Work SessionItem 1Outcome pendingYour input welcome
Discussion on Ban of Short-Term Rentals (STRs)
The Richfield City Council held a work session discussion on whether to ban short-term rentals (STRs) such as Airbnb-style properties, a priority identified through the 2024 policy proposal process. Staff presented data showing 72 self-identified STRs represent about 6.5% of non-apartment rental units and 0.7% of all non-apartment housing citywide, and brought forward a draft ordinance amendment that would prohibit rentals of less than one month. Council discussed details including a potential owner-occupant exception, a compliance grace period running through January 1, 2026, and alternatives such as capping rather than banning STRs outright.
recorded in the approved minutes — tally not yet extracted here
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Potential benefit
A ban could return a small number of units to the long-term rental or ownership market, potentially easing housing availability for permanent residents. Staff noted that STR operators tend to respond to code enforcement notices more quickly than other landlords, but the primary policy goal is preserving housing for long-term residents.
Concern to consider
Only 72 units were self-identified as STRs, meaning the actual housing-supply impact of a ban may be limited. A ban could eliminate income for property owners who rely on short-term rental revenue, and staff acknowledged difficulty in collecting tourism taxes from STR operators regardless of a ban. Monitoring compliance — whether under a ban or a cap — presents ongoing enforcement challenges.
What happens next: Staff is seeking council direction on whether to proceed with a ban, a cap, or no change. If the council directs staff to move forward with a ban, the next steps would include providing written notice to all self-identified STR property owners, drafting a formal ordinance amendment, and scheduling it for a public hearing and council vote. Staff recommended an effective date of January 1, 2026, to allow a grace period for existing reservations and current 2025 rental licenses.
Sources: Work Session minutes (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 3AOutcome pending
First reading of ordinance amendment on public nuisances
As part of the consent calendar, the council approved a first reading of an ordinance amendment pertaining to City Code Section 925.01, Public Nuisances, Subdivision 2.
final tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
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Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 3AOutcome pending
First reading of ordinance amendment on public nuisances
As part of the consent calendar, the City Council approved the first reading of an ordinance amendment pertaining to City Code Section 925.01, Public Nuisances, subdivision 2.
final tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
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Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 3AOutcome pending
First reading of ordinance amendment on public nuisances
As part of the consent calendar, the council approved the first reading of an ordinance amendment pertaining to City Code Section 925.01, Public Nuisances, subdivision 2.
final tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
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Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 3BOutcome pending
Purchase of two Olympia Millenium E ice resurfacers
As part of the consent calendar, the council authorized the purchase of two Olympia Millenium E ice resurfacers from CTM Services, Inc. for $250,000 in 2025 and $89,626 in 2026, totaling $339,626, and authorized the City Manager to approve contract changes up to $175,000 without further council consideration.
final tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
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Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 3BOutcome pending
Purchase of two Olympia Millenium E ice resurfacers
As part of the consent calendar, the City Council authorized the purchase of two Olympia Millenium E ice resurfacers from CTM Services, Inc. for a total of $339,626 across budget years 2025 and 2026, and authorized the City Manager to approve contract changes up to $175,000 without further City Council consideration.
final tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
Learn more about this item
Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 3BOutcome pending
Purchase of two Olympia Millenium E ice resurfacers
As part of the consent calendar, the council authorized the purchase of two Olympia Millenium E ice resurfacers from CTM Services, Inc. for $250,000 in 2025 and $89,626 in 2026, totaling $339,626, and authorized the City Manager to approve contract changes up to $175,000 without further council consideration.
final tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
Learn more about this item
Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 3COutcome pending
Purchase of a Pierce Enforcer PUC Fire Pumper
As part of the consent calendar, the council authorized the purchase of a Pierce Enforcer PUC Fire Pumper from MacQueen Emergency Group for $400,000 in 2025 and $302,095.67 in 2026 through 2028, totaling $1,306,287, and authorized the City Manager to approve contract changes up to $175,000 without further council consideration.
final tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
Learn more about this item
Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 3COutcome pending
Purchase of a Pierce Enforcer PUC Fire Pumper
As part of the consent calendar, the City Council authorized the purchase of a Pierce Enforcer PUC Fire Pumper from MacQueen Emergency Group for a total of $1,306,287 across budget years 2025 through 2028, and authorized the City Manager to approve contract changes up to $175,000 without further City Council consideration.
final tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
Learn more about this item
Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 3COutcome pending
Purchase of a Pierce Enforcer PUC Fire Pumper
As part of the consent calendar, the council authorized the purchase of a Pierce Enforcer PUC Fire Pumper from MacQueen Emergency Group for $400,000 in 2025 and $302,095.67 in 2026, 2027, and 2028, totaling $1,306,287, and authorized the City Manager to approve contract changes up to $175,000 without further council 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 regarding drive-through signs
The council approved the second reading of an ordinance amending the Richfield Zoning Code regulations related to drive-through signs and adopted a resolution approving summary publication.
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 regarding drive-through signs
The City Council approved the second reading of an ordinance amending the Richfield Zoning Code regulations related to drive-through signs and adopted a resolution approving summary publication.
final tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
Learn more about this item
Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 5Outcome pending
Second reading and summary publication of ordinance amendment regarding drive-through signs
The council approved the second reading of an ordinance amending the Richfield Zoning Code regulations related to drive-through signs and adopted a resolution approving summary publication of the ordinance.
final tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
Learn more about this item
Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 6Outcome pending
Resolution supporting 4d tax classification for Hempel Real Estate affordable rental properties
The City Council adopted a resolution supporting 4d tax classification for Hempel Real Estate related to the acquisition and preservation of three affordable rental communities at 50 West 78th Street, 1300-1324 East 78th Street, and 7500-7544 Cedar Avenue. Councilmembers discussed the tradeoff of shifting some tax burden while preserving affordable housing, and the mayor stated the action was not intended to set a precedent.
final tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
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Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 6Outcome pending
Resolution supporting 4d tax classification for Hempel Real Estate affordable rental properties
The council adopted a resolution supporting 4d tax classification for Hempel Real Estate related to the acquisition and preservation of three affordable rental communities located at 50 West 78th Street, 1300-1324 East 78th Street, and 7500-7544 Cedar Avenue. Council discussion acknowledged a tax-burden shift but concluded that preserving affordable housing outweighed the trade-offs.
final tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
Learn more about this item
Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 6Outcome pending
Resolution supporting 4d tax classification for Hempel Real Estate affordable rental properties
The council adopted a resolution supporting 4d tax classification for Hempel Real Estate related to the acquisition and preservation of three affordable rental communities at 50 West 78th Street, 1300-1324 East 78th Street, and 7500-7544 Cedar Avenue. The action was intended to support preservation of affordable rental housing.
final tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
Learn more about this item
Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 7Outcome pending
Civil enforcement for alcohol compliance check failures
Following a violation hearing, the council adopted resolutions suspending the liquor licenses of Joy’s Pattaya Thai, Davanni’s Pizza and Hot Hoagies, and My Burger, and imposed civil penalties for first-time alcohol compliance failures after each establishment was found to have sold alcohol to a person under age 21 during compliance checks conducted on November 14, 2024.
final tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
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Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 7Outcome pending
Civil enforcement against Joy’s Pattaya Thai for first-time alcohol compliance failure
Following a violation hearing, the City Council adopted a resolution suspending the liquor license for Joy’s Pattaya Thai Restaurant, LLC d/b/a Joy’s Pattaya Thai at 7545 Lyndale Avenue South and imposing a civil penalty for a first-time alcohol compliance failure after a sale of alcohol to a person under age 21.
final tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
Learn more about this item
Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 7Outcome pending
Civil enforcement against Davanni’s Pizza and Hot Hoagie’s for first-time alcohol compliance failure
Following a violation hearing, the City Council adopted a resolution suspending the liquor license for Davanni’s Inc. d/b/a Davanni’s Pizza and Hot Hoagie’s at 6345 Penn Avenue South and imposing a civil penalty for a first-time alcohol compliance failure after a sale of alcohol to a person under age 21.
final tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
Learn more about this item
Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 7Outcome pending
Civil enforcement against My Burger for first-time alcohol compliance failure
Following a violation hearing, the City Council adopted a resolution suspending the liquor license for My Burger Operations, LLC d/b/a My Burger at 6555 Lyndale Avenue South and imposing a civil penalty for a first-time alcohol compliance failure after a sale of alcohol to a person under age 21.
final tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
Learn more about this item
Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 7Outcome pending
Civil enforcement for alcohol compliance check failures
Following a violation hearing, the council adopted resolutions suspending the liquor licenses and imposing civil penalties for first-time alcohol compliance failures at Joy’s Pattaya Thai, Davanni’s Pizza and Hot Hoagie’s, and My Burger after they failed compliance checks by selling alcohol to a person under age 21.
final tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
Learn more about this item
Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 8Outcome pending
Appointment to fill a vacancy on the Sustainability Commission
The council appointed Alexa Wozniak to fill the vacancy on the Sustainability Commission for a term commencing January 28, 2025 and expiring January 31, 2026.
final tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
Learn more about this item
Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 8Outcome pending
Appointment to fill vacancy on the Sustainability Commission
The City Council appointed Alexa Wozniak to fill the vacancy on the Sustainability Commission for a term beginning January 28, 2025 and expiring January 31, 2026.
final tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
Learn more about this item
Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 8Outcome pending
Appointment to fill vacancy on the Sustainability Commission
The council appointed Alexa Wozniak to fill the vacancy on the Sustainability Commission for a term beginning January 28, 2025 and expiring January 31, 2026.
final tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
Learn more about this item
Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 10Outcome pending
Approval of claims and payroll
The council approved claims and payroll totaling $2,213,623.35, including payroll dated January 17, 2025 and accounts payable checks dated January 24, 2025.
final tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
Learn more about this item
Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 10Outcome pending
Approval of claims and payroll
The City Council approved claims and payroll totaling $2,213,623.35, including payroll dated January 17, 2025 and accounts payable checks dated January 24, 2025.
final tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
Learn more about this item
Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗
City CouncilItem 10Outcome pending
Approval of claims and payroll
The council approved claims and payroll totaling $2,213,623.35, including payroll dated January 17, 2025 and accounts payable checks dated January 24, 2025.
final tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
Learn more about this item
Sources: City Council agenda (city portal) ↗