Jane B McWilliams, LWV Observer
All councilors were present.
Two presentations led off the meeting. Lynne Young, Library Director and Mayor Mary Rossing distributed grants to the recipients of the 2009 Grace Whittier Fund. The fund was created in 1988 through a gift from the long time Northfield resident to support recreational opportunities for Northfield youth. Since that time, the city has dispersed almost $202,000. This year’s recipients were: Northfield Public School Booster Club (scholarship); Prairie Partners (equipment for show shoeing classes); Northfield Youth Collaborative (scholarships) Tackling Obstacles and Raising College Hopes (summer programs); YMCA (equipment); Soccer Association (special needs players); Northfield Arts Guild (scholarships).
Mayor Mary Rossing proclaimed Saturday May 9, Northfield’s Poppy Day. Charlie Wells and Millie Johnson, representing the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Auxiliary, distributed poppies to the council. Wells noted that more than a million poppies have been distributed during the 87 years of the program, which provides relief for disabled veterans, widows and orphans.
During the public comment period prior to the regular meeting, Griff Wigley said he was pleased that the skate park item was not on the agenda tonight. He noted that the importance of the issue demands that the councilors let people know ahead of time of their thinking. “The more you can be explicit, the more people will appreciate your transparency” which will diffuse conflict. He said there are many vehicles for this, LocallyGrownNorthfield, Northfield News, KYMN Radio, Northfield.org.
The council named the new Mill Towns Trail Bridge “Peggy Prowe Pedestrian Bridge.” Mayor Rossing said that Rotary Club members suggested this, and that when it was announced at their meeting, Prowe (who at the time of tonight’s meeting was traveling in Brazil) was overcome. There will be a dedication of the bridge as part of the mid-August “Tour de Art – A ride with the Mayors”.
The stalled project on Highway 3, The Crossing of Northfield, was a discussion item. The city has a contract with the developer, Mendota Homes, to issue a Tax Increment Revenue Note up to $4,266,000 to pay for or reimburse certain public redevelopment costs. Piper Jaffray purchased the note and sold portions to various banks. As of January 2006, $1,821,000 has been drawn from the note for the first phase of the project.
Current economic conditions prevent development proceeding according to schedule. Piper Jaffrey has requested amendment of the Tax Increment Financing Note so that no further draws could occur. The contract would be revised to provide: additional tax increments would be paid only when conditions in the contract are met (completion of phases two and three); elimination of the right of the city to terminate the note if real estate taxes are not paid (if a delinquency is later cured, the TIF payments on the note would resume); level debt service upon resetting of the interest rate. Julie Eddington, representing Kennedy and Graven, the firm assisting the city on the Crossing project, and Kathleen McBride, City Finance Director, tried to clarify for the council the complex issues at hand and answered questions. Kennedy and Graven indicated that the city might impose certain requirements as a condition of changing the note and the contract. These include completion of the asphalt overlay, fencing adjacent to Highway 3 and completion of park improvements. O’Connell said that Kennedy and Graven will revise the documents, talk with Piper Jaffrey and bring revisions to the council for review and approval.
The council approved a joint powers agreement with the Dakota County Community Development Agency for acquisition and demolition of foreclosed property using Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds. As a current participant in the Dakota County Community Development Block Grant Program, Northfield is eligible. The grants are used only in “areas of greatest need” which includes all of Northfield. Housing Manager Michele Merxbauer reported that a house at 805 1st Street West, currently owned by Fannie Mae, is under consideration. Robert Hickock who lives next door to the house, said he intends to buy the house and land bank it, and build a new house. He asked if someone is willing to buy it, pay the taxes, assessments, etc., why should the city do so? (Merxbauer later said that she and Hickock are actively discussing the matter).
On the recommendation of the Economic Development Authority, the council revised the Master Development Fund to enable a working capital loan to be made from that program. This action was followed by approval of a loan from the fund in the amount of $50,000, to StrataPoint, Inc., a company which provides GIS/GPS software and which intends to relocate in Northfield.
The council approved 12 people to the Mayor’s Street Task Force which will make recommendations to the city for improvements to the downtown area in accordance with the Downtown Northfield Streetscape Framework Plan. The council also made one new appointment each to the Planning Commission and the Park and Recreation Advisory Board. For the names of the appointees to the Street Task Force, go to p. 26 of the City Council’s packet: Packet132.pdf
The meeting was adjourned at 9:22 p.m.