Meeting record · Richfield, Minnesota
City Council — Tuesday, January 27, 2026
12 items on the record
Read this day's brief Official records (city portal)
Items on the record
Item 3ApprovedPassed 5-0
Approval of Meeting Agenda (Amended to Add Amicus Brief Resolution)
The Council approved the January 27, 2026 meeting agenda after adding a new item, 11a, a resolution ratifying the city's participation in a Municipal Prosecutors' Amicus Curiae Brief. This procedural vote set the order of business for the meeting.
Item 4ApprovedPassed 5-0
Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes
The Council approved the minutes from the January 13, 2026 Work Session, the January 13, 2026 Regular Meeting, and the January 15, 2026 Special Meeting, formally closing the record on those prior sessions.
Item 5ApprovedPassed 5-0
Extension of Open Forum Period and Speaking Time Limit
The Council voted to extend the Open Forum public comment period from 30 to 50 minutes (until 8:47 p.m.) and extended the individual speaker time limit from three to four minutes to accommodate an ADA request, given seventeen residents wished to speak, largely about ICE enforcement activity in Richfield.
Item 6Discussedinformational or procedural item — no vote taken
Proclamations and Presentations: Winter Salt Week 2026 and Richfield Foundation Grants
Mayor Supple proclaimed January 26-30, 2026 as Winter Salt Week, presented to Deputy Public Works Director Chris Link, and the Richfield Foundation, marking nearly 40 years of community grantmaking, announced its 2025 grant recipients to local nonprofits and neighborhood projects.
Item history
- Jan 27, 2026 · City Council · This item
- Feb 10, 2026 · City Council · Informational
Item 7aApprovedPassed 5-0
Approval of Disbursements and Claims
The Council approved routine city disbursements totaling $2,790,170.34, consisting of $1,637,722.23 in accounts payable checks/ETFs processed between January 3-16, 2026, and $1,152,448.11 in payroll issued January 16, 2026.
Item 7bApprovedPassed 5-0
Second Reading: Rezoning for MICC Learning Center at 76th Street and Morgan Avenue
The Council adopted Ordinance 2026-01 rezoning four parcels at 2000, 2006, and 2018 - 76th Street West and 7532 Morgan Avenue South from Low Density Residential (R) to Multifamily Residential (MR-2), along with related resolutions approving summary publication, a conditional use permit and variances, and a preliminary plat, to allow Minnesota Independence College & Community (MICC) to build a new learning center.
Item history
- Dec 8, 2025 · Planning Commission · Needs Public Input
- Jan 13, 2026 · City Council · First Reading
- Jan 27, 2026 · City Council · This item
Item 7cApprovedPassed 5-0
Second Reading: Ordinance Establishing Human Resources Department and Director Position
The Council adopted Ordinance 2026-02 amending Sections 300 and 310 of the City Code to formally establish a Human Resources Department and create the position of Human Resources Director within the city organization.
Item history
- Jan 13, 2026 · City Council · First Reading
- Jan 27, 2026 · City Council · This item
Item 10aApprovedPassed 5-0
Emergency Ordinance Limiting Use of City-Owned Property for Civil Immigration Enforcement Staging
The Council adopted Ordinance 2026-03, an emergency ordinance prohibiting the use of city-owned off-street property, such as parking lots, for civil immigration enforcement staging purposes, except as required by law or judicial warrant. The ordinance took effect immediately, does not restrict on-street parking, public building lobbies, or lawful federal/judicial enforcement, and responds directly to recent ICE activity reported in Richfield.
Item history
- Jan 27, 2026 · City Council · This item
- Feb 10, 2026 · City Council · Approved
Item 11aApprovedPassed 5-0
Resolution Ratifying Participation in Municipal Prosecutors' Amicus Curiae Brief
The Council adopted Resolution 12407 ratifying the city's participation, alongside other municipal prosecutors, in an amicus curiae (friend-of-the-court) brief. The item was added to the agenda the same day due to a fast-moving legal opportunity requiring quick vetting before the meeting.
Item history
- Jan 27, 2026 · City Council · This item
- Feb 10, 2026 · City Council · Approved
Item 12aApprovedPassed 5-0
Appointment of Brett Stursa to Housing and Redevelopment Authority Commissioner
The Council approved Mayor Supple's appointment of Brett Stursa as a Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) Commissioner for a five-year term beginning March 1, 2026 and expiring February 28, 2031. Stursa was selected from five applicants interviewed on January 20, 2026, following an application period from November 15 to December 15, 2025; because HRA and Economic Development Authority (EDA) membership overlap, the appointment also applies to the EDA. Council thanked outgoing Chair Erin Vrieze Daniels for her service.
Item 13Discussedinformational or procedural item — no vote taken
City Manager's Report on ICE Response Efforts and Rental Assistance
City Manager Rodriguez reported on city actions responding to federal immigration enforcement activity, including allocating $50,000 in emergency rental assistance through VEAP, posting Council statements condemning ICE actions, reviewing Flock camera data practices (30-day retention, no federal data sharing), increasing police patrols at schools during drop-off/pick-up, and filing a friend-of-the-court brief in a federal ICE-related lawsuit. Staff also confirmed a state-required eviction moratorium is not legally permitted but is exploring extending eviction notice periods and tenant protections.
Item 14aDiscussedinformational or procedural item — no vote taken
Council Discussion: Recognition of Community Support ('Hats Off to Hometown Hits')
Council Member Burk publicly recognized community members supporting one another during the recent period of federal immigration enforcement activity, praising local solidarity and mutual aid efforts among Richfield residents.
Official documents
Last updated Tuesday, July 28, 2026 · AI-assisted summaries — the official documents above are authoritative.