HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-01-04 City Council Work Session Meeting PacketAgenda
City Council Work Session
City of Edina, Minnesota
Community Room, City Hall
Tuesday, January 4, 2022
5:30 PM
I.Call To Order
II.Roll Call
III.2022 State Legislative Delegation Meeting
IV.Adjournment
The City of Edina wants all residents to be comfortable being part of the public
process. If you need assistance in the way of hearing ampli'cation, an
interpreter, large-print documents or something else, please call 952-927-8861
72 hours in advance of the meeting.
Date: January 4, 2022 Agenda Item #: III.
To:Mayor and City Council Item Type:
Reports / Recommendation
From:Risi Karim, City Management Fellow
Item Activity:
Subject:2022 State Legislative Delegation Meeting Discussion
CITY OF EDINA
4801 West 50th Street
Edina, MN 55424
www.edinamn.gov
ACTION REQUESTED:
None; discussion only.
INTRODUCTION:
Staff have invited Edina's state legislative delegation to attend the City Council's work session. Representatives
from the Municipal Legislative Commission, Metro Cities and the League of MN Cities are also invited. Staff
have prepared a draft summary and information regarding potential legislative topics for discussion purposes.
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
Staff Report: 2022 Legislative Position
2022 Legislative Summary
1/4/2022
Mayor and City Council
Scott H. Neal, City Manager
Risi Karim, City Management Fellow
DRAFT 2022 City Legislative Positions
Information / Background
The 2022 state legislative session begins Monday, Jan. 31. This staff report provides additional background
regarding the City’s positions on state legislative issues that might be considered this legislative session.
Association Legislative Priorities
The City of Edina belongs to the Municipal Legislative Commission (MLC), Metro Cities (Association of
Metropolitan Municipalities), and The League of Minnesota Cities (LMC).
Each of these associations have a set of legislative priorities adopted annually. In most cases, the City of
Edina’s interests align with these organizations.
City of Edina Legislative Positions
Following are general City positions on topics that could be addressed this legislative session. While not all
items are of equal priority, the document provides general direction to staff as we respond to the changes
in the legislative environment throughout the session.
General Government
Scott Neal, City Manager
SNeal@EdinaMN.gov
952-826-0401
Lisa Schaefer, Assistant City Manager
LSchaefer@EdinaMN.gov
952-826-0416
Motor Vehicle Lease Sales Tax Allocation
In 2015, state legislation was passed to reallocate $32 million of the sales tax collected from leased
vehicles from the State’s general fund, 50 percent to Greater Minnesota and 50 percent to metro
counties through the County State Aid Highway fund. To balance funding for transit and
roads/bridges, the new law excluded Hennepin and Ramsey counties from receiving their percentage
of funding. Instead, the other five metro counties split the proceeds generated in Hennepin and
Ramsey counties. With the elimination of the Counties Transit Improvement Board (CTIB) in 2017,
REPORT / RECOMMENDATION Page 2
all seven metro counties now collect their own local transportation sale tax, but the exemption still
blocks Hennepin and Ramsey counties.
The City of Edina advocates for returning to the original intent by eliminating the exemption of
Hennepin and Ramsey counties and distributing the sales tax on lease vehicles, per the county state
aid formula, to all metro counties. Distributing Hennepin and Ramsey county proceeds to the other
five metro counties puts cities in Hennepin County at a disadvantage when it comes to accessing
county funds for road and bridge projects. This change would provide an estimated $10.7 million in
additional funding to Hennepin County to be used on roads and bridges.
Utility Franchise Fees
Preserve current legal structure for utility franchise fees for local governments. Utility franchise fees
allow costs to be shared by all users versus only property owners.
Edina uses utility franchise fees for the Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety (PACS) and Conservation and
Sustainability (CAS) funds. Both funds are vital to the City’s progress in sustainability and
pedestrian/cyclist safety.
Public Notices in Newspapers
The Legislature should eliminate outdated and unnecessary city publication requirements that are no
longer relevant or representative of the technology that has significantly increased access to
government. These requirements are unnecessarily costly to the city. In 2019, Edina spent
approximately $21,052 on public notices. Cities should have the authority to determine whether
web publication should replace or supplement newspaper publication based on the unique needs of
each community.
Cities should have the authority to a) Determine whether web publication should replace or
supplement newspaper publication; b) Designate an appropriate publication that reaches the
maximum number of residents possible; c) Use alternative means of communication to fulfill
statutory requirements such as city newsletters, cable television, video streaming, email, blogs and
city websites; d) Expand the use of summaries where information is technical or lengthy by
removing the requirement for Council approval of summary publications.
Data Practices
The purpose of the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (MGDPA) is to provide open and
transparent information to the public, while protecting personal information from indiscriminate
disclosure.
Cities are experiencing increases in repetitive, overly broad, and far-reaching data requests that
require significant staff time to locate government records, redact private data or data unrelated to
the request, and assemble documents to be provided in order to comply with requirements to
provide access to public government data.
The city supports mechanisms to define and regulate reasonable data requests, and charges that
better reflect the actual costs to respond to large data requests that require extensive time to
compile, redact private data, and create summary data.
Purchasing Agency
The City Manager is the chief purchasing agent of statutory Plan B cities. State law requires
purchases and contracts over $20,000 are recommended by the manager but require additional
approval by the City Council. There are only 18 Statutory Plan B Cities in MN.
In Edina, this approval is obtained through Requests for Purchase on the Consent agenda.
The $20,000 statutory threshold has not been raised since 2004. This does not account for standard
inflation over the past 15 years.
REPORT / RECOMMENDATION Page 3
A majority of City purchases are well over $20,000. Allowing the City Manager a higher purchasing
threshold can making purchasing more efficient, while still maintaining compliance and oversight of
budget.
Neighboring charter cities with the Council-Manager form of Government, have significantly higher
limits, including St. Louis Park ($175,000), Bloomington and Richfield that have city manager
purchasing authority in excess of $20,000.
The City of Edina supports a raise in legal maximum to at least $100,000, with the ability for
individual City Councils to set lower thresholds at their discretion.
Repeal Statutory Salary Limitation on City Employees
Minnesota law limits the salaries of city employees to 110% of the Governor’s salary, with an annual
inflationary adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index.
Locally elected City Council Members and Mayors are in the best position to determine the needs
of their communities, including the compensation of city employees.
The artificial cap on salaries places Minnesota cities at a disadvantage when recruiting and retaining
talented individuals.
o No other state in the nation has a similar cap, which puts Minnesota cities at a disadvantage
when recruiting nationally.
o In 1998 and 2003, the Legislature exempted entities including school districts, hospitals,
clinics, and health maintenance organizations owned by a government organization from the
salary limitation. During the 2018 session, the Legislature expanded that exemption by
allowing the Metropolitan Airports Commission to be exempt from the salary limitation.
This puts cities at a very specific and unique disadvantage when competing with other
political subdivisions for talent. The Legislature should end the salary cap altogether and be
consistent with all political subdivisions.
The artificial cap results in salary compression making it difficult to attract leadership positions.
Public employee salaries are public data. In addition, Minnesota law already requires that each
political subdivision post the salaries of its three highest-paid employees on its website, so the
salaries of key employees are readily known to the local taxpayers and voters who provide the
ultimate check on the actions of city councils.
Rank Choice Voting System
Minnesota Law currently allows only charter cities to consider and adopt rank-choice voting as an
alternative voting method in local elections. Edina, being a statutory city, is excluded from adopting
such voting choice.
The City Council supports legislation that would give statutory cities the same authority as charter
cities to adopt rank-choice voting.
The City of Edina also supports implementing statewide standards for those cities that choose to
adopt rank-choice voting in order to ensure the elections are consistent throughout the state and
that voters have confidence in the fairness of the alternative process, as well as confidence in the
outcome of such elections.
Perry Vetter, Parks & Rec Director
PVetter@EdinaMN.gov
952-826-0430
Park Dedication Fees for Multifamily Redevelopment Projects
Current state law does not allow statutory cities to capture park improvement district fees from
certain types of multifamily buildings because they are not subdivisions. Multifamily buildings and
apartments generate significant demands to parks and outdoor amenities.
REPORT / RECOMMENDATION Page 4
Support legislation to provide authority for statutory cities to collect fees for park improvements if a
property is redeveloped and creates new demands on the park system.
By changing the legislation around the park improvement funds, cities could more evenly distribute
the costs for maintaining and creating new parks.
Josh Furbish, Liquor Operations General Manager
JFurbish@EdinaMN.gov
952-903-5732
Municipal Liquor
Edina has operated a municipal liquor since it was established by a local referendum in 1948. The
liquor operation generates over $1 million annually in profit. These profits fund Edina’s recreation
facilities, such as the ice arena, art center and aquatic center, as part of the City’s effort to reduce
the cost of user fees and encourage greater access. The City’s recreation programs serve children
and families from all over the metro area, and not just Edina.
Continue support of municipal liquor stores and recognize their ability to generate profit that is
transferred back into local community programs and amenities.
Oppose proposals that diminish the ability of municipal liquor stores to provide fiscal and local
control benefits to their community.
In May, Miami-based Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits filed a lawsuit against the State of
Minnesota that seeks to bluntly eliminate a Minnesota law called the Coleman Act which also
contains the open wholesaling system of spirits distribution unique to Minnesota. Open wholesaling
of spirits requires that all spirit brands (with some exceptions) be available for sale to all licensed
Minnesota-wholesalers. This encourages healthy competition among wholesalers that benefits both
sellers and customers. If Southern Glazer's gets its way, we estimate that more than half of the spirit
brands in Minnesota could become exclusive with Southern Glazer's. If that happens, we can expect
• Wholesale spirits prices to go up
• Service levels on certain brands to go down
• Purchase and delivery schedule options will be reduced
• Sale margins will be compressed
The City supports an amendment of the Coleman Act that reinforces a system of open wholesaling
for all spirits.
Environment and Sustainability
Grace Hancock, Sustainability Coordinator
GHancock@EdinaMN.gov
952-826-1621
Jessica Vanderwerff Wilson, Water Resources Coordinator
JWilson@EdinaMN.gov
952-826-0445
Energy Management
Support legislation to adopt a more advanced state energy code and/or allow for local adoption of more
efficient building standards.
Support legislation to modernize and expand Minnesota’s Conservation Improvement Programs
administered by energy utilities.
Support continued funding of the Mighty Ducks Grant Program through the State of Minnesota,
acting through its agency, the Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission. This program is vital for ice
REPORT / RECOMMENDATION Page 5
arenas across the state to become more environmentally and financially sustainable through the
conversion of R-22 refrigeration systems to modern cooling operations.
Support legislation to increases distributed generation technologies, such as solar photovoltaic, solar
thermal production, wind, combined heat and power for both public and private entities.
Increase the State’s Renewable Energy Standard.
Support Right to Repair legislation
Allocate 100% of state revenue generated by the solid waste management tax (SCORE) to County
waste management activities to be used toward efforts to advance waste reduction, reuse, recycling
and organics programs to meet city, county and state recycling goals.
Support efforts for the proper labeling of compostable products and do not allow products with
misleading claims to be sold or distributed in the State.
Fund expanded infrastructure at the local level for the creation of compost processing sites and/or
anaerobic digesters.
Support legislation that includes Extended Producer Responsibility initiatives requiring manufacturers
to finance all costs associated with collection, reusing, recycling, or safe disposal of their products
such as carpets, mattresses, and electronics.
Develop and fund zero-waste initiatives that manage all discarded materials to their highest and best
use according to the waste management hierarchy set forth in the Waste Management Act to help
local units of government reach recycling and composting goals.
Sustainable Transportation
Support funding and technical assistance to electrify public and school buses.
Local Environmental Public Health Programs
The City of Edina supports the authority and opportunity of all cities and counties to locally operate
delegated food, pool and lodging establishment regulatory programs supported by a local fee
structure.
The City supports legislation that provides continued support of locally delivered environmental
public health services.
The City supports a unified retail food safety system in a single state agency, which supports delivery
of food safety program activities by local jurisdictions.
The City supports research and funding to explore the reduction of on-site fossil fuel use for
electricity and/or heat, to reduce community member exposure and public health effects.
Water Quality
Support state funding for research and training for public and private applicators of chloride-
containing de-icing chemicals, and legislation to address liability concerns of private deicing salt
applicators.
Support state laws that provide limited liability to commercial salt applicators that are certified
through an established voluntary salt applicator certification program.
Inflow and Infiltration (I/I) Municipal Grant Program
Inflow and infiltration are terms for the ways that clean water (ground and storm) makes its way
into sanitary sewer pipes and gets treated, unnecessarily, at regional wastewater plants.
The Metropolitan Council identifies cities contributing excessive inflow and infiltration (I/I) into the
regional wastewater system and charges the city for the excess.
The City of Edina supports state financial assistance to cities for metro area I/I mitigation, such as
the Municipal State Bond Grant Program.
REPORT / RECOMMENDATION Page 6
Local Environmental Protection Measures
Adopt enabling legislation to allow cities to implement local environmental protection measures.
The City Council requests the State Legislature adopt enabling legislation allowing local governments
to devise and implement environmental protection measures, including such measures as plastic bag
and Styrofoam food packaging bans and maintain authority for fees of said products.
Transportation
Chad Millner, Engineering Director
CMillner@EdinaMN.gov
952-826-0318
Andrew Scipioni. Transportation Planner
AScipioni@EdinaMN.gov
952-826-0440
Municipal State Aid (MSA) Funding
The City of Edina has 40.85 miles of roads designated as MSA. The funding is a vital part of
maintaining these high-quality connections. The City of Edina asks for continued support of
municipal state aid funding. The state aid road system was developed to provide vital, high-quality
connections necessary for the overall state highway network to work well. The roads that are on
the state aid system typically carry heavier traffic volumes, connect major points of interest and
provide an integrated and coordinated road system.
Street Improvement Districts
Enable legislation that would allow cities to create street improvement districts as a long-term
replacement plan of special assessment financing of street improvement projects.
Almost 85 percent of municipal streets are ineligible for municipal state aid (MSA) funds and must be
paid for with property taxes, special assessments or other funding sources such as franchise fees.
Maintenance costs increase as road systems age, and no city is spending enough on roadway capital
improvements to maintain a 50-year lifecycle. For every $1 spent on maintenance, a road authority,
and therefore taxpayers, save $7 in repairs.
Cities need greater resources and flexible policies in order to meet growing demands for street
improvements and maintenance. Enabling legislation that would allow cities to create street
improvement districts (like sidewalk improvement districts already allowed under Minn. Stat. §
435.44) would allow cities to use this tool as a long-term replacement plan of special assessment
financing of local street improvement projects.
Local Bridge Replacement Program (LBRP) Funding
The Local Bridge Replacement Program provides local agencies transportation funding for the
reconstruction, rehabilitation or removal of bridges or structures. The City has 27 local bridges.
The program is financed by the passage of specific legislation allocating general obligation state bond
funds. The program does not receive enough funding. In 2019, there were $36 million dollars in
waitlisted unfunded bridge projects, including a request from the City of Edina on the Minnehaha
Creek and Wooddale Avenue bridge.
The City of Edina supports funding dedicated to the Local Bridge Replacement Program to provide
safe bridges.
Public Safety
Andrew Slama, Fire Chief
REPORT / RECOMMENDATION Page 7
Aslama@EdinaMN.gov
952-826-0332
Funding of Fire Resources, Training and Statewide Response Teams
The Edina Fire Department relies on State funding for training through the Minnesota Board of
Firefighter Training and Education (MBFTE). Edina is one of the primary departments that makes up
the MN Task Force 1 Statewide Response Team.
The department relies on the appropriation of the dedicated revenue funds from insurance
surcharge proceeds to fund vital functions of the Minnesota Fire Service. This funding has been
approved by the Minnesota Legislature in the past. The MN Fire Service requests approximately $13
million to be appropriated from the dedicated revenue account to fund the State Fire Marshal’s
office, the Minnesota Board of Firefighter Training and Education (MBFTE) and the Statewide
Response Teams (HAZMAT, Task Force 1 Structural Collapse Team and Air Rescue Team).
The City of Edina supports broader discretion in the use of the Fire State Aid it receives.
Railroad & Hazardous Substance Safety Training and Funding
Support railroad safety by requiring railroads to continue to provide training to responders and to
share planning, response and rail line activity information with responders and emergency managers.
Edina has one active railway that carries two freight trains a day through the City.
Residential Fire Sprinklers
Oppose efforts to statutorily limit the use of residential fire sprinklers. Sprinklers protect occupants,
firefighters, and property from fires. Recent Minnesota studies show the cost of installing residential
fire sprinkler systems averages $1.15 per sprinklered square foot, or approximately 1 percent of
new home construction.
Support the inclusion of professionals and industry experts in the creating or writing of any code
parameters, particularly as it relates to the installation of fire suppression systems in residential
building code.
Retail Fireworks Sales
Oppose the expansion of legal firework sales in Minnesota. Fireworks cause injury and pose a
serious fire risk to humans and animals. Oppose expansion of aerial and audible fireworks in
Minnesota to protect residents from serious risk of injuries and property damage.
Community Health & Safety Project
$10 million in state funds has been requested to acquire land, predesign, design, construct, furnish
and equip a new Community Health and Safety Center to be relocated in the southeast quadrant of
the city of Edina.
The construction of a Community Health and Safety Center helps the City prepare for and respond
to current and future public health crisis as well as other emergencies in and around Edina. The
Community Health and Safety Center will replace the existing Edina Fire Station 2 and house the
important community functions of public health, restaurant and swimming pool inspections, rental
housing licensing and inspections services, and recycling and organics collection services.
The Center will also house staff that provide fire prevention and inspection services, fire
suppression, emergency medical services including Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulance care, and
Emergency Management Co-locating the Community Health Division with the Fire Department will
allow staff to create proactive programming to provide preventative services before a situation
becomes an emergency. Additionally, the Community Health and Safety Center would be designed
to incorporate spaces that would safely provide service to individuals, community groups, and large-
scale events such as vaccination clinics, disaster medication distribution site, or other community
health or safety events.
REPORT / RECOMMENDATION Page 8
Lisa Schaefer, Assistant City Manager
LSchaefer@EdinaMN.gov
952-826-0416
Funding for Public Safety Disability Retirements
Public Safety Duty Enacted in 1997, 299A.465 was enacted requiring Cities to pay the costs of health
insurance benefits for firefighters and peace officers disabled in the line of duty, as well as their
dependents, until they are 65 years old.
The law required the City to pay costs up-front and directed the Department of Public Safety to
reimburse the full costs paid by the City on an annual basis. By 2002, the state funding was deficient,
and the law was amended to no longer require the State to reimburse Cities.
Since this law was enacted, the number of disability retirements and costs of providing health
insurance continues to increase significantly. At the same time, the percentage of claims reimbursed
by the State has diminished each year. Last year, the City was reimbursed for only 20% of its costs.
The State should fully fund the post-employment health insurance costs for police/firefighters
disabled in the line of duty as was promised when the law was enacted in 1997. In the alternative,
the State should provide these benefits to firefighters and police officers directly and eliminate the
City as pass-through.
Mental Health and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Support for Police and Fire
Police/Fire are responsible for caring for the public in traumatic situations. As employers, it is critical
that we recognize, help prevent and support those who are at risk or have PTSD.
In 2019, worker’s compensation legislative changes that presumes a diagnosis of PTSD is work-
related for police officers and firefighters.
The City supports efforts that focus on treatment and support for employees to safely and
effectively return to work whenever possible. The current duty disability processes under PERA and
worker’s comp are not always compatible with that goal.
The City also supports programs and funding for emotional trauma training for public safety officers
and advancing wellness and mental health support as a component of any law enforcement reform.
Arbitration Reform
The current system of police arbitration under the Minnesota Public Employment Labor Relations
Act (MPELRA) undermines the ability of appointed and elected officials, including police chiefs, to
make lasting discipline or termination decisions to ensure a public safety department meets the
needs of the community.
Individual arbitrators are allowed to override the discipline and termination decisions that, in the
professional judgment of city managers and police chiefs, are necessary to ensure professional, safe,
and effective policing. Ultimately arbitrators can, in his/her sole judgment, require a City to return
an officer to the streets when the City has determined the officer is not meeting the standards
required of the department and community, without any appeal process for the City.
The City supports using administrative law judges (ALJs) instead of arbitrators and instituting a
standard of reasonableness that would focus on whether or not the facts presented show the
employer’s actions were reasonable and consistent with City and Department policies.
Affordable Housing
Stephanie Hawkinson, Affordable Housing Development Manager
SHawkinson@EdinaMN.gov
952-833-9578
REPORT / RECOMMENDATION Page 9
Protect Low- and Moderate-Income Tenants
Tenant Protection in Affordable Housing Property Ownership Change
o A preference would be a statewide tenant protection plan, but in lieu of that, support a
city’s ability to enact tenant protections to support access to affordable housing and housing
stability for tenants. Amend State statute 471.9996 to allow for a 90-day tenant protection
period following the transfer of Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing (NOAH) property
ownership.
o Currently state statute prohibits any local adoption of an ordinance to control rents on
private residential properties unless the ordinance is approved in a general election.
Investment buyers have been purchasing NOAH multi-family residential properties,
rehabilitating properties and increasing rents. In some cases, new owners have non-renewed
the leases of existing tenants with minimal notice and/or implemented substantial rent
increases with minimal notice. A 90-day period that would prohibit rent increases and non-
renewals would allow time for existing residents in these situations to seek alternative
housing.
Eviction Expungement Reform
o Records of unlawful detainer filings remain on a tenant’s public record regardless of whether
the matter was settled or dismissed prior to the court hearing or if the tenant prevails at
the hearing. In these cases, the eviction record is not a reasonable predictor of future tenant
behavior and should be expunged since the existence of this record impedes the ability of
the renter to secure suitable rental housing in the future.
o The City supports legislation that would expand the eligibility for discretionary and
mandatory expungements for eviction case court files.
Support Regulatory Tools for Affordable Housing
4d Tax Classification Tax Rate Program
o The 4d low-income property tax program is run by the state and provides a property tax
benefit to qualifying low-income rental properties. The program provides an incentive for
market-rate properties to designate a portion of their units as rent-restricted and provide
tax relief to existing rent-restricted properties.
o Although preservation of the program is the top priority, the City supports evaluating the
4d low-income property tax program to determine how program changes could affect
renters, landlords and property taxpayers. Studies should include participation and input
from metropolitan local government representatives.
Affordable Housing Tax Reduction
o Bifurcate property taxes for the value of the land and the value of the building.
o Land Trust Program
Edina has 16 land trusts residential properties, with property values in the city
rapidly increasing. The high property values and corresponding taxes are impacting
the ability for land trust homeowners to remain in their home.
The City supports reducing property taxes for owners of land trust housing by
making the land held by the Land Trust Tax Exempt with the homeowner paying
property taxes on the value of the house only.
o Multifamily Development
For 100% affordable multifamily developments where the land is owned by a
nonprofit or government entity and leased to the building owner, building owner
will pay a property tax based on the value of the building with the value of the land
tax exempt.
Affordable Housing Fee on Development
o The City of Edina requires a contribution into the Affordable Housing Trust Fund on new
multi-family residential development. A contribution for all new development, including
REPORT / RECOMMENDATION Page 10
single-family homes or non-residential development, would help increase the trust fund for
future housing projects and initiatives.
o The City supports legislation that would allow for the collection of a portion of the
permitting fee, particularly on tear-down rebuilds, to contribute to affordable housing on all
new development.
Create New Funding Sources for Affordable Housing
Affordable Housing Financing Bonding Authority
o The legislature provides bonding authority to construct affordable housing. The demand for
affordable housing continues to rise, meriting the need for additional financing.
o The city supports an effective bonding bill that provides Housing Infrastructure (HIB) and
General Obligation (GO) Bonds to fund affordable housing to serve low-income households.
Establish Revenue Resource for Affordable Housing
o The need for affordable housing in the State has grown to crisis proportions, requiring a
larger response than local jurisdictions can provide on their own. Increased State level
funding is critical to enable local jurisdictions to enact programs to facilitate the creation and
preservation of affordable housing, including subsidized and Naturally Occurring Affordable
Housing (NOAH).
o The City supports establishment of a financing source to fund local and regional programs to
facilitate the creation and preservation of affordable housing.
Affordable Housing Trust Funds
o In the 2017 session, the legislature passed language that enables cities to set up and resource
Affordable Housing Trust Funds (AHTFs). The City of Edina created an Affordable Housing
Trust Fund in 2019.
o The City supports legislation that establishes a dedicated revenue source for AHTFs,
including a state match for local and regional housing trust fund investments and policies in
support of affordable housing.
Tax Credit Contribution Fund
o The housing market depends on federal tax credits to build affordable housing. Federal
funding is increasingly volatile. A state-run program would simplify and increase participation
in supplying adequate housing for all. The Minnesota Tax Credit Contribution Fund
incentivizes private investment and promotes community and economic development.
o The program is capitalized by contributions from taxpayers that have state income or
corporate/insurance premium tax liabilities. In exchange for contributions to affordable
housing, participating taxpayers receive credit against their state income tax liability equal to
their contribution to a specific development or the general loan pool. Participation in the
program is simple, and the credit is flexible, easy to use statewide, leverages significant
private equity, and boosts local businesses.
o The city supports the establishment of a tax credit contribution tool to incentivize private
investment and promote community and economic development.
Use of Pooled Tax Increment Financing (TIF) for Affordable Housing
o Currently, state statute allows for the pooling of tax increment financing to be utilized for
affordable housing within the defined redevelopment area of the city. However, the pooled
TIF must be maintained in a separate fund with ongoing annual reporting requirements.
o Allowing cities with established Affordable Housing Trust Funds to deposit the pooled TIF in
those funds will allow for greater flexibility in the use of the pooled TIF for qualified costs to
facilitate the construction and rehabilitation of affordable housing while alleviating the
administrative burden of annual reporting.
o Support legislation that would allow the City to deposit pooled TIF for affordable housing in
Edina’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
REPORT / RECOMMENDATION Page 11
City of Edina Staff Contact Information
General Questions
Scott Neal, City Manager
SNeal@EdinaMN.gov
952-826-0401
Lisa Schaefer, Assistant City Manager
LSchaefer@EdinaMN.gov
952-826-0416
Affordable Housing
Stephanie Hawkinson, Affordable Housing Development Manager
SHawkinson@EdinaMN.gov
952-833-9578
Environment/Environmental Protection Measures/Clean Water
Grace Hancock, Sustainability Coordinator
GHancock@EdinaMN.gov
952-826-1621
Jessica Vanderwerff Wilson, Water Resources Coordinator
JWilson@EdinaMN.gov
952-826-0445
Parks & Recreation
Perry Vetter, Parks & Rec Director
PVetter@EdinaMN.gov
952-826-0430
Municipal Liquor
Josh Furbish, Liquor Operations General Manager
JFurbish@EdinaMN.gov
952-903-5732
Public Health
Jeff Brown, Community Health Administrator
JBrown@EdinaMN.org
952-826-0466
Public Notices
Sharon Allison, City Clerk
SAllison@EdinaMN.gov
952-826-0408
Public Safety
Todd Milburn, Police Chief
REPORT / RECOMMENDATION Page 12
TMilburn@EdinaMN.gov
952-826-0487
Andrew Slama, Fire Chief
Aslama@EdinaMN.gov
952-826-0332
Transportation
Chad Millner, Engineering Director
CMillner@EdinaMN.gov
952-826-0318
Andrew Scipioni. Transportation Planner
AScipioni@EdinaMN.gov
952-826-0440
Utility Billing
Alicia McAndrews, Finance Director
AMcAndrews@EdinaMN.gov
952-826-0414
DRAFT 2022 Summary of Legislative Priorities
December 29, 2021
General Government
Park Dedication Fees for Multifamily Redevelopment Projects
Support legislation to provide authority for statutory cities to collect fees for park improvements if a property is
redeveloped and creates new demands on the park system.
Community Health & Safety Project
$10 million in state funds has been requested by the City to acquire land, predesign, design, construct, furnish and
equip a new Community Health and Safety Center to be relocated in the southeast quadrant of the City of Edina.
Support for this project during the upcoming legislative session is paramount for the advancement of this project.
Municipal Liquor
In Edina, Municipal Liquor profits fund recreation enterprises that are utilized by people throughout the region.
On an annual basis, Liquor profits contribute over $1 million annually to fund Braemar Arena, Edinborough Park,
Braemar Golf Course and other facilities. The City opposes proposals that diminishes the ability of municipal
liquor stores to control the sale of alcohol, providing funding for services that benefit the community, and reduce
the burden on property taxes.
Repeal Statutory Salary Limitation on City Employees
Minnesota is the only state in the nation to place a salary cap on City employees. Since the salary cap was
originally enacted, the Legislature has exempted school districts, hospitals, and the Metropolitan Airports
Commission. This artificial cap on city salaries, combined with pay equity laws, results in salary compression and
places Minnesota cities at a very specific and unique disadvantage when recruiting and retaining talented
individuals.
Affordable Housing
Affordable Housing Fee on Development
The City supports legislation that would allow for the collection of a portion of the permitting fee, particularly on
tear-down rebuilds, to contribute to affordable housing on all new development.
Pooled Tax Increment Financing (TIF) for Affordable Housing
Support legislation that would allow the City to deposit pooled TIF for affordable housing in Edina’s Affordable
Housing Trust Fund. Allowing cities with established Affordable Housing Trust Funds to deposit the pooled TIF in
those funds will allow for greater flexibility in the use of the pooled TIF for qualified costs to facilitate the
construction and rehabilitation of affordable housing, while alleviating the administrative burden of annual
reporting.
Establish Revenue Resource for Affordable Housing
The City supports establishment of a financing source to fund local and regional programs to facilitate the
creation and preservation of affordable housing. The need for affordable housing in the State has grown to crisis
proportions, requiring a larger response than local jurisdictions can provide on their own. Increased State level
funding is critical to enable local jurisdictions to enact programs to facilitate the creation and preservation of
affordable housing, including subsidized and Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing (NOAH).
Environment and Sustainability
Energy Management
Support legislation to adopt a more advanced state energy code and/or allow for local adoption of more efficient
building standards.
Support continued funding of the Mighty Ducks Grant Program through the State of Minnesota, acting through its
agency, the Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission. This program is vital for ice arenas across the state to
become more environmentally and financially sustainable through the conversion of R-22 refrigeration systems to
modern cooling operations.
Water Quality
Support state funding for research and training for public and private applicators of chloride-containing de-icing
chemicals, and legislation to address liability concerns of private deicing salt applicators.
Support state laws that provide limited liability to commercial salt applicators that are certified through an
established voluntary salt applicator certification program
Public Safety
Funding for Public Safety Duty Disability Retirements under 299A.465
The City supports a solution that requires the State to fully fund the post-employment health insurance costs for
under this statute as was promised when the law was enacted in 1997. This statute requires the City to fully fund
cost of continued health insurance for police officers/firefighters disabled in the line of duty, and apply for
reimbursement from the state. State funding has remained stagnant for years, even though costs have increased
exponentially and the State has expanded benefits required of cities.
Mental Health and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Support for Police and Fire
The City supports efforts that focus on treatment and support for employees to safely and effectively return to
work whenever possible. The current duty disability processes under PERA and worker’s comp conflict with each
other and are not always compatible with the goal of treatment and return to work.
The City also supports programs and funding for emotional trauma training for public safety officers and
advancing wellness and mental health support as a component of any law enforcement reform.
Arbitration Reform
The current system of police arbitration under the Minnesota Public Employment Labor Relations Act (MPELRA)
provides arbitrators sole authority and undermines the ability of cities to make employment decisions that ensure
a public safety department meets the needs of the community. The City supports the League of Minnesota Cities’
positions related to arbitration reform and assuring City representation in discussion further changes to the
Police Accountability Act.