HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-06-2023 City Council Work Session Minutes
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
Mayor
Amáda Márquez Simula
Councilmembers
Connie Buesgens
Kt Jacobs
Rachel James
Justice Spriggs
City Manager
Kelli Bourgeois
Public Safety Bldg—Training Room, 825 41st Ave NE
Monday, March 06, 2023
6:00 PM
MINUTES
The following are the minutes for the Work Session Meeting of the City Council held at 6:00 pm on
Monday, March 6, in the Public Safety Training Room 825 41st Avenue NE, Columbia Heights,
Minnesota.
CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
Mayor Márquez Simula called the meeting to order at 6:10pm
Present: Mayor Márquez Simula; Councilmember Buesgens; Councilmember Jacobs; Councilmember
James; Councilmember Spriggs
Also Present: Lenny Austin, Police Chief; Kelli Bourgeois, City Manager; Aaron Chirpich, Community
Development Director; Mitchell Forney, Community Development Coordinator; Sara Ion, City
Clerk/Council Secretary; Erik Johnston, Police Captain; Shelly Johnson, Fire Department Volunteer;
Sulmaan Khan, Assistant City Engineer; Dan O’Brien, Assistant Fire Chief; Ben Sandell, Communications
Coordinator; Charlie Thompson, Fire Chief.
WORK SESSION ITEMS
1. Sustainability Commission Draft Ordinance and Interview Questions.
Presentation led by Assistant City Engineer Sulmaan Khan related to the finalization of the
draft ordinance and review of the interview questions soon.
Councilmember Jacobs inquired about conducting public hearings vs. meetings and having
a mandatory number of meetings per year. On page four she would only like to have it
read requirements or expectations.
Councilmember Buesgens and Mayor Márquez Simula preferred that requirements was
utilized.
Councilmember James asked about staggered terms for the first year.
City Manager Bourgeois stated that staggered terms did not need to be clarified within this
ordinance.
Engineer Khan clarified that the feedback of the council would be incorporated into the
updated language. He will put together interview questions for the next work session.
2. THC Moratorium Update and State Legalization Overview.
Presentation led by Community Development Coordinator Mitchell Forney with an update
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on what is occurring at the State level and information for the new Councilmembers. The
recommendation proposed is a wait and see approach for the status to be updated by the
State.
Councilmember Buesgens asked about the boundaries set for not selling THC products near
schools, parks, and similar restrictions.
City Manager Bourgeois stated that this issue was clarified when the City voted on
breweries and taprooms. The legislature has stepped away from any level of local control.
Captain Johnston clarified that parks would only include when a park would have
playground equipment. He also clarified that the current version of the bill at the State
level is removing some of the restrictions for sale.
Councilmember Jacobs is glad that we are maintaining the moratorium until the state
makes its mind up. She is concerned about kids in the park being impacted by marijuana.
3. NIMS Training for Council.
Chief Thompson gave an overview of NIMS (National Incident Management System)
Training. This program is a direct response to the events surrounding 9/11. These trainings
are required for federal funding and to receive disaster funding. He would like to set time
aside for the 2.5-hour training, if there are a lot of questions it can take additional time. He
will come back to the Council with a few dates and times in the near future to see what will
work for the group.
4. Introduction to Property Maintenance and Rental Licensing.
Assistant Fire Chief O’Brien led a high-level presentation on property maintenance and
rental licensing. The presentation focused on property maintenance code, inspections
based on complaint basis and as part of systematic inspections program, enforcement, and
licensing.
Councilmember James inquired if forty-five-day notice was set by City Code or if it was
State Law. She would like to see a way for renters to be able to know more about what is
going on with their landlords and impeding eviction / needing to leave the property.
Mayor Márquez Simula inquired about long grass laws. She wanted to know about time
period to follow up. She inquired about how we can continue to give extensions for
landlords and not renters. She would like to see more notice given to renters, so that they
are aware of what is going on, instead of just forty-five days.
Councilmember Buesgens inquired about family member exemptions, and rental
exemptions.
Councilmember Jacobs also clarified how this would impact neighborhood rental caps.
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City Manager Bourgeois clarified that the recommendation from the City Attorney is that
we allow the sale of the property and the continuation of the rental license.
Councilmember Jacobs would like to see the inspection prior to the public hearing as close
to the Council Meeting as possible.
Chief O’Brien reviewed the timeline for the final inspection prior to revocation and
indicated that sometimes it is hard to complete the final inspection prior to the packet
documents being prepared for Council review.
Councilmember James stated that she likes the idea of rewarding good landlords.
Assistant Chief O’Brien would like to update / review and amend the Licensing Code as it
has not been reviewed since 2011.
5. Single Family Rental Moratorium, Density Cap, and Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU)
Discussion.
Community Development Director Chirpich inquired about the Council wanting to move
forward with the Single-Family Rental Moratorium.
Overall, the general consensus of the Council is that it is still in favor of the moratorium.
Councilmember Spriggs did clarify that he would like to see something more targeted to
Corporate Landlords.
Community Development Coordinator Mitchell Forney spoke to the first hearing in
committee at the State Legislature level related to corporate landlords not being able to
own single family homes.
Councilmember Buesgens stated that proceeding with the moratorium is best because this
has been attempted by other cities and has been held up in court.
Councilmember Jacobs is curious about how many unlicensed renters there are in the City.
She feels that there are 5/6 unlicensed rentals in her neighborhood . She wants to make
sure that we are maintaining the quality of our neighborhoods.
Councilmember James wants to make sure our housing stock is kept available for people to
buy.
Councilmember Spriggs inquired why 10% is the standard and was curious if the lack of
rental properties increases the rental cost.
Director Chirpich stated the percentage could be set by Council. There is no specific data
on the impact this has on the cost of renting a home.
The next topic that was addressed by Director Chirpich addressed was the topic of ADU and
making these an option in the city under the changes that occurred in 2005. He addressed
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the comprehensive plan and maintaining the variety of housing, and single-family housing.
Community Development Coordinator Forney further addressed the context of the
comprehensive plan. Many cities do not currently have R2 districts, however Columbia
Heights does.
Councilmember James is a supporter of ADU’s. She would like to see the option of having
the rental density cap and allowing ADU’s.
Councilmember Buesgens is in support of the owner-occupied options. She feels that we
have a great mix of housing. She would like to explore the ADU options for properties that
have more lot size / property option. She doesn’t want to completely close the door. She
would like to see how Fridley and Richfield are handling the issue.
Councilmember Jacobs is against ADU’s, she further clarified that she is not against renters.
She feels that the lot sizes are too small in many of the neighborhoods. These are still a
type of rental.
Director Chirpich wanted to bring the item up as an i tem of concern related to having an
ideal version and preparing for what we want to do. We currently are ahead of the curve
and are dealing with different circumstances than other communities.
Community Coordinator Forney is looking for intent and focus from the Council overall.
Councilmember Buesgens stated that it is more of a multigenerational focus.
Councilmember James would like to discuss this again in a few months.
6. Discuss Special Services District for Central Avenue Snow Removal.
Community Development Coordinator Mitchell Forney briefly discussed the potential for a
special service district on Central Avenue.
If this is something that the Council would like to pursue the next step is to hold a meeting
of all the property owners, 25% of the property owners would need to petition the city for
this ordinance to pass. There is an extensive public hearing process. If 35% of the property
owners submit objections, then the ordinance is vetoed.
Mayor Márquez Simula asked if the City has a voice in the process.
It was clarified that the City can use general funds to do this and not charge the businesses.
Councilmember Jacobs likes the current option, where the businesses take care of their
own property.
City Manager Bourgeois stated that the residential properties cannot be a part of this
program. She was also curious about beautification programs being included as well.
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The next step would be talking to the businesses, having them go to the meeting and
submitting a letter to get the process started. This would be something Community
Development would be initiating.
7. SACA Relocation and Deadline for City Owned Lot.
City Manager Kelli Bourgeois and Community Development Director Chirpich presented
this item to the Council. City Manager Bourgeois noted that SACA has discontinued the
thrift store. She has asked SACA for a date to have a joint meeting, but none has been set.
She will be drafting a letter to inform them about the concerns related to utilities and
maintenance of the property. She inquired as to what the timeline should be of the
conclusion of paying for these items.
Mayor Márquez Simula would like to offer six months, James supports that as well as
Spriggs
Buesgens, and Jacobs would like to offer ninety days.
There was also a brief discussion about what would Council like to see done with the City
owned property that would no longer be used by SACA. There have been discussions for
ideas for an outdoor space idea with the developer Rueter Walton related to keeping the
property and finding a use with artwork, pocket park, storm water, playground, etc.
8. Youth Commission Membership Number and Appointment Process.
Communications Coordinator Ben Sandell discussed with the Council how the first year of
the Youth Commission has gone and some updates to the code that are recommended as
we move into the second year. Overall membership levels are good but adjusting the cap
to 13 members would allow for better participation. He also would like to update the code
to allow the commissioners to attend a staff approved alternate city meeting if they have a
pre-approved absence.
Mayor Márquez Simula would also like to see members who attend school within the
Columbia Heights / Hilltop / Fridley School District be able to join the Youth Commission.
With the language in the code to be updated to “live or go to school in Columbia Heights
School District”
Councilmember Jacobs would like to keep the Commission only for youth living in Columbia
Heights.
Councilmember Buesgens, James and Spriggs were open to the youth from the school
being able to be a part of the Youth Commission.
The consensus of the Council was to move forward with the updates of 13 members,
allowing for attendance at approved alternate meetings, and for members to live or go to
school in Columbia Heights to join the commission.
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9. Board and Commission Interviews Scheduled for March 13th and 14th.
City Clerk Ion confirmed that the Board and Commission interviews have been scheduled.
There were 14 applicants, and great engagement with social media thanks to the
Communications team.
League of MN Cities Housing Resolution re Local Housing jurisdiction.
City Manager Bourgeois will forward the draft of the resolution that Councilmember
Buesgens would like to read and approve that the League drafted related to control over
local housing decisions.
Council approved that the Resolution be read at the next Council meeting.
New Council Corner Time.
The council confirmed that the second Wednesday at 3pm works for all Councilmembers.
Resignation of City Manager Kelli Bourgeois.
City Manager Bourgeois gave her notice that she has accepted a new position as City
Manager as City Manager of Bristol, TN. Her last day as City Manager for Columbia Heights
will be April 13, 2023. She is so proud of where she has been able to work with Staff and
Council to being the Community.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Márquez Simula adjourned the meeting at 10:11pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
______________________________________
Sara Ion, City Clerk/Council Secretary