HomeMy WebLinkAboutEditionEdina_7 July-2026_Web (1)BY DEBBIE TOWNSEND
Edina’s celebration of America’s 250th
birthday will include honoring veterans, the
annual parade, an evening concert with food
trucks on hand and a fireworks display.
“I love the parade. I also love the fireworks,”
said Parade Coordinator and former City
Council Member Mary Brindle. “They provide
a great way to start and finish a special day.”
Edina Dash – 9:45 a.m.
Saturday, July 4
About: A run down the ¾-mile parade
route with the $20 fee going to Edina Give
& Go and the Edina Community Foundation.
Find more information at EdinaMN.gov/Dash.
Parade – 10 a.m. Saturday, July 4
Route: Begins behind Edina City Hall, 4801
W. 50th St., and travels down West 50th,
ending at Halifax Avenue.
About: The hourlong parade features veterans,
marching bands, floats, horses, musicians,
community groups, politicians and more.
How to attend: Line up anywhere along
the parade route. There is no reserved
parade seating. Do not place chairs or
blankets on the sidewalk.
Watch on TV or stream: The parade will be
shown live on Edina TV (Comcast channels
16 or 813) and replayed at 7 p.m. Mondays,
3 and 11 a.m. Tuesdays, 9 p.m. Thursdays
and 5 a.m. and 1 p.m. Fridays through
July. After the parade, the full video will be
posted on the Edina TV YouTube channel
and the City of Edina Facebook page to
stream anytime.
Concert and Fireworks – 8 p.m.
Saturday, July 4
Location: Rosland Park, 4300 W. 66th St.
Food trucks: A variety of trucks will be on
West 66th Street between Cornelia Circle
and Southdale Road from 5 to 10 p.m.
Concert: The 204th Army Band performs
at 8 p.m., followed by the First John Philip
Sousa Memorial Band at 8:45 p.m.
Fireworks: Go off around 10 p.m.;
presented by Explore Edina.
The outdoor events can be affected by
extreme weather. Any changes will be
posted online at EdinaParade.org and the
City’s Facebook page.
This year the City of Edina took over
managing the parade from the Edina
Community Foundation, which could no
longer run it. More than two dozen local
businesses, organizations and people have
stepped up to sponsor the 4th of July events.
“The Edina 4th of July celebrations rely
on support from businesses in Edina,”
Brindle said. “We extend our thanks
and appreciation to all these community
businesses for their financial contributions to
the biggest party of the year.”
To see a list of sponsors or learn more about
events, visit EdinaMN.gov/July4th.
Edina Events Celebrate America’s 250th Birthday
July 4 Starts with Dash and Parade and Ends With Concert and Fireworks
Thousands of spectators line the route every year to watch the parade go by. (File photo)
Bridge Closure to Affect
Concert, Fireworks Access
The Rosland Park Pedestrian Bridge that
spans Minneosta Highway 62 is closed for
removal and replacement.
Also closed:
•A portion of West 64th Street on the
park’s north edge.
•Westbound Highway 62 on-ramp from
Valley View Road
•A portion of West 66th Street on the
park’s south end (July 4 only)
•Wooddale Avenue south of Valley
View Road (July 4 only; residents
access allowed)
Pedestrians can use Valley View Road to
reach the park.
Road closure updates:
EdinaMN.gov/RoadClosures
Bridge project details:
BetterTogetherEdina.org/Rosland-Park-Bridge.
City of Edina EdinaMN.gov 1
POPULAR ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT PAGE 3
Edition: Edina
JULY 2026
Volume 13, Issue 7Strong FoundationCITY GOALS:Better TogetherReliable Service Livable City
Stay Out of Lakes, Ponds to Avoid Dangerous Toxins
Blue-Green Algae Blooms Early in Lake Cornelia and Might Be Elsewhere
BY DEBBIE TOWNSEND
Water samples of Lake Cornelia taken
May 7 showed harmful levels of blue-
green algae cyanotoxins. It’s possibly
the lake’s earliest ever detection in a
calendar year.
Cyanotoxins have been around for
millennia. What’s driving the blue-green
algae issue in Edina and across the
nation is a combination of warm weather
and nutrient-rich waters. Improved
detection technology and regular
monitoring have increased awareness
of this phenomenon.
“The tell-tale sign is that green paint
color on the surface, but it’s not always
a visible indication that it’s there,” said
Water Resources Manager Jessica Wilson.
“Harmful algae blooms have been
detected in Lake Cornelia even when
the water looks brown.”
What causes algae blooms
and cyanotoxins?
Blue-green algae is already present in
low levels in many Minnesota lakes and
ponds. Stagnant, warm water rich in
nutrients can ignite rapid blooms that
look bright green and can produce
toxins harmful to humans or animals.
Which Edina lakes have had blue-
green algae problems?
Elevated levels of harmful cyanotoxins
have been measured at Arrowhead Lake,
Indianhead Lake, Lake Cornelia and
Lake Edina. But potentially any nutrient-
rich water body could, and not all are
monitored. Monitoring, done by the
Nine Mile Creek Watershed District,
isn’t foolproof since one section of
a lake can be fine and another just
feet away can test positive for
problematic algae and toxins.
Conditions also can change rapidly.
How harmful is it?
Exposure while in the water can cause
rashes, hives, swelling or skin blisters.
Ingestion can lead to kidney or liver
damage. Animals can suffer vomiting,
diarrhea and seizures. While recorded
instances of pet deaths are extremely
rare, exercise caution, especially for
more vulnerable pets that may be smaller,
older or have existing health issues.
How do I keep my family and
pets safe?
The easiest way is to stay out of lakes and
ponds, even if you don’t see the blue-
green algae on the surface. Swim at the
Edina Aquatic Center or a backyard pool.
If you do enter a body of water:
•Avoid the water for several days
after a big storm due to runoff
•Avoid if the water has been
stagnant and warm
•Never ingest the water
•Make sure to shower or thoroughly
clean off after water exposure
•Keep pets from coming into
contact with the water
What is the City doing to fix
the problem?
There is no magic pill. “Applying an
algaecide to kill the algae is ineffective
for managing exposure to toxins,” Wilson
said. “The herbicide can destroy the
algae cells but doesn’t destroy the toxins
that may have been produced inside it.”
Still, the City and Nine Mile Creek
Watershed District have taken steps
at Lake Cornelia to reduce nutrients,
including measures to control invasive
plants and goldfish, alum treatment
and a filter system at Rosland Park to
remove phosphorus from water before
it enters the lake. The City’s Clean Water
Strategy also aims to improve Edina’s
bodies of water through preventing
pollution and restoring ecosystems on
land and in the water.
What can I do to help?
While small, these steps can limit your
contribution, Wilson says:
•Pick up dog poop and throw it
in the trash. It spreads nutrients
and bacteria.
•Don’t mow near the edge of a creek,
stream, pond or lake.
•Rake up leaves and grass to prevent
them from going into the storm
sewer or water where they break
down and contribute nutrients.
•Support native plant communities
on land and, crucially, in water.
Water bodies most resistant to algae
blooms have a healthy aquatic plant
community that serves to improve
water quality much like trees help
air quality.
To learn more or report a possible bloom,
visit ninemilecreek.org. Learn more
about the City’s efforts and plans
at EdinaMN.gov/WaterResources.
A surface like green paint is a warning sign of a blue-green algae bloom, but harmful toxins can be
present even when the surface isn’t green. (File photo)
2
POPULAR ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT 2025
The City of Edina reports financial year-end results in its Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR). This Popular Annual Financial
Report summarizes significant data from select funds in the Dec. 31, 2025 ACFR and is consistent with Generally Accepted Accounting
Principles. For a complete review of the City’s financial position for 2025, consult the ACFR, available at EdinaMN.gov/Finance.
The City of Edina worked on one
neighborhood roadway reconstruction
project in 2025 to improve 2.75 miles of
roadway in the A & B areas of the Presidents
Neighborhood in northwest Edina.
The streets in Presidents A & B were originally
constructed with gravel in the 1950s,
followed by utilities and paving in the 1960s.
Before reconstruction, the neighborhood’s
average Pavement Condition Index (PCI), a
measure of roadway condition on a scale
from 0 (failed or gravel roads) to 100 (new
pavement), was 26. For comparison, the
citywide average is currently 78.
Most of the project was completed in 2025,
with the remaining work scheduled for
completion by the end of summer 2026.
Roadway and Utility Improvements
•Complete reconstruction of the roadway
asphalt pavement
•New watermain and water services,
including replacing fire hydrants and
gate valves and adding more hydrants
where necessary
•Reconstruction of two alleys
•Improvements to the sanitary
sewer system
•Modifications to roadway and storm
sewer to improve drainage, including
the installation of sump drain pipe
where feasible
•Replacement of concrete curb and gutter
Pedestrian Improvements
The project includes adding one sidewalk and
two shared-use paths to improve walking,
biking and transit access throughout the area:
•Monroe Avenue (Five-foot sidewalk from
Second Street South to Maloney Avenue)
•Belmore Lane (Eight-foot shared-use
path from Washington Avenue to
Dearborn Court)
•Washington Avenue (Eight-foot shared-
use path from Third Street South to
Maloney Avenue)
These new connections provide access to
parks, trails, transit and other community
destinations, including:
•Alden and Van Valkenburg parks in Edina
and Harley Hopkins Park in Hopkins
•Harley Hopkins Family Center
•The Blake School
•Downtown Hopkins
•Multiple regional trails
•Metro Transit Route 38 and Metro Transit
Green Line Extension
Project Funding
The design-phase estimate of the project was
$17.4 million. The project is now expected
to be completed for approximately $11.5
million due to favorable bid results, ongoing
2025 Street Project Renews Roads and Utilities in Part of the Presidents Neighborhood
New Sidewalk and Shared-Use Paths Improve Walking, Biking and Transit Access
Item Funding Source Cost
Roadway and Alleys Special Assessments $1,599,300
Roadway City of Hopkins $81,500
Roadway and Alleys Property Taxes $1,622,300
Sanitary Sewer Utility Fund $656,500
Watermain Utility Fund $2,816,300
Storm Sewer Utility Fund $1,945,300
Sidewalk PACS Fund $438,700
Remaining 2026 Work The remaining work includes costs in each funding source.Est. $2,314,000
Project Total:$11,473,900
cost management and the removal of the
separate Chapel Drive watermain project
($800,000) from the project scope.
Funding is coming from a combination of
special assessments, property taxes, Utility
Funds, the Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety
(PACS) Fund and a contribution from the
City of Hopkins. The Utility Funds are
supported by service fees on City utility
bills, and the PACS Fund by franchise
fees on gas and electric bills.
Historically, the roadway portion of
neighborhood reconstruction projects was
fully funded through special assessments to
property owners. In 2021, the City Council
approved a phased funding model to
gradually shift the cost to property taxes
by 2036. For this project, 57.86% of
roadway costs are being funded through
special assessments, with the remaining
42.14% covered by property taxes.
Final assessment hearings will be held at a
City Council meeting later this year.
- COMPILED BY BRITTANY BADER
3City of Edina EdinaMN.gov
Public Works Completes Three-Year
SCADA Water System Overhaul
Automated ‘Nervous System’ Coordinates Actions Across
Edina’s Pump Stations, Wells and Towers
BY DAVID KATZ
On an average summer day, the City of
Edina’s water management infrastructure
silently and seamlessly cycles 12 million
gallons. That’s the equivalent of about
18 Olympic-sized swimming pools, or
four full bathtubs for every resident. This
impressive output is made possible by an
interconnected web of water treatment
plants, towers, wells and storm and
sanitary sewer stations.
For decades, proper oversight of this vast
network required Public Works Department
staff to zig zag across the City and
manually log water levels, composition
and flow rates at every pump station and
other critical junctures in this system.
“Operations are much different now due
to SCADA,” explained Nathan Kaderlik,
Assistant Director of Public Works – Utilities.
“SCADA stands for Supervisory Control
and Data Acquisition. What that basically
means is that we now [have] this far simpler,
automatic way to monitor data from all
our control equipment out there – and to
process it remotely at one central location.”
Kaderlik says that SCADA has both
preventive and reactive applications.
“If a pump station is not pumping the
gallons it’s supposed to, we’ll see that on
the dashboard and know to take a look
before that part of the system reaches a
failure point. We can be proactive with
any needed repairs.”
It’s more than a theoretical example. Every
year in the Twin Cities, flushable wipes,
old rags and towels, and even hardened
deposits of fat and grease, cause municipal
pump obstructions.
SCADA technology is also instrumental
after a heavy downpour, when the
Public Works Department leans on this
automated nervous system to coordinate
actions across 11 storm sewer lift stations –
including, most critically, turning on pumps
to prevent overflows.
Kaderlik notes that SCADA also automates
the City’s reporting requirements to outside
regulators like the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency and the Minnesota
Departments of Health and Natural Resources.
“Agencies are generally interested in water
modeling [stats] like hours pumped, flow
and how many times each station cycles
– meaning how many starts and stops in
pumping activity.” Metrics like these ensure
that Edina’s demands on groundwater wells
do not cause an unsustainable drain on the
area’s aquifers.
The City of Edina recently completed a $1.7
million upgrade to its SCADA architecture.
This was a long time in the making. Kaderlik
says that the reinvestment, originally slated
for 2019, was postponed first by the
COVID-19 pandemic and then by
supply chain delays.
“We worked with [water engineering
consultancy] AE2S to update our servers
and software,” a key but entirely behind-
the-scenes piece, Kaderlik explained. AE2S
specializes in exactly this. Over recent years,
the firm has partnered with other west
metro suburbs like Eden Prairie, Hopkins,
Maple Grove on similar SCADA tune-ups.
Municipal investments of this kind are
driven in part by cybersecurity concerns,
as legacy software can be a vector for bad
actors to gain access to critical city systems.
Aging hardware and improved replacement
models are also driving factors. As part of
this project, the Public Works Department
updated the programmable logic controllers
(PLCs) at each node of the City’s water
management system.
“I describe a PLC as the brain of the water
treatment plant well, tower or lift station.
It’s this that communicates [status] to the
SCADA system through either a fiber or a
radio connection.”
Unlike most multi-year Public Works
projects, the three-year overhaul brought
no outward markers of change that
residents would notice. It is a quiet irony,
given that this unseen system directly
impacts every resident and visitor to Edina.
For more information on the
Public Works Department, visit
EdinaMN.gov/PublicWorks or
call 952-826-0376.
ANNUAL REPORT
Watch City Council, Housing & Redevelopment
Authority and Planning Commission meetings live on Edina TV (Comcast Channels 813 or 16) or online.
RECURRING EVENTS
Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays, 7 p.m.
Concerts, Centennial Lakes Park
(July 8 event at 6 p.m.)
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9-10:30 a.m.
Art Cart with Edina Art Center,
Centennial Lakes Park
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m.
Youth Entertainment Series,
Centennial Lakes Park
Tuesdays, 10 a.m.-noon
Sketch & Sip, Edina Art Center; ages 18+
Thursdays, 9-10:30 a.m. and 3-7 p.m.
Free Fishing Thursdays for Kids,
Centennial Lakes Park
Thursdays, 3-7 p.m.; music 4-6 p.m.
Farmers Market, Centennial Lakes Park
UPCOMING EVENTS
Friday, July 3
Independence Day observed, City offices closed
Saturday, July 4
See page 1 for Independence Day event schedules.
10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Edina Aquatic Center open.
Edinborough Park closed all day.
Tuesday, July 7, 5-7 p.m.
Art Together, Fire Station 2
Wednesday, July 8, 6 p.m.
Magical Moments Princess Visit,
Centennial Lakes Park
Friday, July 10, 5-7 p.m.
Free Family Fridays at the Courtyard,
Braemar Golf Course
Friday, July 10-Sunday, July 12
Bastille Weekend events, 50th & France
Saturday, July 11, 4-6 p.m.
Tasting Event, Edina Liquor stores
Tuesday, July 14, 8 a.m.
Filing period opens for Edina City Council
election, Edina City Hall
Tuesday, July 14, 10 a.m.
Park Truck Day, Centennial Lakes Park
Wednesday, July 15, 1-2:30 p.m.
Curated Conversations, Arneson Acres Park,
ages 16+
Wednesday, July 15, 3-4:30 p.m.
Mahjong on the Plaza, 50th & France
Wednesday, July 15, 6 p.m.
Walk with the Mayor, TBD
Thursday, July 16, 7 a.m.
Housing & Redevelopment Authority meeting,
Edina City Hall
Thursday, July 16, Noon-2 p.m.
Conversation Series, “The Declaration of
Independence and Liberty, Then and Now,”
free; lunch served; advanced registration;
Edina Senior Center
Thursday, July 16, 7:20-9 p.m.
Member Night, Edina Aquatic Center
Tuesday, July 21, 7 p.m.
City Council meeting, Edina City Hall
Saturday, July 25, 7-8 p.m.
Dancing in the Plaza, foxtrot & tango,
Plaza at Nolan Mains
For a complete listing of meetings
and events, visit EdinaMN.gov.
4
New Fire Station 2 Has Improved Operations, Safety and Service
New Battalion Chief Reflects on Time Spent at Old Facility and New
BY LAUREN SIEBENALER
The new $47 million Fire Station 2 opened
Oct. 21, 2025, and has been operating for
eight months, providing expanded fire,
emergency medical and public health services
to southeast Edina.
Although Fire Station 2 covers only 19% of the
City’s overall response area, it responds to about
half of the total calls for service and serves more
than a quarter of Edina’s population.
Before his promotion in May, Battalion Chief
Todd Porthan served as a Fire Captain at Fire
Station 2, working at both the old and new
facility and overseeing the transition and move.
With 29 years of service in Edina, he’s an
expert on the new station’s benefits.
Q: How has the new Fire Station 2
changed day-to-day operations?
Porthan: The biggest change is that we now
have full-time staff stationed there for fire and
EMS response. That has significantly improved
response times to the southeast quadrant of
the city, which is by far our busiest area. It has
the highest density of residents, businesses and
recreational activity, so having more crews there
around the clock has made a major difference.
Q: Are there specific features that help
crews respond more quickly or efficiently?
Porthan: Location is the biggest factor, but
the building itself helps, too. The layout,
technology and notification systems are much
better than what we had before. The audio
and visual alert systems improve response
times, and the station provides space for
public health services and resources that
simply weren’t available at the old station.
Q: Were there operational challenges at
the old station that have been solved with
the new one?
Porthan: Absolutely. The old station was
maxed out in terms of apparatus space,
equipment storage and overall square footage.
It was originally built to house a daytime
medic crew and was never intended to have
firefighters sleeping there overnight.
As our department grew, we outgrew the
building. The new station gives us the room we
need for apparatus, equipment and personnel.
It’s built for the way we operate today, not the
way we operated decades ago.
Q: How has the new station improved
firefighter safety?
Porthan: There are a lot of improvements.
First, we have larger apparatus bays, which
means more room to move around safely and
less risk of equipment damage.
Another major improvement is firefighter
health and cancer prevention. We now have
equipment washers, gear washers and a
negative-pressure room for storing gear after
incidents. That helps remove contaminants
and reduce exposure to harmful substances.
The station also includes updated building
safety features, ADA-compliant spaces,
improved security systems, cameras and
controlled access areas for staff who are
there 24/7.
Even features like the fire poles and
multiple stairwells help crews reach
apparatus more quickly and safely
when responding to emergencies.
Q: How has the new station impacted
firefighter wellness and recovery
between calls?
Porthan: Firefighting is a demanding
profession. Between overnight calls, stress and
disrupted sleep schedules, it can take a toll on
your health. The new station includes quiet
rooms, wellness spaces and areas specifically
designed for decompression and recovery. We
also have a much larger physical conditioning
room with better equipment. Staying physically
and mentally healthy is critical in this job, and
having those resources available right in the
station makes a big difference.
Q: How have the training facilities
improved firefighters’ ability to
prepare for emergencies?
Porthan: The training improvements have
been huge. We now have an on-site training
tower where we can conduct realistic fire
scenarios for commercial, residential and
multi-family buildings. The tower includes
standpipe connections and other features that
allow us to simulate real-world conditions. We
can also use it for rope rescue and confined-
space training.
At the old station, training opportunities were
very limited. We didn’t have the infrastructure
needed to conduct realistic fire training,
deploy hose lines in stairwells or practice
specialized rescue operations. Now we can do
all of that onsite while still maintaining quick
response capabilities.
Q: How does the new station better
serve residents?
Porthan: The most significant benefit is
faster response times. Beyond emergency
response, the station serves as a place where
residents can access public health services,
information and resources. People can stop in
with questions or concerns, and there’s always
someone available to help. The station has
become a true community resource, not just
a place where firefighters work. The public
can even reserve spaces for meetings. This
building was designed to serve the community
for decades. It gives us room to grow, expand
services and continue meeting the needs of
residents well into the future.
For more information on the Edina Fire
Department, visit EdinaMN.gov/Fire.
Plans For Old Fire Station 2
The old Fire Station 2 has been used
only for police and firefighter training
since its closure in October 2025. It
is scheduled to be demolished the
week of July 13. Before demolition, a
deconstruction company will go through
the building to salvage anything that
can be repurposed, resulting in less
waste in the landfill. The site will be
graded and seeded to prepare for a
future water treatment plant.
Recently promoted to Battalion Chief, Todd Porthan
was one of the Fire Captains working at the old and
new Fire Station 2 in 2025. (Photo by Jason Heuer)
ANNUAL REPORT
5City of Edina EdinaMN.gov
ANNUAL REPORT
City of Edina Rolls Out Convenience Fee Policy
Strategic Shift Slashes Six-Figure Credit Card Processing Overhead
BY DAVID KATZ
In local government, spending priorities
typically tie directly to community needs –
from civil infrastructure and public safety
operations to routine services like recycling
and snowplowing. Thanks to a policy
change enacted in 2025, the City of Edina
has practically eliminated one recurring
expenditure that, in contrast, failed to provide
any value at all: credit card processing fees.
A processing fee is a percentage rate assessed
to a merchant when a payee completes a
transaction by credit or debit card. This can
represent 2-5% of the sale depending on
card issuer and other factors. As far as banks
and credit companies are concerned, cities
like Edina are “merchants” like any other.
“The Finance Department identified a
significant increase in processing fees in
2023, largely driven by the shift toward
cashless payments that accelerated during
the COVID-19 pandemic,” explained
Accounting Supervisor Tenzin Dongchung.
Cumulatively, these fees represented a six-
figure drain on the balance sheet every year.
In 2023, the City began exploring adoption
of a convenience fee policy to offset this
rising administrative loss.
Although the terms are sometimes used
interchangeably, convenience and processing
fees are different in a key way. “With a
convenience fee, the customers cover that
addition but have alternate payment options
to avoid the card [surcharge] … such as cash
or check,” Dongchung clarified.
Convenience fees for resident and vendor
payments “are already common in State of
Minnesota and Hennepin County systems,”
he continued. However, while State Statute
explicitly gives municipal governments
permission to impose convenience fees of
up to 5%, it is not nearly so common at the
municipal level.
“The cities of Fridley and Lakeville were
the only ones we are aware of that had
adopted convenience fees at the time of our
research,” recalled Finance Director Pa Thao.
A clear contributing factor is that
implementing this change is no small
undertaking. Across all operations, the
City of Edina maintains no fewer than five
different point-of-sale systems – and works
with almost a dozen merchant processors.
Nearly every department has its own
payment procedures.
As an entry point, the Finance Department
partnered with the Edina Fire Department (EFD)
to pilot the rollout of a 3% convenience fee.
In addition to its well-known first responder
duties, EFD is home to the Building
Inspections Division, Public Health Division
and South Metro Public Training Facility.
As part of day-to-day work, these vital City
operations intake sizable permit, licensure
and escrow fees.
“When you multiply these larger transactions
by the frequency with which they occur,
the expense quickly adds up and becomes a
considerable undertaking for the City,” Thao
noted. In 2023 alone, the department logged
8,928 credit card transactions totaling more
than $4.9 million with $125,501 in processing
fees. “At a certain point, absorbing that cost
simply isn’t sustainable.”
In theory, the EFD could have raised rates
to compensate for the loss. “Rather than
increase permit fees to offset, we decided to
maintain the current permit fee structure and
charge the new convenience fee on cards,”
explained Fire Chief Andrew Slama. “This
retains no-fee options for payment – and
maintains convenience for those who still
wish to purchase with a card.”
The City Council officially authorized
the convenience fee policy in July 2025.
Implementation reached all building services
and utility billing systems by September.
In tandem with these system updates, the
City initiated a communications push. “This
included a mailed notice to all residents,
and also new signage at all locations where
convenience fees apply,” Dongchung said.
City staff in resident-facing roles also had an
important role to play. “Staff will now always
disclose the fee when processing payments
in person or over the phone,” giving the
option to bypass the convenience fee entirely
through ACH, cash or check.
While a significant project up front, this new
fee structure paid immediate dividends for the
City and, by extension, residents. Dongchung
notes: “We have seen significant savings in
our Building and Utility Billing areas.” In those
divisions alone, “monthly bank fees used to
be around $16,000, but have now dropped
down to less than $1,000 per month.”
For more information, contact the
Finance Department, 952-826-0366
or EdinaMN.gov/Finance.
City Council
Mayor
Jim Hovland – 612-874-8551
Council Members
Kate Agnew – 952-833-9556
Carolyn Jackson – 952-833-9547
James Pierce – 952-833-9548
Julie Risser – 952-833-9557
Executive Leadership Team
City Manager
Scott Neal – 952-826-0401
Deputy City Manager
Ari Lenz – 952-826-0416
Communications Director
Jennifer Bennerotte – 952-833-9520
Community Development Director
Cary Teague – 952-826-0460
Finance Director
Pa Thao – 952-826-0420
Fire Chief
Andrew Slama – 952-826-0332
Human Resources Director
Jessica Nikunen – 952-826-0402
I.T. Director
Ryan Browning – 952-826-0434
Parks & Recreation Director
Perry Vetter – 952-826-0430
Police Chief
Todd Milburn – 952-826-0487
Public Works Director & City Engineer
Chad Millner – 952-826-0318
CITY OF EDINA DIRECTORY
6
ANNUAL REPORT
As seen to the left, governmental activities increased the City’s
net position at the end of the 2025 fiscal year by $38,408,216
when compared to 2024.
Revenues for 2025 totaled $125.3 million, an increase of 22%,
or $22.2 million, compared to 2024. This significant year-over-
year growth was driven by strong performance across multiple
revenue categories:
• Property tax revenues increased by $4,417,097. The increase
is primarily attributed to a 2.8% increase in tax capacity and
a 3.4% increase in the market value of real properties.
• Other taxes increased by $2,861,219 due to local sales tax.
Local sales tax revenue increased year-over-year despite the
tax rate remaining unchanged. The increase is primarily due
to increased consumer spending, inflationary price increases,
and overall economic expansion within the city.
• Investment earnings increased by $2,438,252 due to
favorable market conditions.
• Other capital grants and contributions increased by
$7,096,007, in 2025. The increase is mainly due to multiple
grants and funding sources from the state, county, federal
government and local partners in support of the Vernon
Avenue & Highway 100 interchange project.
• Charges for services increased by $2,602,658 due to a one-
time payment to the Housing & Redevelopment Authority from
Southdale as part of its redevelopment agreement, increase
in ambulance fees, and increases in licenses and permits.
Total governmental fund expenditures for 2025 increased 4.2%, or
$3.3 million, compared to 2024. This year-over-year increase was
driven by higher spending across several major functional areas:
• General Government expenditures decreased by
$6,737,528, due to the DEED grant repayment ending
in 2024 as well as completion of the Lincoln &
Londonderry Small Area Plan in 2024.
• Parks & Recreation expenditures increased by $1,181,891,
driven by staffing enhancements and expanded programming.
The City hired a new Facilities Coordinator and a Digital
Marketing Coordinator, and paid significantly more part-time
rink attendant and part-time maintenance hours during 2025.
• Interest on long-term debt increased by $2,464,631. This
increase is primarily due to scheduled debt payments.
• Public Safety expenditures rose by $3,084,221, reflecting
both operational and project-related cost increases. The City
filled previously vacant police and fire positions, increasing
personnel costs, and incurred non-capital expenses associated
with the Fire Station 2 project.
• Public Works expenditures increased by $3,359,938, driven
by non-capital expenses reflecting ongoing work such as
the Vernon Avenue & Highway 100 interchange project,
Concord B/C and Presidents A/B neighborhood roadway
reconstruction projects, and the first phase of a France
Avenue sidewalk project.
Governmental Funds
2024 2025 Difference
REVENUES
Program Revenues
Charges for Services $15,612,510 $18,215,168 $2,602,658
Operating Grants and Contributions $5,653,563 $8,615,771 $2,962,208
Capital Grants and Contributions $10,997,515 $18,093,522 $7,096,007
General Revenues
Property Taxes $53,412,154 $57,829,251 $4,417,097
Other Taxes $13,066,883 $15,928,102 $2,861,219
Gain on Disposal of Assets $394,009 $262,622 $131,387
Unrestricted Investment Earnings $3,949,750 $6,388,002 $2,438,252
Totals $103,086,384 $125,332,438 $22,246,054
EXPENSES
General Government $19,817,993 $13,080,465 $6,737,528
Public Safety $32,565,377 $35,649,598 $3,084,221
Public Works $17,270,199 $20,630,137 $3,359,938
Parks & Recreation $9,035,898 $10,217,789 $1,181,891
Interest on Long-Term Debt $1,993,206 $4,457,837 $2,464,631
Totals $80,682,673 $84,035,826 $3,353,153
Increase in Net Position Before Transfers $22,403,711 $41,296,612 $18,892,901
Transfers $40,144 –$101,688 $141,832
Increase in Net Position $22,443,855 $41,194,924 $18,751,069
Net Position - Beginning, As Previously Stated $212,918,469 $235,646,627 $22,728,158
Change In Accounting Principle $284,303 $284,303
Prior Period Restatement –$2,786,708 $2,786,708
Net Position - Beginning, As Restated $213,202,772 $232,859,919 $19,657,147
Net position December 31 $235,646,627 $274,054,843 $38,408,216
Governmental Fund Expenditures Comparison
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7City of Edina EdinaMN.gov
In-Person Early Voting Limited to 18 Days for Primary Election
Change Maintains Voter Access while Aligning Election Operations with Demand, Available Resources
In-person voting for the 2026 Primary
Election at Edina City Hall will be limited to
Minnesota’s 18-day early voting period rather
than the full 46 days of absentee voting.
The change follows recent State legislation
that gives cities flexibility to determine how
in-person voting is offered before elections.
Municipalities may either provide the full 46-
day voting period or limit in-person voting to
the final 18 days before Election Day.
The Edina City Council approved the
change for just the 2026 Primary Election.
No changes are planned for the General
Elections, which continue to experience
significantly higher voter participation
and demand.
City data from recent Primary Elections
shows that voter participation during the
first 28 days of in-person absentee voting is
relatively low compared with activity during
the final 18-day early voting period. In the
2024 Primary Election, 727 voters cast direct
ballots during the 18-day early voting period,
compared with 225 voters who voted during
the preceding 28-day absentee voting period.
The change is expected to reduce temporary
staffing costs by approximately $8,000 for
the Primary Election while helping minimize
operational impacts on City Hall facilities and
staff. Election administration requirements
have expanded in recent years and now
include additional voting days, extended
voting hours, increased security requirements
and extensive training and recruitment
responsibilities for election judges and
temporary staff.
Despite the change, Edina residents will
continue to have multiple options for casting a
ballot before the Primary Election. Voters may:
•Vote by mail through Hennepin County
•Return mail ballots to City Hall for secure
transport to Hennepin County
•Vote in person at the Hennepin County
Government Center during the absentee
voting period
•Vote in person at Edina City Hall during
the 18-day early voting period
Residents should vote at their assigned polling
places on Election Day.
In other business last month, the Council:
•Rejected a fifth proposal for the
redevelopment of the former Kevin
Kee’s Auto site on Vernon Avenue.
Ionna Rechargery proposed remodeling
the existing auto repair shop at 6016
Vernon Ave. into an electric vehicle
charging station. The site would feature
seven Level 3 DC fast chargers and the
existing station would be remodeled to
be a lounge waiting area with a mini
convenience store or vending machines.
Staff reported that an electric vehicle
charging station is a permitted use in
the zoning district, though the site is
designated for medium-density residential
development in the City’s Comprehensive
Plan. After hearing testimony from
residents both in support of and opposed
to the proposal, the majority of the City
Council concluded the project was not
the most appropriate long-term use of the
property and voted to deny the request.
•Accepted the Annual Comprehensive
Finance Report for the year ended
Dec. 31, 2025.
•Granted approvals for the Salvation
Army to remodel and reuse the existing
28,000-square-foot building at 4200
76th St. W. into an 18,425-square-
foot Salvation Army retail store with a
9,434-square-foot warehouse and indoor
dropoff. There are no plans to alter the site
plan or exterior of the existing building.
The City Council will next meet 7 p.m.
Tuesday, July 21. For more information,
visit EdinaMN.gov.
- COMPILED BY JENNIFER BENNEROTTE
952-927-8861 | mail@EdinaMN.govCity of Edina EdinaMN.gov8
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