HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-03-04 Work Session Meeting MinutesPage 1
MINUTES
OF THE EDINA CITY COUNCIL
WORK SESSION
COMMUNITY ROOM, CITY HALL
TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2025
5:30 P.M.
1.0 CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Hovland called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
2.0 ROLL CALL
Answering rollcall were Members Agnew, Jackson, Pierce, Risser, and Mayor Hovland.
Staff in attendance: Scott Neal, City Manager; Ari Lenz, Assistant City Manager; MJ Lamon, Special Projects
& Engagement Manager; Zoe Johnson, City Management Fellow; Jennifer Bennerotte, Communications
Director; Chad Millner, Engineering Director; Katie Bisek, IT Specialist; and Sharon Allison, City Clerk.
3.1 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT
Assistant City Manager Lenz introduced the discussion topic regarding community engagement and turned
the work session over to Special Projects & Engagement Manager Lamon. Manager Lamon described the
history of community engagement; three categories of community engagement; and current community
engagement activities and data surrounding volunteerism.
Staff and Council discussed the issues of the public hearing process; where public participation fails to be
heard or followed thru; the opportunity to provide the tools to help engage neighborhoods that are not as
involved; new software to collect public input and collecting feedback on what people would like to see in
the new software; overall goals of community engagement such as safety and wellbeing; the delicate balance
of decision making while considering public input; and difficulties for residents to be engaged such as busier
lifestyles, renters may not feel like they should participate, not being a part of a neighborhood association
or minor government interaction.
Manager Lamon reviewed objectives of strategic alignment, commission work plan changes, joint work
session expectations and timeline of what is to come in 2025/2026.
4.0 ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Hovland adjourned the meeting at 6:41 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sharon Allison, City Clerk
Minutes approved by Edina City Council, March 18, 2025.
James B. Hovland, Mayor
Audio copy of the work session available.
Sharon Allison (Mar 19, 2025 19:30 CDT)