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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-02-2023 City Council Work Session Minutes CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION Mayor Amáda Márquez Simula Councilmembers Connie Buesgens Kt Jacobs Rachel James Justice Spriggs Interim City Manager Kevin Hansen City Hall—Shared Vision Room, 3989 Central Ave NE Monday, October 02, 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, October 2, 2023, in the Shared Vision Room, City Hall, 3989 Central Avenue NE, Columbia Heights, Minnesota. WELCOME/CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Council President Buesgens called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm Present: Councilmember Buesgens; Councilmember Jacobs; Councilmember Spriggs; Councilmember James Not Present: Mayor Márquez Simula Also Present: Lenny Austin, Chief of Police; Aaron Chirpich, Community Development Director/ Assistant City Manager; Kevin Hansen, Interim City Manager; Sara Ion, City Clerk; Erick Johnstons, Police Captain; Joe Kloiber, Finance Director; Matt Markham, Police Captain; Dan O’Brien, Assistant Fire Chief; Renee Dougherty; Library Director; Joe Kloiber, Finance Director; Dan O’Brien, Assistant Fire Chief; Charlie Thompson, Fire Chief; Keith Windschitl, Recreation Director. WORK SESSION ITEMS 1. 3988 Central Avenue NE Sanitary Sewer Line Repair. Interim City Manager Kevin Hansen gave the council information about the concerns with the Sanitary Sewer line repair that was completed at 3988 Central Avenue and proceeding with the payment of the repair that was incurred by the property owner. This item will be on the next Council Agenda for approval. 2. 2024 Budget Presentations by Division. Fire Department Fire Chief Charlie Thompson and Assistant Fire Chief O’Brien presented information about the 2024 budget. The presentation will be available online on the Finance page. Included in the presentation was the recommendation that the recreational f ire permit program be eliminated. The council was in favor of moving away from the permitting of residential recreational fire permitting, with a continued focus on community education. Councilmember James inquired about the compensation study increases in relation to the Fire Department staffing dollar amount. City of Columbia Heights MINUTES October 02, 2023 City Council Work Session Page 2 Interim City Manager Hansen reviewed how the cost-of-living increases have impacted all departments and the budgets for payroll. Recreation Recreation Director Keith Windschitl gave an overview of the 2024 Recreation Budget. The presentation will be available online on the Finance page. Director Windschitl also gave follow up information on the impact of loss of grants that directly reduced the free programs that are offered via the Recreation Department. Councilmember James inquired about the use of the Highlander Center . Director Windschitl stated that the use of the gym has transitioned from individuals to teams and groups that have a higher level of supervision and less damage issues. Director Windschitl also gave a high-level overview of some of the issues going on with Murzyn Hall. Councilmember Spriggs inquired about a timeline for the review of facility analysis, and the discussion of replacement of Murzyn Hall. Interim City Manager Hansen stated that a review of this information will occur at the beginning of 2024. Overall, he would like to have the community give input on what they would like to see. Police Police Chief Lenny Austin led the presentation on the IT Budget. The presentation will be available online on the Finance page. Councilmember James inquired about potential public safety funding from the State of MN. She would like to see those funds being used for capital costs, such as the purchase of the new vehicles. She stated that she did not understand why this was not inclu ded in the budget for 2024, and reiterated that she feels that the funds could be used to pay for the operating costs of the department. Chief Austin would expect that the Public Safety department will receive almost nine hundred thousand dollars in grants. Chief Austin and Finance Director Kloiber explained the reason for the three-vehicle rotation replacement that has been occurring within the Police Department budget for an extended time. Director Kloiber further clarified why this amount is not included currently in the 2024 operating budget. The budget process leading up to the December 11, 2023 public hearing for approval is one that includes the items discussed during the presentation this evening. Director Kloiber explained the statutory process that is needed for the budget. Kloiber stated that there had not been an inclusive review of the funds to include them in the budget so that it does not distort the budget, and the money has not been received from the State at the time of the meeting or when budget preparation occurred. City of Columbia Heights MINUTES October 02, 2023 City Council Work Session Page 3 Chief Austin stated that the funding is intended as a onetime (possibly a once in a career) grant that is to be used towards impacting overall community safety. He feels that one of the things to keep in mind is that there will be a much larger discussion related to what is needed for the community when the funds have been confirmed and received from the State of MN. Councilmember Buesgens stated that she was in full support of a therapy dog being included in the budget. She inquired if the dog would be donated, or the costs related to training and going home with the handler. She is also in support of a staffing study for public safety and the city as a whole. Chief Austin stated that there are many ways agencies and programs handle the addition of a therapy dog. The city will need to see who the dog handler will be, and how that is best implemented. Councilmember Jacobs is not in favor of using this grant money towards an operating budget because this is money that we would not have from year to year. Councilmember Spriggs stated that he would like to see about using the grant money to find the Social Worker position for the future. Library Library Director Renee Dougherty led the presentation on the Library Budget. The presentation will be available online on the Finance page. Councilmember Spriggs inquired about the staffing levels and expanding hours. Director Dougherty stated that she would like to see the use of more full-time staff instead of part-time staff to accomplish the staffing needs of the Library. Councilmember Buesgens inquired about the use of e-books. Director Dougherty reviewed the process of acquiring electronic materials. She explained that the print budget has not decreased dramatically. I/T Information Technology Director Jesse Hauf led the presentation on the IT Budget. The presentation will be available online on the Finance page. Finance Director Kloiber expanded on the importance of the new offsite location and the improvements and advances the IT department has made since director Hauf joined the City. Community Development Community Development Director Aaron Chirpich lead the presentation regarding the City of Columbia Heights MINUTES October 02, 2023 City Council Work Session Page 4 Community Development budget, the presentation will be available online on the Finance page. Councilmember Spriggs inquired about how the different types of façade grants are reflected in the budget. Director Chirpich stated that these funds roll over into the next year if they are not completely used. Councilmember James inquired about the hiring timeline for the Building Inspector. Director Chirpich stated that this process will begin towards the end of the year. Councilmember Spriggs inquired about the sale of the former Fairview site. Director Chirpich stated that there are developers interested in the site, and inquired if the City would be willing to sell the ramp. If the ramp were to be purchased, there would still need to be public access at the site with 330 parking spots. Councilmember Buesgens inquired about the EDA purchases from budget section 408. Director Chirpich stated that there are additional funds for the purchases that this was allocated for future purchases. 3. School Resource Officer Contract Discussion. Chief Austin gave an overview of the status of the SRO contract discussions and the plans moving forward. There has been a lot of partnership and discussions related to use of force concerns in schools. Chief Austin’s recommendation would be to cancel the contract until this issue is further addressed in the legislature (as soon as February 2024). His additional recommendation would be to create a juvenile investigator position within the department who would continue the established partnerships with the schools. This investigator would be stationed at an existing office at the Highland Center. If this law is potentially not adjusted at the legislative level in February 2024, then Chief Austin would recommend having a meeting of community partners to see how the SRO program would move forward. Director Kloiber stated that this revenue from the SRO contract is in the 2024 budget, but there is flexibility in the expenditure side for the department. Councilmember James inquired as to how things have changed over the process of clarification from the Attorney Generals Office. She asked for the third release from the League of MN Cities, second from the MMPO and the AG’s second opinion. City of Columbia Heights MINUTES October 02, 2023 City Council Work Session Page 5 Councilmember Spriggs inquired about the differences in job descriptions between an SRO and a juvenile investigator. He also inquired about how this would impact sporting events. Chief Austin clarified that the SRO contract explicitly provides that the officer is a member of the Columbia Heights Police Department and not a member of the school faculty. There should be a delineation in the positions, and this law makes that hard. Captain Markham addressed the program that was previously used with the Boys Basketball team as well as the Big Brothers / Big Sisters. They are trying to reestablish this relationship. Councilmember Buesgens expressed her dismay that all parties involved were not included in the changes that were made and she fully supports the termination of the contract and supporting the officers. 4. Council Corner. Councilmember Buesgens inquired if there were any items that needed to be discussed. Councilmember Buesgens inquired if the council would like to join the Sustainability Commission or send a separate letter to MnDOT related to their concerns with pedestrian and street safety. She further clarified that the main goal has not been established by the Sustainability Commission as the letter has not been drafted. Councilmember James inquired about the implementation of licensing changes and the Metro Area Sales taxes. Interim City Manager clarified that the money related to the Metro Area Sales Tax will be used for transportation safety. The City will also have to pay this tax on items purchased. Councilmember Spriggs asked what the MnDOT website was for the traffic counts for the streets. Interim City Manager Hansen stated that he would follow up with the Police Department to get that information for him. ADJOURNMENT Council President Buesgens adjourned the meeting at 8:33pm. Respectfully Submitted, ______________________________________ Sara Ion, City Clerk/Council Secretary