10-24-2023 Work SessionCITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
City Council Work Session
October 24, 2023
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Supple called the work session to order at 5:45 p.m. in the Bartholomew Room.
Council Members
Present:
Mary Supple, Mayor; Sean Hayford Oleary; Ben Whalen; Simon Trautmann;
and Sharon Christensen
Staff Present: Katie Rodriguez, City Manager; Dustin Leslie, City Clerk; Chris Swanson,
Management Analyst; Chad Donnelly, Assistant Utility Superintendent; Joe
Powers, City Engineer; Brad Drayna, Police Lieutenant; Matt Hardegger,
Transportation Engineer; Kristin Asher, Public Works Director.
ITEM #1 FINDINGS OF THE WATER SYSTEM INTERCONNECT EVALUATION.
City Manager Rodriguez introduced the topics to Council and introduced Assistant Utility
Superintendent Donnelly to Council.
Assistant Utility Superintendent Donnelly gave the presentation covering background of the
project, project purpose, goals, analysis of alternatives, interconnect locations, staff findings, and
recommended actions. He noted that the Minneapolis interconnection is the recommendation.
Council Member Hayford Oleary stated he was ok with the staff recommendation and spoke
about how Richfield could be affected by a disaster interrupting the city’s water supply. He asked staff
if the ground water used by Richfield were to run out, would they be able to get water from
Minneapolis? Assistant Utility Superintendent Donnelly stated the city would be able to draw water
from Minneapolis in that event.
Staff and Council spoke about eventually needing to replace the water treatment plant and
having a connection to Minneapolis could provide a new option or a temporary option if a new water
treatment plant was ever built.
Mayor Supple agreed that the Minneapolis option made the most sense. Staff stated they
wanted to make sure Council did not want to go with the Bloomington option. The council agreed with
staff about not wanting the Bloomington connection.
City Council Work Session Minutes
-2-October 24, 2023
ITEM #2
STAFF WILL PRESENT AN UPDATE ON THE ONGOING LOCAL SPEED LIMIT
STUDY AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A PROPOSED SIGNING
AND SPEED LIMIT IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AND A PUBLIC EDUCATION
CAMPAIGN.
Transportation Engineer Hardegger gave the presentation covering speed limit proposals,
methodology, 2022-2023 speed data, and data for 76th and 77th streets.
There was a general conversation between staff and council regarding speeds along the 77th
Street corridor as well as addressing inequities in changing the speed limits.
City Engineer Powers spoke about a possible grant opportunity the city applied for that would
help look at design changes to the 77th Street corridor. He also spoke about response changes if
speed limits were updated.
Mayor Supple spoke about the benefits of adding sidewalks and making them ADA accessible.
Council Member Hayford Oleary and Mayor Supple spoke about their preferences for speed
limits on certain streets within the city. Council Member Whalen asked the police department to
comment on enforcement. Lieutenant Drayna stated the police department enforces speed limits
throughout the city equally and spoke about crash data.
City staff finished the presentation by talking about ordinance language and resolution
language that would be presented at a future Council meeting.
Communications Strategist Scott Barshun gave a presentation about the Richfield Drives 25
communication campaign and how it would be advertised.
The Mayor and Council Members gave feedback regarding the campaign, including less use
of blurry images and more use of people.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Supple adjourned the work session at 6:55 pm.
Date Approved: November 14, 2023
Mary B. Supple
Mayor
Dustin Leslie Katie Rodriguez
City Clerk City Manager