03-03-97 Special
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Special Joint City Council/Richfield
School Board Meeting
March 3, 1997
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Kirsch and Vicki Rorie, School Board
Vice Chair at 5:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Council Members
Present:Martin Kirsch, Mayor; Susan Rosenberg; and Kristal Stokes.
Council Members
Not Present:Russ Susag and Michael Sandahl.
Staff Present:James Prosser, City Manager; Steven Devich, Administrative
Services Director; Thomas Ferber, City Clerk; Gretchen Blank,
Leisure Services Coordinator; Bruce Palmborg, Community
Development Director; Vaughn Lambert, Police Captain; Steve
Sutter, Fire Marshall/Ass’t. Chief; and Dennis Johnson, Human
Services Planner/Coordinator.
School Board
Members:Nancy Rowley, Vicki Rorie, Vice Chair; David Lamberger, and Terry
Freeman.
School District
Staff:Barbara Devlin, Jeannie Ryan, Bruce Abrahamson, Loren Hanson,
Judy Miller, and Bob Nelson.
Joint Council/School Board Meeting Minutes-2-March 3, 1997
Item #IDISCUSSION OF COMMUNITY CIRCLE DISCUSSION GROUPS
Richfield Schools Superintendent Barbara Devlin reviewed the elements of the
Education and Housing Equity Project Community Circle Discussion Groups program
indicating that in the Richfield area, two discussion groups will be sponsored by the
Richfield Public Schools in cooperation with the City of Richfield, with assistance from the
Richfield Community Council and the Richfield League of Women Voters. She stated the
program consists of organizing a metro-wide dialogue in which people from all walks of
life will join together in 5-15 member study circles to discuss the question, “How does
racial and economic segregation of housing affect educational achievement and life
opportunities?” She reviewed the following timeline and list of activities:
Tuesday, March 4, 1997, 7:00 P.M. - Kick off meeting of discussion groups in the
Board Room of the Richfield Public Schools.
March-April 1997 - Each discussion group will hold meetings at times and locations
as desired by the group.
Late April 1997 - Each discussion group recorder will prepare and submit a
summary of the group’s discussions.
May 1997 - The Education and Housing Equity Project will hold a metro-wide
meeting to share the results of the discussion group project.
Item #IIDISCUSSION OF COMMUNITY MARKETING SURVEY
City Manager Prosser stated that due to the weather, Bill Morris of Decision
Resources, LTD, would be unable to be present tonight to make this presentation. Mr.
Prosser presented and discussed the following regarding the community marketing survey
which will occur in 1997:
PRIOR RESEARCH EFFORTS
x
City of Richfield
x
Quality of Life/City Services Studies
x
Initial City Positioning/Marketing Study
x
Richfield School District
x
Bond referendum Planning Study
AIMS OF CURRENT PROJECT
x
Residential Evaluation of Strengths and Challenges in the Community
x
Perceptions of City Services
x
Perceptions of School District
Joint Council/School Board Meeting Minutes-3-March 3, 1997
x
Perceptions of Crime and Safety in the Community
x
Update of Positioning/Marketing Effort of the Community
STUDY PROCESS
x
Creation of Steering Committee to determine:
Study Parameters
Mix of Qualitative/Quantitative Work
Time Line
Designation of Question Topics
Review of Focus Group Scripts and/or Survey Questionnaires
Discussion of Results
PROJECT WORK PRODUCTS
x
Discussion and Analysis of Residential Perspectives on City and School District
x
Evaluation of “Safety” Issue and Recommendations for Addressing Concerns
x
Current Perceptions of Richfield by Recent Move-ins and Move-outs
x
Positioning of Community in Terms of Metropolitan Area “Target Group”
Perceptions
x
Recommendations for more Effective Marketing of the City and School District
Item #IIIDISCUSSION OF CITY DEVELOPMENT
Community Development Director Palmborg presented an overview of
redevelopment in Richfield including Lyndale Avenue/76th Street, Richfield Lake Area,
American Legion/VFW, City Garage site, East 66th Street, Gaylan’s, AmericaInn, Meridian
Crossing, and Richfield Rediscovered.
Fred Hoisington, planning consultant for the Richfield Lake area, discussed the
planning process and schedule. He reviewed the comments, input, and consensus issues
that were a result of a Richfield Lake area planning meeting with residents and property
owners on March 1.
Lawrence Wozniczka, 6744 Wentworth Avenue, stated his fears and frustrations
regarding the Richfield Lake area planning process. He stated concerns about tax base
and residential property taxes. He expressed displeasure with the lack of ADA accessible
pedestrian ramps for the 73rd Street bridge over I-35W.
City Manager Prosser reviewed issues related to maintaining strong residential
areas and issues related to the commercial tax base. He stated that MnDOT is not
proposing any change in the 73rd Street crossing resulting from the addition of the HOV
lane.
Joint Council/School Board Meeting Minutes-4-March 3, 1997
Item #IVDISCUSSION OF HEALTHY COMMUNITY/HEALTHY YOUTH INITIATIVES
Richfield Schools Superintendent Devlin outlined the Healthy Communities/Healthy
Youth:Richfield voluntary community initiative. She reviewed examples of asset building
efforts within the community which had been initiatied through this collaborative project.
Item #VDISCUSSION OF RICHFIELD COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER
Human Services Planner/Coordinator Dennis Johnson reviewed the initiation of the
Richfield Community Resource Center which serves to connect families and individuals
with community services and supports.
Ann Boerth, South Hennepin Coordinator of the Community Resource Centers,
reviewed and answered questions regarding the Community Resource Center concept
and the February statistics for the Richfield Community Resource Center.
Item #VIGENERAL DISCUSSION
Mayor Kirsch acknowledged the School Board for this opportunity to continue the
partnership of the City and Schools on important community issues.
Schools Superintendent Devlin suggested that the School Board and City Council
may wish to meet jointly again to receive the results of the Community Circle Discussion
Groups project.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 6:30 p.m.
Date Approved:
Martin J. KirschMayor
Thomas P. FerberJames D. Prosser
City ClerkCity Manager
Joint Council/School Board Meeting Minutes-5-March 3, 1997