Jane B McWilliams, LWV Observer
All council members were present.
Three people spoke in opposition to the “Community Expectations” document the council discussed at the council’s April 27 meeting. The board of the Northfield Downtown Development Corporation drafted the piece and asked the council to adopt the policy, but no action has been taken to date. Andy Sison, a board member of the Union of Youth, said that in a country believing in free speech, banning swearing and other words would be unconstitutional. Joe McGowan said there are laws in place for too loud music, and keeping traffic moving. People should be able to stop on the sidewalk and talk. The “code of conduct” is ridiculous and would make it possible for the police to do whatever they want. Though the “code of conduct” may have good intentions, Olivia Frey said it would make the downtown a place she wouldn’t want to go to. She longs for more spontaneity, more color, “not white bread.” She worried that the police would harass people and urged them to “get out of their squad cars and get to know the neighbors. Find another solution . . .” enlist an “Angels Group” as they have in other cities to maintain order.
There was only one action item on the agenda. The council adopted a resolution restricting parking in Babcock Park. The effect of this action is to eliminate this area as a parking spot for semi-trailer trucks and recreational vehicles and brings this park in compliance with other parklands in the city.
The work session followed the approval of the resolution. City Administrator Joel Walinski gave a slide presentation showing a flow chart of the city’s decision-making process which moves from the general (perhaps a council goal) to the specific (implementation of a project, e.g., the First Street Reconstruction). When complete, the flow chart will be posted on the city’s web site where citizens can follow the city’s decision-making and programming processes. As a project is in place, Walinski said they would develop a time line, which would be updated from time to time. Councilor Jim Pokorney suggested that it show the cost of various programs, for example, snowplowing. Mayor Mary Rossing suggested showing the budget amount and how much has been spent. Walinski said staff will continue to improve this, but “we want to get it on paper and then critique it. At each council meeting, starting in June, we’ll provide some information.”
The council received a draft copy of the Erosion and Sediment Control Ordinance. It focuses on internal city processes and relies on technical standards prepared by the state for the purpose of controlling erosion and sediment on construction and residential sites. The ordinance ensures the city’s compliance with the state and federal regulations. In response to Councilor Rhonda Pownell’s concern that developers be notified, Walinski said there had been an open house, and because the process has been in place for a number of years, most developers are aware of the rules. City Development Director Brian O’Connell said this isn’t new to them. “The big news is that it is part of the regulatory role of the city.” The council will take action on this at a later meeting.
Technology Department Manager Melissa Reeder showed the council a video explaining fiber optic technology. She identified benefits to the city of installing a fiber optic system, led a discussion about how regionally the local system might be created, suggested options for creating a partnership for managing the system, and mentioned some of the financing issues.
Jon Denison asked that a discussion of the skateboard issue be added to the work session agenda The skateboarders “felt blindsided, discouraged” when they learned that the council had sent the matter back to the Park and Recreation Board at their last meeting. In the meantime, the Park and Recreation Board asked that the council delay their vote on the Ames Park site. Councilor Betsey Buckheit said that the “ball is in our court and we need to finish that process. . . tell them we need to take action on Ames Park which is on the table.” Rossing noted that the board anticipates that the council will vote down Ames Park, and that their chair, Rick Vanasek, doesn’t want the site to be out of the running. Nevertheless, she said the council will have the matter on the June 1 agenda.
Walinski reported that the staff will be working on budget adjustments in response to the legislature’s funding decisions. These might include staffing, wage freezes, reduction of hours (and therefore service), other tax levies. He announced that Malt-o-Meal was moving 130 staff and offices out of town in order to retrofit facilities in compliance with anti-contamination requirements.
Councilor Denison noted that during last week’s discussion with the Safety Center Task Force, Ray Cox implied that the group was in favor of the city going to referendum for funding. Denison stressed that the Task Force had not discussed this.
The meeting adjourned at 10:00 p.m.