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Home My WebLink AboutCouncil_Connection_010312Council hears Edinborough expansion possibilities At a work session prior to its regular meeting, the Council met with the Park Board to hear con- sultants’ recommendations for increasing revenues at Edinbor- ough Park. In 2011, the City hired ATS&R, Planners, Architects and Engi- neers, with consultant Bal- lard*King, a recreation consult- ing firm specializing in recrea- tion and wellness center feasibil- ity studies, to study opportuni- ties to increase revenues to meet operational expenses at Edinborough Park. Among the consultants’ recom- mendations are to close the swimming pool, track and fitness area and repurpose those spac- es with additional children’s activities, birthday party loca-tions and office space. New children’s activities include a soft play area and “challenge,” or ropes, course. In addition, the consultants recommended up to two-thirds of the park’s plants be removed and the grotto filled in so that interactive technology play areas could be constructed there. The Council and Park Board will meet later this winter to further discuss the proposal and other options. Council approves neighborhood street projects To update aging infrastructure, the Council approved two neigh- borhood street reconstruction projects. As part of the Viking Hills neigh- borhood street reconstruction project, Arctic Way, Glacier Place, Gleason Court, Polar Cir- cle, Vernon Court and Vernon Hills Road will be reconstructed and improvements made to the water main, sanitary and storm sewer systems. As part of the Valley Estates neighborhood street reconstruc- tion project, Balder Lane, Creek Valley Road, Nordic Circle and Scandia Road will be recon- structed and improvements made to the water main, sani- tary and storm sewer systems. Each project is estimated to cost $1.05 million, which includes City-owned utility repairs. Fund- ing for the roadway cost will be from a special assessment of 100 percent of the roadway cost. All City-owned utility repairs will be paid from the respective utility funds. Bids for the projects are ex- pected to be awarded in March or April, with construction begin-ning later in the spring. Con-struction should be complete din the fall. Council gives staff green light to make minor changes to site plans The Council approved an ordi- nance amendment defining when changes may be made to approved site plans. “Minor changes” had not been defined in the City Code, leaving the ordinance unclear. Over the past several months, the Plan- ning Commission worked to draft an ordinance amendment patterned after the City of Bloomington’s regulations that would allow staff to approve minor changes to a site plan one time. The Council approved the amendment, under which chang- es are considered minor if: • There is no increase to the proposed number of dwelling units; and • Any proposed increase in the floor area of the structures on A summary of the Jan. 3 Edina City Council meeting Jan. 5, 2012 Volume 14, Issue 1 Council Connection Upcoming meetings: • Public Art Committee, 4 p.m. Jan. 5 • Transportation Commission, 6 p.m. Jan. 9 • Heritage Preservation Board, 7 p.m. Jan. 10 • Park Board, 7 p.m. Jan. 10 • Planning Commission, 7 p.m. Jan. 11 City Contacts City Manager Scott Neal 952-826-0401 Assistant City Manager Karen Kurt 952-826-0415 City Clerk Debra Mangen 952-826-0408 Park & Recreation Director John Keprios 952-826-0430 City Engineer/Director of Public Works Wayne Houle 952-826-0443 Planning Director Cary Teague 952-826-0460 We’d like to hear from you … If you have any comments, call Communications & Marketing Director Jennifer Bennerotte at 952-833-9520. The text of this publication will be availa- ble online at www.CityofEdina.com. www.CityofEdina.com the site does not exceed 5 percent of the gross floor area; and • All proposed revisions comply with City Code requirements; and • There is no change to any condition required in a site plan approval, including build-ing materials and color; and • The property is not an Edina Heritage Landmark or in an Edina Heritage Landmark District. All other plan modifications will be acted on, reviewed and pro- cessed by the Planning Commis-sion and Council in the same manner as they reviewed and processed the site plan. Council sets hearing to consider TIF expansion Council members, acting as both the City Council and the Housing & Redevelopment Au- thority (HRA), called a public hearing for Feb. 6 to consider expanding a tax increment fi- nancing (TIF) district. To help with projects in such commercial areas as 50th & France and Southdale Center, the Council previously directed staff to investigate the process necessary to expand the Cen- tennial Lakes TIF District. A public hearing is necessary to amend the district in a manner that will expand the geographic size where the City can expend funds from the Centennial Lakes TIF District. The Council will consider an expansion that extends from southeast Edina near Centenni- al Lakes to 44th Street and France Avenue, encompassing several regional and neighbor- hood commercial areas. After the hearing, the Council could choose a lesser area than pro- posed.