HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-01-06 Special Town Hall Meeting Packet
City Council Meeting Agenda
January 6, 2026, 6:00 PM
Edina City Hall, Council Chambers, 4801 W. 50th St.
Participate in the meeting:
Watch the meeting on cable TV or YouTube.com/EdinaTV.
Provide feedback during Community Comment by calling 312-535-8110. Enter access code 2634 150
6760. Password is 5454. Press *3 on your telephone keypad when you would like to get in the queue to
speak. A staff member will unmute you when it is your turn to speak.
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. Pledge of Allegiance
4. Meeting Topics
4.1. Proposed Firearm Safety and Safe Storage Ordinance
A. Ordinance 2025-17: An Ordinance Amending Chapter 22 of the Edina City Code to
Create a New Article XI Concerning Firearms
5. Adjournment
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Item Report
January 6, 2026
City Council
Item Number: 4.1 Department: Administration
Item Activity: Discussion Prepared By: Scott Neal, City Manager
Item Title: Proposed Firearm Safety and Safe Storage Ordinance
Action Requested:
None; discussion only.
Information/Background:
The Edina City Council is considering a proposed Firearm Safety and Safe Storage Ordinance that
would amend Chapter 22 of the City Code to create a new article regulating certain firearms and
firearm components within the City. The proposed ordinance includes prohibitions related to assault
weapons, large-capacity magazines, binary triggers, and ghost guns, as well as requirements
intended to prevent negligent firearm storage.
Special Town Hall Meeting Format and Participation Guidelines:
The purpose of the Special Town Hall meeting is to provide an opportunity for community members to
learn about the proposed ordinance, ask questions, and share feedback directly with the City Council.
The meeting will follow a town hall–style format and will not include a formal presentation.
After calling the meeting to order, the Mayor will invite public input. Individuals who wish to speak are
asked to complete a speaker registration card and provide it to staff before speaking. If there are
many speakers representing differing viewpoints, the Mayor may alternate comments between
groups.
The Council will first hear from individuals present in the room. If time allows, comments will also be
accepted by phone. To provide a comment by phone, call 312-535-8110 and enter access code 2634
150 6760.
The City Council has been collecting feedback online at BetterTogetherEdina.org/firearm-safety and
will close the online comment period on January 11, 2026. All feedback will be shared with the City
Council, and residents are encouraged to participate in the manner that works best for them; there is
no need to provide comments both online and at the meeting.
No action will be taken at the Special Town Hall Meeting.
Resources/Financial Impacts:
There is no immediate fiscal impact associated with holding the Special Town Hall meeting or
collecting public feedback. If the City Council chooses to move forward with adoption or
implementation of the ordinance, staff would conduct a more comprehensive analysis of potential
financial impacts. This could include enforcement considerations, staff capacity, legal review,
communication needs, and any ongoing administrative or operational costs associated with
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implementation.
Relationship to City Policies/Plans/Budget Pillars:
The proposed ordinance relates to the City’s broader commitment to public safety, community well-
being, and reliable service. It aligns with Council’s role in considering regulatory tools intended to
protect residents and respond to emerging community concerns. Input gathered through this process
will help inform whether and how the ordinance aligns with City priorities, legal authority, and
community expectations before any further Council action is taken.
Reliable Service Better Together
Values Impact:
Engagement
The proposed ordinance may generate heightened community interest
and dialogue around public safety and individual responsibility. By
creating structured opportunities for participation, the City aims to
support respectful engagement and provide space for residents with
differing perspectives to be heard.
Equity
Gun violence disproportionately impacts economically disadvantaged
communities and communities of color. School shootings are
continuing to increase, adding to gun violence as a leading cause of
death among children.
Health
The proposed ordinance is being considered in the context of public
health and safety, with a focus on reducing the risk of injury or harm
related to firearms.
Supporting Documentation:
Documents marked with "Board Portal" do not meet ADA Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (URL)
and are not included in the public packet. To request a board portal document, please submit a data
request (URL).
None
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Ordinance 2025-17: An Ordinance Amending
Chapter 22 of the Edina City Code to Create a New
Article XI Concerning Firearms
The City of Edina Ordains:
Section I. Chapter 22 - MISCELLANEOUS OFFENSES of the Edina City Code is amended to add the following new Article XI. -
FIREARMS:
ARTICLE XI. - FIREARMS
Sec. 22-314. - Purpose.
The City Council finds that there is a public safety and welfare crisis resulting from gun violence in the City. The City finds
that semi-automatic military-style assault weapons, ghost guns, large-capacity magazines, and binary triggers have
not commonly been used for self-defense purposes, yet these firearms and firearm modifications inherently have a
significantly higher capacity for causing damage, injury, and death compared to ordinary firearms used for lawful self-
defense purposes. The City finds it necessary for the public safety and welfare to regulate such firearms and firearm
modifications to mitigate the damage, injury, and death posed by use of such weapons for non-lawful purposes.
Sec. 22-315. - Definitions.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this Article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this
section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Assault weapon means a semiautomatic military-style assault weapon, as defined in Minnesota Statutes, Section
624.712, subd. 7 and as listed by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension in accordance with Minnesota Statutes, Section
624.712, subd. 8, as may amended from time to time.
Binary trigger means a device, mechanism, component, or part designed, marketed, created, or assembled as part of a
firearm to discharge one round of ammunition when the trigger is pulled and an additional round of ammunition when
the trigger is released.
Firearm means a firearm, as defined in Minnesota Statutes, Section 97A.015, subd. 19, as may be amended from time to
time, but not including firearms collected as part of the licensed curation of relic firearms/curios per 27 C.F.R. 478.
Firearm component means any component or part that is designed, manufactured, created, printed, or assembled to
form part of a firearm.
Ghost gun means any firearm or firearm component not marked with a serial number required under federal, state, or
local law, whether manufactured, assembled, or constructed in whole or in part by any person. Ghost gun does not
include any firearms manufactured prior to 1968, antique firearms as defined in Title 18, Section 921(a)(16) of the United
States Code, or firearms incapable of discharging a shot by means of an explosive or otherwise incapable of being
restored to a firing condition.
Large capacity magazine means any ammunition feeding device, whether accessory to a firearm or a firearm
component, that has a capacity of more than twenty (20) rounds or is designed, marketed, created, or assembled to
have a capacity of more than twenty (20) rounds. A large capacity magazine does not include a tubular magazine that
is contained in a lever-action firearm or a .22 caliber fixed tubular magazine.
Locking device means a firearm component, firearm accessory, or external device or mechanism that renders a firearm
inaccessible, inoperable, or both. A locking device includes but is not limited to biometric locks, trigger locks, barrel locks,
cylinder locks, gun vaults, locked cabinets, locked boxes, or any other locked container where a key is kept separate
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from the container and not readily available to an unauthorized person.
Person means any individual, partnership, corporation, association, or other legal entity.
Unauthorized person means a person who is not the owner of the firearm, does not have permission from the owner of
the firearm to possess the firearm, a person under the age of 18 years old, or a person who is otherwise prohibited under
federal, state, or local law from possessing the firearm.
Sec. 22-316. - Prohibited Acts.
a. Possession. No person shall possess an assault weapon, large capacity magazine, binary trigger, or ghost gun
within the City.
b. Manufacturing. No person shall manufacture, produce, assemble, or construct an assault weapon, large
capacity magazine, binary trigger, or ghost gun within the City.
c. Sale or transfer. No person shall sell, transfer, or import an assault weapon, large capacity magazine, binary
trigger, or ghost gun within the City.
d. Negligent storage. No person shall negligently store or leave a loaded or unloaded firearm unattended in a
location where the person knows or reasonably should know that an unauthorized person is likely to gain access
to the firearm. It shall not constitute negligent storage for a person to take reasonable steps to secure a firearm
against unauthorized access with a locking device.
Sec. 22-317. - Exceptions.
The prohibitions in section 22-316 do not apply in the following circumstances:
a. Active or reserve federal, state, county, or municipal law enforcement officers, including members of the armed
forced of the United States, National Guard, and reserves, where the officer or member is duly authorized to
perform a prohibited act within the scope of their official duties;
b. Persons transporting a prohibited firearm or firearm component through the City, provided that such firearm or
firearm component is unloaded and in a locked container and the transport otherwise complies with all
applicable federal, state, and local laws;
c. Persons transporting a prohibited firearm or firearm component to a law enforcement agency, military agency,
federal firearms licensee, or other entity lawfully permitted to receive such firearms for disposal, sale, resale, or
transfer occurring outside of the City and the transport otherwise complies with all applicable federal, state, and
local laws; and
d. Persons actively using a prohibited firearm or firearm component for lawful self-defense purposes.
Sec. 22-318. - Penalties.
a. Each day that a violation of section 22-317 continues is a misdemeanor offense subject to imprisonment for not
more than 90 days, payment of a fine not to exceed $1,000, or both.
b. Nothing in this section shall preclude the City from seeking injunctive or equitable relief in addition to or in lieu of
criminal prosecution to prevent or abate violations of this Article.
Sec. 22-319. – Effective Dates
This Article shall not be effective or enforced until the date the City Council certifies by resolution that this Article is not
preempted by state law.
Sec. 22-320. - Severability.
If any portion of this Article is held invalid, unconstitutional, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, that
portion shall be severed and the remaining portions of this Article remain in full force and effect.
Section 2. This ordinance shall be effective upon passage and publication, and passage of a resolution by the City
Council certifying that this ordinance is not preempted by state law.
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Summary for Publication:
Ordinance 2025-17 adds firearm regulations to Chapter 22 of the City Code to address public safety concerns. The
ordinance prohibits the possession, manufacture, and sale of certain firearms and firearm accessories, including
assault weapons, ghost guns, large-capacity magazines, and binary triggers, and requires firearms to be stored to
prevent unauthorized access. Exceptions apply for law enforcement, lawful transport, disposal or transfer outside the
City, and lawful self-defense. The ordinance will take effect only after the City Council certifies it is not preempted by
state law.
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