HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-10-01 Council Work Session MINUTES
OF THE WORK SESSION OF THE
EDINA CITY COUNCIL AND BOARD&COMMISSION CHAIRS
HELD AT CITY HALL
OCTOBER 1,2013
6:04 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Hovland called the meeting to order at 6:04 p.m. in the Community Room of City Hall.
ROLL CALL
Answering roll call were Members Bennett, Brindle, Sprague, Swenson and Mayor Hovland.
Commission Representatives attending included: Hafed Bouassida, Arts & Culture Commission; Matt
Doscotch, Edina Community Health Committee; Bill Sierks, Energy & Environment Commission; Bob
Moore, Heritage Preservation Board; Arnie Bigbee, Human Rights & Relations Commission; Ellen Jones,
Park Board; Kevin Staunton & Michael Platteter, Planning Commission; and Paul Nelson,
Transportation Commission.
Edina City Staff attending the meeting: Jennifer Bennerotte, Communications and Technology Services
Director; Ross Bintner, Environmental Engineer; Laurene Draper, Civilian Services Manager; Michael
Frey, Art Center Director; Wayne Houle, Director of Engineering; Annie Johnson, City Manager Intern;
Ann Kattreh, Park & Recreation Director; Karen Kurt, Assistant City Manager; Scott Neal, City Manager;
Cary Teague, Community Development Director; and Jane Timm, Deputy City Clerk.
Assistant City Manager Kurt stated the reason for the meeting was to get an overview of the 2014
Work Plans for the boards and commissions and to discuss items of mutual interest.
WORK PLANS PRESENTED
The following presented their 2014 Work Plans to the Council:
• Arts & Culture Commission: Chair Hafed Bouassida stated that this was the first few months of
the Commission, and they were handling many housekeeping issues. He went over the new
initiatives including: Cultural Entrepreneurship, expanding literature programming and writing
classes, bringing community theatre back to Edina, an emerging artist program, and a new
Music in Edina Working Group. He also reviewed the ongoing responsibilities.
• Energy & Environment Commission (EEC): Chair Bill Sierks stated the EEC would like to see the
City lead by example over the long term by prioritizing energy efficiency and greenhouse gas
reduction. A new initiative in 2014 would be reviewing practices for keeping bees and chickens
on residential lots and to propose changes to the ordinance. He reviewed the continuing
initiatives and ongoing responsibilities.
• Heritage Preservation Board (HPB): Chair Bob Moore stated the new initiatives included:
developing videos on Edina Heritage Landmarks and Heritage Preservation program, updating
accessibility to buildings, developing a Heritage Resources Disaster Management Plan, updating
Edina's Heritage Resources Inventory and converting data to an electronic format, and
increasing board member participation at conferences. He reviewed the ongoing
responsibilities.
• Human Rights & Relations Commission (HRRQ Chair Arnie Bigbee thanked the staff and City
Council for their continued support. He went over the new initiatives, citing Days of
Minutes-Work Session/Edina City Council/October 1, 2013
Remembrance, an anti-bullying event, community outreach, and a Disability Awareness
Campaign. He reviewed the ongoing responsibilities.
• Park Board: Chair Ellen Jones reported the Park Board would be conducting a comprehensive
needs assessment to allow evaluation of programming needs and community desires. Ms.
Jones stated the other initiatives included: an Arneson Acres Master Plan, a barrier-free
playground at Wooddale Park, the athletic field renovation of Pamela Park, green initiatives,
and fundraising. The ongoing responsibilities and initiatives were also discussed. City Council
asked if a timeline of park projects could be put on the website.
• Planning Commission: Chair Kevin Staunton reported on various components of the zoning
ordinance amendments in the 2014 Initiatives. Mr. Staunton reported the Commission would
be considering some policy recommendations, and he reviewed the plan to conduct a small
area plan for the Wooddale and Valley View commercial area. The ongoing responsibilities and
initiatives were reviewed.
• Edina Transportation Commission: Chair Paul Nelson discussed the new Living Streets Plan, the
Valley View Road between Gleason and Antrim initiative to address the traffic issues, an annual
meeting with Police and Public Works Departments regarding education, and the Education
Safety Campaign. The ongoing responsibilities and initiatives were reviewed.
• Community Health Committee: Chair Matt Doscotch stated the 2014 Work Plan is a function of
work done over the last year. The new initiatives included: Working with Edina Resource
Center and Bloomington Public Health increasing focus and awareness on: resources available,
mental health issues and resources, stress management tools, healthy eating and living choices
for at-risk population, and senior mobility. Other initiatives included: coordinating with
Chemical Health Coordinator and Edina School District, working with Bloomington Public
Health and the City to improve benchmarking, identifying two health improvement
opportunities, working with staff on policy changes, and initiating an increased health presence
on the website. The ongoing responsibilities and initiatives were reviewed.
The Council and Commission Chairs discussed items and initiatives that were identified in the 2014
Work Plans.
The Mayor and Council thanked the participants for their dedication and hard work.
Mayor Hovland declared the meeting adjourned at 6:57 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
J ne .Timm, Dep"city Jerk
Minutes approved by Edina City Council, October 14, 2013.
ames B. Hovlan , ayor