Meeting record · Richfield, Minnesota
City Council — Thursday, January 12, 2023
16 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
Welcome from the Mayor and overarching legislative framework
The mayor presented the city’s overall 2023 legislative framework, stating that Richfield supported legislation addressing economic, racial, health, and education disparities, supported local control and tools for cities, and opposed unfunded state mandates that would increase local costs.
Item 2Outcome pendingfinal tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
Remarks from City Council Members
City council members gave remarks as part of the legislative breakfast agenda.
Item 3aOutcome pendingfinal tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
Support for legislation authorizing a local sales tax proposal for park projects
The city supported legislation that would authorize Richfield to propose a local sales tax to fund regionally significant park projects and provide a long-term funding source for large public projects.
Item history
- Dec 8, 2022 · City Council · Under Review
- Jan 12, 2023 · City Council · This item
Item 3aOutcome pendingfinal tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
Support for a $12 million bonding bill for a new Wood Lake Nature Center facility
The city identified support for a state bonding bill appropriating $12 million toward a new Wood Lake Nature Center facility, citing the age of the center, the need for a new building and improved trails, and its regional use.
Item 3aOutcome pendingfinal tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
Top legislative priorities for 2023
The city presented three top legislative priorities: supporting a bonding bill for a new Wood Lake Nature Center facility, supporting legislation authorizing Richfield to propose a local sales tax for regionally significant park projects, and supporting local control of emergency medical services.
Item history
- Dec 13, 2022 · City Council · Under Review
- Jan 12, 2023 · City Council · This item
Item 3aOutcome pendingfinal tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
Support for local control of emergency medical services
The city supported legislation allowing local governments to designate ambulance providers serving their communities and to have tools ensuring EMS transparency and responsiveness.
Item history
- Jan 12, 2023 · City Council · This item
- Jan 12, 2024 · Special Meeting · Under Review
Item 3bOutcome pendingfinal tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
Support for greater flexibility for remote participation under the Open Meeting Law
The city supported legislation giving cities greater flexibility for remote participation by council, board, and commission members while maintaining public transparency about decision-making.
Item 3cOutcome pendingfinal tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
Administrative Services legislative priorities
The city presented administrative priorities that included opposing repeal of the Coleman Act for alcoholic beverage wholesaling, supporting reimbursement for continued health insurance for police and firefighters disabled or killed in the line of duty, supporting reimbursement for employees on military leave, supporting action on rising workers’ compensation and PTSD coverage costs, supporting treatment opportunities for employees with PTSD, and supporting revenue sharing and fee increases for deputy registrar vehicle transactions.
Item 3dOutcome pendingfinal tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
Community Development legislative priorities
The city presented community development priorities that included opposing legislation limiting local decision-making authority, supporting housing infrastructure bonds for affordable housing, supporting preservation and rehabilitation of naturally occurring affordable housing, supporting local autonomy over comprehensive plans and official controls, supporting a building code amendment to allow cities to require electric vehicle infrastructure in new construction, and supporting a tax increment financing amendment allowing 10% of units at 30% of area median income in a housing TIF district.
Item 3eOutcome pendingfinal tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
Finance legislative priorities
The city presented finance priorities supporting maintenance and increases in Local Government Aid, supporting the current formula and distribution of Fiscal Disparities while opposing shifts to fund projects, and supporting state action to identify and strengthen state and local cybersecurity capabilities.
Item 3fOutcome pendingfinal tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
Fire legislative priorities
The city presented fire-related priorities supporting continued funding of the Hometown Heroes Assistance Program, opposing efforts to limit the use of residential fire sprinklers, and opposing efforts to legalize and expand fireworks in Minnesota.
Item 3gOutcome pendingfinal tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
Public Safety legislative priorities
The city presented public safety priorities supporting additional regulation of hemp-derived THC and cannabinoid products, supporting police officer safety, health, and wellness legislation, supporting legislation allowing all persons to obtain a driver license regardless of citizenship status, supporting the Arbitration Revision Act for police termination grievances, supporting the Officer Integrity Act for termination in cases of intentional dishonesty, and supporting legislation focused on retention and recruitment of law enforcement officers.
Item 3hOutcome pendingfinal tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
Public Works legislative priorities
The city presented public works priorities opposing legislation that would reduce the ability to use State Aid funds for local projects including lane reductions, opposing limits on local authority over public rights-of-way, supporting legislation to cap local contributions to county and state projects and limit long-term local ownership and maintenance burdens, supporting a stable statewide funding source for water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure, supporting grant programs to combat Emerald Ash Borer on public and private property, and supporting limited liability protections for certified commercial salt applicators.
Item 3iOutcome pendingfinal tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
Recreation and sustainability legislative priorities
The city presented recreation and sustainability priorities supporting proper labeling of compostable products and restrictions on misleading claims, supporting Hennepin County funding to expand local compost processing and anaerobic digester infrastructure, and supporting dedication of all solid waste taxes to the state SCORE fund for sustainability efforts.
Item 4Outcome pendingfinal tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
Legislator priorities and updates
State legislators provided priorities and updates during the legislative breakfast.
Item 5Outcome pendingfinal tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
Wrap-up
The city manager concluded the legislative breakfast with a wrap-up.
Official documents
Last updated Wednesday, April 8, 2026 · AI-assisted summaries — the official documents above are authoritative.