MINUTES
<br /> OF THE WORK SESSION
<br /> OF THE EDINA CITY COUNCIL
<br /> AND EDINA HOUSING TASK FORCE
<br /> HELD TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 2006
<br /> AT 5:00 P.M.
<br /> Mayor Hovland called the meeting to order at 5:00 P.M. in Classroom One of the Edina
<br /> Senior Center. Answering rollcall were the following members of the City Council:
<br /> Members Housh, Masica, Swenson and Mayor Hovland. Member Hulbert entered the
<br /> meeting at 5:10 p.m. Members of the Edina Public Art Committee in attendance included:
<br /> Doug Mayo, Chair, Michael Fischer, Planning Commission Representative, Cappy Moore,
<br /> Janice Williams, Barb McFarlane, Doug Johnson, Jeff Huggett, Bob Aderhold, John Helling,
<br /> Sharon Ming, and Sally Krusell. Staff present included: Gordon Hughes, City Manager,
<br /> Susan Heiberg, Administrative Assistant, Joyce Repya, Associate Planner, Jennifer
<br /> Bennerotte, Communications and Marketing Director and Debra Mangen, City Clerk.
<br /> Housing Task Force Chair Mayo reviewed the executive summary of the "Housing
<br /> Succession Plan for Edina's Future developed by the Task Force. Using a power point slide
<br /> presentation Mr. Mayo reviewed the following:
<br /> After months of research, intense discussion, and input from community sources, the Task
<br /> Force recommended that Edina City Council implement a Housing Succession Plan to help
<br /> sustain the community. Mr. Mayo outlined the five primary strategies:
<br /> 1. Adopt a mandatory inclusionary zoning policy;
<br /> 2. Update the Comprehensive Plan to convert appropriate areas to mixed-use and to
<br /> provide for greater density in appropriate areas;
<br /> 3. Use the greater Southdale Area as a demonstration of a cutting-edge livable,
<br /> pedestrian-friendly urban redevelopment;
<br /> 4. Create long-term opportunities to make a portion of Edina's existing housing stock
<br /> affordable to more people and families; and
<br /> 5. Leverage existing housing programs to create more opportunities for hardworking,
<br /> moderate and lower-income families.
<br /> Mr. Mayo explained the Housing Succession Plan would be built on the idea that continuous
<br /> renewal was essential to vital communities. Edina was a City with a variety of people across
<br /> age and economic spectrums—young families, seniors, teachers, professionals, lifelong
<br /> residents and newcomers. Because of housing costs, it would be likely that this diversity
<br /> would diminish. With average home sales prices increasing by $185,000 from about $215,000
<br /> to over $400,000 between 1997 and 2004, living in Edina was becoming unaffordable for
<br /> many. Of the more than 21,000 households in Edina, more than 7,700 have incomes of less
<br /> than $50,000 per year; nearly 3,300 have incomes of $25,000 or less. Of these 7,200
<br /> households, approximately 3,500 pay 30 percent or more of their income for housing, a
<br /> standard measure of affordability.
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