HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-08-07 Council Work Session MINUTES
OF THE WORK SESSION OF THE
EDINA CITY COUNCIL HELD AT CITY HALL
AUGUST 7, 2007
5:00 P.M.
Mayor Hovland called the meeting to order at 5:00 P.M. in the Community Room of
Edina City Hall. Answering rollcall were: Members Bennett, Masica, Swenson and
Mayor Hovland. Member Housh was absent. Present from the Planning Commission
were: Members Brown and Fischer. Staff present included: Gordon Hughes, City
Manager; Roger Knutson, Heather Worthington, Assistant City Manager, City
Attorney; Cary Teague, Planning Director; Wayne Houle, City Engineer, Jack Sullivan,
Assistant City Engineer, Jennifer Bennerotte, Marketing & Communications Director;
and Debra Mangen, City Clerk. Consultants in attendance were Dan Cornejo, Cornejo
Consulting, Pete Langworthy and Chuck Rickart WSB & Associates, Inc. and Donavan
Hart from URS.
Mayor Hovland said the purpose of the special work session was to review issues
relating to the Comprehensive Plan Update.
Mr. Cornejo outlined the work done on the 2008 Comprehensive Plan Update and
presented the findings of the staff and the Planning Commission members who have
been working on the project. He stated that a comprehensive plan was a broad
statement of community goals and policies that direct the orderly and coordinated
physical development of a city into the future. He noted such a plan would anticipate
change, guide actions and reflect the results of citizen involvement, technical analysis
and decision-makers' judgments.
Mr. Cornejo explained the Planning Commission had delegated work on the Plan
Update to a Task Force of their members. This included Michael Fisher, Steve Brown,
Michael Schroeder, Kevin Staunton, and John Lonsbury. He reported the group
working with himself and Ms. Worthington had enlisted the aid of other consultants
from WBS and URS to complete the update.
Mr. Cornejo said citizen involvement included a Kick-off Community meeting held
December 4, 2006, a Community Workshop on March 21, 2007, numerous community
"listening sessions", a developer focus group, citizen comment cards (both hard copy
and through Edina's website), as well as review with the Transportation Commission,
Park Board, Human Rights and Relations Commission, Bike Edina Task Force and the
Heritage Preservation Board. He noted the next phase of citizen involvement would
come during the August 23, 27, 28, and 30, 2007 Quadrant meetings scheduled to allow
citizen input. Mr. Cornejo said he anticipated the draft Plan would be completed
sometime in October to November and at that time Public Hearings could be held.
Minutes/Edina City Council/Work Session August 7, 2007
Mr. Cornejo explained that a technical analysis had been taking place by the various
staff members and consultants that looked to: visions, goals and community services,
existing conditions, land use, community design, housing, implementation plan,
transportation, water resources, parks, and heritage resources.
Mr. Cornejo said when all the data had been compiled the decision makers would have
time to review, reflect upon and make decisions about which components would
remain in the final updated plan.
Mr. Cornejo reviewed the draft plans developed thus far for: Land Use, Community
Design, Transportation, and Housing.
The Council and staff discussed the draft plan. Issues included: desire for copies of
comment cards to be sent to Council, concern over development plans and districts,
concern of a possible disconnect between the draft plan and citizens, the updated plan's
potential effect on the City's zoning regulations, cost of implementing some plan
components, how a capital plan would fit with the comp plan, potential challenges of
redevelopments, concern over fiscal, traffic, infrastructure and policy updates, and need
for a joint session with the Planning Commission after the quadrant meetings.
Mayor Hovland declared the meeting adjourned at 6:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
eb Mangen, City Clerk