Mike's gonna kick in here. Aha. Okay. And um welcome and checking in if we're ready with our technicals. Awesome. All right. Then we will start our meeting. Tonight um is our Monday, May 12th council meeting. Welcome to everyone here in the council chambers or watching on the recording. Um we are happy to have you here and be a part of our local city government. Um our first thing to start with is having a roll call. I'll ask our city clerk to please do that. Council member Springs here. Council member James here. Mayor Marcus here. And if you're wondering if our seats look a little empty tonight, we have two people who are unable to make it. So, if you're new to our council meeting, there's usually five of us up here. Um, now, if you're able to, please stand and join me in saying the pledge of allegiance. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the stands one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Next, we will approve our agenda and ask if the council is um would like to approve it as it's presented. Seeing yes, then all in favor to approve the agenda as presented say I. I. I. Any opposed? And the motion passes. Next, it brings us to our proclamations, presentations, recognition, announcements, and guests. So, tonight is a really great um exciting evening. We have some uh business and some uh citizens that we would like to recognize. Our first um is our business of the year. And so first I'm going to read a little bit about the business and then ask them to come on up for a photo with the council. So business of the year, Heritage Salon. And you can cheer. I guess we can cheer, right? For anyone who hadn't like looked ahead at the meeting notes, they might not know. Um 16 years ago, heritage owner and stylist Donna Malman was renting a chair at a salon in northeast Minneapolis, hoping to open a place of her own someday. After pursuing a space that fell through, she happened to drive down 40th Avenue, an area she'd never been before, and spotted a for rent sign in that window at 5304th Avenue Northeast. She con contacted the business owner and came away with opportunity to make her salon a reality in Columbia Heights. When Donna opened Heritage, she set out to be a community-based salon offering affordable services for everyone. She wanted families from the neighborhood to be able to walk to her salon, and many do just that. Donna has made many connections within the Columbia Heights community over the years and appreciates their ongoing support. She and her team work at the salon six days a week, and word- of- mouth referrals are important to the business's success. People in Columbia Heights keep their word to support small and local. She said, "We're really happy when people come to our shop, and we try to show that with our customer service." During the uncertainty of the pandemic, the building's owner offered Donna the chance to purchase the property. Many banks were reluctant to finance a loan for a salon at that time, but she was fortunate to secure a loan from a local bank that allowed her to purchase the property and stay at her location. Since then, Donna has added an advanced practice esthetician to provide skin care services alongside the hair services she and one other stylist provide. Beyond the business, Donna stays active in the industry through teaching and mentoring students. She also gives her services to those in need through volunteer efforts that offer need-based services to various groups. Donna enjoys seeing new businesses take root on 40th Avenue. As that corridor evolves, she says, "Whatever the future holds, I'm ready for it. We like being a part of the community and we hope to be here for many, many years." Congratulations to Heritage Salon for being named the 2025 business of the year. Your contributions have significantly strengthened our [Applause] community. So now Donna and team, if you can come on up, we'll do a photo with the council. City manager. Thank you. Thank you. This part of the meeting is a lot of up and down for photos. Um, next is our um, youth community, sorry, our youth outstanding citizen of the year and this goes to Asa RDE. [Applause] As a sophomore, this year's outstanding citizen for youth category, Asa Rude, didn't expect to be an didn't expect to be an officer with the district's gay straight alliance, the GSA, at the start of this school year. After encouragement from peers, they decided to run for president and were elected. As GSA president, they've had the opportunity to provide leadership and guidance to the organization they've been involved in since seventh grade. When student liaison's opportunity became available with the Columbia Heights School District this year, ASA also put their name in and was appointed as a student, sorry, as a student representative in January. They attend board of education meetings and are a member of the board's policy subcommittee where they provide student input on policy decisions. She says or they say, "I have learned so much from both activities such as leadership skills and how the board of education works." In addition to their roles with the GSA and school board, ASA is involved in synchronized swimming, theater, speech, choir, and is part of the high school's activities student leaders group. For other young people looking to get involved in the community, ASA recommends starting with an interest and talking to as many people as you can about it. The more people you talk to, the more ways you get involved that you will discover. Thank you. And please join me in congratulating Asa Rude, our youth outstanding citizen of the [Applause] year. And come on up for a photo. [Applause] I'd just like to say thank you so much. Like this is a massive honor and I've really enjoyed being so involved in the community. Thank you so much. [Applause] Thank you Asa and family. So glad to have you all here. Next, we have our outstanding citizen of the year for Jennifer Piper Muno. Passing by Heart Lake, you might spot 2025 outstanding citizen Jennifer Piper Muno picking up litter in the area. She's made it a priority over the last 28 years in her Columbia Heights neighborhood and is even considering hip waiters to get those harderto-reach items. She hopes to encourage the community to do the same by sharing her efforts in social media. I try to inspire people to get out and do their block, she said. Jennifer started volunteering as a young adult, bringing her animal on nursing home visits, supporting hospice patients through her massage therapy profession and serving on the PTA when her children were in school. For the past 17 years, she's volunteered with East Side Meals on Wheels, which was a natural segue to volunteer with um Seikka, Southern Inoka County Assistance, where she has assisted with holiday meal deliveries and steps in a substitute driver uh for deliveries. Over the past six years, she has become active with a local community organization, Heights Next. She now leads the group's annual city garden tour and volunteers at several annual community events. "It's in my DNA to volunteer," she says. Heights Next has provided opportunities to continue that in Columbia Heights. When a neighbor had the idea to start community gatherings in 2023, Jennifer offered to help and continues to help plan gatherings and get the word out. She says that informal informal meetups are a great way to meet new residents and get people connected while supporting local businesses. Her advice to anyone on the fence about volunteering. Don't worry if you don't want to be in the spotlight. There are so many ways to volunteer behind the scenes that aren't public facing. She says start by finding something that interests you and go from there. Thank you. And please join me in congratulating Jennifer Piperuno, our outstanding citizen of the year. And then come on up. Uh, my dad called me about an hour ago and asked me if I'd worked on my acceptance speech. I said no. Um, and I joked that um, all of my volunteering has led to this moment and now I'm done. No, no, I'm kidding. Um, yes. uh you meet so many uh people similar um who volunteer in the community and um I've made a lot of friends um doing volunteer work in the city and um it fills your cup because you're even though you're giving your time you get so much back in the process and I sure hope that um I have inspired other people to do and get involved because the more, you know, the more of us that do things for our lovely little Columbia Heights, just the much better city it is for everyone to enjoy. So, thank you very much. Thank you. Um, and in case you would like to learn more or see more of our outstanding business and citizens, they will be in our spring or summer newsletter coming out. um they have an op opportunity to be in the jamboree parade as well. So um yeah, we will hopefully get to see them around more often. And then next year when all of you write in to um suggest and uh nominate someone for outstanding citizen and youth and business of the year, um the same people will come back with me and we will discuss who will be chosen next time. So they're going to kind of take their experience this year and then use that in helping choose the next people. So um so yes, so thank you again. We'll do one more round of applause and then we're going to go into our police week proclamation. So stick around. But congratulations. Congratulations. Um, tonight we have our police week proclamation and um, reading this evening is going to be our council member Rachel James. Thank you, Mayor. Police week, May 11th through the 17th, 2025. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy proclaimed May 15th as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week it falls as National Police Week. These observances honor the service and sacrifice of law enforcement officers who have lost their lives while protecting our community and upholding our shared values. Since the first recorded law enforcement death in 1786, more than 24,000 officers across the United States have made the ultimate sacrifice. Among them is Officer Curt Ramsdell of the Columbia Heights Police Department who was killed in the line of duty on July 30th, 1977. His service and memory continued to be honored by our community. Today, the Columbia Heights Police Department comprises dedicated individuals who serve with professionalism, compassion, and care. Our officers take time to build relationships with residents, support public safety, and foster trust throughout our neighborhoods. The department represents and reflects the diversity of our community, and we are proud to have officers who represent the people they serve. May 15th, Peace Officers Memorial Day, honors all fallen officers and their families. On this day, US flags should be flown at half staff in tribute to those who gave their lives in service. As mayor of Columbia Heights, I call on all residents to recognize and appreciate our local law enforcement officers courage, commitment, and contributions. And join me in building a safe and inclusive connected community. I proclaim May 11th through 17, 2025 as National Police Week in the city of Columbia Heights, County of Anoka, state of Minnesota, [Applause] USA. And with this, we have a proclamation, but I'll invite the chief to um kind of introduce our new staffer coming on. And um Officer Peen is going to receive the proclamation. I was kind of like I didn't know the whole how we're going to have to do all this. Madame Mayor, members of the council, yes, Sergeant Peen will accept the proclamation. Uh he's currently a long-standing member of Lima Law Enforcement Memorial Association. Um he attends officers funerals around the states, helps plan them. He's been doing it for years and representing our department very well. Um, we'll be doing a ceremony, wreath ceremony for Officer Ramsdale on the 14th at 900 PM at the state capital at the law enforcement memorial. So, um, I can introduce new staff who want to do that before we could do the, um, proclamation, okay, with the sergeant and then have all the staff come up if that's all right. Yep. All right, let's go down. Uh, Madame Mayor, members of the council and guests tonight, uh, sadly Minnesota has lost 311 officers in the line of duty in our history that we know about. And so, uh, first of all, I want to say thank you for making this proclamation. And uh every year we read every officer, all 311 names out loud so that their memory is never forgotten. Uh uh but also the Ramsdale family. So on behalf of the Ramsdale family, the Columbia Heights Police Department, and the Minnesota Law Enforcement Memorial Association, I'd like to thank you for your continued support and I humbly accept this on behalf of everyone who's ever worn this uniform and whoever will. So thank you. Thank you. [Applause] Maybe we should have you all line up at an angle this way so the audience can see you as well. I know you're lining up that way so that we can see you, but I know that the audience would like to to see you, too. All right, Madame Mayor, members of the council, I'll introduce our new staff. And if staff could just wave as I run down the list. Um, starting with our newest captain, Beth [Applause] Posel. Then, Officer Jacobe Dedricch. [Applause] Officer Thaddius Newbie Jr. [Applause] And we've got current CSO Hayatt Clarence Hayatt Duncan uh will be a sworn officer with us in a couple weeks. Yeah. [Applause] And we have Jose Navarret and we have Ryan Vulner. Both of them are currently enrolled in the Pathways program at Henipin Tech. So, Jose should be graduating in July and Ryan Septemberish. August. Even better. Yes. All right. So, this is our newest members and we've got more staff coming this weekend next. Great. We're going to do it before you leave. We're going to do a photo with a class. Thank you, Chief. Um, I'll also mention that um, Sergeant Pian, who is wearing the very formal um, uniform. He talked about Lima and we have a police department podcast that you can look up uh, Columbia Heights Police. Uh, and we have a whole podcast specifically about Lima. So, if you're interested in learning more about the memorial group and how they um take care of other officers and their families, um it's really quite powerful to learn all the ways that they take care of each other. So, all right. Thank you. Next, we are going to our public works week proclamation. And oh, here's David. David to receive it. Um but our council member, Justice Spriggs, is going to read our proclamation. National Public Works Week, May 19th through 24th, 2025. Public Works professionals are essential to our community safety, sustainability, and well-being. Their work supports the infrastructure and services that keep Columbia Heights moving from clean water to reliable roads to waste management, public buildings, and emergency response systems. Here in Columbia Heights, our public works department also cares for our parks, city gardens, flower plantings, and urban forest. They manage water quality, storm, storm water systems, and the upkeep of sidewalks and streets. Every time we turn on a faucet, walk or drive through the city, or have compost, garbage, or recycling picked up, we benefit from their dedication. Public works is more than a service. It's a meaningful and rewarding career. It offers opportunities in engineering, maintenance, operations, and environmental stewardship. Our public works staff take great pride in serving the Columbia Heights community with care and commitment. These professionals, engineers, managers, and frontline staff build, maintain, and protect the system that supports everyday life. Their purpose-driven presence is constant, whether in quiet maintenance or during critical emergencies. National Public Works Week, now in its 65th year and sponsored by the American Public Works Association and Canadian Public Works Association, recognizes the importance of these public servants across North America. I encourage everyone in Columbia Heights, residents, civic leaders, and students alike, to learn more about the value of public works and to thank the people behind the scenes who help our city thrive. I, Amada Marcus Simila, mayor of Columbia Heights, proudly proclaim May 18 through 24th, 2025 as National Public Works Week in the city of Columbia Heights, the county of Anoka, state of Minnesota, USA. This week, let us honor the public works professionals who protect our health, ensure our safety, and enhance our quality of life. And to receive the proclamation is um David Cullen. And I'm blanking on your title. Public works superintendent. We can go down for a photo if you don't mind. [Music] [Applause] Madame Mayor and members of the council, um it is often said in public works that if you're doing your job correctly, uh, nobody knows you've done anything at all. So, on behalf of all the professional, uh, men and women we have at public works, thank you, uh, for this and, uh, thank you for the city for the support and residents as well. [Applause] Thank you so much, David. And thank you to all the um, audience members. We're going to now go into our community forum and um and people who are welcome to speak at the community forum may fill in a form right outside the door. Um the speakers must provide there's time. You could go grab one. That's okay. All speakers must provide their name and connection to Columbia Heights. Inerson speakers should complete a a form for the city clerk and introduce themselves at the podium. Virtual speakers should send their information to the moderator via chat and turn on their camera when called. Comments are limited to five minutes. Disrespectful language is not allowed. The council may ask questions or refer items for follow-up, but typically does not take action during the forum. I'll ask our city clerk to announce our first person. Absolutely. So, there's no one attending online. Um, in council chambers, Rodney Seaffort would like to address Yes. would like to address the council. Welcome, Rodney. Hello, my name is Rodney Sever. I'm a resident of Gould Avenue, a homeowner, and I was hoping to be able to talk to your consultant, but I see that she's not here. What a shame because she had to know we're going to come up with some questions about the parking especially after what she said at the work meeting about like the winter uh uh where she said that it uh it wasn't relative relevant to bring it up about winter parking. All the parking is relevant on G Avenue. Winter, summer, fall, the whole thing. You're very I was going to say though, you're very welcome to ask any questions because at this time of the meeting, we don't go back and forth to answer them. So, if you want to ask questions now, our city manager will take them down and then they will have answers for you. But at the meeting, we generally don't go back and forth with questions and answers. This is just your time to speak to us. Speak to you? Well, I was going to speak to you about Okay. Uh, is there a a six-hour parking ordinance in in Columbia Heights? I got a couple of different answers about that. Some say there is. Some say there isn't. Some say there a police officer said, "Oh, there is one, but we can we don't enforce it only when we need to use it." What? That's a question I want answered. Okay. I want that answer. Is there a parking ordinance for the six-hour rule? All right. Any All right. Another one is um what are your opinions on parking car uh tabs on cars on license plates? Is there a law that says they don't have to buy taps or keep their license plates updated? Is there a law for that? because I've counted and I've got pictures on my phone, 12 of them already and one round a new one in front of my house that it's uh August of 24. I mean, they're they're not getting ticketed. They're not getting warnings to get them repaired. Most of these cars, I will wager, don't have car insurance because you have to prove there's car insurance when you get passed. There are so many of out here parked on both sides of the street all the way up the street that are in not in compliance with the I thought the law. I have to buy taps. You have to buy tabs. Why don't these people have to buy tabs? I believe people need to have tabs. The best way to let the police know is to call them. We have been doing that. We have been doing that. Good. because they always have to make a note every time they receive a call to an address and so then they can put it in their order and they will take care of it. But you have to let them know Saturday down this on both sides of the street and there was citations on some of them. Not all of them. Some of the cars that didn't have citations, the license plates were still outdated and there was one there didn't have any license front or back and it was parked outside. Well, maybe the police had come by earlier. Maybe the police had come by at a different time. But thank you for calling the police to let them know. Right. We have been doing that. Good. Good. Also, I had had problems with because of parking in front of my house where I couldn't load and unload my my walker or load unload to to get in my house for for uh uh my groceries and stuff. I had to get a a handicap sign in front of my house. So, I've got that three times. I had to call the police to to remove people who were parking in my handicap spot. and and and one of them the plates were for for were over a year old again nothing was done they said oh they'll tow it but we have to wait another 24 hours and we really have to see the person come in and out of the car how are you going to do that you're not that's crazy you know so but then again like I said those are the questions I want because We would like to get at least permit parking on Gould Avenue. We noticed that there was a new parking spot being made over there behind the the library. Who's going to park there? I'd like to know. That's another question I'd like to know. That's that's only for the library parking. That big that big only for the library. There'll be no overnight parking there. Only the library. Just like the library parking now is only for the library. One of the questions I would like to ask your consultant about how did she come up with the idea that there was no not not uh going to be any permit parking on on G Avenue. The homeowners would like to know because on my side there's parking now. It's full all the time. On the other side of the street there's no parking. I mean there's there nobody parks over there because they got to sign something. Why? Y side don't have the no parking signs. Also, I talked to the man who has all the signs when they put up my my uh my handicap parking and he said that they ordered like 33 signs for no parking. They thought it was going to be no parking on both sides, but now they're just sitting on a shelf in his in his uh department. Okay, we will we're making a note of these questions, right? Because it's awful difficult for a lot of us to to have to go around into the alley twice as far to unload our groceries and stuff from the alley when we could have done it from here. We bought our houses, spent hundred thousands of dollars for our homes and stuff, and now we have a parking lot in front of our house. That is ridiculous. Really, really bad. I understand. It's it's it's troubling for all of us up and down Google Avenue. I understand. Thank you very much. Yep. Thank you. Thank you. Kathy Bennett would like to address the council. questions. I'm Kathy Bennett. Uh, I guess I same question again. I've been calling for the last three days um for cars that have expired tabs by two and three years. Many many of them um the the police just come, they look at it and they drive away. They don't they're not doing anything. And there is a law that cars should be if they're 90 days out of they haven't had their tabs, they're supposed to be taken away. the police are supposed to take them. Um Oh. Um the crime, the the people that park up by our house or whatever without the tabs and park in my neighbor's driveway. Um the other morning I went out to take a picture of it and a woman walked up to the car and she she was parked about three four feet across his his driveway and um I walked out and I said, "You can't park like that. They're going to tow you." That's all I said. And she went off on a rant and she called me every dirty name possible. So I just walked back in the house. But boy, I didn't want to. Um, and I know you you probably heard we had a shooting on the block, too. Excuse me, Kathy. Yeah. After that person um yelled at you. Were you in any So, I'm so sorry that happened to you. That That's awful that that woman yelled at you. Um, is that something that you would be able to call 911 and let them know about that? I just walked back in my house and shut the door and then she moved on. I was just going to wait for the next time she did it again and take get out there and get a picture and send it in or call it in. I just don't want you to be treated that way. Oh, don't worry. I'm I'm not going to put myself in danger. Um, let's see. Um, yeah. And like I said before, we were told when they put this building up that the residents here would have one parking spot per per resident. So, it's not really fair for us to accept or absorb all this whole apartment building. Every other apartment building I've ever been to has parking. I've never seen anything like this ever before. So, I guess I'm done. Thank you. Thank you. Mark Veronicus would like to address the council. Man, I saw the cops when I got here and I was like, "Oh man, I did something wrong. I haven't even spoke yet and I'm already going to get arrested." But I got you guys some earplugs. Oh, my name is Mark Veronicus. 1055 Peter's Place. And you guys really don't listen to anything we say. So, I figured if you guys want, I can give you some earplugs so you can just drown us out while I'm speaking if if you guys want some. They're they're brand new. Still in the package. Anyone? Anyone at all? No. I didn't think so. Uh, that being said, on to parking. Uh, why why was the 2 am to 6 a.m. uh no parking not relevant to your study that you did? Is it because you never informed? Is it because you never and and because you never enforced it in the first place unless the residents called in to complain. Is is you know is that why um then uh you know you had your cool uh traffic map for the parking with all the cool lines and and when you came up with it I said at that meeting it's the stupidest thing I've ever seen in my entire life. I I I was pretty clear on that and I pointed at the uh engineer that came up with it and and I told her she's getting paid way too much money for what she's doing. You know, Mark, Mark, we're not going to aim any comments at people. There's policies that we try to do as a work. Anyways, this is uh your own words. An unex unexpected observation over the past four months has been intense use of commercial parking only three-hour limit zone in the north and south frontage of Gould between Central Avenue Northeast and Peter's Place. Staff have observed this is often full with cars bumperto-bumper every early in the morning uh late at evening. I said that was going to be a thing that was going to be happening right from the get-go, but somehow it just snuck up. You guys didn't know it was going to happen, but it sure happened. And we, the residents, are paying the price. And then you have uh uh you said you only had six violations recorded in all of 20 24, whereas 13 violations have already been recorded in 2025. The increase in citations in this category demonstrates that Columbia Heights is enforcing compliance in the posted parking. I have no, again, I have no idea where you came up with that because the only time you enforced anything was when the residents called it in. You guys, I think came out one time all winter, maybe twice, and and ticketed. Um, you guys didn't tow any cars before when we had snowstorms. you you didn't do anything unless the residents complain and that's fact. Um and then uh and then uh staff also remarked that Peter's place the combination of snows and cars parked on both sides of the street can create an extremely narrow drive lane in winter. Furthermore, when cars remain parked on the street overnight despite winter parking re regulations, they they also create challenges for snow plows. I said that way back in the day that that was going to be a problem and and it just went on deaf ears and now three months later here we're you're you're acting like it's all brand new like you never heard this before ever. Well, I said this when you came up with this study and again, right in one ear, right out the other. That's the reason I brought the earplugs. Um then, uh whatever happened to the uh uh we're going to give a ticket and they just tow the car. That was supposed to be a thing with the police chief and and and I think with Aaron who was supposed to be a thing. That obviously is not a thing. uh whatever happened to that. Then uh uh in during our whole parking fiasco we've had going on, did the city ever ever reach out to any of the residents or has the residents been the only ones reaching out? Because I've never got anything in the mail from you guys, saying what you guys planned on doing. The only way I heard about anything was by coming down here. There there's been no transparency on your guys' part at all. We've we're it's like you just have your heads in the sand and and you don't hear anything that we say. And we've we've been coming to these things for almost three years now. And I bet over the three years over 90% of my neighbors, the homeowners up there have been at least in one of these meetings. I mean, we we have been invested in this right from the beginning. Before this place even opened, we were vested in this because we wanted our neighborhood. We knew what the consequences were going to be of this and we're dealing with every day. The uptick in crime, the the shootings, the Is this our new norm? Are we like the heart of North Minneapolis now or or what? I mean, you know, we we don't even know if we can be outside anymore because we're afraid we're going to get a shot. I mean, what what is going on here? We never had this kind of problem before the racial came in. We just want our normal back. It shouldn't be too much to ask. And I'm I'm not alone. I mean, you guys have, for better or worse, you guys have gotten to know me. Yeah. You know, I'd rather not know you. And I'm sure you guys would rather not know me. And that's that's all fine and dandy. I mean, this is I was telling all my neighbors, this is my last one. I I because when I come to one of these, I'm I I'm I'm missing a 12-h hour shift to work. I can't keep doing this. I I only have so much vacation. And when I come here, I'm not getting paid. you know, and money is, you know, money and if you're not making money because you're here, you know, eventually lose everything. So, I have to get back to doing me. Um, and then uh my phone over there. I can come back up again, but I have uh some comments from some of my neighbors on my phone. Can I read come back up and read those after you go through the rest of these? Um because some of the neighbors couldn't be here and they had They had opinions on what they wanted to say too. Uh so after the rest of them, can I come back up and and read their comments? Uh if they're different than what you've already said. Yeah, theirs are their own words, not mine. Sure, that's fine. All right. Thank you for your time. Paul Paul Edner would like to address the council. Good evening, Madame Mayor, council members, distinguished guests. Um, I'll be reiterating some of the um details that my neighbors have uh said, but with also some clarifications. Uh, last year we were promised a three-month assessment uh regarding uh from the time that the parking signs went up uh 3 months later, we were supposed to have an assessment. At the last council meeting, uh, we were told no such an assessment was done. At last week's work session, the community that showed up were not allowed to contribute. I understand that it's not a speaking forum, but we are not allowed to contribute to the conversation. All parties, Aladdus, the community, and the council should all be working together to resolve these issues. Uh, Council Member Beskins last year was in support of the residents. She publicly stated that much needed to be done and that she wouldn't accept the parking issues. However, on this uh uh work session, her only questions were how does it affect the businesses and can we get the commercial parking extended? So, that didn't really address residents. We'd like to again have our words heard more than just at a community forum but at a meeting regarding the uh parking issues with regards to uh the impounded for uh cars being impounded from license plates. It is section 502.3 of the Columbia Heights Police Department policy manual. So making it clear it's not a law but policy manual bullet point number six says that a motor vehicle should be impounded if its license plates are more than 90 days past expiration. As you've heard, we've had several cars that had tabs that were long past expired. Uh the police have talked to the tires and then left, but we haven't had them towed just for the license plates, or at least none that the homeowners have noticed. Uh the 6-hour parking rule is city ordinance 141490-7.205A, which says that no one may park in the same spot for more than six hours. owners of rental in the same ordinance it says that owners of rental property such as a lattis are to provide sufficient off- streetet parking for tenants my opinion it hasn't met that criteria I understand they have provided a parking spot one for each unit and that it cost extra all my apartment experiences have been that parking was included with the rent so again I would like to have a lattice uh the community and the council together to resolve some of these issues. So, uh people are still doing their uh parking the way that they're the way that they feel. Some in front of my driveway. We try and get pictures, try and report it to the police. And when there is a gross violation like the blocking of my driveway, yes, the police will tow. We'd like to see that happen for any cars that are parked illegally. Thank you. Thank you, Paul. Joe Mo would like to address the council. Welcome, Joe. Hi, everyone. Your honor of Mana, distinguished council members and guests. My name is Joe Mo. I'm the current president of the Columbia Heights Lions. And I'm actually nervous. I can't believe it. Yeah. I'll picture everybody naked. Oh Oh. Oops. Uh anyway, I'm here to to announce that Columbia Heights Lions is going to have the jamboree and it's going to be at the end of uh June and that is the uh 26th we're having the city nights play on Thursday night. 27th is the parade and then there'll be another band there. the 28th. Uh we're going to have a Saturday we're going to have a special thing. Uh we've got have not tried this before. Uh we've had some professional wrestling at Mersian Hall and it's been going great guns. People love it and even I was in the business. The wrestlers confide in me they love coming here to perform because the people are so fun to perform for. So, we are going to have ourselves a slamberee in the jamboree. It's going to be a kick butt time. We're going to have fun. And it's uh it's it the idea turned out so well that Spring Lake Park is going to use theirs for Tower Days, too. They're going to have some professional wrestling as well. So, it's a it's a fun time. We're going to check it out. It's there's no extra cost. Again, it's we charge $2 at the gate to get in. It's a crowd deterrent for, you know, to to keep Riff Fraf out and it works very well. We thank the police for saying something about that. And by the way, uh I just a little off note, the first time I ever met Amada was at a professional wrestling match and I got the picture. It I do three things. I did professional wrestling, I played the accordion, and I did Santa Claus. All three are in this picture. When I met Amada, I got to do all and it's my my trifecta. So that's I just I have that when I met her and that's my little monument to my my posterior. Anyway, um I just want to say if there's anything else that you want or need, we're here for you. We're going to have a grand time during those days. And I thank everybody. Thank you, Joe. Thank you. [Applause] Derek Lind would like to address the council. Thank you, Mayor, members of the council. My name is Derek Lyn. I'm with ASET. I don't know if you recognize me. I've been up here a couple of times uh regarding election integrity, and that's why I'm here again tonight. Tonight, I would like to draw your attention to your poll agreements. Poll pads are what you check in on, what the voters check in on only on election day. So, they're only used one day out of the year. It's been the hot topic lately. These poll pad agreements came out in 2018 and what we found is that the county never properly voted on it and most of the cities never voted on it either. In fact, Columbia Heights is one of those cities that never voted on it. So, this was a major change to our election system. Uh the county is supposed to vote on it, you're supposed to vote on it, and then you have these agreements. So, we're asking you to look at this agreement and see if you like it. Two cities have already cancelled their agreement. Uh, some cities have JPA. You guys just have a regular service agreement. If you could look at page one real quick, it says on there that you guys never properly voted uh for the agreement in 2018. The Ramsay city attorney said this is a lousy agreement for the cities. It's a good deal for the county, not for the cities. That's why we're asking you to take another look at it. Uh, page two, there could be, it's actually page three, the next page, there could be some liability associated with that and that's why we're asking you to have your lawyers take a look at it. And the third page, there's a lot of Minnesota statutes pertaining to this. It's kind of complex and I think what happened in 18, these things were new and you guys had state money or the county had state money. So, it just kind of got rushed out, wasn't properly done. So, we're asking you to take a closer look at it. Uh, a couple other points. Um, pull pads again were the hot topic at the county level. There was a vote took place about a month or two ago. Two county commissioners voted against that. Uh, one county commissioner uh, abstained from that vote. It wasn't there for the vote. So, it went from 7 nothing to 4 to2. So, it was very close vote. Also, last week the county of Asanti voted four to nothing to get rid of these electronic poll bets. So, the citizens up there decided they don't want to use them. want to go back to paper. So, I know you guys probably weren't expecting me to come in. You probably don't have any questions, but if you do have further questions, our contact information is on there. And I thank you for your time. Have a good evening. Thank you. So, no one has joined us online and that is the end of the people who have asked to address the council. Mark, if you have like five sentences to read from your neighbors, just a couple. We will jot them down so they're heard. I'm not going to miss coming here. I'm kind of excited. It's so I know it's the last time. I'm just like, yeah. Anyways, uh this is from Tanya and Mike. They they've been down here a few times uh for a couple of these meetings. Yeah, you can hear me. Yeah. Uh he Mike says uh I appreciate everything you're doing. I wish I could be there this time. I just don't the don't think the city really cares. I don't it doesn't affect them. I really wish we could get them to come out and see it for themselves like on a week night and in the mornings on a weekend also like after a movie theater is closed. See what we are to see what we're saying. But police but the police won't even do anything if it if it was permit parking. They wouldn't do anything period anyways. Uh people park in Ronny's handicap parking in front of his house. Never seen anything done about that. Um good luck. Have a good night. That's that's him. And then Alyssa, where is she? There we are. Uh then Alyssa said uh I'll not be attending uh but I wrote something. She says my primary concern is I have is I have is enforcing the business parking hours by ratio. Additionally I believe the city should consider implementing permit parking due to the unusual activities occurring at night. It's challenging to identify the cars involved as residents of our street and permit parking would provide assurances that people parking on our street are residents. There have been instances where non-residents park on our street played loud music for extended periods and I can't confirm their activities, but I've noticed the lighters flickering inside. Personally, I feel uncomfortable confronting them. So, at the very least, some form of patrolling enforcement behavior would be greatly appreciated. We've been patient with the city, but unfortunately the situation hasn't improved in the past six months. Please consider enforcing permit parking based off of off our pre persistence and the situation is on Golden Peters place. Then uh Mildrid uh house up left side. She said uh whatever happened to fixing the vent down the back of the building, I can't sit in my backyard. And I went out there with my uh uh decibel meter. It's still just as loud back there as it was last year. And it was supposed to been taken care of by now. And you can still hear it on the other side of Lel Park. Um so something could be done about that. She'd be very happy. And then uh one more thing I just thought of is in that meeting last week uh you guys were talking about uh if you did permit parking you'd have to include these because they're residents so on and so on. And you you were saying if it was a uh a different situation like a hospital, you could do permit parking because it's it's business versus residential type of deal. But this is business and it's residential. It's almost 300 cars just for the apartments. And then you got the city parking which is you know how many spaces out there and then you have the bank parking. So they are two completely different entities in our reality. So if you can So so as far as I'm concerned since they are not on the same page, it shouldn't be very hard to get permit parking for just residents on Peters and G. So have a good one. Thank you. You want to say one more thing? Go ahead, Rodney. I'm Rodney Seafford again. Uh uh I just wanted to emphasize that about that the uh ordinance for the six six hour rule. I would really like to know about that. And another thing is as a taxpayer I know I'm I'm um paying for that consultant that you have. I would like to be able to at least ask that consultant how what kind of facts and figures she used to come up with her decisions because I know she's being paid by the city and usually you don't want to go across somebody's giving a paycheck. Maybe she can come up with an idea with for the owners of this uh uh apartment complex to either lower or work out something with their tenants because there's plenty of space available still empty up there that these people could use if she can maybe convince the owners that we can they can work something out. Thank you for asking that. She is a city employee. She's not a consultant, but we will have answers to those questions at our next meeting and the council would like to know the answers too. So, we will be following up. Wonderful. So, thank you. Thank you for for your time. You're welcome. And again, of course, the work session is not a place to ask the questions because we need to move forward with our business, but we do listen at the right the right time that we have set meetings up for. So, appreciate your patience and um as you can see, we really do want to hear what everyone has to say. So, thank you. We like to know some of those answers. Yes, thank you for coming in. And yes, thank you. If that brings us nope, there's an additional person who would like to address council. Faith would like to address the council. Thank you. Welcome. We'll have you wait till you get to the microphone right here. Okay. Sorry. Uh my name is Faith. I'm a resident of Columbia Heights since 2005. I lived in my residence 4148 5th Street Northeast Colombia Heights since 2005 up to now. Is a very peaceful neighborhood very very very peaceful. In those couple of years ago you can bring out a lot of things outside nobody touch them. It is just very safe there. We are just living in a very safe environment. Not until about how do I call it? maybe around 2019 or thereabout uh my neighbor my son grew in that house my neighbor just moved back to Africa he's a pastor and uh this guy came in the when he came in um I mean he wanted to use that small space it's a residential area as a mechanic workshop but he later stopped it and then he ended upgrading you know making like a stadium. So, um it used to be Thursday, Friday, Saturday. It's like you don't have life to live anymore. I don't have life. Everything is cut off from me in that environment out of noise. If you come there, hang the net everywhere. I'm cut off. I do a lot of farming on that environment. But I don't get sunlight. So, I don't do farming except putting I love to do tomatoes. And this noise you can't police cannot solve that problem. I'm sorry to say that. I've lived in that I bum bum bum. You know it's on my brain. You can just This is the face. This is my my window. Faith when they somebody about 30 40 50 70 people are playing volleyball. Faith. Yeah. This is the neighbor that's playing volleyball. falling about 70 people are playing volleyball and boom boom from sometimes it used to be 4:00 to about 9 or 10 I don't have life to live I'm a nurse I work with backlet I'm a big nurse and I end my life no with my patients I work Monday to Friday and then weekend is when I get myself organized at least have rest in my house and have this clean up the house, get ready for the next day. But I don't have those liberties anymore. I don't have it because it's all about noise. It's all about it came to a point if you bring out anything they will steal it. I think police has come couple of times. Even my work bag that contains about 10,000 something. I just dropped it, left it there to go in before I know somebody took it. He took the company Hinnipin Healthcare to, you know, organize my bag again because I'm a clinician. So I've been living in a lot of pain. I don't live life. I don't have life to live since that those years this boy came. It's all about noise. It's all about noise. I called him a couple of times. My neighbor I even have hypertension. You need to help me. You're my neighbor. You are making a lot of noise. It doesn't make sense to him because he makes money. He he sells food, sells drinks, sell alcohol, sell a lot of things in that small environment. It's a very small environment. And this noise has continued. I tried to tape it. I've called police over and over and over and over and over. I don't nothing good has come out of it. I was thinking this time, hey, they said and make America great again. I said, okay, maybe things are going to change. But now what I'm seeing now is it's still there, but they now bring young school boys. You know, if you come there, you see maybe Colombia height to young young boys. Maybe the the adults are not coming. Maybe they're scared. But now mobilizing very young boys who knew what it means to play in the school and come and play in somebody's window knocking at my head. Boom boom boom boom. I tried to talk to them. I said, "Don't you educate the adults. You're a student. You need to teach them what is right. If they are not educated, it's your responsibility. Hey, hey, hey, this is a residential area. People need to live peaceful in their home. You people don't have to leave at your own expenses at your at your own mercy. I don't sleep until after 9 or sometimes 10. I can only sleep when they are done. And then the next morning I wake up to go to work and they are sleeping. This is ridiculous. It doesn't make sense. How many years have I suffered this? And the noise is just the boy can't even control it. He's just obsessed with that noise. He find all everywhere anyh how he can do to maintain that noise. I don't understand why it should be so I have some of the pictures I took many people how can a residential area where you people have your homes if somebody comes every weekend and knocking on how will you what type of life is that yeah do you have the pictures with you then what type of p what type of life does that make I don't have can we um okay yes and so he's going to give you his business card. He uh I don't have a I mean I live at their own Yeah, I understand. Faith. So Mitch is our community development person and this is in his area to be checking on the properties. So he's going to go get his business card so that you can email the photos so that they can look at it from that way to see what the city can do. Yeah. But the city happened um I came from a third world country really we came here to better our life let's be realistic and the type of noise I receive here I didn't explain I didn't I'm like what's going on here after all this struggle to come here now it's like I'm living in a worst environment than what I used to have even at my age I can't sleep in my house I have to wait for my neighbor I can't plant something and get it because he dominated everywhere. There does everywhere. It's like a dark. Come to my compound and see. It doesn't look like where people live. Everything is just no a no space. It just the boy just occupied every and nobody is doing anything about it. Well, nobody is doing everything about it. I'm glad you came in. I remember talking to you on the phone about this and I have talked with the police chief about this as well, your neighbor. Um, but it sounds like Mitch is going to take this to the next step. So um we will definitely make a note of the noise and the volleyball. Come there. Now you can see young why I'm I'm crying now is why secondary school boys young young boys they make more noise than adults. And why young young senior secondary school boys and now is they will have to come and make noise in somebody's compound. Does it make sense? No. It doesn't make no none of you can tolerate that noise. You need to live peacefully in your home and take care of your health, but it doesn't happen. Yes. Well, thank you for coming because we can now now that you've been here to say something, we will take it to that um to make a note of it and look into this. Do you have any other questions for us or anything else? It's just about that noise. I mean there is a park here. They can always do whatever they want to do, but this is my home. Yes, absolutely. We have noise ordinances. I live many years there before he came. Mhm. It's very peaceful. But now you can't bring out there's camera at my back. There's camera. That's how I'm living. If I leave that place without camera, one night they will just everything will disappear. I at least I showed the police one night somebody was naked for two hours walking around my compound. I showed that to police. I think they stopped that one. I think they stop them from, you know, coming around because young kids who they see them rushing into my compound making noise and gring out and making noise. It's not every people. Yes. We don't want to have that happening. We want to we want to do something about it. So, uh, Mitch, you have given her your card, right? Okay. Faith, if you could I'm sorry to interrupt you. No, we're happy. This is time to listen. Yes. Yes. Thank you. I'll go. Right. Yep. You can go. Thank you, Faith. I'm so sorry to hear about your troubles. Is there anyone else who would like to speak at our community forum? There's not. All right. And there's nobody online, so we will move to our consent agenda. Um, any discussion about our consent agenda from the council? All right. We'll have our city manager take us through the items. Thank you, Madame Mayor, members of the council. Uh, item one on the consent agenda this evening is acceptance of the April 7th, 2025 regular EDA meeting minutes. Item two is acceptance of the April 2nd, 2025 library board meeting minutes. Item three is approval of the city's leadership norms uh result of the retreat that recently took place between city council um and management staff at the city. um memorial memorializing those and uh just noting that they're a living document that can be changed when we need to. Item four, authorization to seek bids for the 2025 sanitary sewer lining project. So this is just authorization to go out for bids for a project that was um already anticipated in this year um lining sanitary sewer mains. Item five, approve change order number one to Equity Builders contract for the 2025 alley program and Solvin Lake fitness court. So, the city just awarded this project at the last council meeting, and through contract review and bid document review, uh staff identified an issue that the city had not clarified that a portion, specifically the sport court portion of this project where they're going to put the concrete pad down for the sport court at at Sullivan Lake is subject to federal prevailing wages, Davis Bacon laws, because we the city had received um grant money from the community development block program at Anoka County. Ultimately, the source of that is federal. So, the city needs to go out and rebid just that portion of the project to make sure that compliance is clearly stated in our bid documents and that there are no uh missteps due to those uh additional regulations. It's expected that equity builders will submit a bid the second time around uh but it'll be open back up to the to the same group of contractors. Item six are the routine uh license business licenses for approval. Item seven are the routine rental occupancy licenses for approval. And finally, item eight is um bills for this period which total 1 million uh420,14756. Madame Mayor, thank you. Do we have any comments or questions from the council? Hearing none, then um and thank you for taking us through the items. Um then I have a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented. So moved. Second. I have a motion by council member Spriggs and a second by council member James. Any discussion hearing? None. Then all in favor say I. I. I. Any opposed? And the motion passes. Thank you. U. We have no public hearings tonight. This takes us to our items for consideration. Item number nine, consideration of professional service agreement for the development of soccer fields in Columbia Heights. And I think Erin will take us through this again. Thank you, Madam Mayor, members of the council. So, the item before you is consideration of a proposal for um consultant engineering services with WSB. Um a firm that's worked with the city's park planning over the years on several occasions and has embedded knowledge of the city's park system has even um done a preliminary analysis on where soccer fields might be cited in the city. Recently, the council um directed staff to put an emphasis on the this initiative uh to work with the city's parks and recreation commission to um kick off an engagement effort and a planning effort around um citing one or more soccer fields in the city. This will include um a look at uh several of the parks that we already know to be most viable. Um an exercise and engaging with residents around the parks that are deemed to be uh potential um locations for soccer field. Engagement with stakeholders around the sport of soccer. So who are the users that um are known to the city that might have feedback as to how we uh develop and design a soccer field? And then um meetings between um the parks and recck commission and the city council at a work session once kind of uh plans have been funneled through that engagement process with the broader community with the end goal of you know picking a location uh doing a master plan for whatever park is determined to be best and designing a field or fields in that location and then doing the design work that's needed to actually um secure uh quotes and bids for that work and then present that for consideration to the city council. Um likely for the earliest construction would you know it begin in the spring of of next year. So with that, Madame Mayor, the contract award in this case is $36,250 and we're seeking a um budget, excuse me, budget amendment also to our parks capital improvement fund 412 for amount in the amount of 40,000 to give a slight buffer for potential change orders as we move through the the process. So, because this wasn't um formally budgeted in the 2025 budget, um there's sufficient resources in that parks capital fund to amend the budget and award the contract. Thank you. Such exciting news. Any comments from the council? Council member James. Thank you so much. Thank you um city manager for bringing this forward and for all the residents who have been advocating for a long time for us to have this soccer field. I know that um the process will include a lot of opportunities for public input and I'm grateful for the public meetings that'll be coming up and I'm sure there'll be surveys and conversations. I would like to advocate for multiple fields because I know most of the time when they're using soccer there's two fields happening at the same time. Um the tenative schedule, that was my question for the city manager. I saw in the the bid from the um contractor that they were looking at perhaps having the final master plan in October of 2025. Could you speak to the schedule at all? That's correct. Uh Council Member James, just looking at the tenative schedule trying to hit the final master plan completion in the fall of this year. Yep. So October. Thank you. Okay. So then that would give us an opportunity to wrap that into our budgeting plan for the next year because this this lump sum for those who are paying this is just for the planning phase. The next amount will have to be what are we going to budget for construction phase. So I'm I'm really grateful for the work of the parks and recreation commission and for all those who brought this forward. A thank you. Uh council member Spriggs. Uh yeah, Council Member James said most of what I was thinking. I'm just super excited for this and really excited for the community outreach both with the the parks board with us and then also with all the residents um involved both who live in the areas and then would most utilize the soccer field. So really excited to kind of see this initiative move forward. Awesome. Yes, we're just so excited. I know I can probably say on behalf of council member Bisgens and Denine that the full council um very much supports us moving forward on creating these soccer fields and um with the program happening with the school district and and soccer increasing at parks and wreck, we know that the community is ready for it and excited. So this will be a good year to get that going. So thank you. All right. Well, hearing that then we have a motion to wave the reading. Move to wave the reading of resolution 2025-41, there being ample copies available to the public. Second. I have a motion by council member James and a second by council member Spriggs to wave the reading. All those in favor say I. I. Any oppose? The motion passes. And next we have a motion to approve the resolution. Move to approve resolution 2025-41, a resolution approving professional services agreement with WSB and appropriating a budget of $40,000 from the fund balance of the parks capital improvement fund 412. Second. I have a motion council member James and a second by Council Member Spriggs to approve the resolution. Any discussion hearing? None. Then all in favor say I. I. I. Any opposed? And the motion passes. exciting soccer stuff to come. Um, next item number 10, consideration of ordinance number 1713, approving alcohol at city sponsored events. Madame Mayor, members of the council, before you this evening is the first reading of ordinance 1713, which was presented to the council at the work session last week. Ultimately, ordinance 1713 does two things. The first is it removes an old 3.2% 2% um prohibition. So, anything above 3.2% alcohol would not be able to be served in city parks. This is being removed because it is an old ordinance. 3.2% alcohol is not very much a thing anymore. Um and it would also limit um some of the jamboree items or any other events that anyone would be having within the parks. It also allows as the ordinance states for city events to be um excluded from the prohibitions of 10.201 section O which is not uncommon as we have exclusions for immersion hall and huset park as well. Um with that at the work session council member Denin asked about THC beverages at events. So staff are still working with legal as the state's definitions and the really the relationship between THC beverages and alcohol is hasn't been clearly defined as of right now. Any event that has THC or like a public facing event that would sell THC beverages is supposed to have a THC organizers license from the um from the state. And then our the city, we already have our own pro permitting process for those THC licenses. That would not allow other um events. We do not allow THC events to go on public property. So that would limit um anyone from having a THC event within a park within the city of Columbia Heights. Might be some future issues or some future clarification needed as the state continues to push THC items down, but staff will keep an eye on that and bring any, you know, future amendments or problems forward to the city council. Awesome. Thank you. And um I know that uh council member Denine and council member Bisgens will watch the recording of this so they'll get that extra information about the parks. Thank you. Any questions or comments from the council? Um I just want to say that I think this will be um you know kind of a fun addition and we'll um kind of like anything at the city though I think that our staff is open to and and council are open to trying some things too. So, this is something that will be new for us. Um, and we have seen other organizations do this, but as a city, we haven't done this before. So, we will always come back and check on things and make sure it's the right fit for our community. Um, and so, if there's nothing else to be said, then we have a motion then to wave the reading. Move to wave the reading of ordinance number 1713. There being ample copies available to the public. Second. I have a motion by council member Sprigs and a second by Council Member James to wave the reading. Um, all those in favor say I. I. I. Any opposed. The motion passes. And next we have a motion to set the second reading. Move to set the second reading of ordinance number 1713 being an ordinance amending chapter 10.201 of the Columbia Heights city code to allow the sale of alcohol at city sponsored events for May 27th, 2025. Second. I have a motion by council member Spriggs and a second by council member James to set the second reading. Um, any discussion? Hearing none, then all those in favor say I. I. I. Any opposed? And the motion passes. The next reading will be at our meeting on May 27th, which is a Tuesday because of the Memorial Day Hollywood Hollywood holiday. All right. Then that takes us to the end of our meeting, which is our council uh city council reports. And we can start with council member James. Thank you, Mayor. Um, some of things that I've been working on the last couple of weeks. We are working on planning a peace breakfast in Columbia Heights. I'll just say I've been part of that. I had a meeting with the city council member from the city of Ramsey to talk about initiatives in that city that may impact us. We had our EDA and work session. Um, I was able to participate in the, uh, blood drive at the public safety building and thank you to all of the staff that, um, set that up and volunteered and for everyone who gave blood. And then we had our strategic planning with the city and that was a wonderful time to meet with all the department heads and council. Other things in my report, I just wanted to mention for those who are watching the meeting regarding the parking on Golden Peters. We were all as a council following the situation carefully. We're so grateful for our community development staff preparing a report which you can find in the work session packet and we took a lot of time to carefully look that through and and understand the options and the struggles. I reported at that meeting and will say again I continue to be concerned about cars parking in front of driveways and in handicap places. I think that's a major safety issue and I know that with our new officers that we were introduced to tonight, we will have even more police presence and opportunity to enforce that. But we do rely on a partnership with our residents and our citizens. And so if you're in any block, whether it's school or Peters or anywhere in the city, please do call and report. It it does it does help us to track what's going on. In addition, um, conversation and questions, you are welcome to come to our public meeting, but all of these things can also be submitted in writing and email. I heard a resident today speak about taking time off work. We are happy to receive information by email or a written letter form in advance and that does get weaved into the staff reports and so that's how we listen to input from our residents. So, thank you. Thank you. And I really appreciate you sharing about another way to participate without having to come in person or even to be with the timing to be virtually. Um yes, we read all the emails. We will submit them as um information for this meeting packet. So not being here doesn't mean you won't be included in the meeting itself. So we just want to let you know that is very important to us that you are seen and heard and we appreciate you. If you call and leave a message, we can do that. if you send an email. So, thank you for mentioning that. Um, next we'll hear from Council Member Spriggs with his report. Thank you, Mayor. Um, been busy at the hospital, so not a ton to report, but as council member James said alluded to, ED work session last week. Um, also participated in our city strategic planning as well and really appreciate the the couple sessions we've done now over multiple years. Just one coming together as city staff and elected officials and just kind of shaping the vision for our city for the next couple of years. I always enjoy it and really think it's a good exercise and helps the city as a whole. Um, and then the one other thing I'll comment on, I know the the mayor and I had worked with a lot of local elected officials and uh nonprofit leaders to create a essentially a letter about the kind of state of funding and the importance of these different nonprofits to our communities. and we had sent that out to to a local newspaper um to to hopefully kind of amplify, you know, the the concerns that are going on and the these critical resources need to continue to receive funding to to support our communities. Yes, thank you for mentioning that. We sent out a letter to the editor and had other electeds and nonprofit leaders sign on to it, but we'll wait and hopefully it gets printed this week and then we can talk more about it. But thank you. And also, Council Member James was a signer on that as well. Um, let's see. My report over the past couple weeks, I've had opportunities to still engage. Um, even though life has been very busy this month. Um, April 29th, I had a delicious honor of judging the Columbia Heights High School afterchool dessert contest uh with our police chief, our um county attorney, and our school superintendent and the fire chief. Um, congratulations to the winners at the school for their incredible strawberry chocolate cupcakes. Uh, we met with the planning team for our upcoming summer peace breakfast. Um, and that will be on July 10th, so June 10th. So that's coming up soon. Um, and tickets will be available shortly on a a website, but it's still a work in progress. So that's um really working with a lot of the faith communities um and nonprofits in the city. Um, we held uh I had my check-in meetings with the police chief and our city attorney. Um, attended the screening for the really powerful Tibetan film Four Rivers and Six Ranges. We had a proclamation for that at our last council meeting. Um, the director of the movie was there. It was at the Heights Theater and it was a soldout show. um just such a meaningful um film about the exodus of the Daly Lama and so many people that have had to um become refugees um to survive what's happening in Tibet. Um that movie I don't know when it's going to come to another recording or be able to have it stream but if I definitely recommend watching it. Um I participated with the regional council of mayor's meetings. Uh today our meeting we had one of our speakers was Excel and they were talking about their energy plans for uh sustainability and um how they hope to be uh fossil fuel free in like 2030 carbon neutral in 2030. Um so just hearing a lot about battery storage and what we're doing with green energy um across the region. It's just things moving so fast. The next 10 years are going to be so different than Yeah. than we can imagine. Um and took part in our council work session last week in the EDA meetings. Um and then we had an operation pollination meeting. Um attended our Rotary Club and we are going to be working with the state fair this year for their um at the agriculture building. So we're excited to have the opportunity. Um attended the library board meeting and um as a liaison, but also our city manager was at the library board meeting as well. Um we were there to share our support for our boards and commissions and let them know that we are sending out information to make sure that they are um feeling uh confident in their abilities to run their meetings and know that the council and staff are here to support them and their work. Um and how much we appreciate our board and commission members. um a a participated in the strategic planning and goal setting as mentioned by our my council members. Um and then on a personal note, I took some used motor oil to the recycling center on Saturday. My husband likes to change the oil himself and so we're so glad that we have a recycling center here that takes that. Um excuse me. and just so glad to volunteers and the Key Club kids who staff our center every Saturday from 9:00 am to 1 pm. Make sure you check out our recycling center if you haven't been there yet. And then lastly, I want to announce that Cheers for Beers is this Friday. That is a um a beer tasting event partnered with uh Top Value, our municipal liquor stores, and um Heights Next, a local nonprofit. Um there are sampling beers, there's a DJ dance party, um food trucks, and also uh gift basket drawings. So if you get your tickets early, you'll save $5. And the event is on Friday from 6:00 to 9 at Merion Hall. And tickets are available at cheersforbeersmn.com. Thank you. And I'll go on to our city manager with his report. Madame Mayor, members of the council, just a few items of note. uh the city's 2025 uh summer newsletter should be in mailbox later this week or early next week. Uh this newsletter has important information on events for residents. It can also be found online and for the first time a Spanish newsletter will be available online soon and also an English Spanish youth wreck brochure will be distributed to the public schools. Uh a red flag warning. So, the National Weather Service and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources have issued a red flag warning for much of Minnesota, including in Oka County due to heightened risk of fire. Recreational fires within the city are strongly discouraged right now. An update on the fiber optic internet expansion. USI internet has begun installing fiber optic internet infrastructure in Columbia Heights. Uh work started in the eastern portion of the city and is expected to expand through Columbia Heights over the next two to three years. visit the city's website for more information. And finally, um the city would like to invite residents of Columbia Heights to a Memorial Day observance event on Monday, May 26th at 11:00 a.m. at the War Memorial uh next to the city splash pad uh at Huet Park uh 520 Mil Street. Thank you. Thank you. And Erin, could you repeat uh what you had said at the beginning of your report? Yeah, absolutely. the which item madame mayor the newsletter or the news um the newsletter I just wanted to say uh thank you to staff and congratulations that we're going to be able to offer both the park and wreck in Spanish and English and then that that'll be available in Spanish as well. So I just really want to say thank you to staff for making that happen and bringing on um new people to kind of give us this this update to make us a little closer to the community. So that's a I think that's a really big win. and I just want to kind of mention it. That's that's great. Thank you, Madam Mayor, and hats off to the communications uh team uh Will Rottler and Cat um for all of the work that they're doing and the new multicultural liaison, Angela, as well. Thank you. Great. Thank you so much. Well, if there's nothing else then for the meeting, then we can adjourn. If I have a motion to adjurnn. So moved. Second. I have a motion by council member Spriggs, a second by council member James to adjourn the meeting. Everyone in favor say I. I. Any opposed? And the motion passes. The meeting is adjourned. Thank you and good night.