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Meeting record · Richfield, Minnesota

City CouncilTuesday, December 9, 2025

18 items on the record

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Items on the record

  1. Item 3ApprovedPassed 5-0

    Approval of the Agenda

    Council approved the December 9, 2025 meeting agenda after amending it to move the Legislative Priorities item (originally 7c) from the Consent Calendar to a separate discussion item (8a) for further debate. This procedural step set the order of business for the meeting.

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  2. Item 4aApprovedPassed 5-0

    Approval of Minutes

    Council approved minutes from three November 25, 2025 meetings: a Work Session, a Special (Truth in Taxation) meeting, and a Regular Council Meeting. This formally recorded prior council actions into the official record.

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  3. Item 5Discussedinformational or procedural item — no vote taken

    Open Forum: Resident Comments on ICE Activity and Gun Violence Legislation

    Five Richfield residents spoke during Open Forum. Several raised concerns about recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in the city, including an incident on December 7, 2025 where a resident and her husband said armed ICE agents surrounded their car near a church; another resident questioned the Council's gun violence legislative stance. No council action was taken on these comments during this agenda item.

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  4. Item 6aDiscussedinformational or procedural item — no vote taken

    Proclamation Honoring Human Rights Month

    Mayor Supple proclaimed December 2025 as Human Rights Month in Richfield, citing the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Minnesota Human Rights Act. Ally Beckman of the Center for Victims of Torture accepted the proclamation and spoke about immigrants and refugees the organization serves.

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  5. Item 7aApprovedPassed 5-0

    Approval of Disbursements/Claims

    Council approved $3,635,037.67 in total city disbursements as part of the Consent Calendar, including $2,599,775.22 in U.S. Bank accounts payable checks/EFTs (November 15-28, 2025) and $1,035,262.45 in payroll dated December 5, 2025.

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  6. Item 7bApprovedPassed 5-0

    Resolution Designating Polling Places for 2026

    Council adopted Resolution No. 12377 designating official polling locations throughout Richfield for the 2026 election cycle. This sets where residents will vote in upcoming city, state, and federal elections.

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  7. Item 7dApprovedPassed 5-0

    Temporary Liquor License for Blessed Trinity Catholic School Sno*ball Dance

    Council approved a temporary on-sale intoxicating liquor license for Blessed Trinity Catholic School's 2026 Sno*ball Dance, to be held January 31, 2026 at St. Richard's Catholic Church, 7540 Penn Avenue South.

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  8. Item 7eApprovedPassed 5-0

    Second Amendment to Response Sustainability Grant Agreement with City of Bloomington

    Council approved a second amendment to the Response Sustainability Grant agreement partnership with the City of Bloomington. The amendment continues shared sustainability grant funding and program administration between the two cities.

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  9. Item 7fApprovedPassed 5-0

    Sixth Amendment to Local Public Health Services Agreement with City of Bloomington for 2026

    Council approved the sixth amendment to its shared local public health services agreement with the City of Bloomington for 2026, continuing the joint provision of public health services to Richfield residents.

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  10. Item 7gApprovedPassed 5-0

    2026 Liquor License Renewals

    Council approved the renewal of 2026 On-Sale Intoxicating, Club, On-Sale 3.2 Percent Malt Liquor and Wine, and Off-Sale 3.2 Percent Malt Liquor licenses for businesses operating in Richfield.

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  11. Item 7hApprovedPassed 5-0

    Resolution Accepting Donations for Richfield Public Safety/Police Department

    Council adopted Resolution No. 12378 authorizing the Richfield Public Safety/Police Department to accept donations from listed agencies, businesses, and private individuals for designated uses. Mayor Supple thanked donors for their generosity.

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  12. Item 7iApprovedPassed 5-0

    Resolution Accepting 2025 Grants and Donations for Richfield Recreation Services

    Council adopted Resolution No. 12379 accepting grants and donations received by Richfield Recreation Services in 2025 and authorizing staff to administer the funds according to applicable grant agreements and donor terms.

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  13. Item 8aApprovedPassed 5-0

    Adoption of the City's Legislative Priorities for 2026

    Council adopted Richfield's 2026 state and federal legislative priorities, including making 4d1 affordable housing aid permanent, repealing or modifying 2024 group assisted living facility legislation, gun violence reduction measures, reducing local funding contributions to county/state projects, and bonding support for the Nicollet Avenue reconstruction and emergency water interconnect projects. Council also amended the priorities to add a request urging Representative Omar to support federal legislation requiring ICE agents to visibly identify themselves, notify local law enforcement of activity, and ensure due process.

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  14. Item 11aApprovedPassed 5-0

    2025 Revised/2026 Proposed Budgets and Tax Levy Resolutions

    Council adopted a package of resolutions (Nos. 12380-12387) revising the 2025 budget, setting the 2026 budget and tax levy, establishing 2026 water/wastewater/storm sewer/streetlight rates with a 6.5% penalty on past-due accounts, adopting the 2026 Capital Improvement Budget and 2027-2030 Capital Improvement Program, and setting the 2026 general and specialized pay plans.

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  15. Item 11bApprovedPassed 5-0

    2026-2027 Labor Agreements with Police Officers and Sergeants/Lieutenants Unions

    Council approved labor agreements for 2026-2027 with Law Enforcement Labor Services Local 123 (police officers) and Teamsters Local 320 (police sergeants and lieutenants). Assistant City Manager Thongvanh reported a net budget impact of approximately $75,000, noting the labor market has stabilized compared to 2024's 11.4% increase (including an 8.4% market adjustment).

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  16. Item 11cApprovedPassed 5-0

    Interim Use Permit for Temporary Employee Parking Near Lakewinds Co-op

    Council approved a 3-year Interim Use Permit, with two possible one-year administrative extensions, allowing Lakewinds Food Cooperative to use a vacant lot adjacent to its store (identified as 6420 Lindale Avenue South / 6430 Lyndale Avenue South) for occasional employee parking. The Planning Commission had voted 3-2 on November 24 to recommend approval, with dissenters preferring the shorter three-year term over a full five-year permit; the co-op must meet with city staff to discuss long-term site plans.

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  17. Item 13Discussedinformational or procedural item — no vote taken

    City Manager's Report: Short-Term Rental Fee Review and ICE Response Update

    City Manager Rodriguez reported that staff will review the newly adopted short-term rental fee after its first year, following resident concerns it exceeds fees in neighboring cities; she noted many neighboring cities have banned short-term rentals outright and that 95% of tourism tax revenue must legally go to the Richfield Tourism and Promotion Board, not enforcement costs. She also reported that Mayor Supple convened a meeting with community volunteers, Police Chief Henthorne, and Deputy Chief Griffin to discuss the city's role and limits in responding to recent ICE activity.

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  18. Item 14aDiscussedinformational or procedural item — no vote taken

    Council Discussion: Hats Off to Hometown Hits

    Council members thanked community volunteers for their efforts supporting families affected by recent ICE activity in Richfield, with Council Member Hayford Oleary also giving a Transportation Commission liaison update on road construction, and Mayor Supple thanking Public Works ahead of the winter snow removal season.

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Official documents

Last updated Wednesday, April 8, 2026 · AI-assisted summaries — the official documents above are authoritative.