09-24-2024 Council Regular Meeting
The 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; Mary Tietjen, City Attorney;
Melissa Poehlman, Community Development Director; and
Michelle Friedrich, City Clerk.
Others Present: Mara Glubka, Human Rights Commissioner
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
Heidi Gabor, 6915 Wentworth, brought up concerns regarding the lack of maintenance of the
park systems in the City. She also discussed the lack of maintenance of City buildings.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
M/Christensen, S/Trautmann to approve the minutes of the: (1) Special City Council Work
Session of August 28, 2024; (2) City Council Work Session of September 10, 2024; and (3) City
Council Meeting of September 10, 2024.
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #1
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
September 24, 2024
CALL TO ORDER
City Council Meeting Minutes -2- September 24, 2024
M/Whalen, S/Christensen to approve the agenda.
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #2
RICHFIELD BEACONS YOUTH RESEARCHERS
Richfield Beacons Youth Researchers’ representatives introduced themselves to the Council.
They presented details on who they are and what they are doing and explained they would like to
create a positive change for youth in Richfield. They discussed barriers that youth face when trying to
get involved in the community.
Mayor Supple asked for more details on the letters in the park idea.
The youth representative shared that the idea is to put letters and bracelets of encouragement
throughout the park for others to find.
Council Member Hayford Oleary asked what was meant by needing sign improvement.
The youth representative noted that in some parks, there are signs that suggest the park is only
for young children, and they would like to see signs that show the park can be for all ages.
Council Member Trautmann thanked and applauded the group for their hard work and research.
Council Member Whalen asked if they have an ongoing conversation with the Parks and Rec
Department to follow through on some of these things.
The youth representative noted that at first, it was an ongoing thing, but they would like to
continue to meet with them to discuss other problems in the community.
Council Member Whalen asked how interested they would be in helping plan some of the bigger
events in the City.
The youth representatives shared that they would love to be involved in the planning processes.
ITEM #3
PROCLAMATION LGBTQ+ HISTORY MONTH
Mayor Supple read aloud the proclamation and invited Commissioner Glubka to accept it.
Commissioner Glubka thanked Mayor Supple for the proclamation and discussed some history
on the topic.
Council Member Whalen encouraged people to get out and vote.
ITEM #4
CONSENT CALENDAR
City Manager Rodriguez presented the consent calendar.
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A. Consider a resolution supporting the Richfield Economic Development Authority's
application to the Hennepin County Business District Initiative Program. (Staff Report No.
126)
RESOLUTION NO. 12245
RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE RICHFIELD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY’S APPLICATION FOR HENNEPIN COUNTY BUSINESS DISTRICT
INITIATIVE PROGRAM GRANT FUNDS
B. Consider the approval of an agreement with the City of Bloomington for the provision of food,
pools, lodging, therapeutic massage and body art establishment inspection services for the
City of Richfield for 2025. (Staff Report No. 127)
C. Consider approval of the 2024-2025 Emergency Preparedness agreement with the City of
Bloomington, using public health emergency preparedness grant funds distributed by a
federal grant from the Centers for Disease Control, to provide services in the area of public
health emergency preparedness/bio-terrorism and the development of a response system.
(Staff Report No. 128)
D. Consider a resolution endorsing the constitutional amendment to reauthorize the dedication
of state lottery proceeds to the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF).
(Staff Report No. 129)
RESOLUTION NO. 12246
RESOLUTION ENDORSING THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO REAUTHORIZE
THE DEDICATION OF STATE LOTTERY PROCEEDS TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND
NATURAL RESOURCES TRUST FUND
E. Consider a resolution accepting a grant from Great River Greening in the amount of
$105,100 to provide habitat restoration services at Wood Lake Nature Center. (Staff Report
No. 130)
RESOLUTION NO. 12247
RESOLUTION ACCEPTING A GRANT FROM GREAT RIVER GREENING FOR WOOD
LAKE NATURE CENTER, IN THE AMOUNT OF $105,100, FOR HABITAT
RESTORATION WORK AT WOOD LAKE NATURE CENTER
F. Consider a resolution appointing election judges for the General Election on November 5,
2024. (Staff Report No. 131)
RESOLUTION NO. 12248
RESOLUTION APPOINTING ELECTION JUDGES AND AN ABSENTEE BALLOT
BOARD FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION BEING HELD ON NOVEMBER 5, 2024
M/Whalen, S/Hayford Oleary to approve the consent calendar.
Council Member Hayford Oleary shared his excitement for the grant they are pursuing as a part of
item one.
Mayor Supple thanked everyone who has volunteered to be an election judge.
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #5
CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS, IF ANY, REMOVED FROM CONSENT
CALENDAR
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None.
ITEM #6
CONSIDER THE SECOND READING AND HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING FOR AN
ORDINANCE AMENDMENT TO THE RICHFIELD CITY CODE APPENDIX (FEE
SCHEDULE) RELATED TO BUILDING, PLANNING, AND ZONING FEES. (STAFF
REPORT NO. 132)
Council Member Whalen presented Staff Report 132 and opened the public hearing.
M/Whalen, S/Trautmann to close the public hearing.
Motion carried: 5-0
M/Whalen, S/Hayford Oleary to approve the second reading of an ordinance amendment to the
Richfield City code appendix (fee schedule) related to building, planning, and zoning fees and approve
Resolution 12249 authorizing summary publication of said ordinance.
BILL NO. 2024-09
TRANSITORY ORDINANCE NO. 19-40
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #7
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Rodriguez shared information regarding the residents that discussed issues as a
part of public comment during the previous meeting. She mentioned that early voting has started.
ITEM #8
CLAIMS AND PAYROLL
M/Trautmann, S/Whalen that the following claims and payrolls be approved:
U.S. BANK 09/19/2024
A/P Checks: 331371 - 331654 $1,558,045.38
Payroll: 190861 – 191244 44024 – 44028 $999,312.76
TOTAL $2,557,358.14
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #9
HATS OFF TO HOMETOWN HITS
Council Member Trautmann gave a hats off to the high schoolers that are involved in the
Beacons Youth Researchers. He thanked all of those who were involved with Penn Fest. He also
gave hats off to the many election judges.
Council Member Hayford Oleary thanked all of those involved in Penn Fest
City Council Meeting Minutes -5-September 24, 2024
Council Member Christensen reminded residents that the Richfield Farmers Market is still in
session every Saturday.
Council Member Whalen mentioned early voting. He thanked everyone who attended Penn Fest
and all of those who helped.
Mayor Supple gave hats off to the Richfield League of Women Voters who have been providing
more education on the election and answering resident questions.
ITEM #10 ADJOURNMENT
M/Trautmann, S/Whalen to adjourn the meeting at 7:44 p.m.
Motion carried: 5-0
Date Approved: October 8, 2024
Mary B. Supple
Mayor
Michelle Friedrich Katie Rodriguez
City Clerk City Manager