04-21 Concurrent Richfield and Bloomington CC Meeting
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
ConcurrentRichfield and Bloomington
City Council Meeting
April 21, 2021
CALL TO ORDER
The work session was called to order by Richfield Mayor Regan Gonzalez and Bloomington
Mayor Tim Busse at 6:00 p.m. via Webex.
Council Members Maria Regan Gonzalez, Mayor; Mary Supple; Ben Whalen; and Sean Hayford
Present: Oleary
Council Members Simon Trautmann
Absent:
Bloomington Council Tim Busse, Mayor; Patrick Martin, Jenna Carter, Nathan Coulter
Present:
Bloomington Council Dwayne Lowman, Shawn Nelson, Jack Baloga
Absent:
Staff Present: Katie Rodriguez, Richfield City Manager; John Stark, Richfield Community
Development Director; Melissa Poehlman, Richfield Assistant Community
Development Director; Karl Keel, Bloomington Public Works Director; Julie
Farnham, Bloomington Senior Planner; Julie Long Bloomington Engineer
Others Present: Sarah McColley, TSW; Tom Walsh, TSW; Ian Lockwood, Toole Design
Item #1 PRESENTATION
Bloomington and Richfield staff Julie Farnham and Melissa Poehlman introduced the Center
for New Urbanism Legacy Project - providing relevant background information and reminding the
Councils of the challenges that the pandemic imposed on the project and the timeline. Staff
introduced the consultants assigned to the project: Sarah McColley and Tom Walsh of TSW and Ian
Lockwood of Toole Design.
Sarah McColley provided an overview of the group’s original and revised plans for exploration
of the area and existing regulations; outreach to area business, residents, and property owners; and
key themes that arose from those meetings. The ability to safely travel through the area without a car,
improvements to the public realm, and the preservation of existing businesses were consistent
themes.
Concurrent Richfield and Bloomington City Council -2-
April 21, 2021
Tom Walsh presented examples of projects in other areas of the country where freeway
crossings have addressed both vehicle and non-motorized travel successfully, creating a safe and
welcoming area. He also discussed examples of redevelopment opportunities in freeway-adjacent
areas, highlighting the importance of a grid street system, reasonable crossing distances, pedestrian
and bike enhancements.
Ian Lockwood presented an alternative concept for the I-494/Portland interchange. The
conceptual illustration presented a possible option to more evenly distribute traffic in the area and
thereby limit the size of the Portland Avenue right-of-way.
Sarah McColley concluded the presentation with recommended Goals and Principals for
development/redevelopment in the area. McColley highlighted the balance between community
benefits and financial feasibility, presenting a series of action items and design standards for the
communities to consider.
Council Members from both communities asked several questions about the alternative
interchange design.
Council Member Hayford Oleary expressed a desire for additional density along the 7600
block of Portland Avenue given the proximity to transit. The group asked for potential “harm
reduction” ideas given the extent of the proposed road design.
Council Member Supple expressed support for opening up Roosevelt Park by removing a
th
portion of the 77 Street wall.
Council Member Whalen liked the idea of focusing the land bridge type ideas on the bridges
th
at Nicollet and 12Avenues, as well as new proposed pedestrian bridge at Chicago Avenue.
City staff discussed next steps for each City.
ADJOURNMENT
The work session was adjourned by unanimous consent at 7:02 p.m.
Date Approved:
Maria Regan Gonzalez
Mayor
Melissa Poehlman Katie Rodriguez
Assistant Community Development Director City Manager