City Council

City Hall City of Northfield 801 Washington Street Northfield, MN 55057 ci.northfield.mn.us Meeting Minutes - Final City Council Tuesday, June 9, 2020 6:00 PM Council Chambers 6:00 PM - REGULAR AGENDA CALL TO ORDER Mayor Pownell called the meeting to order at 6:01 pm. Present: 7- Council Member David DeLong, Council Member Clarice Grabau, Council Member Suzie Nakasian, Council Member Brad Ness, Council Member Jessica Peterson White, Council Member Erica Zweifel, and Mayor Rhonda Pownell APPROVAL OF AGENDA Mayor Pownell noted the supplemental memo items and the one recommended change to the agenda to remove item #5 - Consider Resolution of Support for police and criminal justice legislative reforms. A motion was made by Council Member Nakasian, seconded by Council Member Peterson White, to approve the agenda as amended by removing item #5 from the agenda. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7- C. DeLong, C. Grabau, C. Nakasian, C. Ness, C. Peterson White, C. Zweifel, and Mayor Pownell REGULAR AGENDA 1. 20-287 Presentation of the City of Northfield Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for the Year Ended December 31, 2019. Finance Director Angelstad introduced Tom Olinger, Governmental Service Partner, Abdo Eick & Meyers. Olinger Noted a clean opinion on the audit this year, with all audit work done remotely. Olinger thanked Finance for their cooperation and helping make it a smooth process. Olinger reviewed the General Fund results, other Governmental Funds, Enterprise Funds, and Ratios. Noted there were fewer adjustments this year than previous years. Olinger and Angelstad answered questions posed by Council. 2. 20-288 Discussion of Utility Franchise Fees for Gas and Electric. City Administrator Martig introduced this item. Doug Green, Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors, provided an overview of franchise fees and implementation for the City's consideration and discussion. Reviewed comparable cities, advantages and disadvantages, implementation options, bonding options, franchise fee revenue requirements, projected franchise fee revenue, assessments versus franchise fees, impacts on users, options and policy direction, recommendations, and tentative timelines. Green and Martig answered questions posed by Council. Council provided feedback related to engagement of users, options 2A & 2B, defining of use of the alternative revenue source, affordability of fees spread out over time versus special assessments at larger amounts at one time, feedback on a lower rate, climate goals incorporated in options, being transparent with the public on what we are using the fee City of Northfield Page 1 Printed on 7/31/2020 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final June 9, 2020 for, setting higher rates if additional items were wanted, rebating franchise fees to anyone having a current assessment, and refining details at a later date. 3. Res. 2020-055 Consider alternative options for the Memorial Pool for the 2020 Summer Season due to COVID-19. Facilities Manager Dwelle introduced this item and provided information on options for the 2020 Memorial Pool Season. Dwelle noted the Governor's orders have changed and pools are now allowed to open on June 10 at 50% capacity. City Administrator Martig reviewed financial projections. Dwelle and Martig answered questions posed by Council. Mayor Pownell noted there were 26 public comments received and distributed with the supplemental memo and posted on the City's website. Pownell noted two additional comments were received after the memo was distributed. Pownell read the comments from Solvei Christopherson and Sara French in support of opening the pool. A motion was made by Council Member Ness, seconded by Council Member Nakasian, to approve Resolution 2020-055 - Authorizing a Budget Amendment for the Operations of Memorial Pool with Alternative 1C. A motion was made by Council Member DeLong, seconded by Council Member Zweifel, to amend the resolution by adding Be it Further Resolved that staff brings back a fee schedule before opening the pool and such fee schedule to include a non resident fee. The motion failed by the following vote: Yes: 3 - C. DeLong, C. Ness, C. Zweifel No: 4 - C. Grabau, C. Nakasian, C. Peterson White, and Mayor Pownell The motion on Resolution 2020-055 carried by the following vote: Yes: 6- C. DeLong, C. Grabau, C. Nakasian, C. Ness, C. Peterson White, and Mayor Pownell No: 1- C. Zweifel 4. 20-289 Consideration of downtown public right of way changes including streets and parking to accommodate user changes related to COVID-19 community mitigation measures. City Administrator Martig introduced this item and reviewed the proposed options. Public Works Director/City Engineer Bennett noted Option C would have the least impacts on businesses and deliveries. Chief Nelson stated concerns about not having input from a broad base of businesses. Nelson provided information about a call he participated in where 6-7 businesses provided input on the potential closures. Nelson spoke about traffic flow on the bridge, impacts to westside businesses, fire response concerns and noted if closing the bridge, Fourth Street should be closed to Division Street. Nelson, Martig and Bennett answered questions posed by Council. A motion was made by Council Member Peterson White, seconded by Council Member Zweifel, to direct staff to prepare a plan to enact a temporary experimental closure through the end of July of the Water Street/Fourth Street Bridge, Water Street from Fourth Street to the Post Office (portion of Water Street between Bridge Square and the river), and Fourth Street from the bridge to Division Street (sections A, B & C noted on the presentation map). The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 4- C. Grabau, C. Nakasian, C. Peterson White, and C. Zweifel City of Northfield Page 2 Printed on 7/31/2020 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final June 9, 2020 No: 3- C. DeLong, C. Ness, and Mayor Pownell Enactment No: M2020-072 ADJOURN A motion was made by Council Member Ness, seconded by Council Member DeLong, to adjourn the meeting at 9:52 pm. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6 - C. DeLong, C. Grabau, C. Nakasian, C. Ness, C. Peterson White, and Mayor Pownell Note: C. Zweifel was present, but missed in the roll call vote. City of Northfield Page 3 Printed on 7/31/2020