Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-02-04 City Council Meeting MinutesPage 1 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE EDINA CITY COUNCIL HELD AT CITY HALL FEBRUARY 4, 2026 7:00 P.M. I.0 CALL TO ORDER Mayor Hovland called the meeting to order at 7:13 p.m. 2.0 ROLLCALL Answering rollcall were Members Agnew, Jackson, Pierce, Risser, and Hovland. 3.0 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 4.0 MEETING AGENDA – APPROVED City Manager Neal noted that after the discussion on the work session, the Council would like to add Item 9.7, Resolution 2026-08, Affirming Community Values, and Item 9.8, Resolution 2026-07, Emergency Rental Assistance. Member Jackson made a motion, seconded by Member Agnew, approving the meeting agenda as amended, adding Item 9.7, Resolution 2026-08, Affirming Community Values, and Item 9.8, Resolution 2026-07, Emergency Rental Assistance. Ayes: Agnew, Jackson, Pierce, Risser, Hovland. Motion carried. 5.0 COMMUNITY COMMENT Henry McLenighan reminded everyone that with the potential of further weeks of winter. Arthur Cobb expressed his appreciation of the City Council and the City staff, and all the work they have done over the years. Taylor Bruhschwein stated that safety on the city streets is very important, and the number of crashes involving vulnerable users, walking/biking, has doubled over the past 3 years. Mr. Bruhschwein asked the Council to find money for the PACS fund to protect these vulnerable users. Brooke Bartholomew stated that she is looking for more action and visible resistance against ICE and asked that the Council ban ICE from staging on City property and consider an eviction moratorium. Janet Kitui noted that she and others demand clarity, courage, and collective action during this time. Mrs. Kitui stated that the black community in Minnesota is under attack and asked for the banning of ICE from staging on City property and writing to the governor to consider an eviction moratorium. Anna Leamy started discussing the firearm ordinance being discussed later in the meeting. The Council noted that, based on their rules, she is not allowed to discuss a matter that is handled later in the agenda. Steve Brown stated that he and his wife have been helping a friend who was delivering food to families and individuals who are sheltering in place, and he cannot believe that they are living in a time like this. Brett Johnson noted that he and his business partner will be opening up a family-friendly sports bar at 50th and France and have partnered up with the Edina ED Fund and Boosters. Page 2 David Frenkel asked for updates on the two pedestrian bridges and when they will be completed. Kathy Rendleman thanked the community for their involvement and support of the Edina Education Fund fundraiser. Mrs. Rendleman noted that they could use the help and financial support to support the Hornet Cares fund to help all of their students and staff members who are being affected by the recent happenings in Minnesota. 5.1. CITY MANAGER’S RESPONSE TO COMMUNITY COMMENTS City Manager Neal responded to Community Comments from current and past meetings. 6.0 CONSENT AGENDA – ADOPTED Member Jackson made a motion, seconded by Member Agnew, approving the consent agenda as follows: 6.1. Approve regular and work session meeting minutes of January 20 & 26, 2026 6.2. Approve Claims for Payment for Check Register Pre-List Dated December 12, 2025, totaling $1,259.61 (1011), Check Register Claims Pre-List Dated January 16, 2026, totaling $1,316,348.21, and Check Register Claims Pre-List Dated January 23, 2026, totaling $1,283,507.69 6.3. Request for Purchase, Bulk Road Salt, awarding the bid to the recommended low bidder, Compass Minerals America, Inc., at $220,000 6.4. Request for Purchase, Watermain Pipe Corrosion Control Study, awarding the bid to the recommended low bidder, Advanced Engineering and Environmental Services at $69,300.00 6.5. License Supplement for Verizon Small Cell Infrastructure 6.6. Request for Purchase, First Die Software Annual Subscription, awarding the bid to the recommended low bidder, Locality Media LLC, at $32,346.05 6.7. Request for Purchase, Braemar Ice Arena Phase 1 - South and East Rink Improvements, awarding the bid to the recommended low bidder, All American Ice LLC, at $5,034,197.00 6.8. Waive Permit Fees for Braemar Ice Arena Phase 1 - South and East Rink Improvements 6.9. Grant Second Reading: Adopting Ordinance No. 2026-01, Setting Morningside Water Rates 6.10. Request for Purchase, League of Minnesota Cities Annual Membership Dues, awarding the bid to the recommended low bidder, League of Minnesota Cities, at $38,829.00 6.11. Out-of-State Travel for Mayor Hovland Ayes: Agnew, Jackson, Pierce, Risser, Hovland. Motion carried. 7.0 SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS AND PRESENTATIONS 7.1. ARDEN PARK 2025 PROJECT OF THE YEAR BY THE MN ASSOCIATION OF WATERSHEDS – RECOGNIZED James Wisker, Minnehaha Creek Watershed District Administrator, thanked the Council for its recognition of their project. Mr. Whisker noted that this award reflects the consistent commitment from the Council, staff, and residents. Mr. Wisker discussed the success of the Arden Park project. Steve Sando, Board Manager and Edina Resident, stated that this award would not have been possible without the Edina City staff team. The Council expressed their thanks and appreciation for all the work done on this big project. 8.0 PUBLIC HEARINGS HELD – Affidavits of Notice presented and ordered placed on file. 8.1. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT WITH VARIANCES: 4201 W. 50TH STREET - ADOPTED Community Development Director Teague presented the CUP with variances, including an overview of the property/existing vacant church, parking stalls, site plan, daycare dropoff/pickup, and the Planning Commission’s recommendation. Page 3 The Council expressed concerns that the parking spaces in front of the driveway to the private garage violate Minnesota State Statute. Council expressed additional concerns that language added to Edina City Code allows parking spaces in front of driveways that front on to parking lots. Council asked questions regarding the handicap parking, traffic flow ownership of other locations, the number of classrooms, and hours of operation. Mr. Teague presented an aerial view of the parking lot and discussed where drop-off/pickup will occur. Dawn Uribe, Mis Amigos, gave a background on the Mis Amigos preschools and her desire to bring the school into Edina. Mayor Hovland opened the public hearing at 8:10 p.m. Public Testimony Andrew Johnson addressed the Council. Steve Springrose addressed the Council. Janey Westin addressed the Council. Ed Terhaar, Stantec Traffic Consultant, addressed issues raised during public testimony, indicating that the traffic study shows 60 trips into the property in the am peak hour and 54 trips out in the pm peak hour, and will be spread out over the hour and over the two different entrances. Member Jackson made a motion, seconded by Member Pierce, to close the public hearing. Ayes: Agnew, Jackson, Pierce, Risser, Hovland. Motion carried. The Council asked questions regarding entrances to the building, variance needed if only a church had been proposed, and signage for traffic flow/entrances. The Council added conditions 5, two reserved spots were eliminated for parking purposes; and condition 6, to move required handicap parking spots closer to the church to comply with State and federal law. Member Jackson introduced and moved the adoption of Resolution No. 2026-05, approving a conditional use permit to operate a religious institution and school, with variances for parking and lot size, for Mis Amigos Spanish Immersion Preschool at 4201 W. 50th Street. Member Agnew seconded the motion. Ayes: Agnew, Jackson, Pierce, Risser, Hovland. Motion carried. 9.0 REPORTS / RECOMMENDATIONS 9.1. RESOLUTION NO. 2026-06, ACCEPTING DONATIONS – ADOPTED Mayor Hovland explained that in order to comply with State Statutes; all donations to the City must be adopted by Resolution and approved by four favorable votes of the Council accepting the donations. Member Jackson introduced and moved adoption of Resolution No. 2026-06, accepting various grants and donations. Member Pierce seconded the motion. Ayes: Agnew, Jackson, Pierce, Risser, Hovland. Motion carried. 9.2. SKETCH PLAN REVIEW: 4200 76th STREET WEST (RETAIL STORE, WAREHOUSE, AND DROPOFF FOR SALVATION ARMY) – PRESENTED Community Development Director Teague stated that this item pertains to a proposal to remodel and reuse the existing building at 4200 76th Street W. Joe Becker, Orion Investments, presented information regarding the reasoning behind why this proposal helps serve the community’s needs. Tom Canfield, Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center, stated that the thrift store that is being proposed today funds their program. The Council asked questions about the ownership of the building, the lack of staff support, the difference between office use and retail use; the timeframe and discussed looking at the language and applying basic Page 4 principles to their zoning Code rather than the Comprehensive plan or rezoning; expressed concerns regarding the mess and trash at the site from drop-offs; and gave feedback on amending their Industrial districts while also protecting the Cahill district. Mr. Teague noted that the staff is wrestling with allowing primary use of retail rather than secondary in Industrial. 9.3. CITYWIDE SPEED LIMIT REDUCTION EVALUATION – PRESENTED Transportation Planner Andrew Scipioni presented the background on the City's reduced speed limits, funding by the PACS fund, communication, enforcement, speed analysis, crash analysis, community feedback, literature review, conclusions, and recommendations. The Council asked questions regarding PACS fund allocations and data from cities that did not reduce speed limits. 9.4. ORDINANCE NO. 2025-17, AMENDING CHAPTER 22 - MISCELLANEOUS OFFENSES TO ADD ARTICLE XI. FIREARMS – ADOPTED City Manager Neal noted that this is a Second Reading of the ordinance, and no changes have been made since the First Reading. Member Agnew made a motion to grant Second Reading of Ordinance 2025-17, amending Chapter 22 - Miscellaneous Offenses to add Article XI. Firearms. Member Pierce seconded the motion. Ayes: Agnew, Jackson, Pierce, Hovland. Abstain: Risser. Motion carried. The Council gave a recommendation to highlight the language that is being added to their Code that is out of sync with the State Statute. Mr. Neal noted that City staff can work to figure out how to do that. Member Agnew made a motion, seconded by Member Pierce, approving Summary Publication of Ordinance 2025-17. Ayes: Agnew, Jackson, Pierce, Risser, Hovland. Motion carried. 9.5. ORDINANCE 2026-02, AMENDING SECTION 4-9-9; REPEALING AND REPLACING CHAPTER 6 ARTICLE III LAWFUL GAMBLING OF THE EDINA CITY CODE – FIRST READING GRANTED City Clerk Allison discussed the answers to the questions raised at the last City Council meeting and restated the staff recommendation to repeal and replace the Lawful Gambling Ordinance and allow 3 premise permits to pilot this process and understand how it would work. The Council asked questions regarding qualifying non-profits, how many 501(c)(3) exist in Edina, where the profit goes, expenses for the City to manage this, and the values assessment. Mrs. Allison noted that the 3% gambling tax will be used to cover the cost, plus the 10% that is locked in per State Statute. The Council expressed concerns that the ordinance in front of them does not guarantee that the nonprofits that will be benefiting from this will be related to students, mental health, or hockey. City Attorney Kendall noted that the State allows 501(c)(3) organizations to apply to be lawfully gambling entities if they meet the requirements. Mr. Kendall noted that the Council could make it so that an organization cannot have more than 1 premise permit. The Council discussed what problem they are trying to solve with this ordinance, and noted that other communities have used this model to help solve their problems; noted that this could bring another source of funds for the needs that exist in this community; and gave feedback to do more research and groundwork on this idea, and put a cap of up to 6 premise permits and only one permit per location. Page 5 Member Jackson made a motion to Grant First Reading to Ordinance 2026-02, amending Section 4-9-9; Repealing and Replacing Chapter 6, Article III Lawful Gambling of the Edina City Code. Member Pierce seconded the motion. Ayes: Jackson, Pierce, Risser, Hovland. Nay: Agnew. Motion carried. 9.6. 2026 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORMS – APPROVED Mr. Neal stated that since the January 20, 2026 legislative delegation work session, staff have added two items to the state legislative platform's Affordable Housing section, titled "Use Pooled Tax Increment Financing (TIF) for Affordable Housing" and "Emergency Rental Assistance Financing". These items were added after hearing Rep. Youakim's remarks and as part of the staff's work for the Immigration Response Task Force that he created. Member Pierce made a motion, seconded by Member Risser, approving the 2026 Legislative Platforms. Ayes: Agnew, Jackson, Pierce, Risser, Hovland. Motion carried. 9.7. RESOLUTION NO. 2026-08, AFFIRMING COMMUNITY VALUES – ADOPTED Mr. Neal presented the Council with the resolution that was discussed at the earlier work session. Member Agnew introduced and moved adoption of Resolution No. 2026-08, Affirming Community Values. Member Jackson seconded the motion. Ayes: Agnew, Jackson, Pierce, Risser, Hovland. Motion carried. 9.8. ORDINANCE NO. 2026-07, EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE – ADOPTED The Council discussed the concerns regarding eviction moratoriums, but also the need for it, and noted that they would like to see that in the letter. The Council noted that the Edina Housing Association does not endorse an eviction moratorium. Member Jackson introduced and moved adoption of Resolution No. 2026-07, Emergency Rental Assistance. Member Pierce seconded the motion. Ayes: Agnew, Jackson, Pierce, Risser, Hovland. Motion carried. 10.0 MANAGER’S COMMENTS – Received 11.0 MAYOR AND COUNCIL COMMENTS – Received 11.1 MAYOR HOVLAND TO PROVIDE UPDATE ON CITY MANAGER NEAL’S PERFORMANCE REVIEW 12.0 ADJOURNMENT Member Jackson made a motion, seconded by Member Pierce, to adjourn the meeting at 10:58 p.m. Ayes: Agnew, Jackson, Pierce, Risser, Hovland. Motion carried. Respectfully submitted, Sharon Allison, City Clerk James B. Hovland, Mayor Minutes approved by Edina City Council, February 17, 2026. Video Copy of February 4, 2026, meeting available. Sharon Allison (Mar 5, 2026 14:52:32 CST)