City Council Meeting Date: April 21, 2026
To: City Council
City Administrator
From: Mayor Erica Zweifel
Title
Consider Approval of Mayoral Board/Commission Youth Appointments.
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council approves a motion to approve the Mayoral board/commission youth appointments as indicated below:
Economic Development Authority
Henry Thorkelson - non-voting youth representative
Parker Malecha - non-voting youth representative
Environmental Quality Commission
Ava Podracky (c) -voting youth representative
Alex Halverson (c) - non-voting youth representative
Heritage Preservation Commission
Teagan Noetzel (c) - voting youth representative
Astrid White (c) - non-voting youth representative
Housing & Redevelopment Authority
Abby Kauffeld (c) - non-voting youth representative
Kaylee Swanson (c) - non-voting youth representative
Human Rights Commission
Mae Berglund (c) - non-voting youth representative
Xiomara Conde Arenas (c) - voting youth representative
Dean Kvestad (c) - non-voting youth representative
Dalilah Toledo Amores - non-voting youth representative
Library Board
Cedric Cusack (c) - voting youth representative
Alina Mendoza Garcia - non-voting youth representative
Joshua Flugum - non-voting youth representative
Mayor’s Youth Council (all voting members)
Sonya Pick (c)
Elizabeth McCormick (c)
McCoy Weitz (c)
Aksel Johnson (c)
Josephine Mewes (c)
Ian Johnson (c)
Gwen Tapper (c)
Megan Cina (c)
Alex Fortner (c)
Sydney Livingston
Owen Jacobi
Isabelle Paulson
Isidro Simon Garcia
Kennedy Weed
George Bulfer
Walter Peterson
Hope Edwards
Jaydien Villanueva
Northfield Youth Substance Prevention Alliance Task Force
Lindsey Clark (c) - voting youth representative
Michaela Gummow (c) - voting youth representative
Mya Haak (c) - voting youth representative
Aurora Peterson - voting youth representative
Planning Commission
Abby Pape (c) - non-voting youth representative
Eli Podracky - non-voting youth representative
(c) = returning member
Summary Report:
The City Council is being asked to approve the youth appointments as noted above. The MYC and youth appointees to boards and commissions act in an advisory capacity to the boards, commissions and City Council for the purposes of advising these groups on perspectives and issues important to Northfield youth in order to assure a youth voice in civic affairs, and working with community partners and other youth initiatives to help design and recommend solutions and options to address opportunities and areas of concern in the Northfield community. Youth members are appointed/reappointed annually. Applications to serve on the MYC, boards and commissions are completed and submitted to the Adult Advisor, Emily Culver. The applications are assembled and reviewed by the Adult Advisor and current members of the Youth on Boards program (as they are able). Recommendations for appointments to fill vacant or expired positions are made to the Mayor based on the review and the desire to create a MYC, and appointees to boards and commissions, that are gender, ethnic and age diverse. Members shall thereafter be appointed by the Mayor, with the approval of the City Council.
In addition to the youth that will serve on City Boards and Commissions during the 2026-27 school year, there are currently 5 additional youth serving on further Boards or Councils within the community that are part of the Youth on Boards program. These include the District Youth Council, Arcadia Charter School Board, and the Community Education Advisory Board, all part of the Northfield Public Schools system, 16 local non-profit Boards (Beyond the Yellow Ribbon, League of Women Voters, Clean River Partners, Northfield Area Family YMCA, Northfield Arts Guild, Healthy Community Initiative, Northfield Historical Society, Northfield Shares, Northfield Youth Choirs, Rice County Area United Way, Friends of Downtown Northfield, Friends and Foundation of the Northfield Public Library, Northfield Chamber of Commerce, Northfield Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, Women in Northfield Giving Support (WINGS), and Rice County Family Services Collaborative).
The Youth on Boards program is funded collaboratively between the City of Northfield, Youthprise and Healthy Community Initiative, with strong support from the Northfield School District.
Alternative Options:
N/A
Financial Impacts:
N/A
Tentative Timelines:
Youth members will start their terms in May or the next meeting of their board/commission.