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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-06-2025 City Council Work Session Minutes CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION Mayor Amáda Márquez Simula Councilmembers Connie Buesgens Rachel James Justice Spriggs Laurel Deneen City Manager Aaron Chirpich City Hall—Shared Vision Room, 3989 Central Ave NE Monday, January 06, 2025 6:00 PM MINUTES CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL The meeting was called to order by Mayor Márquez Simula at 6:20pm. Present: Mayor Márquez Simula, Councilmember Buesgens, Councilmember Spriggs, Councilmember James, Councilmember Deneen Also Present: Aaron Chirpich, City Manager; Mitch Forney, Community Development Director; Sara Ion, City Clerk; Scott Lepak, City Attorney; Matt Markham, Police Chief; Dan O’Brien, Fire Chief; Will Rottler, Communications Coordinator; Emille Voight, Community Development Coordinator; Alicia De La Cruz, Artist / Resident; Pedro De La Cruz, Resident. WORK SESSION ITEMS 1. Fitness Court Public Art Update. Communications Coordinator Will Rottler gave the Council an overview of the status of the Fitness Court public art project at Sullivan Lake Park. He introduced Columbia Heights Resident Alicia De La Cruz who is the artist that will be taking on the design and execution of the public art project. De La Cruz discussed the design elements and the reasoning behind the different flowers, and insects she incorporated in the project as well as the difference in the origins of the modern and historical floral Ojibwe floral patterns. Mayor Márquez Simula stated that she would like to have the monarch butterfly and milkweed represented in the mural. She would also like to have the opening of the Fitness Court before the Monarch Festival this summer. Councilmember Buesgens added that she would like to see a bee included in the design as well. Councilmember Deneen and James expressed how much they liked all the design elements. 2. Gould Ave NE and Peters Place Parking Update. Community Development Coordinator Emilie Voight gave the Council an update on the status of the implementation of the project to improve parking on Gould and Peters Place. She informed the Council that the installation of the signage began prior to the new year, and that permanent no parking / restricted parking signs are now in place in all three zones approved by the Council at the December 8, 2024 Council Meeting. Community Coordinator Voight highlighted how a multitude of City Departments have been working together to make the project a success. The communications team has been assisting with keeping the neighborhood informed with multiple fliers, a website and code red texts and City of Columbia Heights MINUTES January 06, 2025 City Council Work Session Page 2 phone calls to residents. Throughout the implementation the Police Department has also been involved in enforcement and helping to correct concerning behavior. Councilmember Buesgens relayed that a resident inquired about turning Gould into a one- way street. Community Development Coordinator Voight commented that utilizing a one way was briefly discussed related to Peters Place, but it would not be utilized as an option for the approved three step plan that is now underway. Coordinator Voight also informed the Council that all unapproved signage from businesses on Central were also removed, and a discussion was held with the property owner. 3. Discuss Process for Addressing Citizen Complaints Against City Departments and City Employees. City Manager Aaron Chirpich introduced the item, and the goal posts that are utilized for when concerns are brought forward to the Council to resolve the issue. He informed the Council that there was a very detailed memo created by City Attorney Scott Lepak completed for the packet for Council’s review. City Manager Chirpich further clarified that he would like to focus on the specific issues that the Council has while City Attorney Lepak was present related to the memo and that he found the Q&A portion of the memo to be very helpful. Mayor Márquez Simula stated that she appreciated the information and all the details provided by the City Attorney. She would like to have a printed copy at meetings for the council to reference. She would also like to have some pre-established responses that the Council can use when encountering issues where there is respectful feedback needed. Councilmember James was glad that there is a public memo that outlines the process for complaints and concerns. She wants to make sure that there is a process to hand off the concern to the City Manager and Division Head and that there is a follow-up plan in place when the issue is resolved. Additionally, she appreciates that there are standard policies and procedures and that is the level that Council helps creates and that the City Manager and Division Heads are further addressing the concerns brough to Council by residents. Councilmember Buesgens stated that she feels that it is very important to listen to both sides of the issue, and there is often another side to the story. City Attorney Lepak stated that he has spent a large portion of his career working on public sector employee discipline concerns. His biggest concern is making a record of the concerns, and that there is a standard to address the complaints and concerns of the residents. Additionally, the City has a legal obligation to get the full record of what has occurred. Once the full record is obtained then action can be taken, but there must always be due process. City of Columbia Heights MINUTES January 06, 2025 City Council Work Session Page 3 4. Designation of Legal Newspaper for 2025. City Clerk Ion gave a brief overview of the requirements to establish the legal newspaper and why the quote from Life Newspaper (APG) was the best option. Additionally, there was a conversation about eventually using the City website as the official publication site. One issue of concern for moving forward with an electronic format is updating the Charter. Councilmember Buesgens stated that she would like to direct the issue to the Charter Commission for review. She would like to see a joint meeting of the Council and Charter Commission in the future as it would be productive where consensus is needed. Council support was given to move forward with the Life Newspaper for 2025, and the item will be added to the Consent Agenda for the upcoming Council Meeting. 5. Council Liaison Board and Commission Appointments for 2025. Mayor Márquez Simula introduced the item and asked for the Council’s input for the various board and commission appointments. There was Council consensus for the following appointments to be approved by resolution at the January 13, 2025 Council Meeting: City Boards and Commissions: Council President Councilmember James Library Board Mayor Márquez Simula Park & Recreation Commission Councilmember Buesgens Planning Commission Councilmember Deneen Charter Commission Councilmember Spriggs Sustainability Commission Councilmember James City of Columbia Heights MINUTES January 06, 2025 City Council Work Session Page 4 External Boards: Columbia Heights School Board Delegate Councilmember Deneen The League of Minnesota Cities Delegate Councilmember Spriggs Metro Cities Delegate Mayor Márquez Simula Mississippi Water Management Organization Delegate Councilmember Buesgens Rice Creek Watershed Advisory Board Delegate Mayor Márquez Simula The Anoka Cnty Joint Law Enforcement Council Delegate Mayor Márquez Simula Anoka County Fire Protection Council Delegate Mayor Márquez Simula Columbia Heights Fire Association Delegate Councilmember Buesgens Multicultural Advisory Committee Delegate Councilmember Spriggs 6. Select Date for 2025 Local Board of Appeal & Equalization Meeting. City Clerk Ion introduced the item to the Council and asked for approval to hold the LBAE meeting on April 28th as a first choice and April 22nd as a second choice. Council Consensus was to ask Anoka County to reserve April 28th as a first choice and April 22nd as a second choice for the City of Columbia Heights LBAE. 7. Board and Commission Application Period and Interviews for 2025 Openings. City Clerk Ion introduced the item to the council and asked for feedback on any updates that were needed to the 2024 Application to use it for 2025, if there were any updates needed to the interview questions and for dates in mid to late March to host Council interviews. Council consensus was to keep the formatting of the 2024 application for 2025, to update the Sustainability Commission interview questions to only use questions 1 and 2, and if there are any commission questions that are multifaceted to use an a) and b) in the City of Columbia Heights MINUTES January 06, 2025 City Council Work Session Page 5 question to further clarify it for the interviewee. Additionally, the council confirmed availability for interviews to be conducted on March 13, 14 and 17th. 8. Review Updates to the Council Handbook for 2025. City Manager Chirpich introduced the changes that were made to the Council Handbook for their review and approval. It is a very robust document, and there is a lot of very useful information in the document. City Clerk Ion gave the Council further information on the in- depth review that was completed to update the document to Council Standards. There were no significant updates, the document was cleaned up and got the “Will and Kat” treatment to streamline and make the document easier to read. Councilmember James inquired about the Council Policy for digital security that is available on the City Intranet. She would like to have a little more fleshing out of the policy. City Clerk Ion clarified that she would follow up on policy specifically related to elected officials. City Manager Chirpich stated that there are new laptops on order for all Councilmembers for 2025. 9. Executive Session: City Manager Six Month Performance Evaluation. Closed per Minn. Stat. 13D.05, Subdivision 3(a). Motion by Councilmember Buesgens to recess to Closed Session pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Section 13D.05(a), members of the public will not be able to attend the executive session portion of the meeting. The Motion was seconded by Councilmember Spriggs. All Ayes, Motion Carried 5-0. The following items were noted for follow-up, and the summary performance evaluation will be formally accepted at the January 13, 2025 City Council Meeting: Councilmember James stated that she would like to see an evaluation presented to the division heads for feedback at the twelve-month evaluation. Mayor Márquez Simula stated that she would like to see how other cities evaluate their manager / administrator. City Manager Chirpich agreed that he would like the evaluation process to continue to develop, and to get updates and feedback from Staff. Motion by Councilmember James seconded by Councilmember Deneen to reconvene and reopen the City Council Work Session Meeting. All Ayes, Motion Carried 5-0. The summary six-month evaluation was signed by all Councilmembers and the City Manager. 10. Council Corner. (5 Minutes) Updates from council regarding schedules, information sharing and priorities for continued education. City of Columbia Heights MINUTES January 06, 2025 City Council Work Session Page 6 Councilmember James invited the other councilmember to attend the State of the Region Meeting hosted by the Met Council at Allianz Field on January 30th. Mayor Márquez Simula brought up continued concerns related to the streetlights on Central. She was glad to see that many of the lights that glowed purple have been replaced, but there are still a few at 51st that are still purple. City Manager Chirpich stated that there is an asset management process needed to keep up with what lights need to be replaced and what items are owned by the power company or City. He is currently working on how the City can best address this. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Márquez Simula adjourned the meeting at approximately 8:45 pm. Respectfully Submitted, ______________________________________ Sara Ion, City Clerk/Council Secretary