2026-06-09 Regular Council MinutesITEM #1 CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Supple at 7:00 p.m. on June 9, 2026, in the Council
Chambers.
Council Present: Mary Supple, Mayor; Walter Burk, Sean Hayford Oleary,
Sharon Christensen, and Rori A. Coleman-Woods.
Staff Present: Katie Rodriguez, City Manager; Sack Thongvanh, Assistant
City Manager; Kristin Asher, Public Works Director; Melissa
Poehlman, Community Development Director; Karl Huemiller,
Recreation Services Director; Sam Ketchum, serving in place
for Mary Tietjen, City Attorney; and Michelle Friedrich, City
Clerk.
ITEM #2 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Supple led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ITEM #3 APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
MOTION: made by Council Member Hayford Oleary, seconded by Council Member Christensen 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 #4 APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION: made by Council Member Burk, seconded by Council Member Hayford Oleary to approve
the minutes of the (4a) City Council Work Session from May 26, 2026, and (4b) Regular Meeting
from May 26, 2026.
Voting Aye: Mayor Supple, Council Member Burk, Council Member Hayford Oleary, Council
Member Christensen, and Council Member Coleman-Woods.
Motion carried: 5-0
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Council Regular Meeting
June 9, 2026
City Council Meeting Minutes -2- May 26, 2026
ITEM #5
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. No residents participated in the Open Forum
opportunity.
ITEM #6
PROCLAMATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
a. Proclamation Celebrating Juneteenth.
Mayor Supple read the proclamation celebrating Juneteenth. The proclamation was received by
Human Rights Commission Liaison Council Member Burk.
b. Proclamation Celebrating Ava Wiederholt.
Mayor Supple read the proclamation celebrating Ava Weiderholt. The proclamation was received by
Ava Weiderholt.
ITEM #7
CONSENT CALENDAR
City Manager Rodriguez presented the consent calendar.
a. Approve Disbursements/Claims
U.S. BANK Thru 06-05-2026
A/P Checks/ETF’s: (05-15-2026 through 05-29-2026) $3,530,526.30
Payroll (06-05-2026) Includes health insurance
premiums for June 2026. $1,371,441.82
TOTAL $4,901,968.12
b. Consideration of a Professional Service Agreement with TC2 to assist the City with the
2050 Comprehensive Plan update.
c. Resolution supporting the City of Richfield's selection to host a Minnesota GreenCorps
Member.
RESOLUTION 12426
SUPPORTING THE CITY OF RICHFIELD'S SELECTION TO HOST A MINNESOTA
GREENCORPS MEMBER
d. Resolution authorizing the Mayor and City Manager to execute two Active Transportation
Grant Agreements with the Metropolitan Council.
RESOLUTION 12427
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE TWO ACTIVE
TRANSPORTATION GRANT AGREEMENTS WITH THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL
City Council Meeting Minutes -3- May 26, 2026
MOTION: made by Council Member Coleman-Woods, seconded by Council Member Burk, to
approve Consent Calendar items 7a-d 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.
ITEM
#11
RESOLUTIONS
a. Consideration of a policy for use of the 4d (1) tax classification as a tool to create and
preserve affordable housing.
Council Member Hayford Oleary presented staff report 11a, a proposed policy for the use of the 4d
(1) tax classification to support affordable housing. The policy reflects the direction of the Council
and the Housing and Redevelopment Authority Commission’s direction that 4d (1) should be used
only as a last resort after other funding sources have been exhausted. Priority would be given to
preserving existing affordable housing and projects that advance key housing goals. For new
construction, 4d (1) would only be considered when it meets City priorities and is financially
beneficial to the City.
MOTION: made by Council Member Hayford Oleary, seconded by Council Member Burk, to
adopt a resolution approving a policy governing the use of 4d (1) tax classification to help
create and preserve affordable housing.
Council Members expressed support for the 4d (1) policy and thanked staff for their work
developing a balanced approach. Council discussion emphasized the importance of adhering
to the policy when evaluating future requests, recognizing the need to balance affordable
housing goals with the tax impacts on other property owners and agreed that the policy will
serve as a useful framework for evaluating future requests.
RESOLUTION 12428
APPROVING THE ADOPTION OF A 4d (1) TAX CLASSIFICATION POLICY
Voting Aye: Mayor Supple, Council Member Burk, Council Member Hayford Oleary, Council
Member Christensen, and Council Member Coleman-Woods.
Motion carried: 5-0
City Council Meeting Minutes -4- May 26, 2026
ITEM #12
OTHER BUSINESS
a. Consider and approve either a 46-day in-person or an 18-day early voting period for 2026
based on new election legislation passed on May 15, 2026, establish an absentee ballot
board with Hennepin County, and a city absentee ballot board on election days, and as
needed throughout the 46 days of absentee voting.
Council Member Coleman-Woods presented staff report 12a, which included options for
implementing new state election legislation that allows municipalities to choose either a 46-day in-
person absentee voting period or an 18-day in-person early voting period for 2026 elections. Staff
also recommended appointing Hennepin County as the absentee ballot board during the absentee
voting period and establishing a City absentee ballot board for election days and as needed
throughout the voting period.
Council Members asked questions about how residents would access and return absentee ballots
under the proposed 18-day in-person voting period. Staff explained that residents still have
availability to vote beginning 46 days before an election through mail, online requests, or at
Hennepin County Government Center, and can still drop-off ballots at City Hall. Staff also outlined
plans to communicate the changes to residents and confirmed that computer access would be
available at City Hall to assist voters with requesting mail-out ballots or with registering to vote.
Council members expressed support for the 18-day option, noting that it maintains voter access and
ballot security while reducing administrative workload and costs.
MOTION: made by Council Member Burk, seconded by Council Member Christensen, to approve a
resolution establishing an 18-day in-person early voting administration process for the statewide
primary and general elections in Richfield, Minnesota; appointing Hennepin County as the primary
absentee ballot board for Richfield elections during the 46-day absentee voting period; establishing
a City absentee ballot board as needed during the 46-day absentee voting period; and establishing
a City absentee ballot board for the statewide primary election on August 11, 2026, and the general
election on November 3, 2026.
RESOLUTION 12429
ESTABLISHING THE CITY OF RICHFIELD’S ABSENTEE AND EARLY VOTING
ADMINISTRATION PERIOD AND ADMINISTRATION OF ABSENTEE BALLOT
BOARD FOR ALL FUTURE PRIMARY AND GENERAL ELECTIONS HELD ON
THE SAME DAY AS A STATEWIDE ELECTION PURSUANT TO MINNESOTA
STATUTES § 203B.05
Voting Aye: Mayor Supple, Council Member Burk, Council Member Hayford Oleary, Council
Member Christensen, and Council Member Coleman-Woods.
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM
#13
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Rodriguez noted nothing to report for this evening.
ITEM #14
COUNCIL DISCUSSION
a. Hats off to Hometown Hits.
City Council Meeting Minutes -5-May 26, 2026
Council Member Coleman-Woods expressed appreciation to all the 2026 Richfield graduating seniors.
Council Member Christensen reminded residents that the Richfield Pool is opening at Veterans Park on
Friday, June 12.
Council Member Hayford Oleary thanked Pizza Lucé for hosting its annual bike tour, which connects all
eight metro-area locations. Council Member Hayford Oleary noted he participated in part of the ride and
noted strong community participation, with more than 100 bicycles filling the bike racks and parking area
at the Richfield location. The event highlighted local biking activity and provided a fun opportunity for
residents to engage in the community.
Council Member Burk expressed appreciation to City Clerk Friedrich for providing a thorough and
informative presentation to the Human Rights Commission on election laws and election
administration in Richfield.
Mayor Supple invited residents to attend the Summer Kickoff event at the Municipal Center and Heredia
Park, featuring family-friendly activities, community information booths, entertainment, and a State of the
Community address. The mayor also congratulated local graduates, students, and educators on the
completion of the school year and thanked Frasier School for hosting a recent tour of its facilities.
b.Council Liaison Reports
No reports were discussed.
ITEM #15 CLOSED SESSION
a.Closed Session City Manager Evaluation
Mayor Supple announced the closed session item, and stated, “Council is moving into a closed
session meeting in the Babcock Room for the purpose of conducting a performance evaluation of
City Manager Katie Rodriguez, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, section 13D.05, subdivision 3(a).
MOTION: made by Council Member Burk, seconded by Council Member Coleman-Woods to recess
the regular meeting and move into the closed session meeting.
Voting Aye: Supple, Burk, Hayford Oleary, Christensen, and Coleman-Woods.
Motion carries: 5:0
Council recessed to closed session at 7:32 pm.
Council reconvened the regular meeting at 9:13 pm.
Mayor Supple stated, "Council will now reconvene the regular meeting at 9:13 pm. The Council met
in a closed session to conduct the performance evaluation of City Manager Rodriguez pursuant to
Minnesota Statutes, section 13D.05, subd. 3(a). The Council will hold another closed-session
performance evaluation meeting on June 16, 2026; and as required by law, will provide a summary
of the performance evaluation at the June 23, 2026, regular council meeting.
ITEM #16 ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: made by Council Member Burk, seconded by Council Member Coleman-Woods to adjourn the
meeting at 9:15 p.m.
Voting Aye: Supple, Burk, Hayford Oleary, Christensen, and Coleman-Woods.
Motion carries: 5:0
City Council Meeting Minutes -6-May 26, 2026
Date Approved: June 23, 2026
Mary Supple
Mayor
Michelle Friedrich Katie Rodriguez
City Clerk City Manager