2025-11-25 Work Session MinutesITEM #1 CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Supple at 5:15 p.m. in the Bartholomew Conference
Room.
Council Present:
Absent:
Mary Supple, Mayor; Walter Burk; Sean Hayford Oleary; and Rori A.
Coleman-Woods
Council Member Christensen
Staff Present:Katie Rodriguez, City Manager; Joe Powers, City Engineer; Matt
Hardegger, Transportation Engineer; Sack Thongvanh, Assistant City
Manager/Administrative Director; Melissa Poehlman, Community
Development Director; Jay Henthorne, Public Safety Director; Karl
Huemiller, Recreation Director; Chris Fierst, Liquor Operations Manager;
Courtney DesCamps, Senior Analyst; and Michelle Friedrich, City Clerk
ITEM #2 ITEM DISCUSSION
Mayor Supple noted a change to the item order discussion moving Update on Hennepin County’s
Nicollet Avenue Cost Share presentation as item 2a, and moving item Consider Richfield’s
Proposed 2026 Legislative Priorities to item 2b.
a.Update on Hennepin County’s Nicollet Avenue Cost Share
City Engineer Powers presented the Nicollet Avenue Cost Share Program with Hennepin County.
staff provided an update on the Nicollet Avenue cost-share negotiations with Hennepin County.
Although the County declined to modify its cost-participation policy or accept a lump-sum
alternative, it did re-evaluate specific project items, resulting in about a $1 million reduction to the
City’s share. The estimated city cost is now just under $8.7 million to be paid to Hennepin County,
with an additional $700,000 in city staff costs. Staff requested direction to move forward so the
County can bid the project early next year, noting that delays could increase construction costs and
prolong community disruption.
Council members discussed potential future benefits from the County’s upcoming cost-participation
policy review and emphasized the importance of documenting the City’s cooperation and continued
push for a more equitable policy, especially in anticipation of the Penn Avenue project. Questions
were also raised about transparency of engineering cost estimates, as the County’s $2.5 million
share is not included in current documents.
b.Consider Richfield’s Proposed 2026 Legislative Priorities
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
City Council Work Session
November 25, 2025
City Council Meeting Minutes -2-November 25, 2025
City Manager Rodriguez introduced Senior Analyst Courtney DesCamps to present the Proposed
2026 Legislative Priorities. Council and staff reviewed proposed 2025 legislative priorities. The top
four includes making 4d(1) aid permanent and available to all impacted cities, modifying or
repealing 2024 legislation prohibiting cities from subjecting state licensed group assisted living
facilities to city rental licensing requirements, supporting stronger state action to reduce gun
violence, and reducing local financial obligations and long-term maintenance responsibilities for
county and state projects. Senior Analyst DesCamps noted the two bonding priorities were
identified as the $10 million for Nicollet Avenue and $2.5 million for the Richfield–Minneapolis
emergency water connection.
Each department presented their own legislative items. Council and staff discussed the impacts of
supporting and opposing legislative priorities within the community. City Manager Rodriguez noted
Representative Omar advocating for Richfield’s Community Project Funding (CPF) at the
congressional level to the Appropriations Committee for the Emergency Water Interconnect Project
with Minneapolis’ water system network.
Council consensus was in support of the top 4 priorities presented. Council supported continuing
Nicollet project negotiations and advancing key legislative priorities for the 2025 session.
ITEM #3 ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Supple adjourned the meeting at 6:24 pm.
Date Approved: December 9, 2025
Mary Supple
Mayor
Michelle Friedrich Katie Rodriguez
City Clerk City Manager