The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutEditionEdina_February-2024_WebPa Thao Named Finance Director In Just Two Years, Thao Has Climbed the Ranks to Become the City’s Newest Director BY MATTHEW CORDS It’s not often that Assistant Finance Director Pa Thao backs down from a challenge. So, when she was approached about becoming the next Director of the Finance Department after just two years with the City, it was an opportunity she couldn’t pass up. Thao graduated in 2010 from Concordia University in St. Paul with a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Finance. Thao interned with the State Department of Transportation as an undergrad before transferring to the Department of Human Services (DHS) once she completed her studies. For three years, she worked heavily in grant accounting with DHS until taking her first job in local government at the City of Brooklyn Park. She then transitioned to Abdo Financial Solutions as a consultant for local municipalities until taking an opening with the City of Edina’s Finance Department. Relying on her expertise in finance related to local municipalities, Thao excelled in her role as an Auditing and Accounting Coordinator with Edina, which led to her internal promotion to Assistant Finance Director just 10 months after being hired. A month before celebrating her two-year anniversary with the City, Thao was selected to succeed Alisha McAndrews as the next Director of Edina’s Finance Department. McAndrews and her family have relocated to Idaho. An active member of the Executive Leadership Team, the Finance Director establishes functional policies, makes tactical decisions within overall strategic direction and provides oversight for the City’s budget and capital improvements. The Finance Department is composed of 10 staff members and includes the Utility Billing Division. With an official start date of Feb. 1, Thao’s first order of business will be filling two job vacancies in Utility Billing and Accounting to evenly distribute the department’s workload. Additionally, residents can expect to see finance projects related to the expansion of Braemar Arena and construction of a new Fire Station 2. “Pa’s depth of experience in local government finance makes her a great leader for the Finance Department … she has quickly gained the trust and respect of the Finance team and other City staff,” McAndrews said when describing her time working with Thao. “She is super sharp, thoughtful, organized.” “Pa is personable and people like working for and with her. She is a good role model for her team,” said City Manager Scott Neal, who offered Thao the promotion in November. Thao is excited to bring enthusiasm to her new role, which she said, “brings meaning and fulfillment to her job.” She credits her Finance Director at Brooklyn Park, Cory Kampf, for inspiring her to be passionate, fun and professional while working in government finance. “Edina is a great city. The tone from the top down resonates that the City truly values their employees, and you can tell they truly care.” For more information on the Finance Department, visit EdinaMN.gov/Finance. Pa Thao begins work as Edina’s newest Finance Director Feb. 1. (Photo by Jason Heuer) City of Edina EdinaMN.gov 1 Edition: Edina FEBRUARY 2024 Volume 11, Issue 2Strong FoundationCITY GOALS:Better TogetherReliable Service Livable City BY DEBBIE TOWNSEND The new Century Homes Program will help honor and spread awareness of Edina’s history through its houses. “We’re setting up an easy way to share and preserve stories of older houses and the people inside them,” said Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) Chair Jane Lonnquist. Anyone with an Edina home 100 years or older can apply. Across Edina, 237 houses were eligible as of the end of 2023, with another 35 homes turning 100 this year, according to records of the City’s Assessing Division. Interested homeowners fill out an application and include as much information about their home as they choose to share. The only cost involved is for a 5x7-inch bronze plaque, to be displayed on the front facade or in a street-facing window, that includes the year the home was built. The program is voluntary and honorary. A Century Home designation does not qualify homes for local or national historic status nor place any restrictions on repairs or renovations. Century Homes will be featured on the EdinaMN.gov website and be recognized during National Preservation Month in May. The program, created by the HPC in collaboration with the Edina Historical Society, has three goals: raise historic awareness, connect the community by the plaques prompting neighborhood conversations and limit the environmental impact that comes with home demolition and reconstruction. Some HPC members also wanted to expand the Commission’s preservation focus beyond homes in the historic Country Club District to “celebrate the wonderful architecture and history throughout all of Edina,” Lonnquist said. “I once heard a developer here say that an 80-year-old home had reached its shelf life,” Lonnquist said. “That is a comment that you just wouldn’t hear in Boston, or maybe even in Minneapolis! Old homes may not be for everyone, but that doesn’t mean they should be torn down. The people who have invested in maintaining and rehabilitating older homes probably also appreciate their history and may want to share it.” Homeowners don’t have to do any special research to apply, though the HPC has assembled a list of resources to help investigate a home’s history. Assistance is available if the plaque cost, currently around $300, is a barrier to participation. Lonnquist says home histories don’t need to be formal or strictly architectural. “We want people to know that if they enjoy knowing something quirky about their Century Home – like the fireplace is made from stones that the first owners brought home from the Black Hills in their Model T Ford – then chances are someone else will enjoy knowing that, too. We can’t save these stories if we don’t share them.” Learn more about the program and apply at EdinaMN.gov/CenturyHome. For more information or to inquire about financial assistance for the plaque, contact HPC Staff Liaison Emily Dalrymple at edalrymple@EdinaMN.gov or 952-826-0462. New Century Homes Program Accepting Applications Voluntary Program Celebrates 100-Year-Old Homes and Those Who Have Lived in Them - COMPILED BY REHAM ALEMAM Braemar Golf Dome, 7420 Braemar Blvd., offers the longest- hitting indoor practice facility in the area. The Golf Dome, open to everyone and equipped with a Toptracer range, has seven members of the Professional Golfers Association who can help golfers of all ages learn the game or improve their skills. For more information, visit BraemarGolfDome.com. Toptracer hitting bays 44 6,659,164 Toptracer range balls tracked in 2023 100,000+ Range balls inventory in 2023 BY THE NUMBERS Braemar Golf Dome 56,469 Toptracer sessions in 2023 BRAEMAR GOLF COURSE 2 BY LAUREN SIEBENALER It’s only February, but the City of Edina’s Engineering Department is busy with two road reconstruction projects. Reconstruction of the Southdale B and Concord B & C areas are expected to begin in the spring and end in the fall. The Southdale B project includes reconstruction of Barrie Road, Heritage Drive and West 65th Street. Work will include new asphalt pavement, new concrete curb and gutter, watermain and water service improvements, sanitary sewer and storm sewer system improvements, and a new street lighting system. A concrete sidewalk will be constructed along Barrie and a portion of West 65th and Heritage to complete gaps in the pedestrian network. The project is estimated to cost $5.1 million. City Utility Funds will pay for the storm sewer, sanitary sewer and watermain. Sidewalks will be paid for with money from the Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety (PACS) Fund. To help pay for the rest of the street reconstruction, a special levy will be assessed to adjacent property owners. The preliminary assessment is $950 per multifamily residential unit as well as assessments to commercial properties. The Concord B & C project includes reconstruction of 2.18 miles, including Ashcroft Avenue, Ashcroft Lane, Concord Avenue, Garrison Lane, Millers Lane, Nancy Lane, Rose Court, Saint Johns Avenue, Virginia Lane, Wooddale Avenue, West 62nd Street, West 63rd Street and West 64th Street. The reconstruction work will include new asphalt pavement, new concrete curb and gutter, watermain and water service improvements, sanitary sewer and storm sewer system improvements. Concrete sidewalks or paths will be constructed along Concord between West 64th and Valley View, Wooddale between Nancy and Valley View, and West 64th between Concord and Rose. The project is estimated to cost $12.9 million. City Utility Funds will pay for the storm sewer, sanitary sewer and watermain. The PACS Fund will cover the cost of sidewalks, paths, bike lane striping and associated signage. To help pay for the rest of the street reconstruction, a special levy will be assessed to adjacent property owners. The preliminary assessment is $13,400 per residential equivalent unit. For both road reconstruction projects, the special assessments will be payable beginning in fall 2025 after construction is complete. Two Road Reconstruction Projects To Start This Spring Southdale B and Concord B & C will See New Asphalt Streets, Sidewalks and More Neighborhood Roadway Reconstruction Concord B & C Project contact: Assistant City Engineer Aaron Ditzler, 952-826-0443 or aditzler@EdinaMN.gov Estimated affected properties: 166 Miles of road: 2.18 Funding sources: Special assessments, property taxes, respective utility funds and the Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety (PACS) Fund View ongoing project information at BetterTogetherEdina.org/ concord‐bc. 6144 4300 4401 4415 4443 6304 4502-14 4545 4421 4439 6302 6306 4435 4425 4431 6305 4425 43014420 4501 6313 6024 4509 45004520 6303 6232 4420 6145 6200 4701 45096301 6233 6029 6141 442861616025 6324 6208 6225 6216 4505 6112 4704 452146046308 6316 61174624 6209 6217 6224 44326020 6025 6321 6325 6300 6216 6321 62046109 62056301 6108 6208 6309 6128 6104 6008 45086031-33 6028 4501 4516-18 6021 4500 6301 44366225 6020 6016 6012 4621 4609 6209 6104 4504 4605 6016 6024 6324 4620 6200 6012 4617 6217 6101 6305 62094613 45046100 6305 6109 6117 6 2 1 7 62086017 6105 6113 4505 6301 6205 45004624 6121 6125 45126108 44046025 451662136116 6304 4701 6309 6021 6100 6205 4616 6140 6313 6109 6336 6213 6201 6317 6212 6329 6317 61016105 6008 6325 6201 47056109 6017 6009 4713 6028 6321 6016 6209 6017 47046332 6009 6324 6012 462947006320 6013 45136309 6308 6312 6305 6337 6217 6105 44306021 6141 6125 6013 6312 6328 6112 44406204 61214708 46086308 6020 6329462862136212 6021 6304 6036 6013 6120 6045 6020 6333 63124701 6017 6317 4709 4412 62016320 6013 4712 6309 6044 6221 6012 6313 6316 450047004704 6037 6304 45176013 4705620546126113 63006301 4508 6016 6336 4444462047134708 6008 6305 6116 6104 633247096328 6333 620946256012 6329 6016 6017 6041 6028 6117 6124 6120 6121 6113611661126108 6133 6029 6132 6128 6101 6129 6032 6100 6125 6020 6101 6121 6136 6029 6129 61046101 6033 6016 6045 6021 61096113 6137 6117 6037 6033 60176021 6105 6041 6037 60246025 6044 6028 60366032 6016 6025 6100 6112 6120 6142 6020 6040 6024 6145 6039 6313 6140 4408Project Limits WOODDALE AVE§¨¦62CONCORD AVEASHCROFT AVEST JOHNS AVEASHCROFT LNMILLERS LAROSE CT64TH ST W GARRISO N L N NANCY LN 62ND ST W VIRGINIA LN 63RD ST W VALLEY VIEW RD / Engineering DeptJune 2023 2024 Project AreaConcord B & C Neighborhood Roadway ReconstructionCITYOFEDINAMIN N ESOTAINCORPORATED1888 , e 6401 6315 6301-113316 3450 6515 6224 6300 6304 63086301 6305 6309 632463206 4 0 0 3400 631663126328 63306401 6405 6409 6421641764156423 6313-2363016325-39 6 3 4 1 -5 1 6353-67 6369-83 6385-99 6417-31 6433-37 6449-59 6461-756477-8 76489-996401-15 6550 3250 3117 3111 64006455 3456 630563096315 6450310534346200 6300 6304 65196363 3201 34203330 6525-756533 6517 3625 65006525 6426-2864156300 6200 6500 6316-18 6444-46 6220 6225 6201 6200 6221 6305 6204 6400-02 6420-22 6432-34 6205 6414-16 6438-40 6408-10 6344-46 6301 6212 6217 6213 6209 6330-32 6208 6216 6310-12 6338-40 63226324 HERITAGE DR Project Limits YORK AVEBARRIE RDW 64TH ST W 66TH ST XERXES AVE§¨¦62 W 65TH ST DREW AVE/ Engineering DeptOctober 2023 2024 Project AreaSouthdale B Neighborhood Roadway ReconstructionCITYOFEDINAMINNESOTAINCORPORATED 1888 ,e Southdale B Project contact: Assistant City Engineer Aaron Ditzler, 952-826-0443 or aditzler@EdinaMN.gov Estimated affected properties: 326 Miles of road: 0.68 Funding sources: Special assessments, property taxes, respective utility funds and the Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety (PACS) Fund View ongoing project information at BetterTogetherEdina.org/ southdale‐b. 3City of Edina EdinaMN.gov 952-927-8861 | mail@EdinaMN.govCity of Edina EdinaMN.gov4 Council Sets 2024 State Legislative Agenda Council Members to Meet with Legislators Feb. 6 The City Council has set six priorities for work this session at the State Capitol. The City annually adopts a state legislative platform to allow the City Council and staff to identify changes in state law that may better achieve goals of the City and the community. These are typically funding requests and policy changes that the City would like approval for from the state. The six priorities are: Bonding for interchange improvements at Minnesota Highway 100 and Vernon Avenue/West 50th Street. The City requests $5.3 million in State funds to make the interchange safer and simpler and increase pedestrian access. The City also requests the surplus land created by the project be dedicated for Fire Station 3 in northeast Edina. Bonding for the Edina Aquatic Center. The City requests State funds to replace critical infrastructure in the facility’s pool pump house. Sales tax exemption for Braemar Park & Arena and Fred Richard Park. The City is making improvements at both parks using revenue from a local sales and use tax and seeks a sales tax exemption for the construction costs. Allowance to use allocated State bonding for Fire Station 2 construction. The City received $1 million in State funds for the land acquisition, pre- design or design of a new fire station. The City requests an allowance to use the allocated funds for construction costs. Authority to expand eligible uses for the City’s lodging taxes. The City seeks legislative support for redistributing the City’s lodging taxes. Specifically, the City would like to use the money for general economic development activities, business support activities of the Edina Chamber of Commerce and expenses related to local community festivals and events. Tax-increment financing (TIF) legislation for 70th & France and 72nd & France. The City requests an extension of the five-year rule to 10 years for the districts, and the ability to extend the terms of each TIF agreement subject to approval by the Edina City Council. When the districts were established, the developers were on pace to redevelop the sites with new commercial and multifamily housing. Increased costs of construction material and labor and interest rates, along with limited private funding, are projected to remain until 2025, limiting the ability of the developers to move forward with the projects. The City’s legislative platform also includes more than 40 positions in the areas of general government, affordable housing, environment and sustainability, transportation and public safety. At its 5:30 p.m. Feb. 6 work session, the City Council will meet with State legislators to discuss the priorities and positions. For more information, visit BetterTogetherEdina.org. – COMPILED BY JENNIFER BENNEROTTE UPCOMING EVENTS Thursday, Feb. 1 Black History Month begins Thursday, Feb. 1, 10:30 a.m. Mary Hall Show for Pipsqueeks, Edinborough Park Sunday, Feb. 4, 6 p.m. Ross Mcleod-Oldies, Edinborough Park Tuesday, Feb. 6, 7 p.m. City Council meeting, Edina City Hall Thursday, Feb. 8, 5 p.m. Summer Activity Expo, Edinborough Park Friday, Feb. 9, 5:30 p.m. Movie Night, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles- Mutant Mayhem,” Edinborough Park Saturday, Feb. 10 Lunar New Year Sunday, Feb. 11, 11 a.m. Horse-Drawn Trolley Rides, Centennial Lakes Park Sunday, Feb. 11, 6 p.m. Swing Beat Big Band, Edinborough Park Thursday, Feb. 15, 7:30 a.m. Housing & Redevelopment Authority meeting, Edina City Hall Thursday, Feb. 15, 10:30 a.m. Magic of Dr. Suess, Edinborough Park Sunday, Feb. 18, 6 p.m. South of the River Community Band, Edinborough Park Monday, Feb. 19 Presidents Day, City offices closed. Tuesday, Feb. 20, 7 p.m. City Council meeting, Edina City Hall Saturday, Feb. 24, 6 p.m. Family Full Moon Snowshoe, Braemar Golf Course Sunday, Feb. 25, 6 p.m. First John Philip Sousa Memorial Band, Edinborough 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