City Council Meeting Date: March 3, 2026
To: Mayor and Members of Council
From: Ben Martig, City Administrator
Title
Consideration of Resolution Establishing a Citizens Advisory Group (CAG) to Provide Ad Hoc Advice to the Northfield City Council on Financial Matters.
Body
Action Requested:
Consideration to Adopt Resolution establishing a Citizens Advisory Group to provide ad hoc advisory input to the City Council on financial matters.
Summary Report:
Councilor Dahlen, with support from Councilor Ness, has requested the following attached Resolution be on this agenda related to the topic from the last City Council meeting. The City Council Rules of Business allow two members of the Council to place any item on an agenda with advance notice.
The resolution was submitted as a motion but converted to a resolution by staff which would be consistent with this type of action.
Councilor Dahlen and Ness will be available to present and answer questions on this resolution.
Staff would note two areas to address related to legal issues:
1. City Charter establishes that the Mayor appoints and Council confirms (by majority vote) this type of committee. The Charter is silent on how members are selected, leaving that to the discretion of the Mayor
Section 3.2. - Boards and Commissions.
The council may establish boards or commissions to advise it with respect to any municipal function or activity, to investigate any subject of interest to the city, and to perform quasi-judicial functions. The mayor shall appoint the members of advisory boards and commissions subject to confirmation by a majority vote of the council. Recommendations presented to the council from its duly constituted boards and commissions shall receive consideration within six (6) months of presentation unless otherwise required by law or requested by the presenting body. The presenting body shall be notified of the progress of consideration of the recommendation. In case of rejection of a recommendation or a decision not to act on a matter, written reasons for such a response shall be forwarded to the presenting body. Any member of a city board or commission may be removed upon the affirmative vote of five (5) members of the council.
2. With information provided, this type of committee may be subject to open meeting law. The resolution makes the determination and thus directs that this not be an open meeting.
Staff and the City Attorney’s Office have provided limited review and analysis on this topic, as it is currently unclear, based on the discussion at the last meeting, whether there was interest in pursuing this or something further.
City Administrator Martig and City Attorney Hood will be available for questions.
City Plans & Policies Relevance:
No analysis at this time.
Alternative Options:
The Council could decide not to establish the CAG at this time.
The Council could also, by motion, provide direction to staff and/or the City Attorney to prepare for consideration of other factors to explore this topic further or to make recommendations. Staff and the City Attorney’s Office have spent limited time on this topic due to a lack of clarity regarding Council support.
Financial Impacts:
There is no fiscal impact associated with adoption of the resolution. The CAG would operate without City funding and without use of City staff resources, except as authorized by the City Council.
Tentative Timelines:
See resolution.