2026-03-10 Work Session MinutesCITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
City Council Work Session
March 10, 2026
ITEM #1 CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Supple called the work session to order on March 10, 2026, at 5:17 p.m., in the Bartholomew
Room.
Council Present:
Absent:
Mary Supple, Mayor; Walter Burk, Sean Hayford Oleary, Rori A. Coleman-
Woods.
Council Member Sharon Christensen was excused.
Staff Present:
Guests:
Katie Rodriguez, City Manager; Kristin Asher, Public Works Director; Matt
Hardegger, Transportation Engineer; and Michelle Friedrich, City Clerk.
Jessa Trboyuch, Hennepin County; Matt Huggins, Hennepin County; Tyler
McLeete, Stantec; Lance Bernard, TCZ;
ITEM #2 ITEM DISCUSSION
a.Penn Avenue Reconstruction Update and Discussion
Matt Huggins, Hennepin County Project Manager, provided a midpoint update on the Penn Avenue
reconstruction project from south of 75th Street to just south of Highway 62, noting extensive
community engagement to date on priorities such as pedestrian and bikeway safety, multimodal
mobility, transit access, stormwater management, and green space.
Council and staff discussed design options for the 66th Street intersection, reviewing a potential multi-
lane roundabout versus retaining the existing signal with geometric and safety improvements. While
some supported roundabout safety benefits, concerns about cost, right-of-way impacts, and business
disruptions led to a consensus to enhance the existing signal with added pedestrian and bicycle safety
features. Further analysis and community engagement will continue, including corridor-wide impacts,
parking trade-offs, and balancing multimodal improvements with business access.
b.Proposed Traffic Calming Policy Discussion
Transportation Engineer Hardegger presented the proposed traffic calming policy, noting that efforts
focus on school areas and reconstruction projects, with local streets easier to modify than county or
state roads. Past projects demonstrate that design treatments can reduce speeds, though
effectiveness may diminish over time, and decisions must balance safety, technical feasibility, and the
city’s street network.
City Council Work Session Minutes -2-February 24, 2026
Council and staff discussed eligibility criteria, costs of different traffic calming tools, and the potential
for citizen-driven petitions, but fiscal constraints and ongoing infrastructure priorities make a new
program premature, so it will be placed on the “back burner” for future consideration. Staff noted
opportunities remain to adapt plans from comparable cities and incorporate improvements during
upcoming reconstruction projects, such as 69th Street, while evaluating long-term policy and funding
approaches.
ITEM #3 ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Supple adjourned the work session at 6:48 p.m.
Date Approved: March 24, 2026
Mary B. Supple
Mayor
Michelle Friedrich Katie Rodriguez
City Clerk City Manager