07-10 Work Session
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Special City Council Work Session
July 10, 2018
CALL TO ORDER
The work session was called to order by Mayor Elliott at 5:45 p.m. in the Municipal Center.
Council Members Pat Elliott, Mayor; Edwina Garcia; Maria Regan Gonzalez (arrived at 6:00
Present: p.m.); Michael Howard (arrived at 6:00 p.m.); and Simon Trautmann.
Staff Present: Steven L. Devich, City Manager; Pam Dmytrenko, Assistant City Manager/HR
Manager; Jay Henthorne, Public Safety Director/Police Chief; John Stark,
Community Development Director; Melissa Poehlman, Planning and
Redevelopment Manager/Assistant Community Development Director;
Jennifer Anderson, Support Services Manager; Julie Urban, Housing
Manager; Mike Flaherty, Lieutenant; Russ Lupkes, Utilities Superintendent;
Amy Markle, Naturalist; and, Jared Voto, Executive Aide/Analyst.
Item #1 GOVERNMENT ALLIANCE ON RACE AND EQUITY (GARE) UPDATE
City staff and members of the Richfield CAREs team presented the work that has been
completed through seven months in the GARE program. They shared the Racial Equity Statement,
discussed the training they have participated in to-date, their review of the City’s hiring practices using
a racial equity toolkit, and upcoming training sessions. They also shared their takeaways from the
training.
Council Members thanked the group for their work and commented on the importance of this
work.
Council Member Garcia thanked the group and stated she would like to talk to the group and
share her experiences.
Council Member Regan Gonzalez thanked the group and discussed building on this work the
benefits that will come to the community. She asked about having a community open house and
getting feedback from the community, specifically on the racial equity statement.
Assistant City Manager Dmytrenko responded that an open house hasn’t been discussed by
the group, but it is something that could be discussed and done with the City Council.
Item #2 CITY MANAGER RECRUITMENT DISCUSSION
Council Members discuss narrowing down the applications and thought they needed more
time to review the materials provided. The decided to meet again on Monday, July 16, after the
Housing and Redevelopment Authority meeting to have further discussion on the proposals.
Special Council Work Session Minutes -2- July 10,2018
Mayor Elliott asked if any Council Members wanted to share their thoughts on the proposals
tonight.
Council Member Regan Gonzalez stated she liked the proposals from Hue Life and the Mercer
Group. She also stated she would like to hear if City staff had perspectives on the proposals.
Council Member Garcia agreed with Council Member Regan Gonzalez and stated she thought
they could eliminate Springsted/Waters and CarterBaldwin.
Council Member Trautmann and Howard agreed with getting staff feedback and the proposals
should offer involving the community's input and engagement.
City Manager Devich commented that the Council should work to narrow the firms down to two
or three and decide on what to ask the firms when they come in for interviews.
ADJOURNMENT
The work session was adjourned by unanimous consent at 6:56 p.m.
Date Approved: July 24, 2018 /
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