HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-06-16 City Council Work Session MinutesMINUTES
OF THE WORK SESSION OF THE
EDINA CITY COUNCIL
VIRTUAL MEETING
JUNE 16, 2020
5:30 P.M.
Mayor Hovland called the meeting to order at 5:32 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Answering roll call were Members Anderson, Brindle, Fischer and Staunton and Mayor Hovland.
Staff present: Scott Neal, City Manager; Lisa Schaefer, Assistant City Manager; Perry Vetter, Park & Recreation
Director; Tracy Petersen, Assistant Director-Recreation & Facilities; Tom Swenson, Assistant Director-Parks &
Natural Resources; Jennifer Bennerotte, Communications Director; Ryan Browning, IT Director; Don Uram,
Finance Director; Andrea Rich, Financial Analyst; Risi Karim, City Management Fellow; Jennifer Garske,
Executive Assistant; Sharon Allison, City Clerk.
JOINT MEETING: PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION
Joint Meeting: Parks & Recreation Commission
Director Vetter introduced new employee Tracy Petersen, Assistant Director-Recreation & Facilities.
Vetter explained that a staff report was provided to Council detailing adjustments that were made in four areas
to many offerings and services provided to residents and patrons because of COVID-19. The four areas were
Enterprise Operations, Recreation Programming, Parks and Natural Resource Amenities, and Fiscal Position.
The first found of adjustments were made in March which included shutting down the Enterprise Operations
and furloughing 60 staff, followed by others in May and by early June, several operations were reopened.
Recreation programs were cancelled but staff was working on rescheduling new programs based on new
guidelines. Vetter explained the financial impacts and expressed concerns if a second wave were to hit.
Chair Rick Ites updated the Council on the commission’s work plan. Ites said the commission has not met since
March but is scheduled to meet in July and he would recommend making Initiative 4 as the commission’s priority
because of the pandemic with related Initiatives 5 and 6, followed by Initiative 3 because of recent events.
Council concurred but said they would leave it to the commission to prioritize their work plan.
JOINT MEETING: ARTS & CULTURE COMMISSION
Vetter stated the Art Center was still closed because of COVID-19. He said prior to closing, staff were working
on a building code and structure analysis and it was determined that improvements would cost approximately
$1.4M. He said this cost did not include improvements to offices and artists’ space. Alternatively, Vetter said
staff toured commercial/industrial properties that could become an interim home for the Art Center but plans
were put on hold to limit expenditure during the pandemic. Vetter said the Arts & Culture Commission has not
provided feedback on this plan because they have not met since March.
Chair Russ Rubin agreed it does not make sense to patch the old building; however, he’s concerned they could
become complacent in an interim location and recommended creating steps to move into the interim space and
towards a long-term space. Art Center Manager Susan Tarnowski said it is possible to create interim
programming but recommended finding niche programming and marketing them to create partnerships. Rubin
said the public art committee was working with the Human Rights & Relations Commission on how to create
art around Black Lives Matter.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Hovland adjourned the meeting at 6:32 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
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Sharon Allison, City Clerk
Minutes approved by the Edina City Council July 21, 2020.
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James B. Hovland, Mayor