2022-03-01 MinutesRichfield Charter Commission
Meeting Minutes
March 1. 2022
Present (In Person): Martin Kirsch, Reed Bornholdt, Lisa Rudolph, Ken Severson,
Sidney Rehwaldt, David Lamberger, Bill Bullock
Present (Virtual): Donna Drummond, Michelle Dowell, Michael Ulmer, Brandt Krueger,
Gordon Vizecky, Rori Coleman-Woods
Absent: David Gepner
Guests: Chris Swanson, Management Analyst; Mary Tietjen, City Attorney
The meeting was called to order by President Martin Kirsch at 7:02pm.
Old Business
Minutes from the meeting of October 21, 2021 were reviewed. Motion by Lisa Rudolph,
second by David Lamberger to approve as written. Motion passed.
New Business
Election of officers for 2022 was held. Sid Rehwaldt moved a slate of Martin Kirsch for
President, Reed Bornholdt for Vice President and Bill Bullock as Secretary. Ken
Severson seconded, the motion passed.
City Attorney Mary Tietjen discussed the February 11, 2022 memo that listed different
ways changes to the charter could be amended. No action was required, this was only to
review state statues regarding amending the city charter.
Tietjen then reviewed the bylaws of the Charter Commission and provided a draft of
some changes. The bylaws have not been updated since May, 1980. After some
discussion, Tietjen agreed to incorporate some revisions in a final version that will be
voted on at a future meeting.
Tietjen then provided members of the commission with a printed copy of current charter
along with some revisions she felt were needed to keep the charter in compliance with
state laws and clean up some outdated language. A new section 3.065 addressing interim
ordinances was of reviewed. Several questions regarding this proposed change and
whether language in section 3.09 was sufficient. Gordon Vizecky reviewed changes to
section 10.02 and questioned whether the language was correct given the City’s
relationship with Comcast as the only cable TV provider. In addition, questions were
raised regarding proposed changes to section 9.01. Tietjen will review these issues.
Ken Severson addressed an article in a recent edition of the Sun Current regarding a tap
room that recently opened in Bloomington. The article indicated that the Bloomington
City Charter prevented the owners from opening sooner and that it took two years for the
charter to be modified in order for the tap room to open. Tietjen will review the Richfield
charter to whether there was language that would prevent another business from opening
in our city.
Chris Swanson reminded all commission members of a new commission training session
that will be held March 24, 2022.
As there was no other new business for the commission, a motion to adjourn the meeting
made by Ken Severson. The meeting was adjourned at 8:22 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Bill Bullock
Secretary