League of Women Voters

Jane McWilliams, LWV Observer

All council members were present.

Tonight the council approved three important planning documents: the 2008 Comprehensive Plan; the Parks, Open Space and Trail System Plan; and the City of Northfield Comprehensive Transportation Plan. Although adopted separately, the latter two plans are incorporated with and are consistent with the Comprehensive Plan.

Jeff Schoenbauer, the consultant who assisted with the Parks plan, noted that the city must work closely with developers to implement the plan through a shift from a regulatory to a win-win process. Lacking a higher level of collaboration, it will be difficult to achieve the goals of the plan. There is a de-emphasis on separate parks allocated on the basis of proximity to residences and instead, encouragement of a greenway and destination trail system so that families and other users can get easily walk, bicycle or skateboard to amenities within the system. The Park Board is working on ranking the capital improvement priorities for the city’s 2009-2013 CIP.

During discussion of the Transportation Plan, Councilman Dixon Bond recapped the history of the decision not to extend North Avenue to Highway 3, pointed out the impediments to doing so in the future, and voted against the plan as did Councilman Arnie Nelson, and Mayor Lee Lansing.

A committee is working with the staff and consultants to prepare the land use regulations for implementing the Comprehensive Plan. Interim City Administrator outlined a schedule for preparing and recommending these, and estimated that a final draft would be ready for council approval in May. Bond emphasized that the new “form based codes” are dramatically different and he predicts that, “we will be amazed at how well this fits our community.” Several councilmen noted that the new council must become familiar with and treat the Plan seriously. (Copies of the plans are available on the city’s web site -

http://www.ci.northfield.mn.us/ - search under Projects.)

In August, Rice County Board of Commissioners approved a new Cost Participation Policy on Cooperative Roadway Construction Projects. In the future, the county will not share the cost of sidewalk replacement or new and replacement bike paths on county roads with city limits. Prior to this action, the county allowed for a 55%/45% local cost share. Council members expressed concern about this change. Councilman Kris Vohs suggested that the city consider negotiating a reduced share arrangement. Bond noted that the city doesn’t want to have bad relations with the county, but if we are going to emphasize pedestrian transportation, and because of safety issues, the county should also be looking at safety within the urban parts of county roads.

Bill Ostrem, chair of the Non-Motorized Transportation Task Force, attended the county meeting where this was decided. He noted that Rice County is the only one he has found to have this kind of policy. He said the Commissioner Galen Malecha, who voted against the measure, recommends that the cities within the county pass the kind of resolution under consideration at this meeting and that it be taken to the county board.

The council unanimously passed a resolution requesting that the commissioners change the policy for roadway projects in its Capital Improvement Plan.

At each councilman’s seat, there was a bright yellow duck. During the individual reports from the council, Councilman John Denison, who along with Kris Vohs, represented the city at the National League of Cities Conference, announced that he had brought them back to the council. Walinski noted that a current council member and the new mayor are assisting in evaluating the liquor store proposals. According to the Northfield News, the review committee also consists of city staff, the Northfield Enterprise Center, the Economic Development Authority’s Infill Committee and consultants, Donnelly & Associates. (http://northfieldnews.com/news.php?viewStory=46579 ) City Attorney Maren Swanson said because of the nature of the proposals, they are privileged and therefore discussions will not be public. Walinski reported that recommendations from the committee reviewing the proposals will be ready for the council at their December 8 meeting where they will be considered in a closed session

Mayor Lansing adjourned the meeting at 9:20.