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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil_Connection_050311Council receives request for financial assistance for Southdale Center At a work session, Simon Property Group asked the City Council for financial assis- tance for a second phase of improvements at Southdale Center. Southdale Center recently announced that Herberger’s will move in to the former Mervyn’s space this fall. Interi- or demolition is under way. Tied to those plans is a reloca- tion of the mall’s third-floor food court to the second floor in the JC Penney wing. Also, a first-floor corridor from Center Court to JC Penney will be relocated from between Ann Taylor and Abercrombie & Fitch to between Ann Taylor and Victoria’s Secret. Simon Property Group has labeled Southdale Center one of its “transformational prop- erties” and has estimated basic renovations of the mall to cost $7.3 million. Officials recommend a more aggres- sive $12.6 million renovation, so they are asking the City for the difference of $5.3 million. The second phase of improve- ments would include a new main entrance to the mall, lighting, signs, improved re- stroom facilities, parking deck rehabilitation and a children’s play area. Members of the Council sug- gested Simon Property Group sell a parcel on the site to the City and use the money from the sale to invest in the shop- ping mall. The City might use the property for a water treat- ment plant to serve the area or a transit hub. Simon officials left the meet- ing after saying they would research the feasibility of a land sale. City Council mem- bers said they would continue to think about the value of a public investment in the pri- vate facility. Police Chief reports on local coyote population The Council directed the Po- lice Chief to continue re- searching ways to manage coyotes in Edina. Coyotes are known for roam- ing rural stretches. Some nat- uralists suspect the ranks of urban coyotes may be swell- ing as they migrate from the open spaces of the West and Southeast toward the Mid- west. Coyote sightings are not new in Edina, but last month, a dog was attacked by one on Kelsey Court. Experts say that in more heav- ily populated areas, coyotes are drawn to the ample rab- bits, rodents and small house pets that are easier for them to hunt than catching fawns in the forest. Well-tended resi- dential areas provide a good food source and cover. The Edina Police Department is working with other area agencies and considering ways to manage the metro coyote population. Police Chief Jeff Long reported that he refers concerned residents to private wildlife manage- ment companies and does not recommend the Police Depart- A summary of the May 3 Edina City Council & HRA meeting May 10, 2011 Volume 13, Issue 9 Council Connection Upcoming meetings: Heritage Preservation Board, 7 p.m. May 10 Park Board, 7 p.m. May 10 Energy & Environment Com- mission, 7 p.m. May 12 Community Health Committee, 6:30 p.m. May 17 City Council and HRA, 7 p.m. May 17 City Contacts City Manager Scott Neal 952-826-0401 City Clerk Debra Mangen 952-826-0408 Finance Director John Wallin 952-826-0410 Police Chief Jeff Long 952-826-0491 Planning Director Cary Teague 952-826-0460 We’d like to hear from you … If you have any comments, call Communi- cations & Marketing Director Jennifer Bennerotte at 952-833-9520. The text of this publication will be available online at www.CityofEdina.com. PLEASE RECYCLE. www.CityofEdina.com ment kill or trap the animals. Some Council members indi- cated that they would like to see the City take a more ag- gressive approach and asked Long to continue exploring management techniques and alternatives. As always, residents are urged to take precautions in areas where coyotes have been seen. Food scraps and dog food should not be left outside. In areas where coy- otes have been spotted, pets should be kept indoors. Council certifies delinquent utilities, moves toward shutting off dry cleaners’ water The Council certified some delinquent utilities and di- rected staff to begin the pro- cess to shut off the water of a local business in arrears on water payments. Three utility accounts for wa- ter, sanitary sewer, storm sewer and recycling with de- linquent balances of more than $2,000 were notified in April of the pending certifica- tion to Hennepin County for collection. The Waldorf- Nevens Cleaners account for the property at 7075 Amund- son Ave., however, had a bal- ance of nearly $117,365. The Council directed staff to certify the accounts to the County for collection and to begin the proceedings to shut off water at Waldorf-Nevens Cleaners, whose account has been certified to the County in the past.