Special City Council Work Session - Leadership Workshop
Special MeetingColumbia Heights, MN · February 28, 2025
Minutes
Mayor
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION - Amáda Márquez Simula
Councilmembers
LEADERSHIP WORKSHOP Connie Buesgens
City Hall—Central Place Room, 3989 Central Ave NE Rachel James
Justice Spriggs
Thursday, February 27 & 28, 2025 Laurel Deneen
City Manager
Aaron Chirpich
Leadership Workshop
On February 27 and 28, 2025, the Columbia Heights City Council and Senior Staff convened for special
sessions to conduct a Leadership Workshop. Facilitator Jake Spano and Kori Shingle led the process
that involved reviewing True Color assessments to facilitate better communication, establishing a clear
governance model, transparent and improved systems, processes, and procedures. These sessions
included Mayor Márquez Simula, Councilmembers Buesgens, Deneen, James and Spriggs. City Manager
Aaron Chirpich, Public Works Superintendent David Cullen, Library Director Renee Dougherty,
Community Development Director Mitch Forney, Public Works Director Kevin Hansen, IT Director Jesse
Hauf, City Clerk Sara Ion, Finance Director Joe Kloiber, Police Chief Matt Markham, Fire Chief Dan
O’Brien, Communications Coordinator Will Rottler, Assistant Fire Chief Brad Roddy, Recreation Director
Keith Windschitl.
Next Steps
The Council has plans for Strategic Planning Facilitator Phil Kerns to host additional workshops this
spring to review and update the City’s Strategic Plan for 2025.
Respectfully Submitted,
______________________________________
Sara Ion, City Clerk/Council Secretary
Agenda
Mayor
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION - Amáda Márquez Simula
Councilmembers
LEADERSHIP WORKSHOP Connie Buesgens
City Hall—Central Place Room, 3989 Central Ave NE Rachel James
Justice Spriggs
Friday, February 28, 2025 Laurel Deneen
8:30 AM – 4:00 PM City Manager
Aaron Chirpich
ATTENDANCE INFORMATION FOR THE PUBLIC
Members of the public who wish to attend may do so in-person.
Leadership Workshop Day Two
Time: 8:30am – 4:00pm
Attendees:
• Council, City Manager, and Senior Staff
Theme:
• Building trust by having a clear governance model, transparent and improved systems,
processes, and procedures that govern our work by:
o Reviewing the “Carver Governance Model” booklet and workshopping examples of
how this model works in a city to ensure we remain a high performing team.
o Building trust and efficiency through simplified and transparent processes and
systems.
Elements:
• 8:30 – 9:00am: Informal Breakfast
• 9:00 – 9:15am: Check in from day one
• 9:15 – 12:00pm: Governance Review (with breaks)
• 12:00 – 12:30pm: Lunch
• 12:30 – 3:00pm: Trust / Process transparency and clarity
• 3:00 – 3:30pm: Parking lot/bike rack follow up (items raised during the workshop)
• 3:30 – 3:45pm: Next steps/questions
• 3:45 – 4:00pm: Closing thoughts from the Mayor and City Manager
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.
Get email alerts for Columbia Heights
A daily email when new agendas and minutes are posted.