Northfield City Council Meeting – October 7, 2025

The Northfield City Council met on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at 6:01 PM in the Council Chambers. All seven council members were present. The meeting included presentations, public hearings on a Special Services District, organized waste hauling, and a bond issuance for Jefferson Square, as well as a vote on water utility rates.

Consent Calendar

The consent agenda was approved unanimously (7-0) and included:

• Approval of September 23, 2025 meeting minutes.
• Disbursements totaling $1,507,444.21.
• Board and commission member term adjustments.
• 2026 employee benefits renewal.
• Resolution for issuance of Hospital Revenue Refunding Bond Series 2025C.
• Lease agreements with Northfield Community Resource Center tenants (CAC, HCI, United Way, Workforce Development Inc., Three Rivers Community Action) for 2026-2028.
• New five-year agreement with Axon for police body-worn and fleet cameras.
• Service assessments for College Street and Water Street reconstruction.
• Easements with Pritchard Trust for Jefferson Parkway Extension and Sandstone Street improvements.
• Second readings of Ordinances 1088 (Fire Prevention), 1089 (vacating easements at 1011 Poplar St S), and 1090 (board/commission changes) and their summary publications.
• Fourth amendment to the ground lease with St. Olaf College.

Public Comments & Testimony

Open Public Comment (6:01 PM start)

• Timothy Noble spoke against the Special Services District (SSD) and requested an opt-out option.
• Bryan Ackerman also spoke against the SSD.

Public Hearing – Special Services District (6:39 PM – 7:49 PM)

• Christopher Tassava spoke in support of the SSD.
• Betsy Lane Getaz asked questions regarding the SSD.
• Mary Bungert spoke in opposition to the SSD.
• Jean Wakely asked about costs associated with the SSD.
• Chuck Pryor asked questions about the SSD.
• Josh Zimmerman, President of Friends of Downtown Northfield, spoke in support of the SSD.
• CC Linstroth, from Age-Friendly Northfield, spoke in support of uniform snow removal under the SSD.
• Eden Kaisor spoke in support of the SSD.
• Laura Meyers raised concerns about the SSD.
• Joan Spaulding raised concerns about the SSD.

Public Hearing – Organized Collection of Residential Waste Hauling (7:59 PM – 8:04 PM) No public testimony recorded.

Public Hearing – Bond Issuance for Jefferson Square (8:05 PM – 8:08 PM) No public testimony recorded; Finance Director Brenda Angelstad and bond counsel Jenny Boulton explained the conduit bonds are pass-through with no city credit risk.

Presentations

• Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) Update: Jane Bartho (President) and Rachel Trnka (Director of Engagement) presented strategic priorities, lodging tax data, 2025-2026 projections, digital marketing, assets, and annual expenses. Council members asked questions.

Discussion Items

• Water Utility Rates for 2026: Utilities Manager Justin Wagner presented two options: Option A (9% increase, staff recommendation) and Option B (4% increase). Council debated both options. A motion to adopt Option B failed 3-4 (Ness, Beumer, Dahlen yes; Holmes, Sokup, Peterson White, Mayor Zweifel no). A subsequent motion to adopt Option A passed 4-3 (Holmes, Sokup, Peterson White, Mayor Zweifel yes; Ness, Beumer, Dahlen no).
• Water Submetering Ordinance (Second Reading): Ordinance 1085 establishing standards for water utility submetering was approved unanimously after background from Wagner and a comment from Gina Washburn.

Key Outcomes

• Special Services District: Public hearing closed at 7:49 PM; no immediate vote recorded – the hearing was informational only at this stage.
• Conduit Debt for Jefferson Square (Resolution 2025-102): Approved unanimously (7-0) to authorize the issuance of conduit multifamily housing revenue bonds for the acquisition and rehabilitation of Jefferson Square Townhomes, preserving affordable housing.
• Water Utility Rates: Option A (9% increase) adopted on a 4-3 vote; effective for 2026.
• Water Submetering Ordinance: Second reading and summary publication approved unanimously.
• Consent Agenda: All items approved unanimously.
• Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 8:54 PM by unanimous vote.