Meeting record · Richfield, Minnesota
City Council — Tuesday, September 8, 2026
12 items on the record
Read this day's brief Official records (city portal)
Items on the record
Item 4aDiscussedinformational or procedural item — no vote takenApproved · unofficial
Heard on the meeting recording — the exact tally arrives with the official minutes.
Approval of Minutes – August 14, 2026 Special Meeting
The council will consider approving minutes from the August 14, 2026 special meeting, at which the council certified primary election results for the Council Member At Large seat. Candidates Sharon Christensen and Emily M. Antin received the most votes and will advance to the November 3, 2026 general election.
What was said
The mayor moved to approve the minutes from the August 14, 2026 special meeting together with the August 25 work session and regular meeting minutes in a single motion.
From the meeting recording · AI-assisted, unofficial
Item 4bDiscussedinformational or procedural item — no vote takenApproved · unofficial
Heard on the meeting recording — the exact tally arrives with the official minutes.
Approval of Minutes – August 25, 2026 Work Session (2026 Revised/2027 Proposed Budget Presentation)
The council will consider approving minutes from the August 25, 2026 work session, where staff presented the 2026 revised and 2027 proposed City budget and tax levy. The proposed 2027 levy increase is 4.55% (combined City/HRA increase of about 4.45%), with an average home value increase of 3.49% projected to raise taxes on the average home by about $130.
What was said
The August 25, 2026 work session minutes (budget presentation) were approved as part of the same single motion covering all three sets of minutes.
From the meeting recording · AI-assisted, unofficial
Item 4cDiscussedinformational or procedural item — no vote takenApproved · unofficial
Heard on the meeting recording — the exact tally arrives with the official minutes.
Approval of Minutes – August 25, 2026 Regular Meeting
The council will consider approving the minutes of its August 25, 2026 regular meeting.
What was said
The August 25, 2026 regular meeting minutes were approved as part of the same single motion covering all three sets of minutes.
From the meeting recording · AI-assisted, unofficial
Item 7aOutcome pendingfinal tally arrives when the city publishes the minutesApproved · unofficial
Heard on the meeting recording — the exact tally arrives with the official minutes.
Approve Disbursements/Claims
The council will consider approval of routine city disbursements and claims as part of the consent calendar.
What was said
Staff read the consent calendar items for approval, including disbursements and claims; this item was approved as part of the single block motion covering items A, B, C, E, and F (item D was pulled for separate discussion).
From the meeting recording · AI-assisted, unofficial
Item 7bOutcome pendingfinal tally arrives when the city publishes the minutesApproved · unofficial
Heard on the meeting recording — the exact tally arrives with the official minutes.
First Amendment to 2025 Public Health Preparedness Services Agreement with Bloomington Public Health
The council will consider approving a first amendment to its 2025 agreement with Bloomington Public Health for public health preparedness services. The amendment continues the city's arrangement for shared public health emergency preparedness support.
Item history
- Feb 11, 2025 · City Council
- Feb 11, 2025 · City Council
- Feb 11, 2025 · City Council
- Feb 11, 2025 · City Council
- Feb 11, 2025 · City Council
- Sep 8, 2026 · City Council · This item
What was said
The first amendment to the Public Health Preparedness Services Agreement with Bloomington Public Health was included in the consent calendar and approved in the same block motion covering items A, B, C, E, and F.
From the meeting recording · AI-assisted, unofficial
Item 7cOutcome pendingfinal tally arrives when the city publishes the minutesApproved · unofficial
Heard on the meeting recording — the exact tally arrives with the official minutes.
Cooperative Construction Agreement for Trail Connecting Southdale Library, Adams Hill Park, and Nine Mile Creek Regional Trail
The council will consider a resolution approving a cooperative construction agreement among Three Rivers Park District, the City of Edina, and the City of Richfield to design and build a connecting trail from the Southdale Library through Adams Hill Park to the Nine Mile Creek Regional Trail. Staff would be authorized to execute the agreement and proceed with the project.
What was said
The cooperative construction agreement for the trail connecting Southdale Library, Adams Hill Park, and the Nine Mile Creek Regional Trail was part of the consent calendar; a council member thanked staff for the project before the block vote.
From the meeting recording · AI-assisted, unofficial
Item 7dOutcome pendingfinal tally arrives when the city publishes the minutesPassed · unofficial
Heard on the meeting recording — the exact tally arrives with the official minutes.
Updates to the City's Affordable Housing Trust Fund Priorities
The council will consider approving updates to the priorities guiding how the city's Affordable Housing Trust Fund is used to support affordable housing efforts in Richfield.
What was said
This item was pulled from the consent calendar for separate discussion; staff clarified that the updated policy does not automatically qualify a project for 4D-1 tax classification but requires a case-by-case review of tax impacts, addressing a council member's concern about ambiguous language.
From the meeting recording · AI-assisted, unofficial
Item 7eOutcome pendingfinal tally arrives when the city publishes the minutesApproved · unofficial
Heard on the meeting recording — the exact tally arrives with the official minutes.
Resolution Approving Affordable Housing Trust Fund 2026 Revised Budget and 2027 Budget
The council will consider a resolution approving the Affordable Housing Trust Fund's 2026 revised budget and 2027 budget, setting the funding levels for affordable housing programs supported by the Trust Fund.
Item history
- Sep 10, 2024 · City Council
- Sep 9, 2025 · City Council · Approved
- Sep 8, 2026 · City Council · This item
What was said
The resolution approving the Affordable Housing Trust Fund's 2026 revised budget and 2027 budget was included in the consent calendar and approved with items A, B, C, and F.
From the meeting recording · AI-assisted, unofficial
Item 7fOutcome pendingfinal tally arrives when the city publishes the minutesApproved · unofficial
Heard on the meeting recording — the exact tally arrives with the official minutes.
Second Reading: Fire Prevention Code Amendments (Subsections 400.21 and 400.22)
The council will consider the second reading and summary publication of an ordinance amending subsection 400.21 and adding subsection 400.22 to the Richfield City Code, updating fire prevention regulations.
Item history
- Aug 25, 2026 · City Council · First Reading
- Sep 8, 2026 · City Council · This item
What was said
The second reading of the fire prevention code amendments (subsections 400.21 and 400.22) was part of the consent calendar and approved in the same block motion.
From the meeting recording · AI-assisted, unofficial
Item 10aOutcome pendingfinal tally arrives when the city publishes the minutesApproved · unofficial
Heard on the meeting recording — the exact tally arrives with the official minutes.
First Reading: Ordinance Amending Section 617 – Mobile Food Units (Food Trucks)
The council will consider a first reading of an ordinance amending Section 617 of the Richfield City Code related to mobile food units, or food trucks, which would update rules governing where and how food trucks can operate in the city.
What was said
Staff presented a draft ordinance creating a licensing and regulatory framework for mobile food units (food trucks), including location and performance standards, with one wording correction about the customer window facing the sidewalk. The council approved the first reading, sending it to a second reading at the next meeting.
From the meeting recording · AI-assisted, unofficial
Item 11aOutcome pendingfinal tally arrives when the city publishes the minutesPassed · unofficial
Heard on the meeting recording — the exact tally arrives with the official minutes.
Conditional Use Permit and Site Plan Approval: 290-Unit Multifamily Development at 6501 Portland Avenue
The council will consider a Conditional Use Permit and Site Plan approval for a 290-unit multifamily residential development in two buildings at 6501 Portland Avenue. If approved, the project would add a significant amount of new housing along the Portland Avenue corridor in Richfield.
Item history
- Aug 24, 2026 · Planning Commission · Under Review
- Sep 8, 2026 · City Council · This item
What was said
The council extensively debated a conditional use permit and site plan for a 290-unit, two-building multifamily development at 6501 Portland Avenue, covering bird-collision mitigation, bicycle parking accessibility, tree preservation versus a required water line loop, a future 66th Street connection, and housing variety; three amendments were adopted (ADA-compliant sidewalks, bicycle parking access, and flexibility between windows and art) before the amended resolution passed by voice vote with one council member voting no over concerns about lack of building variety.
From the meeting recording · AI-assisted, unofficial
Item 12aOutcome pendingfinal tally arrives when the city publishes the minutesApproved · unofficial
Heard on the meeting recording — the exact tally arrives with the official minutes.
Charter Commission Recommendations for City Charter Amendments
The council will consider the Charter Commission's recommendations for amendments to the current City Charter and will consider directing that a notice of public hearing on the proposed Charter Amendments be published, setting up a future public hearing before any changes are formally adopted.
What was said
Council Member Burke presented the Charter Commission's recommended amendments to several charter sections governing election petitions, aligning them with state rules and simplifying the petition process; staff explained the process would proceed through an ordinance with two readings and a public hearing. The council voted to accept the Charter Commission's letter and authorize publication of a public hearing notice.
From the meeting recording · AI-assisted, unofficial
Official documents
Last updated Wednesday, September 9, 2026 · AI-assisted summaries — the official documents above are authoritative.