2025-04-22 Council Regular MinutesCALL 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 Poehlman, Community Development Director, Kristin
Asher, Public Works Director; and Michelle Friedrich, City
Clerk.
Others Present:Timothy Garvey, Human Rights Commissioner
Dan Smieja and therapy animal Barney the Beagle
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.
No residents participated in the Open Forum public comment opportunity.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION: made by Council Member Hayford Oleary, seconded by Council Member Christensen to
approve the minutes of the: (1) City Council Work Session Meeting from April 8, 2025, and (2) City
Council Regular Meeting from April 8, 2025.
Motion carried: 5-0
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
April 22, 2025
City Council Meeting Minutes -2- April 22, 2025
ITEM #1
PROCLAMATION TO RECOGNIZE ARBOR DAY 2025
Mayor Supple read aloud the proclamation and invited City Manager Rodriguez to accept it.
City Manager Rodriguez thanked the City Forester Joe Clark, who leads the preservation efforts.
She also thanked the Public Works workers who have been doing the work on the trees.
ITEM #2
PROCLAMATION TO RECOGNIZE NATIONAL THERAPY ANIMAL DAY
Mayor Supple read aloud the proclamation and invited Dan Smieja and therapy animal Barney the
Beagle to accept it.
Dan Smieja thanked the City for this recognition. He noted that he hopes this will make them better
known, and expressed the need for more volunteers within their program.
Council thanked the group for the work they do.
ITEM #3
PROCLAMATION CELEBRATING ASIAN AND PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE
MONTH.
Mayor Supple read aloud the proclamation and invited Timothy Garvey to accept it.
Timothy Garvey thanked the Council for its continued support of the Human Rights Commission.
ITEM #4
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION: made by Council Member Hayford Oleary, seconded by Council Member Burk to approve
the Agenda as presented.
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #5
CONSENT CALENDAR
City Manager Rodriguez presented the consent calendar.
A. Consider a resolution accepting a grant from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture in the
amount of $75,000 to provide urban agricultural programs.
(Staff Report No. 48)
RESOLUTION NO.12313
RESOLUTION ACCEPTING A GRANT FROM THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE FOR RICHFIELD RECREATION, IN THE AMOUNT OF $75,000, FOR
URBAN AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS.
City Council Meeting Minutes -3- April 22, 2025
B. Consider the acceptance of the quotation from Midwest Playscapes for $206,852.50 for the
construction of a natural playground at Wood Lake Nature Center and authorize the
Recreation Services Director to proceed with the project.
(Staff Report No.49)
C. Consideration of a resolution authorizing submittal of a Tax Base Revitalization Program grant
application for environmental investigation on the American Legion property (6501 Portland
Avenue)
(Staff Report No. 50)
RESOLUTION NO. 12314
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING APPLICATION FOR THE TAX BASE REVITALIZATION
ACCOUNT ON BEHALF OF 6501 PORTLAND AVENUE
D. Consider adoption of a resolution rescinding a special assessment for diseased tree removal
in the amount of $5,268.73 incorrectly levied against 6414 12th Ave S (PID# 26-028-24-24-
0030) in 2024.
(Staff Report No. 51)
RESOLUTION NO. 12315
RESOLUTION RESCINDING ASSESSMENT INCORRECTLY LEVIED AGAINST 6414 12TH
AVE SOUTH (PID # 26-028-24-24-0030) IN 2024 FOR REMOVAL OF DISEASED TREES
E. Consider adoption of a resolution of support for Richfield's Community Project Funding grant
application in the amount of $4,200,000.00 for the Richfield Emergency Water Interconnect
project.
(Staff Report No. 52)
RESOLUTION NO. 12316
RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR THE COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING (CPF) GRANT
APPLICATION FOR THE RICHFIELD EMERGENCY WATER INTERCONNECT PROJECT
F. Consider a resolution authorizing the Mayor and City Manager to execute MnDOT Agreement
#1051546, the I-494 Phase 1 Maintenance Agreement.
(Staff Report No. 53)
RESOLUTION NO. 12317
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING MAYOR AND CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE MINNESOTA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (MNDOT) AGREEMENT NO. 1051546, FOR
MAINTENANCE UPON, ALONG, AND ADJACENT TO TRUNK HIGHWAY NO. 494
MOTION: made by Council Member Coleman Woods, seconded by Council Member Christensen to
approve the Consent Calendar.
Council noted each item on the consent calendar has been reviewed by Council in detail. Council
did not have questions or issues with any Consent Calendar items presented.
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #6
CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS, IF ANY, REMOVED FROM CONSENT
CALENDAR
City Council Meeting Minutes -4-April 22, 2025
None.
ITEM #7 CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Rodriguez shared information regarding the feedback from Kathleen Balaban
regarding Ms. Balaban’s Open Forum comments. City Manager Rodriguez noted Ms. Balaban
discussed Council time and consideration in review of the procedures and decorum document. City
Manager Rodriguez noted City Attorney Tietjen will be taking a longer time reviewing that document.
ITEM #8 CLAIMS AND PAYROLL
MOTION: made by Council Member Coleman Woods, seconded by Council Member Hayford
Oleary to approve the following claims and payrolls:
U.S. BANK 3/28/2025
Payroll: 195545-195853 $1,001,508.19
4/11/2025
Payroll: 19584-196161;
Manual Checks 44137 $999,474.61
4/25/2025
Payroll: 196162-196467
*Includes medical insurance May 2025 $1,359,125.23
4/17/2025
A/P Checks: 335369-335841 $2,670,869.84
TOTAL $6,030,977.87
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #9 HATS OFF TO HOMETOWN HITS
Council Member Christensen gave a shout-out to the City employees who came to Veterans Park to
work on the cleanup.
Council Member Coleman Woods shared that the foster care organization she works for will be
holding its annual fundraiser on May 3.
Council Member Hayford Oleary shared his excitement for Toast to Richfield and added that tickets
are still available.
Council Member Burk shared that great progress has been made on the pond at Adams Hill Park.
Mayor Supple also thanked all of the City employees who helped with the cleanup at Veterans Park.
She mentioned that she was able to join the students at Seven Hills Preparatory Academy for their
Sevitas Fair. She added that the Augsburg Library is now open.
City Council Meeting Minutes -5-April 22, 2025
ITEM #10 ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: made by Council Member Coleman Woods, seconded by Council Member Christensen to
adjourn the meeting at 7:26 p.m.
Motion carried: 5-0
Date Approved: May 13, 2025
Mary Supple
Mayor
Michelle Friedrich Katie Rodriguez
City Clerk City Manager