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Home My WebLink AboutSpring 2019 About TownApply today for the U.S. Bank FlexPerks® Gold American Express® Card at your local U.S. Bank branch, or visit flexperks.com. ©2018 U.S. Bank. The creditor and issuer of the U.S. Bank FlexPerks® Gold American Express® Card is U.S. Bank National Association, pursuant to a license from American Express. American Express is a federally registered service mark of American Express. Keep your shoes on with an $85 credit for TSA Pre ® Championship 18 Opening Puts Golf Spotlight On Braemar Page 18 SPRING•2019 Official Magazine of the City of Edina AboutTown AboutTown Volume 30, Number 2 Circulation 25,000 Spring 2019 Official Publication of the EdinaMN.gov City of Edina, Minnesota 4801 West 50th Street Edina, Minnesota 55424 952-826-0359 Editors: Jennifer Bennerotte and Kaylin Eidsness Designer: Katie Laux Contributing Writers: Jennifer Bennerotte, Danielle Boschee, Kaylin Eidsness, David Katz, Dietrich Nissen, Lauren Siebenaler and Debbie Townsend Photographer: Michael Braun Publisher: City of Edina About Town is produced by the City of Edina. To advertise in About Town, call Alice Tank Van Dyke, 612-308-6982 . Copyright 2019 by City of Edina, 4801 W. 50th St., Edina, MN 55424. About Town is published quarterly by the City of Edina. The purpose of the magazine is to keep Edina residents informed of news, activities and programs that are important to them. We include articles of interest about our residents and community history as well. About Town is printed on recycled paper to conform to City conservation guidelines. Cover photo by Jerold Wilson Selvaraj Table Of Contents Calendar Of Events ..............................................................1 Spring Calendar Highlights ................................................4 A Word From The Mayor ...................................................5 It’s Not Only Neighborly ... It’s The Law .........................6 Donaldson’s - Edina Propelled Southdale Project To ‘Retail Archetype’ ............................................8 Edina Art Center Participates In National Ceramic Arts Conference: Claytopia ...............................14 Championship 18 Opening Puts Golf Spotlight On Braemar ........................................................18 Meyerhoff, Mold Bring Dedication, High Standards to Braemar Golf Course .....................................................22 Draft Comprehensive Plan Review Period To Close April 8 .......................................................................26 City Forms Complete Count Committee ........................27 Fired Up Leaders Start New Roles ..................................30 Affordable Housing Opened Doors For 2018 Tom Oye Award Recipient ..............................................34 New Edina Historical Society Head Brings Fundraising, Teaching, Marketing Savvy .......................38 Pulling Building Permits Protects Residents .................42 Grants Will Help Homeowners Find Flooding Solutions ............................................................46 Engineering Department’s Andrew Scipioni Takes On Dynamic Transportation Planner Role .........48 Planning Matters ...............................................................52 The Last Word .....................................................................54 a blue print for success. remodeling & design Imagine your life transformed. Remodel your home. Imagine your life transformed. Contact us about remodeling your home. CA US TO SET UP YOUR FIRST HOUSE VISIT. Transforming homes and lives for over 40 years. 612.861.0188 | sylvestremn.com We’ve got one. It’s called the 360˚ Remodeling Plan. Our 360˚ Remodeling Plan is more than a ballpark estimate and a quick sketch. It delivers comprehensive planning and customer-centric design, setting the stage for a highly successful remodeling experience. Call us to explore how our 360˚ Plan can make it easier to bring your remodeling dreams to life. Tear Here Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 27 p.m., City Council, Edina City Hall. 1“Images of Edina” photo contest opens for submissions. 3 4Noon, Sing, Play, Learn with MacPhail, Edinborough Park. 56:30 p.m., Friday Family Movie Night – Christopher Robin, Edinborough Park. 610 a.m.-noon, Town Hall meeting, Braemar Golf Course. 77 p.m., Argentine Tango in Minnesota, Edinborough Park. 86:30 p.m., Community Health Commission, Edina City Hall. 97 p.m., Heritage Preservation Commission, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Parks & Recreation Commission, Edina City Hall. 107 p.m., Planning Commission, Edina City Hall. 117:30 a.m., Housing & Redevelopment Authority meeting, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Energy & Environment Commission, Edina City Hall. 12 1310-11 a.m., The Author’s Studio: Seize Your Life: How to Carpe Diem Every Day – by Jasmine Stringer, Edina Art Center. 147 p.m., Westwind Big Band, Edinborough Park. 155:30 p.m., Community Volunteer Recognition Reception, Braemar Golf Course. 16Noon, Braemar Arena summer skate school registration opens for residents. 7 p.m., City Council, Edina City Hall. 17 197-8:30 p.m., Edina’s First Refugees: The Irish at Cahill Settlement, Minnehaha Grange Hall. 209 a.m., Bunny Breakfast, Braemar Golf Course. 211:40-3:10 p.m., Open Skate and Talent Showcase, Braemar Arena. 28Braemar Field dome comes down. 1-4 p.m., Days of Remembrance, Edina City Hall. 1:40-3:10 p.m., Skate with the Hornets, Braemar Arena. 22 237 p.m., Human Rights & Relations Commission, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Star of the North Concert Band, Edinborough Park. 247 p.m., Planning Commission, Edina City Hall. 257:30 a.m., Housing & Redevelopment Authority meeting, Edina City Hall. 2610 a.m., Arbor Day celebration, Countryside Park. 6:30-8 p.m., Princess Ball, Braemar Golf Course. 2710 a.m.-noon, Barnyard Babies, Rosland Park. 3029 April 2019 18Noon, Teddy Bear Band, Edinborough Park. 6 p.m., Transportation Commission, Edina City Hall. About Town Calendar 2019 SPRING • 1Tear Here 2 • SPRING 2019 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 32Noon, Alpha Bits, Edinborough Park. 1 48 a.m.-4 p.m., Buckthorn Dump, across from Braemar Golf Dome, 7420 Braemar Blvd. 10 a.m.-noon, Vehicle Day, Southdale Center. 5Noon-4 p.m., Buckthorn Dump, across from Braemar Golf Dome, 7420 Braemar Blvd. 7 p.m., Southside Big Band, Edinborough Park. 6 77 p.m., City Council, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Good News Big Band, Edinborough Park. 84:30-7:30 p.m., Taste of Edina, The Westin Edina Galleria. 7 p.m., Planning Commission, Edina City Hall. 9Noon, Brodini’s Comedy Magic Show, Edinborough Park. 7 p.m., Energy & Environment Commission, Edina City Hall. 1010 a.m.-8 p.m., Edina Garden Council Plant Sale, Arneson Acres Greenhouse. 7-8:30 p.m., Back to School for Adults: Experience Edina’s Historic Cahill School, Minnehaha Grange Hall. 1110 a.m.-8 p.m., Edina Garden Council Plant Sale, Arneson Acres Greenhouse. 127 p.m., Northern Winds Concert Band, Edinborough Park. 136:30 p.m., Community Health Commission, Edina City Hall. 147 p.m., Parks & Recreation Commission, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Heritage Preservation Commission, Edina City Hall. 15 177:30 p.m., Edina Chorale “Here Comes the Sun” concert, St. Michael’s Lutheran Church, Bloomington. 187:30 p.m., Edina Chorale “Here Comes the Sun” concert, St. Michael’s Lutheran Church, Bloomington. 197 p.m., The First John Philip Sousa Memorial Band, Edinborough Park. 20 217 p.m., City Council, Edina City Hall. 227 p.m., Planning Commission, Edina City Hall. 234:30 p.m., Arts & Culture Commission, Edina Art Center. 24 25 287 p.m., Human Rights & Relations Commission, Edina City Hall. 27Memorial Day. City Hall closed. 26 May 2019 29 307:30 a.m., Housing & Redevelopment Authority meeting, Edina City Hall. 6:30 p.m., Fitness in the Park, Arneson Acres. 3110 a.m.-7 p.m., Edina Art Fair, 50th & France. 167:30 a.m., Housing & Redevelopment Authority meeting, Edina City Hall. 6 p.m., Transportation Commission, Edina City Hall. About Town Calendar 3 • SPRING 2019 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1Edina Aquatic Center opens for the season. 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Edina Art Fair, 50th & France. 210 a.m.-5 p.m., Edina Art Fair, 50th & France. 3 47 p.m., City Council, Edina City Hall. 5 6Dusk, Movie in the Park, Centennial Lakes Park. 7 810-11 a.m., The Author’s Studio: Faces Don’t Lie: The Science of Expressions Applied to Portraits & Self-Portraits Alike – by Dan Hill, Edina Art Center. 9 106:30 p.m., Fitness in the Park, Braemar Golf Course Courtyard. 6:30 p.m., Community Health Commission, Edina City Hall. 117 p.m., Heritage Preservation Commission, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Parks & Recreation Commission, Edina City Hall. 127 p.m., Planning Commission, Edina City Hall. 14 15 16 176:30 p.m., Family Fitness in the Park, Rosland Park. 187 p.m., City Council, Edina City Hall. 19 206 p.m., Transportation Commission, Edina City Hall. Dusk, Movie in the Park, Centennial Lakes Park. 21 22 257 p.m., Human Rights & Relations Commission, Edina City Hall. 2423 30 June 2019 267 p.m., Planning Commission, Edina City Hall. 277:30 a.m., Housing & Redevelopment Authority meeting, Edina City Hall. 4:30 p.m., Arts & Culture Commission, Edina City Hall. 28 137:30 a.m., Housing & Redevelopment Authority meeting, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Energy & Environment Commission, Edina City Hall. About Town Calendar 29 3-7 p.m., Farmers Market, Centennial Lakes Park. 4 • SPRING 2019 Spring Calendar Highlights Other Dates To Remember April 9 7 p.m., South of the River Community Band, Edinborough Park. April 11 Noon, Bob the Beachcomber, Edinborough Park. April 18 6-8 p.m., Sip & Shop (event partner is Edina Liquor), Bluebird Boutique.April 25 Noon, Westwood Hills Nature Center, Edinborough Park. April 25 4:30 p.m., Arts & Culture Commission, Edina City Hall. April 25 5-7 p.m., Minnesota Artists Association and Emily Donovan 2D art exhibit opening receptions, Edina Art Center. April 26 8 a.m., Residential Redevelopment Contractor Accreditation Training, Braemar Golf Course. April 28 7 p.m., First John Phillip Sousa Memorial Band, Edinborough Park. May 11 10-11 a.m., The Author’s Studio: Those Three Words: A Birth Mother’s Story of Choice, Chance, and Motherhood by Christina Bauer, Edina Art Center. June 13 5-7 p.m., Joseph Haid kinetic art exhibit and Digital Mischief – Photography opening receptions, Edina Art Center. June 13 Dusk, Movie in the Park, Centennial Lakes Park. June 13 6:30 p.m., Fitness in the Park, Pamela Park. June 27 Dusk, Movie in the Park, Centennial Lakes Park. Arbor Day Celebration What: The City of Edina celebrates Arbor Day every year with a tree planting. This year, nine trees will be planted in Countryside Park in the shade of Ash trees. City Forester Luther Overholt will lead the tree planting. Materials and tools will be available to those who would like to help. When: 10 a.m. Friday, April 26 Where: Countryside Park, 6240 Tracy Ave. S. Info: EdinaMN.gov/ArborDay Taste of Edina What: The Edina Chamber of Commerce and Edina Liquor proudly present the 25th-annual Taste of Edina at the Westin Edina Galleria. Sip and swirl a selection of over 70 wines, 30 craft brews and even a handful of liquors! Approximately 25 local restaurants will serve up tastings of their favorite dishes, including sweet treats by local confectioners. All beer and wine featured at the event will be on sale at Edina Liquor throughout May at its Spring Sale. Ticket cost is $40 at Edina Liquor stores and $45 at TasteofEdina.com. Follow Taste of Edina and Edina Liquor on Facebook. When: 4:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 8 Where: The Westin Edina Galleria, 3201 Galleria Info: TasteofEdina.com Edina Garden Council Plant Sale What: This popular plant sale sponsored by the Edina Garden Council (EGC) offers flowering annuals, perennials, herbs, vegetables, combination hanging baskets and containers. Plants are not treated with bee-toxic, neonicotinoid chemicals. Great deals are the many winter-hardened perennials that EGC members bring from their gardens. The EGC is a nonprofit organization and proceeds from the plant sale are donated for Arneson Acres Park improvements, horticultural scholarships and gardening beautification projects for the community. When: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, May 10; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 11 Where: Arneson Acres Park Greenhouse, 4711 W. 70th St. Info: edinagardencouncil.org or plantsale@edinagardencouncil.org Tear Here A Word From The Mayor 2019 SPRING • 5 Centennial Lakes, Edinborough, 50th & France and Southdale Center are some of the most iconic places in Edina. They would not exist as they do today, however, without the City of Edina having provided some financial assistance for elements of those projects that had a public benefit through the use of tax-increment financing (TIF). TIF is an economic development financing tool used throughout the United States. It uses growth in the property tax base to fund private investment that delivers public improvements as well as new public infrastructure. TIF is used sparingly in Edina. When TIF is used, it is typically used to reimburse developers for legally eligible expenses only after successful completion of the project. This eliminates financial risk to the City. The following are a few examples of how TIF is used in Edina: • Projects that deliver measurable benefit to the general public • To cover the financial gap of constructing affordable housing • To avoid an outdated facility from having a blighting influence on neighboring properties. The amount of TIF pledged is limited to that required to fill a financial gap in the budget for a project. There is a misperception that TIF has been used for many of the redevelopment projects underway in our city. In the last eight years, only five of the 52 major commercial projects completed or approved in Edina have been supported with pledges of TIF assistance upon successful completion of those projects. Three of those projects were approved or were under construction in 2018. Those three are Nolan Mains/Center Ramp, Pentagon Village and the 4500 France Apartments. Each of those projects faced unusual challenges and will deliver both long- and short-term benefits to the public. To give you a sense of the value these projects are bringing to our town, shown below are the values of the properties before construction started and the estimates of their values once complete: Nolan Mains/Center Ramp $12.7 million $52.5 million Pentagon Village $5.3 million $99.6 million 4500 France Apartments $2.1 million $18.9 million Earlier this year, the City Council agreed to provide $12 million in TIF to address some of the extraordinary costs associated with the long-debated redevelopment of 7200 and 7250 France Ave. In December 2018, the developer secured preliminary approval for this mixed-use project that will include approximately 301 apartments, 10 for-sale townhouses, underground parking and extensive public realm improvements, including a new shared street, public plaza and traffic-calming improvements to West 72nd Street. At present, those two properties have a combined value of approximately $10 million. Upon full completion, the project covering the block at 7200-7250 France Ave. S. will have a value of approximately $125 million. The City Council will continue to consider the use of TIF for projects that will benefit our community in the short- and long-term. We know that on occasion, that type of investment in some projects is needed to keep Edina a great place to live, work and do business into the future. That use of TIF, however, will be carefully assessed in each particular land use situation where it is requested, just as it has in the past. James B. Hovland Mayor Tear Here 6 • SPRING 2019 It’s Not Only Neighborly … It’s The Law The Law: Edina City Code Sec. 30-118. Turf grasses and weeds shall be regularly cut such that no individual plant shall exceed, at any time, 10 inches in height or length as measured from its base at the ground to the tip of each stalk, stem or blade. Noxious weeds as defined by the State Commissioner of Agriculture shall be eradicated. What it Means: The City has standards for grass and weed management and maintenance. Weeds and grasses should not be taller than 10 inches. This includes boulevards, alleys, landscaped areas and developed and undeveloped land. Grass and weeds in drainage ponds, wetlands and similar waterways are exempt. Noxious weeds, which must be eliminated, include Tree of Heaven, Garlic Mustard, Glossy Buckthorn and Multiflora Rose. To report a possible violation, use the Edina 311 app or visit EdinaMN.gov and click on “Report A Problem,” or call the weed inspector at 952-826-0353. For a full list of Minnesota’s noxious weeds, visit www.mda.state.mn.us The Law: Edina City Code Sec. 28-261. All properties with an address ending with an even digit may use City water for irrigation purposes on even-numbered dates only. Sec. 28-262. All properties with an address ending with an odd digit may use City water for irrigation purposes on odd-numbered dates only. Sec. 28-264. No property may use any water for irrigation purposes during the hours of 11 a.m. through 5 p.m. of any day. Sec. 28-265. Upon written request and approval by the City Manager or his designee, the following properties are authorized to irrigate at times other than permitted above … Newly sodded or grass seeded areas for a period of 14 days. What it Means: If your property address ends in an odd number, you may water your lawn on odd-numbered days of the month. If your property address ends in an even number, water your lawn on even days of the month. No one may use water for irrigation from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you have an area with new sod or seed, contact the Public Works Department for a 14-day permit to irrigate more frequently. Otherwise, please irrigate lawns during allotted dates and times. For more information, contact the Public Works Department at 952-826-0376. Tall Grass and Weeds Maintenance Lawn Irrigation 2019 SPRING • 7 7201 York Avenue S Edina (952) 835-4320 The Durham offers just the right blend of luxury, charm, and the perfect location. Spacious floor plans, panoramic balconies, and amazing amenities make it the place to live when you want more out of life. EXTRAORDINARY LIFESTYLE. www.thedurhamapartments.com www.smilesatfrance.com 4999 France Ave. South, Suite 230 • Edina / Minneapolis • 612-824-7033 Enhancing Smiles... Building Confidence... Changing Lives Complimentary,Cosmetic,Restorative & Implant Consultation Located at50th &France C M Y CM MY CY CMY K EdinaOnTheGoAd-Ananda.pdf 1 2/13/19 3:53 PM Donaldson’s - Edina Propelled Southdale Project To ‘Retail Archetype’ Editor’s Note: This is Part 1 of a two-part series. Part 2 will appear in the next issue of About Town. In the next issue, we will explore Donaldson’s surprisingly innovative design, dramatic décor and shopper amenities – as well as the department store’s ultimate fate. By David Katz On Oct. 25, 1953, the Minneapolis Tribune blared the front-page headline: “Donaldson’s and Dayton’s Merge Shopping Centers in $15,000,000 Southdale Project.” It was not the first feature story on the mall slated for the Village of Edina. Dayton’s Development Co. had gone public with its intention to establish a suburban beachhead here many months before. However, the partnership announced that October is what propelled Southdale from a fairly typical retail enterprise to one of national interest and historic import. Never before had competing department store heavyweights agreed to come together under one roof. It flagrantly defied “shopping-center orthodoxy,” and “was considered madness” by most in the industry, in the words of lifestyle historian William Severini Kowinski. Could a place like Edina sustain such a merchandising mecca? Wouldn’t the arrangement cannibalize sales? Strangest of all, why would Donaldson’s agree to join arch-rival Dayton’s suburban experiment as, effectively, a junior partner? Fortunately, the forward-thinking leaders of L.S. Donaldson Co. had a better read on the opportunity. Anyone who shares in Edina’s present prosperity owes a debt to their calculated risk. No. 2 Tries Harder A brief history of Donaldson’s contextualizes the age-old rivalry between the Southdale Center partners, as well as Donaldson’s long track record for innovation – in large part, to keep pace with Dayton’s. Brothers William T. and Lawrence S. Donaldson emigrated from their native Scotland in 1878, with high hopes of finding success in America’s booming mercantile trade. Six years later, they made a tangible start by purchasing a struggling dry goods firm on Sixth Street and Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis. It proved auspicious timing, as Nicollet Avenue would evolve into the state’s premier retail hub by the end of the century.Photo courtesy of WikiCommonsDonaldson’s flagship store in downtown Minneapolis, dubbed the “Glass Block” and depicted here on a 1915 postcard, first put the department store on the map in the 1880s. 8 • SPRING 2019 In 1888-89, the brothers demolished the humble structure they had inherited, replacing it with the earliest iteration of the so-called “Glass Block” store. (This nickname alluded to the building’s showy glass exterior, which allowed passers-by a tantalizing glimpse of the merchandise within.) Donaldson’s downtown flagship would be a Minneapolis landmark for generations, and eventually grow to encompass a full city block. In 1928, L.S. Donaldson Co. joined a 22-member nationwide retail consortium called the Allied Stores Corporation. Membership enabled Donaldson’s to capture wholesaler discounts – with the savings “passed directly to the shopper,” contemporary advertisements touted. Stiffened competition within the Minneapolis retail landscape also played into Donaldson’s strategic Allied alliance. In June 1904, entrepreneur George Draper Dayton set up shop across the street from the original Donaldson’s. By the mid-1920s, Dayton’s had surpassed Donaldson’s in gross sales. The latter would never regain its position as top dog in its home market. For decades, though, this was no foregone conclusion. The close proximity of the two sprawling department stores led to a level of retailer one-upmanship not seen in most other American metros. Over the years, the Glass Block introduced public amenities ranging from fine dining establishments to a drop-in daycare, to an on-site post office and company-run lending library. Donaldson’s also hosted special programming, including home economics classes, live performances and over-the-top holiday extravaganzas. One treasured anecdote from company lore sums up the customer experience at the Glass Block. In December 1968, after attending a breakfast with Santa and enjoying a live play co-hosted by the Guthrie Theatre, a bemused mother could not help but write a letter to L.S. Donaldson Co.’s then-president, John Butterfield. It cheekily concluded: “Tell me Donaldson’s, do you try harder because you are No. 2?” It certainly seems so. What is demonstrably true is that the Donaldson’s-Dayton’s dynamic proved a boon for shoppers, who flocked downtown for the variety offered there. Southdale SwitcherooGiven all this, it’s perhaps unsurprising that by 1954, department stores commanded more than 46 percent of total Twin Cities shopping revenue. In New York and Chicago, by contrast, that figure stood at 23 and 38 percent, respectively. Minneapolis’ first-ring suburbs began to come into their own around this same time. Between 1940 and 1950, the Village of Richfield recorded a growth of 360 percent (to 17,502 residents). Less eye-popping, but still noteworthy, the Village of Edina marked a 66 percent population increase over the same period (to 9,744). Suburbanites accounted for a sizable – and growing – chunk of Nicollet Avenue shopping traffic in the post-war period. Recognizing this fact, L.S. Donaldson Co. discreetly purchased 23 acres of land in Richfield. Located between Penn Avenue and Humboldt Avenue, less than a mile from the Edina city line, company executives envisioned (continued on next page) 2019 SPRING • 9 the strategic spot as a regional shopping center with an expansive Donaldson’s store at its center. Regional shopping centers were a relatively new phenomenon. As a model, L.S. Donaldson’s Co. looked to the pioneering Northgate Mall in Seattle. When it opened in April 1950, the nation’s first true mall offered shoppers 18 different boutiques and chain stores. The Bon Marché, a Washington-based department store chain affiliated with Donaldson’s through Allied Stores Corporation, served as Northgate’s “anchor.” Meanwhile, in a parallel if grander scheme, brothers Bruce and Donald Dayton purchased approximately 500 acres of cornfield just up the road in Edina. That story has been told in detail in many places. Suffice it to say, Dayton’s Development Co. set Southdale Center on a promising track through three early and critical decisions. First, they tapped famed Austrian architect Victor Gruen to design a “social, cultural and civic center” – not just a retail destination, per se. Second, as a bulwark against long and harsh Minnesota winters, the company resolved to make Southdale entirely indoors and temperature controlled (something unheard of at the time). These two factors set Southdale apart from Northgate, the planned Donaldson’s project in Richfield, and all their kind. Last but not least, Dayton’s executive team approached their counterparts at L.S. Donaldson’s Co. about relocating their planned Richfield store to anchor the south end of Southdale. Forty-three-year-old top executive Kenneth G. Iverson spearheaded those watershed talks for Donaldson’s. A native of Brooten, Minnesota, Iverson’s impressive career trajectory with the department store chain began in 1935. Almost like clockwork, promotions propelled the young executive to Chain Merchandise Manager in 1942, Assistant Managing Director in 1945, and Executive Vice President in 1948. Never one to rest on his laurels, Iverson assumed the presidency of L.S. Donaldson Co. the very next year. Among other corporate initiatives, Iverson cut his teeth orchestrating Donaldson’s only two pre-Southdale expansions: into the growing Rochester, Minnesota, and Rapid City, South Dakota, markets. In its October 1956 coverage of Southdale’s grand opening, the Minneapolis Tribune paraphrased an interview with the chief executive as follows: “Iverson said his company immediately recognized that one big shopping center which combined the two largest stores in Minneapolis Photo courtesy of Minneapolis StarDonaldson’s originally planned to make its first suburban foray into Richfield. Archrival Dayton’s invited Donaldson’s leadership to relocate to Edina, as Southdale’s second anchor. 10 • SPRING 2019 … could offer greater convenience to shoppers than two separate centers located in the same general area.” Indeed, the mutually beneficial dynamic on Nicollet Avenue offered a compelling proof of concept that this novel partnership could be good for the bottom line of both stores. However, Iverson’s media statements belied the behind-the-scenes negotiations with Dayton’s that came first. L.S. Donaldson Co. insisted on several important preconditions. High on that list, unlike the other 70 original occupants of the mall, Donaldson’s would not be a tenant. Dayton’s Development Co. agreed to sell Donaldson’s outright the 15 acres on which the store would be built. Designing Edina – Donaldson’sNo less important, Donaldson’s demanded design autonomy. While the store’s departments would be arranged in a manner consistent with Gruen’s overall traffic flow scheme, he would not get to design Donaldson’s. Instead, Iverson and Allied Stores Corporation vice president E.R. Brouillette hired Seattle-based architect John Graham to plan their Edina store. Graham is best remembered today as the mind behind Seattle’s iconic Space Needle and America’s first-ever revolving restaurant (built atop a Honolulu high rise). In 1953, though, those projects were many years in the future. What attracted Iverson and Brouillette to Graham most was his leadership role in a landmark project already mentioned: the Northgate Mall in Seattle. At first glance, Graham’s “boxy” design for Donaldson’s – Edina is unlikely to strike modern eyes as anything exceptional. Of course, the same could be said for Southdale more generally. Writing for The New Yorker in 2004, acclaimed journalist Malcolm Gladwell sums up succinctly why this is so. “[The mall] does not seem like a historic building, which is precisely why it is one. It is fully enclosed, introverted and multi-tiered … and today, virtually every regional shopping center in America is fully enclosed, introverted and multi-tiered. Southdale isn’t a building – it’s an archetype.”Photo courtesy of Minneapolis TribuneDonaldson’s and Dayton’s executives discuss their first-of-its- kind partnership over a scale model of Southdale. Donaldson’s President Kenneth G. Iverson holds the model. (continued on next page) 2019 SPRING • 11 Southdale’s multi-tiered floorplan is the element of Gruen’s overarching schema for Southdale that influenced Donaldson’s – Edina the most. As is still the case today, dual deck parking (and an astonishing 5,200+ spots to choose from) allowed visitors to enter the mall’s anchor stores on the floor of their choice. For 1950s shoppers accustomed to the congested Nicollet Avenue retail corridor, this was a major advantage in and of itself. Photo courtesy of Minnesota Historical SocietyA 16-by-11-foot crystal chandelier studded with 62 lights, each capped by a “sleek, modern, tubular shade,” dominated Donaldson’s front entrance. Richfield’s Loss, Edina’s Gain? Not EntirelyWhen L.S. Donaldson Co. agreed to forego its Richfield expansion in favor of a stake in Dayton’s nearby Southdale venture, it clinched for Edina a significant historical footnote. Pragmatically, and more immediately, the overnight success of Southdale also paid huge economic dividends to the host Village. However, the Village of Richfield did receive something of a consolation prize. In October 1957, as Southdale prepared to celebrate its first birthday with doorbuster sales, a 7-foot-high cake, and a concert by popular jazz artist Doc Evans, Donaldson’s president Kenneth Iverson made an announcement of a very different sort. L.S. Donaldson Co. would donate its 26.3 acres in Richfield for use as a municipal park. Timing and location were both ideal for the Village. Its school board had recently purchased the adjoining plot for $4,000 per acre in order to build a new Richfield Middle School. In thanking the company for their largesse, Mayor Fred O. Kittell estimated that the gift represented $100,000, and vowed that future generations would share in his appreciation. Nestled between the middle school and Interstate Highway 35W, today’s “Donaldson Park” offers residents a winding, 0.4 mile walking path and array of sports facilities. 12 • SPRING 2019 Going a step further, Gruen’s design team mapped out “fashion rows” straddling store lines. Most fundamentally, in both Donaldson’s and Dayton’s, the women’s and children’s departments occupied the second story, while menswear and accessories took up much of the ground floor. When possible, stores between the two anchors aligned with the department stores’ spatial configurations. For example, F.W. Woolworth Co. subsidiary Richman Brothers Men’s Wear neighbored Donaldson’s on the first floor, making it easy for men to browse and cost compare formal wear. In this way, Southdale’s size and variety became an asset, rather than a detractor. Even as it followed the beat of its own drummer in some respects, Donaldson’s proved a more-than-willing team player in this one. An opening day advertisement trumpeted: “Donaldson’s and Southdale were designed with YOU in mind!” Primary resources referenced come from collections maintained by the Minnesota Historical Society, Edina Historical Society, and James K. Hosmer Special Collection at Hennepin County Library. Secondary sources of particular value include Lost Twin Cities by Larry Millett (1992) and The Malling of America: Travels in the United States of Shopping by William Severini Kowinski (2002). For further reading about the golden age of Twin Cities department stores more generally, the author recommends Thank You for Shopping by Kristal Leebrick (2018).Photo courtesy of Minnesota Historical SocietyFor the most part, Donaldson’s departments – including the menswear section shown here – intentionally aligned with the department configuration at Dayton’s on the opposite end of Southdale. 2019 SPRING • 13 14 • SPRING 2019 Edina Art Center Participates In National Ceramic Arts Conference: Claytopia By Danielle Boschee The Edina Art Center is featuring the exhibit entitled “The Natural World in Clay: An Evening Walk.” The exhibit began in conjunction with the 53rd-annual National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) conference, when national and local ceramic arts communities convened last month in Minneapolis to celebrate and present work and artists. The theme of the Art Center’s exhibit focuses on the intrinsic relationship between clay and nature, highlighting clay as a natural element that comes alive through an artist’s tangible interpretation. Visitors can experience the quiet magic of clay luminarias guiding them along the path and walkway at twilight as they wander through the grounds and Art Center’s galleries, along with other components to offer participants a true “Northwoods” feel and reflection. Further enhancing the nature concept is the gallery show “OutsideHers: Pottery by Nature.” Lisa Buck, one of the four ceramic artists featured in this exhibit, is based in the creatively fertile St. Croix Valley, from which “springs a deep well of prolific potters.” She said the collection of work “reflects the power of nature and the outdoors, how it fuels artistic inspiration and inspires artists in the studio.” She stated the connection to the outdoors plays an integral part of their work, noting that their goal with this exhibit is to bring nature inside. Other local artists’ selections with an emphasis on natural elements, patterns and subjects are also displayed in the Art Center’s galleries and gift shop. The National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts mission “advances creation, teaching and learning through clay in the contemporary world through welcoming and innovative experiences, discourse and resources.” More than 80 studios, galleries, institutions and other venues participated in the 11-county metropolitan area, and more than 6,000 people attended the conference. The occasion and timing of NCECA’s national conference in Minneapolis this year was both exciting and bittersweet. It represents an incredible opportunity to showcase the extensive ceramic arts talent that exists in the metropolitan area and Minnesota — not that there is much doubt. Beginning in the 1960s, the Twin Cities became a vital part of a modern movement to rekindle a love of studio pottery and ceramic arts as functional art to be used in everyday life, primarily with the use of the Japanese artform Mingei, which, translated, means “arts of the people.” Developed in the early 20th century, it is fondly referred to in this region as Mingei-sota, primarily because of one man: Warren MacKenzie. It is simply impossible to discuss ceramic arts without mentioning his name. Mackenzie settled in Stillwater in the mid-1950s after studying under English potter Bernard Leach, whose own work was largely influenced by the Japanese aesthetic. An era was born with MacKenzie’s compelling philosophy that defined pottery as inherently valuable in its utilitarian function, and one that also recognized artists’ ability to connect with others through the work of their hands. His inspired lifestyle and approach guided generations of influential ceramic artists in Minnesota and around the world. 2019 SPRING • 15 Sadly, Minnesota’s most renowned potter – largely acknowledged as one of the world’s greatest potters – passed away at the end of December at the age of 94, leaving a huge void, but also a priceless legacy of his functional art, mentoring and wisdom, and an indelible mark on the entire ceramic arts world. He possessed an engaging capacity to connect everyone around him with the intricate, golden thread of his influence and unforgettable storytelling. Indeed, in speaking to members of the ceramic arts community, there does seem to be a remarkable element that supports the theory of “six degrees of separation” with respect to him because he was such an integral and influential presence for so long, to so many. Sarah Millfeldt, Executive Director of Northern Clay Center and onsite liaison for the 2019 NCECA conference, confirms his life’s work was recognized during the conference. In a memorial to him on behalf of Northern Clay Center, she noted his profound influence: “So many of us – makers, collectors, educators, and clay appreciators – can trace our lineage in clay to him.” Many Edina residents already know and love Edina Art Center for its respected, well-established presence within the community; others, however, may be in for a surprise to discover this delightful institution of creativity, community and impressive artwork exists right around the corner, simply because it’s a bit off the beaten path. Tucked away in the cozy neighborhood of Rosland Park on the edge of Lake Cornelia’s marshy shores, Edina Art Center is truly a rare gem in Edina’s crown. What distinguishes the Edina Art Center from other art centers is its intimate feeling of community. After just a few minutes of conversation with staff, artists and students, a recurring theme of connection surfaces: The Art Center is a nuclear family within a larger, extensive art community, most specifically of Minnesota’s ceramic arts. Krissy Catt, a sculptor, ceramics artist and instructor whose work is featured in “The Natural World in Clay: An Evening Walk,” succinctly summed up the feeling most people have about the Edina Art Center: “What makes it so special is that it has such a community feel. It’s personal, intimate ... people feel comfortable here. There are students who have been coming for decades!” Edina Art Center General Manager Susan Tarnowski remarked on this special feeling of camaraderie and community at the Center when discussing the development and presentation of a proposal to participate in this year’s NCECA’s conference. “The reason we were able to put this together so quickly was because of the people we have here at the Art Center,” she said. She feels as though she’s “walked into one of the best places in Minnesota” at the Art Center. She said the ceramic arts (continued on next page) 16 • SPRING 2019 Announcing St. Therese Southwest is nowThe Glenn Catholic Senior Communities. With age comes wisdom. And an opportunity to define your next chapter. At The Glenn Catholic Senior Living Communities, we’re focused on inspiring a more active lifestyle. We’re a welcomingCatholic community that provides daily spiritual support, a warm sense of family, and the ability to modify your living arrangement from independent to assisted or memory care to suit your needs. Call or visit today! TheGlennHopkins.com | 952-467-8498 TheGlennMinnetonka.com | 952-479-8160 Number one regret of our residents: “Why didn’t we move here sooner?” At The Glenn, you are not only part of a welcoming faith based community, but you also have the ability to modify your living arrangement from Independent to Assisted Living to Memory Care or Adult Day Services to suit your needs. Visit us today! TheGlennHopkins.com | 952-466-6926TheGlennMinnetonka | 952-373-0100 The Glenn Catholic Senior Communities EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY !$"'% EDINA AQUATIC CENTER! Splash into summer at the OPEN JUNE 1 – AUG. 18, 2019! Don’t Delay! Purchase your pass today at EdinaAquaticCenter.com! BUY EARLY AND SAVE! Season pass prices start at just $65.75 plus tax for Edina residents! Early Bird prices are good through April 30. community in the metropolitan area is a wonderful group of people, concluding that “Minnesota’s ceramics makers represent a very strong, vibrant and cohesive community.” “The Natural World in Clay: An Evening Walk” and “OutsideHers: Pottery by Nature” are on display through April 5. For more information on the Art Center, visit EdinaArtCenter.com 2019 SPRING • 17 CONDOMINIUMS*Pricing, information and specifications subject to change without notice.MOVE IN NOW! DETAILS THAT ELEVATE LIFE RonClark.com | Oakcroft One LLC, Owner & Contractor, proudly hires Ron Clark Construction & Design — Manager & Broker. Broker Lic#20070726 Located just west of Carlson Towers (I-394 & I-494). • 50% SOLD OUT in Phase I • Several models to view• Homes range from the mid $400s to the $800’s• Amenities: clubroom, guest suite, fitness center & heated underground parking 952-947-3028 Cosmetic, Family & Sports Dentistry, PA Dentistry with an eye on today and a vision for tomorrow! Call us at 952-922-9119 www.yoursmiledocs.comDR. DOUGLAS L. LAMBERT, DDS DR. SANDRA HOUCK, DDS Traveling? Have a worry-free vacation knowing your pet is in a caring home. www.PetsAreInn.com mpls_office@petsareinn.com Caring for pets since 1982. 952-837-1877 Pets Are Inn By Debbie Townsend In a few weeks, the first tees will be stuck into the ground, the first balls struck, the first scores tallied. When the new Championship 18 debuts in mid-May, golfers are likely to quickly forget the tired, flood-prone, often frustrating 27-hole course it replaces at Braemar Golf Course, 6364 John Harris Drive. “This is and will be a great golf course,” said Jay Meyerhoff, Braemar Head Golf Professional. “The way this golf course plays, you’ll be able to use every club in your bag,” said Braemar Golf Course Superintendent Jeff Mold. Work to prepare for opening day has been in high gear for months. The winter was spent cutting and clearing buckthorn, repairing and readying equipment, studying changes and improvements, and hiring staff. Early spring will include cleaning up from winter, putting seed or sod down in any thin areas and installing signs. The maintenance crews will do trial runs to find the most efficient and effective mowing patterns. Every minute saved is key because shorter maintenance times mean longer playing windows, allowing more people to tee off each day, Mold noted. Those longer playing windows apply after rainstorms as well. While the old course was notorious for being closed after rains because of flooding, drainage on the new one had no trouble with the very wet summer of 2018. “Even longtime staff were amazed how well it drained,” Mold said. What’s Different?If you ask Braemar Golf Course General Manger Joe Abood what’s different about this new course, he can start ticking off a long list: tees, fairways, greens, obstacles, drainage, views, design, enjoyment. He has overseen every aspect of the effort to transform the Championship 18. With the input of residents, golfers and staff, the goal was to create a course everyone could play and enjoy. “The old course was too long and didn’t give you a lot of options, especially for people who have a higher handicap or didn’t hit the ball long,” said Lynn Anderson, coach of Edina High School Girls Golf and a founder of golf improvement center Totally Driven. Those who’ve previewed the new Championship 18 say renowned golf course architect Richard Mandell delivered. “When you start on the tee, what you see is what you get,” Meyerhoff said. “From a golf perspective, that’s huge.” “There’s nothing hidden, no hidden creek or bunkers,” Mold said. “Fairways are very generous, which is good for all levels of play.” “It’s going to be a fun course for all ages and abilities,” Abood said. “If you’re playing the right set of tees, you should be able to find an enjoyable golf experience.” Championship 18 Opening Puts Golf Spotlight On Braemar 18 • SPRING 2019 Tee boxes are one of the big changes. The Championship 18 is one of the first courses in the state to move away from the gender-linked blue and red markers. Limited tee options meant course lengths didn’t always match a golfer’s skill level, leading to extra shots, longer playing times and discouraging players. Instead of colors, the Championship 18 will have six tee placements: Championship, E, D, I, N, A. Few are expected to use the Championship tee boxes, which stretch the course to almost 7,000 yards. From the “A” boxes, the course is about 4,500 yards. Most people likely will choose one of the middle letters depending upon their driving distance, weather and course conditions. Having a variety also makes it easier for people with a wide range of skills to play together. “I think it’s going to be great because of all the different tee boxes,” said Anderson, who has a 2 handicap. While she’ll play from the farther tees to make the distance close to 6,000 yards, she’ll be working with younger golfers starting at the N or A tees. “They aren’t going to get eaten up on this course. On the old course, there wasn’t that variable forward tee.” Favorite Holes“Eleven is a really neat hole,” Mold said. “Up on the tee box, you can see the entire hole laid out before you.” “My favorite hole is No. 11,” Abood agreed. “It’s a long par 5. The tee box is a chute and it opens up in a fairway that gives you the options of a couple different shots.” Another Mold favorite is No. 4, which showcases the Championship 18’s variety and playability. It is a two-level par 5 with a higher and lower fairway. Pin placement will often drive which fairway golfers choose to play. The safer play is on the higher side in most cases, because the lower has bunkers and a pond to challenge golfers. He expects 14 to be the hardest. It’s a long par 4 uphill and faces the southwest summer winds. Hole 16, the final par 5 on the course with lots of play options near water, will also be challenging. “Sixteen is the hardest hole based on what tee you play – harder from the back, definitely hardest from the Championship tees,” Abood said. “Depending on which tee box, 2 is probably the hardest hole for everybody,” he noted of the dogleg par 4. 2019 SPRING • 19 (continued on next page) The par 5 hole 11 is expected to be a favorite among golfers, with its narrow tee area opening up into a fairway that gives golfers options of shots to play.Submitted Illustration 20 • SPRING 2019 Thirteen is the most breathtaking hole, with its elevated tee area offering expansive views of the southwest metro. “That was a hole that was there, and they just made it more dramatic,” Anderson said. Opening DaysWhen the Championship 18 opens in mid-May, weather permitting, the first few days will be in grand style with special events, media and play time for league members who have stuck with Braemar during the course closure. Then the course opens for everyone. “It’s going to be packed,” Abood said. “There’s no doubt it’s going to be packed.” To help get desirable tee times during what’s expected to be a very busy summer on the course, Abood suggests purchasing a Player’s Card. With it, Edina residents can book tee times eight days in advance; holders outside Edina get seven-day advance tee times. The Academy 9 Par 3 course, which requires less start-up time, will open before the new course. So will the outdoor driving range, the new putting green and the new chipping area. That gives golfers time to brush up on their outdoor game, and, while at Braemar, take a look at the Championship 18. Great views, even for non-golfers, can be seen from the Braemar Golf Clubhouse and the Courtyard. “I can’t wait,” Anderson said of the golf season to begin. “I just think the total overall experience they are creating is going to benefit all golfers.” Abood, Mold and Meyerhoff are eager to show off the new course and the entire Braemar Golf operation. “We don’t want it to be just a municipal course, we want it to be beautiful,” Meyerhoff said. “When people think of golf in Minnesota, we hope they think of Braemar first.” For tee times, Player’s Cards, a detailed description of each hole or more information, visit BraemarGolf.com. From the elevated tees of Hole 13, golfers can take in views of the course, Edina and the Southwest Metro area.Submitted Illustration Apply today for a summer job with the City of Edina. Jobs include lifeguards, golf course staff, playground leaders, public works staff and park maintenance positions. For a complete list of jobs, visit EdinaMN.gov/SummerJobs. Get paid to play. 2019 SPRING • 21 Stephane Cattelin THE International Approach to Real Estate 612-703-8229 www.stephane cattelin.com Serving the Edina French-American Community R.F. MOELLERJEWELER Celebrating Your Milestones Visit us at 50th & France for a complimentary ring cleaning & inspection. Ages 7 and younger with adult We bring the farm to you with our full- size petting zoo, pony rides, art table and kid-friendly music for dancing. 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, April 27 Rosland Park Meyerhoff, Mold Bring Dedication, High Standards to Braemar Golf Course 22 • SPRING 2019 By Debbie Townsend The Championship 18 isn’t the only new thing at Braemar Golf Course this year. A new head golf pro oversees instruction and course staff while a new superintendent makes sure the courses and practice areas are in pristine condition. Visitors grabbing a glimpse of the Championship 18 course have probably seen Golf Course Superintendent Jeff Mold. He’s the guy at dawn walking the fairways, fertilizing the greens at midday or removing a stray tree branch at dusk. “His work ethic is ridiculous,” said Braemar Golf Course General Manager Joe Abood. “He’s here all the time. He’s very hands on.” Mold replaced Tom Swenson, who was promoted to Assistant Director – Parks & Natural Resources. Mold is just the fifth superintendent since Braemar Golf Course opened in 1964. Jay Meyerhoff is the other new face visitors see everywhere – the pro shop, the Golf Dome, the clubhouse, out in the community. He is just the third Head Golf Professional in Braemar’s 55-year history. “Jay has already jumped in and is making positive initiatives for golf operations,” Abood said. Among those is finding new instructors as most teaching has been moved in house. Joe Greupner, longtime Golf Professional at Braemar and a Lifetime Member of the PGA, will still be at Braemar, focusing his time on private instruction. Roger Fahrenkrug and Mike Diebel will also continue to teach at the Driving Range and Golf Dome. Both Meyerhoff and Mold loved their previous jobs, but they jumped at the chance to work at Braemar Golf Course, 6364 John Harris Drive. Mold arrived first, in May 2018, coming from the Senior Assistant Superintendent position at Edina Country Club, where he had worked since 2004. Mold was part of renovations for that course that reopened in 2011. He holds an associate degree in applied science-golf course grounds management from Anoka-Hennepin Technical College and is a member of the Minnesota Golf Course Superintendents Association and the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. Head Golf Professional Jay MeyerhoffPhoto by Michael Braun 2019 SPRING • 23 When he started at Braemar, parts of the Championship 18 were still being rebuilt. “It’s exactly what I went through at Edina Country Club back in 2010,” Mold said. “I always wanted to be part of rebuilding a golf course again.” Meyerhoff came to Braemar around Thanskgiving 2018 after eight years as the PGA Head Golf Professional at Rush Creek Golf Club in Maple Grove. He has a business degree from Northern Arizona University, a degree in Golf Management from Mundus Institute in Arizona and has also worked at Medina Golf and Country Club. He coaches high school golf, is involved in the PGA and has organized charity golf tournaments. People who know him and had worked with him pointed him to the Braemar job, saying, “This is everything you want to do.” After first interviews, Meyerhoff knew Braemar was for him. “It was a very unique feeling,” he said, calling it his “dream job.” Mold was in those interviews, and he knew right away Meyerhoff was the guy Braemar needed. “Jeff was a huge factor in me coming to Braemar,” Meyerhoff said. “Our relationship is key.” Meet them together and their camaraderie and respect for each other is immediately clear. They finish each other’s thoughts, pause to compliment each other and spend as much time talking about the other person as themselves. “Jeff brings an attention to detail that we see in most high-end courses. Jay brings some operation experience for a high-end public golf course,” Abood said. “They are both going to elevate customer service and the overall customer experience.” While Mold oversees the details of the Academy 9, the Driving Range and the practice areas, much of his time is spent getting the new Championship 18 course ready for its debut season. “When you leave, you look over the golf course. You feel like you’ve accomplished something on a daily basis,” he said of his work. “It’s a lot more detail work. I expect the parking lot to be perfect. I expect the first hole to be perfect. You want to have a great first impression,” Mold said. Getting Mold to leave is the trick, Meyerhoff said. He’s such a perfectionist that he focuses on every detail. “When you care so much about a course that isn’t even open yet, we’re lucky to have Jeff,” Meyerhoff said. Mold points out that Meyerhoff is just as much a stickler for details. Meyerhoff memorized and analyzed Superintendent Jeff MoldFile Photo(continued on next page) FAMILY OWNEDAND OPERATEDSINCE 1857 EDINA CHAPEL 5000 W 50th Street952.920.3996 washburn-mcreavy.com Funeral Chapels, Cemeteries and Cremation Services 24 • SPRING 2019 population figures for potential golfers, just for his interview. His job is a hybrid of running golf shops and programs, teaching, managing course attendants and overseeing instruction. “Everyone will be on the same page with the same dedication to customer service and the same vision,” Meyerhoff said. He’s looking to expand the diversity of instructors as well as golfers and “continue the tradition Braemar has set forth and hopefully make improvements,” he said. “We’ll add programs as we move forward. We’ll try some fun programs. In this day and age, we hope we can draw people to the golf course who have never played or haven’t played recently.” One goal they both share is instilling a high standard of behavior and etiquette at Braemar, one that everyone from the league regulars to the one-time visitor will notice. That includes golfers raking the sand traps and fixing divots. They plan to lead by example and have their staff do the same. “We need help from everyone who plays,” Meyerhoff said. “We want anyone who drives on John Harris Drive to be proud to be here, to show it off. This is their club.” Meyerhoff can be reached at 952-903-5759 or jmeyerhoff@EdinaMN.gov. Mold can be reached at 952-903-5771 or jmold@EdinaMN.gov. Ride all day Friday in the Southdale area for $3! EdinaMN.gov/CloverRide Lucky You! 952-826-0322 Minnesota Center, Suite 270 I 7760 France Avenue South l Minneapolis, MN 55435 ISC FINANCIAL ADVISORS Helping you achieve your financial goals. TOM GARTNER, MSAPM, CFP® Wealth Manager ISCfinancialadvisors.com 952-835-1560 SEE TOPICAL FINANCIAL PLANNING TIPS AND ARTICLES AT WWW.TOMGARTNER.COM Edina. As a banker, I know its value. As a resident, I know its worth. OFFICE 952.905.5741 MOBILE 612.840.9333 WEBSITE www.marciamay.net Marcia MaySenior Mortgage Loan Officer NMLS# 452543 bellbanks.com Bell Ads 3.6x3.6_OCT16.indd 1 10/21/16 12:07 PM2019 SPRING • 25 Ellyn Wolfenson 612-644-3033 mobile 612-915-8894 office ejwolfenson@cbburnet.com “It’s all about relationships!” International President’s Elite Voted Best Real Estate Agent and Super Agent, 2012-2016 Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine www.ellynwolfenson.com Ellyn Wolfenson 612-644-3033 mobile 612-915-8894 office ejwolfenson@cbburnet.com “It’s all about relationships!” International President’s Elite Voted Best Real Estate Agent and Super Agent, 2012-2016 Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine www.ellynwolfenson.com Ellyn Wolfenson 612-644-3033 mobile 612-915-8894 office ejwolfenson@cbburnet.com “It’s all about relationships!” International President’s Premier Voted Best Real Estate Agent and Super Agent 2012- 2018 Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine 2012-2019 26 • SPRING 2019 By Kaylin Eidsness A 30-day review period for the draft Comprehensive Plan comes to a close April 8. “We’re nearing the finish line for the updated Comprehensive Plan,” said Assistant City Planner Kris Aaker about the process that started in 2017. “The committees’ and Planning Commission’s work on the small area plans (part of the Comprehensive Plan) and the Comp Plan in general has been impressive.” The public is encouraged to weigh in on the Plan, which includes sections on land use and community design; housing; transportation; parks, open space and natural resources; water resources; energy and environment; economic competitiveness and economic development; human rights and relations; community health; heritage preservation; and arts and culture. The draft Plan is available for review online at www.BetterTogetherEdina.org, where feedback is encouraged. Feedback is also being collected via mail: City of EdinaRe: Draft Comp Plan4801 W. 50th St. Edina, MN 55424 The current Comprehensive Plan draft is an update to the 2008 Plan. The Metropolitan Council requires every city in the seven-county metro area to have such a plan and State law requires that it be updated every 10 years. The Comprehensive Plan builds off the work of the Vision Edina strategic planning process. It includes new small area plans for 44th & France, 50th & France, 70th & Cahill, the greater Southdale area and Wooddale/Valley View. All of the City’s advisory commissions have worked on the updated plan. “As communities grow and evolve, the Comp Plan is necessary to guide development and redevelopment, as well as other changes that may come along due to various market and social forces,” said Aaker. Once the 30-day review period ends April 8, the Planning Commission will hold a public hearing at its April 24 meeting; the City Council will hold a public hearing about the Plan at its May 7 meeting, with hopes to approve the draft. The six-month municipal review process will take place from May through October, when neighboring cities will have a chance to review the Plan. Come November and December, the Planning Commission and City Council will give the Plan final approval in time for it to be sent to the Metropolitan Council by Dec. 31. For more information about the Comprehensive Plan, visit EdinaMN.gov/CompPlan or call 952-826-0369. Draft Comprehensive Plan Review Period To Close April 8 2019 SPRING • 27 By Danielle Boschee April 1 marks exactly one year before Census Day 2020, when the U.S. Census Bureau officially launches the 2020 Census. The Bureau is proactively taking measures to ensure increased response and participation, and the City of Edina is doing its part to encourage residents to make sure everyone is counted. Mandated by the U.S. Constitution, the decennial census was created and established to count every resident in the United States in an effort to maintain a fair balance between states. One of its primary functions is to gather and provide accurate information for states to be accurately and fairly represented according to population in the U.S. House of Representatives through a process called apportionment. The government also uses data extracted from the census to distribute billions in federal funds to support the essential programs of states, counties and communities. City of Edina Community Engagement Coordinator MJ Lamon emphasized the significance of Minnesotans’ participation in 2020. She said, “The census is particularly important because it directly affects how many U.S. seats each state receives.” Indeed, Minnesota is precariously perched to potentially lose a congressional seat, so literally every person in the state counts with respect to the census. Throughout the duration of the census year, nearly every American household will receive notification to participate in the census: Approximately 95 percent by mail and almost 5 percent directly from a census worker. Less than 1 percent (primarily in remote areas such as Alaska and select American Indian communities that request to be counted in person) will be counted by a census taker. In an effort to reach a larger percentage of an ever busier, diverse and mobile population, the Census Bureau is implementing the ability to respond electronically for the first time. According to the Census Bureau, response rates for recent surveys and censuses have been on the decline. The reasons vary, from an overload of information requests on residents and a lack of time, to concern about sharing information. The data collected, however, is confidential, anonymous and protected by federal law. Like other communities around the country, Edina’s government diligently prepares for the census. City Manager Scott Neal and his team are forming a Complete Count Committee. These volunteers will develop and execute a plan to help educate and motivate residents to participate in the census. Assistant City Planner Emily Bodeker, who is liaison to the committee, offered insight into the strategy behind these committees, saying, “The Complete Count Committee will bring together a group of community members who will utilize their local knowledge and expertise to reach out to all people of Edina.” Paramount to the City’s Complete Count Committee is the education and encouragement of Edina’s residents to understand that participation in the census affects how much of a voice each has in government and directly benefits their community in the amount of funding it receives as a result. Truly, each resident’s voice counts. To learn more about the 2020 Census, and how you can help get the word out in your neighborhood and community, visit www.census.gov. City Forms Complete Count Committee Aaron Ouska 612-940-8020 Cindy Jarvis 612-600-4119 Charlie and Dava Aul 612-787-7477 Chris Willette 612-388-8828 Dan Willette 952-927-1694 Danya Spencer 952-237-6611 Deb Langevin 651-343-0404 Gary Judson 612-859-4863 Ginna Raming 952-210-8342 Heidi Barcelow 612-232-9777 Jane Larson 612-720-1048 Jane Oelfke 952-200-5712 Jeff and Diane Anderes 952-927-2842 Margie & John Sampsell 952-927-1195 John Everett 952-927-1646 John MacKany 952-927-1163 John McDonald 952-927-1197 Jude Dugan Olson 952-927-1186 Keenan Olson 952-240-4903 Kim Melin 952-201-4758 Laura Bergman 612-644-7799 Mark Granlund 612-803-8129 Mary Krieter 612-719-0665 Ruthann Holetz 952-927-1624 Susan & Gary Wahman 952-334-4663 Tom & Erick Ries 952-393-6600 Winnie Crosbie 612-741-9556 Find us atedina6800.edinarealty.com Find us atedina50thandfrance.edinarealty.com EDINA 6800 FRANCE EDINA 50TH & FRANCE Alli Deckas 612-306-3735 Amy Deckas 612-735-7430 Anna Mae Lambert 612-730-3121 Barby Collins 612-801-0027 Brad, Amy, & Meghan McNamara 612-805-8785 C + C Group 612-926-9999 Connie Cauble 612-751-3930 Dave Anderson 612-750-2209 Jane Paulus 612-702-5694 Karen Daly 612-751-0663 Kristin Smith 612-965-0030 Krysta Clark 612-644-3173 Kyle Litwin 612-803-5595 Linda Smaby 612-325-7972 Lisa Eckert 952-240-7890 Lisa Heim 612-382-9672 Mark Kouatli 612-708-8400 Martha Webb 612-384-4413 Meg and Tom Meyers 952-924-8712 Meg Boehne 952-240-4417 Pam Aagaard 952-261-7576 Sara Moran 612-720-7560 Sheila Cronin 952-913-2129 Sylva Zoraqi 612-710-8081 We were born here. 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Edina 50th & France 952.920.1960 Edina 6800 France 952.927.1100 WeSellEdina.com 28 • SPRING 2019 Aaron Ouska 612-940-8020 Cindy Jarvis 612-600-4119 Charlie and Dava Aul 612-787-7477 Chris Willette 612-388-8828 Dan Willette 952-927-1694 Danya Spencer 952-237-6611 Deb Langevin 651-343-0404 Gary Judson 612-899-4863 Ginna Raming 952-210-8342 Heidi Barcelow 612-232-9777 Jane Larson 612-720-1048 Jane Oelfke 952-200-5712 Jeff and Diane Anderes 952-927-2842 Margie & John Sampsell 952-927-1195 John Everett 952-927-1646 John MacKany 952-927-1163 John McDonald 952-927-1197 Jude Dugan Olson 952-927-1186 Keenan Olson 952-240-4903 Kim Melin 952-201-4758 Laura Bergman 612-644-7799 Mark Granlund 612-803-8129 Mary Krieter 612-719-0665 Ruthann Holetz 952-927-1624 Susan & Gary Wahman 952-334-4663 Tom & Erick Ries 952-393-6600 Winnie Crosbie 612-741-9556 Find us atedina6800.edinarealty.com Find us atedina50thandfrance.edinarealty.com EDINA 6800 FRANCE EDINA 50TH & FRANCE Alli Deckas 612-306-3735 Amy Deckas 612-735-7430 Anna Mae Lambert 612-730-3121 Barby Collins 612-801-0027 Brad, Amy, Meghan McNamara 612-805-8785 C + C Group 612-926-9999 Connie Cauble 612-751-3930 Dave Anderson 612-750-2209 Jane Paulus 612-702-5694 Karen Daly 612-751-0663 Kristin Smith 612-965-0030 Krysta Clark 612-644-3173 Kyle Litwin 612-803-5595 Linda Smaby 612-325-7972 Lisa Eckert 952-240-7890 Lisa Heim 612-382-9672 Mark Kouatli 612-708-8400 Martha Webb 612-384-4413 Meg and Tom Meyers 952-924-8712 Meg Boehne 952-240-4417 Pam Aagaard 952-261-7576 Sara Moran 612-720-7560 Sheila Cronin 952-913-2129 Sylva Zoraqi 612-710-8081 We were born here. Bringing you real estate insights since 1955. Edina 50th & France 952.920.1960 Edina 6800 France 952.927.1100 WeSellEdina.com 2019 SPRING • 29 30 • SPRING 2019 Fired Up Leaders Start New Roles By Lauren Siebenaler Three fire department leaders are fired up for their new roles. Ryan Quinn started as Chief of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in early January. He began work for the Edina Fire Department in 2005 and was promoted to Captain in 2013. As the Chief of EMS, he is now responsible for the whole EMS side of the department. He orders medications and supplies for the paramedics, manages quality assurance and the quality improvement program and much more. Previously, those duties had been spread out among multiple positions in the department. In 2017, the City hired Novak Consulting Group to examine what it would take to maintain service levels for Edina’s police, fire and emergency medical services. “We wanted to know how to keep up with public safety staffing as the community grows,” said City Manager Scott Neal. While 75 percent of Fire Department calls are for emergency medical services, Novak Consulting Group found the City could be understaffed for a significant fire call, multiple calls at once or for allowing time for adequate training. Novak Consulting Group made many recommendations, including the addition of a position to manage the department’s EMS. “As a shift captain, Chief Quinn never lost sight of his passion as a paramedic and our EMS program,” said Fire Chief Tom Schmitz. “He is the perfect fit for the position and brings a lot of energy, which he will need as he creates and defines this new position within the organization.” Quinn credits his EMS knowledge from his past experience as a paramedic with Hennepin Healthcare. He continued work as a part-time paramedic there when he started full time with Edina in 2005 up until his promotion to Captain in 2013. Working in two EMS systems at the same time gave Quinn a unique perspective. He was able to see how two different organizations operated. “Hennepin Healthcare is a fantastic organization. They are second to none when it comes to training and the number of calls you get in our service area. You get a ton of calls and experience, and a ton of variety of calls,” said Quinn. “The same variety happens everywhere, but when there’s that The Edina Fire Department has two new Fire Chiefs. Pete Fisher is Training & Safety Assistant Chief and Ryan Quinn is Emergency Medical Services Assistant Chief. Photo by Michael Braun 2019 SPRING • 31 volume, they just happen more. So you’re doing more of the complex medical calls and the complex traumas. You get a better understanding of the EMS system.” Another Edina firefighter with years of experience is Pete Fisher. Fisher started with Edina in 2001 and was a Paramedic/Firefighter until 2017 when he was selected for a special assignment as Administrator of Minnesota Task Force 1. In December, he was promoted to Training and Safety Chief, succeeding Craig Essig, who retired. “Chief Fisher is eager to set a new stage for our training program and we are excited to see him in this position,” said Schmitz. Minnesota Task Force 1 is the State of Minnesota’s urban search and rescue team. The City of Edina is under contract to provide administrative services and serve as fiscal agent of the team. In his previous role as Task Force Administrator, Fisher oversaw a group comprised of department leaders from the various departments belonging to the task force. That group coordinates training for the multiple agencies. He set up various work groups for many training sessions. There were 200 people to train and some trainings could last for up to five days. “With this new position, I’ll be able to be a little more hands on,” said Fisher. “A lot of what I look forward to – and this is going to sound kind of nerdy – is getting back to the basics. I want to make sure our firefighters are really good at using their self-contained breathing apparatuses and troubleshooting problems with them. I really like teaching initial hose lays; the first couple minutes after we arrive at a structure fire are pretty important. And I want the firefighters to be really dialed in and feel like they’re good at their job and know that they have what they need to be safe while they’re doing it.” Since Fisher moved on from his Administrator role for Minnesota Task Force 1, Pete Knaeble took over. Knaeble was previously a teacher before joining the Edina and Hopkins fire departments as a Paid-On-Call Firefighter in 2009. He enjoyed his time as a firefighter so much that he decided he wanted to do it full time. After going back to school to become a Paramedic, he got a job with Hennepin Healthcare. A year later, Knaeble was hired by the Edina Fire Department as a Paramedic/Firefighter. Knaeble is currently in his fourth year as a Medic for the Edina SWAT Team and in his sixth year on Minnesota Task Force 1. “A big part of this new role is going to be not only helping to prepare trainings, but the organizational side of it,” said Knaeble. “My degree and past experience in education helped me develop organizational skills. I was the department chair and due process facilitator for the whole school where I worked. That really helped me learn how to manage big groups of people, large budgets and those kinds of things. Those experiences prepared me for how to handle something of this size.” Minnesota Task Force 1 is made up of five organizations: St. Paul, Minneapolis, Edina, Rochester and Dakota County, which is formed by over a dozen organizations that include fire, EMS and police departments. Knaeble will have his hands full managing the several hundred personnel that make up the task force, and helping coordinate trainings (continued on next page) 32 • SPRING 2019 for all of them. However, he also has goals to help define the task force and determine appropriate deployments. “Pete did a great job coordinating with a K-9 team that we’re now partnering with. I’d like to continue to grow that relationship,” said Knaeble. “We’re also looking to try to partner with structural engineers we can train with and integrate into our team so we can assess if a building is safe for us to go into or what kind of shoring it needs so we could work for an extended period of time. We’re trying to define those positions and figure out what kind of team we want to be, what we need to do to get there and then continue to grow our funding sources.” It’s safe to say Quinn, Knaeble and Fisher are prepared and eager to make a difference in the Edina Fire Department and Minnesota Task Force 1. For more information, visit EdinaMN.gov/Fire. Minnesota Task Force 1 Administrator Pete Knaeble File Photo 2019 SPRING • 33 CONCRETE WORKS 612-861-4243HageConcrete.com LifetimeNo CrackGuarantee. 3-7 P.M. THURSDAYS JUNE 13 – SEPT. 26 CentennialLakesPark.com SOUTHDALE Y FREE 5 DAY PASS *OFFER EXPIRES 5/23/2019  FREE DROP OFF CHILD CARE  190+ GROUP EXERCISE CLASSES  SWIMMING & FAMILY POOL  FULLY EQUIPPED FITNESS CENTER  ALL AGES & FITNESS LEVELS To activate pass - contact Karl 952 897 5476 karl.wilbur@ymcamn.org 34 • SPRING 2019 Affordable Housing Opened Doors For 2018 Tom Oye Award Recipient By Dietrich Nissen Without the existence of affordable housing, Arnold “Arnie” Bigbee may have never had the chance to become one of Edina’s most outspoken and active human rights advocates. Bigbee’s father left the family in 1952 when Arnie was 10 years old. His mother did not have a job, so she was forced to seek work while also raising Arnie and his older sister. Despite her efforts, the three were eventually evicted as rent had hit $35 a month. “My mother couldn’t afford it. She was getting money from relatives and would clean a house while us kids would stay close and behave ourselves,” says Bigbee. “But, we were never homeless.” Around that time, the Glendale housing project in Minneapolis opened up with a starting rent of $17 a month. The three were able to move in and during a decade of living there, his mother was able to secure a full-time job with the City of Minneapolis and save enough to purchase a house. “The system works. You know, that’s what affordable housing does for people.” Bigbee says his mother’s efforts, the availability of affordable housing, and the generosity of a number of people allowed him to go to college at the University of Minnesota and eventually led him to a 32-year career with Mayo Clinic. Giving Back By Simply ListeningToward the end of his career, Bigbee decided he wanted to help others find the stability and success he had benefited from. He began volunteering with a variety of civic and faith organizations in Rochester and Olmsted County, including United Way, American Red Cross, Intercultural Mutual Assistance Association and the University of Minnesota’s Nursing Foundation and Alumni Association. In 2004, Bigbee purchased a condo in Edina with his then-fiancé-now-wife, Barbara La Valleur. He moved to the city after retiring from Mayo Clinic in 2007. “After two years of retirement, I thought to myself ‘this isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. I can do more.’” With encouragement from La Valleur, Bigbee decided to get involved and was appointed to Edina’s Human Rights & Relations Commission (HRRC) in 2009. Over the next six years, Bigbee helped guide the Commission’s human rights work with an emphasis on affordable housing and reaching out to residents he felt were being ignored. “There’s a whole segment of the population in Edina that we don’t listen to, we don’t hear, we don’t see oftentimes.” Around the end of his time on the HRRC, he heard of and became involved with an organization called Advocates for Human Rights. “This group had conducted 80 listening sessions across the state to find out how well Minnesotans accepted newcomers and how helpful we’ve been with integrating new people who are different from us. It was fascinating.” Bigbee asked if they could help set up listening sessions in Edina, but they weren’t able to. Still, Bigbee persisted and asked if they could at least offer training, which they could. (continued on next page) 2019 SPRING • 35 After gathering 12 volunteers to undergo the training, Bigbee’s team was able to offer six Edina listening sessions. “Our job was to simply listen to what people had to say. We did not want to embellish or alter anything.” The stories from residents were recorded during the listening sessions and turned into a report that Bigbee later distributed to members of the Race & Equity Task Force. The HRRC awarded Bigbee the 2018 Tom Oye Human Rights Award for his continuous efforts to tackle tough issues in the community. The award recognizes a resident’s desire to foster respect and dignity for others, model courage and compassion in the advancement of human rights and demonstrate leadership by example. “When Arnie Bigbee is committed to an issue, he cajoles, implores, pleads, reasons and persists with his advocacy until change happens,” explained Human Rights & Relations Commissioner Ellen Kennedy when presenting the award at a December 2018 City Council meeting. “Because change takes a long time, it means that on most issues, Arnie commits to the long haul, to being in the good fight over the duration and to bringing others along with him to generate power to reach the goal. “Every city needs dozens of Arnie Bigbees. We only have one and it is time to honor Arnie Bigbee for his human rights work on behalf of Edina.” Social Progress In EdinaIn light of the feedback he’s heard from other residents, Bigbee says he hopes people will choose to recognize the commonalities we share and sees an opportunity for everyone to grow and build community by emphasizing empathy and compassion. “Look, I’m not here to tell anyone how to live their lives. That’s their choice. But I do think we all face a challenge related to this idea of living an insular life. For instance, a person who lives in a big house and works a high-paying job has a different life experience than a person who lives in affordable housing and works a low-paying job. My goal is to help get people together so they can share their unique life experiences and use them to build understanding. We are all in this together.” With the leadership Edina currently has, Bigbee feels confident the City will step up to the challenge of building bridges between people. 2018 Tom Oye Human Rights Award winner Arnie Bigbee stands in front of a future affordable housing development site in Edina. File Photo 36 • SPRING 2019 “The really wonderful thing we have going for us is the fabulous leadership we have in this community, but we need to start shifting things. I think if Edina takes something on like affordable housing, it’s going to be a role model for how other communities can accomplish this. I know we’re going from 0 to 60 in terms of social change but I’m confident we’re going to do it well.” For more information on the Tom Oye Human Rights Award, visit EdinaMN.gov. Edina has two NEW online and mobile services to gather YOUR ideas and feedback! Submit and follow requests Keep track of issues reported near you Download the Edina 311 app or report a problem online at EdinaMN.gov. Participate in online discussions and polls Post your ideas for how to improve our community Give feedback on City projects and initiatives at BetterTogetherEdina.org 2019 SPRING • 37 RILEY’S TRAVEL EASY TOURS Washington DC Cherry Blossoms Music Cities Charm of the Old South Pella Tulip Festival Springtime Mystery March 31-April 10 April 2-9 April 23-May 5 April 30-May 3 May 13-17 1-800-288-8246 * www.rileytours.com * Front Door Pick up 38 • SPRING 2019 New Edina Historical Society Head Brings Fundraising, Teaching, Marketing Savvy By David Katz On any given school day, busloads of students from across the Twin Cities step into Edina’s very own time capsule: the 150-year-old Cahill School at Frank Tupa Park, 4918 Eden Ave. Now reimagined as a living history museum maintained by the Edina Historical Society (EHS), the Cahill School offers visitors an immersive, memorable glimpse into an average day circa 1900 – complete with period-appropriate classroom activities and schoolmarm docents. Heather Haeg, who took the helm of the Edina Historical Society in November 2018, cites the crowd-pleasing Cahill experience as a sterling example of the educational potential of local history organizations. She is in a good position to know. Haeg comes to her new role from an education background. She holds a master’s degree in Instruction from St. Mary’s University, and cut her teeth in that field teaching in California for a juvenile detention center’s remedial education program. More recently, and closer to home, the Bloomington native taught 10th grade social studies at Hopkins High School. While her teaching bona fides impressed the Society’s Board of Directors, President Bob Moore calls out the well-roundedness of Haeg’s resume as the factor that set her apart from the pack. “After posting the position with the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, we found that many of those interested had either just graduated or spent a long time doing just one thing. Heather was different … She’s not only polished and professional. She’s also done so much.” Interim Treasurer Kathleen Kane, who co-wrote the position description, echoes that sentiment. “When Heather came in for her final interview, the committee members were all struck by her energy and presence,” she recalled. “We all felt comfortable that Heather was ready to implement the priorities identified by the Board – but also to bring her own vision and ideas to the table.” As with most nonprofits, fundraising is high on that list of priorities. Photo by Michael BraunHeather Haeg is the new Executive Director of the Edina Historical Society. 2019 SPRING • 39 Over the years, Haeg has raised money and in-kind donations for causes ranging from the Breck School in Golden Valley, where her children attended K-12, to YMCA Camp Icaghowan in Amery, Wisconsin, a summer camp she attended. In 2011, after a hockey accident paralyzed Benilde-St. Margaret’s student Jack Jablonski, Haeg was among those who spearheaded initial fundraising efforts – before today’s Jack Jablonski Foundation was even formally established. “What the charity is almost matters less than the fundraiser’s appreciation that donors need to feel a true connection to what they’re giving money to,” Haeg explained. Marketing is a second, no less crucial ability baked into the executive director role. Haeg brings it in spades. For the last five years, she has sold luxury styles as an independent, home-based salesperson for W By Worth, a direct-to-consumer fashion boutique. In that capacity, Haeg juggled everything from inventory research to bookkeeping – but tactful marketing proved to be the most instrumental skill of all. Haeg hopes to parlay this experience into successful grant solicitation for the Edina Historical Society. EHS already has a track record to build upon. In 2016, the organization received $65,240 from the Minnesota Historical Society to jumpstart professional inventory efforts. “This seed money helped them accession into the cataloged collection – and make available to the public for the first time – many of the valuable assets we had in the basement [at the Society’s facility on West Seventh Street],” Haeg said. EHS is still sitting on a veritable treasure trove of local history in need of curatorial attention. Haeg hopes to secure an additional grant through the State of Minnesota’s special Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund (stewarded by the Minnesota Historical Society) to allow her colleague, curator Stephen Barrett, to catalog all of what remains. Minnesota Historical Society is far from the only allied organization that Haeg hopes to continue a warm rapport with. Another is the Minnesota Grange, a national farmers’ association dating back to 1867. The Grange movement has seen something of a resurgence in the Twin Cities over the past decade. As of 2012, the Oliver Hudson Kelley Grange 834 is headquartered in Edina Historical Society’s picturesque 140-year-old Minnehaha Grange Hall. Located next to Cahill School, the Hall is also open regularly for field trips and private tours. Haeg is quick to point out that comparatively few local historical societies have physical assets like these, which bring area history to life in tangible, relatable ways. “It’s certainly one way we stand out,” she said. Indeed, EHS recently doubled down on this edge by revamping the Cahill School field trip itinerary to align with state (continued on next page) 40 • SPRING 2019 Department of Education curriculum standards – a move lauded by teachers. Another advantage, says Haeg, is Edina’s strong community identity. “People are proud to live in Edina, and proud to say they grew up here,” she explained. “I’m finding that people will come out of the woodwork if they know what’s needed, and that’s something that’s just not going to be true everywhere.” Her own board of directors is an illustrative case in point. “Each has their own purview, but all share this passion,” Haeg praised. “And as a group, they’ve really [achieved] a lot, especially recently.” Accomplishments include the ongoing, board-orchestrated “Edina Historical Society Presents” guest lecture series, which has profiled topics as diverse as Lake Minnetonka boathouses and the history of the Minnesota State Fair. “For the holidays, we had a full house, and a waiting list, for a program on Christmastime traditions at Dayton’s department stores,” Haeg said. “I think that’s really pretty remarkable. If we did that one again, we might have to explore off-site venues.” Haeg points out that nearly 70 percent of “Edina Historical Society Presents” attendees are not members of the Society – a large gap, given the strong interest in local history that attendance suggests. Her last, and perhaps greatest, priority as executive director is to drive up EHS memberships across all dues tiers. “Membership levels are critical, and not only to fund programming and operations,” interim Treasurer Kane explained. “It’s considered a barometer of our health as a nonprofit.” Fortunately, much like the luxury fashions she sold for W By Worth, Edina does a pretty good job of selling itself. “As the past two months in this role has made clear to me, there’s always [more to] uncover,” Haeg said. “For instance, I didn’t know anything about the Yanceys, a pioneering family of freedmen who did a lot to actively shape Edina” – scarcely two decades after the abolition of slavery. In her early life, family matriarch Helen Yancey purportedly worked as a cook at the White House. “I love discoveries like that.” It makes her wonder: “What will I uncover next?” The Edina Historical Society and Edina History Museum are located at Arneson Acres Park, 4711 W. 70th St. For more information, visit www.edinahistoricalsociety.org or call 612-928-4577. 2019 SPRING • 41 Discover everything AAA has to offer at our Edina location. Whether you’re on the road or on vacation, AAA has you covered. Stop by our Edina location at 71st and France Avenue, right behind Lunds & Byerlys, to ask about our membership specials, browse our expanded travel store, talk with an experienced agent about your travel and insurance needs, and get a free quote. We’ll walk you through all the benefits of membership, from our roadside assistance to discounts at restaurants, hotels, and more! Business Hours: Monday–Friday: 9am–6pm. Saturday: 9am–3pm. AAA.com | 952-925-2244 | 7151 France Ave S. Readers, thank you for supporting our advertisers! About Town reaches over 25,000 mailboxes in our community. To advertise in About Town, contact Alice Tank Van Dyke at 612-308-6982 or AVanDyke@EdinaMN.gov. 42 • SPRING 2019 Pulling Building Permits Protects Residents By Kaylin Eidsness Building permits ensure homes are safe from structural issues, fires hazards and health risks. “The main purpose of obtaining a building permit is to confirm safety,” said Building Inspections Field Supervisor Stephen Kartak. “Inspections resulting from building permits also confirm that the building plans comply with building codes, city ordinances and zoning. Codes are developed to ensure all properties meet minimum safety and structural standards.” Permits, whether it be for building, mechanical or plumbing, also leave a permanent record of the work completed on your home, along with previous inspection information. Permits must be “pulled” for not only single-family homes, but also industrial and commercial properties, condos, townhomes, apartments and other multi-family homes. If a homeowner tries to sell a home that had major work completed without permits, he or she would have to pull permits and complete whatever work necessary to bring the building up to code prior to the closing. For example, if an addition was built without permits and found to be substandard, permits would need to be pulled after the fact and repairs made before the house could be sold. This could be very expensive and time consuming. “Avoiding the building permit process may be very costly,” said Kartak. “If it is found that the project does not comply with zoning ordinances or structural integrity is deficient, an owner may be required to remove sheetrock or tear out walls. These are issues that would be verified when you apply for a building permit.” Residents should ensure that the contractor is pulling the necessary permits; it is not a resident’s responsibility to pull them if that responsibility is outlined in the contract for work. This confirms, beyond the contract between homeowner and contractor, that the contractor assumes all responsibility for that phase of the project. Reputable contractors also have the experience navigating the sometimes-lengthy process. Once a permit is pulled, the City’s Building Inspections Division will be notified that an inspection is needed. Photo by Kaylin EidsnessBuilding Inspections Field Supervisor Stephen Kartak visits a worksite. 2019 SPRING • 43 Aside from pulling permits to protect themselves and what’s likely to be one of their largest assets – a house – residents should begin the process by collecting multiple bids before hiring a licensed contractor. When hiring a contractor, residents should verify they have a valid license through the State. That can be done at www.DLI.mn.gov. Plumbing and mechanical contractors must be licensed with the City of Edina. This can be verified by calling the Building Inspections Division at 952-826-0372. “It is very important to have homeowners check to make sure that all contractors they hire are licensed. They can always call the Building Division to make sure, too,” said Permit Technician Dawn Wills. Once the contractor has been selected and references contacted, the contract between the two parties should include the following: • Appropriate permits to be pulled: building, plumbing or mechanical. (Electrical inspections are completed by the State.) • Start and completion dates. • Change order clauses (an agreement stating the contract cannot be modified without the written consent of both parties). (continued on next page) E-Permitting System Gets UpgradedResidents and contractors looking to pull building permits now navigate an easier-to-use website with the recent ProjectDox software update called ProjectFlow. “We were the first city in the state to use ProjectDox, but as other cities began adopting it, too, they came on board when the company had launched the upgraded version,” said Building Inspector Jim Hall, who serves as a commercial plan reviewer. “We realized after deciding to review plans online only that we should upgrade the software, so the platform and process is similar across cities.” The Building Division began using ProjectDox three years ago. About a year and a half ago, they stopped accepting paper plans and required everything be submitted online. “Going online only has probably increased our efficiency by 30 percent,” said Hall. “And it’s saved developers and contractors a lot of money in paper and printing.” Contractors have also benefitted from a more streamlined process created by the online system. For more information on ProjectFlow, contact Hall at 952-833-9529. 44 • SPRING 2019 • Private apartments with month to-month rental • Flexible meal plans • Transportation for shopping, banking and more • Physician visits and 24 hour nursing sta nursing staff on site • Personal & concierge services • Wellness program with PTA • Weekly housekeeping • Respite and hospice stays • Age in place with loving care, dignity and serenity Independent Living, Assisted Living, Extended Assisted Living 55 Years of Service to the Community • Private apartments with month to-month rental • Flexible meal plans • Transportation for shopping, banking and more • Physician visits and 24 hour nursing sta nursing staff on site • Personal & concierge services • Wellness program with PTA • Weekly housekeeping • Respite and hospice stays • Age in place with loving care, dignity and serenity Independent Living, Assisted Living, Extended Assisted Living 55 Years of Service to the Community58 Years of Service to the Community • Private apartments with month to-month rental• Flexible meal plans • Transportation for shopping, banking and more • Physician visits and 24 hour nursing staff on site • Personal & concierge services • Wellness program with PTA• Weekly housekeeping • Respite and hospice stays • Age in place with loving care, dignity and serenity • Many daily activities Call for a tour and a Free Lunch (952) 920-9145 Independent Living, Assisted Living, Extended Assisted Living Other tips for ensuring a building project goes smoothly include: • Arrange a payment schedule. • Never pay in full up front. Stagger your payments so your final payment is not due until the work is complete. • Inquire about a lien waiver (a statement from your contractor that says all suppliers and subcontractors have been paid for their work). “We cannot stress safety enough. Whether you live or work in the city, we want to make sure there are no safety issues and that all of our buildings comply with the codes,” said Wills. “Always make sure a permit has been pulled, so that all inspections are done.” For more information on permits, contact the Building Inspections Division at 952-826-0372. ALLAGES Get up close to fire trucks, police cars, garbage trucks, snow plows, buses and more! 10 a.m.-noon, Saturday, May 4 Southdale Center • FREE! What Are Your Kids Doing This Summer? Details and registration at www.edina.ce.eleyo.com Expand Their World Early Learning Center Book Buddies: Pre-K | Zoo Camp: Gr K-3 Spanish Culture & Travel: Gr 3-5 | Babysitter Training Camp: Age 10-15 Summer Rec Center Field Trips: Gr 6-8 Geek Out Engineering in The Great Outdoors: Gr K-3 | Chess Camp: Gr 1-6 STEM & Sports Camp: Gr 2-6 | Fortnite Game Design: Gr 4-6Coding Competition: Grades 3-10 Get in the Game Pickleball Camp: Gr K-5 | Wrestling Camp: Gr K-8 Hornet Track and Field Camp: Gr 1-7 | Archery Camp: Gr 5-8 Fencing Summer Camp: Gr 2-12 Be Creative Art and Yoga: Grades K-4 | The Art of Creative Writing: Gr 4-8 Project Runway Sewing Camp: Gr 4-8 | Summer Orchestra Camp: Gr 7-9 The Greatest Showman Theater Camp: Age 6-11 With Edina Community Education they can choose from one-week camps, multi-week classes, full-day school-age care and more that fit their interests and your family’s schedule from June through August. Here’s just a few ideas of what they can do... EDINACOMMUNITY Education 2019 SPRING • 45 46 • SPRING 2019 By Debbie Townsend Every year, calls come into the City about flooded backyards after storms. In some cases, flooding that historically dried out relatively quickly is hanging around much longer; in other cases, yards that never had issues before now have lots of standing water. Residents often are quick to point the blame at the new house down the street or the remodel next door. But a house that takes up more surface area is just one of many possible contributors to the problem. A hidden drain that becomes blocked, landscaping and grading changes, weather patterns, increased heavy rains and a lack of knowledge about the original drainage system are among the possible factors in any case of localized stormwater flooding. Homeowners often are stumped and have no idea how to solve the problem. The issues originate and happen on private property, so they aren’t in the public government realm. “We want to be able to help,” said City Manager Scott Neal. The City came up with a Residential Stormwater Assistance Grant, a pilot project that pays up to $4,000 per applicant for a consultant to study the drainage issues, determine possible solutions and provide a report. 2019 is the first year for the program, budgeted at a maximum of $20,000 from the Stormwater Utility Fund, with grants awarded based on a first-come, first-served basis. The property owner pays a $100 application fee and provides information on the problem, what they suspect causes it and agrees to the site investigation. “We’ll spend the money to study it and give them a report on what the issue is and possible solutions,” said Engineering Director Chad Millner. The solutions might be simple and relatively inexpensive to fix. A hidden drain could have clogged with debris over time. Or new landscaping inadvertently affected the original drainage. In some cases, howeowners have no knowledge of pipes, drains and the original design of how stormwater would move through their yard. Records of such projects on private property are spotty. “It’s not unusual to discover pipes underground that are not on any map,” Neal said. In other cases, the drainage might not be worse, but wetter summers might make it feel that way, especially for a new owner. “Contemporary standards are changing with regards to how long we are willing to let our backyards be wet,” Neal said. Once the report is produced, the property owner, consultant and City staff get together to discuss it. From there, it’s up to the property owner to decide what Grants Will Help Homeowners Find Flooding Solutions 2019 SPRING • 47 See your home in a whole new light. More than 100 exclusive lighting lines • Ceiling Fans Lamps • Home Accents • Gifts lighting & home 7123 France Ave. S. • Edina, MN 55435 P (952) 926-5007 • F (952) 926-5013 www.filamentlighting.com Now op e n in Edina! Behind L u n d s & Byerlys happens next. If the owner wants to pursue fixes, that person would hire their own contractors and pay for the work. “We might get to the end, they thank us for the information, decide it’s not as bad as they thought and they don’t want to spend the money to fix it,” Millner said. “Or they might need to get three, four, five neighbors involved in the situation and they could work together to solve the problem.” One other positive for the City’s involvement: The reports will be public and can be used as possible solutions for other property owners facing similar issues. Neal hopes property owners will take advantage of the program, which would save them the cost of hiring landscapers or engineers themselves to figure out the cause. The money they save could be put into fixes that benefit their property and take a step toward better overall stormwater management in Edina. “If the pilot succeeds, we will propose to City Council to expand the program going forward,” Neal said. To learn more or apply, visit EdinaMN.gov/StormWaterGrant. 48 • SPRING 2019 By David Katz Edina is crisscrossed by an expansive roadway network that, if laid out end to end, would stretch from here to Fargo. No one knows those highways and byways better than the City’s own Andrew Scipioni. “My colleagues in the Engineering Department like to test my knowledge,” he joked. “If you name an intersection or stretch of street, I can tell you what neighborhood it’s in, construction that’s occurred there, and anything scheduled to happen in the next five years.” That encyclopedic knowledge of Edina comes as a byproduct of his role as Engineering Technician, a post that Scipioni has held since July 2014. In that capacity, he pioneered the City’s long-range Proactive Pavement Management Program. Prior to the adoption of this capital improvement framework, “the Engineering Department would finish up a project, hand it off to Public Works, and not be involved again until that street finally began to deteriorate,” Scipioni recalled. Oftentimes, remedial attention came only after repeated complaints from residents or snow plow drivers – a less than ideal situation, to be sure. With the Proactive Pavement Management Program now in place, street projects are less reactionary and provisioned for well in advance. As the City’s 2017-2021 Capital Improvement Plan succinctly puts it, this forecasting “provides the greatest roadway lifespan increase for the lowest cost.” Moreover, “Engineering has also begun to use this as a guide for scheduling utility, pedestrian and bike facility projects,” Scipioni added. That synchronicity captures cost efficiencies and minimizes construction-related hassles for residents and commuters in impacted neighborhoods. While an Engineering Technician, Scipioni also played a leading role in the identification of strategic Municipal State Aid (MSA) routes. As the name suggests, MSA corridors are vital transportation arteries subsidized by the Department of Transportation. Each year, Minnesota municipalities split between $154 million and $192 million earmarked for this purpose from the State’s so-called Highway Users Tax Distribution Fund. Engineering Department’s Andrew Scipioni Takes On Dynamic Transportation Planner Role Andrew Scipioni is the City’s new Transportation Planner.Photo by Michael Braun 2019 SPRING • 49 Fifty percent of that money is allocated according to population formulas. Beyond this baseline, however, it is incumbent on each of the 148 participating communities to demonstrate a need for more. Scipioni did exactly this, conducting methodical traffic analyses to determine which stretches of Edina’s streets are most trafficked and best fit the MSA program’s criteria. “Each municipal aid route should have true regional significance… or connect points of note,” Scipioni explained. “Plenty of places around here do.” Ultimately, his comprehensive assessment demonstrated that Normandale Road, which runs parallel to Minnesota Highway 100, merited a MSA designation. Conversely, Scipioni recommended that the City Council delist certain stretches of Hansen and Valley View roads. In aggregate, these changes position Edina to receive a greater share of future municipal state aid allocations. Thanks to these hard-won successes – and others like them – Scipioni was top of mind when the Engineering Department’s pivotal Transportation Planner role opened up in January. “Andrew excelled with every project or task that we have asked of him during his first five years with the City,” praised Director of Engineering Chad Millner. “I felt he would be a great addition to our leadership team because he is accountable, detail oriented, a great communicator, and always conducts himself with integrity ... I’m confident he will be a great fit in this new role.” As the Transportation Planner, “Andrew’s primary focus will be to manage the Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety (PACS) Fund, plus implementation of our Living Streets initiative,” Millner explained. “I consider myself a meticulous person, so it is a bit of a change to go from personally preparing plans to being more of an administrator,” Scipioni said. “But my familiarity with the area is going to be such a help – especially with things like PACS.” At a high level, PACS exists to ensure that the City of Edina builds up a transportation infrastructure that is truly multimodal – in other words, safe and convenient for non-motorized travel, as well as vehicular traffic. PACS funding priorities are blueprinted in the City’s Pedestrian & Bicycle Master Plan, which is in turn built on a framework known as the 6 E’s: Engineering, Education, Encouragement, Enforcement, Equity and Evaluation. That covers a lot of ground, figuratively and literally. As that initiative’s most visible proponent and City representative, Scipioni will never lack for things to do. Drilling down to specifics, Scipioni points to the full plate inherited from his predecessor as proof positive of the multifaceted and resident-oriented nature of the position. “Next year, among other projects, we will reconstruct West 58th Street. This will be the first project of that kind featured on the City’s new public engagement website, www.BetterTogetherEdina.org.” Residents invested in this mile-long stretch of 58th Street, located between 50 • SPRING 2019 Wooddale and Xerxes avenues, are invited to weigh in on everything from parking needs, to sidewalks and shared-use paths, to innovative storm water management opportunities (such as rain gardens or tree trenches). While the Better Together Edina platform is brand new, the test case of West 58th Street is par for the course, Scipioni explained. “Edina is a first-ring suburb, and almost fully developed. Reconstruction notwithstanding, our street network has been essentially complete for decades … This allows the City to focus more on things like sidewalks and bike facilities.” Most second- and third-ring suburbs, such as his hometown of Eagan, have not quite reached this same level of infrastructure maturity. And in smaller communities – such as Houghton, Michigan, where Scipioni cut his teeth on civil engineering at Michigan Tech – lower population density makes this same sort of large-scale investment impractical. Scipioni points to the City’s pilot partnership with rideshare company Lime as yet another recent example of Edina’s commitment to improving its transportation landscape and residents’ quality of life. Unlike comparable programs in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Lime’s scooters and bicycles are dockless and GPS-enabled. Between July and mid-September 2018, 617 riders took 1,015 trips within Edina – a test case that augurs well for the future of innovative solutions of this sort. “With exciting things like these always in the works, I couldn’t ask for more from a job,” Scipioni concluded. For more information, contact the Engineering Department, 952-826-0371, or visit EdinaMN.gov/Engineering. 2019 SPRING • 51 Expires July 1, 2019 Sylva ZoraqiREALTOR® Edina Realty Office: 952-924-873950th & France Cell: 612-710-8081 SylvaZoraqi@edinarealty.com SylvaZoraqi.edinarealty.com Planning Matters City Amends Zoning Ordinance To Remove Barriers For SolarTo achieve the community’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2025, the City is working to remove barriers to solar development. Late last year, the City Council amended Edina’s zoning ordinance to allow energy collection systems as a permitted accessory use in all zoning districts. According to the ordinance, solar energy systems cannot exceed building height requirements. Most rooftop solar does not extend more than 1.5 feet from the rooftop. Roof-mounted solar panels that extend more than two feet above the residential rooftop to which they are attached and commercial flat-roof-mounted systems that extend four feet from the roof to which they are attached must receive a variance from the City. Council Gives Preliminary Approval For Redevelopment Of 7200 and 7250 France Ave.Several redevelopment projects have been proposed for 7200 and 7250 France Ave., but only recently did the City Council find one that fits its vision for the greater Southdale area. Under a plan given preliminary approval by the Council earlier this year, the existing buildings would be razed and replaced with two six-story buildings with apartments and rental townhomes with underground parking. Up to 30,000 square feet of retail would be included on the first level of each building. The plan also includes a north-south shared street, or woonerf, to improve transitions in the neighborhood. A row of 10 two- or three-story townhomes would be built on the west side of the woonerf. Extensive public realm improvements include the woonerf, public plaza and improvements to West 72nd Street. The City has agreed to provide $12 million in tax-increment financing to address some of the extraordinary costs associated with the redevelopment. To move forward with the project, the developer must obtain final zoning and redevelopment approval. Plans Altered For Pentagon Park SouthOne of the largest redevelopments in the state is underway in Edina, with earthwork being done at Pentagon Park South. Last year, the City Council approved a development agreement, plat, rezoning, site plan and overall development plan for a redevelopment of the southern part of Pentagon Park on 77th Street. As part of the two-phase plan, two hotels, two small retail buildings, two five-story office buildings and two parking ramps would be constructed. In February, the developer, Solomon Real Estate Group, received approval for modifications to the plans. Under the revisions, one of the planned hotels will increase in size from a four-story, 193-room hotel to a five-story, 235- 52 • SPRING 2019 room hotel and one parking ramp will be built instead of two. A two-story office and retail building will be built during the first phase of development instead of the second. For more information on development projects or zoning amendments recently approved by the Edina City Council, visit EdinaMN.gov/Planning or call 952-826-0369. – Compiled by Jennifer BennerotteSubmitted IllustrationPentagon Park South is one of the largest redevelopments in Minnesota. 2019 SPRING • 53 54 • SPRING 2019 The Last Word One of the things I enjoy most about my job in this town is that I get to play a supporting role in the recruitment and selection process to fill vacancies in the City’s advisory boards and commissions. There are 10 advisory boards and commissions that are comprised of 98 resident volunteers who assist the City Council and City staff in steering the Edina city government through the present and into the future. For example, the Planning Commission assists the City Council by vetting land use and development proposals before they come to the Council. The Transportation Commission reviews traffic studies, requests for stop signs and sidewalk plans. The Parks & Recreation Commission reviews park replacement plans, gives advice on recreation programming and provides a sounding board for community members who have ideas for new facilities. The 98 volunteers who serve on our boards and commissions start their volunteer service with an interview. The interviews are generally with the full City Council. The duration is typically short, around 10 minutes. And there are usually three times as many candidates as we have vacancies to fill. This year, for example, we interviewed 23 candidates for four vacant positions. I don’t like to speak for City Council Members, but I can tell you with no doubt that choosing four candidates from the 23 people they interviewed was one of the most difficult decisions they’ll make all year. The quality of the people we get to choose from in Edina is incredible. If we are looking for technical experts for our Heritage Preservation Commission, we get applicants who are architects specializing in preservation and conservation. If we need a certain set of experiences to be represented on our Human Rights & Relations Commission, someone who works in that field all day long, but still wants to volunteer to do it in their off time, steps forward. If we’d like to have someone on our Arts & Culture Commission with arts management experience, someone with broad experience in that field in New York and Minneapolis, who just moved to Edina, appears in front of us. It’s amazing. And that’s another thing. When the Council and I are doing these interviews, the people we are interviewing are universally grateful to live in Edina. One of our candidates this year told us a story about how he and his wife moved to the Twin Cities shortly after getting married and moved into a brand new home on the edge of cornfields in a northern suburb. As they got accustomed to the Twin Cities, they found themselves spending more and more of their personal time in Edina. They tried for seven years to buy a home, finally achieving success last year. This guy was about as happy a resident as I’ve ever met. And what made it great was that his story, while probably the best, wasn’t the only one. We heard journey-to-Edina stories for the better part of two nights. The people we meet through the board and commission interview process are a reminder for me that Edina is an “intentional” community. People will give up a lot to live here. People will volunteer a lot to keep it a place that is worthy of the journey. The City’s board and commission interview process is an amazing experience that reminds me every year that Edina’s greatest asset is truly its residents. Scott H. Neal City Manager tcclosets.com 612.623.0987 2634 Minnehaha Ave, Minneapolis #ORGANIZETHENORTH (adj.): A workout that makes you feel so good, you never want to quit. 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