City Council

City Hall City of Northfield 801 Washington Street Northfield, MN 55057 northfieldmn.gov Meeting Minutes - Final City Council Tuesday, January 9, 2024 6:00 PM Council Chambers 6:00 PM - REGULAR AGENDA CALL TO ORDER Mayor Pownell called the meeting to order at 6:04 p.m. 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, City Engineer/Public Works Director David Bennett, Police Chief Mark Elliott and City Clerk Lynette Peterson. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Mayor Pownell noted information in Supplemental Agenda Background Memo No. 1. A motion was made by Council Member Ness, seconded by Council Member Holmes, to approve the agenda . 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 CONSENT AGENDA A motion was made by Council Member Sokup, seconded by Council Member Reister, to approve the Consent Agenda. 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 1. 24-030 Consider Approval of December 5, 2023 City Council Meeting Minutes. A motion was made by Council Member Sokup, seconded by Council Member Reister, to approve the Consent Agenda. The motion carried by the following vote: 2. 24-031 Consider Approving Disbursements totaling $3,960,593.40 Enactment No: M2024-002 3. 24-032 Consider Designation of Official Depository for the City of Northfield City of Northfield Page 1 Printed on 1/18/2024 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final January 9, 2024 Enactment No: M2024-003 4. 24-033 Consider Designation of Official Newspaper. Enactment No: M2024-004 5. Res. 2024-001 Consider Amending Adopted Schedule for 2024 City Council Meetings. 6. 24-034 Consider Approving Professional Service Agreement for the TH 246 East Side Trail. Enactment No: M2024-005 7. Res. 2024-002 Consider Resolution Approving Sponsorship of the MnDOT Transportation Alternatives Grant Application for the funding year 2028. 8. 24-035 Consider Accepting the Yard Waste Compost Agreement with Rice County. Enactment No: M2024-006 9. Res. 2024-003 Community Development Block Grant - Consider Adopting Resolution in Support of Fiscal Year 2024 Allotment of Program Funds. OPEN PUBLIC COMMENTS Ruth Dahl, 2215 Hidden Valley Road, addressed the Council with concerns regarding the Bridge Square improvements. REGULAR AGENDA 10. 24-036 Consideration of Election of President Pro Tem. City Clerk Lynette Peterson introduced the item. A motion was made by Council Member Zuccolotto, seconded by Council Member Reister, to elect Council Member Holmes as President Pro Tem for 2024. 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 Enactment No: M2024-007 11. Res. 2024-004 Consider Accepting Bids and Awarding Contract - Honeylocust Drive East Cannon River Trail (ECRT) Project. City Engineer/Public Works Director David Bennett introduced the item stating eight (8) competitive bids were received for the project. Bennett is recommending awarding to the low bidder, Fitzgerald Excavating and Trucking Inc., with the total bid amount including City of Northfield Page 2 Printed on 1/18/2024 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final January 9, 2024 Alternate #1 as $291,615.20. The Engineer's Estimate was $458,339.00. Bennett answered questions from the Council. A motion was made by Council Member Reister, seconded by Council Member Holmes, to approve Resolution No. 2024-004 Accepting Bids and Awarding Contract for Honeylocust Drive East Cannon River Trail (ECRT) Project (STRT2021-A56) to Fitzgerald Excavating and Trucking Inc. for the total base bid and alternate #1 bid amount of $291,615.20. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6- Mayor Pownell, C. Reister, C. Zuccolotto, C. Holmes, C. Sokup, and C. Peterson White No: 1- C. Ness 12. Res. 2024-005 Consider Resolution of Support for Bridge Square Budget Request. City Administrator Ben Martig introduced the item indicating the agenda item should be bonding request versus budget request. Martig detailed aspects of the request indicating staff will be looking at other funding mechanisms for this project also. City Engineer/Public Works Director David Bennett highlighted the project website page for Bridge Square. Martig and Bennett answered questions from the Council. Blake Peterson, 1807 McKinley Drive, addressed the Council regarding delaying the Bridge Square Project and expressing his support for improvements to the hockey arena. A motion was made by Council Member Reister, seconded by Council Member Peterson White, to approve Resolution No. 2024-005 Approving Request for Bond Funds from the State of Minnesota for Bridge Square Improvements. 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 ADMINISTRATORS UPDATE 13. 24-037 City Administrator's Update. City Administrator Ben Martig updated the Council on City items noting a special council meeting was set for next Tuesday, January 16 at 6 p.m. versus a work session. The January 23 meeting has been canceled. REPORTS FROM THE MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS C. Sokup - Housing solution team meeting related to Comp Plan. C. Peterson White - None. C. Holmes - Park and Recreation Board Meeting. C. Zuccolotto - HRA Board Meeting. C. Reister - Age-Friendly Meeting; NAFRS Organizational Meeting. C. Ness - 911 Meeting. Mayor Pownell - No report. ADJOURN A motion was made by Council Member Peterson White, seconded by Council Member Ness, to adjourn the meeting at 7:06 p.m. The motion carried by the following vote: City of Northfield Page 3 Printed on 1/18/2024 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final January 9, 2024 Yes: 7- C. Ness, Mayor Pownell, C. Reister, C. Zuccolotto, C. Holmes, C. Sokup, and C. Peterson White City of Northfield Page 4 Printed on 1/18/2024