OBSERVER REPORT: NORTHFIELD CITY COUNCIL, 2.17.26

6:00 PM – CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA

CALL TO ORDER

Mayor: Zweifel

Councilmembers: Beumer, Dahlen, Holmes, Ness, Peterson White, 

Absent: Sokup

OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT

Community Member Dawnet Jackson and spouse provide letter of information regarding high flooding potential and current damage affecting their backyard. Ongoing development has been negatively impacting their property. Several documents indicate their property has been at risk since 1994. The city has been directing installation of agricultural means, causing a further negative impact on their property. 

Community members request more information about new developments 

Community members provide printed materials available to all council members detailing property impact. 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Ness- Moved

Beumer- Seconded

Majority vote- Passed

PRESENTATIONS

1. 26-105 Zander Abbott, President & CEO of Northfield Hospital and Clinics Update on Pending Action Related to the Purchase of 1400 Jefferson Road from Allina

Health System.

Allina health clinic at 1400 Jefferson Rd pending merger with Northfield Hospital and Clinics. Northfield Hospital and Clinics are currently working with the Board of Trustees for the due diligence of the 1400 Jefferson Rd building. Mr. Abbott proposes a motion for Northfield Clinic to purchase Alina Health Building. The total estimates for the purchase break down to $6 million, $2 million of a down payment, and $4 million back to Allina over a period of 5 years. This merger will strengthen the health of the Northfield community as there is currently a duplication of health services with both the Northfield Hospital and Clinic and Allina Health, but when the Northfield Clinic Hospital opens, it will unite the town and offer better healthcare in one place. There will be no impact to city or school taxes, as the Northfield Hospital and Clinic will pay the taxes going forward. They emphasize the FAQs on their website for information which is continuously updated. Mr. Abbott is planning to come back to the City Council on April 7, 2026 to bring a robust presentation and seek approval for purchase. They are targeting September of 2026 for opening.

Questions:

Council member Beumer: Are there talks with current employees? 

• Mr. Abbott: The Board of Trustees at the hospital have emphasized smooth transition and talks are going very well. They are offering competitive wages for providers and staff. Once the deal gets signed, they can share more.

Council member Dahlen: What is the financial situation?

• Mr. Abbott: there will be an audit for cashflow and the details are being reviewed by the Board of Trustees. The Northfield Clinic and Hospital board found numbers to have a positive operating margin and emphasize being strong and independent in the future.

2. 26-106 Presentation on Youth First Activities

Presenting- Emily Culver, Meleah Follen, Candace Godfrey

Community Impact and Informational Presentation

History and Partnerships Program began in 2015 through collaboration with the City of Northfield, and Healthy Community Initiative. Recently the organizationYouth Prize stepped away from funding this program. The program is actively seeking new funding to make up for the $50,000 shortfall. 

Youth Substance Alliance- In 2025, this program was focused on supporting families through monthly mailings, providing information and encouragement. Additionally, the group is focused on providing mental health training and referrals. A new training course has been offered with around 400 community members already taking part.

The group supports “Be Safe Be Sober” events for youth such as after prom, pledging to stay sober, last day of school events, community events, and naloxone support. 

This upcoming year the group is still focused on anti vaping campaigns, more mailings, mental health first aid trainings, beverage server trainings, QPR trainings, and further advocation for youth health particularly with chemical health
Northfield Community College Collaborative- This initiative partners primarily with Riverland community college and 41 other colleges and universities. In terms of impact, this program has provided youth with 5,951 advising contacts, covered 30,734 postsecondary expenses, and increased financial literacy sessions. In the future this group seeks to add more trainings for staff, CNA grants, library internships, increased financial literacy coursework, and more childcare options will be provided as students attend school 

Opportunity Reboot- This subprogram includes 129 youth. It provides information and support for job access, career readiness, postsecondary exploration, and overall academic support.

Youth on Boards- This group included 90 Northfield youth who serve on local boards, commissions and committees. Highlights this past year- youth toured city hall, city council changed posed public comment rules, representation at winter walk, and youth attended many more community events. In the future, youth will be encouraged to be active in more boards, voter registration initiatives, and the day at the capital event.

Youthbank-  This includes 15 youth who work towards researching public issues and development of fall grants specifically through third spaces. Overall, this group has raised many funds, and since the program began, almost 200,000 dollars have been raised through grants. 

Community members thank the council and community members for supporting this ongoing program. 

3. 26-107 New Ice Arena Construction Progress Update.

Mr. Bennet, the city engineer, is speaking. They broke ground last summer on the new ice arena, and sent thank yous to the community and community organizations. The site is on the corner of Cannon Rd and Honey Locust Drive. The arena includes a parking lot with EV chargers. Some of the rooms within the arena include: lobby, multi purpose room, concessions, skate rental, bathrooms, 5 team rooms, varsity and jv locker rooms for boys and girls, rink box, stands, and maintaining areas to keep athletes and spectators separate. Everything is on one level, to keep it accessible and there is accessible seating (change to floor plan that presentation has as there is a press area where accessible seating flanks it).

Mr. Tyler is speaking. They have not stopped construction this winter, and are currently working on the parking lot (which is 80% done), touching up the asphalt, and HVAC systems being put in. The team rooms are complete. The lobby will be the last stop for construction with plans to wrap up in June. The arena is projected to open in August 2026 and the full opening to the general project will be in September 2026. The arena is currently on track to receive the LEED Silver building certification. They present a solar update wherein Cedar Creek Energy conducted a solar cost-benefit analysis in Feb 2025. Cedar Creek Energy met with Xcel Energy, and they were concerned about meeting capacity. An internal review was submitted in a timely manner, but the final approval is only with Xcel’s determination. They learned that they need to communicate that solar is always pending with Xcel and that is the biggest barrier currently. Things can change with the timeline and system charges/upgrade charges could. The ice arena is projected to stand for 75-100 years. They are aiming for a building that is fully “solar ready”,  and although there was a short-term delay, they are still on track to 2040 climate goals. Xcel is analysing current solutions. Currently, the project contingency is less than 50% usage. The presenters stress that the ice arena is projected to be on-time and under budget.

The presenters show site photos comparing October 2025 and January 2026 renovations including the exterior, refrigeration room, mechanical room, JV bathrooms (includes showers), resurfacer room, varsity locker room, team room, and interior of arena.

Questions:

Question from council member: When can people tour?

• Answer: waiting for site to dry out and be safe to tour, but probably 3rd week of March can start

Question from Beumer: Will they need to purchase renewable offsite?

• Answer: The solar is not tied to LEED Silver

Question from council member: Can you share the minutes of the last meeting on the project?

• Answer: There aren’t minutes

Question from Beumer- Is there a contingency for usage?

• Will provide information when they know more

Question from Dahlen- What is the 3-5 year benchmark?

• Will know in next 30 days from Xcel, so should know more and can update that number then

Question from Beumer- Wants updated financials of operating costs without solar

• Will know in next 30 days

Presenters say that they may bring representatives from both of the entities at the next meeting for more updates and answers to questions.

CONSENT AGENDA

4. 26-108 Consider Approval of February 17, 2026 City Council Meeting Minutes
5. 26-109 Consider Approving Disbursements totaling $2,308,772.07
6. 26-110 Approve Vehicle for Hire License Renewals.
7. 26-111 Approve Refuse License Renewals.
8. 26-112 Consider Approval of Liquor License Renewals.
9. 26-113 Consideration of New Liquor License for El Tequila Northfield Inc. DBA El Tequila at 1010 Highway 3 South.
10. 26-114 Consider a motion approving the lower-potency hemp edible retailer application for Northfield Inc. dba Downtown Tobacco, 429 S. Division Street.
11. 26-115 2025 Fourth Quarter Investment Update
12. Res. 2026-26 Consider Resolution Accepting Gifts Received by the City of Northfield in 2025.
13. Res. 2026-27 Resolution Proclaiming April 24, 2026 as Arbor Day in Northfield.
14. 26-116 Consider Approval of MOU with Three Rivers Community Action/Hiawathaland Transit related to Transit Services in Northfield.
15. 26-117 Consider Approval of Contract for NW Area Trunk Sanitary Sewer Preliminary Design and Environmental Review.
16. 26-118 Consider Approval of Jefferson Parkway Sandstone Street Utility Extension
17. Project Change Order No. 4 – Cold Patching Winter 2025.

Moved- Holmes

Second- Ness

Majority Vote- Passed

17. 26-119 Reports From the Mayor and Council Members.

Ness- 

Attended:

-County Transportation Community

• Discussion of 4 way stop at spring creek and woodley
• Overall the issue has moved to county commissioners

-H-Friendly Meeting

-Chamber Business After Hours- Good overall attendance

Peters- 

Attended:

-Strategic EDA Retreat Planning event

-Hospital Board Meetings- Discussed Zander Abbott, births up 40% in January, good quality birthing health

Beumer – nothing to report

Dahlen – nothing to report

Holmes- 

Attended 

-Planning Meeting- Discussed Approved Variance Request- for additional clearance in grading 

-Parks, Spaces Group- Discussed a desire of the planning commission to figure out new developments and ensuring land and funds 

-Transportation and Ditch Committee- similar notes to Councilmember Ness

-Carleton College had an open house for designs/plans/project managers to alter the current Hiwatha stop 

Mayor Zweifel 

Attended 

-Mayors Youth Boards all Boards

-discussed ice arena, congestion, access to solar energy, and the city’s climate action plans

18. Consider Amendments to 8.06 Sustainable Building Policy.

This is a conversation follow up from Qs from the last meeting. The main goals of the Climate Action Plan: 1) decreasing greenhouse gas emissions 2) become more resilient to changing climate. In Northfield, the energy used in buildings has the greatest amount of greenhouse gas emissions, so they want to prioritize building strategies. Current buildings that are already doing good in this Climate Action Plan are the Kraewood flats, transit hub, babcock park, and northfield ice arena. The cost of construction for passive houses has 5-7% incremental construction costs in MN, but this number continues to decline. The cost differential is 13% for large multifamily homes based on passive house multifamily projects. The presenter gives the SBP policy summary. For the short term amendment there is a proposed language change for the current amendment starting with “Beginning March 3, 2026…..”. They are posing a solution to add administrative flexibility to not be required to come before city council to ensure a more fluid process.

Motion for a Policy Amendment following no questions

Moved – Holmes

Second- Beumer

Comments: 

Beumer wants a cost-analysis and recommends using dollar amounts (hard data for costs), not percentages for longevity

Mayor Zweifel thanks the presenter for the quick turn around on presentation following questions from the last meeting and she counters Beumer’s comment by saying that she is also interested in the cost life cycle numbers.

All council members are in support.

19. Consider Resolution Supporting County-Wide Trail Plan for Rice County

PW Director and City Engineer Bennet- Resolution prepared to increase trail initiatives

Community Member- Commissioner Malica

• Discussed rural county-wide trail plans, reviewing maps, public engagement, and soliciting feedback about increasing county-wide trail system
• This plan is a work in progress, and at a later date, this project will continue being developed and will be presented again. The plan is anticipated to take 6-8 Months. 
• To reach the goals, construction would be best suited to be implemented as roads come up for repair or replacement in the 10 year plan
• Updated trail proposals propose connecting county cities, county parks, and other rural communities; there are several versions.

Administrator Martig 

Comments- Urbanized areas create challenges speaking and negotiating with property owners. In a rural area, what are strategies to mitigate these concerns? 

Answer: Information included in county plan to provide screening, minimized trail encroachment, and other techniques will be provided in the proposed plan

Community Member Comments/ Commissioner Malica- 

In the commissioner and community members respective precincts, clean lakes/rivers/parks and trails are essential to their communities. Though the community members empathize with rural property owners, they value the overall success and vision of the trail system. Community members need and are asking for these advanced trails. There are several opportunities and formats for trails, and the community member looks forward to beginning this process and involving the community. The member worked with the previous Miltowns trail, and in the end, it was a successful trail, even given the public pushback.

Moved- Peters

Second- Beumer

Discussion 

Peters- Appreciates public engagement, trail initiative, and the goal to connect all residents in Rice County

Ness- Echoes appreciation

Holmes- Echoes thanks again and states her support and appreciates the ongoing vision 

Zweifel- Appreciates connections between municipalities, connecting to parks will be strategic, positions rice county well for positive economic impact, is grateful for a plan that the council can continue to plan for, appreciates the approach to maintain least intrusive and safe options

Majority Vote- Passes

20. Review and Discuss Local Option Sales Tax – Riverfront Park Projects Scoping and Related Topics.

City administrator Martig is the presenter. Currently building a larger education campaign on this topic, but there is a tight window from Sept-Nov. At the end of Jan the council approved the resolution and a legislative request was submitted. Kristi Pursell is considering this bill that is in progress in the MN House and Senate. This could become an omnibus bill, which would then end up bringing it back to the city council. The strategic priority is to improve financial strength and revenue diversification. This bill also aligns with the comprehensive plan with capital budgeting, decision-making matrix, etc. About 40% of local sales tax will come from non-Northfield residents through tourism. There are three projects in the resolution for essential CIP costs: NCRC, Library, and Riverfront Park Projects. One issue is on estimated revenue and they need to fine-tune as the dollar amounts don’t always add up, did some rounding-up to increase flexibility, but need to build up contingencies for debt. 

Martig says that they will focus on the Regional Parks Projects tonight. The reasoning is that they want to create a vision of a regional park system that might increase grant packages and increase tourism with outdoor opportunities. Martig refers back to the Riverfront Enhancement Plan with specific projects (Lions Park, Riverside Park, Sechler Park, New Downtown bathrooms, East Riverwalk Access Stairs, West Riverwalk trail extension, Trail Connection West, wayfinding & site improvements). 

One priority is for restroom facilities (such as the Lions Park restroom and pavilion) that do not currently meet the accessibility ADA standards and they noted that a study found that 40% of visitors to Northfield rated the restrooms “poor”. 

The East Riverwalk Access Stairs need improvement. 

The trail connection west project could be done in conjunction with another trail where there is a dead-end.

Sechler Park could benefit from more tournaments that would bring more revenue such as pickleball and parking, but probably won’t fit into this project.

Ames Park improvements need to be determined, but paused currently

West riverwalk needs improvement and they want people of all abilities to use it

All projects above would apply to state grants

Martig shows photos of current trail degradation and a map of the 2032 bridge project, could put up signs to show people what is public property. Looking for immediate feedback because within the next 30 days they want it to be refined, pending legislative approval, and offers other members to provide feedback tonight

Questions:

Council member Ness: Is it the $7 million on all of the projects? (in table)

• Yes, might be getting us there

Council member Beumer: If we get it through and do a referendum, each project will be listed separately. Will it be all or nothing? (Beumer says that he’s speaking for people who are watching)

• Each project will be voted on individually, own project dollar maximums. They each stand on their own. Law has changed, and now there should be clearer language that citizens should understand

Council member Beumer: If we want to sell to the public, we should be sure to be clear. He refers back to the jail referendum which didn’t go well

• Will educate voters on facts, not vote “yes” or “no” like in schools

Council member Beumer: can we help people understand what a “yes” or “no” vote means

• Yes

Council member Ness: is it possible to put a photo of things falling apart in the voter booth?

• City clerk says probably no

Council member Holmes: What will be the cost?

• Preliminary analysis is being done. Staff are talking about out-of-pocket costs and are developing how they will have to cover it

Council member Holmes: Is there voter data? Feels like we’re throwing noodles at the wall and watching if they’re going to stick? Do we have time to go to the voters?

• NCRC and Library projects are already understood relatively well. With tight turnaround, it would be good to get more understanding from voters

Final comments:

Council member Beumer: Put out a list to voters and see which projects they want more and support better

Council member Holmes: Have posters out that have QR codes for people to add their own thoughts on the project. States her final comment that marketing voters as we don’t have a story to tell voters at the moment because we need more clarity and not a laundry list of things we need to do. Need simplifying for voters and members. If it passes, there is a long-term strategic perspective that is missing.

21. City Administrator’s Update.

Council Report Related to four way stop- administrator unable to attend, but council members in attendance

• Scheduled to be reviewed on Transportation agenda next Tuesday

Legislative updates-

• Reviewed sales tax information within meeting
• Next steps on bonding bills are in review
• Capital Day for cities is next week
• Election preparations- work session is being scheduled
• Discussion of onboarding, education for general public within elections

Concludes Update

Motion to Adjourn

Moved- Ness

Seconded- Beaumeer

Majority Vote- Passed

Meeting adjourned 8:29pm