2025-04-22 Council and Planning Work Session MinutesCITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
City Council Work Session
April 22, 2025
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Supple called the work session to order at 5:45 p.m. in the Bartholomew Room.
Council Present: Mary Supple, Mayor; Sharon Christensen; Walter Burk, Sean Hayford
Oleary, Rori A. Coleman-Woods
Staff Present:
Guests:
Katie Rodriguez, City Manager; Melissa Poehlman, Community
Development Director; Sam Crosby, Planner; Courtney Miller, Senior
Analyst; and Michelle Friedrich, City Clerk.
Richfield Planning Commission; Amy Gudmestad, CEO of MICC; Mark
Forsberg, Associate Principal RSP Architects; Scott Aspenson, Principal
RSP Architects.
ITEM #1 DISCUSS BAN ON SHORT-TERM RENTALS
City Manager Rodriguez provided a summary on the agenda and turned the first item over to
Planner Crosby.
Planner Crosby provided an update on the process of the short-term rental discussion. She
provided details from surveys and feedback from the community. Planner Crosby noted staff has
provided recommendations regarding short-term rentals.
Council Member Hayford Oleary asked what other cities do to regulate and monitor short-term
rentals. Council and staff discussed details regarding regulating and monitoring processes and how
other cities manage short-term rentals. Council and staff discussed language regarding allowance of
licensee’s living on-site, and reviewed fire and safety regulations related to short-term rentals. Staff
expressed concern regarding difficulties in monitoring short-term rentals.
Council and staff reviewed the short-term rental ordinance amendment would become effective in
January 2026. Council and staff discussed the notice process to short-term rental property owners.
Council and staff reviewed minimum and maximum rental periods for the short-term rentals, and
shared concerns regarding safety issues and lack of enforcement and monitoring.
Planner Crosby summarized the Council’s discussion on short-term rentals.
City Council Work Session Minutes
-2-April 22, 2025
ITEM #2 INTRODUCTION AND PRELIMINARY DISCUSSION OF FUTURE PLANS FOR
MINNESOTA INDEPENDENCE COLLEGE AND COMMUNITY
Amy Gudmestad provided a summary of the Minnesota Independence College and Community
(MICC) work in Richfield.
Mark Forsberg discussed the need for the learning center at the MICC and provided a brief
summary of the proposed site plan. He noted that many MICC participants don’t drive themselves,
so the parking lot is situated at the back of the complex, and noted there will be a small parking lot
near the entrance for public transportation.
Scott Aspenson presented the first floor plans of the learning center. He included details of the
different areas of the building. He also presented plans for the second floor layout, which will be a
majority of administrative offices. He provided details on the exterior plan of the building and the
materials that will be used. He highlighted the front entrance and noted they are in the concept
design phase.
Council asked if the single-family homes on the west side will stay or go. Scott Aspenson noted the
single-family homes purchased by the college will be demolished.
Council noted a preference for the current design over the design presented last year, and noted
sidewalks would be a preference all the way to the edge of the property. Council noted the large
windows included in the design and discussed the heat produced from the windows at the front
entrance. Scott Aspenson explained different ways to prevent the windows from becoming too hot.
Council inquired on the delay in completing the future parking spots and noted a preference for the
parking being completed in a single phase. Mark Fosberg explained that the parking spots could be
done originally, but they conducted a parking analysis and discovered that about 40 spots were
needed.
Council inquired if bird strikes would be a part of the front entrance window area. Scott Aspenson
noted the applicant can make plans to prevent bird strikes on those windows.
Planner Crosby provided a summary of the discussion.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Supple adjourned the work session at 6:53 pm.
Date Approved: May 13, 2025
Mary B. Supple
Mayor
Michelle Friedrich Katie Rodriguez
City Clerk City Manager