[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6360476,"mediaKeyId","2174805-4792c93bae3c12d8bb54ad6803ef4e9f","parentId",2174805,"title","Congresswoman Omar visits Richfield, highlights federal projects and introduces new bills","audioSeconds",805,"startMs",1257000,"endMs",2062000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2174805-4792c93bae3c12d8bb54ad6803ef4e9f&start=1257&end=2062","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2174805-4792c93bae3c12d8bb54ad6803ef4e9f/thumbnail_1257000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6360476/Richfield-City/Hennepin-County/Minnesota/Congresswoman-Omar-visits-Richfield-highlights-federal-projects-and-introduces-new-bills","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6360476-a1215524118fc48d76e2dfff1f7b6a52/orig.mp4?Expires=1775336229&Signature=TTS~yylTbY9qpd62yVeu8kvgyec3NNFNqG~O7LK5atnlXhB1ALGm7p88pgeDypTE43DpIuNZ6nTrsn-~Kxn3sBr-LkGvWgjD7sS47myqLkj1POFce3U3e1Sw6zI6oI20xktTA9JxCM8tT-CCmEKUyOmFRrfE7pLybTW1oXy58Yd4uvh7hEJgetCNSWE6-6wUn5Wb5SimAtCzlrAUjitSiJOslK5vtpiXzqcFtTpjxTYCR~4QZQKBvnzZo0aW75RxTsG6B-pxGmIuedexcElPSZ72XSWcO~Yt8rHFls2ntOuGb-xQzB9hwZ16IWLQcBJxqa-iN7xOH7SD3GkZtrgeWA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Richfield, MN","date","2025-01-29T16:05:13Z","article","Congresswoman Ilhan Omar visited the Richfield City Council on Jan. 28 to brief members and residents on federal activity affecting the community, to list constituent services her office provides and to summarize bills and committee assignments for the new Congress.

Omar told the council she helped secure $3,000,000 in prior appropriations for the Woodlake Nature Center and noted a separate local project\u0000reconstruction of the non-ADA pedestrian bridge over I-35W at 73rd Street\u0000had been included in the first draft of an appropriations bill for $850,000. \"We will continue fighting to make sure those dollars do come to Richfield,\" she said.

Omar said she will return to the House Education and Workforce Committee as ranking member of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee, serve on the Budget Committee and hold leadership roles in the Congressional Progressive Caucus and other caucuses. She described recently introducing the Neighbors Not Enemies Act to repeal the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, saying the law has historically been used to target people by nationality.

Omar also discussed recent federal actions and executive orders that may affect grants and municipal funding; she said her office is tracking litigation and funding decisions and is preparing constituent resources such as \"know your rights\" materials for residents impacted by immigration enforcement. She urged city staff and residents to share specific local impacts if federal cuts affect municipal programs.

She closed by listing constituent services her office provides, including immigration casework, passport assistance and help with federal benefits and veteran services. Council members thanked Omar for the office's responsiveness and for helping resolve specific local issues such as restoring postal services during construction.

The council asked questions about federal funding risks and expressed appreciation for Omar's support for veterans, refugees and local projects.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting January 28th 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Congresswoman Ilhan Omar briefed the Richfield City Council on federal constituency services, local projects she has supported and introduced legislation, including a proposal to repeal the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.","taxTitle","Richfield City, Hennepin County, Minnesota","taxId",55411,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6360481,"Council approves ordinance amendment to regulate dynamic drive-thru signs",391,2267000,2658000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2174805-4792c93bae3c12d8bb54ad6803ef4e9f&start=2267&end=2658","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2174805-4792c93bae3c12d8bb54ad6803ef4e9f/thumbnail_2267000.jpg","/articles/6360481/Richfield-City/Hennepin-County/Minnesota/Council-approves-ordinance-amendment-to-regulate-dynamic-drive-thru-signs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6360481-33f8c0197cef02ec3ccb386da82fafba/orig.mp4?Expires=1775336229&Signature=Grzxb5MWhwaFeUg5ZlZNBU9q9x57X3A6uktAs~LcHiOIfojRwHdCwLkeXvbA261~iNLBMJMH0L2T9O2wpuU8XJhBCRSEZWzSnvx~rDlKlBoSVOAbUu4wEn4t~Kvjh6Le3HdYdOnUiqCbMr42RHm0Z7dYuiuoDtAzunp9hQCLv-1JfJfKl2bxFk6cU0-akGy7ZpUHsMrwVfsLvgJXd4t3FYurhhMwi5xOW8WnIDiga3dltTIsR9FmxkkkwU21QZuBOMgMEp~aG2CWsWh6MBjRv-72fz9xfoUAwG9FK9iBmBrUO~1DSwdfpU~CvU4~UIfE99JiP7J0ARSqhRFeXkU0mg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Richfield City Council on Jan. 28 approved a second reading and authorized summary publication of an ordinance amendment establishing rules for dynamic drive-thru or menu-board signs.

Council Member Burke said the amendment responds to an applicant request (Taco Bell, 7740 Second Avenue South) seeking to replace an existing menu board with a dynamic display. Staff said the zoning and sign code previously limited dynamic display signs and that the amendment moves \"order board\" rules into the sign code and reclassifies them as drive-thru signs for clarity and consistency with neighboring cities.

Staff told the council the proposal limits dynamic signs to a single freestanding or drive-thru sign per property and applies area and proximity limits; the Planning Commission held a public hearing on Dec. 9 and recommended approval. Director Pailman answered council questions on administration and permitting, saying a sign permit is required and the permitting process will identify whether a property has already used its dynamic-sign allowance.

Council Member Hayford O'Leary, who had raised a clarity question by email, said the ordinance as written addressed his concern about whether a property could later convert an additional freestanding pylon sign to dynamic if a menu-board sign was already dynamic.

The council moved, seconded and approved the ordinance on second reading and authorized summary publication.

Votes at a glance: second reading of the drive-thru sign ordinance amendment and resolution authorizing summary publication were moved, seconded and approved by the council (voice vote).","Richfield adopted a second reading and authorized summary publication of an ordinance amendment that adds rules for dynamic display drive-thru/menu-board signs and moves order-board regulations into the sign code.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6360485,"Richfield fines three restaurants after underage alcohol compliance checks",392,3582000,3974000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2174805-4792c93bae3c12d8bb54ad6803ef4e9f&start=3582&end=3974","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2174805-4792c93bae3c12d8bb54ad6803ef4e9f/thumbnail_3582000.jpg","/articles/6360485/Richfield-City/Hennepin-County/Minnesota/Richfield-fines-three-restaurants-after-underage-alcohol-compliance-checks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6360485-0c4ce28ca320c137b254840d97826436/orig.mp4?Expires=1775336229&Signature=Xpe0XvbHaTuSt9PJNXm1WDrvm4nfRZ7IeVcZFCJYPOvbzxmRCW1XQK58eJmP67JoEqru9wklLOFp6zieOec2eLtC8~xR4jdXVrTHntEilgDdCQT5zbUWYEGOBnHVnF~ZGX27FdLGuK0KACaIrRGuy1Sb~sZ4LdJBw0cuQBOhfbaxgLcyau9m-zLsn6f7jScILtB4kiLrk3gsosICDTjRNANgtd3wnzEVuIc2VrRTuvaMnkqXwM0DTHvvqBZW2NBpaN41B5BKphO~9TQohk1dyTgczXA4guMbEcPBmxibbtf0puCupoGaSHYKyncEsDfEtiES8n3caeqvmAa0tav4Dg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Richfield City Council on Jan. 28 adopted resolutions imposing penalties on three licensed establishments after city-conducted alcohol compliance checks found sales to persons under 21.

City staff said compliance checks were conducted Nov. 14, 2024; 25 establishments were checked and three failed. The council applied the city's first-offense penalties under its enforcement guidelines: a five-day suspension of the license to sell alcohol, a $1,000 civil fine, a requirement to meet with the director of public safety with a written action plan, and mandatory manager alcohol-compliance training paid for by the establishment.

Council Member Hayford O'Leary read the staff summary and called each business forward. Representative(s) for Devani's Pizza and Hot Hoagies and for Myburger appeared at the hearing and admitted the violations. Joe Spencer, district manager for Myburger, told the council the company did not contest the finding: \"No, we we don't have any contest. We've been [found] guilty on that,\" he said. Devani's representative also admitted the violation and accepted the penalties.

The third establishment, Joyce Pitaya Thai Restaurant LLC (Joyce Pataya), was contacted by staff and the record indicated staff had been in communication with the business and did not expect a contest; the council approved the resolution for that establishment in absentia.

City staff noted that two of the three failing establishments had prior violations more than a year earlier (Devani's failed on Dec. 17, 2022; Myburger failed Nov. 3, 2021) and were being treated as first offenses because the earlier incidents were outside the one-year look-back period used by the city.

Council members moved and seconded separate resolutions for each establishment. All three motions passed by voice vote.

Votes at a glance: resolutions to suspend licenses and impose civil penalties for Joyce Pitaya Thai Restaurant LLC (7545 Lindale Avenue South), Devani's Pizza and Hot Hoagies (address as listed in staff materials), and Myburger (6555 Lindale Avenue South) were moved, seconded and approved by the council.

The council noted that establishments may request a contested case hearing if they deny the allegations; in these cases two businesses admitted the violation and accepted the city's penalties, while the city indicated it would follow up with Joyce Pitaya to confirm acceptance and next steps.","The council adopted separate resolutions suspending liquor licenses and imposing civil penalties on three establishments after Nov. 14, 2024 compliance checks found unlawful sales to underage buyers; two establishments admitted the violations in the hearing.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6360490,"Richfield council backs 4(d) tax support to preserve three affordable apartment complexes",3347,209000,3556000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2174805-4792c93bae3c12d8bb54ad6803ef4e9f&start=209&end=3556","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2174805-4792c93bae3c12d8bb54ad6803ef4e9f/thumbnail_209000.jpg","/articles/6360490/Richfield-City/Hennepin-County/Minnesota/Richfield-council-backs-4d-tax-support-to-preserve-three-affordable-apartment-complexes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6360490-8c844fc6054925910c1829c8cc9f3cbd/orig.mp4?Expires=1775336229&Signature=hxxv6~BPGl9xyfiIvcEUcICDaiIFLU67xTCs3xHQg3ckTNpKfDLjv4VZYmHr0oDeXcXNMAGEmAHP~c6a8arfoBctEm~T~f8Dsz2WqLZkxSNop3mhpjaaUDThU2CI4dP7KGFovs~znGN~QJAueiBTXcvRGpmTvz3fJgtEVhMnGTCbWI9p8~iOBpiWQA4750Ro-VsF9r2cCSSG-wWmBbT-RurYaBS7eOi8VnLWtiTiy0lMwgAPlfU011GSnvvT8cXfMc5M5lK9RKaHn-vN8~xNcRu5bgoG32AjXoTcYQoThK-f9ylQaYk41ADbr7-HPLEox-md-SQSTtk~UJ5s0whIZQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Richfield City Council on Jan. 28 approved a resolution supporting the use of the 4(d) tax classification to help Hempel Real Estate acquire and preserve three naturally occurring affordable rental properties, preserving what staff described as 236 units and roughly 477 residents.

Supporters said the move will keep existing tenants housed and maintain 2- and 3-bedroom affordable units that are in short supply. \"I therefore urge this council to approve a memorandum of understanding supporting request for financial assistance and 4 d tax status from Hempel Real Estate for the acquisition and preservation of 3 identified affordable rental communities,\" resident Scott Dahlquist told the council during open forum.

City staff and the Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) said the three properties\u0000New Orleans Court, Richland Court and Winton House\u0000contain a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units that rent at about 50% to 60% of area median income (AMI). The HRA approved a memorandum of understanding on Jan. 21 that lays out potential HRA assistance if the purchase proceeds. That package includes a 15-year forgivable loan of $1,570,000 from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and a $200,000 remodeling loan, conditions limiting rents and income caps and commitments to accept rental assistance.

Council members repeatedly weighed the trade-offs. \"There's trade offs particularly in the decision before us tonight that we are shifting the tax burden in a small way,\" Council Member Hayford O'Leary said, but added he supported preservation of the units because of the benefits to the broader community. Council Member Burke framed the decision more directly: \"To me, it's imagining the people who would be displaced, having them in this room... would you pay $10 to keep these people here?\" Burke said, and indicated he would vote in favor.

The city report said the 4(d) classification would lower the property tax rate applied to the buildings (staff cited a 0.25% rate for qualifying affordable apartments compared with 1.25% for non-affordable apartments in the example used), producing estimated annual owner savings of $352,050 using the pay-2022 values and tax rates cited in the staff materials. The city noted that the reduction in tax capacity would shift $278,432 of tax capacity across jurisdictions; to keep levy revenue constant, city staff estimated the owner of the median-valued home in Richfield would pay about $9.97 more per year under the example provided.

Council discussion noted two mitigating factors: the HRA's planned use of housing trust funds for the project and the planned decertification of two tax increment financing (TIF) districts in 2026, which staff said will add tax capacity that will partially offset the 4(d) reduction. Council Member Christensen and others urged follow-up policy work, including conversations with state legislators about long-term approaches to balancing preservation incentives and tax shifts.

The council voted to approve the use of the 4(d) tax classification for the Hempel purchase and preservation plan. Staff said Hempel is completing due diligence and will return to the HRA with a firm rehabilitation cost estimate; the HRA will consider a formal HRA agreement, likely at its February meeting.

Votes at a glance: the council moved and seconded the resolution and the motion passed; no roll-call tally was read into the record.

The council and community members who testified said the immediate result keeps larger affordable units and existing voucher-supported households in Richfield while staff and council members flagged longer-term policy questions about who bears a shifted tax burden and how the city might address that in future policy.

","The council approved a resolution supporting use of Minnesota''s 4(d) tax classification to help Hempel Real Estate buy and preserve three naturally occurring affordable (NOA) apartment properties in Richfield, a move supporters said will prevent displacement of hundreds of residents and opponents warned shifts the tax burden to other taxpayers.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Congresswoman Omar visits Richfield, highlights federal projects and introduces new bills

Council approves ordinance amendment to regulate dynamic drive-thru signs

Richfield fines three restaurants after underage alcohol compliance checks

Richfield council backs 4(d) tax support to preserve three affordable apartment complexes