HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-01-29 Council Town Hall Meeting MINUTES
OF THE TOWN HALL MEETING OF THE
EDINA CITY COUNCIL
HELD AT CITY HALL
JANUARY 27, 2009
11:30 A.M.
ROLLCALL Answering rollcall were Members Bennett, Brindle, Housh and Mayor Hovland.
Member Swenson was absent.
Mayor Hovland thanked persons for attending. He explained this was the first of what the Edina
City Council hoped would be biannual Town Hall Meetings hosted by the Edina City Council. He
noted that residents had been asked to complete a card stating their name, address and topic and
he would be calling residents to speak by name. Each speaker would be allowed to have three
minutes to speak on any issue or concern they wished to express.
Charles Hughes, 6136 Brookview Avenue, expressed concern about the negative impact the
installation of an electric pole had on the property at 6145 Oaklawn Avenue.
Janey Westin, 6136 Brookview Avenue, presented ideas about the City utilizing the benefits of
solar election and hot water heat on roof tops and she presented her concerns over the
preservation of trees, particularly old growth trees. Ms. Westin presented photos and tree
preservation ordinances from Lake Forest, Illinois, and Minnetonka, Minnesota. Ms. Westin spoke
a second time and shared an anecdote about Mr. T purchasing a property in Lake Forest and
clear-cutting the land. More than just trees should be considered; when preservation was
reviewed, the entire environment should be considered.
Addie Fitzsimmons, 5025 Yvonne Terrace, stated the Sun Current was not always received by
her, and she noted difficulty getting needed information from City staff, lack of privacy when
making a complaint at City Hall and her experience with an Edina Ambulance crew.
Dick Whitbeck, 6128 Brookview Avenue, expressed concern over a construction matter that would
be heard by the Zoning Board of Appeals. He encouraged people to attend the meeting.
Sandy Fox, 5801 West 68th Street, expressed concern over the maintenance of Edina's residential
streets and their overall decline. She asked how street reconstruction and maintenance were
prioritized and noted the streets in her neighborhood were in poor shape.
Bruce Kieffer, 5404 Edenmoor Street, suggested that all flat roofs in Edina be required to be
green. He also questioned what plans if any the City had for providing Wi-Fi internet services.
Mayor Hovland responded.
Marie Anderegg, 5848 Creek Valley Road, asked how the City of Edina interacted with other
organizations to collaborate on projects directly affecting the Edina community, such as Nine Mile
Creek Watershed District or Three Rivers Park District. Mayor Hovland and Member Bennett
responded.
Wayne Dvorak, 5840 Kellogg Avenue, suggested that City employees not be given wage
.
increases and that there could be staff cuts to more efficiently City. He ently run y questioned the
need for 31 fire fighters.
Jane Fuegner, 5225 Kellogg Avenue, thanked the Council for listening to the community when
drafting the update to the City's Comprehensive Plan and suggested that the Council consider a
Point of Sale inspection program. Ms. Fuegner spoke a second time asking questions about a
home sale inspection program. Manager Hughes responded.
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Minutes/Edina City Council/January 27, 2009
Lonni Skrentner, 5551 Village Drive, questioned the process followed in making appointments to
the various advisory boards, commissions and committees. Ms. Skrentner stated she had liked the
process instigated in 2008 and was disappointed that a different practice would be followed in
2009.
Chris Rofidal, 5037 West 56th Street, Chair of the Edina Heritage Preservation Board, noted that
the stringent attendance policy codified by the Council in 2008 cost his board a very good
member. He suggested that room for concessions based upon circumstances be allowed. Mr.
Rofidal encouraged investigation of whether web based or conference call attendance could be
possible.
Jan Ferrell, 4704 West 70th Street, asked why Improvement Project BA313 West 70th and Metro
Boulevard had not been built. Ms. Ferrell noted the road had been through many design iterations
and expressed concern that it has not been reconstructed and had been moved back to the 2009
Mill and Overlay Project.
Jim Grotz, 5513 Park Place, stated he had signed a petition for an improvement project in his
neighborhood in 2006. He said that he understood the project would not be constructed until 2010
and asked how the decisions were made for when projects were constructed. Mr. Grotz said
politics should not be involved in such decisions and suggested that some type of board could be
used. `
Jennifer Janovy, 4016 Inglewood Drive, presented a letter to the City Council from the
Morningside Neighborhood Association with handwritten comments by residents gathered during
their winter party.
Dick Whitbeck, 6128 Brookview Avenue, requested that meetings of the Zoning Board of Appeals
be videotaped and broadcast so citizens could view the proceedings.
Clara Englebert, 6313 Ashcroft Lane, requested that the City consider developing a performing
arts venue outside of the theaters in the Edina Public Schools.
Mayor Hovland declared the meeting adjourned at 12:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Debra A. Mangen, City C1 erk
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