2025-02-25 Regular Council MeetingCALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Supple at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers.
Council Present: Mary Supple, Mayor; Sharon Christensen; Walter Burk; Sean
Hayford Oleary; and Rori A. Coleman-Woods.
Staff Present: Katie Rodriguez, City Manager; Mary Tietjen, City Attorney;
Melissa Pohlman, Community Development Director, Kristin
Asher, Public Works Director; and Michelle Friedrich, City
Clerk.
Others Present: Madeline Vukson, Human Rights Commissioner.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Supple led the Pledge of Allegiance.
OPEN FORUM
Mayor Supple reviewed the participation options for residents at the Council meeting including in-
person comments, comments by voicemail or email, and an option to request to participate virtually
with advance notice. Mayor Supple noted more information on submitting comments can be
reviewed at www.richfieldmn.gov/citycouncil.
Kathleen Balaban addressed some issues she had concerning the items on the Consent Calendar
and the large sum of money being spent on these items. She asked if they could look at the code
and readjust what goes on the Consent Calendar.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION: made by Councilmember Hayford Oleary, seconded by Councilmember Christensen to
approve the minutes of the: (1) City Council Work Session Meeting from February 11, 2025, and (2)
City Council Regular Meeting from February 11, 2025.
Motion carried: 5-0
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
February 25, 2025
City Council Meeting Minutes -2-February 25, 2025
ITEM #1 PROCLAMATION CELEBRATING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH
Mayor Supple invited Human Rights Commissioner Madeline Vukson to accept the proclamation and
then read aloud the proclamation.
Commissioner Vukson thanked Mayor Supple and the Council.
ITEM #2 APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
MOTION: made by Councilmember Christensen, seconded by Councilmember Hayford Oleary to
approve the Agenda as presented.
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #3 CONSENT CALENDAR
City Manager Rodriguez presented the consent calendar.
A.Consider authorizing the City Manager and Mayor to enter into a Right of Entry Agreement with
the owner of real property located at 7221 Lyndale Ave South for the removal of a privately-
owned dead Oak tree by a City contractor. (Staff Report No. 28)
B.Consider the approval of the 2024-2025 Law Enforcement and Fire Department Therapy Dog
Grant Program. (Staff Report No. 29)
MOTION: made by Councilmember Coleman-Woods, seconded by Councilmember Burk 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 2025 AND AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF A
SUBRECIPIENT AGREEMENT WITH HENNEPIN COUNTY AND ANY
REQUIRED THIRD-PARTY AGREEMENTS. (STAFF REPORT NO. 30)
Councilmember Burk presented Staff Report 30 and opened the public hearing.
MOTION: made by Councilmember Burk, seconded by Councilmember Hayford Oleary to close the
public hearing.
City Council Meeting Minutes -3-February 25, 2025
Motion carried: 5-0
MOTION: made by Councilmember Burk, seconded by Councilmember Hayford Oleary to adopt a
resolution approving proposed use of 2025 Urban Hennepin County Community Development Block
Grant program funds and authorizing execution of a Subrecipient Agreement with Hennepin County
and any required third-party agreements.
RESOLUTION NO. 12304
RESOLUTION APPROVING PROPOSED USE OF 2025 URBAN HENNEPIN COUNTY
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM FUNDS AND AUTHORIZING
EXECUTION OF SUBRECIPIENT AGREEMENT WITH HENNEPIN COUNTY AND ANY
REQUIRED THIRD PARTY AGREEMENTS
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #6
CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF AGREEMENTS 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. 31)
Councilmember Coleman-Woods presented Staff Report 31.
Councilmember Burk noted he is glad to see the city show support for many of these social services.
Mayor Supple thanked the representatives and anyone involved in these services for the work they
do in the City.
MOTION: made by Councilmember Coleman-Woods, seconded by Councilmember Hayford Oleary
to approve the agreements with non-profit organizations to provide social services to the City of
Richfield and authorize the city manager to execute agreements with those agencies.
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #7 CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Rodriguez noted she has nothing to report.
ITEM #8 CLAIMS AND PAYROLL
MOTION: made by Councilmember Hayford Oleary, seconded by Councilmember Coleman-Woods
to approve the following claims and payrolls:
U.S. BANK 2/14/2025
Payroll: 194592-194912;
44128-44130 manual checks $1,023,616.96
US. BANK 2/21/2025
A/P Checks: 334569-334833 $1,187,828.31
City Council Meeting Minutes -4-February 25, 2025
TOTAL $2,211,445.27
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #9 HATS OFF TO HOMETOWN HITS
Councilmember Hayford Oleary noted he had submitted the City of Richfield for a potential award of
recognition from Strong Towns. Councilmember Hayford Oleary thanked staff for their help with the
application.
Councilmember Burk expressed appreciation to Public Works for the quick and thorough tree
removal from Ward 1.
Councilmember Coleman-Woods highlighted her life-long neighbor’s centennial birthday.
Councilmember Coleman-Woods noted she will present Joanne St. Pierre with a proclamation
celebrating her 100th birthday in the City of Richfield on February 28, 2025.
Councilmember Christensen thanked the League of Minnesota Cities for hosting the Elected
Leaders Conference.
Mayor Supple expressed appreciation to Patricia Eibon for her help in organizing a visit from the
Mujeres Latinas Unidas MN at the police department. Mayor Supple also thanked the VEAP Food
Shelf organization for providing scheduled service hours on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:00
am to 1:00 pm, at Richfield City Hall to help residents with needs they may have.
ITEM #10 ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: made by Councilmember Coleman-Woods, seconded by Councilmember Christensen to
adjourn the meeting at 7:30 p.m.
Motion carried: 5-0
Date Approved: March 11, 2025
Mary Supple
Mayor
Michelle Friedrich Katie Rodriguez
City Clerk City Manager