02-28-2024 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;
Sean Hayford Oleary; and Ben Whalen
Staff Present: Katie Rodriguez, City Manager; Libby Kantner, City Attorney;
Jay Henthorne, Public Safety Director/Police Chief; Jennifer
Anderson, Support Services Manager; Mike Dobesh, Fire Chief;
Julie Urban, Assistant Community Development Director, and
Chris Swanson, Management Analyst
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Supple led the Pledge of Allegiance.
IN MEMORIUM
Mayor Supple requested a Moment of Silence to honor the three Burnsville First Responders
who lost their lives in the line of duty and gave condolences to their families for their loss.
City Manager Rodriguez gave her thoughts and condolences to the families of the officers and
first responders as well as the staff at Burnsville. She indicated Richfield’s staff, especially the first
responders, continued to be impacted by this tragedy. She thanked Richfield’s first responders and
Police Officers for everything they do in keeping everyone safe.
Mayor Supple stated she had received a message from the Burnsville Mayor thanking the
Richfield staff for all of their help and they appreciated the support.
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
Kathleen Balaban, 65th and Stevens, expressed concern about proposed amendments changing
the city government structure from Mayor-Council to Council-Manager system. She noted her concern
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
February 28, 2024
City Council Meeting Minutes -2-February 28, 2024
regarding the use of electronic signatures. She advocated for the right to vote on changes to the City
Charter, citing staff-initiated changes that were not requested by the citizens.
City Manager Rodriguez read an email received from Deb Nordmarken expressing concern
about the affordability of homes in Richfield and the City Council’s spending decisions, along with the
Council not listening to residents and for making decisions without proper funding in place. Ms.
Nordmarken requested a report on the City’s efforts to seek out new businesses, including clean-up
plans and ideas to entice retail industry.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
M/Christensen, S/Hayford Oleary to approve the minutes of the: (1) City Council Work Session
of February 13, 2024; (2) Regular City Council Meeting of February 13, 2024.
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #1 APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
M/Hayford Oleary, S/Whalen to approve the agenda.
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #2 RICHFIELD POLICE K-9 BADGING CEREMONY
Mayor Supple invited Chief Henthorne to the podium to administer the Oath of Office to canine
Officer Orion and canine Officer Riggs.
Chief Henthorne summarized the Police canine program and administered the Oath of Office to
canine Officer Orion and canine Officer Riggs.
ITEM #3 CONSENT CALENDAR
City Manager Rodriguez presented the consent calendar.
A.Consider the approval of an agreement between the Hennepin County Human Services and
Public Health Department and the City of Richfield Police Department to participate in the
Joint Community Police Partnership (JCPP) program from January 1, 2024, through
December 31, 2026 (Staff Report No. 26)
B.Consider extending American Rescue Plan Act funding contracts with VEAP from March 31,
2024 to June 30, 2024, and with the Conflict Resolution Center to September 30, 2024 (Staff
Report No. 27)
RESOLUTION NO. 12186
RESOLUTION APPROVING AN EXTENTION OF AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT
CONTRACTS WITH VEAP AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION CENTER
City Council Meeting Minutes -3-February 28, 2024
C.Consider approval of the bid tabulation and authorization the Mayor and City Manager to
execute a contract with Valley Paving, Inc. for the Sale Routes to School 71st Street Sidewalk
project in the amount of $150,820, and authorize the City Manager to approve contract
changes up to $175,000 without further City Council consideration (Staff Report No. 28)
D.Consider approval of resolution authorizing execution of MnDOT Agreement #1055391 for
the disbursement of state general obligation bond funding for the 71st Street Safe Routes to
School sidewalk program (Staff Report No. 28)
RESOLUTION NO. 12187
SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOLS PROGRAM GRANT AGREEMENT
GRANT TERMS AND CONDITIONS
RESOLUTION NO. 12188
AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF MNDOT AGREEMENT #1055391
SETTING GRANT TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF
STATE GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND FUNDING FOR THE 71ST STREET
SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL SIDEWALK PROGRAM
M/Trautmann, S/Whalen to approve the consent calendar.
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #4 CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS, IF ANY, REMOVED FROM CONSENT
CALENDAR
None.
ITEM #5
PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDERATION OF THE ADOPTION OF A
RESOLUTION SPECIFYING THE USE OF FUNDS FROM THE URBAN
HENNEPIN COUNTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT
ALLOCATION FOR 2024 AND AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF A
SUBRECIPIENT AGREEMENT WITH HENNEPIN COUNTY AND ANY
REQUIRED THIRD-PARTY AGREEMENTS. (STAFF REPORT NO. 29)
Council Member Hayford Oleary presented Staff Report 29 and opened the public hearing.
Council Member Whalen pointed out a mistake in the staff report and resolution regarding the
amount of $423 and $432. City Attorney Kantner noted the mistake would be corrected and the Council
could proceed with the approval.
M/Hayford Oleary, S/Trautmann to close the public hearing.
Motion carried: 5-0
M/Hayford Oleary, S/Whalen to adopt a resolution approving proposed use of 2024 Urban
Hennepin County Community Development Block Grant Program Funds and Authorizing Execution of
Subrecipient Agreement with Hennepin County and any required Third-Party Agreements.
City Council Meeting Minutes -4- February 28, 2024
RESOLUTION NO. 12185
RESOLUTION APPROVING PROPOSED USE OF 2024 URBAN HENNEPIN
COUNTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM FUNDS
AND AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF SUBRECIPIENT AGREEMENT
WITH HENNEPIN COUNTY AND ANY REQUIRED THIRD-PARTY AGREEMENTS
Council Member Trautman pointed out that this was a powerful tool and thanked staff for
making it a priority for new homeowners in Richfield. Mayor Supple echoed Council Member
Trautman’s sentiments and indicated the rehabilitation program was very valuable.
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #6
CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF THE SECOND READING OF ORDINANCES
AMENDING SECTION 925 – NUISANCES TO INCLUDE A NEW PROVISION
RELATING TO FLEXIBLE DUMPSTERS AND ADDING THAT A VIOLATION OF
SECTION 1305.27 SUBD 5 (YARDS) & 6 (VEHICLE PARKING AND STORAGE
LIMITATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS) IS NUISANCE CONDUCT AND SUBJECT
TO A REPEAT NUISANCE FEE (STAFF REPORT NO. 30)
Whalen presented Staff Report 30.
M/Whalen, S/Hayford Oleary to approve an Ordinance amending Subsection 925.13 of the
Richfield Code of Ordinances Amending the Public Nuisance Code to add a provision relating to flexible
dumpsters.
Council Member Hayford Oleary thanked staff for the changes and believed this would ensure
people were being good neighbors. He stated he was in support of this.
BILL NO. 2024-01
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SUBSECTION 925.13 OF THE
RICHFIELD CODE OF ORDINANCES AMENDING THE PUBLIC NUISANCE CODE
TO ADD A PROVISION RELATING TO
FLEXIBLE DUMPSTERS
Motion carried: 5-0
M/Whalen, S/Hayford Oleary to approve an Ordinance amending Subsection 925.13 of the
Richfield Code of Ordinances to add that a violation of Section 1305.27 Subd 5 & 6 (parking and traffic
rules) is nuisance conduct subject to a repeat nuisance fee.
BILL NO. 2024-02
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SUBSECTION 925.13 OF THE
RICHFIELD CODE OF ORDINANCES TO ADD THAT A VIOLATION OF
SECTION 1305.27 SUBD 5 & 6 (PARKING AND TRAFFIC RULES)
IS NUISANCE CONDUCT SUBJECT TO A
REPEAT NUISANCE FEE
Motion carried: 5-0
City Council Meeting Minutes -5-February 28, 2024
ITEM #7
CONSIDER THE FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE
CURRENT CITY CHARTER BASED ON THE CHARTER COMMISSION’S
RECOMMENDATIONS. (STAFF REPORT NO. 33)
Council Member Trautman thanked the Commission members and staff for their work on this
Ordinance. He presented Staff Report 33.
M/Trautmann, S/Hayford Oleary to approve the first reading of an Ordinance Adopting
Comprehensive Amendments to the Richfield City Charter.
Council Member Hayford Oleary clarified they were not changing the form of government from
the current structure. He noted the current city structure is Council-Manager and they would continue
and that remains unchanged. He stated the intent of updating this language is to improve clarity on
responsibilities in the event of an emergency.
Mayor Supple thanked the Charter Commission members and staff who worked on this.
Council Member Whalen noted a lot of the changes were non-significant updates and the form
of government was not changing. He indicated a couple of slightly more significant changes related to
what to do when there was a vacancy and when a special election was warranted as well as the
emergency powers of the mayor, which had come up during the pandemic.
Council Member Trautmann inquired if each change to the Charter required a unanimous vote.
City Attorney Kantner responded that was correct.
Council Member Trautmann pointed out that among the Council when they were discussing this
there was no universal agreement, but a consensus was eventually reached.
Management Analyst Swanson noted the Commission had met more in the last 2.5 years
reviewing this document than the Commission met in the prior 7 plus years. He thanked all members
of the Charter Commission.
Mayor Supple thanked Management Analyst Swanson for researching the historical information
on the original document.
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #8
CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF AGREEMENT WITH NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE SOCIAL SERVICES TO THE CITY OF
RICHFIELD AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE
AGREEMENTS WITH THOSE AGENCIES (STAFF REPORT NO. 32)
Council Member Christensen presented Staff Report 32.
The council asked general questions about the funding and what organizations were receiving
the money. Assistant Community Development Director Urban answered the questions for the council.
M/Christensen, S/Whalen to approve the agreement with non-profit organizations to provide
social services to the City of Richfield and authorize the City Manager to execute agreements with those
agencies.
City Council Meeting Minutes -6-February 28, 2024
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #9 CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Rodriguez did not have anything to report.
ITEM #1- CLAIMS AND PAYROLL
M/Trautmann, S/Hayford Oleary that the following claims and payrolls be approved:
U.S. BANK 02/22/2024
A/P Checks: 326833 – 326975 $1,130,236.95
Payroll: 185530 – 185845, 43773 – 43784 $965,631.10
TOTAL $2,095,868.05
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #11 HATS OFF TO HOMETOWN HITS
Council Member Trautmann thanked staff for taking the time to have the evaluation done
regarding employee compensation and stated the city is in better shape than it had been in the past.
He appreciated the moment of silence for the Burnsville first responder and police officers and gave
hats off to the Richfield first responders, police officers, and firefighters.
Council Member Hayford Oleary gave hats off to the Transportation Commission for their work
on Nicollet Avenue reconstruction.
Council Member Christensen gave hats off to the Parks and Recreation Department for the
activities coming up this spring and summer.
Council Member Whalen stated there was also a new recreation fee assistance program for
people who were unable to afford the fee of a recreation program. He thanked staff for their work on
this program.
Mayor Supple stated there was going to be a listening session which would include policymakers
with the Richfield Disability Advocacy Partnership as sponsors on March 7 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in
the Richfield Public Schools Boardroom. She gave a shout out to the Richfield Dual Language School
students. She gave a shout out to the community members who attended the precinct caucus. She
gave a shout out for the recreations program day trips scheduled. She thanked everyone for making
her available to go to the League of Minnesota Cities training.
ITEM #12 ADJOURNMENT
M/Whalen, S/Hayford Oleary to adjourn the meeting at 7:55 p.m.
Motion carried: 5-0
City Council Meeting Minutes -7-February 28, 2024
Date Approved: March 12, 2024
Mary B. Supple
Mayor
Chris Swanson Katie Rodriguez
Management Analyst City Manager