HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil_Connection_090710Council glimpses possible
zoning amendments At a work session prior to its regular
meeting, the Council met with mem-
bers of the Planning Commission to
discuss possible amendments to the
zoning ordinance.
A recent Minnesota Supreme Court
ruling severely limits the ability of cities
to grant variances. In light of the ruling,
the Planning Department staff has
recommended ordinances for alterna-
tive setbacks, Planned Unit Develop-
ment and driveway width.
Many cities are considering adopting
a non-conforming use ordinance to
allow expansion of nonconforming
structures to match existing noncon-
forming setbacks. A review of residen-
tial variances granted since 2007
reveal that many variances were
requested and granted due to a pre-
existing nonconforming situations that
were matched or continued in a pro-
posed project.
Planned Unit Development is a zoning
category that allows innovation in
development by the suspension of
standard zoning to be replaced by
negotiated agreements. The pro-
posed Edina process would include
an optional sketch plan review prior to
a developer submitting an application.
Historically, the City has issued many
variances for driveway widths. The City
Code currently requires a 12-foot
minimum driveway width, but the
average driveway width in the Country
Club District is 9.73 feet. Staff has
recommended eliminating the mini-
mum width.
Both the Planning Commission and
City Council will continue to review the
proposed ordinance amendments
and act on them later this fall.
Council adopts maximum 2011
tax levies The Council established the maxi-
mum tax levies for 2011.
The maximum 2011 tax levies are
$21.204 million for the General Fund,
$992,072 for the equipment replace-
ment in the Construction Fund,
$1,051,961 for City Hall debt service
levy, $396,444 for the gymnasium
debt service levy, $431,544 for the
Fire Station debt levy, $1,232,460 for
the Public Works & Park Maintenance
Facility debt service levy, and
$164,010 for the debt service of
equipment certificates.
Total of all levies would increase by
$595,355 or 2.3 percent.
A public hearing on the budget and
levy will be held Dec. 7. The budget will
be adopted at the Dec. 21 meeting.
Edina to dispatch for City of
Golden Valley The Council approved a three-year
contract with the City of Golden Valley
for 9-1-1 dispatching services.
Several months ago, Edina and a
handful of other cities were asked to
provide proposals for providing com-
puter-aided dispatching for Golden
Valley, which currently contracts for
such services from St. Louis Park.
Edina submitted a proposal that was
favored by Golden Valley.
Based upon anticipated call volume, it
is recommended the City hire two
additional full-time dispatchers to
maintain minimum staffing levels. For
this staffing level, Golden Valley will
pay Edina a base charge of $14,845
per month in 2011. In addition,
Golden Valley will pay 100 percent of
the cost of equipment, software and
staff training, except a CAD server
upgrade for which they will pay 24
percent of the cost.
A summary of the Sept. 7 Edina City Council & HRA meeting
Sept. 7, 2010
Volume 12, Issue 17 Council Connection
Upcoming meetings:
Heritage Preservation
Board, 7 p.m. Sept. 14
Park Board, 7 p.m.
Sept. 14
Transportation Commis-
sion, 6 p.m. Sept. 16
Energy & Environment
Commission, 7 p.m.
Sept. 22
City Contacts
Interim City Manager
Heather Worthington 952-826-0415
City Clerk Debra Mangen 952-826-0408
Assistant to the City Manager Ceil Smith 952-826-0402
Planning Director Cary Teague 952-826-0460
Police Chief
Jeff Long 952-826-0491
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
The Edina Police Department is ex-
pected to begin dispatching services
for Golden Valley on Jan. 1.
Council dedicates room in
honor of Golf Manager
The Council renamed a room at the
Warren C. Hyde Clubhouse at Brae-
mar Golf Course.
Longtime Golf Course Manager John
Valliere retired Aug. 27 from the City
after 41 years of service. During his
time as manager, Valliere helped
grow the course to 27 regulation
holes, two nine-hole executive
courses and a Golf Dome. The Pro
Shop has more than doubled in size
and the clubhouse quadrupled in
capacity.
At Mayor Jim Hovland’s suggestion,
the “Braemar Room” was renamed
the “John Valliere Room.”
Council approves City Manager
contract The Council approved a contract for
incoming City Manager Scott Neal.
Under the contract, which was devel-
oped by Mayor Jim Hovland and
Council Member Ann Swenson with
guidance from City Attorney Roger
Knutson, Neal will be paid an annual
salary of $150,000. In addition, the
City will pay 100 percent of the cost of
health and dental insurance for him
and his family. Among his fringe
benefits, Neal will receive three
weeks of paid vacation and 80 hours
of sick pay at the beginning of his
employment.
Neal has served as City Manager of
Eden Prairie since 2002. He was
previously the City Administrator of
Northfield. He also has held the posi-
tions of City Administrator for the
communities of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa,
and Norris, Tenn. Neal received his
bachelor’s and master’s degrees in
public administration from Iowa State
University.