[00:00] **Mayor Mary Supple**: All right. So, are we ready to go here? Good evening, everyone. I'm going to call to order this April 14th meeting of the Richfield City Council. It's 7:00 pm. If you're able, please stand and join us for the pledge of allegiance. [00:00] **All**: I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. [00:00] **Mayor Mary Supple**: Thank you. Our first order of business is approval of the agenda. [00:00] **Council Member**: I move approval of the agenda. [00:00] **Council Member**: Second. [00:00] **Mayor Mary Supple**: It's been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor of approving the agenda, please say I. [00:00] **Council Members**: I. [00:00] **Mayor Mary Supple**: All opposed. And we have approved the agenda. Our next item of business is the approval of the minutes from the city council work session of March 24th, 2026 and the city council regular meeting from March 24th, 2026. [00:00] **Council Member**: I move approval of the minutes. [00:00] **Council Member**: Second. [00:00] **Mayor Mary Supple**: It's been moved and second. Is there any discussion? All in favor, please say I. [00:00] **Council Members**: I. [00:00] **Mayor Mary Supple**: All opposed. And we have approved the minutes. Next, we'll move on to the open forum. Participants can share their comments in person by voicemail or email and may also request to participate virtually. For more information on submitting comments, refer to the council agenda and minutes page on richfieldmn.gov/citycouncil where you'll have three minutes to make your statement. Please tell your name and your city of residence. I'll hold up a yellow card to give you 30 seconds for a warning and a red card when your time is up. All right. So, the first person that has submitted a form for open form is Bureet Johnson. So you can come up and have yours. [00:00] **Bureet Johnson**: Beet Johnson, Richfield. We are all in our bubble of family and friends where we are insulated from outside voices. It is important to listen to what is said outside our bubble. There is something that puzzles me from outside my bubble. What counts as conservatism these days? Because I find myself confused. Growing up in the country of the truly conservative state of Bavaria, Germany, I think I know what conservatism is when I see it. It is not to tax tariff and then subsidize farming and industry. The big beautiful bill that increased the national debt to give the VEI a break only to take poor people off SNAP and their health care. Billions for Argentina, the golf course outing of the presidents since he cannot bear any sacrifice. There is apparently money for someone's ballroom and the arch. Christine Nome's movie cosplay extravaganza. There is more to that story. Apparently, we are all equally flawed. Woke or not. An immigration operation that costs life and treasure. Oh, there is more to the runaway spending. We are told there is no money for the people. Straight from the president. We have to pay for a war of his choosing. Richfield businesses have had to endure an enormous strain caused by the federal government's immigration surge on Minnesota. This immigration surge was more like a military occupation than immigration enforcement. Minnesota immigration population is maybe 90,000. Texas has 1.6 million. Why was Minnesota picked and not other states? It was pure retribution. And also immigrants serve as the boogeyman. Immigrants started businesses that filled empty storefronts and brought in taxes to Richfield. The wealthy are already well set and don't need a constant lifeline. The foundation of this country needs to be stable. The people and the environment are the foundation of this country and are deserving of support and representation equally. Where federal government operations like rounding up of immigrants done deliberately to damage our communities, our local governments were left to figure out ways to salvage our local economies. Their plan is to give 5 to 10,000 to a community organization to help residents with towing fees incurred to the metro surge operation. Remember the current conservative federal administration uses bailouts literally setting the precedent. The problem was caused from the top down. After all, we go to the money trough of the federal government in some ways, shape or form. As humans, we will all be a burden at some time in our lives. Preparing for the future is truly conservative and that is caring for the people and the environment to place us in the best situation possible. Conservatism means measured responses and not radically breaking reforms and institutions that were not broken in the first place. Thank you. [00:00] **Mayor Mary Supple**: Thank you. Our next speaker is Teresa Guthrie. [00:00] **Teresa Guthrie**: Hi, Teresa, Richfield. Um, so I want to start with ICE needs to get out. They're still here. They're still doing damage. They're still terrorizing people and treating people like they have no human rights and they need to get out. Um, in another city council meeting I was in, there was talk about the environmental goals for Richfield and about some of the lighting in a certain area. And I heard very good requests for more natural lighting that's better for humans, for the animals. I don't know what happened on that. Um, but I want to mention a study um that was done in Portland, Oregon on the environmental and health effects from ICE and their tear gas and their whisbangs, whatever they were. Um, that has a huge cost to our environment, to our physical health, to our mental health. And these were going off around schools and playgrounds. And they have such an enormous budget. I think it only fair they have to pay for reparations, repairs, mental health, etc. Um, I also wonder about standards. It blows my mind. It's like when I heard that MnDOT was here and they had started a project and didn't even finish it. That kind of blows my mind and they're back asking for more. I was very pleased to hear the city council let MnDOT know it would be nice if they'd finish what they started. Thank you for that. Um, I'm just very concerned because standards, I don't... they just are so low. I'm not sure they're existent anymore. We have someone in the White House who incited an insurrection and never should have been able to run for office. Period. Um, so I just want to also talk about a group called standards not force and I encourage people to look it up. Um, trying to hold people, especially corporations, to higher standards. Thank you. [00:00] **Mayor Mary Supple**: Thank you. Is there anyone else who wishes to speak? All right. I'm not seeing anybody coming forward wishing to speak. So, we're going to close out the open forum at this point. Next, we'll move on to our section of proclamations and presentations. And we'll be starting off. The first one is the proclamation celebrating Arab American Heritage Month. And I'm going to be joined by Christina Gonzalez, the director of student support services at Richfield Public Schools. And it looks like school board member Cali Dennis is also joining us. [00:00] **Christina Gonzalez**: Thank you, Mayor Supple. Um, can I just say something quickly? [00:00] **Mayor Mary Supple**: Sure. And then we'll read the proclamation. [00:00] **Christina Gonzalez**: Oh, perfect. We are just so honored as an Arab-American woman myself. Um we're just so honored to accept this on behalf of our Arab American um residents and constituents and students within Richfield public schools and board member Dennis is here as well to accompany me. Thank you. [00:00] **Mayor Mary Supple**: Thank you both for joining us. This is a proclamation of the city of Richfield. Whereas Arab American Heritage Month began as an initiative in 2017 with only a few states and cities, it is now recognized on the national level since President Biden became the first US president to proclaim the month in April of 2021. And whereas over 3.5 million Arab Americans have contributed to many facets of American society, including arts, business, economics, education, and social services. And whereas Arab Americans have faced and continue to face discrimination, racial profiling, and violence both domestically and abroad. And whereas we celebrate the accomplishments of such distinguished Arab Americans as journalist and speaker Norah Tagouri and Representative Rashida Tlaib from Michigan. And whereas Arab American Heritage Month celebrates the beautiful intellectual and cultural heritage of Arab Americans and all their achievements and contributions to Richfield, Minnesota, the United States, and the world. And whereas the Richfield Human Rights Commission supported a proclamation celebrating Arab American Heritage Month at its March 3rd meeting. Now therefore, I, Mary Supple, mayor of the city of Richfield, on behalf of the Richfield City Council, do hereby proclaim the month of April 2026 as Arab American Heritage Month in the city of Richfield and call on the people of Richfield to observe this month with appropriate programs, activities, and ceremonies, and continue to honor the contributions of Arab Americans throughout this year. Proclaimed this 14th day of April, 2026. Thank you. [00:00] **Christina Gonzalez**: Thank you. Would you pose for a picture? [00:00] **Mayor Mary Supple**: For sure. Absolutely. Yes, we get to keep that. Thank you so much. For our next proclamation, I'm going to be joined by Recreation Services Director Karl Huemiller. And this is about Earth Day. Thank you. This is a proclamation of the city of Richfield. Whereas Earth Day will be celebrated nationwide on Wednesday, April 22nd to continue fostering awareness about the urgent and everpresent need to respect and care for the environment. And whereas climate change continues to be felt in different ways seasonally and all across the state with temperatures hitting 90 degrees in October twice in the past three years and more frequent and worse air quality alerts experiencing Minnesota's first hazardous air quality indicator in 2025. And whereas these patterns and shifts are only projected to increase with more frequent freeze-thaw cycles, increased amounts of precipitation in shorter time frames, and prolonged heat waves. And whereas Richfield's newly updated climate action plan, which includes new goals and actions that work to increase the city's climate adaptation and mitigation effects, will be brought before the city council tonight for approval. And whereas the city of Richfield continues to work on new climate-related projects like creating natural resources plans for several of the city's largest parks and strengthening the sustainability aspects of the next comprehensive plan. And whereas community members are encouraged to participate in litter and storm drain cleanups this month and year-round to demonstrate good stewardship of green spaces and natural resources. And whereas Earth Day will be celebrated in Richfield with an event filled with activities, resources, as well as a seed and tool swap from 1 to 4 pm at the Richfield Community Center on Saturday, April 25th. Now, therefore, I, Mary Supple, mayor of the city of Richfield, do proclaim that the city of Richfield observes Earth Day as a way of promoting environmental stewardship and mindful choices to help preserve and protect our natural habitat. Proclaimed this 14th day of April 2026. Would you like to say something? [00:00] **Karl Huemiller**: Well, thank you. Um, we've made a lot of steps for Earth Day and for sustainability in the city and we're very excited about Earth Day this year and everything that residents are doing to keep the city parks nice as well as support the environment. [00:00] **Mayor Mary Supple**: Thank you. Do we want to do a picture with both proclamations and then we'll read the second one? All right. Thank you. So, this next proclamation of the city of Richfield is about Arbor Day. Whereas Arbor Day will be celebrated nationwide on Friday, April 24th, and will provide people across the nation an opportunity to celebrate the importance of trees and forest to our economy, culture, history, and future. And whereas Arbor Month is celebrated in Minnesota during the month of May to promote the value of planting of trees. And whereas Arbor Day 2026 marks the 154th anniversary of the original United States Arbor Day celebration held on April 10th, 1872 in Nebraska City, Nebraska. And whereas trees are of great value as they provide clean air and water, shade and energy savings, wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities, wood products and jobs while reducing storm water runoffs and capturing and storing carbon from the atmosphere thereby offsetting greenhouse gas emissions. And whereas properly planting and caring for a diverse mix of trees makes community forests more resilient by minimizing the impacts of diseases, insects, and other stressors such as climate change and providing long-term community and environmental benefits. And whereas thoughtfully choosing, planting, and caring for a diverse mix of trees now supports resilient communities into the future. And whereas Arbor Day will be celebrated in conjunction with Earth Day in Richfield with an event filled with activities and resources as well as a seed and tool swap from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Richfield Community Center on Saturday, April 25th. Now therefore, I, Mary Supple, mayor of the city of Richfield, do hereby proclaim April 24th, 2026 as Arbor Day in the city of Richfield as a way of promoting tree stewardship and mindful choices to help preserve and enhance our urban forest. Proclaimed this 14th day of April, 2026. All right. And I also want to thank all of the people that put the proclamations together and everybody who came to accept them. We appreciate that. Our final presentation this evening, I'm going to turn it over to Jennifer Anderson, our support services manager for the 2025 food safety awards. [00:00] **Jennifer Anderson**: Thank you, Mayor. Good evening. It's always a pleasure to come in front of the council and highlight and celebrate the businesses in our community. And we do that with the Richfield Food Safety Awards. Um it focuses, this award focuses on the good work that our restaurants are doing, the rules that they're following, and that they're passing their inspections with flying colors. The Richfield Advisory Board of Health recommended starting this program in our city similar to the existing award program in Bloomington back in 2006. And so we've been doing these awards for 20 years. Um there's a group of food collaborative members and they are restaurant owners, managers, and our environmental health sanitarians from the city of Bloomington who inspect our facilities. And they move around annually and inspect our restaurants. Um they do a lot of education, they provide resources, support, and through the inspection and a food collaborative interview, our restaurants earn points. Um so we have two categories that we give awards in. Um they are full service restaurant and then a fast food cafeteria style category. Nominees are judged on how well they manage risk factors in their restaurant on a daily basis; how they work to encourage their workers to stay home when they're sick, to go home when they come to work and they shouldn't be at work; what procedures they have in place to ensure that customer complaints are processed; what the establishment's policy is when an employee shows up for work who shouldn't be there; a description of food safety training programs and policies that they put their staff through; and there's several other factors. Um, the two winners tonight, I don't think are any strangers to this award. But I'm happy to share that for the full service restaurant food safety award, Broadway Pizza has won that award again this year. So, John and Nina Sturbuck are here to receive their award. So, if you want to come up... and we've got pictures, Michelle, already that were done during the inspection and I have those. So, I will give this to you. Um, you can frame it how you want to match the motif in your restaurant, but congratulations again. Um, if you haven't been to Broadway Pizza, best of the best. [00:00] **John Sturbuck**: Thank you. Thank you. [00:00] **Jennifer Anderson**: Congratulations. And for the fast food pizza category, we have Five Guys Burgers. And Chuck Fabota, the manager, is here tonight to receive their award. These are the best of the best restaurants in the city, and they consistently rank year after year as some of the best places to eat. Congratulations. [00:00] **Chuck Fabota**: Thank you. I appreciate it. I wish my whole crew was here because it's not just me, it's the whole store. You know, we excel at customer service and food safety awareness. My last six internal audits have been 100s and that is also a collaborative team effort. So, we appreciate this very much. Thank you much. [00:00] **Mayor Mary Supple**: Thank you. Congratulations. [00:00] **Jennifer Anderson**: Thank you. [00:00] **Mayor Mary Supple**: And I will have to say I've been to both restaurants and they are both awesome. So, thank you so much. Next, we'll move on to the consent calendar. City Manager Rodriguez. [00:00] **City Manager Katie Rodriguez**: Thank you, Mayor. Consent calendar contains several separate items which are acted upon by the city council in one motion. Once the consent calendar has been approved, the individual items and recommended actions have also been approved. No further council action on these items is necessary. On tonight's consent calendar: Item A, approve disbursements and claims. Item B, approval of a storm water construction and maintenance agreement with Woodlawn Terrace Cooperative located at 7421 Lyndale Avenue South. Item C, approval of the bid tabulation and authorize the mayor and city manager to execute a contract with Visu-Sewer for the 2026 sanitary sewer lining cured-in-place pipe project in the amount of $790,929.60 and authorize the city manager to approve contract changes up to $175,000 without further city council consideration. Item D, approval of the bid tabulation and authorize the mayor and the city manager to execute a contract with GH Asphalt Corporation for the 2026 Mill and Overlay project. Item E, approval of a resolution prohibiting on-street parking on County State Highway 52, Nicollet Avenue from 77th Street to 66th Street. And Item F, approval of an updated climate action plan. And I submit these items for your consideration as part of the consent calendar. [00:00] **Council Member Sharon Christensen**: I move to approve the items on the consent calendar. [00:00] **Council Member**: Second. [00:00] **Mayor Mary Supple**: It's been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Um I did want to highlight one thing. It says in item E about the parking on Nicollet Avenue that that's going to go into effect when the signs are changed after construction. And so, um, the first year of construction is from 77th Street to 70th. And so, that'll go into effect after that construction. And the other one, the changes will go into effect the following year after the second part's constructed. And I just wanted to clarify that to make sure people were aware of that. All right. Any other discussion? All in favor of approving the consent calendar, please say I. [00:00] **Council Members**: I. [00:00] **Mayor Mary Supple**: All opposed. And we've approved the items on the consent calendar. Next we're going to move to other business. Item 12A. Council Member Christensen. [00:00] **Council Member Sharon Christensen**: Thank you, Mayor. The item for consideration tonight is to consider confirmation of the appointment of Kate Coutro as human resources director for the city of Richfield effective May 18, 2026. Staff conducted an external recruitment to fill the newly created human resources director position beginning in January. We had three rounds of panel interviews interviewing 10 candidates in the first round, five candidates in the second round, and three candidates in the final round. Overall, the candidate pool was more experienced than past recruitments at the manager level, which was a goal of upgrading the position. The interview panels included directors and HR staff. Miss Coutro impressed in every interview, demonstrating the depth of her experience and thoughtful approach to leadership in her past roles. She has significant local government experience, having served in progressively more responsible HR positions for the last 13 years, including serving as HR director. She has a BA in public administration and political science and a master's in public administration. She had also thoroughly researched Richfield and expressed a keen understanding of the organization and community. Recruiting and retaining talent is critical to the city's success. Kate Coutro has demonstrated that she has the experience, skills, and desire to build a strong human resources program to further these goals. The recommended action would be to confirm the appointment of Kate Coutro as human resources director for the city of Richfield. [00:00] **Mayor Mary Supple**: Did staff have anything else they want to add? [00:00] **City Manager Katie Rodriguez**: Yes, thank you, Mayor. I just want to thank the council again for elevating this position to HR director. We had a much more qualified pool of candidates. Um, also wanted to share that as word has gotten out about Kate, I have gotten several unsolicited and very positive references from her time in Robbinsdale. Um, so we're just really excited to welcome Kate to our team. [00:00] **Mayor Mary Supple**: Thank you. Did you want to go ahead and make the motion then? [00:00] **Council Member Sharon Christensen**: Yes, I'd like to make the motion. [00:00] **Mayor Mary Supple**: Is there a second? [00:00] **Council Member**: Second. [00:00] **Mayor Mary Supple**: Okay, it's been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? I would just like to say welcome and it's very exciting to have um Kate join our staff. All in favor please say I. [00:00] **Council Members**: I. [00:00] **Mayor Mary Supple**: All opposed and we have approved the appointment of Kate Coutro as the human resources director. Thank you. Next we'll move on to the city manager report. City Manager Rodriguez. [00:00] **City Manager Katie Rodriguez**: Thank you, Mayor. Very short report tonight. Um there were three speakers at our last meeting. Um, one speaker spoke on the importance of immigrants to our community and our country. And then two people were critical of the city's program to contract with nonprofits for social services. But there were no questions so I don't have further information tonight. [00:00] **Mayor Mary Supple**: Can you clarify the action did pass however that last meeting so the towing thing will go forward? Correct. [00:00] **City Manager Katie Rodriguez**: Correct. [00:00] **Mayor Mary Supple**: There was some confusion about that. So I wanted to make sure it was clarified that that has passed. [00:00] **City Manager Katie Rodriguez**: Yes, we have a signed contract and I'm fairly certain that the check has gone out. Um I believe that they have picked it up. There were some emails back and forth. So... [00:00] **Mayor Mary Supple**: All right. Thank you so much. Any other questions for City Manager Rodriguez? All right. Then we'll move on to council discussion for either liaison reports or hats off to hometown hits. And we'll start with Council Member Coleman-Woods. [00:00] **Council Member Rori A. Coleman-Woods**: Thank you, Mayor. Um, yes, I do have a liaison report from our Community Services Commission and they are, well of course, they've got plenty, and the Sustainability Commission is also something I serve on. So upcoming Earth Day activities are in full swing. So please look out for opportunities to volunteer and to help pick up around the neighborhood as well as participate in some fun activities. There'll be plenty of kids out and about. Um and then also congratulations to the Richfield High School boys basketball team for placing third in state for the first time I think in well over 20 years. So that is a huge accomplishment for them and we look forward to the upcoming baseball season. More sports ahead. [00:00] **Mayor Mary Supple**: All right. We're just adding our applause for the team. Council Member Christensen. [00:00] **Council Member Sharon Christensen**: Nothing tonight. [00:00] **Mayor Mary Supple**: Council Member Hayford Oleary. [00:00] **Council Member Sean Hayford Oleary**: Um I have no items tonight, but I will just share Transportation Commission continues to talk about Penn Avenue and I'm looking forward to the next open house which is yet to be scheduled. But just lots of interesting details about considering the business district north of 69th from the residential area. And it's just kind of exciting to see a really context-sensitive project come together. [00:00] **Mayor Mary Supple**: All right. Thank you. Council Member Burk. [00:00] **Council Member Walter Burk**: Uh, just a report, Human Rights Commission is looking at speakers to make presentations to their group and so there's a chance that uh they may reach out to you. So hopefully you'll cooperate with that request. [00:00] **Mayor Mary Supple**: Thank you. Um, I just wanted to talk about something that we've all recently gotten in the mail when the property tax information came out. If you have questions about um the value that your house was assessed for, there are open book meetings and during open book meetings, property owners can address questions about their property valuation and classification directly with assessing staff. And we are going to have an in-person one here in Richfield on Monday, April 20th from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Bartholomew room. So, if you have questions, that's a time you can bring that forward. If you can't do that, there are also six other places you can go, but the most convenient one is the one that's going to be Monday, April 20th from 4:00 to 7:00. Um, I also wanted to thank Representative Howard. He put forward um another bonding request for us. We already have the bonding request for money for Nicollet Avenue, but also one for an emergency water interconnect so that if something would happen, we would have an emergency water source to connect to in Minneapolis. And so he put in requests for that as well. Um, and then I want to highlight that currently the Economic Development Authority of the city of Richfield has started a program for business stabilization and it's to help small immigrant businesses who were um affected by Operation Metro Surge and that's open through April 27th and it would... if you can show that you've been negatively impacted by that you can qualify for a forgivable loan. So, please look into that before the program closes out on April 27th. Um, finally, I also want to say a big thank you. There have been some philanthropic organizations that have been very generous and both the Wilson Foundation and the Women's Foundation have given thousands and thousands of dollars that have been distributed through the Richfield Community Safety Network to help with rental assistance. So, they've been very generous and between the two of them, I think they've brought in close to half a million dollars to help out people. And so, that was really, really, very helpful. One thing that we do still have a need for is help at all of the various food banks. So, if you have the means to help support our food network, that would be grateful as well. And finally, Council Member Hayford Oleary and I were part of the job Olympics at the high school, and it's always fun to see the high school kids, and they come all dressed up for their interviews with their resumes and their job applications, and it's just a lot of fun to see them all. So, thank you to everybody who put that on. Is there anything else we need to do? Then a motion would be in order to adjourn the meeting if someone wants to make that motion. [00:00] **Council Member**: I make a motion to adjourn the meeting. [00:00] **Council Member**: I'll second. [00:00] **Mayor Mary Supple**: It's been moved and seconded. All in favor, please say I. [00:00] **Council Members**: I. [00:00] **Mayor Mary Supple**: All opposed. And we stand adjourned. Thank you.