04-09-2024 Regular
CALL 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; Simon Trautmann; Sean Hayford Oleary;
and Ben Whalen
Council Members
Absent:
Sharon Christensen
Staff Present:
Katie Rodriguez, City Manager; Mary Tietjen, City Attorney; Jay
Henthorne, Public Safety Director/Police Chief; and Dustin
Leslie, City Clerk
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Supple led the Pledge of Allegiance.
OPEN FORUM
Mayor Supple reviewed the options to participate:
• Participate live by calling 1-415-655-0001 during the open forum portion
• Call prior to meeting 612-861-9711
• Email prior to meeting kwynn@richfieldmn.gov
Heidi Gaibor, 6915 Wentworth, asked for clarification regarding the Woodlake Nature Center
building. She noted the city was asking for citizen input on the building, but she saw in the Sun Current
newspaper a notice for a construction manager which included specifications of what was included.
She noted without full funding yet and the city still asking for citizen input how long had specific plans
been set for the teardown and construction of the new building. She also indicated the new building
was proposed to be nearly five times the size of the current building. She asked if the new building
would have a fitness center and an event center. She requested the city be transparent in what was
actually happening with this project.
Larry Ernster, 6727 Elliot Avenue, noted tonight was the second reading of the salary proposal
and it appeared they wanted to increase the salaries by thousands of dollars and the citizens could face
a seven percent property levy. He asked if what they proposed qualified as a reading since no decision
had been made as to what the Council was going to do.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
April 9, 2024
City Council Meeting Minutes -2- April 9, 2024
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
M/Hayford Oleary, S/Trautmann to approve the minutes of the: (1) City Council Work Session
of March 26, 2024; (2) Regular City Council Meeting of March 26, 2024.
Motion carried: 4-0
ITEM #1
APPROVE THE AGENDA
M/Trautmann, S/Hayford Oleary to approve the Agenda.
Motion carried: 4-0
ITEM #2
PROCLAMATION CELEBRATING ARAB AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH
Mayor Supple invited Michael Zazzera to accept the proclamation and read aloud the
proclamation.
Michael Zazzera, encouraged all members of the community to listen to their Arab neighbors to
learn from them and elevate their voices.
ITEM #3
CONSENT CALENDAR
City Manager Rodriguez presented the consent calendar.
A. Consider approval of first reading of an ordinance amending Section 925 relating to the
abatement of public health nuisances and assessment of abatement costs to property (Staff
Report No. 46)
B. Consider the approval of a new Opioid Services Agreement with the City of Bloomington,
effective January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2028 (Staff Report No. 47)
C. Consider the adoption of a resolution identifying the need for Livable Communities Policy
Development funding and authorizing an application for grant funds. (Staff Report No. 48)
RESOLUTION NO. 12195
RESOLUTION IDENTIFYING THE NEED FOR A POLICY
DEVELOPMENT GRANT FROM THE LIVABLE
COMMUNITIES DEMONSTRATION ACCOUNT FUND,
FOR MR-2 AND MR-3 ZONING CODE UPDATES AND
AUTHORIZING APPLICATION FOR SUCH
D. Consider a request for an amended Planned Unit Development for a time extension of, and
amendments to the construction agreement for a multi-story parking ramp at 1401 – 77th
Street East (Audi Richfield) (Staff Report No. 49)
City Council Meeting Minutes -3- April 9, 2024
RESOLUTION NO. 12196
RESOLUTION APPROVING AN AMENDMENT TO THE
CONSTRUCTION AGREEMENT FOR A MULTI-STORY
PARKING STRUCTURE FOR AUDI RICHFIELD AT 1401
– 77TH STREET EAST
E. Consider the approval of the Intensive Comprehensive Peace Officer Education and
Training 2024 Grant between the City of Richfield Police Department and the Minnesota
Department of Public Safety’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) to fund a non-traditional
police officer candidate (Staff Report No. 50)
F. Consider the approval of a resolution authorizing the utilization of a construction manager at
risk process for the Wood Lake Nature Center building project and authorizing staff and the
city attorney to complete the selection process and engage in contract negotiations (Staff
Report No. 51)
RESOLUTION NO. 12197
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE UTILIZATION OF A
CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK PROCEDURE
FOR THE WOOD LAKE NATURE CENTER BUILDING
PROJECT
G. Consider the approval of the CDC Infrastructure grand services agreement with the City of
Bloomington effective January 1, 2024 – November 30, 2027. (Staff Report No. 52)
H. The Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) program funds address the unique risk-driven and
capabilities-based planning, organization, equipment, training, and exercise needs of high-
threat, high-density Urban Areas based on the capability targets identified during the THRA
process and associated assessment mitigate, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism.
(Staff Report No. 53)
M/Trautmann, S/Whalen to approve the consent calendar.
Mayor Supple thanked the staff for the grant writing they have been doing.
Motion carried: 4-0
ITEM #4
CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS, IF ANY, REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT
CALENDAR.
None.
ITEM #5
CONSIDER THE SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING
SUBSECTION 210.01 OF THE CITY CODE RELATED TO CITY COUNCIL
SALARIES FOR 2025 AND 2026 (STAFF REPORT NO. 54)
Council Member Whalen presented Staff Report 54.
M/Whalen, S/Trautmann to approve an Ordinance Amending Section 210 Richfield City Code
Pertaining to City Council Salaries and approve a Resolution authorizing summary publication
of said Ordinance.
City Council Meeting Minutes -4- April 9, 2024
BILL NO. 2024-04
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 210
RICHFIELD CITY CODE PERTAINING TO
CITY COUNCIL SALARIES
RESOLUTION APPROVING SUMMARY PUBLICATION OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING
SECTION 210 RICHFIELD CITY CODE PERTAINING TO CITY COUNCIL SALARIES
SUMMARY PUBLICATION
RESOLUTION NO. 12198
AN ORDINANCE GRANTING AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 210 RICHFIELD
CITY CODE PERTAINING TO CITY COUNCIL SALARIES
Mayor Supple requested an explanation of the steps for the budget process. City Manager
Rodriguez explained that process and indicated this was only for elected positions. She noted what the
Council had discussed at the work session was the specialized pay plans and looked at updating those
plans.
Motion carried: 4-0
ITEM #6
NOTIFICATION REGARDING THE RICHFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT’S
PLANNED ACQUISITION OF UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES (UAV’S) AND
PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE REGULARLY
SCHEDULED MEETING. NO OTHER COUNCIL CONSIDERATION/DECISIONS
ARE REQUIRED. (STAFF REPORT NO. 55)
Council Member Trautmann presented Staff Report 55 and opened it for public comment.
Larry Ernster, 6727 Elliott Avenue South, stated he supported this. He pointed out again the
process with Item G of the Consent Calendar and mismanagement. He also questioned Item B and
the mismanagement. Council Member Trautmann asked if it was appropriate to have ongoing public
comment that was not responsive to the topic of the public hearing.
Mayor Supple requested Mr. Ernster only make comments for the current item. Mr. Ernster
responded he was in favor of and supported the acquisition of drones.
City Manager Rodriguez stated she had misspoken previously, and this was not a public hearing,
but rather public comment.
Police Chief Henthorne stated the Aerial Vehicle program had been modeled after other
communities as well as following Federal and State Statutes.
Sargeant Cory Smith presented the Aerial Vehicle program including the UAV benefits including
the ability to cover larger areas in shorter amounts of time, it would extend the ability on the ground by
giving them a bigger picture of the situation, it can quickly deploy UAV search areas for suspects and
missing persons, and it gives them a situational awareness by providing a live feed, along with providing
officers accurate information for them to be able to make decisions during events.
Council Member Trautman recognized this was an important and useful tool, especially for the
Wood Lake area. He noted there were also other ways of recognizing people other than facial
recognition. He stated for privacy concerns he indicated people’s civil liberties were being taken
City Council Meeting Minutes -5- April 9, 2024
seriously, but he did still have concerns. He stated he would like to see a policy on how the data was
being retained, under what circumstances that data would be shared with other agencies, and how the
data would be collected. Sergeant Smith noted these would be consumer drones, so they would not
have a high level of technology, and they would not be purchasing anything that violated State Statute.
He indicated any data received would only be used for evidentiary purposes, which was no different
than a body camera, squad camera, or surveillance video. He noted anything deemed unnecessary
would be deleted. He stated they would work on getting a draft policy prepared.
Council Member Hayford Oleary asked when would the public be able to make comment on
this. Chief Henthorne responded this would be put on the Department’s Facebook page by the end of
the week and it would be available for a couple of weeks. He indicated he would share the results with
Council.
Council Member Hayford Oleary requested this information also be put on the City’s Facebook
page and information be given out by email. He inquired if the State Statute changed, would the City
be required to notify the public of this change in policy also. Chief Henthorne responded he believed if
there were any statutory changes, the City would change the policy, and he did not think they would
need to get public comment on these changes. City Attorney Tietjen responded that she agreed with
Chief Henthorne’s interpretation.
Council Member Hayford Oleary asked what would happen if the drone picked up other crimes
while pursuing something else. He asked if that was a violation of the policy. Sargeant Smith responded
the drone could be deployed for officer specified training, but otherwise, it could only be deployed for
specific things. He indicated it could not be used to look for crimes.
Council Member Whalen reiterated that the drones would be the type of drones available to
consumers which he believed was important. He requested pictures of the done be put in any
announcements, so people knew what they looked like. Sargeant Smith responded he would do that
and noted the drones were not military grade and could be bought from Best Buy or some other retailer.
He indicated these drones would not be anything out of the ordinary. He noted they were also looking
at smaller drones that could be used indoors which could aid the Fire Department when searching for
someone inside a structure fire. He stated the different size drones would be used for different
scenarios.
Mayor Supple noted people could also comment on this at an Open Forum if they wanted.
Mary Ann Kelly, 6926 Wentworth, stated she was in favor of drones. She asked what the cost
would be to acquire the drones and whose budget did they came out of. Chief Henthorne responded
he believed they were purchasing 3 drones which would come out of the Public Safety budget. He
noted they would be using forfeiture funds to purchase them, which by State Statute could only be used
for training, equipment, or vehicles. He explained how funds were received for the forfeiture fund. He
indicated the cost for the drome program would be $31,000.
Heidi Gaibor, 6915 Wentworth, stated she was in favor of this, as it sounded like a great tool.
ITEM #7
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Rodriguez noted this was the City Clerk’s last meeting with Richfield and she
wished him the best and thanked him for all his work, especially with the elections.
Mayor Supple thanked him for all his work and wished him well on his new adventures.
Council Member Trautman also thanked him, especially with the elections, and wished him
well.
City Council Meeting Minutes -6-April 9, 2024
Council Member Hayford Oleary also thanked him for his work, professionalism, and
enthusiasm.
ITEM #8 CLAIMS AND PAYROLL
M/Whalen S/Hayford Oleary that the following claims and payrolls be approved:
U.S. BANK 04/04/2024
A/P Checks: 327594 – 327833 $1,853,349.40
Payroll: 186483 – 186784 43862 – 43907 $949,642.96
TOTAL $ 2,802,992.36
Motion carried: 4-0
ITEM #9 HATS OFF TO HOMETOWN HITS
Council Member Whalen gave hats off to their Muslem neighbors who were finishing Ramadan
and celebrating Eid al-Fitr, which was starting tonight.
Council Member Hayford Oleary gave hats off to the community development staff in
cooperation of the Council and developer for getting the buildings at 101 East 66 demolished.
Council Member Trautmann recognized George Anthony Dennis, a Human Rights
Commissioner’s husband, who was a longtime Richfield resident and employee at the Richfield public
schools, as well as a charter member of his Church who had passed away. He said his thoughts and
prayers were with his family.
Mayor Supple gave hats off to Patrice, who works in the Police Department, for working on the
well-attended recent event at the Community Center.
ITEM #10 ADJOURNMENT
M/Whalen, S/Trautmann to adjourn the meeting at 7:55 p.m.
Motion carried: 4-0
Date Approved: April 23, 2024
Mary B. Supple
Mayor
Kelly Wynn Katie Rodriguez
Interim City Clerk City Manager