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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEditionEdinaDecember2019Edition: Edina DECEMBER 2019 Volume 6, Issue 12 City of Edina EdinaMN.gov Strong FoundationCITY GOALS:Better TogetherReliable Service Livable City BY KRYSTAL CARON A new public art sculpture, “School of (Fish)” has been brought to life by artists from The Milligan Studio and has found a permanent home at Centennial Lakes Park. Last school year, 80 grade-school students from the Edina School District submitted artwork inspired by the concept of “Better Together.” Fifth-grader Alex Wyatt’s was one of eight selected by a panel including members of the Edina Arts & Culture Commission, Edina Community Foundation, artists and teachers. “Better Together” is the moniker given the City’s goal of building an inclusive and engaged community. Students participated in this student-only sculpture competition to create a 3-D sculpture that represents what Better Together means to them. In addition to Wyatt, Esmé Bell, Maddie Brinkman, Audrey Davis, Zoe Kelman, Duncan Kluis, Dylan Nordin, Izzy Olson, Aurelia Offerdahl, Abby Seaberg, Whitney Van Sloun, Luke Sullivan, J. Monty Zeis and Aheli Bardham were also selected as winners. Their work was displayed at the Hennepin-Southdale Area Library over the summer. The Milligan Studio chose Wyatt’s design out of the eight winners. It was installed near the water in the south part of Centennial Lakes Park, 7499 France Ave. S., in November. “The student developed this piece with the idea that we are better together when we school together. He wanted it to be somewhere near water,” said Edina Art Center General Manager Susan Tarnowski. The artists were also impressed with Wyatt’s concept. “We work in schools and enjoy working with students. Their creativity is very inspiring,” said Nicole Milligan. “Wyatt came to this project with great vision and heart. This boy has a sense of what community is about. He was really thrilled when he came to the studio. He did some of the work to make the final piece. We feel very honored to have been able to work with him on this.” The piece is made up of stainless steel, bronze and glass. After struggling with how to convey movement in a piece that needed to withstand the outdoors, they came up with a unique solution. A new public art sculpture, “School of (Fish),” was installed at Centennial Lakes Park in early November. The piece was designed by student Alex Wyatt and created by Artists Alan and Nicole Milligan. Photo by Frank Petrovic Student Alex Wyatt worked with Artist Alan Milligan to share his vision for the sculpture. Submitted Photo New Public Art Inspired by Concord Elementary Student Artists Alan and Nicole Milligan Developed Artwork Designed by Fifth-Grader Alex Wyatt “We realized you could look at the movement of fish from above. Suddenly, it became very clear that you’re looking at this piece as if from above,” said Nicole Milligan. “The patination is a depth blue; you don’t see a lot of that in America. We painted the patina on this piece and as it ages you’ll see different colors in it. It’s an ever-changing work.” “School of (Fish)” was funded through the Edina Arts & Culture Commission and the Edina Community Foundation. For more information about where to find the sculpture and other public art in Edina, visit bit.ly/EdinaPublicArt. The Edina Police Department has received a grant for body-worn cameras. The City Council accepted a $110,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice last month. It must be matched by the City. With the advancement of digital recording devices, the public has begun to expect the interactions of law enforcement and the public to be recorded and available for review. According to Police Chief David Nelson, the Edina Police Department has used in-squad recording devices for over a decade to be transparent and show accountability of its officers. With changes in public perception, he says body-worn cameras are the next step to increase transparency and accountability. The Edina Police Department has the support of the City Prosecutor and the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office in implementing the technology, Nelson said. Staff is in the process of creating a draft policy. There will be a process to gather community feedback on the policy prior to its adoption. Police Receive Grant for Body-Worn Cameras Next Step in Implementation is Community Engagement BY THE NUMBERS Skating at Centennial Lakes Park Opens Soon $14,381 Concession sales last year Skaters can choose from candy, chips, hot dogs, pop and popcorn. Skate rentals last winter Skate rental is available for $6 per pair, with sizes ranging from children’s Size 8 up to adults’ Size 13. Ice sleds may also be rented for $8 per hour. There is no admission charge for skating. 11,878 Ice skating season is nearly here as temperatures continue to drop. Centennial Lakes Park is home to a 10-acre lake that is groomed daily during the winter months for skating. Skating is generally open mid-December through mid-February, depending on weather. Call 952-833-9586 for more information. Get your skates sharpened, grab your hockey sticks and pull out the outdoor gear: Edina neighborhood park outdoor ice rinks will be open for business (and fun!) in mid-December, weather permitting. For more information, check out EdinaParks.com. Photo by Debbie Townsend FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS MINNESOTA STYLE … OUTDOOR RINKS OPENING SOON! There are two indoor gas fireplaces and one outdoor wood-burning firepit. When your toes start to feel the chill, take a break and warm up! 3 Cozy fireplaces The skating season is about three months.9Last winter, skating closed on March . – COMPILED BY KRYSTAL CARON Body-worn cameras should be implemented in the Police Department by the end of 2020. In other business last month, the City Council: • Held a work session with U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar to discuss the City’s legislative priorities. • Approved preliminary rezoning and plans for a redevelopment of 4100 W. 76th St., formerly Flyte Time Studios. The existing building would be razed in 2020 and a new four-story, 70-unit affordable housing project built on the site. The development would be 100 percent affordable and serve mostly families. The developer, Aeon, must seek final approvals before beginning the project. The Council will next meet 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3; Monday, Dec. 9 and Tuesday, Dec. 17, at Edina City Hall, 4801 W. 50th St. For more information, visit EdinaMN.gov. – COMPILED BY JENNIFER BENNEROTTE What TIF can’t be used for in Minnesota: • Police and fire personnel and equipment • Road maintenance like fixing potholes and street sweeping • General government operations • Public parks and park maintenance • Government buildings like city halls and fire stations • Conference centers Edina’s TIF policy further restricts uses. For example, the City typically uses TIF only on a pay-as-you-go basis. The private developer bears the full financial responsibility to build the project and reduces the amount of public debt. Edina’s policy also allows the City to obtain permanent easements that allow the general public to use portions of TIF-funded projects at no cost. The construction of Lorient Apartments at 4500 France Ave. is a current example of working within the rules to secure public amenities sought by the community. The City’s agreement with the developer obligates the owner to build, finance, operate and maintain shared public parking and shared outdoor space that can be used by the general public. The parking and outdoor space are two long-term goals identified in the 44th & France Small Area Plan. “Edina is highly selective about when and how TIF is used. Of the 50-plus major commercial projects in development the past several years, TIF has been used only six times,” Neuendorf said. “And in each of those cases, TIF has been used to achieve a community goal and public amenities that would not otherwise be possible.” To learn more, visit bit.ly/EdinaTIF or contact Neuendorf at bneuendorf@EdinaMN.gov. City of Edina EdinaMN.gov UPCOMING EVENTS Recurring Events: Community Concerts, Edinborough Park 7 p.m. Sundays and Tuesdays Children’s Programs, Edinborough Park Noon Thursdays Tuesday, Dec. 3, 7 p.m. City Council meeting, Edina City Hall Friday, Dec. 6, 6:30 p.m. Friday Family Movie Night, “Mary Poppins Returns,” Edinborough Park Monday, Dec. 9, 6 p.m. City Council meeting, Edina City Hall Saturday, Dec. 14, 10 a.m. The Author’s Studio: A Life Lived Medium – Jennifer Bierma, Edina Art Center Tuesday, Dec. 17, 7 p.m. City Council meeting, Edina City Hall Saturday, Dec. 21, 9 a.m. Walk With the Mayor, Southdale Center Monday, Dec. 23-Wednesday, Dec. 25 Christmas holiday; City Hall Closed Monday, Dec. 30, 5-7:30 p.m. Pre-New Year’s Eve Party, Edinborough Park Edinborough Park will hold its annual New Year’s Eve Party on the eve of New Year’s Eve! Start a new tradition by ringing in the New Year early at Edinborough Park with your family. We will continue to celebrate “kid style” by offering dancing with a DJ, photo booth and full access to Adventure Peak. Noise makers and party hats will be given to all the kiddos, too! The countdown to 2020 will be at 7 p.m. All children must be chaperoned by an adult. (Adults are free with paid child admission.) Visit EdinboroughPark.com for more details. For a complete listing of meetings and events, visit EdinaMN.gov. File Photo BY DEBBIE TOWNSEND Why doesn’t the City of Edina use tax-increment financing (TIF) for more parks, road improvements, a community center or other resident wishes? That’s a question City staff members hear from residents. The answer is quite simple: The law doesn’t allow it. TIF is a heavily regulated financial tool available to cities in Minnesota. State law determines when, where and how TIF can be used. While those laws change from time to time, Edina’s use of TIF follows Minnesota law. “While Edina’s staff has strong experience in the use of TIF, we engage legal and financial experts to ensure that we can achieve community goals all within the constraints established by the Minnesota Legislature,” said Economic Development Manager Bill Neuendorf. TIF allows the increased property tax value from a newly developed property to help pay for a portion of that development or public infrastructure that supports the development. How TIF can be used in Minnesota: • To redevelop areas with blighted or substandard buildings • To attract economic development such as manufacturing or research and development • To build new rental housing for lower- income families What TIF money can be invested in: • Buying and holding land • Site preparation, including demolition, soil correction and utilities • Cleaning up environmental contamination • Public infrastructure such as streets, intersections, bridges, water, sewer and sidewalks • Building parking decks and parking garages • Architecture, engineering and legal costs associated with eligible expenses • Interest payments on eligible expenses What TIF Can and Can’t Pay For State Law Limits How Cities Can Use Finance Tool TIF money was pledged to partially reimburse the developer for costs to build shared public parking and an outdoor public plaza at the Lorient Apartments, 4500 France Ave. Photo by Katie Laux • Earn points on every purchase you make, 1 point for every dollar spent • Reward tiers from $5-$100 off future purchases • Access to exclusive products and presale events • Be the first to learn about new and rare releases coming to Edina Liquor Rewards Rewards Earn points edinaliquor.getreup.com 250 400 $5.00 offRedeem for $5.00 offyour purchase $15.00 offRedeem for $15.00 offyour purchase $25.00 offRedeem for $25.00 offyour purchase 952-927-8861 | mail@EdinaMN.gov City of Edina EdinaMN.gov BY KAYLIN EIDSNESS Residents have another platform to share videos and information about crimes happening in their neighborhood: Ring’s Neighbors App. The free app was designed to help communities connect and share information about what’s going on around them – whether they own a Ring device or not – but specifically focused on crime and safety. The Edina Police Department recently joined the app to engage with the community and to easily request Ring videos when a crime happens in an Edina neighborhood. “It opens up another door for the community and Police Department to connect,” said Crime Analyst Joel Bonstrom, who further explained that the majority of the crimes he sees captured on video are burglaries and thefts from vehicles. Bonstrom also noted that from Jan. 1 through Sept. 30 this year, there were 186 thefts from vehicles in Edina. Of those, no force was used to gain entry to 155 of the vehicles. This means that the window could have been left down or the car unlocked. He also said that during the same time frame, there were 105 residential and commercial Get real-time crime and safety alerts from your neighbors. Submitted Photo burglaries. Of those, 75 were accessed without force. “We’re seeing a lot more residences with security cameras at their house, and they’re capturing these things they wouldn’t have 5 or 10 years ago when residential security footage wasn’t as prevalent,” said Bonstrom. “The video is really helpful and another piece of the puzzle when it comes to linking incidents together. However, it doesn’t replace taking preventive measures and making sure your home and vehicle are secure.” Resident Dietrich Nissen jumped on the Neighbors App shortly after having his car rifled through one September night. He caught it all on video and alerted the Edina Police Department, then shared the information with his neighbors. “We used the Neighbors Portal right after my wife’s car was broken into to create awareness,” he said. Comments from residents are all posted anonymously, as are videos. The Neighbors App does not provide local police with the addresses at which any cameras are located or access to the device, but it allows for easier access to the video if the owner agrees to share it. Users can download the Neighbors App through Google Play or Apple’s App Store. For more information on the Neighbors App, contact Bonstrom at 952-826-0492. Edina Police Department Joins Ring’s Neighbors App App Makes Sharing Security Camera Video and Crime Information Easy and Quick Rewards EdinaLiquor.com/rewards CITY OF EDINA 4801 WEST 50TH STREET EDINA, MN 55424 ***ECRWSS***POSTAL PATRONCAR-RT-WS PRESORT STD U.S. POSTAGEPAID TWIN CITIES MN Permit No. 3932