01-13-09 Worksession
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Special Worksession
January 13, 2009
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Goettel at 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Members Present: Debbie Goettel, Mayor; Sue Sandahl; Pat Elliott; Fred Wroge; and Tom
Fitzhenry.
Staff Present: Steven L. Devich, City Manager; Mike Eastling, Public Works Director; Jim
Topitzhofer, Recreation Services Director; and Cheryl Krumholz, Recording
Secretary.
Item # I DISCUSSION REGARDING RENAMING 77TH STREET IN RICHFIELD (COUNCIL
MEMO NO. 5)
Recreation Services Director Topitzhofer reviewed the background related to the potential
renaming. The length of the street to be considered extends from 34th Avenue to Bush Lake Road
which is the length of American Boulevard in Bloomington.
Recreation Services Director Topitzhofer discussed the benefits as well as challenges and
answers on this matter.
The City Council invited Richfield Chamber of Commerce representatives Tim Carter and Kevin
Anderson to participate in the discussion.
Council Member Sandahl spoke in support of moving forward with a name change because it
may increase funding interest of the congressional delegation for the 77th Street tunnel. The
associated costs are not huge.
Council Member Wroge expressed concern regarding the process used to rename the street
because it was done without residential input, the Centennial Boulevard name is more associated with
Centennial Lakes in Edina, residents may have different names to be considered, and other cities
didn’t rename streets for their centennial celebration. He said he believes the costs estimated are low
and there is a timeline uncertainty as to an official effective date. He added the commitment from the
Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) and Edina are needed since renaming is suggested to extend
into their areas.
Special Worksession Minutes -2- January 13, 2009
Council Member Elliott agreed that the MAC and Edina commitment is needed and that more
definitive budget costs are necessary. With the budget constraints before the City, there needs to be a
balance between cost savings and expenditures.
Mayor Goettel said when she spoke with the Edina Mayor, he was open to the idea.
Tim Carter, Chamber of Commerce representative, expressed the reasons for the Chamber's
lack of support for a name change.
The City Council consensus was to support the process and concept with the Centennial
Boulevard name change and to pursue a commitment to the change from Edina and the MAC.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 6:45 p.m
Date Approved: .ranuarg 27. 2009
Cheryl K mholz
Recording Secretary
City Manager