Richfield council approves labor deal, sewer contract and zoning changes; limits digital drive‑through displays to one per property

Richfield City Council approved a package of routine and substantive items at its Jan. 14 meeting, including a two‑year labor contract for the city’s sergeants, adoption of a revised floodplain ordinance, authorization of a $1.034 million sanitary‑sewer cured‑in‑place lining contract, and a first‑reading amendment to the sign code that allows digital drive‑through menu boards but limits properties to a single dynamic sign.

The council’s action matters because it updates local floodplain rules to match watershed standards, finalizes labor terms for nine sergeant positions for 2024–25, authorizes a major sewer rehabilitation contract, and changes zoning rules that affect businesses with drive‑throughs and nearby residents’ exposure to new digital signage.

Minutes, agenda and consent items The council approved minutes from its Dec. 10, 2024 work session and regular meeting and adopted the meeting agenda after moving one consent item to the regular calendar. By voice vote the body approved consent items A through J, which among other routine matters included staff recommendations to: designate a mayor pro tem and council representatives for 2025; set a first reading and public hearing for an ordinance updating fowl and bird maintenance rules (second reading scheduled Jan. 28, 2025); accept several grants and grant applications (MnDOT Safe Routes to School, U.S. Department of Transportation RAISE grant application, Minnesota Department of Health source‑water protection grant of $10,000); and authorize a $1,034,497 contract with Vizus Sewer for cured‑in‑place pipe lining with the city manager authorized to approve contract changes up to $175,000.

Depositories resolution (item K) The council considered…