HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-08-06 Work Session Meeting MinutesPage 1
MINUTES
OF THE EDINA CITY COUNCIL
WORK SESSION
COMMUNITY ROOM, CITY HALL
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6, 2025
5:30 P.M.
1.0 CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Hovland called the meeting to order at 5:31 p.m.
2.0 Roll Call
Answering rollcall were Members Jackson, Pierce, Risser and Mayor Hovland. Member Agnew was absent.
Staff in attendance: Scott Neal, City Manager; Ari Lenz, Assistant City Manager; Jennifer Bennerotte,
Communications Director; Zoe Johnson, City Management Fellow; Chad Millner, Engineering Director;
David Yanagisawa, I.T. Specialist; and Sharon Allison, City Clerk.
3.1 2025 QUALITY OF LIFE SURVEY
Communications Director Jennifer Bennerotte introduced the discussion, noting that since 2011 the
City has conducted the Quality of Life Survey every other year, using the results to inform planning for
the next biennium. She provided historical context, explaining that Edina uses a custom survey that
changes very little from year to year, allowing consistent tracking of trends.
Polco’s Director of Survey Research, Jason Neumeyer, presented the 2025 results. The statistically valid
survey randomly selected 2,000 households, with oversampling of multifamily households and
households of color to better reflect the community. A total of 451 responses were received — 170
online and the remainder by mail — with a participation rate well above the national average. Responses
were weighted using Census data so that the final results matched the community’s demographics.
Council emphasized the importance of making clear that the survey’s weighting and measurement
methods were determined by the independent survey provider, not the Council, to ensure transparency
and public understanding of the methodology.
Most residents rated Edina’s quality of life highly and would recommend living here, showing strong
residential stability. Ratings for safety, City services, and welcoming atmosphere were strong, with many
scores above national and Minnesota benchmarks. Climate change and transportation initiatives saw
improved ratings, and new questions on fire response time (seven minutes or less) showed high
satisfaction. Top concerns included overdevelopment/wrong type, traffic and infrastructure, a shortage
of affordable housing, city government on taxes and planning, etc., and public safety and crime. Six in ten
residents said they would support a tax increase to maintain or improve services, while four in ten
preferred reducing services to lower taxes. Bennerotte noted that some questions were unique to
Edina, including those about the budget and fire response time, as they were asked for the first time this
year.
Regarding the top concerns, Council expressed concerns about overdevelopment and zoning and
suggested the need to examine the drivers of these concerns before starting the next Comprehensive
Plan update; it was noted that only one in five residents identified this as a top issue; that Edina was
comparable to other cities; that the City was addressing all of the identified issues; and different
perspective on development among Council which may indicate that for one in five residents, the City
was not clearly communicating how development projects provide housing.
Minutes/Edina City Council Work Session/August 6, 2025
Page 2
4.0 ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Hovland adjourned the meeting at 6:43 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sharon Allison, City Clerk
Minutes approved by Edina City Council, August 19, 2025.
James B. Hovland, Mayor
Audio copy of the work session available.
Sharon Allison (Aug 21, 2025 06:48:28 CDT)