City Council

City Hall City of Northfield 801 Washington Street Northfield, MN 55057 northfieldmn.gov Meeting Minutes - Final City Council Tuesday, May 9, 2023 6:00 PM Council Chambers Work Session 6:00 PM - REGULAR AGENDA CALL TO ORDER Mayor Pownell called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. noting the updated agenda moving Item 2 "Riverfront Action Plan Update and Discussion" to the last item of the agenda. Present: 7 - Council Member Brad Ness, Mayor Rhonda Pownell, Council Member Jami Reister, Council Member George Zuccolotto, Council Member Kathleen Holmes, Council Member Davin Sokup, and Council Member Jessica Peterson White Also present: City Administrator Ben Martig, Police Chief Mark Elliott, Deputy Police Chief P.T. Haider, Emergency Manager Tim Isom, B2 Consultants Bob Close and Bruce Jacobson, Community Development Director Jake Reilly, City Clerk Lynette Peterson and Deputy City Clerk/Executive Administrative Assistant Sara Hoffman. REGULAR AGENDA 1. 23-1152 Emergency Operations Plan Update Deputy Police Chief P.T. Haider introduced the item along with Emergency Manager Tim Isom. Haider detailed the Emergency Operations Plan updates for 2023 and touched on pandemic response and responses to train derailments. City Administrator Ben Martig added the City will use City resources in communications should an incident occur so residents, staff and elected officials are all receiving the same message. Haider reminded the Council and staff to make sure your family and yourself are taken care of prior to responding to an emergency situation. 3. 23-1154 Discussion on Current Police Officer Labor Force Availability, Recruitment and Retention Landscape. Police Chief Elliott introduced the item giving background information on the issue of law enforcement recruitment and retention. Elliott provided information on the national hiring crisis, hiring trends, education needed for the position and solutions including increased pay, signing bonuses, retention bonuses, tuition reimbursement and other possible solutions. City Administrator Martig added additional information regarding the hiring of police officers highlighting the current leadership of the department. Council members commented on the issue. 4. 23-1155 Update and discussion on City Council, Board and Commission Governance Effectiveness Review. City of Northfield Page 1 Printed on 5/30/2023 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final May 9, 2023 City Administrator Ben Martig gave an update on Board and Commission governance detailing information on youth on boards and commissions and voting rights of youth, ethics and equal opportunity forms efficiencies, and establishing a board/commission governance review committee with representatives from several boards/commissions and council members to meet with staff to go through governance changes prior to additional information coming back to the Council. Council members added feedback regarding youth on boards/commissions, the ethics disclosure form and equal opportunity forms. Council Member Holmes joined the meeting at 7:40 p.m. Recess Council recessed at 7:43 p.m. Council meeting resumed at 7:50 p.m. 2. 23-1153 Riverfront Action Plan Update and Discussion. B2 Consultants Bob Close and Bruce Jacobson introduced the item giving an overview of the background information on the Riverfront Enhancement Action Plan. Jacobson detailed the progress on the plan. Community Development Director Jake Reilly added additional information. Council Members commented on the plan. ADJOURN A motion was made by Council Member Ness, seconded by Council Member Zuccolotto, to adjourn the meeting at 8:58 p.m. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7- C. Ness, Mayor Pownell, C. Reister, C. Zuccolotto, C. Holmes, C. Sokup, and C. Peterson White City of Northfield Page 2 Printed on 5/30/2023