HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-08-04 Council Work Session MINUTES
OF THE WORK SESSION OF THE
EDINA CITY COUNCIL
HELD AT CITY HALL
AUGUST 4, 2014
5:00 P.M.
Acting Mayor Swenson called the meeting to order at 5:03 p.m. in the Community Room of City Hall.
ROLLCALL
Answering rollcall were Members Bennett, Brindle and Acting Mayor Swenson. Mayor Hovland entered the
meeting at 5:05 p.m. Member Sprague entered the meeting at 5:16 p.m.
Staff attending the meeting included: Lindy Crawford, City Management Fellow; Ann Kattreh, Park &
Recreation Director; Karen Kurt, Assistant City Manager; Debra Mangen, City Clerk; Chad Millner,
Engineering Director; Scott Neal, City Manager; and Bill Neuendorf, Economic Development Manager.
Also in attendance were consultants,Jeff and Kathy Schoenbauer.
Acting Mayor Swenson noted the purpose of the work session was to receive an update on the Fred
Richards Redesign process and to hold a joint work session with the Human Rights and Relations
Commission.
FRED RICHARDS REDESIGN
Director Kattreh and the Schoenbauers presented a report on the Fred Richards Repurpose process,
reviewing the steps in the process and an overall schedule. They reviewed what has taken place to date
and the schedule culminating in City Council review and approval in the fall of 2014. The common themes
from work with the Park Board and public meetings were shared and a conceptual master plan was
presented. The plan included "passive" and "active" zones, with meandering hills, wetlands, and mature
trees of all types. The plan also included a walking loop that might offer many different activities along the
route, from picnic areas, to grassy play areas, bird watching/nature areas, and reflection/seating areas. The
active zones were shown on the east end, closer to parking and concessions/park shelter building, and
would consist of playgrounds, adventure zones for older kids, and athletic fields for soccer, lacrosse and
other emerging sports. The northern section (currently known as Lake Edina Park) was depicted as an
urban farm area, but after talking through the potential intensity of that use, and the parking needed to
support it, the consensus was to keep that area more passive recreational field space. There was also
discussion of making sure that playgrounds moved further north to provide more immediate access to
neighborhood children in the Parkland and Cornelia neighborhoods. Finally, the regional trail would wind its
way along the southern edge of the parkland as imagined, and then go north and east towards Parklawn.
Council gave feedback relating to various components of the repurposed design.
JOINT SESSION EDINA HUMAN RIGHTS& RELATIONS COMMISSION
Human Rights & Relations Commission members attending the meeting were: Patricia Arsenault, Arnie
Bigbee,John Cashmore, Laura Davis, Derek Carter, Ellen Kennedy, Tiffany Sanders, Steve Winnik and Chair
Jan Seidman.
2014 Work Plan Progress
Commissioners presented the Bias Offense Response and Prevention Plan. The Council and Commission
discussed the draft plan. Council directed the Commission to further refine the draft and bring it back for
consideration.
Also presented were the proposed Community Conversations and Special Needs Awareness. It was noted
this was the 25th anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act and this would be highlighted during
the coming year.
Minutes/Edina City Council Work Session/August 4, 2014
New Initiatives
The Commission reviewed their proposed new initiatives including: Tolerance in Motion, Black History
Month, Human Rights City, Monthly City Blog and Status Inquiry: Affordable Housing.
2013-14 Work Plan Review
Events and work completed by the Commission included: HRRC participation in the Quasquicentennial,
December 2013, Anti-Bullying: Edina Reads with children's author Nancy Carlson, February 2014, Days of
Remembrance/Genocide Awareness Events, April 2014, Tom Oye Award received by Kristin Aarsvold,
Park & Recreation Supervisor and Edina Police Detective Tom McKenzie, and the PSA announcement with
Gene Sylvester and their work on immigration reform.
There being no further business, Mayor Hovland adjourned the meeting av6:58 p.m.
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Respectfully submitted,
Debra A. M ngen ity Clerk
Minutes approved by Edina City Council, August 19, 2014
James B. Hovland, Mayor
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