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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-05-2023 City Council Work Session CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION Mayor Amáda Márquez Simula Councilmembers Connie Buesgens Kt Jacobs Rachel James Justice Spriggs Interim City Manager Kevin Hansen Public Safety Bldg—Training Room, 825 41st Ave NE Wednesday, July 05, 2023 6:00 PM MINUTES The following are the minutes for the Work Session Meeting of the City Council held at 6:00pm on Tuesday, July 5, 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 6:00pm Present: Mayor Márquez Simula; Councilmember Buesgens; Councilmember Jacobs; Councilmember James; Councilmember Spriggs Also Present: Lenny Austin, Police Chief; Andrew Boucher, Aaron Chirpich, Community Developmen t Director/Assistant City Manager; Mitchell Forney, Community Development Coordinator; Kevin Hansen, Interim City Manager; Sara Ion, City Clerk/Council Secretary; Dan O’Brien, Assistant Fire Chief; Charlie Thompson, Fire Chief; Kathy Ahler, City Resident. WORK SESSION ITEMS 1. Update on Upcoming Potential Revocations. Assistant Fire Chief Dan O’Brien presented the current concerns with the items for revocation that are potentially on the Monday, July 10 agenda. There are re inspections occurring at the end of the week and there will be a better understanding of the potential impact regarding revocations. 2. PEL Update. Interim City Manager Kevin Hansen led the presentation on this item, and the MNDOT plans are moving forward in the future. Councilmember Buesgens had concerns that the community needs were not listened to regarding reducing the driving lanes and having roundabouts. Interim City Manager Hansen Indicated that this was still the very initial stages of planning and that there would still be more opportunities for community input. 3. Parks Capital Improvement Plan: Review and Update / Plan Moving Forward. Interim City Manager Kevin Hansen reviewed the status of the current parks in the City and the status of previous updates and the updates proposed by the Parks and Recreation Commission. He stated that the City will need to make a bonding request in the upcoming months and will need additional information from Council on an amount that will be requested. City of Columbia Heights MINUTES July 05, 2023 City Council Work Session Page 2 4. City Hall - Update. Interim City Manager Hansen gave an update of the plan for staff to move into City Hall, and for services to be available to residents. There are concerns about the audio-visual components for Council Chambers and when the first Council meeting can be held but hopefully it will be the last meeting in July. Councilmember James would like to invite board and commission members to the first meeting if possible. Councilmember Buesgens would like there to be parking signs for the municipal parking areas. 5. 24-30 Month Looking Forward Plan of Projects and Activities. Interim City Manager Kevin Hansen and Assistant City Manager Chirpich led a conversation of the status of the items from the goal setting the Council Conducted in March. They touched on each item, project by project with a status update. The first two items were the Alatus Projects and the Medtronic Site. Followed by the 37th and 53rd Construction Projects being reviewed at a high level as well. Bonding Requests to the State were reviewed, and we will be visited by the State Bonding Committee. We are looking forward to the conclusion of the JPM site review, as well as the Facility condition analysis related to the Parks. There was a brief review of the PEL studies that are occurring in the community. A review of the Liquor Store Remodel at Store three was conducted as well. Mayor Márquez Simula and Councilmember Buesgens inquired about a Municipal Cannabis Store at Liquor Store 3 and factoring that into the remodel. Interim City Manager Hansen stated that those questions would be forwarded to Finance Director Kloiber. Interim City Manager Hansen also discussed the project related to Safe Streets for all Action Plan that has been submitted to the Federal Government and we are expecting a response in the next four to eight weeks. The Sustainability Commission was also reviewed as it is just about to get off the ground and the staff time commitment is very large. Mayor Márquez Simula would like the Sustainability Commission to work within the Green Step City Plan Director Hansen discussed the Pedestrian Mobility Plan with the Council as well. Councilmember Jacobs asked about sidewalk assessments. Interim City Manager Hansen stated that sidewalks are assessed at 100% to the homeowner. Interim City Manager Hansen also had up information about the water meter replacement plan as well and stated that we will also need to update the five-year CIP Plan in 2024. City of Columbia Heights MINUTES July 05, 2023 City Council Work Session Page 3 Assistant City Manager Chirpich added that he will be adding an inspector to the proposed budget for 2024. Interim City Manager and Assistant City Manager Chirpich would like to address a DEI program for the City Staff in the upcoming year as well. Interim City Manager Hansen stated that overall, he and the Assistant City Manager have presented a very high level of the large amount of the work that needs to be done in the next two to three years. There needs to be prioritization to bring this work forward from a resource perspective with the Council. Prioritization of not only funds but of the ability of staff to complete the tasks. Overall we are very lean from a staffing prospective and there will be staffing turnover at a division head level due to retirement. Councilmember Buesgens acknowledged that we have a very small staff compared to other cities. She would like to have Department Heads present information at Council meetings so that residents can be aware of what is occurring and the work that is being completed. Mayor Márquez Simula agreed and would like to highlight the great work that is being completed. 6. THC Legalization, Registration, and Zoning Update. Community Development Coordinator Mitchell Forney gave a brief presentation on the upcoming legalization of Cannabis in the State of MN on August 1 st. The licensing and sale in the State will not be authorized until August 1, 2024. Mayor Márquez Simula mentioned that a concern of the community was the nuisance of the smell of smoking cannabis. 7. Tax Increment Financing (TIF) 101 and TIF Status Report. Assistant City Manager Chirpich reviewed for the Council the basics of TIF and the TIF Status Report. Councilmember Buesgens and Mayor Márquez Simula clarified how TIF districts can be decertified and where the funds go. 8. Single Family Rental Density Cap Discussion. Assistant City Manager Chirpich reviewed additional information and conversations that have occurred since the moratorium that first went into effect one year ago. He reviewed the summary points from the information in the packet, and asked for input on ho w the Council would like to move forward with the moratorium and/or Ordinance for the density cap. Overall, the Council wants to have more opportunities for affordable homeownership in the community and sees the rental density cap as an opportunity for home ownership vs. opportunistic corporate landlords purchasing single family homes. The consensus was to City of Columbia Heights MINUTES July 05, 2023 City Council Work Session Page 4 move forward with the moratorium until the Ordinance for the density cap can be approved by the Council. 9. City Council. National League of Cities Membership. Interim City Manager Hansen gave information on the topic, and that we have previous been members of the NLC. The consensus of the Council was that they would like to participate in the National League of Cities. Outdoor Activities During Weather Advisory. Interim City Manager Kevin Hansen led the conversation on this item. Due to the recent concerning levels of forest fire smoke a general policy was discussed for when City events would be canceled due to poor air quality and weather ad visory. The City Manager in consultation with Division Heads / Community Events and Engagement Coordinator will make the determination on when an event should be canceled / postponed. City Manager Search and City Manager Job Description. The Mayor asked Councilmember James lead the conversation on this item. There was a discussion on the pros and cons for a RFP for an outside search for a City Manager. Councilmember James felt strongly about the use of outside search, and felt that the search in New Hope and Minnetonka had been successful. She would like to encourage the current interim manager to apply. She stated that Columbia Heights does have a lower salary than most first ring cities so that could limit the number of applicants. Councilmember Jacobs had concerns about the limited pool of applicants and how that would impact the quality and quantity of applicants. Councilmember Buesgens stated that the discussion should be in August and personally she believed we should be promoting from within, and that Kevin has done an excellent job and she is not willing to spend $30,000 to conduct a search when there is a qualified candidate. Councilmember Spriggs inquired if Kevin would apply if there was an outside search and if he would stay with the city if there was an outside candidate. Interim City Manager Kevin Hansen stated that he the reason for the presentation related to the vision and plan for the next 24-36 months earlier in the evening was to demonstrate to the Council that they currently have the right City Manager and Assistant City Manager in place to do the job.. He wants the Council to contemplate what they need in a City Manager: he has been with the City since 1997 and has a great deal of loyalty and institutional knowledge, he can support staff and maintain the trust and continuity needed to continue the momentum needed to complete the goals the council has set. He wants the Council to consider who can keep the projects, and challenges that are unique to Columbia Heights going and complete them and take on new ones. City of Columbia Heights MINUTES July 05, 2023 City Council Work Session Page 5 Councilmember Jacobs asked Assistant City Manager Chirpich if he would be interested in the position of City Manager when Interim City Manager Hansen retires. She has concerns about having to spend $55,000 to complete two City Manager searches within the time frame of 5 years. Assistant City Manager Chirpich stated that he is interested in conditionally applying/ taking on the position if there was a search for the City Manager position when Interim City Manager Hansen retires. Mayor Márquez Simula stated that she is in favor of using a search firm because the community does not understand the process, and that the Council is “not settling”. Councilmember Buesgens feels that some of the vocal community members do not know our staff and are being judgmental and that they do not understand that they are smart and very progressive, and not part of “the good ol’ boy club. She is concerned that we will lose Kevin as a candidate. She feels that this would be spending money to confirm what we already know. She is concerned that we are breaking the trust and will also lose Assistant City Manager Chirpich. Councilmember Jacobs is concerned that we are not promoting from within and she 90% agrees with Councilmember Buesgens. She is concerned that Interim City Manager Hansen does not want to be a candidate, particularly if the job description is changed. Mayor Márquez Simula stated that she appreciated that Interim City Manager Hansen has never acted entitled to the position, she appreciates his professionalism. She stated that the Council’s role is to discuss what is best for the community, and difficult topics. They need to do what is best. Councilmember James feels that there are no bad choices to be made. Councilmember Spriggs stated that he was not ready to decide yet on moving forward with an outside firm. He would encourage Kevin to apply if they do use an outside firm. Potential Recall Mayor Márquez Simula inquired if the Council would be updated related to a recall; If there was a petition for a “we want a dog park” would the council get an update. Interim City Manager Hansen stated that the validation process was ongoing related to the recall petition that was filed and that the time frame ends tomorrow. The petitioners would be contacted related to the status of the petition. Councilmember James and Mayor Márquez Simula inquired about the ten days that follow the petition deficiency notification. Interim City Manager Hansen clarified the ten-calendar day period. City of Columbia Heights MINUTES July 05, 2023 City Council Work Session Page 6 Mayor Márquez Simula inquired about the conclusion of the process. City Clerk Ion clarified that there are many variables that need to be taken into consideration, and that the process is very specifically outlined in the City Charter. Mayor Márquez Simula stated that she does not speak “lawyer ease” and wanted additional clarification. She stated that people have lots of questions. Councilmember James stated that community members have lots of questions. City Clerk Ion stated that there are a lot of variables that need to be considered and this conversation would better addressed at the conclusion of the time period for review of the petition. Community Forum Update. Mayor Márquez Simula led the continued discussion on potential changes to the Community Forum. She would like to update the forum to change the wording to allow for people to address a specific person. She wants people to be able to address individual council members. Councilmember James does not want to limit first amendment rights but does not want threats or profanity. Councilmember Jacobs asked if the public would be allowed to name call councilmembers, or if screaming or yelling would occur. Mayor Márquez Simula stated that this would not happen. Councilmember Buesgens stated that this should not happen, communication should not be disrespectful. She feels that things have calmed down, and things can always be added back in if needed. Mayor Márquez Simula stated that she would like the line to read “all speakers should limit comments to five minutes”. There was general consensus to move forward with the removal. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 11:20 pm Respectfully Submitted, ______________________________________ Sara Ion, City Clerk .