City Council Meeting – April 7, 2026

Summary

The Northfield City Council met on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 6:54 PM in the Council Chambers. All seven councilmembers were present: Brad Ness, Kathleen Holmes, Davin Sokup, Jessica Peterson White, Chad Beumer, Peter Dahlen, and Mayor Erica Zweifel. Also present were City Administrator Ben Martig, Public Works Director/City Engineer David Bennett, Streets and Parks Manager Andrew Tussing, Chief of Police Jeff Schroepfer, and City Clerk Lynette Peterson. The meeting covered a presentation on Earth Day, approval of a consent agenda with 15 items, reports from councilmembers, a regular agenda item awarding a park improvements contract, discussion of a new advisory committee, and an administrative update.

Consent Calendar

• Meeting Minutes: Approved the March 17, 2026 City Council meeting minutes. (Item 26-171)
• Disbursements: Approved disbursements totaling $4,463,488.61. (Enactment M2026-052)
• Earth Day Proclamation: Adopted Resolution 2026-037 proclaiming April 25, 2026 as Earth Day in Northfield.
• Licenses: Approved a miscellaneous/concessions license for Northfield Youth Baseball Association at Sechler Park (M2026-053), temporary liquor licenses for Imminent Brewing on May 16, 2026 (M2026-054) and for Chapel Brewing on June 18, 2026 (M2026-055), and lower-potency hemp edible retailer renewals for Northfield Liquor Store (M2026-056) and Tobacco Field (M2026-057).
• Housing Trust Fund Transfer: Approved Resolution 2026-038 transferring funds from the Housing and Redevelopment Authority to the Housing Trust Fund to meet State of Minnesota Local Housing Trust Fund Grant matching requirements.
• Lodging Tax Ordinance: Passed the second reading of Ordinance 1092, amending City Code Chapter 74 to transfer lodging tax collection responsibilities from the City Finance Department to the Minnesota Department of Revenue, and approved summary publication. (Enactment M2026-058)
• Public Improvements Acceptance: Accepted public improvements for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements Project (Resolution 2026-039) and the Kraewood Development (Resolution 2026-040).
• Streetlight Project: Approved plans, specifications, and advertisement for bids for the TH 3 Streetlight Replacement Project Phase II (Resolution 2026-041).

The consent agenda was approved by a unanimous 7-0 vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

• None were offered.

Presentations

• Earth Day 2026: Mary Jo Christofaro and Sarah Fortner of the Earth Day Steering Committee presented the schedule and sponsors for the annual Earth Day celebration, to be held April 25, 2026. The Council received the presentation.

Reports from Mayor and Councilmembers

• Councilmember Holmes attended a Planning Commission meeting and a City and Hospital Joint Governance Committee meeting.
• Councilmember Beumer attended an Economic Development Authority (EDA) meeting.
• Councilmember Sokup participated in a KYMN radio show with Housing Coordinator Melissa Hanson about housing.
• Councilmember Peterson White attended an EDA meeting.
• Mayor Zweifel attended a City and Hospital Joint Governance Committee meeting.
• Councilmembers Dahlen and Ness had no report.

Discussion Items

• 2026 Park Improvements Project (PARK2025-E18): Streets and Parks Manager Andrew Tussing introduced landscape architect Bruce Jacobson, who presented the project timeline, plans for Central Park Playground, Dresden Hill Park, and Riverside Lions Park, and total project costs. Public Works Director David Bennett and Jacobson answered Council questions. The Council then approved Resolution 2026-042 accepting bids and awarding the contract for the 2026 Park Improvements Project. The motion carried unanimously (7-0).
• Ad Hoc City Investment Policy and Cash Management Advisory Committee: Mayor Zweifel introduced the discussion item. The proposed committee would review the City's Investment Policy and Fund Balance Policy, current investment practices, and cash management approaches, and recommend potential amendments. Councilmembers commented on committee dynamics and expressed interest in bringing the proposal back for formal approval at the April 21, 2026 Council meeting.

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda approved (7-0) with 15 items, including disbursements, licenses, resolutions, and ordinances.
• Resolution 2026-042 approved (7-0) to accept bids and award the contract for the 2026 Park Improvements Project.
• Ad Hoc Committee proposal to be placed on the April 21, 2026 agenda for approval.
• Meeting adjourned at 6:54 PM by unanimous vote.

City Administrator's Update

• City Administrator Ben Martig provided a legislative update and highlighted upcoming City events and information.