2026-01-15 Legislative Breakfast MinutesITEM #1 CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Supple at 7:45 a.m. on January 15, 2026, in the
Bartholomew Conference Room.
Council Present:
Absent:
Mary Supple, Mayor; Walter Burk, Sean Hayford Oleary
Sharon Christensen; Rori A. Coleman-Woods
Staff Present:
Guests:
Katie Rodriguez, City Manager; Mary Bogie, Finance Director;
Melissa Poehlman, Community Development Director; Kristin
Asher, Public Works Director; Karl Huemiller, Recreation
Services Director; Jennell Brooks, Fire Chief; Jay Henthorne,
Public Safety Director; Courtney DesCamps, Senior Analyst;
Michelle Friedrich, City Clerk; Mark McKinley, Administrative
Assistant; Scott Kulzer, Senior Analyst; Brianna Darling,
Communications Specialist; Kate Aitchison, Communications
Director.
Dr. Steven Unowsky, Superintendent Richfield Public Schools;
Eric Carter, Board Chair Richfield Public Schools; State Senator
Melissa Wiklund; County Commissioner Debbie Goettel;
Graham Faulkner, Policy Director; State Representative Michael
Howard; Ladan Abshir, Community Representative for Ilhan
Omar; Ann Lenczewski, Lockridge Grindal Nauen; Alex Hassel;
Kate Wagner.
ITEM #2 REMARKS FROM CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
Mayor Supple provided an update to the group on meeting procedure and explained her perspective
related to the ongoing surge of federal law enforcement in Minnesota communities. Mayor Supple
and Council Member Hayford Oleary thanked State Senator Wiklund for her service to Richfield.
ITEM #3 RICHFIELD LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
Richfield department directors outlined their legislative priorities for the upcoming year and
responded to questions from the attendees. Elected officials provided updates on current initiatives
and discussed opportunities for collaboration between city and various offices.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Council Special Meeting
January 15, 2026
City Council Meeting Minutes -2-January 15, 2026
ITEM #15 ADJOURNMENT
The special meeting was adjourned at 9:28 a.m.
Date Approved: January 27, 2026
Mary Supple
Mayor
Mark McKinley Katie Rodriguez
Administrative Assistant City Manager