01-11-2022 Work Session
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
City Council Work Session
Virtual via WebEx
January 11, 2022
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Regan Gonzalez at 5:45 p.m. virtually via WebEx
Council Members
Present:
Maria Regan Gonzalez, Mayor; Mary Supple; Simon Trautmann (left 6:15
p.m.); Sean Hayford Oleary; and Ben Whalen
Staff Present: Katie Rodriguez, City Manager; Rachel Lindholm, Sustainability Specialist;
Chris Swanson, Management Analyst; and Kari Sinning, City Clerk.
ITEM #1
ORGANIZED COLLECTION UPDATE AND RESIDENTIAL ORGANICS CREDIT
Mayor Regan Gonzalez introduced City Manager Rodriguez who turned it over to
Sustainability Specialist Lindholm. Sustainability Specialist Lindholm presented a summary of the
statistics, the challenges and successes of the organized collection program.
Mayor Regan Gonzalez thanked Sustainability Specialist Lindholm for the work and time that
was given to take care of the residents’ issues and struggles with the implementation.
Council Member Whalen mentioned that calls have decreased for him for concerns and
echoed the thanks that Mayor Regan Gonzalez gave.
Sustainability Specialist Lindholm shared a presentation on organics collection of which
Richfield is the first city to have multiple different haulers and to have residents opt-in to the program
and stated that under twenty-five percent of the organized collection program have opted-in for
organics collection. Sustainability Specialist Lindholm explained a utility billing credit is available due
to funds allocated from Hennepin County for the organics collection and described two different
options to use the funds; Option 1: Credit all households in the program and Option 2: Credit
households participating in organics collection. Sustainability Specialist Lindholm shared the pros and
cons to both options but shared that staff is leaning more towards option one to incentivize more
participation in organics collection.
Council Member Whalen asked for clarification about number of credits that would be given.
Sustainability Specialist Lindholm explained that the lump sum f und we received was for 2021 and
that it would more than likely be a one-time credit depending on the logistics of the utility billing.
Sustainability Specialist Lindholm also explained in the future, that may change depending if the city
wanted to return to something like the recycling utility credit that was used in the past.
Council Work Session Minutes -2- January 11, 2022
Council Member Hayford Oleary asked why the funds could not be allocated to a different use
instead of being a credit. Sustainability Specialist Lindholm stated that the sustainability budget was
already set for compostable bags to be given to residents and that the Hennepin County fund would
be allocated back to the residents. Sustainability Specialist Lindholm explained that in the future that a
credit could continue due to the funding received.
Council Member Hayford Oleary questioned how giving a small amount to all households
would incentivize new participation. Sustainability Specialist Lindholm stated that conversations with
residents gave the impression that if they didn’t notice the fee as much that they would be more
inclined to participate.
Council Member Hayford Oleary asked if that we were to go with option two that residents
might be upset that they aren’t getting the credit and Sustainability Specialist Lindholm stated that
there would be backlash from residents that did not receive the credit. Council Member Hayford
Oleary leaned more towards option two but would not be mad if staff chose option one.
Council Member Supple leaned towards option one due to the fact that all are receiving the
credit but could live either way.
Council Member Whalen shared his opinions on the two options which he had a slight
preference for option two and he also shared a curiosity of use the funds. Sustainability Specialist
Lindholm stated that in the future the credit for option one would stay the same and that the credit for
option two would decrease overtime as more residents would be participating. Sustainability Specialist
Lindholm stated that the funds must be used for organics but that there is a list of accepted uses of
the funds that we could look at in the future.
City Manager Rodriguez shared that the contract with the haulers for organics collection would
change if more residents participated and that the funds could be used to keep the organics fee
charged to the resident at five dollars.
Mayor Regan Gonzalez stated that either option would be okay but leaned more towards
option two.
Sustainability Specialist Lindholm gave a summary from the Council of the two options of
which there was not a strong consensus for one or the other however most council members leaned
toward option two. Sustainability Specialist Lindholm explained there is room for flexibility in the
options in the future.
Council Member Supple thanked Sustainability Specialist Lindholm and the staff for the
wonderful job.
Council Member Whalen asked for clarification on which option staff would recommend since
the Council did not have a clear direction. Sustainability Specialist Lindholm stated that option one is
more preferred by staff so that all organized collection residents are receiving the same regardless of
participation in the organics collection. She also stated that this process can be improved over time as
staff receives feedback from residents. If the Council were to prefer option two, staff would not be
disappointed with that choice.
Council Member Hayford Oleary changed his opinion for option one due to the previous
comments made by Council Members and Sustainability Specialist Lindholm and to have more
direction from council.
Council Work Session Minutes -3-January 11, 2022
Mayor Regan Gonzalez agreed with that response from Council Member Hayford Oleary.
Sustainability Specialist Lindholm explained the next steps are to align the logistics with
LOGIS and utility billing to know a timeframe and more information before for a final decision is made
of which council would be informed when that time comes.
ADJOURNMENT
The work session was adjourned by unanimous consent at 6:32 p.m.
Date Approved: January 25, 2022
Maria Regan Gonzalez
Mayor
Kari Sinning Katie Rodriguez
City Clerk City Manager