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Home My WebLink About05-11-2020 City Council Meeting MinutesOFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL MEETING MAY 11, 2020 The following are the minutes for the regular meeting of the City Council held at 7:00 pm on Monday, May 11, 2020, in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 590 40th Avenue N.E., Columbia Heights, Minnesota. 1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Mayor Schmitt called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. Present: Mayor Schmitt; Councilmember Buesgens; Councilmember Murzyn, Jr.; Councilmember Novitsky; Councilmember Williams Also Present: Lenny Austin, Police Chief; Kelli Bourgeois, City Manager; Elizabeth Hammond, City Planner; Kevin Hansen, Public Works Director; Nicole Tingley, City Clerk 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. MISSION STATEMENT, Read by Mayor Schmitt Our mission is to provide the highest quality public services. Services will be provided in a fair, respectful and professional manner that effectively address changing citizen and community needs in a fiscally-responsible manner. 4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion by Councilmember Murzyn, Jr., seconded by Councilmember Novitsky, to approve the agenda as presented. All Ayes, Motion Carried 5-0. 5. PROCLAMATIONS, PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITION, ANNOUNCEMENTS, GUESTS A. National Public Works Week Proclamation Mayor Schmitt read the proclamation announcing May 17-23, 2020, as National Public Works Week in the City of Columbia Heights. Director Hansen accepted the proclamation on behalf of the Public Works Department and recognized staff who work on behalf of the City. He also asked the public’s understanding to please respect social distancing guidelines when approaching staff. Mayor Schmitt said the Department does an outstanding job and thanked Director Hansen for his leadership. B. National Police Week Proclamation Mayor Schmitt read the proclamation announcing May 10-16, 2020, as National Police Week in the City of Columbia Heights. Chief Austin accepted the proclamation on behalf of the Police Department and said President John F. Kennedy in 1962 designated the annual Police Week, as well as proclaiming May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day. He honored Columbia Heights patrol officer Curt Ramsdell, who was killed in the line of duty on July 30, 1977, at the Anoka County jail during a transport. The National Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation will hold a virtual candlelight vigil on Wednesday, May 13, at 7:00 pm, during which 307 names will be added to the memorial. On Friday, May 15, at 7:00 pm the Law Enforcement Memorial Association (LEMA) will hold a tribute on their Facebook page. City Council Minutes May 11, 2020 Page 2 6. CONSENT AGENDA (These items are considered to be routine by the City Council and will be enacted as part of the Consent Agenda by one motion. Items removed from consent agenda approval will be taken up as the next order of business.) A. Approve Minutes of the City Council MOTION: Move to approve the minutes of the City Council Meeting of April 27, 2020. B. Accept Board and Commission Meeting Minutes MOTION: Move to accept the minutes of the EDA meeting of March 23, 2020. MOTION: Move to accept the minutes of the Planning Commission meeting of March 4, 2020. MOTION: Move to accept the minutes of the Library Board meeting of March 4, 2020. C. Annual Declaration that the City of Columbia Heights Does Not Waive the Monetary Limits on the Municipal Tort Liability under Minnesota Statutes, Section 466.04 MOTION: Move to declare that the City of Columbia Heights does NOT waive the monetary limits on the municipal tort liability under Minnesota Statutes, Section 466.04. D. City Hall Audio Visual and Security Design MOTION: Move to approve amendment #1 to the City Hall Architectural Contract with Leo A Daly in the amount of $39,670.00 for the design and construction administration for the new City Hall Audio Visual Systems, Structured Cabling System, Digital Signage, Video Surveillance/Security Systems, Access Control and Speech Privacy (Sound Masking), City Project 1911, appropriated from Fund 415-51911-3050. E. Approve Business License Applications MOTION: Move to approve the items as listed on the Business License Agenda for May 11, 2020, as presented. F. Review of Bills MOTION: Move that in accordance with Minnesota Statute 412.271, subd. 8, the City Council has reviewed the enclosed list of claims paid by check and by electronic funds transfer in the amount of $686,420.31. Motion by Councilmember Buesgens, seconded by Councilmember Williams, to approve the Consent Agenda items as presented. All Ayes, Motion Carried 5-0. 7. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. Approve Easement Vacations for the Property Located at 3989 Central Avenue NE Planner Hammond provided background information regarding the request by Alatus to approve vacating roadway, sidewalk and landscape easements for the new City Hall at 3989 Central Avenue NE, which is a mixed use development approved by the Council earlier in the year. City Council Minutes May 11, 2020 Page 3 Motion by Councilmember Buesgens, seconded by Councilmember Novitsky, to waive the readings of Resolutions 2020-44 and 2020-45, there being ample copies available to the public. All Ayes, Motion Carried 5-0. Motion by Councilmember Buesgens, seconded by Councilmember Murzyn, Jr., to approve Resolution 2020-44 and Resolution 2020-45, vacating roadway and sidewalk and landscape easements for the property located at 3989 Central Avenue NE subject to the following conditions: 1) The applicant shall be responsible for providing legal descriptions of all easements that are subject to be created. Said descriptions are subject to review by the City Attorney. 2) The applicant shall be responsible for filing the easements vacations with the Anoka County Recorder’s Office. All Ayes, Motion Carried 5-0. B. Approve a Conditional Use Permit and Variance for a Fence at 4141 University Avenue NE Planner Hammond provided background information regarding the request by Prodeo Academy for a conditional use permit and variance for the property at 4141 University Avenue NE, allowing for a 10’ section of fencing about 76’ in length to prevent play objects, such as balls or frisbees, from rolling down the hill into traffic areas. Motion by Councilmember Novitsky, seconded by Councilmember Murzyn, Jr., to waive the reading of Resolution 2020-46, there being ample copies available to the public. All Ayes, Motion Carried 5-0. Motion by Councilmember Novitsky, seconded by Councilmember Murzyn, Jr., to approve Resolution 2020-46, approving a conditional use permit and variance for a fence at University Avenue NE subject to certain conditions: 1) The site plan included in this submittal shall become part of this approval. 2) All other applicable local, state and federal requirements shall be met at all times. 3) The applicant will meet the requirements outlined in the letter from the Building Official dated April 17, 2020. All Ayes, Motion Carried 5-0. 8. CITY COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS Councilmember Buesgens attended the online Neighborhood Watch meeting and said another is planned in June. She also assisted in spreading mulch at the Blooming Sunshine Garden. Councilmember Williams commented that two of his police friends, one in Jamaica and the second in Minneapolis, have died in the line of duty and said the Police Week proclamation is beneficial in recognizing all officers’ dedication and risks. He said he is grateful that no one in his company to date has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. Councilmember Novitsky has been enjoying the parks with his family and expressed appreciation to all who have respected social distancing guidelines. Mayor Schmitt apologized to Malcolm Watson that she, unfortunately, neglected to announce at the last Council meeting that May 7 was National Day of Prayer, which was designated in 1952 by President Harry Truman and has been annually proclaimed since. She then reported that the national average for Census 2020 response to date is 58.5%; Minnesota is ranked #1 at 68.7%; Anoka County is tied with Las Alamos, New Mexico, in 6th place at 68.2%; CD5 is ranked at 69.1%; and Columbia Heights is ranked at #348, tied with Ortonville, Minnesota, at 67.5%. City Council Minutes May 11, 2020 Page 4 Clerk Tingley reminded the Council that board and commission interviews will be conducted on Wednesday, May 13, and Thursday, May 14, and asked them to please let her know their choice of participating in person or via Zoom. She said 24 candidates will be participating using both options. Manager Bourgeois reported the Police Department will host a Red Cross Blood Drive on Tuesday, May 19, 2020, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm in the fire bays at the Public Safety Building, which will be conducted by appointment only through the Red Cross website. The City has reached an agreement with Rainbow Tree Care regarding bulk tree pricing for City private property owners needing ash tree replacements (owners may go to rainbowtreecare.com/columbia-heights or call 952-767-6920), and information will be posted on the City website. The Library is holding a Virtual Meditation Workshop on their Facebook page Tuesday, May 12, from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm, and another workshop is planned in June. Liquor Stores 1 and 2 are open for altered service, noon to 8:00 pm Monday through Saturday, with limitations of one register open and in-store customer numbers. She identified City summer closures, due to COVID-19, as being the splash pad and wading pools; parks will remain open though social distancing signs will be posted and playground use discouraged; summer youth and senior programs are being evaluated; Event Wagon is available, though there will be a cost increase due to needed cleaning; and park facilities are still available to rent, though the number of people will be limited. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Councilmember Buesgens, seconded by Councilmember Novitsky, to adjourn. All Ayes, Motion Carried 5-0. Meeting adjourned at 7:31 pm. Respectfully Submitted, ___________________________________ Nicole Tingley, City Clerk/Council Secretary