Jane McWilliams, LWV Observer
All members were present.
Prior to the council meeting, there was a gathering complete with coffee and a cake decorated with the city’s logo, honoring retiring councilmen Scott Davis, Arnie Nelson, Dixon Bond and Mayor Lee Lansing. There was no formal program. Curiously, the nameplates for the three retirees had been removed from the dais prior to the meeting.
After calling the meeting to order, Mayor Lansing thanked people gathering to honor the retiring members, wished all a happy holiday, and asked that they remember those in the community who are less fortunate and to support the hometown.
During the public comment time, David Delong questioned the rationale for the proposal to eliminate a public hearing on the change to the Alcoholic Beverages ordinance. It addresses requirements when there is a change of ownership at an existing licensed location. The rationale for the change, according to staff, is that if the applicant meets all requirements for a license, and the premises has been occupied by a liquor establishment already, there is no need for a hearing. Later in the meeting, after removing this item from the consent agenda (designed for non-controversial matters), the council approved the change unanimously.
There was a large group of neighbors of Way Park on hand to comment on the council’s decision on the West First Street project. Brian Hilgardner of the engineering firm Bolton & Menk, using PowerPoint, explained the findings of the study to determine whether the project was “necessary, feasible and cost effective.” City Engineer Katy Gehler-Hess requested approval of the report and asked council to call for a public hearing on the project. In addition, Gehler sought direction on the design of the Way Park portion of the road. The packet distributed for the meeting included the Master Plan drawing by Spencer Jones, which the council had approved in April 2007, along with 2 drawings showing plans for keeping the street open, and 2 others illustrating closure options. Ten Way Park neighbors and Rick Vanasek, Park Board Chair, addressed the council. As they had at the October meeting, the neighbors called attention to the safety issues with an open street. Many reminded the council of their commitment to the Master Plan which envisioned smaller “hammer heads” at the ends of the closed portion of the street rather the 94’ diameter cul de sacs proposed by the engineering study.
The council approved unanimously the feasibility report and the call for a hearing on the project. Although there had been no resolution prepared for that issue, the council agreed to close the street. The motion gave direction to staff to close the street through Way Park consistent with the Way Park Master Plan with possible sizes of the cul de sacs still under consideration. The hearing on the project as well as on the closing of First Street is tentatively scheduled for January 5th. The vote on the street closure was divided: Lansing, Denison, Nelson and Pownell voted in favor and Pokorney, Davis and Vohs voted against.
The council approved amendments to the 2008 budget, the first and only requested for the current year, according to Finance Director Kathleen McBride. Internal adjustments were made to reduce costs, with the result being there will be a $26,462 budget balance. McBride noted that the original budget was balanced with the use of $149,488 in appropriated fund balance. She warned that depending on what the governor may do with state aids, an additional adjustment may need to be made before the end of the year.
The council adopted the property tax levy, payable in 2009. The majority of the increase ($363,505 or 6.25%) is for the general fund. The property tax levies for both the Housing Redevelopment Authority and for the Economic Development Authority are the same as for the current year. The 2009 Budget and the 2009-2013 Capital Improvement Plan were also approved. Interim City Administrator Walinski reported that he had attended a session in St. Paul on local government aid and tax reimbursements. He urged people in the room and watching proceedings on NTV to contact our state legislators to communicate our concerns about funding.
The council adopted a resolution allowing non-residents “which reside, own property or are employed within the municipality of Northfield to serve on the EDA board,” “and acknowledges that this supports language in the amended EDA bylaws.” This action was taken following the public hearing, which EDA Director Jody Gunderson advised is required by state law. One citizen, Victor Summa (a member of the EDA) raised some process questions about the decision. The new language, in the view of the observer, was confusing. The intent was to make council policy parallel language in the EDA by-laws which state: “Members shall either reside, own property or be employed within the municipality of Northfield, Minnesota.”
Mark Taylor, Chief of Police, reported that the city has been operating without a written contract for Animal Services for at least 10 years. A request for proposal was issued, and the city received three responses. Countryside Animal Hospital in Dundas was recommended because their fee was lowest, their facilities one of the best, and their location and accessibility very good. The council approved the contract unanimously.
Several retiring members commented at the end of the meeting. Arnie Nelson, noting that this was his “last hurrah,” thanked the mayor for the time and effort he had put in, and said that “things haven’t always been so easy.” Nelson looks forward to a trip to Florida right after Christmas. Scott Davis remarked that people may think there are a lot of people working at city hall, but that instead, as a member of council, he learned that “a few people work hard here. Hug your city employee when you meet them on the street.”
The meeting was adjourned at 10:29 p.m.
