City Council Meeting Date: May 5, 2025
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator
From: Michelle Mahowald, Communications & Human Resources Director
Title
Northfield City Council is Conducting a Closed Meeting Related to the Evaluation of the Performance of Ben Martig, City Administrator, pursuant to Minn. Stat. 13D.05, subd. 3(a).
Body
Action Requested:
The City Council will consider a motion to close the meeting pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 13D.05, subd. 3(a).
Summary Report:
The Northfield City Council will hear from City Administrator Martig about progress on current personal and professional growth and goals from the current review period. The City Council may then have an open dialogue with the City Administrator providing feedback but without conducting any formal evaluation. Attached is the City Council Policy 1.02 City Administrator Performance Review Policy (attachment 1).
The City Council will consider a motion to close the meeting pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 13D.05, subd. 3(a). Accordingly, the public body may close a meeting to evaluate the performance of an individual who is subject to its authority.
The following procedure must be used to close a meeting under this provision:
• The public body must identify the individual to be evaluated prior to closing the meeting. The meeting must be open at the request of the individual who is the subject of the meeting; so some advance notice to the individual is needed to allow the individual to make a decision.
• Before closing the meeting, the council must state on the record the specific grounds permitting the meeting to be closed and describe the subject to be discussed.
• The meeting must be electronically recorded, and the recording must be preserved for at least three years after the meeting.
• At the next open meeting, in this case the May 6th regular City Council meeting, the public body must summarize its conclusions regarding the evaluation. The council should be careful not to release private or confidential data in its summary.
Alternative Options:
Not applicable.
Financial Impacts:
The City Council will be asked to determine any salary adjustment related to the City Administrator’s performance. A resolution approving a step increase (attachment 2) and a resolution approving an amount to be determined by the Council (attachment 3).
Tentative Timelines:
May 6, 2025 City Council Regular Meeting (open meeting) Summarizes its conclusions regarding the annual check-in under Minn. Stat. sec. 13D.05, subd. 3(a) on whether the City Administrator fulfilled the expectation to present on goals per 1.b. above of this City Administrator Performance Review Policy.
November 3, 2025 City Administrator Mid-Year (6-month) Performance Review