06-28-2022 Regular
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Regan Gonzalez at 7:00 p.m. in the Council
Chambers.
Council Members
Present:
Maria Regan Gonzalez, Mayor; Mary Supple; Simon Trautmann; Sean
Hayford Oleary; and Ben Whalen
Staff Present:
Katie Rodriguez, City Manager; Mary Tietjen, City Attorney; Jay Henthorne,
Police Chief; Martin Costello, City Prosecutor; Jennifer Anderson, Support
Services Supervisor; and Kari Sinning, City Clerk
Others Present: Sheng Zheng, Owner of Millions Crab
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Regan Gonzalez led the Pledge of Allegiance.
OPEN FORUM
Mayor Regan Gonzalez reviewed the options to participate:
• Participate live by calling 1-415-655-0001 during the open forum portion
• Call prior to meeting 612-861-9711
• Email prior to meeting kwynn@richfieldmn.gov
Ruane Onesirosan, 2421 W 65th St, asked how many plots of land the HRA purchases and to
whom they are sold and raised concerns of the land being sold to businesses and investors.
City Manager Rodriguez read aloud an email from John Symons, 7426 Elliot Ave, which stated
concerns of the use of illegal fireworks within the community.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Council Member Hayford Oleary stated the need for clarification of summarized minutes and
suggested an amendment to the City Council Work Session of June 14, 2022 minutes.
M/Hayford Oleary, S/Supple to approve the minutes of the: (1) City Council Work Session of
June 14, 2022 as amended; and (2) Regular City Council Meeting of June 14, 2022.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
June 28, 2022
City Council Meeting Minutes -2- June 28, 2022
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #1
FAREWLL FROM MARTIN COSTELLO
Mayor Regan Gonzalez invited Police Chief Henthorne to the podium to give a brief speech
regarding the retirement of City Prosecutor Martin Costello.
City Prosecutor Costello thanked everyone for the opportunity that he was given to serve the
community for the last 33 ½ years.
The Council showed immense appreciation for the leadership, advocacy, and innovation that
City Prosecutor Costello has given to the community, council, and staff and extended farewell wishes.
ITEM #2
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Council Member Supple stated that there was an additional item to be added to the agenda
regarding the appointment of election judges.
M/Supple, S/Hayford Oleary to approve the agenda with an additional item after item #5.
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #3
CONSENT CALENDAR
City Manager Rodriguez presented the consent calendar.
A. Cancel a public hearing to consider a request for an appeal to a variance denial for a trash
enclosure location farther away from the building. (Staff Report No. 96)
B. Consider the approval of a license agreement with E-Clan, Inc. d/b/a B&J Trees, to sell
trees under the picnic pavilion at Veterans Park. (Staff Report No. 97)
C. Consider adoption of a resolution authorizing the Mayor and City Manager to execute the
Temporary Construction Easement Agreement between Reality Income Properties and
Northern Tier Retail, LLC, on behalf of the City of Richfield for the property located near
66th Street and Rae Drive (Speedway), upon finalization of the agreement for the 65th
Street Reconstruction Project. (Staff Report No. 98)
RESOLUTION NO. 11985
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND CITY MANAGER
TO EXECUTE A TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION RIGHT-OF-WAY
EASEMENT AT 826 66TH ST WEST (PID# 28-028-24-41-0039) UPON
FINALIZATION OF AGREEMENT AS A PART OF THE 65TH STREET
RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT
M/Whalen, S/Supple to approve the consent calendar.
City Council Meeting Minutes -3- June 28, 2022
Council Member Hayford Oleary expressed appreciation to find a solution for the dumpster at
Hope Church and Mayor Regan Gonzalez seconded the appreciation.
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #4
CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS, IF ANY, REMOVED FROM CONSENT
CALENDAR
None.
ITEM #5
PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF A NEW ON SALE
INTOXICATING AND SUNDAY LIQUOR LICENSES FOR MC RICHFIELD, LLC
DBA MILLIONS CRAB LOCATED AT 9 66TH STREET EAST. (STAFF REPORT
NO. 99)
Council Member presented Staff Report No. 99 and opened the public hearing.
M/Hayford Oleary,S/Trautmann to close the public hearing.
M/Hayford Oleary, S/Trautmann to approve the issuance of new On Sale Intoxicating and
Sunday Liquor licenses for MC Richfield, LLC dba Millions Crab located at 9 66th Street East.
Mayor Regan Gonzalez thanked the representative for being present and invited them to
the podium. Sheng Zheng, Owner of Millions Crab, introduced himself to the Council.
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #6
CONSIDER THE ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION APPOINTING ELECTION
JUDGES FOR THE PRIMARY ELECTION OF AUGUST 9, 2022. (STAFF
REPORT NO. 100)
Council Member Supple presented Staff Report 100.
Council Member Hayford Oleary asked about the party balance within the precinct. City Clerk
Sinning stated that a precinct cannot have more than half of one party and that certain duties need
judges of opposing parties to accomplish.
Council Member Trautmann asked about the threshold for a party to be considered a major
party. City Clerk Sinning stated that there is a 5% threshold of votes for that party to be considered a
major party.
Council Member Whalen shared that early voting has started and mentioned the Council At-
Large position being on the ballot.
M/Supple, S/Trautmann to approve a resolution appointing election judges for the 2022 State
Primary Election.
City Council Meeting Minutes -4- June 28, 2022
RESOLUTION NO. 11986
RESOLUTION APPOINTING ELECTION JUDGES
FOR THE PRIMARY ELECTION OF AUGUST 9, 2022
Council Member Supple thanked all the election judges.
Mayor Regan Gonzalez also thanked the election judges and looks forward to being an
election judge in the future.
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #7
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Rodriguez gave a response regarding an open forum comment from Diane
Harayda at the previous meeting stating that staff is working on strategic planning for the future and
that Best Buy is the City’s largest employer and biggest tax payer at over 10% of our taxable market
value.
ITEM #9
CLAIMS AND PAYROLL
M/Whalen, S/Supple that the following claims and payrolls be approved:
U.S. BANK 6/28/2022
A/P Checks: 307063 – 307369 $1,697,224.54
Payroll: 171110 – 171473, 43472 $817,437.70
TOTAL $2,514,662.24
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #10
HATS OFF TO HOMETOWN HITS
Council Member Trautmann mentioned the need for volunteers and contributions for the Red,
White, and Blue Days Committee and thanked the volunteers that make the 4th of July special for the
City of Richfield.
Council Member Hayford Oleary mentioned the great ideas coming from the Recreation
Department that were proposed at the work session prior to the meeting that and agreed with the
comments of Council Member Trautmann and wished all a happy Fourth of July.
Council Member Supple mentioned the food shortage at VEAP and encouraged residents to
donate. She also mentioned a recent tour of the Water Plant and thanked our staff for the education.
She acknowledged and thanked the volunteers for the various community events and service
positions that promote civic pride within the community. She also gave advice to residents regarding
regrowth of grass after tree removal.
City Council Meeting Minutes -5-June 28, 2022
Council Member Whalen reiterated that the City supports Red, White, and Blue Days but it is a
committee of volunteers that funds and creates the event.
Mayor Regan Gonzalez encouraged residents to get involved in civic events, programs, and
committees that promote the community.
ITEM #11 CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION REGARDING THE CITY MANAGER'S ANNUAL
PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
M/Whalen, S/Supple to recess the meeting to enter and hold a closed meeting for the purpose
of conducting a performance evaluation of City Manager Katie Rodriguez, pursuant to Minnesota
Statutes section 13D.05, subd. 3(a).
Motion carried: 5-0
The Regular City Council Meeting recessed at 7:43 p.m.
The Closed Executive Session was called to order by Mayor Regan Gonzalez at 7:46 p.m. in
the Babcock Room.
Council Members
Present:
Maria Regan Gonzalez, Mayor; Mary Supple; Simon
Trautmann; Sean Hayford Oleary; and Ben Whalen
Staff Present: Katie Rodriguez, City Manager
The Closed Executive Session was convened pursuant to M.S. 13D.05 subd. 3(a).
The Closed Executive Session was adjourned at 9:14 p.m.
Mayor Regan Gonzalez called the recessed Regular City Council Meeting back to order at
9:17 p.m.
ITEM #12 ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 9:18 p.m.
Date Approved: July 12, 2022
Maria Regan Gonzalez
Mayor
Kari Sinning Katie Rodriguez
City Clerk City Manager