07-25-2023 WS City Council Agenda W O R K S E S S IO N
R IC H F IE L D MU N IC IPAL C E N TE R, B AR TH O LO ME W R O O M
J U LY 25, 2023
5:45 P M
C all to order
1.D iscuss status of two requests submitted by staff to Minnesota Management and B udget for potential inclusion
in a 2024 bonding bill.
2.D iscussion of an ordinance regulating cannabis use within public property and public places.
A djournment
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AGENDA SECTION:Work Session Items
AGENDA ITEM #1.
WORK S E S S ION STAFF RE P ORT NO. 25
WORK SESSION
7/25/2023
RE P O RT P RE PA RE D B Y: Matt Hardegger, Transportation E ngineer
D E PA RTME NT D IRE C TO R RE V IE W: K ristin A sher, P ublic Works D irector
7/19/2023
O THE R D E PA RTM E NT RE V IE W:
C ITY MA NA G E R RE V IE W: K atie Rodriguez, C ity Manager
7/19/2023
I T E M F O R WO RK S E S S IO N:
Discuss status of two requests submitted by staff to Minnesota Management and Budget for potential
inclusion in a 2024 bonding bill.
E X E C UT IV E S UM M ARY:
City staff submitted two requests to Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) for potential inclusion in a
2024 bonding package. These two requests were the Nicollet Ave reconstruction project (project led by
Hennepin County) and the 73rd St Pedestrian Bridge & Trail project over I -35W . Staff recommends only
proceeding with funding for one project in this cycle and recommends that project be the Nicollet Ave
reconstruction project.
Staff is recommending the City advancing the Nicollet Ave reconstruction project proposal for the following
reasons:
The Nicollet project is already programmed in Hennepin County's C I P and the City must determine a
funding source prior to construction in 2026.
W hile a key local need, the 73rd St project does not have any committed funding at this point.
The Nicollet project has a regional impact, an important qualification for the State funding.
The 73rd St. project is important locally, but may have have less of a regional significance.
Bonding requests require a 50% non-State match and it's staff understanding the County funding
counts towards that match for the Nicollet project.
The 73rd St. project is eligible for federal funding through Met Council’s Regional Solicitation and will
be submitted in the upcoming cycle (fall 2023).
The Nicollet project may be eligible for ped/bike improvement funding through the Met Council's
Regional Solicitation process, but likely in a smaller sum than available through state bonding.
The City's lobbyists have advised that it's not typical for small/medium sized cities like Richfield to
submit multiple projects requests in the same bonding cycle.
Submitting two proposals will stretch council and staff capacity to effectively advocate for state bonding
funds.
D IRE C T I O N NE E D E D:
Staff is seeking direction on which proposals (if any) to proceed with for the potential 2024 bonding
cycle.
B AC K G RO UND INF O RM AT I O N:
A.H IS TOR IC AL C ON T E X T
See executive summary.
B.P OL IC IE S (resolutions, ordinances, regulations, statutes, etc):
Pursuit of bonding dollars for infrastructure projects is consistent with the following City Council
Strategic Priorities and Desired Outcomes:
1b: Operational Excellence - Financial Capacity to Deliver Essential Services
3a: Sustainable I nfrastructure - City I nfrastructure Supports Service Needs
3b: Sustainable I nfrastructure - Sustainable I nfrastructure Financing
C.C R IT IC AL T IMIN G IS S U E S:
A resolution of support from the City Council is required to be submitted to the legislature prior
to October 13, 2023 in advance of the 2024 session.
D.F IN AN C IAL IMPAC T:
The bonding request for the Nicollet project was $10 million, which would cover the City's needs
for utility and road reconstruction, likely with minimal local match required.
The bonding request for the 73rd St project was $5.5 million, which would require a $5.5 million
match from the City.
E.L E GAL C ON S ID E R AT ION:
None at this time.
ALTE R N AT IV E(S):
None
P R IN C IPAL PAR TIE S E X P E C TE D AT ME E TIN G:
None
AGENDA SECTION:Work Session Items
AGENDA ITEM #2.
WORK S E S S ION STAFF RE P ORT NO. 26
WORK SESSION
7/25/2023
RE P O RT P RE PA RE D B Y: Jay Henthorne, P ublic S afety D irector/C hief of P olice
D E PA RTME NT D IRE C TO R RE V IE W: Jay Henthorne, D irector of P ublic S afety/C hief of P olice
7/19/2023
O THE R D E PA RTM E NT RE V IE W:
C ITY MA NA G E R RE V IE W:
I T E M F O R WO RK S E S S IO N:
Discussion of an ordinance regulating cannabis use within public property and public places.
E X E C UT IV E S UM M ARY:
The Minnesota Legislature recently approved amendments to Chapter 152 of MN Statues related to Drugs,
Controlled Substances which provides for the regulation of adult use cannabis. Specifically, the law
authorizes the City to adopt an ordinance establishing a petty misdemeanor offense for a person who
unlawfully uses cannabis flower and cannabis products in a public place.
D IRE C T I O N NE E D E D:
Discussion and guidance on whether to bring a draft ordinance that regulates cannabis use within
public property and public places to a future city council meeting.
B AC K G RO UND INF O RM AT I O N:
A.H IS TOR IC AL C ON T E X T
The Adult Use Cannabis legislation permits an individual 21 or older to possess or transport up to two
ounces of adult-use cannabis flower in a public place.
I n addition, the language expressly states that an individual over 21 may use adult-use cannabis flower
and adult-use cannabis products in the following locations:
1. A private residence and yard; and
2. On private property not generally accessible by the public, unless such use is explicitly prohibited
by the owner of the property; and
3. On premises licensed to permit on-site consumption.
Of note, the language does not grant an individual a right to use cannabis on public property. As part of
the legislation, Section 152.0263 (Cannabis possession Crimes) was added to Chapter 152 (Drugs,
Controlled Substances). More specifically, Section 152.0263, Subd. 5, authorizes the City to adopt an
ordinance establishing a petty misdemeanor offense for a person who unlawfully uses cannabis flower,
cannabis products, lower-potency hemp edibles, or hemp-derived products in a public place. Public
place cannot include the three permissible locations described above. An ordinance can only apply to
offenses committed after August 1.
B.P OL IC IE S (resolutions, ordinances, regulations, statutes, etc):
The City of Richfield regulates tobacco and alcohol in public places with a misdemeanor charge. The
adult use cannabis legislation only allows a petty misdemeanor.
C.C R IT IC AL T IMIN G IS S U E S:
Possession, use, and home-growth of adult use cannabis becomes legal on August 1, 2023.
The adoption of an ordinance addressing the regulation of cannabis use within public property and
public places does not require a formal public hearing, but does require ten days advance posting of the
ordinance to be considered.
D.F IN AN C IAL IMPAC T:
N/A
E.L E GAL C ON S ID E R AT ION:
ALTE R N AT IV E(S):
P R IN C IPAL PAR TIE S E X P E C TE D AT ME E TIN G: