11-26-2024 Work Session
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
City Council Work Session
November 26, 2024
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Supple called the work session to order at 5:30 p.m. in the Bartholomew Room.
Council Members
Present:
Council Members
Absent:
Mary Supple, Mayor; Sharon Christensen; Sean Hayford Oleary; and Ben
Whalen arrived at 5:32 pm.
Simon Trautmann
Staff Present:
Sack Thongvanh, Assistant City Manager; Kristin Asher, Public Works
Director; Matt Hardegger, Transportation Engineer; Joe Powers, City
Engineer; Courtney Miller, Senior Analyst; Michelle Friedrich, City Clerk.
City Manager Katie Rodriguez was excused.
Mayor Supple called the meeting to order at 5:30 pm.
ITEM #1
DISCUSSION ON HENNEPIN COUNTY ROADWAY SPEED LIMITS WITHIN
RICHFIELD
Assistant City Manager Thongvanh introduced Transportation Engineer Hardegger.
Transportation Engineer Hardegger outlined the discussion for speed limit reduction and noted in
2023 City Council approved lowering the speed limit citywide to 25 miles per hour on local,
residential roadways. Transportation Engineer Hardegger reviewed staff meetings with county
officials and staff regarding statutory speed limits for county roads within Richfield. Transportation
Engineer Hardegger referenced 66th Street (Xerxes to Highway 77), Portland Avenue (77th Street to
Highway 62), Nicollet Avenue (77th to 66th), Nicollet Avenue (66th to Highway 62), and Penn Avenue
(south of 68th Street), and noted existing speed limits.
Mayor Supple noted comments received regarding speed limit changes and impacts to Richfield
Public Schools transportation schedules. Council and staff discussed impacts and challenges of
speed limit changes, and also reviewed the benefits to the community. Council and staff discussed
speed limits, street locations and naturally occurring affordable housing (NOAH), available street
parking, and converting shoulders to bike lane, and lowering speed limits under section 160.263.
Council provided staff direction supporting changes on lowering speed limits on county roads
pending Hennepin County approval.
City Council Work Session Minutes -2-November 12, 2024
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Supple adjourned the work session at 5:49 pm.
Date Approved: December 10, 2024
Mary B. Supple
Mayor
Michelle Friedrich Katie Rodriguez
City Clerk City Manager