Just to, like, bring the Alright. Great. Welcome, everyone. I'm going to call this city council meeting, for the city of Northfield, to order. This is the Tuesday, 04/01/2025 city council meeting, and I will ask for a roll call. Mayor Zweifel? Here. Councilor Beamer? Here. Councilor Dahlen? Here. Councilor Holmes? Here. Councilor Ness? Yep. Councilor Peterson White? Here. Councilor Soukup? Here. Great. Thank you. Our first order of business is open public comment. So our open public comment period is intended to receive comment on matters of city
business and topics, under the jurisdiction of the city council and not on, the agenda. If you want to comment on something on the agenda, we ask that you comment when that agenda item comes up. If you would like to comment for open comment period, fill out a yellow card over there on the desk. So far this evening, I have two cards, for comment. And, when I call your name, you may approach the podium and you have two minutes to address the council and staff. So, the first one is, Patrick Tomczyk. Yes. Thank you. Oh, hold on. Is that microphone on? I can't I don't see red.
There you go. There you go. There you go. There you go. There you go. There you go. There you go. There you go. There you go. There you go. There you go. There you go. There you go. There you go. There you go. There you go. There you go. There you go. There you go. There you go. There you go. In Northfield, and I've been here before, but I'm here today because of this article that was in the last week's paper. I'm sure all of you saw it. If you didn't, I can get you a copy. But what he talks about in here is very, very true. This council, the previous council acted very, very illegally when they re brought back brought back up again the ice hockey palace and not having a referendum allowing us to vote for the third time against it.
That's totally wrong. It violated the city charter. It violated the oath that all of the people who were here, all of you people took to to the city, to us, to and It was very, very wrong. And I think you have a responsibility and a duty to now this present counsel to overturn that and put this thing to bed. Mr. Hillman also was there and talked about it, and he pledged $250,000 from the school, Northfield School District, which is illegal.
And I don't know how he got by with doing it and whatever, but that needs a referendum by the people as well. There's so many things that are wrong with this ice hockey palace, spending $500,000 a year roughly to operate it for 2.5% of the people who are going to use it, plus a $47,000,000 40 4 million dollars bond issue that we are going to have to pay for. We overwhelmingly said, no, we don't want this. And the former mayor and the members of the council, I know some of you weren't on it, some of you were,
did a very, very big injustice to us, the people of Northfield. And I beg and implore all of you to stop this nonsense before you spend any more time or money on it. Newark, Northfield School District, the population is going down. They are going to get a new high school that we needed, but we don't need this boondoggle for the ice hockey balls. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Tomcic. The next oh, wait, that one does have an agenda item. So I those that's the only open public comment card I have.
The other cards I have up here have an agenda item listed on them. Is there anyone else who would like to make an open public comment? Alright. Seeing no one, we'll move on to our next item of business, which is approval, of the agenda. Is there a motion to approve the agenda? Councilor Beamer? Motion to approve the agenda. Thank you. A second. Second. Councilor Dolan. All those, is there any are there any changes to the agenda? Seeing none. All those in favor of the agenda, signify by saying aye. Aye. Those opposed? Motion carries. Our next item is a presentation from the Earth Day steering committee,
from Amy Hazlett Marroquin and Sarah Fortner. I see Sarah is Yeah. I'm here. I just saw Mary Jo walk in, but I'm Okay. Well, you can yeah. Mary Jo is on her way in the door. No. No. Oh, Mary Jo's here instead of So so I'm speaking for our committee right now. Yeah. Okay. Alright. So Few minutes. Well, but you can see the last minute shuffling, and I just wanna say, you know, it speaks to our committee that we can step in for each other and work on this. The group is, is a team of volunteers committed to,
supporting the community and making environmental sustainability decisions and supporting actions and, caring for each other and the earth and has this history of coming together to put together the Earth annual Earth Day celebration. And I know, Mary Jo, who's here now, wanted to give a a shout out, and kind of reflect on some of the memories that she's had during Earth Day. And people have come up to her throughout the years and, approached her about how important this event has been for connecting them. And she's had young people reach out and say that they've met every person that
they need to meet in the community, to take the kinda action that they wanna have. So and I've personally I'm I'm fairly new to town. I live at 207 Winona. I heard other people announce where they're from. But, I've personally seen how much it means, to the students that I mentor to see them engage in Earth Day planning, and support this and turn up at this event together. And, I also wanted to share a little bit about what the event looks like. So, Carla Hampton has put together, a presentation, that shows some of the events that are at Earth Day this year. So, note that the theme this year is with extreme weather,
we can do this together. Each year, we come up with a theme that resonates and that we hear from the community, and flooding has been on our mind this year, so we wanted to have conversations about that. The contra dance is one of the feature events that brings people together in celebration and and joy around, Earth Day, and that happens, the Friday before, a workshop focused event. So on, Saturday at Armory Square this year, there are family friendly workshops that can engage people in things like, composting and creating rain barrels and seeing nesting platforms,
doing, fun things like indigo dyeing. And then, there's opportunities to do tree planting at the arb and usually interactive events like this. All these events sort of run at the same time, and they give people an opportunity to survey and do the things that matter to them about the Earth and to meet other like minded people. We have exhibitors that come and they share, the things that they're selling that are environmentally friendly, and they support additional eco friendly activities. And I would say that we're especially excited to have mayor Zweifel, at our event this year and to talk,
bring together expertise around flooding, to talk a little bit about the city's riverfront plan, to talk a little bit about how Clean River Partners is engaging in these kinds of projects, to bring together some of the things that we're thinking about at Carleton about how we can help in education, and also, from the climate change perspective. My background is Matt. So, anyway, we're really excited, that the city is doing this. We really wanted to thank the city for all of the support, for Earth Day throughout the years and participation in it. It's really mattered a lot to us, and our community.
So thank you for this. I should also acknowledge the sponsors of Earth Day. Every year, we have, the activity is, funded by a lot of people who contribute to the success of this and, bring together the workshops in addition to our planning committee. I got the thumbs up. Thank you so much for that presentation. Always enjoy, Earth Day. So much fun. All right. That brings us to our consent agenda. So the consent agenda are items that we vote for at one time. So I am looking for a motion, to approve the consent agenda.
I couldn't tell Brad was making a motion or pointing at the sky over there. I can. Okay. I will move the consent agenda. Thank you. And the second with councilor Dalling. I'll second. Alright. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Those opposed? Motion carries. Okay. Our next agenda item is a public hearing, and I have a script for that. So this is item number 12 on the agenda, a public hearing on ordinance ten seventy five to designate Central Park, which is at 421 Fourth Street East as a local heritage preservation site.
A public hearing is used to solicit the public's comments on various projects or city operation procedures. I have just opened the hearing by identifying the subject, and now we will move on to a staff presentation. Did I do that correctly? We can go to the staff input in the Okay. Thank you, Mayor, City council. So we are looking at Central Park, which is located at 421 Fourth Street East. In the presentation, I'm going to cover what is a local heritage site designation, and what is the process for designating a local heritage preservation site,
do a quick overview of some of the key points from the history of Central Park. I'm gonna discuss the unique legal status of Central Park, and then we're gonna talk about the comprehensive plan, a 02/2008 comprehensive plan, whether or not that supports designation, and then we'll do a a recap. I will go quickly, because there's a lot to cover as there's a bit of an educational piece incorporated with this as most of you have not, participated in the preservation process in the in the past. And in Northfield, we rarely ever have an HPC decision rise to city council. I don't know if it's ever happened actually.
So, so a local heritage preservation site city code lays this out, and it says that certain places are of significance in American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, landscaping, and culture. And those locations should be subject to additional review as it relates to this LDC. Most of you are gonna be familiar with our downtown historic Overlay District, and that falls under these criteria as being significant in several of these several of these areas. So then the city council declared as a matter of public policy that the preservation,
protection, perpetuation, and use of areas, places, buildings, structures, and other objects having special historical interest or value is a public necessity and is required in the interest of the health, safety, welfare, and prosperity of the people. These are all in keeping with state statute and, constitutional law that passes down through the state to local municipalities to be able to operate preservation, programs like we do. So where we are in the process, we started with the HPC, the Heritage Preservation Commission,
voting to apply for local designation for Central Park. So they initiated the application process. By state statute, we have to send the State Historic Preservation Office notification of that application. So we let them know, and they got back to us on December 3. We received a letter, in support of the designation. HPC then took up the application, and I know this seems a little silly because the HPC is also the applicant, but they do have, as a type four review process, they do have to review the application and then make a recommendation as well.
And so, in January, at their meeting, they recommended to then designate Central Park. From there, it went to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board for comments and and a request to recommend as well. That is not required typically of the process, but because it's a city park and and because Parks and Recreation Advisory Board does advise on the parks, we wanted to include them in the process. They did recommend too as well. Then we took it to the planning commission, at their February meeting. They did not recommend to designate. Their primary concern was that a certificate of appropriateness,
which is the mechanism that is used to protect and preserve heritage preservation sites, would be burdensome and may limit what the city was able to do as far as improvements in Central Park. That was their main reasoning. And now here we are with a public hearing and city council action on the item. So one of the central questions we have is whether or not Central Park is historic. To be historic, there's a general rule. It's not set in stone, but something should be at least 50 years old.
Central Park is obviously older than that. We'll talk about that. But then city code lays out six criteria that shall be considered, that we have to consider in determining if something is historic. And that is important because we're making the distinction between something being just simply old and being historic, and that is a certain level of significance that a site or a building, has to rise to. And the HPC has proposed findings on those six criteria, finding in the affirmative for six of the or for four of the six potential criteria.
And to be clear, finding in the affirmative for one of those criteria would be enough to designate a site as being historic. They so these criteria, it's, like, typically has to be associated with, significant people, events, artistic and architectural styles, and things of that nature that kinda elevate a a place above just being old. These criteria mash mirror the national designation standards, but we have added at Northfield, we've added two, number one and number six. And I will go over these later in the presentation. Designation, the process is done by an ordinance, so it's city council decision.
Findings must be adopted in support of the designation, and so there will be if city council moves forward tonight, there will be a second reading. A key question that always comes up is the local versus national. And so I I touched on the criteria being very similar. We have a couple extra that we will include when we look at something for Northfield to be historically significant, but the designation or the difference in designations is is important here. So a local designation protects historic resources. This is the only designation that imposes any type of restriction or requirement on a
property owner is the local one. A national designation honors a historic resource. There are maybe some tax incentives that go along with that for preservation or other, you know, activities that recognizing that they might be more financially difficult to achieve otherwise. But it does nothing to protect. The only thing that can happen if a structure is nationally listed and then changed, it would lose its historic status. It would no longer be considered historic and just come off the register. So the history of Central Park, I have here is, this is a scan,
and I'm I'm sorry for the low quality, but it's just hard to get that resolution, viewable here. But this is the original plat, filed in January of eighteen fifty six. And so it includes the dedication of the public square now known as Central Park, and this is this will come up later. This is important. It was dedicated as a public square by John North in the original plat of the city. So before anything about the city was built or had been laid out, there was this plat, which is the recording for how everything was gonna get laid out,
and it included the dedication of the public square. Caleb Eddings was the surveyor, and and in this plat recorded that I have caused to be planted and fixed a good and sufficient stone to mark each of the corners of the public square from which to make future surveys. So it's important to note that at the time surveys were done manually with rods and chains, so, like, ropes and, essentially, ropes and sticks, and they had to measure everything out by hand. So by affixing stones in each of the corners of the public square, they would have a datum from which they could lay out every future plot and
cite every additional building. So when somebody bought a lot in Northfield, they could say, okay. Here's your lot and mark it, and they would do it from those stones on Central Square. So Central Square served as the datum for surveying the entire city, once it was complete. So pretty significant role there. And so that was from the original 60 acres that John North purchased, to found the town. So I'm gonna talk about character defining features. This is important in preservation because these are the things that are retained
that give a place or a building its historic character. So if we're looking at, for instance, a historic building, the cornice along the top of the building or the lintels around the windows, the classic storefront architecture. Those are all character defining features that we see a lot in our downtown. In the case of a landscape or in the case of Central Park, we have three primary character defining features. Rows of trees around the perimeter, two diagonal crosswalks that meet in the center, and the central circular plaza and seat wall.
So these are the character defining features in any COA review that the HPC would be doing. They would be asking the question of whether or not the proposal, so proposed changes to the park, would negatively impact those features. So Central Park, here's a photo or not a photo, but, an illustration from 1869 showing the rows of trees planted around Central Park. So that's why this is a character defining feature. They we still plant rows of trees around the park. They were originally likely elms. They were elms at some point, but we know that elms have not survived,
and so we've been trying to replace replace those since. And here's a photo from 1910 showing those elms. This is looking to the west along Fourth. And on the right there, you can see, you can see those rows of trees around the perimeter. I will note you can also see the old gazebo bandstand there in the foreground, which was a was a feature there but has been gone for quite some time. The individual trees I will say that the individual trees themselves are not historic. It's the it's the having those rows of trees. So if trees have to be removed because they're sick or diseased or something,
there's not an that shouldn't be an issue. Okay? Here's a photo of the seventh of a Seventh day Adventist camp, in 1912, again, showing the trees, and some of that early early layout. And shade trees had been planted throughout, throughout the park in the sometime in the in the first fifty years. And here you can kinda see how they're how how mature some of those trees have gotten already by 1912. So that kinda open shade tree park vibe is is also present at this point. The circular fountain here. So the fountain was originally constructed in 1898.
It was replaced in nineteen o three and then repaired in 1929 and then finally removed in 1953. And that's when the the limestone wall was constructed. That limestone wall, again, is old enough to be considered historic. It's past that fifty year mark, and the HPC has recommended that it be included, that the the period of significance include that 1954 wall. It was supposed to have a concrete cap that was never installed, just noting that. And you can see that wall today and kind of that circular plaza. This paving is from the 1992,
improvements. The diagonal walks, here's a map of Central Park showing the diagonal walks and that central feature from 1900. Again, the fountain had been already installed, the first fountain at this point. And then here's a current aerial. You'll note now there's those kind of sweeping crosswalks around the edge. Those, again, were also all added in 1992 or '3 in that plan. That redesign was done by SMSQ, just as a note. The first paving, I will say the first concrete walks were added in 1929.
So prior to that, they would have been stone or wood chips or something similar. Diagonal walks again. Here's the modern day. Sorry. That caption's wrong. And then 1910, the diagonal walks in fountain. So you can see prior to them being paved with cement in 1929, they did exist leading up to that fountain, likely gravel or some other similar material there. Okay. Keep going. And the playground. So the playground is not a character defining feature, although I just wanted to establish because there's been a lot of question about it, and I know this is due for equipment replacement. Here's a view showing the existing playground.
The in 1953 was the earliest mention of a playground that I found. And the east half of the block was reserved for picnicking and a tiny tots play area in 1953. That's from the Northfield news. The current equipment, I wasn't sure on the age of that, but the existing play area was relocated in 1990 in the 1992 plan from SMSQ. So that lower circle there was the existing playground, and then it was moved, north and expanded to the existing playground.
So that footprint's been there since '92. The approval criteria. So I'm gonna go over these, just so we understand exactly where the significance is coming from. So number one, this is one of Northfield's, not the national, but that the quality of significance in American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, and culture is present in districts, sites, building structures, landscaping, and objects that possess integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association. So Central Park possesses integrity of design, setting, feeling, and association,
and is significant to local culture as a characteristic feature of Northfield from the time of its founding and the earliest residential neighborhood here. So, that integrity includes those diagonal walks. It includes those trees that are the rows of trees around the outside and that central circular gathering, area. Number two, that are associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history. Northfield's history. The site was included in the original 1855, '18 '50 '6 town plat and designated as a public square for the purpose of
free passage, ornamentation, and improvement as grounds of pleasure, amusement, recreation, or health. This is recapping. And so that surveyor, piece, you know, noting that the stones were placed there and it was used as the foundation and the datum for all the future surveys as well is is a pretty significant role. Approval criteria number three that are associated with the lives of persons significant in our past. So the park included in the original plat and donated by John North, at the founding of Northfield, is associated therefore with John North, who was both locally significant and significant at the state level.
He was involved in the founding of the University of Minnesota and the and the original Minnesota constitutional convention, so drafting the constitution of Minnesota of Minnesota. He did go on to serve, I think, out in Nevada. So he did play a somewhat national role as well, but not very important for these intents and purposes. Number four and number five were not applicable. So this park does not embody the characteristic or or distinctive characteristics of a type period or method of construction or that represent the work of a master or that possess high artistic values,
or that represent a significant or distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction. That is it wasn't designed by a famous landscape architect. We haven't, preserved the plantings specifically with, like, certain species, etcetera. You know, if all of those elms were replaced with elms and continue to be elms, etcetera, that might be a little bit different, kind of response here, that have yielded or may be likely to yield information important to prehistory or history. This is not applicable. Northfield,
was not a pre, prehistoric settlement site. So there's very little arch archaeological resources local, at least for prehistory. We do have the the mill down by the river, and we know that's there. But here at Central Park, there was never any anything built there, so no buildings are gonna be found, no foundations that are significant, etcetera. And then criteria number six, that have unique location or singular physical characteristics representing established and familiar aspects of a View Vista site area or district. And here, the response is that Central Park's location is unique and exclusive,
as the public square established in the original plat. It's continued in that use uninterrupted through to the present day. It is surrounded by some of the earliest houses built in Northfield, located two blocks east of the historic business district. Park retains many of its character defining features, including the crosswalks, the central central circular area, and the rows of shade trees along the streets in the park like landscaping and mode turf combined with ornamental plantings and shade trees. Park predates most of the homes in the neighborhood and is therefore a defining feature of the earliest residential neighborhood in the city.
So in the forties and fifties, early fifties, there was, Minnesota Supreme Court case decided about Central Park, Headley versus the City of Northfield. The city sought to turn the park over to the school district. Most of you we will be familiar that there used to be a school there to the west. The city was gonna give the park to the school district for use as athletic fields. They were sued over that by residents, and it was ultimately blocked at the Supreme Court level. The Supreme Court found essentially that the dedication as a public square was incompatible with
the use proposed as athletic fields and a playground. The city then the city attorney at the time was undaunted and decided that they were gonna try and condemn the park. Because in park ownership, the city doesn't hold fee title to the park, so they cannot buy or sell the park. It belongs to the residents, to the public, and the city is essentially a caretaker of it. So the city attempted to condemn it to take possession of it and thereby be
able to transfer it to the school district, and that was blocked at a lower district court. They said, yeah. You you can't condemn a park. That's it's worth a shot, I guess. The public square so then now to touch on the legal status here. So the public square is a specific definition. So because it was dedicated as a public square, it is unique among our parks. It's not like any other park in town, and so we are limited in the uses. So, any future improvements to the park will have to meet that definition of public square.
So as long as they're compatible with that, it's it's okay. The HPC may consider this purpose in their assessment of any proposed project. Like, that use is kind of part of that historic. It's always been a public square, and it will continue through. But their job is to focus on those character defining features. And so the any use that would be blocked by that the HPC may may block on historic grounds is likely to also be incompatible with that, that public square definition as well.
And so that public square definition is the ordinary and usual signification of a public square dedicated by a private person as here for public use is an open tract of land. So that's, like, a key piece for use of purposes of free passage, or of ornamentation, improvement as grounds of pleasure, amusement, recreation, or health. So there's a lot of room in there for what kind of improvements and stuff would be allowed and and can be approved, but it does have to stay as an open tract of land. So for instance, if the city wanted to build a community center there,
that that would not meet that definition of a public square likely. So the 02/2008 comprehensive plan has objective number two for parks and recreation. So provide residents with parks and natural areas for recreational uses, protection of the natural environment, and visual physical buffering of land development as a means to maintain the sense of place, ambiance, appearance, and history of the community. So, the feeling here is that the, designation of Central Park would be consistent with the 02/2008 comprehensive plan,
which is still our current comp plan. And so to recap, Central Park is historic. It does meet four of those six criteria for deciding if if a, location is historic. It It was dedicated to town founding, basis for, you know, all future surveys, high level of integrity, and the central feature of the original residential neighborhood, kind of a defining feature there. It's legally a public square, and so there's some caveats with that as far as being different from all of our other parks. It is unique. The designation is supported by the comp plan,
and the period of significance proposed is 1856 to 1954. Character defining features include the perimeter of shade trees, diagonal walks, and the central circular feature. Staff, Heritage Preservation Commission, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, and the State Historic Preservation Office all recommended designation. I will say SHPO did describe the park as an ideal candidate for local designation, and then the Planning Commission did not recommend designation. Thank you. So the next item in a public hearing is the public input. And then after that,
on my list, would be counsel comments and questions. Yes? Seems a little little different than, what we do with other regular agenda items. So I do have a number of, comment cards for this, open public hearing. If you're out there and you do want to comment on this and you haven't filled out a card yet, there's still time. So, they're up on the table there, with Hayes. Logan. Sorry, Logan. I did. Okay. I my first public comment is Barb Evans. There you go. Barb Evans, eight hundred Saint Olaf Avenue, former HPC member,
in support of ordinance ten seventy five. In recent months since being off the HPC, I've watched as two HPC requests, one language change, and one request tonight have navigated appropriate boards and commissions to reach the city council. In both instances, I've seen months of research and informed thoughtful discussion be interpretive or interpreted or even altered without that much consideration of the findings and recommendations of the competent HPC and
city staff who bring requests forward. Few clarifying questions have been asked of the expertise sitting in the room. I hope tonight you will ask all the questions you have. Nine years ago, consultant Carol Zelle encouraged the HPC to preserve the gem that was Central Park. About three years ago, citizens petitioned the HPC to consider that request. Since then, the State Historic Preservation Office has hardly agreed. The HPC unanimously enthusiastically agreed and, launched the request through the process,
landing here tonight, backed by city staff, secretary of state standards, and our own LDC two thousand eight and 02/1945 comp plans. Yes. This designation means that some, not all, park physical decisions could involve the HPC. Someone's gonna approve the proposed changes no matter what. It's better that those decisions be made based on historical uses and features of the park to ensure continued use by the citizens who own it. Please note that this request is at no cost to the taxpayers.
Please honor the careful work and expertise of the HPC and staff doing the preservation work that you have tasked them to do for our beautiful historic city. Perfect timing. Thank you so much. Next is, Paul Hager. Madam mayor, members of the council, city staff, my name is Paul Hager. I live at 110 Maple Street. What is the fear of establishing Central Park as a historical designated space within the City Of Northfield? Is it the fear that such a designation will enclose the park in a bubble,
a restrictive bubble that would not permit repairs, changes or improvements to the park in the future. That fear is unfounded. I repeat, that fear is unfounded. Repairs and improvements are allowed if they are respectful to the aesthetic and the design of the park, and that is to be determined or be reviewed by the HPC and forwarded to the city council for action. Yay or nay? The fear. Is it the fear that you feel you might be missing something if you designated
such, such as the offer from the Northfield Public Schools thirty five years ago to level the park and make it athletic fields for middle schoolers. Part of my legacy is that I grew up in the park, and I was on the city council that voted down that proposal from the school district. The design of Central Park is genius, I believe. They don't build them like that anymore. The opportunity you have is to ensure that this gem of history and design retains its charm and service to the community well into the future. What will your legacy be?
Thank you. Thank you. Next. Mhmm. Oh, Mr. Hager, would do you want are you intending to leave your diagrams up there? I think I'm yes, yes. Thank you. Thank you. This way we can, see all the faces in the audience. Thanks so much. Next up is Barbara Warrinson. You're good. Oh, you just turned it off. Try try it one more press. There you go. It's gone. It's on. Okay. Thank you. Barbara Warrenson. Sixteen o five Independence Drive. We cannot depend on community memory when it comes to Central Park.
There wasn't community memory in 1947. There wasn't community memory in 1990. There wasn't forty three later or thirty five years later in 02/2025, and there won't be in 02/1965. I'll explain. In 1990, we were at a crossroads. Here's what we knew then. The school system had a surplus of $15,000, which they hope to put towards building an athletic field on Central Park. The park was barren, and they imagined four ball fields completely covering the 2.5
acres of the park. But the neighbors protested loudly. One of our growing group found a lawsuit from 1947, which established Central Park as a public square given to the people by John and Anne North. In the end, the schools donated the $15,000 to this the our group, Citizens for Central Park, with the city contributing a matching amount, but the remaining funds would be raised by the community. So I repeat, the neighbors were tasked with raising any remaining funds to complete renovation,
and they came together in a big way raising an additional $80,000 Spencer Jones, landscape architect at SMSQ, did the design based on North's original design. Trees were donated. We planted them. Sod was donated, but we watered it. We took care of it. We watched over it. A company donated pavers, and the owner came in and laid the base for the pavers, all the pavers in the circle and at the corners. And we laid them in the rain on our knees. Yes. The playground was updated. Flowers were laid around the stone circle and tended by us still,
the neighbors. That's why we're advocating for this designation to keep this particular memory alive. And, hopefully you can use your sentence. Hopefully, in 02/1965, because of the actions we've taken today, there will be memory of what has happened here. Thank you. Thank you. Jennifer Edwins is next. I have to stick on the button. Hello. My name is Jennifer Edwards, and I live at 106 Nevada. I'm here tonight to enthusiastically support declaring Central Park a heritage preservation site. This is an incredible honor for this important park in Northfield's history.
Surrounded by some of the oldest homes in Northfield, this historic park has been a landmark for generations of Northfielders. For me, Central Park is where I've gathered with my children, grandchildren and neighbors, attended plays, concerts and other events and used the diagonal sidewalks for a transportation path when walking downtown. For my children, Central Park was a flexible play space for getting together with neighborhood friends, for pickup games, flying kites, picnics and playing on the play equipment. When fundraising for restoring Central Park in 1991,
I saw the generous financial support of the downtown business community. They saw the importance and benefit of the close proximity of the downtown historic district to Central Park. The neighborhood also was very generous with both money and time. And time, as Barb said, laying these pavers in the rain was quite an experience. So I ask you to vote for the recommendation to designate this beloved park a heritage preservation site. Thank you. Thank you. Next, I have Alice Thomas. Sorry. Alice Thomas, four eighteen College, a park neighbor,
one of four who tend the garden. Children and grandchildren use the park as toddlers through high school. Three I spent three terms on the planning commission, two on the HPC, and I'm an owner of a locally designated house. I want to focus on the misunderstandings of some that the designation would mean changes couldn't be made in the future. Misunderstandings could be expected for a couple of reasons. First, applying the preservation standards can be complex, but there are national guidelines and review processes that staff and HPC use in their
specialized work. Generally, citizens wouldn't be aware of the guidelines or understand what it meant or did not mean to be designated. Thus, speculations arise. For some, it means no changes or no maintenance. That is not the case. If anything, the designation brings more attention to the importance of the park and its upkeep. Secondly, the case is more complex because it's a park, in preservation terms, a landscape, Very different from a building that people could identify as needing no change. Even Shippo has said that landscape preservation is not well understood by most.
The key in successful park updates is to maintain its character, the same feeling. New playground equipment is unlikely to change the feeling. City staff previously cited Minnesota communities who've maintained their designated park successfully. I was able to contact one of them who reported that regarding updates and repairs, quote, this has not been a problem. In summary, no. Designation does not mean that nothing can be updated, changed, or repairs, and staff can answer specific questions about that. And, yes, it is listed on my online comments to you.
There are multitude of benefits to the community for the designation of Central Park as local historic site. Thank you. Thank you. Christy Clark. There it is. Okay. My name is Christy Clark. Five zero one third Street East. I'm a former, chair of the Parks and Rec Advisory Board some time ago as as well as a few other, boards. As a long time East Side neighbor, I am thrilled that Central Park has been recommended for local historic designation. And I am proud to have been part of the nineties citizens for Central Park
that raised $80,000 for its renovation. Neighbors, businesses, the city, and all the schools contributed to renovate the neglected square, and it was neglected, to the space that it is today. At that time, supporters were not aware that the park was as historically significant as we know now. But what we know what we knew then, we still know now that the park is a little gem among the city parks. We've arrived at this point after having almost lost the park twice to the bulldozers in the forties and the nineties. And now we have the green light to keep the park secure in its original
configuration long after its one hundred and seventy years of existence. Central Park is inarguably the most important historic site in Northfield because of the information that you've received about John North and, his vision. I feel that it is to the city's great honor to proclaim that Northfield truly values our history. Through study and expertise, the State Historic Preservation Office, our own HPC, and the Park Board have deemed the park worthy of this historic designation. The city staff also agrees that this designation is in our best interests.
It is a false assumption that this new status will mean more work, red tape, and money. This should not be a burden. In fact, the designation will open up the opportunity to receive grants to improve the site, saving the city taxpayers money in the long run. This park offers something rare in this day and age, pride of place. So many people that I have spoken to love this park. Cliff Clark is next. Cliff Clark. 718 East Fourth Street. American History Professor for forty eight years at Carleton, almost forty years on the Heritage Preservation Commission,
author of along with Carol Zelie of the book, sort of talking about all the historic buildings in the town and sites. And first, I want to thank the council for taking this up and for reading the immense amount of material. I used to assign a lot, but but the assignment you have for tonight, that wins the cake. I mean, the the it's wonderful stuff, but there's a lot of it. I wanna make just, two points that haven't been made. One is, when I was on the school board in the seventies,
an outside consultant came in, and that was the middle school, and suggested that we tear all the trees down and get rid of any of the circular area and put astroturf down, to make it a playground for the middle school. Fortunately, I was able to cite the Supreme Court decision saying that couldn't be done. But the two things to notice about the space. In the 50s, the City Council closed College Street and allowed the school district to expand what was
then the middle school. And then in the 90s, and I was the main representative of the school district to Carleton College on the sale of the middle school, to Carleton, which is now the White Center. The city allowed the college to let me just finish. Yeah. You can finish. Allowed the college to, build, it dismissed the distance from the building area, and it allowed the college to build right up to the park line,
kind of thing. So, the point I would make simply is, the park embodies some central kind of beliefs in the town. The fact that it was always sited next to the public school, in its various versions and the fact that it was on, Union Street, a reference to the role of of Minnesotans in the Civil War. It is really one of the central, places in Northfield history, and I'd urge you to support the designation.
Thank you. Thank you. All right. And the next is Paul Krausz. Thank you very much for, for having us this evening. Thank you for inviting me to speak. I'm Paul Kraus, two fourteen Fremont Street East, where I've been happily in Scotts for forty six years. I love Northfield. Northfield has given me so much, and I have tried to give back to Northfield by documenting its culture, the way in which Northfield, enlivens, enriches, and delights Northfielders now and in the future. I'd just like to say a few words about John North because you may not
realize, as I do, that the very character of Northfield is embedded, is rooted in the character of John North. John North was born in 1815 in New York, Rensselaer County. He was converted in 1828 to a at a summer Methodist camp. He was entered a seminary in New York, engaged in anti slavery debates, and attended the first state abolition convention. He entered Wesleyan University in Connecticut and became an agent for the Connecticut Anti Slavery
Society. And that's something he carried with him all his life, was the intention to abolish slavery. It was one of the reasons why he was recognized by President Lincoln and given the title after he left Northville as governor of the the Nevada territories. He was highly esteemed. He came to Minnesota in 1849. He opened a law office in 1850 in Saint Anthony, and he was a member of the territorial legislature in 1851, and he founded the University of Minnesota.
John Norris was very much interested in Culture, in education. He created the Lyceum, which is the oldest building in Northfield, Eighteen Fifty Six. I tell you, Northfield is Northfield because of John North, not because I just want to mention one thing. He was originally associated with Mr. In Faribault, with Alexander Faribault. And because he refused, Faribault refused to have temperance and would not, as John North wanted, no sale of alcohol on the properties that he had anything to do with.
And of course, he came to Northfield and North Shore made dry for quite a long time. Anyway, John Norris, the root of our character and our wonderful community. Thank you. Thank you. That is the last card that I have. I do want to note that our following agenda item number 13 is our consideration of the first reading of the ordinate ordinance designating the park. And because we are having a public hearing now, we will not be taking public comment on item number 13. So if you were thinking you were gonna wait and comment at thirteen,
we'd appreciate it if you'd comment now during the public hearing. So is there anyone out there who hasn't spoken and would like to speak during the public hearing? Okay. Seeing no one, I will bring it back to the, council for comments and questions. Counselor Holmes? What we do do we want to do questions first and then comments? Or is it all in our stores? Let's do questions first. Okay. I have a couple. Probably for staff. So I think the I mean, when I have comments, I can there's some things I think have been mischaracterized,
but I can clear those up as someone who sits on the park board and the planning commission. For the question of appropriateness is central to all three of those those two boards and I think what's before us tonight. Would you say so and I think we had someone speak to a playground being appropriate. Right? Because it's there, and and we know we have within the CIP that there's a playground rent a playground, gonna be a new playground or new playground equipment scheduled in the next year or two. But also in the CIP, it recommends a small picnic structure.
Would you presume that's appropriate? I would have to review the proposed structure. There isn't what there I mean, there is no right? But it's like in the future CIP that Yes. And this is where preservation gets, into the weeds, we would say. There are under the secretary's guidelines secretary of the interior has the guideline sets guidelines for how preservation is done. And there are four different treatments under that, so four different essential paths. One is preservation,
and that's trying not to change anything. That's preserving. That one we don't often see. There's reconstruction. So, I mentioned the band shell earlier, that little gazebo. Were we able to assemble appropriate, photo documentation to be able to accurately architecturally recreate that structure, that would be a reconstruction project, and that follows different guidelines. Most follow rehabilitation, and rehabilitation is making new use out of an old space. In buildings, we can often see how that gets applied.
And in rehabilitation, the focus is on not destroying character defining features. So, you know, it depends on where that picnic structure was located, the size and scale because that can have a negative or impact on the site. And then often in rehabilitation, sometimes you may not be able to get away with the the necessary changes and without a negative impact. And then the question becomes, is it temporary and is it reversible? And so that would be sort of another kind of guideline that we would be
looking at to say, like, well, is this proposal a temporary one? And so in fifty years when that structure is defunct and nobody wants to picnic outside anymore or under a structure, can we take it out and restore the park to its prior condition? And if the answer is yes, then that would be another aspect to consider. But, again, as staff, we would make a recommendation, and the HPC would review those guidelines, or those the secretary's standards against the project. Sometimes that might be a conditional approval. Sometimes it might be a denial,
and sometimes it would be an approval. So to follow on to that, would, because we don't have a long term plan for Central Park specifically. Right? The only thing we have is the mat is the, well, the long term plan formerly known as the master plan parks plan that was built in or that was in 02/2008 around Central Park. And so the other things that are what we do have in there is a recommendation that maybe there would be, lawn games or a basketball court. Would lawn games, say we put in a bocce ball or whatever new,
right? And new games are coming up, or a basketball court, would those fall under the same principle of rehabilitation? Or does that As staff, I would I would be looking at, I would probably be looking at applying the rehabilitation standards because we wouldn't be looking at a preservation Right. Or a reconstruction project in those cases. Yeah. So, yes, so I would look at that. And then the question would be, does it negatively affect the, character defining features? So are you putting a basketball court right in the center? Probably a problem.
Does it does it mess up the diagonal walks? Do we have to start rerouting those diagonal sidewalks around it? Again, probably gonna be a a a no according to those guidelines. But there is, of course, room to, you know, move something around that around, and then that would be up to the HPC to make that determination. And if they weren't impacting those character defining features, say they were far enough, then it would still be the subjective opinion of the HPC if that's appropriate or not, or it would be a probably be approved. It would be the so the decision on the COA would rest and in this
case, because this would qualify under our city code as major work. Mhmm. And so that decision then is is, for the HPC to make. Now any denial from the HPC, according to our city code, any denial of a of certificate of appropriateness on city owned property is automatically reviewed by city council within forty five days. Okay. And city of and the city, of course, so, you know, Dave is the public works director, would also have the opportunity to appeal any HPC decision to city council, the same as any historic property owner,
has the right to appeal a decision by the HPC. Typically, you don't appeal an approval, so it would be an appeal of any any type of denial. Yeah. Okay. You can also they could also appeal conditions. So if the HPC decided to impose conditions and do an approval and approve something with conditions, those conditions could also be appealed. Councilor Peterson White. Thank you. As probably most folks in the room know, we've recently been going through a process of reviewing proposed changes to another historic I mean, to a park which is designated, I believe, as a historic site,
which is Bridge Square. Is that true? Does Bridge Square have the same designation that we're looking at here? Bridge Square has a has a funny status. Bridge Square is technically right of way. It was never it it never was a park. It was a, you know, horse turnaround, and then there was a watering fountain for horses. And so it it does have a that one also has a very funky status. It is a contributing site or contributing feature of our historic overlay district. Great. Thank you. I didn't realize that was question I had, but I'm I'm glad we I'm glad we had this talk because now I understand it better.
The but the changes to the proposed changes to Bridge Square have had to go through a a review process to receive a certificate of appropriateness. Is that correct? Yes. Among other reviews. Yes. Among other reviews. So would you could you just talk a little bit about how that process is similar has been similar or different to what would be required in the future for any proposed changes to Central Park, should Central Park receive this designation? Sure. So in the case of Bridge Square, character defining features included the Civil War monument,
and the and and I do I do just wanna preface this, that Bridge Square did come start before my time with the city, but I I did pick it up, and so I'm giving you the my best recap on it. And the historic and the sweep of Water Street. And so in the designs and the redesigns that the that the team came up with, Shippo and Shippo had to review the project because, I don't know exactly what triggers the one zero six review. I think it it might be a dollar amount or something, but that's a federal level requirement. Anyway, so Shippo identified that and said you have to retain that historic sweep of Water
Street and wanted to retain certain other elements. But, the view to the river was another one. And so in that design, you may recall they took out that pergola. They felt like that would block the view. They wanted to retain that sweep of Water Street with the paving, so that became kind of a paved trail through there. And then the civil war monument also retained. The fountain is not 50 years old, but it's pretty close. And so that was also retained kind of in anticipation. And those then in this instance, the civil war monument is not relocated on the site and neither is the fountain.
And then, like I said, that pergola was removed so that you could still see through to the river, and the paving remained to kinda keep that historic Water Street sweep. So those are that's how those character defining feature. Now was Water Street removed? Is it no longer asphalt? Does it have curb and gutter still? No. Like, you know, those there there were changes, and they are still appropriate, but you can see kinda how that character defining feature was retained in that instance, and that was another rehabilitation project. So change is not is certainly not off the table. But how we do how those changes get managed is is kind of a a
process. Other questions from counselors? Counselor Soukham. Apologize if this was in the packet and I missed it. But is is there any change to how, users onetime users of the park through, like, a permitting process would change through this designation? So, for example, like, the pride festival is in Central Park every year. Would there would the process of, like, a festival being held in the park change at all based on the, designation? The short answer is no. And then I will just reiterate that Central Park is a public square,
and so it's intended as a as a citywide public gathering space. And so it is, from that perspective, an ideal site to host the Pride Festival. NAG has always has done an art fair there for many years, you know, and and there are other events that are still hosted there. So Counselor Soukup? Just to be sure, though, like, the process of Oh, yeah. The permitting process would not change. No. No. Would stay the same. Yes. The the COA process or the certificate of appropriateness process is, affects physical changes, permanent physical changes to the park.
Counselor Holmes. In looking at character defining features versus use, the I guess, can you speak to how looking at use presuming use is pleasure, amusement, recreation, and health. Like, how does that how does that factor into work that we've done that HPC has done? I mean, have is there anything that you can point to in terms of that that that have been used in decisions and, work around pleasure,
amusement, recreation, and health? Typically, the HPC is not concerned with the use Okay. Of of a and and the HPC is typically looking at buildings. So, you know, as as was mentioned, landscape and preservation of landscapes is less common and less well under understood. The focus would be on retaining those character defining features. And so, you know, kind of making an argument about whether or not a use would met those conditions, I think that starts to get into the legal status of of the public square.
And I think my understanding there is that the emphasis would be on whether or not those were sort of exclusive uses. So would you be fencing off portions of the park to accommodate that use and thereby sort of preventing the public from accessing those areas? Then you might start to get into whether or not that was appropriate. If that use required that fencing, then we then it might start to so a pool, for instance, might not be inappropriate. Although it may meet that definition of recreation, health, and amusement might not be the best because now you're limiting public access within the
park because you do have to fence that for safety concerns. Right. Okay. Thank you. Councilor Peterson White. Thank you. I apologize. I haven't had a chance to review the planning commission video, but I'm wondering if either staff or our member of the planning commission could tell me, were there were there particular possible future uses or changes that the planning commission speculated about that they thought were a matter for concern? I no. I don't think as and as we look at the and I would say same thing for the parks board as we look at the,
planned land land use and and that this is anticipated to remain a park, and that there's no intention of doing anything other than that. I think the line of my questions point to what, came up at the parks board. The parks board, we only had four of seven voting members there. Three of our most senior people on the board weren't there present, so I don't think it was a full we didn't have the rich, full, robust conversation with two new voting members at first the first meeting of the year. So, so I would say that that wasn't as as full of a conversation as could
have happened at the planning commission. It was it's more about the, what is the the appropriate body to be making these decisions for both the land use and or, as it is a park, what we have what we have in our parks. So I know that there's been comments about it being burdensome or tax like that was not that wasn't the question. Some people might have had that, but I'd say the general feeling among the board is particularly at the the planning commission where it was a six to one vote. It was overwhelmingly that this wasn't
it it was it was more about the appropriateness of who should be making those decisions and bringing that to council. Is that okay. Think it does that wanna add anything? But, also, council member Beamer was at the quest was there at the meeting. The Sorry. Yeah. Yeah. We have a lot of conversations. Thank you. Yeah. I know it. I and I find myself in that situation frequently too where I'm doing that. And so I wanted to follow-up after, Councilor Holmes comments and see if staff had anything to add, related to Councilor Peterson White's question about the planning commission findings.
I could say that I was specifically asked about, a half pipe, and a basketball court. And both of those are amenities currently at Memorial Park, although the basketball court is, for some reason, within the pool fence. I don't really I'm not sure about why that is the case at this point. But, yeah, those were the two that I was specifically asked about. If you'd like me to kinda speculate or, you know, kind of maybe listen uses that wouldn't fit, I can do that. But yeah. I I'm less concerned about sort of possible uses that wouldn't fit as,
like, if the planning commission talked about some idea of a future development pattern, which just seems so vanishingly unlikely in this location since it has a very established development pattern. But I think Councilor Holmes' comments were very enlightening in terms of the reasons for the Planning Commission's vote. Thank you. Other questions from counsel? Alright. Do we want to make comments now or save our comments for the ordinance reading discussion? The next agenda item. The staff have a preference. Yeah.
No? I I don't think we have a preference, but I do wanna just say as the community development director that I think that this is a very appropriate decision for you to make. I think it's one of the rare instances in the state of Minnesota where you have a really unique opportunity to make a true mark on a place that is an extension of the mark that mister North made on the landscape physically and, sort of socioeconomically and sociologically. So I just wanted to say that from staff standpoint that we stand behind our recommendation significantly, I guess,
to use a term from, preservation work. Okay. Thank you. Alright. Then I am going to, request a motion to close the, public hearing. Councilor Beamer? So moved. Councilor Dolan. Second. All those in favor of closing the, public hearing signify by saying aye. Aye. Those opposed? Alright. The public hearing is closed. That brings us to our next agenda item, which is a consideration of the first reading of ordinance ten seventy five designating Central Park as a local historic preservation site.
So I am looking, for a motion. I don't believe we need any additional staff, input. So I'll be looking for a motion to consider the first reading. Councilor Dolan? Ten seventy five. Yes. I'm trying to pull it up on my laptop, but I moved the ordinance in its first hearing. Thank you. Is there a second? Councillor Peterson White. Second. Thank you. It's been motioned and seconded. Now, looking to our council discussion. You have a you look no? Oh, yes. I do wanna start with the motioner. It was just mister, councilor Dolan.
No. I'll pass. I'll pass. Then I will go to the seconder, councilor Peterson White. Thank you. This is a very educational presentation. I really appreciate all the comments from the public. It's a robust discussion that's very much worth having, and it is kind of a unique situation. And I appreciate, mister Riley's comments as well. And, mister Huey, the presentation was just really fantastic. Thank you. I feel like I've learned a lot today, and I I I thought I already knew a lot about Central Park and its role in my neighborhood. But I, you know, I I am I'm sympathetic to the planning commission's position about future decision making and
roles. But I I also, it's very clear to me that, historic designations have been a really important tool in Northfields for preserving the culture and places that we value that really define the community. And, it's very obvious to me that Central Park is one of those places. And I I'm not concerned that there is some future change that the community would desperately need to make to this one park that would be precluded by this designation. So it seems like an extremely appropriate use of the designation to me,
and I'm happy to support it. And, I also just wanna say how grateful I am. I I think part of what's been really wonderful to to me to learn about is all the various stages of, of preserving and returning this park to what it is now. In 1992, I was, well, I didn't live here yet in 1992. I was still in high school in Illinois, but I came to Northfield shortly after you all laid the pavers in the rain. And, it's, it's a real it's a this is a space that I've treasured since since I came to Northfield as a 17 year old and, look forward to treasuring for many decades to come.
So thank you all for all that you've done and all that other folks in Northfield have done to make this such an important and not just loved, but very much used community space. Thank you. Councilor Ness. Thank you. I just wanna thank Paul Krause for the video that he sent me. I don't know if he sent it to everyone. It was extremely informative. Thank you for that bit of history. I learned a lot from that. And as Cliff Clark says, as a professor, I'm glad I didn't have to read every page. So thank you,
and thank you, staff, and thank you, HPC, for bringing this forward. It's a project well worth it. Thank you. Councilor Beamer. First, I wanna thank all of the citizens of Northfield for the emails that I've received over the last couple of days. Paul, I did get look at your video, so thank you very much for doing that. As counselor Holmes had mentioned, I was on the planning commission as the liaison at the time that this was presented to the planning commission. I'm sure counselor Holmes will recall the first thing I asked her is,
like, I'm not real sure why this already hasn't been done. I after hearing some of the discussion at the planning commission, meeting, I I was on the fence and I I I think I actually, let Paul know that when I via an email too. My only concern is is that is that we don't run into an issue where there's a back and forth going on when we're trying to make some improvements out there without affecting the design, and it sounds like that is, that will be the case. So it it sounds like everything is good.
I will probably revert back to my initial statement. I'm surprised it hasn't been done a long time ago. So I I will probably support this at this point. I I feel comfortable enough knowing that that we're gonna be in good hands, and I don't think there'll be too much back and forth with future improvements or upgrades. So thank you. Thank you. Counselor Slocum. Yeah. I just wanna say thanks to staff and to, everyone here who's come and spoken, and sent emails. Appreciate all the context,
and this has been through many stages. So it's interesting to watch it, evolve over these last months. As a former former planning commissioner, it was always interesting to see the kind of Venn diagram of how the planning commission and the HPC interact and agree and disagree and have really robust debates. I I tend to I guess I sympathize with the planning commission's question of who's responsible for future decisions and uses of this space.
But I do, I do support this ordinance. And, ultimately, as long as as long as something's not, you know, frozen in time and it's and with respect to the HPC, I don't believe that's ever your intention. I I guess that would be my only concern, and it seems as though those concerns have been all addressed and talked over thoroughly multiple times. So happy to support this ordinance, and, I've always loved loved this space, even as a kid, go you know, running up and down the diagonals and launching my skateboard over the limestone walls and
being yelled at about it, but with love. I I hope that this space I hope this space stays in the same configuration, but it's used in different ways, all throughout, you know, the future because, you know, times change and uses change. But I think this this preserving the space in in its orientation is important. So thank you. Thank you. Counselor Holmes? I I know I've been the lightning rod. I am making eye contact with several of you who I know have been thinking maybe not great thoughts about me. I'm even looking at staff,
since I've been in this is my third conversation. It needs to be known though that I am extremely sympathetic to preservation. I can see this park from all of the front rooms in my house. This is the park. I live a block away. My kids play here. I want it to be a park. I love it. And, and I've been conflicted because I think it's important because I think that the spirit of it is is very important. I voted for it reluctantly at the Parks Board and then I voted against it at the, at the planning commission.
So I've I've been extremely conflicted in what I've been waiting for is something to change my mind or to help me feel confident. And I get back to that use of, pleasure, amusement, recreation, and health. And that we have a body who is specifically nominated to be to look at Pleasure, Amusement, Recreation, and Health, our Parks Board. And so I think that it's that's not necessarily what
we what people on the HPC are what what people on the HPC are put on the HPC for is looking at those things. Right? And I again, I respect everything that the HPC does in preservation. I live in one of the oldest houses. It's the remaining houses in town, so I get that. And I think what I've been holding on to has been that the work just the taking taking potentially taking that work away from the advisory body that we've nominated to make those recommendations to us knowing that anything can still be appealed.
But is that the process that we want to go through? However, I have surprised myself that I because I still I still have major hesitation. I'm not I'm not in favor of us. I guess I'm I'm I'm not in love with what might happen or the process that might happen in terms of, appropriateness that does not impact the character defining features, and that the possibility of subjective opinions of what may or may not be appropriate at a basketball court.
I'm not I'm not advocating that we need a basketball court there, but I think that in the future if we know what when we have our park needs, if that's what, you know, if there's things things like that or other things that are needed, I just hate the fact that maybe hands will be tied because we are very limited in our park space in this area of town. This is the only park with a playground, within many blocks for the families that live there. And as, as Mr. Huey pointed out, we do have a basketball court at Memorial Park.
It's you have to pay to get into it, right? So it's not necessarily open. So again, I'm not I'm just pointing that out because basketball basketball court was in the long range plan. It's not that I am advocating for a basketball court, but just the possibility of what could be there. And while I want to be able to, you know, while I believe that the Parks Board is probably best positioned to be able to make those decisions, everyone made a compelling case tonight. And I think that the staff is very behind this. And so and at my core,
I want this to stay apart. I want this to stay apart. I I don't think there's anything about the land use and and respect those character defining features. So you did it. I'll support it. Thank you. I will, yeah, great. I will now make my comments. So gosh, I've been making lots of notes. Thank you. I share, in all the gratitude that has been expressed here tonight. I appreciate this opportunity to make this historic designation. I I'm especially taken with the the founding stones that were the measurement for the
beginnings of our city. I can't think of anything that's much more historic than that. Also was taken with the comments about, community memory memory, staff memory, and council memory. I've been part of other, friends of park different parks that have, Lashbrook Brook comes to mind where you have this passive prairie park and someone is looking for a place to put an archery range and sees a blank spot on the map. It's not anyone's fault. It's just like someone comes in and they're looking at the map of Northfield and they say, well, there's nothing there.
There is something there. There's a Passiv Prairie. And it did eventually get Passiv designation, but it took a while. And it took Gloria Keester being the one to come back and say, No, this is a Passiv Park. And the Friends of Lashbrook Park and I'm gonna be there. So I I am completely in favor of protecting this park through this historic designation. So thank you all, for your input and the, yes, the the, staff presentation. So would anyone like to make a second comment before we vote? I know that everyone's commented once.
Great. Thank you. Alright. Here we go. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Those opposed? Motion the first ordinance, first reading. Thank you. And that was the word I was looking for. The first reading of ordinance ten seventy five passes. Thank you all, and the council will now take a short recess. I do have, I do have a comment for that a comment card for that. Yes. But we're so we're coming back. Yes, exactly. So we're coming back. And we are now at our agenda item to consider accepting bids and awarding the
contract for the 2025 reclamation and overlay project. And that is to Mr. Bennett. Yes? What did I skip something? It's a step. Mayor and council reports. Oh, you're right. I did skip I skip something every meeting. I don't know if some of you are new here. You this is this is this is the thing that I do. Alright. Reports I like you moving things on, though. Yeah. I I maybe that's what I was doing. Reports from mayor and the council, and I start with Brad this time. Yeah. Brad? Councilor Ness. Sorry. Sure. I attended the, Loon Liquor closing,
which happened at their at the news Building. They were so excited. I think that's the whole place is gonna go gangbusters. And if the pictures and drawings are anything like what the representation they have, it's gonna be a neat looking place. But we did close. They got the signatures, so they own own the building. Now they have to start making payments is all. And I attended the, hockey arena open house at College City Beverage last week sometime, I think it was.
Chris Kennelly gave a presentation, and it was very well done. Not hugely attended, but, he had some realistic numbers, not the numbers that we hear quite often. So that was interesting. And other than that, that's all I did. Thank you. Counselor Peterson White. I have nothing to report. Thank you. Counselor Soka. There was a finance policy subcommittee meeting last week. Counselor Dahlin and counselor Beamer were also at that, so, I can let them add to that.
But, basically, we talked about the rules and responsibilities of the subcommittee, and we, reviewed or we went through a list of finance policies that we're gonna talk about in the future. We also talked a lot about, the kind of well, maybe I'll let counselor Dalton talk about that because he had some questions around our q '3 and q '4 and when we're audited and when all the things all the information comes out because we don't often get our q four information until our audit, which isn't until June. So we just talked about that for quite a while,
and, I'm excited to dig in further to all the policies that the finance committee kind of has jurisdiction over. Thank you. Councilor Holmes. Yeah. I had to go back to the agenda for the planning commission meeting because it happened on March 20, and then about six hours later, I was getting my family onto an airplane. So for spring break. So it's kinda we had a planning commission meeting where we bulk of the time was spent on the comprehensive plan, but we also had some important hearings,
public hearings, particularly about the short term rentals and the 20% rental density limitation that is current that currently exists. So at the next planning commission meeting, we we didn't take any action. We just did have the public hearing. So at the next planning commission meeting, we'll actually be looking at resolutions or what what's recommended to come to council. We also had a public hearing on cannabis and what the what that looks like in the land development code and getting ahead of what might be coming event what
what will eventually be coming from the state, but has yet to be defined. And that's that's it. Thank you. Councillor Galvin. Heads to the finance committee policy subcommittee that was mentioned. Where our focus is on two things, and we hope to give, some focus further focus and recommendations to the council on it. We have the city debt and we have the city budget. And both of those are prominent and what we want to study and bring back to the council. So we will in the next few weeks. Alright. Thank you. Councilor Beamer. Thank you. EDA meeting from 03:24.
Loon Liquors had come in. They requested an additional $200,000 loan. EDA approved it. There was a first loan from the EDA as well for, 200 k. It was a five o vote. There it was, it was gonna happen. They did close as, councilor Nuss had had said. The terms of that loan, it's a they took it out of the EDA fund February. They have a fifteen year repayment plan. The first two years will be a $500 interest free, and then the next thirteen years,
it'll be a payment of $15.49 84 at a 3% interest rate. We also received an ice arena update, comp plan review and discussion, presentation, for the rental ordinances were also discussed there. We did establish an ad hoc redevelopment committee, that was done with a four to one vote. Received an update from connecting businesses and community as well. So that is all I have to report. Thank you. I have nothing to report. So now I will move us on,
to our first regular agenda item, which is consider accepting bids and awarding the contract for our 2025 reclamation and overlay project. Now to mister Bennett. Mayor, members of council, so we held the bid opening for the the 2025 project on March 20, and, we had five competitive bids with the low bid, being 2,074,000, dollars, and the bid came from Crane Creek Asphalt. The engineer's estimate was below the engineer's estimate of 2,700,000.0.
So staff is recommending council, award the project to Crane Creek Asphalt for the the 2025 project this year. Thank you. Are there questions from the council? Councilor Holmes. Thanks. I just have a question because it was brought up in the legislation text, and I know we have another agenda item and potentially future discussions about the 1% for the arts. Just my question is, in the in this project, the 1% was applied after contingencies. However, in the what was presented to us for the ICE arena, the 1% is was before contingencies.
So I guess and I went to look at the 1% ordinance to understand, like, when it's applied or, like, what so I I just wasn't sure what if there's a reason why it's before or after contingencies depending on the project or, or if that was just a miss on one of the projects or not. Just looking for additional information on that. Mayor of council. Typically, the 1% for the arts is just on the it's on the construction cost itself. We typically we typically have not changed it post final construction. So we have the contingency.
I think it is probably an oversight and something we can clarify, moving forward in the future. I think most of our projects have been coming in under the contingency. Sometimes it's it's near that 10% or within the, you know, you know, a few percent over the project or we have a lot of projects that come in under. So I I don't think the intent is to increase it by 10%, but I think it's just the the way we've laid it out. But certainly something that we could clarify in the 1% if it's before the contingency
or or after. But most projects, we're always gonna have at least a 10% construction contingency, on the projects. Thanks. My question wasn't like, I know I know we need contingency. I just wanted to understand if there was a reason or if, like, just understand the consistency. So thank you. Other questions? Great. Is there any, one from the public who'd like to comment on this agenda item? Alright. Seeing no one, I'll bring it back to the dais for a motion. I thought you had one. What? Counselor Holmes. I move resolution twenty twenty five dash zero three nine.
Thank you. Accepting bids toward the contract for 2025 reclamation overlay. Thank you. Counselor Peterson White. Second. Alright. Council discussion. Councilor Holmes. Councilor Peterson White. Is there any council discussion? Alright. Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Those opposed? Motion carries. That brings us to a review and discussion of the 2627 proposed budget calendar from mister Martig. Alright. So the audio visual, I'm plugged in on my input, and I'm gonna hit I know we have, a different staff member back there,
and so I just activated it. See if we can get it to show up. We don't see it on the screen yet. Oh, alright. Sounds good. Alright. I would say that the I think you may mayor, members, city council, early about this time of the year, I usually do kind of a proposed calendar for the budget year and identify some staff, finance director, city administrator driven goals. We'll be going back to staff for any input that they have. This is not set in stone, though. So, I'm probably gonna try and abbreviate this more than normal based on the meeting kind
of schedule the rest of the way and where we've been. So we can take feedback outside of this, but I'll try and move quickly, but try and hit on at least some of the key points. It might be repetitive a little bit of in the memo and then I'll turn it back for any questions that you you might have, related to that. At the end, I'll kinda talk I'll I'll talk about I'll try and identify some of the changes as I in the calendar schedule that we're looking at. Some of those do relate to the goals that I'll rekind of focus at the end of the presentation slide. I'm mainly just cutting and pasting what's in your attachment.
So there's nothing new in here that's in your packet materials other than I think Sarah Hoffman, the deputy clerk, caught the location was wrong on one of them where it said police station or something instead of city hall, but that's kind of a detail. So really the kickoff of the budget calendar, we try and integrate if there's maybe financial related issues into the calendar. So we are working on a pending update to our franchise fees that replaced replaced our prior practice of a number of years ago related to special assessments and
also funded some of the carbon reduction fund. When that was passed, the plan was because with the agreement with the franchise fees with Xcel Energy only allows us to do fixed dollar amounts that you can't have integrated percentage increases based on inflation over time. The idea was to come back on a regular basis and update those. We haven't done it for a number of years. We've actually exceeded a little bit the time period that we had originally planned to update those, so that's on the list. I work with the mayor on the schedule of the agenda, so that one's continued to shift.
So in fact, that might even be a little bit different, than than the current one planned because our fifteenth meeting is getting a little full. But that's on the plan. Another items then moving on to May. We have our annual audit by the Northfield Hospital and Clinics. It's a municipal hospital. That's one of their goals or one of their requirements is to give an update. That is scheduled. I might have some typos in here. It looks like they mentioned 2022 audit in the detail. It's last year's audit, so it must be old. So that's on the schedule. And then we have the preliminary review. The next item on the May meeting is a a new proposal.
One of the goals is to try and accelerate some of our budget process that I think also might be helpful for us to have a kickoff discussion right before staff starts to start developing the budget, where the idea would be Northfield City has done a two year budget. Historically, the council hasn't voted on the second year budget historically. But I think as a best practice, we're trying to move to get to a better two year forecast with the second year being more accurate on our estimating where it might be a smoother transition and predictable, on the year up. So that's a goal.
So what the finance director and I are proposing to do is to take that second year, show a little bit of the current year in the '26 budget and the reminder of the remaining, five year capital plan and capital equipment plan that's adopted for the council to kinda do a preview and maybe feedback with our new accounting software too. We have a lot more we had very antiquated system that took a number of years to get updated, but we got that done. It now allows us a lot more flexibility to update things like salaries and wage data that's used to be very complex,
had to be done now with the system, integrates that a lot easier. So we'd be updating actual employee pay data. People maybe come and go. So we probably update that forecast to include that. So the council might get an idea where we left off. We also have been implementing now a five year financial management plan that, we're continuing to try and build as a goal to make it more sophisticated, to look at tax impacts and those kinds of things over a number of years. So we would also share where that left off with some updates based on integrating
some of those operational updates. So that's planned to be new. Another item that we're looking at with the council's interest to continue to look at more two way public engagement opportunities, We're looking at a placeholder for around that time after we get the initial presentation. And then as the audit is gonna be coming in and starting the budget process, sharing where we left off previously. We know not all of you are part of that process, but still that's where it left off to maybe give an indication of where we're going. What might that in, engagement be is to be determined. So trying to explore things around kind of a collaborative model processes to say,
you know, what is the purpose of it? Is it informing? Is it consulting? Is it involving them in the process? Are they actually is it gonna be more collaborative process or are we gonna be empowering the public? Looking at that spectrum of public participation, I think, needs to get vetted out. And I'm gonna be looking to staff to maybe help with some of that and some feedback from the council. I would say at that phase, you're certainly gonna have a bit of informing, but might be an opportunity to do some of those more, integrated processes for feedback, I think, on the public engagement. I don't think probably realistically at this first year,
it might lead into more of a collaborative process where that early that they're actually bringing forward their own ideas. An example, I would say of that collaborative process might be like on a more fiscal crisis, maybe a mini fiscal crisis like the school district's dealing with on their operating. It's a collaborative model where even some of the suggestions are brought from the public through kind of a participatory process embedded back, but the council or the school board actually ends up approving it in the end. Anyway, we'll get into that more, but I think that's I probably don't have a lot of answers yet on what
that might look like if you have questions or thoughts on that, but I'll certainly be open to opinions. But we thought that's a new piece that we're suggesting because, again, as you get into the budget process later in the process, it's it's harder for the public to get involved. And I'll talk about that later that the ultimate hearing at the end of the process really is an informative process, really, from a public standpoint or should be, at that point. And we should have really predictability on the adoption of the budget in December when we hold that hearing. We really shouldn't be making changes or have surprises at that point.
So we're trying to accelerate that opportunity for the public. In state law, though, there are pieces that we're obligated to do that we can't change, like when we hold our hearings in December, other pieces that I'll call out. So we have to work within those state law, requirements as part of the process. NAFRS, our joint powers agreement with the fire districts continuing to accelerate on their budget planning. I have been advocating that they consider moving to a two year budget cycle as well. Part of the reason for their acceleration is, the townships have an earlier date that they set their budget, so they've been asking for information.
So this year, they actually came they've already started their budget and got some preliminary information already, on both our operations and our capital planning. They have deadlines with our joint powers agreement that we'll meet. So this might be a little accelerated from what they have to do, but that's great for us because our budget process sometimes works a little bit in chunks as we go through some of the processes for approval. And again, this one requires us working with Dundas and the townships on coming to agreement on, operational and capital needs. Then in June, this is kind of our traditional time that by the June,
the state with the adoption or acceptance of that audit report by the June. That's really a key point in time where things really shift because we're at a midyear point in our operating funds. We have an independent audit to look at the prior year. We're often looking at That way, so which Councillor Peterson might also eloquently describe this evening. So, thank you. Yes. Can I just make one comment? Both of the council and councilor Dolan and councilor Beamer, I do wanna offer that in a good faith effort,
I do wanna work collaboratively together to reach your goals and to share kind of our perspective and to try and see how we can integrate it forward, but to ultimately always honor your ability to bring your own independent action forward as well if that's what you feel is important to do. So even though this conversation was a little bit different difficult, I do wanna be genuine and say I truly believe that, and I I hope that we can use it as an opportunity to open the doors to stronger communications and relationships to try and work towards a positive outcome together, to really serve you and the council as a whole.
Our next item is where the council consideration of an ordinance amendment related to 1% for the arts. And this is it let's get and before we have a motion, let's let's try it this way this time. Let's get an introduction from councilor Beamer. Before we start, I'd like to make a motion to postpone this action. I hear that, and I I would like to, hear from councilor Beamer and take public comment. I do have someone who's been waiting That would be in the audience.
Probably okay, but to take public comment. We need to move this to a work session Yeah. To discuss it further. And I'm sorry to that somebody there, but we I'd like to hear her too because there's no public comment at a work session. So So can is that can we do that out? That is possible. Your, summary of your resolution, and then we'll take public comment. And then I'll entertain your that's that's opening discussion, which would go contrary to my motion. So then we won't be taking public comment?
We we can hear the public comment. But we can't have an introduction? Normally, we do staff and look that up in my book, which ain't gonna find it. I think Are are councilor Beamer, are you okay waiving your, introduction, I guess? That's fine. That's fine. We can I can do the introduction at the work session if that's okay with the rest of the council? Okay. Then I will move can I count, administrator Martin? Thank you, mayor. I might be getting ahead of myself. If there was some suggestion on allowing input at a work session, my advice would be to make how public engagement might be part of the process
if the council wants to explore that to be part of the work session rather than opening up a practice of taking input at a work session. Maybe I misheard that, and I might be interrupting your process. But sorry. That'd be just some things to think about. Yes. I I like that door that you just opened, door number two. I'm just trying to find a way to see if Emery can come up and make their public comment. Right. Right. Is that would that be allowed? Is anyone okay. I'm gonna I'm I know. Yes. Okay.
I have one comment card from Emery to come and speak to this agenda item, which we which may or may not actually result in a motion. Thank you for making that exception. My name is Emery John. I live at 115 Winona, and I'm here as a member of the public to urge the, the council to vote against furthering this conversation to cut our 1% of the arts in half. I appreciate the goal of lowering lowering government expenditure, but an estimated 25 k cut to a $25,000,000 budget is not how you go about it. The letter from the councilman asks that art is an important asset to our community,
but to what extent is it when so many other things do not get taxpayer sent funds set aside for support? Art is an important community asset. I agree. But the presence of other good causes does not mean we should decimate five times over our local public arts funding. This is letting the perfect be the enemy of the good. Second, public art has a measurable economic impact on our community. One study specific to Minnesota art spending finds that for live events, 32% of attendees live outside of the county in which the art event took place, and they spend about twice as much as their local counterparts on event related spending. A vibrant arts community not only keeps residents and their discretionary spending close to home,
it also attracts visitors who spend money and help local businesses thrive. One federal study found that 99% of CEOs' questions stated that the availability of cultural activities is important is unimportant consideration in choosing a new location for their businesses. Third, this conversation, just by existence of cutting our arts budget in half, it continues to send a bad message. To our neighbors and fellow residents who are local artists and work tirelessly in our creative scene, this discussion reads as their work not being valued by this council. Furthermore, this conversation and commitment of staff time, efforts, public hearings, work sessions,
it projects to the wider world and the tourists and the CEO alike that Northfield would rather pinch pennies, and, yes, 25 k is pennies to affect a city budget, instead of being drivers of cultural activity and place making. For for saving 25 k, the largest impact will be that of messaging. It is symbolic, and that symbolism is a bad branding for Northfield. Thank you. Plugged in. Thank you. Now your motion to postpone to a work session? Postpone item number 1825Dash198 until a work session that can fit in the calendar.
I don't know the you'll have to look at that, for further discussion. Thank you. Is there a second, Councillor Soukup? I'll second. Second. Can we is that that's discussable? Mhmm. Great. I have yes. Who would like to kick us off? I have some points I'd like to throw out there too, but, we'll just go to the motion. I will I will Councillor Ness first. Yes. I think I'd like to see the numbers too that counselor Beamer and counselor Gollum were thinking about, you know, how much is 1%, how much is a half percent, and then the max limit,
you know, what's that gonna do with some strong figures? And so Okay. That's why and and a work session is the best home for this, I think, to begin with, then we can bring it forward to a council meeting. Thank you. Thank you. Counselor Silke. Yeah. I just wanna say I appreciate the, having the discussion. I agree that it it should start at a work session. And, you know, it it, as as, we heard in public comment, it usually is a relatively small amount of money. I think this
kind of was first raised that I've heard it be raised around when we were talking about the water treatment plant and the and the large sum that that that that would have been, and that that was the reason for thinking about is there a cap and what does that mean. So I'm I'm curious, to learn more at a work session and to keep talking about it. Yeah. So, administrator Marchik and I spent, some time, talking about this and the, type of information that staff would like, from us as they think about, bringing them up some models forward is,
so first of all, support for this overall, a percent for the arts. Yeah, do you support it? At what percent would you invoke a cap? And what would you be comfortable with as a cap? Would you reduce or pause funding this year? I think that's there are some timely items here. The ice arena has been brought up as a bigger ticket item, and that the staff has already been preparing for that. So, when we do bring it to work session, they're they they would like to hear from each of us,
our commitment this year and what we'd like to look this to look like in the future. And I'm personally thinking about the sustainability of that arts funding so that it's I would increase the percent and put a cap on it so that it's getting more but with a cap. So it's a sustainable, more regular amount that that can be counted on for the arch. So thinking about, like, goals like that. What are your goals, for this program given that cost of things are rising and that's creating these spikes
and uncomfortableness with when you have projects that are over $20,000,000 So okay. Councillor Boehmer. Thank you, Councillor Ness, for putting the motion forward. I just point out a couple of real quick things, via the supplemental memo that was submitted in the council packet. And we we have an approximate balance of $250,000 in there right now. You know, the ice arena alone, which I think we're too far down the road to probably do anything with that
at this point anyways. You know, that's that's going to have $192,000 allocated to it according to the supplemental memo. That the water treatment plant had it been approved, was somewhere, I think, upwards of $600,000 somewhere in $600,000 or $700,000 if I remember correctly looking at that. I mean, those are large sums of money for something that we really, really want, but not something that we really, really need. And, you know, to ask the taxpayers to continually spend money on items like that,
I I just I find it hard to do, and and I I have no problem funding the arts. I don't wanna see it go away. I would like to just see it adjusted to some extent so that, you know, we're being a little bit more fiscally responsible to, you know, our constituents is is kind of my big thing. And, you know, I'm open to entertain anything. I do appreciate the support to continue it in a work session. So hopefully, we can have some,
very constructive conversations about it. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. So we'll now vote on the motion to postpone. All those in favor, signify by saying aye. Aye. Those opposed. Motion carries to postpone to the next most perfect work session. Okay. We're ready. Are you ready, Mr. Riley, for our, comprehensive plan draft review. I'm ready. I'm not sure the podium is ready. Thank you, Peter. I'll try again. Well, I'll just is it can you see the We can see it. The actual presentation? Okay.
That's fine then. Works for me. Thank you. I think that most of you have heard some form of this in the past. One thing related to the last piece of convert last conversation, I'd like to note is one, I don't know that I can channel my inner New Yorker to speak quite as quickly, as miss John did, but we do sort of come from a similar place. We'll try. And then the other thing is that I think, this discussion about the 1% of the arts is something that, is the kind of thing that a comprehensive plan can set the stage for,
and to think about how effectively such a program can be used because you're not just paying for, sort of a decoration. You're also paying the wage of an artist. And one of the best places to make a living is in government. Maybe not as an elected official, but certainly it's a it's a solid job. There's a reason I don't run for office. I'm glad grateful for all of you here. So some background, on the comprehensive plan. We'll go through quick general policy direction approach, next steps, and if you have any questions. I know you've been here a long time, and we're all gonna spend all day Saturday together.
So we'll have lots of opportunities to talk about how strategic planning and comprehensive planning work together. So of course, you all know what a comprehensive plan is. It's a tool described in the state statute for orderly and economic development in municipality, township, or county. Has a twenty year horizon. It is ideally updated every ten years and amended as needed over the course of time. And that's something that has not always happened in Northfield, even if you look prior to the 02/2008 plan. So I I'm looking forward to maybe building in some opportunities for amendments of the comp plan in the strategic planning process. And then I think the other thing that I'd like you to think about sort
of today as we're moving into that strategic planning event on Saturday is, how can what can the the city do? What do you wanna bring to the table on Saturday, for what the city can do in the next three to five years to implement this longer term vision, which may include things like how we budget, how we regulate and what we regulate, and what are the goals and metrics that we can develop to measure that success? Because this community has been, remarkably successful for a place of its size, for generations. Not every small town in the Midwest has this kind of success. And it's the the economic sustainability of a place that is self contained to some
extent and also relies on some outside assistance, even if that outside assistance is in the townships. We've got some big Fortune 500 comp companies in the townships too. Maybe even Fortune 100. So here's your here's a lovely black and white picture that I usually sit in front of in color in my Zoom meetings. I think that I think that it's a staff. Can you go to the podium? I think our staff input is on in the back. If you could switch to the podium. Go back there. Is there somebody back there still? Yeah. Okay. Hi, Jared. Sometimes, you know, it's Karen.
Oh, Karen. Sometimes that does Mhmm. Pulls up. Yeah. Pulls up. Yeah. Like You might yeah. Okay. Okay. So I It opened it again. Try to It did. Then maybe advance your slides and see if it's working. Right. No. I think it's coming up. Maybe. It wants to resume the slideshow, but it may not. No. Can you advance? It looks like it's up if are you advancing or no? It's only on Well, mine mine's not switching. That's the problem. Hang on a second. Wait. Wait. I got it. Uh-huh. It's smarter than I am. Machines will take over eventually. I can see the sideshow,
but it won't let me select slideshow window. Well, show me that one. Let's let's hold that one. See, it's hiding back there. Isn't that funny? How many? You can you can present from the staff table. Yeah. Maybe present you're able to do it at staff? Yeah. I can do it at staff table. Alright. I can go do that. Yeah. I don't know what's going on with it. I might stand up over there. I don't need the notes. I just need it to be a I feel like I should give a play by play so those listening or watching at home can no. I'm talk I feel tuning in at night. Anyone yeah. Right? Here we go.
We're getting close. We're getting really close to the, presentation on the comprehensive plan. This is this is kind of strange, but just a heads up for you IT people over there. I opened my previous presentation. I can advance my slides. I opened up the comp plan presentation. It won't advance on my computer. So I don't Uh-huh. What if you just did the we can see it on the screen with oh, you won't see your notes, I suppose. Well, you could just you could you can you can just do this. They're gonna see your decide, but it won't go into presentation mode for some reason. Alright.
Thanks. Hi again. Jeff's gonna startle me. Just know it. Alright. So comprehensive plan. Background. Alright. I did that one. Alright. Black and white slide, comprehensive plan, twenty year vision, law. The planning agency in this case is the planning commission. They prepare the comprehensive plan, and the council may not adopt it until it receives the planning commission recommendation. The folks at the dais can determine whether they think that we got a pretty good I think we got a pretty good go ahead on the text, at the March 20 meeting. And I really appreciate all of the really hard work,
that everyone put into, the text document and also that the staff have done on the, soon to be very, visual and, touchable, print document. So we have the 2,008 conference plan that we've been working from, for now quite some time, close to twenty years. The land development code itself was updated in 02/2011. The adoption of the 2020 02/1945 housing comprehensive plan will, be the kickoff to a new, what we're calling a redesign of the land development code as well as a renaming. We're gonna go back to calling it the zoning code.
It was the zoning code up until 2011. No one's sure why, but I'd like to stop tripping over calling it the land development code. So in the fall of twenty twenty three, we initiated the update, and we will be done, this spring. Right? Yes. Okay. Good. This is the timeline, up until the December when we were hoping to have something for you to adopt. So now in 2025, we, have refined the text, and we are working on refining maps, engaging the boards and commissions, and then, having a planning commission recommendation and a resolution for you all to consider, if not this month,
next month. This is how all the pieces work together. So, the most important, ingredient, as, former planning commission chair Buckheit and current steering committee chair Buckheit likes to remind me is that the number one planning ingredient is actually the people, not the words. And the participation and the engagement, has been really robust and exciting. And what I love about comprehensive planning is that sort of ordinary people, whether they're eight or 80 years old, really can identify what makes a place great to them and that aligns with what sort of, research and and development have suggested makes a place great.
I think the commentary on Central Park, earlier tonight kind of identifies that as well. So that's always a fun process in in comprehensive planning for me. Oops. This is how the plan works together with the city's overarching vision, and values that are on our website as well as the vision and values, the strategies, and the policy topics as well as how that comes out, in the built environment or the the way the town operates and works. All those things align together, to get to a point where we start implementing, the vision identified by the community in the comprehensive plan,
and that's supported in sort of the smaller steps with the strategic planning. The general policy direction of this plan strengthens, the policy direction from 02/2008, which in fact is really grounded in the policy direction from 1966, the very first plan adopted in this community. This policy direction, though, really takes a stronger and more clear focus on what what it means for a community to be equitable, and that gets is not just about, maybe socioeconomic equity or racial equity. It is about, the economic success of a place and its people,
and the sustainability and the climate action planning. All of those things are associated with equity. And I like to think of equity, economy, and the environment as sort of Northfield's triple bottom line. And we have a graphic, that I meant to put in the slide deck that, communication staff put together for us that really is a great little way to show how that works. You'll see it hopefully on Saturday. The policy the plan is also a little shorter. It's a little more simple. It's focused on outcomes, and it sets the stage and in it incorporates existing plans and sets the stage for more planning,
whether that's preservation planning, as we submit an application to the state SHPO, to do a preservation plan for the city to help under help folks understand the value of preservation and what it can and can't do for a place, to go back to the earlier conversation, but also sets the stage for, for work that mister Bennett Stephen is in charge of when it comes to infrastructure planning, and help identify clarity on how the two things go together. The general policy direction is described in chapter two, which has the vision and guiding values. Again, they are strongly related to the adopted vision and guiding and values,
on the city's website that were worked through in the first, round of strategic planning that mister Martin led many years ago now, or several. Perhaps he'd prefer I say several, not many. And then they were they've been those words have been refined by the steering committee and the planning commission. So that's what, the the big message is that we're a welcoming city providing equitable access to a high quality of life. It's a city with a strong identity rooted in history while growing as a diverse, inclusive, and sustainable place. We maintain our integrity as an independent and distinct city shaped by our historic and natural resources,
the Cannon River, rural neighbors, and the colleges. Here are the guiding values, and I think we heard a lot today about, some of these concepts, especially such as finding creative solutions to local problems. I think the two, resolutions that were floated today can, really jump start some of those creative conversations around solutions, and continuing to be economically responsible and sustainable, while still offering the same the things that we've offered, for, more than a hundred and fifty years. Chapter three connects land use and transportation together. It's important. Those two things go together. Land use is how we,
sort of interact with a place. So where we live, where we work, and how we get in between those places. And there are elements in Northfield that make things more or less accessible. So the hill that Saint Olaf is located on or the river or the two, sort of divisive highways that come through town, Those can limit access, but they can also be opportunities to use that, creative finding creative solutions to local problems guiding values, to make sure that we're, getting what we want, out of out of the community and can get to and from where we need to go, and keep people safe,
at the same time. So gets us to, future land use map. So just to be clear, land use is not the same thing as zoning. Zoning is how the land is used, and what the rules are for how those uses happen. Land use itself is just sort of what happens there. So in this map, the goldenrod color, if I can call it that. I'm sure there's a technical term for that yellow that's in our, our, branding, but I'm gonna call it goldenrod. Those are the places for people to live. Live, recreate, go to school, etcetera. That's sort of the concept, is that those are the people first places.
The purple places are the places that are going to be con are considered mixed use commercial. So commercial or commerce is the first thing that happens there, and people living there might be the second thing that happens there. And then the gray areas are the industrial uses. So the the very first thing there is, people working, and trying to identify where the safe places are, for people, for vehicles, and prioritizing the safety of people over the say outside of vehicles over, over the peep safety of people inside of vehicles because vehicles are, by nature, more safe once you're inside them than they are when you're outside.
We also are looking at defining the campus boundaries and sort of saying, look. We know you're here and you are extremely valuable to us, and we'd like you to sort of stay within a set boundary. So we worked with the colleges, both of them, on identifying, what those hard edges of the of their campus boundaries are. And then when we go and attack the, land development code or the zoning code, I think we might reduce some of the staff burden, and alleviate some of the pressures on the colleges to, maybe so that they can have more, more agency within their campus boundaries, and staff can focus on other initiatives,
so the colleges can do what they need to do in their boundaries. So that's and then the the defined edge of the community as well. So we've heard loud and clear, and I think it's been clear in the documents that precede this one, that Northfield wants to have kind of an edge. And so where we don't spill over to the north or to the South, and we're compact and thoughtful about how we develop within that area. So this shows in the, the light green on this map right now, I kinda mock this up, shows the north and the northern edge, being sort of,
like a a green belt, I guess, for lack of a better term. So we wouldn't we would consider that to be like a rural reserve, to preserve the higher value natural resources to the north and the West, and then look at more of an, rural reserve but focusing on agricultural use to the, higher value agricultural land to the East and the South. That's kind of and then there's that big sort of South of Highway 19. I just sort of colored it in. That's where I think it's Heath Creek runs. That's a high value natural resource. There's also, couple neighborhoods along there that are on septic systems,
and that's also where, the Bryce County hopes to connect, what's that? Right one. County Road one. North South. What's What's the North South, Gary? Decker. Connect Decker to Highway 19 when they plan to pave it, in the future. So we kind of the planning commission asked to have that area removed from the prior, priority growth area. This also sets the stage for a new defined priority growth area, and it's been, developed in coordination with the new orderly annexation agreements that the administration is work working on with the townships. I can stop too, but I know we're short on time.
Chapter four connects housing and economic development. Having a safe and stable place to live, leads to economic success as well as educational success. And how do we ensure that the community continues to have a safe, healthy, and affordable places for people to live regardless regardless of their income while also having jobs that support those kinds of places to live, and have sustainable long term, healthy jobs and and lives. And I think that one of the big focuses of this one is ensuring that we're not just supporting our businesses and and high quality jobs, but we're not and we're not just talking about improving the tax based diversity.
We're actually talking about shifting the share of the tax burden from the residential community to the commercial industrial community. When we talk about it that way, I think it's a little less aspirational and more concrete because we really talk about how we're going to develop and what's that really gonna look like rather than just having land available. It's a it's a distinct shift from, look, this much of the population this much of the property tax comes from residential. How do we gradually shift that over time so we have a more sustainable mix and we have that defined and know what that really looks like?
It's measurable and has an outcome that's, discernible to the general public as well. So this is the the interventions analysis kind of looks at how we start making that shift and how we start developing, Northfield in a way that we support what we have, and continue to maintain its excellence while also looking at how do we shift how we think about the land that we have, in a way that makes it that takes advantage of the highest, the places that generate the the highest value taxes, and focus on how that commercial and and commercial development works in those areas. And so in this map,
those are the dark blue and the purple areas generally. And then chapter oh, now we're all locked in. Chapter five connects then those municipal services and sustainability, to set the stage for sorry. I've gotta why? Okay. It sets the stage for additional sustainability work so that it's clearly connected to the economic success of the community, and that we understand where, the future transportation and wastewater and water net planning is occurring so we can focus development in those areas. Chapter six describes, how the plan will be accomplished. And I think that, again, this goes to dovetailing on the strategic plan.
Which which consumable chunks do you wanna bite off in the next three to five years, and how do we measure those? Ultimately, they all fit together, and, the capital improvement plan kinda comes last. Just because something's in the capital improvement plan doesn't mean that it's, has to happen, and we can shift things around. And I think that we need to focus, focus on how all these things fit together and not just on one individual piece, which is why it's exciting to be at this stage in the game. So next steps are finalizing the text and the graphics,
including the maps, producing a draft printable document, and the website. I'm very much excited about the two strategic planning workshops coming up, on Saturday and the following week. And then the planning commission, ideally, we'll have a, I'm calling it a par baked document, perhaps an homage to all of the bakeries and bakers that are in and around Northfield. And I certainly don't want to give you a half baked document. So a par baked document for the planning commission to recommend to you, for adoption at a city council meeting in May based on the timeline. We will also produce an online document and a two page,
sort of, interact not a two page consumable, summary of the document, an executive summary that's more than just words, that would be available in both English and Spanish. And I have just the why does this hate me? I just have the graphics that I think you've seen before. This is some of the work that the communications staff here has done. This is a little older than what we have currently, and I'm really excited about the way it's shaping up. And then we would use our existing, website framework, to sort of outline how, the plan is approached. And that's me.
Thank you. Thank you for hanging around, staying with us this late in the evening. Are there questions, especially knowing that we're going into the strategic planning, this weekend. Questions for mister Riley, councilor Holmes? I have a tactical question and then a recommendation to council from the plan, like, as a planning commissioner, if if I That's good. The tactical question, You said work session workshop this weekend and then the following week. I don't have anything on my calendar, so I just wanna make sure, like, is there a work session happening on the team?
There's a staff Oh, okay. Set of things. It's my child's golden birthday and I was like, Oh, you're kidding me. This is devastating. Okay. Hey, he's gonna be eight, so it's fine. But, my recommendation because it's a strategic planning part of the strategic planning process, we'll be talking about vision and values, and also looking at, like, our priority areas. And I implore everyone on council that if you haven't read the draft that you do familiarize yourself with the draft because I think we have a lot of things that have already been well vetted through the community,
through the work of the planning commission that we don't need to be creating vision and values from scratch and also thinking about those interior chapters of chapters three, four, and five looking at where the the primary focus of of where our efforts will be could very well be helping us prioritize. So just if you haven't read through it, please do read through it with that eye because I think it will help simplify and focus our conversations better on Saturday. Obviously, everyone has free will.
You can we can take things in different direction, but, but my hope is that you trust the work, the many, many hours of work of community staff, volunteers that have gone into this and that we can use it and take it forward. Thank you. Any yes. Counselor, Beamer. To that note, I would also recommend any of to any of you who have not yet perused the comments from the survey monkey to do so before Saturday's meeting as well. I think you'll find them rather enlightening. So I just a huge recommendation.
I you could probably read a page of them and understand what the other 24 are gonna be like. So thank you. Thank you. It's it's exciting to hear how much we're all looking forward to Saturday. So there's all these I love it. I don't wanna hear anybody complaining because I have a full day hospital board retreat the day before. I saw that. I wondered if you were I saw that on the calendar and a gold star. You do get a gold star. We we are going to go to administrator Martig. You're oh, you're also going to be there. Ben's gonna be really tired of me on Saturday afternoon.
Alright. I think we can is there a quick administrator's, report? Thank you. Thank you, mayor. I get paid better than councilor Peterson White does too, though, so I probably more expected to be there. Okay. Can't argue. Two things just real two things I just wanna comment on. One, I would say, I have had some questions from the public if this is an open meeting on Saturday. It is. If they wanna join us for the meet date, we aren't gonna take comment. There's no participation. So it'd be more of an observation. It's in the training room, not a lot of space. We aren't recording it. It's kind of where the sausage is made. So what comes out of it is probably more important, and there's gonna be follow-up for the public as well,
but it is a publicly posted meeting. So that is available and we will have some spots kind of on the outer parts of the meeting room. The other item I did wanna indicate was I wanna circle back just on the public comment from the resident, Mr. Tomczak. Just for your information to the Economic Development Authority, I did a little bit of a recap of Mr. Bennett and the consultant's presentation on the ICE Arena, but there was a lot of other robust information as to schedule updates and some legal information that was provided in that packet.
So if you wanted to go and look at the last EDA meeting, there's gonna be that coming back to you, on upcoming agenda items. But would if you're interested, we'll check you in. The question about the legalities of the debt instrument that we're using did not come up until after that meeting, so that was not specifically addressed. I've heard public comments around the idea why not go to the voters, but I haven't prior to this recent publication by a paid advertisement in the newspaper by a group that I don't really know who the members are. I'm aware of one member who has often said who they are.
I don't believe they have any personal or financial interest within the incorporated boundaries of the city, for the school district to my knowledge, but I don't know who else might be part of that. I would say I disagree with the the fact the information that's claimed to be factual. I did talk to the newspaper, and they basically said they weren't gonna be doing their own independent fact checking, but that we could counter that information if we wanted to. I'm not an expert in how, you know, newspapers work and vetting information like that, but that's their business.
I am working with our I have been working with our bond counsel, though, so I I am in the process of getting some information that the bond counsel it is clearly very legal. The charter is being interpreted incorrectly. The charter actually does the exact opposite of what's being claimed that it actually relies on state law. And in the absence of state law, then that's a fallback provision. But state law outlines processes, requirements of all kinds of debt within the city. And this is a % legal. We have one of the foremost experts in the state on bond council work,
and they're now she's now part of a national firm that does work different from state to state. But I'll have the legal person, comment on that. They will have an opportunity to be transparently questioned around the legalities of it. But I just wanna let you know that's coming. I got the information from the attorney late last week to be able to kind of package in some information. I'm also working with, some of the media on how we can start to provide some information around the project and the interest particularly related to, some of the claims around impropriety that I think would be really unfortunate.
I think we'll have our people be able to be put on stage before you and the Economic Development Authority to stand behind their interpretations of that as well. It's very, well vetted tool that we're using and processes that are legal. So I just wanted to comment on that, that it's in the works. I know a couple of you reached out to me asking for that information sooner than later, and I'll be getting it out here, this week. All those in favor, signify by saying aye. Aye. Those opposed, we are adjourned.