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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil_Connection_051711Church receives 2011 Edina Heritage Award The Council presented the 2011 Edina Heritage Award to St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church. The City established the award in 2003 to showcase local his- toric preservation activity. The Edina Heritage Award is given annually to an individual, family, company or organization that has made an outstanding contri- bution to the preservation, reha- bilitation, restoration and use of Edina’s heritage resources. The Heritage Preservation Board selected the church at 4439 W. 50th St. for the ninth-annual award because it has stayed true to its design through many additions and renovations. The main church was completed in 1938 with award-winning archi- tecture by Louis Bersbach of Cram & Ferguson, a firm nation- ally known for its interpretations of late Gothic Revival buildings. Additions to the English Country- style church were completed in 1951, 1954 and 1967. Presentation of the Heritage Award is made annually in May as part of Heritage Preservation Month. City to take more aggressive action against growing coyote population The City Council OK’d the Police Department’s plan to remove brazen coyotes that show no fear toward humans. Since it is illegal to set traps or discharge firearms in city limits, the City is also working to draft an ordinance amendment that would allow residents to obtain permits to hire wildlife manage- ment professionals to remove less threatening coyotes from their properties. Coyotes are known for roaming rural stretches. Some natural- ists suspect the ranks of urban coyotes may be swelling as they migrate from the open spaces of the West and Southeast toward the Midwest. Coyote sightings are not new in Edina, but last month, a dog was attacked by one on Kelsey Court. Experts say that in more heavily populated areas, coyotes are drawn to the ample rabbits, rodents and small house pets that are easier for them to hunt than catching fawns in the for- est. Well-tended residential areas provide a good food source and cover. 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 coyotes have been spotted, pets should be kept indoors. Council squashes rooftop dining concept The Council directed staff to prepare an ordinance amend- ment banning rooftop dining in Edina. In 2010, owners of Cocina del Barrio expressed interest in constructing rooftop dining dur- ing the remodeling of their res- taurant space at 5036 France Ave. S. An adjacent property owner expressed concerns about locating a rooftop restau- rant close to residential proper- ty. As a result, the Council im- posed a moratorium and di- rected staff to study if rooftop restaurants should be allowed in Edina and, if so, how they should be regulated. After reviewing staff’s research, the Planning Commission con- A summary of the May 17 Edina City Council & HRA meeting May 20, 2011 Volume 13, Issue 10 Council Connection Upcoming meetings: Human Rights & Relations Commission, 7 p.m. May 24 Art Center Board, 4:30 p.m. May 26 Planning Commission, 7 p.m. June 1 Public Art Committee, 4 p.m. June 2 City Council work session, 5:30 p.m. June 7 City Contacts City Manager Scott Neal 952-826-0401 City Clerk Debra Mangen 952-826-0408 Planning Director Cary Teague 952-826-0460 Police Chief Jeff Long 952-826-0491 Public Works Director/City Engineer Wayne Houle 952-826-0443 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. www.CityofEdina.com cluded that rooftop dining is an appropriate use and should continue to be allowed in the area at 50th & France zoned “Planned Commercial District 2,” subject to a Conditional Use Permit. Because of a parking shortage in the 50th & France area, though, the Commission recommended that if a combi- nation of rooftop dining and outdoor patio or dining areas is larger than 20 percent in area of the principal indoor restau- rant, additional parking spaces must be provided. After a lengthy discussion, though, Council members indi- cated that they did not feel comfortable with rooftop dining so close to the condominiums in the area and directed staff to write an ordinance amendment banning such use. Council directs Commission to draft Living Streets Policy Believing that cars, bicycles and pedestrians can safely share street space, the City Council directed the Transportation Commission to develop a Living Streets Policy. Goals of Edina’s policy will be to develop a balanced transporta-tion system that integrates all modes, for users of all types, ages and abilities. The Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District and the City of North Saint Paul have devel- oped Living Streets Policies and are implementing a new Living Streets Plan. The City of Maple- wood is also pursuing a process to adopt Living Streets. Drafting the Edina Living Streets Policy could take the Transportation Commission up to 18 months to complete.