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 and adopted resolutions designating official depositories for city funds in compliance with Minnesota statutes. Because a council member identified a conflict of interest, the council conducted a roll‑call vote. Council member Coleman Woods — yay; Council member Christiansen — yay; Council member Hayford O’Leary — yea; Council member Burke — abstain; Mayor Supple — yea. The motion passed, 4 yeas, 1 abstention.

Floodplain ordinance (item 4) On second reading the council adopted an ordinance amending city code section 550 (floodplain management) and approved summary publication. Council Member Hayford O’Leary introduced the motion. Director Asher noted the city has only a “little tiny bit” of mapped FEMA floodplain around Taft Park but maintains the ordinance so property owners can obtain flood insurance and so the city’s rules align with the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District’s April 2024 rule changes. The motion passed by voice vote.

Drive‑through signage (item 5) The council held a lengthy discussion on a proposed first‑reading ordinance to update sign code provisions for dynamic drive‑through signs after an application from Border Foods to replace a Taco Bell menu board with a digital display at 7740 Second Avenue South. Staff recommended moving order‑board regulations into the sign code and creating specific rules for drive‑through menu boards; the Planning Commission had unanimously recommended approval after a Dec. 9 public hearing where no members of the public spoke.

Several council members expressed concern about enforcement, brightness standards and the cumulative effect of multiple dynamic signs on the same property. Council Member Hayford O’Leary proposed and the council adopted an amendment to strike a proposed exemption that would have allowed multiple dynamic displays on a property; the amendment requires that properties be limited to one dynamic display. The council directed staff to return a revised ordinance for second reading that reflects that change and to clarify how split (two‑lane) drive‑through configurations would be counted under the definition of a sign. A Border Foods representative from Elk River told the council the company had no objection to the one‑dynamic‑sign limit and that the Taco Bell rollout uses a corporate standard menu board.

Teamsters sergeants contract (item 6) The council adopted a resolution approving the collective bargaining agreement with Teamsters Local 320 (sergeants bargaining unit) covering Jan. 1, 2024 through Dec. 31, 2025 for nine sergeant positions. Key provisions the council approved include: wage adjustments (a 3.0% cost‑of‑living adjustment and an 8.4% market adjustment to top step in 2024; a 3.0% COLA and 1.0% market adjustment for all steps in 2025); an increase in vacation sellback from 48 to 64 hours; an increase in total annual holiday leave from 96 to 104 hours (to reflect Juneteenth); parity in employer health and dental contributions with non‑represented employees; and a new specialty pay of $300 per month effective Jan. 1, 2025. HR Manager Hafner and council members thanked union stewards and staff for the negotiations. The agreement was approved by voice vote.

Claims, payroll and adjournment The council approved claims and payroll by motion and adjourned the meeting.

Votes at a glance - Approval of Dec. 10, 2024 minutes — passed (voice vote). - Approval of meeting agenda (item K pulled to regular agenda) — passed (voice vote). - Consent calendar items A–J (including grant actions and the Vizus Sewer contract for $1,034,497; CM authorized change orders up to $175,000) — passed (voice vote). - Item K: Resolutions designating official depositories — passed, 4–0–1 (4 yeas, 1 abstention — Burke abstained; roll call recorded; motion passed). - Item 4: Floodplain ordinance (second reading) and summary publication — passed (voice vote). - Item 5: First reading of drive‑through sign ordinance; council adopted amendment limiting one dynamic display per property; main motion as amended passed (voice votes); staff directed to return revised ordinance at second reading with clarified definitions for multi‑lane configurations. - Item 6: Resolution approving Teamsters 320 sergeants contract (2024–2025) — passed (voice vote). - Claims and payroll — passed (voice vote).

Discussion vs. decisions Discussion: enforcement capacity and brightness standards for dynamic signs, the extent of the city’s mapped floodplain, and specialty pay assignments in the police structure. Direction to staff: provide a revised ordinance for the second reading clarifying the deletion of the exemption (one dynamic sign per property) and whether split drive‑through lanes count as multiple signs; include additional details on proposed fowl ordinance changes in the staff report ahead of the Jan. 28 second reading. Decision: the items listed above were approved as recorded.

Ending Council members closed the meeting after brief council reports and community recognition items; staff will return the revised drive‑through ordinance for the council’s Jan. 28 meeting and will include the additional material requested on the fowl ordinance prior to its second reading.