03-12 Regular
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Regular Meeting
March 12, 2019
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Regan Gonzalez at 7:00 p.m. in the Council
Chambers.
Council Members Maria Regan Gonzalez, Mayor; Mary Supple; Simon Trautmann; and Ben
Present: Whalen.
Council Members Edwina Garcia.
Absent:
Staff Present: Katie Rodriguez, City Manager; Mary Tietjen, City Attorney; Jay Henthorne,
Police Chief; John Stark, Community Development Director; Amy Markle,
Recreation Services Director; Neil Ruhland, Media Coordinator; and Jared
Voto, Executive Aide/Analyst.
OPEN FORUM
None.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Regan Gonzalez led the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
M/Supple, S/Whalen to approve the minutes of the: (1) special City Council work session of
February 26, 2019; (2) special City Council work session of February 26, 2019; and (3) regular City
Council meeting of February 26, 2019.
Motion carried 4-0.
Item #1
Richfield STEM/Dual Language School combined 5th Grade Choir
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Mayor Regan Gonzalez and Council Member Whalen introduced and welcomed the Richfield
STEM/Dual Language School combined 5th Grade choir and members of the audience. The choir
performed three songs for the City Council and audience members.
Item #2
Proclamation of Tibet Day in the city of Richfield on March 10, 2019
Mayor Regan Gonzalez read a proclamation declaring March 10, 2019, Tibet Day in the city of
Richfield.
Dechen Wangmo, Richfield resident and Treasurer of the Tibetan American Foundation of
Minnesota, and Tibetan students thanked the City Council and spoke about the Tibetan American
Foundation of Minnesota and the Tibetan community in Richfield.
Item #3 COUNCIL DISCUSSION
Hats Off to Hometown Hits
Council Member Whalen thanked the Richfield R.E.A.D.Y. committee for hosting their annual
breakfast and what they do for the community; and invited everyone to the Friends of Wood Lake
(FOWL) dinner being held on Friday, April 26, and stated tickets are available.
Council Member Supple thanked the citizens of Richfield for shoveling out their fire hydrants
and clearing storm drains; and spoke about a joint event of a photo exhibit of Costa Rican wildlife
hosted by the Arts Commission and Friendship City Commission on Saturday, April 6, from 1 to 3 p.m.
of the at the Richfield Community Center, this will be on display until May 30.
Council Member Trautmann encouraged everyone to buy tickets for the Friends of Wood Lake
dinner on Friday, April 26; thanked the students for attending the meeting; and thanked the Public
Works Department for all the work they have been doing to serve the city.
Mayor Regan Gonzalez gave a reminder that the State of the Community on Thursday, April
11 at 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Richfield Middle School; thanked the Fire Department for their great work
including recently on a fire on Portland Avenue; and discussed the City’s 2018 Annual Report and
hoped residents had a chance to read it.
Mayor Regan Gonzalez invited Sue Sandahl, Friends of the Richfield Band Shell, to speak
regarding the opportunity to purchase legacy bricks at the band shell.
Item #4 APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
M/Supple, S/Trautmann to approve the agenda.
Motion carried 4-0.
Item #5 CONSENT CALENDAR
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City Manager Rodriguez presented the consent calendar.
A. Consideration of approval of the Pathway's to Policing Grant between the Minnesota
Department of Public Safety and the City of Richfield Police Department to partially fund a
non-traditional police officer candidate. The total funds available are $25,392.31. (S. R. No.
41)
M/Trautmann, S/Whalen to approve the consent calendar.
Motion carried 4-0.
Council Member Whalen discussed this items is an effort to ensure the City’s police force
looks more like the community and thanked Chief Henthorne for the progress they have made.
Chief Henthorne thanked the Council and stated the Police Department is now approximately
22% people of color, which is an improvement from four years ago when it was approximately 5%.
Item #6 CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS, IF ANY, REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT
CALENDAR
None.
Item #7 CONSIDERATION OF THE ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION REVOKING A
CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR LAKES BUFFET RESTAURANT AT
6601 NICOLLET AVENUE. (S.R. NO. 42)
Mayor Regan Gonzalez presented Staff Report No. 42.
Community Development Director Stark provided an update that Lakes Buffet has closed their
doors, applied for and received multiple permits to install the odor suppression unit. He stated they
appear to be diligently working to install the unit, but it is not installed at this point. He stated staff
continues to recommend adoption of the resolution that allows the Community Development Director
to reinstate the CUP administratively. When the unit does become operational he recommended to
the owner/manager of Lakes Buffet to ensure they follow the maintenance requirements of the unit or
it will not be effective. He also stated they would be inspecting it periodically and would be less lenient
if it was not maintained.
Mayor Regan Gonzalez invited the owner or manager of Lakes Buffet to speak.
The contractor for Lakes Buffet discussed the equipment installation, the delays and why it is
taking additional time to install the unit and the progress they are making. He stated they would not try
to open until all inspections are passed.
Council Member Trautmann noted the Council is mindful of the workers at the restaurant and
stated that once the restaurant is in compliance the city is glad to have them back and operating.
Mayor Regan Gonzalez asked for clarification that the restaurant is currently closed and
cannot open until the unit is installed, with the approval of this resolution.
Community Development Director responded in the affirmative.
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Mayor Regan Gonzalez asked about process to ensure the maintenance requirements are
followed for the system.
Community Development Director responded there are other systems like this throughout the
community and the department has a process to inspect them and stated he believed it was on an
annual basis or complaint based.
M/Supple, S/Trautmann to adopt a resolution revoking the conditional use permit for a
restaurant at 6601 Nicollet Avenue.
RESOLUTION NO. 11615
RESOLUTION REVOKING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR A
RESTAURANT AT 6601 NICOLLET AVENUE SOUTH
Motion carried 4-0.
Item #8 CONSIDERATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF ONE ADULT MEMBER TO THE
ADVISORY BOARD OF HEALTH. (S.R. NO. 43)
Mayor Regan Gonzalez presented Staff Report No. 43.
M/Regan Gonzalez, S/Whalen to appoint Raye Black to the Advisory Board of Health with a
term expiring on January 31, 2020.
Motion carried 4-0.
Item #9 CONSIDERATION TO CONFIRM THE APPOINTMENT OF AMY MARKLE AS
RECREATION SERVICES DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY OF RICHFIELD. (S.R. NO.
44)
Council Member Trautmann presented Staff Report No. 44.
Amy Markle thanked the City Council, discussed her service at Wood Lake Nature Center for
the past 15 years, and stated she looked forward to serving the residents of Richfield in this new
position.
Mayor and Council Members congratulated and welcomed Ms. Markle into her new role.
M/Trautmann, S/Supple to confirm the appointment of Amy Markle as the Recreation Services
Director for the City of Richfield.
Motion carried 4-0.
Item #10 CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Rodriguez thanked Kris Weiby for his work as Acting Recreation Services
Director for the past few months in addition to his normal responsibilities as Facilities Manager; spoke
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about the 65th Street open house on March 28 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Richfield Municipal Center; and
mentioned staff is working to find a date for the council-staff retreat.
Item #11 CLAIMS AND PAYROLLS
M/Supple, S/Trautmann that the following claims and payrolls be approved:
U.S. Bank 03/12/19
A/P Checks: 275593 - 275950 $ 1,184,012.25
Payroll: 143919 - 144252 659,577.65
TOTAL $ 1,843,589.90
Motion carried 4-0.
OPEN FORUM
Abdel M. El Rashidi, 7537 Girard Ave S, spoke regarding his disagreement with the fees on
his water bill.
Item#12 ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 8:10 p.m.
Date Approved: March 26, 2019
irr) aNtst i4c1Az 12-
Maria Regan Gonzalez
Mayor
JaYed Voto Katie Rodriguez
Executive Aide/Analyst City Manager