Donna Schmitt For City Council

The July Planning and Zoning Meeting has been canceled.  There were no new items to be discussed.  The July meeting is typically a hard meeting for members to attend because of the Independence Holiday.  So enjoy the time off!

The next P & Z meeting scheduled is Wednesday, August 3, 2010, because on Tuesday, August 2 is National Night Out!

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

at

PUERTA DEL SOL

3800 Central Ave NE

Join us as we launch Donna Schmitt’s campaign.
Come for the chips & salsa!
Pick up a lawn sign and show your support
with a donation or
sign-up to be part of the Schmitt Team!
(Paid for by Donna Schmitt for City Council)

This Friday, June 25, is our Columbia Heights Parade. I still could use a few volunteers to help pass out candy and business cards at the parade. Contact me if you can help!

Parade was canceled because of rain & hail!

Thanks for all of your help!  See you on Tuesday

for the Campaign Launch at

Puerta Del Sol!

7- 8:30 p.m.

As has been requested – here is my recap on the Planning and Zoning meeting from June 1, 2010:

1. The Planning and Zoning Commission approved the request for a larger sign, an additional 200 sq. ft.) at Savers.  This was actually 150 sq. ft. less than they originally had asked for.  Jeff Sargent (City Planner) admitted that the city’s wall signage ordinance language doesn’t cover large block commercial sites and a 200 square foot limit is not appropriate for that large of a building.  In the end they submitted a 200 square foot variance.  To put this in perspective, the current signage on the building is 97 square feet.  The new signage includes signage telling people where to drop off donations and includes signage on the west side (the side facing Central).  This is especially important because of the larger pedestrian bridge that will be interfering with the ability to see those signs.

Savers will be keeping their pylon sign.  Pylon signs are not allowed along Central Ave. but are grandfathered in.  This is a wise choice on their part since a monument sign would be lost behind the bridge.

2.  Fireworks tent request from Renaissance Fireworks to be located in the parking lot at the Columbia Heights Mall was approved.  This is the same company that has been there in the past.  This is located at 40th and Central.  It was approved to be set up for 90 days.  What that means is this company could potentially set up for 30-days before the July 4th holiday and then set up again another 30 or 60 days at anytime within a year, though they have never done this.  This does not go to the City Council so they can set up at anytime.

3.  The rezoning of property 4555 Washington St. from a duplex to a single family home was approved.  How this property was ever given a license by the city is still beyond me.  This property obviously was not inspected before they were given the license because there were multiple violations.  There were bedrooms with no egress windows and cooking facilities that did not meet code and an infestation of bugs.  The only way the city was able to get in was because of a child endangerment issue.  Several neighbors attended and commented on other properties that had too many people living in a single home in the area.  Mayor Peterson reminded them that the city has no authority to enter a property to check on this unless there is another issue.  If they knock on the door and ask how many people live there they cannot go in and check without the owners permission.  City ordinance limits 2 adults per bedroom but the city cannot go in and check this.  In this case, a child endangerment issue, they had the authority.  The question I was confused about was doesn’t a licensed rental have an inspection? Somehow this property was never inspected in over 5 years.  (After the meeting Jeff said he didn’t want to blame anyone but he was also confused as to how this slipped through.)

4.  Outdoor Seating Ordinance for restaurants was not approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission on a vote of 1-yes (Rob Fiorendino) and 2-no(Mike Peterson and I).  This ordinance will now go on to the next City Council meeting on June 14.  The City Council will then determine
if this is appropriate.  There were some changes that were made to what the city staff recommended.  Two changes that were made:  a.  a restaurant that is not licensed to sell alcohol and has outdoor
seating does not have to submit an affidavit to the city stating that no alcohol will be served outdoors.  b.  Temporary outdoor seating can be handled administratively.  This would cover those restaurants that would have an event, such as Mexican Independence Day at Puerto del Sol and Ramadan at Marina’s or events like church picnics in a parking lot or a beer tent at Immaculate or the Jamboree.  (I am not sure if a one day event is going to require permission from the city for an event like a church having a parking lot picnic.  I assume not but maybe should be clarified since that seems unnecessary.)  Comments made from the audience stated that downtown Minneapolis has no
problems with tables right next to the sidewalk serving alcohol, why should we be worried about this?

Then, Mayor Peterson mentioned that he seemed to have problems with this ordinance and gave an example of what the city liquor store has been approved for.  The Boosters will be selling beer and brats in the parking lot of the city liquor store.  The patrons will purchase their beers inside the city liquor store and the brats at the Boosters wagon in the parking lot and will be able to drink their beer and eat their brats in the parking lot.  There will be no barriers, as is required by every restaurant.  There isn’t even a requirement to have a tent with limited access as is required at events like the Jamboree and IC.  Interesting that the city is exempt from their own laws!  I really have no problem with the Boosters selling their food in the liquor store parking lot.  What I would like to see changed is that restaurants are given the chance to serve their patrons the same way that the Boosters are given.

(Since this was written, the liquor store has added a barrier to protect patrons who are sitting at the picnic tables from a car crashing into them.  But the type of barrier that is required by city ordinance to separate a patron from a passerby taking alcohol from the table is not there.  The other item is that the ordinance does not allow tables to be placed on parking lots.  For the liquor store to set up their tables now means they are grandfathered in.)

Read June 8, 2010 edition of the Star Tribune for the latest on the saga of the Central Avenue Streetcar Proposal.  According to the Star Tribune, Minneapolis is looking for help to pay for a $600,000 “study” to determine if this Central Avenue Streetcar Line would work.  Since Minneapolis has already designated  $250,000 just to do a study for this proposal, now they are looking for Columbia Heights and Anoka County to help pay for more studies?

Comments made by a couple members of the City Council and staff member Scott Clark at the May 24th Columbia Heights City Council meeting were that “It’s not going to cost us anything to look at.”  Thankfully, Bruce Nawrocki, Bobby Williams and Bruce Kelzenberg were all ready to vote ‘no’ when Tami Diehm suggested that there not be a vote but just recommended that the staff continue to follow Minneapolis and their discussion about a potential streetcar line. This allows the item to come up again at any time in future meetings.

Let’s put this into perspective:  How many jobs will be lost in the City of Columbia Heights to help fund this study? If we pay out ‘our portion’ for this study what are we going to be cutting in other areas to finance this study?  The budget for 2010 has already been set.  Which job are we going to be cutting first to help pay for this?  I don’t see the staff or council lining up to take a cut in pay.

This is not the time to be looking at spending money on studies for streetcars.  Let’s concern ourselves with balancing our budget and living within our means.

This year was one of the first years in a long time that we didn’t go out of town on Memorial Day weekend. We had bought tickets to attend a Twin’s game on Sunday night so there wasn’t the time to leave town. That alone was a good enough reason to stay in town!  Amazing game!

The other thing we were able to do because we were in town was attend the VFW Memorial Service held at the Columbia Heights City Hall.  Council member, Bruce Nawrocki was the master of ceremonies.  Mayor Peterson and Pastor Bob from Crest View shared words of remembrance.

After the ceremony the VFW provided a light lunch and it was there that we were able to visit with Kevin, who shared war stories and history.  As I looked around the room there were several memorials to local heroes. Those heroes left behind mothers, fathers, wives, and children. They left behind unfulfilled dreams and plans for the future.

One story that was shared at our table was the story of my father-in-law’s trip to accompany a fallen comrade and deliver his body to the family. The hardest part of his trip was handing over the folded flag to his family.

Many people have lost their lives in numerous wars over the years.  All we have left are the memories and the stories. It is important to keep those memories. Share those stories with your family.

Thank a vet. Not just on Memorial Day or Decoration Day as it used to be called. Let this be a time to be truly thankful for what we have.

For those of you who might have seen the Star Tribune article from Sunday, May 16, titled, “Light Rail: Popular. And a boondoggle.” Here is some information that was posted under the comments on line.  It is an open house espousing the merits of LRT.

For anyone that was at the Streetcar information meeting in Columbia Heights on May 3, you might remember even that presenter (paid for by the City of Minneapolis) stated that LRT was not economically feasible and that the next thing to be built were streetcar lines.

It is time for us just to say ‘No’ to more of these ‘boondoggles’.  How much more can we get in debt before we see a total economic collapse?  Are we really that far away from becoming another Greece?

We need to stop depending on the Federal government and State government to bail us out.  They are all broke.  You can only move decimal points around for so long before you get caught and have to come back to reality and look at real numbers.  You can’t tax a society without that society finally waking up and realizing that enough is enough.

LRT is not the next best thing and neither are streetcars.  We cannot afford either one.

(In case you don’t understand, I do not agree with this commentator but if you would like to see what studies we are spending money on, here is the results of another one!)

Quote from comments under the LRT article:
“For those of you who are interested in a fact based review of LRT, please visit out website here:http://www.southwesttransitway.org/. Better yet there are three upcoming open houses coming up free to the public noted here:Tuesday, May 18 11:30am – 1:00pm Minneapolis Central Library 300 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, MN 55401 map Wednesday, May 19 5:00pm – 7:00pm SouthWest Metro Station 13500 Technology Drive Eden Prairie, MN 55344 map Thursday, May 20 5:00pm – 7:00pm St. Louis Park City Hall 5005 Minnetonka Boulevard St. Louis Park, MN 55416 map Go and get informed, believe me after 32 months of work by well over 100 citizens, engineering specialists, and program managers you will learn for yourselves the merits of LRT. Please don’t let the Mikes of our world dissuade you from one day watching a moon walk, or better yet participating in such an event yourself.”

If you do go to any of these presentations, please make sure you let the presenters know that this is not the next best thing.  We can’t afford this and neither can this state!

Donna Schmitt
Candidate for Columbia Heights City Council

Well, it is that time for people to take a stand and sign up to run for office.  My plans are to go to city hall and file for Columbia Heights City Council on Friday.  I am excited, yet overwhelmed thinking about what needs to be done before November 2, 2010.

I am ready to start working for Columbia Heights residents as a City Council Member and look forward to representing Columbia Heights on the City Council starting in 2011.

There are many people that I will need to support me over the next few months.  Consider joining my campaign team.  I will need help with the parade, passing out literature, door knocking, sign locations, donations to pay for these items, and many other areas.  I can not do this on my own.

Thank you for your prayers and for your support.

Donna Schmitt                                                                                                                                                  Candidate for Columbia Heights City Council

On Monday night, May 24 at 7:00 p.m. the City of Columbia Heights City Council will be including on their agenda further discussion on the streetcar proposal.  I would encourage residents to come and voice their opinions on this.  If Columbia Heights refuses to take part in this proposal the 10 bus line might be able to be saved.

A streetcar line would cause the automobile lanes to be reduced to two lanes.  The other two lanes would be assigned to the streetcars.  Along with the streetcar line there are plans for adding bike lanes so this is further reducing room for cars.  There would be no room for parking along Central Ave in front of businesses with the addition of streetcars.

The cities of Minneapolis and Columbia Heights have paid a lot of money in recent years into redeveloping the Northeast corridor of Central Avenue and the section into Columbia Heights.  Why tear that up and spend millions of dollars in this tough economy?

The meeting last night ended up being an informational meeting.  There were very few questions from the Columbia Heights City Council and the question and answer session was cut short.  It was a nice power-point presentation and it did become obvious to me that the presenter knew his information but wasn’t really ready to answer most of the questions presented.

I couldn’t find the power-point presentation online but did find this one that the same company did on April 2007.  Many of the same pictures were used and much of the same information was reused in last night’s presentation.  There were quite a few details missing in last nights presentation that were presented in the 2007 power-point.

• Richardson-Ritchter and Associates, City of Minneapolis Streetcar Presentation April 2007

Even though these are projections from 2007, I find the following numbers the most interesting and these were not included last night.  This is from page 29:  Total Capital Cost (Not including vehicles and Maintenance Facility) Nicollet to Central & 4th -$23,696,134, Central to 29th – $48,490,722, 29th to Columbia Heights Transit Hub – $27,904,568.  Then on page 30, the estimation for the maintenance storage facility is listed at 2-4 Million.  Then on page 31, the estimation for the cost of each street car is less than 3 million!  These numbers are a lot different from the estimated cost that was stated at the meeting of $50 – 75 million.  There must be a lot of things that they were leaving out of those figures to go from over 100 million down to 50 – 75 million.

With numbers like these how is this more cost effective than buying a basic city bus at $300,00 – 500,000?  You can do a lot of maintenance on those buses and a lot of road repair for those fees and we will still have to do road repair so we haven’t saved any money on that end.

There seemed to be concern that we would be missing out on this ‘free’ money from the federal government if we didn’t act now.  Gina Bauman, from New Brighton City Council did make a good point:  If everyone stopped taking these funds our taxes would go down!

Bruce Nawrocki, from Columbia Heights City Council, asked, If we are transferring people from the buses to the streetcars, what have we gained?

One good thing about this, we might be able to get rid of the street level railroad crossing at 36th Ave and Central.  But couldn’t we get a railroad bridge for a lot cheaper?