HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-11-16 City Council Town Hall MinutesMINUTES
OF THE TOWN HALL MEETING OF THE
EDINA CITY COUNCIL
HELD AT SENIOR CENTER
NOVEMBER 16, 2019
10:00 A.M. TO 12:00 NOON
Council attendance: Members Fischer, Anderson, Staunton, Brindle and Mayor Hovland.
Staff attendance: City Manager Scott Neal, and City Clerk Sharon Allison.
The Mayor explained the purpose of the town hall meeting was to allow a free flow of questions
between residents and Council. Approximately 13 residents attended the meeting and asked a variety of
questions that included the following:
• Concerned with City assuming role of developer for 4040 W. 70th Street.
• How to fix the reading curriculum in the School District.
• Bike and pedestrian safety.
• Why were hydrants covered with plastic bags?
• Status of refugee settlement for the State of Minnesota and how many refugees would Edina
take.
• During work session with Rep. Omar, Council should have asked for money to build a fire
station.
• Status of Local Option Sales Tax.
• Tax levy increasing, adding more taxes such as park referendum, increase use of Tax Increment
Financing Funds (TIFF) and impacts to residents on a fixed income.
• Reducing spending to reduce taxes.
• Communicate accurate TIFF amount that the City was obligated to pay including borrowing
costs.
• Why were town hall meetings so poorly attended?
• City should be more involved with the planning of the Southdale Library reconstruction at
Southdale Mall.
• Frequent use of TIFF.
• Arden Park project: a skeptic liked the result.
• Reorganizing trash collection.
• Reducing speed limit on Vernon Avenue to 30 mph the entire length of the roadway.
• Congestion created when narrowing streets from 4- to 2-lanes, e.:. France Avenue near West
50th Street.
The Mayor thanked everyone for attending. The meeting ended
Respectfully submitted, i
on Allison, City Clerk
Minutes approved by Edina City Council, December 3, 2019.