HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-04-03 Wk Session MINUTES
OF THE WORK SESSION OF THE
EDINA CITY COUNCIL HELD AT CITY HALL
APRIL 3,2012
5:35 P.M.
Mayor Hovland called the meeting to order at 5:35 p.m. in the Community Room of City Hall. Answering
rollcall were Members Bennett, Sprague, Swenson and Mayor Hovland. Member Brindle entered the meeting
at 5:37 p.m.
Members of the Neighborhood Identification Steering Committee (NISC) in attendance included: Hope
Melton, Chair, Dick Brozic, Vice Chair, Bruce Carlson, Bright Dornblaser, Laura Ericksen, Paula Harter, Bob
Miller and Gene Persha.
Staff attending the meeting: Jennifer Bennerotte, Communications and Technology Services Director; Karen
Kurt,Assistant City Manager and Debra Mangen, City Clerk.
Mayor Hovland explained the purpose of the meeting was to receive a progress report from the Neighborhood
Identification Steering Committee.
NISC Chair Melton reviewed the progress the Committee has made to date. She gave an overview of
neighborhood associations that included the purpose and benefits, identified as fostering two-way
communication between neighborhoods and City government and building community through cooperative
action. Ms. Melton reviewed a tentative schedule for a public engagement process that included: 1) Written
Survey, 2) Introduction and information gathering meeting, 3) Meeting to review options by quadrant and
gather feedback, 4) Meeting to present city-wide recommendations and gather feedback and 5) NISC makes
recommendation to the City Council. This rigorous timeline would culminate with the NISC recommendation
in November of 2012.
Committee members asked directions of the Council relative to the City's expectations/reasons for
contemplating neighborhood associations including: what would the next steps be after neighborhood
boundaries are established; what does the city envision as the scope and purpose of neighborhood
associations; and how would communication be handled and support from the City administered. The
discussion included a development of overall structure such as sample bylaws, budgeting for neighborhood
associations, training, reaching multi-family housing buildings, community building process and how to handle
areas that choose not to participate in a formal association. Considerations for neighborhood boundaries
included geography, size (housing vs. population), taking care not to divide existing neighborhoods, and areas
with already established associations. Concern was expressed that care be taken not to establish a framework
that sets neighborhoods against other neighborhoods.
The Council thanked the Committee for the work to date and asked for updates as they begin the information
gathering phase of work. They indicated they saw neighborhood associations as a means of communication,
Associations would be conduits of information, fostering neighborhood security and community building. The
associations will be a vehicle to share information leading to better-informed participation and public decision-
making.
Mayor Hovland declared the meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
ra . Mangen, City berk
Minutes approved by Edina City Council,April 17, 2012.
James B. Hovland, Mayor