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THE RICHFIELD RECORDER

Business Directory
ScheduledEconomic Development Authority

Economic Development Authority

Date: Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at 6:00 AMActual: Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at 6:00 AM

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AgendaAnalysis ready

Published Tuesday, February 17, 2026

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## Richfield Economic Development Authority ## Agenda February 17, 2026 -- 7:15 PM ## Note: Meeting begins immediately following HRA Meeting ## Richfield Municipal Center ## Council Chambers ## 6700 Portland Avenue South 1. Call to Order ## 2. Roll Call ## 3. Open Forum a. Participants can share their comments in person, by voicemail, or email, and may also request to participate virtually. For more information on submitting comments, refer to the Economic Development Authority Agenda and Minutes page on the City's Website. 4. Approval of the Agenda 5. Approval of Minutes a. Approval of the minutes of the Regular Economic Development Authority Meeting of November 17, 2025. 6. Presentations ## 7. Consent Calendar Consent Calendar contains several separate items, which are acted upon by the Economic Development Authority in one motion. Once the Consent Calendar has been approved, the individual items and recommended actions have also been approved. No further EDA action on these items is necessary. However, any EDA Commissioner may request that an item be removed from the Consent Calendar and placed on the regular agenda for discussion and action. All items listed on the Consent Calendar are recommended for approval. ## 8. Consideration of Items, if Any Removed From Consent Calendar ## 9. Public Hearings 10. Resolutions ## 11. Other Business a. Consider approval of the Downtown Richfield Brand Identity & Style Guidelines and the Placemaking Playbook. ## 12. Executive Director’s Report ## 13. EDA Discussion Items 14. Approval of Claims 15. Adjournment Auxiliary aids for individuals with accessibility needs are available upon request. Requests must be made at least 96 hours in advance to the City Clerk at 612-861-9739. Includes Materials - Materials relating to these agenda items can be found in the EDA agenda packet located by the entrance. The complete EDA agenda packet is available electronically on the City of Richfield’s website. Page 1 of 50 ollECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ## AUTHORITY MEETING MINUTES ## Richfield, Minnesota ## Regular Meeting November 17, 2025 Chair Vrieze Daniels called the meeting to order at 8:06 PM in the Council Chambers. EDA Present: Chair Vrieze Daniels, Gordon Hanson; Mary Supple; Sean Hayford Oleary; John Young. Staff Present: Melissa Poehlman, Executive Director; Julie Urban, Assistant Community Development Director; and Michelle Friedrich, City Clerk. ## 2. ROLL CALL Roll Call attendance was noted. ## 3. OPEN FORUM Chair Vrieze Daniels gave instructions on how to participate in the open forum. No residents participated in the public comment opportunity. ## 4. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA MOTION: made by Hanson, seconded by Supple to approve the agenda. Motion carried: 5-0 ## 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MOTION: made by Young, seconded by Hanson to approve the Minutes of the Regular Economic Development Authority meeting of August 18, 2025. Motion carried: 5-0 ## 6. PRESENTATIONS None. ## 1. CALL TO ORDER Page 2…
Minutes

Published Tuesday, February 17, 2026

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Stories from this meeting (1)

Richfield approves downtown branding strategy to boost economic vitality

Richfield approves downtown branding strategy to boost economic vitality

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Authorization of Apartment Remodeling Program Budget

Approval of Prior Claims

Full Document Analysis

Votes (3)

Consideration of an Amended Agreement with the Center for Energy and Environment to authorize the budget for the administration of the Apartment Remodeling Program for 2026

5-0 Approved

Dissent: None

Moved by Mary Supple · Seconded by John Young

Executive Director Melissa Poehlman presented this consent calendar item to the EDA. The item sought authorization for the budget concerning the Apartment Remodeling Program's administration for the upcoming year.

Approval of Claims for September, October and November 2025

5-0 Approved

Dissent: None

Moved by Sean Hayford Oleary · Seconded by Mary Supple

The EDA approved claims for financial expenditures covering September, October, and November 2025. These claims included amounts of $27,427.43, $62,736.70, and $10,600.00 respectively, totaling $100,764.13.

Consider approval of the Downtown Richfield Brand Identity & Style Guidelines and the Placemaking Playbook

N/A (Recommended for approval; actual vote not recorded in provided transcript)

Dissent: N/A

Moved by N/A · Seconded by N/A

The EDA received a report recommending the approval of the Downtown Richfield Brand Identity & Style Guidelines and the Placemaking Playbook. These documents, developed by CivicBrand with extensive community input, propose a strategy to define a clear downtown identity and implement placemaking projects. The strategy acknowledges and celebrates the distinct characteristics of downtown's east and west sides, aiming to create a more cohesive, walkable, and inviting experience. The Playbook is intended as a flexible framework to guide future development, secure grants, and foster partnerships, aligning with Richfield's broader strategic goals for a vibrant downtown.

Notable Quotes (4)

The objective of the project was to: • Develop a branding and placemaking strategy that is rooted in, and informed by, community engagement with a wide variety of stakeholders. • Define a clear and distinctive place brand identity and include branding guidelines for its use. • Create an implementation plan that includes near and long-term strategies for targeted marketing as well as placemaking projects and activities.

— Jan Youngquist, Economic Development Manager
Consider approval of the Downtown Richfield Brand Identity & Style Guidelines and the Placemaking Playbook

Because the two areas are so different and the railroad tracks create a physical and perceptual divide, the objective was to celebrate their differences and layer in placemaking, identity, and connection to transform downtown into a cohesive, walkable place that is inviting and reflects the community.

— Jan Youngquist, Economic Development Manager
Consider approval of the Downtown Richfield Brand Identity & Style Guidelines and the Placemaking Playbook

The Playbook is a framework and collection of ideas, opportunity areas, and potential approaches that could be possible over time, rather than a rigid plan. The Playbook is intended to serve as a tool to guide decisions, support collaboration, and position the City to pursue future grants, partnerships, and private investments.

— Jan Youngquist, Economic Development Manager
Consider approval of the Downtown Richfield Brand Identity & Style Guidelines and the Placemaking Playbook

Implementation of the branding and placemaking strategy is intended to enhance the economic vitality and vibrancy of downtown, which will help support these, as well as other businesses.

— Jan Youngquist, Economic Development Manager
Consider approval of the Downtown Richfield Brand Identity & Style Guidelines and the Placemaking Playbook

Ordinances & Resolutions (13)

Economic Development Authority Agenda and Minutes pageOther

Online platform for public access to meeting information and participation details.

Minutes of the Regular Economic Development Authority Meeting of November 17, 2025Other

The official record of a past EDA meeting, approved on February 17, 2026.

Amended Agreement with the Center for Energy and EnvironmentOther

Document authorizing the budget for the 2026 Apartment Remodeling Program administration.

Downtown Richfield Brand Identity & Style GuidelinesPlan

A document defining the visual and stylistic elements for the downtown brand, developed by CivicBrand.

Placemaking PlaybookPlan

A framework and collection of ideas for implementing placemaking projects in downtown Richfield, developed by CivicBrand.

Lakes at Lyndale Master PlanPlan

An adopted plan from 1988 aimed at creating a thriving urban center in the downtown area.

Lakes at Lyndale Wayfinding PlanPlan

A plan developed in 2016 for wayfinding, based on earlier branding, not yet implemented.

2040 Comprehensive PlanPlan

Adopted in 2018, this plan expanded the downtown area and guides mixed-use development.

2023-2026 Strategic PlanPlan

Adopted in September 2022, prioritizing Community Development and a vibrant downtown.

Business District Initiative grantOther

A $45,000 grant from Hennepin County awarded in November 2024 for the downtown branding and placemaking project.

Contract with CivicBrandOther

Agreement from April 2025 engaging CivicBrand for the branding and placemaking project, expiring April 18, 2026.

RFP for a temporary coffee operatorOther

A proposed Request for Proposals to pilot a mobile coffee concept in the district.

Concession AgreementOther

The type of agreement envisioned for a selected mobile coffee operator.

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