HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-08-28 Council Work Session AMENDED MINUTES
OF THE WORK SESSION OF THE
EDINA CITY COUNCIL HELD AT EDINA PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY
AUGUST 28, 2007
11:30 A.M.
Mayor Hovland called the meeting to order at 11:30 a.m. in the Conference Room of
Edina Public Works Building. Answering rollcall were: Members Bennett, Housh,
Masica, Swenson and Mayor Hovland. Staff present included: Gordon Hughes, City
Manager; Heather Worthington, Assistant City Manager; Cary Teague, Planning
Director; Wayne Houle, City Engineer; John Keprios, Park Director; Vince Cockriel,
Park Superintendent; John Wallin, Finance Director; Jennifer Bennerotte, Marketing &
Communications Director; and Debra Mangen, City Clerk. Also present was Jeff Oertel,
Oertel Architects, consultant.
Mayor Hovland said the purpose of the study session was to review the possibility of
the City's Public Works Department moving into the Con Agra building from their
location on Eden Avenue.
Manager Hughes said it has been a long-standing desire to find a location to house the
Edina Public Works facility that better suits the needs of the staff and be able to
adequately house the large fleet of vehicles needed to perform the maintenance for the
City of Edina. He noted that several issues exist with the current facility including air
quality, inadequate space, parking and accessibility. Mr. Hughes explained finding a
new site within a fully-developed City has been a very difficult task. Ideally, the
operations performed at Public Works should be located on a site of ten to twelve acres.
He noted that approximately five sites were reviewed and considered before the one
presently under consideration, the Con Agra site,was considered.
Mr. Hughes, with the aid of Engineer Houle and Architect Oertel, reviewed the
opportunity available to the City. Opus has obtained an option on the Con Agra site
that would eventually house Public Works. If the City were to proceed, Opus would
acquire the existing Public Works site and redevelop the site. The City would acquire
the Con Agra site and refurbish it to house the Edina Public Works staff and rolling
stock.
Pros and cons of the location were reviewed along with proposed methods of funding
the estimated ten million net cost of pursuing the venture. The Council discussed with
staff the advisability of issuing an RFP for the existing Public Works site. Staff was
directed to continue the pursuit of the Con Agra site and to develop an RFP for the
existing Public Works site. The Council and staff toured the existing Public Works site.
Mayor Hovland declared the meeting adjourned at 1:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, ima
Debra angen, ty Clerk