08-10-2022 RegularCALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Regan Gonzalez at 7:01 p.m. in the Council
Chambers.
Council Members
Present:
Maria Regan Gonzalez, Mayor; Mary Supple; Simon Trautmann; Sean
Hayford Oleary; and Ben Whalen
Council Members
Absent:
None
Staff Present: Katie Rodriguez, City Manager; Kumud Verma, Finance Manager; Mary
Tietjen, City Attorney; and Chris Swanson, Management Analyst.
Others Present: Mara Glubka, Human Rights Commissioner; Matthew Mayer, BerganKDV;
Jay Henthorne, Public Safety Director; Mike Flaherty, Deputy Chief
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
City Manager Rodriguez read an email from Karen Lanthier on the proposed ordinance
amendment updating the City’s Zoning Code subsection that regulates fences, walls, and hedges.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
M/Supple, S/Whalen to approve the minutes of the: (1) Regular City Council Meeting of July
26, 2022; and (2) Special City Council Work Session of August 1, 2022.
Motion carried: 5-0
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
August 10, 2022
City Council Meeting Minutes -2-August 10, 2022
ITEM #1 2022 GENE & MARY JACOBSEN CITIZEN OF THE YEAR PRESENTATION
Mayor Regan Gonzalez invited Human Rights Commissioner Mara Glubka to the podium to
award the Gene and Mary Jacobsen award to Rissa Pahl.
Council Member Supple congratulated Rissa Pahl on the award and thanked her for her
service to the community.
Council Member Whalen thanks Ms. Pahl for her work in the community and commented on
how it’s not always easy managing a public forums and she does a great job walking the line between
moderating and informing the public through the Richfield community Facebook page.
Council Member Trautmann congratulated Ms. Pahl and thanked her for all she has done.
ITEM #2 RECEIPT OF THE CITY OF RICHFIELD ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT FOR
THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2021
Finance Manager Verma introduced Matthew Mayer with BerganKDV, the city’s auditing firm.
Matthew Mayer presented on the findings of the city’s audit for fiscal year ending December
31, 2021.
Council Member Supple wanted to thank Finance Manager Verma and her staff for all the
work they did pulling this together. She recognizes the audit caught a small internal issue that
occurred when there was a software switch and is happy to hear that, because of the audit, this will be
something we plan for in the future.
Council Member Trautmann thanked city staff for their work. He noted that residents may have
almost $40 a year on property taxes but see no special assessments. He talked about how many
cities charge residents for construction projects as a special assessment. Richfield is different; the city
takes on the debt for these capital projects. He feels this is a great use of resources and helps to not
burden citizens and small businesses.
Council Member Whalen thanked staff for the presentation and difficult work as 2021 was a
time of transition. He was happy to hear our financial outlook is healthy
Mayor Regan Gonzalez thanked staff for all their works over the past years. She recognizes
the city has done a lot over the past year as we faced numerous crises and had fewer resources.
M/Trautmann, S/Whalen to accept receipt of annual financial report for the year ending
December 31, 2021.
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #3 APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
M/W halen, S/Trautmann to approve the agenda.
City Council Meeting Minutes -3- August 10, 2022
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #4
CONSENT CALENDAR
City Manager Rodriguez presented the consent calendar.
A. First Reading of Ordinance Amending Section 300 and Section 1220 of the City Code of
Ordinance relating to the Abolishment of the Liquor Department and Liquor Operations
Director Position Within the City Organization. (Staff Report No. 109)
B. First reading of a proposed ordinance amendment updating the City’s Zoning Code
subsection that regulates fences, walls, and hedges. (Staff Report No. 110)
C. Consider adoption of a resolution authorizing the City of Richfield to accept grant funds in
the amount of $10,000 and enter into a Source Water Protection Grant Agreement (SWIFT
Contract Number 214643) with Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) to upgrade
security system infrastructure at the Water Treatment Plant and Well Houses. (Staff Report
No. 111)
RESOLUTION NO. 11991
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF RICHFIELD TO ACCEPT
GRANT FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $10,000 AND ENTER INTO A
SOURCE WATER PROTECTION GRANT AGREEMENT (SWIFT
CONTRACT NUMBER 214643) WITH MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT
OF HEALTH TO UPGRADE SECURITY SYSTEM INFRASTRUCTURE
AT THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT AND WELL HOUSES
D. Consider the approval of a resolution appointing Assistant City Manager Sack Thongvanh
as the City's Director Representative on the Local Government Information Systems
(LOGIS) Board of Directors. (Staff Report No. 112)
RESOLUTION NO. 11992
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE APPOINTMENT OF THE
ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER AS THE CITY’S DIRECTOR
REPRESENTATIVE ON THE LOGIS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
E. Consider the adoption of a resolution supporting a Livable Communities Act Transit
Oriented Development grant application to the Metropolitan Council for the proposed
"Veterans Village" development by the American Legion Post 435 at 6501 Portland
Avenue. (Staff Report No. 113)
RESOLUTION NO. 11993
RESOLUTION IDENTIFYING THE NEED FOR LIVABLE
COMMUNITIES TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT FUNDING
AND AUTHORIZING APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS
F. Consider authorizing the Mayor and City Manager to execute a cost-share/reimbursement
agreement with Partnership Academy for installation of a water utility service line in
advance of the City's 65th Street Reconstruction Project due to expansion of the
Partnership Academy campus. (Staff Report No. 114)
City Council Meeting Minutes -4- August 10, 2022
G. Approval of a resolution amending the allocation of the 2021 General Fund Budget. (Staff
Report No. 115)
RESOLUTION NO. 11994
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING REVISION OF 2021 BUDGETS OF
VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS
M/Supple, S/Trautmann to approve the consent calendar.
Council Member Hayford Oleary wanted to talk more about the fence issue raised in the email
read during the Open Forum. He has received the comment earlier and was able to meet with
resident. He directed other council members to view the rendering provided on page 185 showing
how the new rule would impact a corner lot. He stated he would be open to changing the proposed
language on side yard setback to allow some more flexibility. He stated he is looking to propose a 3
foot setback for all fences and would reach out to community development to discuss.
Council Member Supple wondered if they would be able to receive more info before the next
meeting. She recognizes having a bus stop on that corner does impact her thoughts on the fencing
guidelines.
City Manager Rodriguez said she will ask Community Development Director Poehlman to
respond to the Open Forum comment when the item is considered at the next meeting.
Council Member Trautmann stated he would like to see if there is a way we can allow
variances based on practical difficulties.
Council Member Whalen feels he would benefit from a few more real life examples of
application of the ordinance and an example of the tunnel effect. He would not like this ordinance to
be overly restrictive.
Council Member Hayford Oleary stated there is a variance process written in the proposed
ordinance, but would like it to be a little easier for the resident.
Council Member Whalen stated he had a comment on another item on the Consent Agenda.
He wanted to make a note on Item A. on the Consent agenda. He wanted residents to know this is
just a reorganization of the liquor store. He also wanted to express his excitement about the continued
movement on the American Legion site.
Mayor Regan Gonzalez stated she is also excited about all the work going on around the
Veteran’s Village.
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #5
CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS, IF ANY, REMOVED FROM CONSENT
CALENDAR
None.
ITEM #6
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Council Meeting Minutes -5-August 10, 2022
City Manager Rodriguez wanted to thanks staff and council for supporting all the great
community events over the past weeks.
ITEM #7 CLAIMS AND PAYROLL
M/Trautmann, S/Whalen that the following claims and payrolls be approved:
U.S. BANK 8/9/2022
A/P Checks: 308012 – 308357 $3,899,854.09
Payroll: 172200 – 172560, 43480 $767,055.93
TOTAL $4,666,910.02
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #8 HATS OFF TO HOMETOWN HITS
Council Member Trautmann wanted to thank all public safety, fire department workers, and
community members who participated in Night to Unite. He is excited to see how his family and
community still are excited for events like this.
Council Member Hayford Oleary spotlighted the bike tour he participated in did last week with
the Transportation Commission. Got to visit some great projects and look at some of these items first
hand. He wanted to thank staff for organizing this event.
Council Member Supple wanted to everyone for their work with Unity in the Community. She
recognizes it is a lot of work over many days for staff and partners. She really enjoyed the event. She
also wanted to highlight where residents can go if they have issues like storm damage to a boulevard
tree or a street light out. The report a non-emergency issue link is on the public works website.
Council Member Whalen wanted to echo the great comments about night to unite. He also
wanted to thank everyone who has been contacting the city to provide feedback on the strategic plan
and ARPA. He also wanted to also give a big thank you to everyone who participated in the primary
yesterday.
Mayor Regan Gonzalez talked about how amazing it’s been to do all these community events
over the past weeks. She wanted to thank staff and all our partners for pulling all this together. She
talked about the amazing turnout for an event in honor of international breastfeeding day. She talked
about how proud she is that our community members are amazing leaders, the care they have for
Richfield and how they work make the community a better place. She talked about how amazing to
see everyone together and how excited people seem after COVID-19.
ITEM #9 ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 7:51 p.m.
Date Approved: September 13, 2022
City Council Meeting Minutes -6-August 10, 2022
Maria Regan Gonzalez
Mayor
Chris Swanson Katie Rodriguez
Management Analyst City Manager