City Council Work Session - April 14, 2026

The Northfield City Council held a work session on April 14, 2026, at 6:00 PM in Council Chambers to review the 2026 absentee/early voting process and election dates, and to discuss the updated 2027-2028 budget calendar and financial planning. Mayor Erica Zweifel called the meeting to order, with all seven council members present. The meeting adjourned at 7:10 PM.

Discussion Items

• 2026 Election Update: City Clerk Lynette Peterson presented an overview of key election dates, candidate filing periods, the state primary and general elections, and early/absentee voting procedures. By consensus, the Council supported early/absentee voting hours at City Hall of Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
• Candidate Informational Meetings: City Administrator Ben Martig led a discussion on proposed candidate informational and onboarding meetings. Council provided feedback on the format and information to be made available to candidates.
• 2027-2028 Budget Calendar: Ben Martig presented an update on the budget calendar, including points of emphasis and progress on the five-year financial plan. Council asked questions and provided input on the proposed timeline and calendar.

Key Outcomes

• Council reached consensus to adopt the proposed early/absentee voting hours for the 2026 elections.
• Council provided directional feedback on candidate informational meetings and the budget calendar, which the City Administrator will incorporate into final plans.
• The meeting was adjourned at 7:10 p.m. on a motion by Council Member Brad Ness, seconded by Council Member Chad Beumer, with all seven members voting in favor.