49.0° Fair News ▼ About Government ▼ Residents ▼ Business ▼ How Do I? About The City of Columbus includes a mix of residential, rural and commercial property. Columbus boasts large tracts of public land, including Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area and Lamprey Pass. We provide a full level of municipal services in the community, including street and park maintenance, planning and zoning, elections, licensing, auditing, building inspection, prosecution, and general administration. The City owns and operates a volunteer fire department through a joint powers agreement with the City of Forest Lake. Police protection is provided through a contract with the Anoka County Sheriff’s Department. Columbus is located within the Forest Lake Area School District (ISD #831). City Council The Columbus City Council is comprised of five Council Members, including the Mayor. The Mayor serves a 2-year term and City Council members serve 4-year terms. The Council meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. in City Hall. Meetings are videotaped and broadcast on LATV Channel 10 the same week as the meeting, on Thursday at 7 p.m. and Friday at 7 a.m. The City Council takes recommendations from the Planning Commission on applications. The Council is advised by City Staff such as the City Attorney, City Engineer, City Planner, City Administrator, and others. Planning Commission The Planning Commission for the City of Columbus is composed of 5 members from the Columbus community. The term of each member shall be 3 years and until a successor is appointed and qualified. The Planning Commission members serve without compensation, but are granted reimbursement for expenses incurred in performance of official duties. The City Council is responsible for appointing Planning Commission members. The Planning Commission is tasked with hearing applications for the first time, holding Public Hearings, and then making a recommendation to the City Council, among other things. Park Board The Park Advisory Board is a voluntary group of five (5) residents that meets to discuss park acquisition and development. Their meetings take place quarterly on the third Thursday of that month at 6:30 PM in the Public Works Maintenance Facility, 16345 Kettle River Blvd. Public Works Advisory Board The Public Works Advisory Board is comprised of seven volunteers from the community. They hold their meetings four times annually at the Public Works Maintenance Facility (16345 Kettle River Blvd.), but don't have an exact schedule at this time. If you are interested in attending one of their meetings, contact the City Offices for information. Official Website of Columbus, Minnesota © Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved City Hall Address 16319 Kettle River Blvd. NE Columbus MN 55025 Phone 651-464-3120 Office Hours Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8:00 – 4:00 Wednesday 8:00 – 5:00 Site Map | Contact Us | Accessibility Statement Government Websites by GovOffice