This transcription includes speaker identification based on the provided names of officials and the context of the dialogue. Since the original text did not include timestamps, I have used placeholders in the requested format. *** **[00:00:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** But we're not on the air yet though. Foreign—yeah, I just realized I was like, all right. Good evening, I'm calling to order the regular city council meeting of January 24th. It's 7 PM. If you are able, please stand and join us for the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you for attending tonight's meeting. A few reminders about Open Forum: if you would like—if you're watching and would like to call in—you can dial into the Open Forum by dialing 1-415-655-0001, use webinar access code 2465-462-4301, and the password is one two three four. I believe we have a number of comments that people wrote in, but we're going to take the comments of the people that are here in person first. I wanted to give you a few reminders: there should be a signage by the microphone, so please sign in, and then when you begin to speak, please state your name and address. We will begin the timer after that; you have three minutes. Many people wish to make their opinions heard this evening, so please respect that time limit. Council Member Hayford O'Leary is going to be running a timer; it'll be over there, and then I think it'll buzz at three minutes. Otherwise, I'll give you a gentle reminder if you go past the limit. Also, a request that the audience refrain from cheers or loud comments; we're all neighbors here and want to provide a safe environment to state our opinions. The Council will be listening and taking notes but will not be responding to your comments. This Open Forum is designed to hear from you, not be a debate. Thank you. So, I have a whole stack, so I'm just going to start with the card that's on the top, and we have Karen Kaylor. If you'd like to come up and sign in and state your name and your address, and we'll—after your address is when we'll start the timer. **[00:02:15] Karen Kaylor:** Good evening. My name is Karen Kaylor, and I've owned a single-family home at 7632 Sheridan Avenue South for almost 27 years. I am in favor of the amended rezoning ordinance in theory. I've read all the comments on Facebook and the petition against the ordinance. Absentee landlords, loss of property value, loss of our urban hometown community feel, and skepticism towards the City Council were often expressed. For the most part, I believe fears the city will be quickly destroyed by this ordinance change are overblown... [Speech continues] ...I want a variety of housing options in Richfield and to see new homeowners buy to build generational wealth, and that means providing attractive, affordable homes in safe neighborhoods. Thank you. **[00:05:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** Thank you. All right, so next we have Heidi Geibor. **[00:05:05] Heidi Geibor:** Hello. Heidi Geibor, 6915 Wentworth. Am I opposed to duplexes? No. In fact, 10 years ago when I served on the Housing Vision Task Force, I suggested more of them for Richfield as a more affordable way for families to be able to have the adequate housing they needed... [Speech continues] ...For the love of Richfield, please don't rezone single-family housing and continue to unravel the threads that anchor our community tapestry. Thank you. **[00:07:45] Mayor Mary Supple:** Thank you. All right, our next person is Dave Snyder. State your name and address, please. **[00:07:55] Dave Snyder:** Hello, my name is Dave Snyder. I live with my family at 513 West 70th Street. We've lived in Richfield for five years and we're proud to call it home. I'm here tonight to speak in support of the zoning code change being considered by the Council... [Speech continues] ...I think Richfield should take some steps as well to make sure, for instance, we're carefully tracking the sale of both homes and apartment buildings to investors and tracking how tenants are treated before and after sale. Thanks for your consideration and your hard work and service to our community. **[00:10:30] Mayor Mary Supple:** Thank you. Next, we have Mark Hoffman. **[00:10:35] Mark Hoffman:** Mark Hoffman, 6511 Logan. I have sent the Council and the staff research that's been done on multi-family and low-density housing... [Speech continues] ...My concern is that the concrete's been mixed, poured, and is now setting. Thanks. **[00:13:20] Mayor Mary Supple:** Thank you. Next, I have Janet Coleman. **[00:13:25] Janet Coleman:** Janet Coleman, I live at 6632 Elliott. I have—I was raised in Richfield, and before I could afford to buy, I rented an apartment and a duplex... [Speech continues] ...I recommend you delay the final vote on rezoning until plans and controls are put in place to manage housing development. Thank you. **[00:16:10] Mayor Mary Supple:** Next, we have Larry Ernster. **[00:16:15] Larry Ernster:** My name is Larry Ernster. I live at 6727 Elliott. I'm also going to focus on home ownership. The city has stated that rezoning is being done to promote a path to home ownership. I'm going to offer five recommendations... [Speech continues] ...We are asking that you take another look at your plan and our suggestions and that you invite the community to participate in a decision that will affect all of us. Thank you. **[00:19:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** Thank you. All right, next we have Mary Best. **[00:19:05] Mary Best:** Hi, my name is Mary Best. I live at 6727 Elliott. The Webster dictionary defines communication as a process by which information is exchanged between individuals... [Speech continues] ...We can live together on an equal and managed basis; that would be a win-win for everyone. It starts tonight by delaying the vote. Let's talk about it. Thank you. **[00:21:40] Mayor Mary Supple:** Thank you. Next, we have Lester Bower. **[00:21:45] Lester Bower:** I'm Lester Bower, and I would like to talk just a little bit about our experiences of having purchased a duplex in Richfield about 12 years ago... [Speech continues] ...I think there's just some wonderful opportunities with this and it's probably preferable to high-rises and so on and so forth. So, thank you for your listening. **[00:24:20] Mayor Mary Supple:** Thank you. Next, we have Amber Marty. **[00:24:25] Amber Marty:** Good evening, my name is Amber Marty and I live at 7004 Chicago Avenue and I am a Richfield homeowner here to express my support to amend the ordinance aligning the zoning with the Comprehensive Plan... [Speech continues] ...I am grateful that this measure has been proposed and hope that the members of the City Council unanimously approve this ordinance amendment. I do want to add that I do not want to see high-rises or outside investment taking away opportunities from homeowners. Thank you for your time and your service to our community. **[00:27:10] Mayor Mary Supple:** Thank you. All right, next we have Kathleen Balaban. **[00:27:15] Kathleen Balaban:** Good evening. My name is Kathleen Balaban and I live on 65th and Stevens and I am asking the city to defer the rezoning until we do a further infrastructure study... [Speech continues] ...Thank you for your time and I hope you reconsider to defer it for at least an impact study. **[00:30:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** Thank you. Next, we have Steve McPherson. **[00:30:05] Steve McPherson:** Hello, my name is Steven McPherson. I've been a resident here in Richfield for 25 years. I live at 6805 Oliver... [Speech continues] ...I would like the City Council to delay this vote a few months. I think more work is needed. Thank you. **[00:32:45] Mayor Mary Supple:** Thank you. Next, we have Reed Osel. **[00:32:50] Reed Osel:** Well, I'm a long-time listener, first-time caller. Let me just sign in here really... Can I ask you guys some questions? Can we use that just open-ended? **[00:33:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** I can only—you can only make statements. State your name and your address, and you can ask questions, we just can't respond because it's not a debate format, but you can ask anything you'd like. **[00:33:10] Reed Osel:** All right. My name is Reed Osel. I live at 6829 Harriet Avenue... [Speech continues] ...I'm proud to live in Richfield and at the end of the day, if this moves the needle to have a housing stock that increases its supply to make housing more affordable, I'm all for it. That's all I got to say. Thank you. **[00:35:50] Mayor Mary Supple:** Thank you. Okay, next we have Joe Hoover. **[00:35:55] Joe Hoover:** My name is Joe Hoover. I live at 7627 Harriet Avenue. I've lived there 20 years. Before that, I lived in the house that my grandparents bought in 1947... [Speech continues] ...Without checks and balances on those that would exploit these policies to line their pockets at our community's expense, this change will prove disastrous. I am opposed to the rezoning as proposed. Thank you. **[00:38:30] Mayor Mary Supple:** Thank you. That is the end of the cards that I had handed to me. Is there someone else that wishes to speak that hadn't turned a card in? All right, there's the lady in the second row—put her hand up first, so she can go ahead. Please state your name and sign in, state your address. Thank you. **[00:38:50] Heather McDonald:** Hi, I'm Heather McDonald. I currently live in South Minneapolis but I was a Richfield resident for over 10 years... [Speech continues] ...As a past and hopefully future Richfield resident, I'm in favor of the zoning code change to allow for better and more inclusive home options here in Richfield. Thank you. **[00:41:20] Mayor Mary Supple:** Thank you. And did I see—Ruane, you had your hand up? Did you want to speak? All right, is there anyone else? Yep, go ahead. **[00:41:30] Ruane Unsi-Rozan:** My name is Ruane Unsi-Rozan, 2421 West 65th Street. Our neighborhood was overtaken... [Speech continues] ...I only want to say that if—when—after your comments are disregarded and they go ahead and do what they're going to do anyway, you have an option: the City Charter allows for a recall of all of these people here. Thank you. **[00:43:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** Thank you. Is there anyone else who wishes to speak who's here right now? All right, then we will go to the comments that were sent in. City Manager Rodriguez, are you going to read them or another staff member? **[00:43:15] City Manager Katie Rodriguez:** Yes, Mayor, I have a fair number. The first one's from Janet Bakalar, 7220 Wentworth Avenue South... [Reading several written comments from Janet Bakalar, Paul/Carrie Chillman, Megan Fathery, Ricardo Perez, Brandon Kenneally, Addison/Laura Lewis, Tony Bilbus, Hector Delgado, Kenneth Karnik, Christy Burke, Jessica Alkire, and Jim Reilly]. And that's all I have. **[00:52:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** Did anyone call in as on the WebEx? **[00:52:05] Staff Member:** Mayor, I see one call-in attendee. We can unmute them now. **[00:52:10] Mayor Mary Supple:** Caller, please state your name and address and go ahead. **[00:52:15] Jenna Furry:** Hi, my name is Jenna Furry. I am calling in for my mom and on behalf of my block. I live at 6814 17th Avenue South... [Speech continues] ...Richfield's one of—it's my home. If Richfield continues to take away homes from the people who already have built lives here, what are we going to have left? Thank you. **[00:54:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** Thank you. Is there anyone else calling in? Mayor and Council, I do not see anyone else in the line, so I believe we've gone through all the written comments. No one else has called in, and everyone in the room has had their chance to speak, so we are going to move on from the Open Forum. Our next item is approval of the minutes of the Legislative Breakfast of January 12, 2023, the City Council Work Session of January 10, 2023, and the City Council Regular Meeting of January 10, 2023. **[00:54:35] Council Member Whalen:** I'll move to approve the minutes. **[00:54:37] Council Member Hayford O'Leary:** Second. **[00:54:40] Mayor Mary Supple:** It's been moved and seconded. Is there any further discussion? All in favor, please say aye. (Aye). All opposed? And I see people are leaving, so I just want to thank again everyone who spoke up tonight. We will get to this item in a few minutes. All right, next we have approval of the agenda. **[00:55:00] Council Member Troutman:** So moved. **[00:55:02] Council Member Hayford O'Leary:** Second. **[00:55:05] Mayor Mary Supple:** It's been moved and seconded to approve the agenda. Are there any changes? All in favor of approving the agenda, please say aye. (Aye). All opposed? We've approved the agenda. Next, we'll move on to the Consent Calendar. City Manager Rodriguez. **[00:55:20] City Manager Katie Rodriguez:** Thank you, Mayor. The Consent Calendar contains several separate items which are acted upon by the City Council in one motion... [Summarizes Items A, B, and C]. I submit these items for your consideration as part of the Consent Calendar. **[00:56:30] Mayor Mary Supple:** Thank you. Is there a motion to approve the Consent Calendar? **[00:56:35] Council Member Whalen:** I move the approval of the Consent Calendar. **[00:56:37] Council Member Hayford O'Leary:** Second. **[00:56:40] Mayor Mary Supple:** It's been moved and seconded to approve the Consent Calendar. Are there any discussion items? **[00:56:45] Council Member Whalen:** I just want to make a comment of thanks for Item B with continuing to expand our embedded social workers in our Public Safety department... [Commentary continues]. Thank you. **[00:57:15] Council Member Troutman:** Thank you, Mayor. I just wanted to briefly recognize... Blessed Trinity Catholic School... I'm glad it's still thriving. Thank you. **[00:57:40] Mayor Mary Supple:** Any other comments? All in favor of approval of the Consent Calendar, please say aye. (Aye). All opposed? All right, we have passed the Consent Calendar. Next, we're moving on to Item 4, which is the proposed ordinance. Council Member Hayford O'Leary. **[00:58:00] Council Member Hayford O'Leary:** Thank you, Mayor. This item is to consider a second reading and summary publication of an ordinance amendment aligning the zoning code with the Comprehensive Plan... [Reads the summary of the ordinance]. I'm happy to answer any questions that the Council might have. **[01:00:30] Mayor Mary Supple:** Let's put the motion on the floor so that we can have the discussion as part of the motion. **[01:00:35] Council Member Hayford O'Leary:** I will move that we approve a second reading of an ordinance amendment aligning the zoning code with the Comprehensive Plan... and to approve a resolution authorizing summary publication of that ordinance. **[01:00:50] Council Member Whalen:** Second. **[01:00:52] Mayor Mary Supple:** It's been moved and seconded. Now we'll have discussion. Council Member Hayford O'Leary, you said you had some things you wanted to comment on? **[01:01:00] Council Member Hayford O'Leary:** Yeah, I heard a few times that duplexes would be unregulated... I'm wondering, [Melissa Poehlman], if you could walk through briefly: what is the process? **[01:01:20] Melissa Poehlman (Community Development Director):** Council Member Hayford O'Leary, thanks for asking that. Duplexes would be regulated just like single-family homes are regulated... [Explains setbacks, height, building permits, etc.]. **[01:02:40] Council Member Hayford O'Leary:** And just to be clear, so if somebody came and proposed a duplex that was taller than allowed or closer to the lot lines, there would still be a public process to review that proposed variance? **[01:02:50] Melissa Poehlman (Community Development Director):** That's correct. **[01:02:55] Council Member Hayford O'Leary:** We've also heard about infrastructure questions. Is there a concern from Public Works that if people were to build several duplexes on one block, would that require new sewer lines or new water lines? **[01:03:10] Melissa Poehlman (Community Development Director):** Thank you for that question. The whole purpose of preparing a Comprehensive Plan is to look at these systems... In terms of infrastructure, no, there aren't concerns. We have plenty of room for growth with our infrastructure projections. **[01:04:15] Council Member Hayford O'Leary:** And then we've got a few concerns about rentals and institutional investors... Does this affect our rental ordinance? **[01:04:30] Melissa Poehlman (Community Development Director):** It does not. The city does have a rental licensing ordinance... This proposal does not change anything related to our rental licensing ordinance. **[01:05:30] Council Member Whalen:** One specific one on that front... [Mentions state legislature bill on institutional investors]. I think that is worth exploring. I just want to ask staff if we have been watching that at the state level? **[01:06:10] Melissa Poehlman (Community Development Director):** Council Member Whalen, we're always tracking the bills at the state legislature. We're watching this one. **[01:06:30] Council Member Troutman:** Thank you, Mayor. I just want to recognize that whenever people come to the Council, it's a big deal... [Reflects on family history, parking, and institutional investors]. Director Poehlman, can you share a little bit about how many duplexes you anticipate? **[01:09:40] Melissa Poehlman (Community Development Director):** In the last 10 years, Richfield has had five new homes built each year... Even if all of the homes built in 2022 were duplexes, that's only three new units across the whole area. What we're doing here is removing a barrier. **[01:10:30] Council Member Troutman:** Thank you. [Continues closing comments on the vote and rental maintenance]. **[01:11:45] Council Member Hayford O'Leary:** I just wanted to clarify my position. I am very much in support of this change... This is legalizing Richfield; legalizing things that are part of our community already. [Speaks on lot sizes and policy approach]. **[01:15:30] Council Member Whalen:** Thank you, Mayor. The tension in this debate is the same tension that we heard in the Comprehensive Plan process five years ago... Urban Hometown... [Speaks on the value of "home" and interpersonal respect]. Thank you. **[01:18:00] Council Member Troutman:** Thank you, Mayor. I just wanted to add two quick things... [Discusses down payment assistance and invites residents to stay engaged in the democratic process]. **[01:20:15] Mayor Mary Supple:** I would also like to thank everybody for the robust discussion... Two of the things that I heard... an interest in exploring whether we should have regulations requiring owner occupancy. That's something I'm going to suggest we look at in the future... Next, there were questions about code enforcement... we need to make sure we communicate how that works. [Final thoughts in support of flexibility]. **[01:21:45] Council Member Whalen:** Since there have been so many concerns about homes not being maintained... Chief Henthorne, if I could put you on the spot just to share the process by which people can report that? **[01:22:15] Police Chief Jay Henthorne:** Yes, Council Member Whalen. We have a robust reporting system... [Explains the role of Community Services Officers, letters of violation, and the 96-98% compliance rate]. **[01:24:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** Thank you. Any other comments? Then we'll put the vote before us. It's been moved and seconded to approve a second reading... All in favor, please say aye. (Aye). All opposed? All right, we've approved the reading and approved the resolution. Moving on to Item 5, to hold a violation hearing regarding civil enforcement for alcohol compliance checks. I'm going to turn it over to Council Member Troutman. **[01:25:00] Council Member Troutman:** Thank you, Mayor... [Explains the compliance checks from Dec 17, 2022, and names the five establishments: Millions Crab, Fireside Foundry, Red Pepper, Davanni’s, and Los Sanchez Taqueria]. Do we have any of the representatives here that wish to speak? **[01:28:00] Representative (Millions Crab):** Actually, I'm going to say I'm just doing number one [admitting]... On that day, the girl that normally is not our guest, she was the manager's friend, the management was in the kitchen and she just thought she wanted to help out. **[01:28:45] Council Member Troutman:** Thank you. You're willing to accept the penalty? **[01:28:50] Representative (Millions Crab):** Yes. **[01:29:00] Scott Schoenig (Fireside Foundry):** My name is Scott Schoenig. I'm a little unclear on admittance... I would like to be heard on the facts. **[01:29:45] Mary Tietjen (City Attorney):** Mayor and Council Member Troutman, if you do wish to contest it... [Explains the process of an independent hearing examiner]. **[01:31:00] Scott Schoenig (Fireside Foundry):** I'll have admittance then. Thank you. **[01:31:30] Henry Tho (Red Pepper Chinese Restaurant):** My name is Henry Tho, the owner of Red Pepper. Our restaurant's been there 30 years... My niece didn't check the ID, she did the math wrong. I'd like to accept the penalty. **[01:32:15] Doug Martin (Davanni’s):** My name is Doug Martin, and yes, we accept the penalty. **[01:32:30] Karen Diaz de Leon (Los Sanchez Taqueria):** My name is Karen Diaz de Leon and we did it, I guess. Do we pay right now? When do we know that? **[01:32:50] Mayor Mary Supple:** Staff will work with you on picking the five days. **[01:33:15] Council Member Troutman:** I would move we approve the attached resolutions regarding civil enforcement... **[01:33:25] Council Member Whalen:** Second. **[01:33:30] Mayor Mary Supple:** All in favor, please say aye. (Aye). All opposed? All right, we've approved the resolutions. Next is Item 6: Local Sales Tax. Council Member Whalen. **[01:34:00] Council Member Whalen:** Thank you, Mayor. The Richfield Council has identified a need for funding for important capital projects... [Outlines the 0.5% tax over 20 years and the three projects: Woodlake Nature Center, Veterans Park, and the Community Center]. I will make a motion to adopt the resolution... **[01:37:30] Council Member Troutman:** Second. **[01:37:45] Council Member Whalen:** [Speaks on the risk of losing amenities like the pool or Nature Center without a revenue source]. **[01:38:30] Council Member Troutman:** I just want to make a couple comments... [Speaks on neighboring cities' sales taxes and the need for updated infrastructure]. **[01:40:15] City Manager Katie Rodriguez:** Can I just make a slight correction? Bloomington did request it, but it didn't pass the last legislative session. **[01:40:45] Council Member Hayford O'Leary:** I recognize concerns about sales tax being imperfect, but richfielders are already paying for other cities' amenities when they shop there... [Speaks on fairness]. **[01:41:40] Mayor Mary Supple:** I am also in support... All in favor, please say aye. (Aye). All opposed? All right, we've adopted the resolution. City Manager's Report. **[01:42:00] City Manager Katie Rodriguez:** Thank you, Mayor. I too want to thank the residents... [Briefly addresses police strategies report and fire department response times]. **[01:43:10] Mayor Mary Supple:** Claims and Payroll. **[01:43:15] Council Member Whalen:** I would move claims and payroll. **[01:43:17] Council Member Troutman:** Second. **[01:43:20] Mayor Mary Supple:** All in favor, please say aye. (Aye). Approved. Now, Hats Off to Hometown Hits. Council Member Whalen. **[01:43:30] Council Member Whalen:** [Talks about Voyager curling event and the Taft bike park]. **[01:44:45] Council Member Hayford O'Leary:** Thank you to our state legislators and local leaders who met with us... **[01:45:15] Council Member Troutman:** I want to acknowledge Senators Smith and Klobuchar and Congress Member Omar for advocating for funding for Woodlake Nature Center. **[01:46:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** [Thanks residents, highlights the Ice Arena walking program, and the art display at the Community Center]. With that, we have finished our agenda and we stand adjourned. Thank you.