City Council Meeting Date: April 1, 2025
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Ben Martig, City Administrator
Title
Council Consideration of Ordinance Amendment Related to 1% for the Arts Ordinance to reduce to .5% and Establish an Annual Maximum Limit of Funding (Councilor Beumer and Council Dahlen Agenda Item Request).
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council is being asked to review the 1% for the arts process as proposed by Councilor Beumer and supported for agenda discussion by Councilor Dahlen.
Summary Report:
Councilor Beumer initiated a review of, and discussion related to, the 1% of the arts process. Councilor Dahlen supported the item to add to the agenda in accordance with the Rules of Business that allows 2 members of Council to add agenda items for review.
Councilor Beumer provided the memo (Attachment 1) providing background on the request. That memo suggests proposing reducing the 1% to the arts to 0.5% and setting a cap not to exceed a certain dollar amount. In addition, they are requesting an evaluation of the types of projects that would be included in the program.
The 1% for the arts program was enacted in early 2021 via Ordinance 1022 (attachment 2) but has been in practice since 2017. Links to the work session (attachment 3) and regular meeting (attachment 4) when the ordinance was discussed are attached. This ordinance is the law and would need to be followed unless and until such time the ordinance is amended. An ordinance amendment requires a public hearing, two readings and 30-day period minimum before it goes into effect. Staff also would suggest that the Arts and Culture Commission, Planning Commission, and Economic Development Authority be consulted in their advisory role to provide input in advance of any formal proposed ordinance change.
Councilor Beumer will provide a summary of his proposal at the meeting. Additionally, Councilor Dahlen would be provided with the opportunity for added input as a supporter of this agenda item. City Administrator Martig will be available to answer questions. Library Director Natalie Draper is unable to attend the meeting due to prior commitments that were made in advance of the agenda request.
Mayor Zweifel will facilitate questions and entertain any motions at the meeting.
Alternative Options:
Council is asked to make a motion on how to proceed. Three options are suggested below, but the Council can recommend other options.
1. Motion to postpone discussion with the proposed ordinance amendment as outlined in the memo to the May 13, 2025 City Council Work Session allowing staff more time for background research to address Council questions. Under this option, the assumption is that if a majority passes that there would be an interest to explore a change as part of passing that motion. Under this option, staff would welcome input on what information would be of interest for Council to consider.
2. Motion to refer the review to the Arts and Culture Commission (ACC), Planning Commission (PC), and Economic Development Authority (EDA) the proposed memo scope. Under this option, the assumption is that if a majority passes that there would be an interest to explore a change as part of passing that motion. Under this option, staff would welcome input on what information would be of interest for Council to consider.
Note: Council could add other relevant board and commission input.
3. No motion (stay as is). No motion made or failure to pass a motion of alternative option would leave the ordinance as-is.
4. Other. Councilors may propose other amendments. City Administrator Martig would welcome any input in advance of the meeting if members had ideas of alterative motions. Those could be added as a supplemental memo.
Financial Impacts:
Staff has not completed the financial impacts as part of the request. Should the Council be interested in exploring this it would be an area of analysis included.
Tentative Timelines:
• City Council Public Hearing
• City Council Ordinance (First Reading)
• City Council Ordinance (Second Reading)
• Summary Publication Ordinance.