HomeMy WebLinkAboutEditionEdinaAugust2017EdinaMN.gov To Get New, Improved Look
New Site Designed for Mobile Users
The City’s website is getting a new look to better serve residents, businesses and
visitors.
The updated site will be mobile-friendly. Other goals of the redesign project
were to streamline navigation and reduce the number of “dead” pages – those
rarely accessed by visitors of the site.
Visit the new EdinaMN.gov to find:
• A cleaner, clearer design.
• An “I Want To” menu with direct
links to sought-after City services
such as paying your utility bill,
finding the recycling schedule or
applying for a dog license.
• Buttons that connect users to
the current information most in
demand, whether that’s permits
and applications or the signup
form for City emails.
• A more robust calendar that lets
users see the items they want
instead of every item from every
department and facility.
Another goal of the project was to create a stronger online presence for the
City’s enterprise facilities: Braemar Arena, Braemar Field, Braemar Golf Course,
Centennial Lakes Park, Edina Aquatic Center, Edina Art Center, Edina Liquor and
Edinborough Park, as well as the Edina Senior Center. All got new looks and
unique navigation.
To ensure the new website best serves the community, the Communications &
Technology Services staff watched actual users go through the old site last fall
during usability testing. The issues they had, mostly around finding items, were
addressed in the redesign. Feedback from residents and from a usability study
also were incorporated into the changes.
“The City’s new website will be more
modern in look and functionality,” said
Communications & Technology Services
Director Jennifer Bennerotte, who worked
closely with consultant CivicPlus on the
project. “With the majority of our users
now accessing the site from a smartphone
or tablet, I’m hopeful they will be able to
find information much more quickly and
enjoy a better experience while
browsing.”
Check out EdinaMN.gov to see all
the changes, with more to come.
Please email any feedback to
jbennerotte@EdinaMN.gov or call the
Communications & Technology
Services Department, 952-826-0359.
Edition: Edina
2016-2017
PRIORITIES
AUGUST 2017
Focused Redevelopment Planning for the Future Intergovernmental Relations Transportation & Infrastructure Enterprise Facilities Volume 4, Issue 7
4801 W. 50th St. Edina, MN 55424 | 952-927-8861 | mail@EdinaMN.govCity of Edina EdinaMN.gov
New Utility Bill Pay System
Now Live
InvoiceCloud Improves Convenience and
Functionality
The City of Edina last month implemented a new utility
billing online payment system called InvoiceCloud that allows
residents to view and pay their utility bills at any time. The new
system has increased functionality and reliability and accepts
payments online, by phone or by text with a credit or debit
card or bank account.
“We’re trying to improve the customer experience. This is a
safe, easy and convenient. InvoiceCloud provides a portal that
residents can access to manage their own billing,” said Finance
Director Don Uram. “We really want to empower residents
so that they can manage the entire utility billing process and
set up their payments and notifications to their own personal
preferences.”
The old system was managed by the Local Government
Information Systems (LOGIS) consortium and had been
used for the past several years. The tool had issues with
browser and operating system compatibility and left room for
improvement. That’s where InvoiceCloud came in.
Information from the old platform could not be migrated
to InvoiceCloud. Residents who used the previous online
utility billing are required to set up a new account on the
InvoiceCloud portal to ensure payment and notification
preferences are set up appropriately.
InvoiceCloud features include:
• Email notifications when a bill is ready, just before the
due date and when a scheduled payment is pending.
• Option to pay by phone at any time. The phone
number to make payments is 844-476-3107.
• Ability to register online to receive notifications by text
message and/or pay by text.
• Option to make a one-time payment or create an
account to gain access to all features.
• Ability to schedule payments or enroll in AutoPay.
Additionally, customers
can securely store payment
information for future
use and still be able
to schedule automatic
payments.
“A new feature will be
paying more than one account, which will be helpful for
landlords and their tenants or residents who own more than
one house,” said Utility Billing Supervisor Lori Lohmann.
To learn more or sign up, visit EdinaMN.gov/Finance. For more
information, contact the Utility Billing Division at 952-826-0373.
Passenger Rail Community Engagement
Study is Under Way
Transportation Commission Seeks Answers to Two Questions
The City is talking to residents and businesses about the possibility of studying passenger rail
service through Edina, specifically in the Dan Patch Corridor.
The Dan Patch Corridor is a railway that connects Minneapolis and Northfield, running
north-south through Edina just west of Minnesota Highway 100. Although transit interest
in this corridor was renewed in the late 1990s and early 2000s, it is currently under a “gag
rule” that prohibits the Metropolitan Council, Minnesota Department of Transportation and
regional railroad authorities from further study of commuter rail in this corridor.
The Transportation Commission is overseeing a study to answer two specific questions:
• Should the City of Edina request elimination of the gag rule?
• Should the City dedicate resources to developing a plan to encourage the
development of passenger rail service in Edina?
This study will answer these two questions based on community input and analysis of
existing conditions and policies. Eliminating the gag rule would not mean that passenger rail
would be a sure thing – only that it could be studied further.
The Transportation Commission is expected to make a recommendation to the City Council
in September.
For more information or to fill out a survey, visit EdinaMN.gov/passenger-rail-report.
To learn more or
to sign up visit
EdinaMN.gov/Finance.
Photo by Kaylin EidsnessFlowers on the Fourth
Zayna Kaba walks in this year’s Fourth of July parade with the Haute Flower Boutique
float. Haute Boutique was one of almost 90 parade entries. The day was sunny, hot
and full of excitement and the streets were lined with families and children eager to
see the floats and catch some candy.
edinaliquor.com
Edition: Edi na AUGUST 2017
4801 W. 50th St. Edina, MN 55424 | 952-927-8861 | mail@EdinaMN.govCity of Edina EdinaMN.gov
Upcoming Events
Thursday, Aug. 3, sunset
Movie in the Park, “The Secret Life of Pets,” Centennial
Lakes Park
Tuesday, Aug. 8, 7 p.m.
Parks & Recreation Commission, Edina City Hall
Tuesday, Aug. 8, 7 p.m.
Heritage Preservation Commission, Edina City Hall
Thursday, Aug. 10, 3 p.m.
Farmers Market, Centennial Lakes Park
Thursday, Aug. 10, sunset
Movie in the Park, “Inside Out,” Centennial Lakes Park
Monday, Aug. 14, 6:30 p.m.
Community Health Commission Meeting, Edina City Hall
Monday, Aug. 14, 7 p.m.
“Contributions of Refugees & Immigrants,” Human Rights
Series, Centennial Lakes Park Hughes Pavilion
Tuesday, Aug. 15, 7 p.m.
City Council Meeting, Edina City Hall
Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017
Planning Commission Meeting, Edina City Hall
Thursday, Aug. 17, 3 p.m.
Farmers Market, Centennial Lakes Park
Thursday, Aug. 17, 6 p.m.
Transportation Commission Meeting, Edina City Hall
Thursday, Aug. 17, 6:30 p.m.
Walk with the Mayor, Rosland Park
Quality of Life is
‘Excellent’ in Edina
National Research Center
Completes Study
Edina residents enjoy a high quality of life in 2017, as in
previous years. That’s the verdict from a recent survey of
residents by an independent research company.
In the survey conducted this spring by the National
Research Center (NRC), nearly all residents awarded
“excellent” or “good” ratings to the quality of life in
Edina; no respondents ranked it “poor.”
Other highlights of the survey include:
• Edina residents enjoy a strong sense of safety and
consider safety a factor in why they call Edina
home. Roughly 98 percent of respondents felt
“very” or “somewhat” safe in their neighborhood.
• While sense of community, neighborliness
and acceptance of others is similar to peer
communities, Edina residents feel expanding
programs to advance cultural awareness and
acceptance of diversity is a priority.
• Development, affordable housing and cost
of living continue to be important issues for
residents. When residents were asked to write
in their own words what they felt was the most
serious issue facing Edina, about 32 percent of
comments were related to housing concerns
(teardowns, overdevelopment, affordability, etc.)
Traffic and infrastructure was mentioned by 17
percent of respondents.
• Residents think highly of services in Edina and their
interactions with City employees. When evaluating
the value of services for the taxes they pay to Edina,
about 8 in 10 residents gave “excellent” or “good”
ratings in 2017. Ratings were similar to 2015 and
higher than those of peer cities.
The City of Edina conducts a quality of life survey in
odd-numbered years to monitor trends in resident
opinion; measure government performance; inform
budget, land use and strategic planning decisions; and
benchmark service ratings.
“The key takeaway from the survey is that it’s clear to us
is that people love living in Edina. City staff are positively
impacting the quality of life of our residents every day
by providing high-quality public services,” City Manager
Scott Neal said. “I’m proud of our team and the results
speak for themselves. We are happy with the results,
but we’ll always work on getting better.”
NRC mailed surveys to 1,500 randomly selected resident
households in March and April. A total of 477 surveys
were completed, yielding a response rate of 34 percent.
Based on the completion rate, the results are accurate to
plus or minus 4 percent.
You can find the final report online at EdinaMN.gov. For more
information, call the City’s Communications & Technology
Services Department at 952-826-0359.Photo by Dawn WillsCity Hires New
Recreation Supervisor
Hoffmann Brings Passion for Healthy
Communities to New Role
Recreation Supervisor Tiffany Hoffmann started
with the City in June, bringing to Edina’s recreation
programs a passion for joining fitness and
community.
“Impacting people’s lives in a fun and healthy way
and providing resources for people to be active
while also having fun is really important to me,”
said Hoffman. “Being able to give people that while
they’re in their own community is great.”
Hoffmann went to the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities and got a bachelor’s degree in
Kinesiology and a master’s degree in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Sports Management.
She previously worked for the Hopkins school district as the Lindbergh Center Manager
where she oversaw the facility and the district athletic scheduling. She worked there for a
year and a half before taking a role with the University of Minnesota Recreation and Wellness
Department. Her position as Facility Manager of Events and Operations gave her the chance
to work with the general student population, as well as external leagues and summer camps.
Hoffmann lives in St. Louis Park and serves on the St. Louis Park Parks & Recreation Advisory
Commission.
“I’ve been involved with special projects happening
there and that really sparked my interested in city
recreation,” explained Hoffmann. “I think I’m
excited about this role because it’s quite a variety.
I get to work with the adults in adult leagues and I
get to work with the youth in youth sporting camps
and the athletic associations.”
Parks & Recreation Director Ann Kattreh is excited
about the energy and ideas that Hoffmann will bring
to the Department and the City.
“Tiffany quickly rose to the top of an incredibly
talented and deep candidate pool. She has an
engaging personality; is very dedicated, confident,
hardworking and detail oriented; and has a proven
track record of professional success,” said Kattreh.
“Serving on the City of St. Louis Park’s Parks &
Recreation Advisory Commission also gives her a
unique perspective on accountability and service to our residents. We are thrilled to have
Tiffany on our team.”
While Hoffmann is still very new to the role, she’s already looking for places for the City
to grow.
“I think we could expand our adult offerings. There are a lot of sports that people grew up
playing that we’re not offering at the adult level,” she said. “Also, I want to be sure that we’re
being fair and accurate with our athletic associations. We want to ensure there is enough and
there are equal opportunities for all groups of people.”
For more information on the Parks & Recreation Department, call 952-826-0367 or visit
EdinaParks.com.
“I want to be sure
that we’re being
fair and accurate
with our athletic
associations. We
want to ensure
there is enough
and there are equal
opportunities for all
groups of people.”
BY THE NUMBERS
Edina Promenade
60,000
17
– Compiled by Brooke Sheehy
Thirteen sculpture sites highlight the Edina Promenade. The Public
Art Edina Working Group of the Edina Arts & Culture Commission
sends an annual Call for Sculpture to local and regional artists each
year and selects artwork to be shown on some of those sites.
Of the 13 sculpture sites, seven hold artwork in the
permanent collection of the City of Edina, and six
are sites that rotate with new work.
Edina Promenade covers acres
years to build
the Edina
Promenade
It took7 people visit the Edina Promenade each
year for activities such as walking,
jogging, biking and sightseeing
greenway that connects
the region’s various retail,
residential and recreational
amenities
It is a 80-foot wide
Approximately