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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEditionEdina_August-2025_WebFirst Firearms Detection Dog Joins Police K-9 Program Koda Is Already Making an Impact Tracking Suspects and Sniffing Out Firearms BY CELESTE ECKSTEIN The Edina Police Department’s newest member stands out from the rest: He has four legs, fur and a talent for sniffing out firearms. K-9 Koda is a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois from Poland. Koda and his partner, Officer Bennett Breyer, graduated from the St. Paul Police Department’s rigorous 16-week training program in May. They have been on patrol together since. “My favorite part of working with him is just watching him progress through the training, and then watching the light bulb go off when he finally understands something that we’ve been working on in training,” Breyer said. “And then seeing him carry those topics from training to the field to better help officers and the community.” As a dual-purpose K-9 team, Breyer and Koda have a variety of responsibilities. Koda can track scents, apprehend suspects and search areas and buildings. He is also Edina’s first K-9 trained to detect firearms. “K-9 Koda can be utilized not just to locate firearms, but other evidence potentially left behind,” said Officer Michael Bengtson, who supervises the K-9 program. “This includes spent and live ammunition or fired bullets themselves. This was successfully demonstrated on Officer Breyer and K-9 Koda’s first day working after graduating K-9 School, as K-9 Koda located a spent shell casing after a shooting in a neighboring city.” “We hope to find bad guys and take people into custody who have fled from us,” Breyer said. “We also hope to progress in Koda’s firearms detection training and get some guns off the street.” Working with K-9s isn’t completely new to Breyer. For a year, he donned a bite suit or sleeve to act as a decoy and simulate real-world scenarios for K-9s. He primarily worked with Edina K-9s and also decoyed for other departments at monthly metro K-9 trainings. “Through decoying and marking different good behaviors and not marking bad behaviors, the decoy actually plays a large part in training dogs,” Breyer said. After decoying and speaking with other handlers, Breyer applied to work with a K-9. He said he has enjoyed getting to know Koda and training alongside him. Although Koda has a serious job, he’s not all business all the time. Edina resident Pacy Erck, who has paid for the Police Department’s last four K-9s, said he has a friendly, silly personality. When she took a picture with Koda and Breyer, Koda licked her cheek. “If I had met Koda somewhere else, not knowing he’s a police dog, you would never know the skills that dog has,” she said. “It was just delightful, and it was actually a nuisance to get him looking straight ahead for the picture.” “He’s a very social dog, but he can definitely turn on the switch to go to work,” Breyer said. “He likes a lot of attention. He’s very energetic.” The K-9’s personality matches his name: Koda means “friend” in some Native American dialects. Erck originally suggested the name when Bengtson invited her to name his K-9. However, she opted to keep the dog’s original name, Gryf. Bengtson suggested Breyer call his K-9 “Koda,” and it stuck. Breyer and Koda are the department’s second active K-9 duo. They join Officer Nick Pedersen and K-9 Euro, who completed training in spring 2024. Euro is a 2-year-old Dutch Shepherd also from Poland. The pairs work opposite night shifts. The Edina community plays a large role in supporting the K-9 program. Erck has paid for the K-9s themselves, and the Edina Crime Prevention Fund has paid for the program’s equipment, food and veterinary bills for years. Erck believes the dogs bring value to the Police Department and Edina as a whole, both through their crime-solving skills and their joyful personalities. “In one word, they’re a pet, and in the next word, they’re a dog that’s saving your community,” she said. For more information on the Edina Police Department, visit EdinaMN.gov/Police. K-9 Koda and Officer Bennett Breyer graduated from the St. Paul Police Academy’s K-9 School in May and began work shortly after. (Photo by Jason Heuer) Edition: Edina AUGUST 2025 Volume 12, Issue 8Strong FoundationCITY GOALS:Better TogetherReliable Service Livable City City of Edina EdinaMN.gov 1 Watch City Council, Housing & Redevelopment Authority and Planning Commission meetings live: • Edina TV (Comcast Channels 813 or 16) • Facebook.com/EdinaMN • EdinaMN.gov/Meetings RECURRING EVENTS Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays, 7 p.m. Concerts, Centennial Lakes Park Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9-10:30 a.m. Art Cart with the Edina Art Center, Centennial Lakes Park Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. Concerts, Centennial Lakes Park Wednesdays, 5 p.m. Da Beauty League, Braemar Arena Thursdays, 9 a.m. Free Fishing Thursdays for Kids, Centennial Lakes Park Thursdays, 3-7 p.m. Farmers Market, Centennial Lakes Park UPCOMING EVENTS Friday, Aug. 1, 3 p.m. Surly Brewing Beer and No-Dose THC Tasting, Edina Liquor – 50th & France Saturday, Aug. 2, 10 a.m. Songs & Storytelling in the Plaza, 50th & France Sunday, Aug. 3, 7 p.m. Minneapolis Police Band, Centennial Lakes Park Tuesday, Aug. 5 Night to Unite, various locations Wednesday, Aug. 6, 7 p.m. City Council meeting, Edina City Hall Thursday, Aug. 7, 10 a.m. Teddy Bear Band, Centennial Lakes Park Thursday, Aug. 7, 11-11:30 a.m. Online Project Talks: Vernon Avenue & Highway 100 Interchange Project; EdinaMN.gov/Highway100Talks Saturday, Aug. 9, 10 a.m. Family Storytelling & Songs, 50th & France Wednesday, Aug. 13, 5 p.m. Art Together, Cornelia School Park Thursday, Aug. 14, 7:30 a.m. Housing & Redevelopment Authority meeting, Edina City Hall Saturday, Aug. 16, 10 a.m. Family Storytelling & Songs, 50th & France Tuesday, Aug. 19, 7 p.m. City Council meeting, Edina City Hall Wednesday, Aug. 20, Noon Fall Parks & Recreation activity registration begins for residents Thursday, Aug. 21, 6 p.m. Walk with the Mayor, Rosland Park BY BRITTANY BADER Construction began in June on the York Avenue Trunk Sanitary Sewer project, which will renew and expand sewer capacity in the Greater Southdale Area to support ongoing redevelopment and future growth. The existing sewer in this area is about 70 years old and currently has limited capacity to accommodate increased wastewater flow generated from future development. As part of the project, a new sanitary sewer trunk—a large, primary pipe—will be constructed underneath the southbound lanes of York Avenue. About a half-mile of existing 9- to 12-inch pipe will be replaced with a 27-inch pipe from the Edina Promenade to West 69th Street. The line will also be extended by about half a block to fully connect with West 69th. This will create a more direct route for sewer flows from York, a portion of which currently relies on the trunk line on France Avenue. The new route will relieve pressure on the France line, better serve developments along York and support long-term growth in the Southdale area. While most improvements will be underground, the project will also bring visible upgrades like a repaved road, replacement of some curbs and driveway aprons, updated crosswalks and new catch basins. “With aging pipes, decisions need to be made on how to extend their service life. If they can’t meet future capacity, then they need to be replaced, like in the case of the trunk line on York Avenue,” said Engineering Services Manager Ross Bintner. “We really understood our need to address where we lacked capacity in the existing sewer to accommodate future growth in Edina. It’s a period of reinvestment and renewal to extend that service life into the next century.” Work is expected to be completed by November. Throughout construction, the southbound lanes of York in the project area will be closed in phases, and the adjacent sidewalk will also be closed for pedestrian safety. Drivers should follow the signed detour on France. Northbound traffic remains open. Access to York Plaza Apartments, York Condos and nearby businesses like Target will be maintained throughout the project. This Capital Improvement Plan project is estimated to cost approximately $3 million, funded through the sanitary sewer portion of the City’s Utility Fund. This year’s work is a continuation of projects completed in 2017 and 2019, with future phases tentatively planned for 2027 and 2029. A detour map and ongoing information about the project can be found online at BetterTogetherEdina.org/York-Trunk-Sanitary. For more information, contact Bintner at 952-903-5713 or rbintner@EdinaMN.gov. York Avenue Trunk Sanitary Sewer Project Increases Capacity in Southdale Area Work to Replace, Extend Trunk Line to Finish This Fall The southbound lanes of York Avenue in the project area will be closed in phases throughout construction. Northbound traffic remains open. (Photo by Ken Gammell) For a complete listing of meetings and events, visit EdinaMN.gov. 2 The Community Climate Action Fund helps residents and businesses pay for energy-efficiency upgrades that help Edina achieve its overall Climate Action Plan goals. This year, the popular program helped its biggest project yet: 300 solar panels atop the Forty-Forty Flats affordable housing apartments. 2025 funding of $76,980 has been allocated, but limited e-bike rebates are still available. Sign up for the e-bike lottery or learn about obtaining 2026 funding at EdinaMN.gov/ClimateFund. The 2025 projects included: BY THE NUMBERS Community Climate Action Fund Induction stoves 4 9 Insulation/air sealing projects BY KAYLA NORTHWAY The City has new goals to create a more inclusive and welcoming community – one with minimal barriers to City programs, services and policies. The goals are outlined in the City’s first Equity Strategic Action Plan (ESAP). Using the results from the Diamond Inclusivity Assessment (DIA), it aims to improve the organization and help City staff be more intentional in how they serve the public. “Equity and inclusion work touches everything we do in the City – anything that impacts employees and the people we serve,” said Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Manager Thomas Brooks. “The ESAP allows us to do that work in a meaningful way.” Adopted in June 2025, the ESAP is in the implementation phase that extends through late 2027. As the City makes progress on the current plan, it will simultaneously identify priorities and goals for the next ESAP. The current ESAP has two goals, one that addresses Built Environment and one that addresses Human Development. The Built Environment goal focuses on creating culturally accommodating public spaces and updating wayfinding signage that is easy to see and understand. “All cultures should feel welcomed, safe and understand how to navigate when they enter any of our buildings. This work is the first step in accomplishing that at two of our buildings,” said Engineering Director Chad Millner. To address this priority, the City aims to update areas in two public-facing City facilities by December 2026. The Human Development goal aims to improve how the City uses data to best understand the needs of employees and the community. The objective is to develop a consistent process for collecting and storing demographic data for use in City decision making by December 2026. “By improving how we collect, store and analyze demographic data, we can better understand who is using City programs and who we might be missing. It’s not just about data—it’s about building trust and making government more responsive to the full diversity of needs in our community,” said Special Projects & Engagement Manager MJ Lamon. To learn more about ESAP plan progress, please visit the Equity Strategic Action Plan Progress Portal at bit.ly/esapdashboard or contact Brooks at thbrooks@EdinaMN.gov. Initial Equity Strategic Action Plan Complete, Implementation Now Underway ESAP Addresses Two Priorities: Built Environment and Human Development A Closer Look at the Diamond Inclusivity Assessment Results from a survey were used to inform the City’s Equity Strategic Action Plan. Consisting of 64 questions, CultureBrokers’ Diamond Inclusivity Assessment (DIA) evaluates how the entire organization is performing in eight key areas related to equity and inclusion, including cultural, political, human and spiritual capital; built environment; financial investment and natural environment. CultureBrokers primarily works with local governments and nonprofits, focusing on intercultural performance and productivity. The survey was taken by 358 community members, staff and people who work with the City. It had three primary findings: 1. Strength: Natural Environment. Respondents could see the City’s investments in environmental sustainability throughout City facilities and parks. 2. Weakness: Built Environment. City spaces and facilities lack representation of diverse cultures and identities, as well as accessibility accommodations. 3. Opportunity: Human Development. Assessing how effectively the City uses diverse data and input to meet its mission for all residents, community members, visitors, program participants and employees could make the biggest impact and positively influence other areas of the DIA. Department directors and the City’s Race and Equity Advancement Team used the findings to set two goals to be completed in the next 18 months with step-by- step breakdowns of projects and tasks necessary to achieve each one. “The DIA played a crucial role, as it provided valuable feedback from many staff and community members on our current systems,” said Assistant City Manager Ari Lenz. “This feedback helped guide the priorities selected in the ESAP, ensuring that the plan is inclusive and reflective of the needs and concerns of our community.” - COMPILED BY DEBBIE TOWNSEND 8 Solar installations, with Forty-Forty Flats serving 118 units 3 Cold climate air source heat pumps Heat pump water heaters2 3City of Edina EdinaMN.gov Edina.As a banker, I know its value. As a resident, I know its worth. Marcia May NMLS #452543 Senior Mortgage Loan Officer 952.905.5741 mmay@bell.bank marciamay.net MRK-2753 Mooty Family Donates Money to Expand and Improve Pickleball Courts 10 High-End Courts To Be Playable at Rosland Park Before Year’s End Brothers John and Melvin Mooty first played pickleball with family on an Edina driveway in 1982. Now their sons and daughter are honoring them and bringing the community together through the sport. In 2015, the Mooty families donated money to construct Edina’s first dedicated pickleball courts in honor of John and Melvin. Five pickleball courts were built adjacent to two tennis courts at Rosland Park and dedicated as the Mooty Pickleball Courts. Bruce Mooty, John’s son, observed that the adjacent tennis courts are rarely used for that sport and recently offered to expand and upgrade the pickleball courts. The end result of the donation will be 10 dedicated high-end pickleball courts instead of five dedicated pickleball courts and a less-than-ideal overlay of four pickleball courts on two tennis courts. At its July 15 meeting, the City Council approved the donation for the project from the Mooty family foundations. The project will be completed in two phases. In the first phase, the existing tennis court area would be expanded north by about 11 feet, providing for six dedicated pickleball courts. Each court would have dedicated fencing and gating to contain play. After that phase is complete, the existing pickleball courts would be upgraded to go from five courts to four with dedicated fencing and gating between each. (No separation exists between the courts today.) The contract for the project was awarded to Bituminous Roadways, which will begin work soon in order to have it completed this season. In the future, the Parks & Recreation Department would like to further improve the area by installing a wind screen for the new courts and a shaded gathering area for players and park users to sit and relax out of the sun. A permanent restroom, parking improvements and potential lighting are also of interest to park users. In other action last month, the City Council: •Approved a proposed redevelopment at 5516 Vernon Ave. Abundance Properties plans to demolish the existing single-family home on the site and build two double- dwelling units. •Allocated $250,000 from the City’s 2024 unassigned fund balance, or surplus, to complete the necessary studies to pursue “quiet zones” for at-grade railroad crossings in Edina. •Adopted a Property Tax Abatement that could be used to fund a new treatment room at the Edina Aquatic Center. The Council will further consider the project and future improvements at the Aquatic Center at a meeting in August. •Adopted the City’s five-year street reconstruction plan and authorized the issuance of General Obligation street reconstruction bonds. The City Council will next meet 7 p.m. Aug. 6 and 19. For more information, visit EdinaMN.gov. – COMPILED BY JENNIFER BENNEROTTE 952-927-8861 | mail@EdinaMN.govCity of Edina EdinaMN.gov4 Iskaan-garee koodhkan oo ku fiiri soomaali EdinaMN.gov/SomaliEE EdinaMN.gov/SpanishEE Escanee este código para ver en español