Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutEditionEdina_January-2025-Web-2Former Mayor Looks Back on Decades of Volunteer Service Maetzold to Step Down from Crime Prevention Fund BY DAVID KATZ In 2005, the City of Edina renamed the open-air auditorium anchoring the south end of Centennial Lakes Park as the “Maetzold Amphitheater.” Its namesake is former Edina Mayor and Council Member Dennis Maetzold. Maetzold left public office in 2004, but his contributions to quality of life in Edina continue to be many and varied – albeit less tangible than an amphitheater. Maetzold has a hard time counting the number of worthy community causes that have gained directly from his managerial mindset over the years. “I turn 84 [soon], and there’s a lot of volunteering to look back on,” he said. Recent beneficiaries include Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People (VEAP). “That’s the local food shelf, for lack of a better term,” he said. It’s one of the largest in the Twin Cities. Maetzold served on its Board of Directors for about a decade, including a stint as Treasurer. During his time with VEAP, he gained an appreciation for the perennial challenges faced by food banks. Maetzold and several like-minded civic boosters parlayed that experience into a brand-new support organization, the Foundation for Essential Needs (FFEN). “You can think of the foundation as professionals who assist food shelves all around Minnesota with their back- room needs,” such as food sourcing and fundraising. FFEN formed in 2011 with about a dozen clients. “Now that’s up to more than 150.” Maetzold is also a longtime leader within the Edina Crime Prevention Fund. “Before becoming Mayor, I was active with a group called the Edina Citizens Safety Council. We were a group concerned mostly with bike safety,” he said. When that organization folded into the Crime Prevention Fund in the 1990s, Maetzold accepted a position on the Board. By that point, it was already a well- established enterprise. As its name suggests, the Crime Prevention Fund started as a financial reserve to pay informants for tips that result in solved crimes. However, as Maetzold can attest, the Crime Prevention Fund has since expanded how it supports the Edina Police Department. “Back around 2000, the Crime Fund collaborated with the Edina Federated Women’s Club to raise money to purchase Kodiak, Edina’s first police dog in [many years].” The Crime Prevention Fund continues to underwrite Edina’s K-9 units. It also finances many of the Police Department’s ongoing community outreach efforts, ranging from motorcycle and foot patrol units to Citizens’ Academy, Maetzold noted. Maetzold’s tenure with the Crime Prevention Fund spans continuously from 1994 – including his years on the Edina City Council and as Mayor. Over those 30 years, he has served as President, Treasurer and in “ad hoc” ways too numerous to name. His last event as a Board Member will be the Crime Prevention Fund’s annual meeting and banquet in February. During the 2024 banquet last spring, Mayor Jim Hovland surprised Dennis Maetzold with the Crime Prevention Fund’s Citizen’s Award. Maetzold’s track record and passion for volunteer leadership certainly warrant the honor. In addition to VEAP and the Crime Prevention Fund, Maetzold has also served as chair of the Edina Chamber of Commerce and Board Treasurer for Fairview Physicians Associates. After more than 30 years, Former Mayor Dennis Maetzold will step down from the Edina Crime Prevention Fund’s Board of Directors early this year. (Photo by Jason Heuer) To learn more about the Edina Crime Prevention Fund or donate, visit edinacrimefund.org City of Edina EdinaMN.gov 1 Edition: Edina JANUARY 2025 Volume 12, Issue 1Strong FoundationCITY GOALS:Better TogetherReliable Service Livable City UPCOMING EVENTS Wednesday, Jan. 1 New Year’s Day, City offices closed Friday, Jan. 3, 6 p.m. Puzzle Club, Edina Senior Center Tuesday, Jan. 7, 7 p.m. City Council meeting, Edina City Hall, Friday, Jan. 10, 5:30 p.m. Movie night, “Wonka,” Edinborough Park Sunday, Jan. 12, 6 p.m. Moonlight Serenaders Big Band, Edinborough Park Monday, Jan. 13, 6 p.m. Full Moon Family Snowshoe, Braemar Golf Course Wednesday, Jan. 15, 1 p.m. Curated Conversations, Arneson Acres Park Sunday, Jan. 19, 6 p.m. Cooler Heads, Edinborough Park Monday, Jan. 20 Martin Luther King Jr. Day, City offices closed Tuesday, Jan. 21, 7 p.m. City Council meeting, Edina City Hall Sunday, Jan. 26, 6 p.m. First John Phillip Sousa Memorial Band, Edinborough Park Wednesday, Jan. 29 Lunar New Year Friday, Jan. 31, 1:30-2:30 p.m. “Paws & Pavement” Winter Salt Week Event, Weber 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/Calendar. Firefighter Begins Work on State Rescue Team Kinne to Focus on Updating Aging Fleet BY LAUREN SIEBENALER Edina Fire Battalion Chief Ben Kinne started work in October as the new Administrator of Minnesota Task Force 1, one of the State’s two emergency urban search-and-rescue (USAR) teams. Kinne was chosen by Task Force 1’s Board of Directors, comprised of the Fire Chiefs from the five main agencies: Edina, Minneapolis, Rochester, St. Paul and Dakota County. The Edina Fire Department serves as the fiscal agent of Minnesota Task Force 1. “Ben has a passion for the Task Force and has displayed that passion throughout his career on the team,” said Fire Chief Andrew Slama. “His military experience and firefighting experience will suit him well as he embarks in this new position.” Kinne, who has been with Edina Fire Department since 2015, served in the Army Reserves as a Military Police Sergeant from 2008 to 2016. He earned a bachelor’s degree in public safety administration with a minor in human resources from Metropolitan State University in 2019. In 2023, he earned a master’s degree in public administration from that same university. Kinne is looking forward to the challenge this new position will bring and the opportunity to grow. “I’ve always been interested in the Task Force, and I’ve always been very involved in the team,” said Kinne. “Before getting this position, I was a rescue squad leader as well, and then this job really fit well into my public administration master’s degree. It kind of gave me an opportunity to really take my degree and do a job that I got it for.” Kinne now manages a full-time employee focused on logistics from the Rochester Fire Department along with handling the day-to-day operations, training and record- keeping for the Task Force. The Task Force is made up of about 220 firefighters, police officers and medical personnel from the five main agencies. The task force also has a few supporting agencies with staff involved in the team, including Hennepin County Ambulance, Plymouth, Richfield, St. Louis Park, Coon Rapids and the Metropolitan Airports Commission. “We specialize in heavy structure collapse. That’s our primary mission, but we also provide logistical support and incident management for any type of disaster,” said Kinne. One of his main focuses in this new role will be to replace the Task Force’s aging fleet. Some of its vehicles are 15-20 years old. The plan is to acquire seven new vehicles for the State, with five designated for their team and two for Task Force 2 in Duluth. This initiative will improve the Task Force’s capabilities and ensure they have modern, reliable equipment for their critical rescue operations. For more information on Minnesota Task Force 1, contact Kinne at bkinne@EdinaMN.gov. Pictured at a training at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, Edina Fire Battalion Chief Ben Kinne started as the Administrator of Minnesota Task Force 1 on Oct. 5. (Photo by Jason Heuer) 2 City Begins Development of Edina’s Equity Strategic Action Plan Edina Hires Local Consultant to Evaluate Current Practices and Develop New Plan BY JACEY MISMASH The City of Edina will spend the first half of 2025 working with consultant CultureBrokers to develop an Equity Strategic Action Plan (ESAP) to better inform the City’s goals of creating an inclusive and welcoming community— one with minimal barriers to City programs, services and policies that benefit the Edina community. By developing an ESAP, the City of Edina will be better equipped to create and uphold City processes that address the needs of community members. Staff will learn more about those living and working in Edina and their priorities through data collection and direct engagement, helping to create a more inviting and open city. “With this plan, the City can collaborate around shared goals vs. one-off projects and tasks,” explained Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Manager Thomas Brooks. “We can be more purposeful in considering the City’s values, which include equity, sustainability, engagement, stewardship and health.” Minneapolis-based CultureBrokers, founded in 2005, primarily works with local governments and nonprofits, focusing on intercultural performance and productivity. “What sets CultureBrokers apart from other experiences with consultants is the practical nature of their approach,” expressed Kathy Wetzel- Mastel, Executive Director of PRG Inc., a Minneapolis housing nonprofit group that completed its own ESAP with CultureBrokers. “Instead of a theoretical report that sits on shelf at completion, we wrapped up with an actionable list of 15 or so policies and practices that if addressed would result in meaningful and lasting change around diversity and inclusion.” Following strategies provided by CultureBrokers, PRG updated procurement policies to reflect the organization’s commitment to an inclusive workplace and began circulating job postings through more diverse networks. Development of Edina’s ESAP will start with a comprehensive survey primarily of City staff and current and former members of advisory boards, commissions, task forces and the City Council to get a better understanding of how the City is meeting current equity and inclusion goals. After reviewing the results of this survey, CultureBrokers will work with the City to identify the desired outcomes of the ESAP and provide step-by-step breakdowns of projects and tasks necessary to achieve each goal. “I appreciate that CultureBrokers’ approach does not boil the ocean, but instead takes measured, meaningful steps toward ensuring our organization is operating at its best,” said Assistant City Manager Ari Lenz. Development of the plan is expected to continue into July 2025, with implementation starting later in the summer. The first community update will be released upon completion of the plan in July alongside a new section of the City’s Progress Portal dedicated to ESAP progress and updates. For more information, contact Brooks at THBrooks@EdinaMN.gov. CITY OF EDINA DIRECTORY City Council Jim Hovland Mayor 612-874-8551 Kate Agnew Council Member 952-833-9556 Carolyn Jackson Council Member 952-833-9547 James Pierce Council Member 952-833-9548 Julie Risser Council Member 952-833-9557 City Staff Scott Neal City Manager 952-826-0401 Ari Lenz Assistant City 952-826-0416 Manager Jennifer Communications 952-833-9520 Bennerotte Director Ryan Browning I.T. Director 952-826-0434 Kelly Curtin Human Resources 952-826-0402 Director Todd Milburn Police Chief 952-826-0487 Chad Millner Engineering Director 952-826-0318 Brian Olson Public Works 952-826-0311 Director Andrew Slama Fire Chief 952-826-0332 Pa Thao Finance Director 952-826-0420 Cary Teague Community 952-826-0460 Development Director Perry Vetter Parks & 952-826-0430 Recreation Director Call 952-927-8861 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday for general information. If you have a situation after hours or on weekends that does not require immediate response from a paramedic, firefighter, police officer or Public Works crew, call the Police Department’s non- emergency number, 952-826-1610. 3City of Edina EdinaMN.gov 952-927-8861 | mail@EdinaMN.govCity of Edina EdinaMN.gov4 Council Adopts 2025 Operating Budget and Levy City to Begin Work on 2026 Budget in First Quarter of New Year In one of its last actions of the year, the City Council set the 2025 tax levy and adopted the operating budget for the coming year at its Dec. 17 meeting. The adopted budget was nearly 5% less than recommended by staff. City Manager Scott Neal developed the 2025 budget in response to feedback from residents, prioritizing significant investments in public safety while still upholding high levels of City services across all departments. The proposed budget included a $61.5 million tax levy, an increase of 13.14% from 2024. Of that, 5.46% was specifically to fund the expansion of public safety services – the opening of Fire Station 2 and new Police and Fire personnel. The other 7.68% was to cover City-wide operating costs, fund projects in the Capital Improvement Plan, support the Street Special Levy and update the City’s zoning ordinance. Council Members were not comfortable with a double-digit levy increase. Between the public hearing and levy adoption, the Finance Department worked hard behind the scenes and offered some reductions in this order: •Use cash reserves to pay for a project to update Edina’s zoning ordinance instead of levying for the expense •Use cash reserves to pay for the design of a new Cold Storage Building for Public Works instead of levying for the expense •Use Public Safety Aid funding from the State to pay for some equipment for the Police Department and money from the Equipment Replacement Levy to pay for some garage safety improvements at Centennial Lakes •Defer improvements to the shelter at Lewis Park •Delay hiring new Paramedic/Firefighters until January 2026 •Reduce the General Fund by 1% The Council made all of the reductions and approved a a total tax capacity of $58,750,854 with an 8.44% levy increase. Neal and his Executive Leadership Team will work to reduce the General Fund to get to the adopted 2025 budget. Council Members also challenged staff and each other to begin work now to reduce the 2026 budget projections. “My bigger concern is the 2026 budget projection. We can’t come back with another double-digit increase [budget levy proposal,]” said Council Member James Pierce. “We have to have the tough conversation and do the work starting now to contract our expenses. “It’s hard work. We have to make tough decisions and we need to do that with the community. I think that will take us almost the full year, so when we come into August 2025, we have a really good idea of how we can adjust our expenses and service levels to have a projected target that is more reasonable.” Iskaan-garee koodhkan oo ku fiiri soomaali EdinaMN.gov/SomaliEE EdinaMN.gov/SpanishEE Escanee este código para ver en español In other business last month, the Council: •Adopted the 2025-2030 Capital Improvement Plan. •Denied a request for a Comprehensive Plan amendment, rezoning and site plan with variances to use the property at 6016 Vernon Ave. as a pizzeria. •Approved a 2025 street reconstruction project in the Presidents Neighborhood. •Approved the conversion of the Marriott Residence Inn into a 136-unit apartment building with affordable rents. •Presented the 2024 Tom Oye Award to Edina Unified and educators Jennie Schaefer, Rachel Knaeble and Whitney Brauchla. •Removed the Human Rights & Relations Commission from the City Code, allowing the group to act as an ad hoc task force. The group will have three priorities in 2025: support City staff as they develop an Equity Strategic Action Plan; advise on any significant human rights or inclusion issue in the community; and create more opportunities to connect and engage with the community. The Council will next meet 7 p.m. Jan. 7 and 21. For more information, visit EdinaMN.gov. – COMPILED BY JENNIFER BENNEROTTE