City Council Corner

Mayor CITY COUNCIL CORNER Amáda Márquez Simula Councilmembers City Hall—Conference Room 1, 590 40th Ave NE Connie Buesgens Wednesday, April 12, 2023 Kt Jacobs 3:00 PM Rachel James Justice Spriggs City Manager MINUTES Kelli Bourgeois The following are the minutes for the Meeting of the City Council held at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, in Conference Room 1, City Hall, 590 40th Avenue NE, Columbia Heights, Minnesota. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Mayor Márquez Simula called the meeting to order at 3:04 p.m. Present: Mayor Márquez Simula; Councilmember Buesgens; Councilmember Jacobs; Councilmember James; Councilmember Spriggs Also Present: Kevin Hansen, Public Works Director; Sara Ion, City Clerk. WORK SESSION ITEMS 1. Strong Cities Video: https://youtu.be/tI3kkk2JdoI Council viewed the video and discussed that we are a fully developed urban city. Director Hansen discussed projections related to improvements to watermains, alleys and road rehabilitation projects: overall we are not reinvesting enough in our current infrastructure. The City will continue to ask for developers to pay for what is being updated as well as seeking TIF Funds for public improvements. 2. For the Love of Cities, Peter Kageyama. Council followed up on potential Iftar and other cultural involvement in the future. Sponsoring the use of Murzyn Hall for these events and volunteering to serve, create center pieces, serve dinners and decorate. The Council would like to follow up with this issue in November 2023 to follow up with this issue. Councilmember Buesgens brought up the potential for Street Pianos at the Husset Park Jefferson Building Overhang. It was also mentioned that Ramsdell and Sullivan Parks would be a good location. Follow up on City Wide Book Club: Council will read the book at the Library. Director Hansen recommended the pond with the seating area as well. Director Hansen will follow up with Library Director for the summer newsletter. 3. Inequity in Homeownership. Councilmember James brought up the legislative discussion of the ban related to the single-family homes being converted to corporate rentals. There would still be the opportunity to invest in duplexes and fourplexes. Councilmember James is unsure if this would be passed during this legislative session. This item is to be kept in the agenda for next month. City of Columbia Heights MINUTES April 12, 2023 City Council Corner Page 2 4. Council Discuss Next Month Schedules and Proclamations. Mayor Márquez Simula would like this item kept on the agenda for each Council Corner. She would like to make sure that she captures all the proclamations the Council would like to include. For the month of April there will be Arbor Day, and for May there will be Public Work, Police Week, and Asian Pacific Islander Month. 5. Good Friday Holiday Name. Mayor Márquez Simula stated that the topic of the Good Friday Holiday came up with the discussion of Ramadan and equity. She felt there should there be a different name for the closure and City holiday going forward. 6. Other Business. Continued discussion of Board and Commission engagement. Community Engagement Specialist Will Rottler will be speaking to the Park and Recreation Commission at the upcoming meeting about attending / volunteering at upcoming Public Events. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 4:35 pm. Respectfully Submitted, ______________________________________ Sara Ion, City Clerk