02-08-2022 Work Session
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Concurrent City Council, Planning Commission, and
Community Services Commission Work Session
Virtual via WebEx
February 8, 2022
CALL TO ORDER
The concurrent City Council, Planning Commission, and Community Services Commission
work session was called to order by Mayor Regan Gonzalez at 5:45 p.m. virtually via WebEx
Council Members Maria Regan Gonzalez, Mayor; Mary Supple; Simon Trautmann; Sean
Present: Hayford Oleary; and Ben Whalen
Council Members None
Absent:
Planning Commission Kathryn Quam, Chair; Brett Stursa; Gordon Hanson; Brendan Kennealy;
Members Present: Eddie Holmvig-Johnson; and Ben Surma.
Planning Commission James Rudolph
Members Absent:
Community Services Ben Marx; Jessica Johnson-Kreps; Kevin Wendt; and Tessa Johnson
Commission Members
Present:
Community Services David Benson; Stephanie Nwaudo; Meredith Bruzek; and Heather
Commission Members MacDonald
Absent:
Staff Present:Katie Rodriguez, City Manager;Kristin Asher, Public Works Director; Ben
Manibog, Transportation Engineer; Joe Powers, City Engineer; Nellie
Jerome, Assistant City Planner; Chris Swanson, Management Analyst;
and Kari Sinning, City Clerk.
Others Present: MnDOT Team Members: Karl Weissenborn, Lisa Austin, and Amber
Blanchard
MEMBERS OF THE I-494 PROJECT TEAM WILL PRESENT AN UPDATE ON THE
PROGRESS MADE TO DATE BY THE I-494: AIRPORT TO HIGHWAY 169
PROJECT 1 VISUAL QUALITYADVISORY COMMITTEE (VQAC) IN THEIR
ITEM #1
EFFORTS TO DEVELOP THE PROJECT'S VISUAL QUALITY MANUAL (VQM)
WHICH WILL GUIDE AESTHETIC QUALITIES OF THE PROJECT AND THE
CORRIDOR’S VISUAL ELEMENTS
Concurrent City Council, Planning Commission,
-2-February 8, 2022
and Community Services Commission Work Session
Mayor Regan Gonzalez read aloud the item on the agenda and introduced City Manager
Rodriguez. City Manager Rodriguez reminded council that this is an opportunity to provide feedback
and to propose questions. City Manager Rodriguez introduced Public Works Director Asher who
stated that this visual quality effort is throughout multiple cities and looks for community input as well.
Public Works Director Asher introduced the members of the I-494 Project Team: Karl Weissenborn,
SEH Architecture; Lisa Austin, MnDOT; and Amber Blanchard, MnDOT. Lisa Austin then presented
an update from the Visual Quality Advisory Committee that described the phases of the project, the
community outreach and feedback, the visual ideas for the retaining walls, and the future steps for the
project.
Council Member Hayford Oleary asked about the materials that were chosen for the retaining
walls. Amber Blanchard stated that the Metro District is going to all concrete retaining walls and
explained that the budget affected that decision as well. Council Member Hayford Oleary shared his
frustration in the decision of the material being made for the community and also asked about tagging
on the walls. Amber Blanchard stated that if the tagging is in the right of way for MnDOT, it would be
their responsibility. Council Member Hayford Oleary also asked about landscaping. Lisa Austin stated
that landscaping would be done at a later date but is a process of the visual aesthetics of the project.
Council Member Hayford Oleary expressed the importance of keeping the community in mind that
would have to live next to the concrete walls.
Council Member Trautmann echoed the concerns of Council Member Hayford Oleary in the
aesthetics of the retaining walls and appreciated the notion of murals being added.
Planning Commission Chair Quam shared her concerns of deterioration of artwork on the
retaining walls and suggested vines or plants that would be perennial.
Public Works Director Asher stated that landscaping and murals would be mostly the City’s
responsibility to maintain. Lisa Austin suggested mosaic murals that could be low maintenance for the
city. Amber Blanchard stated that landscaping that is in MnDOT’s right of way would be maintained by
MnDOT and that some plantings may be a shared cost.
Council Member Hayford Oleary asked what would be put in place if the concrete noise walls
were rejected. Amber Blanchard stated that black coated chain link fence would be put in place.
Lisa Austin listed the current engagement for public input on the designs which included
surveys, pop up events, and flyers.
Council Member Whalen shared is concern for the visual aspect of the retaining walls and
asked if the formed designs could be alternated so that traffic and housing could both benefit. Karl
Weissenborn explained the process of the designs on the concrete and that it is possible to alternate
the designs for the traffic and the community even with certain designs that are a series. Public Works
Director Asher asked that if this topic could be brought up to the next Advisory Committee meeting for
input from other cities.
Council Member Supple asked if there were specific locations that art or landscaping would
be. Lisa Austin shared that there is a homework assignment for the Visual Quality Advisory
Committee that has the members pinpoint locations that there would be the needs for aesthetics and
landscaping.
Community Services Commissioner Surma asked about the timeline of this proposed project.
Amber Blanchard stated that this plan is part of phase one of the three year project between 2023 and
2026.
Public Works Director Asher stated that the next meeting would be Monday March 28 for an
input session.
Concurrent City Council, Planning Commission,-3-February 8, 2022
and Community Services Commission Work Session
Mayor Regan Gonzalez echoed the comments of the other council members and
commissioners and stressed the importance that this is a multigenerational project and to be mindful
of those residents around theprojectarea.
ADJOURNMENT
The worksession was adjourned by unanimous consent at 6:39 p.m.
Date Approved: February 22, 2022
Maria Regan Gonzalez
Mayor
Kari SinningKatie Rodriguez
City ClerkCity Manager