HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-03-2025 City Council Work Session Meeting Packet
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, November 03, 2025
5:00 PM
AGENDA
ATTENDANCE INFORMATION FOR THE PUBLIC
Members of the public who wish to attend may do so in -person, or by using Microsoft Teams
columbiaheightsmn.gov/joinameeting Meeting at ID 271 361 336 2025, Passcode sd66JM7R. For
questions, please contact Administration at 763-706-3610.
Auxiliary aids or other accommodations for individuals with disabilities are available upon
request when the request is made at least 72 hours in advance, Please contact Administration at 763 -
706-3610 to make arrangements.
CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
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.
WORK SESSION ITEMS
1. Group Ice Breaker.
Presented by Council President James.
What is one thing you are grateful for in your professional life?
2. 2025 Budget Presentations by Division. (Estimated Time 2 hours)
1. Community Development.
Presented by Community Development Director Mitch Forney.
2. Engineering and Facilities.
Presented by Engineering and Facilities Director Rochelle Widmer.
3. Public Works.
Presented by Public Works Director David Cullen.
4. Finance / General Government / Liquor Operations.
Presented by Finance Director Joe Kloiber.
5. Administration.
Presented by City Manager Aaron Chirpich.
6. Final Budget Reminders.
Presented by Finance Director Joe Kloiber.
1
City of Columbia Heights AGENDA November 03, 2025
City Council Work Session Page 2
3. Council Corner.
Monthly Calendar Sharing
Monthly Event Notification, Attendance and Past Event Updates
Monthly Proclamations and Meeting Guests
ADJOURNMENT
Auxiliary aids or other accommodations for individuals with disabilities are available upon request when the request is
made at least 72 hours in advance. Please contact Administration at 763-706-3610 to make arrangements.
2
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.
Behavioral Norms
1. We will assume others best intentions.
2. We will exercise humility.
3. We will praise publicly and criticize privately.
4. We will focus on the policy and not personalities.
5. We will do our best to de-escalate contentious interactions.
6. We will provide reasonable notice to the Mayor and City Manager of any changes or additions
we wish to make at a Council meeting so that the Mayor is prepared to manage the meeting.
7. We will show respect for one another by:
a. Paying attention to others when they are speaking.
b. Not interrupting others.
c. Listening to understand others, not simply to respond to them.
d. Honoring each other in public and protecting one another in their absence.
e. Not bullying others.
Operational Norms
1. Council members and staff will respect the Mayor’s role to chair our meetings by:
a. Waiting to be called on before speaking so that others can consider our contributions.
b. The Mayor and City Manager will bring closure to policy discussions, public comment, and
other similar “final word” situations.
2. Once a decision has been made by the Council, we will support the implementation of that
decision even if we did not support the decision itself.
3. If Council has a request of staff, they will direct their request to the City Manager and the
Division Director for coordination with staff unless the City Manager decides otherwise.
4. If Council has a question about a staff member, they will raise that with the City Manager
privately before raising it publicly.
5. When Council is considering a topic, it is incumbent upon Council members to ask sufficient
questions to ensure they are making informed decisions.
6. Council and staff will address each other by their titles when engaging each other in any official
capacity and will use first names in informal settings.
3
ITEM:
Group Ice Breaker.
Presented by Council President James.
What is one thing you are grateful for in your professional life?
DEPARTMENT: Administration BY/DATE: Council President/ October 30, 2025
CORE CITY STRATEGIES: (please indicate areas that apply by adding an “X” in front of the selected text below)
_Community that Grows with Purpose and Equity
_High Quality Public Spaces
_Safe, Accessible and Built for Everyone
_Engaged, Effective and Forward-Thinking
_Resilient and Prosperous Economy
_Inclusive and Connected Community
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING
AGENDA SECTION WORK SESSION
MEETING DATE NOVEMBER 3, 2025
4
Item 1.
ITEM: 2025 Budget Presentations by Division. (Estimated Time 2 hours)
DEPARTMENT: Multiple BY/DATE: Joseph Kloiber, Finance Director / October 30, 2025
CORE CITY STRATEGIES: (please indicate areas that apply by adding an “X” in front of the selected text below)
X Community that Grows with Purpose and Equity
X High Quality Public Spaces
X Safe, Accessible and Built for Everyone
X Engaged, Effective and Forward-Thinking
X Resilient and Prosperous Economy
X Inclusive and Connected Community
BACKGROUND
For the November work session, highlights of the departmental level budget information included within the
City Manager’s 2025 Proposed Budget (available on the City website and attacched) by each of the divisions
listed below. The format will be a mix of oral and PowerPoint presentations which are approximately 20
minutes each, including ample opportunity throughout for council questions and comments.
SUMMARY OF CURRENT STATUS
The planned order of these presentations is:
1. Community Development.
2. Engineering and Facilities
3. Public Works
4. Finance / General Government / Liquor Operations
5. Administration
6. Final Budget Reminders
ATTACHMENT(S)
2026 City Manager Budget Book
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING
AGENDA SECTION WORK SESSION ITEM
MEETING DATE NOVEMBER 3, 2025
5
Item 2.
City Manager’s
Proposed 2026 Budget
(Including budget and levy recommendations)
6
Item 2.
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS
CITY MANAGER’S 2026 BUDGET MESSAGE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Summary Budget Information
City Manager’s Budget Message.......................................................................................................... 1
Five-year Financial Plan for Tax-Supported Funds ................................................................................ 4
Proposed Local Taxpayer Monthly Share of City Tax on Median Value Home ...................................... 5
Proposed Monthly City Utility Bill for Typical Household of Four ......................................................... 6
Property Taxes 2017-2026................................................................................................................... 7
Tax-Supported Operating Expenditures ............................................................................................... 8
Summary by Fund (all budgeted funds of City, EDA, HRA) .................................................................... 9
Resolution 2025-068 Proposed Budget for 2026 ................................................................................ 11
Detailed Budget Information
Administration .................................................................................................................................. 13
Community Development ................................................................................................................. 22
Finance ............................................................................................................................................. 32
Fire ................................................................................................................................................... 40
Information Technology .................................................................................................................... 46
Library............................................................................................................................................... 49
Liquor ............................................................................................................................................... 51
Police ................................................................................................................................................ 56
Engineering & Facilities ..................................................................................................................... 60
Public Works ..................................................................................................................................... 74
Recreation ...................................................................................................................................... 107
Bonds .............................................................................................................................................. 114
7
Item 2.
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS
CITY MANAGER’S 2026 BUDGET MESSAGE
Recommendation
The city manager recommends that the City Council approve the proposed 2026 budget and levy
listed in the enclosed resolution. Key elements of this proposed budget are summarized below.
Financial Plan
The proposed 2026 budget is consistent with the City’s enclosed five-year financial plan. That
plan is designed to:
Provide for expected inflation in the cost of existing service levels.
Increase service levels only for approved objectives or external mandates.
Avoid the use of state aid to local government (LGA) in the operating budget, limiting its
use to capital outlays and debt service on major capital projects. This strategy reduces
the exposure of on-going basic City services to potential changes in state funding over
which residents have little control.
Levy property taxes at the minimum level necessary to support the above strategies,
while trying to avoid one-time spikes up or down in property taxes.
Governmental Funds Revenue
To fund the tax-supported portion of the proposed 2026 budget, and to meet the minimum fund
balance guideline set by council resolution 95-40, the gross property tax levy for 2026 will require
a 9.2% increase over 2025. The City’s gross tax levy includes both the share of taxes paid by local
taxpayers and the share subsidized by the metro area fiscal disparities program.
Anoka County preliminary data shows the metro area fiscal disparities subsidy increasing by 13%
for 2026. This will result in local taxpayers to paying a proportionately smaller share of the
proposed 2026 tax increase. Effectively an 8.2% average increase in City property taxes for local
taxpayers.
Of course, the 2026 property taxes for any particular property in Columbia Heights is dependent
on relative changes in individual property values as well. In November, Anoka County will mail a
property-specific notice of the proposed 2026 property taxes to each property owner.
In 2026, the City will receive approximately $2,640,000 in state aid to local government (LGA).
Under the five-year financial plan, none of this LGA is used within the 2026 operating budget.
$500,000 of the LGA is applied to annual debt service on the public safety and library buildings.
The remaining LGA is allocated between the city’s capital funds for buildings, equipment, and
infrastructure. Without this LGA, these capital items would otherwise be paid for with increased
property taxes.
Governmental Funds Operating Expenses
The proposed 2026 increase to the tax-supported operating expenses of the governmental funds
is 8.2% or $1,664,000. Two-thirds of this increase or $1,109,000 is in personnel – always the
largest category of the operating budget. The proposed increase in personnel includes cost-of-
living increases of just over 4% in current labor agreements, seniority step raises of 3.3% for staff
that have not yet reached the top salary range for their position (partially offset by turnover in
1 8
Item 2.
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS
CITY MANAGER’S 2026 BUDGET MESSAGE
some positions); and one additional full-time position each in the Police, Community
Development, and Engineering divisions (partially offset by elimination of one part-time clerical
position.)
The remainder of the proposed increase in tax-supported operating expenses are non-personnel
costs of $555,000. The largest element of this is $213,000 for public safety, primarily in the areas
of technology, protective gear and professional services. The next largest element is an $80,000
increase to funding for economic development programs.
Fund Balance of the General Fund
For day-to-day cash flow purposes, by Resolution 95-40 the City Council established a minimum
fund balance guideline for the general fund and library funds at each year end, equal to 45% of
the next year’s budget. The proposed 2026 budget provides the necessary resources for the City
to meet this guideline.
Utility Funds
By Resolution 2025-040, the City Council adopted customer utility rates for water, sewer, and
refuse, for the years 2025-2027. For the 2026 budget, that resolution established a rate increase
of approximately 4.4% for water, sewer, and refuse, combined. A family of four using a quarterly
average of 5,000 gallons of water per person, in a single-family home with full-service refuse,
would see their quarterly bills increase by $19 for 2026.
Various repairs and improvements to utility infrastructure are included in the 2026 budget and
continue from the 2025 budget, including:
Replacement of the sewer lift station at Sullivan Lake using $800,000 of sewer revenues.
Upsize the sewer main at Sullivan Lake using $450,000 of redeveloper funds when
available.
Adding a water main loop at Sullivan Lake using $200,000 of redeveloper funds when
available.
Replacement of the sewer lift station at 44th Ave NE using $750,000 of redeveloper funds
when available.
Capital Fund Activity
The 2026 budget reflects a new revenue source of gas and electric utility franchise fees collected
by CenterPoint and Xcel Energy from their customers in the City and then remitted quarterly to
the City. The addition of these franchise fees improves the ability to compare the City’s budget
to the surrounding communities, substantially all of which utilize these franchise fees in their
budgets. The annual amount is estimated at $800,000. Expected uses of this revenue are the
street rehabilitation program and/or the municipal service center project.
The proposed 2026 budget includes $690,000 for replacement of existing vehicles and equipment
detailed in the individual departmental sections of the budget, as compared to $835,000 of
vehicle and equipment replacement budgeted in 2025.
2 9
Item 2.
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS
CITY MANAGER’S 2026 BUDGET MESSAGE
Infrastructure improvements proposed for 2026 include:
$700,000 of Sullivan Park improvements that are 50% grant funded.
$225,000 for a soccer field.
Reconstruction of the 40th Avenue county road from University Ave to Main street for
which the City will contribute $400,000 of state street aid.
Rehabilitation of various state streets in the City, for which the City will contribute
$455,000 of state street aid and $600,000 from its general property levy.
We note that using a portion of the general property tax levy for street improvements reflects a
proposed change in policy. Prior to the 2026 budget, the local share of street improvements were
funded by special assessments levied upon each property within a given project area. Moving the
funding source for this from special assessments to taxes adds approximately $5 per month or
$60 per year to the property taxes on the median value home ($278,700) in Columbia Heights for
2026.
Engineering studies show the floor of the municipal service center (public works building) has a
very limited number of years until it fails and will be too costly to replace. The only cost-effective
solution is to replace the entire facility at an estimated cost of $25,000,000. The five-year
financial plan addresses this with the expectation of:
$400,000 in the 2026 budget for design of the replacement facility.
$400,000 in the 2026 budget for the purchase of the adjacent Southern Anoka County
Assistance (SACA) building to complete the project area.
$20,000,000 of general obligation bonds issued 2027 for construction in 2027 and 2028.
$4,200,000 of internal financing for the balance of the project costs.
Annual debt service on the bonds is estimated at just under $2,000,000 per year if a 15-year
repayment term is chosen. The debt service would be paid with a combination of property taxes,
LGA, and utility revenue. On an on-going basis, the City is making requests for state and federal
funding for half the cost of this project. This would according reduce the size of the required bond
issue by roughly half.
We also note that the City Council and community members have prioritized the rehabilitation
of a substantial amount of the park infrastructure throughout the City, including an $8,000,000
reconstruction of the Murzyn Hall recreation center and adjacent portions of Huset Park, at such
time as funding is available.
In Conclusion
I judge that the proposed 2026 budget and levy supports the vision, goals, and objectives of the
Columbia Heights City Council, and is feasible within the financial constraints of the City of
Columbia Heights and its citizens.
Aaron Chirpich, City Manager
3 10
Item 2.
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7 14
Item 2.
2023 2024 2025 2026 Incr/Decr
ACTIVITY ACTIVITY COUNCIL CITY MANAGER from
DEPARTMENT DESCRIPTION APPROVED BUDGET PROPOSED BUDGET 2025
GENERAL FUND
1110 MAYOR-COUNCIL 193,000 219,800 219,200 195,700 (23,500)
1320 CITY MANAGER 744,600 840,100 843,900 722,700 (121,200)
1360 COMMUNICATIONS & EVENTS ---399,200 -
1410 CITY CLERK 91,200 177,800 107,000 182,100 75,100
1510 FINANCE 1,026,900 1,054,800 1,118,000 1,196,100 78,100
1550 ASSESSING 102,700 103,600 107,700 112,800 5,100
1610 LEGAL SERVICES 190,900 202,900 200,300 215,300 15,000
1940 CITY HALL 153,600 215,600 176,200 196,200 20,000
2100 POLICE 6,227,800 7,011,300 7,480,700 7,959,400 478,700
2200 FIRE 2,088,800 2,110,900 2,231,400 2,412,100 180,700
2300 PROPERTY INSPECTIONS 464,500 422,400 501,500 460,900 (40,600)
3100 ENGINEERING 507,900 584,000 591,100 663,900 72,800
3121 STREETS 1,130,200 1,093,700 1,276,900 1,358,500 81,600
3160 STREET LIGHTING 173,300 156,000 197,000 200,700 3,700
3170 TRAFFIC SIGNS & SIGNALS 105,900 102,900 132,500 140,200 7,700
5000 RECREATION ADMINISTRATION 276,300 294,700 307,200 320,000 12,800
5001 ATHLETICS 137,100 151,400 141,800 156,800 15,000
5004 YOUTH ENRICHMENT PROGRAM 99,900 104,700 153,400 160,200 6,800
5040 SENIOR CITIZENS 132,600 134,200 150,700 159,100 8,400
5129 MURZYN HALL 233,600 212,900 257,200 254,600 (2,600)
5130 HYLANDER CENTER 50,700 86,800 94,900 95,700 800
5200 PARKS 1,169,500 1,101,200 1,287,000 1,347,500 60,500
6102 URBAN FORESTRY 308,400 290,700 315,400 319,600 4,200
9200 CONTINGENCIES 36,300 38,600 95,000 92,700 (2,300)
9300 TRANSFERS 544,000 961,000 768,000 1,567,500 799,500
TOTAL GENERAL FUND 16,189,700 17,672,000 18,754,000 20,889,500 2,135,500
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
6314 EDA ADMINISTRATION 301,600 307,200 309,000 413,900 104,900
TOTAL EDA 301,600 307,200 309,000 413,900 104,900
LIBRARY
5500 LIBRARY 1,116,200 1,198,600 1,293,000 1,317,000 24,000
TOTAL LIBRARY 1,116,200 1,198,600 1,293,000 1,317,000 24,000
City of Columbia Heights, Minnesota
Tax Supported Operating Expenditures
2023 - 2026
8 15
Item 2.
SUMMARY BY FUND 2023 2024 2025 2026
ACTIVITY ACTIVITY ADOPTED CITY MANAGER
FUND DESCRIPTION BUDGET BUDGET
REVENUE
101 GENERAL 16,835,800 18,394,100 19,625,000 21,258,500
201 PLANNING & INSPECTIONS 543,300 734,600 641,800 895,700
204 EDA ADMINISTRATION 312,700 331,000 377,000 407,000
205 HOUSING FUND 144,800 390,000
212 STATE AID MAINTENANCE 218,500 248,500 236,000 247,000
225 CABLE TELEVISION 205,600 146,100 155,500 110,000
226 SPECIAL PROJECTS 76,800 120,500
228 DOWNTOWN PARKING 57,500 57,300 58,000 59,900
240 LIBRARY 1,195,300 1,277,100 1,293,000 1,317,000
261 AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS 8,600 8,200
262 21ST CENTURY ARTS 60,200
272 PUBLIC SAFETY GRANTS - OTHER 1,083,300 62,500
315 SULL-SHORES:TX GO BONDS2008A 2,700 100
345 GO IMPROV/REV BONDS 2013 10,100 3,300
346 GO LIBRARY BONDS 2015A 460,200 463,900 463,400 462,100
347 GO PUBLIC SAFETY REFND 2017B 547,500 545,600 539,200 543,800
348 GO PUBFACILITIES REFND 2018A 200,800 97,900 107,600 124,300
349 GO IMPROVEMENT BONDS 2023B 468,200 377,000 377,000
372 HUSET PARK AREA TIF (T6)908,000 975,700 890,000 952,000
375 TIF Z6: 47TH & GRAND 172,700 212,900
376 TIF DISTRICTS A3/C7/C8 17,600 18,200
389 TIF R8 CRESTV/TRANSITION BLK 32,200 100
391 SCATTERED SITE TIF W3/W4 51,000 56,700
392 TIF BB2 ALATUS 40TH AV 236,900 813,000
393 TIF BB6 ALATUS 4300 CENTRAL 6,058,000 32,200
394 REUTER WALTON TIF 108,600
395 2023A TEMP TIF REFUNDING BONDS 574,200 23,800 346,000 6,788,000
402 STATE AID CONSTRUCTION 861,300 1,118,700 900,000
408 EDA REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT FD 402,700 377,900 425,000 500,000
411 CAPITAL IMP-GEN GOVT. BLDG 1,190,800 375,000 110,000 2,060,000
412 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PARKS 140,800 198,400 165,000 165,000
415 CAPITAL IMPRVMT - PIR PROJ 4,362,800 1,077,100 940,600 600,000
420 CAP IMPROVEMENT-DEVELOPMENT 857,200 38,700
430 INFRASTRUCTURE FUND 99,700 1,372,700 670,000 120,000
431 CAP EQUIP REPLACE-GENERAL 161,100 914,500 1,134,500 824,500
432 CAP EQUIP REPLACE-SEWER 67,400 138,900 50,000 50,000
433 CAP EQUIP REPLACE-WATER 150,000 168,100 50,000 50,000
434 CAP EQUIP REPLACE - GARAGE 6,700 12,100 10,000 10,000
437 CAP EQUIP - INFO TECHNOLOGY 32,800 14,500 17,500 30,500
438 CAP EQUIP REPLACE STORM SEWE 45,800 55,500 50,000 50,000
601 WATER UTILITY 4,494,000 4,389,900 4,359,000 4,505,000
602 SEWER UTILITY 2,760,700 2,744,500 2,728,000 2,808,000
603 REFUSE FUND 3,244,100 4,057,300 3,936,000 4,254,000
604 STORM SEWER UTILITY 730,100 777,600 777,000 831,000
609 LIQUOR 9,102,100 9,711,100 10,161,800 10,404,000
631 WATER FUND DEBT SERVICE 88,400 94,700 112,000
632 SEWER FUND DEBT SERVICE 62,000 68,200 112,000
634 STORM SEWER DEBT SERVICE 64,000 200
639 LIQUOR FUND DEBT SERVICE 329,800 340,500 326,500 323,500
651 WATER CONSTRUCTION FUND 225,000
653 STORM SEWER CONSTRUCT. FUND 6,100 6,200
701 CENTRAL GARAGE 737,700 783,500 824,200 950,000
705 FACILITIES MAINTENANCE 247,400 264,400 276,800 285,300
720 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 776,600 971,400 1,003,400 1,011,500
ESTIMATED REVENUES - ALL FUNDS 67,587,300 59,417,200 53,348,800 64,889,600
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MN
BUDGET 2026
99 16
Item 2.
SUMMARY BY FUND 2023 2024 2025 2026
ACTIVITY ACTIVITY ADOPTED CITY MANAGER
FUND DESCRIPTION BUDGET BUDGET
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MN
BUDGET 2026
EXPENSE
101 GENERAL 16,189,700 17,672,000 18,754,000 20,889,500
201 PLANNING & INSPECTIONS 440,300 630,000 662,000 895,700
204 EDA ADMINISTRATION 301,600 307,200 309,000 413,900
205 HOUSING FUND 800,000
212 STATE AID MAINTENANCE 119,900 138,900 212,800 240,800
225 CABLE TELEVISION 142,600 185,600 221,200 155,500
226 SPECIAL PROJECTS 56,700 56,600
228 DOWNTOWN PARKING 27,900 25,700 58,000 59,900
240 LIBRARY 1,116,200 1,198,600 1,293,000 1,317,000
261 AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS 31,800 50,400 24,100
262 21ST CENTURY ARTS 60,300
265 FORFEITURE FUND 4,800 100
272 PUBLIC SAFETY GRANTS - OTHER 126,600 274,500
315 SULL-SHORES:TX GO BONDS2008A 73,700
345 GO IMPROV/REV BONDS 2013 21,400 23,800
346 GO LIBRARY BONDS 2015A 458,800 454,400 455,900 457,700
347 GO PUBLIC SAFETY REFND 2017B 533,400 532,400 532,400 531,900
348 GO PUBFACILITIES REFND 2018A 209,900 210,000 111,500 114,900
349 GO IMPROVEMENT BONDS 2023B 83,600 375,900 387,800
372 HUSET PARK AREA TIF (T6)601,000 822,200 652,400 899,300
375 TIF Z6: 47TH & GRAND 154,600 188,300
376 TIF DISTRICTS A3/C7/C8 (35,500)
389 TIF R8 CRESTV/TRANSITION BLK 169,500
391 SCATTERED SITE TIF W3/W4 10,100 128,100
392 TIF BB2 ALATUS 40TH AV 228,300 770,300
393 TIF BB6 ALATUS 4300 CENTRAL 6,747,900 2,900 346,000
394 REUTER WALTON TIF 1,900 104,600
395 2023A TEMP TIF REFUNDING BONDS 218,100 345,500 6,788,000
402 STATE AID CONSTRUCTION 710,000 378,500 830,000
408 EDA REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT FD 510,300 330,800 400,000 500,000
411 CAPITAL IMP-GEN GOVT. BLDG 105,900 31,500 1,058,000
412 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PARKS 5,200 19,800 720,000
415 CAPITAL IMPRVMT - PIR PROJ 1,293,000 988,500 1,022,500 600,000
420 CAP IMPROVEMENT-DEVELOPMENT 820,000 49,700
430 INFRASTRUCTURE FUND 68,400 806,200 777,300 412,500
431 CAP EQUIP REPLACE-GENERAL 704,900 2,900,600 834,900 680,000
432 CAP EQUIP REPLACE-SEWER 1,600
433 CAP EQUIP REPLACE-WATER 1,400
437 CAP EQUIP - INFO TECHNOLOGY 18,300 10,000
601 WATER UTILITY 3,258,300 3,202,400 3,561,000 3,657,600
602 SEWER UTILITY 2,585,100 2,693,200 2,982,000 3,084,500
603 REFUSE FUND 3,557,200 4,495,500 3,936,000 4,202,200
604 STORM SEWER UTILITY 495,200 370,000 516,700 626,300
609 LIQUOR 9,465,600 9,772,300 10,280,900 10,365,000
631 WATER FUND DEBT SERVICE 2,500 400
632 SEWER FUND DEBT SERVICE 1,500 200 1,000
634 STORM SEWER DEBT SERVICE 2,000 200
639 LIQUOR FUND DEBT SERVICE 37,800 33,300 34,600 24,900
651 WATER CONSTRUCTION FUND 23,200 231,800 300,000
652 SEWER CONSTRUCTION FUND 12,800 279,300
653 STORM SEWER CONSTRUCT. FUND 7,300 6,100 150,000
701 CENTRAL GARAGE 734,200 779,600 1,022,600 1,041,600
705 FACILITIES MAINTENANCE 254,400 262,900 297,600 301,100
720 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 750,900 857,800 1,003,400 1,032,000
APPROPRIATIONS - ALL FUNDS 59,980,700 53,148,200 51,024,200 63,547,600
1010 17
Item 2.
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-068
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA, ADOPTING A
PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE YEAR 2026, SETTING THE CITY LEVY, APPROVING THE HRA LEVY,
APPROVING A TAX RATE INCREASE, AND ESTABLISHING A BUDGET HEARING DATE FOR PROPERTY
TAXES PAYABLE IN 2026.
Now, therefore, in accordance with all ordinances and regulations of the City of Columbia Heights, the
City Council of the City of Columbia Heights makes the following:
ORDER OF COUNCIL
IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED:
Section A. The budget for the City of Columbia Heights for the year 2026 is hereby approved and adopted
with appropriations for each of the funds listed below.
Section B. The following sums of money are levied for the current year, collectable in 2026 upon the
Taxable property in the City of Columbia Heights, for the purposes listed below.
Revenue Expense
Governmental Funds
General Fund 21,258,500 20,889,500
Planning & Inspections 895,700 895,700
Economic Development Authority Admin.407,000 413,900
EDA Housing Fund 390,000 800,000
Cable Television 110,000 155,500
Library 1,317,000 1,317,000
After School Programs --
Downtown Parking 59,900 59,900
Capital Project Funds 5,416,500 5,041,300
Debt Service Funds 9,247,200 9,179,600
Proprietary Funds
Water Fund 4,780,000 3,957,600
Sewer Fund 2,858,000 3,084,500
Refuse Fund 4,254,000 4,202,200
Storm Sewer Fund 881,000 776,300
Liquor Fund 10,727,500 10,389,900
Municipal Service Center 1,245,300 1,342,700
Information Systems 1,042,000 1,042,000
Change in Fund Balance -1,342,000
Total Including Interfund Transfers 64,889,600 64,889,600
General Fund Levy 17,650,000
Library Levy 1,292,000
EDA Fund Levy 401,000
Street Levy 600,000
Total 19,943,000
11 18
Item 2.
City of Columbia Heights – Council Resolution 2025-068 Page 2
Section C. The City Council of the City of Columbia Heights hereby approves the Columbia Heights Housing
and Redevelopment Authority Tax Levy for the fiscal year 2026 in the amount of $420,000.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the public budget hearing is scheduled for December 8, 2025, at
approximately 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the County Auditor is authorized to fix a property tax rate for taxes
payable in the year 2026 that is higher than the tax rate calculated for the City of Columbia Heights for
taxes payable in 2025.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the City has adequate fund balances and reserves to pay bond principal
and interest payments on General Obligation Bond Series 2015A in the amount of $274,987 and that the
County Auditor is authorized to cancel $274,987 of the related Bond Levy for taxes payable in 2026,
leaving a balance of $210,100 to be levied for taxes payable 2026 for Series 2015A.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the City has adequate fund balances and reserves to pay bond principal
and interest payments on General Obligation Bond Series 2017A in the amount of $336,499 and that the
County Auditor is authorized to cancel $336,499 of the related Bond Levy for taxes payable in 2026,
leaving a balance of $0 to be levied for taxes payable in 2026 for Series 2017A.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the City has adequate fund balances and reserves to pay bond principal
and interest payments on General Obligation Bond Series 2017B in the amount of $275,701 and that the
County Auditor is authorized to cancel $275,701 of the related Bond Levy for taxes payable in 2026,
leaving a balance of $291,800 to be levied for taxes payable in 2026 for Series 2017B.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the City has adequate fund balances and reserves to pay bond principal
and interest payments on General Obligation Bond Series 2018A in the amount of $89 and that the
County Auditor is authorized to cancel $89 of the related Bond Levy for taxes payable in 2026, leaving a
balance of $123,100 to be levied for taxes payable in 2026 for Series 2018A.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the City has adequate fund balances and reserves to pay bond principal
and interest payments on General Obligation Bond Series 2023B in the amount of $121,199 and that the
County Auditor is authorized to cancel $121,199 of the related Bond Levy for taxes payable in 2026,
leaving a balance of $0 to be levied for taxes payable in 2026 for Series 2023B.
The Finance Director is hereby instructed to transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the County
Auditor of Anoka County, Minnesota.
Passed this ________ day of ______________________, 2025
Offered by:
Seconded by:
Roll Call:
Mayor Amáda Márquez Simula
Attest:
Sara Ion, City Clerk/Council Secretary
1212 19
Item 2.
Communications Legal Cable
Mayor-Council City Manager & Events City Clerk Assessing Services TV
101.1110 101.1320 101.1360 101.1410 101.1550 101.1610 225.9844
Revenue
Taxes 199,700 559,300 407,400 185,800 112,600 219,800 -
Licenses & Permits -------
Intergovernmental -------
Charges for Services ----2,500 --
Fines & Forfeits -------
Miscellaneous ------110,000
Sales and Related Charges -------
Transfers & Non Rev Receipts -174,700 -----
Total Revenue 199,700 734,000 407,400 185,800 115,100 219,800 110,000
Expenses
Personnel Services 110,400 621,800 274,000 141,900 12,700 -200
Supplies 8,300 7,500 5,900 2,900 --2,500
Other Services and Charges 75,000 93,400 119,300 37,300 100,100 215,300 33,200
Capital Outlay -------
Contingencies & Transfers 2,000 -----119,600
Total Expenses 195,700 722,700 399,200 182,100 112,800 215,300 155,500
Change in Fund Balance 4,000 11,300 8,200 3,700 2,300 4,500 (45,500)
City of Columbia Heights, Minnesota
BUDGET 2026
Administration
13 20
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: MAYOR-COUNCIL
101 GENERAL Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
1110 MAYOR-COUNCIL Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services 90,600 90,800 96,200 110,400 110,400 -
Supplies 19,600 3,100 7,000 8,300 8,300 -
Other Services & Charges 82,100 125,000 114,000 75,000 75,000 -
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers 700 900 2,000 2,000 2,000 -
TOTALS: MAYOR-COUNCIL 193,000 219,800 219,200 195,700 195,700 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
The Mayor-Council budget covers the stipend, insurance benefits, and conference attendance for the elected
officials; the costs associated with running the Council meetings, and the costs of various public engagement events
each year. These events include including Music in the Park, Movies in the Park, SnowBlast, and the Community Art
and Info Fair
The proposed 2025 budget is an increase of $_________ or __________% over 2024.
The Mayor-Council budget covers the Council stipends, insurance benefits, conference attendance for the elected
officials, membership dues, and the costs associated with running the Council meetings.
The proposed Mayor-Council budget for 2026 decreased by $23,500 overall or 10.7%.
The primary driver of the decrease is related to the removal of public engagement and civic events from this budget.
Examples include; Music in the Park, Movies in the Park, SnowBlast, and the Community Art and Info Fair. The budget
for these events is now recognized in a newly created department called Communications and Events.
Personnel Services increased by $14,200 driven by an increase in insurance costs.
The budget for Supplies increased by $1,300 driven by increased expenditures on food supplies for meetings.
14 21
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: CITY MANAGER
101 GENERAL Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
1320 CITY MANAGER Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services 662,200 752,000 738,800 621,800 621,800 -
Supplies 1,400 3,200 11,400 7,500 7,500 -
Other Services & Charges 81,000 84,900 93,700 93,400 93,400 -
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: CITY MANAGER 744,600 840,100 843,900 722,700 722,700 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
This department is responsible for the administration of all activities, functions, and programs of the City in accordance
with the policies and guidelines adopted by the City Council. Duties of the department include planning, organizing,
directing, and coordinating the operations of all departments, with the exception of the Police Department. This
department is responsible for human resources, labor relations, employee relations, communications, and special projects
and events functions of the City.
The proposed budget for the City Manager department within the General Fund is decreasing by $121,200, or 14%.
The primary driver of the decrease is represented by moving personnel costs for Communications staff from the City
Manger department to the newly created Communications and Events department to better reflect where the funds are
being directed.
Other changes of note to the City Manager Department proposed for 2026:
The budget for Supplies shows a decrease of $3,900 reflected by a shift of some supply costs to the newly created
Communications and Events department and to better represent trends.
The budget for Other Services and Charges will remain relatively flat for 2026 with a small decrease of $300.
15 22
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: COMMUNICATIONS & EVENTS
101 GENERAL Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
1360 COMMUNICATIONS & EVENTS Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services ---274,000 274,000 -
Supplies ---5,900 5,900 -
Other Services & Charges ---119,300 119,300 -
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: COMMUNICATIONS & EVENTS ---399,200 399,200 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
This newly created department budget better reflects the budget for the City's communications and engagements efforts,
which includes civic events, newsletter, and website.
This budget brought over civic events from the Mayor/Council budget, and the non-cable items from the cable budget.
With that being said, the civic events budget increased by 2,000 dollars to account for rising costs of staffing and
equipment.
The non-cable items that were pulled from cable remained somewhat similar, but there is a new additional item as the City
produces a youth recreation brochure in English and Spanish to better engage with the Spanish-speaking community.
The Communications and Engagement Department is looking to add a part-time position throughout 2026 to increase its
efforts in engaging with the Spanish-speaking community. This position is roughly 20,000.
Staff is estimating that services such as CodeRED, Mailchimp, Grammarly, and ArchiveSocial will increase at a market-rate
percentage.
16 23
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: CITY CLERK
101 GENERAL Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
1410 CITY CLERK Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services 69,500 147,200 72,400 141,900 141,900 -
Supplies 200 3,300 600 2,900 2,900 -
Other Services & Charges 21,500 27,300 34,000 37,300 37,300 -
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: CITY CLERK 91,200 177,800 107,000 182,100 182,100 -
Activity Description
Subscription & Memberships
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
The City Clerk provides assistance to the Mayor, City Council, and City Manager; organizes and directs elections, serves as
the responsible authority for compliance with the MN Data Practices Act, maintains the City Code, prepares and assembles
Council meeting agendas and materials, takes and transcribes minutes of the City Council meetings, maintains records and
files of official city documents, oversees the boards and commissions, serves as the Sunshine Fund Coordinator, serves as
backup to the Administrative Assistant, and is the department liaison to the Sister City Committee. With the exception of
special elections, elections are only held in even numbered years. This is the reason for the significant difference from one
year to the next in this department's annual budget.
The proposed City Clerk budget shows an increase of $75,100 or 70%. This is primarily related to 2026 being an election year
and 2025 being a non-election year.
Personnel Services has increased by $69,500 to account for cost of living adjustments, step increases to employee salaries,
and increases to insurance costs. Additional increases to Personnel Services and Supplies reflect election judge retention
efforts that include a higher hourly wage to more closely align with our municipal neighbors and a meal being provided on
election days.
17 24
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: ASSESSING
101 GENERAL Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
1550 ASSESSING Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services 5,400 6,800 7,600 12,700 12,700 -
Supplies --100 ---
Other Services & Charges 97,300 96,800 100,000 100,100 100,100 -
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: ASSESSING 102,700 103,600 107,700 112,800 112,800 -
Activity Description
Subscription & Memberships
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
The Assessing Department provides tax and homestead information. Through a joint powers agreement with Anoka County,
the County provides for the assessment of property in Columbia Heights and processes homestead applications. The current
contract with the County began in 2003.
The proposed Assessing budget has an increase of $5,100 or 4.7%.
18 25
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: LEGAL SERVICES
101 GENERAL Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
1610 LEGAL SERVICES Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services ------
Supplies ------
Other Services & Charges 190,900 202,900 200,300 215,300 215,300 -
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: LEGAL SERVICES 190,900 202,900 200,300 215,300 215,300 -
Activity Description
Subscription & Memberships
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
The Legal Services Department handles all civil and prosecution matters for the City. These services are currently under
retainer with the law firm of Barna, Guzy, and Steffen, Ltd. This Department also budgets for outside employment and labor
attorney services.
The proposed Legal Services budget shows an increase of $15,000 or 7.5% This increase is to accommodate adjustments to
the current contract for legal services accounting for inflation.
The Council has directed staff to seek competitive bids for legal services for the 2027 contract year.
19 26
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: CABLE TELEVISION
225 CABLE Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
9844 TELEVISION Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services 20,200 37,400 67,500 200 200 -
Supplies 1,800 1,900 2,500 2,500 2,500 -
Other Services & Charges 95,500 124,700 143,200 33,200 33,200 -
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers 25,100 21,600 8,000 119,600 119,600 -
TOTALS: CABLE TELEVISION 142,600 185,600 221,200 155,500 155,500 -
Activity Description
Subscription & Memberships
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
The Cable Television Department operates under the Administration Department to administer the franchise ordinance with
Comcast; operate the local government access channels; provide other citywide communications; and provide customer
resolution to residents' cable service and billing issues.
The decrease in this budget reflects the items that were reclassified for clarity from the cable TV fund to the Communications
and Events budget. The largest element of this was the $40,000 annual cost of the newsletter. There is also a planned decrease
in costs associated with the production of the cable programming as the City is moving from Swagit to NineNorth and Cablecast
for meeting production, yielding a decrease of roughly $18,000.
Beginning in 2026, the staff labor for cable activities was also reclassified from a direct charge to personnel services to a
administrative labor transfer reimbursed to the general fund. This change between expense categories had no net effect on the
cable TV budget in total.
20 27
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: CAP EQUIP CITY MANAGER
431 CAPITAL EQUIPMENT Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
1320 CITY MANAGER Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services ------
Supplies ------
Other Services & Charges ------
Capital Outlay --55,000 ---
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: CAP EQUIP CITY MANAGER --55,000 ---
Activity Description
Subscription & Memberships
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
This department is used to account for equipment purchased by this division.
There are no capital equipment expenditures budgeted for 2026. The $55,000 budgeted in 2025 remains unspent, as the City
Manger selected a vehicle from the City's existing fleet rather than purchasing new.
21 28
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Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: PLANNING & INSPECTIONS
201 PLANNING & INSPECTIONS Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
2400 PLANNING & INSPECTIONS Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services 327,700 483,100 549,900 691,700 691,700 -
Supplies 2,200 6,600 8,900 10,000 10,000 -
Other Services & Charges 88,400 111,400 78,100 163,000 163,000 -
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers 22,000 28,900 25,100 31,000 31,000 -
TOTALS: PLANNING & INSPECTIONS 440,300 630,000 662,000 895,700 895,700 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
The Planning & Inspections Department ensures the public health, safety, and general welfare of the community through
implementation, administration, and enforcement of the City Zoning Code and the respective Minnesota State Building Codes.
The main activities of the Planning & Inspections Department include providing staff support to the Planning Commission;
implementing short and long-range planning policies that address the changing dynamics of social, political, and economic
environments; facilitating the implementation and administration of the Comprehensive Plan; conducting special projects for
the benefit of the community; serving as project managers for development and redevelopment projects; administering
FEMA requirements; issuing building, mechanical and plumbing permits, as well as contractor and businesses licenses;
reviewing building plans and construction documents; and inspecting the construction and installation of projects.
The proposed 2026 budget is an increase of $233,700 or 35% over 2025. In 2026, the city's General fund levy will continue to
partially support the operations of the Planning and Inspections Department with a $408,700 contribution. This contribution is
used to pay for the City Planner position and approximately half of the Building Inspector position and Code Enforcement
position.
PERSONNEL SERVICES:
Personal Services will increase by $141,8000 or 25%. This increase will cover regular COLA increases, benefit increases, and
salary adjustments for the City Planner, Building Official, Building Inspector, Administrative Assistant II, and Code Enforcer.
SUPPLIES:
The supplies budget will increase by $1,100 or 12% due to the addition of a laptop and related materials for the intern
position.
OTHER SERVICES AND CHARGES:
Other services and charges will increase by $84,900 or 108.7%. This increase will accommodate increases in expert and
professional services, new phones, insurance and garage labor. The largest driver of this increase Is $70,000 in expert and
professional services to cover the Comprehensive Planning Contractor as the Comprehensive Planning 2050 process begins in
2026.
23 30
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
204 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
6314 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTH.Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services 251,800 241,300 250,100 266,600 266,600 -
Supplies 100 2,300 800 800 800 -
Other Services & Charges 27,600 34,700 33,000 40,900 40,900 -
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers 22,100 28,900 25,100 105,600 105,600 -
TOTALS: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTH301,600 307,200 309,000 413,900 413,900 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
The Economic Development Authority coordinates several activities that both directly and indirectly act as a catalyst for
improving the community's overall quality of life, business vitality, and economic performance. The main activities of Economic
Development Authority staff include providing support to the Columbia Heights Economic Development Authority and the
Housing & Redevelopment Authority in and for the City of Columbia Heights; leveraging public and private partnerships to
increase the amount of reinvestment within the City; serving as project managers for development and redevelopment
projects; writing and maintaining grants from governmental agencies and corporate institutions; preparing and maintaining
Tax Increment Financing, Tax Abatement, and Private Activity Bond records; developing and implementing a Business
Retention & Expansion programs; managing housing programs; and facilitating the acquisition and conveyance of City owned
properties.
The proposed 2026 budget is an increase of $94,900 or 31% higher than 2025, due to an EDA increase in project related
funding.
PERSONNEL SERVICES:
Personnel services will increase by $16,500, or 6.6% due to having a full staff throughout the year.
SUPPLIES:
The Supplies budget will remain unchanged for 2026.
OTHER SERVICES AND CHARGES:
Other Services and Charges will increase by $7,900 to adequately reflect the anticipated workload of the department, and
account for increases in Expert and Professional Services, Training and Education, Memberships, new telephones, and fund
transfers to the EDA's Commercial Revitalization Fund. The largest increase of $80,500 will be regarding project based funds
transferred to EDA Fund 408. This is to back fill a loss in market value and a 2026 decrease in HRA levy funds. These transferred
funds will allow 408 to operate at the same level as 2025 in 2026.
24 31
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: EDA HOUSING FUND
205 HOUSING FUND Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
6360 EDA - HOUSING Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services ------
Supplies ------
Other Services & Charges ---800,000 800,000 -
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: EDA - HOUSING ---800,000 800,000 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
Fund 205 Housing Fund represents the City's "Housing Trust Fund". This fund is administered by the EDA and contributes to
specific affordable housing initiatives taken on by the EDA. The fund receives a yearly stipend, in two separate payments, from
the State of Minnesota’s Local Affordable Housing Aid disbursements. These disbursements are based off calculations and sales
tax returns for the metro and vary year by year.
This will be the first year Fund 205 is included in the Budgeting Handbook. Since the fund was created late in 2024, it was not
incorporated into the 2025 budget. However, it has received revenue throughout 2024 and 2025, which will contribute to the
fund's available balance. Per EDA guidance, the primary expenditure within Fund 205 will be the establishment of a Naturally
Occurring Affordable Housing (NOAH) loan program. Expenditures within this fund must adhere to the restrictions outlined in
Minnesota’s Local Housing Trust Fund statute and Local Affordable Housing Aid Statutes.
25 32
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: DOWNTOWN PARKING
228 DOWNTOWN PARKING Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
6317 DOWNTOWN PARKING Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services ------
Supplies 1,500 -1,500 1,500 1,500 -
Other Services & Charges 26,400 25,700 56,500 58,400 58,400 -
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: DOWNTOWN PARKING 27,900 25,700 58,000 59,900 59,900 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
The Downton Parking Fund operates to increase the economic viability of the Central Business District and maintain its livable
qualities. This fund administers the management, operation, and maintenance of the 310 stall municipal parking ramp located
at 4011 Van Buren Street NE, Columbia Heights, MN.
*Special Note: As part of the redevelopment of the 3989 Central Avenue site, the former municipal parking ramp at 950 40th
Avenue was demolished in late 2020.
The proposed 2026 budget is an increase of $1,900 or 3.2% over 2025. This increase is intended to keep up with inflation
related to contracted services for maintenance.
Fund 228 acts as the operating fund for the ramp soley funding yearly maintinance and utility bills. This fund does not
maintain funds for capital improvements. For several years, the primary user/tenant of the parking ramp was Fairview Health
Services, as the adjacent office building at 4000 Central Avenue has limited parking and relies on the City’s ramp for nearly all
its parking demand. In late 2022, Fairview Health fully vacated the building and closed their clinic operations resulting in
termination of a longstanding parking lease agreement. The building is now being offered for sale/lease. Until a new
owner/tenant is identified, the City has no primary user of the ramp, and subsequently no revenue to pay for the required
annual maintenance of the ramp.
Despite the loss of revenue from Fairview Health Services, the ramp remains an important asset to the vitality of the Central
Business District (CBD) by providing parking for several businesses located in the CBD. Funding for the operation and
maintenance of the ramp in 2025 will come from the City’s Special Project Fund 420. Staff will monitor the sale/lease of the
4000 Central office building and work to secure a long-term lease with any new owner/tenant.
26 33
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: EDA REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT FD
408 EDA REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
6314 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTH Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services ------
Supplies ------
Other Services & Charges 1,500 8,500 ----
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTH1,500 8,500 ----
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
The Redevelopment Project Fund is a working capital fund designed to provide the resources necessary for the Columbia
Heights Economic Development Authority to implement approved activities for the benefit of the community. The three
approved activities covered previously within this fund are the Commercial Revitalization Project, the Facade
Improvement Grant Program, and the Fire Suppression grants program.
Fund 408-6314 specifically pertains to expenditures related to the EDA’s operations. These expenditures are housed in
fund 204 which demonstrates the lack of expenditures.
No activity proposed for 2026.
27 34
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: EDA REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT FD
408 EDA REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
6411 FAÇADE IMPROVEMENT GRANT Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services ------
Supplies 30,500 -----
Other Services & Charges 12,500 38,400 -80,000 80,000 -
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTH43,000 38,400 -80,000 80,000 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
The Redevelopment Project Fund is a working capital fund designed to provide the resources necessary for the Columbia
Heights Economic Development Authority to implement approved activities for the benefit of the community. The three
approved activities covered previously within this fund are the Commercial Revitalization Project, the Facade
Improvement Grant Program, and the Fire Suppression grants program.
Fund 408-6411 specifically pertains to expenditures related to the EDA’s Facade Improvement Grant Program.
In 2025, the EDA established its ongoing budget and allocations for various programs and initiatives. In alignment with that
decision, staff are proposing to maintain the same expenditure level of $80,000 for the Facade Improvement Grant
Program 2026.
28 35
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: COMMERCIAL REVITALIZATION
408 EDA REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
6414 COMMERCIAL REVITALIZATION Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services ------
Supplies ------
Other Services & Charges 73,800 209,500 200,000 20,000 20,000 -
Capital Outlay 392,000 -200,000 300,000 300,000 -
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: COMMERCIAL REVITALIZATION465,800 209,500 400,000 320,000 320,000 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
The Redevelopment Project Fund is a working capital fund designed to provide the resources necessary for the Columbia
Heights Economic Development Authority to implement approved activities for the benefit of the community. The three
approved activities covered previously within this fund are the Commercial Revitalization Project, the Facade
Improvement Grant Program, and the Fire Suppression grants program.
Fund 408-6414 specifically pertains to expenditures related to the EDA’s Commercial Revitalization program, future
commercial art investments, and admin fee’s for the EDA’s Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing Loan Program.
The proposed 2026 budget is an decrease of $80,000 or 20% less than the amended 2025 budget.
This fund is supported by the Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) Levy and is recognized in Fund 408. Fund 408
will continue to support redevelopment projects and program expenditures of the Columbia Heights Economic
Development Authority (EDA), including the EDA’s Commercial Revitalization program, future commercial art investments,
admin fee’s for the EDA’s Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing Loan Program, and strategic property acquisitions.
The fund 408 budget is increasing by $10,000 in 2026 to accommodate one primary change. The $10,000 increase will be
dedicated to cover administrative costs of executing the affordable trust funds grant or loan programs.
Prior to 2026, the facade improvement grants were budgeted in this department. Beginning in 2026, that activity is
segregated into its own department #6411 within EDA fund 408.
Prior to 2026, the Fire Supression grants were budgeted in this department. Beginning in 2026, that activity is segregated
into its own department #6418 within EDA fund 408.
29 36
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: FIRE SUPPRESSION GRANT
408 EDA REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
6418 FIRE SUPPRESSION GRANT Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services ------
Supplies ------
Other Services & Charges -74,400 -100,000 100,000 -
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: FIRE SUPPRESSION GRANT -74,400 -100,000 100,000 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
The RedevelopmentProject Fund is a working capital fund designed to provide the resources necessary for the
Columbia Heights Economic Development Authority to implement approved activities for the benefit of the
community. The three approved activities covered previously within this fund are the Commercial
Revitalization Project, the Facade Improvement Grant Program,and the Fire Suppression grants program.
Fund 408-6418 specifically pertains to expenditures related to the EDA’s Fire Suppression Grant Program.
In 2025, the EDA established its ongoing budget and allocations for various programs and initiatives. In alignment with that
decision, staff are proposing to maintain the same expenditure level of $100,000 for the Fire Suppresion Grant Program in
2026.
30 37
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: CAP EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT FINANCE
431 CAP EQUIP REPLACEMENT Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
2400 PROTECTIVE INSPECTIONS Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services ------
Supplies ------
Other Services & Charges ------
Capital Outlay -40,500 ----
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: CAP EQUIP REPLACEMENT FINANCE -40,500 ----
Activity Description
Budget Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
No activity proposed for 2026.
No activity proposed for 2026.
31 38
Item 2.
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32 39
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: FINANCE
101 GENERAL Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
1510 FINANCE Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services 910,200 982,400 1,027,600 1,102,900 1,102,900 -
Supplies 2,100 6,500 7,100 9,500 9,500 -
Other Services & Charges 114,600 65,900 83,300 83,700 83,700 -
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: FINANCE 1,026,900 1,054,800 1,118,000 1,196,100 1,196,100 -
Activity Description
Punches, calculators, organizers, etc.
Budget Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
The purpose of the Finance Department is to account for all financial operations of the City and to report on those
operations. The Finance department is responsible for budgeting, financial reporting, accounts payable and receivable,
payroll, utility billing, purchasing, liquor operations, and information systems within city operations.
The proposed 2026 budget is an increase of $78,100 or 7% over 2025. This compares to a 2.6% increase the prior year.
The 2026 increase is driven by personnel costs of the 2025-2027 labor agreements as follows:
•Cost-of-living increases of 4% in wages and wage-related fringe benefits for all staff.
•Cost-of-living increases of 6% in employer contributions to employee insurance and health savings accounts.
•Seniority step increases of 3.3% for wages and wage-related fringe benefits for seven of the nine department staff.
Nonpersonnel costs proposed for 2026 are an increase of 3% or $2,800. This includes a small allowance towards
replacement of the legacy special assessment software, when combined with offsetting reductions in various nonpersonnel
items for 2026.
33 40
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: CITY HALL
101 GENERAL Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
1940 CITY HALL Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services ------
Supplies 8,200 23,500 11,800 23,100 23,100 -
Other Services & Charges 145,400 192,100 164,400 173,100 173,100 -
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: CITY HALL 153,600 215,600 176,200 196,200 196,200 -
Activity Description
Budget Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
This department accounts for the general maintenance and operation of City Hall. The major expenses in this
budget are occupancy costs. It also includes some centralized costs of general office supplies used by all City
divisions occupying City Hall.
Prior to 2024, this budget contained the actual operating costs of the old City Hall. For 2024 and beyond, this
budget contains the estimated operating costs of the new City Hall.
The proposed 2026 budget is an increase of $20,000 or 11% over 2025. This primarily reflects adjusting past
estimates across most line items to the actual experience of occupying the new City Hall in the two years following
move-in.
We note that this department budget includes $28,000 for the annual lease of staff parking spaces from the Ratio
Apartments owner, plus $8,000 in annual condominium association fees.
Lastly, we note that the $192,100 amount shown above as actual 2024 Other Services and Charges includes one-
time temporary rent of the new city hall office space paid to the developer transitionally between the occupancy of
the new city hall and the legal closing of the condominium purchase by the City.
34 41
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: CONTINGENCIES
101 GENERAL Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
9200 CONTINGENCIES Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services ------
Supplies ------
Other Services & Charges 36,300 38,600 45,000 42,700 42,700 -
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers --50,000 50,000 50,000 -
TOTALS: CONTINGENCIES 36,300 38,600 95,000 92,700 92,700 -
Activity Description
Budget Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
This department was established to budget an allowance for activity not anticipated and budgeted for under other
departments. Beginning in 2024, this department also accounts for the holding costs of the old City Hall property until it is
redeveloped.
The proposed 2026 budget is a decrease of $2,300 or 2% from 2025.
This includes an estimate of $42,700 in holding costs for the old city hall and a $50,000 contingency to support unexpected
activity in all other departments in the 2026 budget.
35 42
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: TRANSFERS
101 GENERAL Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
9300 TRANSFERS Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services ------
Supplies ------
Other Services & Charges ------
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers 544,000 961,000 768,000 1,567,500 1,567,500 -
TOTALS: TRANSFERS 544,000 961,000 768,000 1,567,500 1,567,500 -
Activity Description
Budget Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
This department was established to account for transfers-out from the General Fund to other City funds.
There are four recurring items in this budget for 2026:
•An annual transfer of $100,000 of general fund property tax levy to the Parks Capital Fund 412, to supplement
various other funding for capital improvements to City parks under the parks master plan. This item originated from
the 2020 closure of a tax increment district, which in turn increased the tax base subject to the general property tax
levy by approximately the amount required to fund this transfer.
•An annual transfer of $450,000 of general fund property tax levy to the City's internal service fund 720 for
Information Technology, as one part of the City's strategic plan for technology. This item was gradually phased into
its current level from 2021 through 2024.
•An annual transfer of $417,500 of general fund property tax levy to Planning and Inspections Fund 201, to fund:
1) The portion of the City Planner position not funded by planning fees.
2) The portion of the Point-Of-Sale inspections program not funded by inspection fees.
3) The portion of the Code Enforcement Officer not funded by fees and fines (new in mid-2025).
An annual transfer of $600,000 of general fund property tax levy to the City's Public Improvement Revolving (PIR) Fund
415 to fund teh City street construction program. This item is new for 2026, replacing amounts that previously were
levied as special assessments ineach of hte prpoer internal service fund 720 for Information Technology, as one part of
the City's strategic plan for technology. This item was gradually phased into its current level from 2021 through 2024.
36 43
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: CAP EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT FINANCE
431 CAP EQUIP REPLACEMENT Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
1510 FINANCE Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services ------
Supplies ------
Other Services & Charges ------
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: CAP EQUIP REPLACEMENT FINANCE ------
Activity Description
Punches, calculators, organizers, etc.
Budget Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
This department is used to account for equipment purchased by this division.
At this time, there are no capital requests for the Finance department for 2026. However, replacement of the legacy special
assessment software will be necessary at some point and is currently under consideration.
37 44
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: WATER UTILITY
601 WATER UTILITY Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
9690 ADMINISTRATION & GENERAL Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services ------
Supplies 1,100 2,400 800 1,200 1,200 -
Other Services & Charges 61,300 74,600 96,200 99,100 99,100 -
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers 124,200 132,300 129,700 147,300 147,300 -
TOTALS: WATER UTILITY 186,600 209,300 226,700 247,600 247,600 -
Activity Description
Punches, calculators, organizers, etc.
Budget Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
The Administration Department of the Water Utility Fund accounts for 33.3% of the costs associated with the utility billing
process costs associated with meter reading. The remaining costs for utility billing are allocated to the Sewer Utility Fund -
33.3% and the Refuse Utility Fund 33.3%; except the costs for meter reading are allocated 50% each to the Water and
Sewer Funds.
The proposed 2026 budget is an increase of $20,900 or 9% over 2025.
The majority of this increase is in the administrative labor transfer to the general fund, reflecting both the direct services of
the utility billing staff in the general fund and the indirect administrative labor of a portion of all applicable managerial staff.
As described in the budget narrative for Finance department 101.1510 labor increases under current contracts were
approximately 7% with cost of living increases and seniority step increases combined. Additionally, the portion of
managerial labor allocated to this function was adjusted to fit current time estimates.
We note the approximately $20,000 increase shown above from 2024 to 2025 in the Other Services and Charges category is
the water fund's 50% share of the new meter-reading software subscriptions implemented in 2024-2025 in conjunction with
the concurrent Citywide meter replacement program. These software subscriptions are continued into the 2026 budget.
38 45
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: SEWER UTILITY ADMINISTRATION & GENERAL
602 SEWER UTILITY Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
9690 ADMINISTRATION & GENERAL Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services ------
Supplies 1,100 2,500 800 1,200 1,200 -
Other Services & Charges 93,600 74,500 96,200 99,100 99,100 -
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers 124,200 132,300 129,700 147,300 147,300 -
TOTALS: SEWER UTILITY 218,900 209,300 226,700 247,600 247,600 -
Activity Description
Punches, calculators, organizers, etc.
Budget Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
The Administration Department of the Sewer Utility Fund accounts for 33.3% of the costs associated with the utility billing
process and one-half of the costs associated with meter reading. The remaining costs for utility billing are allocated to the
Sewer Utility Fund - 33.3% and the Refuse Utility Fund 33.3%; except the costs for meter reading are allocated 50% each to
the Water and Sewer Funds.
The proposed 2026 budget is an increase of $20,900 or 9% over 2025.
The majority of this increase is in the administrative labor transfer to the general fund, reflecting both the direct services of
the utility billing staff in the general fund and the indirect administrative labor of a portion of all applicable managerial staff.
As described in the budget narrative for Finance department 101.1510 labor increases under current contracts were
approximately 7% with cost of living increases and seniority step increases combined. Additionally, the portion of managerial
labor allocated to this function was adjusted to fit current time estimates.
We note the approximately $20,000 increase shown above from 2024 to 2025 in the Other Services and Charges category is
the sewer fund's 50% share of the new meter-reading software subscriptions implemented in 2024-2025 in conjunction with
the concurrent Citywide meter replacement program. These software subscriptions are continued into the 2026 budget.
39 46
Item 2.
Property Cap Equip
Fire Inspections Replacement Fire
101.2200 101.2300 431.2200
Revenue
Taxes 1,824,800 470,400 -
Licenses & Permits 351,900 --
Intergovernmental 170,000 -82,000
Charges for Services 102,300 --
Fines & Forfeits ---
Miscellaneous --5,300
Sales and Related Charges ---
Transfers & Non Rev Receipts ---
Total Revenue 2,449,000 470,400 87,300
Expenses
Personnel Services 1,871,400 433,700 -
Supplies 149,700 3,500 12,000
Other Services & Charges 391,000 23,700 -
Capital Outlay --60,000
Contingencies & Transfers ---
Total Expenses 2,412,100 460,900 72,000
Change in Fund Balance 36,900 9,500 15,300
City of Columbia Heights, Minnesota
BUDGET 2026
Fire
4040 47
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: FIRE
101 GENERAL Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
2200 FIRE Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services 1,617,000 1,619,500 1,780,900 1,871,400 1,871,400 -
Supplies 96,300 135,400 105,000 149,700 149,700 -
Other Services & Charges 375,500 356,000 345,500 391,000 391,000 -
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: FIRE 2,088,800 2,110,900 2,231,400 2,412,100 2,412,100 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
The Fire Department plays a crucial role in safeguarding the residents of Columbia Heights and Hilltop by offering essential
prevention and response services for all types of hazards. These indispensable services encompass:
•Emergency medical services
•Swift and effective fire suppression and investigation
•Informative public outreach programs
•Vigorous enforcement of fire codes
•Valuable support in emergency management
Moreover, the Fire Department collaborates closely with local, state, and federal agencies to develop and execute
emergency management strategies tailored to the needs of Columbia Heights. Through these collaborative efforts, the
Fire Department ensures the continuous safeguarding of public safety, health, and well-being during crises and natural
calamities. The Fire Department maintains a robust operational status, and the City's emergency management division is
adept and well-prepared.
The Fire Department’s proposed budget for the 2026 fiscal year reflects an overall increase of 8.1%, primarily driven by
rising personnel costs, which are partially offset by an 8.6% decrease in the Property Maintenance budget. Increases were
also made to the Protective Clothing and Professional Services line items, while funding for most other areas remains
consistent with 2025 levels.
PERSONNEL SERVICES:The proposed 2026 budget reflects a 5.% increase in personnel costs compared to 2025. This
modest adjustment accounts for standard wage and benefit changes necessary to maintain staffing levels and ensure
continued service delivery to the community.
SUPPLIES:A proposed $24,000 combined increase in the Protective Clothing and Uniform line items is necessary to outfit 4
to 5 incoming Paid-On-Call Firefighters with uniforms and full sets of turnout gear and to replace gear that is damaged or
has reached the end of its service life. Each complete set—consisting of a coat, pants, hood, boots, and gloves—currently
costs approximately $4,500 and is expected to rise. These items are essential for ensuring the safety of our personnel and
must meet current NFPA standards. Maintaining properly equipped firefighters is fundamental to our operational readiness
and safety protocols.
OTHER SERVICE CHARGES:An allocation of $25,000 under Professional Services is proposed to fund an Emotional
Resilience Training program for 25 Paid-On-Call Firefighters. This initiative is a proactive investment in the mental health
and well-being of our team, designed to mitigate stress, reduce burnout, and enhance performance in high-pressure
situations. It also supports the department’s long-term efforts in recruitment, retention, and overall personnel
sustainability.
41 48
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: FIRE
101 GENERAL Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
2200 FIRE Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services 1,617,000 1,619,500 1,780,900 1,871,400 1,871,400 -
Supplies 96,300 135,400 105,000 149,700 149,700 -
Other Services & Charges 375,500 356,000 345,500 391,000 391,000 -
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: FIRE 2,088,800 2,110,900 2,231,400 2,412,100 2,412,100 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
The Fire Department plays a crucial role in safeguarding the residents of Columbia Heights and Hilltop by offering essential
prevention and response services for all types of hazards. These indispensable services encompass:
•Emergency medical services
•Swift and effective fire suppression and investigation
•Informative public outreach programs
•Vigorous enforcement of fire codes
•Valuable support in emergency management
Moreover, the Fire Department collaborates closely with local, state, and federal agencies to develop and execute
emergency management strategies tailored to the needs of Columbia Heights. Through these collaborative efforts, the
Fire Department ensures the continuous safeguarding of public safety, health, and well-being during crises and natural
calamities. The Fire Department maintains a robust operational status, and the City's emergency management division is
adept and well-prepared.
The Fire Department’s proposed budget for the 2026 fiscal year reflects an overall increase of 8.1%, primarily driven by
rising personnel costs, which are partially offset by an 8.6% decrease in the Property Maintenance budget. Increases were
also made to the Protective Clothing and Professional Services line items, while funding for most other areas remains
consistent with 2025 levels.
PERSONNEL SERVICES:The proposed 2026 budget reflects a 5.% increase in personnel costs compared to 2025. This
modest adjustment accounts for standard wage and benefit changes necessary to maintain staffing levels and ensure
continued service delivery to the community.
SUPPLIES:A proposed $24,000 combined increase in the Protective Clothing and Uniform line items is necessary to outfit 4
to 5 incoming Paid-On-Call Firefighters with uniforms and full sets of turnout gear and to replace gear that is damaged or
has reached the end of its service life. Each complete set—consisting of a coat, pants, hood, boots, and gloves—currently
costs approximately $4,500 and is expected to rise. These items are essential for ensuring the safety of our personnel and
must meet current NFPA standards. Maintaining properly equipped firefighters is fundamental to our operational readiness
and safety protocols.
OTHER SERVICE CHARGES:An allocation of $25,000 under Professional Services is proposed to fund an Emotional
Resilience Training program for 25 Paid-On-Call Firefighters. This initiative is a proactive investment in the mental health
and well-being of our team, designed to mitigate stress, reduce burnout, and enhance performance in high-pressure
situations. It also supports the department’s long-term efforts in recruitment, retention, and overall personnel
sustainability.
42 49
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: PROPERTY INSPECTIONS
101 GENERAL Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
2300 PROPERTY INSPECTIONS Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services 455,000 412,000 474,600 433,700 433,700 -
Supplies 1,600 2,400 3,900 3,500 3,500 -
Other Services & Charges 7,900 8,000 23,000 23,700 23,700 -
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: PROPERTY INSPECTIONS 464,500 422,400 501,500 460,900 460,900 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
The purpose of the Property Maintenance and Rental Inspection division is to safeguard the health, safety, and welfare of
the public and rental occupants by enforcing city ordinances and building and property maintenance codes. The division is
managed by the Assistant Fire Chief and consists of two fulltime inspectors, and a full-time administrative assistant. The
budget is comprised of expenses related to enforcement activities of the City's property maintenance code including rental
property licensing and inspections, nuisance inspections, and commercial property inspections. The program sets the City's
minimum requirements and standards for premises, structures, and equipment guaranteeing the following:
-Rental units have proper light, ventilation, space, heating, sanitation, and protection from the elements.
-Residents have life safety measures in case of fires and other hazards.
-Determine and enforce safe and sanitary property maintenance duties.
-Hold owners and operators accountable for clear violations of building and property maintenance codes.
-Verify the occupancy of existing structures and premises and determine code compliance.
-Administration, enforcement, and penalties.
The 2026 Property Maintenance budget reflects an approximate 8.1% decrease from the 2025 adopted budget. This
reduction is due to the transfer of responsibilities for grass, snow, and outside storage inspections and abatements from
the Fire Department to the Community Development Department.
43 50
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: ABATEMENT PROJECTS
415 CAPITAL IMPRVMT - PIR PROJ Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
6450 ABATEMENT PROJECTS Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services ------
Supplies ------
Other Services & Charges 68,600 76,100 ----
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: ABATEMENT PROJECTS 68,600 76,100 ----
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
This department accounts for the direct costs of code enforcement efforts to eliminate (abate) nuisance and hazardous
conditions on private property. Routinely, this includes mowing long grass and weeds, sidewalk snow removal, and
removal of outside storage/junk hauling. At times, this code enforcement is more involved and requires obtaining an
administrative search warrant to address issues with buildings on the private property.
Beginning in 2025, this activity is reported under Protective Inspections #201.42400.
4444 51
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: CAP EQUIP REPLACEMENT GENERAL
431 CAP EQUIP REPLACEMENT GENERAL Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
2200 FIRE Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services ------
Supplies -51,400 -12,000 12,000 -
Other Services & Charges -37,700 ----
Capital Outlay 8,400 1,509,900 -60,000 60,000 -
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: CAP EQUIP REPLACEMENT GENERAL8,400 1,599,000 -72,000 72,000 -
Activity Description
Budget Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
The Fire Capital Equipment Replacement - General Fund exists to fund the long term ongoing capital equipment needs in the
general fund. The department's detailed 20-year projection schedule of equipment needs and long term replacement shall be
updated to reflect current department priorities and an all-hazards approach to response and provisions of service.
Loose Equipment for New Engine:
The Fire Department is requesting a capital equipment allocation of $60,000 in the 2026 budget to support the purchase of loose
equipment for a new fire engine scheduled for delivery that year. This funding will ensure the apparatus is fully equipped and
ready for service upon delivery. Items to be purchased include essential firefighting and medical tools such as hose, nozzles, hand
tools, adapters, fittings, and emergency medical equipment. These components are critical for maintaining operational readiness
and ensuring a seamless transition into service.
Kitchen Cabinets & Appliances
In 2025, the fire department explored the possibility of utilizing Public Safety Aid funds to support facility improvements but was
ultimately unable to secure funding through that channel. As an alternative approach, the department is proposing to move
forward with remodeling the kitchen, focusing on replacing both the cabinets and aging appliances. To facilitate this effort, the
cabinet replacement portion of the project is included and will be presented in Building Fund 411, managed through Public
Works. In addition, the 2026 proposed budget allocates $12,000 in the Minor Equipment line item specifically for the purchase
and installation of new kitchen appliances to complete the remodel.
45 52
Item 2.
Cap. Equip
IT IT
720.9980 437.9980
Revenue
Taxes --
Licenses & Permits --
Intergovernmental --
Charges for Services --
Fines & Forfeits --
Miscellaneous 8,000 8,000
Sales and Related Charges 553,500 22,500
Transfers & Non Rev Receipts 450,000 -
Total Revenue 1,011,500 30,500
Expenses
Personnel Services 785,700 -
Supplies 15,400 -
Other Services and Charges 230,900 10,000
Capital Outlay --
Contingencies & Transfers --
Total Expenses 1,032,000 10,000
Change in Fund Balance (20,500)20,500
City of Columbia Heights, Minnesota
BUDGET 2026
Information Technology
46 53
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
720 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
9980 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services 596,100 625,800 752,700 785,700 785,700 -
Supplies 22,100 52,400 19,300 15,400 15,400 -
Other Services & Charges 132,700 151,100 231,400 230,900 230,900 -
Capital Outlay -28,500 ----
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: INFORMATION SYSTEMS 750,900 857,800 1,003,400 1,032,000 1,032,000 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
The Information Technology (IT) Department is responsible for the implementation, management, support, and cybersecurity of
technology used by City staff across all City facilities. As the City's reliance on technology continues to grow, it is essential to maintain
dedicated resources to ensure reliable support and the ongoing development of the City's technology environment. Modern tools and
regular training improve employee productivity and help reduce the total cost of technology ownership.Key components include:
- Approximately 280 desktop, virtual, and portable computers
- More than 270 telephones, with over 570 assigned phone numbers and voicemail boxes
- 65 physical and virtual servers and storage systems
- More than 40 printers, copiers, and scanners
- Approximately 250 network devices; supporting video security, building access control, and automation
- Twenty databases supporting internal services and public-facing applications
- A Laserfiche document imaging system with roughly 470,000 documents containing 3.8 million pages
- Cloud-hosted applications, including Microsoft 365
- Comprehensive cybersecurity services, including 24x7x365 incident response, CJIS and PCI compliance, penetration testing, and critical
infrastructure protection
- A fiberoptic and copper campus-wide network
- Computer-aided dispatch and mobile computing systems used in Fire and Police vehicles
- City-wide security and license plate recognition (LPR) camera systems
- Secure and compliant use of generative AI tools
The 2026 IT budget will prioritize investments in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), and modernization of the City's telecommunications
infrastructure.
Cybersecurity Initiatives
FortiSRA: Secure remote access software for managing vendor connections to the City's network.
Incident Response Retainer: Expanding 24x7x365 incident response coverage to include all City departments.
MS-ISAC Membership: Now operating under a membership fee model after previously being federally funded.
Security Information and Event Management (SIEM): Event logging and dissemination for threat detection and compliance.
Cybersecurity Training: Ongoing employee education to reduce risks and enhance awareness of security practices.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Initiatives
Azure OpenAI Deployment: Launching a compliant AI within Azure Government to enable secure use of generative AI by staff.
Private Model Training: Training AI models focused on compliance, security, data integrity, fairness, and ethical standards.
Telecommunications Modernization
The City's current phone system has reached end-of-life, and recent service changes have impacted the City. In 2026, IT will migrate to a
softphone-based solution. This upgrade will provide enhanced communication features to City staff.
Physical desk phones will be replaced throughout the City however staff can opt for a software phone only.
Departments have been instructed to budget for phone replacements in their 2026 plans.
Departments have also been asked to budget 18 percent increase in their Telephone budget to accommodate this transition.
To help offset the impact of this change, IT has proposed no increase to the Information Technology – Internal Services 44040 line item for
2026.
47
54
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: IT CAPITAL EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT
437 IT CAPITAL EQUIPMENT Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
9980 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services ------
Supplies 18,300 -----
Other Services & Charges ---10,000 10,000 -
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: IS CAP EQUIP REPLACEMENT 18,300 --10,000 10,000 -
Activity Description
Punches, calculators, organizers, etc.
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
The IT Capital Equipment Fund #437 is primarily used for IT hardware, software, and project costs, with a useful life of
more than one year and a per item cost of $15,000 or more. Items meeting these criteria are not expensed against the
budget in the year of purchase, but are instead depreciated over 3-10 years with an annual portion of the depreciation
expense charged to each year's budget within the IT Operating Fund #720.
IT will be replacing two core servers with new hardware that will form a hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI) cluster. This
cluster consolidates storage and computing resources into a unified system, serving as the primary platform for all City
data and virtual machine hosting. These physical servers, also referred to as host servers, are critical to maintaining the
City's digital infrastructure.
This $90,000 investment in 2026 equipment will be capitalized, with the expense recognized as depreciation in the I/T
Fund 720 operating budget over the next five years. As part of this project, Windows Server licensing will be upgraded for
all guest virtual machines running on the new hosts to ensure compliance, security, and compatibility with current
technologies.
48 55
Item 2.
Library
240.5500
Revenue
Taxes 1,292,000
Licenses & Permits -
Intergovernmental -
Charges for Services 13,100
Fines & Forfeits 400
Miscellaneous 11,500
Sales and Related Charges -
Transfers & Non Rev Receipts -
Total Revenue 1,317,000
Expenses
Personnel Services 860,400
Supplies 117,900
Other Services and Charges 314,600
Capital Outlay -
Contingencies & Transfers 24,100
Total Expenses 1,317,000
Change in Fund Balance -
City of Columbia Heights, Minnesota
BUDGET 2026
Library
49 56
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: LIBRARY
240 LIBRARY Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
5500 LIBRARY Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services 720,500 800,000 858,100 860,400 860,400 -
Supplies 94,900 98,100 112,700 117,900 117,900 -
Other Services & Charges 281,300 281,400 302,900 314,600 314,600 -
Capital Outlay 1,500 500 ----
Contingencies & Transfers 18,000 18,600 19,300 24,100 24,100 -
TOTALS: LIBRARY 1,116,200 1,198,600 1,293,000 1,317,000 1,317,000 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
The Columbia Heights Public Library serves the individual and community with responsive collections, innovative
programming, professional staff, and access to resources in order to nurture community, creativity, opportunity, and
knowledge.
The Library collects and lends materials in multiple physical and digital formats including print, audio, and video. It
provides educational classes and programs including literacy-based storytimes and STEM workshops, adult language
learning and literacy programs, reading programs, arts and cultural events, and services such as a volunteer program,
and home delivery of materials. The Library provides free access to computer hardware and software, the internet,
and online research and instructional databases. It provides space for individual work, study and public meetings.
Library staff provide one-on-one and class-based instruction as well as research and reference assistance. The Library
contracts with Anoka County Library for inclusion in integrated library system software to manage patron
information and collection inventory, delivery of materials, and access to electronic resources. It participates in the
Metropolitan Library Service Agency (as an Associate Library), the Minitex multi-state interlibrary loan program, the
Statewide Borrowers' Compact, and METRONET. These cooperative agreements enable Columbia Heights residents
to gain access to library materials, special services, and electronic resources throughout the state of Minnesota and
provide staff with professional development and training opportunities.
The proposed 2026 Library budget includes an overall increase of $24,000 (1.9%) over 2025.
Personnel Services is essentially flat. It incorporates the wage increases negotiated in collective bargaining
agreements for full-time staff. It also reduces part-time salary expenditures to mirror actuals during the previous two
budgets.
Supplies incorporates a 4.6% increase over 2025. It includes estimated costs for the purchase of new telephone
equipment and a substantial increase for eBooks. A slight increase for streaming video content was estimated based
using actual expenditures in the first quarter of 2025. Slight decreases have been made for print material, compact
discs, and book/audio kits.
Other Services and Charges has increased by 3.9% over 2025. Growth is due to increased costs for telephone service,
increased estimates for electricity and natural gas utilities, and anticipated increases for building and equipment
maintenance and repair.
No Capital Outlay is anticipated in 2026.
Contingencies and Transfers incorporates a 24.9% increase for the Library's share of city administration.
50 57
Item 2.
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51 58
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: LIQUOR STORE #1
609 LIQUOR Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
9791 LIQUOR STORE #1 Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services 591,300 606,200 634,900 667,600 667,600 -
Supplies 3,547,200 3,522,100 3,594,600 3,661,000 3,661,000 -
Other Services & Charges 316,700 306,000 335,800 332,100 332,100 -
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: LIQUOR STORE #1 4,455,200 4,434,300 4,565,300 4,660,700 4,660,700 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
Under MN statute, the primary purpose of municipal liquor stores is to safely control the distribution of alcohol.
Municipal liquor stores can also generate income for the community, reducing the amount of property taxes otherwise
required for City operations. This income opportunity is limited however, by significant market competition within the
metro area.
The City of Columbia Heights' three liquor stores operate under the brand name of Top Valu, and their combined annual
activity is within the top ten in municipal liquor sales in Minnesota. This has provided funds for both City infrastructure
and for community policing programs, such as D.A.R.E., to mitigate the negative effects of alcohol in the community.
The cost of goods purchased for resale is included above within the Supplies category of the budget, and scaled to the
level of sales forecasted for each budget year. Factoring out the cost of goods purchased for resale, the proposed
increase in operating expenses budgeted for all three stores combined for 2026 is $58,400 or 3% over the 2025 budget.
60% of this combined increase for all three stores is in personnel, the largest category of store operating expenses. The
personnel increases reflect a combination of cost-of-living increases for all staff and seniority step raises for those staff
not yet at year 5 in the wage scale. To some extent these seniority step increases are offset by the inherent turnover rate
for part-time retail clerks.
The increase in nonpersonnnel costs include estimated inflation and the one-time replacement of telephones in 2026.
52 59
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: LIQUOR STORE #2
609 LIQUOR Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
9792 LIQUOR STORE #2 Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services 512,400 512,500 556,800 577,500 577,500 -
Supplies 2,190,100 2,504,700 2,614,400 2,729,600 2,729,600 -
Other Services & Charges 243,900 248,900 270,200 278,700 278,700 -
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: LIQUOR STORE #2 2,946,400 3,266,100 3,441,400 3,585,800 3,585,800 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
Under MN statute, the primary purpose of municipal liquor stores is to safely control the distribution of alcohol. Municipal
liquor stores can also generate income for the community, reducing the amount of property taxes otherwise required for City
operations. This income opportunity is limited however, by significant market competition within the metro area.
The City of Columbia Heights' three liquor stores operate under the brand name of Top Valu, and their combined annual
activity is within the top ten in municipal liquor sales in Minnesota. This has provided funds for both City infrastructure and
for community policing programs, such as D.A.R.E., to mitigate the negative effects of alcohol in the community.
The cost of goods purchased for resale is included above within the Supplies category of the budget, and scaled to the level of
sales forecasted for each budget year. Factoring out the cost of goods purchased for resale, the proposed increase in
operating expenses budgeted for all three stores combined for 2026 is $58,400 or 3% over the 2025 budget.
60% of this combined increase for all three stores is in personnel, the largest category of store operating expenses. The
personnel increases reflect a combination of cost-of-living increases for all staff and seniority step raises for those staff not
yet at year 5 in the wage scale. To some extent these seniority step increases are offset by the inherent turnover rate for
part-time retail clerks.
The increase in nonpersonnnel costs include estimated inflation and the one-time replacement of telephones in 2026.
Staff recommends replacing the digital message board within the existing brick monument sign at Store 2 in 2026 at a cost of
approximately $60,000. Key replacement parts are no longer available for this obsolete 15 year old electronic device. The
west side of the board is out completely after having consolidated parts from both sides to make the east side operational.
Recently, the east side been intermittently failing. As this long-term investment is in an enterprise fund, it will be capitalized
and an annual portion of the cost will be recognized as depreciation each year in the Liquor operating budget over the useful
life of the message board. Consequently the $60,000 total cost of the replacement is not reported above as a 2026
expenditure.
53 60
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: LIQUOR STORE #3
609 LIQUOR Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
9793 LIQUOR STORE #3 Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services 280,300 285,100 320,600 301,400 301,400 -
Supplies 1,196,000 1,172,200 1,372,200 1,221,400 1,221,400 -
Other Services & Charges 105,600 114,800 96,800 110,900 110,900 -
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: LIQUOR STORE #3 1,581,900 1,572,100 1,789,600 1,633,700 1,633,700 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
Under MN statute, the primary purpose of municipal liquor stores is to safely control the distribution of alcohol. Municipal
liquor stores can also generate income for the community, reducing the amount of property taxes otherwise required for
City operations. This income opportunity is limited however, by significant market competition within the metro area.
The City of Columbia Heights' three liquor stores operate under the brand name of Top Valu, and their combined annual
activity is within the top ten in municipal liquor sales in Minnesota. This has provided funds for both City infrastructure and
for community policing programs, such as D.A.R.E., to mitigate the negative effects of alcohol in the community.
The cost of goods purchased for resale is included above within the Supplies category of the budget, and scaled to the level
of sales forecasted for each budget year. Factoring out the cost of goods purchased for resale, the proposed increase in
operating expenses budgeted for all three stores combined for 2026 is $58,400 or 3% over the 2025 budget.
60% of this combined increase for all three stores is in personnel, the largest category of store operating expenses. The
personnel increases reflect a combination of cost-of-living increases for all staff and seniority step raises for those staff not
yet at year 5 in the wage scale. To some extent these seniority step increases are offset by the inherent turnover rate for
part-time retail clerks.
The increase in nonpersonnnel costs include estimated inflation and the one-time replacement of telephones in 2026.
54 61
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: LIQUOR NON-OPERATING
609 LIQUOR Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
9794 LIQUOR NON-OPERATING Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services ------
Supplies ------
Other Services & Charges 1,700 12,000 1,800 2,400 2,400 -
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers 480,400 487,800 482,800 482,400 482,400 -
TOTALS: LIQUOR NON-OPERATING 482,100 499,800 484,600 484,800 484,800 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
To improve the analysis of results at each of the three stores, activity that is not a function of store operations is
accounted for separately in the non-operating department 49794. These nonoperating activities routinely include
acquisition of equipment over $5,000; construction of building or parking lot improvements; debt service; and
transfers to other city funds.
The 2026 budget for the Liquor non-operating department includes the following annual recurring items:
•$2,400 for gas and electricity at the former Heartland property not currently used in store operations.
•Transfer to the Liquor Debt Service Fund for debt service on store #1 and store #2 at $325,000 (The final year of
this annual debt service is 2028.)
•Transfer to the General Fund for administrative labor $97,400
•Transfer to the General Fund for community policing programs $10,000
•Transfer to the Infrastructure Fund for street projects $50,000
55 62
Item 2.
Police
Capital
Police Equipment
101.2100 431.2100
Revenue
Taxes 7,027,300 -
Licenses & Permits 41,000 -
Intergovernmental 504,000 94,500
Charges for Services 394,800 -
Fines & Forfeits 117,400 -
Miscellaneous 17,000 6,100
Sales and Related Charges --
Transfers & Non Rev Receipts --
Total Revenue 8,101,500 100,600
Expenses
Personnel Services 6,534,400 -
Supplies 266,500 3,800
Other Services & Charges 1,158,500 -
Capital Outlay -79,200
Contingencies & Transfers --
Total Expenses 7,959,400 83,000
Change in Fund Balance 142,100 17,600
City of Columbia Heights, Minnesota
BUDGET 2026
Police
56 63
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: POLICE
101 GENERAL Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
2100 POLICE Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services 5,088,200 5,551,900 6,178,000 6,534,400 6,534,400 -
Supplies 301,800 341,400 257,700 266,500 266,500 -
Other Services & Charges 757,800 1,002,400 1,045,000 1,158,500 1,158,500 -
Capital Outlay 80,000 115,600 ----
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: POLICE 6,227,800 7,011,300 7,480,700 7,959,400 7,959,400 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
This is the general budget for day-to-day operations in the Police Department, including personnel costs, general supply costs,
and other services and charges.
The Police Department provides public safety and crime prevention services to the citizens of Columbia Heights and Hilltop. This
includes police patrol, investigations, community policing activities, the Street Crimes unit, a Drug Task Force officer, A BCA
Violent Crime Reduction Unit Officer, Youth Outreach Officer (Dist #13), traffic enforcement, code enforcement, a co-responding
social worker program, and administration.
The biggest changes to the Police Department’s 2026 budget request include:
Personnel:
In 2025 the city council approved a reorganization of the police department administration and a few key positions including the
addition of a Captain position. These changes are reflected in the 2026 budget, along with market rate adjustments for key
positions and a 4% COLA increase determined by collective bargaining. 2026 is the first year of the MN Paid Leave tax reflected in
the personnel budget.
The BCA Violent Crime Reduction Unit position continues to be fully funded by the BCA for 2026.
Supplies:
Several line items in the Supplies section were adjusted to reflect increased expenses.
End User Devices 42011 was adjusted to $19,700 to account for the expense to update the police department phone system as
part of the city-wide project.
Food and Supplies 42175 adjusted to $11,000 to reflect additional community events and meetings and coffee service contract.
Gas, Oil and Lubricants 42282 was lowered to $65,000 to better reflect actual use.
Police Narrative Continued on Next Page
57
64
Item 2.
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
Police Narrative Continued
Other Services and Charges:
Expert and Professional Services 43050 is budgeted at $242,300 with the largest portion covering the social worker agreement with
Canvas Health. Also included is $15,000 for Lexipol, the service which provides MN-specific policies, researched and written by
subject matter experts and vetted by attorneys.
The cost of animal impound services has continued to increase. Funds are also being budgeted for leadership development
consulting and vet services for the Therapy Dog Program.
Training and Education 43105 was adjusted to $78,000 as our needs for training have increased with the turnover of staff. This
includes budget for development, leadership, and instructor training.
Education Reimbursement 43210 is being adjusted to account for skills education reimbursement for CSO’s promoted to officers,
and education reimbursement for staff pursuing bachelors and masters college degrees.
Cell Phones 43211 shows an increase that is actually a shift from 43250 Other Communications. The city IT has taken over the
administration of cell phones, to include squad car internet connection, and the line items were combined and moved into the
correct fund.
Software and Subscriptions 44030 is adjusted to $127,300 due to increased dues for the Anoka County Joint Law Enforcement
Council (JLEC) and our portion of the county-wide systems. Officer 365 expenses also increased by more than double for 2026. This
line also reflects increased costs for investigative software.
Rents and Leases was adjusted to $124,600 to reflect the increases in the Axon contract the council approved in 2025. The cost is
being phased in over multiple years while be offset by Public Safety Budget funds.
58 65
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: POLICE CAPITAL EQUIPMENT
431 GENERAL Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
2100 POLICE CAPITAL EQUIPMENT Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services ------
Supplies 9,000 7,300 7,400 3,800 3,800 -
Other Services & Charges ------
Capital Outlay 246,000 294,300 233,800 79,200 79,200 -
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: POLICE CAPITAL EQUIPMENT255,000 301,600 241,200 83,000 83,000 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
This department is used to account for equipment purchased by this division.
The Capital Equipment budget for 2026 includes:
The purchase of one squad car with outfitting and the replacement of lockers in the public safety locker rooms.
In 2025 the police department caught up on the back ordered squad cars and set up. Accordingly, the police department is
budgeting to replace one squad car in 2026 to include equipment and set up.
The police department is budgeting to replace the personnel lockers in the public safety building. This is a continuation of the
same issues observed in the evidence lockers that prompted a replacement in 2025. The current lockers are prone to
malfunction and jamming and repeated attempts to repair and maintain them have not resolved the issue. The women’s
locker room is in the worst shape with some officers choosing not to secure their locker or needing to use tools to open
them. The police department is budgeting $167,200 to replace the lockers using pricing from the MN Cooperative Purchasing
Venture (CPV). This replacement project is budgeted under Building Fund 411 within the Public Works chapter.
59 66
Item 2.
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60 67
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: ENGINEERING
101 GENERAL Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
3100 ENGINEERING Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services 422,400 425,500 456,600 464,000 464,000 -
Supplies 7,700 23,600 14,400 20,400 20,400 -
Other Services & Charges 77,700 134,800 120,100 179,000 179,000 -
Capital Outlay 100 100 -500 500 -
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: ENGINEERING 507,900 584,000 591,100 663,900 663,900 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
This department provides engineering services for current, planned and past public improvement projects. These activities
include feasibility analysis, construction design, assessments, construction contract administration and project inspection. It also
includes project management for engineering consultant or JPA projects. The administration of the NPDES permit requirements
is performed by Engineering; TMDL reporting to the State; and all responsibilities of assessing department and its functions.
Other activities include general engineering, technical and public record keeping, GIS implementation, digital and hardcopy of file
maintenance, and public contact.
The 2026 Engineering budget has a proposed increase of $72,800 or 12%. The majority of this increase is in Other Services and
charges, including an increase in expert and professional services of $25,000 to account for anticipated support consulting
services. Repair and maintenance services also increased $25,000 to account for increased costs due to the Street Maintenance
JPA dissolving.
Concurrent with splitting the prior public works division into two divisions for the 2026 budget, whereby Engineering & Facilities is
now a separate division from the Public Works division, there is now one fulltime director level position for each of the two
resulting divisions. Where previously the scope of this activity was overseen by a single director. This increase in budgeted
staffing is spread across all departments of the two resulting divisions. It was somewhat offset by the elimination of a part-time
clerical position, and the effect of new hires or new promotees budgeted at less senior salary steps than outgoing incumbents.
61 68
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: STATE AID MAINTENANCE
212 STATE AID MAINTENANCE Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
3190 STATE AID MAINTENANCE Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services 65,000 96,600 121,100 130,500 130,500 -
Supplies 9,200 22,400 7,700 19,500 19,500 -
Other Services & Charges 45,700 19,900 84,000 90,800 90,800 -
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: STATE AID MAINTENANCE 119,900 138,900 212,800 240,800 240,800 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
This activity provides for the maintenance and repair of state aid streets, ROW and MSA facilities as designated within the
City and is funded by the Municipal State Aid system.
The proposed 2026 budget is an increase of $28,000 or 13% from 2025.
Personnel costs will increase $9,400 or 8% for 2026. More than half of this reflects increases in labor agreements for cost-
of-living, benefits, and seniority step raises. The remainder reflects both reallocation of existing personnel between the
various departments of the divisions of Public Works versus Engineering & Facilities, as well as one additional director
level position between these two divisions over the 2025 budget.
With the Supplies category, general supplies increased by $10,000 to better align with prior years actual expenses.
Within the Other Services & Charges category, expert and professional services increased by $5,000 based on expected
consultant fees and replacing the street maintenance JPA(s).
62 69
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: STATE AID CONSTRUCTION
402 STATE AID CONSTRUCTION Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
3191 STATE AID GEN'L. CONSTRUCTION Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services ------
Supplies ------
Other Services & Charges 54,600 --55,000 55,000 -
Capital Outlay 655,400 378,500 -775,000 775,000 -
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: STATE AID CONSTRUCTION 710,000 378,500 -830,000 830,000 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
Mill & Overlay of State Aid streets based on pavement ratings.
Two major State Aid projects are proposed for 2026:
1. Reconstruction of 40th Avenue from Main Street to University Avenue. City share is estimated at $400,000 based on
existing cost share agreement with the County.
2. Street Rehab, primarily mill and overlay, is proposed on State-Aid streets in the City, with construction estimated at
$975,000, with 375,000 from the City's State-Aid account and $600,000 from the Public Improvement Revolving (PIR) Fund
415. Additionally Fund 402 will provide $55,000 of design and other engineering services.
63 70
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: CAPITAL IMP POLICE
411 CAPITAL IMP GEN GOV BLDG.Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
2100 POLICE Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services ------
Supplies ------
Other Services & Charges ------
Capital Outlay 103,200 31,500 -168,000 168,000 -
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: CAPITAL IMP GEN GOV BLDG.103,200 31,500 -168,000 168,000 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
The Police department is budgeting to replace the personnel lockers in the public safety building. This is a continuation of the
same issues observed in the evidence lockers that prompted a replacement in 2025. The current lockers are prone to
malfunction and jamming and repeated attempts to repair and maintain them have not resolved the issue. The women’s
locker room is in the worst shape with some officers choosing not to secure their locker or needing to use tools to open
them. The police department is budgeting $167,200 to replace the lockers using pricing from the MN Cooperative Purchasing
Venture (CPV).
This department is used to account for improvements to the building(s) occupied by this division.
64 71
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: CAPITAL IMP FIRE
411 CAPITAL IMP GEN GOV BLDG.Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
2200 FIRE Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services ------
Supplies ------
Other Services & Charges ------
Capital Outlay ---40,000 40,000 -
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: CAPITAL IMP GEN GOV BLDG.---40,000 40,000 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
The Fire department is proposing to replace the cabinetry in the public safety building kitchen. This is due to current poor
condition and will be conducted by obtaining quotes for the work.
This department is used to account for improvements to the building(s) occupied by this division.
65 72
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: CAP IMP GEN GOV BLDG - MURZYN HALL
411 CAPITAL IMP-GEN GOVT. BLDG Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
5129 MURZYN HALL Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services ------
Supplies ------
Other Services & Charges ------
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTAL: CAP IMP GEN GOV BLDG - MURZYN HALL------
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
This department is used to account for improvements to the building(s) occupied by this division.
No requests in 2026.
66 73
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: CAP IMP GEN GOV BLDG - LIBRARY
411 CAPITAL IMP-GEN GOVT. BLDG Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
5500 LIBRARY Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services ------
Supplies ------
Other Services & Charges ------
Capital Outlay ---50,000 50,000 -
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTAL: CAP IMP GEN GOV BLDG - LIBRARY ---50,000 50,000 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
This department is used to account for improvements to the building(s) occupied by this division.
The Library is proposing to replace the primary building boilers (2) due to condition. The Aerco boilers have had repeated
repair issues and currently the heat exchangers are in need of replacement. It is more cost efficient to replace both units
at $50,000 vs $38,000 for the heat exchangers.
67 74
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: CAPITAL IMP CENTRAL GARAGE
411 CAPITAL IMP GEN GOV BLDG.Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
9950 CENTRAL GARAGE Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services ------
Supplies ------
Other Services & Charges ------
Capital Outlay ---800,000 800,000 -
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: CAPITAL IMP GEN GOV BLDG.---800,000 800,000 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
For 2026, $400,000 is budgeted for the purchase of the SACA building on the adjacent property subject to terms of the SACA
lease. Additionally $400,000 is allocated for continuation of the Master Plan completed in 2022 for replacement of the
facility, including design, soil borings and geo-tech.
For 2026, both of these items are funded by a new-for 2026 Franchise Fee applied to gas and electric bills throughout the
City.
This department is used to account for minimal necessary repairs to continue to occupy the existing Municipal Service
Center (aka Central Garage, aka the Public Works building) as well as provide for the eventual replacement of this
obsolete facility.
68 75
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: CAP IMP PARKS
412 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PARKS Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
5200 PARKS Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services ------
Supplies ------
Other Services & Charges 5,200 19,800 -45,000 45,000 -
Capital Outlay ---675,000 675,000 -
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: CAP IMP PARKS 5,200 19,800 -720,000 720,000 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
This department accounts for major improvements to parks. An update is anticipated to be completed in 2026 by the Park
and Recreation Commission to be used for future planning of Park Improvements.
Two Project are proposed for 2026 Parks Capital Improvements:
1. Sullivan Lake Park Improvements: Partial grant funded for new play area, lighting, covered seating and trail connections
following the installation of the Fitness Court in 2025. Estimated at $350,000 of matching funds for DNR Outdoor recreation
grant amount of $350,000 for total project cost of $700,000.
2. Soccer Field Development: Construction of a new soccer field(s) from development plan conducted in 2026. Estimated at
$225,000. Estimated cost may change depending on final development plan.
69 76
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: CAP IMPROVEMENT STREET REHAB
415 CAPITAL IMPRVMT - PIR Proj Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
6400 P.I.R.Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services ------
Supplies -100 ----
Other Services & Charges 376,000 111,000 45,500 ---
Capital Outlay 788,000 333,100 600,000 600,000 600,000 -
Contingencies & Transfers 7,400 468,200 377,000 ---
TOTALS: CAP IMP PARKS 1,171,400 912,400 1,022,500 600,000 600,000 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
For 2026, work is proposed on City's State-Aid System. $600,000 will be used from this fund, together with resources from the
State Aid Street Construction Fund 402. Work will resume on Annual Street Rehab Zone Program in 2027.
70 77
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: INFRASTRUCTURE FUND
430 INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
6323 CAP IMP EXPENSE Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services --127,300 72,500 72,500 -
Supplies ------
Other Services & Charges 57,700 161,200 50,000 55,000 55,000 -
Capital Outlay 10,700 618,600 600,000 285,000 285,000 -
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: INFRASTRUCTURE FUND 68,400 779,800 777,300 412,500 412,500 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
The City's street rehabilitation program was initiated with funding from liquor funds in 1996, and with annual transfers, will
perpetuate the continued investment into the maintenance and improvements of the City's streets. An additional source of
revenue was secured in 2000, on a 2-year renewable cycle, with the certification of the City State-Aid Street System, making
available limited state aid funding for local streets.
For 2026, the Street Rehab Program will focus on State-Aid streets throughout the City. Amount shown is for City's share
consistent with Street rehab cost share policy.
In 2026, there is a proposed cost of $150K for application of a pavement rejuvenator, called reclamite, for several streets
throughout the City, which replaces seal coating and for crack sealing city streets. Additionally, this budget includes both
$55,000 for geotech services and $72,500 of staff time to support state aid projects and $135,000 of other various 2026
project costs.
71 78
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: STORM SEWER ADMINISTRATION & GENERAL
604 STORM SEWER Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
9690 ADMINISTRATION & GENERAL Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services ---172,100 172,100 -
Supplies ------
Other Services & Charges -2,100 1,600 1,800 1,800 -
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: STORM SEWER -2,100 1,600 173,900 173,900 -
Activity Description
Punches, calculators, organizers, etc.
Budget Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
The Administration Department of the Storm Sewer Utility Fund accounts for costs directly associated with this fund. At this
time, there are no allocated costs for the utility billing process or meter reading in this fund.
To support the split of the previous version of the Public Works division into two new divisions, beginning with the 2026
budget, all staff time assigned to the new Engineering & Facilities division that was reported in storm sewer department
604.9600 through 2025 is henceforth reported under this separate storm sewer department of 604.9690. Similarly, the only
staff time that remains in the storm sewer department of 604.9600 after 2025 is that assigned to the new version of the
Public Works division (post-split).
Consequently, the increase in personnel shown above in 604.9690 of $172,100 for 2026 is offset by a related decrease of
$128,300 in personnel shown in 604.9600 for 2026.
Taken together, the (now) two storm sewer departments of 604.9600 and 604.9690 reflect a combined increase of $109,000
or 21% over 2025. $43,800 of this increase is in personnel, reflecting increases in labor agreements for cost-of-living, benefits,
and seniority step raise, plus the reallocation of existing personnel between the various departments of the divisions of Public
Works versus Engineering & Facilities, as well as one additional director level position between these two divisions over the
2025 budget.
$58,100 of the combined increased is in Other Services & Charges, to provide for an increased level of line cleaning and
televising focused on the City's large trunk storem sewer lines to guide future rehabilitation efforts.
72 79
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: CENTRAL GARAGE
705 BUILDING MAINTENANCE Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
9970 BUILDING MAINT. INTERNAL SERVICES Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services 243,600 251,800 285,200 289,000 289,000 -
Supplies 6,900 2,900 4,700 4,100 4,100 -
Other Services & Charges 3,900 8,200 7,700 8,000 8,000 -
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: BUILDING MAINT. INTERNAL SERVICES254,400 262,900 297,600 301,100 301,100 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
This department was transferred to Public Works in 2014. The department provides building maintenance services to city
buildings. This includes both custodial services provided by part-time custodians, as well as analysis and coordination by the
full-time Facilities Maintenance Supervisor of more technical building systems maintenance and repair requests. Costs of
this department are allocated proportionately to use by each respective building/department. This is reflected as an
internal charge in the budgets of the user departments.
Note that the Recreation Department - Murzyn Hall budget (101.45129) includes additional part-time custodians, serving
solely at Murzyn Hall, which are not included in this 701.49970 internal service department budget.
The proposed 2026 facilities maintenance internal service budget is an increase of $3,500 or 1% over 2025.
The 2026 budget maintains existing staffing levels, with 4% cost-of-living increases offset by certain mid-2025 clerical
corrections to the employee database, resulting in a net increase of only 1% in budgeted personnel for 2026.
73 80
Item 2.
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74 81
Item 2.
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75 82
Item 2.
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76 83
Item 2.
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77 84
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: STREETS
101 GENERAL Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
3121 STREETS Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services 732,600 637,800 713,400 782,900 782,900 -
Supplies 217,300 152,200 245,300 309,600 309,600 -
Other Services & Charges 180,300 180,700 317,200 264,000 264,000 -
Capital Outlay -123,000 1,000 2,000 2,000 -
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: STREETS 1,130,200 1,093,700 1,276,900 1,358,500 1,358,500 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
The street department provides the maintenance of city Rights-of-Ways including streets, alleys and storm sewer and city
owned parking lots. These services include patching, surface repairs, minor bituminous paving, street sweeping, snow plowing
and removal, ice control, miscellaneous projects as required, and public contact. The maintenance of public storm sewers and
ponds and basins is also included in the street department to manage portions of the Federal NPDES and State MS4 permit
requirements.
The 2026 budget for the Street Department is an increase of $81,600 or 6%.
Personnel costs will increase 10% for 2026. Roughly half of this reflects increases in labor agreements for cost-of-living,benefits,
and seniority step raises. The remainder reflects both reallocation of existing personnel between the various departments of the
divisions of Public Works versus Engineering & Facilities, as well as one additional director level position between these two
divisions over the 2025 budget.
Within non-personnel expenses, anticipated increases of 26% in supplies costs are significantly offset by reductions in Other
Services and Charges for 2026. These reductions primarily reflect reclamite and other street maintenance budgeted within this
department in 2025 budgeted in Infrastructure Fund 430 for 2026.
78 85
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: STREET LIGHTING
101 GENERAL Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
3160 STREET LIGHTING Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services 3,900 6,600 6,800 5,700 5,700 -
Supplies 200 100 8,300 10,100 10,100 -
Other Services & Charges 169,200 149,300 179,400 182,400 182,400 -
Capital Outlay --2,500 2,500 2,500 -
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: STREET LIGHTING 173,300 156,000 197,000 200,700 200,700 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
This activity provides for the energy costs related to intersection, mid-block, and alley lighting. This activity also includes
maintenance and repair of city-owned street lights.
The 2026 budget for the Street LIghting Department is an increase of $3,700 or 2%.
By far, the largest element of this budget is electricity costs within the category of Other Service and Charges.
The minor amount of personnel budgeted within this department will decrease for 2026, due to the reallocation of existing
personnel between the various departments of the divisions of Public Works versus Engineering & Facilities.
79 86
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: TRAFFIC SIGNS & SIGNALS
101 GENERAL Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
3170 TRAFFIC SIGNS & SIGNALS Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services 76,200 75,900 87,900 94,400 94,400 -
Supplies 13,600 12,600 21,200 20,100 20,100 -
Other Services & Charges 16,100 14,400 23,400 25,700 25,700 -
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: TRAFFIC SIGNS & SIGNALS 105,900 102,900 132,500 140,200 140,200 -
Activity Description
Budget Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
This activity provides for the installation, maintenance and replacement (or removal) of city owned signs and traffic signals
identified under MNDOT or county agreements. This department also provides for street striping, curbing and parking lot
striping and traffic counting.
The 2026 budget for the Traffic Signs and Signals Department is an increase of $7,700 or 6%.
The majority of this increase, $6,500; is in personnel, reflecting increases in labor agreements for cost-of-living, benefits,
and seniority step raises. it also includes the reallocation of existing personnel between the various departments of the
divisions of Public Works versus Engineering & Facilities, as well as one additional director level position between these
two divisions over the 2025 budget.
80 87
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: PARKS
101 GENERAL Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
5200 PARKS Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services 676,400 727,400 819,100 865,600 865,600 -
Supplies 119,400 92,700 131,200 139,900 139,900 -
Other Services & Charges 373,700 279,400 336,700 342,000 342,000 -
Capital Outlay -1,700 ----
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: PARKS 1,169,500 1,101,200 1,287,000 1,347,500 1,347,500 -
Activity Description
Budget Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
This activity provides for the equipment, park facility, field and grounds maintenance of:
A. 15 city parks
B. 2 public wading pools
C. 3 skating and 3 hockey rinks;
D. 12 softball/baseball diamonds
E. 2 tennis courts
F. 12 buildings and other recreational facilities
G. All park trails.
H. Landscape maintenance for all municipal buildings, other city-owned properties, public art areas, easement areas, and the
planning, implementation and construction of various park improvements.
I. 1 Splash pad
J. 3-1/2 Basketball courts
The 2026 Park Department budget is proposing an overall increase of $60,500 or 5% .
The majority of this increase, $46,500; is in personnel, reflecting increases in labor agreements for cost-of-living, benefits,
and seniority step raises. it also includes the reallocation of existing personnel between the various departments of the
divisions of Public Works versus Engineering & Facilities, as well as one additional director level position between these two
divisions over the 2025 budget.
None of the changes in non-personnel expenses from 2025 to 2026 were individually significant.
81 88
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: URBAN FORESTRY
101 GENERAL Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
6102 URBAN FORESTRY Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services 156,300 177,100 191,500 192,100 192,100 -
Supplies 60,500 46,200 48,800 51,400 51,400 -
Other Services & Charges 91,600 67,400 75,100 76,100 76,100 -
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: URBAN FORESTRY 308,400 290,700 315,400 319,600 319,600 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
This activity provides for the care and maintenance of City Owned trees from planting to removal and includes tree
trimming, removal of hazardous, diseased, or dead trees (on city-owned properties except for parks), and replanting of
new trees. It includes trimming, shaping and maintaining boulevard trees in a healthy condition, removal of downed
branches, and clearing obstructed signs. It also provides for management of tree diseases and pests through surveillance
and eradication, hazardous tree inspections, corner visibility, and brush in the alley inspections. A comprehensive
Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Program was approved by the Council in 2014 and continues to be executed.
This activity also provides for the management of tree diseases and pests in private trees through surveil.
1. Continue the EAB Program established for the management of City owned Ash trees consistent with the approved EAB
Plan, now that EAB is confirmed in the City.
2. Concentrate on boulevard tree trimming by residential street rehabilitation zones.
3. Trim sidewalk and street sign locations, focusing on Street Rehab Zone work.
4. Contractual trimming at parks with paved walking paths to maintain safe pathways.
5. Focus management of the tree inspection program to maximize surveillance, control the spread of tree diseases, and
impose safety with limited funding.
6. Foster the growth of the young trees and plantings throughout the City.
7. Maintain and update the comprehensive tree GIS inventory.
8. Update and modernize urban forestry on the website.
The 2026 budget for the Urban Forestry Department is an increase of $4,200 or 1%.
Despite increases in labor agreements, the dollar amount of personnel budgeted within this department will be relatively
the same for 2026 ans for 2025, due to the reallocation of existing personnel between the various departments of the
divisions of Public Works versus Engineering & Facilities.
The budgets for the Supplies and Other Services & Charges categories have been adjusted based on anticipated needs.
82 89
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: CAPITAL EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT ENGINEERING
431 CAP EQUIP REPLACEMENT Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
3100 ENGINEERING Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services ------
Supplies ------
Other Services & Charges ------
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: CAP EQUIP REPLACEMENT ------
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
This department is used to account for equipment purchased by this division.
83 90
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: CAP EQUIP REPLACEMENT STREETS
431 CAP EQUIP REPLACEMENT Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
3121 STREETS Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services ------
Supplies ------
Other Services & Charges ------
Capital Outlay 163,600 430,900 398,200 285,000 285,000 -
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: CAP EQUIP REPLACEMENT STREETS163,600 430,900 398,200 285,000 285,000 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
This department is used to account for equipment purchased by this division.
The Street Department proposes replacing Dump Truck #82 with a new Western Star Dump Truck. Truck #82 is a critical
component of our snow plowing fleet and has reached the end of its useful life, resulting in increasing maintenance costs and
decreasing reliability.
84 91
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: CAP EQUIP REPLACEMENT PARKS
431 CAP EQUIP REPLACEMENT Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
5200 PARKS Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services ------
Supplies ------
Other Services & Charges ------
Capital Outlay 248,500 397,800 140,500 155,000 155,000 -
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: CAP EQUIP REPLACEMENT PARKS 248,500 397,800 140,500 155,000 155,000 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
This department is used to account for equipment purchased by this division.
The Park Department is requesting to replace an aging large-area mower with a new 5910 Toro Large Wing Mower, estimated at
$155,000. This mower is essential for maintaining large park spaces, athletic fields, and open turf areas efficiently. The current
unit is experiencing frequent breakdowns, leading to increased maintenance costs and reduced mowing productivity during peak
growing seasons.
85 92
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: CAP EQUIP REPLACEMENT URBAN FORESTRY
431 CAP EQUIP REPLACEMENT Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
6102 URBAN FORESTRY Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services ------
Supplies ------
Other Services & Charges ------
Capital Outlay -71,500 -85,000 85,000 -
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: CAP EQUIP REPLACEMENT URBAN FORESTRY -71,500 -85,000 85,000 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
This department is used to account for equipment purchased by this division.
The Urban Forestry division is requesting to replace an aging pickup truck that has become increasingly unreliable and costly to
maintain.
86 93
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: CAP EQUIP REPLACEMENT SEWER
432 CAP EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT SEWER Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
9699 NON-OPERATING Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services ------
Supplies ------
Other Services & Charges ------
Capital Outlay -1,600 ----
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: CAP EQUIP REPLACEMENT SEWER -1,600 ----
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
This department is used to account for equipment purchased by this division.
No replacements planned in 2026.
87 94
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: CAP EQUIP REPLACEMENT WATER
433 CAP EQUIP REPLACEMENT WATER Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
9699 NON-OPERATING Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services ------
Supplies ------
Other Services & Charges ------
Capital Outlay -1,600 ----
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: CAP EQUIP REPLACEMENT WATER -1,600 ----
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
This department is used to account for equipment purchased by this division.
No replacements planned in 2026.
88 95
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: CAP EQUIP REPLACEMENT GARAGE
434 CAP EQUIP REPLACEMENT Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
9950 GARAGE Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services ------
Supplies ------
Other Services & Charges ------
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: CAP EQUIP REPLACEMENT GARAGE ------
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
No replacements planned in 2026.
This department is used to account for equipment purchased by this division.
89 96
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: CAP EQUIP REPLACEMENT STORM SEWER
438 CAP EQUIP REPLACEMENT STORM SEWERActual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
9699 NON-OPERATING Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services ------
Supplies ------
Other Services & Charges ------
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: CAP EQUIP REPLACEMENT STORM SEWER------
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
This department is used to account for equipment purchased by this division.
No replacements planned in 2026.
90 97
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: WATER UTILITY SOURCE OF SUPPLY
601 WATER UTILITY Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
9400 SOURCE OF SUPPLY Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services ------
Supplies 1,805,400 1,799,500 1,912,000 1,941,000 1,941,000 -
Other Services & Charges ------
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: WATER UTILITY SOURCE OF SUPPLY1,805,400 1,799,500 1,912,000 1,941,000 1,941,000 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
This department covers potable water purchased from the City of Minneapolis for resale to the residents of Columbia Heights.
Amounts will vary from year to year based upon demand. In 2004,the City entered into a long -term contract with the City of
Minneapolis establishing rates for the next 30 years. The Contract cost share was updated in 2014 based on an updated Cost of
Service Study as prescribed in the Contract. Going forward the contract will be updated on a 10-year cycle.
The budget for 2026 water purchases is an increase of $29,000 or 2%, based on estimated volume and the trend for Minneapolis
rates. Although the rates trend has been relatively predictable, volume is affected significant by weather conditions and will vary
accordingly.
91 98
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: WATER UTILITY DISTRIBUTION
601 WATER UTILITY Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
9600 DISTRIBUTION Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services 345,700 404,300 550,000 584,900 584,900 -
Supplies 105,100 73,300 155,900 135,600 135,600 -
Other Services & Charges 685,200 573,000 666,400 698,500 698,500 -
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers 40,000 50,000 50,000 50,000 50,000 -
TOTALS: WATER UTILITY DISTRIBUTION 1,176,000 1,100,600 1,422,300 1,469,000 1,469,000 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
This activity provides for the operation and maintenance of the City's entire water distribution system, including the water tower,
water mains, hydrants, valves, meters, pump stations (2), SCADA system operation, sprinkler systems (3), service lines to public
buildings and providing locate services for city utilities as required by the Gopher State One Call system.
Continue tracking and documenting water quality complaints and develop remedial response alternatives.
Maintain system by leak detecting, testing water samples, repair water main breaks , pumps, valves hydrants, etc.
Continue our hydrant flushing program.
Continue the hydrant cleaning and painting program.
Continue upgrading SCADA hardware at infrastructure locations. New PLCs, Radios, and relays where required.
The 2026 Water Utility Distribution budget increases by $46,700 or 3%, driven by personnel cost-of-living increases and expanded
contracted services to support system maintenance and water quality efforts.
92 99
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: WATER UTILITY NON-OPERATING
601 WATER UTILITY Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
9699 NON-OPERATING Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services ------
Supplies 3,300 -----
Other Services & Charges ------
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers 87,000 93,000 ----
TOTALS: WATER UTILITY NON-OPERATING 90,300 93,000 ----
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
This budget primarily accounts for transfers to the water debt service fund.
The last outstanding utility debt service payment was made 2/1/2025.
93 100
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: SEWER UTILITY COLLECTIONS
602 SEWER UTILITY Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
9600 COLLECTIONS Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services 352,100 381,300 528,900 571,500 571,500 -
Supplies 54,800 25,700 85,500 71,600 71,600 -
Other Services & Charges 433,000 491,600 474,900 506,900 506,900 -
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers 119,600 50,000 50,000 50,000 50,000 -
TOTALS: SEWER UTILITY COLLECTIONS 959,500 948,600 1,139,300 1,200,000 1,200,000 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
This activity provides for the operation and maintenance of the City's sanitary sewer collection system. Included in this activity
are inspections and repairs of manholes, trunk and main sewer lines, lift stations (4) and SCADA system operation. Annual sewer
flows are between 500 and 550 million gallons to MCES treatment facilities.
1. Analyze I/I program effectiveness to concentrate on the Collection District with the highest return for the removal of clear
water flows in our Collection System - in response to the MCES' Ongoing I/I Program.
2. Continue aggressive sanitary sewer cleaning program on a 3-year repeating cycle city-wide, and trouble lines - annually.
3. Continue sanitary sewer system evaluations through the televising and reporting program.
4. Continue annual sanitary sewer lining program.
5. Continue manhole inspections with televising inspection reports resulting in the rehab of existing sewer line structures
throughout the City.
6. Identify manholes in need of rehabilitation through inspection program, and prioritize manhole repairs.
7. Continue upgrading SCADA hardware at infrastructure locations. New PLCs, Radios, and relays where required.
The 2026 Sewer Utility Collections budget increases by $60,700 or 5%.
Personnel costs will increase 8% for 2026. Roughly half of this reflects increases in labor agreements for cost-of-living, benefits,
and seniority step raises. The remainder reflects both reallocation of existing personnel between the various departments of the
divisions of Public Works versus Engineering & Facilities, as well as one additional director level position between these two
divisions over the 2025 budget.
The additional funding of $32,000 for Other Services & Charges will support enhanced maintenance, inspection, and compliance
activities to ensure the reliability of the City’s sanitary sewer system.
94 101
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: SEWER UTILITY DISPOSAL
602 SEWER UTILITY Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
9480 DISPOSAL Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services ------
Supplies 1,345,700 1,468,300 1,616,000 1,636,900 1,636,900 -
Other Services & Charges ------
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: SEWER UTILITY DISPOSAL 1,345,700 1,468,300 1,616,000 1,636,900 1,636,900 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
This department provides for fees paid to the Metropolitan Council Environmental Services for sewage treatment disposal. Costs
will vary from year to year based upon flows.
The 2026 budget equals the actaul sewer disposal charges that will be billed by Metropolitan Council Environmental Services in
2026, based on theiflow and cost analysis published in mid-2025.
95 102
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: SEWER UTILITY NON-OPERATING
602 SEWER UTILITY Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
9699 NON-OPERATING Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services ------
Supplies ------
Other Services & Charges ------
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers 61,000 67,000 ----
TOTALS: SEWER UTILITY NON-OPERATING 61,000 67,000 ----
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
This budget primarily accounts for transfers to the Sewer debt service fund.
The last outstanding utility debt service payment was made 2/1/2025.
96 103
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: REFUSE DISPOSAL
603 REFUSE FUND Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
9510 REFUSE DISPOSAL Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services ------
Supplies 3,115,000 3,378,700 3,429,000 3,682,800 3,682,800 -
Other Services & Charges ------
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: REFUSE DISPOSAL 3,115,000 3,378,700 3,429,000 3,682,800 3,682,800 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
This budget tracks hauling contracted costs for refuse, single sort recycling, bulk collections, yard waste/organics collection,
and disposal costs to facilitate accurate reporting to state and county agencies as required.
Staff proposes a 7% or $253,800 increase from last year as the City is experiencing higher charges from the haulers and
disposal sites, i.e. a 4% increase this year and possibly another 5% next year per the annual CPI for refuse services (as of April).
97 104
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: REFUSE COLLECTION & DISPOSAL
603 REFUSE FUND Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
9520 REFUSE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services 62,800 68,200 84,700 76,300 76,300 -
Supplies 5,300 1,400 1,700 1,200 1,200 -
Other Services & Charges 58,500 72,000 83,900 89,600 89,600 -
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers 58,600 362,300 62,800 70,000 70,000 -
TOTALS: REFUSE COLLECTION & DISPOSAL 185,200 503,900 233,100 237,100 237,100 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
This activity manages the total refuse collection and disposal program and includes expenses other than the contract costs.
Contracted costs are separated for clarity in tracking and reporting; however, they do remain a function of this budget as a
whole.
OPERATING: The budget for 2026 increases by $4,000 or 2% over the prior year. The decrease personnel costs reflects
reallocation of existing staff between the various departments of the divisions of Public Works versus Engineering & Facilities.
va
CAPITAL OUTLAY: The capital plan includes $75,000 to purchase trash carts in 2026. This cost will be recognized in the budget as
$7,500 of depreciation in each of the ten years of estimated useful life of the carts, instead of reporting the full $75,000 above in
2026 capital outlay, consistent with budgeting method used for utility enterprise funds.
98 105
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: REFUSE FUND RECYCLING
603 REFUSE FUND Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
9530 RECYCLING Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services 71,600 73,900 83,400 74,900 74,900 -
Supplies 29,000 37,100 20,100 20,400 20,400 -
Other Services & Charges 83,800 120,600 89,400 97,700 97,700 -
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers 58,500 362,300 62,800 70,000 70,000 -
TOTALS: REFUSE FUND RECYCLING 242,900 593,900 255,700 263,000 263,000 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
This activity provides management of the recycling services. The City continues to manage the SCORE grant program and
all other recycling operations of curbside single sort, curbside bulk recycling, curbside yard waste and organics collection,
and the Recycle Center.
OPERATING: The budget for 2026 increases by $7,300 or 3% over the prior year. The decrease personnel costs reflects
reallocation of existing staff between the various departments of the divisions of Public Works versus Engineering &
Facilities.
va
CAPITAL OUTLAY: The capital plan includes $75,000 to purchase trash carts in 2026. This cost will be recognized in the
budget as $7,500 of depreciation in each of the ten years of estimated useful life of the carts, instead of reporting the full
$75,000 above in 2026 capital outlay, consistent with budgeting method used for utility enterprise funds.
99 106
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: REFUSE FUND HAZARDOUS WASTE
603 REFUSE FUND Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
9540 HAZARDOUS WASTE Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services 3,400 4,700 4,900 6,300 6,300 -
Supplies ------
Other Services & Charges 10,700 14,300 13,300 13,000 13,000 -
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS:14,100 19,000 18,200 19,300 19,300 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
This activity administers the handling of hazardous waste generated by the City of Columbia Heights residential
properties. Such items include fluorescent lamps, solvents, waste and automotive fluids, paints /chemicals, and illegally
dumped electronic and other problem materials. Some of the items are handled at our Recycle Center and Anoka
County provides household hazardous waste services primarily through a year-round drop-off facility located in Blaine
that serves the entire county.
This small budget only proposes an increase of just over $1,000.
100 107
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: STORM SEWER UTILITY COLLECTIONS
604 STORM SEWER UTILITY Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
9600 COLLECTIONS Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services 139,200 185,700 229,900 101,600 101,600 -
Supplies 19,000 12,300 47,600 55,100 55,100 -
Other Services & Charges 142,600 120,000 187,600 245,700 245,700 -
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers 114,600 50,000 50,000 50,000 50,000 -
TOTALS: STORM SEWER UTILITY COLLECTIONS415,400 368,000 515,100 452,400 452,400 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
This department provides for the operation and maintenance of the City's storm sewer system, including NPDES Phase IV permit
requirements (pollution prevention), annual MS4 reporting - including TMDL reporting for Silver Lake, inspection, maintenance and
repair of storm sewer pipes, catch basins, manholes, and drainage ponds, and surface water related activities and inspections of land
disturbing activities for erosion control.
1. Implement NPDES Phase IV requirements for activities and reporting system - 4th Generation Plan was approved by the MPCA in
2019. The permit now includes TMDL reporting for Silver Lake.
2. Implement the Water Resource Management Plan (WRMP) completed in 2017 and included in the Comp Plan approved in 2019.
3. Support and coordinate with the maintenance activities in the Streets Department.
4. Rehab existing structures and/or main lines throughout the City.
5. Storm sewer system evaluation: conduct televising and inspections of storm sewer lines, leading to a storm sewer rehabilitation
program
To support the split of the previous version of the Public Works division into two new divisions, beginning with the 2026 budget, all
staff time assigned to the new Engineering & Facilities division that was reported in this storm sewer department 604.9600 through
2025 is henceforth reported under the separate storm sewer department of 604.9690. Similarly, the only staff time that remains in
this storm sewer department of 604.9600 after 2025 is that assigned to the new version of the Public Works division (post-split).
Consequently, the reduction in personnel shown above in 604.9600 of $128,300 for 2026 is offset by a related increase of $172,100
in personnel shown in 604.9690 for 2026.
Taken together, the (now) two storm sewer departments of 604.9600 and 604.9690 reflect a combined increase of $109,000 or 21%
over 2025. $43,800 of this increase is in personnel, reflecting increases in labor agreements for cost-of-living, benefits, and seniority
step raise, plus the reallocation of existing personnel between the various departments of the divisions of Public Works versus
Engineering & Facilities, as well as one additional director level position between these two divisions over the 2025 budget.
$58,100 of the combined increased is in Other Services & Charges, to provide for an increased level of line cleaning and televising
focused on the City's large trunk storem sewer lines to guide future rehabilitation efforts.
101 108
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: STORM SEWER UTILITY NON-OPERATING
604 STORM SEWER UTILITY Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
9699 NON-OPERATING Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services ------
Supplies ------
Other Services & Charges 16,800 -----
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers 63,000 -----
TOTALS: STORM SEWER UTILITY NON-OPERATING79,800 -----
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
The last outstanding utility debt service payment was made 2/1/2025.
This budget primarily accounts for transfers to the Storm Sewer debt service fund.
102 109
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: WATER CONSTRUCTION FUND NON-OPERATING
651 WATER CONSTRUCTION FUND Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
9699 NON-OPERATING Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services ------
Supplies ------
Other Services & Charges -35,000 -75,000 75,000 -
Capital Outlay 23,200 196,800 -225,000 225,000 -
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: WATER CONSTRUCTION FUND NON-OPERATING23,200 231,800 -300,000 300,000 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
This department is used to account for various water system infrastructure projects.
One capital and one major maintenance project is proposed in the Water Construction fund for 2026:
1. Water Main Looping from 51st Avenue through Sullivan Lake Park to the Medtronic site property line for future
development support (looping and secondary feed). Estimated cost is $225,000. Funding is from Water construction and
redevelopment TIF (tentative).
2. Our water distribution zones are separated at a couple of locations on or near Central Avenue. While they are functionally
separate, they are available to draw water based on demand - that function is provided by PRV valves in manholes. One of
these is due for replacement along with the manhole. Estimated cost is $50,000.
103 110
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: SEWER CONSTRUCTION FUND NON-OPERATING
652 SEWER CONSTRUCTION FUND Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
9699 NON-OPERATING Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services ------
Supplies ------
Other Services & Charges -60,400 ----
Capital Outlay 12,800 218,900 ----
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: SEWER CONSTRUCTION 12,800 279,300 ----
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
This department is used to account for various sanitary sewer system infrastructure projects.
One capital project is proposed for 2026 construction:
1. The 2025 budget included replacement of the Sullivan Lake lift station with an estimated project cost of $800,000. Based
on an engineering study, the 2026 budget adds $450,000 to this project to oversize the sewer main to support the
proposed redevelopment at the former Medtronic site. The original $800,000 will be funded by sewer revenues and the
$450,000 related to the redevelopment will be funded by TIF or other redevelopment revenue.
As this long-term investment is in an utility enterprise fund, it will be capitalized and an annual portion of the cost will be
recognized as depreciation each year in the sewer operating budget 602.9600 over the life of the lift station and sewer
main. Consequently the $1,250,000 cost of the project is not reported above as a 2026 expenditure.
2. Please note also that a similar lift station project for $750,000 funded by TIF at the former Rainbow shopping site was
included in the 2025 capital budget. That project is still outstanding and contingent on the proposed redevelopment.
104 111
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: STORM SEWER CONSTRUCTION FUND
653 STORM SEWER CONSTRUCTION FUND Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
9699 NON-OPERATING Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services ------
Supplies ------
Other Services & Charges ------
Capital Outlay 7,300 6,100 -150,000 150,000 -
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: STORM SEWER CONSTRUCTION FUND NON-OPERATING7,300 6,100 -150,000 150,000 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
This department is used to account for various storm sewer system infrastructure projects.
For 2026, storm sewer project work has been identified within the larger 40th Avenue reconstruction project led by Anoka
County. Work will include the City's share of the new storm sewer system and Green Stormwater Infrastructure as part of the
project. Estimated at $150,000.
105 112
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: CENTRAL GARAGE
701 CENTRAL GARAGE Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
9950 CENTRAL GARAGE Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services 258,300 306,800 412,200 412,900 412,900 -
Supplies 179,200 179,600 244,500 285,900 285,900 -
Other Services & Charges 290,700 283,200 355,900 332,800 332,800 -
Capital Outlay 1,000 -----
Contingencies & Transfers 5,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 -
TOTALS: CENTRAL GARAGE 734,200 779,600 1,022,600 1,041,600 1,041,600 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
Central Garage provides preventive general maintenance and repair for all city -owned vehicles and equipment.
The City currently has over 300 pieces of equipment that are maintained on a regular basis. This is an internal service fund
with revenue generated by charges to other departments for all repair and maintenance services performed by members of
this department. This department budget also covers regular maintenance costs for the MSC Building.
The proposed 2026 Central Garage budget is an increase of $19,000 or 2% over 2025.
Personnel remained the same year over year. Overall, non-personnel line items received increased appropriate to inflation's
cost estimates for goods and services, or remained flat from 2025 costs.
106 113
Item 2.
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107 114
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: RECREATION ADMINISTRATION
101 GENERAL Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
5000 RECREATION ADMINISTRATION Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services 217,300 230,200 230,500 240,000 240,000 -
Supplies 5,400 9,900 14,400 16,600 16,600 -
Other Services & Charges 53,600 54,600 62,300 63,400 63,400 -
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: RECREATION ADMINISTRATION276,300 294,700 307,200 320,000 320,000 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
This activity provides recreational opportunities and services to the residents of Columbia Heights. The Recreation Division
is comprised multiple departments across which the Director, fifty percent full time Clerk-Typist II, and one half-time
Recreation Clerk disperse their time. Each of these departments has its own separate budget. The Recreation
Administration budget provides salaries for the department as well as supplies and contractual services for the department.
Recreation Administration also pays the Murzyn Hall budget for office space.
The proposed 2026 budget has a increase of $12,800. Personnel had an increase to cover cost of living increases and step
increases. The Jamboree Fireworks show has been budgeted again for the amount of $8,000 for 2026. End User Devices has
been increased by $1,800 to cover the cost of the new phones in the Recreation Department. The Recreation Department
registration software is budgeted at $7,350. The Recreation Administration budget also pays the Murzyn Hall budget for
space in the office in the amount of $4,100.
108 115
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: ATHLETICS
101 GENERAL Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
5001 ATHLETICS Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services 86,400 107,400 87,400 107,700 107,700 -
Supplies 3,300 1,800 7,400 2,900 2,900 -
Other Services & Charges 47,400 42,200 47,000 46,200 46,200 -
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: ATHLETICS 137,100 151,400 141,800 156,800 156,800 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
The proposed 2026 budget is a increase of $15,000. Personnel has increased to cover the coaches for youth teams in
leagues. Supplies has decreased $4,500. One reason that the supplies lines have not increased is due to the significant
donation that the Columbia Heights Athletic Boosters makes to the Recreation Department. This budget pays the Murzyn
Hall Budget $12,100 for space in J.P.M.
This budget has combined Youth Athletics, Adult Athletics and Traveling Athletics to make one Athletics budget. This
activity classification encompasses recreational programs provided to youth and adults. These programs consist of children
and adolescents K-12. Programs fall under several sport-specific headings, including baseball, softball, basketball, football,
soccer and volleyball. All programs are participation-oriented, with the focus on fun, socialization, and athletic skill
development. These particular youth programs provide the youth of Columbia Heights with supervised play opportunities.
The adult programs consist of sanctioned competitive slow pitch softball leagues for men and coed teams. This budget
includes two-thirds of the Recreation Coordinator salaries, league costs and officials. The Athletics budget also pays the
Murzyn Hall budget for office space.
109 116
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: YOUTH ENRICHMENT
101 GENERAL Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
5004 YOUTH ENRICHMENT Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services 59,600 63,900 99,500 104,200 104,200 -
Supplies 5,100 4,100 17,400 17,400 17,400 -
Other Services & Charges 35,200 36,700 36,500 38,600 38,600 -
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: YOUTH ENRICHMENT 99,900 104,700 153,400 160,200 160,200 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
This activity classification encompasses recreational, academic, athletic, and enrichment programs provided to the youth
ages 3-13. These offerings are participation-oriented, with the focus on fun, socialization, achievement, and skill
development. Dance and Tumbling runs throughout the fall, winter, and spring sessions. Special events that are family-
oriented and run throughout the year are Hoppy Hoedown, Truck or Treat, and City Holiday Tour. The Traveling Puppet
Wagon, which was originally funded through a grant from the Medtronic Foundation in 1998 has been operating for the
last twenty-eight years. The Puppet Wagon travels to neighborhood parks and performs a variety of family-based
puppet shows. Youth Enrichment funds office, storage and program space within the Murzyn Hall budget. This budget
also provides one-fourth of the Recreation Coordinator salaries.
The proposed 2026 budget has an increase of $6,800. Personnel was increased slightly and is needed to cover the
Summer Park Program expenses that used to be covered by the grant. The youth grant ended in 2024. Program Supply
lines and Food Supplies had been increased in 2025. The Youth Enrichment Budget transfers $35,500 back to the
Murzyn Hall budget to cover space used within J.P.M.
110 117
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: SENIOR CITIZENS
101 GENERAL Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
5040 SENIOR CITIZENS Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services 106,200 97,900 108,000 115,300 115,300 -
Supplies 2,300 2,300 8,700 8,700 8,700 -
Other Services & Charges 24,100 34,000 34,000 35,100 35,100 -
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: SENIOR CITIZENS 132,600 134,200 150,700 159,100 159,100 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
The Senior program is located in Murzyn Hall and provides a wide variety of programs to individuals 55 years and older in
the community. The center is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This budget now includes trips
for our Senior program. The Senior program also runs many day trips that use one of the Recreation vans to transport
people to various programs and venues around the area. These excursions are very popular and takes seniors to places
they would never visit on their own. The Senior Citizen budget also provides space allocation for Murzyn Hall for office,
storage and senior center space.
The proposed 2026 Senior Citizens budget has an increase of $8,400. Our Senior Citizen Coordinator has done an
outstanding job with creating new exciting programs for the Seniors. With all these new programs comes extra expenses
and that is why we have added more funding in 2026. It should be noted that there is also extra revenue that is brought
in with these new programs and trips. The Senior budget also budgets $19,400 back to the Murzyn Hall budget for the
Senior Center Space.
111 118
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: MURZYN HALL
101 GENERAL Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
5129 MURZYN HALL Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services 167,200 156,000 184,600 176,500 176,500 -
Supplies 16,600 10,000 16,600 18,500 18,500 -
Other Services & Charges 49,800 46,900 56,000 59,600 59,600 -
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: MURZYN HALL 233,600 212,900 257,200 254,600 254,600 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
Murzyn Hall (JPM) is used for many classes, activities and special events. Many rentals are paid while others are fee
waived or charged a minimal fee to offset custodial costs. There were 82 paid rentals in 2024. Users of the facility are
residents, non-residents and local non-profits. The building is also used by the Recreation Department programs. JPM
operates seven days a week and runs near full capacity throughout the year. Murzyn Hall budget provides salaries for
part-time custodians and 50% of the Recreation Secretary position.
The proposed 2026 budget has had an decrease of $2,600. Due to less rentals on Friday and Sundays the Part-time
Employee line has decreased by $5,000. End User Devices has increased $1,900 for the new phones in the building.
With the age of the building and increased maintenance required Building Maintenance line 4020 has been increased
by $8,000. This budget receives a credit of $71,100 from other Recreation Departments to cover the space used in the
building.
112 119
Item 2.
DEPARTMENT: HYLANDER CENTER
101 GENERAL Actual Actual Adopted Department City Manager Council
5130 HYLANDER CENTER Expense Expense Budget Proposed Proposed Adopted
Description 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026 2026
Personnel Services 7,700 12,900 16,700 17,500 17,500 -
Supplies --1,000 1,000 1,000 -
Other Services & Charges 43,000 73,900 77,200 77,200 77,200 -
Capital Outlay ------
Contingencies & Transfers ------
TOTALS: HYLANDER CENTER 50,700 86,800 94,900 95,700 95,700 -
Activity Description
Comments on Proposed Budget
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
BUDGET 2026
The Hylander Center budget covers the staff and utilities to maintain and operate the Hylander Center gym and fitness
room. This budget includes utilities and cleaning that is serviced by the School District and then paid from this
account.
The proposed 2026 Hylander Center budget has an increase of $800. Seasonal Staff has had the increase of $600.
Beginning in 2024, the District maintenance cost have increased significantly due to the fact that they had not
increased them since we opened. The building maintenance was left as it was for 2025. The repair line had increased
to $5,000 in 2025 to cover the repairs to the equipment in the gym.
113 120
Item 2.
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114 121
Item 2.
ITEM: Council Corner.
DEPARTMENT: Administration BY/DATE: Mayor and Council / October 30, 2025
CORE CITY STRATEGIES: (please indicate areas that apply by adding an “X” in front of the selected text below)
X Community that Grows with Purpose and Equity
X High Quality Public Spaces
X Safe, Accessible and Built for Everyone
X Engaged, Effective and Forward-Thinking
X Resilient and Prosperous Economy
X Inclusive and Connected Community
NOVEMBER COUNCIL CORNER ITEMS:
Monthly Calendar Sharing
Monthly Event Notification, Attendance and Past Event Updates
Monthly Proclamations and Meeting Guests
ATTACHMENT(S)
City of Columbia Heights Monthly Council Meeting and Event Calendar
Mayoral Proclamation List
Draft Proclamations
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING
AGENDA SECTION WORK SESSION ITEM
MEETING DATE NOVEMBER 3, 2025
122
Item 3.
1City Council Meetings and Events
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
12345678910111213141516 17 18 19 20 21 2223 24 25 26 27 28 2930
November 2025
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1234567 8 9 10 11 12 1314 15 16 17 18 19 2021 22 23 24 25 26 2728 29 30 31
December 2025November 2025
Oct 26 27 28 29 30 31 Nov 1
12:00pm Community
Entrepreneurship
Program Graduation
(Murzyn Hall, Senior
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
5:00pm City Council
Work Session - City
Hall - City Meetings
6:00pm Canceled -
Planning Commission
- City Hall - City
Meetings
5:30pm Library Board -
Public Library - City
Meetings
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
5:00pm Special EDA
Meeting - City Hall -
5:30pm Special City
6:00pm City Council
2:00pm Fall Bonding
Tour - House of
6:00pm Sustainability
Commission - City
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
6:00pm City Council
Meeting - City
Council Chambers -
City Council Meetings
30 Dec 1 2 3 4 5 6
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
123
Item 3.
MAYORAL PROCLAMATIONS / DECLARATIONS ISSUED 2017 - CURRENT
2025
January 20, MLK Day 1/13/2025
February 1 World Hijab Day 1/27/2025
February Black History Month 1/27/2025
February 13, Racial Covenant 1/27/2025
March 3-7, School Breakfast Week 2/24/2025
March Developments Disability Awareness Month 2/24/2025
March 8, Int. Women’s Day & Women’s History Month 2/24/2025
March 31, Trans Day of Visibility 3/24/2025
April Fair Housing Month 3/24/2025
April 6-12, National Library Week 3/24/2025
April 22, Earth Day 4/14/2025
April 25 Arbor Day and May Arbor Month 4/14/2025
April Autism Acceptance Month 4/14/2025
April Volunteer Month 4/14/2025
May, Asian and Pacific Islander Month 4/28/2025
May 11-17, Police Week 5/12/2025
May 19-24, Public Works Week 5/12/2025
May Foster Care Awareness 5/27/2025
May, Menstrual Hygiene 5/27/2025
June 6, Gun Violence Awareness 5/27/2025
June Pride Month 6/09/2025
June Immigrant Heritage Month 6/09/2025
June 19, Juneteenth 6/09/2025
July 1: Somali American Day 6/23/2025
Meditation Center 10th Anniversary 7/14/2025
Dahli Lama 90th Birthday 7/14/2025
July 26, Disability Independence Day 7/14/2025
August 1, Heights Bakery Day 7/28/2025
August 4, Assistance Dog Day 7/28/2025
August 5, National Night Out Proclamation 7/28/2025
August, 14 Monarch Butterfly Day / Monarch Fest 8/11/2025
August 21: Senior Citizen Day 8/25/2025
September National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month 8/25/2025
September, Hunger Action Month 8/25/2025
September 17-23, Constitution Week 9/08/2025
September 13, Columbia Heights Pride 9/08/2025
September 15-October 15: Latine Heritage Month 9/22/2025
October 2025, Pedestrian Safety Month (Walktober) 9/22/2025
October 2025, Polish American Heritage Month 9/22/2025
October 2025, Domestic Violence Awareness Month 9/22/2025
124
Item 3.
MAYORAL PROCLAMATIONS / DECLARATIONS ISSUED 2017 - CURRENT
October 5-11, Fire Prevention Week 9/22/2025
October 13, Indigenous Peoples’ Day 10/14/2025
October, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month 10/14/2025
October, Dysautonomia Awareness Month 10/27/2025
Booster Appreciation Proclamation 10/27/2025
November, Housing Inequity Awareness Month 10/27/2025
Paul Dingman Day Proposed 11/10/2025
November 11: Veterans Day Proposed 11/10/2025
November 20: Trans Day of Remembrance Proposed 11/10/2025
November 28, Native American Heritage Day Proposed 11/24/2025
November 25, Happy Holidays Proposed 11/24/2025
December 10, Universal Declaration of Human Rights Proposed 12/08/2025
2024
February 1: World Hijab Day 2/12/2024
February: Black History Month 2/12/2024
April 7-13, 2024: National Library Week 3/25/2024
April: Fair Housing Month 4/08/2024
April 22: Earth Day 4/22/2024
May: ALS Awareness Month 5/28/2024
May: Arbor Day and Month 5/28/2024
May: National Cities, Towns, and Villages Month 5/28/2024
May 19-25: National Public Works Week 5/28/2024
June 7: National Gun Violence Awareness Day 6/10/2024
June: Pride Month 6/10/2024
June 19: Juneteenth 6/10/2024
July 1: Somali American Day 6/24/2024
July 22, 2024: Fern Ostberg Birthday 7/22/2024
July 22, 2024: MN State Flag posting 7/22/2024
August 4, 2024: Assistance Dog Day 7/22/2024
August 6: National Night Out 7/22/2024
August 8, 2024: Monarch Butterfly Day 8/12/2024
August 21: Senior Citizen Day 8/12/2024
September: National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month 8/26/2024
September 17-23: Constitution Week 9/09/2024
September 2024: Hunger Action Month 9/09/2024
September 15-October 15: Latine Heritage Month 9/09/2024
September 21, 2024: 1944 Warsaw Uprising
US Airlift Day of Remembrance 9/09/2024
September 21, 2024: Columbia Heights Pride Day 9/09/2024
October 2024: Pedestrian Safety Month (Walktober) 9/23/2024
125
Item 3.
MAYORAL PROCLAMATIONS / DECLARATIONS ISSUED 2017 - CURRENT
October 2024: Polish American Heritage Month 9/23/2024
October 14, 2024: Indigenous Peoples’ Day 10/14/2024
October: National Breast Cancer Awareness Month 10/14/2024
October: Domestic Violence Awareness Month 10/14/2024
November: National Homeless Youth Awareness Month 10/28/2024
November: National Homelessness Awareness Month 11/12/2024
November: National Native American Heritage Month,
National Native American Heritage Day 11/12/2024
November 11: Veterans Day 11/12/2024
November 25, Happy Holidays 11/25/2024
December 10, Universal Declaration of Human Rights 12/09/2024
December 20, 2024: Terchen Taksham Rinpoche Day 10/02/2024
2023
January Plant Milkweed Month 12/12/22
Jan 16, MLK Day 1/09/23
February Black History Month 1/23/23
March Developmental Disability Month 2/27/23
March 8, International Women’s Day 2/27/23
Ramadan Month 3/27/23
April Earth Day 3/27/23
April 13, Kelli Bourgeois Day 4/10/23
April Library Week 4/24/23
April Arbor Day 4/24/23
April Fair Housing Month 4/24/23
April National Public Works Week 4/24/23
May Asian and Pacific Islander Month 4/24/23
May 28, Menstrual Hygiene Day 5/22/23
May Police Week 5/22/23
May Public Works Week 5/22/23
June Immigrant Heritage Month 5/22/23
June 2, Gun Violence Awareness 5/22/23
July 1, Somali American Day 6/26/23
July 1, Sister City Galdogob Somalia 6/26/23
International Day of Friendship 7/24/23
September Suicide Prevention 8/24/23
September Constitution Week 9/11/23
September Hispanic Heritage Month 9/11/23
September 23, CHC Pride Day 9/23/23 (not at a meeting)
October 9, Indigenous People Day 10/09/23
October Polish American Heritage 10/09/23
126
Item 3.
MAYORAL PROCLAMATIONS / DECLARATIONS ISSUED 2017 - CURRENT
October Pedestrian Safety 10/23/23
November 11, Veterans Day 10/23/23
December 8, ICC Church Day (100th Ann) 11/27/23
2022
2022 Climate Awareness Year 1/24/22
Jan 27 Holocaust Day of Remembrance 1/24/22
January Health Care Month 1/24/22
February Black History Month 1/24/22
February 8, Dolores Strand Day 2/08/22
March Women’s History Month 2/28/22
April Library Week 3/28/22
April Arbor Day 4/25/22
April Earth Day 4/25/22
April Fair Housing Month 4/25/22
April National Public Works Week 4/25/22
May Menstrual Hygiene Day 5/23/22
May Asian and Pacific Islander Month 5/23/22
May Police Week 5/23/22
July 26, ADA Day 7/25/22
August National Black Business Month 7/25/22
August Outstanding Business Commendation 7/25/22
August National Night Out 7/25/22
September Childhood Cancer Awareness 8/22/22
September Constitution Week 8/22/22
September Hispanic Heritage Month 9/26/22
September Library Card Sign Up Month 9/26/22
September National Recovery Month 9/26/22
October Domestic Violence Month 9/26/22
October Polish American Heritage Month 9/26/22
November Native American Heritage Month 10/24/22
November Todd Estrem Day 10/24/22
December 23, Asia Chow Mein Day 12/12/22
2021
Tibet Day Proclamation 3/10/21
Arbor Day Proclamation 4/26/21
National Library Week Proclamation 4/26/21
Native American Land Acknowledgement 5/10/21
Police Week Proclamation 5/10/21
127
Item 3.
MAYORAL PROCLAMATIONS / DECLARATIONS ISSUED 2017 - CURRENT
Somali American Day Proclamation 7/01/21
CH Centennial Day Proclamation 7/12/21
Oromo Week Proclamation 7/26/21
National Night Out Proclamation 7/26/21
Mayors Monarch Pledge Month 9/13/21
Suicide Prevention Awareness Month 9/13/21
Hispanic Heritage Month 9/13/21
Constitution Week Proclamation 9/13/21
Domestic Violence Month 9/27/21
Pride Day Proclamation 9/27/21
Polish American Heritage Month 9/27/21
Native American Heritage Month 11/22/21
2020
Mayoral Declaration re Covid-19 Emergency 3/20/20
Police Week Proclamation 5/11/20
National Public Works Week Proclamation 5/23/20
Domestic Violence Month 9/28/20
Constitution Week Proclamation 9/14/20
Polish American Heritage Month 10/12/20
2019
Tibet Day Proclamation 2/25/19
Census 2020 Proclamation 3/25/19
Arbor Day Proclamation 4/8/19
National Library Week Proclamation 4/8/19
National Public Works Week Proclamation 5/13/19
Police Week Proclamation 5/13/19
Outstanding Citizen Proclamation 6/10/19
Orono Week Proclamation 08/03/19
National Night Out Proclamation 8/06/19
Domestic Violence Month 9/09/19
Constitution Week Proclamation 9/09/19
Polish American Heritage Month 10/14/19
2018
Youth Art Month Proclamation 3/26/18
Officer Terry Nightingale Proclamation 3/26/18
Arbor Day Proclamation 4/9/18
National Library Week Proclamation 4/9/18
Prayer Breakfast Proclamation 4/9/18
High School Basketball Team Proclamation 4/9/18
128
Item 3.
MAYORAL PROCLAMATIONS / DECLARATIONS ISSUED 2017 - CURRENT
St. Matthew Community Theater Day Proc. 4/9/18
National Public Works Week 5/14/18
Outstanding Citizen Proclamation 6/11/18
National Night Out Proclamation 7/9/18
Constitution Week Proclamation 9/10/18
Medicare Education Week Proclamation 9/10/18
Domestic Violence Awareness Month Proc. 9/24/18
Sister Cities Proclamation 10/8/18
Walt Fehst Retirement Proclamation 12/10/18
2017
Day of Action to End Domestic Violence Proc. 2/27/17
Tibet Day Proclamation 2/27/17
Library Week Proclamation 4/10/17
Arbor Day Proclamation 4/10/17
Prayer Breakfast Proclamation 4/10/17
Public Works Week Proclamation 5/22/17
Max Richter Proclamation 5/22/17
Humanitarian of the Year Proclamation 6/12/17
Domestic Violence Awareness Month Proc. 9/11/17
Constitution Week Proclamation 9/11/17
American Legion Day Proclamation 9/11/17
Proclamation for ME Global 100th Anniversary 10/9/17
Northeast Bank Proclamation 10/23/17
Dan Thompson Proclamation 12/11/17
129
Item 3.
PROCLAMATION
Veteran’s Day: November 11, 2025
The United States of America was founded upon the noble principle that every
individual should bask in the blessings of freedom and liberty.
We, as a nation, cherish and savor these privileges, understanding that they have been
upheld through the countless sacrifices made by our U.S. Veterans, including those who
are from or have lived here in our Columbia Heights community.
It is with solemn hearts and profound respect that we recognize the enduring sacrifices
of countless Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of the cherished
freedoms and liberties that resonate not only with all Americans but also with people
around the world.
We humbly acknowledge that the debt owed to America's Veterans can never truly be
repaid in full, for no single day or observance can ever suffice to honor the heroic men
and women who committed their lives to safeguard the very principles of freedom and
liberty that define our nation.
It is our solemn duty to reflect upon the immeasurable contributions and sacrifices
made by American Veterans, recognizing that their unwavering commitment has
played an integral role in shaping a world that aspires to be one of lasting peace.
Now Therefore, be it resolved that I, Amáda Márquez Simula, Mayor of Columbia
Heights, do hereby proclaim November 11, 2025 to be Veteran’s Day, in the City of
Columba Heights, County of Anoka, State of MN, U.S.A. a day to not only honor our
Veterans but also to reflect on the importance of their service in forging a path toward a
world that one day may genuinely embrace the ideals of peace, freedom, and liberty for
all.
These brave individuals, whether drafted or volunteering, have contributed
significantly to the betterment of our nation and the global community. They deserve
our utmost respect and gratitude for their enduring dedication to building a brighter
future.
_______________________________
Amáda Márquez Simula, Mayor
November 10, 2025
130
Item 3.
PROCLAMATION
Transgender Day of Remembrance: November 20, 2025
Transgender Day of Remembrance was established in 1999 as a vigil to honor the
memory of Rita Hester and Chanelle Pickett, two Black transgender women whose lives
were tragically taken due to anti-transgender violence. This day has since grown into an
annual observance in November to honor the memories of transgender people
worldwide whose lives have been cut short by acts of violence.
This day serves as a vital platform for transgender communities and their allies to bring
awareness to the ongoing threat of violence faced by transgender, non-binary, gender
non-conforming, and two-spirit individuals. It also highlights the pervasive anti-
transgender prejudice and bias present in our society. Transgender individuals face
disproportionate levels of hate crimes and violence, compounded by daily challenges
such as discrimination, high levels of unemployment, and limited access to essential
health care.
We recognize and celebrate the transgender, non-binary, gender non-conforming, and
two-spirit members of our families, friends, and neighbors. Our commitment is to
ensure Columbia Heights is a community where everyone can access the support they
need to live their fullest lives. Together, we honor the resilience, strength, and
dedication of those working tirelessly for equity and justice for all transgender
individuals. We also solemnly remember and commemorate the lives of transgender
people lost to violence, reaffirming our commitment to creating a safer and more
inclusive society.
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that I, Amáda Márquez Simula, Mayor of Columbia
Heights, do hereby proclaim November 20, 2025, as Transgender Day of Remembrance
in the City of Columbia Heights, County of Anoka, State of Minnesota, U.S.A.
______________________________
Amáda Márquez Simula, Mayor
November 10, 2025
131
Item 3.
PROCLAMATION
Native American Heritage Month & Native American Heritage Day
Minnesota has been home to Indigenous Peoples for over 10,000 years. The state has
eleven Tribal Nations and a resilient urban Native American community. The Dakota
and Anishinaabe peoples, alongside other Indigenous nations such as the Ho-Chunk,
Cheyenne, Oto, Iowa, Hidatsa, and Arikara, are central to this history and our future.
These lands are vital to their heritage and connect us to Minnesota’s more
profound story.
Native American communities across the U.S. and the First Nations of Canada have
enriched Minnesota’s social, cultural, and economic landscape. Indigenous values
continue to inspire movements for environmental stewardship, human rights, and
cultural diversity.
Our history also holds a legacy of broken promises and hardship for Indigenous
communities. Confronting this past is essential as we work to eliminate systemic racism
and discrimination.
Minnesota updated its state flag and seal in 2024, removing colonial imagery. The new
design includes 98 golden bars, symbolizing the state’s 87 counties and 11 federally
recognized American Indian Tribes, alongside the Dakota phrase “Mni Sóta Makoce,”
meaning “Land of the sky-tinted water.”
NOW THEREFORE, be it resolved that I, Amáda Márquez Simula, Mayor of Columbia
Heights, do hereby proclaim the month of November as Native American Heritage
Month. I encourage all residents to celebrate the rich heritage of Indigenous
communities. Additionally, November 28, 2025, is recognized as Native American
Heritage Day, honoring the enduring legacy of Native peoples in our community and
state.
_______________________________
Amáda Márquez Simula
November 24, 2025
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Item 3.
PROCLAMATION
Happy Holidays in Columbia Heights: November 25, 2025
The City of Columbia Heights is home to a vibrant and diverse community of
individuals, families, and neighbors who celebrate a rich array of holidays, traditions,
and cultures during the winter season.
Holidays such as Thanksgiving, Native American Heritage Day, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa,
Christmas, Winter Solstice, Las Posadas, Diwali, and Lunar New Year, among others,
bring joy, unity, and warmth to the hearts of our residents.
The greeting "Happy Holidays" has a rich history as an inclusive way to embrace the
many traditions of the winter season. It gained popularity in the 1940s and 1950s as a
welcoming message that respects the diversity of holidays, fostering a warm and
inclusive environment for all.
Columbia Heights encourages residents to share kindness and compassion as we begin
this festive season. Consider donating to the Police Department’s annual Shop with a
Cop program, contributing to the SACA Food Shelf, shoveling neighbors’ sidewalks,
inviting neighbors for cocoa, and reaching out to those in need. These acts of generosity
reflect the true spirit of the holidays.
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that I, Amáda Márquez Simula, proclaim
November 25, 2025 as the beginning of the Holiday Season in Columbia Heights and
extend my best wishes to all residents for a joyous and meaningful celebration
______________________________
Amáda Márquez Simula, Mayor
November 24, 2025
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Item 3.
PROCLAMATION
Universal Declaration of Human Rights Proclamation
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations on
December 10, 1948, remains a cornerstone of freedom, justice, and peace around the
globe. In the aftermath of World War II and the Holocaust, this declaration brought
nations together in a shared commitment to uphold the fundamental freedoms and
inherent dignity that every person deserves.
Comprising 30 universal rights, this declaration affirms the equal and inalienable rights
of all members of the human family, serving as a foundation for justice and equality. It
challenges us to recognize the importance of safeguarding these rights through the rule
of law to prevent tyranny and oppression.
The declaration also underscores the essential role of promoting friendly relations
between nations. It reaffirms the commitment of the global community to advancing
social progress and higher standards of life in larger freedom. As a collective promise, it
reminds us of our duty to universally teach, promote, and observe these rights.
Today, we encourage everyone to reflect on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
celebrate its ideals, and recommit to ensuring that these rights are respected and upheld
for everyone everywhere.
Now, Therefore, be it resolved that I, Amáda Márquez Simula, Mayor of Columbia
Heights, proclaim December 10, 2024, as Universal Declaration of Human
Rights Day in the City of Columbia Heights. Let us honor this day by working toward a
community and world where human rights are fully realized for everyone.
In Columbia Heights, let this serve as a reminder that we are united in our commitment
to justice, equity, and dignity for all.
_______________________________
Amáda Márquez Simula, Mayor
December 8, 2025
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Item 3.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Amnesty International, 20231)
Article 1
All human beings are born free and equal.
Article 2
Everyone is equal regardless of race, color, sex, language, religion, politics, or birthplace.
Article 3
Everyone has the right to life (and to live in freedom and safety).
Article 4
Everyone has the right to be free from slavery.
Article 5
Everyone has the right to be free from torture.
Article 6
Everyone has the right to be recognized before the law.
Article 7
We are all equal before the law.
Article 8
Everyone has the right to seek justice if their rights are violated.
Article 9
Everyone has the right to freedom from arbitrary arrest, detention, or exile.
Article 10
Everyone has the right to a fair trial.
Article 11
Everyone has the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Article 12
Everyone has the right to privacy and freedom from attacks on their reputation.
Article 13
Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and to be free to leave and return to their own
country.
Article 14
Everyone has the right to seek asylum from persecution.
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Item 3.
Article 15
Everyone has the right to a nationality.
Article 16
Everyone has the right to marry and to have a family.
Article 17
Everyone has the right to own property.
Article 18
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.
Article 19
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression.
Article 20
Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
Article 21
Everyone has the right to participate in government and have equal access to public service.
Article 22
Everyone has the right to social security.
Article 23
Everyone has the right to work, to equal pay, to protection against unemployment, and the
right to form and join trade unions.
Article 24
Everyone has the right to rest and leisure.
Article 25
Everyone has the right to a decent standard of living, including food, clothing, housing, medical
care, and social services.
Article 26
Everyone has the right to education.
Article 27
Everyone has the right to participate in and enjoy culture, art, and science.
Article 28
Everyone has the right to a social and international order where the rights in this Declaration
can be fully realized.
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Item 3.
Article 29
We have a duty to others and should protect their rights and freedoms.
Article 30
Nobody can take away these rights and freedoms from us.
1Amnesty International. (2023, December 11). Universal Declaration of Human Rights - Amnesty
International. https://www.amnesty.org/en/what-we-do/universal-declaration-of-human-
rights/
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Item 3.