--- ## author: Kari Sinning date: D:20260821161236-05'00' --- ## ITEM #1 CALL TO ORDER The m eeting was called to order by Mayor Supple at 7:00 p.m. on July 28, 2026, in the Council Chambers. ## Council Present: Mary Supple, Mayor; Walter Burk, Sharon Christensen, Sean Hayford Oleary, and Rori A. Coleman-Woods. ## Staff Present: Katie Rodriguez, City Manager; Joe Powers, City Engineer; ## Richanta Pollard, City Intern; Mary Tietjen, City Attorney; and Michelle Friedrich, City Clerk. ## ITEM #2 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ## M ayor Supple led the Pledge of Allegiance. ## IT ## EM #3 ## APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA ## M OTION: made by Council Member Coleman-Woods, seconded by Council Member Burk 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 ## IT ## EM #4 ## APPROVAL OF MINUTES ## M OTION: made by Council Member Hayford Oleary, seconded by Council Member Burk to approve the minutes of the (4a) City Council Work Session from July 14, 2026, and (4 b) City Council Regular Meeting from July 14, 2026. Voting Aye: Mayor Supple, Council Member Burk, Council Member Hayford Oleary, Council Member Christensen, and Council Member Coleman-Woods. Motion carried: 5-0 ## IT ## EM #5 ## OPEN FORUM ## CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES ## Richfield, Minnesota ## Council Regular Meeting July 28, 2026 ## City Council Meeting Minutes -2-July 28, 2026 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. ## Thr ee residents participated in Open Forum. Kathleen Balaban, Richfield resident, raised concerns about the care and maintenance of existing City trees, citing observed damage and loss of trees previously planted in City parks. Ms. Balaban encouraged the City to establish clearer tree-care procedures and responsibilities and to provide residents with guidance for planting and maintaining trees. ## D eb Nordmarken, Richfield resident, expressed concerns about past City decisions, including redevelopment, rezoning, property tax reassessments, and spending. Ms. Nordmarken urged the Council to limit spending, consider the impact of taxes on residents and seniors, and review City management costs and future financial obligations. ## B irgit Johnson, Richfield resident, spoke in support of preserving Richfield’s parks and green spaces, emphasizing their value for nature and wildlife. Ms. Johnson encouraged the City to prioritize existing developed areas for future structures and to protect green space from further development. ## IT ## EM #6 ## PROCLAMATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS a.S ummer Intern Presentation. Richanta Pollard, City Intern, provided an overview of her participation in the ACE internship program, which introduces young adults to careers in local government. She discussed her work with the City, including event planning, research, communications, community outreach, election activities, and public health initiatives. She also shared skills gained during the internship and her plans to graduate with a degree in public health and pursue graduate education and a career in public service. ## IT ## EM #7 ## CONSENT CALENDAR ## C ity Manager Rodriguez presented the consent calendar. a.A pprove Disbursements/Claims ## U.S. BANK 07-17-2026 A/P Checks/ETF’s: (07-04-2026 through 07-17-2026) $1,602,597.02 Payroll (07-17-2026) $1,263,675.43 ## TOTAL $2,866,272.45 b.A pprove the bid tabulation and authorize the Mayor and City Manager to execute a contract with Standard Sidewalk Inc. for the 2026 Concrete Project in the amount of $395,806.75 and authorize the City Manager to approve contract changes up to $175, 000 wit ho ut further City Council consideration. c.Consider approval of a license agreement with E- Clan, Inc. d/b/a B&J Trees, to sell trees under the picnic pavilion at Veterans Park. ## City Council Meeting Minutes -3-July 28, 2026 MOTION: made by Council Member Hayford Oleary, seconded by Council Christensen, to approve Consent Calendar items 7a-k 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 ## IT ## EM #8 ## CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS, IF ANY, REMOVED FROM CONSENT ## CALENDAR ## N one. ## IT ## EM #9 ## PUBLIC HEARINGS a.P ublic hearing and consider the adoption of a resolution approving the Five-Year Street Reconstruction Plan (2027-2031) and authorize the issuance of street reconstructi on bonds to finance the 2026-2027 Nicollet Avenue Reconstruction Project. d.Consider approval of the 2027 Food, Pools and Lodging agreement with the City of Bloomington. e.Consider the approval of a request for the temporary expansion of the licensed premises for Thompson's Fireside Pizza, Inc., d/b/a Fireside Foundry, located at 6736 Penn Avenue South, to allow for the outside service of beer and malt beverages in their parking lot on Sunday, September 20, 2026, in conjunction with Richfield's Open Streets at Penn Fest event. f.Approval of the bid tabulation and authorize the Mayor and City Manager to execute a contract with JL Theis, Inc. for the 73rd Street/Diagonal Boulevard 2026 Sidewalk Project in the amount of $1,080,651.33 and authorize the City Manager to approve contract changes up to $175,000 without further City Council consideration. g.Consider approval of agreements with J. Becher and Associates, in the amount of $139,850, for electrical work and US Mechanical, in the amount of $294,210 for mechanical work on the Richfield Ice Arena lobby. h.Consider approval of a bid tabulation and award a contract to North Metro Companies, LLC for the USDA UCF Boulevard Tree Planting in the amount of $269,068 and authorize the City Manager to approve contract changes under $175,000 without further City Council consideration. i.Consider adoption of a resolution authorizing the Mayor and City Manager to execute Master Utility Agreement No. 1062054 between the City of Richfield, the State of Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), and MnDOT's selected design-build contractor, which will govern the replacement, repair, and/or relocation of City-owned utilities as part of 494 Project 2. ## RESOLUTION 12442 ## AUTHORIZING MAYOR AND CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (MnDOT)MASTER UTILITY AGREEMENT NO. ## 1062054, APPLICABLE TO STATE PROJECT NUMBER 2785-462 ON TRUNK ## HIGHWAY NUMBER 494 j.Consider Adoption of the Hennepin County Elections Emergency/Continuity Plan. k.Consider approval of a quote from Fluid Interiors in the amount of $429,659.54 for the purchase and installation of interior and exterior furniture in the new building at Wood Lake Nature Center, and authorization of the City Manager to negotiate the terms of the quote and execute the agreement to proceed. ## City Council Meeting Minutes -4-July 28, 2026 ## ITEM #10 ## PROPOSED ORDINANCES ## N one. ## ITEM #11 ## RESOLUTIONS Council Member Hayford Oleary announced a public hearing for item 9a will be held after the presentation by City Engineer Joe Powers. City Engineer Powers presented an overview of the five-year street reconstruction plan and proposed bonding for the Nicollet Avenue reconstruction project. City Engineer Powers noted the project is led by Hennepin County, and includes roadways, bicycle and pedestrian lanes, and utility improvements from 66th to 77th Street. City Engineer Powers noted staff proposed up to $5 million in street reconstruction bonds, along with additional utility funding, to support the City’s share of project costs. Council Member Hayford Oleary presented the staff report, opened the public hearing, and explained the public comment process of a public hearing. Three residents commented during the Public Hearing. Heidi Gaibor, Richfield resident, asked for clarification regarding the planned reconstruction of 69th Street, including its location and the scope of the proposed improvements. Kathleen Balaban, Richfield resident, expressed support for the Nicollet Avenue reconstruction project but questioned why the project ends at 66th Street rather than continuing to the freeway. Ms. Balaban emphasized Nicollet Avenue’s importance as a major corridor into the City and encouraged the Council to explore funding options to extend the reconstruction and improve the appearance and connectivity of the corridor. Alex, Richfield resident, asked whether a map is available showing the locations and extent of the planned sidewalk improvements near 73rd Street and Penn Avenue, including which neighborhoods may be affected by construction. MOTION: made by Council Member Hayford Oleary, seconded by Council Member Coleman-Woods to close the public hearing. Voting Aye: Mayor Supple, Council Member Burk, Council Member Hayford Oleary, Council Member Christensen, and Council Member Coleman-Woods. Motion carried: 5-0 ## RESOLUTION 12443 ## ADOPTING A STREET RECONSTRUCTION PLAN AND PROVIDING PRELIMINARY APPROVAL ## FOR THE ISSUANCE OF STREET RECONSTRUCTION BONDS THEREUNDER MOTION: made by Council Member Hayford Oleary, seconded by Council Member Burk, to adopt the resolution approving the 5-year street reconstruction plan and authorizing the issuance of street reconstruction bonds to finance the 2026 2027 Nicollet Avenue reconstruction project. Staff and Council discussed questions raised during the public hearing. Staff clarified that the planned 69th Street reconstruction will extend from Penn Avenue to Xerxes Avenue and include utility improvements and public engagement. Staff also explained that Hennepin County determines the scope and timing of Nicollet Avenue improvements north of 66th Street and that the County generally covers the majority of costs for County-led projects, with the City responsible for its share, including proposed $5 million in bonding. Staff also provided an overview of the planned 73rd Street sidewalk and trail improvements. Council discussed issuing the Nicollet Avenue bonds in 2027 as part of long- term debt planning. 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 -5-July 28, 2026 None. ## IT ## EM #12 ## OTHER BUSINESS ## N one. ## ITEM #13 CITY MANAGER’S REPORT ## C ity Manager Rodriguez noted there were no reports. ## ITEM #14 COUNCIL DISCUSSION ## ITEM #15 ADJOURNMENT MOTION: made by Council Member Coleman-Woods, seconded by Council Member Christensen to adjourn the meeting at 7:51 p.m. Voting Aye: Supple, Burk, Hayford Oleary, Christensen, and Coleman-Woods. Motion carries: 5:0 ## Date Approved: August 25, 2026 ## Mary Supple ## Mayor ## Michelle Friedrich Katie Rodriguez ## City Clerk City Manager a.Hats off to Hometown Hits. Council Member Coleman-Woods recognized and congratulated the Richfield Legion Baseball team on its victory and advancement in the state tournament. Council Member Hayford Oleary thanked the Fourth of July Committee for their excellent work. Council Member Christensen reminded residents about two community events on August 1: an all-day event at the VFW featuring music and family entertainment, and the Richfield History Center’s annual ice cream social from 1–4 p.m. Council Member Hayford Oleary thanked City staff and community volunteers for their work supporting the Urban Wildland Race event. Council Member Hayford Oleary noted the event is an opportunity to showcase Richfield and highlighted the importance of ongoing improvements to paths in Veterans Park. Council Member Burk noted nothing to report. Mayor Supple thanked City staff and community members for their response to recent incidents, including mutual aid provided by the Fire Department and a gas leak evacuation. Mayor Supple also recognized the Community Development Department for its small business resiliency efforts and announced the upcoming Disability Pride celebration. ## b.Council Liaison Reports No reports were discussed.