HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-03-17 City Council Work Session MINUTES
OF THE WORK SESSION OF THE
EDINA CITY COUNCIL
HELD AT CITY HALL
MARCH 17, 201 S
S:01 P.M.
ROLLCALL
Mayor Pro Tern Ann Swenson called the meeting to order at 5:01 p.m. in the Community Room of City
Hall. Answering rollcall were Members Mary Brindle, Kevin Staunton and Bob Stewart and Mayor Pro Tern
Swenson. Mayor Jim Hovland arrived at 5:04 p.m.
Staff attending the meeting included:Jennifer Bennerotte, Communications & Technology Services Director;
Lindy Crawford, City Management Fellow; Susan Faus, Assistant Parks & Recreation Director; Ann Kattreh,
Parks & Recreation Director; Karen Kurt, Assistant City Manager; Chad Millner, Scott Neal, City Manager;
Engineering Director; and Bill Neuendorf, Economic Development Manager.
Mayor Pro Tern said the meeting would focus on two topics. The first part of the meeting would be spent
hearing from Superintendent Ric Dressen on the Next Generation of Edina Public Schools and the
upcoming bond referendum. The latter part of the meeting would be spent getting an update on the park,
recreation and trails strategic planning process.
JOINT MEETING WITH ISD 273 (Edina) PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Members of the Edina Board of Education present for the meeting were Cathy Cella, David Goldstein,
Randy Meyer, Regina Neville, Lisa O'Brien, Sarah Patzloff and Leny Wallen-Friedman. School district staff
present were Margo Bauck, Susan Brott, Valerie Burke and Dressen.
Dressen provided an overview of the school district's strategic plan, "Next Generation of Edina Public
Schools," and bond referendum. The mission of the Edina Public Schools, working in partnership with the
family and the community, is to educate all individuals to be responsible, lifelong learners who possess the
skills, knowledge, creativity, self-worth, and ethical values necessary to thrive in a rapidly changing, culturally
diverse, global society. Dressen said that the mission statement can be boiled down to "all for all."
The strategic plan caused the school district to think differently about how to provide a 21St century
learning experience in 20th century facilities. After much study, a Next Generation Facilities Advisory Task
Force recommended a May 2015 bond referendum to provide capital to make changes throughout the
district. On Tuesday, May 5, 2015, residents of Edina Public Schools will have the opportunity to vote on a
one-question bond referendum of $124.9 million in bond funding, payable over 21 years, for the purposes
of updating learning spaces and enhancing building security at the district's 10 schools, while also improving
district infrastructure.
Dressen explained that school district staff have been making similar presentations throughout the
community and said that most-asked questions about the bond referendum are "What's my school going to
look like?" "Why are ninth graders moving to Edina High School?" and "What are the tax impacts of the
bond referendum?"
Council members asked a few questions about Next Generation and the bond referendum. School district
staff and School Board Members were encouraged to ask questions of the City. Meyer cautioned the City
against establishing tax-increment financing districts that negatively impact the school district.
PARK STRATEGIC PLAN
At approximately 6 p.m., Mayor Hovland explained that the Council needed to move on to its second
order of business: park, recreation and trails strategic plan. Consultants Terry Minarik of Confluence, Jeff
Bransford of Pros Consulting and Mark Wentzell of 292 Design Group gave a presentation covering
progress to date, trends, goals, strategies and draft mission statements of the project.
Minutes/Edina City Council Work Session/March 17, 2015
The five key areas of development identified by the consulting team are natural resources; parks, open
spaces and trails; recreation facilities; recreation programs; and finance and management. The team then
showed the Council draft vision statements for each of the areas.
The consultants explained that the next steps in the process include a March 27, 2015 Strategic Planning
Committee meeting; April 14, 2015 Park Board meeting; May 5, 2015 City Council work session, when a
draft strategic plan will be presented; May 12, 2015 Park Board meeting; and June 16, 2015 City Council
presentation, when the plan is expected to be presented for adoption.
There being no further business, Mayor Hovland adjourned the meeting at 6:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Jennifer Bennerotte, C muni i s Technology Services Director
Minutes approved by Edina City Council, April 7, 2015
James B. Hovland, Mayor
2