HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-10-01 Twn Hll Mtng MINUTES
OF THE TOWN HALL MEETING
EDINA CITY COUNCIL
HELD AT EDINA SENIOR CENTER
OCTOBER 1, 2011
10:00 A.M.
Mayor Hovland called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. in the Fireside Room of the Edina Senior
Center. Answering rollcall were Members Bennett, Brindle, Sprague, Swenson and Mayor Hovland.
Staff attending the meeting included: Karen Kurt, Assistant City Manager; Debra Mangen, City Clerk;
Scott Neal, City Manager and Ceil Smith, Assistant to the City Manager.
Mayor Hovland stated the purpose of the meeting was to allow citizens to share their views and
concerns with members of the City Council in a less formal setting than during regular meetings.
Sandy Fox, 5801 West 68th Street, stated Tracy Avenue needed to be rebuilt especially near 70th
Street and Valley View Road.
Kay Bach, 6625 Dakota Trail, Valley View Road, needs a sidewalk, the vegetation has overgrown the
roadway causing sight problems.
Jessica Hines 6608 Ridgeview Drive asked what the status of the Dan Patch Rail lines. Ms. Hines
expressed concern if there were to be increased rail traffic and asked would homeowners be advised
of plans or compensated for lost market value of their homes.
Bruce Kieffer, 5404 Edenmoor Street, agreed that the future of the rail line was a great concern if the
traffic on the line increased.
Bill Donnelly, 6209 Parkwood Road, expressed concern that the City only realized $27,000/year from
the State of Minnesota for the traffic enforcement on State Highways. He indicated it did not make
sense to spend City tax dollars on enforcement on State Highways for such minimal compensation.
Sandy Fox, 5801 West 68th Street, suggested Mr. Donnelly take part in the Edina Police Citizens
Academy to gain a greater understanding of the effect of the officer enforcing traffic laws on State
Highways as well as city streets.
Penn Josslin, 6418 Indian Hills Road, stated he had received a ticket for a STOP sign violation and
asked why such a small percentage of the fine came to Edina. Mr. Josslin asked if the property values
continue to decrease would that have an effect on the City's revenue. Finally Mr. Josslin,
congratulated the City on retaining their AAA bond rating.
Hope Melton, 4825 Valley View Road, commented that the quality of services in Edina were high.
Nancy Piazza, 5012 Valley View Road, commented that the traffic coming off the Crosstown Highway
made it almost impossible to turn off Tracy Avenue near the High School. She also expressed concern
about traffic in the vicinity of Valley Lane and Tracy. Staff will follow up with Ms. Piazza.
Minutes/Edina City Council Town Hall Meeting/October 1, 2011
Inna Hays, 5857 Creek Valley Road, asked that a directional sign be placed on Tracy Avenue and
Valley View Road indicating which street was the correct connection to find the school campus. She —
said that many people end up lost in her neighborhood looking for the school.
Hope Melton, 4825 Valley View Road, asked about the status of the Neighborhood Associations and
potential assistance from the City with organization. Ms. Melton asked how the City intended to
define the boundaries of the various neighborhoods.
Ron Erhardt, 4214 Sunnyside Road, stated he felt establishing neighborhood associations would be a
mistake and more thought should be put into the issue. If the Minneapolis model were to be
followed, Mr. Erhardt felt it could have a Balkanizing vulcanizing effect on the community.
Mayor Hovland left the meeting at 11:00 a.m. and Acting Mayor Swenson took over as chair.
Hope Melton, 4825 Valley View Road asked about the health initiative that was coming.
Carol Frisch, 7025 Comanche Court, thanked the Council not installing a temporary sidewalk on Valley
View between Braemar and TH 169. She asked for a sidewalk and the removal of vegetation at Sally
Lane and Valley View Road.
Penn Josslin, 6418 Indian Hills Road, suggested the Council investigate the health initiative that was
offered by the Mayo Clinic as something that would be good for Edina.
Jessica Hines, 6608 Ridgeview Drive, asked how citizens stayed informed about City issues.
Hope Melton, 4825 Valley View Road, stated that she knew from the anti-smoking work she had
participated in that a multi-faceted approach would be necessary, not just education. There also
needed to be an element of peer pressure.
Marian Cracraft, 4227 Alden Avenue, suggested that the City focus not just on electronic
communication with residents. on c mail communication and not on Faccbook.
Janet Lindeen, 5275 Grandview Square, Apt. 3211, commented that she did not know Edina had a
community newspaper.
Bruce Kieffer, 5404 Edenmoor Street, asked if there were an on-line version of the Edina Sun Current.
Sam Thorpe, 5713 Schaefer Road asked what was the Grandview Small Area Plan.
Lori Grotz, 5513 Park Place, asked why the Edina Sun Current was paid to be the City's legal
newspaper. It was explained that the paper was designated to be the official paper, but the only
payment it received was for the publication of legal notices or ads. Ms. Grotz suggested that citizens
interested in public health screening could take part in the Bloomington Public Health screening the —
second Tuesday of each month. She explained that for a cost of about $40.00 people could get basic
blood tests detailing their cholesterol, blood glucose, plus other basic data about health.
Marian Cracraft, 4227 Alden Avenue, said that she had problems with people parking on the wrong
side of Alden Avenue. Staff suggested that she go ahead and call 911.
2
Minutes/Edina City Council Town Hall Meeting/October 1, 2011
Freda Terry, 6204 Hillside Road, stated there was not enough parking at the Edina Community Library
and Edina Senior Center.
Bruce Kieffer, 5404 Edenmoor Street, commented the commercial ramp was way underutilized.
Janet Lindeen, 5275 Grandview Square, Apt. 3211, said the Edina Seniors fill up the parking lot early
in the morning so that by the time the Library opens at 10:00 a.m. there is not any parking left.
Acting Mayor Swenson adjourned the meeting at 11:30 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
� if
I `1 /
bra A. Mangen, qty Clerk
Minutes approved by Edina City Council, September 20, 2011 II
James B. Hovland, Mayor
3