League of Women Voters

Kiffi Summa , Observer

All Councilors present.

AGENDA ITEM #1: Discuss  policy issues, relating to the draft Land Development Code,  with the Planning Commission.

Six members of the Planning Commission joined the Council to discuss a list of policy questions which had arisen out of working on the new land development regulations. Alice Thomas, of the PC, has been bringing policy issues to the Council for their consideration throughout the process, but this was a chance to go over the entire list so far. Thirteen policy questions were listed as well as a possible revision to the timeline for completion.

Although there was some concern about a Future Land Use map, if added to the Comp  Plan, becoming a controlling rather than an advisory/planning tool, it was agreed that it was  a useful tool. The Council's qualified acceptance of this was based on the premise that this Map not become a large separate project with its own 'life'.

Planning Commission and Council then moved on to a discussion of Regulatory Procedure/Policy. The packet included a chart which showed six levels of projects, from simplest to most complex,  and offered a regulatory process for each. Councilor Buckheit took the lead in these policy discussions; she has been working with the PC in their almost weekly meetings. The aim of revising the regulatory process is to shorten that process, making it more efficient and development project friendly.

Much of the discussion centered on the CUP (conditional use permit) process which now comes before the Planning Commission for review and related Public Hearings; but those result in an advisory statement to the Council who ultimately vote, although they have not participated in the Public Hearing. The PC was suggesting that they (PC) give approval, after conducting the Public Hearing, and then that conclusion, if negative, may be appealed by the applicant to the Council, for possible reversal. Councilor Denison felt that elected officials should have the deciding vote, not the appointed planning commissioners.   Further discussion for methods to modify this process seemed only to lead back to the current practice, instead of shortening the process, which City Planner Dan Olson  stated was a very strong goal.

NOTE : Frankly, the observer is not sure where this discussion ended up, as Community development Director Brian O'Connell said he would look for some "clarity"; some decision from staff and council.

The timeline for completing the new land development regulations was then discussed as to both past and present problems.  All seemed to agree that, regardless of the length of time it takes to get these regulations "right", that must be the final outcome.

The entire list of policy  questions  was not addressed in the allotted time.

AGENDA ITEM #2:   Budget Presentations

LIBRARY, and library related Gift Funds... Lynne Young, Head Librarian, gave her usual  clear, comprehensive, and thoughtful report. She emphasized that the most important fact is not how many books a library circulates, but how adequately that library serves the community. The best libraries are those that are most specific to their communities.

In addition to her executive summary, Ms. Young presented a chart ( from  the Institute of Museum and Library Services) comparing Northfield's facility to others in our area.  Proudly, Northfield does very well.

Ms. Young also went through all the Library's Gift Funds, currently six of varying sizes and uses,  explaining their designated uses and  fund balances.

POLICE... Chief Mark Taylor provided the Council with a handout which enumerated completed initiatives for 2009, planned initiatives for 2010, and service statistics including ratio of personnel to populace, response times , equipment levels, etc.

There was additional discussion of participating service to other jurisdictions which  occurs primarily in emergency situations.

FIRE ... Chief Gary Franek  began by commenting on the hard, time consuming, important work of sitting on the Safety Center Task Force. He then explained  the training procedures the Fire Dept.  is currently involved in, issues of replacing 32 and 28 year old fire trucks, the possibility of 'cold storage' for some fire equipment (which they cannot determine until Safety center issue is resolved), and listed many of the  larger community events the Fire Dept. engages in for education and community support.

The Fire Dept has been applying for several grants:  for equipment replacement dollars, and educational purposes; a strong department improves all insurance rates.

They are trying hard, like everyone else, to hold the financial line.

SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS, CATV and CDBG ... CATV, the Cable TV Fund was the next subject, and most of the discussion centered on the value  of NTV to the community,  what part of the franchise fees (from Charter) should be put into the General Fund, and the need for the Council to develop a policy of either putting those dollars into the General Fund, or saving them for specific expenditures  such as the recent A/TV upgrades to the Council Chambers.

The CDBG  (Community Development Block Grant) funds which are Federal dollars passed through from Dakota County are now dedicated solely to use of the HRA (Housing Redevelopment Authority), although they may also be used to address blight and issues of Historic Districts.

Michelle Merxbauer, Housing Specialist, enumerated the many  worthwhile programs the HRA is supporting, and how they are using these federal dollars to full advantage during this time when many people are having financial problems related to housing costs. These HRA programs are heavily used, and could use even more funding.

AGENDA ITEM #3 :  Capital Improvement Plan/Program

Mayor Rossing led this discussion which focussed on the two  large city facility projects in the CIP, the Safety Center, and the Library. She told the Council that they must have a vote on these items, for the CIP, by mid November at the latest.

Mayor Rossing said  she was looking to see what options could be removed from the 'table', so the discussion could be focussed on what to finally consider, as well as the financing options. The Mayor began by polling the Councilors, and the discussion was widely varying in detail, although there seemed to be some consensus that the Safety Center Task Force should be re-approached with the idea of the $1.00 gift of land from the Gleason family, the possibility of the Police facility located there, and the  Fire Hall remaining at the Current site, with the current building razed, and a new  Fire facility built.

NOTE: The longer the conversation went on, the less clear it became, but this is a very difficult and complex decision, made even more difficult by the current economics. The discussion of financing mechanisms, and the issue of two large city facilities being considered, (Safety Center and Library), how to handle that financing, bonding, referendum(s), the tax impacts on both residential and even larger impacts on commercial properties, and the general  appetite, or lack of, for any additional tax burdens, make the discussion circuitous at best.

Councilor Pokorney raised the idea that maybe no matter how badly the need is perceived to be, if there is not a comfort level to pass a referendum (or two), maybe we'd just have to "fix the  old car for now, until we could afford a new one".  That did not sit particularly well with Staff, nor with some Councilors.

Several Councilors asked exactly what  the motion would be that they would be asked to vote on, on November 2nd, or possibly November 9th, and the answer was not completely clear, although City Administrator Walinski did say  Staff would come back next week with 3 or 4 main issues re: the Safety Center...

Meeting Adjourned at 10:35 PM