2025-03-11 Work Session Minutes
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
City Council Special Meeting:
RBWMO Annual Meeting
March 11, 2025
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Supple opened the RBWMO Annual Meeting at 6:00 p.m. in the Bartholomew Room.
Council Present:
Bloomington
Council Present:
Mary Supple, Mayor and acting RBWMO Chair; Sharon Christensen; Walter
Burk, Sean Hayford Oleary, Rori A. Coleman-Woods
Shawn Nelson, Dwayne Lowman arrived at 6:35 pm.
Staff Present:
Bloomington
Staff Present:
Guests:
Katie Rodriguez, City Manager; Kristin Asher, Public Works Director; Chad
Donnelly, Assistant Public Works Director; Mattias Oddsson, Water
Resources Engineer and RBWMO Executive Director; Joe Powers, City
Engineer; Kayla Beckstrom, Senior Office Assistant; Scott Kulzer, Senior
Analyst; and Michelle Friedrich, City Clerk.
Kathy Hedin, Interim City Manager; Bryan Gruidl, Water Resources
Manager & RBWMO Assistant Director; Rena Weis, Water Resources
Engineer; Jack Distel, Water Resources Specialist; Julie Long, Bloomington
City Engineer.
Jen Dullum, Board Conservationist, MN Board of Water and Soil Resources.
ITEM #1
RICHFIELD-BLOOMINGTON WATERSHED MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION
(RBWMO) ANNUAL MEETING. ATTENDEES WILL TAKE ANY NECESSARY
OFFICIAL ACTIONS AS RBWMO BOARD MEMBERS, HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING
ON A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE RBWMO COMPREHENSIVE
WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLAN, AND ASK QUESTIONS OF STAFF OR
AGENCY REPRESENTATIVES.
Mayor Supple explained that a quorum is necessary to call the meeting to order, and the RBWMO
Commission is currently waiting for one member to arrive; however, the RBWMO Commission can
unofficially review the topic.
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RWMBO Director Oddsson gave an informational report on the topic. He described the functions of
RBWMO and discussed the purpose of the Technical Advisory Commission and the Community
Advisory Commission. He described the monitoring program and the water quality parameters in the
program.
RBWMO Assistant Executive Director Gruidl presented the data collected from various bodies of
water in each city.
RWMBO Director Oddsson provided an overview of the 2024 activities the RBWMO participated in
and implemented. He discussed funding for fiscal year 2024 and explained the 2025 work plan. He
noted there are several projects that could be completed using Watershed-Based Implementation
Funding. RWMBO Director Oddsson reviewed community outreach activities and educational
projects. RWMBO Director Oddsson added that the RBWMO was awarded $114,644 for fiscal year
24-25. RWMBO Director Oddsson noted that a minor amendment to RBWMO Watershed
Management Plan is required.
Mayor Supple called for a recess at 6:12 pm due to lack of quorum.
Mayor Supple opened the floor to public comments.
Ava McKnight, no address given, expressed the importance of the watershed district, and noted
there is high community interest in the water management grant program.
Mayor Supple extended the speakers time past 3 minutes.
Ms. McKnight noted support of option two, Lawns to Legumes.
Mayor Supple read a written comment from Kris Anderson. Ms. Anderson is in favor of option two of
the water management grant program and is advocating for more residents to be able to receive
individual grant funding through the program. As a certified pollinator steward, Ms. Anderson
described the many benefits of native plants in the community and the importance of additional
resources being available for residents.
Bloomington Council Member Lowman arrived at 6:35 pm.
Mayor Supple reconvened the recess at 6:35 pm.
Official Call to Order
Mayor Supple officially called the meeting to order at 6:35 pm.
MOTION: made by Council Member Hayford Oleary, seconded by Council Member Nelson to
approve the April 2, 2024 annual meeting minutes.
Motion carried: 7-0
Approval of Agenda
MOTION: made by Council Member Hayford Oleary, second by Council Member Nelson to approve
the agenda as amended with review of presentation and public comment prior to quorum of
commission.
Motion carried: 7-0
Board Nominations
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Mayor Supple asked for nominations for Chair from the Bloomington Council.
MOTION: made by Council Member Lowman, seconded by Council Member Hayford Oleary to
nominate Council Member Dallessandro as Chair for 2025.
Motion carried: 7-0
Mayor Supple asked for nominations for Vice Chair from the Richfield Council.
MOTION: made by Council Member Hayford Oleary, seconded by Council Member Nelson to
nominate Council Member Burk as Vice Chair for 2025.
Motion carried: 7-0
Mayor Supple asked for nominations for Secretary from the Richfield Council.
MOTION: made by Council Member Hayford Oleary, seconded by Council Member Coleman
Woods to nominate Council Member Christensen as Secretary for 2025.
Motion carried: 7-0
Mayor Supple asked for nominations for Treasurer from Bloomington Council.
MOTION: made by Council Member Nelson, seconded by Council Member Lowman to nominate
Council Member Lowman as Treasurer for 2025.
Motion carried: 7-0
Public Hearing - Residential Grant Program Minor Plan Amendment
RBWMO Executive Director Oddsson gave an overview of the residential grant program. He
reviewed the minor amendment to the plan and described the two options for the residential grant
program.
Mayor Supple opened the public hearing at 6:43 p.m.
MOTION: made by Council Member Hayford Oleary, seconded by Council Member Burk to close
the public hearing.
Motion carried: 7-0
RBWMO Assistant Executive Director Gruidl provided the staff recommendations for the grant
program noting upcoming deadlines for grant funding.
MOTION: made by Council Member Hayford Oleary, seconded by Council Member Coleman
Woods to adopt a minor plan amendment to incorporate a residential grant program into the
RBWMO Watershed Management Plan, thereby amending Section 5 of the Watershed
Management Plan.
Motion carried: 7-0
Council and staff discussed grant matching fee requirements and noted the matching fee is the
responsibility of the applicant.
Council Member Hayford Oleary asked if pollinator gardens, and the Lawns to Legumes program,
are good for the watershed or just a generally good thing. RBWMO Executive Director Oddsson
noted that the programs are beneficial to the watershed and reviewed the benefits.
Council Member Hayford Oleary asked if there is a significant difficulty in residents getting grant
money from other organizations. RBWMO Executive Director Oddsson responded that there are
more applications received than money available. Council Member Hayford Oleary added that he is
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in support of option two if they can receive the funding. He noted that option one is a good fallback
option.
Council Member Burk noted that he would be in favor of a possible third option, or additional options
that provide more education in the grant program.
Mayor Supple noted that she is also in favor of option two and noted community interest in option
two. Mayor Supple added that many community members have offered to help in any way they can.
RBWMO Executive Director Oddsson noted if the program is successful, it can continue in the
future.
2024 Annual Report
RBWMO Assistant Executive Director Gruidl noted the overview of the 2024 annual report was
discussed in the business section of the meeting, and the full report is included in the packet.
MOTION: made by Council Member Hayford Oleary, seconded by Council Member Christensen to
approve the 2024 annual report.
Motion carried: 7-0
MOTION: made by Council Member Coleman Woods, seconded by Council Member Burk to
approve the public notice for publication in the Sun Current.
Motion carried: 7-0
RBWMO Assistant Executive Director Gruidl explained that the insurance costs will be split between
the two cities.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Supple adjourned the Annual Meeting at 6:56 pm.
Date Approved: March 25, 2025
Mary B. Supple
Mayor
Michelle Friedrich Katie Rodriguez
City Clerk City Manager