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Milburn Brings Community Focus as Edina’s New Police Chief
Former Brooklyn Park Deputy Chief Has Nearly 30 Years of Law Enforcement Experience
BY DAN REISIG
New Edina Police Chief Todd Milburn
bid farewell to his professional home of
nearly 30 years last month, but when
the opportunity arose to join the City of
Edina, he knew it was the “right place,
right time.”
“I’ve been blessed with many different
opportunities in the City of Brooklyn Park
to do different things,” he explained. “It
was certainly a tough decision for me to
jump into a new environment, but it just
feels like an awesome and great fit for me
to move into Edina.”
Serving as Deputy Chief of his former city
since 2014, Milburn had a front-row view
of the changing landscape of policing in
Minnesota in recent years. Brooklyn Park
ranks among the state’s largest and most
diverse populations and provided Milburn
with many opportunities to grow and
develop.
“That’s allowed us to have a great
relationship with a number of different
ethnic communities and backgrounds and
to get to know people in a different way,”
he explained of Brooklyn Park’s diversity.
“I think that carries over nicely to Edina
because the demographics of the city are
changing.”
“Todd has the right combination of law
enforcement experience and outstanding
communication skills,” City Manager Scott
Neal said. “I think he’s going to do great
work in Edina.”
Milburn believes step one in that process
is getting out into the community, beyond
responding to 911 calls. In Brooklyn Park,
he did just that.
“We would have dialogue and share
information with the community about
policy decisions. We were constantly
seeking feedback – ‘Are we heading in
the right direction? Do you have concerns
about what we’re doing?’” he said. “That
allowed us to really build relationships
with people getting to know their police
department and staff members in a
different way, away from the 911 calls.”
His former boss, Brooklyn Park Police
Chief Craig Enevoldsen, provided an
example of Milburn’s leadership in this
area.
“We had a triple homicide here several
years ago and Todd went and presented
to the neighborhood,” Enevoldsen said.
“It was a struggle because we couldn’t
really tell them what had happened
because we were still investigating. Todd
worked through that and brought some
peace and calm to the neighborhood
without jeopardizing the investigation.
He’s very well respected here by the other
unit directors and universally throughout
the police department.”
Milburn pledges to maintain the strong
reputation of the City and its Police staff.
That starts with taking care of the 77 men
and women who report to him.
“Law enforcement is very challenging
work right now – a lot of those who serve
in this type of work have been impacted
by the very unfortunate events that have
unfolded,” he said. “But it does take a
toll on morale and employee wellness and
engagement and all those kinds of things.
I like to pay attention to those dynamics
to make sure that our employees are
taken care of, that they’re engaged and
that we provide them with the best tools
and resources to be successful in this line
of work.
Edition: Edina
SEPTEMBER 2021
Volume 8, Issue 9Strong FoundationCITY GOALS:Better TogetherReliable Service Livable City
“Edina has got great leadership in place,
and it’s a city that knows where it’s going.
What attracted me to the position was
being surrounded by that environment
and walking into what is already a great
department. I am aware that the staff
here are phenomenal, and there’s lots of
collaboration within the department, but
also with nearby cities as well.”
Milburn, who is married and a father of
two teenagers, is ready for the challenge
and excited to start the next chapter of
his career in a new city and help shape
the direction of Edina Police for years to
come.
“It’s amazing,” he said of his three-
decade career in law enforcement. “It’s
a long time, and it doesn’t feel that way.
I feel like I’ve got a lot left to give and
offer, and I’m excited about taking on this
new role and really challenging myself
and coming up with new ways and new
things to think about policing.”
Police Chief Todd Milburn spent 29 years in
Brooklyn Park before joining the Edina Police
Department in August. (Photo by Dan Reisig)
2
BY THE NUMBERS
Amundson Flats
Replacing a vacant dry-cleaning facility, the Amundson Flats apartment
building opened in July at the corner of Amundson Avenue and West
70th Street in the Cahill Neighborhood. The development offers one-,
two- and three-bedroom apartments with underground parking, in-unit
laundry and a host of other amenities with convenient access to the
adjacent Nine Mile Creek Regional Trail.
units in the building, all
priced for affordable housing
62
– COMPILED BY DAN REISIG
40 60
$660
75
$1,490
years, the affordability
period agreed to by the
property owner, MWF
Properties
percent of median area
income needed to qualify
phone inquiries and 100
e-mails per day seeking
rent information during
the initial leasing period
monthly rental cost for a
one-bedroom unit
monthly rental for a
three-bedroom unit, the
highest-priced one in the
building
BY KAITLIN GAULT
Art Festival fans missed the Edina Art Fair
and Uptown Art Fair in 2021, but they
won’t have to miss the Edina Fall into the
Arts Festival.
The free Edina Fall into the Arts Festival
will brighten up the walkways of
Centennial Lakes Park, 7499 France Ave S.,
this month, marking the 17th year of the
event. The festival will be open 10 a.m. to
6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11, and 10 a.m. to
5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 12.
About 220 artists, exhibitors and food
vendors will sell their products around the
lake at Centennial Lakes Park. Art Center
General Manager Susan Tarnowski, who
leads the event, said festival attendees
can expect the same high-quality event as
past years.
“With COVID-19 guidance allowing a full-
festival experience, attendees can expect
artists of different mediums and a diverse
group of food vendors,” she said. “The
caliber of artists exhibiting this year is
exquisite.”
Current State guidance allows outdoor
events. Adding an extra layer of safety,
the festival will have handwashing stations
throughout.
Mediums like fine crafts, glass, jewelry,
mixed media, photography, pottery, two-
dimensional artwork, wearable art/fiber,
and wood will be on display for the more
than 25,000 people expected to attend
over the two days.
New this year, the Arts & Culture
Commission and Energy & Environment
Commission will share a booth to promote
the City’s Virtual Art Gallery and the
benefits of zero waste.
The festival is organized by and benefits
the Edina Crime Prevention Fund, which
contributes to many Police Department
programs and services, including the K-9
Unit, Motorcycle Unit, Police Explorers
and Night to Unite. The Fund also offers
reward money for information leading to
arrests for serious crimes. The festival also
benefits Centennial Lakes Park and the
Edina Art Center.
“We really have one of the most
beautiful locations for an art festival in
the expanded Twin Cities metro,” said
Tarnowski. “The excellent artists we
have coming will have something for
everyone’s interest.”
For more information, visit
edinafallintothearts.com or email
Tarnowski at starnowski@EdinaMN.gov.
Edina Fall into the Arts Festival Returns Sept. 11 and 12
Enjoy Vibrant Art and Exhibitors as You Walk Centennial Lakes Park
Mark your calendar Sept. 11 and 12 for the Edina
Fall into the Arts Festival at Centennial Lakes Park.
Eventgoers can look forward to the same high
quality of exhibits, cuisine and entertainment as
previous years. (File Photo)
3City of Edina EdinaMN.gov
UPCOMING EVENTS
Recurring Events:
Farmers Market,
Centennial Lakes Park
3-7 p.m. Thursdays
Monday, Sept. 6, Labor Day
City offices closed
Tuesday, Sept. 7, Rosh Hashanah
No City meetings
Thursday, Sept. 9, 7 p.m.
City Council meeting, Edina City Hall,
Council Chambers
Friday, Sept. 10, 7:30 a.m.
Housing & Redevelopment Authority
meeting, Edina City Hall
Saturday, Sept. 11, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and
Sunday, Sept. 12, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Fall into the Arts Festival, Centennial
Lakes Park
Sunday, Sept. 12, 3-5 p.m.
Stop the Hate, Edina City Hall
The Human Rights & Relations
Commission presents an event to address
the rise in hate crimes in America. BIPOC
speakers and an open mic will be available
for community members to share their
stories.
Thursday, Sept. 16, Yom Kippur
No City meetings
Saturday, Sept. 18, 9 a.m.
Walk With the Mayor, Rosland Park
In the event of rain or inclement weather,
the walk will be held at Southdale Center;
meet near the Caribou Coffee in the
center court.
Thursday, Sept. 23, 7:30 a.m.
Housing & Redevelopment Authority
meeting, Edina City Hall
Sept. 23-26, Chalk the Walk
Centennial Lakes Park
For a complete listing of meetings and
events, visit EdinaMN.gov.
Watch City Council, Housing & Redevelopment Authority and Planning
Commission meetings live:
• Edina TV (Comcast Channels 813 or 16)
• Facebook.com/EdinaMN
• “Watch a Meeting” web page at EdinaMN.gov/LiveMeetings
Edina voters will decide next year if there
should be a 0.5 percent local-option sales
tax in the community.
A local-option sales tax is a tax for a
specific purpose or project of regional
significance. It would only apply to taxable
goods. The proposed Edina sales tax
would equate to an additional 50 cents
on each $100 purchase of taxable goods.
It is estimated to generate more than $4
million annually.
At the request of the Edina City Council,
the Minnesota State Legislature adopted
legislation earlier this year to authorize
the City to conduct a referendum seeking
approval from Edina voters on the
imposition of a new local-option sales tax
to providing funding for the Fred Richards
Park Master Plan and the Braemar Park
Master Plan. The City Council took action
last month to move forward with the
referendum, which will be conducted
Nov. 8, 2022.
The Fred Richards Park Master Plan
is estimated to cost $17.7 million to
implement. Improvements at Braemar
Park, which include items at Braemar
Arena, are estimated to cost $20.9 million.
In other business last month, the Council:
•Approved a conditional-use permit to
allow for a new parking lot, cul-de-
sac with security gate on Waterman
Avenue and an expanded practice tee
and new putting green at Interlachen
Country Club, 5200 Interlachen Blvd.
•Established a new tax-increment
financing (TIF) district at 4040 W.
70th St. TIF will be used to fund the
proposed development of 118 units of
affordable housing on the site.
•Approved revised plans for Pentagon
Village, originally approved in 2019.
Jay Scott, Solomon Real Estate and
Rise Development now plan to build a
six-story, 200-unit apartment building
at 4911 77th St. W. Ten percent of the
units would be for affordable housing.
•Enacted a Tenant Protection
Ordinance to protect those who live in
naturally occurring affordable housing.
Under the ordinance, property
owners are limited in their ability to
increase rents and prohibited from
not renewing leases without cause
for three months after a transfer of
ownership.
•Supported a proposed layout
for Hennepin County’s Vernon
Avenue bridge replacement project,
scheduled for construction in 2023.
The existing bridge, built in 1927, has
weight restrictions and is classified
as structurally deficient. The new
bridge will provide improved safety
for all modes of transportation with
roadway improvements on Vernon
between Minnesota Highway 100
and Interlachen Boulevard.
•Awarded bids for tennis court surface
replacements at Rosland, Walnut
Ridge and Yancey parks.
The City Council next meets 7 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 9 and Tuesday, Sept. 21.
For more information, visit EdinaMN.gov.
– COMPILED BY JENNIFER BENNEROTTE
City to Move Forward With Referendum on Local-Option Sales Tax
Edina Voters to Decide on Half-Cent Tax in 2022
Process to Approve a Local Option Sales Tax in Edina
WE ARE HERE
City Council authorizes Resolution in support
MN House and Senate approve legislation
Edina voters pass referendum
State representatives and senators sponsor legislation
City Council agrees to referendum
City Council acts upon referendum
952-927-8861 | mail@EdinaMN.gov City of Edina EdinaMN.gov4
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BY KAITLIN GAULT
It’s official: The speed limit on most local
streets in Edina will be reduced to 25 mph
this fall. The reason for the change? Safety.
“Studies have shown that lower speed
limits reduce likelihood and severity
of motor vehicle crashes,” said
Transportation Planner Andrew Scipioni.
“Lowering speed limits across the city
also creates a scenario where streets
are designed to support all modes of
transportation, not just motor vehicles.
We are really taking into account the
needs of pedestrians, cyclists and transit
users so that the City’s transportation
system is one that supports all ages and
abilities.”
Earlier this year, the City Council approved
speed limits for each street within Edina’s
jurisdiction. At its Aug. 4 meeting, the
City Council approved an implementation
plan for the change, which includes
signage, communication, enforcement
and evaluation.
Reducing speed limits is one piece of
a comprehensive strategy to address
speeding. The change also supports the
City’s Comprehensive Plan, the Living
Streets Plan, the Pedestrian and Bicycle
Master Plan and the Active Routes to
School Plan.
Some collector and arterial streets will
remain at 30 mph because they serve
a regional traffic need. Examples of
streets that will remain at 30 mph include
Interlachen Boulevard, a portion of West
50th Street by Minnesota Highway 100,
and the frontage road system along
Interstate 494.
Scipioni said residents can expect to
notice the reduction of speed limits soon
through various communication channels
and signage.
About 250 signs will need to be removed,
replaced or added. Crews will aim to
complete a quadrant each month, starting
on the east side and working west. All
signs should be completed by end of 2021.
“We really want everyone to understand
that this is more than reducing speed
limits,” said Scipioni. “This is part of a
comprehensive approach to improve
pedestrian safety, complementary of
minimum roadway widths and redesign,
and adding new pedestrian, cyclist and
transit infrastructure to our city. We have
to do all three to achieve long-term safety.”
Drive 25: City Lowers Speed Limit on Residential Streets
City Hopes to Improve Safety for All Modes of Transportation
Edina residents can soon expect to see a reduction of
most speed limits within City boundaries. The change
from 30 mph to 25 mph aims to improve safety for all
modes of transportation. (Photo by Kaitlin Gault)
DRIVE25
EdinaMN.gov/Drive25
Join the conversation to help everyone who lives and works in
Edina imagine and achieve a future where the Earth and all who
live on it thrive. Review the plan and share your thoughts before
the end of September:
•Find our booth in person at the Edina Farmers Market
3-7 p.m. Thursdays at Centennial Lakes Park
•Find our booth in person at the Fall Into the Arts Festival
Sept. 11 or 12 at Centennial Lakes Park
•Share your feedback online at BetterTogetherEdina.org
Comment on the City’s Draft Climate Action Plan!
CITY OF EDINA
4801 WEST 50TH STREET
EDINA, MN 55424
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