HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-05-07 Work Session Meeting MinutesRespectfully submitted,
Minutes approved by Edina City Council, May 21, 2024.
MINUTES
OF THE EDINA CITY COUNCIL
WORK SESSION
COMMUNITY ROOM, CITY HALL
TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2024
5:30 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Hovland called the meeting to order at 5:3 I p.m.
ROLL CALL
Answering roll call were Members Agnew, Jackson, Pierce, Risser, and Mayor Hovland.
Staff in attendance: Scott Neal, City Manager; Ari Lenz, Assistant City Manager; Perry Vetter, Parks
& Recreation Director; Luther Overholt, City Forester; Tom Swenson, Assistant Director of Parks and
Natural Resources; Laura Beres, Assistant City Forester; Nate Borwege, Chief Building Official;
Stephanie Hawkinson, Affordable Housing Development Manager; Marisa Bayer, Sustainability Manager;
Cary Teague, Community Development Director; Katie Bisek, IT Specialist; Sharon Allison, City Clerk.
Others in attendance: David Kendall, City Attorney; John Haugen, Vice-Chair, Energy and Environment.
REVIEW OF CITY ORDINANCE 10-82 RELATED TO TREE PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION
Parks & Recreation Director Vetter, Energy and Environment Commissioner Haugen, and City
Forester Overholt shared background on the history of tree protection in the City including: 2015
Ordinance; 2021 Climate Action Plan; the 2022 Energy and Environment Commission Work Plan
Initiative; outlined details and changes with the revised Tree Ordinance 10-82; details related to Arbor
Day events/City tree sale; Workflow Tree Permits; reviewed details for trees protected and removed
during residential development for 2022/2023 and feedback from Better Together Edina.
The Council asked questions of staff and discussed application of the ordinance to single-family residential,
multi-residential, as well as commercial properties; complaints that had been received; potential
unintended effects of the existing ordinance; private tree removal; importance of maintaining the tree
canopy; escrow amounts and the possibility of capping; possible creation of a formula for use; ways to
move forward without the need for frequent variance requests; ways to deal with unbuilt versus built lots;
possibility of `banking'; and potentially bringing in a certified arborist to assist. The Council identified other
details needed for future discussion and gave direction to staff.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Hovland adjourned the meeting at 6:47 p.m.
aures B. Hovland, Mayor
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