--- ## author: Kari Sinning date: D:20260821091633-05'00' --- ## CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES ## Richfield, Minnesota ## City Council Work Session July 28, 2026 ## ITEM #1 CALL TO ORDER ## M ayor Supple called the work session to order on July 28, 2026, at 5:30 p.m., in Bartholomew Conference Room. Council Present: Mary Supple, Mayor; Walter Burk, Sean Hayford Oleary, Sharon Christensen, and Rori Coleman-Woods. ## Staff Present: ## Guests Present: ## Katie Rodriguez, City Manager; Joe Powers, City Engineer; Matt Hardeggar, ## Transportation Engineer; Kristin Asher, Public Works Director; Kevin ## O’Connell, Fire Lieutenant; Courtney DesCamps, Senior Analyst; and Michelle Friedrich, City Clerk. ## M att Huggins, Hennepin County Project Manager. ## ITEM #2 ## ITEM DISCUSSION a.Hennepin County Penn Avenue Reconstruction Project Design and Budget Update. Public Works Director Asher outlined the agenda for the reconstruction project and introduced Matt Hardegger, Transportation Engineer, to present the work session item. Transportation Engineer Hardegger presented an update on the Penn Avenue project, including the proposed bikeway design, major and minor intersection treatments, business-district parking, and current project costs. The project team reviewed public and Transportation Commission feedback gathered through the current engagement phase, noting approximately 420 public interactions and 15 business-owner discussions. Council expressed consensus in support of a one-way cycle track along the corridor and compact single-lane roundabouts at 64th, 69th, and 75th Streets, with continued coordination with the Fire Department regarding emergency access at 64th Street. Council supported raised pedestrian crossings and agreed that pedestrian-activated flashing beacons at 64th and 75th Streets should be included, while the 69th Street beacon should be designed to accommodate future installation and reconsidered after the planned 69th Street reconstruction. For minor intersections, Council supported closed medians at 67th, 71st, and 73rd Streets; a pedestrian refuge median at 65th Street; and staff's recommendations without medians at 63rd, 68th, and 70½ Streets. Council supported maximizing on-street parking in the 67th, 66th, and 65th Street blocks, while not adding parking in the 64th and 63rd Street blocks due to cost and impacts to existing off-street parking. Staff were directed to continue discussions with affected businesses regarding access and parking. Staff and Council reviewed the current total project estimate is approximately $35 million, with an estimated City share of $11.4 million, or approximately $11.7 million including City staff costs. ## City Council Work Session Minutes -2-July 28, 2026 Potential additional improvements, including pedestrian medians, raised crossings, landscaping, lighting, and a bikeway connection to 76th Street, were discussed, with some items requiring further consideration. City Manager Rodriguez provided an overview of upcoming capital needs and debt considerations and noted that the updated financial management plan would be presented to Council for review in August. City Engineer Powers explained that the additional financial information could still shape project design decisions since final concurrence is scheduled for early October. Council also noted the broader capital-budget pressures facing the City and the potential impact of pending changes to the County's cost-participation policy. Transportation Engineer Hardegger noted the project team will continue public engagement, refine the design, and prepare for Open House 4 on August 19. ## ITEM #3 ## ADJOURNMENT ## M ayor Supple adjourned t he work session at 6:57 p.m. ## Da te Approved: August 25, 2026 ## Mary B. Supple ## Mayor ## Michelle Friedrich Katie Rodriguez ## City Clerk City Manager