Work SessionItem 1Discussed
4-Year (2023-2027) Strategic Plan Quarterly Update
The City Council was scheduled to receive a quarterly update on Richfield's 2023-2027 Strategic Plan and its new online progress dashboard. Staff was expected to share early engagement data — noting that 83 residents had visited the dashboard website since its launch — and to solicit Council feedback on reporting format and frequency. Some plan benchmarks were still awaiting progress data, and no public feedback had yet been received from residents as of the time of the meeting.
informational or procedural item — no vote taken
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Potential benefit
A publicly accessible strategic plan dashboard is intended to give residents a transparent way to track city progress on multi-year goals and hold leadership accountable to stated priorities. Regular quarterly check-ins are designed to allow the Council to course-correct and ensure benchmarks remain on track.
Concern to consider
Early public engagement appeared limited, with only 83 website visits recorded since launch. If awareness of the dashboard remains low, its value as a community accountability tool may be constrained. Some benchmarks were also noted as lacking progress updates, which could reduce the dashboard's usefulness in the near term.
What happens next: Staff was expected to continue adding progress data to outstanding benchmarks, with a goal of completing those updates by the end of 2023. Council expressed interest in more concise, high-level reporting formats in future quarters rather than comprehensive reports. The dashboard was described as still in its early stages, with staff indicating they would explore additional options over time.
Sources: Work Session agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 1Discussed
Proclamation Celebrating Ruthann Clay
Mayor Mary Supple was scheduled to present a proclamation honoring Ruthann Clay, a longtime Richfield community member who graduated from Richfield High School in 1962 and began volunteering with the Richfield Historical Society in 1979. Clay's decades of civic involvement span numerous organizations including Richfield Visions, the Boy Scouts, Parent Teacher Associations, the Richfield Amateur Radio Club, and the American Cancer Society. The proclamation was intended to celebrate her tireless advocacy for Richfield's historical heritage, including her work supporting the Bartholomew House.
informational or procedural item — no vote taken
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Potential benefit
Recognizing long-serving volunteers like Clay highlights the community fabric that sustains Richfield — historical preservation and civic engagement benefit all residents by maintaining the city's identity and institutional memory.
Concern to consider
No significant concerns; this is a ceremonial recognition with no policy or financial implications.
Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 3Outcome pending
Consent Calendar
The City Council approved the consent calendar, which included: (A) approval of a release of claims agreement with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., and acceptance of $18,551.01 reimbursement for construction costs incurred by the City due to a mistake on the 65th St Reconstruction Project construction plans; (B) approval of two utility occupancy license agreements with Soo Line Railroad Company at the railroad crossing at 65th St and Pleasant Ave as part of the 65th Street Reconstruction Project.
final tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
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Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 4Outcome pending
Consideration of Items Removed from Consent Calendar
No items were removed from the consent calendar for separate consideration.
final tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
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Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 5Outcome pending
Second Reading of Ordinance Amendment to Eliminate Minimum Lot Size Requirement for Planned Unit Development
The City Council was scheduled to consider the second reading of an ordinance that would eliminate the current one-acre minimum lot size requirement for properties seeking a Planned Unit Development (PUD) designation in Richfield. The one-acre minimum was adopted in the early 1980s; under the proposed change, any sized parcel could apply for PUD zoning, which allows flexibility from standard zoning rules in exchange for innovative or community-beneficial development. Staff recommended approval, noting that smaller parcels should not be automatically excluded since the full public hearing and vetting process would still apply to every PUD application.
final tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
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Potential benefit
If approved, this would open the door for creative, high-quality development on smaller urban parcels throughout Richfield — potentially enabling better-designed projects in neighborhoods that would otherwise be constrained by the rigid size threshold. The change would not bypass any public review; all PUD applications would still require a public hearing and council approval.
Concern to consider
Some may be concerned that removing the size threshold could invite more frequent rezoning requests on smaller parcels, increasing development pressure in established neighborhoods, though the full PUD approval process remains intact as a safeguard.
What happens next: If the second reading was adopted, the ordinance amendment would take effect and any sized parcel in Richfield could apply for PUD zoning designation, subject to the standard public hearing and council approval process. A summary publication resolution was also scheduled for concurrent approval.
Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 6Outcome pending
Approval of Resolution to Opt-In to New Opioid Settlements
The City Council was scheduled to consider a resolution authorizing staff to opt Richfield into new multistate opioid settlements with Teva, Allergan, CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart, with a firm opt-in deadline of April 18, 2023. Richfield had previously participated in a 2021 round of national opioid settlements approved by the Council in December 2021; this resolution would extend that participation to newly negotiated agreements. The city's specific allocation from this new round of settlement funds had not yet been determined at the time the agenda was published.
final tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
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Key figure: Undetermined — Richfield's specific allocation from this new round of opioid settlements had not yet been calculated at the time of the meeting agenda.
Potential benefit
If approved, this would bring additional restricted settlement funds to Richfield dedicated to opioid abatement and remediation efforts. Missing the April 18 deadline could reduce funding not only for Richfield but for all Minnesota cities and counties participating in the multistate settlement.
Concern to consider
The exact dollar amount Richfield would receive remained undetermined. Settlement funds are restricted to opioid abatement uses and cannot be redirected to general city services, limiting flexibility in how the money could be deployed.
What happens next: If the resolution was adopted, city staff would execute all necessary participation documents before the April 18, 2023 deadline, securing Richfield's eligibility for settlement funds from Teva, Allergan, CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart. The city's specific allocation was expected to be determined at a later date.
Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 7Discussed
City Manager Report
City Manager Katie Rodriguez delivered the City Manager's Report, a standing agenda item providing the Council with updates on city operations, ongoing projects, and administrative matters. The supporting documents did not include detailed content from this report. This item served as a routine informational update.
informational or procedural item — no vote taken
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Potential benefit
Regular city manager reports keep the Council and public informed about the day-to-day operations and priorities of city government.
Concern to consider
Without detailed report content available, residents may need to review the full meeting recording or staff materials for specifics.
Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 8Discussed
Claims and Payroll
The City Council was scheduled to approve routine claims and payroll totaling approximately $2 million for the period ending March 28, 2023, covering accounts payable checks of $1,243,113.76 and city employee payroll of $761,732.20. Approval of claims and payroll is a standard recurring agenda item at each City Council meeting that authorizes payment of vendor invoices and employee compensation. No unusual or discretionary expenditures were highlighted in the agenda materials for this item.
informational or procedural item — no vote taken
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Key figure: $1,243,113.76 — Accounts payable checks (313355–313585) for city vendor and contractor obligations.
Potential benefit
Routine approval of payroll and vendor payments keeps city employees compensated and municipal services — roads, public safety, parks — running without interruption.
Concern to consider
No policy concerns; this is a standard administrative function of city government with no discretionary spending decisions involved.
Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 9Outcome pending
Hats Off to Hometown Hits
Council members recognized community events, organizations, and individuals for their contributions, including the League of Women Voters Ecofair, public works staff for winning an infrastructure grant, and the Richfield Chamber of Commerce Circle of Excellence Awards.
final tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
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Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilOutcome pending
Approval of CDC Infrastructure Grant
Approval of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Infrastructure Grant was on the consent calendar for the March 28, 2023 meeting (Staff Report No. 33). Limited detail about the grant's specific scope, dollar amount, or intended use was available in the agenda materials. If approved as part of the consent calendar, this grant would bring outside federal funding to support city infrastructure needs.
final tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
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Potential benefit
If approved, this grant would deliver federal CDC funding to the city, potentially supporting public health or infrastructure improvements without drawing on local tax revenue.
Concern to consider
The available agenda materials did not specify the grant amount, any required city match, or the specific programs or infrastructure the funds would support, making it difficult to fully evaluate the proposal.
What happens next: If approved as part of the consent calendar, city staff would proceed with executing the necessary grant documents and complying with CDC grant requirements.
Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilOutcome pending
Awarding American Rescue Plan Act Funding Grants to Non-Profit Organizations
A resolution to award American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding grants to non-profit organizations serving Richfield community members negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic was scheduled for consideration at this meeting (Staff Report No. 35). This item was expected to direct federal pandemic relief dollars to local organizations supporting community recovery efforts. The specific recipient organizations and individual award amounts were addressed in the staff report but were not enumerated in the available agenda summary.
final tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
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Potential benefit
If approved, this resolution would channel federal ARPA funds to local non-profits providing recovery services — potentially including food access, housing stability, health support, and other community needs — at no additional cost to local taxpayers.
Concern to consider
The allocation criteria, specific grantee organizations, and individual award amounts were not detailed in the available materials, limiting public visibility into how funds would be distributed and how effectiveness would be measured.
What happens next: If approved, the resolution would authorize disbursement of ARPA funds to the selected non-profit organizations, which would then carry out their respective programs serving Richfield residents.
Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilOutcome pending
First Reading of Ordinance Amendment to Eliminate Minimum Lot Size Requirement for Planned Unit Development
The second reading of an ordinance amendment to eliminate the existing one-acre minimum lot size requirement for a Planned Unit Development (PUD) was scheduled for consideration at this meeting (Staff Report No. 37). The proposed change would allow any size parcel to apply for PUD designation, while keeping the full public hearing and rezoning process in place. City staff recommended approval, finding no sound basis for restricting PUD access to larger parcels.
final tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
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Potential benefit
If approved, this change would give property owners and developers more flexibility to pursue innovative or community-benefiting projects on smaller lots — potentially enabling infill development and expanded housing options that current code forecloses.
Concern to consider
Some council members raised questions about consistency and whether removing the size threshold could create uneven outcomes for neighboring properties. Any PUD application would still require a public hearing and council approval, preserving oversight.
What happens next: If approved at second reading, the ordinance amendment would be published per the Richfield City Charter and take effect, allowing parcels of any size to apply for PUD designation through the existing public hearing and rezoning process.
Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilOutcome pending
Work Session: Best Buy Request to Terminate Minimum Assessment Agreement
At a March 6, 2023 joint City Council and HRA work session — the minutes of which were on the March 28 agenda for approval — Best Buy Corporation requested termination of its Minimum Assessment Agreement (MAA) with Richfield once the associated Tax Increment Financing bonds are paid off in February 2024. Best Buy cited a changing office market and the need to competitively attract tenants to its Richfield corporate campus, where half the space was occupied by Best Buy itself at the time of the discussion. Council members expressed openness to a solution provided the HRA is not financially harmed and the broader community does not end up subsidizing Best Buy.
final tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
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Potential benefit
Resolving the MAA dispute could help Best Buy attract new tenants to its Richfield campus, potentially preserving significant local employment and commercial tax base. Best Buy acknowledged the HRA should not be harmed and indicated willingness to address the financial impact of early termination.
Concern to consider
Terminating the MAA early could reduce property-related revenues flowing into the HRA, which funds affordable housing and redevelopment programs. Council members noted the financial amount in dispute is larger than just the remaining HRA collections — meaning affordable housing programs and other community investments could be at risk if negotiations are not resolved on favorable terms.
What happens next: Staff indicated the item was tentatively scheduled for the March 20 HRA agenda, pending resolution of several outstanding financial and legal issues. The timeline was driven by Hennepin County's property assessment schedule and Best Buy's need to secure tenants. Further negotiations between city staff, HRA consultants, and Best Buy counsel were expected before any formal action.
Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗