Work Session — Tuesday, September 9, 2025

Items on the record

1. Item 2.a.ApprovedUnanimous

   2026 Utility Rate Increases and 2026-2030 Utilities CIP Revisions

   The City Council reached unanimous consent to raise 2026 utility rates by 7% for water, 2% for sanitary sewer, and 10% for stormwater, following staff's recommendation to correct recently discovered cash balance issues in the Water, Sewer, and Storm Enterprise Funds. Staff also proposed revisions to the 2026-2030 Capital Improvement Plan, including removing pond dredging projects planned for 2027 and 2030, delaying watermain rehabilitation and the HUB storm improvements project to 2028, and eliminating a 2029 sanitary sewer lining project. For the average Richfield home, the combined changes are projected to add about $118 annually, including $82 in property tax and $36 in combined utility fee increases.

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2. Item 2.b.Discussedinformational or procedural item — no vote taken

   Flood-Risk Area Prioritization Presentation

   City staff presented findings from a $115,000 Barr Engineering study, largely funded by a $91,500 Minnesota Pollution Control Agency grant, that updated Richfield's citywide stormwater model and identified and ranked flood-risk areas using storm system conditions, critical infrastructure, flood frequency, social vulnerability, and number of flood-prone structures. The study identified the top 10 flood-risk locations in the city, including areas near Wilson Pond, northwest of Roosevelt Park, and near Woodlawn Terrace, and outlined possible mitigation concepts and cost estimates for each. This was an informational presentation with no formal Council action or vote taken, as required under the city's MPCA grant agreement.

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