Tag Archives: City of Northfield

50th Anniversary of Earth Day!

April 19, 2020EventCity of Northfield, Earth DayAlle Brown-Law

April 22, 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day and the 11th Northfield Earth Day celebration! Though we cannot gather together due to COVID-19 social distancing guidelines, there are still many ways to honor the earth this week, organized by Northfield Earth Day. Virtual “Climate Sessions” hosted over Zoom, live music, and safe activities are all scheduled for Wednesday, April 22nd. For more information, visit http://northfieldearthday.com. Included in the website is a Zoom link to attend the Climate Sessions, as well as full descriptions of each event. The full schedule is below!

Northfield Safe Routes to School Plan

February 4, 2014Focus: Land, Focus: Transportation, ResourceCity of Northfield, Strategic PlansMartha Larson

Adopted in 2009, the Safe Routes to School Plan implicitly recognizes the connection between land use, transportation and safety in the context of non-motorized transportation to school.

Northfield Transportation Plan

February 4, 2014Focus: Land, Focus: Transportation, ResourceCity of Northfield, Strategic PlansMartha Larson

The Northfield Comprehensive Transportation Plan balances the need for mobility with a thoughtful approach to quality of life in Northfield. The Plan’s assumptions about design speed, design vehicles and street types are critically important for the physical development of the city and for environmental and financial sustainability.

City of Northfield Greenstep Cities Program

December 16, 2013Focus: Energy, Focus: Food, Focus: Land, Focus: Transportation, Focus: Waste, Focus: Water, ResourceCity of Northfield, Strategic PlansMartha Larson

Northfield is a member of Minnesota GreenStep Cities, “a voluntary challenge, assistance and recognition program to help cities achieve their sustainability and quality-of-life goals. The Northfield City Council voted to become part of the GreenSteps Cities Program in 2011 and has since been using pursuing the green “steps” matrix to develop more sustainable practices on the part of the City.This free continuous improvement program is sponsored by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and based upon 28 best practices. Each best practice can be implemented by completing one or more actions at a 1, 2 or 3-star level, from a list of four to eight actions. These actions are tailored to all Minnesota cities, focus on cost savings and energy use reduction, and encourage civic innovation.” (http://greenstep.pca.state.mn.us/)

City of Northfield Land Development Code

November 21, 2013Focus: Land, ResourceCity of Northfield, Strategic PlansMartha Larson

The City of Northfield carries out the policies of the comprehensive plan by classifying and regulating the uses of land and structures within the city. This Land Development Code is adopted to protect and promote the public health, safety, morals, and general welfare of the city.

City Compost Pilot Program & Statistics Project

September 25, 2013Focus: Waste, ResourceCarleton College, City of Northfield, Civic EngagementMartha Larson

General Project Description:

The City of Northfield and Dick’s Sanitation, Inc., conducted a test of food waste composting over a six month period in 2013. DSI provided 148 households with weekly pick-up of their compost which was taken to a commercial composting site from June through November. Data is being reviewed by the Northfield Environmental Quality Commission (EQC) and will be presented to the City Council in early 2014, for consideration of expanding citywide.  Separation of organics would help extend the life of the County landfill, reduce methane generation, produce usable compost for residents and city use, and has a possibility of reducing overall expense to Northfield of solid waste.

Additional Project Outcomes:

Data from the pilot program was analyzed by Carleton College statistics students led by professor Laura Chihara in hopes of informing City decisions based on quantitative program outcomes. Analysis opportunities included organics weight data, percent of waste diverted, and customer survey results.

A summer 2013 internship position focused on increasing participation in the pilot program through community outreach and education. Carleton College student Caffi Meyer created educational materials, raised awareness for the program, collected data about organics bin usage, analyzed waste weight data, and projected city-wide financial cost/benefits.

Project Reports:

Cows, Colleges and Composting Poster

Organic Waste Survey Report

2013 Internship Report (Caffi Meyer)

Project Contact: George Kinney geokinney@gmail.com