10-24-2023 Regular
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Supple at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers.
Council Members Present:
Mary Supple, Mayor; Sharon Christensen; Simon Trautmann;
Sean Hayford Oleary; and Ben Whalen
Staff Present:
Katie Rodriguez, City Manager; Mary Tietjen, City Attorney;
Melissa Poehlman, Community Development Director; Chad
Donnelly, Assistant Utility Superintendent; Jennifer Anderson,
Support Services Manager; Chief; Chris Swanson,
Management Analyst; and Dustin Leslie, City Clerk
Others Present: Aric Bieganek and Larry Nelson, Arts Commission co-chairs;
Eddie Holmvig-Johnson, Planning Commission Chair
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Supple led the Pledge of Allegiance.
OPEN FORUM
Mayor Supple reviewed the options to participate:
Participate live by calling 1-415-655-0001 during the open forum portion
Call prior to meeting 612-861-9711
Email prior to meeting kwynn@richfieldmn.gov
There were no participants.
ITEM #1
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
M/Whalen, S/Trautmann to approve the minutes of the: (1) City Council Work Session of
October 10, 2023; (2) City Council and Meeting of October 10, 2023.
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #2
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
October 24, 2023
City Council Meeting Minutes -2- October 24, 2023
ARTS COMMISSION ANNU AL PRESENTATION GIVEN BY CO-CHAIRS ARIC
BIEGANEK AND LARRY NELSON
Co-Chairs Aric Bieganek and Larry Nelson presented the annual Art Commission report.
Mayor Supple thanked the Arts Commission for all they did for the community.
Council Member Whalen echoed Mayor Supple’s thanks to the entire Commission for growing
and maintaining the Arts Commission over the last 9 years.
Council Member Christensen thanked the Arts Commission and she appreciated being included
in their decisions and ideas as the Council liaison.
Council Member Trautmann echoed the other Council Members thoughts. He lifted up how the
Commission has approached the arts in Richfield.
ITEM #3
PLANNING COMMISSION ANNUAL PRESENTATION GIVEN BY CHAIR EDDIE
HOLMVIG-JOHNSON
Planning Commission Chair Eddie Holmvig-Johnson presented the annual Planning
Commission report.
Mayor Supple thanked them for all of their work and how everyone on the Commission took it
seriously with their earnest discussions about how to do things the right way.
Council Member Trautmann thanked the Commission and acknowledged their job was not
always easy or comfortable, but it was very important.
Council Member Whalen also expressed his thanks and indicated he appreciated all of the hard
work the Commissioners put in.
ITEM #4
CONSENT CALENDAR
City Manager Rodriguez presented the consent calendar.
A. Consider the first reading of proposed Franchise Ordinance and Agreement with
CenterPoint Energy Minnesota Gas (“CenterPoint Energy”) allowing and setting terms for
CenterPoint Energy’s use of the City right-of-way and setting the public hearing and second
reading for November 28, 2023. (Staff Report No. 141)
BILL NO. 2023-14
AN ORDINANCE GRANTING CENTERPOINT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP.
D/B/A CENTERPOINT ENERGY MINNESOTA GAS (“CENTERPOINT ENERGY”), ITS
SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS, A NONEXCLUSIVE FRANCHISE TO CONSTRUCT,
OPERATE, REPAIR AND MAINTAIN FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT FOR THE
TRANSPORTATION, DISTRIBUTION, MANUFACTURE AND SALE OF GAS ENERGY
FOR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE USE AND TO USE THE PUBLIC WAYS AND GROUNDS
OF THE CITY OF RICHFIELD, COUNTY OF HENNEPIN, MINNESOTA, FOR SUCH
PURPOSE; AND, PRESCRIBING CERTAIN TERMS AND CONDITIONS THEREOF
City Council Meeting Minutes -3- October 24, 2023
M/Whalen, S/Christensen to approve the consent calendar.
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #5
CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS, IF ANY, REMOVED FROM CONSENT
CALENDAR
None.
ITEM #6
CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF THE SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE
AMENDING CHAPTER 9, SECTION 925 OF THE RICHFIELD CITY CODE TO
INCLUDE MANAGED NATURAL LANDSCAPES, ORNAMENTAL PLANTS AND
RAIN GARDENS AS NEW DEFINITIONS, AS WELL AS AMENDING THE
MAINTENANCE STANDARD OF GRASS HEIGHT FROM 6” TO 8” (STAFF
REPORT NO. 142)
Council Member Trautmann presented Staff Report 142.
Council Member Hayford Oleary stated he believed this made a lot of sense for Richfield.
M/Trautmann, S/Whalen to approve an Ordinance Amending Subsection 925.06 of the Richfield
Code of Ordinances Relating to Public Nuisances and Lawn Maintenance and Allowing Managed
Natural Landscapes Pursuant to State Law
BILL NO. 2023-13
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SUBSECTION 925.06 OF THE RICHFIELD CODE OF
ORDINANCES RELATING TO PUBLIC NUISANCES AND LAWN MAINTENANCE AND
ALLOWING MANAGED NATURAL LANDSCAPES PURSUANT TO STATE LAW
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #7
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Rodriguez shared information regarding Kathleen Balaban’s suggestions at the
last meeting regarding putting pictures of the Commissioners on the Commission’s pages and in the
recruitment material. She stated that was already in the works and it is on the long list of things to do.
She stated they would be doing group photos, but they did need to get the Commissioner’s approval
to even put a group photo up.
ITEM #8
CLAIMS AND PAYROLL
M/Trautmann, S/Whalen that the following claims and payrolls be approved:
U.S. BANK 10/19/2023
City Council Meeting Minutes -4-October 24, 2023
A/P Checks: 324419-324775 $3,427,597.49
Payroll: 182682 – 182994; 43664 – 43666 $814,281.38
TOTAL $4,241,878.87
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #9 HATS OFF TO HOMETOWN HITS
Council Member Whalen encouraged everyone to vote. Clerk Leslie summarized the expanded
voting hours for the final weeks.
Council Member Christensen gave hats off to Girl Scout Troop 18102 and also Penn Nutrition
who were collecting through the month of November clothing and household items for the Epilepsy
Foundation.
Council Member Hayford Oleary noted the new bike park was a well-used amenity and praised
how nice the opening of the bike park was.
Council Member Trautmann noted the Friends of Wood Lake fundraising dinner is November 3.
Mayor Supple thanked the Lakeshore Drive Condominiums Resident Association for their
hospitality. She noted it was a great discussion with questions and feedback given. She gave a shout
out to County Attorney Moriarty for hosting the suburban Mayors talk about different public safety
initiatives. She noted there were still commissioner openings.
ITEM #10
CLOSED SESSION WITH THE CITY COUNCIL FOR AN ATTORNEY-CLIENT
PRIVILEGE DISCUSSION PURSUANT TO MINN. STAT. 13D.05, SUBD. 3(B) TO
DISCUSS THE CITY’S OPTIONS TO PARTICIPATE IN MULTI-DISTRICT
LAWSUIT AND RELATED CLASS SETTLEMENTS ENTITLED: IN RE:
AQUEOUS FILM FORMING FOAMS PRODUCTS LIABILITY LITIGATION;
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT, DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA –
CHARLESTON DIVISION; MDL NO. 2:18-MN-2873-RMB; CASE NO. 2:23-CV-
03147-RMG, CASE NO. 2:23-CV-03230-RMG
M/Hayford Oleary, S/Christensen to move to a closed session in the backroom for the purposes
of discussing an attorney client privilege to discussion pursuant to Minn. Stat. 13D, Subd. 3(b) to discuss
the City’s options to participate in multi-district lawsuit and related class settlements entitled: In Re:
Aqueous film forming foams products liability litigation; Unite d States District Court, District of South
Carolina – Charleston Division; MDL No. 2:18-mn-2873-RMB; Case No. 2:23-CV-03147-RMG, Case
No. 2:23-CV-03230-RMG.
Motion carried: 5-0.
Mayor Supple reconvened the regular meeting and noted Council conducted a closed session
with respect to discussing an attorney client privilege to discussion pursuant to Minn. Stat. 13D, Subd.
3(b) to discuss the City’s options to participate in multi-district lawsuit and related class settlements
entitled: In Re: Aqueous film forming foams products liability litigation; Unites States District Court,
District of South Carolina – Charleston Division; MDL No. 2:18-mn-2873-RMB; Case No. 2:23-CV-
03147-RMG, Case No. 2:23-CV-03230-RMG.
City Council Meeting Minutes -5-October 24, 2023
ITEM #11 ADJOURNMENT
M/Whalen, S/Trautmann to adjourn the meeting at 8:04 p.m.
Motion carried: 5-0
Date Approved: November 14, 2023
Mary Supple
Mayor
Dustin Leslie Katie Rodriguez
City Clerk City Manager