Richfield City Council — Transcript
Tuesday, July 28, 2026
Tree Contract and Maintenance Policy
City Spending, Taxation, and Governance Concerns
Preservation of Green Spaces and Nature
Summer Intern Presentation (ACE Program)
Council Reports and Community Updates
Votes (2)
Approval of Consent Calendar
Moved by Unknown [00:22:15] · Seconded by Unknown [00:22:16]
The consent calendar contained multiple routine items approved by a single council motion. Key items included approval of disbursement claims, contracts for the 2026 concrete project and the 73rd Street Diagonal Boulevard 2026 sidewalk project, a license agreement for B&J Trees at Veterans Park, the 2027 food, pools, and lodging agreement with Bloomington, a temporary premises expansion for Fireside Foundry for PennFest, agreements for Richfield Ice Arena lobby electrical and mechanical work, a contract for USDA UCF Boulevard tree planting, a master utility agreement with MNDOT for the I-494 Project 2, adoption of the Hennepin County Elections Emergency Continuity Plan, and a quote for furniture at Woodlake Nature Center.
Adoption of Resolution Approving Five-Year Street Reconstruction Plan and Authorizing Street Reconstruction Bonds for 2026-2027 Nicollet Avenue Project
Moved by Council Member Hayford Deliri [00:35:55] · Seconded by Unknown [00:36:06]
City Engineer Joe Powers presented an overview of the five-year street reconstruction plan, highlighting projects funded by local bond sales. The public hearing specifically addressed the Nicollet Avenue reconstruction project, a $19.6 million project led by Hennepin County from 66th to 77th Street. The city proposed selling up to $5 million in street reconstruction bonds, and potentially $150,000 in utility bonds, supplemented by $2 million in state bond funding. Residents questioned the scope, particularly why the Nicollet Avenue project stopped at 66th Street and didn't extend to I-494, and sought clarification on other projects like 69th Street and the 73rd Street Diagonal Boulevard sidewalk project. Staff explained that Hennepin County determined the project limits and detailed cost-sharing policies. The bond issuance in 2027 was explained as part of long-term financial planning to even out the city's debt load.
Notable Quotes (4)
I just want to say thank you to everybody that was involved. There's a lot of projects that have taken a lot of work and I know um the um elections emergency and continuity plan was over 150 pages and it's not something that's public because of security reasons but I know a lot of thought went into it and people have been asking me about it and it was very good to to see all the planning that was done.
Overall project um, estimate is $19.6 million for this entire project. Um we're proposing to sell up to $5 million in street reconstruction bonds to cover the city's portion of the street and storm sewer costs on the project. Um we're proposing to possibly sell 150,000 in utility bonds. Um and then the remainder of the utility funding on this project is another $2 million. and um city staff after many many hours and lobbying the legislature over the past few years was successful in obtaining $2 million in uh state bond funding for this for this project which we're going we're going to be applying to our utility costs on this project.
But the one thing that I don't understand is why we stop at 66th Street. Why can't it go all the way to the freeway? It is a main thorough way for our city... when they enter our city, what do they see? Cracked sidewalks, bent things. I mean, if you look at that section of our city, it's an eyesore already in many ways.
So, it's true that the overall project cost is majority paid by the county, but I do want to be clear that this item we are approving $5 million of city bonding money that will come from city taxpayers. So, this is after after that discount from the county basically.
Ordinances & Resolutions (17)
Resource for submitting public comments on richfieldmn.gov/city councsel
City infrastructure project awarded to Standard Sidewalk Inc. for $395,868.75
Agreement to sell trees under the picnic pavilion at Veterans Park
Inter-city agreement with the City of Bloomington for health services
Temporary license expansion for outside beer and malt beverage service during Richfield's Open Streets at PennFest event
Infrastructure project awarded to GL Ty, Inc. for $1,080,651.33
Contracts for electrical ($139,850) and mechanical ($294,210) work at the Richfield Ice Arena lobby
Contract awarded to North Metro Companies LLC for $269,068 for boulevard tree planting
Agreement between the City of Richfield, MNDOT, and Mindot selected design build contractor governing utility replacement/repair/relocation as part of I-494 Project 2
Plan adopted by the city for election security and continuity, noted as being over 150 pages
Proposal for $429,659.54 for the purchase and installation of interior and exterior furniture at the new Woodlake Nature Center building
City plan outlining future street projects and funding mechanisms, including potential projects on 69th Street, Penn Avenue, 76th at Knox, and 76 West of Penn.
Authorizes the five-year street reconstruction plan and issuance of up to $5 million in street reconstruction bonds for the Nicollet Avenue reconstruction project
Local bonds used to pay for street projects, subject to a 30-day reverse referendum period
Potential bonds to cover utility costs on the Nicollet Avenue project
$2 million secured for Nicollet Avenue utility costs through legislative lobbying
Program providing funding to small businesses in Richfield