Jane McWilliams, LWV Observer
All but Councilor Jim Pokorney were present.
The council removed consideration of the sale of the house on West Second Street, part of the former hospital site, from the regular agenda. It will be placed on the February 2 agenda. During public comments, David Delong urged the city to do more discussion and research on the matter of another house (801 West First Street), formerly owned by the city, which was recently sold at foreclosure auction for $10.00.
Carleton College requested that the city adopt an ordinance that would allow a large wind turbine facility on campus and within the city limits. Current city regulations are silent on the matter of wind turbines, and thus they are not currently allowed in the city. There are two possible avenues for creating an ordinance: adopt an ordinance in the near future thus permitting the college to move forward in the short term on purchasing and installing the turbine, or, take up a wind turbine ordinance as part of the new Land Development Code, probably occurring in summer 2009. Robert Lamppa, Carleton’s Director of Energy Management, said that procuring commercial-sized wind turbines in the current market is difficult, but Carleton has found a company willing to sell one at this time. Therefore, they’d like an ordinance as soon as possible. Staff noted that there may be other regimes to be considered in developing an ordinance, and preparing a more narrow one in the short term would possibly impede progress on the new LDC. The council voted to prepare a wind turbine ordinance at this time as requested by the college, with all but Councilor Betsey Buckheit voting in favor. Buckheit said because the regulations are running behind, she would like staff to focus on them, and that the matter of turbines should be considered in the larger picture envisioned by the Comprehensive Plan. She’d like to have an ordinance that fits all of Northfield. To see map for wind turbine location: http://www.ci.northfield.mn.us/assets/2/2008CCM-ITEM-4-Attach-2-CARLETON-WIND-TURBINE.pdf
The council approved a motion designating the membership and work plan of a Safety Center Task Force. Charged with researching, analyzing data and defining facility space needs, building locations and financing and making a report clearly defining the safety needs, the task force will have 60 to 90 days to complete their work. There are eleven members, including four citizens to be appointed in early February. Other members are the police and fire chiefs, a representative of the Rural Fire Association, a hospital/ambulance representative and a member of the Planning Commission. Mayor Mary Rossing urged that the public be notified that these positions are available. The staff suggested that the following skills would be useful: grant writing, Northfield business interest, construction management, property management, design or architectural background, association with the two colleges, and a general interest in public safety operations. Wold Architects and Engineers, consultants, will work with the task force. To see an outline for the committee process: http://www.ci.northfield.mn.us/assets/s/Safety-Center-ATT–A-SC-Committee-Process.pdf.
Library Board Chair Margit Johnson presented a report documenting work done by the board and advisory groups to develop a mission statement, goals and objectives for an expanded library. (There is information about the board’s work on this important community asset at: http://www.ci.northfield.mn.us/library/longrangeplanning.)
She illustrated several possible ways additional parking necessitated by library expansion and other factors in the area might be created. The board recommends that the expansion be looked at in the context of the entire area. Working with the mayor so that it becomes a council goal for 2009, it will assemble a group, including the Northfield Downtown Development Corporation, the city’s Economic Development Authority and Arts and Culture Commission to plan a design charrette. In addition the board will bring a request for proposal for council approval in order to seek a consultant to determine the feasibility of a private capital campaign. Funding for this study will come from gifts to the library. Once the board knows what can be raised privately and the city is “on board” for the difference between private and public funding, they will proceed to raise those private funds for an expanded library
Kathleen McBride, Director of Finance, presented a series of charts comparing data of Northfield and five other cities (Faribault, Farmington, Red Wing, Hastings and Hutchinson). She called these financial benchmarks, which will provide the council and the community one means of evaluating the city’s economic position. These could be used to provide a context for the budget deliberations as well as perhaps a reporting format. Once the benchmarks are agreed, the plan would be to update these annually. The items included population today vs. 10 years ago, tax base, property tax levy, tax rate, state aid received, bonded debt and building permits activity. The graphs created by Ehlers & Associates, the city’s financing consulting firm, are available at: http://www.ci.northfield.mn.us/assets/b/Budget-discussion-attch-graphs.pdf.
There was a brief discussion about the 2010 budget. It is anticipated that there will be a 44% cut in state aid, which constitutes 10-12% of the budget. There may also be a cut to the aid for PERA (staff retirement fund). The staff will work during February and March to provide information and recommendations along with implications created by these.
Mayor Rossing outlined three options the council might consider in deciding about how to proceed with the decision about hiring a city administrator. First, they could offer a one-year contract to Interim Administrator Joel Walinski and in the meantime, decide whether to do a search for a permanent administrator, probably beginning in late summer, with a person in place by the first of next year. Second, the council could begin a search in March, with a decision in July or August. Third, they could decide not to do a search this year at all and offer Walinski a contract for city administrator, renewable yearly.
Councilor Jon Denison, as he had at a previous meeting, indicated he would be comfortable offering a contract now with evaluation each year as council had done with other administrators. Councilor Rhonda Pownell said the council shouldn’t be rushed. She had consulted with several people, and she said she wasn’t sure “where I’m at.” Councilor Buckheit said if the city had the luxury of time or money, “we might want to see if there is someone out there.” However, she argued for continuity now that the council had tough decisions in prospect. “There is no need to start a search in 2009, with so much else to do.” Councilor Erica Zweifel said her thinking was between Pownell and Buckheit’s, and wondered whether there might be someone with different training and skills than we’re seeing now. Councilor Chris Vohs said that hiring takes time and is expensive and argued for making Walinski the administrator with a year-to-year contract.
Walinski said it is important to make a decision. “If you’re not comfortable with me, do a search, because that you have someone to work with you on the critical decisions ahead.”
Mayor Rossing said that she detected a consensus for offering Walinski a year-to-year contract, on which they may take action at a February meeting. She also suggested that the council consider putting money into the 2010 budget for a search, in case the council needs it. Councilor Pownell remarked, “I’m outvoted, but I can live with it!”
Following reports from council liaisons to boards and commissions, the meeting was adjourned at 9:50.