City Council Meeting Date: March 12, 2024
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Ben Martig, City Administrator
Title
Consider Resolution Amending 2024 Budget Related to AV Enhancements for City Hall Council Chambers Related to Dais Addition.
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council is being asked to consider an amendment to the 2024 budget related to AV enhancements for City Hall Council Chambers related to a dais addition.
(Note: This requires a super majority of Council of 5/7 required for approval).
Summary Report:
The City Council is being asked to approve an amendment to the 2024 budget that would allow for the purchase and installation of new AV equipment related to the addition of the dais in the Council Chambers.
As part of the 2024 budget, the City Council approved alterations to the existing Council Chambers dais, which includes adding an extension to the north side of the dais by the existing podium, moving the clerk’s computer to the new northside extension, and the construction of a new ADA accessible podium with an integrated touchscreen monitor. These changes will allow for more staff seating during City Council meetings and will allow for more seating for youth members, advisory members, and staff during board and commission meetings. It will also place at least one staff member on the north side of the dais to assist presenters and members of the public who may be speaking from the podium. The addition of an ADA accessible podium with a touchscreen will provide a better ease of access for presenters, staff, and members of the public.
Due to high level of AV capabilities of the Council Chambers, moving of the clerk’s computer and the addition of inputs and microphones will require new equipment and/or moving of existing equipment. In addition, a wireless timer will be installed to allow for staff to control the timer from multiple locations in the Council Chambers. Staff has also had supplementary cabinets built to replace the cabinet holding the wireless microphones and audio headsets and the audio component cabinet located behind the City Administrator’s seat at the dais.
Proposals and quotes for the additional AV costs are attached.
Alternative Options:
Council can choose to fund all, part, or none of the projects in the proposed amendment.
Financial Impacts:
• $7,686.46 for AV updates related to the movement of the clerk’s computer, the addition of inputs and microphones to allow for more locations for staff to present, installation of a touchscreen monitor in the new podium, and other equipment and installation costs (attachment 2).
• $2,033.50 for replacing the existing timer with a wireless timer that would allow staff to utilize from any place in the dais and would not be connected to one computer station (attachment 2).
• $913.57 for a touch monitor for the new podium.
• $1,079.00 for two additional cabinets for the Council Chamber updates. One will replace the cabinet by the AV room door, that holds the wireless microphones and the audio headsets. The other will replace the audio component cabinet located next to the City Administrator’s seat at the dais.
Tentative Timelines:
The addition to the dais is in process by Southern Minnesota Woodcraft, Inc. and is expected to be completed and installed in the coming weeks.