expressed sadness about this influence and emphasized the important contributions immigrants make to essential industries and caregiving.

asked the city to have its police department document incidents when officers respond to federal immigration enforcement actions.

raised privacy and data-security concerns about the City’s use of automated license plate readers, including those operated by Flock Safety, and asked the City Council to consider removing existing cameras and prohibiting future use of ALPR technology in the community.

requested increased funding for the organization Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People (VEAP), which provides food and essential items to individuals affected by poverty, including those impacted by immigration enforcement. Mr. Lehnen also suggested that local representatives advocate for an eviction moratorium to help residents unable to pay rent due to economic challenges.

reviewed past public engagement beginning in August 2023, City Council approval for the project layout in October 2024, final design, cost contributions, payment schedule, and maintenance responsibilities, including landscaping, and rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs) negotiated by city staff with Hennepin County.

noted negotiations regarding RRFB maintenance are ongoing, with plans to install a hardwired system to improve reliability.

updated Council regarding the ongoing lawsuit filed by the State of Minnesota and the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul (plaintiffs) against the federal government’s Operation Metro Surge, initiated on January 12, 2026... Additionally, the City of Richfield, and several other suburban cities, joined an amicus (“friend of the court”) brief presenting policy arguments on how Operation Metro Surge impacts municipal prosecution operations.

clarified the emergency ordinance prohibits the use of city property as a staging area for civil immigration activities on city-owned property and added the ordinance does not prohibit federal vehicles from being on the property, but rather from using it to stage operations.

addressed resident concerns regarding ALPR cameras, and added anecdotal reports and videos are less persuasive than formal research, such as studies from the University of Washington. Council Member Burk also noted access to camera data is often linked to user decisions on sharing, and added Richfield carefully limits which law enforcement agencies receive information.

thanked community members for advocating for justice and supporting neighbors during the ongoing crisis. She highlighted efforts to provide food, transportation, and rental or mortgage assistance, while emphasizing the importance of stabilizing local small businesses to preserve jobs. Residents were encouraged to sign up for the city’s business bulletin to access resources and grant programs. Mayor Supple also noted the need to address community trauma, particularly among children, as a long-term effect of Operation Metro Surge, and encouraged continued public input and ideas.