EQC Meeting Date: July 15, 2026
To: Environmental Quality Commission
From: Sara Pabich, Sustainability Coordinator
Title
Staff Update
Body
Action Requested:
The EQC receives an update regarding staff activities.
Summary Report:
This update includes items not included as agenda items for this meeting.
Upcoming EQC Meeting -August: Mathias, City Planner, will attend and provide an update on where the Zoning Code update process is at and provide EQC an opportunity to make comments/suggestions. If there are specific areas of the Zoning Code you have an interest learning about, please email Sara by July 27th so she can work with Mathias to try to incorporate those.
Budget Townhall: Northfield invites all community members to a town hall on Wednesday, July 29, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Northfield Middle School to learn about and provide feedback on the city's proposed 2027 budget and 2027-2031 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). The event will include brief presentations on the budget process and the five-year plan for investments in parks, streets, city facilities, and bike and pedestrian improvements, followed by opportunities to ask questions, review project information, and share feedback with city staff. Input from the meeting will be presented to the City Council during its August 18 work session and will help inform upcoming budget, tax levy, and utility rate decisions.
Parks: In June, City Council adopted a resolution establishing the Cannon River Regional Park as a unifying regional park designation for Northfield's parks, trails, open spaces, and natural areas along the Cannon River. The designation advances the City's Riverfront Enhancement Action Plan and 2045 Comprehensive Plan by promoting improved river access, connected recreation, environmental stewardship, and coordinated planning while preserving the existing names, ownership, and management of individual parks and facilities. The resolution also supports continued collaboration with the City of Dundas and other regional partners to strengthen regional identity, expand recreation and tourism opportunities, improve eligibility for grant funding, and advance long-term protection and enhancement of the Cannon River corridor.
Composting: On July 7, City Council reviewed composting service options and provided initial feedback. There appeared to be general consensus in support of moving toward a universal composting contract, with the primary discussion focused on the implementation timeline. Staff anticipates returning to City Council within the next month for formal direction; a tentative date of July 21 was discussed but has not been finalized. Commissioners interested in the discussion can watch the July 7 City Council meeting recording, where composting is the final agenda item and begins at approximately the 2 hour, 15 minute mark.
Ames Mill Dam: The project is currently focused on developing a transfer agreement with Post Holdings for ownership of the Ames Mill Dam. Once finalized, the agreement will require additional review and approvals, including by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the state Legislature.
Riverwalk: Environmental Quality Commission members are scheduled to table at Riverwalk on July 18, 2025. Staff will have outreach materials prepared for distribution at the July 15 EQC meeting and is hoping that a commissioner attending the morning session can transport the materials to the event.
For the July 18 event, the EQC has been assigned Space #62. As a reminder, Riverwalk will provide a tent; however, EQC members are responsible for bringing their own table and chairs. 
Alternative Options:
NA
Financial Impacts:
NA
Tentative Timelines:
NA