I am a strong advocate of investments in sustainability for Columbia Heights. Over the last seven years as your city councilor, I have repeatedly requested Columbia Heights to set up a Sustainability Commission for our city. Well, good news! We now have a sustainability commission that began in the late fall of 2023! In the few short months since it’s activation, the commissioners on this important group have already worked on a sustainable purchasing policy, a complete streets policy, formed sub-committees to tackle invasive plants and to research sustainable intern programs, and they will be providing a section in our city newsletter to recommend sustainable practices that you can adopt in your day to day life.
I would like to hear about your ideas for how we can improve the sustainability of Columbia Heights. Please contact me and tell me what you think.
Beautiful parks support a clean, healthy environment.
Initiated Central Ave Façade program to improve the street appeal of our fantastic small businesses
Initiated discussion for Police Department social workers and voted Yes for our embedded social worker program
Initiated our Bring Back our Main Street petition and presented to MNDoT with a committee of concerned residents for a safer and more user-friendly Central Avenue
Voted Yes to our Single Family Rental Density Cap. Provides more homes for first time home buyers and prevents corporate landlords from buying up single family homes
Requested and achieved a Sustainability Commission, who are currently working on a Complete Street policy, Sustainable Purchasing policy, and providing useful sustainable practices articles for our city newsletter
Voted and supported the construction of our new city hall – First ever government owned condo in the country
Connected city staff with our legislators to apply for state bonding money to help pay for a new public works building
Initiated discussion with staff about finding grant monies for improving naturally occurring affordable housing, which is currently in process!
Supported and voted Yes for the repair of eight alley reconstruction improvements in the city
Voted Yes for the Single Family Rental density cap
Voted Yes for reconstruction of 37th Avenue and 53rd Avenue
Voted Yes for our Point of Sale Inspection Program to improve our housing stock
Worked to obtain a stronger and more diligent rental inspection program
Voted Yes many times to revoke negligent landlords licenses
Voted Yes to the construction of two affordable housing rental projects which brought in 300+ affordable rental units to our city
Voted Yes for the installation of more than five new sidewalks/trails
Improving our infrastructure is an exciting topic for me. A strong infrastructure improves the sustainability of our city. It makes sure that we get water, that we don’t have to worry about sewer backups, that storm water goes where it’s supposed to and not into our basement. A strong infrastructure provides safe roads to travel on, sidewalks that allow us a safe way to walk in our city and good street lighting to keep us safe at night.
Rebuilding alleyways in Columbia Heights
Infrastructure is a component of our city that most people don’t need to think about, and I want to keep it that way. As your councilor, I supported investments in repairs and replacements to our aging infrastructure components, such as replacing water mains and rebuilding alleys.
Infrastructure also deals with our energy sources. Right now we have four city buildings with solar arrays. Over the last eight years we have added 15 solar garden subscriptions. I would like to continue support for further projects that reduce our city’s energy use.
I also support providing a safe building for our public works staff. Right now our current building will be unsafe to occupy in a few short years. The rebar is disintegrating inside the cement support columns and the first floor. We are currently in the planning stage and hope to obtain part of the funding from the state bonding bill. Infrastructure is half of our city budget and we need a new building to support the great staff that provide important services and a shelter to store all the equipment that our city has invested in.
We can improve the access and functionality of our streets for all types of users. The future of transportation looks different than it is today, and we need to prepare our city to meet those needs. There are many changes coming to our streets in Columbia Heights. MnDoT is in the process of planning for a safer Central Avenue for all users. Metro Transit is planning a Bus Rapid Transit line for Central Avenue that will be installed in the next few years. Anoka County is making plans to update 40th Avenue to beautify and improve safety for all users. Also, our city has hired a consultant to study the safety of all residential streets in our city.
I would like to continue to serve you and help make sure our streets are safer for all users in our city.
As a council member, my responsibility is to encourage housing for all income levels and needs. I definitely understand that there is a strong need for affordable housing across the state, however, we also need to address the needs of those with higher incomes that would like to live in our community as well. It is a delicate balance.
During my time on the council, I strongly supported several affordable housing projects – The Legends, Central Flats, and The Col. I also supported the construction of our first market rate apartment complex. This project was completed in the fall of 2023 and it is currently 92% full! This is our first new market rate apartment complex in 50 years! I believe that as your council member it is important that we provide a myriad of housing types and cost points to our residents.
I also supported the rehabilitation of our rental inspections program. Now our inspectors can provide quality inspections. Our renters deserve safe and well-maintained buildings to live in. I have many times revoked the licenses of landlords who do not meet our high expectations of safe and well maintained buildings. I have no patience for bad landlords operating in our city.
A range and mix of housing options for all income levels is beneficial to a city. It is important to balance and grow city tax revenues so that we are able to make investments and improvements for our residents. I would love to hear about your ideas for how we can improve and grow Columbia Heights’ housing mix. Please contact me and let’s start a conversation.
Murzyn Hall has been a beloved building in our city that has been home to many city events over many decades. I believe it is the heart of our community. It is a place where children can enjoy dance, martial arts and plays. Adults and seniors can enjoy fundraisers, bingo, yoga, dance, celebrate birthdays, weddings, and retirements. Our community center has been so loved and well-used that it is time for some repairs and upgrades.
Murzyn Hall in Columbia Heights
In the next year or so we will be coming to you to hear your ideas to on how the city can improve Murzyn Hall for future renovation or replacement. With your vote, I would like to be a part of the decisions that go into the project. I would like to make sure that we are able to keep its old charm with the new renovations and repairs, maybe even expand it so that it can handle all the people who love to attend its special events.
Everyone loves the public parks in Columbia Heights. When the city commissioned a survey in preparation for the 2040 comprehensive plan, “Loving our parks” was the number one comment.
LaBelle Park in Columbia Heights
Parks are a valuable asset to any city. They can be used during good times and bad, by people rich or poor. Parks improve the health of our city. They provide a space where people can play, walk their dog, play sports, or to just sit and relax and enjoy. If elected to Columbia Heights City Council, I would like to continue working towards upgrading our parks. Upgrades that I support include investments to our trail system, developing a regulation-size soccer field(s) and a public skate park. I would like to hear your thoughts on how to improve our parks.
A few years ago, the Parks and Recreation Commission asked our Public Works Director to write a report on the upgrades needed and the cost of those upgrades for all parks. The price tag came in at roughly nine million dollars. Currently, it costs about five hundred thousand dollars or more to upgrade a park.
There are several funding models that are worth exploring to pay for park maintenance and upgrades, such as bonds, public/private partnerships and others. Prioritizing a long-range plan for our parks and developing ways to pay for them will be a benefit to Columbia Heights now and for the future.
Vote Connie Buesgens 