Jane McWilliams, LWV Observer
Councilmen Jim Pokorney and Noah Cashman were absent
Tonight the council received kudos and cookies. During the open public comment period, Rhonda Pownell, on behalf of her family, told the council that “we believe in you – that you are an excellent council, and we made some cookies for you.” She then distributed a package of home made chocolate chip cookies bearing a card made by one of her children to each member of the council and the staff.
Library Director Lynne Young announced the 50th annual celebration of National Library Week. In 1958, the American Library Association decided to take a week each year to celebrate libraries. Young noted how much libraries have changed during that period from places where you went to get books, to places where multiple services and materials are available. They are busier than ever, including the Northfield Public Library where last year 372,000 items were checked out! She invited all to the Friends of the Library Annual Meeting on April 17 at 7 p.m.
The council approved an amendment to the Conditional Use Permit and renewed the alcohol license of the Northfield Golf Club permitting the sale of alcohol to non-members. The Planning Commission had recommended the amendment with certain conditions, but the council decided that the requirements of the Internal Revenue Service limiting the gross annual revenues derived from non-members as well as the restrictions created by the State of Minnesota Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement would be sufficient.
Dan Olson said the staff recommended that the matter be sent back to the Planning Commission when City Attorney Maren Swanson had discovered that the time limits the Planning Commission had put on the CUP probably were illegal, based on rulings by the Attorney General.
Todd Iverson, Vice President of the Golf Club, said he hoped the council would be willing to act tonight. They were asking that the sale of alcohol be extended to non-members in order to be sure they were complying with laws. It is difficult for their staff to monitor compliance. Mayor Lee Lansing’s was the only negative vote.
The council approved the first reading of a change in the Stormwater Utility Ordinance. In December they had adopted a Stormwater Utility Fee justification Report which was completed to update the fees and rate structure. These had been created in 1986 and not updated since 1990. Currently, the fees don’t support the enterprise fund, causing a shortfall. A “residential equivalent factor” (REF) is the base for calculating the monthly charge for all properties. The proposed annual base rate for 2008 is $114 per acre and the typical 1.4 acre residential charge would be $28.50. For commercial and industrial land, the rate varies by parcel and can be adjusted if stormwater mitigation techniques such as pervious parking lots are located on the property.
The City Administrator Al Roder’s proposal to change the organizational structure of city staff was tabled, owing to the absence of Councilmen Pokorney and Cashman. He complimented Mark Taylor and Roger Schroeder for the good work the Police Department had done in response to the train derailment. He also announced that there would be a meeting to discuss the Capital Improvement Plan on the morning of April 21.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:20 p.m.
