11-12-2024 Work Session
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
City Council Work Session
November 12, 2024
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Supple called the work session to order at 5:45 p.m. in the Bartholomew Room.
Council Members
Present:
Council Members
Absent:
Mary Supple, Mayor; Simon Trautmann, Sean Hayford Oleary, Ben Whalen
Sharon Christensen
Staff Present:
Katie Rodriguez, City Manager; Sack Thongvanh, Assistant City Manager;
Melissa Poehlman, Community Development Director; Mike Dobesh, Fire
Chief; Jay Henthorne, Director of Public Safety/Chief of Police; Kristin
Asher, Public Works Director; Karl Huemiller, Recreation Services Director;
Courtney Miller, Senior Analyst; Michelle Friedrich, City Clerk.
ITEM #1
CONSIDER RICHFIELD’S PROPOSED 2025 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
City Manager Rodriguez provided a summary of the agenda and turned the first item over to Senior
Analyst Miller.
Senior Analyst Miller presented the order of items for tonight’s meeting.
Community Development Director Poehlman explained the Community Development legislative
priorities for 2025. Community Development Director Poehlman explained the reasoning behind
each item and the importance to the department and the City. She also highlighted the department’s
top priority for the year.
Council Member Whalen expressed concern with the first two bullet points discussed. Council
Member Whalen noted he is not comfortable with complete opposition to something that will provide
more housing.
Council Member Hayford Oleary requested more context regarding the first issue. Council Member
Hayford Oleary noted partial opposition and suggested limiting it to some Richfield concerns or
balance it out more.
City Council Work Session Minutes -2-November 12, 2024
Mayor Supple noted the bill is being updated and suggested review of specific sections of the bill
separately, rather than a whole may be beneficial.
Council Member Whalen would support removing only the first bullet point.
Council Member Trautmann noted more focus on other priorities.
Assistant City Manager Thongvanh reviewed Administrative Services top legislative priorities for
2025.
City Manager Rodriguez highlighted the two top legislative priorities in the Finance Department.
Fire Chief Dobesh discussed the Fire Department's legislative priorities for 2025 and mentioned the
top priority the department would like to focus on.
Council Member Trautmann asked if there are any challenges related to the amount of illegal
fireworks in Richfield.
Police Chief Henthorne noted fireworks become a violation if they become airborne. Police Chief
Henthorne relayed airborne fireworks enforcement is challenging but officers do they best that they
can do. Police Chief Henthorne noted fireworks are confiscated if they are found, and added it is
important to keep fireworks illegal.
Police Chief Henthorne reviewed the Public Safety legislative priorities for 2025.
Council Member Trautmann noted he would not advise supporting the last point. Council Member
Trautmann discussed he is in favor of supporting the second half of the first point, but not the first
half. Council Member Trautmann added his concerns about the opposition to the Brady data.
Chief Henthorne explained what the Brady Bill data means.
Council Member Whalen agreed the City should not weigh in on the Brady Bill legislature.
Mayor Supple added she is in support of using tracking on the fleeing vehicles.
Public Works Director Asher discussed the legislative priorities for Public Works in 2025.
Parks and Recreation Director Huemiller reviewed the Recreation and Sustainability legislative
priorities for 2025.
City Manager Rodriguez provided a summary of the consensus for changes to the priorities.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Supple adjourned the work session at 6:56 pm.
Date Approved: November 26, 2024
Mary B. Supple
Mayor
City Council Work Session Minutes -3-November 12, 2024
Michelle Friedrich Katie Rodriguez
City Clerk City Manager