07-11-2023 Work Session CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
City Council Work Session
July 11, 2023
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Supple called the work session to order at 5:45 p.m. in the Bartholomew Room.
Council Members
Present:
Council Members
Absent:
Mary Supple, Mayor; Simon Trautmann; Sean Hayford Oleary; and Sharon
Christensen
Ben Whalen
Staff Present:
Katie Rodriguez, City Manager; Dustin Leslie, City Clerk; Sack Thongvanh,
Assistant City Manager; Jay Henthorne, Police Chief; Chris Fierst, Liquor
Store Manager; Jennifer Anderson, Health Administrator; Samantha Crosby,
Planner; Mary Tietjen, City Attorney
ITEM #1
PRESENTATION, POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS, AND DISCUSSION OF THE
NEW ADULT USE CANNABIS LAW, AND EDIBLE CANNABINOID PRODUCTS
(ECPS)/LOW-POTENCY EDIBLES AS IT RELATES TO CITY REGULATION
City Manager Rodriguez introduced the topic and spoke about the Edible Cannabinoid Product
(ECP) moratorium as well as new legislation.
Health Administrator Anderson began the presentation by covering how cities would be able to
regulate the cannabis business. Mayor Supple asked staff to define cannabis business. City Attorney
Tietjen stated a cannabis business was any operation that sells cannabis products.
Health Administrator Anderson continued the presentation by covering the business
registration process for the city and the state.
Chief Henthorne spoke about ECPs and considerations with the new law passed by the
legislature.
Liquor Store Manager Fierst gave an update on liquor store operations and revenues. He
noted that the ability to sell ECPs may be able to offset the loss of tobacco products in stores. Council
Members discussed selling low-potency THC products in Richfield liquor stores and came to a
consensus in supporting ECP sales. City Attorney Tietjen stated liquor stores could not sell high
potency cannabis products but cities could operate a municipal cannabis business.
City Council Work Session Minutes
-2- July 11, 2023
Health Administrator Anderson and Chief Henthorne discussed hemp products vs. cannabis
products as well as its future regulation. He also spoke of considerations for the police department
including staff training, violations, and enforcement. He then spoke about law changes regarding
ECPs that have gone into effect since the moratorium was put into place.
Health Administrator Anderson showed Council an example of a Cannabis Buffer Map that
would be the most restrictive possible. Council Member Hayford Oleary asked if new zoning was to be
approved for adult-use cannabis if it would replace zoning for medical cannabis. Director Poehlman
confirmed it would.
Council Member Hayford Oleary asked staff if buffers worked. Chief Henthorne stated they
helped with appearance and could lessen the number of complaints. Council Member Hayford Oleary
stated he preferred no buffers for ECPs but would be more open to them for adult -use cannabis.
Council Member Christensen noted parks currently prohibit smoking and alcohol use and
asked if THC would be prohibited as well. Director Poehlman stated staff was looking for guidance
from Council on what restrictions should be put in place.
Mayor Supple spoke about making decisions about zoning and asked if changes were made
later if that could cause THC businesses to become non-conforming to the law in the future. Director
Poehlman confirmed that would be a risk.
Mayor Supple asked what the purpose of buffers was. City Attorney Tietjen stated they would
be to limit access in certain areas. Mayor Supple stated she did not think there should be buffers for
ECPs but did support an ordinance prohibiting consumption in parks.
Council Member Hayford Oleary spoke about the possibility of allowing consumption of low
abv alcohol in parks in the future and did not think the city should prevent residents from consuming
ECPs in parks.
Council Member Hayford Oleary asked Council Members if they were supportive of capping
the amount of cannabis shops in Richfield. Council Member Trautmann and Mayor Supple agreed
that there should be a limit on dispensaries in the city.
Health Administrator Anderson spoke about options in capping the amount of adult-use
cannabis licenses in the city. She said four could be distributed across the city. Council Member
Trautmann noted that he was comfortable with a limit of two shops if that was the most restrictive cap
per population – one could be in east Richfield and one could be in West Richfield. Council Member
Christensen noted the limit could be raised in the future. Mayor Supple stated she was comfortable
with three or four in the city.
Director Poehlman asked if cities were allowed to require geographical distributions across the
city. City Tietjen replied that it was unclear if that was allowed.
Health Administrator Anderson spoke about next steps in the process and asked Council to
decide on what they wanted to do in regard to the ECP moratorium and if they wanted to put an adult-
use cannabis moratorium in place.
Council agreed with lifting the ECP moratorium and doing nothing to restrict where could it be
sold.
Health Administrator Anderson spoke about having a moratorium for adult-use cannabis until
January 1, 2025. She said it would give the city some teeth in enforcing violations against illegal
cannabis operations prior to the availability of licensing. Council came to consensus in having a
moratorium on adult-use cannabis.
City Council Work Session Minutes
-3-July 11, 2023
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Supple adjourned the work session at 6:57 pm
Date Approved: July 25, 2023
Mary B. Supple
Council Member
Dustin Leslie Katie Rodriguez
City Clerk City Manager