HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-04-10 EEC Meeting Packet
Meeting location:
Edina City Hall
Community Room
4801 W. 50th St.
Edina, MN
Energy & Environment Commission Meeting Agenda
Thursday, April 10, 2025
7:00 PM
Accessibility Support:
The City of Edina wants all residents to be comfortable being part of the public process. If you need assistance in the way of hearing amplification,
an interpreter, large-print documents or something else, please call 952-927-8861 at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting.
1. Call to Order
2. Roll Call
3. Approval of Meeting Agenda
4. Approval of Meeting Minutes
4.1. Approval of Meeting Minutes
5. Special Recognitions and Presentations
5.1. Chloride Pollution in Edina
6. Community Comment
During "Community Comment," the Board/Commission will invite residents to share
issues or concerns that are not scheduled for a future public hearing. Items that are on
tonight's agenda may not be addressed during Community Comment. Individuals must
limit their comments to three minutes. The Chair may limit the number of speakers on
the same issue in the interest of time and topic. Individuals should not expect the Chair or
Board/Commission Members to respond to their comments tonight. Instead, the
Board/Commission might refer the matter to staff for consideration at a future meeting.
7. Reports/Recommendations
7.1. Work Plan Item 1, CAP Prioritization
8. Chair and Member Comments
9. Staff Comments
Page 1 of 24
9.1. Paved Area Work Plan Item
10. Adjournment
Page 2 of 24
BOARD & COMMISSION
ITEM REPORT
Date: April 10, 2025 Item Activity: Approve
Meeting: Energy & Environment Commission
Agenda Number: 4.1
Prepared By: [PRESENTER_TITLE_NO_BR]
Item Type: Minutes Department: Engineering
Item Title: Approval of Meeting Minutes
Action Requested:
Approve Meeting Minutes.
Information/Background:
Receive and approve Mar. 13, 2025 Meeting Minutes.
Supporting Documentation:
1. Draft Minutes, March 13
Page 3 of 24
MINUTES OF THE
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
7:00 PM THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2025
Meeting location:
Edina City Hall
Community Room
4801 W. 50th St.
Edina, MN
1. Call to Order
Chair Lukens called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. then shared the procedure for
public hearing and community comment.
2. Roll Call
Answering roll call were Commissioners Lukens, Haugen, Bartholomew, Tessman,
Schima, Martinez-Salgado and Walker.
Absent were Commissioners Weber, Dakane, and student Commissioner Langsweirdt.
Student Commissioner Srivastav arrived at 7:10 p.m.
3. Approval of Meeting Agenda
Bartholomew made a motion, seconded by Martinez-Salgado, to Approve Meeting
Agenda. Motion carried.
4. Approval of Meeting Minutes
4.1. Approval of Meeting Minutes
Haugen made a motion, seconded by Bartholomew, to Approve Meeting Minutes. Motion
carried.
5. Special Recognitions and Presentations
No special recognitions or presentations were received.
6. Community Comment
No community comment was received.
7. Reports/Recommendations
7.1. Work Plan Item 1, CAP Prioritization
Liaison Bayer reviewed the CAP Prioritization summary for Water & Wastewater sector.
EEC discussed and provided comments.
7.2. Earth Day 2025
Commissioner Bartholomew discussed EEC's support for the Morningside Earth Day
Page 4 of 24
event. EEC provided input on tabling material content and agreed to promote within their
networks.
8. Chair and Member Comments
• Commissioner Martinez-Salgado shared Edina Magazine will feature the Tree
Recognition Campaign in a future issue.
• Commissioners discussed the Feb. 18 City Council work session discussion on
the tree protection ordinance and how the tree protection ordinance will apply
to the Southdale Library redevelopment project.
• Commissioner Tessman shared he is involved in an event in April with SD-46
related to environmental issues.
• Commission Haugen requested an update from staff on how the EEC can be
involved in a City vehicle event to promote EVs.
9. Staff Comments
9.1. Annual Sustainability Update
Liaison Bayer reviewed draft slides to be presented at the March 18 City Council meeting
for the Sustainability Division's annual update.
10. Adjournment
Tessman made a motion, seconded by Schima, to Adjourn. Motion carried.Meeting
adjourned at 8:53 p.m.
Page 5 of 24
BOARD & COMMISSION
ITEM REPORT
Date: April 10, 2025 Item Activity: Information
Meeting: Energy & Environment Commission
Agenda Number: 5.1
Prepared By: [PRESENTER_TITLE_NO_BR]
Item Type: Other Department: Engineering
Item Title: Chloride Pollution in Edina
Action Requested:
Receive presentation.
Information/Background:
Edina resident Sue Nissen will present on chloride pollution and share best practices for mitigation.
Supporting Documentation:
None
Page 6 of 24
BOARD & COMMISSION
ITEM REPORT
Date: April 10, 2025 Item Activity: Discussion
Meeting: Energy & Environment Commission
Agenda Number: 7.1
Prepared By: [PRESENTER_TITLE_NO_BR]
Item Type: Report & Recommendation Department: Engineering
Item Title: Work Plan Item 1, CAP Prioritization
Action Requested:
Receive information. Provide comments.
Information/Background:
EEC Work Plan Item 1 is a "review and comment" on Staff's work to re-prioritize Climate Action
Plan actions. Staff will present information each month for ease of review by the EEC.
This meeting will include a review of "Waste Management" sector actions. Organics Recycling
Coordinator Twila Singh will join the meeting to answer questions.
Supporting Documentation:
1. To EEC - WM, Waste Management Actions
Page 7 of 24
WM - Waste Management Actions April 2025 EEC Meeting
CAP Label Envisio StatusDescription Prioritization Status City Role Division Lead Budget Staff Capacity Staff Notes EEC Comments
WM 1-1 Upcoming
Coordinate with the school district to establish paths towards
Zero Waste program. Program to include zero waste
curricula, family content, training, volunteer program
connections, as well as zero waste strategies for school
facilities.
Keep, Change Support Public Health n/a Capacity needed
Update wording to clarify scope of city role and focus on
waste reduction. City has limited role and influence on
curriclum and training.
Support Edina School District to establish waste reduction initiatives
in order to meet the requirements of Ordinance 13, including
connections to education materials and County resources.
WM 1-2 On Track
Support collaborative consumption community projects, such
as neighborhood compost projects, tool libraries, and repair
cafes through mini-grant programs.
Ongoing Lead Public Health
Sustainability
Organics Funding
Budget needed for
non-organics
Existing capacity
Staff supporting local projects and using organics funding to
support organics-focused projects (e.g., zero waste pancake
breakfast with Boyscouts). New budget source will be needed
to expand scope and breadth of projects to support non-
organics focused waste initiatives.
WM 1-3 Completed
Explore options for waste hauling improvements supporting
CAP goal achievement, including modifications to City's
existing licensure process and requirements as well as
organized waste hauling strategies.
Keep, Change Lead Public Health Budget needed Capacity needed
Update wording to clarify scope and alignment with Hennepin
County Solid Waste Management Plan.
Evaluate organized trash collection policy and program as directed
by Hennepin County's Solid Waste Management Plan, including
evaluation of staff and budget capacity needed for implementation
and enforcement.
WM 1-4 Upcoming
Create a space where items can be donated at the end of the
school year or after graduation and hold an annual event for
children's things and toys to be given away.
Keep, Change Support Public Health n/a Capacity needed
Update wording to clarify scope of city role. Other
organizations hosting swap events related to school and sport
equipment.
Support Edina School District and other organizations offering
school-related material and equipment reuse and donation at swap
events.
WM 1-5 Completed
Eliminate petroleum-based, single-use products through
phasing out the use of single-use plastics including plastic bags
by 2025. Require food service retailers to use re-usable,
biodegradable, compostable or recyclable packaging and
utensils (including for take-out). Explore the feasibility of
establishing a reusable takeout container service.
Complete
Carryout Bag Fee Ordinance effective July 2024. City unable to
ban bags due to State statute limitations. Green to Go
Ordinance addresses restaurants and takeout services.
WM 1-6 Upcoming
Establish a Zero Waste policy for City operations that
outlines increasing incremental annual waste reduction goals
charting a path to Zero Waste. Policy to require that outside
users of City facilities also follow Zero Waste policy and will
modify the event permit application to require the inclusion of
recycling and composting at events.
Keep, Change Lead Public Health Budget needed Existing capacity
Change wording to focus on waste reduction, not zero waste.
This action will be ongoing and operationalized through
updated policy focused on waste reduction for all events
hosted at City Facilities and for special event permits. Ongoing
implementation by Public Health.
Implement waste reduction policy for city operations, including
requirement for external users of city facilities to follow policy as
part of event permit applications.
Page 8 of 24
WM - Waste Management Actions April 2025 EEC Meeting
CAP Label Envisio StatusDescription Prioritization Status City Role Division Lead Budget Staff Capacity Staff Notes EEC Comments
WM 1-7 Upcoming
Establish a Universal Zero Waste Ordinance, requiring all
property owners (including City buildings and parks) to
provide recycling and compost collection services and
requiring businesses to use these services.
Remove
Not feasible to implement city-wide zero waste ordinance.
CAP Actions WM 2 and WM 3 focus on recycling and
compost requirements.
WM 2-1 Completed
Make City worksites a model for organics composting by
developing a collection program for City buildings (owned and
leased) and park spaces.
Ongoing Lead Facilities
Enterprises Budget needed Existing capacity
Operationalized with organics available at primary city officing
locations (City Hall, Public Works). Ongoing contract review
for Enterprise locations based on facility's staff capacity and
budget.
WM 2-2 Completed
Require that compost be used as a soil amendment for public
and private construction projects that disturb the soil cover
by a set amount.
Ongoing Lead Engineering Street Levy Existing capacity
Operationalized for all street recon project contracts;
Sustainable Building Policy sustainability standards have set
criteria for soil management.
WM 2-3 On Track
Conduct an organics waste collection pilot project with a
sample of City businesses to test the interest, methodology,
and amount of commercial food waste that would need to be
accommodated by a commercial organics collection program.
Explore possible incentives for food retailers, restaurants, and
institutions to participate in food waste reuse and recycling
programs.
Complete Commercial organics collection now required.
WM 2-4 Completed
Expand curbside and availability of other composting options
for single family and multi-family residents and businesses.
Explore options for low-cost or free compost/organics
collection or drop off particularly for people of low income.
Promote and educate on the value and methods for
composting.
Complete
Five drop sites established to meet the needs of properties to
dispose of organics recycling without on-site collection. City
continues to grow drop-site offering. Single-family residents
automatically enrolled in curbside organics program.
WM 2-5 Upcoming
Develop compost captains on each block/neighborhood to
educate neighbors on the benefits of composting, gardening,
creating "cool yards".
Ongoing Lead Public Health Organics Funding Existing capacity
Operationalized through engagement with neighborhood
associations and community leaders to educate and promote
organics program through communications and events.
Focused on community leader relationships.
WM 2-6 On Track Explore requiring large new buildings to provide facilities for
disposing organics.Keep, Change Lead Public Health
Sustainability Budget needed Capacity needed
Clarify wording to align with Hennepin County Zero Waste
Plan and Ordinance 13. Single-family and commercial
properties already required as waste generators. Multifamily
has no requirements.
Evaluate new policy to require multi-family properties to provide on-
site organics separation and collection in alignment with Hennepin
County Solid Waste Management Plan requirements, including
evaluation of staff and budget capacity needed for implementation
and enforcement.
Page 9 of 24
WM - Waste Management Actions April 2025 EEC Meeting
CAP Label Envisio StatusDescription Prioritization Status City Role Division Lead Budget Staff Capacity Staff Notes EEC Comments
WM 2-7 Upcoming
Combat food waste by encouraging retailers and restaurants
to donate, reduce, reuse, or compost their unsold food,
creating “zero-waste sections” where products are sold close
to their expiration dates, and designating “zero-waste
coaches” to raise awareness among staff and help manage
products reaching the end of their marketable life. Edible
unsold products shall be donated. When not edible, organic
waste shall be composted through City's organics collection
vendor.
Keep, Change Partner Public Health Budget needed Capacity needed
Update to clarify action and focus on partnerships to create
food rescue and food recovery opportunities locally. Will need
to connect to Local Food & Agriculture sector as appropriate.
Partner with food rescue and food recovery organizations to combat
food waste from commercial establishment through food donation
and collection sites.
WM 3-1 Completed
Coordinate with public partners to ensure recycling is
provided and promoted in all schools, City buildings, public
housing, and public spaces. Include coordination on recylcing
education and communications to improve reduction of
contamination.
Ongoing Lead Public Health n/a Existing capacity
Operationalized through partnerships with internal divisions,
school district and other organizations to promote recycling
best practices.
WM 3-2 Upcoming Explore a requirement that all waste be recycled or salvaged
at large construction sites.Keep, Change Lead
Sustainability
Building
Inspections
Conservation and
Sustainability Fund Existing capacity
Change wording to clarify incentive opportunities as first step
with future policy exploration.
Provide incentives for sustainable deconstruction in alignment with
Hennepin County grant programs for property demolition. Evaluate
opportunities to require sustainable deconstruction and material
recycling for properties with approved demolition permits, including
residential and commercial redevelopment.
WM 3-3 Upcoming
Work with the Planning Department to require adequate
space/chutes in multi-family buildings for recycling and organics
making sure recycling is as convenient as garbage.
Remove
Recycling already required for multifamily properties. City
unable to establish interior construction or layout
requirements beyond building code. WM 2-6 addresses
requirement for organics recycling in multifamily properties.
WM 3-4 On Track
Explore establishing or expanding requirements for recycling
and organic waste collection for multi-family residential
buildings, and commercial/industrial buildings. Promote,
educate and advocate for equal access to organics collection
as well as collection of other common items typically requiring
drop off at the recycling center to support participation by all,
including individuals with limited mobility.
Keep, Change Lead Public Health Budget needed Capacity needed
Clarify wording to align with Hennepin County Solid Waste
Management Plan and Ordinance 13 compliance. Remove
'organics' wording as this is addressed in "W 2-#' actions.
Budget and enforcement mechanisms needed to be successful
beyond education and audits.
Create new program to ensure compliance with on-site recycling
requriements for multi-family and commercial properties in
alignment with Hennepin County Solid Waste Management Plan
requirements, including evaluation of staff and budget capacity
needed for implementation and enforcement.
WM 3-5 Upcoming
Expand consumer education (e.g. host community forums and
provide direct outreach) on sustainable consumption,
materials management, available services, incentives, and
facilities as well as proper recycling, composting, and source
reduction methods.
Ongoing Lead Public Health
Sustainability n/a Existing capacity
Different projects initiated each year based on staff capacity
and budget. In 2024-25, GreenCorps member focused on
waste education and outreach.
Page 10 of 24
WM - Waste Management Actions April 2025 EEC Meeting
CAP Label Envisio StatusDescription Prioritization Status City Role Division Lead Budget Staff Capacity Staff Notes EEC Comments
WM 4-1 Completed
Promote and explore partnership with clothing businesses,
reuse non-profits and textile recycling businesses to create a
Clothing Reuse and Recycling pilot project to advance zero
waste textiles within the City.
Ongoing Lead Public Health Budget needed Existing capacity
Operationalized with annual clothing swap event. Organics
Recycling staff exploring additional "swap" events and "mend-it"
clinics to support textile reuse. Additional budget needed to
expand the type and scope of events.
WM 4-2 Completed
Promote and partner with existing waste audit or diversion
assistance programs for businesses. Program to support
businesses in establishing tracking and reporting waste
streams, identify reduction, diversion, beneficial use
opportunities, identification of potential financing sources, and
connect businesses with energy audit and other resources in
support of full CAP goals.
Goal: 30 business waste audits completed annually with
businesses engaged in measuring and diverting waste.
Ongoing Partner Sustainability
Public Health n/a Existing capacity
Operationalized. City partners with WasteWise to promote
free waste audits and support programs. Organics Recycling
staff partner with Multifamily properties to audit organics
recycling infrastructure.
WM 4-3 Upcoming
Establish a policy or ordinance expanding or requiring textile
reuse and recycling based on outcomes of the Clothing Reuse
and Recycling pilot project.
Remove
City staff focused in requirements in Hennepin County Solid
Waste Management Plan, and there are no existing state or
county-level directive on textile recycling included in plans.
Textile recycling options are limited making policy difficult to
enforce.
WM 4-4 Upcoming
Conduct a Beneficial Use Study to identify greatest beneficial
use opportunities present in current City solid waste streams.
Study to estimate potential return on investment and identify
job and economic development potential associated with
opportunities. Research/identify pilot project opportunities to
explore capture of benefit.
Complete
Hennepin County Solid Waste Management Plan evaluated
beneficial reuse streams, including opportunity identification
and municipality's role in waste streams. City implementing by
direction of Solid Waste Management Plan and Hennepin
County requirements.
WM 4-5 Completed Promote and partner to support a Fix It Fair at the Library
and create a resource list for reuse.Ongoing Partner Public Health n/a Capacity needed
Operationalized. Public Health staff partner with Hennepin
County and other organizations to co-host Fix It Clinics.
Additional space and co-hosts are needed to continue to offer
this program (i.e., larger spaces to accommodate size of
crowds).
Page 11 of 24
BOARD & COMMISSION
ITEM REPORT
Date: April 10, 2025 Item Activity: Information
Meeting: Energy & Environment Commission
Agenda Number: 9.1
Prepared By: [PRESENTER_TITLE_NO_BR]
Item Type: Other Department: Engineering
Item Title: Paved Area Work Plan Item
Action Requested:
Information only.
Information/Background:
Commissioner Weber has integrated comments from the January 2025 EEC meeting into the
Advisory Communication related to the paved area work plan item from the 2024 EEC Work Plan.
The advisory communication, report and staff report will be on the City Council April 16 agenda.
Supporting Documentation:
1. Advisory Communication
2. EEC Report
3. Staff Report
Page 12 of 24
City of Edina • 4801 W. 50th St. • Edina, MN 55424
Date: March 21, 2025
To: Mayor & City Council
From: Energy and Environment Commission
Subject: Converting Underutilized paved areas and community gardens
Approved Work
Plan Item:
x Yes
No
Council Charge:
x 1: Study & Report
2: Review & Comment
3: Review & Recommend
4: Review & Decide
Items not on the approved work plan: Council action is rarely taken mid-year for items not on the current approved
work plan. Action is only taken if Council chooses to discuss the Advisory Communication at the Council meeting and
provides specific direction through a Council vote. Commissions are encouraged to submit new initiative proposals
through the annual work plan process.
Action Requested:
Receive the study and report
Situation:
Workplan item for 2024, objective was to determine where underutilized paved areas may be located and
consider conversion to greenspace or pollinator habitat. Workplan item also called to investigate whether
or not any of these potential converted green spaces could be community gardens.
Background:
These items are included in the 2021 Climate Action Plan from the City of Edina. Transportation and Land
Use, Local Food and Agriculture and Greenspaces and Trees all have action items that correspond directly
or indirectly to this topic.
Assessment:
Commission believes that TS 3-4 should be undertaken once the Land Conversion Opportunity Study is
completed. Commission also believes that additional community gardens can benefit the city, but need to
determine appropriate sites prioritizing with equity in mind and explore other ways to administer and fund.
Commission is working on LF 1-2 in the 2025 workplan item for the EEC on food security. This initiative
will dig into where there may be hotspots for food insecurity to help drive prioritization for community
gardens and other initiatives.
Page 13 of 24
Conversion to Green Spaces and Community Gardens Report
December 2024
Page 14 of 24
Contents
Situation ...................................................................................................................... 2
Background ................................................................................................................. 3
Land Use in Edina ..................................................................................................... 3
Community Gardens ................................................................................................. 6
Assessment ................................................................................................................. 6
References ................................................................................................................... 8
Situation
Around the world, many communities are in the process of reducing the amount of
impervious ground cover and surfaces and/or increasing pollinator habitats. This can have
many desirable impacts – fiood mitigation, critical pollinator support, reduced potable
water usage along with helping decrease urban heat islands.
At the same time, food insecurity is growing in many places. With supply chain issues and
infiation, the cost of food can be prohibitive for many. Each year, thousands of Edina
residents require support from local food shelves such as VEAP.
This report looks at the conversion to green space or pollinator habits, and the feasibility of
any of these spaces should be turned into a community garden. Speciflcally, this directly
relates to two items on the CAP:
TL 3-4: Identify underutilized paved areas and incentivize conversion to sustainable
green space or inflll development. Conversion focus should take into consideration
neighborhood’s greenspace, heat island mitigation, affordable housing, and
bike/walk mobility needs and prioritize site utilization based on addressing the
greatest needs at each site as determined through appropriate engagement with the
community, particularly people traditionally underrepresented. (Pale Blue Dot LLC,
2021)
LF 1-2: Support existing school and community gardens and provide opportunities
to expand community growing spaces with a focus on locating garden infrastructure
to serve youth, immigrant, and people with lower incomes or who are experiencing
food insecurity. Community growing and garden spaces may include use of park
space, unused city owned space, or public right of way/boulevard areas. Program
Page 15 of 24
should prioritize conversion of impervious spaces to garden space and
preservation/increase of overall green space beneflt. (Pale Blue Dot LLC, 2021)
Background
The Climate Action Plan (CAP) approved in Edina in 2021 addresses several targets to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve net zero emissions by 2050. From that
report, actions under Transportation and Land Use, Greenspace and Trees, and Local Food
and Agriculture apply to this topic. (Pale Blue Dot LLC, 2021)
Along with the CAP, the 2015 Parks Strategic plan is also relevant to this report. This plan
provided a clear vision for the next 20 years of Edina parks, including redevelopment of
parks, trails and recreational opportunities.
Land Use in Edina
93% of grasslands in Edina are manicured lawns (Pale Blue Dot LLC, 2021). According to
the 2021 CAP, Edina has a goal to reduce turf coverage from 25.2% to 22.6% and reduce
dark impervious surface cover from 25.5% to 23% by 2030. Reducing turf leads to better
stormwater mitigation, less potable water use and increased carbon storage. Impervious
surfaces contribute to urban heat islands and can hinder stormwater mitigation. (Pale Blue
Dot LLC, 2021)
The below image displays the percentage of ground cover that is grass (by Census Tract)
Page 16 of 24
This diagram illustrates by type of impervious surface coverage
According to the CAP progress portal, item TL 3-4 is upcoming and has not yet been
started; however many other actions under Greenspace and Trees have been started or
completed, and many of them have an indirect positive relationship with our work plan
item. (City of Edina, 2024)
Page 17 of 24
Greenspace and Trees CAP items already completed by the city that help advance
pollinator/native habitats: (City of Edina, 2024)
1. Remove lawn/grass requirements in ordinances
2. Manage city-owned natural areas to enhance and maintain diverse native
communities, implementation of best practices for stormwater management,
increased plant diversity and improved pollinator habitat
3. Manage city-owned lawn/turf areas to enhance and maintain diverse native
communities, increase turf replacement with native wildfiower and prairie grasses,
increased plant diversity, improved pollinator friendly habitat, and carbon gardening
practices including elimination of synthetic fertilizer and pesticide use, high mow
deck settings, use of biochar amendments, and polyculture lawn mixture.
The following actions are underway:
1. Land Conversion Opportunity Study – analyze public and private property for
unused turf and impervious areas, create implementation plan to convert to native
plant and pollinator restoration areas (on track, percent complete unknown)
2. Install roadside pollinator vegetation that creates effective barriers to prevent
drifting of air pollutants to adjacent schools and residences. (on track, 4%
complete)
3. Establish policy to require use of native plants in landscaping at City owned
properties. Continue natural vegetation conversion for passive park areas (on track,
75% complete) – add 100 acres of native plant and pollinator restoration area on city
property by 2040
4. Establish policy and identify, create and promote incentives to assist homeowners
and households with low incomes by covering some of the cost of converting
traditional lawns by planting pollinator friendly food gardens, permaculture,
wildfiowers, clover or native grasses (on track 25%, exploring grant opportunities)
In accordance with the 2015 Strategic Parks plan, nearly 200 acres of Edina parks are in
some phase of planning or active construction in the next few years. This includes
removing invasive buckthorn, restoring wetlands, establishing native habitats and other
climate adaptive species. (Engineering, 2024)
Page 18 of 24
Edina has also consistently been providing residents with opportunities to learn and get
assistance in creating pollinator habitats in their yards with Metrobloom.
Community Gardens
Edina currently has two community gardens – one run by the City of Edina (Yorktown Plot),
and the other the co-op at 7500 York. The Yorktown community garden has 55 plots and
has had a consistent waitlist since opening in 2014. The rental fees are $45 for a 10’ x 10’
plot and $50 for a 10’ x 15’ plot. Fees are used to cover soil preparation and tilling,
compost, water and garden improvements. Residents are responsible for the upkeep of
their plots and receive warnings when not in compliance. (City of Edina, 2024)
The city staff manages the administration for the garden – helping reserve plots (Feb –
March), opening the garden early May, inspecting the garden July/Aug/Sept, and then
closing mid-October with communications throughout the year.
City staff believes there may be more demand for additional community gardens.
Assessment
The commission believes that the following actions should be continued/advanced
• TL 3-4 identify underutilized paved areas – this should be completed once the Land
Conversion Opportunity is completed. According to the CAP, GS 2-1 calls for a Land
Conversion Opportunity study to be completed, along with a Ground Cover
Conversion Implementation plan to convert to native plant and pollinator
restoration areas, wetlands, permaculture areas, tree coverage or urban agriculture.
This action covers both private and public property and should be used as input for
evaluating which impervious surfaces can and should be converted. (Pale Blue Dot
LLC, 2021)
According to the Ground Cover Survey (Pale Blue Dot LLC, 2021), dark pavements
comprise 50% of all impervious surfaces in the city of Edina (dark roofs at 30%). As roof
replacement would be less feasible for many, the opportunity to reduce dark pavement is a
great opportunity to reduce impervious surfaces and replace with pollinator habitats.
Page 19 of 24
• Parking lots are a top target for paved areas; however, most of the parking in Edina is
not city owned, requiring the city to work with the private owners to depave parking
lots. Edina city staff has not looked at paved areas for conversion at this time.
o Edina could consider a program like St. Louis Park “depave” program for
businesses or homeowners who would like to replace pavement with
pervious surface (ideally pollinator habitat). Park maintenance staff could be
consulted regarding Edina parking lots, but many of our public lots near
parks are already overfiowing with parking and not likely to reduce what is
there.
o Southdale area would be the largest target for impervious surface reduction
(along with helping decrease urban heat island affect). City would need to
determine best way to incentivize property owners to depave.
• Recommend that wildfiower/pollinator/native habitats be prioritized over
community gardens for converting underutilized paved areas. These habitats
provide more biodiversity beneflts and require much less maintenance. Community
gardens require ongoing maintenance and administration.
• Continue advertising and promoting services like Metrobloom and encourage
residents to apply for local grants to help install pollinator habitats.
• As food insecurity is growing, the commission recommends that we include LF 1-2
in the 2025 workplan item for the EEC on food security. This initiative can dig into
where there may be hotspots for food insecurity to help drive prioritization for
community gardens.
• Commission also recommends further investigation into ways to manage
community gardens without city staff oversight. Local schools as part of education,
local churches with large properties, or other organizations may be able to host and
maintain a community garden. There are also grants available to help with
community gardens that may be utilized.
o Explore if developers can be required to include community gardens in new
developments
Page 20 of 24
References
City of Edina. (2024). Community Garden. Retrieved from City of Edina:
https://www.edinamn.gov/255/Community-Garden
City of Edina. (2024). Plan Sectors. Retrieved from Climate Action Plan Progress Portal :
https://performance.envisio.com/dashboard/ClimateActionPlan-Edina
Engineering. (2024, August 16). Water Resources Manager. (L. Weber, Interviewer)
Pale Blue Dot LLC. (2021). Climate Action Plan. Edina.
Pale Blue Dot LLC. (2021). Ground Cover Survey and Carbon Sequestration Study. Edina.
Page 21 of 24
City of Edina • 4801 W. 50th St. • Edina, MN 55424
Information / Background
The Energy and Environment Commission (EEC) completed a “Conversion to Green Spaces and
Community Gardens Report” as part of their 2024 work plan and approved the report at their January
2025 meeting. This staff report is a response to the EEC’s report and includes a summary of existing
work and future opportunities as it relates to converting green spaces and expanding community garden
access.
Existing City Initiatives
The following are existing City initiatives that support turf conversion and limit impervious surfaces:
• Offering workshops and other educational opportunities about converting turf on private
property to pollinator gardens and native areas.
• Promoting Lawns to Legumes grant program that supports pollinator, rain and wildflower
gardens. Staff are pursuing grant opportunities to create a city-sponsored grant program to
enhance the impact of Lawns to Legumes.
• Including a maximum impervious surface lot coverage for single-family dwelling units in Zoning
Code.
• Facilitating turf conversion and native restoration on City property, per the 2015 Parks Strategic
Plan. In 2015, the City was managing approximately four acres of natural areas on four City
properties. As of 2023, that acreage increased to approximately 140 acres restored across 10
properties. Projects in 2024-2025 include the Braemar Park buckthorn removal related to
construction of biking trails and nearly 44 acres of restoration at Bredesen Park supported by a
$500,000 grant from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. See chart below.
Date: March 31, 2025
To: Mayor and City Council
Cc: Energy & Environment Commission
From: Marisa Bayer, Sustainability Manager
Jessica Wilson, Water Resources Manager
Perry Vetter, Parks & Recreation Director
Subject: Green Space Conversion and Community Garden Initiatives
Staff Recommendation: Receive report and refer to staff.
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City of Edina • 4801 W. 50th St. • Edina, MN 55424
• Host a Natural Areas Storymap describing the progress in this area of work including ecological
quality assessments for restored areas.
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/7358631381524a909959f4ef9480edb2
• Expanding native and wild spaces in Fred Richards Park Master Plan.
• Hosting two community garden spaces: Yorktown Park Community Gardens and the Lewis Park
Giving Garden.
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
2015 2017 2020 2023Area (acres)Year
Edina Managed Natural Areas
Weber Park and Lynn/Kipling Inundation Area
Nine Mile Creek corridor
Melody Lake Park
Facilities (includes Fire Station 1 turf conversion)
Arden Park
Braemar Park (golf course included)
Rosland Park (includes Lake Cornelia shoreline restoration)
Yancey Park
Bredesen Park
Pamela Park
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City of Edina • 4801 W. 50th St. • Edina, MN 55424
• Including turf alternatives like clover as a landscaping option during street reconstruction
projects.
• Working with volunteer youth service projects to establish smaller restoration/pollinator areas
within parks.
Opportunities to Expand
The City currently does not have existing initiatives to convert impervious surfaces on private property.
Staff agree with the EEC that there is an opportunity to expand this work and that native and other wild
habitats should be prioritized over community garden spaces. Programs focused on private property will
need to be incentive- and education-based because of the City’s limited scope to require conversion on
private properties that are not part of a development plan and outside of zoning regulations (i.e., the
City cannot require private properties de-pave their existing parking lots).
Opportunities to expand this work include:
• Update education materials and review additional outreach strategies to promote existing
education opportunities.
• Host a GreenCorps Member or hire intern to analyze private property and hardscapes,
identifying priority de-paving areas to reduce extreme heat, expand tree canopy, and increase
green and natural spaces. This work is dependent on successful selection as a host-site for this
project, or budget to staff an intern.
• Identify annual budget allocation from Conservation & Sustainability Fund or other source to
create an incentive-based pavement conversion program, like the City of St. Louis Park’s
“Depave SLP” program. Outreach to be conducted based on analysis of priority areas.
• Educate nonprofits or other volunteers to self-manage “giving gardens” that function as
community gardens but grow and donate food to food shelves (similar model to the Lewis Park
Giving Garden). Staff can explore capacity grants and other funding opportunities to fund this
type of program.
Staff agree with the EEC there is limited pavement conversion opportunity on existing City property.
Existing parking lots are actively used by employees and public visitors (e.g., park users). Staff do not
plan to prioritize City parking lot conversion unless directed. Regarding food security, the approved
2025 EEC Workplan includes a “study and report” for food security. This report will inform future
outreach and support the Climate Action Plan’s Local Food and Agriculture strategies.
As part of ongoing Climate Action Plan implementation, opportunities to expand this work can be
considered in future department and commission work plans as capacity and budget are available for
implementation.
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