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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEditionEdina_November-2025_WebEdina Liquor Adapts to Changing Customer Habits Expanding Non-Alcohol Products, Streamlining Purchasing and Inventory Tracking Among Improvements BY DEBBIE TOWNSEND Just 54% of Americans drink alcohol, according to a Gallup poll conducted in July 2025. That’s the lowest percentage in decades. “The largest decline has been in beer specifically, but wine and spirits have been impacted as well,” said Michael McBride, General Manager for Edina Liquor. Shifts in drinking habits, the rise of cannabis use, the post-pandemic return to restaurants and bars and, more recently, outside economic pressures have piled on to reduce sales and profitability at liquor stores nationwide. Edina Liquor is no exception. But the City-run operation, where all profits are returned to the Edina community, is uncorking a slew of improvements to appeal to the changing market. Many people are switching to non-alcohol versions of beer, wine and ready-to-drink spirits like Phony Negroni. “We carried a small selection of non-alcohol products 10 years ago. We now have well over 100,” McBride said. “These are much better quality beverages than they used to be. They taste like the alcohol versions.” Tariffs have reduced the availability of some imported wine and spirits and added to their cost. That’s where Edina Liquor’s trained staff can help out. “Maybe your favorite wine isn’t available, but we source a lot of different wines and can help curate a selection,” said Parks & Recreation Director Perry Vetter. His department oversees Edina Liquor, which sends its profits to Braemar Arena, Centennial Lakes Park and the Edina Art Center. To help increase profit to fund Edina’s recreational spaces, operational costs at Edina Liquor also are being scrutinized internally. Purchasing and inventory of all three stores will be handled by a single person instead of individual stores, and some positions have been eliminated or changed without affecting in-store staffing. “A key focus is to align our business model with industry trends,” Vetter said. “That means adapting a lot of our operations to meet the current economic environment.” At privately owned liquor stores, profits go back to the company. In Edina, they go to keeping up the paths and gardens that make Centennial Lakes Park a joy to walk. They help fund Edina Art Center classes and programs for all ages and skill levels. And they support skating at Braemar Arena. In recent years, Edina Liquor has poured $1 million annually into the City’s recreation facilities. This year, that number will be reduced, with reserves making up the rest. The changes being made are intended to restore sufficient profitability to continue that $1 million annual contribution. Residents can help ensure their shopping dollars stay in the community and help fund the amenities that make Edina special. “The biggest thing residents can do is shop with us,” McBride said. “We’re here to support the community. In order to do that, we really need the support from it.” Edina Liquor has stores in Grandview, 50th & France and Southdale areas. Visit EdinaLiquor.com for more information. CJ Fossen, Jeff Olson and Megan Lunneborg at the Grandview store are among the many talented Edina Liquor employees ready to help customers find beer, wine, spirits or non-alcoholic options. (Photo by Jason Heuer) Edition: Edina NOVEMBER 2025 Volume 12, Issue 11Strong FoundationCITY GOALS:Better TogetherReliable Service Livable City City of Edina EdinaMN.gov 1 Reasons for the Proposed Levy Increase Opportunities for Public Comment on the Proposed Budget The City Council will make a decision on the budget at its Dec. 16 meeting. Public input on the proposed budget and tax levy can be provided in a variety of ways to the City Council, including online, by voicemail or by attending the public hearing that will take place 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2, in the City Hall Council Chambers, 4801 W. 50th St. All comments are reviewed and considered; you do not need to participate in more than one way. Details on how to participate can be found at BetterTogetherEdina.org. City’s Proposed 2026 Budget Prioritizes Edina Fire Response Possibly A Dozen New Paramedic/Firefighters Will Be Hired in 2026 BY LAUREN SIEBENALER A large percentage of a proposed tax levy increase for 2026 is for the hiring of 6-18 new Paramedic/Firefighters to help respond to increasing calls for assistance and address staffing shortages. The Edina Fire Department currently has 36 Paramedic/Firefighters who work 24-hour shifts out of two Fire Stations. Each shift has 12 Paramedic/Firefighters. The department’s minimum staffing level is 10 staff per shift to account for employees who are sick or taking paid time off. “We have three ambulances we are trying to staff every single day,” explained Fire Chief Andrew Slama at a September Edina City Council work session. “And based on current benefited time off—both scheduled and unscheduled—we can’t always maintain the third ambulance.” The majority of shortages have occurred when multiple Paramedic/Firefighters were off due to benefited time off and parental leave. In 2026 when Minnesota Paid Leave goes into effect, employees will be able to take up to 20 total weeks of Family Leave in one year. Multiple times a week, the Fire Department falls below its staffing minimums. When that occurs, voluntary overtime is requested. But when those voluntary overtime spots aren’t filled, Paramedic/Firefighters are required to work beyond their 24-hour shift. Slama says it’s one of the biggest challenges and puts a lot of stress on staff and the organization. The annual call volume for the Edina Fire Department has increased over time, too, exacerbating the issue. Historically, the annual increase has been about 4%, or about 217 calls per year. Compared to 10 years ago, though, total fire and paramedic calls are up 67%. Not maintaining a third ambulance leads to longer emergency response times and greater reliance on mutual aid partners. To put it into perspective, Edina received mutual aid for EMS calls 47 times in 2023. In 2024, that grew to 73 times. And in 2025, mutual aid requests have already surpassed 120 times, due to the third ambulance being cut during staffing shortages. The hiring plan would likely have six to 12 Paramedic/Firefighters start in early 2026. The goal is to hire at least six right away to help with the Fire staff relief factor, a crucial metric used to determine the number of personnel required to ensure that all shifts are adequately covered, accounting for various types of leave and absences. This factor helps in planning and budgeting for the necessary staffing levels to maintain operational readiness and service delivery. “Adding six full-time firefighters at the beginning of the year puts that third ambulance on the road every day, and two additional brings our staff relief factor up to maintain 10 positions,” Slama said. “That doesn’t mitigate overlapping incidents, call response times or the weight of that response, but it does at least get our third ambulance minimally staffed.” The Edina Fire Department applied for a Staffing For Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to assist in the hiring of 12 Paramedic/Firefighters. With the grant, the Fire Department would hire up to 18 staff in 2026. Edina did not receive notification of an award in initial announcements by the federal government in September. It’s possible the City could still receive a grant in subsequent rounds, but unlikely. In September, the City Council approved a preliminary tax levy of about $65.5 million for 2026, which is just over an 11 percent increase from this year. That increase would allow the Fire Department to hire 12 new Paramedic/ Firefighters—enough to operate three ambulances around the clock more frequently. “When you hear 12 [Paramedic/Firefighters], that might sound like a lot, but we were slated to bring on six last year for this year’s budget, and they got cut. So, we are really behind,” said Council Member Julie Risser at the Sept. 16 City Council meeting. “Safety is a foundation of every community, and we need to be providing a situation where our residents are safe, but also where our firefighters are safe.” Because that grant had not yet been awarded at the time of the Sept. 16 meeting, the Council set the levy higher to preserve their flexibility to make decisions. If the grant comes through, Council Members have said they will lower the levy before adopting the budget in December. For more information on Fire Department operations, visit EdinaMN.gov/Fire. For more information on the proposed budget, visit EdinaMN.gov/Finance. Highlights of the Proposed 2026 Budget •Debt service addition for Fire Station 2 •Debt service addition for Aquatic Center •Debt service addition for Vernon Avenue & Highway 100 Interchange •12 Paramedic/Firefighters (with the possibility of 18 with SAFER Grant) •Savings from transitioning Assessing Services to the County •2050 Comprehensive Plan Updates •Strategic Capital and Equipment Investments Base New Debt 6-12 Firefighter/ Paramedic Budget Additions Budget Work Plans 2% 0% 4% 6% 8% 10% 4.87% 2.28% 1.89% 1.47%11.03% 0.52% 2026 2027 12% 9.25% 1.96% 0.31% 4.27% 2.33% 0.38% 2 BY DEBBIE TOWNSEND A new program will help police officers, Fire Department staff, teachers, health care workers and others who serve Edina residents make the City their home. “We want to take care of the good people who are serving our community,” said Carolyn Jackson, the Housing & Redevelopment Authority Commissioner who brought up the concept during an HRA work session earlier this year. Affordable Housing Development Manager Stephanie Hawkinson ran with the idea and worked to create the Heroes Program with the Edina Housing Foundation. What does the Heroes Program do? It offers loans up to $100,000 to help finance an Edina home priced up to $600,000. Repayment is deferred until term or sale. What occupations are considered “heroes”? Anyone who works in the education or health care fields in Edina or is a City employee is eligible. This can include teachers, counselors, day care workers, bus drivers, cafeteria staff, nurses, heath aides and personal care attendants. Proof of employment in Edina is required at the time of the loan. Are there other limits? Yes. To qualify, income must be no more than $106,000 for a one- or two-person household or $137,080 for three or more in 2025. How else does this program help Edina? Having these key people live in Edina offers intangible benefits, Jackson said. A teacher who sees a student with their family at the grocery store has a much better understanding of that child’s home life. It also creates tangible ones, including preserving affordable housing and reducing traffic as people aren’t commuting as far to work, Hawkinson said. New Program Helps ‘Heroes’ Purchase Edina Homes School Employees, Health Care Professionals and Municipal Employees are Eligible - COMPILED BY EDIE WEINSTEIN During the colder months, golfers hit shots from the 44 bays equipped with Toptracer Range technology in Braemar Golf Dome, 7420 Braemar Blvd. Down the street, Braemar Field, 7501 Ikola Way, hosts walkers enjoying the track, athletes of all ages practicing or competing and families playing during Tot Time. To plan a visit to Braemar Field, visit BraemarField.com. To try out Toptracer Range technology at Braemar Golf Dome, visit BraemarGolfDome.com. BY THE NUMBERS Staying Active Inside Edina’s Domes Golf balls tracked with Toptracer Range technology in the 2024-2025 season 5,344,147 cameras track golf balls hit from all 44 bays 4 Minutes of golf virtually played on Toptracer golf courses, such as the Old Course at St. Andrews Links, the oldest and most iconic golf course in the world 1,310,616 Sections of canvas welded together create the Braemar Field dome and split apart when the dome is taken down 9 square feet of field beneath Braemar Field dome 100,000 “Our hospital staff and Police are in extremely stressful jobs,” Jackson said. “If they can be home in five minutes instead of an hour and five minutes, they can be comfortable and relaxed and with their families.” How many loans will be made? The program’s $1 million will fund at least 10 loans. It comes from tax- increment financing money designated for affordable housing. How do I learn more or apply? Visit EdinaMN.gov/Heroes or contact Hawkinson at shawkinson@EdinaMN.gov or 952-833-9578. BRAEMAR GOLF COURSE 3City of Edina EdinaMN.gov Swapping Central: Edina to Host Monthly Sustainable Swaps Across the City Smaller, More Specific Community Swap Events Will Take Place of Annual Clothing Swap BY JACEY MISMASH With four years of the annual Community Clothing Swap under the City’s belt, Edina will take on a new approach to sustainable swaps in 2026. As Braemar Arena, the traditional site of the yearly swap event, prepares to undergo major renovations, the City is planning monthly swaps as alternative options for community members to participate in these cherished sustainable events. Since the first Community Clothing Swap in 2021, Edina’s sustainable swaps have continued to gain popularity throughout the community. At the most recent swap in April, 1,617, attendees brought in 5,235 pounds of clothing. During the event, 92 percent of the clothes were successfully swapped. “We’re hoping to bring in more than just clothes this year,” said Organics Recycling Coordinator Twila Singh. “By having smaller, more frequent swaps that are tailored to specific categories of items or clothes, we are able to more effectively get the entire community involved in our waste reduction efforts.” Cathy Gasiorowicz, Edina resident, Hennepin County Community Recycling Ambassador and frequent swap volunteer, has seen firsthand how these events promote waste reduction across the city. “There’s an audience for everything that gets brought in. People from all backgrounds are interested in these types of events,” said Gasiorowicz. “These swaps are a great way to help reduce unnecessary consumption.” By pivoting to smaller, monthly events that focus on specific categories of items, the City aims to make it easier for people to find what they need or want at each swap. Themes for potential upcoming swaps include jewelry, toys, back-to-school supplies, outdoor gear, comics and board games, winter clothing and more. While locations for each event may vary, some will be hosted at the new Fire Station 2 at 4401 W. 76th St. and the Edina Senior Center at 5280 Grandview Square. Additionally, the City plans to continue partnerships with local organizations that can benefit from donations of the items left over after the swaps. To inquire about partnerships or for more information regarding community swaps, contact Singh at tsingh@EdinaMN.gov. Watch City Council, Housing & Redevelopment Authority and Planning Commission meetings live: • Edina TV (Comcast Channels 813 or 16) • EdinaMN.gov/Meetings UPCOMING EVENTS Saturday, Nov. 1 Start of Native American Heritage Month Saturday, Nov. 1, 7 a.m. Braemar Golf Dome opens for season Tuesday, Nov. 4, 7 p.m. City Council meeting, Edina City Hall Sunday, Nov. 9, 6 p.m. Richard Keller, Edinborough Park Monday, Nov. 10 City Hall closed Tuesday, Nov. 11 Veterans Day, City Hall closed Tuesday, Nov. 11, 10 a.m. Edina Art Center’s Pop-Up Art Cart, Edinborough Park Thursday, Nov. 13, 7:30 a.m. Housing & Redevelopment Authority meeting, Edina City Hall Thursday, Nov. 13, 11-11:30 a.m. Online Project Talks: Vernon Avenue & Highway 100 Interchange Project; EdinaMN.gov/Highway100Talks Friday, Nov. 14, 5 p.m. Movie night, “How to Train Your Dragon,” Edinborough Park Saturday, Nov. 15, 9 a.m. Walk with the Mayor, 50th & France Tuesday, Nov. 18, 7 p.m. City Council meeting, Edina City Hall Thursday, Nov. 20, 2 p.m. Free Car Seat Checks, Edina Fire Station 1 Friday, Nov. 21, 4 p.m. Dry Tri Turkey Trot, Edinborough Park Saturday, Nov. 22, 3 p.m. Thanksgiving Pairings, In-Store Tastings, Edina Liquor – Southdale Sunday, Nov. 23, 6 p.m. First John Philip Sousa Memorial Band, Edinborough Park Tuesday, Nov. 25, 7 p.m. Town Talks: Fred Richards Park, Edina TV Wednesday, Nov. 26, 10 a.m. Edina Art Center’s Pop-Up Art Cart, Edinborough Park Thursday, Nov. 27 Thanksgiving, City offices closed Friday, Nov. 28 Day After Thanksgiving, City offices closed Friday, Nov. 28, 10 a.m. Edina Art Center’s Pop-Up Art Cart, Edinborough Park For a complete listing of meetings and events, visit EdinaMN.gov. Edina’s 2025 Community Clothing Swap was the biggest in the City’s history, with over double the amount of participants than the previous year. (File Photo) Upcoming Swaps Saturday, Feb. 28: Bling It On Jewelry Swap at the Edina Senior Center 3-5 p.m. Saturday, March 21: Toy Swap Joint Toy Swap with Hennepin County 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, April 18: Clothing Swap Edina Senior Center 10 a.m.-1 p.m. 4 Non-Rechargeable Household alkaline batteries can go in the regular trash. Items with rechargeable batteries must be recycled at a hazardous waste facility. Rechargeable Bill Fredell, pilot project team leader, and Point of France building maintenance team member Travis Delaney pose with their composting bins at the condominiums. (Photo by Jason Heuer) Improper disposal of lithium-ion, or rechargeable, batteries can cause fires. Find more information and where to properly dispose your item at hennepin.us/greendisposalguide. Proper Battery Disposal Organics Recycling Pilot Program Is Resounding Success at Point of France Residents Enjoy Convenient Access to Recycling While Cutting Costs BY EDIE WEINSTEIN When Del Steckler heard talk of adding a composting program to her condominium building, Point of France, in May of 2024, she was not happy. “I was the holdout on this program at the beginning,” said Steckler. “When this program was coming here, I didn’t have a good feeling about it, but I completely turned around. I’m a convert.” Now, nine months after Point of France implemented the program in February of 2025, Steckler recycles most of what she used to throw away. She also proudly cleans the cart and checks it for contaminating non-organics. She’s not alone in her dedication to the program: The pilot organics recycling was such a success that Point of France has made it a permanent feature of the building for residents. Nearly a dozen Edina properties have implemented the pilot program, and they all signed up for organics recycling service permanently once they tried it out for themselves. When the Edina Public Health Division launched the organics recycling program five years ago, the curbside cart collection was mainly geared toward single-family houses. These multi- family pilot organics recycling programs allow apartment buildings and condominiums to participate, too. The pilot program lasts six months and includes free recycling carts, compostable bags and countertop organics recycling bins for each unit. Grants and funds from Hennepin County make the program totally free for users. Currently two pilot programs are running. “It’s a no-lose,” said Bill Fredell, the leader of the Point of France steering committee that implemented the pilot program there. “You get free pickups for six months, you get free bags, and all you have to do is comply with the arrangement. It’s a total no-brainer.” The program can save money in two ways. As people learn what can and cannot go in organics recycling bins, contamination fees become less frequent, lowering residents’ cost of living. Organics are wet and heavy; since buildings are charged for trash by weight, recycling organics makes waste removal significantly cheaper. Fredell looks forward to learning how much Point of France saved in total at the end of the year. “I think that we all are amazed at the bulk of material that is going to go back into the natural system rather than going into a landfill. You have to feel good about that.” “And the waste returns to us as compost,” reminded Steckler. When the program was first proposed, residents worried about the bins’ smell. However, Point of France Board members find no noticeable difference since the introduction of the Organics Recycling station. “The administration is very much on board. People are using it; we all see the benefit. We’re signed up permanently,” said Fredell. The City has applied for more funding to run additional pilot programs, but will be expanding organics recycling options as much as possible regardless of grant results. For more information or to inquire about joining a pilot program, call Organics Recycling Coordinator Twila Singh at 952-826-1657 or email her at tsingh@EdinaMN.gov. For more information about the Organics Recycling pilot program, visit EdinaMN.gov/multifamilyorganics. 5City of Edina EdinaMN.gov Edina Leads the Way in Residential Organics Recycling Residential Organics Recycling Continues to Rise as City Aims for a 50% Participation Rate BY JACEY MISMASH Shaping a citywide organics recycling program in Edina began in 2018, when requests from residents and other community members reflected public support for responsible and accessible organics disposal. Alongside the rising amounts of garbage in Minnesota’s landfills, increasing costs of trash disposal and advice from State and County advisors, the City felt compelled to act. The program was officially adopted in 2020, a move soon mirrored by other cities in the metro area when requirements for an organics recycling program went into effect in 2022. “Implementing this program was an easy solution to a problem that affects all of us,” said Organics Recycling Coordinator Twila Singh, who was hired by the City in February 2020 to roll out the program. “We have received very positive feedback from our residents on just how natural it is to recycle their organics.” Edina resident Natalie Budin and her family were nothing short of enthusiastic about the City’s program when they moved to the South Cornelia Neighborhood in 2021. Though they had made organics recycling a priority in their previous home in North Carolina, this was the first time their city had its own program. “We used to pay a private company to dispose of our organics before moving here,” explained Budin. “Now, the City picks it up for us with the rest of our trash, and they give out free compost bags. Honestly, it’s magical.” Edina’s commitment to encouraging organics recycling has spread past city limits, with visitors from other cities finding themselves impacted by the City’s promotion of the program. Bloomington resident and four- year attendee of the Centennial Lakes Farmers Market Youmei Hou has been particularly impressed by the City’s mission. “I hope Edina can keep their [organics recycling] booth at the Farmers Market,” expressed Hou. “They make it really convenient– some people don’t know where stuff goes or how to start, but they make it really easy for everyone.” Since she began attending the Farmers Market regularly, Hou has been moved to spread the word about the importance of organics recycling to neighbors, churchgoers and anyone else who will listen. Conversations and education about recycling play a key role in increasing rates across not only Edina, but Minnesota at large. “Food waste is so impactful on the environment. If we all chip in, we can reduce the waste in our landfills and the harmful emissions that come with it,” expressed Budin. Currently, the City has a 33% participation rate in the organics recycling program. While the goal for participation sits at 50%, Edina has an exceptionally low contamination rate for the organics the City does collect. Out of all of the organics sent from Edina to the Dakota Prairie Composting facility, not one load has been rejected. “That’s something to brag about,” said Singh. “It means that those who are recycling their organics are more mindful of what goes where – they are even reducing the amount of contamination in their regular recycling containers.” Residents can take charge by taking full advantage of Edina’s organics recycling program. For more information, contact Singh at tsingh@EdinaMN.gov or visit the Organics Recycling Page at EdinaMN.gov/organics. Participation in Single-Family Home Organics Recycling 40% 35% 30% 10% 25% 5% 20% 0%2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 15% 23% 33% 30% 27%26%24% The City has many resources and guides on organics recycling to make the process easy for residents. (File Photo) 6 7City of Edina EdinaMN.gov •Plastic bags, dry cleaning bags, thin plastics (There are collection bins at most grocery stores.) •Holiday lights, extension cords, wire hangers, metal chains •Metal Recycling Common Recycling Errors •Garden hoses, shredded paper, wrapping paper Local Ice Cream Shop Combats Single Use Plastics Edina’s Sweet Science Reduces Plastic Waste in Compliance with the Green To-Go Packaging Ordinance BY JACEY MISMASH Sweet Science, a 50th & France mainstay for all-natural ice cream since June 2021, is a sustainability standout among local businesses when it comes to following the City’s Green To-Go Packaging ordinance. Various commissioners and community members championed sustainable to-go packaging in 2021 as concerns grew over single-use plastics, which skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Studies from across the southwest metro saw a significant increase in single-use plastics across the community,” said Organics Recycling Coordinator Twila Singh. “There were entire garbage trucks full of these unused utensils heading for landfills week after week, and something had to change.” For Sweet Science, located at 3919 Market St., the introduction of Edina’s Green To-Go Packaging ordinance was one the business was eager to support. “It has always been a part of our mission to pay attention to our carbon footprint,” explained Manager of Retail Operations Amanda Betts. “It’s all about what we can do to make the world a better place.” Employees at Sweet Science collect any plastic packaging or wrapping from back- of-house items to dispose of at proper collection sites. The cones, cups, lids and straws for each scoop or shake are all compostable. “Edina’s robust organics recycling system makes it easier for people to properly dispose of compostable utensils and materials,” said Singh. “The consumers are matching the efforts of the businesses, and that makes a huge difference.” The City is focusing on supporting businesses’ efforts to maintain compliance with the ordinance by offering breakdowns on requirements, resources for grant applications and answering frequently asked questions from Edina business owners. As one of only a handful of cities with a Green To-Go Packaging ordinance, Edina is at the forefront of waste reduction across suburban Minnesota, and support from local businesses helps. “As business owners, we can always make choices that matter. We can choose the packaging and products that have the lowest environmental impact – and while the cost might not be the same or it may take some time to find the right fit, it’s worth it in the end,” said Betts. For more information on the ordinance, visit EdinaMN.gov/GreenToGo or contact the Public Health Division at 952-826-0307. Sweet Science is one local business that models best sustainability practices for to-go packaging. (Photos by Jason Heuer) These items frequently are found in home recycling bins, but are not acceptable in those. Please dispose of them properly. Find more information and where to properly dispose your item at hennepin.us/greendisposalguide. Council Approves Restaurant Project in Downtown Edina Other City Business in October Includes Approval of Railroad Study and Lease Agreement with County The restaurant scene at 50th & France is evolving again. While two longtime eateries recently closed, plans are already underway for a new, locally owned restaurant that promises to bring fresh energy to downtown Edina. Cocina Del Barrio, 5026 France Ave., closed in October, but building owner Ryan Burnet isn’t stepping away from the space. Instead, he’s partnering with the DDP Restaurant Group to reimagine the location and bring in a new dining concept. DDP operates several popular Twin Cities restaurants, including Bar La Grassa, Porzana and Minari. In downtown Edina, DDP operates Dexter’s and will soon open Therese in the former Lynhall space of Nolan Mains. Last month, the City Council approved plans for a second-floor addition to 5026 France Ave., featuring a gabled glass conservatory that will add more dining and bar space with a modern, open design. The existing building will stay largely the same, but with updates to the exterior color and entryway to create a fresh new look. Council approval also included a parking variance. As part of that approval, the Council requested a comprehensive parking study for the district to help support business growth while maintaining a great experience for visitors. Construction is expected to begin soon, and more details about the new restaurant will be announced in the coming months. In other business last month, the City Council: •Approved a contract with SRF for a Railroad Crossing Safety & Quiet Zone Study. SRF will evaluate existing railroad crossings within Edina for potential safety improvements and assess the feasibility of establishing one or more quiet zones in accordance with Federal Railroad Administration regulations. •Approved a lease agreement with Hennepin County for space for a new Edina Art Center. Hennepin County broke ground Oct. 3rd on the redevelopment of the Southdale Library — a project that will also create a new, permanent home for the Edina Art Center. The Art Center will occupy the second floor of the new building, with dedicated studio space, flexible classrooms, upgraded equipment and room to expand art programming for learners of all ages. The new location will also support intergenerational programs and gallery space to showcase local artists. The shared facility will include a light- filled atrium for public events, outdoor plazas, flexible community meeting rooms and direct access to the Nine Mile Creek Trail. Sustainability is also a major focus of the project, which will use geothermal energy, solar panels and native plantings to manage rainfall and reduce environmental impact. The new Southdale Library and Edina Art Center are expected to open in 2027. •Directed staff to draft an ordinance that regulates firearms and their components – in particular, assault weapons, large- capacity magazines and ghost guns. State Statute preempts cities like Edina from regulating firearms and ammunition locally, but Council Members are trying to do what they can to advocate for gun violence prevention. The Council will next meet 7 p.m. Tuesdays Nov. 4 and 18. For more information, visit EdinaMN.gov. For more information, visit EdinaMN.gov. – COMPILED BY JENNIFER BENNEROTTE → The Current Anchors of 50th & France - Barrio, Salut, and Edina Grill - have struggled, one of which has closed - potentially two. → This is an opportunity to reset the neighborhood’s dining identity. → We’re planting the flag for vibrant, community- driven, future-focused dining. Why This Concept? Why Now? AMERICANA(Submitted Illustration) 952-927-8861 | mail@EdinaMN.govCity of Edina EdinaMN.gov8 Iskaan-garee koodhkan oo ku fiiri soomaali EdinaMN.gov/SomaliEE EdinaMN.gov/SpanishEE Escanee este código para ver en español