03-26-2024 RegularCALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Supple at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers.
Council Members Present: Mary Supple, Mayor; Sharon Christensen; Simon Trautmann;
and Sean Hayford Oleary
Council Members
Absent:
Ben Whalen
Staff Present: Katie Rodriguez, City Manager; Mary Tietjen, City Attorney; Karl
Huemiller, Recreation Services Director; Julie Urban, Assistant
Community Development Director; and Chris Swanson,
Management Analyst
Others Present: Hennepin County Chief Judge Kerry Meyer
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Supple led the Pledge of Allegiance.
OPEN FORUM
Mayor Supple reviewed the options to participate:
•Participate live by calling 1-415-654-0001 during the open forum portion
•Call prior to meeting 612-861-9711
•Email prior to meeting kwynn@richfieldmn.gov
There were no participants.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
M/Trautmann, S/Christensen to approve the minutes of the: (1) City Council Work Session of
March 12, 2024; (2) City Council Meeting of March 12, 2024.
Motion carried: 4-0
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
March 26, 2024
City Council Meeting Minutes -2- March 26, 2024
ITEM #1
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
M/Hayford Oleary, S/Trautmann to approve the agenda.
Motion carried: 4-0
ITEM #2
RICHFIELD CITY COUNCIL PRESENTATION/Q&A FROM HENNEPIN COUNTY
DISTRICT COURT
Mayor Supple welcomed Chief Judge Kerry Meyer.
Chief Judge Kerry Meyer played a video on who the Fourth Judicial District of Minnesota was,
who they served, what they focus on, what their mission is, where they are located, how many cases
they handle per year, how many personnel they have, and what their priorities are.
Chief Judge Meyer thanked the city for inviting her to present the update. She indicated the
District Court distributed a total of just under $250,000 to the City of Richfield which came from fines
and surcharges. She informed the residents that they would be having a Warrant Resolution Day on
May 3 where people who have open warrants on low level criminal matters could come in and get that
warrant taken care of.
Council Member Trautmann noted Hennepin County in recent years have also made Court
documents available for no charge (non-certified copies) for residents, which as an attorney he
appreciated that people did not have to pay to receive a copy of their own documents.
Mayor Supple pointed out that there was also a terminal in the municipal center to do legal filings
remotely also.
Mayor Supple noted at the open house, it was mentioned that one of the legislative objectives
was to try and get more treatment options for people. She asked if that was still an ongoing process.
Chief Judge Meyer responded it was, especially for juveniles. She stated since the pandemic placement
options have been reduced with a lot of facilities closing. She indicated they were always looking for
programs, providers, and placements.
ITEM #3
PROCLAMATION CELEBRATING WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH
Mayor Supple invited Mady Vukson to accept the proclamation and read aloud the proclamation.
Commissioner Mady Vukson stated she was honored to accept the Women’s History Month
Proclamation on behalf of the Richfield Human Rights Commission.
Council Member Trautmann thanked the Commission members for attending this meeting
during inclement weather.
Mayor Supple gave hats off to the District Court Judge Juan Hoyos who was at the Partnership
Academy for their leadership panel. She thanked everyone at the Partnership Academy. She thanked
the Human Rights Commission for all their work.
ITEM #4
CONSENT CALENDAR
City Council Meeting Minutes -3- March 26, 2024
City Manager Rodriguez presented the consent calendar.
A. Consider the first reading of an ordinance amending Subsection 210.01 of the City Code
related to City Council salaries for 2025 and 2026. (Staff Report No. 41)
B. Consider a resolution authorizing staff to submit an application for a Hennepin County Youth
Play Spaces Grant for the replacement of play equipment at Donaldson Park and authorize
staff to execute a grant agreement, if awarded. (Staff Report No. 42)
RESOLUTION NO. 12192
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING STAFF TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION
FOR A HENNEPIN COUNTY YOUTH PLAY SPACES GRANT FOR THE
REPLACEMENT OF PLAY EQUPMENT AT DONALDSON PARK AND
EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT, IF APPROVED
C. Consider adoption of a resolution authorizing staff to submit a Hennepin County Youth
Activities Play Spaces grant application for $100,000 to fund inclusion of a playground/play
feature at the future Pillsbury Plaza community space (Staff Report No. 43)
RESOLUTION NO. 12193
RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR RICHFIELD’S HENNEPIN COUNTY
YOUTH ACTIVITIES PLAY SPACES GRANT APPLICATION FOR
$100,000 TO FUND INCLUSING OF A PLAYGROUND/PLAY FEATURE
AT THE FUTURE PILLSBURY PLAZA COMMUNITY SPACE
D. Authorize the Mayor and City Council to sign a letter of commitment and related participation
in a grant application to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) for a
Twin Cities Commercial Energy Efficiency Program (Staff Report No. 45)
M/Christensen, S/Christensen to approve the consent calendar.
Motion carried: 4-0
ITEM #5
CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS, IF ANY, REMOVED FROM CONSENT
CALENDAR
None.
ITEM #6
PUBLIC HEARING AND APROVE HOST DESIGNATION FOR THE CITY OF
LANDFALL VILLAGE TO ISSUE SENIOR HOUSING AND HEALTHCARE
REVENUE BONDS TO FINANCE ACQUISITION OF THE PINES SENIOR
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT. (STAFF REPORT NO. 44)
Council Member Hayford Oleary presented Staff Report 44 and opened the public hearing.
The CFO for Cassia stated they were honored to continue their commitment to Richfield.
City Council Meeting Minutes -4- March 26, 2024
M/Hayford Oleary, S/Supple to close the public hearing
Motion carried: 4-0
M/Hayford Oleary, S/Trautmann to approve a resolution providing host approval to and
consenting to the issuance, sale, and delivery by the City of Landfall of its revenue bonds and approving
and authorizing the execution of a Joint Powers Agreement.
RESOLUTION NO. 12194
A RESOLUTION GIVING HOST APPROVAL TO THE ISSUANCE OF THE
CITY OF LANDFALL VILLAGE, MINNESOTA SENIOR HOUSING AND
HEALTHCARE REVENUE BONDS (THE PINES OF RICHFIELD PROJECT),
SERIES 2024, AND APPROVING A JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT
Attorney Tietjen noted there was no liability for Richfield with these bonds.
Assistant Director Urban indicated the City of Richfield had no liability and was only approving
the sale of conduit bonds by the City of Landfall Village, as the City does not have the capacity this
year to issue bonds on behalf of the project. She stated that the City of Landfall Village was using its
bonding powers to issue the bonds, and Cassia would be the responsible party for paying back the
bonds.
Mayor Supple stated this project would also be 20 percent affordable and it was filling a need in
the community.
Motion carried: 4-0
ITEM #7
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Rodriguez shared information regarding comments made at the last Open
Forum. She specifically addressed the one comment where it was said the City was over budget.
She clarified she had not said that, but rather had said that they expected to exceed the reserve that
had been set aside for worker’s compensation and class projects, which had to do with a tight labor
market.
City Manager Rodgriguez stated she had followed up with Mr. Sather regarding his concerns
about short-term rentals. She had also sent Mr. Wawra a letter regarding his concern about the
HERC facility closing.
City Manager Rodriguez shared a story about a call she was on with six other women where
they were discussing finance and how years ago this would have been a very unusual occurrence.
Mayor Supple noted the City’s entire Community Development Department was also female, which
would not have been seen in the past, but now it was becoming commonplace.
Mayor Supple noted the Minnesota League of Cities conference was June 26 to 28. She
requested staff get back to the Council if anything had been budgeted for this if a Council Member
wanted to attend.
ITEM #8
CLAIMS AND PAYROLL
City Council Meeting Minutes -5-March 26, 2024
M/Trautmann, S/Christensen that the following claims and payrolls be approved:
U.S. BANK 03/21/2024
A/P Checks: 327592 - 327593 $ 1,232,800.11
Payroll: 186157-186482 43793-43861 $949,005.93
TOTAL $2,181,806.04
Motion carried: 4-0
ITEM #9 HATS OFF TO HOMETOWN HITS
Council Member Christensen stated she had recently attended the Blue and Gold Dinner for
PAC 384. She indicated this was a good event.
Council Member Hayford Oleary stated he enjoyed participating in the Virtual High School Job
Olympics last week. He thanked two members of the City’s Community Development Department along
with the City’s Transportation Engineer for speaking with a High School Senior about his potential career
path.
Council Member Trautmann gave hats off to the Richfield Leadership Network for their recent
fundraiser. He gave hats off to Tom Fitzhenry and the Richfield Cadets involved in the Minnesota Wing
Civil Air Patrol for their great work.
Mayor Supple stated if anyone wanted to sign up for the Richfield Community Gardens to sign
up on the City’s website under parks and recreation. She noted the Richfield Foundation was having
their annual fundraiser on May 9. She gave hats off to the public works staff for their great job in clearing
the recent snow. She indicated the Met Council had their State of the Region gathering this week,
which was a good event.
ITEM #10 ADJOURNMENT
M/Trautmann, S/Hayford Oleary to adjourn the meeting at 7:37 p.m.
Motion carried: 4-0
Date Approved: April 9, 2024
Mary B. Supple
Mayor
Chris Swanson Katie Rodriguez
Management Analyst City Manager