Observer Report: Northfield City Council, 6.2.26

Open Public Comment

• In the upcoming budget working meeting, we should look at what we can actually achieve.

Agenda Approval – approved

Presentation

Annual Police Report

Chief Schroepfer: Preliminary report as our office is still compiling numbers. Last year was the first time we did a digital presentation rather than a print report. Numbers should still be pretty to close to what I’ll send out to you. Calls for service we saw a 9.5% decrease from 2024 to 2025, 15.6% decrease over 5-year trend. While calls are decreasing, time on calls are increasing. Top five calls for service in category include medical (5%), suspicious (2.7%), alarms (1.9%), public assist (1.6%), and animal (1.5%). Traffic stop numbers have a 7% increase from 2024, and 2025 is a 5-year high for traffic stops. During the pandemic there was a decrease, so enforcement has increased as people returned. Effect of stops on traffic safety and visibility is important. Citations are down by 12% from 2024. In my experience, warnings don’t change driving behavior as well as citations, others have different takes. Top traffic offenses are speeding (24%), insurance (23%), etc. Accidents are unfortunately up, 7.8% increase. A lot of this increase, especially in the last couple years, distracted driving is up, cell phone use is up. Crime itself is down, which is great, 10% decrease from 2024. Top five crimes, the biggest one in Northfield is theft (27%) and then assaults (125 in 2025). There is no drug paraphernalia law anymore, as the legalization of marijuana law was enacted, so that category is not used anymore. DWIs, we had 84 offences, although we only had 45 incidents. DWIs usually include two charges, so that’s why you have the disparity there. Mental health calls continue to have a steep upward increase, 139 calls in 2025. This goes back to the time spent on calls, a theft call might be 10 minutes while a mental health call could be something like 3 hours. It also is increasing training, and staff needs and very time consuming. Generally, we anywhere between 21 and 26 officers, as of today, we’re at 23 which is 3 below our official capacity. Terminations are not just firing, but also includes people leaving to other agencies, retiring, etc. Changes in new squad graphics. While it is a change, the only thing I’ll mention, while it is a change in graphics, it wasn’t an increase in cost, we would have had to do the old graphic anyway. Interview room was remodeled last year, usually we’re investigating child sex crimes, and we worked with the sexual assault organization and Hope Center and they got a grant and covered all the costs. A huge difference there, and after they did ours they did some county ones, etc. Life Saving Awards were given out to five officers last July. A couple more were given for a St. Olaf response. Officer Steve Klostermeier retired after 22 years. Going back to mental health calls, he was one of those guys who had a knack for talking to people in crisis and was a good peer counseling within the department. He’ll definitely be missed. Sergeant Jesse Cordova completed 30 years in the city of Northfield as well, pretty impressive to have a record like that.

• CM Sokup: How do you qualify a mental health call versus a call more concerned about threatening other around that person?
• Chief Schroepfer: It’s a little bit of an art…I’ll use the example of a domestic disturbance call, because we could get there and find that it is more of a mental health concern. We would change that call coding if it ended up being something else once we arrive, to reflect better if it is truly a mental health or domestic disturbance.
• CM Sokup: Are you seeing in conjunction with other cities or counties that those things are also going up?
• Chief Schroepfer: I would say generally the trend is the same, I would say the one difference is the two colleges, we are responding to things there. That could be drug things, it could be stress, or, I hate to say run of the mill, but generally mental health calls, medication issues. We are trying to combat it, we have a community-based responder through the county who will accompany us on calls, and he’s been doing great work. We do have that resource through the county to help officers respond to these calls.

First Quarter Financial & Investment Update

Angelstad: This is the standard report prepared by Abdo, it’s the same format they use for other cities. We are down, from 1^st quarter to year-end, 4 million, which is expected. Year over year, we are at a net zero, we get our money and then spend it. We expect to be on track, some of these negatives are just seasonal based on when we receive and pay out funds. With the MN Paid Leave program, we budgeted it all in HR, but now it is going through each department, so those favorable or unfavorable visuals will be off. Capital projects are up and water we sold, and the Ice Arena, all will eventually return to normal.

The investment report is also prepared by PFM and includes a market update, account summary, and portfolio review. This is a standard report that they prepare for all their customers. In the core portfolio, we have 25 million. The large, ~80%, is the US Treasury which is the safest. Minnesota statue is pretty restrictive on what cities can invest in. Compared to the benchmark that we’re using, we’re slightly better than the benchmark.

Consent Agenda – passed

Public Hearings and Related Action

Public Hearing for Ordinance 1094 Vacating a Drainage and Utility Easement within 2420 Bridgewater Ln.

• Ms. Schmidt: Timeline anticipated, tonight we’re having our first reading. Second reading is planned for June 16^th, following we would publish to the newspaper and then 30 days after the ordinance would take effect. 2420 is the plot, on the border between Northfield and Dundas. This is one step of approval that the developer has asked the city for. Also requested is an agreement with Northfield and Dundas to maintain drainage and utility rights. The developer has applied to annex the property into the city of Dundas. Northfield would still have rights through storm water runoff. Parcel B, on the border, has the easement to be vacated and is to be annexed. We would have a new parcel within the city, Parcel A. We’re working in coordination with the city of Dundas and the developer so that all of those things can come on the same night. We can do this by resolution and it would all be coordinated so that nobody gets approval without all of the others. It would also go to the district court judge for approval.
• Paul Ryland(sp?): Representing GM2. I would just like to share that there would be connectivity, a private drive, that would go through to the Maurice’s parking lot. The cul-de-sac is required because of a need to be adjacent to a public street. We are working with staff to increase pedestrian safe routes. On the parcel that is being annexed would be a car wash, and then on the third lot would be a Mexican fast-casual. The other two we are still considering. Are there any questions for the applicant?
• No public Comment
• No Council Comments

Consider the Ordinance:

• CM Beumer: Move ordinance 1094. [Peterson White seconds]
• No comments. Motion passes.

Reports from Mayor and Councilmembers

CM Holmes: May 21^st we had Planning Commission hearing and heard from staff on updates for the Archer. This week it will be going to HBC, then somewhere for height ordinance, and eventually come back to Planning Commission. I think people are excited about the updates and that it will meet a lot of our goals. Yesterday we had a meeting for Adm. Martig’s review and are moving in a good direction.

CM Dahlen: I second the reports from CM Holmes, nothing else to add.

CM Beumer: We had the beyond the yellow ribbon picnic following the memorial service. We had around 175+ show up. Great turnout, beautiful day, the ceremony, so thanks to everyone who attended.

CM Sokup: I plugged this last time not realizing the date, but pride in the park is this Saturday and I hope you all can make it.

CM Peterson White: I attended a committee meeting for Northfield Hospital and Clinics where we reviewed our priorities and recommitted to working on mental health support. That is a difficult issue, as we heard, but an important thing to collaborate on in order to improve community health. Also attended a hospital board meeting where the plans for the acquisition of Alina Clinic, everything is moving forward as expected. I also want to thank city staff for all the work they did on Division Street for Pride.

CM Ness: Intergovernmental meeting with other townships. Townships talk about roads and cities talk about streets and developments. Rice County held a meeting at the Weitz center, the state demographer and the another state official. It was very interesting about what’s happening with the population outlook. She was pretty sure it would be heading in a downward direction. I too was at the Council Employment and the Yellow Ribbon. Chamber of Commerce Hospitality Awards also happened, congratulations to those.

Mayor Zweifel: Attended the memorial day ceremony, it’s always done so well and I appreciate the work. Also attended the state demographer and economist presentation, and their presentations are on the Rice County website. I will be giving the welcome at Pride, so very excited. I threw out the first pitch at Carleton’s Rotblatt.

Regular Agenda

Consider Resolution Receiving Charter Amendment to Section 4.1 of the City Charter and Calling for a Public Hearing on Charter Amendment Proposed to be Adopted by Ordinance.

• Adm. Martig: With the charter committee calling for this, we have an obligation to call for a public hearing. The timing would allow this to go into effect with the new council. Intent is to give a brief overview of what it is, but focus questions and more details on the public hearing in July. It would require unanimous of councilmembers, so we’re checking schedules.
• Chair of Charter Commission CC Lindstroth: At May 14^th, the Charter Commission approved an approved amendment to the Charter regarding the oath of office. I am here to ask the city council to being their process for moving forward with the amendment.
• Adm. Martig: The action that would be recommended would be to approve the agenda item.
• Mayor Zweifel: We will have the opportunity to deliberate and discuss at the public hearing in July.
• Motion passes.

Consideration of Second Reading of Ordinance No. 1093 Amending Section 2-66 of City Code Relating to 2027 and 2028 Mayor and City Council Compensation.

• Adm. Martig: No staff report. Our standard would have been to put this on the consent agenda, but because there was dissent last time we put it on the regular agenda.
• CM Peterson White: Nothing additional to say, we had a very thorough conversation last week.
• CM Beumer: Nothing to add.
• CM Ness: I was one of those who brought that off the consent agenda but put some more thought into the money. I would be voting against this.
• CM Dahlen: Motion to amend that all salaries remain the same.
• CM Dahlen: I would just reiterate that it’s just good fiscal duty policy to wait until we have the budget for 2027 and then deal with our own salaries. The only way to depoliticize it would be to use an independent review committee.
• Mayor Zweifel: I said this last time but will say it again. I was part of the council before we had this process and the since we had the process where we linked the council wages to an inflation index. And they are delayed a year. It is linked to something already decided. That really depoliticized it, having been a councilmember before and after. The equity part of it, that might not make a difference for any of us on the council, but it might make a difference for someone wanting to do this service and needing child care, etc.
• CM Peterson White: Since we have this amendment, I will try to respond. The equity and inclusion argument is the most important part of this. Having gone through several cycles since this process was included, there is a difference in the discourse over having a known metric rather than every year having a conversation about compensation for elected officials. I am very happy to be having this conversation now, what I am not interested in is this piece of the budget becoming a point of grandstanding, I don’t think that is happening now, but it being part of the whole budget process. I acknowledge CM Ness’s point about saving this amount across departments, but I think it is important to look at it holistically. If we don’t make it possible for people of all different backgrounds to do this work and walks of life, we will only have people of a certain demographic doing this work. I reject the norm that all elected officials have to be independently wealthy, and I think we can do better in Northfield.
• CM Sokup: I agree with this idea that it would be worthwhile in the future to have an independent body look at compensation of officials in Northfield. I would be really surprised if they don’t think we should be compensated more. But I don’t think the way forward in the meantime is to freeze compensation. There are conversations we can have about where to scale back or pause, but I don’t see any way for me where I would say that should be compensation for labor.
• CM Holmes: I alluded to this fact last time, my financials are not anyone’s business, but I will say that this does factor into my decision to run again. Because I could be making more doing something else in my professional life, and I have a family to provide for. I would also be happy to have an independent group look on it. This money that we’re voting on, I will not get, but I do want to speak for those in the future. Cost of living, property taxes, fuel, groceries, that is real and this small increase is important to keep pace. Just as we want to retain city employees, we want to retain great public servants.
• CM Dahlen: I wish we could have this discussion once we had the budget in front of us. There is something about this being a 3% or 4% increase and those are real numbers for people. I met with some people this morning, and increases in spending and taxes are real to people. I’m not just uncomfortable with the number, I’m also uncomfortable with the process and that we are in charge of our own compensation.
• Mayor Zweifel: I will say that the Council brought forward this motion.
• CM Peterson White: A suggestion that I don’t take this work seriously is bizarre and unnecessary.
• Role call: amendment fails.
• Original motion: passes, 5/7…
• Adm. Martig: The vote you just passed required four, the next one requires 6.

Consideration of Summary Publication of Ordinance No. 1093 Amending Section 2-66 of City Code Relating to 2027 and 2028 Mayor and City Council Compensation

• CM Peterson White: Just to clarify, since we’re talking process. Just to reiterate since we have the city attorney and administrator. Can you clarify if during the budget process, if there is an urgent need to repurpose or reallocate these funds as part of the budget process, what would that entail?
• Adm. Martig: The law does allow for one-time reduction if needed, but you can’t go back up.
• CM Ness: This item takes, 6, correct?
• Adm. Martig: Yes, and one other thing. State statute dictates that increases to salaries need to be done before elections, so that is why you can’t wait till you have the budget. In the future, certainly open to initiating it earlier.
• Mayor Zweifel: What happens if the summary publication fails?
• Adm. Martig: We are saving some dollars by doing a summary publication, it doesn’t have the full write out.
• Mayor Zweifel: If we don’t do the summary publication, it would cost the city more money.
• CM Ness; Because the previous second hearing passed, I will vote yes on the summary publication.
• Attorney: Clarifying, voting yes on the summary publication does not change your vote on the actual ordinance.
• Motion carries.

Discussion of naming of Cannon River Regional Park and Related Preliminary Application for Designation with the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission.

• Adm. Martig: Staff is proposing a naming of the Cannon River Regional Park to allow the parks along the Cannon river in Northfield and Dundas as a unit. This would not change ownership, regulation, operation, or upkeep of the parks. All of the sub park names would remain under the Cannon River Regional Park umbrella name. Similar things have been done by other municipalities. I had conversations with counterparts in Dundas and they were interested. Main tangible benefit is the opportunity for more significant grants. State Capital funding can be used for regional parks, and some of that is simply available through the naming. Federal recognition grants also have an impact. From my viewpoint, we could get assistance from the state and federal levels to maintain parks, relieving tax burden.
• Jacobson: This was a recommendation that came from the River Park action plan. We had pursued it for a year and then tabled it. Now is a great opportunity to pick it back up. Designation application process is really three pieces. The first piece is to have this initial screening. Working with their coordinator and director, they want us to be successful. The designation has various categories and we are being recommended to go into it based on natural resource-based park. For us to submit, we have a master plan for the whole geography in their format. That would be more complicated, but we’ve already begun some of that process a couple years ago. Third piece is the funding and grant piece. They have a fairly robust account, between $10 and $15 million, and they were very encouraging about us going forward with this.
• Adm. Martig: We coordinated their visit with a designation for wilderness areas in the county. This is the first step, the step two might have added cost, but we’re just asking for the first step which has no cost.
• Jacobson: I’m not really sure that local citizens are aware of exactly what you own and the amenities that exist in this corridor. It’s not about land acquisition, but about visibility and access. There is a lot of this connection with nature, no child left inside, these ideas we’ve talked about on bringing people to the amenities and assets you already have. Playing off the armature of the connections we have, the many trails, a big part of this is to create these loop connections and people engaged with the river itself. Lots about interpretation, wildlife refuge, etc. A mantra for me, in this case you really bring the Northfield locals to this, the regional will take care of itself.
• CM Sokup: About the process, just curious what the council’s engagement would be in the future? Beyond tonight, if the ranking came back as high, and you need a master plan, how would the council be involved? How much is staff led and how much is council?
  • Adm. Martig: The action today, any feedback you have, we’d bring forward. It’d be one-step at a time. Pre-application is only things that we’ve done and things that exist today. Then they give feedback which we would share with you and we would not go any further unless you want us to, with due diligence about costs, criteria, or requirements. They do have criteria about public engagement and master plans for all parks, but we would not do anything without your go-ahead.
• • Jacobson: For the next council meeting, it would require a resolution, and they have a form for that. We would have a pre-meeting packet that has all the information of the application. We expect to get a high rating and there is a lot of detail and we would prepare that whole kit and share that will you. They’re coordinator and executive direction would help us through every step of that. We would share as much of the information before it got sent, so you can see where we’re heading. The master plan part, they have examples on their website, but it’s similar to what we’ve done int eh past for some. I think we can play off the current 2022 Parks CIP, because it has a lot of detailed information. We’re not starting from scratch. Most of it is getting it into their format.
• • Adm. Martig: They distribute $14 -15 million to regional parks every year. There are some things we might not be eligible for, but we’ll get the details to you.
• • Mayor Zweifel: We’ve talked about relocating the compost site, for years, and having a campsite there. Could that be layered in here or would we have to wait? And you mentioned the 2022 park plan, which states that our current parks are not very equitable, so how would this move us forward with our equity goals.
• • Jacobson: That is one of their major criteria and it comes back to access. How accessible is the river and where is it accessible. How can we get people of all ages to engage with this asset. They have specific criteria about equity and demographics.
• • Adm. Martig: We’d like to hear from the council, on that equity piece, on what might engagement look like. I think this initial phase, we basically just submit what exists today, but they are aware that we might be discussing things. The compost site is part of the area and we could put that that is under review.
• • CM Holmes: I am supportive of this and the vision of this, and I want to thank Mr. Jacobson for looking into it and being our leader for strategic parks. I would also want to explore, separate from this, but I think this opens the door for something much bigger, is there an opportunity for a much larger park region in collaboration with Dundas. I say this because Dundas was very happy to share in the Arena, because they have families using those facilities. I know there are other activities that are shared between the two. We know there are Dundas families who use Northfield facilities, and with the trails and nature sites as well…I wonder if there is a bigger, longer-term and look at all of our parks, open spaces, and recreation so that we can work on this together, and share challenges and burdens, but also success. I would be very interested and happy to help move that forward, I would be more than willing to put effort and energy into that.
• • Jacobson: Brancock park was also mentioned as a trailhead, at one point, but that idea, of coming here to participate in the Cannon River area. There is a regional aspect that is worth exploring.
• • Adm. Martig: Mr. Jacobson is getting a light ahead, that was an idea that was shared.
• • CM Beumer: Just wanted to let you know that I am for this, don’t really have any particular questions but anytime we can do something that allows up a better chance at grant applications, it seems like a no-brainer. It is super helpful to know that Dundas is on-board.
• • Adm. Martig: Just to clarify, that was just with the mayor and administrator.
• • CM Peterson White: This is really exciting. As someone who regularly interacts with tourists in downtown, one of the things that makes Northfield attractive is that we have this great downtown that has such amazing green spaces and how accessible our natural spaces are, but also the many things we have going on downtown. One thing that I frequently hear is why isn’t there a campground in this town, so I would think that is something that is worth pursuing there.
• • CM Ness; I am very much for this also, I used to ride that loop on a bicycle and you wouldn’t know that there are some hills on that trail, but it only makes sense.
• • CM Sokup: I’m a big fan of this, I would love for more people in town have more access to the river. I feel really lucky that I grew up two blocks from the river, but also didn’t realize then that most people didn’t grow up hanging out at the river.
  • CM Dahlen: Thank you Mr. Jacobson and Adm. Martig.

Discussion Regarding Early Voting Administration Following Adoption of State Legislation

• Ms. Peterson: Currently, legislation was passed that changes timelines. We cannot do this unless we cancel this contract with Rice County, leaving it at 46 days, which they do supplement with $22,000. We would have to make a decision by June 12^th if we want to terminate that contract and go to 18 days only. Lakeville just did transfer to the 18 days, Bloomington is also considering it. Basically, it is just discussion, if you want to stick with the 46 days, nothing would change. If you did want to change to 18 days, you would have to motion. With the deadline of the 12^th, it wouldn’t be really challenging to make that change. Getting a majority of the council to want to do that, would be helpful. Might be a conversation for new sessions. We are very cautious on the idea, but would defer to the council.
• CM Ness: My guess is, Rice County would not give us $22,000 for an 18 day.
• Ms. Peterson: This legislation is just for cities administrating their own, so we would not be able to do the entire county and would not receive any money from county.
• CM Ness: So savings would be minimal, we’d be spending but not getting reimbursed.
• Mayor Zweifel: So if we don’t do the voting…anyone in Rice County can come, as it is set up now…so people would have to go to Faribault. Counties have to be open the 46 days, so anyone would have to go to Faribault. They could request an absentee ballot and that does start 46 days prior.
• CM Peterson White: Do you have any sense of how much of the early voting happens in the 18 days before the election?
• Ms. Peterson: I did ask county for that data, but haven’t gotten the data yet. Just from past experience, it is the majority.
• Adm. Martig: Recognizing that there is a lot of downtime, we do have side projects for our elections workers.
• Ms. Peterson: Yes, the last 18 days, there is a state mandate that we have to have three people there, because it is more the flow of election day. We will have poll pads, so it won’t be the same as election day but very similar.
• CM Peterson White: Can the administrator and city clerk give us a sense of the considerations of staffing, work load, special projects, etc. or other things that might be affected?
• Ms. Peterson: We have a good system in place. We do give them filler projects and have a good workflow, if they need help, they come get us. They’re doing the voting, so we’re still doing our daily tasks. We do help them open and close in the morning, expect if they get very busy. Staffing wise, we have some great people who are excited to work and they do great with the residents. If we didn’t do the 46 days, I do think there would be a lot of voter confusion, just for the fact that we do the entire county, but I think just this last notice and people used to it. We even get some people from Faribault come and vote.
• Mayor Zweifel: If we did do the 18, we would need a communication plan, would that be on the city or the county? And, the pop up at Carleton, would that be affected?
• Ms. Peterson: The Carleton pop-up would be within the 18 days. In regards to the communication plan, we’d work together with the county and we’d put out PSAs and on the website. I don’t know if they would publicize in the paper, it would definitely be on the Secretary of State’s website.
• Adm. Martig: Some of this is opinion, this kind of snuck up on me. At a Dakota meeting, this was not on the radar and made it hard to react and get this on your agenda. Just disclosure on that. Based on my observations and communications with other administrators. I think it’s a good conversation to have, I do think extended periods of time are good and increasing access. It is also important to consider the data, opening so early and having staff and workloads. I would prefer a state-wide policy. I would be encouraged by a shorter time period, but the timing and the county makes a difference. With the population of the county, if the law stays the same, it would be good to have a conversation with the county about having a place in town, regardless of whether we’re running it or them. But the timing for this election is a bit close. We can certainly explore that if you are interested.
• CM Holmes: In reading the report, I am also interested in seeing longer-term what makes more sense and return on our investment of time and energy. The fact that this comes 14 days before early voting starts is not great, so I would support the 46 days for now and exploring something different later.
• CM Dahlen: It’s a wonderful memo from staff and I support option 1, 46 days.
• CM Beumer: It’s way too short to change it up. I’m not ruling it out for the next election cycle, I think we should have a conversation about it at some point. But they’re gonna be two primaries here locally and we’d just be asking for trouble if we tried to change it up.
• CM Ness: I think it is too late to change, we’d have some angry people who’d think they could vote 46 days. I think it should be programmed in for February or March.
• CM Peterson White: Here here.
• CM Sokup: I agree with what everyone else has said.
• Mayor Zweifel: I agree as well and I look forward to a discussion later about optimizing voting window.

Administrator’s update

Adm. Martig: Nothing tonight.

Adjourned: 8:06