NEW: newly reported developments or upcoming opportunities. UPDATE: later substantive information on a covered story. ONGOING: continuing useful information. RESOLVED: the reported issue has ended. BACKGROUND: dated historical context, not a new development or confirmation of current availability. UNCONFIRMED: a story, continuing story or detail that could not be confirmed against its cited source on the edition date; the note under the headline says what is not confirmed. Today and countdown lines carry "(unconfirmed)" for the same reason. All local times are Central Daylight Time.
Community & Culture
BACKGROUND
SACA Food Shelf community market open four days a week
SACA Food Shelf, 3905 California St. NE, says its community market is open to all neighbors who need food assistance, with no paperwork or appointments required, and that people can pick up free groceries as often as needed.
Market hours are 2 to 6 p.m. Mondays, noon to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and 2 to 6 p.m. Thursdays. Friday hours are 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. by appointment only. Donations are accepted Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Schools & Youth
ONGOING
District operating-levy question goes to voters November 3
Columbia Heights Public Schools lists one operating-levy referendum question on the November 3 ballot. The district provides a referendum information sheet in English and Spanish.
The district’s referendum page links to its official resolution, tax-impact information and voting resources. Absentee voting began September 18 at the Anoka County Government Center, and direct balloting, in which voters put their ballots directly into a machine, began Friday, October 16, and covers the final 18 days before the election. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.
ONGOING
Four candidates seek 3 School Board seats
Three at-large seats, each carrying a four-year term, are on the November 3 ballot. Columbia Heights Public Schools lists four filed candidates: Cristin Craig, Adam Davis, Jessica Medearis and Laura Palmer.
ONGOING
No school on Election Day, November 3
Columbia Heights Public Schools has no school on Tuesday, November 3, Election Day, according to the announcements on the School Board’s October 27 agenda. The district calendar lists the day as a grading and in-service day.
The district calendar also lists a Columbia Academy PTO meeting Monday, November 2, at 5 p.m.; Highland and Valley View PTO meetings Wednesday, November 4, at 5 p.m.; and a Columbia Academy EL Family Night Thursday, November 5, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the school, 900 49th Ave. NE.
The Board’s next regular meeting is Tuesday, November 10, at 6 p.m. in the Community Room, followed by a work session Tuesday, November 17, at 5:30 p.m.
Arts, Culture & Events
ONGOING
Family Storytime continues Mondays; LEGO Brick Builders returns November 24
Family Storytime, designed for children ages 2 to 5, meets Mondays from 10:30 to 11 a.m. in the Columbia Heights Public Library’s Community Room (Room 100) through December 14, according to Anoka County Library listings; the next session is Monday, November 2. Siblings are welcome and no registration is required.
LEGO Brick Builders, for ages 6 and up, returns Tuesday, November 24, with drop-in building from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in the same room; the library provides the bricks. The library’s Adult Book Club next meets Wednesday, November 18, at 10:30 a.m. to discuss “The Mighty Red” by Louise Erdrich.
ONGOING
Bilingual storytime November 5 and puzzle contest November 7 at the library
The Columbia Heights Public Library holds a Bilingual Spanish and English Storytime on Thursday, November 5, from 5:30 to 6 p.m. in the Community Room (Room 100), according to an Anoka County Library listing. The storytime, in English and Spanish, is designed for children ages 2 to 5; siblings are welcome and no registration is required.
The Friends of the Columbia Heights Library are sponsoring a Friends Puzzle Challenge on Saturday, November 7, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the same room. Teams of two to four people try to finish a 500-piece puzzle in the time allotted to be eligible for a prize drawing. The event is geared toward adults, but families are welcome. Space is limited and registration is required by calling or emailing the library’s adult services librarian at 763-706-3681.
AI in Your Community
CogniLocal tracks where artificial intelligence and related automated systems are already entering the institutions that serve this community, who is deploying them, what they are being used for and what changes next.
BACKGROUND
Columbia Heights ended its Flock camera network after privacy and data-sharing concerns
The Northeaster reported in June that the Columbia Heights City Council voted unanimously not to renew the city’s contract with Flock Safety. At a June work session, the Council directed staff to end all services with Flock and cancel its contracts with the company as soon as possible, the Northeaster reported.
According to the Northeaster, the City stopped using the cameras by removing flexible-location cameras and covering fixed-location cameras with black trash bags, and the seven cameras installed by Flock were to remain in place until their removal could be scheduled. Taxpayers were still carrying $45,000 in camera operation, installation and data-management costs, and Council Member Connie Buesgens said the City’s request for reimbursement from Flock was denied.
BACKGROUND
Separate Axon plate readers remain documented in 12 police squad cars
A Police Department presentation in the packet for the City Council’s May 4 work session documents 12 Columbia Heights squad cars equipped with Axon Fleet 3 cameras and automated license-plate recognition. The mobile system scans plates while officers drive and can issue alerts for stolen vehicles or active warrants; officers verify an alert with dispatch before acting.
The same materials say the plate readers do not perform facial recognition, vehicle owner and driver information is not available on Flock or Axon, and ALPR information captured by Axon was not being shared. A general slide says ALPR data is stored for 30 days and then deleted automatically, and a retention slide says data is kept for 30 days on Flock’s cloud service before it is deleted automatically.
The May 4 materials establish the equipment and rules at that time. Whether all 12 units remain active, whether access rules have changed and whether the City will publish a separate Axon audit remain unconfirmed.
ONGOING
Police Technology Advisory Committee awaits public appointments
The Columbia Heights Police Department’s new Technology Advisory Committee is meant to offer structured community insight into the planning, implementation and evaluation of police technology, MinneapoliMedia reported in August. Applications were accepted through September 20.
No committee members, first meeting date, decision on whether meetings will be public or description of the members’ role over existing Axon equipment or future proposals has been announced.
ONGOING
Council approves statement opposing county drone program without city consent
The Columbia Heights City Council unanimously approved Resolution 2026-071 on October 26, a statement opposing Anoka County’s first responder drone program, ABC Newspapers reported. The resolution opposes carrying out a county-wide Drone First Responder program without meaningful consultation and consent from affected cities, and expresses disappointment that the county told cities they could opt out without providing a clear way to do so.
The resolution asks Anoka County not to establish a drone dock in Columbia Heights, urges the county to create a public transparency portal for drone deployments and asks it to publicly disclose policies on the collection, retention, sharing and deletion of drone data. It acknowledges the Sheriff’s legal authority to operate in the city and supports exploring a City-operated drone program with data under City control.
Mayor Amáda Márquez Simula said the city has run its own drone program for several years, ABC Newspapers reported. “I think it’s a fair point to make sure people understand that we do not actually have a legal opt out option,” Simula said, according to the paper.
At the October 27 Anoka County Board meeting, Commissioner Mandy Meisner, who represents Columbia Heights, said the City Council had passed a resolution in response to the Sheriff’s Office’s Flock camera safety pilot project and was disappointed there was no clear communication on how to exercise an opt-out option, according to the county’s board briefs.
BACKGROUND
City IT’s proposed 2027 projects include an on-premise AI system called “Coeus”
The City’s Information Technology division listed “Support City-wide adoption of AI” and “Develop on-premise AI ‘Coeus’” among its 2027 technology projects in a budget presentation in the packet for the City Council’s October 5 work session. The same slide lists supporting data retention and ownership through the City’s on-premise distributed datacenter.
The presentation proposes a 2027 IT operating budget of $1,077,200, up $45,200, or 4.38%, from 2026. The materials do not describe what Coeus would do or how City staff would use it. The projects are part of a proposed budget, not an adopted one.
ONGOING
Library moves ahead with two new self-checkout stations
The Columbia Heights Library Board voted unanimously October 7 to move forward with a bid from Bibliotheca for two new self-check stations, according to draft minutes in the packet for the board’s November 4 meeting. Bibliotheca, the library’s current self-check provider, bid $19,699; TechLogic bid $19,325.
Staff favored Bibliotheca because patrons and staff already know its machines, including borrowers from Ramsey and Hennepin County libraries, and because the stations let patrons set language and font-size preferences and can promote library events on screen. A self-checkout station update is on the board’s agenda for Wednesday, November 4, at 5:30 p.m. in the library’s History Room, 3939 Central Ave. NE.
NEW
City’s list of paid bills includes ChatGPT subscriptions and an AI course
The list of claims in the packet for the City Council’s October 26 meeting, covering checks dated October 2 to October 15, includes City credit-card charges for ChatGPT subscriptions billed to several City departments, along with ChatGPT credits, line items labeled “AI software development” and an “AI for Business” course on ChatGPT and Copilot for a City employee.
Individual line items range from $16.02 to $180. The list does not describe how departments use the tools. The Council’s agenda asked it to confirm it had reviewed the full list of claims, totaling $1,344,387.16.
City, Roads & Planning
ONGOING
40th Avenue curb is in; sidewalk gravel and paving were next on the county schedule
Anoka County says the contractor on the 40th Avenue (County Highway 2) reconstruction, between Main Street and University Avenue (Highway 47), completed the installation of class 5 gravel and concrete curb during the week ending October 23, the county’s most recent weekly update.
For the week of October 26, the contractor was scheduled to finish installing class 5 gravel on the sidewalk and trail, the county says. Bituminous paving was also scheduled but depends on the weather. The project is scheduled to be completed by November 11.
ONGOING
Rachel James and Mark Miernicki on the ballot for mayor
Council President Rachel James and Mark Miernicki are running for the open mayor’s seat on the November 3 ballot, the Northeaster reported in coverage of a September 17 candidate forum at City Hall hosted by the League of Women Voters of New Brighton Area.
James has served four years on the City Council, the last two as council president. Miernicki, a longtime resident and professional musician, worked 18 years managing school buildings and construction for Minneapolis Public Schools, the Northeaster reported.
At the forum the candidates differed on the Central Avenue redesign and on the former Rainbow Foods site at 4300 Central Ave. NE; both said they oppose Flock license-plate cameras, according to the Northeaster. A recording of the forum is available on the City’s Channel 16 website.
ONGOING
Early voting open at City Hall through November 2
In-person early voting for the November 3 general election continues at Columbia Heights City Hall, 3989 Central Ave. NE, through Monday, November 2, Columbia Heights Public Schools says in its October 22 newsletter. Residents of Columbia Heights, Fridley and Hilltop can vote at their own city’s City Hall, which is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.
City halls keep the same extended hours as Anoka County, the district says: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today, Sunday, November 1, and until 5 p.m. Monday, November 2. Absentee voting is also available at the Anoka County Government Center, 2100 Third Ave., Anoka.
ONGOING
EDA levy petition period runs through November 8
Residents have until November 8 to petition against a proposed increase in the Economic Development Authority’s tax levy, from $394,800 in 2026 to $416,000 in 2027, a $21,200 increase, according to a City staff letter. After November 8, the letter says, the increase will be approved and included in the City’s budget.
The City Council was scheduled to hold a public hearing and vote on the increase, Resolution 2026-70, at its October 26 meeting.
ONGOING
Eckberg Lammers takes over City legal work today
Eckberg Lammers, P.C. begins handling Columbia Heights’ civil legal, criminal prosecution and labor and employment legal work today, Sunday, November 1, under three-year contracts running through December 31, 2029. Barna, Guzy & Steffen has handled that work for the City. Draft minutes of the October 13 City Council meeting, included in the October 26 meeting packet, record a 4-0 vote approving the three contracts.
A staff letter says the City sought proposals after its lead attorney retired. Eight firms responded, and Eckberg Lammers received the highest score on each of the three tracks. Civil work moves from a $4,380 monthly retainer to hourly rates of $235 per attorney hour and $150 per paralegal hour, and prosecution carries a $122,000 annual retainer. Staff say civil legal costs could rise by up to 30%.
The firm’s proposal says its attorneys have access to Westlaw, including its Co-Counsel AI research tool, which the firm says reduces research costs.
ONGOING
Council reviews four divisions’ 2027 budgets November 2
The City Council’s work session on Monday, November 2, at 6 p.m. in the Shared Vision Room at City Hall, 3989 Central Ave. NE, includes about two hours of 2027 budget presentations from the Library, Recreation, Engineering and Facilities Maintenance, and Public Works divisions, according to the agenda packet.
The library’s presentation lists replacement of public computers and self-check kiosks among its key activities for 2027. The public can attend in person or through Microsoft Teams. The Council’s public hearing on the final 2027 budget and levy is set for December 14.
ONGOING
Council upholds rental license revocation at 3957 Polk St. NE
The City Council voted unanimously October 26 to uphold the revocation of the rental license for a home at 3957 Polk St. NE, ABC Newspapers reported. Inspections found an unsafe deck railing and a cockroach infestation, and reinspections October 5 and October 19 found the same unresolved issues, according to the paper.
The owner appealed the revocation and told the Council he had fixed the problems, the paper reported. Mayor Amáda Márquez Simula said she was very concerned about the family living in the home being displaced, and the Council reduced the fee to reapply for a rental license by one-third.
ONGOING
EDA agenda for November 2 includes three façade grants and a Medtronic site concept
The Economic Development Authority meets Monday, November 2, at 5 p.m. in the Shared Vision Room at City Hall, 3989 Central Ave. NE. Its agenda includes façade improvement grants for El Pollo Loco, 4755 University Ave. NE ($4,897.53 for new signs), Sister Bud (doing business as Frosted Lakes), 4014 Central Ave. NE ($4,451.87), and Greater Life Tabernacle, 4000 Quincy St. NE. Staff recommend funding the first two and denying the Greater Life Tabernacle request until its sign variance is decided.
Developer Yellow Tree is also scheduled to present a draft redevelopment concept for the former Medtronic campus at 800 53rd Ave. NE. Staff say no EDA approval is needed now; Yellow Tree plans a Planned Unit Development application for the Planning Commission’s December 1 meeting. The public can attend in person or through Microsoft Teams.
ONGOING
Planning Commission takes up Central Avenue rezoning November 4
The Planning Commission’s Wednesday, November 4, 6 p.m. meeting at City Hall includes a public hearing on Ordinance 1733, a City-initiated proposal to rezone 15 Central Avenue properties (4201 to 4256 and 4400 to 4434 Central Ave. NE) from Limited Business to General Business and one home at 937 42nd Ave. NE to Two-Family Residential, according to the agenda packet. Staff say the change would align zoning with the 2040 Comprehensive Plan and would not affect current uses.
The agenda also includes a sign variance request for Greater Life Tabernacle, 4000 Quincy St. NE, and a review of whether the Economic Development Authority’s land sale at 4510 Taylor St. NE to Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. The Commission makes recommendations; the City Council makes the final decisions.
Still Developing
The latest confirmed movement, the open question and the next checkpoint.
OPENSeptember 14 Madison Street shooting
Police previously reported responding around 6 a.m. September 14 to a report of possible gunshots in the 4100 block of Madison Street NE. They found no victims there but later learned that two people who might have been involved had driven themselves to a local hospital, FOX 9 reported. No arrest, suspect description or condition update has been made public.
Still unresolved: Subsequent police findings and case status.
Next checkpoint: A police or court update.
AWAITING RECORDSBusiness microloan recipients
The latest application round had closed. Eligible businesses could seek zero-interest loans of up to $10,000. At a September 17 candidate forum, Council President Rachel James said the forgivable microloan program has supported 30 businesses, the Northeaster reported October 6; the City has not published a list of recipients or amounts.
Still unresolved: Who received funding and how much was distributed.
Next checkpoint: A city announcement of awards or disbursements.
Latest reported movement: October 6.
AWAITING RECORDS4510 Taylor Street Habitat proposal
Draft minutes of the Economic Development Authority’s September 8 meeting, included in the packet for its November 2 meeting, record unanimous votes approving the sale of 4510 Taylor St. NE to Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity for $1 and a $35,000 forgivable loan for a new single-family home. The agreement sets a substantial-completion deadline of December 31, 2027. The Planning Commission is scheduled November 4 to review whether the sale is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan.
Still unresolved: EDA approval of the September 8 minutes and the Planning Commission’s consistency finding.
Next checkpoint: The EDA’s November 2 vote on the minutes and the Planning Commission’s November 4 review.
Draft minutes posted October 30.
OPENPolice technology oversight
Applications for the Technology Advisory Committee closed September 20, but appointments and a first meeting have not been announced. The continuing technical question is whether the City’s Axon squad-car plate readers remain active under the configuration described in the May 4 work-session materials after the separate Flock shutdown.
Still unresolved: Committee appointments and the first meeting date.
Next checkpoint: A city announcement of membership or meetings.
OPENSeptember 22 School Board actions
Minutes of the September 22 School Board meeting, approved October 13, show the Board approved the 2026-27 Youth Outreach Officer contract with the Columbia Heights Police Department, renewed its property and liability insurance package (total premium $362,306.22), approved the clerical master agreement for 2026-27 and 2027-28 and approved the 2026-payable-2027 preliminary levy at the maximum. Each motion passed with all members in favor.
Still unresolved: The final 2026-payable-2027 levy the Board adopts.
Next checkpoint: The Board’s final levy action.
Minutes approved October 13.
OPENManny Collins murder trial
An Anoka County jury found Jordan Collins Sr. guilty of second-degree murder on October 7 in the death of his son, Manny Collins, FOX 9 and MPR News reported. Sentencing is scheduled for December 2.
Still unresolved: The sentence.
Next checkpoint: The December 2 sentencing hearing.
OPENEarly-September Central Avenue shooting
The latest confirmed public account still says three bystanders were wounded, one alleged shooter was in custody and a second shooter remained at large. No newer arrest, charging announcement or victim-status update has been made public.
Still unresolved: Identification of the second alleged shooter, charging decisions and any later victim-status update.
Next checkpoint: A police or court update.
OPEN2027 city budget and levy
The City Council voted 5-0 on September 28 to adopt a proposed 2027 budget and preliminary levy that includes a 5.3% increase in the City’s gross tax levy, according to the meeting minutes. The minutes say that combines a 4.1% increase in local taxpayers’ share of the levy with a 9.6% increase in the share paid by the metro Fiscal Disparities subsidy. The Council holds a public hearing on the budget and final levy at its December 14 meeting; MinneapoliMedia reported that the Council may lower the levy before final adoption but may not raise it above the September maximum.
Still unresolved: The final levy and budget the Council adopts after the December 14 hearing.
Next checkpoint: The final budget and levy decision.
Proposed budget and levy adopted September 28.
OPENUNCONFIRMEDHighway 65 reconstruction
Not confirmed against the source as of November 1, 2026: whether anything has changed since the September 18 report, including whether approved September 14 Council minutes or a memorandum of understanding with MnDOT have since been posted (this entry was carried forward unchanged). Check the source before relying on it.
ABC Newspapers reported that the City Council unanimously approved MnDOT’s proposed redesign of Central Avenue (Highway 65) between 37th and 53rd avenues NE on September 14. Under the design, much of the corridor south of 49th Avenue would have one general traffic lane in each direction, with roundabouts planned at 46½, 47th, 49th, 51st and 53rd avenues.
Still unresolved: Additional project details are to be negotiated through a memorandum of understanding, and approved September 14 Council minutes have not been posted.
Next checkpoint: Approved September 14 minutes or a memorandum of understanding with MnDOT.
OPEN800 53rd Ave. NE former Medtronic property
A comprehensive-plan amendment for the former Medtronic property appeared on the September 14 Council agenda. Developer Yellow Tree is scheduled to present a draft redevelopment concept for the roughly 12-acre site to the Economic Development Authority November 2; staff say Yellow Tree intends to submit a Planned Unit Development application for the Planning Commission’s December 1 meeting, with a Council first reading December 14, and a tax increment financing application.
Still unresolved: The September 14 comprehensive-plan action remains unconfirmed in published minutes, and Yellow Tree’s application has not yet been reviewed.
Next checkpoint: The November 2 EDA discussion and the December 1 Planning Commission hearing.
EDA packet posted October 30.
OPEN4300 Central Ave. redevelopment
A comprehensive-plan amendment affecting 4300 Central Ave. was scheduled for Council action September 14.
Still unresolved: The final disposition remains unconfirmed in the available meeting record.
Next checkpoint: Published minutes or a later city development record.
A comprehensive-plan amendment was on the September 14 agenda.
OPENUNCONFIRMEDColumbia Heights schools and enrollment
Not confirmed against the source as of November 1, 2026: whether there are later enrollment or facilities updates (this entry was carried forward unchanged), and the description of the Valley View wells as heating and cooling wells. Check the source before relying on it.
Columbia Heights Public Schools has 3,275 students enrolled this fall, a 176-student decline from 3,451 last fall, ABC Newspapers reported October 6; Superintendent Zena Stenvik told the paper the decline equates to more than $2.5 million in lost state funding and linked it to Operation Metro Surge. The Northeaster reported in September that enrollment is back to about 3,300, compared with 3,400 before the ICE raids, and described geothermal heating and cooling wells at Valley View Elementary.
Still unresolved: Later enrollment figures, continuing effects on families and the geothermal project’s progress.
Next checkpoint: District enrollment and facilities updates.
Latest substantive local report: October 6.
OPENUNCONFIRMED3923 Jackson Street NE foreclosure
Not confirmed against the source as of November 1, 2026: all details (the September 29 sheriff's sale date and whether any sale result or postponement has been published). Check the source before relying on it.
The public notice scheduled a sheriff’s sale for September 29. No sale result or postponement has been published, so the outcome should not yet be treated as complete.
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