HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-03-05 City Council Work Session MinutesMINUTES
OF THE WORK SESSION OF THE
EDINA CITY COUNCIL
TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2019
5:30 P.M.
Mayor Hovland called the meeting to order at 5:35 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Answering roll call were Members Brindle, Anderson, Fischer, Staunton, Mayor Hovland.
Staff in attendance: Scott Neal, City Manager; Jessica Wilson, Water Resources Coordinator; Ross Bintner,
Engineering Services Manager; Sharon Allison, City Clerk; Don Uram, Finance Director; Jeff Brown,
Community Health Administrator; Cary Teague, Community Development Director; Tara Brown,
Sustainability Coordinator; Casey Casella, City Management Fellow; Carl Pearson, Senior IT Specialist; Aaron
Ditzler, Assistant City Engineer; Chad Millner, Engineering Director; Jennifer Bennerotte, Communications &
Technology Director.
WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT: MORNINGSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD FLOOD RISK
REDUCTION STRATEGY, LAKE CORNELIA CLEAN WATER STRATEGY, AND CHLORIDE
POLLUTION PREVENTION
Manager Neal introduced the topic and explained that stormwater management was difficult to deal with across
all communities; however, Jessica Wilson, Water Resources Coordinator, and Ross Bintner, Engineering Services
Manager, would offer some solutions for Edina.
Regarding the Morningside Neighborhood Flood Risk Reduction Strategy, Ms. Wilson and Mr. Bintner explained
that in 2018, City Council adopted the 2018 Comprehensive Water Resources Management Plan which included
a plan for working toward reducing flood risk and the Morningside Neighborhood was selected as the area of
focus. Staff were directed to find a range of options to reduce the flood risk without regard to budget. Mr.
Bintner said staff have/explored several mitigation options but would like Council's direction because while
flooding has traditionally been considered a technical problem, requiring a technical solution, the reality was a
mix of technical, scientific, political and social solutions, requiring a different set of strategies, skill sets and tools.
Council agreed with staff that stormwater management was difficult because they need a balance approach to
solve flood risks for property owners at the top of the hill, those at the bottom of the hill, and even those further
downstream who want to provide input. Council noted that the City was doing a good job with stormwater
management on commercial properties, but this was not the same for residential properties. Council suggested
engaging with the Morningside Neighborhood residents to get their feedback to learn what they are willing to
do solve flood issues.
Secondly, regarding Lake Cornelia Clean Water Strategy, Ms. Wilson explained that the plan was to convert
three acres of parkland, including approximately 1,600 linear feet of shoreline, from conventional turf and
buckthorn to a vegetated buffer along the west side of the south basin of Lake Cornelia to provide an early
stormwater intervention opportunity. Staff planned to leverage work already being done by the Minnesota
Pollution Control Agency and the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District. Property owners directly adjacent to
the project area would be contacted for feedback.
Finally, regarding Chloride Pollution Prevention, staff developed a Model Contract for Snow and Ice Management,
in response to efforts initiated by residents, to reduce the amount of salt being used. The main focus of this
work was to offer a model contract that embraced best practices to minimize environmental impacts from sand,
chlorides and other chemicals, while also maintaining safety and addressing liability risk allocation.
ADJOURNMENT
(11110,11
Mayor Hovland adjourned the meeting at 6:46 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sharon Allison, City Clerk
Edina City Council Work Session/March 5, 20I9
Minutes approved by the Edina City Council, March 19, 20.
ames B. Hovland, Mayor