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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-28-2022 City Council Meeting MinutesCITY COUNCIL MEETING City Hall —Council Chambers, 590 40th Ave NE Monday, March 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, March 28, 2022, in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 590 401" 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 Council President Novitsky called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. Present: Council President Novitsky, Councilmember Buesgens; Councilmember Jacobs; Councilmember Murzyn, Jr. Absent: Mayor Marquez Simula Also Present: Lenny Austin, Chief of Police; Kelli Bourgeois, City Manager; Jim Hoeft, City Attorney; Sara Ion, City Clerk/Council Secretary; Ben Sandell, Communications Coordinator; Peter Leatherman, Chief Executive Officer, The Morris Leatherman Company. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE MISSION STATEMENT 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 Jacobs, to approve the Agenda as presented. All Ayes, Motion Carried 4-0. PROCLAMATIONS, PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITION, ANNOUNCEMENTS, GUESTS A. Citywide Survey Results Summary Communications Coordinator Sandell stated that the City hired The Morris Leatherman Company to conduct a scientific survey of the City's residents regarding public services, facilities, utilities, events, and other items important to the City and the community. The surveyors spoke with a random sample of 400 residents over three weeks in February 2022. Results were received in early March 2022. Survey results have a +/- 5% margin of error. Leatherman, The Morris Leatherman Company, presented a summary presentation of the citywide survey results to the Council. He touched on some of the key questions, offered City of Columbia Heights MINUTES March 28, 2022 City Council Meeting Page 2 context and comparisons, including average norms, and provided a general overview of the results. He stated that overall, the City "has a lot of folks, with a lot of knowledge, that feel very good about the level of communication they have from the City and about the City". The City has extraordinary high ratings, and a willingness from the community to invest in the community when looking at the maintenance of City services or the expansion of park and recreation facilities that were discussed in the survey. Councilmember Jacobs asked about the 22 percent rating on the rise in crime and how that was determined as being from outside the City. Leatherman stated that they asked later about their feeling of safety within the City and you could see a difference in the comparison of those questions. The Council stated that everyone did a good job and thanked Leatherman for his presentation. Additionally, the City conducted a smaller survey online to give other residents a chance to offer feedback. This was an online, opt -in survey open online for two weeks and was shared widely on social media. It used 15 questions inspired by the larger citywide survey. 255 current residents of Columbia Heights filled out this survey. Since it was an online, opt - in survey, the margin of error is not calculable. Coordinator Sandell presented a summary presentation of the City's smaller, online survey results. He reported on the results for each of the questions, summarized open-ended answers, and offered comparisons to the results in the citywide survey. He stated that it was reassuring to see the results of the surveys, although there are areas to improve, there is a lot to be proud of. The results of both surveys and the slideshow presentation are posted at www.columbiaheightsmn.gov/survey. Councilmember Buesgens stated that it is nice to hear the results, the information is interesting, and she looks forward to working with the results; she is glad they did it. B. National Library Week Council President Novitsky declared April 3-9, 2022, "National Library Week", and read the City's proclamation. CONSENT AGENDA Motion by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Murzyn Jr., to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. All Ayes, Motion Carried 4-0. City of Columbia Heights MINUTES March 28, 2022 City Council Meeting Page 3 1. Approve March 7, 2022 City Council Work Session Meeting Minutes MOTION: Move to approve the City Council Work Session Meeting minutes of March 7, 2022. 2. Approve March 14, 2022 City Council Meeting Minutes MOTION: Move to approve the City Council Meeting minutes of March 14, 2022. 3. Accept October 5, 2021 Planning Commission Minutes MOTION: Move to accept the Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of October 5, 2021. 4. Accept January 3, 2022 EDA Meeting Minutes MOTION: Move to accept the Economic Development Authority Meeting Minutes of January 3, 2022. S. Accept February 15, 2022 Traffic Commission Minutes MOTION: Move to accept the February 15, 2022 Traffic Commission minutes. 6. Approve Resolution 2022-40, Authorizing Acceptance of Livable Communities Grant Funds from the Metropolitan Council and Execution of the Livable Communities Demonstration Account Development Grant Agreement MOTION: Move to waive the reading of Resolution 2022-40, there being ample copies available to the public. MOTION: Move to adopt Resolution 2022-40, accepting $1,232,000 of Livable Communities Grant funds from the Metropolitan Council and authorize the execution of the Livable Communities Demonstration Account Grant Agreement. 7. Approval of Updates to the ACRED Voluntary Cost Sharing Agreement MOTION: Move to approve the Voluntary Cost Sharing Agreement for the Anoka County Economic Development Initiative by and between the County of Anoka and the City of Columbia Heights. MOTION: Move to authorize the City Manager, or his or her designee, to take all actions necessary on behalf of the City to perform the purpose of the Voluntary Cost Sharing Agreement, including without limitation to the execution of any and all documents to which the City is a party referenced. 8. Approval of Resolution 2022-41 Requesting Funds from the Anoka County HRA MOTION: Move to waive the reading of Resolution No. 2022-41, there being ample copies available to the public. MOTION: Move to approve Resolution No. 2022-41, requesting funds from the Anoka County Housing and Redevelopment Authority to support economic development activities within the City of Columbia Heights. 9. Adopt Resolution 2022-44; Non -Union Employee Wages for Assistant Store Manager and Liquor Operations Director for Calendar Year 2022 MOTION: Move to waive the reading of Resolution 2022-44, there being ample copies available to the public. City of Columbia Heights City Council Meeting MINUTES March 28, 2022 MOTION: Move to adopt Resolution 2022-44, approving 2022 cost of living for the classifications of Assistant Liquor Store Manager and Liquor Operations Director classifications effective 1/1/22. Page 4 10. Adopt Resolution 2022-45, Appointing Board and Commission Members MOTION: Move to waive the reading of Resolution 2022-45, there being ample copies available to the public. MOTION: Move to adopt Resolution 2022-45, appointing City of Columbia Heights Board and Commission Members. 11. Authorization to Seek Bids for the 2022 Miscellaneous Concrete Replacement and Installation Project MOTION: Move to authorize staff to seek bids for the 2022 Miscellaneous Concrete Replacement and Installation Project. 12. Professional Services Agreement for Construction Administration Services for 37th Avenue Water Main Structural Lining, City Project 2203 MOTION: Move to approve the Professional Services Agreement with SEH Inc. for construction administration services for the 37th Avenue Water Main Structural Lining and Rehabilitation in an amount not -to -exceed $34,930 appropriated from Fund 651-52203- 3050. 13. Accept Corrective Asphalt Materials Proposal for Bituminous Street and Parking Lot Surface Treatment MOTION: Move to accept the proposal from Corrective Asphalt Materials to apply Reclamite to select City Streets and Parking Lots for an estimated cost of $57,702.32. 14. Approval of Marco's Bid to Install Camera Systems at the 4025 Van Buren Municipal Parking Ramp MOTION: Move to accept the proposal from Marco, in the amount of $50,273.96, for the installation of security cameras in and around the municipal parking ramp located at 4025 Van Buren St; and furthermore, to authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement for the same. 15. License Agenda MOTION: Move to approve the items as listed on the business license agenda for March 28, 2022 as presented. 16. Rental Occupancy Licenses for Approval MOTION: Move to approve the items listed for rental housing license applications for March 28, 2022, in that they have met the requirements of the Property Maintenance Code. 17. Review of Bills MOTION: Move that in accordance with Minnesota Statute 412.271, subd. 8 the City City of Columbia Heights MINUTES March 28, 2022 City Council Meeting Page 5 Council has reviewed the enclosed list to claims paid by check and by electronic funds transfer in the amount of $991,761.34. PUBLIC HEARINGS 18. First Reading of Ordinance 1672, Regulating Targeted Picketing Chief Austin reported that throughout the state and nation there has been an increase in situations where local leaders have become targets for frustration and anger and have been faced with threats to themselves and their families. The concern for safety involving local leadership does not appear to be going away anytime in the near future. The practice of targeted picketing can cause emotional distress to a neighborhood and can obstruct the free use of public sidewalks and public travel. To help address these concerns, some cities have adopted ordinances regulating targeted picketing in residential neighborhoods. Establishing such an ordinance in Columbia Heights now could assure that regulations and protections are in place to aid in addressing potential future instances of picketing in neighborhoods. Council President Novitsky opened the public hearing. No one wished to speak. Motion by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Murzyn, Jr., to close the public hearing and waive the reading of Ordinance No. 1672, there being ample copies available to the public. All Ayes, Motion Carried 4-0. Motion by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Buesgens, to set the second reading of Ordinance No. 1672, being an Ordinance Amending Chapter 10, Article 3 of the Columbia Heights City Code, Regulating Targeted Picketing, for April 11, 2022 at approximately 7:00 pm in the City Council Chambers. All Ayes, Motion Carried 4-0. CITY COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS Report of the City Council Councilmember Buesgens stated she attended the Traffic Commission meeting, there was quite a lot of discussion about new items; she attended the Saint Patrick's parade, it was well attended, and people seemed to be having a good time; the Council conducted interviews for new commission members, which were in the consent agenda that evening; she welcomed the new commission members. Councilmember Jacobs said she attended lectures on "The Lost Wisdom of Women" and "Engaging Women of Color"; she started a six -part series "Women with a Focus"; attended a landlord meeting; attended the Saint Patrick's parade; she volunteers at SACA every week, they hosted their "Hops for Hunger" and it was a successful event for them; she facilitated two resident reach outs. She stated she wanted to congratulate the commissioners and board members; she said she was personally disappointed they were not able to appoint more new applicants as the Council has repeatedly stated the need to appoint new faces to the new commission. She hopes those that were not appointed and others in the community would not be deterred from applying in the future. She stated she wanted to City of Columbia Heights MINUTES March 28, 2022 City Council Meeting Page 6 convey her thoughts and prayers to the local friends and families of the residents of Ukraine and Russia, and countries that are caring for the refugees that have left their homeland. Councilmember Novitsky stated that the Saint Patrick's parade was a huge success and thanked everyone who was involved. He said that at Murzyn Hall that they had dancers that are competing internationally for Irish dancing. He recognized the library board ahead of "Library Week", stating that they are continuously trying to meet the resident's needs and is a very active group. He added that they also have the "Friends of the Library" and the "Library Foundation"; the City is behind the library and he looks forward to what all the groups can do together in the near future. Report of the City Manager Manager Bourgeois said she attended the Saint Patrick's parade, was thrilled with the turnout and the event; she hopes it can be an annual event. She stated that the library in partnership with Northeast Bank is hosting a training called "Financial Fitness: Finance Basics", registration is required through the library; the classes will be held April 4, 2022, April 11, 2022, and April 25, 2022, from 5:30-6:30 pm. Report of the City Attorney Attorney Hoeft had no update. COMMUNITY FORUM Council President Novitsky opened the community forum. No one wished to speak. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Murzyn Jr., seconded by Councilmember Jacobs, to adjourn. All Ayes, Motion Carried 4-0. Meeting adjourned at 8:03 pm. Respectfully Submitted, Sara Ion, City Clerk/Council Secretary