01-08 Regular
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Regular Meeting
January 8, 2019
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; Edwina Garcia; Mary Supple; and Simon Trautmann.
Present:
Staff Present: Katie Rodriguez, City Manager; Mary Tietjen, City Attorney; Pam Dmytrenko,
Administrative Services Director/Assistant City Manager; Elizabeth VanHoose,
City Clerk; Chris Regis, Finance Director; John Stark, Community Development
Director; Neil Ruhland, Media Coordinator; and Jared Voto, Executive
Aide/Analyst.
OATH OF OFFICE OF RICHFIELD CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, MARY SUPPLE
City Clerk VanHoose administered the oath of office to Council Member Supple.
OATH OF OFFICE OF RICHFIELD MAYOR, MARIA REGAN GONZALEZ
City Clerk VanHoose administered the oath of office to Mayor Regan Gonzalez.
Mayor Regan Gonzalez thanked those in attendance and the entire community for their
support and spoke about the history of Richfield, the community coming together, setting the tone and
vision for the future of Richfield, and her priorities as Mayor.
OPEN FORUM
Debbie Goettel, 6525 James Ave, spoke regarding the historic events occurring in our
communities.
Luz María Frías, 498 Owasso Hills Drive, Roseville, recognized the City Council’s leadership
and Mayor’s vision for Richfield.
Council Members congratulated their newly sworn-in Council Member and Mayor and spoke of
the work they have done together and will continue to do in the future.
Council Meeting Minutes -2- January 8, 2019
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Regan Gonzalez led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Council Members briefly recessed to thank their constituents in attendance.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
M/Supple, S/Garcia to approve the minutes of the: (1) Special City Council work session of
December 11, 2018; (2) Special concurrent City Council, Planning Commission, and Transportation
Commission work session of December 11, 2018; (3) Regular City Council meeting of December 11,
2018; and (4) Special City Council meeting of December 14, 2018.
Motion carried 4-0.
Item #1 COUNCIL DISCUSSION
Hats Off to Hometown Hits
Council Member Garcia remembered former Richfield Council Member and Mayor Loren Law
who passed away recently. She also remembered Carolyn Engel King and her contribution to the city.
She spoke regarding the Richfield Winter Farmers Market on February 11 at 3 p.m. at the Community
Center; on February 12 from 12 to 4 p.m. at Richfield History Center is an open house celebrating the
history center; on February 19 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. the League of Women Voters’ is hosting a
Candidates Forum at City Hall for City Council Ward 3; on January 20 at 3 p.m. at the Wood Lake
Nature Center is fireside stories; and Friends of the Richfield Bandshell are continuing to sell
“community builders” bricks to fundraise.
Council Member Supple spoke regarding the City receiving a Local Government Innovation
Award from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs for the City’s efforts to strength the Richfield
apartment communities and thanked the community for supporting 240 sixth graders to going to Eagle
Bluff Environmental Learning Center January 15-18.
Council Member Trautmann recognized the Richfield fire fighters for their service, noting that
four fire fighters had minor injuries from a recent fire in the city, and again thanked them for all they
do.
Mayor Regan Gonzalez also thanked the Richfield fire fighters and thanked the community for
stepping up and assisting the family that was impacted by the fire at their home. She spoke regarding
the opportunity to have an excellent dinner with Richfield fire fighters and get to know them more; and
the Richfield Arts Commission is looking for poems (up to 20) to be sandblasted into the sidewalk
along east 66th Street, submittals are due February 14 at 3 p.m.
Item #2 APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
M/Trautmann, S/Garcia to approve the agenda.
Council Meeting Minutes -3- January 8, 2019
Motion carried 4-0.
Item #3 CONSENT CALENDAR
City Manager Rodriguez presented the consent calendar.
A. Consideration of the adoption of a resolution designating an official newspaper for 2019. (S.R.
No. 1)
B. Consideration of the adoption of resolutions designating official depositories for the City of
Richfield for 2019, including the approval of collateral. (S.R. No. 2)
C. Consideration of the adoption of a resolution authorizing the use of credit cards by City
employees otherwise authorized to make purchases on behalf of the City.(S.R. No. 3)
D. Consideration of the approval of a designation of an Acting City Manager for 2019. (S.R. No.
4)
E. Consideration of the adoption of a resolution appointing election judges for the February 12,
2019 Special Election. (S.R. No. 5)
M/Regan Gonzalez, S/Supple to approve the consent calendar.
Motion carried 4-0.
Item #4 CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS, IF ANY, REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT
CALENDAR
None.
Item #5 PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDERATION OF THE APPROVAL OF A
TRANSITORY ORDINANCE VACATING A RIGHT-OF-WAY EASEMENT ON
PROPERTY AT 1401 76TH STREET WEST (SEVEN HILLS ACADEMY). (S.R.
NO. 7)
Council Member Garcia presented Staff Report No. 7 and opened the public hearing.
M/Garcia, S/Trautmann to close the public hearing.
Motion carried 4-0.
M/Garcia, S/Supple to approve a transitory ordinance vacating a portion of a right-of-way
easement on property at 1401 76th Street West (Seven Hills Academy).
Motion carried 4-0.
Item #6 CONSIDERATION OF THE DESIGNATION OF A MAYOR PRO TEMPORE FOR
2019. (S.R. NO. 8)
Council Meeting Minutes -4- January 8, 2019
Mayor Regan Gonzalez presented Staff Report No. 8.
M/Regan Gonzalez, S/Trautmann to approve designation of Council Member Garcia as Mayor
Pro Tempore for 2019.
Motion carried 4-0.
Item #7 CONSIDERATION OF THE CITY COUNCIL'S APPROVAL OF THE MAYOR'S
APPOINTMENTS OF HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (HRA)
COMMISSIONERS. (S.R. NO. 9)
Mayor Regan Gonzalez presented Staff Report No. 9.
M/Regan Gonzalez, S/Garcia to approve the appointment of Pat Elliott as HRA Commissioner
with a term expiring November 12, 2023 and appointment of Council Member Mary Supple and Mayor
Maria Regan Gonzalez as HRA Commissioners with terms expiring at the end of their respective
current terms on the Richfield City Council.
Motion carried 4-0.
Mayor Regan Gonzalez commented on the difficult decision the selecting a citizen for
appointment and the great opportunity the Council had with meeting so many qualified candidates.
Item #8 CONSIDERATION OF DESIGNATING REPRESENTATIVES TO SERVE AS THE
2019 LIAISONS TO VARIOUS METROPOLITAN AGENCIES AND CITY
COMMISSIONS. (S.R. NO. 10)
Mayor Regan Gonzalez presented Staff Report No. 10.
M/Regan Gonzalez, S/Supple to designate City Council liaison appointments to various
metropolitan agencies and City commissions for 2019.
Motion carried 4-0.
Item #9 DISCUSSION REGARDING CITY COUNCIL ATTENDANCE AT THE 2019
NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES (NLC) CONFERENCES AND THE UNITED
STATES CONFERENCE OF MAYORS' 87TH WINTER MEETING. (S.R. NO. 11)
Mayor Regan Gonzalez presented Staff Report No. 11.
M/Supple, S/Trautmann to approve Mayor Maria Regan Gonzalez to attend the January 23-
25, 2019, United States Conference of Mayors' 87th Winter Meeting in Washington, D.C.
Motion carried 4-0.
Item #10 CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
Council Meeting Minutes -5- January 8,2019
City Manager Rodriguez thanked staff for their assistance in her first few days. She asked the
City Council for their preference on changing the date of the first meeting in February, since the
normal date on Tuesday, February 12, is the date of the special election.
Council Member agreed with a date of Monday, February 11 for the special meeting.
City Manager Rodriguez also proposed holding a special meeting on Friday, February 15 to
canvass the election and also host the legislative breakfast.
Council Members agreed they were available that day.
Item #11 CLAIMS AND PAYROLLS
M/Garcia, S/Trautmann that the following claims and payrolls be approved:
U.S. Bank 12/25/18
A/P Checks: 273572 -274033 $ 1,545,177.32
Payroll: 141625 - 141940 ; 43029 637,155.40
TOTAL $ 2,182,332.72
U.S. Bank 01/08/19
NP Checks: 274034 -274354 $ 1,915,978.63
Payroll: 141941 - 142259 ; 43030 -43031 684,986.25
TOTAL $ 2,600,964.88
Motion carried 4-0.
OPEN FORUM
None.
Item #12 ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 8:12 p.m.
Date Approved: January 22, 2019
Maria Regan Gonz R-z
Mayor
t#'
Ja d Voto Katie Rodriguez
Executive Aide/Analyst City Manager