HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-06-03 Work Session Meeting MinutesPage 1
MINUTES
OF THE EDINA CITY COUNCIL
WORK SESSION
COMMUNITY ROOM, CITY HALL
TUESDAY, JUNE 3, 2025
5:30 P.M.
1.0 CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Hovland called the meeting to order at 5:32 p.m.
2.0 Roll Call
Answering rollcall were Members Agnew, Jackson, Pierce, Risser and Mayor Hovland.
Staff in attendance: Scott Neal, City Manager; MJ Lamon, Community Engagement Manager; Cary Teague,
Emily Dalrymple, Assistant City Planner; Katie Bisek, IT Specialist; Zoe Johnson, City Management Fellow;
and Sharon Allison, City Clerk.
3.1 JOINT WORK SESSION HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION AND PLANNING
COMMISSION: 2026-2027 COMMISSION WORK PLAN DEVELOPMENT
City Manager Neal introduced the topic. Community Engagement Manager Lamon outlined changes to
the process, shifting from annual to biennial work plans and restructuring joint meetings with Council to
focus on work plan development. The updated timeline allows commissions to draft plans from June to
August, staff recommendation in November, and Council review and approval by year-end. Lamon
clarified expectations for all and scope of work of the two commissions.
Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) Chair Everson led the discussion on the current list of HPC’s
work plan items, questioning whether additional tasks were necessary. The conversation touched on
getting nominations for award programs, with commissioners noting that most come in organically but
exploring ways to boost community engagement and increasing awareness. Communication needs and
capacity were discussed, and Council noted the potential impact on communications staff. Council
thought the scope of work were appropriate and suggested that if nomination efforts were challenging,
the awards could shift to every other year. Chair Everson acknowledged the value of consultant
support, onboarding new commissioners, and discussed the potential of recognizing mid-century homes.
Council emphasized the importance of the HPC’s long-term vision and work, and clarified that Council
was not directing any new tasks. HPC commissioners in attendance: Farrell-Strauss, Jarvinen, Pope,
Waggoner and chair Everson.
Planning Commission (PC) Chair Bennett led the discussion by outlining a simplified PC work plan for
the year, focusing on three main items with a possible fourth related to public engagement. He
emphasized meeting efficiencies and highlighted issues such as lengthy meetings, overlapping efforts, and
the strain this place on staff. He noted that streamlining communication between staff and developers
could help and asked if Council had reflected on similar issues in recent years. He spoke about
improving meeting management, possibly reducing commission size, and aligning PC and Council
outcomes.
Council acknowledged these concerns and appreciated his framing of resources and time management.
Council shared about the need for alignment between code, policy, and Council/PC decisions,
particularly within ambiguous areas like the Southdale Small Area Plan; challenges of differing
interpretations and emphasized the importance of annual training, clear code direction, and consistency
in outcomes; how the Comprehensive Plan could help shape the kind of development the City wants,
including more ADUs and affordability; the idea that meeting inefficiencies may be cultural, not just
Minutes/Edina City Council Work Session/June 3, 2025
Page 2
procedural and if redundant commentary contributes to slower processes; leveraging technology like AI
to simplify ordinances, improve comprehension, and align policies to achieve desired development
outcomes; analysis on issues like lot size and PUD design, and encouraged updates to zoning to allow
modern uses like industrial-tourism hybrids.
Chair Bennett agreed that addressing even some of these items could resolve many concerns and
reiterated the need for a more efficient and responsive system that benefits both Council and residents.
PC commissioners in attendance: Felt, Chair Bennett, Heneman, and Daye.
4.0 ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Hovland adjourned the meeting at 6:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sharon Allison, City Clerk
Minutes approved by Edina City Council, June 17, 2025.
James B. Hovland, Mayor
Audio copy of the work session available.
Sharon Allison (Jun 18, 2025 10:38 CDT)