HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-09-04 City Council Work Session MinutesMINUTES
OF THE WORK SESSION OF THE
EDINA CITY COUNCIL
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2019
5:30 P.M.
Mayor Hovland called the meeting to order at 5:3 I p.m.
ROLLCALL
Answering roll call were Members Fischer, Anderson, Brindle and Mayor Hovland.
Member Staunton arrived at 6:21 p.m.
Staff in Attendance: Scott Neal, City Manager; Chad Millner, Engineering Director; Kyle Sawyer, Assistant Finance
Director, Don Uram, Finance Director; Andrea Rich, Financial Analyst; Bill Neuendorf, Economic Development
Manager; Casey Casella, City Management Fellow; Ross Bintner, Engineering Services Manager; Ryan Browning, I.T.
Manager; and Sharon Allison, City Clerk.
POTENTIAL PARTIAL FUNDING OF INFRASTRUCTURE WITH LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX
Engineering Director Millner explained that at the Council retreat in March, Council discussed Local Option Sales
Tax (LOST) as a financing option for street reconstruction projects and Council preferred a hybrid approach that
included a partial assessment supplemented with a LOST approach.
Director Millher recommended 0.5% LOST which would generate $4 million over 20 years, to fund a portion of
local and Municipal State Aid street reconstruction program, rehabilitation and new construction of bridges,
retaining walls and street lighting. Finance Director Uram explained that a study was conducted by the University of
Minnesota for the City to determine how much money would be generated using 0.5% LOST and the amount was
$4.1 million. The study also estimated non-resident vs. resident taxable sales at 59.7% and 40.3%. Because LOST
requires legislative approval and a voter-approved referendum, Director Millner asked if Council would like to
pursue this option.
Council discussed several challenges related to special assessments including how to be fair to residents who have
already been assessed and proving benefits to properties with increased assessments. Council directed staff to
pursue LOST but to get feedback from the business community first.
WATER TREATMENT PLANT NO. 5 CONCEPT VALIDATION
Director Millner informed Council that Wildamere Capital Management, was considering having the water treatment
plant on their property as part of the Avenue on France redevelopment, either as a standalone building or in a parking
ramp; therefore, he was withdrawing the design services agreement from the council meeting consent agenda to draft
a memorandum of understanding with Wildamere.
Grant Meyer, AE2S, presented the project overview including recent history and timeline, and Julie Snow, Snow
Kreilich Architects, presented the concept which included an enhanced infrastructure that was designed to add value
to the area as a public amenity. Design features were simplified massing and landscape with a rain garden, park
benches, lighting with soft glow at nights, solar panels on top, and a second floor for school tours.
Council provided positive feedback on the concept and directed staff to pursue a me orandum of understanding
with Wildamere Capital Management.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Hovland adjourned the meeting at 6:39 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Minutes approved by the Edina City Council, September 17, 2019.
on Allison, City Clerk
James Hovland, Mayor