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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-25-2025 City Council Meeting Minutes CITY COUNCIL MEETING Mayor Amáda Márquez Simula Councilmembers Connie Buesgens Rachel James Justice Spriggs Laurel Deneen City Manager Aaron Chirpich City Hall—Council Chambers, 3989 Central Ave NE Monday, August 25, 2025 6:00 PM MINUTES The following are the minutes for the Meeting of the City Council held at 6:00 pm on Monday, August 25, 2025, in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 3989 Central Avenue NE, Columbia Heights, Minnesota WELCOME/CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Mayor Márquez Simula called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm. Present: Mayor Márquez Simula; Councilmember Buesgens; Councilmember Deneen; Councilmember James Absent: Councilmember Spriggs Also Present: Aaron Chirpich, City Manager; Sara Ion, City Clerk; Joe Kloiber, Finance Director; Travis Scott, Assistant City Attorney; Candy Lack, City of Columbia Heights Active Agers Coordinator; Patty Schafer, Exercise Instructor for Active Agers; Mary Kay VanKempen, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Anoka County Representative MISSION STATEMENT Columbia Heights is a vibrant, healthy and connected City. We are here to actively support the community, deliver equitable services, build and strengthen connections, improve upon our past, and uphold our successes. We strive to be better and ensure Columbia Heights is a great place for everyone, today and in the future. Columbia Heights City Council and Staff Norms. While we are accountable to each other for these norms, the Mayor and City Manager will help us adhere to them with respectful reminders and reinforcement as needed. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion by Councilmember Buesgens, seconded by Councilmember James, to approve the Agenda as presented. All Ayes, Motion Carried 4-0. PROCLAMATIONS, PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITION, ANNOUNCEMENTS, GUESTS A. Senior Citizen Day Proclamation. Accepting Proclamation: Candy Lack, City of Columbia Heights Senior Citizen Coordinator. City of Columbia Heights MINUTES August 25, 2025 City Council Meeting Page 2 Mayor Márquez Simula proclaimed August 21, 2025, as Senior Citizen Day and read the City’s proclamation. City of Columbia Heights Active Ager Coordinator Candy Lack accepted the proclamation and explained how important her work is to her and that she wanted to be a part of people's lives in the community. She introduced Patty Schafer, who is an exercise instructor for the Active Agers and a volunteer. She recognized Ms. Schafer for her work with the seniors. Ms. Schafer thanked the Council and mentioned that she was there to represent all of the programs that were offered to seniors. She added that the program enriches senior citizens’ lives and their engagement with the community. She explained the exercise program she runs and noted that she incorporates strength training, balance, and mobility from the safety of a chair. Mayor Márquez Simula mentioned that she has attended some of the art classes that are offered for senior citizens. She added that she sees many of the participants enjoy the class and have childlike joy and pride in their work. B. Suicide Prevention / Awareness Proclamation. Accepting Proclamation: Mary Kay VanKempen, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Anoka County Representative. Mayor Márquez Simula proclaimed September 2025 as National Suicide Prevention Month, and Councilmember James read the City’s proclamation. NAMI Anoka County Representative Mary Kay VanKempen accepted the proclamation and thanked the Council for allowing her to speak. NAMI’s mission is to educate, support, and advocate. It is all volunteer work and was established by parents and those who were living with mental illness. NAMI provides education, training, workshops, information booklets, worksheets, videos, outreach, and suicide prevention and postvention support, and support groups for families and individuals. She added that NAMI is great at advocacy and explained that they were a large part in getting the 988 suicide prevention number through the federal government. The NAMI walk event will be on September 27th. Everything NAMI gives is free. NAMI offers a free question, persuade, and refer (QPR) class, which is a “CPR” class for suicide prevention. NAMI also has training for post-suicide. She explained that they believe that silence should never be a response to suicide. She added that they believe that they need to give people the resources to recognize the warning signs and help without fear or shame. Ms. VanKempen asked that people support NAMI by being an advocate for their mental health system, attending an event or program, signing up for a newsletter, joining a local affiliate, becoming a sponsor, donating, or volunteering. City of Columbia Heights MINUTES August 25, 2025 City Council Meeting Page 3 Mayor Márquez Simula thanked Ms. VanKempen and mentioned that she has had many people in her life affected by suicide. She added that NAMI is doing a great job in promoting itself in the community. Councilmember Buesgens noted that she used to work for Youth Emergency Services. She stated it is nice to see that the services are continuing to provide resources for people in our community. She thanked Ms. VanKempen for what she does. C. Hunger Action Proclamation. Accepting Proclamation: Every Meal Representative. Mayor Márquez Simula proclaimed September 2025 as Hunger Action Month, and Councilmember Deneen read the City’s proclamation. CITY COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS Report of the City Council Councilmember James stated she attended the Sustainability Commission meeting and the League of Women Voters summer social. She added that she met the new teachers from the Columbia Heights School District at the Scaling the Heights event. She mentioned that she attended the City staff luncheon and the Monarch Festival. She thanked the invasive species team for pulling buckthorn weeds at LaBelle Park. She noted she attended the State Fair and congratulated the Columbia Heights residents who won awards. Councilmember Buesgens mentioned she attended Cone with a Cop, the Parks and Recreation Theater program performance, the Kiwanis Peach Drive, the Polish Picnic at Huset Park, the summer staff luncheon, the fire relief meeting, Music in the Park, the Monarch Festival, and the landlord meeting. She agreed with Councilmember James’ gratitude for the volunteers who helped with the buckthorn removal. Councilmember Deneen noted that she attended the League of Women Voters social event, a local singalong at the high school, and a HeightsNEXT meeting. She mentioned that the City’s Pride event would be on September 13th at Kordiak Park from 11:00 am until 4:00 pm. She stated she attended and volunteered at the Monarch Festival. She added that she attended the State Fair and saw many exhibits that highlighted City residents. Mayor Márquez Simula shared that it was Women’s Equality Day and reminded the community about the hard-fought progress towards equity and the continued work that must be done to ensure fairness and opportunity for everyone. She noted that she met with the City’s Metropolitan Councilmember, Reva Chamblis, to discuss issues such as housing and transportation. She attended the Monarch Festival and the City staff summer luncheon. She stated that she joined the Regional Council of Mayors Executive Team meeting. She noted that she attended a movie at the Heights Theater, the Polish Picnic, the World War II Memorial at Huset Park, and the League of Women Voters summer soiree. She added that she got peaches from Kiwanis and made a peach cobbler. She mentioned that she would be volunteering at the Eco booth at the State Fair on Friday. She added that there would be a HeightsNEXT potluck picnic tomorrow night at Lomianki Park starting at 5:00 pm. City of Columbia Heights MINUTES August 25, 2025 City Council Meeting Page 4 Councilmember James mentioned that there was an article in The Life newspaper that noted that the City partners with the School District to provide a youth outreach officer. During the last School Board meeting, the Police Chief mentioned that there was no use of force during the 2024-2025 school year. Report of the City Manager City Manager Chirpich provided an update on the 2026 budget. Earlier today, the Council received the City Manager’s proposed 2026 budget. The proposed budget will be available on the City’s website. The budget will be reviewed at each of the three-monthly work sessions and two regular City Council meetings, which will be on September 27th and December 8th. The City’s newsletter will be arriving in mailboxes later this week or earlier next week. The fitness court grand opening is scheduled for Monday, September 8th, at 10:00 am. City Manager Chirpich gave an update on upcoming construction on 40th Avenue. The 40th Avenue NE Utility Improvement Project will begin on Tuesday, September 2nd. The project includes sanitary sewer and water main improvements and is scheduled to last two months. During the project, 40th Avenue from 2nd Street to University Avenue NE will be closed to traffic. Vehicles can access University Avenue at 44th Avenue and 37th Avenue. Mayor Márquez Simula asked when the next Movie in the Park would be. City Manager Chirpich replied that it would be September 5th at Huset Park East at 7:30 pm. CONSENT AGENDA Mayor Márquez Simula asked if the properties that were being assessed would have information mailed to them. City Manager Chirpich replied that all affected property owners in the project would receive a notice of the hearing. Mayor Márquez Simula added that the assessment amount cannot exceed what was previously voted on by the Council. Motion by Councilmember Deneen, seconded by Councilmember Buesgens, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. All Ayes, Motion Carried 4-0. 1. Approve August 11, 2025, City Council Meeting Minutes. MOTION: Move to approve the August 11, 2025, City Council meeting minutes. 2. First Reading of Ordinance 1719, being an Ordinance to Amend Ordinance 1636. MOTION: Move to waive the reading of Ordinance No. 1719, there being ample copies available to the public. MOTION: Move to set the second reading of Ordinance No. 1719, an Ordinance amending Ordinance 1636 for September 8th, 2025, at approximately 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. 3. Adopt Resolution 2025-69 Approving Certain Amendments to the 2025 Budget. MOTION: Move to waive the reading of Resolution 2025-69, there being ample copies available to the public. City of Columbia Heights MINUTES August 25, 2025 City Council Meeting Page 5 MOTION: Move to adopt Resolution 2025-69, being a resolution adopting certain amendments to the 2025 budget. 4. Establish Date for 2025 Public Special Assessment Levy Hearing for 2025 Concrete Alley Construction, Project 2506, and Delinquent Accounts. MOTION: Move to establish Monday, October 6, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. as the Public Special Assessment Levy Hearing for City Project 2506, to be held in the City Council Chambers. MOTION: Move to establish Monday, October 6, 2025, at 6:15 p.m., or immediately following the Alley Special Assessment Hearing, as the Public Special Assessment Levy Hearing for Delinquent Accounts to be held in the City Council Chambers. 5. License Agenda. MOTION: Move to approve the items listed on the business license agenda for August 25, 2025, as presented. 6. Rental Occupancy Licenses for Approval. MOTION: Move to approve the items listed for rental housing license applications for August 25, 2025, in that they have met the requirements of the Property Maintenance Code. 7. Review of Bills. MOTION: Move that in accordance with Minnesota Statute 412.271, subd. 8, the City Council has reviewed the enclosed list of claims paid by check and by electronic funds transfer in the amount of $1,587,415.23. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Councilmember James, seconded by Councilmember Deneen, to adjourn. All Ayes, Motion Carried 4-0. Meeting adjourned at 6:46 pm. Respectfully Submitted, ______________________________________ Sara Ion, City Clerk/Council Secretary