01-26-2021 CC Work Session
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
City Council Work Session
January 26, 2021
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Regan Gonzalez at 5:45 p.m. virtually via WebEx.
Council Members Maria Regan Gonzalez, Mayor; Ben Whalen; Mary Supple; Simon
Present: Trautmann; and Sean Hayford Oleary
Staff Present: Katie Rodriguez, City Manager; Jay Henthorne, Public Safety Director/Police
Chief; Joe Powers, City Engineer; William Green, Equity and Inclusion
Administrator; Mary Tietjen, City Attorney; Blanca Martinez Gavina, Executive
Analyst; and Kelly Wynn, Senior Office Assistant.
Others Present: Cyndi Harper, Manager of Route Planning, Metro Transit Service Development;
John Dillery, Senior Transit Planner and connecting bus study project manager,
Metro Transit Service Development; Monique M Drier-Sutton, JCPP Supervisor;
Patricia Eibon, Community Liaison; and Donna Nelson, Senior Social Worker.
Item #1 PRESENTATION METRO TRANSIT ORANGE LINE BRT CONNECTING BUS
ROUTE
City Engineer Powers introduced the item and the Metro Transit employees.
Cyndi Harper presented the Orange Line connection bus study containing background; project
status; project goals; study area; and concept plans with scenario A and B.
John Dillery described routes 7 and 515; routes 538, 548 and 542; and the I-494 Corridor.
Cyndi Harper spoke of key community outreach and engagement strategies.
Council Member Supple asked about the route changing to allow people easier access to the
VA near the airport.
John Dillery explained with the change in the route will make the ride longer but it is more
easily navigated.
Council Member Hayford Oleary asked about going south from Richfield.
John Dillery stated route 535 serves Lyndale through Bloomington but it does need to be
replaced. There is a new route of 534 that will also provide service in that area.
Mayor Regan Gonzalez expressed her excitement to have these changes to come through the
community.
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Council Member Whalen stated appreciation for the Orange Line itself and the ability to revisit
routes going east and west through Richfield.
Council Member Trautmann thanked everyone for the presentation. He spoke of the drastic
changes being made to transit models and is happy to see the project moving forward.
City Manager Rodriguez explained the city has set a goal to build equity and inclusion
throughout the community. She introduced William Green as the new Equity and Inclusion
Administrator.
Administrator Green thanked Mayor Regan Gonzalez and Council for the opportunity to be a
part of the work.
PRESENTATION EMBEDDED SOCIAL WORKER; RICHFIELD POLICE
Item #2 DEPARTMENT JOINT COMMUNITY POLICE PARTNERSHIP (JCPP); AND BODY
CAMERAS
Cheif Henthorne introduced the item and speakers.
Donna Nelson gave a brief background of her work as an embedded social worker and how
she has been assisting the police department. She explained how the pandemic has impacted her in-
person visits with residents but she is making every attempt possible to get people the resources they
need.
Council Member Whalen asked if staff is able to measure how many referrals are being made
and how many repeat calls to see the impact.
Donna Nelson explained her processes of referrals so as to reduce the amount of police need
to make repeat calls to resident homes.
Council Member Whalen stated it will be harder to track but would like to see where people are
being connected to the right resources.
Donna Nelson stated the main goal is to connect people to the right resources but is not
currently being tracked.
Chief Henthorne spoke of the growing cases of hoarding and how it brings impacts to both
emotional and mental health of residents. Police officers connect residents with services but do not
have the capacity to follow up to see if they are utilizing the services. He explained with Donna Nelson
on board, they are hoping to be able to see how residents are progressing when connected with
needed services.
Council Member supple stated she was pleased to see the wide variety of services Donna
Nelson will bring to the community. She has seen a lot of evictions happen due to hoarding and
having her on board could greatly impact those residents in need of help.
Mayor Regan Gonzalez thanked Donna Nelson for the information and spoke of the long term
needs and how they will impact the community.
Patricia Eibon presented on the JCPP mission; embedment of community liaisons; community
programs and engagement; and training. She then spoke of the work JCPP is doing with the Richfield
Police Department.
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Council Member Whalen asked about the connections being made with networks and
organizations and recruiting for PMAC.
Patricia Eibon explained they have reached out to many organizations and schools within
Richfield and they are looking for leaders within the community.
Council Member Trautmann welcomed Patricia Eibon and reminded her of the Church of New
Light. It was a Richfield church that just relocated to east Bloomington.
Mayor Regan Gonzalez expressed excitement to have Patricia Eibon on board and to see
what she can do for the community of Richfield.
Chief Henthorne spoke of all the phenomenal outreach across the board that has been done
during the pandemic. He then spoke of the body camera implementation and timeline along with the
new hire of Elisa Nordby as the Police Media and Data Specialist. He then gave a presentation on
records management and data collection; WatchGuard V300 body cameras; key features; and RPD
implementation.
Council Member Trautmann thanked Chief Henthorne for the presentation and making a
methodical purchase with the body cameras.
Chief Henthorne added a report is in the works regarding expungements, pre-trial diversions
and bail reform. When the report is ready, it will be presented to Council.
Council Member Hayford Oleary asked what triggers an auto-recording and how long is it able
to be retrieved.
Chief Henthorne stated there are data practice requirements along with how recordings are
tagged and kept.
Council Member Whalen asked for a video for the public about the body cameras.
Chief Henthorne stated they would need to contact the vendor to see what they have for
informational material. He also stated the police department is working to have weekly clips released
on social media talking about the body cameras.
Mayor Regan Gonzalez spoke of how wonderful it is to have the cameras implemented and to
have all the new staff additions. She expressed appreciation for the police department and all they
continue to do for the community.
ADJOURNMENT
The work session was adjourned by unanimous consent at 6:58 p.m.
Date Approved: February 09, 2021
Maria Regan Gonzalez
Mayor
Kelly Wynn Katie Rodriguez
Senior Office Assistant City Manager