TO ADJUST THE EXISTING LOT LINES OF TWO ADJACENT PROPERTIES AT 334 AND 344, 40TH AVENUE, NORTHEAST. MR. GONDEK OWNS BOTH PROPERTIES. THE 334 PROPERTY IS OCCUPIED BY A SMALL TWO-TENANT COMMERCIAL TENANT OR BUILDING, AND THE 344, 40TH AVENUE, NORTHEAST PROPERTY IS A SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE. THE APPLICANT IS LOOKING TO FULLY RELOCATE THE PORTION OF THE COMMERCIAL PARKING LOT FROM THE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY ENTIRELY ONTO THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY WHERE THE COMMERCIAL BUILDING IS. THE APPLICANT IS ALSO PROPOSING TO ESTABLISH DRIVEWAY AND PARKING EASEMENTS ON THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY IN FAVOR OF THE SINGLE-FAMILY PARCEL. THE SINGLE-FAMILY PROPERTY WOULD STILL HAVE PARKING IN THE REAR OF THE PROPERTY, ENSURING ADEQUATE ACCESS AND PARKING SHOULD THE EASEMENT BE VACATED IN THE FUTURE. MINOR SUBDIVISIONS ARE REQUIRED TO THE FINDINGS OF 9.104K. THEN AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, IT'S JUST AN EXISTING CONDITIONS OF THE PROPERTY. YOU CAN SEE HOW A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THAT COMMERCIAL PARKING LOT IS ON THE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY. THEN JUST SO YOU GUYS ARE AWARE, THE SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE IS CONSIDERED A LEGAL, NON-CONFORMING USE AND BOTH PROPERTIES ARE CONSIDERED NON-COMPLIANT WITH THE PARKING SETBACKS. THIS PROPOSAL WOULD ELIMINATE THOSE TWO NON-CONFORMITIES WITH THE PARKING, AND THEN, YOU CAN GO ONE MORE, THIS IS JUST A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED CONDITIONS. IT IS SHRINKING THE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY DOWN, BUT AS I SAID, THAT THAT IS A NON-CONFORMING USE, SO REALLY, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE EVENTUALLY PHASED OUT IN THE FUTURE ANYWAY. IN CONSIDERATION OF THE MINOR SUBDIVISION APPLICATION, THE NEWLY CREATED LOTS MUST MEET THE MINIMUM LOT AREA AND WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE GENERAL BUSINESS ZONING DISTRICT,
WHICH IS WHAT BOTH THESE PROPERTIES ARE ZONED. PER SECTION 9.110C OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE, LOTS WITHIN THE GENERAL BUSINESS DISTRICTS HAVE TO MEET THE FOLLOWING LOT DIMENSION, HEIGHT, AND BULK REQUIREMENTS. MINIMUM LOT AREA OF 6,000 SQUARE FEET, LOT WIDTH OF 40 FEET, BUILDING SETBACKS OF 15 FEET FOR THE FRONT YARD. IN THE GENERAL BUSINESS DISTRICT, THERE IS NO SIDE YARD SETBACK FOR BUILDINGS. THEN CORNER SIDE YARD SETBACK ALONG THE STREET OF THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY IS 15 FEET, AND THEN THE MINIMUM REAR SETBACK IS 20 FEET. PARKING, IT'S VERY SIMILAR. FIFTEEN FEET FOR THE FRONT YARD. MINIMUM SIDE YARD SETBACK, WHICH IS THE NON-COMPLIANT ONE ON BOTH PROPERTIES IS FIVE FEET. THE CORNER SIDE YARD SETBACK FOR THE PARKING LOT IS 15 FEET, AND THEN THE MINIMUM REAR PARKING YARD SETBACK IS FIVE FEET, SO THAT'S THE MOST SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT FROM A STRUCTURE. IF YOU JUST WANT TO GO OVER TWO MORE, SORRY. I JUST WANTED TO PUT TOGETHER A TABLE SHOWING THE EXISTING CONDITIONS AND THEN WHAT THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING. THE EXISTING LOT AREA FOR THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY IS APPROXIMATELY 12,000 FEET, THE EXISTING LOT AREA FOR THE RESIDENTIAL HOUSE IS 8,600 SQUARE FEET. THE PROPOSED CONDITIONS WILL ENLARGE THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY BY ABOUT 3,000 SQUARE FEET AND THEN REDUCE THE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY BY ABOUT 2,400 SQUARE FEET. THE WIDTH OF THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY IS INCREASING, THE WIDTH OF THE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY IS DECREASING, BUT BOTH OF THESE ARE COMPLIANT WITH THE ZONING STANDARDS. THE ONLY SETBACKS THAT ARE REALLY CHANGING ARE THE SIDE YARD SETBACKS FOR BOTH THE STRUCTURE AND THE PARKING. THE SIDE YARD SETBACK FOR THE EXISTING COMMERCIAL STRUCTURE IS 1.3 FEET, AND THEN THE SIDE YARD SETBACK FOR THE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY IS 35 FEET, JUST BASED ON WHERE THE PARKING LOT IS CONFIGURED. THAT IS WITH THIS PROPOSED SUBDIVISION. THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES SETBACK FOR THE SIDE IS 28.3 AND THEN THE SIDE YARD FOR THE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY WOULD BE REDUCED TO EIGHT FEET, SO IT WOULD STILL BE WITHIN WHAT WAS ACCEPTABLE FOR THE ZONING STANDARDS. AS I MENTIONED, THE SIDE YARD PARKING IS CURRENTLY NON-CONFORMING FOR BOTH PROPERTIES AND THEN THIS WILL ELIMINATE THAT NON-CONFORMITY BY GIVING THEM THE COMPLIANT FIVE-YARD SETBACK. AFTER THE ADJUSTMENT, BOTH PROPERTIES WILL COMPLY WITH THE ZONING REQUIREMENTS, INCLUDING COMPLIANCE WITH THE PARKING LOT SETBACKS, AND THEN THE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY WILL BE REDUCED, ESSENTIALLY, WITH THAT LOT CHANGE, SO THAT'LL BE LESS NON-CONFORMING, ESSENTIALLY. CITY COUNCIL IS REQUIRED TO MAKE EIGHT FINDINGS OF FACTS BEFORE IT CAN APPROVE A MINOR SUBDIVISION AS FOLLOWS, THAT THE PROPOSED SUBDIVISION OF LAND WILL NOT RESULT IN MORE THAN THREE LOTS. THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING TO CREATE TWO CONFORMING LOTS. THE PROPOSED SUBDIVISION OF LAND DOES NOT INVOLVE THE VACATION OF EXISTING EASEMENTS. THE APPLICANT IS NOT PROPOSING ANY EASEMENT VACATIONS AT THIS TIME. ALL LOTS TO BE CREATED BY THE PROPOSED SUBDIVISION CONFORM TO THE LOT AREA AND WITH REQUIREMENTS ESTABLISHED FOR THE ZONING DISTRICT, AS I'VE JUST TAKEN YOU GUYS THROUGH, THE GENERAL BUSINESS ZONING REQUIREMENTS ARE CONFORMED TO. THEN, THE PROPOSED SUBDIVISION DOES NOT REQUIRE THE DEDICATION OF PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY FOR THE PURPOSE OF GAINING ACCESS TO THE PROPERTY. THE APPLICANT HAS ACCESS TO BOTH PROPERTIES AND IS PROPOSING ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS TO GUARANTEE THAT ACCESS. THE PROPERTY HAS NOT YET PREVIOUSLY BEEN SUBDIVIDED THROUGH THE MINOR SUBDIVISION PROVISIONS, AS THIS PROPERTY HAS NOT. THE PROPOSED SUBDIVISION DOES NOT HINDER THE CONVEYANCE OF LAND, THE PROPOSED SUBDIVISION IS NOT EXPECTED TO HINDER THE MAKING OF ASSESSMENTS OR KEEPING OF RECORDS RELATED TO ASSESSMENTS, AND THAT THE PROPOSED SUBDIVISION MEETS ALL THE DESIGN STANDARDS SPECIFIED IN 9.116. IT IS STAFF'S PERSPECTIVE THAT ALL OF THESE REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN MET, AS WELL AS REVIEWED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION WITH A UNANIMOUS SUPPORT 6-0 VOTE. THEN STAFF COORDINATED WITH THE CITY ENGINEER AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO'VE BEEN PROVIDED COPIES OF ALL THE APPLICATION MATERIALS AND THERE WERE NO CONCERNS EXPRESSED WITH THE PROPOSED SUBDIVISION. STAFF REVIEW FINDS THAT THE PROPOSED MINOR SUBDIVISION OR LOT LINE ADJUSTMENTS HAS MET ALL OF THE APPLICABLE ZONING CODE ORDINANCES. >> THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL?
COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS. >> I KNOW THIS CAN'T BE DEMANDED, BUT IF IT'S NOT IN THE PLAN, I'D LIKE TO SEE THE OWNER SPECIFY OR MARK A COUPLE OF SPACES UP TOWARDS 40TH FOR THAT RESIDENCE SO THAT THEY HAVE PARKING AVAILABLE. MY OTHER CONCERN AND I'M FULLY IN FAVOR OF THIS, THE ONLY CONCERN I HAVE IS WHAT MIGHT BE A GARAGE AT THE VERY BACK OF THE BUILDING, IS MOST CARRIAGE HOUSES ARE LARGER THAN THIS, IT'S MORE SHED SIZE. WHEN I WENT BY RECENTLY AND LOOKED AT THE PROPERTY, THAT CEMENT PAD TO THE WEST SIDE OF 344 THAT WAS OCCUPIED WITH A TRAILER AND STUFF, IS THAT THE AREA THAT'S GOING TO BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE TENANT OR TO THE RESIDENT FOR BACKYARD PARKING? >> I CAN LET THE APPLICANT CLARIFY, BUT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE REAR OF THE PROPERTY WOULD BE USED FOR PARKING, AND THEN AS PART OF THAT DEDICATED EASEMENT THAT THEY'RE GOING TO PROPOSE, THAT THE RESIDENTIAL HOUSE WILL STILL BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN ITS PARKING FROM THE REAR OF THE PROPERTY ALONG THE ALLEY, AS WELL AS WITH THAT CONFIGURATION OF THE EASEMENT FOR THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY. >> IT'S JUST IT'S A WAYS FROM THE ALLEY TO THE HOUSE, AND I REMEMBER ISN'T THERE AN INCLINE THERE? >> THERE'S A HILL. >> THAT WOULD BE A LITTLE PROBLEMATIC FOR THEM TO REACH FROM THAT BACK PARKING UP TO THE HOUSE. THAT'S WHY I'M WONDERING IF HE WOULD CONSIDER MARKING MAYBE TWO SPOTS UP AT THE VERY FRONT WHEN YOU FIRST COME IN OFF OF 40TH, DESIGNATING THOSE AS NO PARKING, OR SOMEHOW MAKING THEM AVAILABLE TO THE RESIDENT RATHER THAN PARKING FOR THE BUSINESS. >> WELL, I CAN TURN IT OVER TO THE APPLICANT IF HE'D LIKE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION. >> [INAUDIBLE] >> OKAY. THANK YOU. THEN, IS THAT PAT IN THE BACK GOING TO BE KEPT AVAILABLE TO THEM? CLARIFY THE BACK OF THE LOT PARKING FOR ME, PLEASE. >> [INAUDIBLE] >> SIR, COULD YOU COME TO THE MICROPHONE? WE HAVE TO RECORD THE MEETING, SO WE NEED TO HEAR YOUR VOICE ON THE MICROPHONE. [LAUGHTER] THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING IN TODAY TOO. >> [OVERLAPPING] THIS IS A GARAGE. IT'S STORAGE FOR THE RENTER. >> IT'S SHED SIZE. >> ANYWAY, MY GOAL SOME DAYS TO BUILD A GARAGE THERE AND THEN THAT LEVEL FOR THE GARAGE TO BE LOWERED DOWN TO MEET THE CONCRETE PAD, AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. >> IS THAT PAD LARGE ENOUGH TO PARK A VEHICLE ON IT? >> OH YEAH. OKAY. TO PARK TWO VEHICLES ON THERE. >> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL OR COMMENTS? THEN COULD WE HAVE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING? >> MOVE TO WAIVE THE READING OF RESOLUTION 2024-19, THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS. ANY COMMENT OR DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE THEN ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. NEXT I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE. >> MOVE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2024-19. A RESOLUTION APPROVING A MINOR SUBDIVISION FOR THE PROPERTIES LOCATED [NOISE] AT 334 AND 344, 40TH AVENUE NORTHEAST WITHIN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA, SUBJECT TO CERTAIN CONDITIONS STATED IN THE RESOLUTION. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS TO APPROVE. ANY DISCUSSION SEEING AND HEARING IS NONE, THEN ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> [OVERLAPPING] AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU COUNCIL. >> I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBERS AS WELL FOR DISCUSSING THIS AND BRINGING THIS FORWARD. NEXT, WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER 13, RESOLUTION 2024-028 TO ACCEPT MINNESOTA OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAM HIRING GRANTS. HERE TO DISCUSS THIS IS CHIEF. >> THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. I'M GOING TO TURN THIS OVER TO CAPTAIN JOHNSTON, WHO'S PUT [OVERLAPPING] A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WORK INTO THIS, AND HE'S BEEN REALLY TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING HE CAN TO CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS WITH RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION. THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY AND HE PUT A LOT OF WORK INTO THESE GRANTS AND WE JUST RECEIVED NOTICE OF THESE. I'LL LET ERIC TAKE IT AWAY FROM HERE. >> THANK YOU, CAPTAIN. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. IT'S HERE WITH GREAT NEWS TONIGHT. WE DID APPLY FOR AND RECEIVE TWO STATE HIRING GRANTS.
WE HEARD EARLIER ABOUT A LOT OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE HAVING IN HIRING AND RECRUITING POLICE OFFICERS, AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA HAS HEARD THAT AS WELL. THROUGH THE OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS, THEY DID PUT OUT SOME HIRING GRANT FUNDS. THERE'S TWO THAT WE APPLIED FOR. I'M GOING TO START WITH THE SECOND ONE FIRST. IT'S A LITTLE BIT EASIER TO EXPLAIN. THAT ONE TAKES ANYBODY THAT HAS AN INTEREST IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND WE HELP THEM GET THEIR COLLEGE EDUCATION, A TWO YEAR ASSOCIATES DEGREE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. THIS IS FOR SOMEBODY THAT MAYBE HAS A LITTLE BIT OR NO COLLEGE EDUCATION. THIS IS A MATCHING GRANT. THE MATCH THAT THE CITY PROVIDES IS WE WOULD HIRE THEM AS OUR PART TIME CSO. THEY WOULD COME WORK WITH US 20-HOURS A WEEK, AND THEN THEY WOULD ATTEND SCHOOL FULL TIME FOR TWO YEARS AND GET THEIR LAW ENFORCEMENT DEGREE WITH THE GOAL THAT THEY WOULD BE HIRED AS A POLICE OFFICER. IDEALLY, WITH US AT THE END OF THAT TWO YEAR PROGRAM. THE SECOND GRANT, IT'S A MOUTHFUL. IT'S THE INTENSIVE POLICE OFFICER EDUCATION AND TRAINING GRANT AND I'M PROBABLY GETTING THAT ACRONYM WRONG. BUT THIS ONE IS A FULLY FUNDED GRANT THAT TAKES SOMEBODY WITH A COLLEGE DEGREE AND IN ANY DISCIPLINE, AND IT PUTS THEM THROUGH SCHOOL TO GET THE CREDENTIALS THAT THEY [NOISE] WOULD NEED TO BE A POLICE OFFICER IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA. WE'D BE LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY THAT HAS AN EXISTING COLLEGE DEGREE. WE WOULD PAY THEM A FULL TIME WAGE, WHICH IS CURRENTLY OUR CSO WAGE. IT'S ABOUT $25 AN HOUR TO GO TO SCHOOL FULL TIME, AND THAT WOULD BE THEIR JOB FROM ABOUT OCTOBER THROUGH MARCH. AT THE END OF THAT, WE WOULD HIRE THEM ON AS A POLICE OFFICER WITH OUR DEPARTMENT. THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO REDUCE A LOT OF THOSE BARRIERS AND NON TRADITIONAL AND DIVERSE CANDIDATES EXPERIENCE TRYING TO GET INTO POLICE WORK, AND A GREAT WAY FOR US TO CONTINUE THE RECRUITMENT EFFORTS THAT WE'VE DONE. THE TOTAL OF THE TWO GRANTS REPRESENT JUST UNDER $100,000, AND WE ARE ALL APPROVED AND READY TO START HIRING AND RECRUITING FOR THOSE. I ALSO BRING IT HERE SO THAT I CAN ENCOURAGE YOU IF YOU GUYS KNOW ANYBODY THAT HAS A DEGREE, MAYBE THEY'RE INTERESTED IN GETTING INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT, THEY'D LIKE TO EXPLORE THIS. WE'RE GOING TO BE POSTING FOR SHORTLY AND WE WOULD ENCOURAGE ANYBODY THAT YOU KNOW THAT'S INTERESTED TO CONTACT ME AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. >> WONDERFUL. THANK YOU AND THANKS FOR ADDING YOUR TITLE OF GRANT WRITER [LAUGHTER] BEHIND THAT CAPTAIN, BECAUSE WE KNOW YOU'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF WORK ESPECIALLY THE LAST FEW YEARS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL? COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS. >> I'M JUST VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THIS AND I REALIZE THAT WE'VE HAD TO REALLY CLIMB OUTSIDE THE BOX TO GET CREATIVE, AND WE'RE NOT THE ONLY DEPARTMENT THAT NEEDS TO DO THAT, NOT THE ONLY CITY THAT NEEDS TO DO THAT. BUT I'M REALLY THANKFUL THAT YOU GUYS HAVE TAKEN THIS ON AND IT'S BEEN VERY LUCRATIVE AND PRODUCTIVE FOR US. THANK YOU. >> COUNCIL BUESGENS. >> THIS IS EXCITING NEWS. I KNOW IT'S VERY TOUGH FINDING POLICE OFFICERS. JUST MADE ME THINK OF I WAS READING A BOOK THAT OUR CHIEF POLICE HAD RECOMMENDED A WHILE BACK ABOUT THE HISTORY OF POLICING. A LOT OF TIMES AFTERWARD, THE CITIES GOT THEIR POLICE AFTER WORLD WAR I FROM MEN COMING HOME, AND STARTED WORKING AS POLICE OFFICERS. THE SAME THING WITH WORLD WAR II, AND I BELIEVE THE VIETNAM WAR AND WE DON'T HAVE THAT INFLUX OF FOLKS. IT'S A TOTALLY DIFFERENT BALL GAME THESE DAYS TO FIND PEOPLE AND ESPECIALLY WITH THE SHORTAGES WE'RE EXPERIENCED. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK. VERY EXCITING. >> WELCOME. THANK YOU. >> I'M A MEMBER OF THE REGIONAL COUNCIL OF MAYORS, AND TODAY WE ACTUALLY HAD A PUBLIC SAFETY MEETING FOR OUR GROUP AND WE HEARD FROM, SORRY, I HAVE A LIST HERE. ANDREW LUGER, WHO'S THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY, THE BCA SUPERINTENDENT DREW EVANS, PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSIONER, BOB JACOBSON AND RAMSEY COUNTY ATTORNEY JOHN CHOI AND HENNEPIN COUNTY COMMISSIONER JEFF LUNDE. IT IS SO NICE TO BE ABLE TO SAY HOW WELL OUR DEPARTMENT'S DOING BECAUSE SO MANY OTHER CITIES ARE DEALING WITH SIGNIFICANT LOW NUMBERS. THE WORK AND RECRUITMENT THAT YOU'VE ALL BEEN DOING IS JUST MAKES OUR DEPARTMENT SO STRONG AND OUR COMMUNITY STRONGER. THIS IS JUST ONE MORE THING AS COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS SAID OUT OF THE BOX THINKING TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MEETING OUR COMMUNITY WHERE WE'RE AT. THANK YOU AGAIN. >> THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. >> ALL RIGHT THEN, COULD WE HAVE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING? >> MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING OF RESOLUTION 2024-028. THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES TO WAIVE THE READING. ANY DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS? SEEING AND HEARING HAS NONE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE? >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. NEXT I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT. >> MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2024-028, ACCEPTING THE MINNESOTA OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAM GRANTS FOR POLICE HIRING IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $98,288 AND AUTHORIZED AND DIRECT THE EXECUTION OF THE GRANT AGREEMENTS.
>> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION. ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? SEEING AND HEARING IS NONE, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE? >> [OVERLAPPING] AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU. WE ACCEPT A GRANT. [LAUGHTER] WE DO NOT HAVE ANY BID CONSIDERATIONS OR OTHER BUSINESS FOR OUR NEW BUSINESS REPORTS, WHICH TAKES US TO OUR CITY COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS. IS THERE A COUNCIL MEMBER WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO FIRST? COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS, PLEASE. >> THANK YOU. A COUPLE OF THINGS. I ATTENDED OUR WORK SESSION, EDA, SPECIAL IMPROVEMENT HEARINGS, AND THEN RECENT DISCUSSION REGARDING THE CITY MANAGER SEARCH FINALISTS. A LOT OF GREAT CANDIDATES AND EXCITED TO BE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE ONES WE ARE. THEN I KNOW ONE THING WE HAD TALKED ABOUT DOING IS JUST PROVIDING UPDATES FOR THE BOARD AND COMMISSIONS. WE'RE LIAISONS TOO, SO JUST A QUICK UPDATE TO THE LIBRARY BOARD, WHICH MEETING I WENT TO LAST WEEK. A COUPLE INTERESTING THINGS WERE THAT THE RECENT DATA SHOWING THAT THE VISITS THIS YEAR TO THE LIBRARY ARE UP, WHICH IS SUPER EXCITING TO SEE MORE PEOPLE GET INVOLVED, GETTING IN, THEY'RE READING BOOKS, USING THE COMPUTERS, AND USING THE PROGRAMS THERE. THEN THE LIBRARY BOARD ALSO JUST APPROVED THE LIBRARY TO BE OPEN A COUPLE MORE HOURS EACH WEEK. THEY'RE MOVING FROM 47-50 HOURS, WHICH IS REALLY EXCITING BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF STAFFING ISSUES THAT ARE NOW RESOLVED. THEY'VE MADE A COUPLE OF RECENT HIRES LATELY, WHICH ARE SUPER EXCITING. THERE'S GOING TO BE A COUPLE MORE HOURS ON SATURDAYS UP UNTIL 5:00 PM AND THEN I THINK AN ADDITIONAL HOUR ON FRIDAYS THEN AS WELL, SO JUST MAKING IT MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR MORE PEOPLE TO GET IN. >> THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER SPRIGGS. COUNCIL MEMBER JACOBS. >> I ATTENDED THE INFORMATION MEETING ON THE PROPOSED ALLEY WORK AND I MET WITH TWO DIFFERENT RESIDENTS TO DISCUSS SOME OF THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT THINGS HAPPENING IN THE CITY. STOPPED INTO THE NEW COFFEE SHOP ON CENTRAL, AND I ATTENDED THREE DIFFERENT SYMPOSIUMS COVERING THC IN THE COMMUNITY, GOVERNMENT INTEGRITY AND THE HIDDEN AGENDA AND THE BACKSIDE OF HIGH DENSITY, AND I FACILITATED FIVE RESIDENT REACH OUTS. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. LIKE MANY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, I ATTENDED OUR EDA AND OUR WORK SESSION. WE WERE EXCITED TO AWARD A SIGN GRANT FACADE IMPROVEMENT FOR ONE OF THE NEW BUSINESSES ON CENTRAL SO YOU CAN LOOK FOR THAT FOR THE NEW PALESTINIAN TREATS MARKET CALLED GOLDEN NUTS. THEN WE HAD OUR WORK SESSION WHERE WE GOT TO HEAR FROM THE MINT DOT, AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE'LL GET A COMMUNITY UPDATE SOON BECAUSE, THERE'S EXCITING THINGS HAPPENING ON CENTRAL HUB AND WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT ALONG WITH ALL OF OUR OTHER REGULAR WORK AND ALSO THE ALLEY IMPROVEMENT AND SPECIAL WORK SESSION. OTHERWISE, I'VE BEEN WORKING ON A UPCOMING EVENT. THERE'S GOING TO BE A VOLUNTEER EVENT FOR THE CITY TO DO A CENTRAL AVENUE CLEAN UP ON THE EARTH DAY WEEKEND. IT'LL BE THAT SATURDAY, WHICH I THINK IS THE 21ST. LET'S SEE, NO IS THE 20TH. THE 20TH, AND I INVITE [NOISE] FOLKS TO EITHER CLEAN UP THEIR OWN BLOCKS AND THE STORM DRAINS ON THEIR BLOCK, OR TO JOIN US FOR THE CITY WIDE EFFORT, AND WE'LL MEET AT THE LIBRARY AT 9:00 AM TO CLEAN UP CENTRAL AVENUE AS FAR AS WE CAN GO. IF WE CAN GET FROM 37-53RD, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. I THINK THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER BUESGENS >> DO IT AGAIN, DANG IT. IT'S A LEARNED HABIT. FIRST, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO ARE IN 22 GOLD KEY, SILVER KEY, AND HONORABLE MENTION AWARDS AT MINNESOTA ELASTIC ARTS AWARDS. I APOLOGIZE IF I MISPRONOUNCED YOUR NAME, BUT I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH THE NAMES TO GIVE HIM SPECIAL ATTENTION. JUNIOR AMIR ART DAUD, JUNIOR FRIDAY LEE, SOPHOMORE KATE KATIS HILL, AND JUNIOR SANAM MARATI, ALL WON THE GOLD KEY AWARDS. THEN A CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL. SIX OF OUR STUDENTS WILL BE COMPETING AT THE STATE COMPETITION FOR MINNESOTA HISTORY DAY. THE TOPICS THAT THEY'RE PICKING ARE QUITE INTERESTING. I'M JUST GOING TO QUICKLY GO THROUGH. ONE, KAREN CARUTHERS IS DOING GREEN REVOLUTION TURNING POINTS IN AGRICULTURE. TASHI DUNUP AND NORBA LLAMA, THE ANNEXATION OF TIBET, A TURNING POINT FOR THE TIBETAN PEOPLE. RIVER KIEFER AND XAVIER VITAL SCHWARTZ IS DOING WHEN ROME FALLS, SO WILL THE WORLD. CHRISTIAN PENAVALAZ AND MUHAMMAD JAMA, THE INDIAN SALT MARCH, HOW THIS MARCH CHANGED THE WAY WE LIVE TODAY. OLIVE HARRIS, STEPHANIE ESPINOZA AND JESSICA NASIPUCHA KUMBE, THEIR TOPIC IS RADIUM GIRLS, A TURNING POINT FOR WORKERS RIGHTS.
HOLLY HERMEL AND JACKSON MCGOWAN, THEIR TOPIC IS THE ERADICATION OF THE 18TH CENTURY'S DEADLIEST DISEASE, SMALLPOX. I THINK THIS IS REALLY COOL FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL. THESE ARE REALLY INTERESTING TOPICS FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS, SO CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT. I ALSO ATTENDED THE ALLEY INFORMATIONAL HEARING FOR RESIDENTS. THERE'S FIVE ALLEYS THAT ARE GOING TO GET REPLACED THIS YEAR, SO EXCITING. THANKS FOR THE STAFF AND EVERYONE THAT'S BEEN WORKING ON THIS. I ALSO ATTENDED THE PLANNING COMMISSION. WE HAVE TWO NEW MEMBERS. WELCOME TO PAUL MOSES AND AHMED MAMIRI. SORRY IF I MISPRONOUNCE THAT. I ALSO ATTENDED THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT HEARING FOR THE FIVE NEW ALLEYS FOR THE COUNCIL TO APPROVE THE GRANT APPROVAL AND MOVE AHEAD WITH GETTING BIDS. ALSO ATTENDED COUNCIL MEETING TO REVIEW CITY ADMINISTRATION CANDIDATES AND ALSO ORDERING IMPROVEMENTS TO REPARATIONS PLANS FOR THE 2024 CONCRETE ALLEY CONSTRUCTION. I ATTENDED THE WORK SESSION THAT MINDA IS DEDICATING. CAN I SAY THIS, KEVIN? I'M SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THIS AND I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY OUT THERE THAT SIGNED THE PETITION TO ASK MINDA TO PLEASE PUT OUR RESIDENTS FIRST AND COMMUTERS SECOND AND THEY ARE HEARING US. PLEASE ATTEND THE HEARINGS THAT'LL BE COMING UP THIS SUMMER IN FALL, TO GET YOUR INPUT, BUT MINDA IS DEDICATING $25 MILLION FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF CENTRAL AVENUE. THEIR TARGET DATE FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION IS 2028. AT THIS TIME, THERE'S LOTS AND LOTS OF WORK THAT HAS TO BE DONE BETWEEN NOW AND THEN BUT THANKS EVERYBODY. I'M SUPER EXCITED. THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THIS ONE IS TO UPGRADE THE ROAD, BUT TWO IS SAFETY. SAFETY FOR EVERYBODY THAT USES THIS ROAD IN THIS CORRIDOR. SO THANK YOU AGAIN. IT'S SUPER EXCITING YOU GUYS. THAT'S MONEY THAT'S THERE, THAT'S DEDICATED, THAT'S GOING TO STAY THERE. AND THE PROJECT I THINK WAS 25 TO 30 MILLION, SO IT'S JUST SUPER EXCITING. HOPEFULLY COSTS DON'T GO UP TOO MUCH IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, BUT I'M SUPER EXCITED ABOUT IT. THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY THAT WORKED ON THIS. THAT'S IT >> THANK YOU, COUNCILOR BUESGENS. COUNCILOR JACOBS. >> I FORGOT AGAIN. COLANIS IS SELLING MILITARY BANNERS TO BE HUNG ON CENTRAL AVENUE. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, IF YOU HAVE SOMEBODY, A FRIEND OR A FAMILY MEMBER THAT SERVED IN THE MILITARY, EITHER CURRENTLY OR ALL THE WAY BACK TO GREAT, GREAT, GREAT, GREAT GRANDPA, GRANDMA, PLEASE GET AHOLD OF ME. YOU CAN GET AHOLD OF ME THROUGH THE CITY AND I CAN DIRECT YOU TO THE SITE AND GET YOU HOOKED UP. BANNERS I THINK ARE $150 OR $160. YOU OWN THE BANNER AND YOU WILL MAINTAIN IT WHEN IT'S TAKEN DOWN AFTER THE SEASON. THANK YOU. >> YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT. MY HUSBAND AND I ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO HONOR HIS FATHER WITH A VETERANS BANNER. I'M EXCITED TO HAVE THAT. SOME OF MY MEETING SNAPSHOTS IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS ATTENDED THE SISTER CITY MEETING, WHICH IS OUR SISTER CITY WITH WOLMIAKE, POLAND. THERE'S COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE UPCOMING INSTALLATION OF THE SCULPTURE AT HOUSTON PARK. THAT'LL BE IN THE FALL AND WE'LL HAVE MORE INFORMATION AS THAT COMES. I ATTENDED A VIRTUAL MINNESOTA CAPITOL MALL VISIONING MEETING. I HAD PARTICIPATED IN THAT PROCESS TO ENVISION IN OUR CAPITOL IN ST. PAUL A MORE WELCOMING, ACCESSIBLE GROUNDS. THIS WAS A VIRTUAL MEETING WHERE WE'RE GETTING AN UPDATE ON HOW THOSE THINGS ARE GOING ALONG. IT WAS A JOY. I WAS ABLE TO VOLUNTEER AND TEACH A PAINTING CLASS AT OUR SENIOR CENTER, AND THIS WAS SPOTLIGHTED IN THE GREEN SHEET. SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE SEEN, WE CREATED THESE LITTLE TERRA COTTA TREASURES OF A MINI VACATION. IT WAS A LOT OF FUN TO DO THAT WITH OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. I HELPED HOST AND BRING TOGETHER ALONG WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, A BE SMART EVENT AT THE LIBRARY AND THAT IS ABOUT SAFE GUN STORAGE. I JUST COMMEND THE ATTENDANCE OF OUR POLICE CHIEF, POLICE CAPTAINS. OUR SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT, STENVICK, ATTENDED, AS WELL AS SOME BOARD MEMBERS AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. BUT THIS JUST REALLY DEMONSTRATES OUR COMMITMENT TO SAFETY. IF YOU HAVE A NEW GUN AND YOU APPLY FOR A GUN PERMIT, YOU CAN RECEIVE A FREE GUN LOCK AT OUR POLICE STATION. BUT EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT APPLYING FOR A NEW PERMIT AND YOU ALREADY HAVE A GUN AT HOME OR YOU KNOW SOMEONE THAT DOES, PLEASE STOP INTO THE POLICE STATION, WE HAVE FREE GUN LOCKS. WE JUST WANT ALL GUNS TO BE STORED SAFELY SO THAT A CHILD DOESN'T GET THOSE GUNS OR ANYONE ELSE WHO SHOULDN'T HAVE THEM. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LEARNED AT THE BE SMART TRAINING IS THAT, I GREW UP OUT IN THE COUNTRY AND MOST KIDS GO THROUGH A WEEK OF GUN SAFETY TRAINING, BUT GUN SAFETY TRAINING DOES NOT IMPACT SUICIDES OR GUN VIOLENCE.
PEOPLE WHO KNOW HOW TO USE A GUN SAFELY DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY WON'T USE IT WRONG. IF YOU ARE IN A PLACE THAT'S A VERY DEEP DEPRESSION, IT'S NOT GOING TO HELP YOU TO KNOW THE RIGHT WAY TO USE IT TO MAKE IT STOP. YOU'RE STILL HAVING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, AND SO THOSE GUN LOCKS ARE SO IMPORTANT, OR A GUN SAFE. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY GUN SAFETY, PLEASE COME TO THE POLICE STATION AND THEY WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO TALK WITH YOU. BUT I'M SO GLAD THAT WE COLLABORATED WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THEY ADVERTISE THIS AS WELL. THE BE SMART GROUP IS A GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS AND THEY WILL BE ATTENDING OUR ART AND INFO FAIR THIS SUMMER, AS WELL AS OTHER SCHOOL EVENTS. I ATTENDED THE SILVERWOOD THREE RIVERS PARK BOARD MEETING THAT WAS IN GOLDEN VALLEY, AND I WAS ADVOCATING FOR STRENGTHENING OUR PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AND ST. ANTHONY WITH THE THREE RIVERS PARK DISTRICT. MAYOR WENDY WEBSTER OF ST. ANTHONY AND I CO-WROTE A LETTER TO THE BOARD, AND WE PRESENTED THAT LETTER AND IT WAS STANDING ROOM ONLY. IT WAS PACKED. THERE MUST HAVE BEEN 200 PEOPLE AT THAT MEETING. JUST REALLY WANT TO THANK THE COMMUNITY FOR STICKING UP FOR ALL THE PROGRAMMING AT SILVERWOOD. WE ALL LOVE IT SO MUCH. ALSO, SO THANKFUL TO OUR CITY FOR OUR FINANCIAL INVESTMENTS IN THE BOAT LANDING, AND OUR BEACH, AND MAKING SURE THAT WE JUST HAVE A SAFE LAKE AND PARK THERE. WE DO REALLY WANT TO BECOME PARTNERS WITH THE THREE RIVERS PARK DISTRICT. I HAD A WINTER PARKING MEETING WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT DISCUSSING OUR WINTER PARKING REGULATIONS. OF COURSE, WE HAD A WEIRD WINTER WITH NOT MUCH SNOW, BUT IT WAS VERY GOOD TO GO THROUGH THAT DATA, WHICH WE THEN BROUGHT TO THE COUNCIL WORK SESSION. I ATTENDED A PRIVATE BREAKFAST BRIEFING WITH THE CONSUL GENERAL OF CHINA, J IN JIAO. THIS WAS THROUGH GLOBAL MINNESOTA. THEY WERE DISCUSSING EXPORTS FROM MINNESOTA TO CHINA AND THOSE SIGNIFICANT ROLES IN OUR COMMUNITIES THAT MAKE THE TECHNOLOGY AND CHEMICALS THAT ARE OUR MAIN EXPORTS TO CHINA. ATTENDED A BOARD MEETING FOR ART TO CHANGE THE WORLD. WE'RE DISCUSSING OUR UPCOMING ART SHOW, WHICH IS ON TUESDAY, APRIL 16TH, HERE AT CITY HALL FROM 4:00 TO 8:00 P.M. IT WILL BE HERE IN THE HALLWAY AT CITY HALL AND THEN ALSO WILL BE IN THE COMMUNITY CENTRAL PLACE ROOM. WE WILL HAVE APPETIZERS FOR EVERYONE AND OUR TOP VALUE MUNICIPAL LIQUOR STORE WILL BE SAMPLING ZERO PROOF WINE AND BEER. SO WE'RE EXCITED FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE THOSE TREATS WHILE THEY LEARN ABOUT OUR ART PROJECT, WHICH IS ART THAT WAS TRASH FROM THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER THAT WE PULLED OUT AND MADE AN ART SCULPTURE, SO IT'S A SOCIAL JUSTICE ART PIECE. IT WILL BE IN THE CITY HALL FOR THREE WEEKS, AND THEN MOVING TO THE LIBRARY FOR THREE WEEKS. ATTENDED OUR EDA MEETING WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT FACADE IMPROVEMENT GRANTS. OUR CITY WORK SESSION HAD A FEW ITEMS. CENTRAL AVENUE, WHICH IS SO EXCITING, ABOUT $25 MILLION. AT MINDA SAID THAT IF THE PLAN IS THAT IT'S GOING TO BE MORE THAN 25 MILLION, THERE STILL WILL BE OPPORTUNITY TO WRITE FOR GRANTS, SO THIS REALLY WILL BE A FUNDED PROJECT. IN THE MEANWHILE, THEY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THEIR CAMERAS TO SEE HOW PEOPLE ARE DRIVING ON THE ROADS AND THEY WILL BE DOING MORE COMMUNITY OUTREACH THROUGH THE REST OF THE YEAR BEFORE THEY DECIDE ON A FINAL PLAN. WE ALSO DISCUSSED TREE PRESERVATION STANDARDS FOR NEW BUILDING DEVELOPMENTS AND OUR PUBLIC SAFETY FUNDING, AND ALSO CHICKEN RAISING POLICIES. LET'S SEE. I'VE MET WITH MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND BUSINESSES IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS. THE ALLEY ASSESSMENT HEARING WENT OVER WELL, WE HAD MANY PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY HERE. BUT I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT FIXING OUR ALLEYS IS DEFINITELY OUR COMMITMENT TO SAFETY, AND WE DO THOSE MEETINGS SO THAT WE CAN BE ACCOUNTABLE. I DO WANT TO SAY THAT I REALIZE, AND IN THE COUNCIL AS WELL, THAT WE UNDERSTAND HOW EXPENSIVE THOSE ASSESSMENTS CAN BE FOR INDIVIDUALS, BUT WE DO REALLY LOOK AT THE GREATER WHOLE FOR THE CITY AND WE NEED THOSE ALLEYS TO BE SAFE. ATTENDED OUR CITY MANAGERS SEARCH MEETING LAST WEEK, AND AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THE RCM, REGIONAL COUNCIL MAYOR MEETING EARLIER TODAY. I DON'T HAVE ANY LIAISON REPORTS THOUGH, AS I WAS ILL FOR ONE OF MY MEETINGS AND THEN ON VACATION DURING SPRING BREAK FOR MY OTHER COMMITTEE. THANK YOU. INTERIM CITY MANAGER, KEVIN HANSEN, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. JUST A COUPLE OF FOLLOW UP ITEMS AS THE COUNCIL HAD JUST DISCUSSED. IT'S PRETTY EXCITING FOR REALLY A TRANSFORMATION ON CENTRAL AVENUE. AT THE APRIL 22 MEETING, WE'LL HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAILED INFORMATION, SO THAT BECOMES A MATTER OF THE RECORD MINUTES, AND IF PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS, THEY CERTAINLY WOULD KNOW WHO TO CONTACT, THEY'RE RELATED TO THAT. BUT IT'S A TREMENDOUS INVESTMENT BOTH IN THE COMMUNITY AND TO REALLY MAKE CENTRAL AVENUE A SAFER PLACE, NOT ONLY FOR THE ROADWAY, BUT REALLY FOR PEOPLE TO BE ON, WALK ON, AND BIKE ON. WE ARE IN PROCESS RIGHT NOW OF DOING OUR STREET SWEEPING. WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THE ENTIRE EAST SIDE OF TOWN, AND WE'RE MOVING OVER TO THE WEST SIDE, AND THE DIFFERENTIATION IS CENTRAL AVENUE. EVERYTHING HAS BEEN SWEPT ONCE TO THE EAST SIDE OF CENTRAL. WE SHOULD BE DONE WITHIN ABOUT A WEEK TO A WEEK-AND-A-HALF FOR THE FIRST ROUND. IN THE SPRING AND FALL, WE'D LIKE TO DO TWO ROUNDS OF SWEEPING. THAT REALLY IS DEPENDENT ON OUR EQUIPMENT, MANPOWER, AND REALLY WHAT THE WEATHER IS DOING. BUT WE LIKE TO GET OUT AT LEAST FOUR TIMES DURING THE COURSE OF A YEAR TO GET THE ENTIRE CITY SWEPT FOR CITY STREETS. ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO A BETTER JOB AT IS JUST NOTIFYING IN ADVANCE WHEN WE'RE GOING TO BE THERE. IN MORE HEAVILY PARKED AREAS WHERE WE KNOW WE HAVE PARKING ON STREET AND THAT IT GETS UTILIZED, WE DO TRY TO GET OUT AND GIVE ADVANCE NOTICE FOR THAT A COUPLE DAYS SO THAT FOLKS KNOW THAT SWEEPER IS GOING TO BE BY ON THEIR STREET ON THAT PARTICULAR DAY AND THEN WE MOVE THOSE AROUND. THE UNFORTUNATE THING, IT'S JUST REALLY LABOR INTENSIVE TO DO THAT. WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT THOUGH FOR THE FIRST ROUND HERE TO GET THE ENTIRE CITY DONE AND THEN WE'LL MOVE IMMEDIATELY ONTO THE SECOND ROUND. ANOTHER POINT JUST OF INTEREST, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY BRING ATTENTION TO CITY HALL REALLY TO THIS DEVELOPMENT IS OUR STAFF WILL BE HOSTING THE AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION ON MONDAY AND THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOING A TOUR NOT ONLY OF THE CITY HALL FACILITY, BUT ALSO OF THE RATIO APARTMENTS HERE. THAT IS NATIONWIDE, SO WE'LL HAVE FOLKS FROM ALL ACROSS THE US HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND SEE OUR FACILITY AND THEN THE RATIO APARTMENTS HERE. THAT'S BEING HOSTED BY OUR CITY PLANNER AND BY OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR. THAT'S THIS COMING MONDAY THAT WE'LL HAVE FOLKS HERE FROM OUT OF TOWN, [NOISE] 1:30-3:30 FOR THAT. SOME OTHER POINTS. THESE ARE JUST GOOD. OUR ARBITRARY SALE. IN THE PAST, WE WEREN'T SURE IF WE'D BE ABLE TO SELL THAT OUT. IT'S BEEN JUST ABOUT A MONTH AND WE'RE COMPLETELY SOLD OUT. I THINK A NEW FACILITY WILL ENABLE US TO EXPAND THAT BECAUSE THERE CERTAINLY SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF INTEREST IN GETTING TREES IN THE COMMUNITY AND GETTING TREES REPLANTED. OUR CITY SERVICE EXPO IS THIS THURSDAY AND THAT GOES FROM 5:00-7:00. I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS, THE PRIMARY FOCUS OF THAT IS REALLY WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY, WHAT'S GOING ON WITH PROJECTS, WHAT CAN WE EXPECT. CENTRAL AVENUE CERTAINLY PART OF THAT, BUT ALSO GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY, IF FOLKS ARE INTERESTED TO HEAR ABOUT EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. YOU JUST HEARD TONIGHT, THAT'S ANOTHER WAY WE CAN REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY, FOR POLICING, BUT ALSO PUBLIC WORKS LOOKING AT SEASONAL EMPLOYEES, OUR RECREATION DEPARTMENT LOOKING AT SEASONAL EMPLOYEES FOR THIS SUMMER. FROM SNOW BLAST, WHICH WAS THIS PAST JANUARY, WE HAD ASKED RESIDENTS TO GO THROUGH A NAMING CONTEST FOR ONE OF OUR MINI TRUCKS. THAT HAS BEEN CONCLUDED. MATTHEW JOHNSTON WAS THE WINNING NAMER, I GUESS YOU WOULD SAY. THAT COMES THROUGH WITH MINI-TOWTA. SO THAT'S MINI- TOWTA. HE'LL GET A RIDE IN THE TRUCK AND THEN WE'LL DO SOME ADVERTISING ON THAT PARTICULAR VEHICLE FOR THE NAME. MUSIC IN THE PARK CONTINUES FOR 2024. WE HAVE FIVE EVENTS, JULY 10, 24TH, AND THEN THREE IN AUGUST 14TH AND THE 28TH. THE ONE ON THE 14TH HAS A MORNING SESSION MORE ORIENTED FOR KIDS, FOR CHILDREN. THE BANDS THAT WE HAVE COMING THIS YEAR, ON JULY 10TH, IT'S CALLED TJARNBLOM, I THINK THEY'RE SCANDINAVIAN BAND. ON 24 JULY, WE HAVE KATHY G AND THE HOT LEMONS. AUGUST 14TH IN THE MORNING WE HAVE THE JOLLY POPS, AND THAT USUALLY GETS A PRETTY GOOD RECEPTION IN THE COMMUNITY. ON THE EVENING WE HAVE ST. ANTHONY PARK COMMUNITY BAND, AND THEN ON THE 28TH WE HAVE IPSO FACTO, AND I THINK IT'S BEEN QUESTIONED, IT'S THE REAL IPSO FACTO IS COMING IN FOR THAT. THOSE ARE HELD OVER AT HUSET PARK ON THE EAST SIDE, REALLY RIGHT BEHIND, EXCUSE ME, THE JEFFERSON BUILDING THERE. WE ALSO HAVE COMING UP FROM ANOKA COUNTY, WE HAVE AN OPEN HOUSE FOR THEIR ANOKA COUNTY DISPATCH AND THAT IS REALLY CELEBRATING THEIR WORK, THE PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATIONS WEEK, WHICH IS NEXT WEEK. THEY'RE DOING THEIR OPEN HOUSE ON APRIL 16TH, THIS IS IN MILITARY TIME OR POLICE TIME, SO IT'S 11:00 -1:00. I HAVE TO TRANSLATE THAT. EVERYBODY'S INVITED UP TO THE DISPATCH CENTER IN THAT TIME PERIOD.
IF YOU CAN'T COME TO THE OPEN HOUSE, THEY JUST INDICATE ON HERE, STOP BY ANY TIME TO TALK TO THOSE FOLKS ON THE TOUGH JOB THAT THEY HAVE TO DO. THAT'S THE LAST THAT I HAVE, MAYOR. >> GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT UPDATE. SORRY. I WAS USING THE SCREEN, BUT NOW IT'S MOVED. [LAUGHTER]. >> [INAUDIBLE] >> OKAY. >> [INAUDIBLE] >> I FOUND IT. WE'RE AT OUR COMMUNITY FORUM THEN. THERE'S NO ONE VIRTUALLY THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK. IS ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK WHO'S HERE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS? THEN MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER JACOBS AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER SPRIGGS. ANY QUESTION OR DISCUSSION? SEEING AND HEARING AS NONE, ALL IN FAVOR SAY, AYE. >> [OVERLAPPING] AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED. THANK YOU. >> I WASN'T GOING TO SAY THE EXACT MONTH BECAUSE YOU SAID [INAUDIBLE] >> I KNOW. THAT'S WHY I LOOKED AT KEVIN AND SAID, CAN I? [BACKGROUND]