2025-05-27 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 Pohlman, Community Development Director, Kristin
Asher, Public Works Director; and Michelle Friedrich, City
Clerk.
Others Present: Human Rights Commissioner Mara Glubka
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.
Pat Paulson, 62nd and Vincent, noted he is opposed to the restrictions that are being suggested for
short-term rentals.
John Lucas Erikson, 7014 Elliot Avenue, thanked the Council for the amendment made at the first
reading of the short-term rentals ordinance. He urged the Council to amend the ordinance to a
three-day minimum because limiting to one week will significantly reduce stays in Richfield. He
added that he and many other hosts have accepted reservations for up to 18 months in advance.
Putting the ordinance into effect sooner than that will result in penalties on the hosts and their
properties. He explained that the implementation of a 3-day minimum seems doable for most hosts.
Lance Bondis, 7108 Chicago Avenue, stated his appreciation for lowering the minimum stay for
short-term rentals. He added that he is in support of a 3-day minimum.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
May 27, 2025
City Council Meeting Minutes -2-May 27, 2025
Maria Erikson shared that many people use short-term rentals for a short amount of time and would
not be able to use these if one week is the minimum option. She added that these are very
beneficial for the community and urged the Council to consider a 3-day minimum.
Ava McKnight, 6935 11th Avenue, thanked the Richfield-Bloomington Water Management
Organization for moving forward with resident grants.
City Clerk Friedrich read a comment from Jason McDonald relating to short-term rental limitations.
Mr. McDonald urged the Council to reject a blanket ban and instead adopt a balanced license and
enforcement approach.
City Clerk Friedrich read a comment from Max Cozak regarding amending the short-term rental
regulations. Mr. Cozak noted that this one-week minimum will most likely shut down many
businesses and urged the Council to consider a 2-3 night minimum stay.
City Clerk Friedrich read a comment from Joy Meadows who shared that she stayed in a short-term
rental in Richfield last September and would like to be able to continue using short-term rentals in
the future.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION: made by Councilmember Christensen, seconded by Councilmember Burk, to approve
the minutes of the: (1) City Council Work Session Meeting from May 13, 2025, and (2) City Council
Regular Meeting from May 13, 2025.
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #1 PROCLAMATION CELEBRATING PRIDE MONTH
Mayor Supple formally presented a proclamation and invited Human Rights Commissioner Mara
Glubka to accept the proclamation. Commissioner Glubka read selected statements from LGBTQ+
community members and expressed appreciation to the City and Council for their support.
ITEM #2 APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION: made by Councilmember Hayford Oleary, seconded by Councilmember Christensen for
Approval of Agenda.
Councilmember Burk requested item 3H, Second Reading of Ordinance Amendment to Short-Term
Rentals, be pulled from the Consent Calendar for further Council discussion.
AMENDED MOTION: made by Councilmember Burk, seconded by Hayford Oleary to move item
3H from Consent Calendar, to Consideration of Consent Calendar Item Pulled (Item 4) for further
Council discussion, and approve the agenda as amended.
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #3 CONSENT CALENDAR
City Council Meeting Minutes -3-May 27, 2025
Councilmember Burk pulled item H from the consent calendar.
City Manager Rodriguez presented the consent calendar items A-G.
(Staff Report No. 70)
RESOLUTION NO. 12321
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF RICHFIELD TO ENTER INTO A GRANT
AGREEMENT AND ACCEPT GRANT FUNDS FROM THE BOARD OF WATER AND SOIL
RESOURCES ON BEHALF OF THE RICHFIELD-BLOOMINGTON WATERSHED
MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION (RBWMO)
G.Consider approval of a resolution accepting the conveyance of real property located
approximately east of Cedar Avenue South, west of Trunk Highway 77, south of 69th Street,
and north of Diagonal Boulevard from the Minnesota Department of Transportation
(Staff Report No. 71)
RESOLUTION NO. 12322
A.Consider approval of a Temporary On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor license for their annual wrestling
event scheduled to take place July 5, 2025, at Fred Babcock VFW #5555, located at 6715
Lakeshore Drive.
(Staff Report No. 65)
B.Consider the approval of a Temporary On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor license for the Fourth of July
Committee events scheduled at Veterans Memorial Park, July 3 - 4, 2025.
(Staff Report No. 66)
C.Consider approval of an agreement between the City of Richfield and JLG Architects for
professional services in the design and engineering for the Richfield Outdoor Pool
improvements.
(Staff Report No. 67)
D.Consider approval of a resolution authorizing execution of Minnesota Department of
Transportation (MnDOT) Agreement No. 1059794 for the disbursement of state general funds
for the 70th Street Safe Routes to School project.
(Staff Report No. 68)
RESOLUTION NO. 12320
EXECUTION OF MNDOT AGREEMENT #1059794 SETTING GRANT TERMS AND
CONDITIONS FOR THE DISBURSEMENT OF STATE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION
FUNDING FOR SAP 157-113-008
E.Consider approval of a bid tabulation and award of contract to Corrective Asphalt Materials,
LLC for the 2025 Maltene Pavement Rejuvenation Project in the amount of $690,250.00, and
authorize the City Manager to approve contract changes under $175,000 without further City
Council consideration.
(Staff Report No.69)
F.Consider the approval of a resolution authorizing a grant agreement and acceptance of grant
funds in the amount of $69,644.00 on behalf of the Richfield-Bloomington Watershed
Management Organization from the Board of Water and Soil Resources for:
1. A green infrastructure rain garden grant program; and
2. A fisheries/aquatic invasive species study.
City Council Meeting Minutes -4-May 27, 2025
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF RICHFIELD TO ACCEPT PROPERTY
CONVEYANCE NO. 2024-0038 FROM THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION (MnDOT) FOR A PARCEL OF LAND EAST OF CEDAR AVE S,
WEST OF TRUNK HIGHWAY 77, SOUTH OF 69TH ST, AND NORTH OF DIAGONAL
BLVD
MOTION: made by Councilmember Hayford Oleary, seconded by Councilmember Christensen, to
approve the Consent Calendar items A-G.
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #4 CONSIDERATION OF ITEM 3H, REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR
H.Consider a second reading and summary publication of an ordinance restricting short-term
rentals.
(Staff report no. 72)
Councilmember Burk presented Staff Report 72.
Council discussed the possibility of lowering the minimum stay to accommodate business owners.
MOTION: made by Councilmember Hayford Oleary to approve the second reading of the ordinance
restricting short-term rentals to no less than one week, unless the licensee resides on-site and
approve the summary publication of the ordinance.
Motion fails for lack of second.
MOTION TO TABLE ITEM: made by Burk to table the second reading of the ordinance, due to recent
public feedback, for additional study and review at a future work session.
Motion fails for lack of second.
Council and staff discussed tabling item, and noted limited work session schedule availability, and
reviewed timelines regarding the short-term rental ordinance.
MOTION TO TABLE ITEM: made by Burk, seconded by Christensen to table the second reading of
the ordinance, due to recent public feedback, for additional study and review at a future work session
in September, and to allow staff time to develop a business program.
Staff noted tabling item to a date certain is not available, and Council may vote to deny or reject the
proposed ordinance and staff would bring back to Council at a future date.
MOTION TO WITHDRAW: made by Burk to withdraw Motion to Table Item.
MOTION: made by Councilmember Hayford Oleary, seconded by Mayor Supple, to approve the
second reading of the ordinance restricting short-term rentals to no less than one week, unless the
licensee resides on-site and approve the summary publication of the ordinance.
Council expressed a hesitancy to approve the amendment and considered how residents have
shared issues they have experienced with short-term stays under a month and effects to other small
businesses.
MOTION TO AMEND: made by Councilmember Coleman-Woods, seconded by Councilmember
Christensen, to amend the ordinance to require at least a 3-day minimum stay for short-term rentals.
City Council Meeting Minutes -5-May 27, 2025
Council noted original 30-day minimum stay and residents who have contacted Council have not
been heard, and the benefits to the community of families living in the home rather than visitors in
short-term rentals. Council shared concern for how much time this ordinance is taking and discussed
that adding a 3-day minimum seems too short. Council discussed moving to a 7 or 5-day minimum
as a middle ground and suggested limiting the number of short-term rentals allowed in the City.
FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO MOTION: made by Councilmember Coleman-Woods, seconded by
Councilmember Christensen, to amend the ordinance to require at least a 5-day minimum stay for
short-term rentals.
Voting Aye: Christensen, Coleman-Woods, and Hayford Oleary
Voting Nay: Burk and Supple
Motion carried: 3-2
MOTION: made by Councilmember Hayford Oleary, seconded by Mayor Supple, to approve a
second reading of an ordinance, as amended, restricting short-term rentals to no less than 5-day
minimum stay unless the licensee resides on site, and restricting business licenses to a limited
number of short-term rental licenses, and approve a resolution authorizing summary publication of
said ordinance.
BILL NO. 2025-04
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE RICHFIELD BUILDING, HOUSING AND
CONSTRUCTION REGULATIONS (CHAPTER IV OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE) TO LIMIT
RENTALS TO NO LESS THAN ONE WEEK
Voting Aye: Christensen, Coleman-Woods, Hayford Oleary, and Supple
Voting Nay: Burk
Motion carried: 4-1
MOTION: made by Councilmember Hayford Oleary, seconded by Councilmember Christensen, to
adopt a resolution authorizing summary publication of the short-term rental ordinance.
RESOLUTION NO. 12323
RESOLUTION APPROVING SUMMARY PUBLICATION OF AN ORDINANCE MODIFYING
THE MUNICIPAL CODE IN RELATION TO SHORT-TERM RENTALS
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #5
PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF NEW ON-SALE WINE
AND 3.2 PERCENT MALT LIQUOR LICENSES FOR MC RICHFIELD LLC DBA
DRAGON POT, LOCATED AT 9 66TH STREET EAST. (STAFF REPORT NO. 73)
Councilmember Coleman-Woods presented Staff Report 73 and opened the public hearing.
MOTION: made by Coleman-Woods, seconded by Councilmember Hayford Oleary, to close the
public hearing.
Motion carried: 5-0
City Council Meeting Minutes -6-May 27, 2025
MOTION: made by Councilmember Coleman-Woods, seconded by Councilmember Hayford Oleary,
to approve new On-Sale Wine and 3.2 Percent Malt Liquor licenses for MC Richfield LLC dba Dragon
Pot, located at 9 66th Street East.
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #6
CONSIDER CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF JENELL BROOKS
AS FIRE CHIEF/FIRE SERVICES DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY OF RICHFIELD
EFFECTIVE JUNE 12, 2025
Councilmember Christensen presented the Staff Report.
City Manager Rodriguez commented on her excitement about recommending Janell Brooks for this
position. Council welcomed Janell Brooks into the position of Fire Chief/Fire Services Director, and
shared how impressed they are by Ms. Brooks.
MOTION: made by Councilmember Christensen, seconded by Councilmember Coleman-Woods, to
confirm the appointment of Jenell Brooks as the Fire Chief/Fire Services Director for the City of
Richfield.
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #7 CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Rodriguez noted nothing further to report.
ITEM #8 CLAIMS AND PAYROLL
MOTION: made by Councilmember Coleman-Woods, seconded by Councilmember Hayford
Oleary, to approve the following claims and payrolls:
U.S. BANK 05/23/2024
A/P Checks: 336237-336495 $1,543,564.85
Payroll: 196790-197110; and manual
check 44143 $1,404,938.03
TOTAL $2,948,502.88
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #9 HATS OFF TO HOMETOWN HITS
Councilmember Burk noted nothing to report.
City Council Meeting Minutes -7-May 27, 2025
Councilmember Hayford Oleary thanked the Human Rights Commission for their update on the
proclamation for Pride Month after he raised some concerns.
Councilmember Christensen shared information on the ceremony for the new Woodlake Nature
Center. She added that there is an event for dog owners at the dog park.
Councilmember Coleman-Woods congratulated the Richfield High School 2025 graduates.
Mayor Supple gave hats off to the Richfield Chamber of Commerce, for their Circle of Excellence
Awards, and congratulated all the award winners.
ITEM #10 ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: made by Councilmember Burk, seconded by Councilmember Coleman-Woods, to
adjourn the meeting at 8:06 p.m.
Motion carried: 5-0
Date Approved: June 10, 2025
Mary Supple
Mayor
Michelle Friedrich Katie Rodriguez
City Clerk City Manager