Public Meetings - Northfield, Minnesota

The Economic Development Authority (EDA) of Northfield, Minnesota, met on Monday, October 27, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 7:20 PM in the Council Chambers. Four of seven board members were present (President Randy Yoder, Jessica Peterson-White, Donald Stager, and Chad Beumer), with three absent (Enoch Blazis, Andy Beaham, and Sean Allen). Also present were City Administrator Ben Martig (via Zoom), Interim Community Development Director Mikayla Schmidt, Community Development Program Associate Emery John, Meeting Associate Matt Bailey, and Youth Representative Pedro Torres Bermudez. The meeting included a presentation, budget approval, and discussions on a micro-loan program and strategic planning. Consent Calendar - Approved unanimously (4-0) the September 29, 2025 EDA meeting minutes and September 2025 EDA financials. Public Comments & Testimony - No public comment was received. Discussion Items - Riverwalk Market Fair Presentation: Market Director Derek Meyers presented on the 2025 season and responded to board questions. No decisions were made on this item. - Micro-loan Program Discussion: Emery John presented a draft for a possible EDA micro-loan program. The board discussed the proposal and raised questions for future refinement. - 2026 EDA Budget: City Administrator Ben Martig presented the proposed 2026 budget. Board members discussed the budget before moving to a vote. - Future Strategic Planning Retreat: President Yoder led a discussion on rescheduling the retreat originally planned for October 2025. Board members and staff discussed opportunities for the EDA’s future, including leadership transitions. Key Outcomes - Approval of 2026 EDA Budget: A motion by Board Member Stager, seconded by Board Member Peterson-White, to approve the 2026 EDA budget carried 4-0. - Staff Updates: Emery John, Mikayla Schmidt, and Ben Martig provided updates on outstanding EDA items and city-wide projects. No specific action was taken. - The meeting was adjourned at 7:20 PM.

The Northfield City Council convened on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers. Six council members were present (Ness, Holmes, Sokup, Beumer, Dahlen, Mayor Zweifel); Council Member Peterson White was absent. The meeting covered consent items, annual strategic plan and budget updates, and a city administrator’s update. The meeting adjourned at 7:46 PM. Consent Calendar - Approved the October 7, 2025, City Council meeting minutes (as amended). - Approved disbursements totaling $3,033,736.70. - Adopted Resolution 2025-104, setting the schedule for 2026 Board and Commission meetings. - Adopted Resolution 2025-105, retaining statutory tort limits for 2026. - Adopted Resolution 2025-106, approving the counting of write-in votes for local elective offices. - Adopted Resolution 2025-107, expressing support for passenger rail service between the Twin Cities and Kansas City. - Adopted Resolution 2025-108, approving the Police Department’s selection of Brazos citation software. - Approved a motion (M2025-136) for permanent and temporary construction and utilities easements with Eugene S. and Elaine G. Lyman for the Jefferson Parkway Extension, Sandstone Street Construction and Utility Improvements Project. - Adopted Resolution 2025-109, approving a minor subdivision for Outlot C, Gleason Third Addition. Public Comments & Testimony - Colin Campbell addressed the Council during the Regular Agenda item on the Annual Strategic Plan Report, speaking about housing. - Colin Campbell also addressed the Council during the 2026-2027 Budget Update, commenting on the increases in the City budget over the past years. Discussion Items - Annual Strategic Plan Report (2025-2028): Assistant to the City Administrator Risi Karim and City Administrator Ben Martig presented on the four strategic priorities: improve financial strength, increase housing availability, achieve infrastructure sustainability, and enhance service delivery. They answered questions from the Council. - 2026-2027 Budget Update: City Administrator Ben Martig provided an update on the budget process, including the Capital Improvement Plan and the Capital Equipment Plan. Finance Director Brenda Angelstad and Public Works Director/City Engineer David Bennett answered questions. Council members commented on the budget. Key Outcomes - All consent agenda items were approved by a 6-0 vote. - The Council received and discussed the Annual Strategic Plan Report; no formal vote was taken. - The Council received and discussed the 2026-2027 Budget Update; no formal vote was taken. - City Administrator Martig reported on the Community Development Director interview process and other City operations. - The meeting was adjourned at 7:46 PM by a motion from Council Member Ness, seconded by Council Member Beumer, with a 6-0 vote.

The Environmental Quality Commission (EQC) of Northfield, Minnesota, met on October 15, 2025, in the Council Chambers at Northfield City Hall, 801 Washington Street. Chair Michael Provancha called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.; it adjourned at 6:41 p.m. Seven commissioners were present, one was absent (Bruce Anderson). Staff and non-voting members also attended. All three formal motions passed unanimously (7-0). Consent Calendar - Approval of Agenda: Motion by Commissioner Petri, seconded by Commissioner Jones; carried unanimously. - Approval of Minutes: Motion by Vice Chair Hanson, seconded by Commissioner Petri, to approve the September 17, 2025 EQC meeting minutes. The source documents print the year as "20205," which appears to be a typographical error. Carried unanimously. Public Comments & Testimony - No public comment was received. Presentations & Discussion - Tree Canopy of Northfield: Risi Karim, Assistant to the City Administrator, introduced Shelley Evanson, Horticulturalist for the City of Northfield, who presented on the city's tree canopy. Evanson responded to questions and comments from the commission. - 2025 Work Plan Updates: - Zero Waste Plan Implementation: Completed. - Community Engagement Campaign (Energy Efficiency, HVAC Contractor, and Homeowner Education): Training for HVAC contractors will be held Wednesday, October 22, from 9:00 to 11:45 a.m. at the Northfield Public Library, Bunday Room, 210 Washington Street. Outreach to area contractors is ongoing; additional public education programs are scheduled for October and November. - Native Planting Ordinance (Tree Planting and Vegetation): Commissioner Jones continues work on this report. - Water Quality & Conservation: Commissioner Shmurak reported on the subcommittee's tabling efforts from the prior week and suggested a longitudinal study of water use in the City. Commissioner Kinney spoke about measuring contaminant levels in the City water supply. - Research Level 3 Charger Use and Need: Completed. - Staff Updates: Risi Karim provided updates from City staff and responded to questions. Key Outcomes - All three motions (approve agenda, approve minutes, adjourn) carried unanimously with 7 yes votes. - Two 2025 work plan initiatives were marked complete: Zero Waste Plan Implementation and Research Level 3 Charger Use and Need. - No board or commissioner reports were received. - The meeting adjourned at 6:41 p.m. Note: The provided raw transcript contained no substantive discussion beyond an incomplete phrase, so this summary is based on the agenda and adopted minutes.

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.

The Housing & Redevelopment Authority (HRA) of Northfield, Minnesota, met on Thursday, October 2, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 801 Washington Street. Chair Malecha called the meeting to order at 6:01 PM. Five members were present: Board Members Nystrom, Freeland, Sokup, and Vice Chair Beumer, along with Chair Malecha. Two members were absent: Board Members Thomas and Thorsteinson. Staff present included Housing Coordinator Melissa Hanson, City Administrator Ben Martig, and Administrative Associate Kari Bonde. Youth representatives Kay Swanson and Abby Kauffeld were also present. The meeting adjourned at 6:16 PM. Consent Calendar - Approval of Agenda: Motion by Board Member Nystrom, seconded by Board Member Freeland, to approve the agenda. The motion carried with 5 yes votes (Nystrom, Freeland, Malecha, Sokup, Beumer). - Approval of Minutes (September 22, 2025 Work Session): Motion by Nystrom, seconded by Beumer, to approve the minutes. The motion carried with 4 yes votes (Nystrom, Freeland, Malecha, Beumer). Board Member Sokup arrived at 6:02 PM, after the minutes were approved, and was recorded as "Not Present" for this vote. Public Comments & Testimony - None. Public Hearings - Public Hearing on Sale of HRA Property at 2330 Elianna Drive: Chair Malecha opened the public hearing at 6:04 PM. Housing Coordinator Melissa Hanson noted that the hearing was to consider selling the HRA-owned property at 2330 Elianna Drive. No public testimony was reported. A motion by Board Member Freeland, seconded by Vice Chair Beumer, to close the public hearing carried with 5 yes votes. Discussion Items - HRA Resolution 2025-013 - Consideration of Sale of HRA Owned Property at 2330 Elianna Drive: Housing Coordinator Hanson introduced the resolution. A motion by Freeland, seconded by Beumer, to approve the resolution carried with 5 yes votes. The enactment number was recorded as HRA Res. 2025-014. Note: The agenda lists the resolution as 2025-013, while the minutes record the enactment as 2025-014. - Staff Updates: Housing Coordinator Hanson reported that she attended the MN NAHRO conference the previous week, held conversations with Dakota County regarding housing and the impacts of funding cuts, and participated in the Metro-wide Cities Forum. - Board Member Reports: Board Member Sokup announced an affordable housing event on October 9 at 7 PM at St. John's Church, featuring Representative Kristi Pursell and former Council Member George Zuccolotto. Note: The minutes refer to Davin Sokup as both "Chair" and "Board Member" inconsistently. Key Outcomes - All motions carried without opposition. The HRA approved the sale of the property at 2330 Elianna Drive and closed the associated public hearing. The meeting was adjourned at 6:16 PM following a motion by Vice Chair Beumer, seconded by Board Member Freeland, which carried with 5 yes votes.

Date: October 1, 2025 Time: 6:00 PM – 6:42 PM Location: Council Chambers, Northfield City Hall Present: Chair Baird Jarman, Commissioners Clifford Clark, Robert Stangler, Sarah Beimers, Amy Machacek Shonka, Aaron Street Absent: Vice Chair Michael Meehan Also Present: Mathias Hughey (Associate Planner), Matt Bailey (Meeting Associate), Teagan Noetzel (Youth Representative), Astrid White (Youth Representative) The Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) convened for its regular monthly meeting. The agenda was approved unanimously, and the minutes from the September 3, 2025 meeting were also approved without dissent. No public comments were offered. Commissioner Reports & Subcommittee Updates - Members of HPC subcommittees working on topics of solar panels, balconies, and demolition review policy reported on their recent meetings. - Commissioner Stangler provided a brief report on a preservation conference he attended. Regular Agenda: Review of Annual Certified Local Government (CLG) Report Associate Planner Mathias Hughey presented the draft annual CLG report to be submitted to the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). He answered questions from the commission regarding the report’s contents. The commission reviewed the report but no formal vote was recorded; the item was presented for review and discussion only. Staff Updates Associate Planner Hughey shared staff updates, including: - Information on the Ames Mill Dam (no specifics provided in the minutes). - A new mural on the footbridge crossing the Cannon River. Commission members asked questions and commented on these two items. Key Outcomes - The agenda and previous meeting minutes were approved unanimously (6-0). - The annual CLG report was reviewed and discussed; no formal decision was taken. - The meeting adjourned at 6:42 PM.

The Economic Development Authority (EDA) met on September 29, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers. The board unanimously approved two micro-grant applications, increased the micro-grant budget for the remainder of the year, approved a contract with the Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC), and received staff updates. All votes were 5-0 with five members present and two absent. Consent Calendar - Approval of Agenda: The agenda was approved as amended to remove Item 5 (Communications Department Presentation). - Approval of Minutes: The August 25, 2025 EDA meeting minutes were approved. Board Member Reports - Board Member Beumer informed the EDA that the City Council will assume the responsibilities of the Housing & Redevelopment Authority (HRA) in 2026. Discussion Items - August 2025 EDA Financials: Economic Development Coordinator Nate Carlson reviewed the financial reports and responded to board questions. - Micro-Grant Application – Verbena Vinyl, LLC: Owner Vicki Scott presented her application. The board discussed and unanimously approved the micro-grant. - Micro-Grant Application – Elsa Kraus, LLC dba Relationship Therapy and Consultation: The board first voted to increase the micro-grant program budget from $15,000 to $30,000 for the remainder of the year, with funds from EDA reserves. Then they unanimously approved the micro-grant application. - Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC) Contract Approval: Carlson presented the draft contract. The board unanimously approved the contract. (Note: The agenda lists the contract as covering 2026–2028, while the minutes state “2025-2026.” This discrepancy was not resolved in the meeting.) - Staff Updates: Carlson provided updates on outstanding EDA items and city-wide projects. The board discussed their upcoming retreat scheduled for October 13, 2025. Key Outcomes - Approved micro-grant for Verbena Vinyl, LLC. (Motion by Allen, seconded by Beumer; vote 5-0) - Approved increase of micro-grant budget from $15,000 to $30,000 for remainder of 2025. (Motion by Allen, seconded by Beumer; vote 5-0) - Approved micro-grant for Elsa Kraus, LLC dba Relationship Therapy and Consultation. (Motion by Allen, seconded by Stager; vote 5-0) - Approved 2025-2026 (per minutes) / 2026-2028 (per agenda) LEDC Contract. (Motion by Beumer, seconded by Allen; vote 5-0) The meeting was adjourned at 6:52 PM.