Minnesota Record
Richfield
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Sean Hayford Oleary

Councilmember Ward 22025-01-01 – 2029-01-09 (month-level start: January 2025, current term; four-year term ending January 9, 2029 per city directory Term Expires https://www.richfieldmn.gov/directory.aspx?EID=63; earlier service not sourced here)

No biography on file yet.

At a glance

News mentions
0

Term ending Jan 9, 2029.

Voice

Meetings spoken in
11
Total speaking time
33:53
Avg per meeting
3:05
Segments
401

Want every word Oleary has said?

The OpenCity MCP for Claude.ai answers questions like “what has Oleary said about housing this year” with one prompt — full speaking history, with YouTube timestamps.

Top issues during term (20)

high→Jan 2026[27]

Flock Camera System Oversight and Privacy

Taxpayer funds for the technology were questioned by speakers, but no figure was given.

high↑Mar 2026[21]

Affordable redevelopment of 7517 Humboldt Avenue South

Any TIF award would likely exceed the $2.685 million approved for the earlier version, and Housing Trust Fund dollars could add to the public commitment.

high↑Feb 2026[21]

Nicollet Avenue reconstruction this summer

$2 million in state funding reduces the local burden for the Nicollet Avenue rebuild.

high↓Aug 2026[20]

2027 Property Tax Levy Increase

Property tax bonds and utility bonds will be repaid over roughly 20 years through the levy and utility bills.

high↓Apr 2026[16]

290-unit development adjacent to Veterans Park

The developer plans to pay for sanitary sewer upgrades itself — the city isn't expected to fund them.

medium↑Aug 2026[15]

2027 City Fee Increases

Changes to permit and application fees paid by builders and developers.

medium↑Sep 2026[15]

Charter amendments referred for public hearing

medium↑Aug 2026[15]

Tenant trash bills landing on landlords

Delinquent solid waste charges are certified to property tax bills.

medium↓Mar 2026[14]

Veterans Park Stewardship

Could bring $500,000 in state funding if the grant is awarded.

high→Aug 2026[12]

2026 Primary Election Canvass — Council Member At Large

None — this is an election certification with no cost to taxpayers beyond normal election administration.

high↓Jan 2026[11]

Affordable Housing Trust Fund Priorities Update

Could affect the property-tax treatment of affordable housing projects receiving city trust fund dollars.

medium↑Nov 2026[10]

Teen Art Show

high↑Oct 2026[10]

Shops at Lyndale Municipal Liquor Store Closure

Closing a liquor store could reduce revenue the city currently collects from liquor operations.

medium↑Nov 2026[10]

Penn Fest community art project

low↑Nov 2026[10]

Wood Lake Nature Center Open House

medium↑Nov 2026[10]

Arts Commission budget

medium↑Nov 2026[10]

Richfield artist directory

high↓Jan 2026[10]

I-494 Corridor Vision Project 2 municipal consent

No direct city cost identified; the MOU sets up a shared planning process for the safety improvements.

medium↑Oct 2026[10]

Wood Lake Nature Center Building Change Order

$80,782.88 in additional project cost, with potential for up to $175,000 more.

high↑Oct 2026[10]

$3,960,000 Bond Sale for Capital Improvements

A $3,960,000 debt issuance repaid with sales tax revenue.

Decisions during term (247)

Recorded while Oleary was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.

approvedOct 19, 2026

Approval of the Agenda

approvedOct 19, 2026

Approval of the September 21, 2026 meeting minutes

approvedOct 19, 2026

Consent Calendar — contributions for the 2026 Tour of Remodeled Homes

approvedOct 19, 2026

Resolution approving development agreement with Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity — 7517 Humboldt Avenue South

approvedOct 19, 2026

Approval of Claims

approvedVoted yes5-0Oct 13, 2026

Approval of Agenda and Minutes

approvedVoted yes5-0Oct 13, 2026

Consent Calendar (disbursements, liquor license, liquor fund ordinance, frisbee grant)

approvedVoted yes5-0Oct 13, 2026

Resolution 12457 — Certification of delinquent utility, false alarm, hazard, weed and vacant property charges

approvedVoted yes5-0Oct 13, 2026

Resolution 12458 — Delinquent solid waste charges certified to property taxes

approvedVoted yes5-0Oct 13, 2026

Resolution 12459 — Diseased tree removal assessments

approvedVoted yes5-0Oct 13, 2026

Resolutions 12460/12461 — ILN/77th Street Project Area assessment and 2027 service project

approvedVoted yes5-0Oct 13, 2026

Resolution 12462 — Sanitary sewer line repair assessments

approvedVoted yes5-0Oct 13, 2026

First reading — Charter elections and petition ordinance

approvedVoted yes5-0Oct 13, 2026

First reading — Building, planning and zoning fee schedule ordinance

approvedVoted yes5-0Oct 13, 2026

Youth commissioner appointments

approvedVoted yes5-0Oct 13, 2026

Adjournment

approved5-0Oct 13, 2026

Approval of the Agenda

approved5-0Oct 13, 2026

Approval of Minutes

approved5-0Sep 22, 2026

Approval of the Agenda

approved5-0Sep 22, 2026

Approval of Minutes — September 8, 2026

Voting record (140)

139 yes1 no

Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.

Voted yesOct 13, 2026

Approval of Agenda and Minutes

Voted yesOct 13, 2026

Consent Calendar (disbursements, liquor license, liquor fund ordinance, frisbee grant)

Voted yesOct 13, 2026

Resolution 12457 — Certification of delinquent utility, false alarm, hazard, weed and vacant property charges

Voted yesOct 13, 2026

Resolution 12458 — Delinquent solid waste charges certified to property taxes

Voted yesOct 13, 2026

Resolution 12459 — Diseased tree removal assessments

Voted yesOct 13, 2026

Resolutions 12460/12461 — ILN/77th Street Project Area assessment and 2027 service project

Voted yesOct 13, 2026

Resolution 12462 — Sanitary sewer line repair assessments

Voted yesOct 13, 2026

First reading — Charter elections and petition ordinance

Voted yesOct 13, 2026

First reading — Building, planning and zoning fee schedule ordinance

Voted yesOct 13, 2026

Youth commissioner appointments

Voted yesOct 13, 2026

Adjournment

Voted yesSep 22, 2026

approve the minutes of the (4a) City Council and Planning Commission Joint Work from September 8, 2026, (4b) City Council Regular Meeting from September 8, 2026

Voted yesSep 22, 2026

approve the appointment of Ellie Lundin to the Sustainability Commission as a youth commissioner

Voted yesSep 22, 2026

approve the appointment of Jacklyn Vollema as Arts Commissioner commencing on September 22, 2026, and expiring January 31, 2029

Voted yesSep 22, 2026

approve the agenda as presented

Voted yesSep 22, 2026

approve Consent Calendar items as presented

Voted yesSep 22, 2026

adopt resolutions establishing the 2027 preliminary budget and property tax levy, setting the date for the Truth in Taxation hearing as December 1, 2026, a 6:30 pm, authorizing budget revisions, autho

Voted yesSep 22, 2026

adjourn the meeting at 7:41 pm

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

accept the letter from the Charter Commission transmitting the recommendations for proposed amendments to the Richfield City Charter; and authorize staff to publish a public hearing notice

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

approve Consent Calendar items 7a-c, and 7e-f as presented

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

approving amendment of the resolution for a Conditional Use Permit and Site Plan for the multifamily residential development of 290 units in two buildings at 6501 Portland Avenue subject to the condit

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

approve updates to the City's Affordable Housing Trust Fund Priorities and Procedures

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

approve the agenda as presented

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

approve the minutes of the (4a) City Council Work Special Meeting from August 14, 2026, (4b) City Council Regular Work Session from August 25, 2026, and (4c) City Council Regular Meeting from August 2

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

approving the first reading of an ordinance amending Section 617 of the Richfield City Code related to the operation and use of mobile food trucks in Richfield

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

adjourn the meeting at 9:07 pm

Voted yesAug 25, 2026

approve Consent Calendar items 7a-d as presented

Voted yesAug 25, 2026

approve the agenda as presented

Voted yesAug 25, 2026

approve the minutes of the (4a) City Council Work Session from July 28, 2026, (4b) City Council Regular Meeting from July 28, 2026, and (4c) City Council Work Session from August 12, 2026

Voted yesAug 25, 2026

extend the Open Forum time to 45 minutes

Voted yesAug 25, 2026

approve the first reading of an ordinance for an amendment to subsection 400.21 and the addition of subsection 400.22 to the city code pertaining to fire prevention and approving the second reading at

Voted yesAug 25, 2026

adjourn the meeting at 7:52 p.m.

Voted yesJul 28, 2026

adopt the resolution approving the 5-year street reconstruction plan and authorizing the issuance of street reconstruction bonds to finance the 2026 2027 Nicollet Avenue reconstruction project

Voted yesJul 28, 2026

approve Consent Calendar items 7a-k as presented

Voted yesJul 28, 2026

adjourn the meeting at 7:51 p.m.

Voted yesJul 28, 2026

approve the agenda as presented

Voted yesJul 28, 2026

approve the minutes of the (4a) City Council Work Session from July 14, 2026, and (4b) City Council Regular Meeting from July 14, 2026

Voted yesJul 28, 2026

close the public hearing

Voted yesJul 20, 2026

adopt a resolution ratifying a policy governing the use of the 4d (1) tax classification to help create and preserve affordable housing

Voted yesJul 20, 2026

approve the Housing and Redevelopment Authority Regular Meeting Minutes from May 18, 2026

Voted yesJul 20, 2026

approve the agenda as presented

Voted yesJul 20, 2026

approve the claims as presented

Voted yesJul 14, 2026

adjourn the meeting at 7:19 p.m.

Voted yesJul 14, 2026

approve the agenda as amended

Voted yesJul 14, 2026

approve item 9a, under Consideration of Items, If any, Removed from Consent Calendar, as corrected

Voted yesJul 14, 2026

approve the minutes of the (5a) City Council Work Session from June 23, 2026, (5b) City Council Regular Meeting from June 23, 2026, and the Council Special Meeting Minutes from June 30, 2026

Voted yesJul 14, 2026

approve Consent Calendar items 8a-d as presented

Voted yesJul 14, 2026

approve the professional services agreement with GMP Consultants to conduct the executive recruitment for the City's next city manager and authorize the Mayor and City Manager to execute the agreement

Voted yesJul 14, 2026

Approval of the agenda as amended

Voted yesJul 14, 2026

Approval of minutes (June 23 work session, June 23 regular, June 30 special)