City Council Meeting Date: May 20, 2025
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Ben Martig, City Administrator
Sara Hoffman, Deputy City Clerk/Executive Assistant
Title
Board and Commission Governance Discussion
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council will receive an update on the ongoing board and commission governance work. Staff will ask for input and feedback on specific proposals as outlined below.
Summary Report:
Background
A Board and Commission Governance Effectiveness Review was initiated in late 2021 in response to a 2021-2024 Strategic Plan initiative.
As part of initial research, staff looked at board/commission survey results, board and commission processes at that time, gaps in these processes, opportunities for improvement, what initiatives other cities have executed, and did a thorough comparison of Northfield boards and commissions and comparative city boards and commissions.
The next steps were to create and implement processes and changes in response to the information gathered in step one. Staff members, City Attorney Hood, and select Council members and board/commission members served on an ad hoc committee to offer guidance to the City Council. Outcomes of this phase included:
* Alignment of board and commission meeting times so no boards/commissions meet on Tuesdays or regularly meet on the same night as other boards/commissions, all boards/commissions meet in the evening (usually 6:00pm), and most boards/commissions meet in the Council Chambers allowing the meetings to be livestreamed and recorded.
* Creation of a Board and Commission Rules of Business separate from the Council version.
* Creation of a City Council and Board and Commission Member Guide which offers orientation for new members and guidance for existing members.
* Creation of a Board and Commissions Staff Liaison Guide which offers guidance for staff overseeing a board or commission.
* Review and edit of the Ethics Disclosure Form and the process of...
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