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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEditionEdinaNov2018Edina Liquor, Fair State Brew History Cake Drinker Earns High Marks From Beer Drinkers Whether you tried Cake Drinker beer at the Fair State Brewing Cooperative taproom or bought a four-pack at Edina Liquor, you tasted a bit of history. Cake Drinker is believed to be the first collaboration beer between a brewery and a municipal- run liquor operation in Minnesota. Edina’s General Manager of Liquor Operations Josh Furbish had been quietly talking about his collaboration idea for more than a year. When he sought to enlist a local brewery to make it happen, Minneapolis-based Fair State jumped to mind because it shares the value of giving back to the community. “Being a cooperative brewery, we are all about community and all about people first before you even get to the beer,” said Nick Gerth, Fair State’s Sales Manager. Cake Drinker was inspired by the Milkshake IPA wave, but Fair State Head Brewer Niko Tonks made sure it stood out. He ruled out using lactose, the usual ingredient. Instead, he added coconut and vanilla to create what is billed as a vegan Milkshake IPA. Citra hops infuse a hint of pineapple. The end result is a beer that’s slightly sweet, has good hop balance and feels a bit like a tropical vacation. As for the name, Furbish wanted to make a seriously good beer, but have fun doing it. What better way than embracing the unofficial nickname of Edina residents – “Cake Eaters.” Cake Drinker is what he called “a true Edina IPA.” The collaboration beer was tapped Sept. 27 at Fair State’s taproom. Fair State jokingly described the small-batch beer on the Untapped app as “brewed for our friends at the City of Edina (no, really, it’s true).” Beer drinkers – even those outside Edina – embraced it, with an impressive. 3.97 (out of 5) rating on Untapped after 163 reviews. “Like drinking a vanilla coconut cake. Sweet and bold. And delicious,” wrote one reviewer. Another summed it up simply as “Yum yum yum.” “For the record, I think Cake Drinker is both hilarious and delicious,” Tonks wrote on Twitter in response to people poking fun at his previous disdain for Milkshake IPAs. “Cheers to everyone @EdinaMN and @FairStateCoop for being the best of sports about this whole thing. Can’t wait till next time.” Yes, next time. Furbish and Fair State have another surprise in the works. Follow @EdinaLiquor on Facebook for the latest on this and other releases. Cake Drinker may still be available at Edina Liquor. Check the Grandview store at 5013 Vernon Ave.; 50th & France at 3943 W. 50th St. or the Southdale location at 6755 York Ave. Edition: Edina NOVEMBER 2018 Volume 5, Issue 11 4801 W. 50th St. Edina, MN 55424 | 952-927-8861 | mail@EdinaMN.govCity of Edina EdinaMN.gov Submitted PhotoU of M Partners With Edina on Capstone Projects City Submits Projects For College Seniors to Research Civil Engineering students at the University of Minnesota are required to work on a real-world problem and provide research or design solutions in order to graduate. Each semester, the City of Edina’s Engineering Department submits several possible projects for students to select as their capstone projects. “We try to pick topics that aren’t necessarily ones that will happen next year, but in the 5- to 10-year window. They’re typically projects we just can’t do ourselves at this time. For a little bit of effort, we can get a good report from some University of Minnesota seniors,” said Engineering Director Chad Millner. “We get the final report when they’re through and we use that going forward and to decide whether we want to take it to the next step.” City engineers are expected to regularly engage with the students through a few in-person meetings and emails. Other than staff time, it costs the City nothing. Ten project submissions have been selected for a capstone project since the City began submitting proposals in 2015. Some of the traffic-related projects include developing an ADA-compliant pedestrian bridge over Minnesota Highway 62; a parking and traffic analysis study in the Strachauer Park, Chowen and Creek Knoll neighborhoods; and review of the intersection at Interlachen Boulevard and Blake Road. “The University started this program in 2000. It was a good idea because students were leaving the program without connecting the classes to the work. So we went out and asked practitioners in the Twin Cities area if they would do a project with four or five students,” said University of Minnesota Professor John Gulliver. “The response is significant and it’s getting stronger. Mentors provide a real-life project and students can visit a mentor’s place of business to talk and they guide the student to some resources and give them advice.” That isn’t to say that the results always lead to changes. One project involved reviewing traffic around Hanson Road, Vernon Avenue and Ayrshire Boulevard. The students found that the cost-to-benefit ratio was too low to pursue additional work. Students have also completed several water resource capstone projects. Some of those include examining the flooding in Weber Park, determining a Lake Cornelia clean water strategy, and determining water reuse for irrigation at Braemar Golf Course. “Last year, the project was developing a Lake Cornelia clean water strategy. We asked the students what they would do to solve these problems,” said Water Resources Coordinator Jessica Wilson. “They came up with solutions like managing carp, using an alum treatment or additional street sweeping. Then, we asked the students to put some costs to it. “The value for the students is that it’s real and they get to interact with professionals. For us it’s great because we get fresh ideas and different perspectives and free investigation.” For more information about the City’s engineering projects, visit EdinaMN.gov/Engineering. Fun at the Fire Station Sparky the Fire Dog and Edina Fire Department staff welcomed families to the Oct. 6 Open House at Fire Station No. 1, 6250 Tracy Ave., to see the fire engines, learn to use a fire hose and more fun. Fire Marshal Rick Hammerschmidt hopes all families in attendance took home this year’s national fire prevention message of “Look. Listen. Learn. Be aware. Fires can happen anywhere.” Look for places fires can start. Listen for the sound of the smoke alarm. Learn two ways out of every room. Every Edina family should discuss the message, Hammerschmidt said, because four out of five U.S. fire deaths each year are from home fires. Photo by Katie Laux E DINA L IQUOR ‘The value for the students is that it’s real and they get to interact with professionals. For us it’s great because we get fresh ideas and free investigation.’ HRA Stops Spending on Grandview Green ‘Lid’ is a Far-Term Plan, Not Anticipated for Decades Though development of a “lid” over Minnesota Highway 100 might have great benefit in the future, the Edina Housing & Redevelopment Authority (HRA) made clear at its Oct. 11 meeting that development of the Grandview Green is not an immediate priority and directed staff not to spend any more money on the concept. While important for regional mobility and commerce, the state highways that divide Edina into four primary quadrants have inadvertently created barriers that hinder connectivity among some of the community’s local neighborhoods. Expanded bridges frequently referred to as “land bridges” or “highway lids” are one means to unify neighborhoods by increasing access on local roads and trails without hindering regional mobility on the limited access highways. Potential opportunities to take advantage of existing topography to better connect local neighborhoods exist at a few points along Minnesota Highways 100 and 62. The HRA conducted a preliminary concept study of the feasibility of constructing a lid, dubbed the “Grandview Green,” over a limited portion of Highway 100 in the Grandview District. The construction of the lid, if viable, would help accomplish many of the Seven Guiding Principles established in the Grandview District Development Framework. The conceptual studies conducted to date suggest that additional public green space could be created and unused Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) highway right of way could be transformed into productive uses without hindering regional transportation needs. The 2016 Grandview Transportation Study characterized the concept of a “lid” in the Grandview District as a “Far-Term Plan” occurring as much as 30 years in the future that could not happen before improvements to current transit systems and transportation-related technologies occur. Pursuing a concept like a lid will require the coordination of several governmental agencies and the support of the local community. Additional community engagement as well as substantial engineering design is required to establish the parameters of a redevelopment project that satisfies the needs of the impacted stakeholders and delivers a community benefit. The HRA at its Oct. 11 meeting approved a statement for inclusion in the City’s updated Comprehensive Plan that reads, in part, “although the City’s long-term planning should continue to consider this Grandview Green concept as one potential means of improving the Grandview Commercial District at some point in the future, it is not a part of near or mid-term changes envisioned for this District.” Commissioners also directed staff to suspend further expenditures on the concept, including funds to engage consultants to advocate for changes in State law to facilitate financing and negotiate lease language with MnDOT. Edition: Edi na NOVEMBER 2018 4801 W. 50th St. Edina, MN 55424 | 952-927-8861 | mail@EdinaMN.gov City of Edina EdinaMN.gov Upcoming Events Recurring Events: Children’s Entertainment at Edinborough Park Noon Thursdays Sunday, Nov. 4, 7 p.m. La Dolce Vita Jazz, Edinborough Park Tuesday, Nov. 6 Election Day Wednesday, Nov. 7, 7 p.m. City Council Meeting, Edina City Hall Thursday, Nov. 8, 8 a.m. Urban Vision Symposium: Economic Development 101, DoubleTree Hotel Saturday, Nov. 10, 10 a.m. The Author’s Studio: Sparkle On – Women Aging in Gratitude, Edina Art Center Sunday, Nov. 11, 7 p.m. Star of the North, Edinborough Park Monday, Nov. 12 Veterans Day; City Hall closed Thursday, Nov. 15, 7:30 a.m. Housing & Redevelopment Authority Meeting, Edina City Hall Friday, Nov. 16, 6:15 a.m. Fitness on the Field – Orangetheory Fitness, Braemar Field Saturday, Nov. 17, 8:30-9:30 a.m. Walk With the Mayor, Braemar Field Saturday, Nov. 17, 10 a.m.-noon Town Hall Meeting, Edina Senior Center Sunday, Nov. 18, 7 p.m. Westwind Big Band, Edinborough Park Tuesday, Nov. 20, 7 p.m. City Council Meeting, Edina City Hall Thursday, Nov. 22 Thanksgiving Day; City Hall Closed. Friday, Nov. 23 City Hall Closed Saturday, Nov. 24, 5 p.m. Tree-Lighting Ceremony, 50th & France Sunday, Nov. 25, 7 p.m. First John Philip Sousa Memorial Band, Edinborough Park For a complete listing of meetings and events, visit EdinaMN.gov. BY THE NUMBERS Voting 2018 20 The City of Edina has 20 precincts. To find out where to vote, visit pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us. open seats on the City Council 2 35,332 The total number of registered voters in Edina as of the state primary election in August Polling places will be open 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. Nov. 6 Six candidates are vying for Election Day: Golf Dome, Covered Braemar Field Open for the Season Enjoy Indoor Winter Activities in Edina There’s no shortage of indoor winter activities in Edina. With 46 tee areas on two levels and a large practice putting green, Braemar Golf Dome, located at 7420 Braemar Blvd., is one of the largest and longest-hitting indoor practice facilities in the Twin Cities. Using TrackTee technology, golfers can track the distance and speed of each shot as they improve their game. “We offer private lessons for all ages and abilities from our five PGA professionals. This facility allows you to work on your game all winter so when spring rolls around, you’re ready to get back out on the course,” said Joe Abood, General Manager of Braemar Golf Course. Braemar Golf Dome is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Braemar Field, located at 7509 Ikola Way, is another stop for winter fun. From November through April, the full-size turf field is covered for soccer and football programs, “Tot Time,” Family Night and open dome time. There is also a quarter-mile walking track that is open to the public most days of the season. “Outside of recreational programs, the covered field allows our associations to practice before their season starts and gives them a comfortable environment during the cold months,” said Chad Eischens, General Manager of Braemar Arena & Field. For more information on Braemar Golf Dome, visit BraemarGolf.com or call 952-903-5755. For a schedule and calendar of events for Braemar Field, visit BraemarField.com or call 952-833-9512. File PhotoGolfers can improve their game all winter long at Braemar Golf Dome. City Establishes New One-Acre TIF District Incremental Taxes to Provide Public Benefits in Northeast Edina The City has established a new one-acre, 15-year tax-increment financing (TIF) district to support the redevelopment at the intersection of Sunnyside Road and France Avenue. Orion Investments plans to redevelop the site of the former Edina Cleaners & Launderers, two single-family homes and a surface parking lot. Those structures would be replaced with a mixed-use development of 46 apartments, 7,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space, and parking below and at grade. The City Council in early October granted preliminary rezoning and development plan approval for the project. TIF is one of the financial tools available to the City to encourage new investment in a way that enhances the property tax base and achieves other community goals. TIF uses new property taxes, or incremental taxes, that are generated by a new project to pay for some of the costs associated with it. The existing tax base continues to be distributed to the school district, city, county and other taxing agencies. The public will benefit from creation of the TIF district with approximately 40 new public parking stalls, buried overhead utility lines, a new outdoor public space with art and an improved streetscape, among other things. In other business last month, the Council approved: • A Comprehensive Plan Amendment in the Office Residential District to increase the density from 30 units per acre to 40 units per acre to allow a future four-story, 80- unit affordable housing project at 4100 W. 76th St. • Additional work with a consultant to design a new water treatment plant. • The 90 percent design report for Arden Park and authorized the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District to finalize plans and advertise for bid. If bids are awarded in November, construction of the changes to the creek and improvements to utilities and stormwater could begin in December. The City Council will meet at 7 p.m. Nov. 7 and 20. For more information, visit EdinaMN.gov.