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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-13-2021 Emergency City Council Meeting Minutes EMERGENCY CITY COUNCIL MEETING Mayor Amáda Márquez Simula Councilmembers John Murzyn, Jr. Connie Buesgens Nick Novitsky Kt Jacobs City Manager Kelli Bourgeois City Hall—Council Chambers, 590 40th Ave NE Tuesday, April 13, 2021 3:00 PM MINUTES The following are the minutes for the emergency meeting of the City Council held at 3:00 pm on Tuesday, April 13, 2021 in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 590 40th Avenue NE, Columbia Heights, Minnesota. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this hybrid meeting was held both virtually and in-person. TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Mayor Márquez Simula called the meeting to order at 3:00 pm. Present: Mayor Márquez Simula; Councilmember Buesgens; Councilmember Jacobs; Councilmember Murzyn, Jr. Councilmember Novitsky Also Present: Kelli Bourgeois, City manager; Charlie Thompson, Fire Chief; Nicole Tingley, City Clerk PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION Emergency Interim Ordinance 1665, Declaring a Local Emergency and Implementing a Temporary Curfew in the City of Columbia Heights as an Emergency Response to Civil Unrest. City Manager Bourgeois provided an overview of the proposed emergency ordinance recommended by City Emergency Management staff to have a curfew in the City of Columbia Heights. The proposed ordinance only has the curfew for April 13 from 10 pm to 6 am April 14. She noted that Minneapolis and St. Paul were having a curfew for the same time frame and the Governor is not enacting any curfews. She summarized the exemptions. Councilmember Jacobs inquired what the recommendation would be if Minneapolis extends their curfew. She also asked if the ordinance should include authority for the City Manager to extend it further if warranted. Bourgeois replied that they recommend only one night at this time and will continue to monitor. If Minneapolis were to extend, they would take it under consideration in their recommendation. She stated that they want to be the least restrictive in keeping the community safe. Furthermore, she does not want to take away the authority from the City Council as this infringes on rights. Mayor Marquez Simula commented that the later start time will better accommodate Ramadan gatherings. Motion by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Murzyn Jr., to waive the reading of Emergency Interim Ordinance No. 1665, there being ample copies available to the public. A roll call vote was taken. All Ayes, Motion Carried 5-0. City of Columbia Heights MINUTES April 13, 2021 Emergency City Council Meeting Page 2 Motion by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Novitsky, to approve Emergency Interim Ordinance No. 1665, Declaring a Local Emergency and Implementing a Temporary Curfew in the City of Columbia Heights as an Emergency Response to Civil Unrest. A roll call vote was taken. All Ayes, Motion Carried, 5-0. Councilmember Jacobs commented that words have impact and that we need to be cognitive of the words we use under the circumstances of both the Chauvin trial and the officer shooting that occurred in Brooklyn Center. Jacobs added that we need to be careful not to insinuate that we are a part of the worldwide focus. She stated that we are surrounded by what happens in communities around us, but are not the focus of those incidents. Mayor Márquez Simula stated that we need to remember to be kind and gentle with each other and listen to our neighbors. She added that this is a very difficult time and our words have meaning. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Councilmember Murzyn, Jr., seconded by Councilmember Jacobs, to adjourn. A roll call vote was taken. All Ayes, Motion Carried 5-0. Meeting adjourned at 3:12 pm. Respectfully Submitted, ___________________________________ Nicole Tingley, City Clerk/Council Secretary