City Council introduces listening sessions

On May 7, the Northfield City Council voted to transition the open public comment portion of their meetings to a listening session in an effort to create a less formal, more resident-friendly setting and to provide a more predictable time to get through business items on the agendas.

Regular council meetings are held the first and third weeks of each month. Listening sessions will be a part of the regular Council agenda as per City Charter and held in the Council Chambers from 6-6:20 p.m., with a recess and the rest of the regular Council agenda starting at 6:30 p.m.

The entire meeting, including the listening session, will be livestreamed and recorded. Individuals who pre-registered may take one opportunity to address the Council for two minutes. After all individuals on the sign-up list are exhausted, speakers may speak again if time permits.

The inclusion of the listening session within the regular meeting and live streaming and recording of that portion of the meeting is being changed from what was originally proposed after considering input from the public. The changes will go into effect for the June 4 meeting next week.

“We’ve been hearing from people in the community that they feel the previous open comment period was not a particularly welcoming format,” said Mayor Rhonda Pownell. “The City Council felt this would be a good trial to see if this is a more engaging format.”

Listening sessions will give community members the opportunity to speak on items not on the current agenda but related to city business. Community members will still have an opportunity to speak on items on the regular agenda when those items come up during the meeting.

As with all regular council meetings and work sessions, community members are welcome to attend and observe.

These listening sessions will be implemented on a trial basis beginning at the June 4 meeting and will be reevaluated to determine if adjustments are needed.

Guidelines for Council listening sessions and more information on how to comment on agendas items are posted on the city’s website: northfieldmn.gov/ListeningSessions .