06-26 Regular
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Regular Meeting
June 26, 2018
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Pro Tempore Regan Gonzalez at 7:00 p.m. in the
Council Chambers.
Council Members Maria Regan Gonzalez, Mayor Pro Tempore; Edwina Garcia; Michael Howard;
Present: and Simon Trautmann.
Council Members Pat Elliott, Mayor.
Absent:
Staff Present: Steven L. Devich, City Manager; Mary Tietjen, City Attorney; Pam Dmytrenko,
Assistant City Manager/HR Manager; Jay Henthorne, Chief of Police; Kristin
Asher, Public Works Director; Melissa Poehlman, Planning & Redevelopment
Manager/Assistant Community Development Director; Jennifer Anderson,
Support Services Manager; Jack Broz, Transportation Engineer; and Jared
Voto, Executive Aide/Analyst.
OPEN FORUM
Kris Johnson, 7045 Oak Grove Boulevard, spoke regarding opposition to the Lyndale Avenue
Reconstruction project, specifically the removal of trees, four roundabouts in a ten block area, and the
ability to cross Lyndale Avenue.
Larry Koch, 471 Big Horn Drive, Chanhassen, representing Nola Wagner, spoke regarding the
opposition to Lyndale Avenue Reconstruction project and specifically the intersection at Lyndale
Avenue and 70th Street. He submitted his comments for Council’s consideration.
Carol Anderson, 7052 Oak Grove Boulevard, spoke regarding the intersection of 70th Street
and Lyndale Avenue and the proposed roundabout. She stated she is not against roundabouts and
asked to keep the traffic light at 70th Street.
Dave Huss, 7028 Oak Grove Boulevard, spoke regarding the proposed roundabout at 70th
Street and Lyndale Avenue and stated he could not imagine a safer environment for pedestrian and
bikers than with a light at the intersection.
Jackie Hayes, 7024 Oak Grove Boulevard, spoke regarding the Lyndale Avenue
Reconstruction project and stated she attended all of the open houses and discussed the ways to
make it safest for 70th Street and Lyndale Avenue. She strongly recommended keeping a light at the
intersection and requested the process of Council approval be changed in the future.
Council Meeting Minutes -2- June 26, 2018
Kevin Kateley, 7005 Oak Grove Boulevard, spoke regarding the Lyndale Avenue
Reconstruction project and specifically the process of the Transportation Commission and their
feedback and disagreed with the proposed alignment of Oak Grove Boulevard to Lyndale Avenue. He
also commented that he believed the process should be changed.
Public Works Director Asher commented on the approach of reconstruction project is a
community-based design. She stated the goals of the project were to make it safer for everyone,
pedestrians, bicyclists and vehicles. She discussed the process moving forward and stated a meeting
was scheduled with the residents of Oak Grove, but it was postponed and she hoped to still have a
meeting with the neighbors.
Mayor Pro Tempore Regan Gonzalez thanked the residents and stated she hoped the
residents meet with staff and asked that the Council be invited to the meeting as well.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Pro Tempore Regan Gonzalez led the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
M/Howard, S/Garcia to approve the minutes of the: (1) Special City Council work session of
June 12, 2018; and (2) Regular City Council meeting of June 12, 2018.
Motion carried 4-0.
Item #1 SWEARING-IN OF CITY OF RICHFIELD POLICE OFFICERS MACABE
STARIHA, HAILEY QUANBECK, CHRISTOPHER BARBER, AND MATTHEW
HOTZLER.
Chief Henthorne welcomed staff, residents, and guests. He thanked the family members of the
officer in attendance and swore-in Officers Macabe Stariha, Hailey Quanbeck, Christopher Barber,
and Matthew Hotzler.
Mayor Pro Tempore Regan Gonzalez thanked the officers and their families.
Council Member Garcia acknowledged the officers and their families stated the Council’s
support of the police officers.
Council Member Trautmann welcomed the officers and stated he was proud of them.
Item #2 COUNCIL DISCUSSION
Hats Off to Hometown Hits
Council Member Garcia spoke regarding attending the dementia luncheon last week hosted by
the Richfield Advisory Board of Health and Bloomington Health Department. She also discussed the
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Commissioner Recognition Event earlier in the evening and stated her appreciation of the work of the
commissioners.
Council Member Trautmann spoke regarding June being Pride Month and wanted to take the
opportunity to state that it is part of the values of the city. He also stated he’s recently been able to
meet with a lot of the leaders in the city and wanted to thank them for all of their work.
Council Member Howard spoke regarding the upcoming 4th of July activities, taking place July
2-4, and mentioned the Commissioner Recognition Event and thanked the commissioners for their
service to the city.
Mayor Pro Tempore Regan Gonzalez spoke regarding the dementia friendly kick-off event and
discussed the free lunch program available at our local parks for children 18 years old and younger.
Item #3 APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
City Attorney Tietjen stated that Consent Calendar Item 4.E. needed to be revised from a
motion to approve the agreements to a motion to adopt a resolution to approve the agreements.
M/Regan Gonzalez, S/Garcia to approve a revise Item 4.E. of the Consent Calendar to adopt
a resolution.
Motion carried 4-0.
M/Regan Gonzalez, S/Garcia to approve the agenda, as revised.
Motion carried 4-0.
Item #4 CONSENT CALENDAR
City Manager Devich presented the consent calendar.
A. Consideration of the adoption of a resolution establishing an absentee ballot counting board
for the 2018 State Primary and State General Elections. (S.R. No. 106)
RESOLUTION NO. 11510
RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING AN ABSENTEE BALLOT COUNTING
BOARD FOR THE 2018 STATE PRIMARY AND STATE GENERAL
ELECTIONS
This resolution appears as Resolution No. 11510.
B. Consideration of the approval of eight (8) solar project agreements with iDEAL Energies for
the installation of solar panels on city facilities. (S.R. No. 107)
C. Consideration of the adoption of a resolution approving the submission of the limited use
permit with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) for the 66th Street
Streetscape elements within MnDOT right-of-way (ROW). (S.R. No. 108)
RESOLUTION NO. 11511
Council Meeting Minutes -4- June 26, 2018
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CITY OF RICHFIELD LIMITED USE
PERMIT WITH THE STATE OF MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION FOR A PEDESTRIAN TRAIL IN THE RIGHT- OF-
WAY OF TRUNK HIGHWAY No. 35W AT CSAH 53 (66TH STREET)
This resolution appears as Resolution No. 11511.
D. Consideration of the adoption of a resolution approving an agreement related to the Minnesota
Department of Transportation's Landscape Partnership Program. (S.R. No. 109)
RESOLUTION NO. 11512
RESOLUTION APPROVING COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT FOR
MNDOT LANDSCAPE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM
This resolution appears as Resolution No. 11512.
E. Consideration of the adoption of a resolution approving the revised Richfield Parkway
Infrastructure Construction Agreement and the Maintenance Parcel Agreement between the
City of Richfield and Chamberlain Apartments, LLC. (S.R. No. 110)
RESOLUTION NO. 11517
APPROVING REVISED RICHFIELD PARKWAY INFRASTRUCTURE
CONSTRUCTION AGREEMENT AND MAINTENANCE PARCEL
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF RICHFIELD AND
CHAMBERLAIN APARTMENTS LLC
This resolution appears as Resolution No. 11517.
M/Regan Gonzalez, S/Howard to approve the consent calendar.
Motion carried 4-0.
Item #5 CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS, IF ANY, REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT
CALENDAR
None.
Item #6 CONSIDERATION OF A VARIETY OF LAND USE APPROVALS RELATED TO A
PROPOSAL FOR A MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT AT 101 66TH STREET EAST
(66TH STREET AND 1ST AVENUE).
Council Member Garcia presented Staff Report No. 111.
Assistant Community Development Director Poehlman provided additional information related
to the comprehensive plan process, the history of the site, and the proposed project. She stated the
project meets the objectives of the comprehensive plan amendment and the developer has made a
number of modifications to address concerns of the adjacent property owners.
Council Member Garcia stated that although this was not a public hearing and the Council has
agreed to allow the developer and a representative of the neighborhood for speak.
Council Meeting Minutes -5- June 26, 2018
Paul Lynch, PLH Associates, stated the project has been worked on for two years and has
been a mixed-use development from the beginning and hoped it was a project that could be
embraced by the community. He was available to answer any questions on the project.
Council Member Garcia asked about the desire of the developer to place a restaurant in 2,000
square feet of the commercial space.
Mr. Lynch said that no tenants are secured at this time, but if a tenant did come forward he
would support it.
Council Member Garcia stated she would like to support the project but did not believe a
restaurant would work in the space.
Council Member Trautmann stated and he no longer has concerns about the financing of the
project. He stated he was also concerned about a fast food restaurant in this space and asked staff if
this is something that can be restricted.
Assistant Community Development Director Poehlman stated there is nothing in the ordinance
that can restrict fast food chains and explained restaurant designations by class.
Council Member Howard asked about how convenience stores are treated based on the
ordinance.
Assistant Community Development Director Poehlman responded that convenience stores are
defined by code and could be identified as prohibited in this location or can be something that is
added. She stated the resolution could be amended to add convenience stores since it is defined.
Council Member Howard stated he would be interested in adding that stipulation to prohibit
convenience stores.
Council Member Trautmann asked for the definition of a convenience store.
Assistant Community Development Director Poehlman stated she could find and share the
definition.
Council Member Howard thanked Mr. Lynch for the letter and appealed to him to continue
working with the neighborhood. Council Member Howard and Mr. Lynch discussed the possibility of
placing a fence between the project and adjacent property and Mr. Lynch stated he would continue to
work with neighbors.
Assistant Community Development Director Poehlman read the definition of a convenience
store.
Council Member Howard asked staff about excluding convenience stores as a use.
Assistant Community Development Director Poehlman responded Council could amend the
resolution adding a stipulation that prohibits convenience stores.
Julie Lapensky, 6621 Stevens Ave, spoke on behalf of the neighborhood and thanked the
Council for the opportunity to speak and for visiting the neighborhood. She stated she understands
the benefits of the development to the City and to the developer, but that the neighborhood does not
want it. She stated the issues as traffic, parking issues, and screening to neighbors immediately
adjacent. She provided detail of solutions that the neighborhood is requesting and provided her
written comments and documents for Council’s consideration.
Council Meeting Minutes -6- June 26, 2018
Council Member Garcia stated she had been meeting with the neighbors and stated a
convenience store or restaurant would bring so much traffic that it would disrupt the neighborhood
and stated she would entertain Council Member Howard’s stipulation. She also discussed the parking
and belief that there will be spillover parking and the need for employee parking due to the
commercial space. She discussed the landscaping buffering and the modifications that have been
made and stated the City needs to be vigilant in ensuring stipulations are adhered to. She stated she
would be casting a “no” vote.
Council Member Howard stated globally he is supportive of the project and it adds value to the
community. He stated this project represents progress in the city and represents progress on 66th
Street and creates a vision for the future of the corridor. He also discussed this project will expand the
tax base and give some relief to single-family homeowners and this project expanding the available
housing in Richfield. He stated he appreciated the work of the neighborhood and the changes that
have been made by the developer throughout the process. He stated he was inclined to support a
stipulation barring convenience stores in the development. He commented on the approach to
monitoring parking and traffic and asked to put a definition to what triggers a response from the City.
Council Member Trautmann appreciated the neighborhood’s commitment and stated that he
would be supporting the project. He stated he doesn’t take it lightly that this could be uncomfortable.
He is reminded that there was a time when the Richfield City Council did not want development and
single-family homes will not sustain us. He also commented on the placement of the building away
from the single-family residences and abutting 66th Street. He stated he was on the fence regarding a
stipulation barring convenience stores.
Mayor Pro Tempore Regan Gonzalez asked about what accountability looked like with the
developer working with adjacent neighbors as the process moves forward.
Assistant Community Development Director responded there are specific stipulations in the
resolution that require the developer to work with adjacent property owners and read specific
stipulations.
Mayor Pro Tempore Regan Gonzalez asked for clarification and timeline with regard to traffic
counts or studies.
Assistant Community Development Director responded there are stipulations regarding the
Public Works Department monitoring traffic counts and patterns following the completion of the
development. There is not a timeline because the timeline for the completion of the development is
not known, and will be waiting for the 66th Street Reconstruction project to finish. She stated there is
a general threshold of 1,000 cars per day along a major arterial; however, the street has a particularly
low traffic count now, so that threshold will likely be lower than 1,000 cars per day. She stated the
Public Works Department is committed to monitoring the patterns.
Council Member Trautmann stated that without a specific number, if the neighbors are not
happy, the City will need to do something about it.
Mayor Pro Tempore Regan Gonzalez asked for clarification on a class 3 restaurant
designation and sales of liquor.
Assistant Community Development Director read the definitions of the permitted and non-
permitted restaurants for the area.
Mayor Pro Tempore Regan Gonzalez stated Richfield is not in a position to determine if we
can accept redevelopment or not. She stated the city has limited opportunities for redevelopment and
broaden our tax base. She stated she thinks of her role as a council member is not to say yes or no to
Council Meeting Minutes -7- June 26, 2018
change, but to working together to influence what the change looks like and how it benefits the
community as a whole and impact our neighbors. She stated she would be supporting the
development and thanked the community members for all the work they have done.
M/Howard, S/Regan Gonzalez to include a stipulation prohibiting convenience stores in the
resolution.
Motion carried 3-1. Council Member Trautmann opposed.
M/Regan Gonzalez, S/Howard to approve a second reading of an ordinance rezoning 101
66th Street East from Single-family Residential (R) to Planned Mixed Use (PMU); and adopt a
resolution granting a conditional use permit and final development plan for a planned unit
development at 101 66th Street East.
RESOLUTION NO. 11513
RESOLUTION APPROVING A FINAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND
CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR A PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT
TO BE BUILT AT 101 66TH STREET EAST
Motion carried 3-1. Council Member Garcia opposed. This resolution appears as Resolution
No. 11513.
Item #7 CONSIDERATION OF A VARIETY OF LAND USE REQUESTS RELATED TO A
PROPOSAL TO CONSTRUCT CONDOMINIUMS, TOWNHOMES, AND
APARTMENTS ON THE NORTHERN PORTION OF THE FORMER LYNDALE
GARDEN CENTER PROPERTY AND AN ADJACENT SINGLE-FAMILY
PROPERTY.
Mayor Pro Tempore Regan Gonzalez presented Staff Report No. 112.
Council Member Garcia commented that she believed the developers did a good job of
holding open houses, receiving comments, and responding to the comments, and commended the
developer for their work.
Council Member Howard stated he was excited to see the project moving forwarded and read
a portion of the staff report about diversifying Richfield’s housing options and improving Lyndale
Avenue as a gateway to the community, and fits with the vision of where Richfield is headed.
M/Regan Gonzalez, S/Howard to adopt a resolution that amends the Richfield Comprehensive
Plan to designate Lots 1-2, Block 1, Lyndale Gardens Addition and 6328 Aldrich Avenue as Mixed
Use and allow a housing development that is less than 50 dwelling units per acre
RESOLUTION NO. 11514
RESOLUTION AMENDING THE CITY’S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
CHANGING THE DESIGNATION OF 6328 ALDRICH AVENUE TO
“MIXED USE” AND ALLOWING A DENSITY LOWER THAN 50 UNITS
PER ACRE
Motion carried 4-0. This resolution appears as Resolution No. 11514.
M/Garcia, S/Trautmann to approve a second reading of an ordinance that amends Richfield
Zoning Code Appendix I to designate 6328 Aldrich Avenue as Planned Mixed Use
Council Meeting Minutes -8- June 26, 2018
Motion carried 4-0.
M/Regan Gonzalez, S/Howard to adopt a resolution approving a Conditional Use Permit and
Final Development Plans for a Planned Unit Development on Lots 1 and 2, Block 1, Lyndale Gardens
2nd Addition.
RESOLUTION NO. 11515
RESOLUTION APPROVING A FINAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND
CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR A PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT
Motion carried 4-0. This resolution appears as Resolution No. 11515.
Item #8 CONSIDERATION OF THE ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION OF DENIAL FOR A
THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE ENTERPRISE LICENCE FOR LONGSHI, INC.
Council Member Howard presented Staff Report No. 113.
Support Services Manager Anderson provided additional details on the staff report.
City Attorney Tietjen stated the applicant was notified in writing of the meeting, although he is
not present.
M/Howard, S/Trautmann to adopt a resolution of denial of the therapeutic massage enterprise
license application of Longshi, Inc.
RESOLUTION NO. 11516
RESOLUTION OF DENIAL OF THE THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE
ENTERPRISE LICENSE APPLICATION OF LONGSHI INC.
Motion carried 4-0. This resolution appears as Resolution No. 11516.
Item #9 CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Devich stated he had nothing to report.
Item #10 CLAIMS AND PAYROLLS
M/Garcia, S/Regan Gonzalez that the following claims and payrolls be approved:
U.S. Bank 06/26/18
A/P Checks: 268844 - 269252 $ 3,090,743.68
Payroll: 137052 - 137415 659,991.49
TOTAL $ 3,750,735.17
Motion carried 4-0.
Council Meeting Minutes -9- June 26,2018
OPEN FORUM
None.
Item #11 ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 8:43 p.m.
Date Approved: July 10, 2018
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