HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-03-06 Work Session Meeting MinutesMINUTES
OF THE EDINA CITY COUNCIL
WORK SESSION
COMMUNITY ROOM, CITY HALL
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2024
5:30 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Hovland called the meeting to order at 5:34 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Answering roll call were Members Agnew, Jackson, Risser and Mayor Hovland.
Absent: Member Pierce
Staff in attendance: Scott Neal, City Manager; Gillian Straub, City Management Fellow, Assistant City
Manager Ari Lenz; Chad Millner, Director of Engineering; Jennifer Bennerotte, Communications Director;
Perry Vetter, Parks & Recreation Director; Bill Neuendorf, Economic Development Manager; Ryan
Browning, IT Director, and Sharon Allison, City Clerk.
Others in attendance: Representative Heather Edelson, (50A), DFL, Representative Cheryl Youakim, (46B)
DFL, Julie Greene, Mike Lund, and Katy Sen.
2024 STATE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION PLATFORM
Mayor Hovland welcomed State Representatives Heather Edelson and Cheryl Youakim. He introduced
Edina's six legislative priorities and shared the Bonding for Interchange Improvements at MN Highway 100
and Vernon Avenue/West 50th Street was a rare opportunity to combine the needs of the city, county, and
state. Manager Neal shared the Senate's Greater Metro Area Bonding tour made a stop in Edina to learn
about this project and they seemed supportive. The Mayor shared that this was also an opportunity to add
a new fire station in this area.
Neal spoke about bonding for the Aquatic Center, a popular regional destination, and Director Vetter
shared the 1958 built needed critical infrastructure repairs to meet changes in state code.
The Mayor shared the Sales Tax Exemption for Projects in the Braemar Park Master Plan and Fred
Richards Park Master Plan was related to the Local Option Sales Tax and getting an exemption for the
material and supplies purchased for the construction, reconstruction, upgrade, expansion, or remodeling of
City facilities included in the two master plans.
Neal shared the Bonding for Fires Station 2 Construction Costs was to expand the use of funds to include
construction costs, as has been allowed with numerous other projects that received state bonding.
Neal shared they were interested in expanding the range of eligible expenses for the City's Lodging Taxes
to include economic development program and for local community festivals and events such as fireworks
for the 4th of July. He said the Edina Chamber of Commerce was supportive. Edelson and Youakim said the
lodging taxes may be a difficult legislation to pass.
Economic Development Manager Neuendorf shared that for the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Legislation
for 70th and France and 72nd and France, the ask was to extend the timeline from 5-years to 10. He said
there were over $400 million of private investment but since the districts were established, the national
aures B. Hovland, Mayor
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Hovland adjourned the meeting at 6:43 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Minutes approved by the Edina City Council Feb. 20, 2024.
economic climate has changed, and extending the timeline to 10 years would allow the private lending
sector to return to normal, likely by 2025. He added that other communities around the state were facing
the same issue. Edelson recommended community engagement/education on the use of TIF.
After reviewing the six legislative priorities, Youakim and Edelson agreed they were reasonable except for
the Lodging Tax.
Other discussion included changing group home regulation because of a recent proposal where an entire
block was proposed to become group homes, however, there was consensus during discussion that this
was a sensitive topic; support for banning plastic bags and current limitation; a new bottle bill that would be
coming; and an update on the school resource officers bill and changes that were made.
Rep. Edelson spoke about legislation for spousal reimbursements through Medicare and that this was in
place during COVID but expired in November and how it was an important issue in the care community
because of understaffing. Rep. Youakim had several questions related to the Environment and Sustainability
and Public Safety positions but would speak offline with staff because of time constraints.