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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-04-2016 WS Mayor Gary L. Peterson Councilmembers Robert A. Williams Bruce Nawrocki Donna Schmitt John Murzyn, Jr. City Manager Walter R. Fehst City of Columbia Heights 590 40th Avenue NE, Columbia Heights, MN 55421-3878 (763) 706-3600 TDD (763) 706-3692 Visit our website at: www.columbiaheightsmn.gov The City of Columbia Heights does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its services, programs, or activities. Upon request, accommodation will be provided to allow individuals with disabilities to participate in all City of Columbia Heights' services, programs, and activities. Auxiliary aids for disabled persons are available upon request when the request is made at least 96 ho urs in advance. Please call the City Clerk at 763-706-3611 to make arrangements. (TDD/763-706-3692 for deaf or hearing impaired only.) NOTICE OF WORK SESSION Meeting of: Columbia Heights City Council Date of Meeting: January 4, 2016 Time of Meeting: 7:00 PM (Following the EDA Meeting) Location of Meeting: City Hall-Conference Room No. 1 Purpose of Meeting: Worksession 1. New Library Change Orders 2. Discussion regarding partnering with the Mayor’s Activity Fund to sell city-themed merchandise 3. Discussion of the 2016 Federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Application, which will center around a new park and recreation facility on Circle Terrace Boulevard 4. Discuss Recommendations for Appointment to the Columbia Heights Volunteer Firefighters Relief Association Board of Trustees for 2016 5. Discussion regarding increase in Rental License fees 6. Discuss Nomination of Council President for 2016 7. Discuss Various Appointments of Council Liaisons and Staff Assignments to City Boards & Commissions and External Boards 8. Discuss Designation of Legal Newspaper 1 AGENDA SECTION WORK SESSION ITEM NO. MEETING DATE JANUARY 4, 2016 CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS - COUNCIL LETTER City Themed Merchandise Sales ITEM: City Themed Merchandise Sales DEPARTMENT: Community Development CITY MANAGER’S APPROVAL: BY/DATE: Elizabeth Holmbeck, 12/28/15 BY/DATE: BACKGROUND: In the spring of 2014, the City hired a communications consultant to assist in re-branding and updating the City’s logo and various forms of communication tools. A task force made up of City staff, helped to reformat and streamline City documents such as memos, staff reports, and business cards to include the new logo. The City is gradually working on incorporating the new updated logo on City infrastructure such as street signs, public buildings, and City vehicles. These changes are occurring at the time of regularly planned infrastructure updates. In the meantime, another inexpensive way to showcase the City’s new brand is through themed product sales. Many other Cities participate in this type of promotion, where items such as coffee mugs, pens or t-shirts are available for people from the public to purchase. We believe this could be a great way to promote the City and our new brand. One of the most popular items produced for the City during the re-branding process, were 8 posters depicting various locations throughout the City. We are working on incorporating the posters for display at all the City buildings. The Recreation Department is displaying the posters currently, and a number of residents have asked how they can purchase a poster for their own use. In early December, staff met to discuss the logistics of themed merchandise sales. It was suggested that the Mayor’s Activity Fund could help fund the start-up costs to purchase the initial merchandise. Once the fund is established, the Community Development Department would be in charge of ordering products. The hope is to have the merchandise available for purchase at Public Safety, City Hall, Murzyn Hall, and the new City Library. A number of ideas were discussed at the meeting for possible items to sell including the popular posters, t-shirts, coffee mugs, pens, key chains, pins and calendars. Staff believes that City themed merchandise would be a positive way to promote the City, and seeks direction from the City Council on possible funding sources and as to what items the City Council prefers to sell. 2 2 AGENDA SECTION WORK SESSION ITEM NO. MEETING DATE JANUARY 4, 2016 CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS - COUNCIL LETTER ITEM: 2016 Community Development Block Grant Application DEPARTMENT: Community Development CITY MANAGER’S APPROVAL: BY/DATE: Joe Hogeboom, 12/28/15 BY/DATE: BACKGROUND: Each year, Anoka County manages the distribution of federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. Anoka County has established a list of priority projects, which receive first consideration from the County Board. For 2016, staff would like to apply for funding related to the construction of a park building to be located in the east section of LaBelle Park, on Circle Terrace Boulevard. Over the past several years, staff in the Police Department, the Public Works Department and the Community Development Department have been working in tandem to assemble property along Circle Terrace Boulevard to expand the existing play lot and accommodate improvements to the site, which includes constructing a park building. Earlier this year, the City Council approved an amendment to the LaBelle Park Master Plan, which includes the plan for a building. That site plan is attached for your reference. The proposed park building would be used for a number of different activities. The building could be used for recreation programming, school events and tutoring sessions, police outreach, neighborhood events, voting, and other activities. The Police Department’s outreach to the Circle Terrace neighborhood over the past several years has shown that the neighborhood strongly desires a central meeting place. Providing an opportunity to enhance neighborhood outreach will help facilitate the goals and principals of the highly successful Community Oriented Policing (COP) model currently in place in Columbia Heights. Staff would like to request $300,000 in CDBG funding for this project, which is the maximum amount that the County will allocate to any one project. Staff believes that construction of the proposed building, as well as other improvements to the park, will be accommodated within that budget. Staff met with the Anoka County Community Development Department, and was told that this project would be considered a high priority and would likely be considered for funding. The Police Department has been conducting outreach to various stakeholders, including the office of Congressman Keith Ellison, asking for support for the project. A letter of support from Congressman Ellison is attached. The 2016 CDBG application is due on Friday, January 15th. Therefore, staff must bring the application for formal consideration to the City Council at its January 11th meeting. Staff will be present at the Work Session to discuss this proposed project, and address Council’s questions and concerns. Attachments 1.Letter from Congressman Keith Ellison, dated December 23, 2015 (1 page) 2.LaBelle Park Site Plan, dated July, 2015 (1 page) C: Scott Nadeau, Chief of Police 2016 Community Development Block Grant Application 3 3 4 5 AGENDA SECTION WORK SESSION ITEM NO. MEETING DATE JANUARY 4, 2016 CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS - COUNCIL LETTER aPPOINTEMNTS TO fIRE rELIEF bOARDS OF TRUSTEES ITEM: Appointments to Fire Relief Association Board of Trustees DEPARTMENT: Fire CITY MANAGER’S APPROVAL: BY/DATE: BY/DATE: BACKGROUND: State Statute 424a.04 mandates that the City Council annually appoint two trustees to the Columbia Heights Volunteer Firefighters Relief Association board of trustees. Under the Statute one of the trustees must be an elected official and the other can be an elected or appointed official. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: To follow State Statute the Columbia Heights Volunteer Firefighters Relief Association is requesting the City Council appoint Councilmember John Murzyn, Jr. and City Manager Walt Fehst to the board of trustees. RECOMMENDED MOTION(S): Move to appoint Councilmember John Murzyn, Jr. and City Manager Walt Fehst to the Columbia Heights Volunteer Firefighters Relief Association Board of Trustees for 2015. 4 6 Item 5 7 8 9 10 11 12 AGENDA SECTION WORK SESSION ITEM NO. MEETING DATE JANUARY 4, 2016 CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS - COUNCIL LETTER ITEM: Appointment of Council President DEPARTMENT: Administration CITY MANAGER’S APPROVAL: BY/DATE: BY/DATE: BACKGROUND: Section 10 of the City Charter states that a council president shall be chosen who shall serve as president in the mayor’s absence. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Discuss the appointment of a council president for 2016. RECOMMENDED MOTION(S): ATTACHMENTS: None G:\Admin\Council\Worksessions\2016\Appointment of Council President 2016.docx Katie Bruno 6 13 AGENDA SECTION WORK SESSION ITEM NO. MEETING DATE JANUARY 4, 2016 CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS - COUNCIL LETTER ITEM: Appointment of Council Liaisons and Staff Assignments to City Boards & Commissions and External Boards DEPARTMENT: Administration CITY MANAGER’S APPROVAL: BY/DATE: Katie Bruno BY/DATE: BACKGROUND: Annually the Council appoints liaisons to City Boards & Commissions as well as assigning delegates to External Boards. City Boards and Commissions include; Library Board, Park & Recreation Commission, Planning & Zoning Commission, Traffic Commission and Charter Commission. External Boards include; The League of Minnesota Cities, Mississippi Water Management Organization, Rice Creek Watershed Advisory Board, North Star Corridor Development Authority and The Anoka County Joint Law Enforcement Council. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: RECOMMENDED MOTION(S): To discuss and make recommendations for appointments to various boards and commissions for the 2016 calendar year. ATTACHMENTS: Listing of current appointments G:\Admin\Council\Worksessions\2016\Appoinment of Liaisons.docx 7 14 COUNCIL LIAISONS AND STAFF ASSIGNMENTS TO CITY BOARDS & COMMISSIONS AND EXTERNAL BOARDS City Boards and Commissions: Library Board Council Liaison __________________ Park & Recreation Commission Council Liaison __________________ Planning & Zoning Commission Council Liaison __________________ Traffic Commission and Charter Commission Council Liaison __________________ External Boards: The League of Minnesota Cities Delegate ________________________ Alternate ________________________ Mississippi Water Management Organization Delegate ________________________ Alternate ________________________ Rice Creek Watershed Advisory Board Delegate ________________________ Alternate ________________________ North Star Corridor Development Authority Delegate ________________________ Alternate ________________________ The Anoka County Joint Law Enforcement Council Delegate ________________________ Alternate ________________________ 15 2015 COUNCIL LIAISONS AND STAFF ASSIGNMENTS TO CITY BOARDS & COMMISSIONS AND EXTERNAL BOARDS City Boards and Commissions: Library Board Council Liaison Mayor Peterson Park & Recreation Commission Council Liaison Mayor Peterson Planning & Zoning Commission Council Liaison Councilmember Murzyn Traffic Commission Council Liaison Councilmember Schmitt Charter Commission Council Liaison Councilmember Nawrocki (Alternate) Councilmember Williams External Boards: The League of Minnesota Cities Delegate Councilmember Nawrocki Alternate City Manager Fehst Mississippi Water Management Organization Delegate Councilmember Schmitt Alternate Linda Johnson (City of Hilltop) Rice Creek Watershed Advisory Board Delegate Councilmember Williams Alternate Kevin Hansen North Star Corridor Development Authority Delegate Councilmember Nawrocki Alternate Fehst The Anoka County Joint Law Enforcement Council Delegate Mayor Peterson Alternate Scott Nadeau Anoka County Fire Protection Council Delegate Councilmember Murzyn Alternate Gary Gorman Columbia Heights School District Liaison Delegate Councilmember Schmitt 16 AGENDA SECTION WORK SESSION ITEM NO. MEETING DATE JANUARY 4, 2016 CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS - COUNCIL LETTER ITEM: Designation of Legal Newspaper DEPARTMENT: Administration CITY MANAGER’S APPROVAL: BY/DATE: Katie Bruno BY/DATE: BACKGROUND: Annually the City Council designates an official newspaper for publishing of legal notices and other required publications. State Statute 331A addresses the requirements of a legal newspaper, some of the requirements include that the newspaper: •Be published at least twice a month •Be registered with the Secretary of State’s office •Be circulated in the political subdivision which it purports to serve •Have its known office of issue established in either the county in which it lies, or the political subdivision which the newspaper purports to serve •File a copy of each issue immediately with the State Historical Society •Submit to the secretary of state by December 31 a filing containing the newspaper’s name, address of its known office of issue, telephone number, and a statement that it has complied with all of the requirements of this section and paid the fee. RECOMMENDED MOTION(S): Motion to designate the Sun Focus News as the City of Columbia Heights official legal newspaper for 2016. ATTACHMENTS: Bid Letter from Sun Media Designation of Legal Newspaper 8 17 The Sun Focus submitted a letter of interest for 2016. The Sun Focus fees are $11.50 (a .20 increase from last year’s quote) per column inch for first insertion and $6.25 (a .55 increase from last year’s quote) per column inch, for each subsequent insertion. Most of the legal notices we submit are subsequent insertions. The Star Tribune charges $5.60 per inch wide line. The Star Tribune is approximately four times more expensive than the Sun Focus. 18