HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-22-2020 City Council Meeting MinutesOFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
JUNE 22, 2020
The following are the minutes for the regular meeting of the City Council held at 7:00 pm on Monday,
June 22, 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: Kelli Bourgeois, City Manager; Elizabeth Hammond, City Planner; 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 Buesgens, seconded by Councilmember Williams, to approve the agenda as
presented. All Ayes, Motion Carried 5-0.
5. 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 Emergency Meeting of June 2, 2020.
B. Accept Board and Commission Meeting Minutes
MOTION: Move to accept the minutes of the EDA Meeting of May 4, 2020.
MOTION: Move to accept the minutes of the Planning Commission Meeting of May 5, 2020.
C. Approve Gambling Permit for Immaculate Conception Church
MOTION: Move to direct the City Manager to forward a letter to the State Charitable Gambling
Control Board indicating that the City of Columbia Heights has no objection to a gambling permit for
Immaculate Conception Church to conduct a raffle with a drawing to be held on August 8, 2020, at
4030 Jackson Street NE, Columbia Heights; and, furthermore, that the City of Columbia Heights
hereby waives the remainder of the 30-day notice to the local governing body.
D. New Electric Service for Silver Lake Lift Station
City Council Minutes
June 22, 2020
Page 2
MOTION: Move to approve the agreement with Xcel Energy in the amount of $18,702.00 for
electrical service to the Silver Lake Lift Station, with funding appropriated from 652-52008-5185.
E. Electric Disconnect and Electric Line Rerouting
MOTION: Move to approve the agreement with Xcel Energy in the amount of $19,000.00 for
electrical transformer and line removal, rerouting and new feeder line to the north side of 40th
Avenue, with funding appropriated from 411-51911-5185.
F. Authorize Capital Equipment Replacement of Unit #09, Wheeled Loader
MOTION: Move to authorize the replacement of Unit #09 with the purchase of one (1) new
Caterpillar model 926M off the Minnesota State Purchasing Contract from Ziegler CAT for
$141,120.00. Funding shall be provided equally from Capital Equipment Funds 431-43121,
431-45200, 432-49499 and 433-49449.
G. Final Payment to Anoka County for Water Main Construction on 49th Avenue (CSAH 4), Project
No. 1910
MOTION: Move to accept the work for Water Main Construction on 49th Avenue (CSAH 4), Columbia
Heights City Project No. 1910 and to authorize final payment of $103,623.07 to Anoka County,
Minnesota.
H. Consideration of Approval of Attached List of Rental Housing Applications
MOTION: Move to approve the items listed for rental housing license applications for June 22, 2020,
in that they have met the requirements of the Property Maintenance Code.
I. Approve Business License Applications
MOTION: Move to approve the items as listed on the Business License Agenda for June 22, 2020, as
presented.
J. 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
$1,107,408.55.
Motion by Councilmember Novitsky, seconded by Councilmember Murzyn, Jr., to approve the Consent
Agenda items as amended. All Ayes, Motion Carried 5-0.
6. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. Closing the Public Hearing Regarding Tabled Resolution No. 2019-94, a Resolution Revoking
a Conditional Use Permit
Planner Hammond provided background information regarding Resolution No. 2019-94, which
was tabled by the Council on January 13, 2020, to allow additional time for the property owner to
comply with Conditional Use Permit requirements due to the seasonal snow on the ground, which
prevented striping the lot with parking stalls. The property is located north of Jeff, Bobby and
Steve’s Auto World convenience store.
City Council Minutes
June 22, 2020
Page 3
A City inspection confirmed the striping was completed and staff requests the Council to close the
public hearing. Mayor Schmitt then asked Councilmember Williams to refrain from voting as he
has a conflict of interest as being the property owner.
Motion by Councilmember Buesgens, seconded by Councilmember Novitsky, to close the public
hearing regarding tabled Resolution No. 2019-94, whereas the property owner has complied with
the conditions of the conditional use permit and, therefore, the Council will not revoke the permit.
4 Ayes (Buesgens, Novitsky, Murzyn, Jr., Schmitt), 1 Abstained (Williams). Motion Carried 4-0.
7. ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION
A. Other Ordinances and Resolutions
a. Emergency Interim Ordinance No. 1662, Relating to Temporary Outdoor Dining at
Restaurant Establishments Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Planner Hammond provided background information regarding City’s Zoning Code for temporary
events and described Emergency Interim Ordinance No. 1662, which would extend the 30-day
timeframe for such events in non-residential zoning districts of the City through November 15,
2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff recommendation is Council approval of the ordinance
and its summary.
Motion by Councilmember Novitsky, seconded by Councilmember Williams, to waive the reading
of Emergency Interim Ordinance No. 1662 and the Summary of Ordinance No. 1662, there being
ample copies available to the public. All Ayes, Motion Carried 5-0.
Motion by Councilmember Novitsky, seconded by Councilmember Williams, to approve Emergency
Interim Ordinance No. 1662 and approve the Summary of Ordinance No. 1662 relating to
temporary outdoor dining at restaurant establishments due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All Ayes,
Motion Carried 5-0.
b. Resolution No. 2020-52, Changing Polling Places for Precincts 6 and 8 for the 2020 State
Primary and General Elections
Clerk Tingley provided background information regarding Resolution No. 2020-52, which is in
response to State Legislature statute changes regarding election administration due to COVID-19,
dictating that “schools must be only used as a polling place when no other public or private
location is reasonably available for use as a polling place” and “if a municipality or county has
designated a school as a polling place, the municipality or county must work with school staff to
ensure that contact between students and voters is minimized.” Ordinance No. 2020-52 would
cite Hylander Center at 1400 49th Avenue NE for Precinct 6 and ChristLife Evangelical Church at
4555 University Avenue NE for Precinct 8.
Motion by Councilmember Buesgens, seconded by Councilmember Novitsky, to waive the reading
of Resolution No. 2020-52, there being ample copies available to the public. All Ayes, Motion
Carried 5-0.
City Council Minutes
June 22, 2020
Page 4
Motion by Councilmember Buesgens, seconded by Councilmember Murzyn, Jr., to approve
Resolution No. 2020-52, changing polling places for Precincts 6 and 8 for the 2020 State Primary
and State General Elections. All Ayes, Motion Carried 5-0.
8. CITY COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
Councilmember Novitsky has been spending time with family during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Councilmember Murzyn, Jr., reported his recent restaurant opening neared its customer capacity.
Councilmember Williams expressed gratefulness that most area stores escaped the recent disruption
on Lake Street and Central Avenue and that none of his company’s team members have succumbed
so far to COVID-19.
Councilmember Buesgens participated in the June 11 online Neighborhood Watch meeting, during
which the Police Department addressed the City’s response to civil unrest in the region. The last two
Saturdays she volunteered with others working on the Lomiaki Park edible garden; that group also
decided to adopt the storm drains in that corner. She encouraged any residents with storm drains
near their homes to adopt them to keep trash and debris out of the Mississippi River and advised
residents to call Public Works for more information at 763-706-3700.The City forester gave her a tour
of the Public Works rock tree garden yard, where 200 saplings have been planted, are doing well and
will ultimately be placed in City parks and boulevards.
Mayor Schmitt has been spending time with family during the COVID-19 pandemic. She has
participated in several Zoom meetings, one of which will be on June 24 interviewing for the League of
Minnesota Cities board. There will be upcoming policy committee meetings for the League and
Metro cities, and she hopes councilmembers and staff will be willing to participate.
Manager Bourgeois reported the City Council and Staff Visioning Goal-Setting Session will be held on
Monday, June 29, 3:00-6:00 pm in the shelter next to Murzyn Hall or, if inclement weather, in the
Public Safety training room. The July 6 City Council work session has been cancelled.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Councilmember Buesgens, seconded by Councilmember Williams, to adjourn. All Ayes,
Motion Carried 5-0.
Meeting adjourned at 7:18 pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
___________________________________
Nicole Tingley, City Clerk/Council Secretary