League of Women Voters of Northfield

Kiffi Summa, LWV Observer

The meeting began promptly with  5 of the 6 seated councilors, C. Vohs arriving just a few minutes late.
The agenda was approved after moving item # 15  from Consent, back to the Regular Agenda where it had first been.
The first item on the Agenda was: Special Item Related to Council At-Large Vacancy - Resolution 2008 - 087.   Joel Walinski, Interim City Administrator, stated that there had been a special council meeting to interview applicants for this appointment. The councilors had used a ranking system with points to pick their top three preferred candidates. Mr. Walinski said they now had to decide if more voting was to be done, or if the prepared resolution was to be read with the name of the highest  vote getter filled in the blank, and then the resolution voted on. The Mayor asked C. Nelson to read the resolution and fill in the blank. C. Nelson did so, filling in the name of Dixon Bond, the applicant with the most votes; the resolution was voted and passed.
VOTE:   All Aye.

Mr. Bond was then sworn in and became Councilor Bond. He then went to the dais and sat to the left of the Mayor, C. Vohs having moved away several meetings ago to the empty seat previously used by  C. Cashman.

Four sets of Minutes were then approved: July 21, 28, August 4, and 11.   C. Bond then stated that since he was not present at any of those meetings, he would not vote on the approval of the minutes.

As happens every three months, Waste management was represented by Margot, and joined by George McKinney of the EQC,  who gave the presentation to the Green Teams who had handled the large cardboard recycling for this last period. The two groups receiving Thanks, and large checks (I think over $1200 each)  then related what extra “green” tasks or community service they had done . Thank you to the Northfield Skateboard Coalition, and the NF Evangelical Free Church Youth Group.  In the 7 year timespan of this recycling program, over $50,000 has been earned  and over 7 million  Lbs. of cardboard recycled.

There were no comments by citizens at the Open Mic.

The Consent Agenda consisted of  seven items, with #5 having been pulled from the Agenda before the meeting.; and # 15 having been moved back to the regular Agenda.
VOTE:   All Aye.

Next was a Public Hearing for a possible Charter Amendment. The Charter commission is proposing to add a new section (14.7) Disposition of Control of Hospital Operations.    This is a carefully worded proposal, which has gone back and forth a few times, with review from the City Attorney.
*** NOTE:  I suggest you go to the  city’s website to read the exact wording, if you are interested.
C. Bond said he would “recuse” himself, corrected to “abstain”, because he is a member of the Hospital Board.  Maren Swanson, City Attorney, said that C. Bond needed to be clear about stating the reason for abstaining;  i.e., whether it was a legal or ethical conflict. C. Bond said that he did believe he had a conflict under the Ethics ordinance.  He left the Chambers, as one who abstains may not participate in the discussion.  Joel Walinski then read and explained the proposed language.   C. Denison asked if the council was obligated to act on this proposal; the city attorney replied that there was a statutory requirement to act within 9 months of the Public hearing.  C. Davis asked if this would affect the type of management contract that had previously existed with Allina; Ms. Swanson said no.  C. Pokorney asked a question related to the possibility of the City Council wanting to give control to a different type of board; the attorney said that would be possible.
Public comments were then taken.  A member of the Charter Commission had concerns around the word “unanimous” (related to a council vote regarding the charter) and the serving of a council member on a city Board or Commission, except where statutorily allowed, as on the Charter Commission or the EDA.  Ms. Swanson replied that if a councilor was recused or abstaining, then all members left would be considered a unanimous vote; and as to the Board and Commission  question, as long as there were not overlapping issues, the council seat was short term and an appointed seat, not elected, and she felt a council person on a B/C should be “acceptable”.
***NOTE: the above public hearing comment and reply by the City Attorney would, I imagine,  be of interest to some of the more procedure-focussed LWV members.
C. Bond returned to the Chambers, and Joel Walinski asked if the Council would proceed with Item #15, as the Library Staff was present, and then would not have to wait until the end of the Agenda. Council agreed.

Item # 15 -  Approval of the Library  Site Feasibility study - Resolution 2008 -093   As  promised last week , the Library Staff was back with a resolution to formalize the approval of their site feasibility study which showed that the library could accomplish not just one, but two large additions, by staying on site, and moving to the South.  There was a short exchange between C. Bond and C. Pokorney as to whether the operative word in the Resolution title should be “approve” or “accept”. Lynne Young, when queried, said that the change to the word “accept” would still confirm their direction; C. Bond made that friendly amendment, and C. Pokorney accepted the change.  Ms. Swanson, City Attorney, gave some direction on process for friendly amendments.
VOTE on amendment :  All Aye
Vote on main motion  :  All Aye

Regular Agenda
The main body of the regular agenda began by noting the pulling of Item #10 - Award bids and approve contract for 2005 Improvement # 005, Woodley from Prairie to Jefferson.
Mr. Walinski noted that they were waiting for correspondence from MNDOT.

Item # 11 - Second reading of ordinance 883 - amendments to the NF Rental Ordinance
***NOTE:   See previous reports for more detail.
VOTE:  All Aye

Item # 12 - Award feasibility Study for Fiber  - Motion     This relates to a study,and survey to be done to determine the feasibility, and residents desire to have fiber (communication capability as a city utility) at their home premises. The City has a grant from the Blandin Foundation to do this study, and can provide the required matching dollars from the excess in the Cable TV Fund.  Melissa Reeder, the city’s IT Director presented this item, and was questioned quite thoroughly by C. Bond as to the awarding of the contract to other than the lowest bidder. Having reassured the Council on the contract letting, and emphasizing the importance of this issue to the economic development of Northfield, Ms. Reeder agreed to provide additional material on the contract, and put the vote off to the next meeting.
VOTE: All Aye.

Item # 13 - Approve interim Economic  Development Director appointment  - Motion
Mr. Walinski explained that this would be a six month contract, with a possible six month renewal, until there is a permanent City Administrator in place. C. Bond had some questions about the authorship of the Contract; he was told that Elizabeth Wheeler, the Human resources Director had written it, and it had been reviewed by the city’s employment attorney, Roger Knutson. The Mayor asked C. Bond if he felt the contract language was acceptable to move forward; C Bond said yes, assuming some minor problems can be worked out with the temporary employee. The Mayor then asked about the involvement of the EDA with this hire, and stated that he felt the EDA’s involvement was important to the process of working together.
VOTE:  All Aye

Item # 14 - Appointment to Planning Commission  - Motion
The City Council is asked to confirm  the Mayor’s appointment of Steve Rholl  to the Planning Commission to fill a vacated term ending December 31, 2009. (Applications are being taken for a second vacated seat that needs to be filled)
VOTE :   All Aye

After a few Reports from Council, and Mr. Walinski, the meeting adjourned at  8:33 PM !