Kiffi Summa , LWV Observer
All Councilors were present.
Minutes were approved, and the Agenda amended by moving the last two items, #'s 11 & 12, to the Regular Agenda. This Agenda amendment was requested by City Attorney , Chris Hood, who saw the need for these items to be resolutions on the regular agenda, because they dealt with contracts and labor negotiations.
Consent Agenda - Items 1-10, approved.
Regular Agenda - Items 11&12 from the Consent Agenda were quickly approved. The bulk of the Regular Agenda Items, #'s 13 - 19, encompassed a daunting array of serious, and often convoluted issues: all with heavy policy implications.
Example: the consideration of re-establishing the eliminated position of the Welcome Center Coordinator. That position had also handled translation for the City, thereby assisting the inclusion, participation, and functioning of Northfield's Latino community. The Council Chamber was 'standing room only'.
Listing of the items on the regular Agenda:
13. Safety Center Projects Update
14. Consideration of Purchase of Property at 303 Water Street
15. Authorization of Application for Renewable Energy Grant
16. Consider Reestablishing the Position of Welcome Center Coordinator (postponed from 7.20.2010)
17. Identifying Interim City Administrator Candidates to be Interviewed
18. Establish Ad Hoc Finance Study Group
19. 2011 Budget Discussion
Item # 19, 2011 Budget Discussion, had 4 bulleted parts, the last one being the organizational restructuring of City Hall Departments and Staff. This proposal was initially brought to last week's Council work session by City Administrator, Joel Walinski.
This last agenda item, perhaps the most weighty issue of all, began at 11:03 P.M.
This budget discussion ended with the Council's Adjournment at 12:40 A.M.
***NOTE: Because of the length and depth of this meeting, and the seriousness of all the regular agenda items, most containing deeply embedded policy issues, the observer has chosen NOT to report, highlight, or offer any analysis.
It is important that any interested citizens watch this 5 and 1/2 hour meeting in its entirety, allowing them to form their own opinions/conclusions.
The Council meetings are live-streamed on the KYMN Radio website, archived there, and indexed by agenda item. They are also available at scheduled times on NTV.
