Summary

Council accepts 2024 ACFR; adopts multiple utility and assessment resolutions; approves Wood Lake exhibit contracts

RichfieldOct 14, 20254 min read

At a glance

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At the October 14, 2025 Richfield City Council meeting the Council accepted the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for year ended December 31, 2024; approved the consent calendar including $7,750,753.38 in disbursements and a temporary liquor license; adopted a series of special assessments and certifications for unpaid solid waste, utility, sewer, tree removal and project-area maintenance charges; approved site plan for 7424 Lyndale Ave S; authorized agreements totaling $709,158 for interpretive exhibits for the new Wood Lake Nature Center; and appointed two youth commissioners. Public commenters raised questions about juvenile police response, unusually high water billing after a meter change, sanitary sewer assessments, and rental/solid-waste notices.

Committees mentioned

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City Council

Topics discussed

TransportationBudget & TaxPublic SafetyEducationHealthcareCommerceEnvironmentalHousingUtilities

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Key decisions

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Accepted the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for the year ended December 31, 2024 (motion carried 5-0).
Approved the Consent Calendar including disbursements/claims totaling $7,750,753.38 and authorization for a Temporary On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor license for Blessed Trinity Catholic School (St. Richard's Catholic Church) for Dec 6, 2025.
Approved first reading of a transitory ordinance providing funding for certain capital improvements from the Liquor Contribution Special Revenue Fund.
Approved site plan for 7424 Lyndale Avenue South (Resolution No. 12352).
Authorized agreements with the Science Museum of Minnesota ($354,658) and Blue Rhino ($354,500) for fabrication and installation of interpretive exhibits for the new Wood Lake Nature Center Building (joint bid total $709,158).
Adopted resolution certifying delinquent solid waste charges to property taxes for July 1, 2024–June 30, 2025 (Resolution No. 12353).
Adopted assessments and ordered service for the Interstate‑Lyndale‑Nicollet (ILN)/77th Street Project Area including $130,596.78 for 2024 maintenance and adopted the 2026 service project (Resolutions No. 12354 and 12355).
Adopted assessment for removal of diseased trees from private property for work ordered Jan 1–Dec 31, 2024 (Resolution No. 12356).
Adopted special assessments for sanitary sewer line repair or replacement on private property for work ordered Jan 1, 2024–Aug 1, 2025 (Resolution No. 12357).
Adopted resolution authorizing certification of unpaid water, sanitary sewer, storm water, street light charges, false alarm charges, weed eradication charges, public health or safety hazard charges, and vacant property registration fees to the county auditor to be collected with property taxes (Resolution No. 12358).
Approved appointment of youth commissioners: Jaily Portales to the Advisory Board of Health and Karmen Melnichuk to the Arts Commission (motion carried 5-0).
Welcomed business owners related to the Consent Calendar retail site plan item and acknowledged the City of Edina’s work on a joint powers agreement for an alternative response model for selective 911 calls.

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Meeting information

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City Council Meeting

Oct 14, 2025, 7:00 PMRichfield Municipal Center, City Council Chambers, 6700 Portland Avenue, Richfield MN 55423completed

Agenda

1. Call to Order
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Approval of the Agenda
4. Approval of Minutes
a. Approval of the Minutes of the (1) City Council Work Session from September 23, 2025, and (2) City Council Regular Meeting from September 23, 2025.
1A. Executive Summary 1B. Historical Context | attachments=2
Decision: Approval of Minutes
5. 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
6. Proclamations and Presentations
a. Proclamation celebrating Indigenous Peoples' Day
1A. Executive Summary 1B. Historical Context | attachments=1
Decision: Proclamations and Presentations
b. Community Services Commission Annual Report
1A. Executive Summary 1B. Historical Context
Decision: Proclamations and Presentations
c. Sustainability Commission Annual Report
1A. Executive Summary 1B. Historical Context
Decision: Proclamations and Presentations
d. Receipt of the City of Richfield Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024.
1A. Executive Summary 1B. Historical Context | attachments=4 | reports=1
Decision: Proclamations and Presentations
7. Consent Calendar
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. However, any Council Member may request that an item be removed from the Consent Calendar and placed on the regular agenda for Council discussion and action. All items listed on the Consent Calendar are recommended for approval.
a. Approve Disbursements/Claims
1A. Executive Summary 1B. Historical Context
Decision: Consent Calendar
b. Consider approval for a Temporary On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor license for the Blessed Trinity Catholic School, located at St. Richard's Catholic Church, 7540 Penn Avenue South, for their Annual Gala taking place December 6, 2025.
1A. Executive Summary 1B. Historical Context | reports=1
Decision: Consent Calendar
c. First reading of a transitory ordinance providing funding for certain capital improvements from the Liquor Contribution Special Revenue Fund.
1A. Executive Summary 1B. Historical Context | attachments=1 | reports=1
Decision: Consent Calendar
d. Consider adoption of a resolution of support designating that the photograph “Winter Interest” by Samantha Chin be used to wrap the Hennepin County utility box located at Penn Avenue & 66th Street.
1A. Executive Summary 1B. Historical Context | attachments=3 | reports=1
Decision: Consent Calendar
e. Consider approval of an agreement with John A. Dalsin & Son, Inc, in the amount of $607,984, for the replacement of the roof on rink two of the Richfield Ice Arena.
1A. Executive Summary 1B. Historical Context | attachments=3 | reports=1
Decision: Consent Calendar
f. Consider first reading of an ordinance imposing a tax on lodging and repealing and replacing in its entirety Chapter 14 of the Richfield Code of Ordinances.
1A. Executive Summary 1B. Historical Context | attachments=1 | reports=1
Decision: Consent Calendar
g. Adopt Resolution authorizing acceptance of Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) Funds. The agreement extension was previously approved at the September 9 meeting, but the resolution was omitted from the staff report.
1A. Executive Summary 1B. Historical Context | attachments=4 | reports=1
Decision: Consent Calendar
h. Consider approval to renew the contract with Chief's Towing, Inc., for Public Safety towing services for December 1, 2025 through November 30, 2027.
1A. Executive Summary 1B. Historical Context | attachments=1 | reports=1
Decision: Consent Calendar
i. Consider the Joint Powers Agreement to enable Richfield to provide an alternative response for selective 911 calls in a manner that most effectively and efficiently supports and protects the physical, mental and behavioral health of individuals in the Cities of Richfield and Edina.
1A. Executive Summary 1B. Historical Context | attachments=1 | reports=1
Decision: Consent Calendar
j. Site Plan Approval for 7424 Lyndale Ave S – Conversion to Retail
1A. Executive Summary 1B. Historical Context | attachments=6 | reports=1
Decision: Consent Calendar
8. Consideration of Items, if Any Removed From Consent Calendar
9. Public Hearings
a. Public hearing and consider a resolution adopting the proposed certification of delinquent solid waste charges to property taxes within the residential organized collection sytem from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025.
1A. Executive Summary 1B. Historical Context | attachments=2 | reports=1
Decision: Public Hearings
b. Public hearing and consider a resolution adopting the assessment on the ILN/77th Street Project Area for $130,596.78 for costs incurred to maintain the area for 2024 and a resolution ordering the undertaking of the current service project within the ILN/77th Street Project Area for 2026.
1A. Executive Summary 1B. Historical Context | attachments=4 | reports=1
Decision: Public Hearings
c. Public hearing and consider a resolution adopting special assessments for removal of diseased trees from private property for work ordered from January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024.
1A. Executive Summary 1B. Historical Context | attachments=2 | reports=1
Decision: Public Hearings
d. Public hearing and consider a resolution adopting special assessments for sanitary sewer line repair or replacement on private property for work ordered from January 1, 2024, through August 1, 2025.
1A. Executive Summary 1B. Historical Context | attachments=2 | reports=1
Decision: Public Hearings
e. Public hearing and consider a resolution adopting the proposed assessments of delinquent utility accounts, false alarm charges, public health or safety hazards charges, weed eradication charges, and vacant property registration fees to be certified to property taxes.
1A. Executive Summary 1B. Historical Context | attachments=5 | reports=1
Decision: Public Hearings
10. Proposed Ordinances
11. Resolutions
12. Other Business
a. Consider appointment of youth commissioners to City advisory board/commissions.
1A. Executive Summary 1B. Historical Context | reports=1
Decision: Other Business
b. Consider approval of an agreement between the City of Richfield and the Science Museum of Minnesota in the amount of $354,658, for professional services in the fabrication and installation of interpretive exhibits for the new Wood Lake Nature Center Building, as well as an agreement with Blue Rhino in the amount of $354,500 for the same services and with the same terms and conditions. The project was jointly bid for a total of $709,158.
1A. Executive Summary 1B. Historical Context | attachments=4 | reports=1
Decision: Other Business
13. City Manager’s Report
14. Council Discussion
a. Hats off to Hometown Hits
1A. Executive Summary 1B. Historical Context
Decision: Council Discussion
b. Council Liaison Reports
1A. Executive Summary 1B. Historical Context
Decision: Council Discussion
15. Adjournment