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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEdition Edina Oct 2022Ehmiller Named Fire Marshal After Success as Interim Former Lieutenant Brings Experience and Expertise to Promotion BY KATHERINE HULBERT Dave Ehmiller has worn many hats — or really helmets — while serving the community. Now he’s wearing another one as Edina’s Fire Marshal. Ehmiller started his career in the fire service more than 20 years ago when he began working as a volunteer firefighter in Hopkins in 2002. After working there for three years, he took a full-time position with the City of St. Paul, where he went through paramedic school and worked as a Paramedic/Firefighter. While working in St. Paul, he learned of an open position with Edina’s Fire Department and decided to make the switch, starting his career with Edina in 2009. After many years of service as a Paramedic/Firefighter in Edina, Ehmiller was promoted to Lieutenant in 2019. Additionally, he served as the Field Training Officer, where he developed Edina’s Fire Academy and trained and onboarded new recruits. He was also part of Minnesota Task Force 1 for special operations. In May 2022, Fire Chief Andrew Slama offered Ehmiller an interim position as Fire Marshal, succeeding Rick Hammerschmidt in the position. The interim term gave him time to adjust to new responsibilities. Ehmiller officially began work as Fire Marshal Oct. 1, just prior to the 100th anniversary of Fire Prevention Week. “Dave has done an outstanding job in the interim position. He incorporated himself into the fire prevention team quickly and effortlessly,” said Fire Chief Andrew Slama. “It was an easy decision to formally move him to the position.” The Fire Marshal oversees the Fire Prevention Division and is responsible for operations regarding fire safety inspections and enforcing code compliance. Ehmiller’s main responsibility as Fire Marshal involves working with new developments during planning and implementation to confirm fire safety measures are in place and up to code. He also inspects existing buildings to make certain systems and equipment are sufficiently maintained to prevent fire hazards and ensure safety. “Looking back on my start as a volunteer firefighter with Hopkins, Chief Specken had me doing inspections and public education on fire prevention. So, things ended up coming full circle with me being promoted to Fire Marshal,” remarked Ehmiller. In addition to his newfound responsibilities and office operations, Ehmiller is still quick to respond to day-to-day calls to assist his crew. “It was a big transition coming into this role and leaving behind the shift life and responsibilities I had for so many years. However, I’m afforded the ability to respond to calls if I’m available, particularly the more critical ones where we need extra hands,” said Ehmiller. “I used to be the one driving the fire truck or running the shift when we’d be responding to a call, where as now, as Fire Marshal, I am operating in a command position. It’s been fun to operate at the different levels.” He expressed his gratitude to the support network within the City that has allowed him to have a successful start to his time as Fire Marshal, crediting the helpful knowledge of the Fire Prevention Division and Slama. “The experiences I’ve had throughout my career and the 13 years I’ve been with Edina have allowed me to get to this level. It’s been a wild ride, but it’s been great,” said Ehmiller. “The future of the City and the Fire Department is looking to be exciting, with the new station and new folks coming on all the time. The level of change that we’re looking at is pretty fun.” For more information on the Edina Fire Department, visit EdinaMN.gov/Fire. Dave Ehmiller was officially promoted to Fire Marshal on Oct. 1. He has worked for the Edina Fire Department since 2009 and has 20 years of experience in the fire service. (Photo by Glenn Gray) City of Edina EdinaMN.gov 1 Edition: Edina OCTOBER 2022 Volume 9, Issue 10Strong FoundationCITY GOALS:Better TogetherReliable Service Livable City ¹» ¹» ¹º¹º ¹º ñ ñ ¹» ¹º ¹º ¹º ¹º ¹º ¹º ñ ¹» ñ ñ ñ ñTRACY AVEVERNON AVEWOODDALE AVEHANSEN RD70TH ST W FRANCE AVE SVALLEYVIEWRDMINNESOTA DRGLEASONRDEdinaCommunityCenter AvailAcademy Golden Years Montessori CityHall St Peter's LutheranChurch & School South ViewMiddle School NormandaleElementary ConcordSchool CorneliaSchool SouthdaleLibrary Fire Station Public Works & Park Maintenance Creek ValleySchool FireStation Valley View Middle School Edina High School Countryside School HighlandsSchool EdinaCommunity Library Our Lady of Grace Church & School M innehahaCreek NineMileCreek N i n e Mile Creek SouthdaleCenter Canadian Pacific RailroadCanadian Pacific RailroadBLAKE RDSCHAEFER RDV E RN O N A V ECAHILL RD66TH ST W YORK AVE SINTERLACHEN BLVD MALONEY AVE 4 4 T H S T W 50TH ST W 54TH ST W 58TH ST W 70TH ST W 76TH ST W DEWEY HILL RD VALLEY VIEW RD VALLEY VIEW RD 78TH ST W I-494 HWY 100HWY 169HWY 169HWY 100HWY 62 HWY 62 April 2019 ±Legend 0 2,000 Feet 1 8 10 15 17 4 6 Development Tracker ¹»¹»¹º¹º¹ºñ ñ¹»¹º¹º¹º¹º¹º¹ºñ ¹»ññ ññTRACY AVEVERNON AVEWOODDALE AVEHANSEN RD70TH ST W FRANCE AVE SVALLEYVIEWRDMINNESOTA DRGLEASONRDEdinaCommunityCenterCalvinChristianSchoolGoldenYearsMontessoriCityHallSt Peter's LutheranChurch & SchoolSouthviewJr HighNormandaleElementaryConcordSchool CorneliaSchool SouthdaleLibraryFireStationPublic Works &Park MaintenanceCreek ValleySchool FireStationValley ViewJr HighEdinaHighSchoolColonialChurchCountrysideSchool HighlandSchool PublicLibraryOur Lady ofGrace Church& School M in ne hahaCreekNineMileCreek N ine Mile Creek Canadian Pacific RailroadCanadian Pacific RailroadBLAKE RDSCHAEFER RDVERNON AVE CAHILL RD66TH ST W YORK AVE SINTERLACHEN BLVDMALONEY AVE 44TH ST W50TH ST W 54TH ST W58TH ST W70TH ST W 76TH ST W DEWEY HILL RD VALLEY VIEW RDVALLEY VIEW RD 78TH ST W I-494 HWY 100HWY 169HWY 169HWY 100HWY 62 HWY 62 April 2019 ±Legend 0 2,000 Feet 5 11 7 6 7001 France Ave. Cornelia View Apartments The City of Edina Development Tracker includes reconstruction or new construction projects that have been completed in the past six months, are currently under construction, have filed a formal application to the City or have been substantially approved. View the Development and Construction Tracker online at EdinaMN.gov by clicking on the “Learn About Projects” button. 9 13 14 3 16 18 2 07-22-2022#75372-22075 GRANDVIEW YARDRENDERINGS Grandview Yard5146 Eden Avenue SouthEdina, MN 55436Grandview Yard 12 2 1 Interlachen Country Club Location: 6200 Interlachen Blvd. Developer: Interlachen Country Club Status: Approved The club requested a Conditional-Use Permit to improve the existing racquet facility and related amenities. The plans include a new lodge with restaurant, fitness center, racquet courts and two covered tennis courts. These amenities will be located where the existing racquet courts are today. 2 Grandview Yard Location: 5146 Eden Ave. Developer: United Properties and Jester Concepts Status: Proposed United Properties and Jester Concepts are proposing to redevelop the 3.3-acre old Public Works site at 5146 Eden Ave. As proposed, at full buildout the site would include a six-and-a-half-story, 86-unit senior cooperative project (owner occupied) with underground parking; a three-level, 13,500-square-foot, 347-seat restaurant with 31 surface parking stalls; and a 31,643-square-foot green space/public plaza area. Additional parking would rely on the public parking ramp to the west. 3 Maison Green Location: 4917 Eden Ave. Developer: Reuter Walton Status: Under Construction The Perkins restaurant and office building was demolished to build a seven-story, 208-unit luxury apartment building with a 3,700-square-foot restaurant/coffee shop. Ten percent of the units are set for those with 50 percent area median income. 4 Hankerson Townhomes Location: 5132 & 5136-5148 Hankerson Ave. Developer: Donnay Homes Inc. Status: Under Construction A house and a two-story, four-unit apartment building were removed and are being replaced with two four-unit townhomes that are two-and-a-half stories tall. The plan includes green space and tree preservation on the south side of the property. 5 Our Lady of Grace Expansion Location: 5051 Eden Ave. Status: Completed Expansion and improvements included a new priest residence, activity center, expansion of the school and parish gathering space and remodeling areas of existing buildings. 6 Westside Cafe Location: 6016 Vernon Ave. Developer: Special X Properties LLC Status: Proposed The applicant proposes to remodel and expand the existing Kee’s Auto Repair at 6016 Vernon Ave. into a 2,300 square foot, 59-seat restaurant. 7 Countryside Elementary School Location: 5701 Benton Ave. Developer: Wold Architects & Engineers Status: Approved Edina Public Schools received a Conditional-Use Permit for building additions and an expanded parking lot. The goal of the expanded parking lot is to make the site safer by separating parent and busing drop-off areas. 8 Concord Elementary School Location: 5900 Concord Ave. Developer: Wold Architects & Engineers Status: Approved Edina Public Schools received a Conditional-Use Permit for a small building addition to add a classroom. 9 View 44 Location: 4425 Valley View Road Developer: DJR Architects Status: Completed The existing one-story day-care building was razed and replaced with a three-story, 21-unit market rate apartment building with 32 underground parking stalls. 10 Bhatti G.I. Medical Office & Surgery Center Location: 6500 Barrie Road Developer: MSP Commercial Status: Under Construction Bhatti G.I. Consultant received approval to tear down the existing 16,032-square-foot medical office building and build a new three-story, 24,000-square-foot medical office and surgery center. 11 Life Time Living Location: 250 Southdale Center Developer: Life Time Fitness and ESG Status: Sketch Plan Lifetime and Simon Property Group received non-binding feedback on a sketch plan for a residential infill project within the existing parking lot in the northeast quadrant of Southdale Center. The proposal is to build a 32-story, 300- unit building with associated parking, added greenspace and public park. 12 Cornelia View Apartments Location: 4040 W. 70th St. Developer: Ecumen and Lupe Development Partners Status: Under Construction Ecumen and Lupe Development Partners have torn down the existing office building and will construct a new three- to four- story, 118-unit senior affordable housing project with 86 underground and 23 surface parking stalls. 13 7001 France Ave. Location: 7001 and 7025 France Ave. Developer: Orion Investments, ESG and Mortenson Status: Under Construction The existing office building and bank will be torn down and replaced with a one- story U.S. Bank building with a drive-thru, a 24-story building with 270 apartments and 5,000 square feet of retail space, a 10-story building for offices and retail, and a nine-story building for 110 apartments. 14 7200 and 7250 France Ave. Location: 7200 and 7250 France Ave. Developer: Orion Investments Status: Proposed The existing office buildings and parking ramp on the sites would be removed. The project would be developed in two phases, beginning with the construction of a five- story, 140,000-square-foot office building with underground parking at the 7250 site. The 7200 site would include a pond, sidewalks, green space, landscaping and potentially surface parking where the future building pad would be. Phase 2 would include a similar-sized building in height and square footage, with the future use being either office or housing, with retail. 15 The Sound on 76th Location: 4100 W. 76th St. Developer: The Sound on 76th / AEON Status: Completed After removal of notable artwork, the building that once occupied FlyteTyme Studios and later the Minneapolis Media Institute was demolished. A four-story apartment building with 80 units of affordable housing and underground resident parking was built on the site. 16 The Fred at Pentagon North Location: 4660 77th St. W. Developer: Solhem Companies Status: Under Construction The applicant is tearing down the existing two office buildings on the site and constructing a five- to seven-story, 408- unit market rate apartment building. 17 Pentagon Village Apartments Location: 4911 77th St. W. Developer: Rise Development Status: Under Construction The applicant will develop the vacant lot in the southeast corner of the Pentagon South development with a six-story, 200-unit apartment building. Ten percent of the units will be for affordable housing. 18 Pentagon Village Hotel Location: 4931 77th St. W. Developer: SEH Inc./JR Hospitality Status: Approved The applicant plans to build a five-story hotel. The site plan was originally approved in 2019, but was delayed in 2020 due to COVID-19. 3City of Edina EdinaMN.gov - COMPILED BY AMY KYLLO Edina is ready for a smooth in-person voting experience on Nov. 8 with all the “people, places and things” needed for a great Election Day! Don’t want an in-person experience? Plan to vote from the comfort of your home with a mail-in absentee ballot. BY THE NUMBERS 2022 General Election Voting Neighborhoods To Help Design Park Playgrounds Surveys and Outreach Begin This Fall for Replacing Equipment BY DEBBIE TOWNSEND Residents near Fox Meadow, Strachauer and Wooddale parks will soon be asked to help design new playground equipment that will replace the existing ones at those parks. The effort needs to kick off this fall, Parks & Recreation Director Perry Vetter said, because supply chain issues are causing major delays in getting the new playground equipment. The pieces to replace Lewis Park’s playground were ordered in March, but sections of it still hadn’t arrived as of late September. The outreach effort will be similar to what was done for Lewis. Residents and park users, including the children who use the playgrounds, will be asked for their choices on types of play equipment, colors and design. All playgrounds will include pieces for ages 2-5 and 5-12 and have ADA-compliant safety surfaces. “We had terrific feedback from the Lewis Park area,” Vetter said, noting the equipment ordered was based on the responses of more than 600 participants. “Unfortunately, the lead time on receiving these amenities continues to grow.” Strachauer Park users and area residents will also help develop an overall master plan for park improvements. While that plan will be longer range, the playground will be replaced as soon as feasible as funding for that has already been designated. The Strachauer Park Master Plan project information is available now on BetterTogetherEdina.org, and the other playground surveys will be posted there as well. Residents can stay atop notifications by signing up for City Extra emails (visit EdinaMN.gov/CityExtra) for their neighborhood or looking for posts on Nextdoor. Reminder signs also will be posted at the playgrounds. Playground replacements are part of Capital Improvement Plans and funding. Replacement timeframes for other playgrounds will be part of discussions for the next Capital Improvement Plan to be approved by the City Council this December. For more information on Fox Meadow, Strachauer or Wooddale playground replacement, contact Recreation Supervisor Amanda Clarke at aclarke@EdinaMN.gov or 952-826-0433. Strachauer Park’s aging playground will soon be replaced with new play equipment chosen by park users and nearby residents. (Photo by Katherine Hulbert) 16 Polling places in Edina 19%Of the total Edina votes came from absentee/mail-in ballots in the August 2022 Primary 19 Ballot counters in Edina Election judges hired by Edina for the Nov. 8 General Election 230 4 Small Army Helps Elections in Edina Run Smoothly City Clerk’s Office Oversees Nearly 200 Election Judges and 16 Precincts BY DEBBIE TOWNSEND Conducting an election takes a small army of trained election judges and key people who oversee every detail of the process. Before becoming Edina’s City Clerk in 2018, Sharon Allison would shift from her regular administrative position in the Engineering Department to help out every election night. In 2017, she began training under then-City Clerk Deb Mangen, who was renowned in Minnesota for her election expertise. Now as City Clerk, Allison is in charge of everything from testing the ballot counting machines to training more than 200 election judges. “We have a good base of election judges who return every year, so that’s very helpful,” Allison said. “This year, we got quite a few new judges as well.” Allison led several two-hour training sessions for the judges required for certification. She’s a stickler for the details and precisely following rules and procedures, qualities that are key reasons she was chosen for the City Clerk position years ago. She imparts those same expectations of honesty and integrity upon all those involved with elections. After training, election judges are assigned to precincts. Redistricting this year reduced the number of Edina precincts from 20 to 16, requiring lots of shuffling. “It’s a little tricky because you have to have party balance at every precinct,” Allison said. That means every precinct must have a similar number of Democrats and Republicans serving as election judges. That distribution task and many other details, such as ensuring each precinct has all the proper forms and supplies, fall to newly promoted Deputy City Clerk Noel Mills. While new in title, Mills previously worked as a head election judge in Iowa, overseeing absentee ballots, and earned a master’s degree in Public Affairs from the University of Iowa. She also worked on the August Primary directly with longtime Edina Deputy City Clerk Jane Timm before Timm retired in September. “The Primary Election was a big eye- opener” into the process in Edina and Minnesota, Mills said, and gave her confidence on handling the November General Election. Based on history, it will be a busy one as 85 to 90 percent of Edina registered voters tend to cast fall General Election ballots. Noted Allison, “We’ve always had an awesome turnout.” For more information about elections in Edina or becoming an election judge, visit EdinaMN.gov/Elections. What’s on the Nov. 8 Ballot? The following is on the ballot for most Edina voters: Federal Offices U.S. Representative Districts 3 and 5 State Offices State Senator District 46 State Representative District 46B State Senator District 50 State Representative District 50A Governor and Lieutenant Governor Secretary of State State Auditor Attorney General Associate Justice – Supreme Court 3 Associate Justice – Supreme Court 6 Judge – Court of Appeals: 1, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 19 Judge – 4th District Court: 4, 7, 8, 9, 18, 21, 23, 24, 26, 31, 34, 36, 37, 38, 39, 41, 45, 46, 50, 51, 52, 60, 62 Hennepin County Offices County Sheriff County Attorney County Park Commissioner District 4 City Referendum Question 1: SALES AND USE TAX FOR BRAEMAR PARK AND ARENA PROJECT Shall the City of Edina be authorized to impose a one-half of one percent (0.5%) sales and use tax for up to 19 years for $21.6 million in improvements at Braemar Park and Arena and associated bonding costs? By voting “yes” on this question you are voting to increase the sales tax in Edina to pay for new trails for walking, hiking, biking and winter use, a new playground, Courtney Field infrastructure improvements including upgraded lighting, spectator safety and seating, pickleball courts and platform tennis, natural resource stewardship and invasive species control, infrastructure repairs and accessibility improvements at Braemar Arena, as described in the adopted Braemar Park Master Plan. Question 2: SALES AND USE TAX FOR FRED RICHARDS PARK PROJECT Shall the City of Edina be authorized to impose a one-half of one percent (0.5%) sales and use tax for up to 19 years for $17.7 million in park improvements at Fred Richards Park and associated bonding costs? By voting “yes” on this question you are voting to increase the sales tax in Edina to pay for new wetland banking and flood storage, trail loops, natural resource restoration, a remodeled clubhouse, a pickleball facility, a premier playground and parking, as described in the adopted Fred Richards Park Master Plan. If one or both of the questions are approved by a majority of voters, the City of Edina is only authorized to impose a single one-half of one percent (0.5%) sales and use tax increase for a maximum of 19 years or until enough sales tax revenue has been raised to pay for the costs of one or both projects. For an exact listing of what will be on your ballot, myballotmn.sos.state.mn.us. Local Offices City Council Member (Elect 2) School Board Member (ISD 273) City Clerk Sharon Allison, front, and Deputy City Clerk Noel Mills oversee elections in Edina. (Photo by Glenn Gray) 5City of Edina EdinaMN.gov Edina residents have many options for voting in the Nov. 8 General Election. People should choose the method that works best for them, City Clerk Sharon Allison said, because it counts the same whether you cast your ballot in person on Election Day, fill out an absentee ballot at your home and mail it, or vote early at City Hall. Absentee Voting from Home •You can request an absentee ballot by applying online at MNVotes.org or calling Hennepin County at 612-348-5151. •You will need a registered Minnesota voter or a notary to act as a witness when you vote and complete your ballot. (They don’t need to see who/what you voted for, only that you alone filled it out.) •Follow the return instructions and mail your ballot early as it must be received by Election Day to count. Early Voting •Available 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays through Monday, Oct. 31, at Edina City Hall, 4801 W. 50th St. •Voters will receive an absentee ballot, fill it out on the spot and turn it in inside an envelope. If you vote by absentee, you can confirm your ballot has been received by visiting MNVotes.org and selecting “Track your absentee ballot.” Direct Early Voting •Available 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays until Friday, Nov. 4; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5; and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 7, at Edina City Hall. •Voters will receive a ballot, mark it and place it into the ballot counter. Election Day Voting •Voting is at assigned polling places from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. •Due to redistricting, your precinct likely changed this year. Before you head to the polls, visit MNVotes.org to find your correct polling place. •You will not be able to vote at an incorrect precinct. •There is no voting at City Hall on Election Day. •At their assigned polling place, voters will receive a ballot, mark it and place it into the ballot counter. Polling Places Polling places are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day at the following locations: Precinct Location Address Precinct 1 Shepherd of the Hills Church 500 Blake Road Precinct 2 Highlands Elementary School 5505 Doncaster Way Precinct 3 Countryside Elementary School 5701 Benton Ave. Precinct 4 Good Samaritan Church 5730 Grove St. Precinct 5 Normandale Lutheran Church 6100 Normandale Road Precinct 6 Edina Morningside Community Church 4201 Morningside Road Precinct 7 South View Middle School 4725 South View Lane Precinct 8 Concord Elementary School 5900 Concord Ave. Precinct 9 Pamela Park 4301 W. 58th Street Precinct 10 St. Alban’s Church 6716 Gleason Road Precinct 11 Calvary Lutheran Church 6817 Antrim Road Precinct 12 Church of St. Patrick’s 6820 St. Patrick’s Lane Precinct 13 Centennial Lakes Park 7499 France Ave. S. Precinct 14 Edinborough Park 7700 York Ave. S. Precinct 15 Southdale Library 7001 York Ave. S. Precinct 16 Cornelia Elementary School 7000 Cornelia Drive Voters Can Choose How and When to Cast Their Votes Absentee, Early Voting and Election Day Polling Places Are All Options For more information on voting, visit EdinaMN.gov/Elections or MNVotes.org. UPCOMING EVENTS Tuesday, Oct. 4- Wednesday Oct. 5 Yom Kippur Thursday, Oct. 6, 7 p.m. City Council meeting, Edina City Hall Saturday, Oct. 8, 7:15 p.m. Night Glow Golf, Braemar Academy 9 Golf Course Thursday, Oct. 13, 7:30 a.m. Housing & Redevelopment Authority meeting, Edina City Hall Saturday, Oct. 15, 1 p.m. Family Painting: Cupcakes & Canvas Fall Fox, Edina Art Center Tuesday, Oct. 18, 7 p.m. City Council meeting, Edina City Hall Saturday, Oct. 22, 10 a.m. Family & Friends Event: Diwali Lanterns, Edina Art Center Saturday, Oct. 22, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. or Sunday, Oct. 23, noon-4 p.m. Buckthorn dump across from Braemar Golf Dome Monday, Oct. 24 Diwali Thursday, Oct. 27, 4 p.m.-5:30 p.m. or 6-7:30 p.m. HalloBoo, Edinborough Park Saturday, Oct. 29, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. or Sunday, Oct. 30, noon-4 p.m. Buckthorn dump across from Braemar Golf Dome 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 6 What do you like best about living in Edina? •Edina is a terrific town for raising families, especially with the parks and green spaces. •Edina has a remarkable civic spirit; countless residents volunteer their time and talents to make our town even better. •Our streets are always plowed so quickly and thoroughly all winter! What would you like to help the City improve? •I want to help residents stay informed about issues that affect them and then listen carefully to what they say. •I want to help Edina become a leader in sustainability. •I want to enhance housing options for everyone who wants to be a part of our community. Areas of emphasis in your campaign? •Listening to our community! I want to understand their concerns and aspirations for Edina. What do you like best about living in Edina? •I like living in Edina for its snow removal services during the winter season. •Proximity to the airport, Southdale Hospital and minutes away from major metropolitan cities makes Edina a desirable city. What would you like to help the City improve? •Get playground equipment in the park in the southeast quadrant of Edina •We would like a community center in the southeast quadrant of Edina •Help the City end the policy of paying a fee to opt out of building affordable units Areas of emphasis in your campaign? •Help the City’s affordable housing, both rental and ownership •Representative and good transparent governance •Low-growth policies that fully engage the community •Strong environmental policies that reduce our carbon footprint •Transportation options and connections for pedestrians and bicyclists What do you like best about living in Edina? •Friendly, tree-lined neighborhoods •Responsible, professional police, fire and emergency services •Our spirited sense of involvement and volunteerism What would you like to help the City improve? •To conserve and improve our parks and resources •To respond to residents’ concerns as a priority Areas of emphasis in your campaign? •Make safe neighborhoods a top priority •Fiscally responsible decisions •Making Edina a better place to live by evaluating decisions based on quality of life What do you like best about living in Edina? •Community – actively engaged residents who care about schools, housing, environment and how public funds are raised and spent. •Neighborhoods – vibrant places for people of all ages with access to parks, restaurants, public transit and shopping. •Edina’s location – convenient access to world-class theaters, sports stadiums, art museums and the University of Minnesota. What would you like to help the City improve? •Budget and Spending Transparency – comprehensive data based on total costs for projects, including increased maintenance expenditures and infrastructure needs. •Development Process – community-focused analysis of rezoning, setback variances, Tax Increment Financing (TIF) requests. Screen proposal for risk ex: flood zones. •Communication – access to community comments on Better Together Edina, budget and up-to-date zoning maps. Areas of emphasis in your campaign? •Community-first process – evaluating proposals through resident input, the Comprehensive Plan, City Code, zoning and total cost. •Focus on essentials – prioritize public services and safety, fire protection, sound infrastructure, housing options and transportation options. • Accountable leadership – community wellbeing depends on fiscal responsibility, accurate information residents easily obtain and compliance with municipal regulations. Candidate Profiles Edina City Council Kate Agnew Janet Kitui CITY COUNCIL MEMBER CITY COUNCIL MEMBERCITY COUNCIL MEMBER CITY COUNCIL MEMBER Ron Anderson Julie Risser Address: 6017 Halifax Ave. Years in Edina: 4 Website: kateagnew.com Address: 7201 York Ave. S., Unit 519 Years in Edina: 11 Website: janet4edinacitycouncil.com Address: 5728 Kemrich Drive Years in Edina: 34 Website: andersonforcitycouncil.com Address: 6112 Ashcroft Ave. Years in Edina: 23 Website: Julie4Edina.com The following profiles were submitted by candidates 7City of Edina EdinaMN.gov 952-927-8861 | mail@EdinaMN.govCity of Edina EdinaMN.gov8 Edina residents helped shape master plans for Fred Richards and Braemar parks. On Nov. 8, they will vote on a way to finance those plans. As part of the General Election, Edina voters will consider a half-percent local option sales tax to finance $39.3 million of an investment plan to renovate and provide new services at Braemar Park and Arena and Fred Richards Park. There are two questions on the ballot. The first question (at the bottom of the middle column on the first page of the ballot) asks if voters approve the use of a local option sales tax to fund $21.6 million in improvements at Braemar Park and Arena. Those improvements include: $8.1 million at Braemar Park •New trail system for walking, biking and cross-country skiing •New playground, pickleball and platform tennis courts and upgrades to the Courtney Fields baseball complex •Restored natural resources and improved parking $13.5 million to update Braemar Arena •New HVAC system, updated roof and improved energy efficiency •Upgraded restrooms, locker rooms, rink surfaces and rink-cooling system The second question (at the top of the third column on the first page of the ballot) asks if voters approve the use of a local option sales tax to fund $17.7 million to transform Fred Richards Park from a shuttered executive golf course into a multifaceted park. $17.7 million to repurpose Fred Richards Park •New trails, pickleball courts and a basketball court •Natural restoration, inclusive playgrounds, a pavilion and a great lawn area •New lighting, seating, signs, infrastructure and parking Voters to Decide Local Sales Tax for Parks and Arena Projects Funding Option Would Spread Costs Between Residents and Nonresidents If either or both questions are approved by Edina voters, the improvements would be funded by a half-percent sales tax increase over the course of no more than 19 years. If the bonds for the parks projects are paid off before then, the sales tax expires. The only way the tax could be extended or used for other projects would be if the Legislature authorized the change, and Edina voters approved. The Edina City Council concluded that a sales tax option was the best choice to finance this investment plan because the cost is spread among residents and nonresidents who make purchases in the city. If the projects were funded through a property tax increase, the cost burden would fall solely to those who own property in Edina. According to a recent study by the University of Minnesota, if the tax had been in place in 2019, Edina residents would have contributed $1.94 million in sales taxes that year, and nonresidents would have contributed $2.23 million. Based on these estimates, each Edina resident would have paid, on average, an additional $36.35 in sales taxes in 2019. For more information on the referendum, visit EdinaAtPlay.org - COMPILED BY JENNIFER BENNEROTTE In November, Edina voters will consider a half-percent sales tax to provide $39.3 million of improvements at Braemar Park and Arena and Fred Richards Park. If approved, consumers would pay 5 cents more for a $10 taxable purchase in Edina for no more than 19 years. Visit EdinaAtPlay.org to learn more about the Nov. 8 referendum, including benefits of the parks projects, tax impact and voting information.