League of Women Voters

Jane McWilliams, LWV Observer

All councilors were present.

Presentations. Three presentations led off the meeting. Dick Kleber, a member of the city’s Human Rights Commission, reported on their work in collaboration with other community organizations (together dubbed the Complete Count Committee) to educate residents about the census and the importance of participating. Thanks to the work of Welcome Center Coordinator, Marj Evans-de-Carpio, they secured a grant to fund the brochures, posters and other materials. Kleber said there has been to date an 80% return rate in our area. Emphasizing that the information will be confidential for 72 years, the several people visited Viking Terrace to encourage residents there to return their forms. “We’re hoping to save one congressional seat,” Kleber emphasized.

Brad Kollman of the Office of Traffic Safety presented the police department with lazar radar in recognition of the outstanding work they have done to reduce traffic fatalities.

The third presentation was by consultant Jim McMenamin of the firm Hoisington Koegler Group, Inc., (hired by the Economic Development Authority) which is preparing master plans for the newly annexed land west of the hospital and the anticipated to be annexed property north of Armstrong road. No materials were distributed in the meeting packet, but I was able to obtain copies of his power point presentation as well as comprehensive information about their analyses. Although the goals of the planning are listed there, the materials are not posted on the project web site yet. ( http://www.northfield-businesspark.com/) On Thursday, April 29, from 6-8:30 p.m., at the Community Resource Bank, there will be an opportunity for the public to review the various concept plans the consultants have prepared and to weigh in on these and on other aspects of their reports. McMenamin promised that following the April 29 meeting, citizens may also review and comment on the concept plans on the business park website. Later, the EDA Steering Committee will refine the plans. Next steps include creating a master plan, development and implementation standards. Presentation of a final plan for approval is slated for October.

Heritage Preservation Site. Friends of Way Park requested designation of the park as a Heritage Presentation Site: “ . . . an area, place, building, structure, land, significant landscaping, building interior, district, adjacent property or other object which has significance to Northfield’s history, architecture archeology, engineering, or culture . . . “ West side resident David Sudermann had prepared a comprehensive history of the park which the council had not yet received, but which he referred to during his public comments. Heritage Preservation Commission Chair Bob Will spoke in favor of the designation, noting that probably grandparents of current Northfielders built the WPA funded wall at the north end of the park. Mayor Mary Rossing led off the discussion saying the city staff, council, boards and commissions have a full plate and that there would be costs to implement this. Councilor Kris Vohs said it would have implications for other parks, which might also deserve designation. Councilor Rhonda Pownell said she didn’t think it would require much staff time and that this was an opportunity to help with grant writing. The council voted down a motion to direct that the historic preservation designation process continue with Councilors Pownell and Denison voting in favor, and Councilors Pokorney, Buckheit and Zweifel and Mayor Rossing voting against the motion.

Conditional Use Permit. The Council approved a conditional use permit for Carleton College to convert a home on 212 2nd Street into office space, although several were unhappy that the precedents set by earlier similar decisions tied their hands. Councilor Pownell and others were concerned that this property falls outside the College Development Zone. Councilor Pokorney urged that they find a way to work with the colleges on planning. To see College Development Zone:  http://www.ci.northfield.mn.us/assets/z/Zoning-map---March-2009.pdf

Police Facility. Michael Clark of KKE Architects introduced his colleagues Michael Buikema and Roxanne DeCoster. Staff had suggested five possible locations for a new police facility following a process of elimination of a preliminary list. Consultants KKE Architects will develop criteria for the council to review (at their April 27 meeting) for selecting a final site. Before that location is determined, further analysis of the feasibility of locating the fire station on the current location will be required as this has implications for the location and size of the police facility, should it not be possible to use the current site. In speaking with the consultants later, it was clear to me that the accelerated time line necessitated by possibly putting the financing of the projects on the ballot in November is very challenging. The council approved the suggested locations for further study.

Community Event In-Kind Grant Program. The council approved the program unanimously. This new policy requires an application process for organizations using public facilities and property for approval and for financial support for the city costs. Applications must be submitted by May 14, 2010, will be reviewed by staff and a council committee, which will make recommendations, which will go to the council for final approval. Councilors Vohs, Denison and Pownell will serve on the review committee, which will recommend awards for council consideration on June 1. ($30,000 has been allocated for the program.) For information about the program:  http://www.ci.northfield.mn.us/assets/p/Packet-Section-2-Items-7-to-9.pdf # 9.

Senior Center Waiver Request. The Northfield Senior Center asked that the council waive the $300.00 fee for use of the Showmobile for an event in May. Mayor Rossing suggested that they look at the criteria in the just adopted Community In-Kind Grant Program policy in considering the request. Councilors Buckheit and Zweifel agreed. The waiver was approved on a divided vote with Councilors Pokorney, Pownell, Denison and Vohs voting in favor, Mayor Rossing and Councilors Buckheit and Zeweifel voting against the request.

ICLEI Membership. Although several councilors agreed to some of the benefits of the organization (capacity-building information for local governments toward sustainable development) the council did not approve a request prompted by Council Vohs to continue membership in the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives ( http://www.iclei.org/).

Announcements/Reports. City Administrator Joel Walinski noted that at the work session next week, council would review information (“specifics in terms of direction Northfield is going”) requested by Waterford Township in preparation for meeting with that group in May. Council Jon Denison reported that the Hospital’s clinics are “starting to take off’ and that at the Annual Meeting, hospital space needs were discussed which “could be on the city’s radar in the next few years.” Councilor Vohs announced that the HRA Cherry Street home is almost ready for an open house and occupancy. Councilor Zweifel called attention to the problems arising from the burned out house on Lockwood Drive. Administrator Walinski said the city has sent formal notices to the owner and the bank that the property must be removed. However, he anticipates additional legal actions may be required and he may request direction from the Council in the near future about his property.

Mayor Rossing distributed a “Process for bringing forward ideas for discussion” to her colleagues, as a follow-up to the discussion at the goal setting session earlier this month. The initiatives may be presented to either the Mayor City Administrator for review and to determine the readiness and timing of each. Readiness will be determined on the basis of:

Why should the council explore this issue?

Why should the council explore this issue at this time?

How does this initiative further council goals?

In light of limited resources are you willing to suggest what should be postponed or pulled off the table in order to accomplish this initiative?

Although copies of her materials were not publicly available, Rossing provided me a copy of the memo and a schematic for decision-making after the meeting.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 p.m.