09-14 Work Session
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
City Council Work Session
September 14, 2021
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Regan Gonzalez at 5:01 p.m. in the Bartholomew Room. Council Members Maria Regan Gonzalez, Mayor; Ben Whalen; Mary Supple; Simon Present: Trautmann; and Sean Hayford Oleary
Staff Present: Katie Rodriguez, City Manager; Mary Tietjen, City Attorney; Rachel Lindholm,
Sustainability Specialist; Blanca Martinez Gavina, Equity Administrator; and
Kelly Wynn, Administrative Assistant
Others Present: Gordon Vizecky, President of RTPB; and Katy Epler, Executive Director of RTPB
Item #1
REVIEW OF THE ORGANIZED COLLECTION TRANSITION/IMPLEMENTATION
PROCESS AND COMMUNICATION EFFORTS.
Sustainability Specialist Lindholm gave a presentation regarding organization collection:
• Process re-cap;
• Engagement with residents;
• Themes of resident calls/emails;
• Frequently asked questions;
• Process with haulers;
• Transition/implementation plan;
• Hauler transition plan;
• Engagement for implementation; and
• Recognition of involved process
Council Member Supple thanked Sustainability Specialist Lindholm for her work during the
extensive process.
Council Member Whalen echoed gratitude to Sustainability Specialist Lindholm. He asked if
staff could send council talking points to better equip them to assist residents with questions or
concerns.
Sustainability Specialist Lindholm confirmed she could provide information and also
encouraged council to continue sharing city social media posts regarding the project.
City Manager Rodriguez stated staff would like the help to get information out to the public but
would like to be consistent.
Council Member Hayford Oleary expressed excitement for the program. He also mentioned
the recent mailing that went out with details on cart size change options did not include pricing.
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Sustainability Specialist Lindholm stated it was due to lack of space and staff made the
decision to include information directing residents to the website or newspaper for additional details.
Council Member Hayford Oleary asked if residents could still change their cart size free of
charge even if they missed the deadline.
Sustainability Specialist Lindholm stated residents will have another chance to change their
carts once haulers have distributed new carts to residents. They will then be able to change their cart
size once a year free of charge if desired.
Council Member Hayford Oleary asked about transition dates.
Sustainability Specialist Lindholm stated the transition begins October 4.
Council Member Supple spoke of how some haulers have merged over the years and
wondered if residents would be getting a variety of old carts.
Sustainability Specialist Lindholm stated as far as she knows, haulers will be distributing new
carts with their name but it is not prohibited to use carts they have acquired.
Mayor Regan Gonzalez thanked Sustainability Specialist Lindholm for the presentation.
Item #2
REVIEW RECOMMENDATIONS TO UPDATE THE AGREEMENT WITH THE
RICHFIELD TOURISM AND PROMOTION BOARD (RTPB).
City Manager Rodriguez introduced the item and presented on the RTPB agreement history
and structure.
Executive Director Epler presented on:
• New promotions;
• Two recent events in supporting businesses; and
• Sponsoring city events to drive people to find Visit Richfield;
She also spoke of exciting it is to see new things happening in the community and assisting
others to explore Richfield. She mentioned hotels are marketed out of state while local community
activities is marketed to more local areas to encourage people to live, work and play in Richfield.
City Manager Rodriguez provided information on:
• Best practices research;
• Strengthening the agreement;
• RTPB governing board;
• Proposed spending plan; and
• Next steps
President Vizecky thanked everyone for their assistance on the agreement along with all the
people who help drive the viability of Richfield.
Council Member Hayford Oleary asked about city appointed members on the RTPB board.
City Manager Rodriguez stated they will be three year terms, staggered.
Council Member Supple asked if the citizen representative could be on an existing city
commission and the RTPB board.
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City Manager Rodriguez stated research is still being completed but it would be ideal to have
someone that is knowledgeable of ongoing events in the community.
Mayor Regan Gonzalez asked for some clarification on the grant program.
President Vizecky stated they have been working on finding what things bring people in from
out of town and what is more local where people may not stay at a hotel. Applications will be reviewed
on a monthly basis. One example of an application would be that a hotel could contract with some sort
of promotion and then bring that to the board and ask to have the expense paid. Some concerns deal
with no training on local nonprofits and they will need to work through some logistics.
Council Member Trautmann expressed appreciation for everyone involved in the process and
supported the composition of the board. He then asked if the board seats would be approved by
council and if it is a possibility to tax Airbnb facilities in the future.
City Manager Rodriguez stated it would be at the discretion of RTPB and it falls within best
practices to not have council approve those positions. However, council would approve the positions
of citizen and restaurant representatives.
President Vizecky spoke of feedback from MACBB best practices where there is some risk to
nonprofit status when you have another organization driving board composition. Build into the
agreement what the board make up will be but the RTPB will be seating the directors and protecting
the city and public funds.
Council Member Supple stated she is happy to see the review of best practices and the
addition of a restaurant representative.
Council Member Whalen spoke of moving in the right direction and appreciates the focus on
drawing in people from the broader metro area. The revamping and addition of positions could
encourage the community representative be more connected to local events.
City Attorney Tietjen stated council could include desired qualifications in the recruitment
process.
Council Member Supple appreciated a more collaborative agreement with council and RTPB
along with what are the big things coming up and what the city should be promoting. She believes
there should be promotion that the grant period is open.
Mayor Regan Gonzalez thanked Executive Director Epler for all the work she has been doing
and handling the shift in the community as people want to hear about new businesses along the
families they are impacting. She then thanked President Vizecky for assisting in moving this process
forward.
City Manager Rodriguez summarized next steps.
ADJOURNMENT
The work session was adjourned by unanimous consent at 5:58 p.m.
Date Approved: September 28, 2021
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Maria Regan Gonzalez
Mayor
Kelly Wynn Katie Rodriguez
Administrative Assistant City Manager