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2026-04-28 Regular Council MinutesITEM #1 CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Mayor Supple at 7:00 p.m. on April 28, 2026, in the Council Chambers. Council Present: Mary Supple, Mayor; Walter Burk, Sean Hayford Oleary, Sharon Christensen, and Rori A. Coleman-Woods. Staff Present: Staff Excused: Guests: Sack Thongvanh, Assistant City Manager; Sam Ketchum, City Attorney; and Michelle Friedrich, City Clerk. Katie Rodriguez, City Manager. None. ITEM #2 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Supple led the Pledge of Allegiance. ITEM #3 PRESENTATIONS a.STEM School Choir Mayor Supple introduced the STEM School Choir. The STEM School Choir performed several songs for the Council and City of Richfield residents. ITEM #4 APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA MOTION: made by Council Member Coleman Woods, seconded by Council Member Burk to approve the agenda as presented. Voting Aye: Mayor Supple, Council Member Burk, Council Member Hayford Oleary, Council Member Christensen, and Council Member Coleman-Woods. Motion carried: 5-0 ITEM #5 APPROVAL OF MINUTES CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Richfield, Minnesota Council Regular Meeting April 28, 2026 City Council Meeting Minutes -2-April 28, 2026 Mayor Supple noted a clerical error was corrected for item 12a of the April 14 Regular Meeting Minutes. Mayor Supple noted Council received one email comment for Open Forum and that the email would be included with the April 28 Regular Meeting Minutes. a.Approval of the Minutes MOTION: made by Council Member Coleman-Woods, seconded by Council Member Hayford Oleary to approve the minutes of the (1) City Council Work Session from April 14, 2026, and (2) Regular Meeting from April 14, 2026, with the clerical revision to item 12a. Voting Aye: Mayor Supple, Council Member Burk, Council Member Hayford Oleary, Council Member Christensen, and Council Member Coleman-Wood Motion carried: 5-0 ITEM #6 OPEN FORUM Mayor Supple noted the process for individuals wishing to speak during Open Forum and reviewed the three-minute time limit for public comments and explained the use of time warning cards to alert the speaker when their time is almost expired. Instructions were given for speakers to state their name and city of residence before speaking. Two residents addressed the Council during the Open Forum opportunity. Birgit Johnson, Richfield resident, thanked the sustainability commission for allowing their comments regarding Vets Park black-winged heron viewing platform, and asked Council to be cognizant of costs. Ms. Johnson commented on the work session from the April 14 presentation, and opined on gun safety. Heidi Gaibor, Richfield resident, thanked the STEM choir for performing at the Council meeting tonight. ITEM #7 PROCLAMATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS a.Proclamation celebrating Asian and Pacific American Heritage Month. Mayor Supple read the proclamation recognizing Asian and Pacific American Heritage month. The proclamation was received by Valerie Hurst-Baker. ITEM #7 CONSENT CALENDAR Acting City Manager Thongvanh presented the consent calendar. a.Approve Disbursements/Claims U.S. BANK Thru 4-24-2026 A/P Checks/ETF’s: (4-4-2026 through 4-17-2026) $1,148,545.84 Payroll (4-24-2026) $1,121,462.23 TOTAL $2,270,008.07 City Council Meeting Minutes -3-April 28, 2026 b.Approval of the bid tabulation and authorize the Mayor and City Manager to execute a contract with Concrete Idea, Inc., for the Safe Routes to School Sheridan Hills Elementary sidewalk project in the amount of $429,153.25 and authorize the City Manager to approve contract changes up to $175,000 without further City Council consideration. c.Adoption of a resolution for reimbursement of certain expenditures from the proceeds of street reconstruction bonds and utility bonds to be issued by the City for the Penn Avenue (CSAH 32) Reconstruction Project. RESOLUTION NO. 2026-12419 DECLARING THE OFFICIAL INTENT OF THE CITY OF RICHFIELD TO REIMBURSE CERTAIN EXPENDITURES FROM THE PROCEEDS OF BONDS TO BE ISSUED BY THE CITY WITH RESPECT TO THE PENN AVENUE RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT d.Adoption of a resolution authorizing execution of Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) Agreement No. 1062789 for the disbursement of state general obligation bond funds for the Sheridan Hills Safe Routes to School project. RESOLUTION NO. 2026-12420 AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (MNDOT) AGREEMENT NO. 1062789 FOR THE DISBURSEMENT OF STATE GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND FUNDS FOR THE SHERIDAN HILLS SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PROJECT e.Consider approval of an Encroachment Agreement between the City of Richfield and Herspace, LLC, allowing the property owner at 6440 Nicollet Avenue to maintain an existing private parking lot and commercial sign within public right-of-way. MOTION: made by Council Member Hayford Oleary, seconded by Council Member Christensen, to approve consent calendar items 7a-e as presented. Voting Aye: Mayor Supple, Council Member Burk, Council Member Hayford Oleary, Council Member Christensen, and Council Member Coleman-Woods. Motion carried: 5-0 ITEM #8 CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS, IF ANY, REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR None. ITEM #9 PUBLIC HEARINGS None. ITEM #10 PROPOSED ORDINANCES None. City Council Meeting Minutes -4-April 28, 2026 ITEM #11 RESOLUTIONS None. ITEM #12 OTHER BUSINESS None. ITEM #13 CITY MANAGER’S REPORT Acting City Manager Thongvanh noted there was nothing to report this week. ITEM #14 COUNCIL DISCUSSION a.Hats off to Hometown Hits. Council Member Hayford Oleary noted the Richfield Foundation fundraiser event date has been rescheduled to the fall, with Council indicating a tentative October 8 date to be confirmed. Council Member Hayford Oleary provided an update related to the Transportation Commission, noting the upcoming meeting will include continued discussions on Penn Avenue, ongoing community input and a collaborative planning process. Council Member Christensen reported an art exhibit featuring students from Richfield High School will be held at the community center next Thursday from 4:00–5:00 p.m., followed by a reception. Council Member Christensen added the exhibit will include a wide variety of artwork, such as paintings, drawings, and sculptures, displayed throughout the upper level and will remain on display for an extended period after the event. Council Member Coleman-Woods acknowledged the Sustainability Commission and its efforts around Earth Day, Compost Day on May 1, and an electronics recycling and paper shredding event at the ice arena parking lot on May 14. Mayor Supple recognized Council Member Hayford Oleary for testifying before the Senate Transportation Committee on behalf of Richfield. Mayor Supple highlighted a donation opportunity, supported by the Richfield Community Safety Network, which is seeking $25,000 in community donations to unlock a $400,000 matching gift, with a deadline of May 6. Mayor Supple noted an upcoming Northstar Therapy Animals event on April 30 from 4:00–7:00 p.m. at the Mall of America Rotunda, promoting community involvement and support for therapy animal programs. Mayor Supple expressed appreciation for the STEM school choir’s performance. b.Council Liaison Reports Brief reports noted above in Hats off to Hometown Hits. ITEM #15 ADJOURNMENT City Council Meeting Minutes -5-April 28, 2026 MOTION: made by Council Member Coleman-Woods, seconded by Council Member Hayford Oleary to adjourn the meeting at 7:35 p.m. Voting Aye: Mayor Supple, Council Member Burk, Council Member Hayford Oleary, Council Member Christensen, and Council Member Coleman-Woods. Motion carried: 5-0 Date Approved: May 12, 2026 Mary Supple Mayor Michelle Friedrich Sack Thongvanh City Clerk Acting City Manager From:Michelle Friedrich To:Sack Thongvanh Cc:Mark McKinley; Karl Huemiller; Katie Rodriguez; Mary Supple Bcc:Sean Hayford Oleary; Sean Hayford Oleary; Sharon Christensen; Walter Burk; Rori Coleman-Woods; Rori Woods Subject:FW: Public Comment Submission for April 28 Date:Monday, April 20, 2026 8:20:00 AM Attachments:image001.png Good Morning Mayor and Council, Please see the email trail below for a public comment received for the wildlife viewing platform. Michelle Friedrich (she/her/hers) City Clerk 6700 Portland Ave S., Richfield MN 55423 Tel: (612) 861-9739 |Fax: (612) 861-9715 mfriedrich@richfieldmn.gov From: No Reply <noreply@civicplus.com> Sent: Sunday, April 19, 2026 2:27 PM To: Michelle Friedrich <MFriedrich@richfieldmn.gov> Subject: Public Comment Submission Submitted by: Pamela S Email Address: jpkitty111@gmail.com User comment: A platform viewing area by the Black-crowned Night Heron island will not be useful to people and it will only disturb the wildlife that seeks sanctuary on the island. What a huge waste of money.