HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-05-18 City Council Work Session MinutesMINUTES
OF THE EDINA CITY COUNCIL
WORK SESSION
VIRTUAL MEETING
TUESDAY, MAY 18, 2021
5:30 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Hovland called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Answering roll call were Members Anderson, Jackson, Pierce, Staunton, and Mayor Hovland.
Staff in attendance: Scott Neal, City Manager; Lisa Schaefer, Assistant City Manager; Perry Vetter, Parks &
Recreation Director; Susan Tarnowski, General Manager; Tracy Petersen, Assistant Director-Recreation and
Facilities; Ryan Browning, IT Director; Risi Karim, City Management Fellow; Jennifer Garske, Executive Assistant;
and Sharon Allison, City Clerk.
JOINT MEETING: ARTS AND CULTURE COMMISSION
Chair Sorensen reviewed the commission’s work plan as follow:
• Initiative #1) Implement at least one event in Year 1 of the Edina Public Art Plan: Art & Healing Virtual
Art Gallery. Student Commissioner Konkimalla reported that the commission partnered with Mosiac, a
student group at Edina High School, to develop a Virtual Art Gallery on the Better Together Edina
website for people to share their feelings through art. Chair Sorensen said performances are planned for
the 50th & France area that will be videotaped and uploaded to the gallery.
• Initiative #2) Conduct an evaluation for the public art event (Initiative #1). This evaluation will inform the
commission on a possible second public art event. Commissioner Fram reported that the commission is
working with staff to develop a marketing plan for the Virtual Art Gallery and to see how they can
partner with community groups.
• Initiative #3) Study and report on potential incentives or procedures to include art and décor elements
when opportunities arise in public and commercial projects. Commissioner Rubin reported that they are
in the fact-finding stages, and that staff is reaching out to other cities to learn best practices.
• Initiative #4) As a new art space is pursued, the commission will provide community perspective to the
learning process. Director Vetter reported that at the end of May, they will begin looking for a new space
for the art center.
In attendance for the commission were Chair Rebecca Sorensen, Vice Chair Russ Rubin, Lindsay DiLorenzo,
Laura Westlund, Alyssa Fram, Brian Stemmler, Steve Suckow, Shreya Konkimalla, and Tiffany Shen.
JOINT MEETING: PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
Chair Ites reviewed the commission’s work plan as follow:
• Initiative #1) Review and comment on proposed plan to identify barriers for participation and reach
communities of color through different modes and feedback. Director Vetter reported that the commission
is working with Race & Equity Coordinator Lee to develop a plan to identify how to interact with low
engaged park users; however, work was delayed while Lee focused on the Just Deeds project.
• Initiative #2) Create presentation to share information about Parks and Recreation facilities, services and
systems with up to six community groups. Commissioner Nelson reported that the commission identified
four topics – Parks, Park Programs, Facilities and Funding. Nelson said because of COVID, the presentations
will be recorded and available on Town Talks.
• Initiative #3) Report and provide recommendations on alternative funding sources for park related
improvements including parks, facilities, and enterprise upgrades. Commissioner McAwley reported that
Edina City Council Work Session Meeting, May 18, 2021
the commission developed a menu of funding options that will be researched to determine viability.
McAwley said the commission will identify projects that are unfunded and prioritize them into a funding
group. She said this initiative would be completed in time for the next budget process.
• Initiative #4) Study and report on options to categorize underutilized park amenities/areas and identify park
amenity needs. Commissioner Doscotch reported the commission would be meeting soon with staff for
guidance.
• Initiative #5) Study and report evaluating options for determining benchmarks (park amenities, operations,
service areas) the commission started studying in 2020. Commissioner Good reported that the commission
identified nine benchmarks to compare Edina to similar sized cities. He said the city would be divided into
quadrants for review with a 5–10-year implementation plan.
In attendance for the commission were Chair Rick Ites, Vice Chair Eileen McAwley, Greg Good, Matthew Doscotch,
Brian Haas, and Koren Hawk Nelson.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Hovland adjourned the meeting at 6:32 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, __________________________________________
Sharon Allison, City Clerk
Minutes approved by the Edina City Council, June 1, 2021.
___________________________________________
James B. Hovland, Mayor