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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-14-2025 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 Tuesday, October 14, 2025 6:00 PM MINUTES The following are the minutes for the Meeting of the City Council held at 6:00 pm on Tuesday, October 14, 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 6:04 pm. Present: Mayor Márquez Simula; Councilmember Buesgens; Councilmember Deneen; Councilmember Spriggs; Councilmember James Also Present: Aaron Chirpich, City Manager; David Cullen, Public Works Director; Mitchell Forney, Community Development Director; Sara Ion, City Clerk; Travis Lutz, Assistant City Attorney; Juliet Kembitskey, City resident. 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. A. 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 Mayor Márquez Simula reordered the meeting to consider City Council and Administrator Reports before Proclamations, Presentations, Recognition, Announcements, and Guests. Motion by Councilmember Buesgens, seconded by Councilmember James, to approve the Agenda as amended. All Ayes, Motion Carried 5-0. CITY COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS Report of the City Council City of Columbia Heights MINUTES October 14, 2025 City Council Meeting Page 2 Councilmember James stated she attended the Local Progress State Strategy meeting, the Columbia Heights Homecoming game, the Metro City’s Housing forum, the buy nothing gifting event, the EDA meeting, the special Council meeting, the Council work session, and the Stories from Our Neighborhood: Safeguarding Our Community Against White Christian Nationalism. The Central Avenue clean-up was on Saturday, and volunteers collected 12 bags of trash. She encouraged residents to clean up storm drains in the area. She noted that she visited the Fire Department open house. She encouraged community members to check out the surveys that are listed on the City’s website. She read a statement on the City’s website and social media pages: “The Columbia Heights City Council and City staff are aware that members of the Columbia Heights community have concerns regarding deportation events happening across the United States. What you should know as a Columbia Heights resident: • The Columbia Heights Police Department does not enforce federal immigration law. • The Columbia Heights Police Department has not, and will not, be asking for the immigration status of those they come into contact with. • The Columbia Heights Police Department prioritizes responding to the everyday needs of those who call 911 for service, regardless of immigration status. • All residents have the right to remain silent, ask for a lawyer, and refuse to sign any documents without consulting a lawyer. You can learn more about your rights by visiting the National Immigrant Justice Center website. https://immigrantjustice.org/know-your-rights/ice-encounter” Councilmember Buesgens congratulated Lieutenant Kate McKay on the award she received. She mentioned that she volunteered with the Blooming Sunshine Garden, and they harvested 18 pumpkins for the Spooktacular event, which will be on Friday from 4:00-8:00 pm. She added that there would be pumpkin carving on Wednesday at the Ramsdell building at 5:30 pm. She noted that she attended the Metro Council Housing and Economic Committee meeting, the Park and Recreation Commission meeting, the open house for Sullivan Park, the high school’s boys’ soccer game, the soccer field open house, and the Columbia Heights High School Adult Education tour of cloud recycling. She thanked the volunteers who cleaned up Central Avenue. She mentioned that she attended the movie, Aliens, at the Heights Theater. She attended the HeightsNext Planning meeting, the Kordiak Park Association meeting, and the badge pinning for the Fire Department. She explained that she went to First Lutheran Church to learn about Christian Nationalism and how it works in the community. She stated she attended the HeightsNext board meeting and the Fire Department open house. She thanked the Public Works Department for the three newly constructed alleys. Councilmember Deneen noted that she attended the EDA meeting, the Council work session, and the Planning Commission meeting. She added that she attended the Kordiak Park Association meeting, the HeightsNext planning meeting, Stories from Our Neighborhood at First Lutheran Church, and the street clean-up on Central Avenue. City of Columbia Heights MINUTES October 14, 2025 City Council Meeting Page 3 Councilmember Spriggs stated he attended the Stories from Our Neighborhood event at First Lutheran Church, the EDA meeting, the Council work session meeting, the Council special meeting, the Fire Department open house, and participated in the Central Avenue clean-up. Mayor Márquez Simula explained that she met with Latino leaders and the Police Chief to discuss concerns regarding ICE. She asked community members to keep track of facts, photos, and videos when it comes to interactions with ICE. She stated she attended the Stories from Our Neighborhood event, the EDA meeting, the Council work session, the HeightsNext planning meeting, and a lunch with other mayors in Congresswoman Omar’s district. She mentioned that she volunteered at Valley View Elementary School with the Every Meal program. She stated she attended the Library Board meeting, the Minnesota Highway Corridor Task Force meeting, and hosted visitors from the City’s sister city. Report of the City Manager City Manager Chirpich stated the annual Trunk or Treat event is scheduled for October 25th from 10:00- 4:00 at Huset Park. There will be face painting, and free candy. There will be two puppet wagon shows scheduled at 1:30 pm and 3:00 pm. The Canine Coach business is sponsoring a pet costume contest at 2:30 pm. He thanked Magnify Financial for sponsoring the event. City Manager Chirpich noted that the City’s Energy Action Plan kickoff event is on October 15th from 5:00-7:00 pm at City Hall and is in partnership with the Partners in Energy group. The meeting celebrates the launch of Columbia Heights' new energy action plan. City Manager Chirpich mentioned that there are two surveys on the City’s website. One survey is to provide comments for the soccer field planning, and the other survey is for Sullivan Lake Park. PROCLAMATIONS, PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITION, ANNOUNCEMENTS, GUESTS A. Indigenous Peoples' Day Proclamation. Accepting Proclamation: Columbia Heights School District. Mayor Márquez Simula mentioned that the proclamation would be sent to the Columbia Heights School District for the American Indian Family Group. Mayor Márquez Simula proclaimed October 13, 2025, as Indigenous Peoples’ Day and read the City’s proclamation. B. Breast Cancer Awareness Month Proclamation. Accepting Proclamation: Juliet Kembitskey Mayor Márquez Simula proclaimed October 2025 as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Councilmember James read the City’s proclamation. City resident, Juliet Kembitskey, accepted the proclamation. She explained that the proclamation is important to her because she went in for a random mammogram and City of Columbia Heights MINUTES October 14, 2025 City Council Meeting Page 4 cancer was found. She thanked the Council for the proclamation. Mayor Márquez Simula thanked Ms. Kembitskey for her advocacy. COMMUNITY FORUM There were no public comments. CONSENT AGENDA Mayor Márquez Simula asked if the SCORE Grant information could be shared with the Sustainability Commission. City Manager Chirpich replied that it could be shared with them. Motion by Councilmember Deneen, seconded by Councilmember Spriggs, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. All Ayes, Motion Carried 5-0. 1. Approve September 22, 2025, City Council Meeting Minutes. MOTION: Move to approve the September 22, 2025, City Council meeting minutes. 2. Approve October 6, 2025, City Council Work Session Meeting Minutes. MOTION: Move to approve the October 6, 2025, City Council Work Session meeting minutes. 3. Approve October 6, 2025, Special Assessment City Council Meeting Minutes. MOTION: Move to approve the October 6, 2025, Special Assessment City Council meeting minutes. 4. Accept September 3, 2025, Library Board Minutes. MOTION: Move to accept the September 3, 2025, Library Board meeting minutes. 5. Resolution 2025-80 Amending the 2025 Budget for State Fire Aid Passed Through to the Columbia Heights Fire Relief Association. MOTION: Move to waive the reading of Resolution 2025-80, there being ample copies available to the public. MOTION: Move to adopt Resolution 2025-80, being a resolution amending the 2025 Budget for State Fire Aid Passed Through to the Columbia Heights Fire Relief Association. 6. Adopt Resolution 2025-81, Amending Resolution 2025-043 Establishing a PUD for 800 53rd Ave NE. MOTION: Move to waive the reading of Resolution 2025-81, there being ample copies available to the public. MOTION: Move to approve Resolution 2025-81 a resolution amending City Council Resolution 2025-043, amending the conditions of the PUD established for 800 53rd Ave NE. 7. Renew Contract with Redpath and Company for Audit of the City’s 2025 Financial Statements at $54,100. MOTION: Renew Contract with Redpath and Company for Audit of the City’s 2025 Financial Statements at $54,100. City of Columbia Heights MINUTES October 14, 2025 City Council Meeting Page 5 8. Award 2025 Miscellaneous Concrete Project Work to IDC Automatic LLC, not to exceed $43,000. MOTION: Motion to award the 2025 Miscellaneous Concrete Project Work to IDC Automatic LLC based on their low, qualified, responsible bid, not to exceed $43,000 and to authorize the staff to enter into the related agreement. 9. Approve 2026 SCORE (Select Committee on Recycling and the Environment) Grant Agreement with Anoka County. MOTION: Move to authorize the Mayor and City Manager to execute the 2026 SCORE Agreement for Residential Recycling Program with Anoka County for $106,000 in grants. 10. Authorize 2025 Capital Equipment Replacement: Bobcat UW53. MOTION: Move to authorize the purchase of a 2025 Bobcat UW53 with attachments (72" Brushcat mower, 68" angle broom, 72" V-blade snowplow, and 32x74 snow blower) for a grand total of $103,700 from Lano Equipment of Norwood, located at 1015 Hwy 212 West, Norwood Young America, MN 55368-0299, utilizing the State Contract program. Fund 431.5200.45180. 11. License Agenda. MOTION: Move to approve the items as listed on the business license agenda for October 14, 2025, as presented. 12. Rental Occupancy Licenses for Approval. MOTION: Move to approve the items listed for rental housing license applications for October 14, 2025, in that they have met the requirements of the Property Maintenance Code. 13. Review of Bills. MOTION: Move that in accordance with Minnesota Statute 412.271, subd. 8 the City Council has reviewed the enclosed list to claims paid by check and by electronic funds transfer in the amount of $2,165,728.21. PUBLIC HEARINGS 14. Approval of Resolution 2025-079 Approving the EDA’s Request of a Levy Increase for Taxes Payable in 2026. Presented by Community Development Director Mitch Forney. Community Development Director Forney stated at the September 2nd EDA meeting, the EDA discussed and passed resolutions setting its budget for 2026. EDA Resolution 2025-22 requests that the City, on behalf of the EDA, raise the EDA tax levy from $375,000 in 2025 to $413,900 in 2026. Since the EDA tax levy is under the administration of the City Council, the City must annually approve the EDA tax levy. At the September 8th City Council Meeting, the City Council started the public hearing process via passage of Resolution 2025-70. Resolution 2025-70 acknowledged the EDA’s request, established the required petition period, and set a date for the public hearing regarding the levy increase. City of Columbia Heights MINUTES October 14, 2025 City Council Meeting Page 6 Community Development Director Forney mentioned that the EDA has requested the levy to cover an increase in administration costs and to add additional funds to its current and future initiatives. Since the EDA levy is a City tax levy, the increase is added to the city’s overall budget. These additional funds will be utilized by the EDA in 2025 to directly invest in economic and housing development projects throughout the city. Contributing to the direct reinvestment of the funds into the city.. Resolution 2025-079 is the final step in the approval of the EDA’s levy increase. Residents still have until November 13th to petition against the increase, but after November 13th, the EDA levy increase will be approved and included in the City’s budget. Mayor Márquez Simula opened the Public Hearing. There were no comments. Motion by Councilmember Buesgens, seconded by Councilmember Deneen, to close the public hearing and waive the reading of Resolution 2025-079, there being ample copies available to the public. All Ayes, Motion Carried 5-0. Motion by Councilmember Buesgens, seconded by Councilmember Deneen, to approve Resolution 2025-079, being a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Columbia Heights approving the Columbia Heights Economic Development Authority’s request of a levy increase for taxes payable in 2026 for economic development purposes. All Ayes, Motion Carried 5-0. 15. First Reading of Ordinances 1721 and 1722, Ordinances Implementing Gas and Electric Service Franchise Fees in the City of Columbia Heights. Presented by City Manager Aaron Chirpich. City Manager Chirpich stated the City currently allows gas and electric utility companies to use public rights-of-way (streets, sidewalks, and other public property) to install and maintain infrastructure such as pipelines, power lines, and substations. In exchange for using this public property, many cities charge franchise fees to ensure that utility providers contribute to the maintenance and development of the public infrastructure they rely on. City Manager Chirpich explained that historically, the City has not levied franchise fees on gas and electric utility companies, which has resulted in a missed opportunity to generate revenue for local projects and services. The imposition of franchise fees for these utilities has become standard practice for several cities of similar size and structure to Columbia Heights, leaving the City at a competitive disadvantage. The City does currently levy franchise fees to the cable service provider Comcast. However, these fees are steadily decreasing due to lower subscription rates year over year for cable service in the City. City Manager Chirpich mentioned that franchise fees can be derived in a few ways. The most common form of fee is the monthly flat fee. Often, municipalities prefer the flat fee as both the most transparent option for the account holder and the most predictable revenue source for the City. Included in the attachments in the Agenda Packet is a memo outlining the various fees being charged in cities across the seven-county metropolitan service area. Much like property taxes, different fees are assigned to each type of property City of Columbia Heights MINUTES October 14, 2025 City Council Meeting Page 7 classification: residential, commercial, and industrial. As evidenced in the attached memo, utility companies are accustomed to franchise fees as a standard part of doing business in urban areas. In most cases, the full fee is passed onto consumers as part of their service fees and is often identified as “City Fee” on the customer's monthly statement. City Manager Chirpich stated the Council first reviewed the concept of gas and electric franchise fees at the April 2025 work session. At the April work session, the Council expressed support for the implementation of the fees and directed staff to refine revenue estimates and take the next steps toward fee enactment as part of the 2026 budget preparation process. Following the April work session, staff worked with CenterPoint Energy, Xcel Energy, and Ehlers to further refine a proposed fee structure for both utilities. Following receipt of all account information available to the City from both utilities, staff presented a proposed fee structure to the Council at the October 2025 work session. The fee structure presented by staff was representative of the median fees being collected in the metropolitan service area by other cities. The median fees and corresponding costs to the individual customer for the top four property classifications are outlined in the Agenda Packet. City Manager Chirpich noted that when the median fee approach is applied to the total number of users in each classification within the City, there is the potential to generate approximately $1,137,000 annually between both utilities. During the October work session, staff discussed recommended uses of the funds and suggested that the City apply the funds generated in 2026 to support the redevelopment of the City’s municipal service center. The Council agreed with this approach. The future use of franchise fees is subject to change and direction from the Council. Councilmember James mentioned that most cities in the metro area are using the same opportunity. It is a wonderful way for the City to fund projects in a fair and equitable way. The franchise fees would be for businesses, for non-profits, and for non-taxable properties. She was hopeful that it would help avoid higher property taxes. Mayor Márquez Simula mentioned that the Council has been working on finding ways to make the City more equitable. Motion by Councilmember James, seconded by Councilmember Spriggs, to close the public hearing and waive the reading of Ordinance 1721 and Ordinance 1722, there being ample copies available to the public. All Ayes, Motion Carried 5-0. Motion by Councilmember James, seconded by Councilmember Spriggs, set the second reading of Ordinance 1721, being an ordinance implementing a gas energy franchise fee on CenterPoint Energy Minnesota Gas, its successors and assigns, for providing services within the City of Columbia Heights for October 27, 2025, at approximately 6:00 p.m. All Ayes, Motion Carried 5-0. Motion by Councilmember James, seconded by Councilmember Spriggs, to set the second reading of Ordinance 1722, being an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Columbia City of Columbia Heights MINUTES October 14, 2025 City Council Meeting Page 8 Heights implementing an electric service franchise fee on Northern States Power Company, its successors and assigns for providing electrical service within the City of Columbia Heights for October 27, 2025, at approximately 6:00 p.m. Mayor Márquez Simula asked if Xcel was partnering with the City. City Manager Chirpich replied that the formal business name for Xcel Energy is Northern States Power Company. All Ayes, Motion Carried 5-0. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Councilmember Spriggs, seconded by Councilmember Buesgens, to adjourn. All Ayes, Motion Carried 5-0. Meeting adjourned at 6:52 pm. Respectfully Submitted, ______________________________________ Sara Ion, City Clerk/Council Secretary