To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Next, we'll move on to
approval of the agenda. >> I move approval of the agenda. >> Second. >> It's been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? All in favor, please say I. I. >> I. >> All opposed.
>> We have approved the agenda. Next, we'll move on to approval of the minutes. And that would include the meeting minutes from the city council work session from April 28th, 2026 and the city council regular meeting on April 28th, 2026.
>> I'll move to approve the minutes. Second. >> Second. >> It's been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? All in favor, please say I. >> I. >> All opposed. And we have approved the minutes. Next, we're moving on to the
open forum. and I would like to state that I am deeply saddened by the shooting that happened two weeks ago. I would like to extend continued wishes for healing and recovery to Sergeant Leon and Sergeant Schulz. I also extend
my condolences to the family of Mr. Hollis. These tragedies impact our entire community. Please be kind to each other and make sure those around you are okay. The bodywn worn camera footage has been released to the public. However, the BCA
investigation is ongoing, so it's not appropriate for council members to comment on the details of the case at this time. During open forum, participants can share their comments in person, by voicemail, or email, or may request to participate virtually. For
more information on submitting comments, refer to the council agenda and minutes page on richfieldmn.gov/city council. If we have changed the policy, so you don't have to tell your exact address. You just need to state if if
you're a Richfield resident or not. So, please give your name and the city of residence. And then when we get about 30 seconds left, I'll hold this up. And when your time is up, I'll hold up the red card. So, just so everyone is aware
of what those things are. And it looks like we have two um open forum requests. Is there anything else, city clerk, that was Friedrich, that was turned in? >> We did not receive any emails today. >> All right. Thank you. So, I'm going to
make sure I've got my set here to go. All right. So, um, we f our first person that would like to speak is Sher Blanch. So, if you want to come up and address the council. Thank you. >> Thank you.
When I said six and a half years ago after the homicide of Brian Kenyon, >> can you state your name and city of residence? >> My apologies. Shara Blanch. I'm a Richfield resident. Um, when I said six and a half years ago after the homicide of Brian Kinonas that
I hoped we would not be here again, I meant that. For anyone who thinks the word homicide is inflammatory, it is how the medical examiner described his death. I am saddened by the loss of life that happened at the hands of Richfield
police two weeks ago tonight. to Savior Hollis was a son, a brother, a nephew, and an uncle. To whoever called the police about a prowler, I hope you realize that the few quarters the Savior may have gotten wasn't worth him losing
his life. Also, locking your car is common sense. I have more questions than answers after watching the video that was released yesterday. The narrative the Richfield Police has put out to the media puts them in the best light possible with the
circumstances. There are many things to consider, not just gun, not or even shot. I encourage everyone to read the state and federal laws that govern police conduct, the city's police policies, and
to know your rights in your interactions with police to be a fully informed member of our community. To Jay Henthornne, Katie Rodriguez and the city council, I urge you to review your policies, procedures, and
training through the lens of the death of Deaver Hollis so that you can uphold the very first portion of your mission, which is safeguarding lives. City Council, Jay and Katie report to you
and we elect you to uphold their mission. I hope you take that seriously to better safeguard our community's lives. Thank you. Thank you. Next, we have um Nikki Holidayiday.
Good evening. My name is uh Nikki Holidayiday. I'm a I share residency with Florida and the state of Minnesota. Um thank you for allowing me to speak tonight. I'm speaking on behalf of the family of the Savior Brian Hollis as
their delegated legal liaison, but also as a mother and a human. Um, I would like to make public statement and pose several questions for the record. Even if they cannot be answered tonight, I just want them on public record. I want to begin by acknowledging the deep sadness surrounding the events of the
early morning of April 29th. To save your Hollis's life meant far more than the circumstances that are alleged to surround his passing. He was a young man with hopes and dreams, including one day traveling to Paris. He also endured profound trauma
early in life, including the loss of his father at just seven years old when his father was murdered. That loss shaped him in ways that many of us will never understand and by the family's account that he never recovered from. The family and a savior himself sought support and
guidance through his life's challenges. And what they are now left with is the belief that he was treated as disposable in the mental health community in the state of Minnesota, which will be another topic up at the top. I share in their grief and cannot imagine their pain. While we recognize
that the officers may also experience fear and trauma in high stress situations, they are trained and expected to respond with discipline, with restraint, and accountability. After viewing the body worn camera
footage provided to the family and then released to the public 20 minutes after they walked out of that meeting, there are several concerns regarding the actions of the officers involved, specifically officers Mario Leon and uh Christian Schultz. The level of force
used during the incident that resulted in Davior's death is questionable. The community should also be deeply concerned by what appears to be reckless gunfire in a residential area with innocent residents,
including individuals asleep inside nearby apartments. They may have been placed at risk. The window directly in front of where the gunfire exchange occurred was a 16-year-old autistic boy with the mind
of a four-year-old that was looking out the window. The footage raises significant questions regarding firearm safety, tactical decisionmaking, and the protection of surrounding civilians whose homes and windows were directly exposed during the
shooting. This warrants serious reflection on public safety standards and officer training within the city of Richfield. This also raises additional questions regarding whether officer Leyon sustained a right arm injury as stated in the footage by himself and whether
that injury may have resulted from gunfire discharged by his own officer, Officer Schultz, who appears to have been positioned to the right of Officer Leon and was firing in the direction I'm almost done. Uh the family is requesting
clarification and full review of these circumstances through their attorney. Um there's also a third officer. I'm just wondering if the city council is aware of that officer and if they are also being reviewed for their interaction as they had their weapon drawn on that footage as well. There are still
critical questions that need to be answered. We are asking the city council to recognize this tragedy extends beyond the one life lost. It also includes trauma experienced by the community. In that video, if you've watched it, after the Savior disarmed himself and
threw the gun in away, there was an additional 10 shots fired. And I just ask, was that excessive force? >> Time is up. Thank you. >> Is there anyone else who wishes to speak? >> All right. Anyone else who wishes to
speak for the open forum? Could you pass those to the city clerk? All right. Then we're going to move on from the open forum. Um next we'll go on to the proclamations and presentations.
And for the first proclamation, I would like to um we're going to be doing the proclamation celebrating Jewish American Heritage Month. and I'm going to be joined by two of our Richfield residents, Ken Liss and Doris Rubenstein. If you could join me up at
the podium. Thank you. Thank you for joining us and thank you to the um Human Rights Commission that put together this proclamation. This is a proclamation of the city of Richfield. Whereas Jewish American Heritage Month celebrates the culture,
heritage, and traditions of Jewish Americans and all their achievements and contributions to Richfield, Minnesota, the United States, and the world. And whereas 2026 marks the 46th annual celebration of achievements and
contributions by Jewish Americans, starting with the establishment of Jewish American Heritage Week in 1980 and expanded upon in 2006 when President George W. Bush and Congress ordered that the country observe an annual Jewish American
Heritage Month each May. And whereas over 7.5 million Jewish Americans have contributed to the many aspects of American society, including arts, education, sports, law, medicine, and
public service, and more. And whereas Jewish Americans have fought honorably, a number earning the Medal of Honor to ensure our freedom by serving in colonial militias in the American Revolution and all-American military conflict since the establishment of the
United States. And whereas Richfield is home to important Jewish cemeteries including the Minneapolis Jewish Cemetery founded in 1890, the United Hebrew Brothers Cemetery, Gimloo Hessed Cemetery, and the Benet
Emmett Cemetery. And whereas we are we celebrate the rich heritage of the Jewish American community, we recognize tireless work to strengthen the promise of religious freedom and civil rights by joining together with all faiths to reject ignorance and intolerance, teach
empathy and compassion, and root out hatred wherever it exists. And whereas the city of Richfield is proud of the people, community, and businesses of Jewish Americans, we look forward to the continuing success of Jewish Americans in our community. And whereas the
Richfield Human Rights Commission supported a proclamation celebrating Jewish American Heritage Month at its April 7th, 2026 meeting. Now therefore, I, Mary Supple, mayor of Richfield, on behalf of the Richfield City Council, do
hereby proclaim the month of May 2026 as Jewish American Heritage Month in the city of Richfield and call on the people of Richfield to continue to observe this month with appropriate programs, activities, and ceremonies, and continue to honor the contributions of Jewish
Americans throughout the year. Proclaim this 12th day of May, 2026. And if either of you would like to speak, Okay. Um, well, >> thank you, Mayor Supple. As a member of the school board and a Jewish resident
of Richfield, I am honored to receive this. And it really gives me pleasure that in this political climate, we're still brave enough to acknowledge Jewish Americans as Americans and um donators
to to the culture and and life here in Richfield. Thank you. >> Um I've lived in Richfield now for almost 42 years. When I moved to Richfield, there were, I think, two other Jewish households. And now, by my
best count, there's probably close to 40, if not more. Why I I stay came to Richfield, it was a great location. Why I've stayed in Richfield is because of its welcoming
atmosphere to all groups. To Jewish people, to Latinos, to people from Africa. This is a community where everyone works together as Americans and richfielders. Thank you very much for inviting me.
>> Thank you. And we have one for each of you. And I don't I guess we have a picture here we're gonna take. Next we have a proclamation for peace officers memorial day. Whereas the people of this community wish to join with the entire nation in
recognizing the valor, bravery, and dedication to duty of our law enforcement officers. And whereas President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation which designated May 15th as Peace Officer Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as police
week and declared that all flags in the United States will be flown at half staff on that date. And whereas 363 new names were added to the national monument in 2026. And whereas the city of Richville recognizes that our own law
enforcement officers who day after day, hour by hour, serve not only as law enforcement agents of this city to protect life and property, but also indeed friend, neighbor, and guardian. Now therefore, I, Mary Supple, mayor of the city of Richfield, do hereby
proclaim May 10th through 16, 2026 is National Police Week, and May 15, 2026 as Peace Officer Memorial Day in the city of Richfield, and call upon every citizen to honor and memorialize those law enforcement officers in this country
and city who have lost their lives in the defense of our homes, families, or property, and to join with our law enforcement officers in acknowledging our thanks for their service, valor, and dedication to duty and our pledged to of continued support for their unending war
on crime and promotion of safety through enforcement in the year ahead. Proclaim the 12th day of May 2026. Um Chief Henthornne, did you want to say something? >> Thanks, Mayor. >> Madame Mayor, members of the council, um this week is we especially remember the
officers who made that ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty and we honor their families who continue to carry the loss. Uh unfortunately, the St. Paul Police Department will be making that homage out to the National Memorial in Washington DC and adding another name to that wall. Um, I also
and most importantly want to thank our Richfield police officers for serving today uh for their commitment, their dedication, their professionalism, their courage in protecting our community every day. Uh, it's a selfless act every time they come to work and they put on the badge and they serves our our
citizens with distinction. So, thank you. Did you picture that? Next, we'll move on to the consent calendar. Um, City Manager Rodriguez. Thank you, mayor. Uh, the consent calendar contains several separate items
which are acted upon by the city council in one motion. Once the consent calendar has been approved, the individual items and recommended actions have also been approved. No further council action on these items is necessary. On tonight's consent calendar, item A,
approve dispersements claims. Item B, Richfield 4th of July committee celebration license application. Item C, consider a resolution authorizing the mayor and city manager to finalize and execute a cooperative construction agreement with the state of
Minnesota Department of Transportation contract number 1061135 for the 73rd Street Trail project completed in 2025. Item D, consider approval of a request for a new secondhand goods dealer
license for EcoATM LLC located at 6540 Penn Avenue South, which is located in CBS. Item E, consider a resolution authorizing the mayor and city manager to enter into an argument, I'm sorry, an
e agreement, not an argument, uh, with the conservation corps of Minnesota for installation of rain gardens funded by the Richfield Bloomington watershed management organization grant program. Item F, site plan approval for
conversion of a retail tenant space to a fitness studio at 6503 Nicollet Avenue South. Item G, consideration of the approval of a temporary on sale intoxicating liquor license from the Fourth of July committee for events scheduled at Veterans Memorial Park,
July 4th, 2026. And I submit these items for your consideration on tonight's consent calendar. >> I move approval of the consent calendar. Seconded. >> Okay, it's been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? I did want to take a moment to thank the
Fourth of July committee because I know that they've put a lot of work in to that and that's on here se um two different things for that and so I want to say a special thank you to them. And then I learned just this week what um an
Echo ATM was. I didn't realized when when I saw secondhand dealers good what that was. And apparently it's a place that you can turn in old phones and laptops and things like that. So just in case other people were wondering about that as well. Um so is there any other
discussion? >> All right. All in favor please say I. >> I. >> All opposed. And we have approved the consent calendar. Next we'll move on to proposed ordinances. And I'll go to item 10A with Council Member Burke.
So, the item for consideration is to consider the first reading of an ordinance amending subsection 210.01 of the city code related to city council salaries for 2027 and 2028. Chapter 2, section 210 of the city code
establishes the salaries of the city council. Subsection 210.01 01 subdivision 5 provides that salaries of council members shall be reviewed by the city council by May 1st in each year in which an election is held pursuant to section 200 of the code. An ordinance
amending the salaries established by this section must not take effect until after the next succeeding municipal election. City Council discussed council salaries during the April 28th, 2026 work session and directed staff to prepare the
ordinance with no increase, zero% increase over the next two years for mayor and council member salaries. Staff, any further information? >> I'm available for questions. >> So motion is to approve the first
reading of the ordinance amending subsection 210.01 01 of the city code related to city council salaries and schedule the second reading for May 26, 2026. >> All right, Council Member Burke has made the motion. Is there a second?
>> Second. It's been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? >> All right, Council Member Burke, >> just a quick comment that um it just seems like the wrong time for the city council to be asking for a salary increase. It was to me was simple as that. Um, these are tough times for many
people and it just seemed wrong to add. Even though it wouldn't have been a large increase to the budget, it just seemed like the wrong time to do it. So, nothing further. >> All right. Any other comments or questions? >> All right. The motion is before us. All
in favor, please say I. >> I. >> I. >> All opposed. And we have approved the recommended action. Next we'll move on to item 11A under resolutions. Council member Coleman Woods.
>> Okay. So the item for consideration is modifying the general services postemployment healthc care service healthc care savings plan and management post employment healthc care savings plan. Uh, in 2001, the Minnesota
legislator legislature granted the Minnesota State Retirement System the authority to offer a postemployment healthc care savings plan to eligible employees of the state of Minnesota and other governmental sub subdivisions. The healthc care savings plan is an employer
sponsored program that allows employees to set aside funds to pay for medical expenses and or health insurance premiums after separation from employment. Employees may select from various investment options offered through the state board of investment. Contributions to the HCSP are taxfree.
Earnings accumulate taxfree and distributions used for eligible medical expenses remain taxfree. The primary driver for this modification is the implementation of the new pay structure opted adopted by the city council in 2024 following the completion of the
Baker Tilly compensation and class study. As a result, language referencing the former pay structure has been removed and replaced with language that aligns with the new framework under the updated structure. Employees in the general pay plan grade 12 and below are
included in the general services postemployment healthcare savings plan while employees in the general pay plan grade 13 and above are part of the management post employment healthcare savings plan. And the motion is um sorry, excuse me.
Is there any comments from staff? >> Uh just again to explain that this is u language cleanup um following the Baker Tilly study and implementing that new pay plan. >> Great. Any other comments?
Great. The motion before us is then to adopt the resolution modifying the general services postemployment healthcare savings plan and management postemployment healthcare savings plan. >> Okay. Council member Woods has made the motion. Is there a second?
>> Second. It's been moved and seconded. Is there any further discussion? >> All right. All in favor, please say I. >> I. >> I. >> All opposed. All right. Then we have passed that resolution. Next, we'll move on to the
city manager's report. >> Nothing to report tonight. Um, so, city manager Rodriguez, I um would like to bring up one topic. Um, in the past year and occasion and most recently after the shooting, there were inappropriate comments made on our
social media platforms. And I would like the council to be able to re-examine our social media policy. And to that end, I it would help for staff to bring to bring back pertinent information so the council can discuss it and make an informed decision about
whether we should turn off the comments commenting on posts on social media. You know, at this point, my take on it was that I think we should turn it off because we can't control some of the inappropriate things that are being said, but I need to hear what other
people have and pertinent information Yes, we can certainly gather some information and bring it back. I'm um thinking maybe 15 minutes at a work session uh for the council members to discuss, but if council members could weigh in if they feel like they would like staff to bring that back to them at
a future work session, we can do that. >> So, are people wanting us to bring that back to discuss? >> Yes, I certainly would. >> I would agree. >> Agree. >> Okay. Okay. So, we'll put that on a future agenda. Is there anything else
anybody would like to ask the city manager about? All right. Then at that point, we will move on to council discussion for either hats off to hometown hits or the council
liaison reports. Um, so go ahead. Um, council member Burke. I do have a council lea u liaison report that the human rights commission is looking forward to having the city clerk talk to them about uh voting rights and
keep in mind that this is a public session and I encourage the public to be there. I'm sure we'll all be uh well informed about um about rights, voting rights. So, thank you to the city clerk for for doing that. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Council Member Her Liry. Um it hasn't been hit yet, but I think it will be hit. Um this Friday, um I'll be helping lead a tour of Bridgefield and Bloomington uh for the National Association of City Transportation Officials Conference, which is in
Minneapolis, uh this week. So, it'll be an opportunity to have about 25 people from the region and and outside of the region tour Richfield and see some of our successes and give us ideas. And I wanted to give a particular thank you to Joe Powers, our city engineer, Kristen Asher, public works director, and Matt
Huggins, uh, from Henipin County for helping lead this tour. >> All right. Thank you, Council Member Christensen. >> Nothing tonight. >> Council member Coleman Woods. >> Thank you, Mayor. Uh I believe at the last uh joint city council or the joint
commission meeting between the community services um commission and the sustainability commission. Um we um we've talked about there's still some trees for sale for uh purchase um
through the public works department tree sale. And then also um I believe on May 1st there was compost at the Donaldson Park uh field or parking lot there for folks that were using it for gardening. I don't know how
much is left though. So it's totally gone. Okay, thanks Mayor. And then um I believe there was a successful shredding event which I think also allowed us to recycle some old electronics as well that was in the um Ice Arena parking
lot. So, thanks to both of those commissions for pulling it together. >> All right. Thank you. Um, I had two things I wanted to announce. The Bring It Home Minnesota is a new program that provides rental assistance to lowincome
qualified households currently renting in the city of Richfield. And the program will open for applications from 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 9th until 4 p.m. on Tuesday, June 16th. And so you should check out the city's website for more information or contact um our staff
member Lynette Chambers. So that's the Bring It Home Minnesota um Bring It Home Minnesota program. The second one is from the citizens utility board and the citizen utility board has launched the lights on homes warm
utility bill fund as a temporary effort to help Minnesota motans struggling with their utility bills. To apply for support um you can contact the citizens utility board at 65130004701 and press nine to reach the cubs
outreach team. The CUB staff will discuss multiple program options and available protections. The lights on um homes warm utility bill fund is a temporary program
and it closes no later than October 31st, 2026. But the citizens utility board will continue to be a resource for all motans regarding their utility bills. So, I would urge you to go to the citizens utility board website if you need more
information about that. With that, thank you all and I we I would entertain a motion to adjurnn the meeting. >> I'll so move. >> Second. >> It's been moved and seconded to adjourn the meeting. All in favor, please say I. I.
>> All opposed. And we stand adjourned. Thank you.