Meeting record · Richfield, Minnesota
City Council — Tuesday, May 9, 2023
13 items on the record
Read this day's brief Official records (city portal)
Items on the record
Item 1Outcome pendingfinal tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
Approval of the Agenda
The City Council approved the agenda for the May 9, 2023, regular meeting.
Item 2AOutcome pendingfinal tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
Acceptance of Grants for Local Infrastructure Planning and Construction
Several state and federal grants for pedestrian and trail infrastructure were scheduled for formal acceptance by the City Council, covering projects across Richfield from 2023 through 2026. Between direct funding and material donations, the city was expected to receive up to $1,063,950 in outside support for improvements on 70th, 71st, 73rd, and 66th Streets. The 70th Street Safe Routes to School demonstration project had already been installed and was on the agenda for retroactive grant acceptance.
Item 2BOutcome pendingfinal tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
Approval of Agreement with MnDOT and Hennepin County for Traffic Signal Maintenance
A three-party traffic signal maintenance agreement between MnDOT, Hennepin County, and the City of Richfield was scheduled for council approval, covering the south traffic signal at Trunk Highway 62 and Penn Avenue (CSAH 32). Under the proposed agreement, Richfield would be responsible for providing power, maintaining pole-mounted LED luminaires, replacing signal LED indications, and cleaning and painting signal equipment. Staff described this as consistent with previously approved signal agreements for other state and county-owned signals within the city.
Item 2COutcome pendingfinal tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
Acceptance and Reimbursement for Public Storm Sewer at Hope Presbyterian Church
The City Council was scheduled to consider formally accepting a public storm sewer installed by Hope Presbyterian Church and authorizing reimbursement of the actual construction cost of $38,091. The storm sewer was constructed across the church's private parking lot to redirect public stormwater runoff that had historically flowed through the site, causing accelerated parking lot deterioration. A cost-share agreement originally approved in December 2021 governed the project, and staff confirmed the work was satisfactorily completed.
Item 2DOutcome pendingfinal tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
Amended Fourth Amendment to Site Lease Agreement at 6700 Portland Avenue
An amendment to the long-standing cellular antenna lease at Richfield City Hall (6700 Portland Avenue) was scheduled for consideration, which would authorize equipment modifications and add one automatic five-year renewal term to the existing agreement. The amendment also proposed formally replacing Sprint Spectrum Realty Company LLC with T-Mobile Central LLC as the tenant, reflecting T-Mobile's acquisition of Sprint. The original lease dates to 2001, and the current term was set to expire in 2026.
Item 2EOutcome pendingfinal tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
Amendment to Educational Facilities Revenue Notes for Academy of Holy Angels
A technical amendment to two educational facility revenue notes issued by the city for the benefit of Academy of Holy Angels was scheduled for consideration, required by the phaseout of the LIBOR interest rate benchmark. The city originally issued a Series 2002 note ($8,540,000) and a Series 2003 note ($1,460,000) and loaned the proceeds to the Academy for school facility renovations; both notes are held by First Interstate Bank. Because LIBOR will no longer be available after June 30, 2023, the interest calculation method was expected to be updated to use the SOFR (Secured Overnight Financing Rate) index.
Item 2FOutcome pendingfinal tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
Acceptance of Hennepin County Broadband Expansion Grant
A $100,000 Hennepin County Broadband Expansion Grant was scheduled for acceptance at this meeting. The grant, secured through a partnership between the City of Richfield, Comcast, and Arrive Ministries, was expected to fund digital literacy training, laptops, and broadband access for 100 refugee and immigrant households. Arrive Ministries, a Richfield-based nonprofit with over 30 years of refugee resettlement experience, was anticipated to implement the program by end of 2023.
Item 3Outcome pendingfinal tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
Consideration of Items Removed from Consent Calendar
No items were removed from the Consent Calendar for separate consideration.
Item 4Discussedinformational or procedural item — no vote taken
City Manager's Report
City Manager Katie Rodriguez delivered the City Manager's Report during the May 9, 2023 meeting. This is a standing agenda item where the City Manager provides updates on city operations, ongoing projects, and other relevant municipal matters. The specific content of the report was not detailed in the available supporting documents.
Item 5Outcome pendingfinal tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
Approval of Claims and Payroll
Routine approval of city claims and payroll was on the agenda for the May 9, 2023 meeting. This is a standard procedural item the City Council considers at each regular meeting to authorize payment of vendor invoices and employee compensation already appropriated in the city budget. No new policy decisions or discretionary spending are involved.
Item 6Outcome pendingfinal tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
Hats Off to Hometown Hits
Council members shared community updates, including the Taste of Richfield event, the Farmers Market, the Sustainability Commission's tree and rain barrel sale, community garden updates, a shout out to State Representative Mike Howard for passing a housing bill, a call for applicants for the HRA/EDA, Drinking Water Week tours, the High School Art Show, and a request for community feedback on a proposed off-road bike park.
Discussedinformational or procedural item — no vote taken
City Council Work Session: Policy Topic Proposals and Tentative 2024 Workplans
The City Council held a work session on April 25, 2023 to discuss policy topic proposals and a tentative 2024 workplan, with approval of those session minutes on the May 9 agenda. Topics were expected to include a proposal for additional renter protections, a potential 'State of the Community' public event, and a proposal to eliminate parking requirements for new development. City leadership presented a ranked set of priorities and discussed constraints on available staff capacity for the coming year.
Item history
- Apr 25, 2023 · Work Session · Informational
- May 9, 2023 · City Council · This item
Outcome pendingfinal tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
Approval of Minutes
The City Council approved the minutes of the City Council Work Session of April 25, 2023, and the City Council Meeting of April 25, 2023.
Official documents
Last updated Wednesday, April 8, 2026 · AI-assisted summaries — the official documents above are authoritative.