2025-06-10 Work Session Minutes
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
City Council Work Session
June 10, 2025
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Supple called the work session to order at 6:00 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 Developer
Director; Julie Urban, Assistant Community Development Director; Jan
Youngquist, Economic Development Manager; Sam Crosby, Planner II;
Michelle Friedrich, City Clerk; Administrative Assistant Mark McKinley.
Planning Commission; Housing Redevelopment Authority; Aaron Diederich,
VP of Construction at Lupe Development; Greta Norris, Project Architect at
Pope Design Group; Eli Zmira, Pope Design Group; and Joseph Kimbrell,
Pope Design Group.
ITEM #1
COUNCIL TRAINING AND REVIEW OF THE NEW AGENDA MANAGEMENT
PLATFORM AND BOARD PORTAL OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO COUNCIL.
City Clerk Friedrich, along with Administrative Assistant Mark McKinley, provided training to the
Council on the new agenda management platform. They covered key components, including logging
in, reviewing agendas and agenda packets, and the Council action available within the platform.
ITEM #2
PRESENTATION BY LUPE DEVELOPMENT ON A HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
PROPOSED FOR THE AMERICAN LEGION SITE, 6501 PORTLAND AVENUE.
Community Development Director Poehlman provided historical background information regarding
the project site. Community Development Director Poehlman noted items in the packet for Council,
HRA, and the Planning Commission to focus on during the presentation.
Aaron Diederich, VP of Construction at Lupe Development, provided details on Lupe
Development's work. Mr. Diederich shared Lupe Development previously presented this project to
staff, and it was not received well. Mr. Diederich noted the feedback received was incorporated into
the current presentation. Mr. Diederich provided a project overview, and noted phase one is the
family building on the east, with corridors of the building extending toward the park; with phase two
including the left-oriented building with pedestrian street frontage.
City Council Work Session Minutes
-2- June 10, 2025
Greta Norris, Project Architect at Pope Design Group, provided details on the surrounding sites and
amenities, the orientation of the buildings, and designs for the layout and landscaping around the
buildings. Ms. Norris described the sustainable design features. Mr. Diederich noted use of high-
efficiency furnaces, LED light fixtures, and recycled materials.
Council members, City staff, HRA, Planning Commission, and representatives from Lupe
Development, and Pope Design Group discussed key aspects of the development project.
Discussion included review of a proposed one-year interim period between the completion of
Phase 1 and the start of Phase 2, the parking space ratio, and the limited number of units with
access to Portland Avenue within the current site plan concept.
The group also noted the building height and compliance with City Code, the absence of retail
components in the current plan, and the affordability of the housing units. Council, HRA, and
Planning Commission raised concerns about pedestrian accessibility and the need for clearly
defined building entrances. Pope Design Group noted that pedestrian engagement was considered
in the building design and is reflected in the current concept. Additionally, the Council emphasized
the importance of accounting for city services and infrastructure within the current site plan
concept.
Community Development Director Poehlman provided a summary of the discussion and stated the
main concerns discussed.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Supple adjourned the work session at 6:58 pm.
Date Approved: June 24, 2025
Mary B. Supple
Mayor
Michelle Friedrich Katie Rodriguez
City Clerk City Manager