Jane McWilliams, LWV Observer
Councilor Jim Pokorney was absent.
This was another long meeting and there were significant issues on the agenda. Drawing from previous discussion at the April 27, 2010 Work Session, Mayor Mary Rossing presented Police Department and Fire Station Project Goals for the council’s review and revision. After making a few changes, mostly to consolidate duplications, the council approved the list which will guide the next months’ work preparing for decisions on location, cost, and funding of the proposed replacement of the police facility and the remodeling or replacement of the fire facility.
Two Project Committees were appointed. A Design Team comprising KKE Architects/Engineers, the Police and Fire Chiefs, City Administrator, Don McGee (citizen member/Engineer), Jay Jasnoch (citizen member/architect), and Councilor Jon Denison (member of earlier Safety Center Task Force) will work with the detailed planning of the project, and “make decisions that are within the approved budget and scope, and that do not affect image or aspects affecting the greater community or neighborhoods.” Mayor Rossing will chair the Steering Committee, comprising Steve Schmidt (citizen/contractor), Pat Vincent(citizen/Three Links Executive Director), Steve Spehn, (citizen/Director of Facilities and Capital Planning/Carleton College), Jim Gleason, (citizen/contractor and Chamber of Commerce Board Chair), David Van-Wylen, (citizen/Associate Dean for Natural Sciences/St. Olaf College), Randy Jennings (citizen, communications specialist) and two councilors: Jon Denison and Erica Zweifel. This group will “give direction on elements with the budget and scope having impacts on project image or aspects of the building affecting the greater community or neighborhoods.” The latter group will meet later this week. Several councilors expressed concern that there be regular communication from these groups so that when they present final recommendations, the council will be prepared. Mayor Rossing noted that if council has concerns they bring them to the committees “right away and don’t wait.” Administrator Walinski reporting on the Public Information Process said there will be a web site created, presentations and the Friday Memo to keep the public informed. Meetings of these groups are open to the public.
Mike Clark, KKE Architects, distributed a Site Evaluation Matrix, rating the 5 sites still under consideration: North Edge Auto, Gleason Property, Cowles Property, City Hall Site and Jasnoch Site. The Cowles and Jasnoch sites received the highest rating. Both offer enough space for a combined facility, should the current site prove inadequate for replacing or remodeling the fire department facility. The Steering Committee will review the goals and the site evaluation and report to the council.
The council agreed to direct the staff to create as part of the Land Development Code an ordinance to determine whether to allow single-family residential use in the Gateway Commercial District. This came about because Tom Zenk, owner of Culver’s Restaurant on Highway 3 South would like to convert a large area in the rear of the restaurant as living space for himself and his family. Councilor Betsey Buckheit noted that a fuller discussion of the implications of this change in zoning needs to be had, as part of the Planning Commission’s LDC process, rather than making a change in response to a particular applicant. There was concern about the timing of this as well as the rest of the LDC process, and City Planner Dan Olson promised a timeline at next week’s work session. Mr. Zenk said this is a challenging economy and he and his family are trying their best to maintain their business and save the jobs of the 30 people they employ. Mayor Rossing said they want to accommodate his request as expeditiously as possible.
A motion passed to “direct that the staff negotiate with representatives of the Union of Youth to purchase the property at 303 Water Street. The council will then delegate the reuse and redevelopment of this property to the Economic Development Authority,” passed with Councilors Kris Vohs and Betsey Buckheit voting in opposition. The small property in question abuts another equally small one already owned by the city. David Hvistendahl, owner of Froggy Bottoms and Alexandra Pitsavas, on behalf of her family, owners of Basil’s Pizza, each urged the council to consider selling them the property which abuts their property.
There were no public comments on the City of Northfield Annexation Policies and council passed them as written ( http://www.ci.northfield.mn.us/assets/p/Packet164.pdf, #14)
Councilor Denison voted against these, as he believed “we have policies in our agreements” and these are unnecessary. Councilor Vohs also voted against the motion. Other councilors said they would give staff direction for negotiating future agreements.
The Series of Proposals to Present to Waterford Township Related to Annexation were create to provide a framework for discussion with that board and received approval with Councilor Vohs dissenting. The city seeks to negotiate a new annexation agreement to replace the expired 1980 Joint Resolution. Previously, City Attorney Chris Hood prepared an opinion, which declared that agreement no longer in effect. At this meeting he stated there is no longer a contract. “The ultimate question – does the township want to enter into a new one.” Councilor Pownell said “we don’t want to go to Waterford with ‘fighting words.’ Whether we agree with it or not, we need to have an attitude of collaboration.” No date has been set for further conversations with Waterford Township, although at the last meeting, there was a commitment on both sides to schedule the next one at the Township Hall.
In other actions, the council failed to approve appointment of Dana Graham to the Planning Commission for the remaining months of 2010 on a divided vote Vohs, Buchkeit and Zweifel voting no, Rossing, Denison and Pownell voting yes. Councilors Buckheit and Zeifel felt someone with experience with the LDC process would be preferable. Brad Ness, representing the Grace Whittier Committee, introduced the 2010 Grant Recipients: Community Action Center, Northfield Amateur Boxing Club, Northfield Skating School, TORCH, Northfield Sports Youth Collaborative, YMCA and the Northfield Schools Booster Club. The council approved* the Baseball Field Expansion at Sechler Park by the Northfield Youth Baseball Association and the acceptance of bids as well as the assessments for the 4th Street Reconstruction Project.
*[Correction from Mayor Rossing: "...the Northfield Baseball Assn item was postponed due to the fact that no representative was able to be at our meeting last Tuesday."]
Following reports from individual councilors and the city administrator, the meeting was adjourned at 10:20 p.m.
