03-18 Emergency Council
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
EmergencyCouncilMeeting
March 18, 2020
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Maria Regan Gonzalez at 5:30 p.m. in the Council
Chambers.
Council Members Maria Regan Gonzalez, Mayor; Mary Supple; Ben Whalen; and
Present: Simon Trautmann
Council Members Edwina Garcia
Absent:
Staff Present: Katie Rodriguez, City Manager; Mary Tietjen, City Attorney;Neil Ruhland,
Communications Manager; Jay Henthorne,Chief of Police;Jennifer Anderson,
Public Safety Health Administrator; and Blanca Martinez Gavina,Executive
Analyst
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Regan Gonzalez led the Pledge of Allegiance
Item #1APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
M/Supple, S/Trautmann to approve the agenda
Motion carried 4-0.
APPROVEOF A RESOLUTION ENACTED PURSUANT TO MINNESOTA
Item #2STATUTES SECTION 12.29 EXTENDING THE PERIOD OF A MAYOR-
DELCARED LOCAL EMERGENCY (STAFF REPORT NO. 44)
Mayor Regan Gonzalez presented staff report 44 and asked for staff updates and explanation
for the public.
Emergency Council Meeting Minutes -2-March 18, 2020
City Manager Rodriguez explained how the resolution would allow for more flexibility and
authority on spending. She provided examples of granting Finance Director Regis more authority on
purchases up to $5,000, signing documents electronically, and approving invoices electronically.
City Attorney Tietjen elaborated on the flexibility of the spending during a local emergency.
The process allows for a streamlined procedure in purchasing necessary equipment and supplies.
Staff is trying to cover the City in a whole gamut of things such as FEMA reimbursement and mutual
aid.
M/Supple, S/Whalen to approve the resolution enacted pursuant to Minnesota Statutes
Section 12.29 extending the period of a Mayor-declared local emergency.
Council Member Supple thanked all staff involved for the long hours.
Council Member Trautmann echoed thanks and wanted to recognize the quick response staff
has provided. He also expressed gratitude to public safety and firefighters for being on the frontlines.
He then suggested an amendment to the resolution regarding a failsafe method in revisiting the item
in six months.
City Attorney Tietjen recommended moving forward and voting with the motion on the table
and then Council Member Trautmann would move for a separate motion to place this item on an
agenda in six months.
Motion carried 4-0.
M/Trautmann, S/Supple to place the resolution enacted pursuant to Minnesota Statues
Section 12.29 extending the period of a Mayor-declared local emergency on an agenda in six months
to revisit.
Council Member Whalen expressed his confusion on why this motion has been made and why
there is a need for the amendment. He is comfortable the way things are expected to proceed and
asked Council Member Trautmann for some clarification.
Council Member Trautmann explained it has nothing to do with the character of the City
Manager or staff but more of a structural piece for residents to create some certainty.
City Attorney Tietjen clarified there is no harm in passing the motion with the amendment and
the resolution will be in effect until the Council takes further action to end it. Having a plan to discuss it
in the future has no effect on anything.
City Manager Rodriguez spoke of the weekly check-ins she will have with Mayor Regan
Gonzalez to reassess the situation.
Council Member Supple believed it would be a structural piece to have in place and creates
good practice.
Motion carried 4-0
Item #3
City Manager Rodriguez asked Chief Henthorne to provide an update on the recent impacts of
the pandemic.
Emergency Council Meeting Minutes -3-March 18, 2020
Chief Henthorne explained how everyone is in uncharted territory but emergency pandemic
plan is place and being treated as a public health emergency. It involves services they need to
extend, suspend or put into place while providing the best services possible during this critical time.
are announced. Public Safety is also on daily conference calls to communicate vital information and
build surplus of vital resources to help all communities. All departments within the City are working
collaboratively to help resolve the emergency and mitigate the crisis that is affecting our nation, our
state and our city. An Informational letter will be going out tomorrow regarding the vulnerable
population.
Public Safety Health Administrator Anderson discussed how this will be a long term event and
could last 12-18 months. She spoke of how the numbers and statistics are changing rapidly. The City
is in a partnership with Bloomington Public Health and has been leaning on them for support. She
went on to share they are responding to questions from residents with information provided by the
Minnesota Department of Health and the Center for Disease Control.
City Manager Rodriguez expressed gratitude to Bloomington Public Health and also being
able to work with the City of Edina. She explained how the City is reassessing situations daily to keep
providing services while practicing social distancing. All departments have been asked to create
schedules for staff to maintain social distancing and this includes working from home and staggered
hours. She has also asked Finance Director Regis to pull together numbers regarding financial impact
due to recreation programs being cancelled, passport processing suspended and allowing only for tab
renewal by drop box. As of right now, the City has sufficient reserves but departments have been
asked to cut down on spending and re-think projects. City Manager Rodriguez voiced her appreciation
for department directors and staff for their flexibility as well as the Council in their support and efforts.
Council Member Whalen spoke of his appreciation and asked for reiteration of where residents
can find information.
Public Safety Health Administrator Anderson stressed how important it is for residents to stay
home, wash your hands regularly, sneeze into your elbow or use a tissue, and to stay home when you
are feeling ill. She spoke of how it is equally important to check on your neighbors and to get outside
when possible for fresh air and exercise. All this information is available on the Richfield website along
with a phone number to a staff member in case services are needed.
Mayor Regan Gonzalez thanked all the staff for their exceptional work around the clock and
their creativity to keep crucial services available, community outreach, department heads for their
resourcefulness to reduce spending, and public safety for helping keep residents safe. She expressed
gratitude for Bloomington Public Health and the partnership that the City has with Bloomington and
Edina. She also spoke of the physical bilingual communications going out via Block Captains so
communications are not only on social media. Mayor Regan Gonzalez also thanked all the frontline
workers including fire, public safety and healthcare. She referenced how the community is coming
together to support one another. She also reminded residents to take care of themselves.
Item #4ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 6:01 p.m.
Council Meeting Minutes -4-March 18, 2020
DateApproved: April 14, 2020
Maria Regan Gonzalez
Mayor
Katie Rodriguez
Kelly Wynn
City Manager
Senior Office Assistant