City Council

City Hall City of Northfield 801 Washington Street Northfield, MN 55057 northfieldmn.gov Meeting Minutes - Final City Council Tuesday, November 12, 2024 5:00 PM 2nd Floor Training Room City Council/Rice County Board Joint Special Meeting/Public Hearing 5:00 PM - CITY COUNCIL/RICE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS JOINT PUBLIC HEARING AGENDA CALL TO ORDER Northfield Mayor Rhonda Pownell and Rice County Board of Commissioners Chair Galen Malecha called meeting to order at 5:04 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: Rice County: Commissioners Jim Purfeerst, Galen Malecha, and Gerry Hoisington; County Adminstrator Sara Folsted; Economic Development Coordinator Kathy Feldbrugge; Northfield: City Administrator Ben Martig; City Clerk Lynette Peterson; Community Development Director Jake Reilly; Economic Development Coordinator Nate Carlson; Police Chief Jeff Schroepfer; Finance Director Brenda Angelstad; and Ehlers and Associates Senior Financial Advisor Nick Anhut. PUBLIC HEARINGS AND RELATED ACTION 1. 24-657 Joint Public Hearing with Rice County Commissioners - Tax Abatement on 115 5th Street (former Northfield News Building) Mayor Pownell and Chair Malecha declared the public hearing open at 5:06 p.m. Economic Development Coordinator Nate Carlson introduced the item giving background information on the public hearing and the sale of the Northfield News Building to Loon Liquors. Ehlers and Associates Senior Financial Advisor Nick Anhut presented information on the proposed tax abatement for the Northfield News Building including the tax abatement analysis. Carlson indicated there are two separate resolutions and the Northfield City Council will act on one and the Rice County Board of Commissioners will act on the other. David DeLong, Northfield, addressed the Council/Board of Commissioners regarding the tax abatement. David Ludescher, Northfield, addressed the Council/Board of Commissioners regarding the tax abatement. Northfield City Administrator Ben Martig, Anhut and Carlson answered questions from the Council/Board of Commissioners City of Northfield Page 1 Printed on 11/27/2024 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final November 12, 2024 Mark Schiller, Co-Founder of Loon Liquors addressed the Council/Board of Commissioners. A motion was made by Council Member Ness, seconded by Council Member Sokup, to close the Public Hearing at 5:44 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 A motion was made by Commissioner Hoisington, seconded by Commissioner Purfeerst, to close the Public Hearing at 5:44 p.m. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes - 3 - C. Hoisington, C. Purfeerst and C. Malecha 2. Res. 2024-105 Northfield City Council Resolution Approving Tax Abatement on 115 5th Street (Northfield News Building). Rice County Commissioner Resolution Approving Tax Abatement on 115 5th Street (Northfield News Building). A motion was made by Council Member Sokup, seconded by Council Member Reister, to approve Resolution No. 2024-105 Approving Tax Abatement on 115 5th Street (Northfield News Building). 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 3. Rice County Board of Commissioners Resolution Approving Tax Abatement on 115 5th Street (Northfield News Building) A motion was made by Commissioner Hoisington, seconded by Commissioner Purfeerst, to approve Resolution No. 24-041 Approving Tax Abatement on 115 5th Street (Northfield News Building). The motion carried by the following vote: Yes - 3 - C. Hoisington, C. Purfeerst and C. Malecha ADJOURN A motion was made by Council Member Peterson White, seconded by Council Member Holmes, to adjourn the meeting at 5:47 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 A motion was made by Commissioner Purfeerst, seconded by Commissioner Hoisington, to adjourn the meeting at 5:47 p.m. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes - 3 - C. Hoisington, C. Purfeerst and C. Malecha City of Northfield Page 2 Printed on 11/27/2024