HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-11-06 Work Session Meeting MinutesMINUTES
OF THE EDINA CITY COUNCIL
WORK SESSION
COMMUNITY ROOM, CITY HALL
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2024
5:30 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Hovland called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Answering rollcall were Members Jackson, Pierce, Risser, and Mayor Hovland. Member Agnew arrived at
6:0I p.m.
Absent: None
Staff in attendance: Scott Neal, City Manager; Ari Lenz, Assistant City Manager; Zoe Johnson, City
Management Fellow; MJ Lamon, Special Projects & Engagement Manager; Thomas Brooks, Diversity, Equity
& Inclusion Manager; Laura Fulton, Recreation Supervisor; Marisa Bayer, Sustainability Manager; Jeff Brown,
Health Administrator; Cary Teague, Community Development Director; Ryan Browning, I.T. Director; Perry
Vetter, Parks & Recreation Director; Jennifer Bennerotte, Communications Director; Andrew Scipioni,
Transportation Planner; and Sharon Allison, City Clerk.
2025 PROPOSED COMMISSION WORK PLANS AND FUTURE TRANSITION TO COMMISSION
WORK PLAN PROCESS
City Manager Neal gave an overview of the process behind the Council approving the Work Plans for the
City's Boards and Commissions.
Special Projects & Engagement Manager Lamon gave an overview of the staff comments and recommended
adjustments to the Work Plans submitted by the Commissions and briefly outlined the proposed new
initiative for each Commission to review the City Code in relation to each one.
The Council asked questions of staff and discussed the conversations the City has been having with Hennepin
County regarding the Art Center; guidance for the Commissions related to the City Code review; frustration
with things trickling to the Council for things that were non-compliant; concerns about not getting a fresh
perspective or fresh eyes on the Comprehensive Plan and whether the City really wants to continue down
the current path; the possibility of losing institutional knowledge with the turnover of Commissioners;
potential budget considerations if they expand the scope and scale of looking at the Comprehensive Plan
beyond just the Planning Commission; request to spell out acronyms within the Work Plans; and the zoning
audit report and when they may see the results.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Manager Brooks outlined the Human Rights & Relations Commission
proposal for some non-traditional adjustments to their Work Plan beginning in 2025.
The Council asked questions of staff and discussed the benefits of the current structure for the Human
Rights & Relations Commission; what may be lost or at risk if they change the structure of the Human Rights
& Relations Commission; whether these changes would be a replacement or an addition to their current
duties; listing out parameters that would outline the clear expectations of the task force, for example in
relation to staff capacity; and the importance of a structure, if something were to happen, to ensure that
there is a 'body' ready to respond and provide a known community voice to help them.
Lamon outlined the proposed adjustment to the Work Plan development process beginning in 2025 to have
two-year long work plans; divide Commissions into two groups so annually, four of the Commissions would
develop their two-year work plan and the other four would just do a review and update, if needed, and then
flip the two groups actions for the following year; and adjust the purpose of the joint work session meetings
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ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Hovland adjourned the meeting at 6:24 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Minutes approved by Edina City Council, November 19, 2024.
Minutes/Edina City Council Work Session/November 6. 2024
with the Council and focus on work plan development and not just being a report of what the Commissions
have completed.
The Council asked questions of staff and discussed the possibility of posting tonight's presentation on-line;
the frustration incoming Commissioners may have because they have ideas, but were disappointed when
they come in to find that things were already all set, and the potential that with a two-year plan the time
period they may have to wait would be even longer; and the importance of providing the opportunity for
Commissions to make small adjustments to the Work Plan as they go.
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