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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-28-2022 City Council Meeting MinutesCITY COUNCIL MEETING City Hall —Council Chambers, 590 40th Ave NE Monday, February 28, 2022 7:00 PM MINUTES Mayor Amdda Mdrquez Simula Councilmembers John Murzyn, Jr. Connie Buesgens Nick Novitsky Kt Jacobs City Manager Kelli Bourgeois The following are the minutes for the Meeting of the City Council held at 7:00 pm on Monday, February 28, 2022, in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 590 40t" Avenue NE, Columbia Heights, Minnesota. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this hybrid meeting was held both virtually and in -person. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Mayor Marquez Simula called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. Present: Mayor Marquez Simula; Councilmember Buesgens; Councilmember Jacobs; Councilmember Novitsky Absent: Councilmember Murzyn, Jr. Also Present: Lenny Austin, Chief of Police; Alex Barrott, Police Officer; Kelli Bourgeois, City Manager; Aaron Chirpich, Community Development Director; Ibrahim Farah, Police Officer; Mohammed Farah, Police Officer; Erik Hanson, Police Sergeant; Jim Hoeft, City Attorney; Sara Ion, City Clerk/Council Secretary; Erik Johnston, Police Captain; Guy Juran, Police Officer; Matt Markham, Police Captain; Jason Piehn, Ben Sandell, Communications Coordinator; Police Officer; Steve Wagner, Police Officer; Mitch Weisser, Police Officer; Tabitha Wood, Police Officer; Youth Commission Members; Columbia Heights Girl Scout Troop Members. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE f► 1>`��[�P►E��e�i�► i�I►i� Our mission is to provide the highest quality public services. Services will be provided in a fair, respectful and professional manner that effectively addresses changing citizen and community needs in a fiscally - responsible and customer friendly manner. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion by Buesgens, seconded by Councilmember Novitsky, to approve the Agenda as presented. All Ayes, Motion Carried 4-0. PROCLAMATIONS, PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITION, ANNOUNCEMENTS, GUESTS A. Introduction of Youth Commission Members Communications Coordinator Sandell stated that they are pleased to welcome the newly appointed 2022 Youth Commission Members and eight out of ten were able to attend the meeting that night. Sandell said that in 2021 that City amended its City Code to create the Youth Commission, the first of its kind. The Youth Commission's purpose is to serve as an advisory body to the Council, and other boards and commissions, inspire and bring to light City of Columbia Heights MINUTES February 28, 2022 City Council Meeting Page 2 new ideas from a youth perspective, create an educational environment for youth looking to expand their knowledge of government and leadership functions, and provide experience building opportunities for area youth seeking increased community and government engagement. Sandell stated they are looking forward to the first meeting on March 9, 2022 at 6:00 pm in Council Chambers, where we will review the commission's draft bylaws, schedule and officer appointments. Sandell asked that the Youth Commission members in the audience to stand to be recognized. He read the names of the commissioners: Annabelle Johnson, Greta Solem, Tristen Marquez, Silvia Hernandez-Monroy, Roman Tabor, Ruth Nayeli Garcia Genis, Tsenat Mamo, Mira Kucera, Roger Rogne, and Alayna Novitsky. Mayor Marquez Simula stated the Council is excited to work together with the Youth Commission and welcomed them. Councilmember Buesgens said she is excited about seeing the members on the commission and she looks forward to seeing their work and ideas coming forth in the future. B. Presentation of Police Department Awards Chief Austin stated that Officers were nominated by their peers or supervisors for outstanding service to the City in 2021, going beyond the work they do on a day-to-day basis. Officers were recognized for the following awards: Medal of Commendation, Mentor Award, and Above and Beyond. Mentor Awards were awarded to the following Officers: Hanson, I. Farah, M. Farah, Juran, Monberg, Piehn, Sinn, Urbaniak, Wagner, and Weisser. Chief Austin stated that field training officers have been tasked with training ten new recruits over the last two years, which is an unprecedented number. He stated that these officers are responsible for coaching, training, and passing on the culture to the next generation of officers. Above and Beyond awards were awarded to the following Officers: Barrott, Weisser, Sinn, Urbaniak, and Wagner. Chief Austin stated that these officers are use -of -force and firearms instructors; their workload increased when the department implemented a new style of use -of -force that required all of the instructors to be retrained through a weeklong course. Afterwards, the officers were tasked with developing new lesson plans and coordinating with each other on how to implement them. In addition to retraining all current officers and CSOs, the new officers were trained; this new method incorporates de-escalation and as well as a team -focused concept which will help to reduce injuries to officers and persons involved during use -of -force incidents. Chief Austin awarded an additional Above and Beyond award to Officer Weisser for an incident that occurred on December 6, 2021, where he continued to attempt to deescalate the situation, which prevented the need for use -of -force. City of Columbia Heights City Council Meeting MINUTES February 28, 2022 Page 3 Medal of Commendation were awarded to the following Officers: Hanson, Piehn, Wagner, Wood. Chief Austin stated that on April 11, 2021, these officers responded to the civil unrest after an officer involved shooting. These officers demonstrated outstanding leadership, teamwork, courage, and professionalism under extremely stressful circumstances. Officers apprehended one burglar and interrupted another burglary; he stated they are being recognized for their outstanding service. Chief Austin stated that over the last year his officers have faced a lot of adversity and he couldn't be prouder of them. C. Women's History Month Proclamation Mayor Marquez Simula recognized March 2022, as "Women's History Month" and read the City's Proclamation. Girls Scout Troops accepted the proclamation. Girl Scout Troop 17617, thanked the Council for the proclamation and stated that they support women's rights, voting, and the history behind it. CONSENT AGENDA Motion by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Novitsky, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. All Ayes, Motion Carried 4-0. 1. Approve February 7, 2022 City Council Work Session Meeting Minutes. MOTION: Move to approve the City Council Work Session Meeting minutes of February 7, 2022. 2. Approve February 7, 2022 Public Improvement Hearing Meeting Minutes for 2022 State Aid and Street Rehabilitation. MOTION: Move to approve the Public Improvement Hearing Meeting Minutes for 2022 State Aid and Street Rehabilitation minutes of February 7, 2022. 3. Approve February 7, 2022 for the Public Improvement Hearing Meeting Minutes for 2022 Street Rehabilitation Program - Zones 6 and 7. MOTION: Move to approve the Public Improvement Hearing Meeting Minutes for 2022 Street Rehabilitation Program - Zones 6 and 7 of February 7, 2022. 4. Approve February 8, 2022 Joint City Council/School Board Meeting Minutes. MOTION: Move to approve the Joint City Council/School Board Meeting Minutes of February 8, 2022. 5. Approve February 14, 2022 City Council Meeting Minutes. MOTION: Move to approve the City Council Meeting minutes of February 14, 2022. 6. Adopt Resolution 2022-28, Approving AFSCME Labor Agreement. MOTION: Move to waive the reading of Resolution 2022-28, there being ample copies City of Columbia Heights City Council Meeting MINUTES February 28, 2022 available to the public. MOTION: Move to adopt Resolution 2022-28, approving the City of Columbia Heights AFSCME Labor Agreement. 7. Authorization to Purchase J Barriers. MOTION: Move to authorize the police department to purchase of 600 linear feet of J Barrier concrete construction barricades from Warning Lites of MN in the amount of $19,500. Page 4 8. License Agenda. MOTION: Move to approve the items as listed on the business license agenda for February 28, 2022 as presented. 9. Rental Occupancy Licenses for Approval. MOTION: Move to approve the items listed for rental housing license applications for February 28, 2022, in that they have met the requirements of the Property Maintenance Code. 10. Review of Bills. MOTION: Move that in accordance with Minnesota Statute 412.271, subd. 8 the City Council has reviewed the enclosed list to claims paid by check and by electronic funds transfer in the amount of $1,065,262.78. PUBLIC HEARINGS ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION 11. Approval of Memorandum of Understanding with Columbia Heights Housing Limited Partnership I. Director Chirpich reported that over the past several months, staff has been working with Reuter Walton to refine development plans for the vacant City owned site located behind the Public Safety Campus. The City's parcel is encumbered by a stormwater drainage easement in favor of Columbia Heights Housing Limited Partnership I (CHHLP). CHHLP is the owner of the Columbia Court Townhomes property which is located just to the southeast of the City's development site. As part of the redevelopment of the townhome site in 2001, the City approved an easement agreement to allow stormwater generated by the townhome site to flood the City's vacant development parcel during heavy rain events. This easement overflow area is located predominately over the portion of the site where Reuter Walton has been approved to construct a 62-unit affordable housing complex. To solve the easement encumbrance issue, Reuter Walton has proposed to relocate the stormwater easement area by building an underground stormwater storage and filtration system that will accommodate the required stormwater capacity that is prescribed in the 2001 easement agreement. He added that this is taking an above ground flooding issue and putting it underground. City of Columbia Heights MINUTES February 28, 2022 City Council Meeting Page 5 Staff has worked with CHHLP and Reuter Walton to negotiate terms that are agreeable to all parties to facilitate the stormwater easement relocation. These terms have been articulated in the attached memorandum of understanding (MOU). The primary deal points are as follows: 1) The City will take over full maintenance and repair responsibility for the portion of the alley that serves the townhome development and the Reuter Walton Development. Currently, the maintenance and repair costs are shared 50/50 between CHHLP and the City. This concession represents an acknowledgement by the City that the development of the City owned site will increase traffic in the project area with the introduction of 62 new housing units. The City taking full maintenance and repair responsibility for the alley is also consistent with all other publicly owned alleys in the City. 2) Two speed bumps will be installed in the alley near the townhomes to help calm the increased traffic that is expected in the area with the new development. The speed bumps will be paid for by Reuter Walton. 3) The legal fees associated with CHHLP's review of the easement documents will be paid by Reuter Walton (up to $5,000). Director Chirpich stated that Staff would like to note that underlying easement agreements related to the City's vacant development site are complicated. The Reuter Walton redevelopment project represents an opportunity for the City to get a great project completed with the added benefit of cleaning up the easements that hinder the property. The project also presents an opportunity to resolve a long-standing localized stormwater flooding issue. Staff feels that the terms articulated in the MOU are fair and necessary to move the project forward, and therefore recommend approval of the MOU. Motion by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Buesgens, to waive the reading of Resolution 2022-27, there being ample copies available to the public. All Ayes, Motion Carried 4-0. Motion by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Novitsky, to adopt Resolution 2022-27, a resolution for the City Council for the City of Columbia Heights, Minnesota, approving memorandum of understanding with Columbia Heights Housing Limited Partnership 1. All Ayes, Motion Carried 4-0. CITY COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS Report of the City Council Councilmember Buesgens said she was excited that Community Development Coordinator Forney is returning on March 7, 2022, who has been serving for the National Guard for the last year. She added that there is a second stage of the City survey out on the website, the phone surveys are almost complete, and the City would love to hear from residents before decisions are made on several things this year. Councilmember Jacobs stated she attended several presentations: Using Cultural Intelligence in Supporting the Indigenous Community, A Community's Role in Human Trafficking, National Summit on Engagement in the Black Community. She finished reading a 45-page House Select Committee's report to the legislature on racial justice. She stated she attended the Salvation Army Board Meeting; she City of Columbia Heights MINUTES February 28, 2022 City Council Meeting Page 6 welcomed the new Youth Commissioners and added that she hopes they learns a lot but have fun doing it. She stated like many across the nation, she stands in solidarity with the Russian and Ukrainian neighbors against Russian's military action; she prays for a quick resolution. She facilitated four residents reach outs; and she warmly welcomes the month of March. Mayor Marquez Simula said she attended a webinar, Planning the Inclusive City, which talked about during the City Beautiful Movement in the early 1900s; there was a lot of top -down decisions made, but now we are looking towards community input to make our cities better and more inclusive for the whole community. She stated she was called for the community survey and answered the questions; she asked residents to go to the website to fill out the survey; she attended an electric vehicle class through community education; she had a meeting with the Superintendent of Columbia Heights Public Schools. Mayor Marquez Simula provided an update on the Havenbrook Homes properties and stated that the Fire Department is working on the relicensing of the 21 properties, Community Development and the Building Official are also helping to complete new inspections, and once the violations are corrected and properties pass inspection, new licenses will be presented to the City Council in March; for any questions regarding Havenbrook Homes licensing, contact Assistant Fire Chief O'Brien. She stated that her heart goes out to the Ukrainian neighbors in the City, people of Poland and Russia; she reached out to the Mayor of Lomianki, Poland, Sister City; they are having a community meeting that evening to see how they can come together and help refugees. Report of the City Manager Manager Bourgeois reported that the short city survey will be available on the website through March 11, 2022; there have been over 100 responses since last Friday and they would love to get more. She stated there are seats open on four boards and commissions, applications are being accepted until March 4, 2022; for questions about boards and commissions, contact Clerk Ion. Report of the City Attorney Attorney Hoeft had no update. COMMUNITY FORUM Mayor Marquez Simula opened the community forum. No one wished to speak. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Novitsky, seconded by Councilmember Jocobs, to adjourn. All Ayes, Motion Carried 4-0. Meeting adjourned at 7:38 pm. Respectfully Submitted, 2L \� Sara Ion, City Clerk/Council Secretary