Meeting record · Richfield, Minnesota
City Council — Tuesday, August 26, 2025
18 items on the record
Read this day's brief Official records (city portal)
Items on the record
Item 3ApprovedPassed 5-0
Approval of the August 26, 2025 Council Meeting Agenda
The Council approved the meeting agenda as presented, with Mayor Supple noting that Item F, the portable storage container ordinance, would be pulled from the consent calendar for separate discussion later in the meeting.
Item 4ApprovedPassed 5-0
Approval of August 12, 2025 Work Session and Regular Meeting Minutes
The Council approved the minutes from the August 12, 2025 City Council Work Session and the August 12, 2025 Regular Meeting without changes.
Item 5Discussedinformational or procedural item — no vote taken
Open Forum: Resident Comment on Short-Term Rentals
During Open Forum, Richfield resident Rod Sather asked the Council to limit short-term rentals in the city, arguing that houses should remain available for families rather than being operated as businesses. No Council action was taken on this comment at this time.
Item 7.AApprovedPassed 5-0
Approval of Disbursements/Claims
The Council approved routine city disbursements and claims as part of the consent calendar. No specific dollar total was detailed in the minutes.
Item 7.BApprovedPassed 5-0
Temporary Liquor License for St. Peter Catholic Church Tri Fest Harvest 2025
The Council approved a Temporary On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor license for St. Peter Catholic Church, located at 6730 Nicollet Avenue South, allowing alcohol sales at its Tri Fest Harvest 2025 event on September 20-21, 2025.
Item history
- Jul 23, 2024 · City Council · Approved
- Aug 26, 2025 · City Council · This item
- Jul 14, 2026 · City Council · Approved
Item 7.CApprovedPassed 5-0
Temporary Liquor License for October Fest at Fred Babcock VFW #5555
The Council approved a Temporary On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor license for an October Fest event at Fred Babcock VFW #5555, located at 6715 Lakeshore Drive, scheduled for October 4, 2025.
Item history
- Jun 11, 2024 · City Council · Under Review
- Aug 26, 2025 · City Council · This item
- Jun 23, 2026 · City Council · Under Review
Item 7.DApprovedPassed 5-0
Temporary Outdoor Premises Expansion for Fireside Foundry and Sandy's Tavern - Penn Fest
The Council approved temporary expansion of licensed premises for Thompson's Fireside Pizza, Inc. d/b/a Fireside Foundry (6736 Penn Avenue South) and Sandy's Tavern (6612 Penn Avenue South) to allow outdoor beer and malt beverage service in their parking lots on Sunday, September 21, 2025, in conjunction with Richfield's Penn Fest event.
Item history
- Aug 26, 2025 · City Council · This item
- Jul 28, 2026 · City Council · Under Review
Item 7.EApprovedPassed 5-0
First Reading: Ordinance Amending Subsection 905.40 - Feeding of Wildlife
The Council approved the first reading of an ordinance amending subsection 905.40 of the Richfield City Code pertaining to the feeding of wildlife. No details of the specific amendment language were discussed in the minutes.
Item history
- Aug 26, 2025 · City Council · This item
- Sep 9, 2025 · City Council · Approved
Item 7.F / 8.FApprovedPassed 5-0
First Reading: Ordinance on Temporary Outdoor Portable Storage Containers (Sections 1135 & 925)
After being pulled from the consent calendar for discussion, the Council amended and approved the first reading of an ordinance regulating temporary outdoor portable storage containers (like moving pods and dumpsters) on residential properties. Amendments extended the allowed placement time from 30 to 60 days, capped the total to 2 containers measured by combined size (not container count), capped total use to 90 days per calendar year, and explicitly banned human or animal habitation in the containers.
Item history
- Aug 26, 2025 · City Council · This item
- Sep 9, 2025 · City Council · Approved
Item 7.GApprovedPassed 5-0
Grant Compliance Agreement with MSP Lupe Richfield LLC - 6501 Portland Avenue South
The Council approved a Grant Compliance Agreement with MSP Lupe Richfield LLC related to a Tax Base Revitalization Account Seeding Equitable Environmental Development Grant for the property at 6501 Portland Avenue South. Specific grant dollar amounts were not detailed in the minutes.
Item 7.HApprovedPassed 5-0
Loan Agreement with Penn Station Apartments, LLLP - Local Housing Initiatives Account Grant
The Council approved a Loan Agreement with Penn Station Apartments, LLLP for a Local Housing Initiatives Account Grant. Mayor Supple confirmed the Penn Station project is moving forward while meeting all city parking requirements, including underground parking for residents.
Item history
- Jan 14, 2025 · City Council
- Aug 26, 2025 · City Council · This item
Item 9.AApprovedPassed 4-1 (Burk opposed)
First Reading: Multifamily Development Regulations (MR-2 & MR-3 Zoning District Updates)
The Council approved, 4-1 with Council Member Burk opposed, the first reading of ordinance changes updating multifamily zoning regulations for the MR-2 and MR-3 districts, after amending the ordinance to remove proposed changes to section 509.13 regarding central air conditioning units. Council Member Burk voted against the overall motion citing concerns that residents lack an opportunity to comment on individual projects before staff approval when a project meets code.
Item history
- Aug 26, 2025 · City Council · This item
- Sep 9, 2025 · City Council · Approved
Item 9.BApprovedPassed 5-0
First Reading: Ordinance Regulating Use and Licensing of Short-Term Rentals
The Council approved the first reading of an ordinance establishing licensing requirements for short-term rentals in Richfield. Council members discussed but did not finalize potential limits, such as capping licenses at 2 per owner (or 1 for non-Richfield resident owners) and banning registered sex offenders from holding a license; these details will be further refined before the second reading.
Item history
- May 13, 2025 · City Council · First Reading
- May 27, 2025 · City Council
- Aug 26, 2025 · City Council · This item
Item 9.C / 10ApprovedPassed 5-0
Second Reading and Public Hearing: Ordinance Amending Section 601 - Solid Waste Disposal, Collection, and Hauling
The Council held a public hearing (no residents spoke) and approved the second and final reading of an ordinance amending section 601 of the Richfield City Code governing solid waste disposal, collection, and hauling. Mayor Supple and Council Member Coleman-Woods expressed enthusiasm about the changes' impact on trash flow, and Coleman-Woods thanked the Sustainability Commission for its work.
Item 12.AApprovedPassed 5-0
Appointment of Rose Thompson to the Sustainability Commission
The Council approved the appointment of Rose Thompson, a youth resident, to the Sustainability Commission. Mayor Supple and Council Member Burk thanked Rose for joining and discussed opportunities for other youth residents to get involved.
Item 13Discussedinformational or procedural item — no vote taken
City Manager's Report: Update on Speeding Concerns
City Manager Rodriguez shared an update responding to resident Phillip Lowry's concerns about speeding, outlining Public Safety's efforts over the past two years, including increased patrols, arrests, citations issued, speed tracking signs, and completed reports.
Item 14ApprovedPassed 5-0
Council Discussion: Hats Off and Resident Comment on Road Noise
Council members gave 'Hats Off' recognitions covering topics such as I-494 construction work, a September 4 paper shredding event at the Richfield Ice Arena, Donaldson Park updates, and the Penn Avenue open house. The Council also voted to allow resident Phillip Lowry additional time to speak about road noise concerns.
Outcome pendingrecorded in the approved minutes — tally not yet extracted here
Preview of Preliminary 2026 Budget, Utility Rates, Fees, and Capital Improvement Plan
During the August 12, 2025 Work Session (materials included in this packet), staff previewed a proposed 2026 tax levy of $31,693,831 (a 5.97% increase) and a proposed 2026 general fund budget of $35,079,115 (a 7.18% increase from 2025). Staff also previewed proposed utility rate increases, city fee changes, and the 2026 Capital Improvement Budget covering projects like the Nicollet Avenue and Penn Avenue reconstructions.
Item history
- Aug 14, 2024 · Work Session · Under Review
- Aug 12, 2025 · Work Session · Informational
- Aug 26, 2025 · City Council · This item
- Aug 12, 2026 · Work Session · Informational
Official documents
Last updated Wednesday, April 8, 2026 · AI-assisted summaries — the official documents above are authoritative.