[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6075453,"mediaKeyId","2979744-e1955d8209b643dd2326b2c04190f444","parentId",2979744,"title","Richfield issues Earth Day, Arab American Heritage and Public Health proclamations; resident emails support housing legislation","audioSeconds",10,"startMs",590000,"endMs",600000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2979744-e1955d8209b643dd2326b2c04190f444&start=590&end=600","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2979744-e1955d8209b643dd2326b2c04190f444/thumbnail_590000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6075453/Richfield-City/Hennepin-County/Minnesota/Richfield-issues-Earth-Day-Arab-American-Heritage-and-Public-Health-proclamations-resident-emails-support-housing-legislation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6075453-5d1ff63ac4d3c88301ceb304044241c4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154734&Signature=GOfkDz5QEcCGtz2XsokZAN06KyZMnuQAghWGgIjNJO9b35Kz4ELIwemU~bXX-y6UIyzcRCRuss~42y2kUOOrEolN2xwv0wSZAReQvJBeZg8ZwESsnkUnbl8ygZruRB-mUNy272I4s4b1W2GBHwa2wXRtdDi5-izSCtJk3Z1knzrUXG-Bcm0qfDWvQHGiY2OxDf4gvsh8p4LQqCjixXmHfJOziZ8MrRFp~SsA-9DRt5MNDY8j~TS2uIAlLinOsiVA1n7jIjSBEH4eA1FvzIWp91-LG7osC7fC-AMOSGCdgH9RifZqWEhKx5AMFpXDprYNCR2ojbMkjv6ZHMPl6iXYkw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Richfield, MN","date","2025-04-09T14:40:50Z","article","RICHFIELD, Minn. — At its April 8 meeting the Richfield City Council issued three proclamations — for Earth Day, Arab American Heritage Month and National Public Health Week — and heard an emailed public comment urging the city to support state zoning legislation known colloquially as ‘‘Yes to Homes.’’

Mayor Mary Supple read an Earth Day proclamation noting the city’s climate action plan, recent municipal efficiency measures and upcoming volunteer cleanups. Rachel Lindholm, a city staff member, summarized Earth Day events and outreach: the mayor and staff plan a staff/council/commission cleanup on April 22 and a community‑center litter cleanup and resource fair on April 26 from 1 to 4 p.m.; the Sustainability Commission, led by Youth Commissioner Helen Burke, will also host a litter cleanup on Sunday the 27th.

Human Rights Commissioner Michael Zazara accepted the Arab American Heritage Month proclamation and said: \"I would encourage our city and community members to consider our Arab American neighbors.\" Zazara described the proclamation as a call to build relations and counter discriminatory rhetoric.

Pixie Pixler of the Advisory Board of Health accepted a proclamation recognizing National Public Health Week (April 7–13) and the council noted themes including climate action, health equity and public health workforce support.

The council clerk read one emailed public comment from Blue Dela Quante of 6728 Russell Avenue South stating she supports state zoning reforms to allow more homes and walkable neighborhoods. The email said, in part: \"Richfield must lead the way in supporting these Yes to Homes bills and continuing to make the city a welcoming place for new residents.\" This comment was recorded as submitted and was not debated by the council.

Under ‘‘Hats Off’’ community updates, Council Member Christiansen and others noted a public tour of the renovated Augsburg Library and upcoming openings; Council Member Hayford O'Leary encouraged residents to observe the start of street‑sweeping season; Council Member Burke promoted nominations for the Jean and Mary Jacobson Outstanding Citizen Award; and Recreation Services Director Hugh Miller and Council members described recent school visits and a Richfield Foundation fundraiser scheduled for May 1 at Woodlake Health and Office Center.

Ending: The proclamations were ceremonial and did not require council action beyond adoption; the emailed housing comment was received for the record and will remain part of the meeting record.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting - April 8th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The council issued proclamations recognizing Earth Day, Arab American Heritage Month and National Public Health Week, and heard an emailed public comment urging support for state ‘Yes to Homes’ zoning legislation. Staff and commissioners shared upcoming community events.","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},6075458,"Richfield council reviews meeting order, debates rules of decorum and approves agenda and consent items",1584,138000,1722000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2979744-e1955d8209b643dd2326b2c04190f444&start=138&end=1722","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2979744-e1955d8209b643dd2326b2c04190f444/thumbnail_138000.jpg","/articles/6075458/Richfield-City/Hennepin-County/Minnesota/Richfield-council-reviews-meeting-order-debates-rules-of-decorum-and-approves-agenda-and-consent-items","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6075458-8eb740c7f7ad422dc4b03b402933340f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154734&Signature=AwKbvmHDGkaiGWq-NX9YojuVVSq-qFZRcMnlnJB8HtWg1nNxH89GRnP9a1izuxnDZb0SdSWlEgiaxmlvkIGSiSLwqSAxW4T1EJlukWXs2DtOmK0QNykh8LB5~vKw2oN2x4frSBpPL1P9WbIQuKs3D3ppKeqRJrfDiSmdwyV4d3bIsbH5fWOXnByb-xmG2qL-tXZEA9FxxfVcTl-8nFmWwMDezjKtavM6EG0KCSJ~~6IKpziuLZzOG8oUsN9sdj4fXz72wbbZIyXM2zfkx8hbq9Us3MUZ6hElAT3xQQTAZxruRdJ4uZONvWT1NmQfin3EUmlEl8E6icukXqccyFhIwA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","RICHFIELD, Minn. — The Richfield City Council on April 8 discussed proposed revisions to its rules of procedure and decorum and the order of business for council meetings, then approved the night's agenda, minutes with clerical corrections and the consent calendar.

The discussion, led by City Manager Rodriguez and supported by City Clerk Friedrich and the city attorney, focused on a staff draft of updated meeting procedures that staff plan to return to the council for formal action at a future meeting. City Manager Rodriguez told the council staff would bring a revised packet back for consideration: \"we would be bringing it back to you, hopefully, in 2 weeks.\" Mayor Mary Supple said the order of business was time sensitive for setting new agenda templates for upcoming agenda‑management software.

The draft proposes moving the Pledge of Allegiance immediately after call to order, placing approval of the agenda early in the meeting, moving minutes and disbursements into the consent calendar (with council authority to pull items for separate discussion), and updating language around open forum and member conduct to reflect current practice. Council members debated several specifics: whether the Pledge should precede agenda approval, whether minutes should remain on the consent calendar, and how strictly to limit member discussion.

Resident Kathleen Balaban, who spoke during open forum on the city's staff report about meeting procedures, urged the council to assert its role in writing meeting rules. \"This is code, not resolution,\" Balaban said, asking elected officials rather than staff to draft the final language. The council discussed that point and staff noted the existing rules were last formally revised on Feb. 14, 2017.

Council members generally agreed to place the Pledge of Allegiance before agenda approval and to include minutes under the consent calendar while retaining the ability to pull items for separate consideration. On open forum timing, council members favored lengthening the default public comment window from 15 minutes to 30 minutes with a clear option to suspend remaining speakers until the end of the meeting if needed; one council member said the 30‑minute cap would be a defensible default \"and the council has the opportunity to extend it.\" The council also discussed making the presiding officer's ability to request a spokesperson discretionary (changing phrasing from \"shall be proper\" to \"may request\").

On abstentions, the city attorney and staff said the current city code requires unanimous approval for a member to abstain except where law requires abstention. The city attorney advised that changing that requirement would require an ordinance amendment to the city code; council members discussed adding a practice that a member who takes a discretionary abstention should not participate in the discussion for that item.

No final ordinance or rule changes were adopted on April 8; staff will return with revised language for council action at a later meeting. In the meantime the council made several routine approvals for the meeting's business:

- Approval of the agenda: The council approved the April 8 agenda by voice vote.

- Approval of minutes: The council approved minutes of recent meetings with two clerical corrections noted on the record.

- Consent calendar: The council approved the consent calendar, which included: a contract award for the Lift Station 7 replacement project (bid to Boulder Creek Inc.); the appointment of a youth member to the Human Rights Commission; an agreement with Independent School District 280 to administer the 2025 and 2027 school board elections; and a resolution designating Fidelity Investments as a depository to receive a bequest for Woodlake Nature Center.

City Attorney Teachin and City Clerk Friedrich participated in the discussion and said staff would align the rules with current law and the city charter where necessary. City Manager Rodriguez said the council could split the work — adopting agenda templates first and returning later with fuller updates to the decorum and enforcement sections.

The council indicated it does not plan to finalize the rules at the April 22 meeting if additional legal review and drafting is required.

Ending: Staff will return with revised rules and an updated staff report before the council is asked to adopt new procedures; until then the council will proceed with the agreed changes to the order of business for agenda templates.","On April 8, 2025, the Richfield City Council discussed proposed updates to its rules of procedure and decorum, including changing the agenda order, open‑forum limits, and abstention rules. The council approved the evening's agenda, minutes with clerical corrections and the consent calendar by voice vote.","actionData","errors"]

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Richfield issues Earth Day, Arab American Heritage and Public Health proclamations; resident emails support housing legislation

Richfield council reviews meeting order, debates rules of decorum and approves agenda and consent items