City CouncilItem 2AOutcome pending
Acceptance of Grants for Local Infrastructure Planning and Construction
Several state and federal grants for pedestrian and trail infrastructure were scheduled for formal acceptance by the City Council, covering projects across Richfield from 2023 through 2026. Between direct funding and material donations, the city was expected to receive up to $1,063,950 in outside support for improvements on 70th, 71st, 73rd, and 66th Streets. The 70th Street Safe Routes to School demonstration project had already been installed and was on the agenda for retroactive grant acceptance.
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Key figure: $1,043,950 — Total direct grant funding from state and federal sources expected between 2023 and 2026
Potential benefit
If approved, Richfield would secure up to $1,043,950 in direct state and federal funding plus up to $20,000 in materials for pedestrian safety and active transportation improvements — projects that would otherwise rely on local tax dollars. The grants span multiple corridors, benefiting residents citywide.
Concern to consider
The city would still be responsible for any project costs exceeding grant amounts, and the federal funding for the 73rd Street trail requires a 20% local match estimated at $127,000. Cost overruns on any of the five projects would fall to local funding sources.
What happens next: If accepted, staff would proceed with implementation planning. The 73rd Street trail construction is scheduled for 2026, the 66th Street/Richfield Parkway improvements for 2024, and the 71st Street sidewalk for 2023.
Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 2BOutcome pending
Approval of Agreement with MnDOT and Hennepin County for Traffic Signal Maintenance
A three-party traffic signal maintenance agreement between MnDOT, Hennepin County, and the City of Richfield was scheduled for council approval, covering the south traffic signal at Trunk Highway 62 and Penn Avenue (CSAH 32). Under the proposed agreement, Richfield would be responsible for providing power, maintaining pole-mounted LED luminaires, replacing signal LED indications, and cleaning and painting signal equipment. Staff described this as consistent with previously approved signal agreements for other state and county-owned signals within the city.
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Potential benefit
This proposal would formally clarify maintenance responsibilities for a key intersection signal, ensuring it is properly maintained and reducing potential liability ambiguity for the city.
Concern to consider
The city would absorb the ongoing electrical and minor maintenance costs for this signal, which are budgeted within the existing Public Works Street Maintenance budget but represent a continued financial obligation.
What happens next: If approved, the Mayor and City Manager would execute the agreement and Richfield would formally assume its designated maintenance responsibilities for the signal.
Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 2COutcome pending
Acceptance and Reimbursement for Public Storm Sewer at Hope Presbyterian Church
The City Council was scheduled to consider formally accepting a public storm sewer installed by Hope Presbyterian Church and authorizing reimbursement of the actual construction cost of $38,091. The storm sewer was constructed across the church's private parking lot to redirect public stormwater runoff that had historically flowed through the site, causing accelerated parking lot deterioration. A cost-share agreement originally approved in December 2021 governed the project, and staff confirmed the work was satisfactorily completed.
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Key figure: $38,091 — Actual construction cost of public storm sewer to be reimbursed to Hope Presbyterian Church from the city's stormwater enterprise fund
Potential benefit
If approved, the city would fulfill a previously agreed-upon obligation to reimburse a private property owner for hosting public infrastructure, resolving a longstanding drainage issue and potentially reducing future liability from improper stormwater routing.
Concern to consider
The $38,091 reimbursement would be drawn from the city's stormwater enterprise fund, which is supported by stormwater utility fees paid by Richfield property owners.
What happens next: If approved, the city would issue reimbursement of $38,091 to Hope Presbyterian Church from the stormwater enterprise fund.
Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 2DOutcome pending
Amended Fourth Amendment to Site Lease Agreement at 6700 Portland Avenue
An amendment to the long-standing cellular antenna lease at Richfield City Hall (6700 Portland Avenue) was scheduled for consideration, which would authorize equipment modifications and add one automatic five-year renewal term to the existing agreement. The amendment also proposed formally replacing Sprint Spectrum Realty Company LLC with T-Mobile Central LLC as the tenant, reflecting T-Mobile's acquisition of Sprint. The original lease dates to 2001, and the current term was set to expire in 2026.
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Potential benefit
If approved, the amendment would extend cell coverage infrastructure at City Hall while maintaining an existing revenue-generating lease relationship. Updating the agreement to reflect T-Mobile as successor ensures legal clarity.
Concern to consider
The agenda noted no financial impact from this amendment, meaning any renewal terms and revenue figures from the original lease would carry forward unchanged. The alternative was to allow the lease to expire in 2026 without renewal.
What happens next: If approved, the Mayor and City Manager would execute the amended Fourth Amendment, formally updating the lease to reflect equipment changes, the new tenant name, and the additional renewal term.
Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 2EOutcome pending
Amendment to Educational Facilities Revenue Notes for Academy of Holy Angels
A technical amendment to two educational facility revenue notes issued by the city for the benefit of Academy of Holy Angels was scheduled for consideration, required by the phaseout of the LIBOR interest rate benchmark. The city originally issued a Series 2002 note ($8,540,000) and a Series 2003 note ($1,460,000) and loaned the proceeds to the Academy for school facility renovations; both notes are held by First Interstate Bank. Because LIBOR will no longer be available after June 30, 2023, the interest calculation method was expected to be updated to use the SOFR (Secured Overnight Financing Rate) index.
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Key figure: $8,540,000 — Original principal amount of the Series 2002 Educational Facilities Revenue Note issued for Academy of Holy Angels
Potential benefit
If approved, this technical amendment would ensure the revenue notes remain legally valid and compliant before the LIBOR deadline, avoiding a gap in the interest rate framework. The city bears no additional financial exposure, as the notes are not general obligations of Richfield and legal costs are paid by the Academy.
Concern to consider
The switch from LIBOR to SOFR may result in a different interest rate for the Academy, though the specific financial impact on the borrower was not detailed in the agenda materials.
What happens next: If approved, the city would authorize execution of allonges (formal amendments) to both notes, updating the interest rate index from LIBOR to SOFR effective July 1, 2023, ahead of the June 30, 2023 LIBOR phaseout deadline.
Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 2FOutcome pending
Acceptance of Hennepin County Broadband Expansion Grant
A $100,000 Hennepin County Broadband Expansion Grant was scheduled for acceptance at this meeting. The grant, secured through a partnership between the City of Richfield, Comcast, and Arrive Ministries, was expected to fund digital literacy training, laptops, and broadband access for 100 refugee and immigrant households. Arrive Ministries, a Richfield-based nonprofit with over 30 years of refugee resettlement experience, was anticipated to implement the program by end of 2023.
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Key figure: $100,000 — Total Hennepin County Broadband Expansion Grant to fund digital literacy, laptops, and broadband access for 100 refugee and immigrant households through Arrive Ministries
Potential benefit
If approved, this grant would bring $100,000 in outside funding to Richfield at no direct cost to city taxpayers, while supporting 100 immigrant and refugee households with digital skills and internet access — directly addressing a documented local digital equity gap.
Concern to consider
The city would serve as a pass-through administrator for the grant funds, assuming administrative responsibility for ensuring Arrive Ministries meets Hennepin County's terms and conditions. The council did retain the option to decline the grant.
What happens next: If the grant acceptance was approved, the Mayor and City Manager would be authorized to execute formal agreements with both Hennepin County and Arrive Ministries. Equipment installation was expected to be completed by end of 2023, with staffing and indirect costs funded immediately upon grant execution.
Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 3Outcome pending
Consideration of Items Removed from Consent Calendar
No items were removed from the Consent Calendar for separate consideration.
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Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 4Discussed
City Manager's Report
City Manager Katie Rodriguez delivered the City Manager's Report during the May 9, 2023 meeting. This is a standing agenda item where the City Manager provides updates on city operations, ongoing projects, and other relevant municipal matters. The specific content of the report was not detailed in the available supporting documents.
informational or procedural item — no vote taken
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Potential benefit
The City Manager's Report keeps residents and council members informed about the day-to-day operations and strategic initiatives of the city.
Concern to consider
Without the full text of the report, it is not possible to assess specific policy or operational concerns raised.
What happens next: No formal action was required following the City Manager's Report; it served as an informational update to the Council and public.
Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 5Outcome pending
Approval of Claims and Payroll
Routine approval of city claims and payroll was on the agenda for the May 9, 2023 meeting. This is a standard procedural item the City Council considers at each regular meeting to authorize payment of vendor invoices and employee compensation already appropriated in the city budget. No new policy decisions or discretionary spending are involved.
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Key figure: $1,664,880.51 — Accounts payable checks presented for approval (Check Nos. 313986–314284, dated 05/09/2023)
Potential benefit
Timely approval ensures city employees are paid on schedule and vendors providing city services receive payment, keeping public operations — including public safety, public works, and parks — running without disruption.
Concern to consider
This is a standard procedural vote with no discretionary spending decisions at this stage; the underlying budget is set separately through the annual budget process.
What happens next: Approval of claims and payroll is a recurring agenda item at every regular city council meeting requiring no additional follow-up actions.
Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 6Outcome pending
Hats Off to Hometown Hits
Council members shared community updates, including the Taste of Richfield event, the Farmers Market, the Sustainability Commission's tree and rain barrel sale, community garden updates, a shout out to State Representative Mike Howard for passing a housing bill, a call for applicants for the HRA/EDA, Drinking Water Week tours, the High School Art Show, and a request for community feedback on a proposed off-road bike park.
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Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilDiscussed
City Council Work Session: Policy Topic Proposals and Tentative 2024 Workplans
The City Council held a work session on April 25, 2023 to discuss policy topic proposals and a tentative 2024 workplan, with approval of those session minutes on the May 9 agenda. Topics were expected to include a proposal for additional renter protections, a potential 'State of the Community' public event, and a proposal to eliminate parking requirements for new development. City leadership presented a ranked set of priorities and discussed constraints on available staff capacity for the coming year.
informational or procedural item — no vote taken
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Potential benefit
This planning session was expected to shape which policy priorities Richfield pursues in 2023–2024, giving residents early insight into the direction of local government on housing stability, transportation, and community engagement before any formal proposals are drafted.
Concern to consider
Competing demands on staff resources mean some proposals — such as the State of the Community event — may not advance in 2023, and ideas like eliminating parking requirements could face significant public and operational opposition before any policy change could take effect.
What happens next: Policy proposals discussed at the April 25 work session were expected to inform formal 2024 workplan development. Individual proposals such as renter protections and parking requirement reform would require further staff research, potential public input processes, and future council action before any changes could take effect.
Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
Work SessionItem 1Outcome pending
Proposed Increase to Electric and Gas Franchise Fees and Streetlight User Fee
An increase to electric and gas franchise fees and the streetlight user fee was scheduled for discussion at this work session, with staff seeking Council direction on whether to proceed. The franchise fee was proposed to rise from approximately 4.13% to 5% of utility gross revenues — the maximum allowable — which was estimated to increase the average household's annual cost from $98.40 to $117 per year. The streetlight user fee was proposed to increase from $5.19 to $6.50 per quarter to address a 21% rise in Xcel Energy electricity rates since 2022.
final tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
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Key figure: $405,225 — Estimated additional annual revenue from raising franchise fees from 4.13% to 5% of utility gross revenues
Potential benefit
If approved, the franchise fee increase would generate approximately $405,225 in additional annual revenue for right-of-way improvements and sustainability projects, while the streetlight fee increase would generate roughly $68,500 more per year to cover rising electricity costs and maintain existing street lighting services citywide.
Concern to consider
This proposal would increase annual utility-related costs for most Richfield households by roughly $18.60 per year in franchise fees and approximately $5.24 per year in streetlight fees — a combined increase of about $23.84 annually. The fee structure is flat, meaning lower-income or lower-energy households would pay the same rate as higher-consumption users.
What happens next: If the Council provided direction to proceed, staff would initiate the legal process to amend the relevant ordinances, with a target effective date of January 1, 2024. Formal ordinance changes would require subsequent Council action at a regular meeting.
Sources: Work Session agenda (city portal) ↗
Work SessionItem 2Outcome pending
Local Speed Limits Refresher, Ongoing Speed Limit Study, and Updated Staff Recommendation
A refresher on local speed limits, an ongoing speed limit study, and an updated staff recommendation were scheduled for discussion at this work session. Staff was expected to present a recommendation for a default citywide speed limit of 25 mph, with limited exceptions for one road at 30 mph and one at 35 mph, while alleys would remain at 10 mph and roundabouts at 15 mph. Formal speed limit changes would require subsequent Council action through resolutions and ordinances, with implementation projected for Fall 2023 through Spring 2024.
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Potential benefit
If the 25 mph citywide default is adopted, it could reduce vehicle speeds, lower annual crash totals, and work toward eliminating fatal and serious injury crashes — particularly those involving pedestrians and cyclists. A consistent speed limit applied citywide would also avoid creating higher-speed zones in any particular neighborhood, supporting equitable safety outcomes across all areas of Richfield.
Concern to consider
Most of Richfield's roads were designed to State Aid Standards with a 30 mph minimum design speed, meaning infrastructure may not fully support a 25 mph target without long-term capital investment. The city would also need to develop and fund education, enforcement, and signage strategies, and the proposal does not extend to county, state, or trunk highways within city limits.
What happens next: Staff planned to finalize the recommendation and supporting documentation by Summer 2023, with formal Council action anticipated that same summer. Implementation — including education strategy development, enforcement planning, and signage rollout — was projected to occur between Fall 2023 and Spring 2024, followed by annual crash analysis and speed monitoring through 2026.
Sources: Work Session agenda (city portal) ↗