HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-05-16 City Council Work Session MinutesMINUTES
OF THE EDINA CITY COUNCIL
WORK SESSION
COMMUNITY ROOM, CITY HALL
TUESDAY, MAY 16, 2023
5:30 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Hovland called the meeting to order at 5:31 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Answering roll call were Members: Agnew, Jackson, Pierce, Risser and Mayor Hovland
Absent: Pierce
Staff in attendance: Scott Neal, City Manager; Perry Vetter, Parks & Recreation Director; Addison Lewis,
Community Development Coordinator; Cary Teague, Community Development Director; Emily Bodeker,
Assistant City Planner; Stephanie Hawkinson, Affordable Housing Development Manager; Chad Millner,
Engineering Director; Heidi Lee, Race and Equity Manager; Jake Miller, I.T. Specialist; and Sharon Allison, City
Clerk.
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION JOINT MEETING
Parks and Recreation Director Vetter, Chair Matt Doscotch and Vice Chair Jamie Pfuhl updated the Council
on their 2023 work plan. The Council asked questions and provided feedback.
Commissioners in attendance: Chair Matt Doscotch and Vice Chair Jamie Pfuhl.
ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS
Community Development Coordinator Lewis said this work plan item to "review and recommend changes to
city ordinances regulating Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU)" was a continuation from the Planning Commission's
(PC) 2022 work plan. Lewis said on Feb. 7, 2023, the PC presented an advisory communication with the
recommendation that the City Council direct staff and the PC to draft an ordinance allowing ADUs, but City
Council had questions and that staff and commissioner Smith would respond to those questions. Furthermore,
staff and commissioners were looking for direction from Council to continue working on the ordinance to allow
ADUs.
Lewis said ADUs were identified in several guiding documents to meet various housing and sustainability goals
and how they would provide more housing options that serve a diverse range of ages, household types, and
economic situation. He spoke about demographic changes and how AARP was advocating for ADUs as a housing
solution for seniors to age in place, and that two-thirds would consider living in an ADU. Lewis said from their
research of neighboring communities with ADUs, they were more affordable to build, did not require subsidy,
prohibited as short-term rentals, showed no evidence of decreased property values, adds to property tax
because value increases, no infrastructure concerns because of low volume in other communities, and how many
units could be built depends on the ordinance. He said current ordinances were strict so only a few units have
been built but several cities were considering loosening restrictions.
Commissioner Smith spoke about the number of single-family homes and what it would mean if just two percent
added ADUs. He spoke about surrounding communities and Edina with aging parents and adult children and the
benefits of ADUs. Smith said the single-family neighborhood façade would not change. He recommended that
units be owner-occupied to dissuade investment properties.
Council asked questions and provided feedback.
Edina City Council Work Session Meeting, May 16, 2023
Commissioners in attendance: Quincy Smith and Bonnie Padilla
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Hovland adjourned the meeting at 6:35 pm.
Respectfully submitted, ____________________________________________
Sharon Allison, City Clerk
Minutes approved by the Edina City Council, June 6, 2023.
___________________________________________
James B. Hovland, Mayor