Richfield City Council — Transcript
Tuesday, September 22, 2026
Hispanic Heritage Month Proclamation
Larry Fitzgerald Day Proclamation
Veterans Park Usage and Maintenance Concerns
Flock Camera System Concerns
2027 Preliminary Budget and Property Tax Levy
City Commission Appointments
Votes (9)
Proclamation Recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month
Dissent: None
Mayor Supple read a proclamation recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept 15 - Oct 15, 2026), acknowledging the rich cultural contributions and the 19% Hispanic/Latinex population in Richfield. She highlighted local achievements, including Henry Jimenez's role on the host committee for the Hispanic Heritage Foundation Awards in Minneapolis and Richfield's election of Minnesota's first Hispanic female mayor, Maria Rean Gonzalez. The Mayor also explicitly acknowledged the trauma endured by Hispanic neighbors from 'Operation Metro Surge'.
Proclamation for Larry Fitzgerald Day
Dissent: None
Dr. David Sorcin from the Academy of Holy Angels presented a proclamation establishing September 18th, 2026, as Larry Fitzgerald Day in Richfield. The proclamation recognized Larry Fitzgerald Jr., an Academy of Holy Angels alumnus, for his Pro Football Hall of Fame induction and his significant philanthropic contributions through the Carol Fitzgerald Scholarship, which supports students of color or those in financial need. Dr. Sorcin spoke about the strong partnership between Holy Angels and the city.
Open Forum - Veterans Park Usage Concerns
Dissent: None
Resident Burgett Johnson raised concerns about a lack of respect for Veterans Park, particularly regarding trash disposal, private motor vehicles driving on sidewalks and trails, and the draining of pool water directly into the park's protected waters. Johnson argued that the park, despite its memorial status and high usage for events, does not receive adequate respect or funding for its maintenance, impacting accessibility and the natural environment.
Open Forum - Flock Camera System Concerns
Dissent: None
Resident Eric Schneider expressed strong dissatisfaction with the Flock camera system, challenging the city's claims of demonstrated benefits as anecdotal. He cited the Richfield Police Department's own FAQ stating no proof of increased convictions or crime reduction attributable to Flock alone. Schneider also questioned the oversight of the system, raised concerns about Flock's alleged misrepresentations, and pointed out the hypocrisy of Richfield benefiting from data shared by other cities while restricting its own data sharing. He listed 16 other municipalities that ended Flock contracts due to similar issues.
Approval of Consent Calendar
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member Hayford Olirri [0:23:40] · Seconded by Council Member Burke [0:23:41]
The Consent Calendar included several routine administrative items: approval of disbursements and claims, approval of 2027 benefit contributions, approval of an Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant agreement for police body armor, approval of a second reading for an ordinance related to mobile food units, and approval of a lease agreement with 6232 Lindell LLC. No specific debate occurred on these items.
Adopt 2027 Preliminary Budget and Property Tax Levy, Set Truth and Taxation Hearing Date, Authorize Budget Revisions, Approve City Fees
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member Hayford Olirri [0:29:57] · Seconded by Council Member Christensen [0:30:10]
Council Member Hayford Olirri presented the 2027 preliminary budget, detailing a gross tax levy of $33,093,792, representing a 4.55% increase over 2026. This included levies for general fund operations, debt service, equipment/technology, and economic development. The Housing Authority's levy was set at a 0% increase, resulting in a combined city and HA levy increase of 4.45%. The truth and taxation public meeting was scheduled for December 1st, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. Staff was commended for efforts to maintain affordability, with the City Manager noting Richfield's historical position in the lower quartile for levy increases in Hennepin County.
Appointment of Alternate Commissioner to the Arts Commission
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member Christensen [0:33:47] · Seconded by Council Member Burke [0:33:49]
Council Member Christensen introduced the consideration of appointing Jacqueline VMA as an Arts Commissioner. The appointment was to fill a vacated seat for the remainder of a term expiring on January 31, 2029, with alternates typically designated yearly to ensure continuity.
Appointment of Youth Commissioner to the Sustainability Commission
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member Burke [0:35:46] · Seconded by Council Member Hayford Olirri [0:35:48]
Council Member Burke presented the appointment of Ellie London as a Youth Commissioner to the Sustainability Commission. Youth members serve one-year terms, expiring August 31, 2027. The City Manager's office recruits youth applicants through various channels, including local high schools, to fill such vacancies.
City Manager Report and Council Discussion
Dissent: None
City Manager Rodriguez provided updates on open forum topics, including the scheduling of a Human Rights Commission forum on Flock cameras for October 6th, and a Council work session on Flock cameras for late November/early December. He noted staffing challenges (City Manager, Fire Chief, Finance Director recruitments, elections) as factors in the timing. Council Member Hayford Olirri expressed a desire for an earlier work session given public interest. Council members also shared information on upcoming community events: 'A Toast to Richfield' (October 8th) and 'The Great Pumpkin Giveaway' (October 10th). The Richfield Disability Advocacy Partnership event (October 1st) and the new commission application period (October 1st-31st) were also announced.
Notable Quotes (9)
Whereas 19% of Richfield residents identify as Hispanic or Latinex according to the 2023 American Community Survey estimate. And whereas Richfield residents voted Minnesota's first Hispanic female mayor, Maria Rean Gonzalez, into office in 2018. And whereas Richfield sees and acknowledges the trauma endured by her our Hispanic neighbors caused by Operation Metro Surge and stands with them in compassion and resolved.
There's never much traffic on the extra mile in life. Bring others along with you. Don't just pursue excellence for yourself. Help others to pursue it, too. That's the part of the story that matters the most. And it's not it's not the likes, it's not the follows, it's not the fames, but the people you travel with, the values you uphold. And in the end, it's not just about excellence. is about the people who help who you help get there.
Mayor Supple, thank you. Council members, thank you. We are honored for the long history that Holy Angels has here in the city of Richfield supporting students and helping the community grow. and we look forward to many more years of a strong partnership between this great city and our great school to help students encounter a life of service and growth towards college and a purpose in life.
As a b a person not born here but as a naturalized citizen, it has always been odd to me how there is such a disconnection between what respect for nature should be and what people are allowed to get away with in Vets Park.
I honestly believe that that that demonstrated benefit is anecdotal at best. Um the Richfield Police Department said in the frequently asked questions, quote, 'We cannot represent these successes as proof that flock alone has caused an increase in convictions or a measurable reduction in overall crime unless data established this relationship.'
I'm not really sure why we would work with a vendor that by default would broadly share our private data and and it it's on us to navigate a complex legal maze to ensure that that doesn't happen. Um, and we're seem to be taking a reasoned stance on keeping our private our data private, not sharing it with other cities in Minneapolis or sorry, other cities in Minne uh Minnesota, other places outside of Minnesota. But we really have no problem benefiting from that private data from other cities shared with us through the flock network.
I just wanted to say that traditionally, uh, Richfield has been in the lower portion of Henipan County cities in terms of the levy increase. We've usually been in like the B bottom quartile. Um, I expect that to be the same this year as the preliminary levies start to get filed with Henovan County. We will look at that and we'll bring that back to you for the December the final passage of the levy.
I just want to thank staff for their work on this and to acknowledge I feel like the last you know I've been on the council for six years now and the last two cycles I've just been much more aware of actively hearing from residents about the cost increases in their life and people are just really more sensitive to every increase that they're feeling right now with the cost of everything going up so severely. So, I'm just grateful to staff for finding the efficiencies where they can, and I don't know if we'll be on the the bottom of those increased list, but I I know we are being financially prudent, and it's it's largely thanks to staff for finding those efficiencies and staying focused on that goal.
I did connect with council members on this. I also connected with our directors. We've got quite a lift in the months ahead of us and be a few things that where we've got a city manager recruitment that's going on. We have another recruitment for um a director position, the fire chief. Uh we've got a a opening for uh finance director that has to be filled. Um we also have the elections coming up and I don't know what that staff um uh lift is going to be. Uh, I want to have freedom to be able to have all hands on deck if we need that.
Ordinances & Resolutions (14)
Official declaration by the Mayor of Richfield observing Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15th to October 15th, 2026.
Legislation from 1988 that expanded Hispanic Heritage Week to a month.
Reference for demographic data, stating 19% of Richfield residents identify as Hispanic or Latinex.
Official declaration by the Mayor of Richfield proclaiming September 18th, 2026, as Larry Fitzgerald Day.
Grant agreement funding body armor vests for police officers to address high threat/density urban areas' needs.
A second reading and approval of an ordinance concerning regulations for mobile food vendors.
Agreement for the use of a city-owned parcel of land on Lindell Avenue.
Resolutions setting the financial framework for the upcoming fiscal year, including tax collection targets.
Resolution formally scheduling the public meeting for discussion on the proposed property tax levy.
Resolutions allowing for adjustments to the previously approved budget figures.
Resolutions to make necessary updates to the current year's departmental budgets.
Resolutions formally adopting the schedule of fees for various city services in the upcoming year.
Upcoming ordinance to set specific fees related to construction and land development activities.
Public records referenced by a resident concerning searches conducted using Flock cameras.