08-14-2024 Council Regular MinutesThe 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; Karl Huemiller, Recreation
Services Director; Mary Tietjen, City Attorney; and Kelly Wynn,
Administrative Assistant
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
Larry Ernster, 6727 Elliot Avenue South, Richfield, explained the problems he has with changing
Richfield ordinances pertaining to microunits.
Mary Best, 6727 Elliot Avenue South, Richfield, asked questions related to taxpayer support
that would be needed to sustain new affordable living spaces. She also noted concerns about replacing
single-family homes with new buildings.
Kathleen Balaban noted that the financial impact of decisions the Council is making, are not
available for residents to see. She asked questions about where this money is coming from and how it
is impacting residents.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
M/Hayford Oleary, S/Whalen to approve the minutes of the: (1) City Council Work Session of
July 23, 2024; and (2) City Council Meeting of July 23, 2024.
Motion carried: 5-0
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
August 14, 2024
CALL TO ORDER
City Council Meeting Minutes -2- August 14, 2024
ITEM #1
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
M/Whalen, S/Christensen to approve the Agenda.
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #2
CONSENT CALENDAR
City Manager Rodriguez presented the consent calendar.
A. Consider a resolution designating the City Manager as the signing authority for the Federal
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) environmental review required as
part of the HUD Economic Development Initiative Grant in the amount of $3,000,000 for the
Wood Lake Nature Center Building Project. (Staff Report No. 101)
RESOLUTION NO.12226
RESOLUTION DESIGNATING CITY MANAGER KATIE RODRIGUEZ AS THE SIGNING
AUTHORITY FOR THE HUD ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW, REQUIRED AS PART OF THE
ACCEPTANCE OF THE HUD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE GRANT IN THE AMOUNT
OF $3,000,000 FOR THE WOOD LAKE NATURE CENTER BUILDING PROJECT.
B. Consider a request for a Conditional Use Permit and two buffer yard variances for an auto
repair shop at 7524 Lyndale Avenue South. (Staff Report No. 102)
RESOLUTION NO. 12227
RESOLUTION APPROVING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AND TWO BUFFER YARD
VARIANCES AT 7524 LYNDALE AVENUE SOUTH
C. Consider entering into a Joint Powers Agreement ("JPA") for assessment services with
Hennepin County (Staff Report No. 104)
D. Consider the approval of two engineering consultant pool agreements between the City and
the selected engineering firms for routine professional engineering services for calendar
years 2024 through 2025. (Staff Report No. 105)
E. Consider the adoption of a resolution identifying the need for a Livable Communities
Demonstration Account Development grant and authorizing an application for grant funds
on behalf of the Aster Commons Development located at 6613-25 Portland Avenue. (Staff
Report No. 106)
RESOLUTION NO. 12228
RESOLUTION IDENTIFYING THE NEED FOR LIVABLE COMMUNITIES’ DEMONSTRATION
ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT FUNDING AND AUTHORIZING APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS
F. Consider approval of an agreement between the City of Richfield and the Science Museum
of Minnesota for professional services in the planning and design of interpretive exhibits for
the new Wood Lake Nature Center Building. (Staff Report No. 107)
G. Consider the approval of a resolution for reimbursement of certain expenditures from the
proceeds of utility bonds to be issued by the City for the Water System Interconnect Project.
(Staff Report No. 108)
City Council Meeting Minutes -3-August 14, 2024
RESOLUTION NO. 12229
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 WATER SYSTEM INTERCONNECT PROJECT
M/Trautmann, S/Christensen to approve the consent
calendar. Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #3 CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS, IF ANY, REMOVED FROM CONSENT
CALENDAR
None.
ITEM #4
CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE CONTRACT WITH THE
INTERNATIONAL UNION OF OPERATING ENGINEERS, LOCAL 49 FOR THE
CONTRACT PERIOD JANUARY 1, 2024 THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2025.
(STAFF REPORT NO. 109)
Council Member Trautmann presented Staff Report 109.
Council Member Trautmann thanked the staff for their help on this.
Mayor Supple also thanked staff and asked for an update on the financial impact of the wages
in the proposed budgets.
Manager Rodriguez noted that it is around a $49,000 increase.
M/Trautmann, S/Hayford Oleary to adopt a resolution approving the contract with the
International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 49, for the contract period January 1, 2024,
through December 31, 2025.
RESOLUTION NO. 12230
RESOLUTION APPROVING LABOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF RICHFIELD
AND INTERNATIONAL UNION OF OPERATING ENGINEERS, LOCAL 49 BARGAINING UNIT
FOR YEAR 2024 and 2025
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #5
CONSIDER APPROVAL OF AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF
RICHFIELD AND M.A. MORTENSON COMPANY FOR CONSTRUCTION
MANAGER AT RISK SERVICES FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW WOOD
LAKE NATURE CENTER BUILDING. (STAFF REPORT NO. 103)
Council Member Hayford Oleary presented Staff Report 103.
Council Member Whalen asked staff to define the meaning of staff manager at risk.
City Council Meeting Minutes -4-August 14, 2024
Director Huemiller explained that this is outlined in the State statute to have the construction
manager set a maximum price for the project that won’t be exceeded. This reduces the risk for the City
to go over budget for a project.
M/Hayford Oleary, S/Christensen to approve an agreement between the City of Richfield and
M.A. Mortenson Company for construction manager at risk services for the construction of a new Wood
Lake Nature Building.
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #6
CONSIDER A RESOLUTION ADOPTING TITLE AND BALLOT LANGUAGE
PERTAINING TO A LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX AUTHORIZED BY THE
MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE, TO BE SUBMITTED FOR CONSIDERATION TO
THE VOTERS OF THE CITY OF RICHFIELD AT THE GENERAL ELECTION ON
NOVEMBER 5, 2024. (STAFF REPORT NO. 110)
Council Member Whalen presented Staff Report 110.
Council Member Whalen asked if people will be able to see the full ballot language online.
City Manager Rodriguez noted she will discuss with the City Attorney to assure they are allowed
to display the sample ballots online.
City Attorney Tietjen noted that it will likely be fine to display the sample ballot, but she will make
sure.
Council Member Whalen explained that if residents are curious about ballot language, they can
look at the packet from the Council work session for more details.
M/Whalen, S/Hayford Oleary to adopt a resolution adopting title and ballot language pertaining
to a local option sales tax authorized by the Minnesota legislature, to be submitted for consideration to
the voters of the City of Richfield at the general election on November 5, 2024.
RESOLUTION NO. 12231
RESOLUTION ADOPTING TITLE AND BALLOT LANGUAGE PERTAINING TO A LOCAL
OPTION SALES TAX AUTHORIZED BY THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE, TO BE SUBMITTED
FOR CONSIDERATION TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF THE CITY OF RICHFIELD AT THE
GENERAL ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 5, 2024.
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #7 CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Rodriguez shared information regarding reduced parking minimums that were
passed in the previous meeting.
ITEM #8 CLAIMS AND PAYROLL
M/Whalen, S/Trautmann that the following claims and payrolls be approved:
City Council Meeting Minutes -5-August 14, 2024
U.S. BANK 08/08/2024
A/P Checks: 330043 - 330710 $3,467,407.46
Payroll: 189995 – 190389 43972 – 43977 $1,151,265.30
TOTAL $4,618,672.76
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #9 HATS OFF TO HOMETOWN HITS
Council Member Trautmann shared that there are fall rec sports that will be available.
Council Member Hayford Oleary commented on his enjoyment of National Night Out events last
week. He thanked all residents who helped organize events and all who attend
Council Member Christensen thanked all election workers for the primaries.
Council Member Whalen thanked election workers and the City Clerk. He also congratulated all
who won their primaries.
Mayor Supple thanked all who voted and participated in the primaries. She also thanked the
Council members that were able to attend the ribbon cutting of the skate park opening. She gave best
wishes to those going back to school and encouraged people to attend the upcoming Unity in the
Community event.
ITEM #10 ADJOURNMENT
M/Trautmann, S/Whalen to adjourn the meeting at 7:37 p.m.
Motion carried: 5-0
Date Approved: September 10, 2024
Mary B. Supple
Mayor
Kelly Wynn Katie Rodriguez
Administrative Assistant City Manager