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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil_Connection_120710Creek-based trail route approved The Edina City Council ap- proved a route for the Nine Mile Creek Regional Trail. The concept for the Nine Mile Creek Regional Trail was established over 10 years ago as part of a larg- er initiative to lay the foun- dation for development of multi-use regional trails in the first-ring suburbs. The regional trail is envisioned to provide a critical connec- tion with the existing Min- nesota River Bluffs Region- al Trail in the cities of Hop- kins and Minnetonka. It would run east-west through the City of Edina, extending into the City of Richfield, and providing a connection to the Minneso- ta Valley National Wildlife Refuge in the City of Bloom- ington and Grand Rounds Trail System at Lake Noko- mis in the City of Minneap- olis via the planned Inter- city Regional Trail. Several alternative trail route segments are under consideration and include routes adjacent to roads and along the Nine Mile Creek corridor. The Park Board recommended Nine Mile Creek Regional Trail be developed with a creek- based route through Edina. The Council heard several hours of testimony from residents, then voted unan- imously to approve the creek-based route with some restrictions and con- ditions: • The trail will keep to the south side of Wal- nut Ridge Park. • Three Rivers Park Dis- trict will work to explore reasonable ways to minimize the amount of boardwalks and the noise they generate. • Three Rivers Park Dis- trict will provide home- owners with homes with 25 feet of the trail edge the option to have buffers of fencing or vegetation where rea- sonable at Three Riv- ers’ expense. • A deadline will be es- tablished for the ease- ments offered to Three Rivers Park District to complete the project within a reasonable time frame. Council holds public hearing on 2011 budget and levy No one testified at a public hearing on the City’s 2011 operating budget and levy. In September, the Council adopted a preliminary levy that would have increased the total of all City levies by 2.3 percent. Since then, the budget was modified to reflect a lesser 1.15 per- cent increase, though the Council could still opt to increase the total of all lev- A summary of the Dec. 7 Edina City Council & HRA meeting Dec. 10, 2010 Volume 12, Issue 23 Council Connection Upcoming meetings: • City Council executive ses- sion, 5 p.m. Dec. 13 • Park Board, 7 p.m. Dec. 14 • Heritage Preservation Board, 7 p.m. Dec. 14 • City Council & HRA, 7 p.m. Dec. 21 • Art Center Board, 4:30 p.m. Dec. 23 City Contacts City Manager Scott Neal 952-826-0401 City Clerk Debra Mangen 952-826-0408 Park & Recreation Director John Keprios 952-826-0430 Finance Director John Wallin 952-826-0410 Assistant to the City Manager Ceil Smith 952-826-0402 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 ies by 2.3 percent. The Council will meet in an executive session Monday, Dec. 13, to discuss the challenges of implement- ing an arbitrator’s Dec. 8 decision to give the patrol officers' bargaining unit a 3 percent base pay increase in 2010 and another 3 percent base pay increase in 2011. The Council is expected to adopt a budget for 2011 at its Dec. 21 meeting. Council approves 2011 fees and charges The Council approved park and recreation, ambulance and Fire Department mis- cellaneous fees and charg- es. Most park and recreation fees remain the same in 2011. Non-resident patron cards at Braemar Golf Course are decreasing $20, to $90 per card. Birthday party packages at Edinborough Park will in- crease $5. Ambulance fees will in- crease $5 to $15. The Council granted first reading to an ordinance amending certain fees for 2011, reflecting slight in- creases in a few catego- ries. The ordinance will be considered again at the Council’s Dec. 21 meeting.