City Council

City Hall City of Northfield 801 Washington Street Northfield, MN 55057 ci.northfield.mn.us Meeting Minutes - Final City Council Tuesday, January 11, 2022 6:00 PM Council Chambers Work Session 6:00 PM - REGULAR AGENDA CALL TO ORDER Mayor Pownell called the meeting to order at 6:04 p.m. Council Member Suzie Nakasian appeared via interactive television technology due to out of town travel. Present: 6 - Council Member Clarice Grabau, Council Member Suzie Nakasian, Council Member Brad Ness, Council Member Jessica Peterson White, Mayor Rhonda Pownell, and Council Member Jami Reister Absent: 1 - Council Member George Zuccolotto REGULAR AGENDA 1. 22-014 Presentation by the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities (CGMC) Related to Membership and Benefits. Administrator Ben Martig introduced the item and introduced Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities (CGMC) representative Shane Zahrt with Flaherty and Hood and President of CGMC Mayor Pat Baustian from the City of Luverne. Zahrt and Baustian presented background information on the CGMC membership and benefits. Zahrt and Baustian answered questions from the Council. This item will be on the next Council agenda for consideration. 2. 22-015 Discuss Planning Commission Request for Response to Preliminary Plat Action. Community Development Director Mitzi Baker and City Administrator Ben Martig introduced the item. The Council discussed procedures related to recommendations from boards/commissions for preparation and delivery of a written response. If deviate from recommendations include findings of why. clear of planning commission role versus staff. Look at planning commission recommendations first then staff recommendations or both together? Write separate written response to PC from Council after response is made to PC. Staff memo and resolution. - no separate response. This request - staff memo and resolution are adequate to say why council did what they did. Anything else drawn up? Existing staff memo and resolution. Have PC write down what they recommend. Existing staff memo and existing resolution from CC to PC. Look at ways to improve in future. Recess Council recessed at 7:33 p.m. Council meeting resumed at 7:40 p.m. 3. 22-016 Review of Redistricting Process Including City Process for City of Northfield Page 1 Printed on 2/16/2022 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final January 11, 2022 Establishment or Re-Establishment of Election Precincts, Designation of Polling Places and Confirmation or Redefinition of Ward Districts. City Clerk Lynette Peterson introduced the item. Peterson discussed timelines, basic principles, considerations, current year census data, preliminary recommendations, and next steps. City Administrator Martig added some further context into the process and what was looked at by staff. The Council was given the opportunity to ask questions and add input. Peterson and Martig answered questions. 4. 22-017 Update and discussion on Board and Commission Governance Effectiveness Review. Interim Deputy Clerk/Administrative Associate Sara Hoffman and City Administrator Ben Martig introduced the item and presented information on Board/Commission Governance Effectiveness. Hoffman initiated a Poll Everywhere to poll the Council on some board/commission issues. Council Members commented on the process. Work will continue and additional information will be brought back for this process at a later date. 5. 22-018 Review of Potential Federal Community Funding Requests. Interim Deputy Clerk Hoffman and City Administrator Ben Martig introduced the item and presented information on the Community Project Funding Grants. They highlighted projects to consider for the grants. The Council is interested in submitting the Water Plant project as a project for the 2023 Community Project Fund Grant. ADJOURN A motion was made by Council Member Ness, seconded by Council Member Reister, to adjourn the meeting at 8:58 p.m. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6- C. Grabau, C. Nakasian, C. Ness, C. Peterson White, Mayor Pownell, and C. Reister City of Northfield Page 2 Printed on 2/16/2022