The Richfield City Council approved two personnel-related resolutions at a Dec. 22 special meeting, adopting a two-year labor agreement with the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 49 and modifying the Health Care Savings Plan (HCSP) for police patrol employees represented by Law Enforcement Labor Services Local 123. Both measures are slated to take effect Jan. 1, 2026.

Councilmember Coleman Woods presented the IUOE Local 49 agreement, describing a two-year contract covering 2026–2027. "The contracts would take effect 01/01/2026 and remain in effect through 12/31/2027," Coleman Woods said. He described pay provisions that include a 3% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) plus a 1% targeted market adjustment in 2026 and the same structure in 2027, along with increases to clothing and boot allowances and a 3% COLA to licensure/certification pay.

Councilmember Burke moved to adopt the resolution approving the IUOE Local 49 agreement; the motion was seconded and carried. City Clerk Friedrich recorded 'Aye' votes from Councilmember Burke, Councilmember Christiansen, Councilmember Coleman Woods and Mayor Supple; the resolution passed.

Councilmember Burke then introduced item 11b, a resolution modifying the police patrol Health Care Savings Plan requested by Law Enforcement Labor Services Local 123. Burke said the plan changes include immediate enrollment (first day of employment rather than after five years), converting a fixed-dollar employer contribution to a percentage, and requiring severance contributions to be credited to the employee's HCSP account rather than paid as cash. Staff told the council the draft had been sent to the Minnesota State Retirement System (MSRS) for preapproval.

The HCSP modification was seconded, discussed favorably as a tool to help officers pay for health care after separation, and approved by roll call. City Clerk Friedrich recorded 'Aye' votes from Councilmember Burke, Councilmember Christiansen, Councilmember Coleman Woods and Mayor Supple. Staff said the HCSP changes will become effective Jan. 1, 2026 after MSRS approval.

The council did not identify a total fiscal cost or budget appropriation during the meeting; some numeric details in the staff presentation appear inconsistent in the transcript (for example, parts of the clothing-allowance figures appear garbled) and the city clerk or staff should be consulted for the official contract text and final numbers.

The meeting adjourned after those votes.