HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-03-04 Council Work Session MINUTES
OF THE WORK SESSION OF THE
EDINA CITY COUNCIL
HELD AT CITY HALL
MARCH 4, 2014
5:30 P.M.
Mayor Hovland called the work session of the Edina City Council to order at 5:33 p.m.
ROLLCALL
Answering rollcall were: Members, Brindle, Sprague, Swenson and Mayor Hovland. Member Bennett
entered the meeting at 5:36 p.m.
Edina City Staff attending the meeting: Jennifer Bennerotte, Communications & Technology Services
Director; Annie Coyle, City Manager Fellow; Jordan Gilgenbach, Communications Coordinator; Ann
Kattreh, Director of Parks and Recreation; Karen Kurt, Assistant City Manager; Debra Mangen, City Clerk;
Kaylin Martin, Communications Coordinator; Chad Millner, Engineering Director; Scott Neal, City
Manager; Bill Neuendorf, Economic Development Manager and Mark Nolan, Transportation Planner. Also
attending was Toby Muse, Short Elliot Hendrickson, consultant.
NINE MILE CREEK REGIONAL TRAIL UPDATE
John Gunyou, Three Rivers Park District Board Chair, Jonathan Vlaming, Associate Superintendent Three
Rivers Park District and Eric Nelson, Engineer Three Rivers Park District attended to present an update of
the construction timetable for the Nine Mile Creek Regional Trail scheduled to be built in Edina. It was
noted this was the missing link connecting Edina in all four directions and would allow someone to use a
bicycle to go from Lake Minnetonka to the airport. Federal funding has been secured for the east leg
through Edina (from Tracy Avenue near the High School easterly along the Creek to France
Avenue/Promenade), and federal funds were anticipated for the western leg (from T.H. 169 east to Tracy).
Final design and alignment will come before the City Council during the summer, followed by preliminary
engineering in the fall and construction bidding in January 2015. Construction would take two seasons with
the trail's expected opening in the spring of 2014. Three Rivers staff informed the Council that Jason
McGrew-King would be their contact for the Edina segment of the trail.
DESTINATION MARKETING ORGANIZATION
Lori Syverson, President, Edina Chamber of Commerce and Chamber Members, Jay Abdo,Joe Arends, and
Don Hutchison presented a proposal to create a Destination Marketing Organization (Explore Edina)
otherwise known as a visitor's bureau in Edina to help promote Edina as a desirable destination for visitors
and convention business. The Explore Edina organization would be funded by a 3% hotel occupancy tax.
The Westin has indicated support for creation of such an organization but the Marriott hotel has not
weighed in yet. Explore Edina would be a separate entity but would initially share space with the Edina
Chamber. The Council indicated its support of such a concept.
Mayor Hovland adjourned the meeting at 6:53 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
ebra A. M gen, C Clerk
Minutes approved by Edina City Council, March 18, 2014.
James B. Hovland, Mayor
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