City CouncilItem 2.AOutcome pending
Designation of Polling Places for 2023
The City Council was scheduled to consider adopting a resolution designating polling places for 2023, following a required change to Precinct 9's location. The previous Precinct 9 polling place, House of Prayer, informed staff it could no longer serve in that role, and Church of Assumption at 305 E. 77th Street was proposed as the replacement. Minnesota Statute requires polling place changes be made at least 90 days before an election, with the November 7, 2023 School Board election serving as the critical deadline.
final tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
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Potential benefit
If adopted, all nine Richfield precincts would have confirmed polling locations ahead of the November 2023 School Board election, ensuring residents can vote without disruption. Hennepin County would also be able to send updated polling location notices to residents in advance.
Concern to consider
Residents in Precinct 9 (Ward 3) would need to be aware of the new polling location at Church of Assumption rather than House of Prayer. No financial impact to the city was identified.
What happens next: If adopted, Hennepin County would send updated polling location notices to affected Precinct 9 residents ahead of the November 7, 2023 School Board election.
Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 2.BOutcome pending
Conditional Use Permit for 48-Child Preschool and Day Care at 7227 Penn Avenue South
Blossomtime Montessori was on the agenda for a Conditional Use Permit to relocate its preschool and day care from Hope Church on Portland Avenue to St. Nicholas Episcopal Church at 7227 Penn Avenue South, serving up to 48 children in 3,100 square feet of the 9,500-square-foot building. Proposed operating hours would be 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. with eight teachers, and no significant exterior changes were planned beyond a possible chain link fence around a play area on the north side of the property. The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval 4-0 at its June 26, 2023 meeting, with a condition requiring bicycle parking for four bikes within one year.
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Potential benefit
If approved, this would bring an established licensed childcare provider to the Penn Avenue corridor, adding 48 Montessori preschool spots with extended hours that could benefit working families. The facility would reuse existing church space with minimal neighborhood impact.
Concern to consider
Increased vehicle traffic during morning and evening drop-off and pick-up windows (6:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.) could affect nearby residential streets. A chain link fence would be added to the north side of the property adjacent to the play area.
What happens next: If the CUP is approved, Blossomtime Montessori would need to record the resolution with Hennepin County, install bicycle parking for four bikes within one year, and satisfy all zoning and state licensing conditions before opening.
Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 4Outcome pending
Appointment to Richfield Tourism Promotion Board
The City Council was scheduled to consider adopting a resolution appointing Mary Kindseth as the at-large citizen director to the Richfield Tourism Promotion Board (RTPB), filling a vacancy created when the previous resident appointee resigned due to a conflict of interest after becoming a city employee. The Council interviewed candidates on March 25, 2023 and selected Kindseth to serve a mid-year term ending January 31, 2025. The RTPB is funded by a 3% lodging tax on Richfield hotels and motels and oversees tourism marketing for the city.
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Part of an ongoing matter · 1 related discussion →
Potential benefit
If approved, this would restore the RTPB's ability to maintain a quorum and continue conducting business, sustaining tourism promotion efforts that support local hospitality and restaurant industries without any cost to taxpayers.
Concern to consider
No financial cost to the city is associated with this appointment. The at-large position is intended to represent general community interests on a board that directs how lodging tax revenue is spent on city promotion.
What happens next: If appointed, Mary Kindseth would begin serving immediately as the at-large citizen director on the RTPB through January 31, 2025.
Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 6Outcome pending
Approval of Claims and Payrolls
The City Council was scheduled to approve routine claims and payroll for the period ending July 11, 2023, totaling approximately $5.2 million in combined accounts payable and employee payroll disbursements. This is a standard recurring item at each Council meeting to authorize payment of city vendor invoices and employee compensation. No unusual financial concerns were flagged in the agenda materials.
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Key figure: $4,643,390.54 — Accounts payable checks (322316–322607) for city vendor and service payments
Potential benefit
Timely approval ensures city employees are paid and vendors are compensated for services rendered, maintaining normal delivery of city operations and services.
Concern to consider
No unusual expenditures or financial concerns were flagged in the agenda. Approval is routine and required for ongoing city functions.
What happens next: Payments are processed to employees and vendors.
Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
Work SessionItem 1Outcome pending
City Regulation of Adult Use Cannabis and Edible Cannabinoid Products (ECPs)
The City Council work session was scheduled to receive a staff presentation on how to regulate adult use cannabis and edible cannabinoid products (ECPs) following Minnesota's recent legalization of recreational cannabis. Staff were expected to outline the city's existing ECP moratorium (set to expire December 3, 2023), note that legal cannabis sales are not anticipated until early 2025, and seek Council direction on key local regulatory decisions. The session was on the agenda as a discussion and direction-setting exercise rather than a formal vote.
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Key figure: $125 — State-mandated registration fee per cannabis or hemp business (set by state law, collected by the city)
Potential benefit
This discussion was expected to shape how and where cannabis and hemp edible products can be sold in Richfield, giving residents and businesses advance clarity on local rules. The state mandates the city collect $125 registration fees per cannabis-related business, which could generate modest local revenue and fund required compliance checks.
Concern to consider
Without Council direction, the city risks being unprepared when the ECP moratorium expires in December 2023 or when adult use cannabis sales launch in early 2025. Cities cannot ban all licensed cannabis businesses outright, so inaction does not prevent sales — it only delays local oversight and zoning controls.
What happens next: Staff were seeking Council direction on multiple open questions: whether to extend or repeal the ECP moratorium, whether to adopt a new moratorium on adult use cannabis, how to zone dispensaries, how many dispensaries to allow, hours of operation, and whether liquor stores may sell ECPs. The city will have better data on registered ECP sellers after the October 1, 2023 state registration deadline. The OCM is expected to provide model ordinances and licensing information to help guide final local rules ahead of anticipated cannabis retail sales in early 2025.
Sources: Work Session agenda (city portal) ↗