HomeMy WebLinkAboutEditionEdina_August-2024-WebThomas Brooks Is the City’s New Diversity, Equity &
Inclusion Manager
Brooks Comes to Edina With Both Local and State Government Experience
BY BRITTANY BADER
Growing up, Thomas Brooks’ dream job was a teacher or coach.
Later in life, after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in business
administration and a master’s degree in industrial and organizational
psychology, he realized he could tie together his lifelong desire
to mentor others with advancing equity work in organizations.
Brooks began as the City’s new Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
(DEI) Manager June 17.
“I ultimately get to be a coach through equity work. I am
passionate about being able to walk alongside the journeys
of employees and the community as we work together to
make change for the better,” said Brooks.
Assistant City Manager Ari Lenz says the City will benefit from
Brooks’ unique municipal and state-level equity experience.
Before Edina, he was most recently the Director of Enterprise
Equity & Inclusion for the State of Minnesota, where he worked
with 23 State agencies on inclusion strategies, alignment of
work priorities and equity plan progress. He also reviewed State
policies and legislation. Prior to that, he worked for the City of
Roseville as its first Equity & Inclusion Manager, developing and
implementing the city’s first Strategic Racial Equity Action Plan
and training 250 staff members.
“Thomas is a thoughtful problem-solver who will push the
City of Edina forward. In his new role, he will learn about all
the services the City provides and then look for where we
may have disparities and opportunities to better serve the
needs of the community and our staff,” said Lenz.
As DEI Manager for Edina, Brooks will provide leadership and
support to City staff and the City Council to make sure diversity,
equity, inclusion and belonging principles are incorporated
into all City services and projects. This includes overseeing the
City’s Equity Work Plan, first developed in 2018. Brooks will also
support community outreach, serve as the staff liaison to the
Human Rights & Relations Commission and represent the City
on equity issues to other levels of government.
Brooks says one of the main ways he approaches equity work
is by analyzing data.
“There’s a science to equity work that I don’t think everyone
knows or takes into consideration. You have to be really intentional
with how you dig deep into the challenges we face and how
we go about coming up with solutions. I follow the disparities
and inefficiencies that we see in data and try to expand the data
we have access to. I put the experiences of those most impacted
by the decisions that we’re making front and center,” he said.
“Engagement is really important to me, as is finding new ways to
reach new voices. If we know something hasn’t been historically
working for certain groups of people, I like to try something new
based on data to improve outcomes for everyone.”
Brooks’ resume also includes certifications in public participation
and extensive volunteer equity work. He currently serves on
the Minnesota Board of Social Work, where he aims to reduce
barriers for current and future community members in the social
work profession, particularly for diverse communities.
Contact Brooks at thbrooks@EdinaMN.gov or 952-826-1622.
For more information on the City’s diversity, equity and
inclusion work, visit EdinaMN.gov/DEI.
Thomas Brooks began his new role in the Administration Department as
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Manager June 17. (Photo by Jason Heuer)
City of Edina EdinaMN.gov 1
Edition: Edina
AUGUST 2024
Volume 11, Issue 8Strong FoundationCITY GOALS:Better TogetherReliable Service Livable City
The Edina Police and Fire departments
have relaunched Smart911, a service that
has two different purposes.
First, Smart911 allows Police Sergeants,
Fire Chiefs, 9-1-1 dispatchers and
Communications Department staff to
send alerts on public safety incidents
throughout the city. Second, Smart911
gives residents the opportunity to share
information about themselves such as
their health conditions, home access, pets
and more so first responders have more
information when they respond to an
emergency to provide even better care.
Four City staff have been integral to the
reboot of the program: Police Lt. David
Venne, Dispatch Supervisor Janelle Harris,
Fire Communications Unit Leader Andrew
LaVenture and Senior Communications
Coordinator Lauren Siebenaler. Together,
the four have launched training sessions
with Police, Fire and dispatch staff on how
to use the public safety alerts function of
Smart911 and how to best craft emergency
messages for the public. The goal is to get
information out on an incident as quickly
and efficiently as possible.
As of July 11, there were 2,020 people
signed up for the public safety notifications.
Q: How do I sign up for the public
safety alerts side of Smart911?
A: If you are interested in text updates,
text “EdinaAlerts” to 67283 to enroll.
Once this step is complete, you can either
stay subscribed to the text messages only,
or you can finish creating your Smart911
account by clicking on the link in the
follow-up text message.
If you do not want to sign up for text
alerts, you can visit EdinaMN.gov/Alerts
to start creating your account and
manage your notification preferences.
Q: How do I know if I’m already
signed up?
A: If you think you might have signed up
in the past, you can visit the Smart911
login page to try signing in. Click “Forgot
User ID and Password” and it will send
you information to access your account,
if you have one.
Q: What does creating an account do?
A: If you choose to create an account,
you can add your notification preferences
for emails, texts and voice calls for alert
messages and you can add your home
address. You also have the option to share
information about yourself and your home,
such as how many people or pets live
in your home, any medical conditions and
your preferred medical providers. All of this
information is optional to provide, but helpful
to 9-1-1 dispatchers and first responders in
case an emergency occurs at your home.
Q: Will I get notifications tailored to
my neighborhood?
A: Not at this time. If you sign up, you will
receive alerts for incidents across the city.
Some big incidents impact traffic and there
is no way for the system to target people in
one specific location. So, the alerts sent out
will include general information on incidents
with instructions on how to avoid the area,
if it is necessary.
Q: Can I opt out? How?
A: If you are enrolled in the public safety alert
text messages and want to opt out, send
the word “STOP” to 67283. To update your
email address notifications, log in to your
Smart911 account and then click on “Alerts”
to change your notification preferences.
Q: What if I have other questions or
trouble signing up?
A: Reach out to Dispatch Supervisor Janelle
Harris at jharris@EdinaMN.gov for help.
For more information about Smart911,
visit EdinaMN.gov/Alerts.
– COMPILED BY LAUREN SIEBENALER
City Relaunches Smart911 to Share Important Police and Fire Alerts
Sign Up for Notifications by Text, Email or Phone
- COMPILED BY GIOVANNA CONTRERAS
The First John Philip Sousa Memorial Band, formed by Edina High School alumni
in 1970, creates a buzz in the music scene of Edina. Throughout the years, they
have captivated audiences as the town’s favorite band. Their one-hour shows
are on the last Sunday of each month from September to May at Edinborough
Park and June to August at Centennial Lakes Park. The pinnacle of their season
is the Torchlight Concert, a highly anticipated event that showcases their
repertoire from throughout the year at Centennial Lakes Park. This year’s
event will be held 8:30 p.m. Aug. 11. Earlier in the evening, the Edina Model
Yacht Club will hold its annual Lighthouse Night at the park.
BY THE NUMBERS
First John Philip
Sousa Memorial Band
2,000
Estimated average attendance
for annual Torchlight Concert
2
Band members have been
involved since 1970
Total concerts performed
throughout the summer,
four of which are hosted
at Centennial Lakes Park
10
42
Instruments in the band
3: Flute/piccolo
6: B-flat clarinet
1: E-flat clarinet
4: Trombone
4: Saxophone
2: Euphonium
4: French Horn
7: Trumpet
2: Bassoon
2: Bass Clarinet
4: Percussion
3: Tuba
2
BY LAUREN SIEBENALER
Jessica Connors started work earlier this
summer as the new Community Liaison
for Edina’s Joint Community Police
Partnership (JCPP).
A program of Hennepin County, the JCPP
works to build trust and communication
between police and the community
through trainings, events and
conversations. Other partner agencies
are Bloomington, Brooklyn Center,
Brooklyn Park, Crystal/New Hope/
Robbinsdale, Hopkins and Richfield.
The JCPP program started in Edina
in early 2023. Formation of the
multicultural advisory committee (MAC)
was one of the JCPP’s first initiatives. The
group, formed by August 2023, is made
up of nine members from all different
backgrounds and ties to Edina. The MAC
meets monthly with police personnel to
discuss topics that are important to their
communities, build mutual trust and
open up two-way communication.
A native of New York, Connors has a
bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with
a specialization in special populations.
In 2015, she began work for the
Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office as a
Detention Deputy. She worked her way
up to Classification Deputy, managing a
72-inmate unit and then to the Training
and Development Unit. Connors helped
revamp the training for detention deputies
to learn deescalation tactics and how
to connect with people from diverse
backgrounds. After working for Hennepin
County Sheriff’s Office, Connors started
work as a Corrections Supervisor with the
Department of Community Corrections
and Rehabilitation (DCCR).
“Jessica has key background in this type of
work and she also has key connections in
Hennepin County,” said Edina Police Chief
Todd Milburn. “She has a passion for this
work and for building relationships. Her
engaging personality is exactly what we are
looking for in a liaison position to help build
trust with our community, bridge the gap
and help our officers do important work.”
After giving birth to her daughter, working
for the DCCR, Connors decided to make
a career change. A licensed Special
Engineer, she bought a dry cleaning shop
in the Wayzata/Orono area and learned
the business in three months with the
help of the previous owner.
After she sold the business, Connors
wanted to get back into a career helping
people. She worked in residential mental
health, dealing with individuals with
high crisis mental health behaviors. Then
she had a desire to connect others with
resources, which is what led her to the
position in Edina.
“I really appreciate Edina,” said Connors.
“Coming in here, they were just so open to
change and wanting to bring about more
and just wanting to do more, wanting to
get involved more, and just felt like, let’s
do some big things. Let’s really make an
impact in our community for everybody.”
One of those new big things is a
mothering series aimed to bring mothers
together to learn, connect and empower
one another. Chapter One of the series is
called “Empowered Women Empower.”
It will be held 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday,
Aug. 10 at the Hughes Pavilion at
Centennial Lakes Park. Registration is
required and can be completed online
at EdinaMN.gov/JCPP.
For more information on the mothering
event or other information about JCPP,
visit EdinaMN.gov/JCPP.
Jessica Connors Starts Work with Joint Community Police Partnership
New Community Liaison Brings Wealth of Experience
and Key Connections to Hennepin County
Jessica Connors began work in June as the
Community Liaison for Edina’s Joint Community
Police Partnership, succeeding Lulu Thompson
in the position. (Photo by Jason Heuer)
RECURRING EVENTS
Thursdays, 9:30-11 a.m.
Art Cart with the Edina Art Center,
Centennial Lakes Park
Thursdays, 3-7 p.m.
Farmers Market, Centennial Lakes Park
UPCOMING EVENTS
Saturday, Aug. 3, 10 a.m.
Songs and Storytime on the Plaza,
50th & France
Tuesday, Aug. 6
Night to Unite, various locations
Wednesday, Aug. 7, 7 p.m.
City Council meeting, Edina City Hall
Saturday, Aug. 10, 9 a.m.
Free People Fitness Fun with YogaSix,
50th & France
Saturday, Aug. 10, 9 a.m.
Mothering Series, Centennial Lakes Park
Saturday, Aug. 10, noon
Fix-It Clinic, Southdale Library
Sunday, Aug. 11, 6:30 p.m.
Lighthouse Night and Torchlight
Concert, Centennial Lakes Park
Tuesday, Aug. 13, 5 p.m.
Filing period ends for City Council,
Edina City Hall
Wednesday, Aug. 14, 5 p.m.
Art Together, Fred Richards Park
Thursday, Aug. 15, 7:30 a.m.
Housing & Redevelopment Authority
meeting, Edina City Hall
Friday, Aug. 16, 8 p.m.
Movie Night, “Shrek,” Centennial
Lakes Park
Saturday, Aug. 17, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Vintage Village, 50th & France
Tuesday, Aug. 20, 7 p.m.
City Council meeting, Edina City Hall
Wednesday, Aug. 28, 6 p.m.
Princess Sing-Along, Centennial
Lakes Park
Watch City Council, Housing &
Redevelopment Authority and Planning
Commission meetings live on Edina TV
(Comcast Channels 813 or 16) or online.
For a complete listing of meetings
and events, visit EdinaMN.gov.
3City of Edina EdinaMN.gov
952-927-8861 | mail@EdinaMN.govCity of Edina EdinaMN.gov4
Staff Continues Work on Ordinance to Control Sale of
Cannabis in Edina
Public Hearing To Be Held Later this Year to Collect Feedback
City staff is working on an ordinance to
control where cannabis is sold in Edina when
the State’s Office of Cannabis Management
(OCM) begins issuing licenses in 2025.
Adults 21 and older have been allowed to
use cannabis since Aug. 1, 2023. However,
cannabis cannot be sold in Minnesota until
the OCM is able to issue licenses, expected
on or around Jan. 1, 2025.
Municipalities are required to allow cannabis
licenses issued by the State. The City may
adopt an ordinance covering some specific
local regulations, including the maximum
number of licenses to be issued, cost of
registration and zoning districts cannabis
businesses will be allowed to operate in.
State law also allows cities to establish
buffers from schools, daycares, residential
treatment facilities or an attraction within a
public park that is regularly used by minors,
including playgrounds and athletic fields.
At least once a year, cities are required
to conduct compliance checks of every
cannabis and hemp business.
At a work session last month, City staff
presented initial recommendations, which
are similar to how the sale of tobacco and
alcohol is controlled in Edina.
•Number of retail establishments – The
City is required to allow one license per
every 12,500 residents. So, Edina could
limit the number to five or allow more.
The City Council directed staff to draft
the ordinance with a maximum of five.
•Cost of registration – A city may
impose an initial retail fee of $500 or
up to half the amount of the State’s
license fee, whichever is less. Staff
recommended charging the maximum
amount for registration until the City
fully understands the staff work
associated with the process.
•Zoning districts – Many cities choose
to zone cannabis retailers similar to
tobacco and liquor stores. In Edina,
those stores are permitted in the
Planned Commercial Districts (PCD).
Examples of PCD-1 zoned areas for
smaller neighborhood businesses are
Valley View & Wooddale, 44th & France,
70th & Cahill and Lincoln & Londonderry.
PCD-2 allows for more and slightly
larger commercial businesses. Examples
are Grandview and 50th & France.
PCD-3 allows the most and largest
commercial businesses and is limited
to the Southdale District. To best
scatter such businesses across the city,
the Council directed staff to draft an
ordinance including all three PCDs.
The public will be invited to weigh in
on the draft ordinance during a public
hearing later this year. Residents can
provide testimony at that time online
at BetterTogetherEdina.org, by voicemail
or by attending the meeting when the
matter is considered.
In other business last month, the City Council:
•Approved an agreement with the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers – St. Paul
District and the Minnesota State
Historic Preservation Office regarding
the Wooddale Avenue Bridge over
Minnehaha Creek.
The bridge was built in 1937 as a
product of a Depression-era federal
relief program. It was designated a
local Heritage Landmark by the Edina
Heritage Preservation Commission.
However, the bridge is deteriorating,
the railings do not meet current safety
standards and the narrow deck is
inadequate to safely accommodate
pedestrians and bicyclists.
The Army Corps of Engineers and
the State Historic Preservation Office
have agreed the bridge can be
replaced. However, the memorandum
of agreement requires the City to
document the bridge for historic
purposes and put up an informational
sign near the bridge detailing its history.
•Reviewed a sketch plan to remodel the
existing Kee’s Auto Shop at 6016 Vernon
Ave. as a pizzeria. The Council provided
the applicant nonbinding feedback.
The Council will next meet
7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7,
and Tuesday, Aug. 20. For more
information, visit EdinaMN.gov.
– COMPILED BY JENNIFER BENNEROTTE