Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Richfield public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
11 issues with low priority
Wood Lake Nature Center Open House
The commission will plan its participation in the Wood Lake Nature Center open house on Saturday, November 21.
HRA grant transfer to Apartment Remodeling Program
$55,000 in unspent grant money from a dissolved nonprofit has sat idle in the HRA since 2019. The EDA accepted it to fold into the Apartment Remodeling Program, where it should get spent faster on affordable apartment upgrades.
Neighborhood electric vehicle and golf cart pilot program
A resident's written comment asked the Council to have staff study a limited pilot program allowing golf carts and neighborhood electric vehicles on designated quiet residential streets — with permits, insurance, daylight-only rules and set routes. Other Minnesota cities have tried similar approaches; the idea targets seniors, veterans, and residents with mobility challenges.
City Council Salary Freeze
The council finalized an ordinance setting its own pay for 2027 and 2028. It passed quietly on the consent calendar.
Rain Garden Installations
The city will work with the Conservation Corps to install rain gardens, funded through a Richfield-Bloomington Watershed Management Organization grant.
Herspace, LLC Encroachment at 6440 Nicollet Avenue
A business's parking lot and sign that sit partly in public right-of-way can stay, under a formal encroachment agreement with the City.
Metal detector rental program for property owners
The city now lends metal detectors to property owners for free to help them find their property pins before driveway projects — late returns cost $50/day, and unreturned ones are billed to property taxes.
Golden Tobacco license concerns
A resident emailed concerns that the city may be forcing Golden Tobacco, a family-run minority-owned smoke shop at 22 W 66th Street, to give up its tobacco license, arguing the business complies with the law and adults' choices shouldn't be infringed.
"Revive" small-business program
The city is building a new program to help owners of older buildings (30+ years) spruce them up — aimed squarely at corridors like Penn with lots of aging storefronts.
Lawful Gambling at Sandy's Tavern
The Richfield Lions Club got a premises permit to run lawful gambling at Sandy's Tavern on Penn Avenue South.
MICC Learning Center Rezoning
The city finalized rezoning of four parcels at 76th Street and Morgan Avenue so Minnesota Independence College & Community can build a new learning center, along with a conditional use permit, variances, and plat.