City Council Work Session

Mayor CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION Amáda Márquez Simula Councilmembers City Hall—Shared Vision Room, 3989 Central Ave NE Connie Buesgens Monday, November 03, 2025 Rachel James 5:00 PM Justice Spriggs Laurel Deneen City Manager MINUTES Aaron Chirpich The following are the minutes for the Work Session Meeting of the City Council at 5:00 pm on Monday, November 3, 2025, in the Shared Vision Room, City Hall, 3989 Central Avenue NE, Columbia Heights, Minnesota. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL The meeting was called to order by Council President James at 5:02pm. Present: Councilmember Buesgens, Councilmember James, Councilmember Spriggs. Absent: Mayor Márquez Simula, Councilmember Deneen. Also Present: Aaron Chirpich, City Manager; David Cullen, Public Works Director; Mitch Forney, Community Development Director; Jesse Hauf, IT Director; Sara Ion, City Clerk; Joe Kloiber, Finance Director; Jason Schulz, Liquor Operations Manager; Rochelle Widmer, City Engineer. WORK SESSION ITEMS 1. Group Ice Breaker. Council President James led an ice breaker, asking the group “What is one thing you are grateful for in your professional life?” 2. 2025 Budget Presentations by Division. Community Development. Community Development Director Mitch Forney gave an overview of the 2026 Community Development Department budget. Details regarding the Community Development budget can be found in the City Managers 2026 Budget Book. Councilmember James inquired about the department’s personnel service’s expenses. Director Forney clarified that there are COLA and step increases calculated into the 2026 budget. Councilmember Buesgens stated that she would like to see a ribbon cutting for the first grant to be given from the NOAH (Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing) Program, Director Forney confirmed that this could be added to the roll out plans. Councilmember James inquired about user fee funds that will be coming into the Community Development Department related to Time of Sale inspection fees as well as Code Enforcement fees. Director Forney stated that he hopes that in 2026 the funds City of Columbia Heights MINUTES November 03, 2025 City Council Work Session Page 2 generated by these programs will become fully realized and the programs will be funded and budgeted accordingly for 2027. Engineering and Facilities. Engineering and Facilities Director Rochelle Widmer gave an overview of the 2026 Engineering and Facilities Department budget. Details regarding the Engineering and Facilities budget can be found in the City Managers 2026 Budget Book. Councilmember James inquired about what fund would be used to consider sidewalk needs related to street rehab programs. Director Widmer and City Manager Chirpich clarified that the 2026 street rehab program is really an on ramp to get back up to speed with the five- year capital plan for street rehab and that it will be easier to budget for going forward in 2027 and beyond with the new strategy for street rehab funding. Councilmember Buesgens inquired why the boiler is a continued issue at the library. City Manager Chirpich clarified that there are some ongoing HVAC issues that have led to the need for a new boiler. Staff have many takeaways related to recommendations for future projects and would focus on the proper design of the Municipal Service Center HVAC to have a focus on efficiency / energy standards and a more simplified heating system to avoid future issues. Councilmember James clarified why there were no capital improvements plans included for Murzyn Hall. She would like to see more emphasis on what is being done to update some ongoing maintenance concerns. City Manager Chirpich indicated that per the budget conversation at the October Work Session meeting there would be money allocated to the carpet and other maintenance concerns. How this money will be allocated would be outlined in the staff letter to the council on the budget resolution approval. Public Works. Public Works Director David Cullen gave an overview of the 2026 Public Works Department budget. Details regarding the Public Works budget can be found in the City Managers 2026 Budget Book. Councilmember James inquired about the capital equipment budget and if the 2009 snowplow was the final replacement in the snowplow fleet. Director Cullen confirmed that this would be the final plow in the fleet that needs to be replaced. Finance / General Government / Liquor Operations. Finance Director Joe Kloiber gave an overview of the 2026 Finance / General Government and Liquor Operations budget. Details regarding the Public Works budget can be found in the City Managers 2026 Budget Book. Councilmember James inquired about how the future general government account will look with the addition of the code enforcement officer as well as the transfer of $600,000 to the street rehabilitation program. Director Kloiber confirmed that there are some items City of Columbia Heights MINUTES November 03, 2025 City Council Work Session Page 3 that look like duplicates in the budget overview at this time, but in the 2027 budget those items will better align with the specific department. Councilmember Buesgens stated that she hopes that the road construction on Central and University will not impact on the liquor stores over the extended period of the proposed construction. The council thanked Liquor Operations Manager Jason Schulz for attending the budget meeting and asked if he had any additional input. Manager Schulz spoke briefly to the profitability of the City’s three liquor stores. He commended Central Buyer, Eric Shurson for the excellent job that he has done, increasing profitability at the stores. Administration. City Manager Aaron Chirpich gave an overview of the 2026 Administration Department budget. Details regarding the Administration Department budget can be found in the City Managers 2026 Budget Book. Councilmember James inquired about the current legal services contract. City Manager Chirpich clarified that what is budgeted only reflects the services provided in the retainer agreement with BGS. There is some additional department specific work that is completed by the City Attorney Team, and that is billed/budgeted to the department who requested the work. Additionally Chirpich clarified that per council direction there would be an RFP for the 2027 contract for legal services. Councilmember James inquired about the funding for the newly established Communications and Events budget. Chirpich clarified that the newly established fund in the budget is partially funded by cable franchise fees but as those funds decrease and the work for the Communications and Events team increases, he is working with the Finance team to equitably distribute costs to the department level, like what is occurring with the IT Department. Councilmember Buesgens inquired about the reduction in cable funds, and the use of the utilities franchise fees for gas and electric that are being implemented in 2026. City Manager Chirpich stated that those franchise fees would initially be allocated to the Municipal Service Center as directed by council. IT Director Hauf informed the council that there have also been conversation at the State level around the ability for cities to collect franchise fees for streaming services / internet providers. Final Budget Reminders. Finance Director Joe Kloiber informed the council that residents will be receiving Truth in Taxation documents soon in the mail, and the final vote to approve the budget resolution will occur at the first council meeting in December. City of Columbia Heights MINUTES November 03, 2025 City Council Work Session Page 4 3. Council Corner. The council reviewed the November calendar, notified each other of upcoming events and discussed proclamations for upcoming meetings. Councilmember James asked about the status of Ordinance 1720. City Manager Chirpich informed the council that staff is working to include the feedback that was given at the October 27, 2025, meeting and that the updates to the Ordinance would be available on the city website and in the meeting packet for council to review. ADJOURNMENT Council President James adjourned the meeting at approximately 7:36pm Respectfully Submitted, ______________________________________ Sara Ion, City Clerk/Council Secretary