11-14-2023 Work SessionCITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
City Council Work Session
November 14, 2023
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Supple called the work session to order at 5:30 p.m. in the Bartholomew Room.
Council Members
Present:
Mary Supple, Mayor; Sean Hayford Oleary; Ben Whalen; and Sharon
Christensen
Council Members
Absent:
Simon Trautmann
Staff Present:
Guests:
Katie Rodriguez, City Manager; Dustin Leslie, City Clerk; Chris Swanson,
Management Analyst; Jennifer Anderson, Health Administrator; Mike
Dobesh, Fire Chief; Joe Powers, City Engineer; Matt Hardegger,
Transportation Engineer
Scott Barshun, Communications Strategist; Dr. Nick Kelley, Bloomington
Public Health Administrator
ITEM #1
PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION ON PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACH
CAMPAIGN MATERIALS FOR PROPOSED CHANGES TO
MUNICIPAL SPEED LIMITS.
City Manager Rodriguez introduced Scott Barshun, Communications Strategist, who gave the
presentation covering: the Richfield Drives 25 campaign vision, communication strategies, visual
themes, process, and action steps.
Mayor Supple asked if the city had permission to use all photographs with residents.
Communications Strategist Barshun confirmed that they did but he would double check with certain
residents.
Council Member Hayford Oleary asked how much was budgeted for printing materials. City
Engineer Powers stated there was about $200,000 budgeted for the whole project.
Council Member Hayford Oleary stated that while the new images were an improvement, the
pixelated colors still made the messages illegible and preferred simplified colors. Communications
Strategist Barshun stated solid color signs would not stand out as much as the multi-colored signs.
City Council Work Session Minutes
-2-November 14, 2023
Council Member Whalen spoke about the design aspects and that some appeared to be too
busy and loud.
Mayor Supple stated she liked the vision statement and the focus on positive messaging. She
also stated she preferred the pixelated colors over the blurred images. Mayor Supple asked if people
who were colorblind would be able to read the signs. Communications Strategist Barshun confirmed
that they would be able to read the signs.
Council Member Hayford Oleary stated he preferred a solid background for the Richfield
Drives 25 against the pixelated colors so it was easier to read. He also talked about minimizing the
appearance of the Richfield logo.
City Manager Rodriguez summarized the discussion and next steps.
ITEM #2 UPDATE ON REGIONAL OPIOID RESPONSE WORK FROM BLOOMINGTON
PUBLIC HEALTH.
Dr. Nick Kelley, Bloomington Public Health Administrator, gave the presentation covering:
hospital visits due to opioids in Hennepin County, opioid-related deaths in Hennepin County,
settlement funds overview, fund-use guidelines, communication strategies, the opioid workgroup, the
opioid workplan, program areas, action steps, and upcoming milestones.
Mayor Supple spoke about the pilot project being done in Bloomington and asked if it would
eventually be done in Richfield Dr. Kelley stated they would see how things worked out from the pilot
and plan next steps afterwards.
There was a conversation between the Council and Dr. Kelley about how mental health issues
figure into the opioid epidemic and how it is affecting different communities in the area.
The Council asked Dr. Kelley to keep them updated with any new developments.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Supple adjourned the work session at 6:32 pm.
Date Approved: November 28, 2023
Mary B. Supple
Mayor
Dustin Leslie Katie Rodriguez
City Clerk City Manager