--- ## author: Kari Sinning date: D:20260316102955-05'00' --- ## CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES ## Richfield, Minnesota ## City Council Work Session February 24, 2026 ## ITEM #1 CALL TO ORDER Mayor Supple called the work session to order at 5:30 p.m. in the Bartholomew Room. ## Council Present: ## Remote Access: Mary Supple, Mayor; Walter Burk, Sean Hayford Oleary, Rori A. Coleman- Woods. Council Member Christensen participated remotely via interactive technology for an excused medical reason. ## Staff Present: ## Guests: ## Katie Rodriguez, City Manager; Karl Huemiller, Recreation Director; Jill ## Murphy, Recreation Program Manager; Kris Wieby, Facilities/Program ## Manager; Rachel Lindholm, Recreation Coordinator; Courtney DesCamps, Senior Analyst; and Michelle Friedrich, City Clerk. ## Will Forbord, Loeffler Construction; Edie Sebesta, U+B Architects; and Chuck Evans, Damon Farber Landscape Architects. ## ITEM #2 ## ITEM DISCUSSION a.Climate Action Plan (CAP) Recreation Coordinator Lindholm presented an overview of the updated Climate Action Plan, and noted the plan adopts state emission reduction goals, aligns with the Comprehensive Plan, and introduces new elements including a “climate snapshot” highlighting local climate trends, a vulnerability assessment identifying disproportionately affected populations, and two new goals focused on public health/emergency preparedness and strengthening internal city capacity. Council and staff discussion included concerns about LED streetlight brightness and color temperature, with staff coordinating with Public Works on options, and questions about how sustainability efforts are being incorporated into projects such as Wood Lake, Veterans Park, and the future community center, with staff confirming ongoing integration of Climate Action Plan goals into those initiatives. Council discussed further integrating natural resource and sustainability goals into city planning, including connections between the Climate Action Plan, Comprehensive Plan, and Parks Master Plan, as well as tree canopy expansion and building retrofits. Staff confirmed the updated plan will guide future planning efforts and retain a five-year blueprint with both continued and new actions. Council supported moving the Climate Action Plan forward for approval. ## City Council Work Session Minutes -2-February 24, 2026 ## b.Veteran’s Park Improvements Recreation Director Huemiller presented the Vision Plan phased improvements to enhance Veteran’s Park accessibility, sustainability, and overall user experience. Key updates include creating a clearer 1.5-mile primary loop trail that is ADA-accessible and multi-use, consolidating redundant paved paths, improving neighborhood connections, and shifting portions of the trail closer to the water and farther from residential areas. The Veterans Memorial will be better integrated into the park through looped trail alignment and surrounding native prairie plantings. Turf areas will be reduced and c…

## Richfield City Council Agenda February 24, 2026 -- 5:30 PM ## Richfield Municipal Center ## Bartholomew Conference Room ## 6700 Portland Avenue South 1. Call to Order ## 2. Item Discussion ## a. Climate Action Plan (CAP) ## b. Veterans Park Improvements 3. Adjournment Auxiliary aids for individuals with disabilities 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 Council Chambers Agenda Packet book located by the entrance. The complete Council Agenda Packet is available electronically on the City of Richfield website. Page 1 of 68 ## City Council Meeting 2/24/2026 ## Agenda Section: Item Discussion Agenda Item: 2.a. ## Report Prepared By: ## Rachel Lindholm, Sustainability Coordinator ## Department Director: ## Karl Huemiller, Recreation Director ## Item for Consideration: ## Climate Action Plan (CAP) ## EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Richfield's initial Climate Action Plan is five years old and is in need of various updates. The new plan adopts the state goal to reduce emissions 50% by 2030 (from 2018 levels) and to be carbon-neutral by 2050. The plan update also highlights achievements from the last CAP, details climate change effects experienced in Richfield, and includes a vulnerability assessment to better understand which specific populations are affected by various climate hazards and how. Two new goals were introduced focusing on public health and emergency preparedness, and strengthening internal capacity. Various actions were revised, removed, or added to refresh the City's sustainability work plan and continue interdepartmental efforts. ## RECOMMENDED ACTION Review the draft CAP, provide feedback, and confirm whether the revised document may proceed to a future council meeting for formal approval following edits. ## HISTORICAL CONTEXT • Richfield's first CAP was written in 2020 and was intended to cover five years. • Richfield's first emissions inventory was conducted in 2023. • With the first CAP reaching the end of its proposed timeframe, many actions being completed or requiring revision, and the emissions inventory outdated, developing a new CAP became a division priority. • Staff obtained quotes and selected Local Climate Solutions (LCS) to conduct an actions inventory, revise existing unfinished actions, and create the new plan, including a vulnerability assessment and Richfield-specific climate change data. • Staff worked with LCS from August 2025 to January 2026 to create the new ## CAP. Other city staff (Community Development, Public Works, Recreation) then reviewed and commented based on their areas of expertise. ## EQUITABLE OR STRATEGIC CONSIDERATIONS OR IMPACTS This CAP builds on sustainability actions completed in the Strategic Plan. Many actions in the CAP specifically highlight the importance of equity, multilingual education and outreach, focusing efforts on marginalized an…