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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/25/2013 Regular OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL MEETING MONDAY,MARCH 25,2013 THE FOLLOWING ARE THE MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL HELD AT 7:00 P.M. ON MONDAY,MARCH 25,2013 IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS,CITY HALL,590 40TH AVENUE N.E., COLUMBIA HEIGHTS,MINNESOTA. 1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL/INVOCATION Mayor Peterson called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM Members Present: Mayor Peterson, Councilmember Schmitt, Councilmember Williams and Councilmembers Nawrocki Members Absent: Councilmember Diehm Rev. Bob Lynes of Crest View gave the invocation. Rev. Lynes extended an invitation to all to attend the Good Friday mass at St. Timothy's Lutheran Church located at 53rd and Central from 12:00 PM—3:00 PM. The mass will feature the seven last words of Christ. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Recited 3. ADDITIONS/DELETIONS TO MEETING AGENDA None 4. PROCLAMATIONS,PRESENTATIONS,RECOGNITION,ANNOUNCEMENTS, GUESTS Mayor Peterson informed the council and members of the audience that the Senior Center is offering an AARP 8-hour Defensive Driving Course on Saturday April 27th from 9:00 AM—5:00 PM. 5. CONSENT AGENDA City Manager Fehst took the council through the items on the Consent Agenda A. Approve the minutes of the March 11, 2013 City Council Meeting MOTION: Move to approve the minutes of the March 11, 2013 City Council Meeting. B. Approve the minutes of the March 4, 2013 Public Improvement Hearing MOTION: Move to approve the minutes of the March 4, 2013 Public Improvement Hearing with the attached amendment of list of attendees. C. Approval of attached list of Rental Housing Applications. MOTION: Move to approve the items listed for rental housing license applications for March 25, 2013 in that they have met the requirements of the Property Maintenance Code. D. Approve Business License Applications MOTION: Move to approve the items as listed on the business license agenda for March 25, 2013 as presented. City Council Minutes Monday,March 25,2013 Page 2 of 3 E. Review Payment of Bills MOTION: Move that in accordance with Minnesota Statute 412.271, subd. 8 the City Council has received the list of claims paid covering check number 147195 through 147357 in the amount of$702,198.46. Motion by Nawrocki, seconded by Williams, approve the Consent Agenda items as presented. Upon Vote: All ayes. Motion Carried, 6. PUBLIC HEARINGS None 7. ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION A. Other Ordinances and Resolutions -None B. Bid Considerations-None C. New Business and Reports— Council Member Nawrocki stated the property tax statements were recently mailed to residents from the County. There have been some changes in the way they calculate the taxes and with this, a significant increase to our residents in the northeast quadrant. Anoka County webpage has a tax calculator and of the twenty one given communities, four communities have a higher tax rate than the City of Columbia Heights, one has about the same and the sixteen remaining communities have a lower tax rate than Columbia Heights. We should be making every effort to keep our taxes lower. Nawrocki also indicated in the Annual Report that was distributed, it talks about cable and the number of cable subscribers in 2012 as being 3,921,but he would like to know many have we had in the past four years. He has received complaints about the provider and would like to know if the number of subscribers as decreased. He also stated a resident contacted him that lives in the LaBelle Buildings and indicated they can only subscribe to Comcast and could not use any other provider. City Attorney Hoeft indicated this may be restricted by their homeowner's association. Nawrocki asked Fehst if he could check into this matter. The third item Nawrocki brought forward was again in the Annual Report that he received, it indicates that the City owned liquor stores have had an increase in sales,but does not indicate what has happened to the profitability and asked for this information be provided for him. 8. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS Report of the City Manager Fehst indicated there will be an EDA meeting at 6:30 PM on Monday night and a Work session at 7:00 PM. Items included on the work session agenda will be the Capital Equipment Replacement of Unit 110, which is a combination sewer cleaning machine and the Commercial Meter Replacement Program. Both these items are being reported by Public Works Director Kevin Hansen. Fehst mentioned at the upcoming April 8t'Council Meeting,the Library Task Force would like to present their recommendations for three to four different sites they have looked at for a new library. Fehst announced they made an offer today to Renee Dougherty for the position of Library Director. They feel that she has the knowledge,honesty and integrity to perform the job. There were five finalists and four went through the interview process. After the interviews were completed,they felt City Council Minutes Monday,March 25,2013 Page 3 of 3 only one candidate would be recommend for the job and that was Dougherty. She has been great in recommending changes in the Library and will continue to do a fantastic job. Report of the City Attorney-None at this time 9. CITIZENS FORUM Mayor Peterson asked if there was anyone in the audience that would like to approach the council. 10.ADJOURNMENT Peterson announced Sgt. Rogers retired from the Columbia Heights Police Department last Friday. Sgt. Rogers excelled in writing grants for the City,both for police equipment and grants for different programs. Fehst stated Sgt. Rogers wasn't appreciated to the extent that he could have been under the previous administration and since the new chief took over, he has blossomed and excelled in his job. He is very camera shy and does not want any pats on the back for doing his job. Peterson thanked him for all his hard work and wished him well in his retirement. Don't forget your service men and women, especially with it being Easter time. Peterson stated he was reading an article that sometime in the 1990's, Ed Carbo started a project to get a Veterans monument down by the river. Carbo has since passed away and they are now going to be building an LED lit globe in honor of the Veterans and dedicate it to peace. Peterson asked that we remember to do a random act of kindness and wished everyone a Happy Easter! Mayor Peterson adjourned the meeting at 7:32PM jv,� Im�ahk Tori Leo d , City Clerk/Council Secretary