Northfield City Council Meeting - September 23, 2025

The Northfield City Council met on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at 6:00 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting covered a mid-year presentation from Age Friendly Northfield, a consent agenda with 20 items, a public hearing on an easement vacation, and key regular agenda items including the preliminary 2026 general fund budget and tax levy, correction of an archery range relocation, and amendments to city code on boards and commissions. The meeting adjourned at 7:51 PM.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Open Public Comment (6:00 PM – 6:20 PM): Three speakers (Kathy Eckstam-Ames, Kay Brown (FiftyNorth Board Member), Philip Spensley) addressed the Council in support of funding for FiftyNorth. One speaker (Judy Schotzko) spoke in support of funding for the Northfield Library.
• Regular Agenda – Budget (Item 25): Four speakers addressed the Council:
  • Christopher Abbott expressed support for a higher preliminary levy and against cutting services.
  • Robert Hanson expressed support for city services benefiting all residents and for maintaining library hours.
  • James Clinton expressed support for funding organizations and programs.
  • Andrew Catania expressed support for library services not being cut.

Presentations

• Age Friendly Northfield (AFN) Mid-Year Report: Galen Malecha and CC Linstroth, Chair and Vice Chair, presented on events, programs, and workshops sponsored by AFN that impact quality of life for all generations.

Consent Calendar

All items on the consent agenda were approved unanimously (6-0) via a single motion. Items included:

• Approval of September 9 and September 16, 2025 meeting minutes.
• Approval of disbursements totaling $2,862,585.74.
• Resolution 2025-090: Adopting changes to fees and charges effective January 1, 2026.
• Resolution 2025-091: Eliminating the Council Finance Policy Subcommittee.
• Resolution 2025-092: Creating a Youth Substance Prevention Alliance Task Force.
• Approval of amended consultant service contract with Northfield Healthy Community Initiative (HCI) (Enactment M2025-117).
• Resolution 2025-093: Transitioning Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) membership to the City Council.
• Approval of 2026 Northfield Area Fire & Rescue Service Budget and Capital Equipment Plan (Enactment M2025-118).
• Resolution 2025-094: Adoption of 2026 utility rates (except water).
• Resolution 2025-095: Updating Low Income Rental Classification (LIRC) Policy.
• Resolution 2025-096: Approving Minnesota Employment and Economic Development application for Phase II of the Northfield Skateboard Park.
• Resolution 2025-097: Accepting donation for field improvements to Sechler Park Baseball Fields.
• Approval of land lease and decommissioning agreements with STC Five LLC for a cell tower at 10353 Hall Avenue (Enactment M2025-119).
• Second reading of Ordinance 1086 (Gas Service Franchise Fee amendment) and its summary publication (Enactment M2025-120).
• Second reading of Ordinance 1087 (Electric Service Franchise Fee amendment) and its summary publication (Enactment M2025-121).
• Second reading of Ordinance 1088 (Amending City Code Chapter 26 – Fire Prevention and Protection).
• Approval of mayoral board and commission appointments (Enactment M2025-122).

Public Hearings & Related Action

• Easement Vacation (Item 22-23): A public hearing was opened at 6:23 PM. Public Works Director/City Engineer David Bennett presented background on vacating a drainage and utility easement at 1011 Poplar Street South. No public testimony was recorded. The hearing closed at 6:26 PM. The Council then approved the first reading of Ordinance 1089 vacating the easement (motion carried 6-0).

Discussion Items

• Preliminary 2026 General Fund Budget and Tax Levy (Items 25-26): City Administrator Ben Martig presented two options: a 9.9% levy increase and a 10.2% levy increase. After public comment, the Council engaged in several votes:
  1. A motion (by Dahlen, seconded by Beumer) to adopt the 9.9% option with a provision to transfer funds from the Liquor Store to maintain library hours as-is, and an amendment (by Beumer, seconded by Ness) to explore using Liquor Store funds if $30,000 in cuts could not be found elsewhere to keep library hours. The amendment failed (3-3: Ness, Beumer, Dahlen yes; Holmes, Peterson White, Mayor Zweifel no). The original motion then failed (3-3 same split).
  2. A motion (by Holmes, seconded by Peterson White) to adopt the 10.2% option failed (3-3: Holmes, Peterson White, Mayor Zweifel yes; Ness, Beumer, Dahlen no).
  3. A motion (by Ness, seconded by Mayor Zweifel) to reconsider the previous motion on the 10.2% option passed (4-2: Ness, Holmes, Peterson White, Mayor Zweifel yes; Beumer, Dahlen no).
  4. Upon reconsideration, the motion to adopt Resolution 2025-098 with the 10.2% option and set the public hearing date passed (4-2: same split).
  • Subsequently, Resolution 2025-099 adopting the proposed 2025 total tax levy payable in 2026 (including HRA and EDA) at the corresponding 10.2% increase was approved (5-1: Ness, Holmes, Peterson White, Dahlen, Mayor Zweifel yes; Beumer no).
• Archery Range Relocation (Item 27): Public Works Director David Bennett explained that a July 22, 2025 motion had incorrectly approved moving the archery range to the east side of Meadows Park instead of the recommended south side. The Council voted unanimously (6-0) to rescind Motion 25-401 and approve the south side location (Enactment M2025-123).
• Boards and Commissions Amendments (Item 28): City Administrator Martig presented the first reading of Ordinance 1090 amending City Code Chapter 2 to eliminate and modify certain boards/commissions. An amendment by Council Member Holmes to keep the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board as currently constituted failed (2-4: Holmes, Peterson White yes; Ness, Beumer, Dahlen, Mayor Zweifel no). The original motion to approve the first reading of Ordinance 1090 passed (6-0).

Key Outcomes

• Approved Budget and Levy: The Council adopted a preliminary 2026 General Fund budget and set a public hearing date, using the 10.2% levy increase option. The corresponding total tax levy payable in 2026 (including HRA and EDA) was adopted (5-1).
• Archery Range Relocation: Motion 25-401 was rescinded, and the relocation of the archery range to the south side of Meadows Park was approved (unanimous).
• Ordinance 1090 First Reading: Approved (6-0); an amendment to retain the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board was rejected.
• Easement Vacation Ordinance 1089: First reading approved (6-0).
• Consent Agenda: All 20 items approved (6-0).
• Administrator’s Update: The Community Development Director hiring process has a new application deadline of October 4, 2025.