2025-02-11 Regular Council Meeting
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Supple at 7:03 p.m. in the Council Chambers.
Council Present:
Staff Present:
Mary Supple, Mayor; Sharon Christensen; Walter Burk; Sean
Hayford Oleary; and Rori A. Coleman-Woods.
Sack Thongvanh, Assistant City Manager; Mary Tietjen, City
Attorney; Melissa Pohlman, Community Development
Director, and Michelle Friedrich, City Clerk.
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.
John Lucas Erikson highlighted some benefits that short-term rentals bring to the community.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mayor Supple asked for a correction to the City Council Work Session meeting minutes from
January 28, 2025, to correct that Councilmember Burk was the one who had inquired about the total
number of emergency calls received from rentals.
Mayor Supple asked for a correction to the Regular City Council Meeting minutes from January 28,
2025, to correct the spelling of Margaret Perez’s name on page two.
Councilmember Hayford Oleary requested a correction to the Regular City Council Meeting minutes
from January 28, 2025, to remove the “Oak Grove Lutheran Church” from Melissa Gonzalez’s title.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
February 11, 2025
City Council Meeting Minutes -2- February 11, 2025
MOTION: made by Councilmember Hayford Oleary, seconded by Councilmember Coleman-Woods
to correct and delete “Oak Grove Lutheran Church” from the Regular City Council Meeting minutes
from January 28, 2025.
Motion carried: 5-0
MOTION: made by Councilmember Burk, seconded by Councilmember Christensen to approve the
minutes of the: (1) City Council Special Meeting from January 28, 2025, (2) City Council Work
Session Meeting from January 28, 2025, as amended.
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #1
PROCLAMATION CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Mayor Supple read aloud the proclamation and invited Karole Kelly from the Human Rights
Commission to accept the proclamation.
Commissioner Kelly stated that she was honored to accept the proclamation and thanked the
Council.
ITEM #2
APPROVAL OF 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
Assistant City Manager Thongvanh presented the consent calendar.
A. Consider the approval of a second reading of an ordinance amendment pertaining to City Code
Section 925.01 - Public Nuisances Subd. 2. (Staff Report No. 22)
BILL NO. 2025-03
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 925 OF THE RICHFIELD CODE OF
ORDINANCES PERTAINING TO PUBLIC NUISANCES AND GRASS HEIGHT
B. Consider a resolution authorizing the designation of $1,000,000 in City of Richfield Capita
Reserve Funds to serve as an assurance of funding for the Wood Lake Nature Center Building
Project, for the purposes of releasing funds from the 2023 State of Minnesota Appropriation Bill,
administered by the MN Department of Employment and Economic Development, in the amount
of $12,000,000. (Staff Report No. 23)
RESOLUTION NO. 12302
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE DESIGNATION OF $1,000,000 IN CITY OF
RICHFIELD CAPITAL RESERVE FUNDS TO SERVE AS ASSURANCE OF FUNDING
FOR THE WOOD LAKE NATURE CENTER BUILDING PROJECT FOR THE PURPOSES
City Council Meeting Minutes -3- February 11, 2025
OF RELEASING FUNDS FROM THE 2023 STATE OF MINNESOTA APPROPRIATIONS
BILL, ADMINISTERED BY THE MN DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, IN THE AMOUNT OF $12,000,000.
C. Consider the approval of the first amendment to the Foundational Public Health Responsibilities
(FPHR) agreement with the City of Bloomington. (Staff Report No. 24)
D. Consider approval of a fifth amendment to the agreement with the City of Bloomington for the
provision of public health services for the City of Richfield for 2025. (Staff Report No. 25)
MOTION: made by Councilmember Burk, seconded by Councilmember Coleman-Woods to approve
the consent calendar items 3A-D.
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #4
CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS, IF ANY, REMOVED FROM CONSENT
CALENDAR
None.
ITEM #5
CONSIDER A REQUEST FOR SITE PLAN APPROVAL OF AN
ENTIRELY NEW WOOD LAKE NATURE CENTER BUILDING AT 6710 LAKE
SHORE DRIVE. (STAFF REPORT NO. 26)
Councilmember Christensen presented Staff Report 26.
Councilmember Hayford Oleary asked for clarification on whether this is within the maximum
parking allowances per code.
Community Development Director Pohlman stated that since numerous events are scheduled at the
Nature Center, it was requested to maximize parking, but it is still within the allowances.
MOTION: made by Councilmember Christensen, seconded by Councilmember Coleman-Woods to
adopt a resolution approving a site plan of an entirely new Wood Lake Nature Center building at
6710 Lake Shore Drive.
RESOLUTION NO. 12303
RESOLUTION APPROVING A SITE PLAN AT 6710 – LAKE SHORE DRIVE
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #6
M. A. MORTENSON CONSTRUCTION PROPOSED
GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE FOR CONSTRUCTION OF WOOD LAKE
NATURE CENTER. (STAFF REPORT NO. 27)
Councilmember Hayford Oleary presented Staff Report 27.
Mayor Supple asked if the discussion regarding the snowmelt system versus the underground
ductwork should be discussed at a later meeting or if a decision can be made tonight.
City Council Meeting Minutes -4- February 11, 2025
Recreation Services Director Huemiller noted that a decision could be made tonight and provided
further details on both systems.
Mayor Supple added that if they don’t use salt at the Wood Lake Nature Center the snowmelt
system would be solving a problem they don’t have. She noted that the underground ductwork
seems like it is more of a priority.
Councilmember Hayford Oleary added that he agrees with staff on prioritizing glazing above all else.
He also mentions that getting the underground ductwork is an important priority.
Councilmember Burk asked about the possibility of adding additional underground heating for staff
locations.
Director Huemiller noted that this is another alternative that is being considered.
Councilmember Burk noted concerns about the geothermal system and asked for further
explanation.
Director Huemiller explained that they would still do the geothermal system. After they conducted a
conductivity test, it was determined they either needed to use larger equipment or create a larger
geothermal field.
Councilmember Hayford Oleary asked if, when this is done, will the parking lot be repaved or will
some of it be existing material.
Director Huemiller noted that the lower parking lot will be fully repaved.
Mayor Supple asked for a short explanation of the guaranteed maximum price and what that entails.
Director Huemiller described what a guaranteed maximum price means, and which parties are
responsible for costs.
MOTION: made by Councilmember Hayford Oleary, seconded by Councilmember Burk to approve
exhibit A amending the contract with M.A. Mortensen Construction proposed a guaranteed
maximum price for construction of Wood Lake Nature Center.
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #7
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
Assistant City Manager Thongvanh noted no reports at this time.
ITEM #8
CLAIMS AND PAYROLL
MOTION: made by Councilmember Hayford Oleary, seconded by Councilmember Christensen to
approve the following claims and payroll:
City Council Meeting Minutes -5-February 11, 2025
U.S. BANK 1/31/2025
Payroll: 194270-194591;
44125-44127 manual checks $946,740.06
US. BANK 2/6/2025
A/P Checks: 334312-334568 $1,297,999.28
TOTAL $2,244,739.34
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #9 HATS OFF TO HOMETOWN HITS
Councilmember Christensen gave hats off to the Parks and Recreation Department, she noted that
she received the summer catalog for the events and activities in the city and there is a wide variety
of activities for the community.
Mayor Supple gave hats off to the Met Council for the panel discussion they held and urged
everyone to visit the Met Council website to learn more. She also gave hats off to the Assistant
Utilities Superintendent Chad Donnelly who was part of a group that helped bring rare drinking
water to a village of 2,000 people in Kenya.
ITEM #10 ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: made by Councilmember Coleman-Woods, seconded by Councilmember Hayford Oleary
to adjourn the meeting at 7:46 p.m.
Motion carried: 5-0
Date Approved: February 25, 2025
Mary Supple
Mayor
Michelle Friedrich Katie Rodriguez
City Clerk City Manager