The Northfield Roundtable: a public planning group without the public

For the past year or so, I’ve been hearing bits and pieces about a group called the Northfield Roundtable (also referred to with three words–the ‘Northfield Round Table‘–making online searches trickier). They met last Saturday in the conference room of the Archer House and I took a few photos.

The Northfield Roundtable has been around since at least the fall of 2009. The EDA packet for June 24, 2010 contains a letter (page 25) from the group with their request for $9,000 from the EDA (the EDA minutes for that meeting show that the funding request was approved) for the services of consultant Bill Johnson, pictured above.  Members of the group at that time:

Blake Abdella, Dixon Bond, Rick Estenson, Margit Johnson, Bruce King, Joel Leer, Art Monaghan, Suzie Nakasian, Dave Neuger, Brett Reese, Fred Rogers, Jennifer Sawyer, Alice Thomas, Dave Van Wylen, Steve Wilmot.

How did the group form? How were members selected/invited?  What is their mission?  Who do they report to? Where are the results of their planning sessions?

It’s tough to find out, as there’s no overview document, brochure, or website for the group that I could find. Has the Northfield News, KYMN, or Northfield Patch done any reporting on the group? Apparently not.

Planning Commission Chair Tracy Davis included this update in a blog post last September:

Commissioners Davis, Imm, Herreid and Schulte participated in a workshop sponsored by the recently-formed Northfield Roundtable.  Commissioners Nakasian and Thomas were also participants in the workshop as Roundtable members.  Other participants included Messrs O’Connell and Olson. 

The fifteen members of the Roundtable, all volunteers, work to clarify, support and facilitate a clear vision and framework for development and redevelopment opportunities that enhance the economic vitality and livability of Northfield. 

The workshop was conducted to solicit ideas for improving connectivity and encouraging development in the rectangular commercial area bisected by 2nd Street, touching the Library and Q-Block on the east and west, and extending north to south from the Crossing to Bridge Square.  Ideas solicited by a consultant from the workshop participants will be packaged by the Roundtable into a future report.

So it seems that a group of influential community members has formed on its own to conduct brainstorming/planning sessions for Northfield-related public development, with public financial support, without much (any?) public process, public transparency, or public engagement.

Sure, whatever results or recommendations generated by the Northfield Roundtable would go through the various public bodies (Planning Commission, City Council, etc.) before any actions are taken.

But by then, all the educational opportunities are gone, the interesting discussions have already occurred, the influential positioning has taken place, and average citizens are pretty much left with just weighing in pro or con, as any public hearings appear to be mere formalities.

And public cynicism deepens.