HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-01-23 City Council Work Session MinutesMINUTES OF THE WORK SESSION OF THE
EDINA CITY COUNCIL
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 20I9
5:30 P.M.
Acting Mayor Brindle called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Answering roll call were Members Anderson, Fischer, Staunton, and Acting Mayor Brindle.
Absent: Mayor Hovland.
Staff attending: Casey Casella, City Management Fellow; MJ Lamon, Community Engagement Coordinator; Lisa
Schaefer, Assistant City Manager; Ryan Browning, IT Manager; Jennifer Bennerotte, Director of Communications
and Technology Services; Kaylin Eidness, Senior Communications Coordinator; Scott Neal, City Manager, and
Sharon Allison, City Clerk.
BUSINESS MEETING
I. Council Retreat Planning
Assistant City Manager Schaefer stated Council Retreat was tentatively scheduled for Thursday, March 14, 5:00-
9:00 p.m., and Friday, March 15, 10:30-4:30 p.m. Ms. Schaefer explained one session would be discussion of
budget priorities for the next two years while the other session would be for discussing other Council ideas.
Other ideas for the retreat were discussed.
2. Town Hall Meeting Format
Manager Neal explained the town hall meeting format was offsite, off -camera, and informal setup to receive
feedback from residents not comfortable with formal council meetings; however, from time to time, Council
have expressed dissatisfaction with the meeting format. Ms. Lamon asked for feedback on the purpose of the
town hall meeting, correct format and should the meeting be recorded. Council shared that they did not like
having tables between them and residents, but the tables were helpful for sorting comment cards and taking
notes. Council would like the meetings to be more interactive and suggested not to use comment cards to
collect questions. Staffs recommendations were to have different meeting formats such as a virtual town hall
meeting, consider a meeting date other than Saturday morning, and flexible meeting formats because
communications changes constantly.
3. Publications
Ms. Jennifer Bennerotte, Director of Communications and Technology Services, and Ms. Kaylin Eidness, Senior
Communications Coordinator presented. Staff sought feedback from Council on the City's communications and
publications as they related to top priorities for City communications, areas where City was doing a good job
communicating, areas for improvement and use fewer City resources, and what defined successful City
communications. They explained that feedback was sought from a group of diverse residents (age, race and how
long they lived in Edina) and from colleagues (the PIT crew), on About Town and Edition: Edina. They recommended
direct mail to residents for Edition: Edina (currently received as an insert in the Sun Current), and to continue
mailing About Town; however, staff was concerned about mailing costs for Edition: Edina which would be a new
expense. Council recommended mailing monthly mailing of Edition: Edina (12 each), reduce About Town to two
mailings (from four), and mail the two About Towns different months than Park and Recreation mailed their two
publications. Council suggested advertising to raise mailing funds for Edition_Edina.
ADJOURNMENT
Acting Mayor Brindle adjourned the meeting at 6:54 p.
Respectfully submitted,
Minutes approved by the Edina City Council, Februa
9.
Sharon Allison, City Clerk
Mary Brindle, Acting Mayor