City Council

City Hall City of Northfield 801 Washington Street Northfield, MN 55057 northfieldmn.gov Meeting Minutes - Final City Council Tuesday, March 18, 2025 6:00 PM Council Chambers 6:00 PM - CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA CALL TO ORDER Mayor Zweifel called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. Present: 7- Council Member Brad Ness, Council Member Kathleen Holmes, Council Member Davin Sokup, Council Member Jessica Peterson White, Council Member Chad Beumer, Council Member Peter Dahlen, and Mayor Erica Zweifel Also present: Police Chief Jeff Schroepfer, Public Works Director/City Engineer David Bennett, Utilities Manager Justin Wagner, City Administrator Ben Martig and City Clerk Lynette Peterson. OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT Patrick Tomczik, 1203 Woodland Trail, appeared before the Council regarding tax statements and the cost of taxes more than doubling in Northfield. Dorothea Hrossowyc, 8620 90th Street East, appeared before the Council regarding annexations and agriculture. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Mayor Zweifel noted information in Supplemental Agenda Background Memo Nos. 1 and 2 including removing agenda item No. 14, 25-161 Consider Approval of Lease Agreement with Northfield Senior Citizens Inc. d.b.a. FiftyNorth. A motion was made by Council Member Holmes, seconded by Council Member Ness, to approve the agenda as amended removing agenda item 14, 25-161 Consider Approval of Lease Agreement with Northfield Senior Citizens Inc. d.b.a. FiftyNorth. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7- C. Ness, C. Holmes, C. Sokup, C. Peterson White, C. Beumer, C. Dahlen, and Mayor Zweifel PRESENTATIONS 1. 25-154 Oath of Office Ceremony for Northfield Police Department Officer Kenna Eschenbach. Police Chief Jeff Schroepfer introduced Officer Kenna Eschenbach. City Clerk Lynette Peterson administered the Oath of Office. Officer Eschenbach's dad pinned her badge. The Council took a photo with her, welcomed and congratulated her. City of Northfield Page 1 Printed on 4/2/2025 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final March 18, 2025 2. 25-155 Presentation of Donation of Fire Suppression Tools to Police and Fire Departments. Police Chief Jeff Schroepfer presented on the Northfield Masonic Lodge's (Masons) donation of fire suppression tools to the Police and Fire Departments. Grant Lillevold, Northfield Masonic Lodge, presented devices to Schroepfer and NAFRS Fire Chief Tom Nelson. The Council took a photo with Lillevold and thanked the Masons for the donation. 3. 25-156 Presentation on Youth First Activities Meleah Follen and Martha Lundin, Youth First Initiative, presented a recap of 2024 activities and a look forward into 2025 activiites. Follen presented on Northfield Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention, Northfield Community College Collaborative and Opportunity Reboot. Lundin presented on Youth on Boards and YouthBank. The Council thanked Follen and Lundin for their work. CONSENT AGENDA A motion was made by Council Member Ness, seconded by Council Member Beumer, to approve the Consent Agenda. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7- C. Ness, C. Holmes, C. Sokup, C. Peterson White, C. Beumer, C. Dahlen, and Mayor Zweifel 4. 25-157 Consider Approval of March 4, 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes. 5. 25-158 Consider Approval of March 11, 2025 City Council Strategic Plan Work Session Minutes. 6. 25-159 Consider Approving Disbursements totaling $1,685,595.92 Enactment No: M2025-033 7. Res. 2025-029 Adopt Changes to Fees and Charges. 8. Res. 2025-030 Consider Accepting Donation of Fire Suppression Tools to Police Department. 9. Res. 2025-031 Consider Resolution Accepting Public Improvements and Approving Final Payment for the 2023 Reclamation and Overlay Project (STRT2023-A69). 10. Res. 2025-032 Consider Resolution Accepting Public Improvements and Approving Final Payment for the Lincoln Waterway Box Culvert Improvement Project (STRM2022-K36). REPORTS FROM THE MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS 11. 25-160 Reports From the Mayor and Council Members. Councilor Beumer - Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Meeting; EDA Meeting next week; City of Northfield Page 2 Printed on 4/2/2025 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final March 18, 2025 Finance Policy Committee Meeting next week. Councilor Dahlen - No report. Councilor Holmes - Special Planning Commission Meeting; Planning Commission Meeting on Thursday; Park and Recreation Advisory Board Meeting. Councilor Sokup - Mill Towns Trail Joint Powers Board Meeting; HRA Meeting. Councilor Peterson White - No report. Councilor Ness - Age-Friendly Meeting. Mayor Zweifel - Mill Towns Trail Joint Powers Board Meeting. REGULAR AGENDA 12. 25-163 Consider Motion to redirect federal funds from Water Treatment Plant to Water Tower in Northwest Area and Authorize staff to seek design services for Water Tower. Utilities Manager Justin Wagner presented background information on Federal Funds received for the Water Treatment Plant and the redirection of those funds to the Water Tower in the Northwest Area. Wagner detailed specifics of the project along with a project timeline. Wagner, City Administrator Ben Martig and Public Works Director/City Engineer David Bennett answered questions from the Council. A motion was made by Council Member Dahlen, seconded by Council Member Beumer, that the City Council of Northfield MN supports staff to request the US Army Corps of Engineers in redirecting the $3.945 Million, for fiscal year 2024, to the construction of the Northwest Area Water Tower, and further directs staff to prepare an outline of the costs and scope for design and engineering of the Northwest Water Tower. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6- C. Ness, C. Holmes, C. Peterson White, C. Beumer, C. Dahlen, and Mayor Zweifel No: 1- C. Sokup Enactment No: M2025-034 13. Res. 2025-033 Approve Orderly Annexation Agreement with Northfield Township. City Administrator Ben Martig introduced the item giving background on the orderly annexation agreement with the City of Northfield and Northfield Township. Councilor Peterson White and Councilor Holmes added additional information. Martig answered questions from the Council. A motion was made by Council Member Peterson White, seconded by Council Member Ness, to approve Resolution No. 2025-033 Joint Resolution for Orderly Annexation between the City of Northfield and Northfield Township Designating Certain Areas in Need of Orderly Annexation Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes 414.0325. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7- C. Ness, C. Holmes, C. Sokup, C. Peterson White, C. Beumer, C. Dahlen, and Mayor Zweifel ADMINISTRATORS UPDATE 15. 25-162 City Administrator's Update. City Administrator Ben Martig gave an update on Legislative activity and an update on City of Northfield Page 3 Printed on 4/2/2025 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final March 18, 2025 City operations and events. ADJOURN A motion was made by Council Member Ness, seconded by Council Member Beumer, to adjourn the meeting at 8:03 p.m. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7- C. Ness, C. Holmes, C. Sokup, C. Peterson White, C. Beumer, C. Dahlen, and Mayor Zweifel City of Northfield Page 4 Printed on 4/2/2025