Advisory Board of HealthItem 4aDiscussed
Penn Fest Recap
The Advisory Board of Health will review a recap of the Penn Fest community event. No further details on outcomes or attendance figures were provided in the agenda.
informational or procedural item — no vote taken
Learn more about this item
Part of an ongoing matter · 1 related discussion →
Potential benefit
Reviewing past outreach events like Penn Fest helps the board refine future public health engagement in the community.
Concern to consider
Without published metrics, residents cannot yet gauge how effective the event was.
What happens next: The board will discuss the recap at the September 21, 2026 meeting; no further action indicated.
Sources: Advisory Board of Health agenda (city portal) ↗
Housing & Redevelopment AuthorityItem 10.aOutcome pendingYour input welcome
Acquisition and Rehabilitation Funding Agreement with Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity for 7039 5th Avenue South
The HRA will consider authorizing a funding agreement giving Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity $80,000 from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund plus $40,000 in reinvested loan repayments to buy back, rehabilitate, and resell the home at 7039 5th Avenue South. The renovated home will gain a fourth bedroom and be sold to a household earning 50-80% of Area Median Income (about $71,010 for a family of four), with the land transferred to the West Hennepin Affordable Housing Land Trust to keep it permanently affordable. The agreement would expire November 21, 2027.
final tally arrives with the minutes, expected ~Oct 19
Learn more about this item
Key figure: $80,000 — Grant from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund for acquisition/rehab of 7039 5th Avenue South
Potential benefit
Preserves an affordable four-bedroom home for a larger family and rehabilitates aging housing stock using $120,000 in public and reinvested funds plus $81,352 from Habitat and state sources.
Concern to consider
Commits $80,000 of the city's Affordable Housing Trust Fund to a single property, spending that was not included in the 2026 Revised Budget.
What happens next: If approved, HRA staff will approve TCHFH's acquisition of the specific property and review buyer income documentation before final resale; the agreement must be signed before TCHFH can purchase the home and seek reimbursement, and it expires November 21, 2027.
Sources: Housing & Redevelopment Authority agenda (city portal) ↗
Housing & Redevelopment AuthorityItem 10.bOutcome pending
Continued Consideration of Update to the Inclusionary Housing Policy
The HRA will continue considering proposed updates to the Inclusionary Housing Policy, including raising the minimum project size requiring affordability from 5 to 15 units, requiring 15 years of affordability for multifamily owner-occupied projects, eliminating the payment-in-lieu option for accessible units, and aligning the policy with the city's 4d(1) Tax Classification Policy. The item was postponed 5-0 at the August 17, 2026 meeting so staff could research peer cities' minimum-unit thresholds before the HRA acts.
final tally arrives with the minutes, expected ~Oct 19
Learn more about this item
Part of an ongoing matter · 2 related discussions →
Potential benefit
A higher 15-unit threshold and 15-year affordability requirement could produce more predictable long-term affordable units in larger developments citywide.
Concern to consider
Raising the minimum project size from 5 to 15 units could exempt many smaller apartment developments from having to include any affordable units.
What happens next: The HRA will resume discussion and possible action at the September 21, 2026 meeting, following staff's review of peer cities' policies on minimum project size requirements requested at the August 17 meeting.
Sources: Housing & Redevelopment Authority agenda (city portal) ↗
Economic Development AuthorityItem 7.aOutcome pending
Update to the Inclusionary Housing Policy
The EDA will continue considering proposed changes to Richfield's Inclusionary Housing Policy, including raising the minimum project size that triggers affordability requirements from 5 units to 15 units, requiring 15-year affordability guarantees for owner-occupied projects, eliminating the cash payment-in-lieu option for accessible units, and aligning the policy with the City's new 4d(1) tax classification policy. The item was continued from the August 18, 2026 meeting after commissioners requested more information on why 15 units was recommended, and a resolution (No. 71) formally adopting the changes is now presented for consideration.
final tally arrives with the minutes, expected ~Oct 19
Learn more about this item
Part of an ongoing matter · 2 related discussions →
Potential benefit
Raising the trigger to 15 units is intended to make small 'missing middle' infill projects (5-14 units) more financially feasible to build, since construction costs have risen sharply since the policy was adopted in 2019 and smaller cities require 10-20 units before affordability kicks in.
Concern to consider
Because fewer small projects (5-14 units) would be required to include affordable units, some future affordable housing production from smaller infill buildings could be lost even as the policy strengthens requirements (15-year affordability, mandatory accessible units) for larger 15+ unit projects.
What happens next: The EDA will consider the item on its September 21, 2026 consent calendar; the Richfield HRA will also review the update the same day, and the City Council is scheduled to consider it on October 13, 2026.
Sources: Economic Development Authority agenda (city portal) ↗
Economic Development AuthorityItem 14Discussed
Approval of EDA Claims
The EDA will consider approval of claims (bills and payments) presented for the period leading up to the September 21, 2026 meeting.
informational or procedural item — no vote taken
Learn more about this item
What happens next: The EDA will vote on the claims list before adjournment.
Sources: Economic Development Authority agenda (city portal) ↗
Economic Development AuthorityDiscussed
Executecutive Director's s Report
The Executive Director will provprovide an informational update to the EDA at the September 21, 2026 meeting; the agenda does not specify particular topics in advance.
informational or procedural item — no vote taken
Learn more about this item
What happens next: No formal action is expected; this report is informational only.
Sources: Economic Development Authority agenda (city portal) ↗