01-09-07 Worksession
......
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Special Worksession
January 9, 2007
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Goettel at 5:34 p.m.
I ROLL CALL
Staff Present:
Debbie Goettel, Mayor; Susan Rosenberg; Sue Sandahl; Bill Kilian; and Fred
Wroge.
Steven Devich, City Manager; Mike Eastling, Public Works Director; Bruce
Palmborg, Community Development Director; Jim Topitzhofer, Recreation
Services Director; Brad Sveum, Fire Services Director; Dan Scott, Public
Safety Director; Bill Fillmore, Municipal Liquor Operations Director; Pam
Dmytrenko, Assistant to City Manager; and Cheryl Krumholz, Recording
Secretary.
State Senator Dan Larson; State Representative Paul Thissen; State
Representative Linda Slocum; and Met Council Representative Russ Susag
(arrived at 5:46 p.m.).
Members Present:
Others Present:
Item #1
ANNUAL MEETING WITH LOCAL LEGISLATORS (COUNCIL MEMO NO.4)
City Manager Devich reviewed the legislative issues for the Executive Department:
. Improve community representation On MAC
. NWA debt relief should require sound mitigation
City Manager Devich reviewed the legislative issues for the Administrative Services
Department:
. Levy limits
. LGA
. Fiscal disparity fund distribution
Municipal Liquor Operations Director Fillmore reviewed the legislative issues for the Liquor
Operations Department:
. Wine in grocery stores
. Strong beer in grocery/convenience stores
Fire Services Director Sveum reviewed the legislative issues for the Fire Services Department:
. Ambulance Primary Service Area
. Residency for firefighters
Community Development Director Palmborg reviewed the legislative issues for the Community
Development Department:
. Affordable housing
Special Worksession Minutes
-2-
January 9,2007
. Redevelopment
Met Council Representative Russ Susag arrived.
Public Works Director Eastling reviewed the legislative issues for the Public Works
Department:
. Street utility
. Richfield Parkway
. 77th StreeUHwy 77 underpass
The Legislators stated the committees they will be serving on for this legislative session.
Senator Larson stated he introduced years ago, the additional MAC representation but it did
not receive much support. Now with the Richfield MAC representative leaving, hopefully, input from
the community will beconsidered. There is draft legislation trying to link airport noise litigation to the
NWA debt relief.
Representative Thissen stated that he hoped time would be spent on the LGA formula
structure to avoid the variations seen in the past. He stated he opposed the sale of wine in grocery
stores but that it may come back during the session with more momentum.
Representative Slocum stated there did need to be more representation on the MAC Board.
She said she was the author of an LGA bill to hopefully restore the aid and to bring it more into line.
She said she was uncommitted to wine and beer sales in grocery stores but she realizes the Richfield
municipal liquor stores are important to the community.
Met Council Representative Susag stated his term ends January 2007 but he continues to
serve until he is replaced or reappointed, which will be decided in March 2007. He offered to meet
with City of Richfield to work together on the Comprehensive Plan updates due in 2008.
Mr. Susag discussed private funding for park acquisition. He said the largest issue before the
Met Council is transit funding.
Council Member Rosenberg emphasized the importance of affordable housing especially with
the Mall of America (MOA) expansion regional impact. The proposed substantial redevelopment in
Edina also has impacts on Richfield. She discussed the predatory lending legislation that impacts
lower-income persons.
Council Member Wroge encouraged funding for mass transit.
Mayor Goettel agreed with transit funding and that she is an advocate for the municipal liquor
stores to control potential underage sales.
Council Member Sandahl expressed support for a statewide smoking ban and transportation
funding.
Council Member Kilian discussed the need for the NWA debt relief require sound mitigation.
He also discussed a ring road toll to subsidize construction funding and putting people on transit.
Representative Larson said the Legislature will aggressively invest in transportation, including
a possible sales tax extension for this purpose. It is hoped there would be funding for a feasibility
study of light rail transit in the 1-494 Corridor. He expressed support for a statewide smoking ban. He
added the MOA expansion should move slower rather than faster based upon some concerns raised
this evening.
I ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 6:41 p.m.
Special Worksession Minut~
Date Approved: / /2--5 0 7
~~
Cheryl Kr ho
Recording Secretary