City CouncilItem 2AOutcome pending
Designation of Acting City Manager for 2024
This consent calendar item was scheduled for consideration to formally designate who would serve as Acting City Manager whenever City Manager Katie Rodriguez is absent from Richfield in 2024. Staff recommended continuing the same approach used in 2023, directing the City Manager to designate either the Assistant City Manager or an available Department Director to fill the role. This is a routine annual designation required at the first Council meeting of each year.
final tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
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Potential benefit
If approved, this would ensure continuity of city government operations whenever the City Manager is unavailable, preventing any gap in leadership authority over daily city functions.
Concern to consider
No significant concerns — this is a standard procedural item with no financial impact and follows established past practice.
What happens next: If approved, the City Manager would designate an Acting City Manager as needed throughout 2024 whenever absent from the city.
Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 2JOutcome pending
Purchase of 11 Ford SUV Police Interceptor Vehicles
The city was scheduled to consider purchasing 11 Ford SUV Police Interceptor vehicles from McGovern Municipal Headquarters for approximately $498,744, combining both 2023 and 2024 budgeted fleet replacements into a single order. The combined purchase became necessary after Ford cancelled the city's 2023 vehicle order and then closed the 2024 model window, requiring the city to order 2025 models immediately for early 2024 delivery. The vehicles proposed are gas-powered rather than hybrid, as staff determined that hybrid maintenance costs and poor warranty coverage outweighed environmental benefits at this time.
final tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
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Key figure: $498,743.85 — Total purchase price for 11 Ford SUV Police Interceptor vehicles from McGovern Municipal Headquarters, plus destination, tax, title, and license fees
Potential benefit
If approved, this purchase would maintain an adequately equipped Public Safety fleet, with retired police vehicles being reassigned to city departments like parks, forestry, and engineering before eventual auction — extending the value of each vehicle.
Concern to consider
The shift away from hybrid vehicles may raise concerns for residents interested in the city's environmental footprint. The combined purchase also concentrates two years of vehicle spending into a single transaction, totaling nearly $500,000.
What happens next: If approved, vehicles were expected to be delivered and paid for in early 2024. Retired vehicles would be reassigned to other city departments before eventual auction sale.
Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 3Outcome pending
Consent Calendar Approval
Approval of multiple routine items including liquor license renewals, acceptance of grants and donations, establishment of special revenue funds, and contracts for public safety and health services.
final tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
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Part of an ongoing matter · 3 related discussions →
Potential benefit
Supports local businesses, ensures city compliance, and secures funding for city services.
Concern to consider
Routine approvals; minimal direct concerns unless specific item affects you.
What happens next: Routine city operations continue; no further council action required.
Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 5Outcome pendingYour input welcome
Renewal of 2024 Pawnbroker and Secondhand Goods Dealer Licenses for Metro Pawn & Gun
A public hearing was scheduled to consider renewing the 2024 Pawnbroker and Secondhand Goods Dealer licenses for Metro Pawn & Gun, Inc., located at 7529 Lyndale Avenue South. This type of license requires an annual public hearing, giving residents a formal opportunity to comment before the Council acts. Agenda documents indicate Metro Pawn & Gun has maintained a cooperative relationship with Richfield's Public Safety departments.
final tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
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Part of an ongoing matter · 5 related discussions →
Potential benefit
If approved, the renewal would allow Metro Pawn & Gun to continue operating as a licensed and regulated secondhand goods dealer, which includes mandatory transaction reporting to police that can aid in stolen property recovery.
Concern to consider
The public hearing format is designed specifically to surface any community concerns about the business's continued operation; residents with concerns had an opportunity to speak at this meeting.
What happens next: If approved, Metro Pawn & Gun would operate under renewed 2024 licenses subject to ongoing compliance with city and state pawnbroker regulations.
Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 6Outcome pending
Appointment of Karl Huemiller as Recreation Services Director
The City Council was scheduled to consider confirming City Manager Katie Rodriguez's appointment of Karl Huemiller as the new Recreation Services Director for Richfield. Agenda materials indicate the selection involved a competitive process with ten staff members participating on interview panels, and the City Manager expressed strong confidence in the recommendation. Huemiller's name appears in prior meeting documents related to recreation programming and sustainability discussions, suggesting familiarity with city priorities.
final tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
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Part of an ongoing matter · 1 related discussion →
Potential benefit
If confirmed, this appointment would place experienced leadership in charge of Richfield's parks, recreation programs, and sustainability initiatives — including oversight of major capital projects like the Wood Lake Nature Center redesign.
Concern to consider
No concerns were noted in agenda materials; the competitive, staff-inclusive hiring process was highlighted as a strength of the recommendation.
What happens next: If confirmed, Karl Huemiller would serve as Recreation Services Director, with responsibilities including oversight of the Wood Lake Nature Center design and construction project moving forward.
Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 7Outcome pending
Contract with HGA for Wood Lake Nature Center Design
The Council was scheduled to consider approving a $1,685,296 contract with architectural firm HGA to design a new building for Wood Lake Nature Center and provide construction administration services. The project has been discussed in prior council work sessions, with council members raising questions about trail improvements, accessible entrances for surrounding neighborhoods, and the role of potential local sales tax funding. If approved, the City Manager would also be authorized to approve contract changes up to $175,000 without returning to the full Council.
final tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
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Part of an ongoing matter · 3 related discussions →
Key figure: $1,685,296 — Contract with HGA for professional design services and construction administration for a new Wood Lake Nature Center building
Potential benefit
If approved, this contract would formally launch the design phase for a new Wood Lake Nature Center building — a significant community asset — with planned trail improvements and more accessible entrances connecting surrounding neighborhoods to the site.
Concern to consider
At $1.685 million for design alone, the full construction cost would be substantially higher; the funding mix, including potential local sales tax dollars, was still being discussed at the time of the agenda. Council members also raised questions about equitable access from neighborhoods currently cut off from the nature center.
What happens next: If approved, HGA would begin design and construction administration work, with community engagement planned as part of the process. Future Council action would be needed to approve construction contracts once design is complete.
Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 8Outcome pending
Second Reading: Ordinance Authorizing City Engineer to Set Speed Limits
A second reading of an ordinance amending Richfield City Code Chapter XIII was scheduled for consideration, which would authorize the City Engineer to set speed limits on municipal roadways. If adopted, most residential streets would be set at 25 mph, while major corridors such as Penn, Nicollet, and Portland avenues would retain higher limits. The 76th and 77th Street corridor near Highway 77 was expected to be designated an urban district with a 30 mph limit, with all changes proposed to take effect June 15, 2024.
final tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
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Part of an ongoing matter · 2 related discussions →
Potential benefit
Lower speed limits on most residential streets could improve pedestrian and cyclist safety, particularly for children and seniors. The proposed citywide 25 mph default and 30 mph on the 76th/77th Street corridor would reduce the risk of serious injury in vehicle-pedestrian collisions. A unified June 15, 2024 implementation date would allow for a coordinated public education campaign and signage rollout.
Concern to consider
Some council members expressed concern about unintended consequences, including enforcement challenges during the transition period. Mayor Supple preferred a 35 mph limit on the 76th/77th Street corridor and called for ongoing monitoring of impacts. Residents would need to be educated about new limits before enforcement begins, and the effectiveness of that outreach was identified as a key concern.
What happens next: If approved at the second reading, the ordinance would become law and staff would begin preparing a public education campaign and new signage installation ahead of the June 15, 2024 effective date. County road speed limits would not be affected, as those are governed separately. Staff indicated signage would be rolled out over several weeks, with enforcement beginning on June 15.
Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilDiscussed
Southdale Library and Edina Art Center Co-location Project Preview
A preview of the proposed Southdale Library and Edina Art Center co-location project at 7001 York Avenue South was scheduled to be presented to the Richfield City Council for informational purposes. The project would combine one of Hennepin County's busiest libraries — with approximately 185,000 visitors and over 250,000 physical checkouts in 2022 — with the Edina Art Center on a redesigned site near the Richfield-Edina border. The design concept was expected to include regional trail connections, extensive stormwater infrastructure, and a pedestrian-oriented building layout addressing current accessibility barriers.
informational or procedural item — no vote taken
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Potential benefit
Southdale Library serves a significant number of Richfield residents given its proximity to the city's border with Edina. A modernized, accessible one-story facility with improved pedestrian access, outdoor programming space, and connections to the Nine Mile Creek Regional Trail could benefit Richfield community members who use the library regularly. The project also proposes to eliminate the majority of existing impervious paving and manage 95% of annual average rainfall on-site, supporting broader environmental goals.
Concern to consider
This was an informational preview only and no formal action was expected at this meeting. Community feedback gathered prior to the preview identified barriers such as multi-floor layout, parking lot design, and insufficient pedestrian-friendly access as concerns to be addressed. The project's timeline, funding structure, and final scope had not yet been confirmed at this stage.
What happens next: The project was in an early sketch plan and community feedback phase as of January 2024. The Richfield City Council was receiving this as an informational preview only; no formal votes or approvals were expected at this meeting. Further community engagement, design development, and intergovernmental coordination between Hennepin County and the City of Edina would be needed before any formal action could be taken.
Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
Work SessionItem 1Discussed
Update on Hennepin County Southdale Library Project
Hennepin County staff was scheduled to present an update on the Southdale Library project at this work session, covering the library's location, project schedule, preliminary site plan, regional trail connections, and partnership opportunities. The library was expected to remain at its current location rather than relocate to Southdale mall, with the public-facing square footage matching the existing facility. No City Council action was required, as this was a purely informational presentation.
informational or procedural item — no vote taken
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Potential benefit
A redesigned Southdale Library could improve accessibility for residents across surrounding communities, add regional trail connections, and potentially incorporate after-school programming and sustainable design elements. Council members expressed interest in ensuring the building is more pedestrian-friendly than the preliminary site plan suggested.
Concern to consider
The library collection was expected to go into storage during construction, which could leave the community without full library services for an extended period. Council members raised concerns that the preliminary site plan appeared too car-oriented and did not position the building close enough to the street for strong pedestrian access.
What happens next: Hennepin County staff would continue design and planning work on the project. Staff indicated they would investigate options for a pop-up library during construction to help maintain community access to library services. Future updates to the City Council may be expected as the design progresses.
Sources: Work Session agenda (city portal) ↗