City Council Meeting Date: May 20, 2025
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator
From: Jake Reilly, Community Development Director
Title
Consideration of Summary Publication of Ordinance No. 1078 - Amending Chapter 34 - Land Development Code related to Rental Licenses, Tenant Protections, and Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing.
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council approves the summary publication of Ordinance No. 1078.
Note: Requires 6 City Councilors (4/5 of entire Council) per state statute.
Summary Report:
The Northfield City Council approved the first reading of Ordinance No. 1078 - Amending Chapter 34 - Land Development Code related to rental licenses, tenant protections, and affirmatively furthering fair housing and the second reading is a separate item on the Consent Agenda. There will be no presentation, council questions or comments, or public comment on this item.
Summary Publication Option and Approval Criteria
Statutory cities must publish all ordinances in order for them to take effect. The council may opt to publish the title and summary of the ordinance if:
• The ordinance is lengthy or includes charts or maps.
• The council determines that publication of the title and summary would clearly inform the public of the intent and effect of the ordinance.
• The council approves summary publication by a four-fifths vote (which is 6 Council members for Northfield who must be in attendance).
The summary must clearly indicate that the published material is only a summary and that the full text of the ordinance is available for inspection during regular office hours at the city office and any other location that the council designates, or by means of standard or electronic mail (Minn. Stat. § 412.191, subd. 4 <https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/412.191>).
Alternative Options:
The City Council could direct staff to publish the entire ordinance.
Financial Impacts:
The cost to publish the entire ordinance would be approximately twice as much as the cost to publish the summary.
Tentative Timelines:
April 17, 2025: Recommendation made by the Planning Commission to City Council
May 6, 2025: 1st Reading at City Council
May 20, 2025: 2nd Reading at City Council and summary publication
May 28, 2025: Summary publication in the Northfield News
June 29, 2025: Ordinance takes effect