Loading...
The URL can be used to link to this page
Your browser does not support the video tag.
Home
My WebLink
About
Late 2019 About Town
Official Magazine of the City of Edina AboutTown LATE 2019 AboutTown Volume 30, Number 3 Circulation 25,000 Late 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, Krystal Caron, Kaylin Eidsness, David Katz, 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 twice a year 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 Debbie Townsend Table Of Contents Calendar Of Events ..............................................................1 Calendar Highlights .............................................................7 A Word From The Mayor ...................................................8 It’s Not Only Neighborly ... It’s The Law .........................9 Donaldson’s - Edina Propelled Southdale Project To ‘Retail Archetype’ .............................................10 Six Recognized With Mayor’s Commendations ...........16 Tranquility Garden Coming To Life At Arneson Acres Park ...........................................................20 City Recognizes 44th & France Small Area Plan With Heritage Award .........................................................24 Former Hopkins Mayor Assumes West Metro Seat On Met Council ..........................................................28 New Race & Equity Coordinator Focuses On Building Relationships ......................................................32 Two Edina Officers Catch Themselves Awards .............34 Edina Community Foundation: Bold New Ideas ..........36 Street Sweeping Beautifies More Than Our Roadways ...38 New Parks & Recreation Director Returning To His Passion ..........................................................................42 Donors Contribute Over $340,000 To City In 2018 ........46 Lake Buffer Restoration Planned For Lake Cornelia .....48 Comprehensive Plan Update Reaching Final Steps ......52 Archeological Study Charts Prehistoric Finds In Edina ....54 The Last Word .....................................................................56 Tear HereWOODEN HILL BREWING COMPANY Est. 2018 | Edina, MN B u y a b u r g e r , g e t a b e e r ! Redeem for one free pour of tap beer with burger purchase. Valid through September 31, 2019. Must be 21+ with valid ID. Limit one per customer. 7421 BUSH LAKE ROAD woodenhillbrewing.com "Edina's first taproom has a first-rate cheeseburger" - StarTribune WOODEN HILL BREWING COMPANY Est. 2018 | Edina, MN B u y a b u r g e r , g e t a b e e r ! Redeem for one free pour of tap beer with burger purchase. Valid through September 31, 2019. Must be 21+ with valid ID. Limit one per customer. 7421 BUSH LAKE ROAD woodenhillbrewing.com "Edina's first taproom has a first-rate cheeseburger" - StarTribune Strong FoundationCITY GOALS:Better TogetherReliable Service Livable City Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 2Noon, Kid Power with Rachel, Centennial Lakes Park. 7 p.m., Vintage Piano, Centennial Lakes Park. 17 p.m., Homeward Bound, Centennial Lakes Park. 37 p.m., Percolators, Centennial Lakes Park. 4Fourth of July. Edina City Hall closed. 10 a.m., Fourth of July Parade, Eden Avenue & Willson Road to Halifax Avenue. Dusk, music and fireworks, Rosland Park. 5Edina City Hall closed. 6 77 p.m., Classical Actors Ensemble, Centennial Lakes Park. 86:30 p.m., Community Health Commission, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Jazz on the Prairie, Centennial Lakes Park. 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. 7 p.m., OLG Trio, Centennial Lakes Park. 11Noon, The Jolly Pops, Centennial Lakes Park. 7 p.m., Energy & Environment Commission, Edina City Hall. 12 13 147 p.m., First John Philip Sousa Memorial Band, Centennial Lakes Park. 156:30 p.m., Fitness in the Park, The Courtyard at Braemar Golf Course. 7 p.m., Flute Cocktail, Centennial Lakes Park. 16Noon, Wiggle Jiggle Jam, Centennial Lakes Park. 7 p.m., City Council, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Human Rights & Relations Commission, Edina City Hall. 176:30 p.m., Walk With the Mayor, Braemar Golf Course. 7 p.m., Eden Prairie Community Band, Centennial Lakes Park. 19 20 217 p.m., Northern Winds Concert Band, Centennial Lakes Park. 287 p.m., Minneapolis Police Band, Centennial Lakes Park. 226:30 p.m., Family Fitness in the Park, Rosland Park. 7 p.m., Brio Brass, Centennial Lakes Park. 23Noon, Mary Hall’s Show for Pipsqueeks, Centennial Lakes Park. 247 p.m., Planning Commission, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Medalist Concert Band, Centennial Lakes Park. 257:30 a.m., Housing & Redevelopment Authority meeting, Edina City Hall. 4:30 p.m., Arts & Culture Commission Edina Art Center. 26 27 30Noon, Brian Richards Magic Show, Centennial Lakes Park. 7 p.m., Vintage Piano, Centennial Lakes Park. 317 p.m., Red Rock Swing Band, Centennial Lakes Park. 297 p.m., Execs Big Band, Centennial Lakes Park. July 2019 18Noon, Rusty’s Rockin’ Jamboree, Centennial Lakes Park. 6 p.m., Transportation Commission, Edina City Hall. About Town Calendar 1 • ABOUT TOWN Tear Here3-7 p.m., Farmers Market, Centennial Lakes Park. Key: 2 • ABOUT TOWN Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 21Noon, Wonderful World of Woody, Centennial Lakes Park. Sunset, “Justice League,” Centennial Lakes Park. 3 47 p.m., Prior Lake WindJammers, Centennial Lakes Park. 56:30 p.m., Community Health Commission, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Sandy and the Hitmen, Centennial Lakes Park. 6Noon, Alpha Bits Band, Centennial Lakes Park. Night to Unite, various neighborhoods around Edina. 77 p.m., City Council, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Sawyers Dream, Centennial Lakes Park. 87 p.m., Energy & Environment Commission, Edina City Hall. Sunset, “Mary Poppins Returns,” Centennial Lakes Park. 9 10 116-9 p.m., Lighthouse Night, with a performance by the First John Philip Sousa Memorial Band, Centennial Lakes Park. 126:30 p.m., Fitness in the Park, The Courtyard at Braemar Golf Course. 7 p.m., Minnesota Mandolin Orchestra, Centennial Lakes Park. 137 p.m., Parks & Recreation Commission, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Heritage Preservation Commission, Edina City Hall. 147 p.m., Planning Commission, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Dirty Shorts Brass Band, Centennial Lakes Park. 16 17 187 p.m., Medicine Show Company, Centennial Lakes Park. 196:30 p.m., Family Fitness in the Park, Rosland Park. 7 p.m., Armenian Dance Ensemble, Centennial Lakes Park. 20Noon, Teddy Bear Band, Centennial Lakes Park. 7 p.m., City Council, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Sidewalk Cafe Duo, Centennial Lakes Park. 216:30 p.m., Walk With the Mayor, Centennial Lakes Park. 7 p.m., Moonlight Serenaders, Centennial Lakes Park. 22Noon, Wiggle Jiggle Jam, Centennial Lakes Park. 4:30 p.m., Arts & Culture Commission, Edina Art Center. 23 2410 a.m.-3 p.m., Nuno Felted Scarf Workshop, Edina Art Center. 27Noon, Will Hale and the Tadpole Parade, Centennial Lakes Park. 7 p.m., Human Rights & Relations Commission, Edina City Hall. 267 p.m., Brooklyn Community Band, Centennial Lakes Park. 257 p.m., Inver Hills Community Band, Centennial Lakes Park. August 2019 287 p.m., Planning Commission, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., 1st Things 1st, Centennial Lakes Park. 297:30 a.m., Housing & Redevelopment Authority meeting, Edina City Hall. Noon, Bob the Beachcomber, Centennial Lakes Park. 30 157:30 a.m., Housing & Redevelopment Authority meeting, Edina City Hall. 6 p.m., Transportation Commission, Edina City Hall. About Town Calendar 3-7 p.m., Farmers Market, Centennial Lakes Park. Key: 3 • ABOUT TOWN Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 710 a.m.-6 p.m., Edina Fall Into The Arts Festival, Centennial Lakes Park. 810 a.m.-5 p.m., Edina Fall Into The Arts Festival, Centennial Lakes Park. 7 p.m., Inver Hills Community Band, Edinborough Park. 1 2Labor Day. Edina City Hall closed. 3 47 p.m., City Council, Edina City Hall. 5 6 96:30 p.m., Community Health Commission, Edina City Hall. 107 p.m., Heritage Preservation Commission, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Parks & Recreation Commission, Edina City Hall. 117 p.m., Planning Commission, Edina City Hall. 127:30 a.m., Housing & Redevelopment Authority meeting, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Energy & Environment Commission, Edina City Hall. 13 1410-11 a.m., Author’s Studio: German Awakening: Tales From An American Life – by Amy Hallberg. 157 p.m., The Cedar Creek Band, Edinborough Park. 16 177 p.m., City Council, Edina City Hall. 18 20 219 a.m., Walk With the Mayor, Rosland Park. 221-5 p.m., Open Streets, 50th & France. 7 p.m., Classic Brass, Edinborough Park. 23 247 p.m., Human Rights & Relations Commission, Edina City Hall. 257 p.m., Planning Commission, Edina City Hall. 267:30 a.m., Housing & Redevelopment Authority meeting, Edina City Hall. 4:30 p.m., Arts & Culture Commission, Edina Art Center. 27 28 30297 p.m., First John Philip Sousa Memorial Band, Edinborough Park. September 2019 19Noon, Westwood Hills Nature Center, Edinborough Park. 6 p.m., Transportation Commission, Edina City Hall. About Town Calendar 3-7 p.m., Farmers Market, Centennial Lakes Park. Key: 4 • ABOUT TOWN Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 5 61 p.m., Sharing Values, Sharing Community, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Roseville Big Band, Edinborough Park. 7 7 p.m., Heritage Preservation Commission, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Parks & Recreation Commission, Edina City Hall. 87 p.m., Zuhrah Shrine Band, Edinborough Park. 17 p.m., City Council, Edina City Hall. 2 3Noon, Teddy Bear Band, Edinborough Park. 5-8 p.m., Opening Reception – 35th Annual Members’ Juried Art Exhibition, Edina Art Center. 4 9 107:30 a.m., Housing & Redevelopment Authority meeting, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Energy & Environment Commission, Edina City Hall. 11 12 137 p.m., The Somewhat Dixieland Band, Edinborough Park. 146:30 p.m., Community Health Commission, Edina City Hall. 157 p.m., City Council, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Celebration Brass Quintet, Edinborough Park. 16 18 198 a.m.-4 p.m., Buckthorn Dump, across from the Braemar Golf Dome. 9 a.m., Walk With the Mayor, Arden Park. 20Noon-4 p.m., Buckthorn Dump, across from the Braemar Golf Dome. 7 p.m., St. Paul Police Band, Edinborough Park. 21 227 p.m., Human Rights & Relations Commission, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., River City Jazz Orchestra, Edinborough Park. 237 p.m., Planning Commission, Edina City Hall. 247:30 a.m., Housing & Redevelopment Authority meeting, Edina City Hall. 4:30 p.m., Arts & Culture Commission, Edina Art Center. 256 p.m., Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Edinborough Park. 268 a.m.-4 p.m., Buckthorn Dump, across from the Braemar Golf Dome. 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Pumpkin Festival, 50th & France. 29288 p.m., Virtual Town Hall Meeting. 27Noon-4 p.m., Buckthorn Dump, across from the Braemar Golf Dome. 7 p.m., First John Philip Sousa Memorial Band, Edinborough Park. October 2019 30 31Noon, Mary Hall & The Pipsqueeks, Edinborough Park. 17Noon, Brodini the Magician, Edinborough Park. About Town Calendar 5 • ABOUT TOWN Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 2 37 p.m., The Jazz Standards, Edinborough Park. 46:30 p.m., Community Health Commission, Edina City Hall. 5Election Day. 7 p.m., Class Brass Quintet, Edinborough Park. 67 p.m., City Council, Edina City Hall. 7Noon, Bob the Beachcomber, Edinborough Park. 7 p.m., Energy & Environment Commission, Edina City Hall. 8 1 9 107 p.m., The Percolators, Edinborough Park. 11Veterans Day. Edina City Hall closed. 127 p.m., Heritage Preservation Commission, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Parks & Recreation Commission, Edina City Hall. 137 p.m., Planning Commission, Edina City Hall. 1510 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Felted Luminarias, Edina Art Center. 1610 a.m.-noon, Town Hall meeting, Edina Senior Center. 177 p.m., Brio Brass, Edinborough Park. 18 197 p.m., City Council, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Eden Prairie Community Band, Edinborough Park. 20 214:30 p.m., Arts & Culture Commission, Edina Art Center. 6 p.m., Transportation Commission, Edina City Hall. 22 239 a.m., Walk With the Mayor, Galleria Edina. 267 p.m., Human Rights & Relations Commission, Edina City Hall. 25 247 p.m., First John Philip Sousa Memorial Band, Edinborough Park. November 2019 277 p.m., Planning Commission, Edina City Hall. 28Thanksgiving Day. Edina City Hall closed. 29Edina City Hall closed. 147:30 a.m., Housing & Redevelopment Authority meeting, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Brian Richards, Magician, Edinborough Park. About Town Calendar 30 4 • SUMMER 2019Tear Here6 • ABOUT TOWN Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 7 810 a.m., Breakfast with Santa, Braemar Golf Course. 7 p.m., St. Louis Park Community Band, Edinborough Park. 17 p.m., Minneapolis Police Band, Edinborough Park. 2 37 p.m., City Council, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Prior Lake Windjammers, Edinborough Park. 7 p.m., Human Rights & Relations Commission, Edina City Hall. 4 5Noon, Music with Kernsey, Edinborough Park. 6 96:30 p.m., Community Health Commission, Edina City Hall. 6 p.m., City Council, Edina City Hall. 107 p.m., Heritage Preservation Commission, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Parks & Recreation Commission, Edina City Hall. 117 p.m., Planning Commission, Edina City Hall. 127:30 a.m., Housing & Redevelopment Authority meeting, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Energy & Environment Commission, Edina City Hall. 13 14 157 p.m., Jazz on the Prairie Big Band, Edinborough Park. 16 177 p.m., City Council, Edina City Hall. 18 20 219 a.m., Walk With the Mayor, Southdale Center. 22 23 24Christmas Eve. Edina City Hall closed. 25Christmas Day. Edina City Hall closed. 26 27 28 31307 p.m., New Year’s Eve ‘Eve’ Party, Edinborough Park. 29 December 2019 194:30 p.m., Arts & Culture Commission, Edina Art Center. 6 p.m., Transportation Commission, Edina City Hall. About Town Calendar Other Dates To Remember July 9 Noon, Storytales with Carol, Centennial Lakes Park. July 9 7 p.m., Sidewalk Café Duo, Centennial Lakes Park. July 10 5:30 p.m., Da Beauty League, Braemar Arena. July 11 Sunset, “Instant Family,” Centennial Lakes Park. July 16 7 p.m., Vintage Piano, Centennial Lakes Park. July 17 5:30 p.m., Da Beauty League, Braemar Arena.July 18 Sunset, “A Dog’s Way Home,” Centennial Lakes Park. July 23 7 p.m., Sidewalk Café Duo, Centennial Lakes Park. July 24 5:30 p.m., Da Beauty League, Braemar Arena. July 24 7 p.m., Noise Oversight Committee, Southwest Metro Public Safety Training Facility. July 25 Noon, Steve & Friends Puppets, Centennial Lakes Park. July 25 6:30 p.m., Fitness in the Park, Arneson Acres Park. July 25 Sunset, “Green Book,” Centennial Lakes Park. July 31 5:30 p.m., Da Beauty League, Braemar Arena. Aug. 5 5:30 p.m., Da Beauty League, Braemar Arena. Aug. 6 7 p.m., Sidewalk Café Duo, Centennial Lakes Park. Aug. 7 5:30 p.m., Da Beauty League, Braemar Arena. Aug. 8 Noon, The Bazillions, Centennial Lakes Park. Aug. 12 5:30 p.m., Da Beauty League, Braemar Arena.Aug. 13 Noon, Kid Power with Rachel, Centennial Lakes Park. Aug. 13 7 p.m., Vintage Piano, Centennial Lakes Park. Aug. 14 5:30 p.m., Da Beauty League, Braemar Arena. Aug. 15 Noon, Big Fun Show, Centennial Lakes Park. Aug. 15 Sunset, “Wonder Park,” Centennial Lakes Park. Aug. 15 5-8 p.m., Opening Reception, “The Healer’s Journey,” Edina Art Center. Aug. 19 Parks & Recreation registration begins for residents. Aug. 19 6 p.m., Da Beauty League, Braemar Arena. Aug. 20 Fall Skate School registration for residents begins.Aug. 21 7 p.m., Da Beauty League, Braemar Arena. Aug. 22 6:30 p.m., Fitness in the Park, Arneson Acres Park. Aug. 26 Parks & Recreation registration begins for non-residents. Aug. 27 Fall Skate School registration for non-residents begins. Aug. 27 7 p.m., Vintage Piano, Centennial Lakes Park. Sept. 26 Noon, Will Hale & The Tadpole Parade, Edinborough Park. Oct. 3 5-8 p.m., Opening Reception, 35th Annual Members’ Exhibition, Edina Art Center. Oct. 10 Noon, Carol McCormick Storyteller, Edinborough Park. Oct. 19 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Felted Vases, Vessels and Bowls Workshop, Edina Art Center. Oct. 24 Noon, Jolly Pops, Edinborough Park. Oct. 24 6 p.m., Transportation Commission, Edina City Hall. Nov. 14 5-8 p.m., Opening Reception, Up North Holiday Gift Gallery and Lions Peace Posters, Edina Art Center. Nov. 21 Noon, Richardson Nature Center, Edinborough Park. Dec. 10 Winter Skate School registration for residents begins. Dec. 10 7 p.m., Side by Side People’s Chorus, Edinborough Park. Dec. 12 Noon, Westwood Hills Nature Center, Edinborough Park. Dec. 17 Winter Skate School registration for non-residents begins. Calendar Highlights LATE 2019 • 7 8 • ABOUT TOWN A Word From The Mayor The City has changed the frequency and distribution of its publications to get information to more residents more frequently. Although all-news radio operated for decades earlier, the 24-hour news cycle arrived with the advent of cable television channels dedicated to news and brought about a much faster pace of news production with an increased demand for stories that could be constantly updated. This was a contrast with the day-by-day pace of the news cycle of printed daily and weekly newspapers. Online news and social media put a high premium on even faster reporting. Yet, for 30 years, the City’s primary print communication piece, About Town, remained a quarterly magazine. A few years ago, we began production of a monthly newsletter, Edition: Edina, to get information to our residents in a more timely manner. It was distributed as an insert in the Edina Sun-Current newspaper. Residents have told us they find value in the publications and the City’s communications in general. In this year’s Quality of Life Survey, 85 percent reported finding About Town a source of information about local government. (Only “word of mouth” rated higher.) Fifty-six percent find Edition: Edina a source of information about local government, up from 48 percent in 2017. Our residents rated general public information and communication from the City higher than our peers across the nation and Edina was rated No. 2 in the state in its communication with residents. Through surveys and focus groups, though, we have found that many people are not aware of Edition: Edina, either because they don’t receive the local newspaper or because they don’t pay as close attention to its inserts. Once they found out about it and reviewed it, they told us they found the information valuable. To ensure all residents receive information about their local government, the City’s Communications Feedback Group recommended we begin sending Edition: Edina via direct mail to all homes in Edina. We’ve now been doing that for the past few months. Because we are incurring additional postage costs for Edition: Edina, we are going to try producing only two About Town magazines per year – one in January and one in July. You’ll find the same great features you’ve come to expect: a column on Edina’s contemporary history, calendar, profiles on City officials, project updates and more, but you’ll find timelier updates about the actions of the City Council and redevelopment updates in Edition: Edina. Our print publications are just some of the communications tools the City uses to inform its residents. Others are our websites, EdinaMN.gov and the relatively new BetterTogetherEdina.org; social media channels; Edina TV; City Extra emails and text messages. (Text EDINA to 57838 for general City updates via text.) We do all of this to keep residents as well informed as possible and as soon as possible. As always, we welcome your feedback on our communications and ideas for stories, photos and other features. Let me know what you think or send your feedback to mail@EdinaMN.gov. James B. Hovland Mayor Edition: Edina MAY 2019 Volume 6, Issue 5 Championsh i p 1 8 Golf Course O p e n s This Month Inaugural Tour n a m e n t S e l l s O u t As Buzz Builds Ar o u n d B r a e m a r Golf CourseExcitement is build i n g a s t h e new Championship 1 8 c o u r s e at Braemar Golf Cou r s e o p e n s later this month, mark i n g t h e first new public 18-ho l e c o u r s e to open in the state in m o r e than a decade. The First FORE, the cours e ’ s inaugural tournam e n t M a y 1 7 , sold out its 144 spo t s w i t h i n 9 0 m i n u t e s . To ensure she got a s l o t , P a c y E r c k h a d h e r cellphone ready and c h e c k e d t h e t o u r n a m e n t sales link repeatedly s t a r t i n g j u s t b e f o r e t i c k e t s went on sale. She was f i r s t t o r e g i s t e r . “I’m excited,” said Erc k , a B r a e m a r G ol f Association board mem b e r w h o p r e vi e w e d t h e course in 2018 to assist w i t h s i g n p l a c e m e n t , path markers and o t h e r p r e p a r a ti o n s . “ I a l r e a d y love this course.” Braemar Golf Cou r s e G e n e r a l M a n a g e r J o e Abood, who oversa w t h e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f the Championship 1 8 , e x p e c t s g o l f e r s f r o m around the Twin Citie s a n d t h e s t a t e t o f l o c k t o Braemar this spring an d s u m m e r . D e s i g n e d t o be Minnesota’s premier p u b l i c g o l f c o u r s e , t h e Championship 18 feature s o p e n f a i r w a y s , s i x tee boxes for play e r s o f e v e r y a b i l i t y , a d v a n c e d bunker designs, su p e r i o r d r a i n a g e f o r i n c l e m e n t weather and specta c u l a r vi e w s . T h e $ 7 . 5 m i l l i o n project included resto r i n g o a k s a v a n n a h , a d d i n g wetlands and planting h u n d r e d s o f t r e e s . “It’s so beautifully bui l t f o r e v e r y t y p e o f p l a y e r , ” said Erck, who has bee n i n v o l v e d w i t h B r a e m a r Golf Course in a variety o f w a y s s i n c e i t o p e n e d in 1964. City of Edina EdinaMN.gov The grand opening e v e n t s t h a t b e g i n M a y 1 5 also feature media pr e v i e w s, s p e c i a l p l a y i n g t i m e for Braemar league me m b e r s a n d a l i v e K F A N - FM radio broadcast. Those who didn’t get a s p o t i n t h e F i r s t F O R E can still join the festivitie s b y r e g i s t e r i n g f o r the post-tournam e n t c e l e b r a t i o n 6 - 8 p . m . M a y 17 on the new Bra e m a r C o u r t y a r d n e x t t o t h e course. The $20 tic k e t s i n c l u d e f o o d , g a m e s , l i v e music and a raffle. C h e c k B r a e m a r Go l f C o u r s e ’ s Facebook page for tic k e t d e t a i l s . Public tee times on th e n e w c o u r s e b e g i n M a y 18. Edina residents wit h P l a y e r ’ s C a r d s c a n book tee times eight da y s i n a d v a n c e a n d a t a discount. The opening of the Cham p i o n s h i p 1 8 i s t h e final piece in ma k i n g B r a e m a r G o l f C o u r s e a complete year-rou n d e x p e r i e n c e f o r g o l f e r s . Braemar now offers t h a t 1 8 - h o l e c o u r s e , t h e Academy 9 Par 3 cou r s e , a n e n l a r g e d p u t t i n g green, a new chipping a n d b u n k e r p r a c t i c e space, remodeled pro s h o p, R e d R i v e r K i t c h e n restaurant, the Courtyar d f o r g a m e s a n d e v e n t s , and Braemar Gol f D o m e f o r p r a c t i c e i n t h e o f f - season. Learn more about t h e c o u r s e s a n d Pl a y e r ’ s C a r d s o r book tee times at B r a e m a r G o l f . c o m . The new Champions h i p 1 8 c o m b i n e s a p i c t u r e s q u e g o l f c o u r s e w i t h n a t u r a l a r e a s , i n cl u d i n g w e t l a n d s a n d r e s t o r e d o a k s a v a n n a h . Submitted Photo BRAEMAR CHAMPIONSHIP 18 Strong Foundation CITY GOALS: Better Together Reliable Service Livable City Edition: Edina JUNE 2019Volume 6, Issue 6 Residents have three ways to g e t i n v o l v e d a n d h e l p keep their neighborhoods cl e a n a n d s a f e : A d o p t - a-Hydrant, Adopt-a-Park a n d A d o p t - a - D r a i n . Adopt-a-Hydrant You may have heard of the Adopt-a - H y d r a n t program to keep snow away fro m h y d r a n t s , b u t it’s just as important in the sum m e r a s i t i s i n t h e winter. During the colder mo n t h s , h y d r a n t s c a n be buried in snow and cau s e d a n g e r o u s d e l a y s for firefighters. In the summer and fa l l , p l a n t growth and leaves can obscure hyd r a n t s , t o o . The City looks for residents to sig n u p t o a d o p t hydrants to keep them shovele d i n t h e w i n t e r months and clear of foliage i n t h e s u m m e r . “It’s just as important to ke e p a n e y e o n t h e hydrants near your home i n t h e s u m m e r a s i t i s in the winter. We’ll see a lot of hydr a n t s h i d d e n behind tall flowers or grass and, t h o u g h t h e resident may like the landscapin g a r o u n d i t , i t makes it difficult for us to f i n d a n d o p e n t h a t hydrant when there is a fi r e , ” s a i d F i r e I n s p e c t o r Brian Hanrahan. “Minutes really do matter when there is a fire, so we hope people sign up for the Adopt-a-Hydrant program.” Hydrants are available for anyone to adopt – it doesn’t have to be located in your yard. Sign u p t o p a r t i c i p a t e b y c a l l i n g 952-826-0378. You can also sign up to pai n t a f i r e h y d r a n t . T h e Public Works Department s u p p l i e s t h e r e q u i r e d fire-hydrant-red spray pai n t . C a l l 9 5 2 - 8 2 6 - 0 3 7 6 t o arrange paint pickup. Adopt-a-Park The Adopt-a-Park program, establis h e d i n E d i n a in 1994, is a popular program, es p e c i a l l y f o r clubs and families. Parks are ad o p t e d f o r t w o years at a time. Adopters co m m i t t o c l e a n i n g up trash at the park at lea s t t w i c e a y e a r . T h e City of Edina EdinaMN.gov City will provide cleaning equi p m e n t , h a u l trash away and erect a pers o n a l i z e d s i g n t h a t ’ s displayed at the park and h i g h l i g h t s t h e g r o u p or individual who has adopted the p a r k . “Residents who participate in the A d o p t - a - P a r k program contribute to a cleaner e n v i r o n m e n t in their neighborhood and allo w t h e C i t y t o conserve and redirect resourc e s , ” s a i d P a r k s & Recreation Administrative C o o r d i n a t o r J a n e t Canton. “They help mai n t a i n t h e h i g h q u a l i t y of Edina’s parks by keeping them lit t e r - f r e e a n d identifying safety hazards.” If you would like to sign up to adopt a p a r k , c a l l Canton at 952-826-0435. Adopt-a-Drain The newest opportunity for resi d e n t s i s t h e Adopt-a-Drain program, whic h g i v e s y o u t h e chance to “adopt” any num b e r o f s t o r m d r a i n s in your neighborhood. A d o p t - a - D r a i n l a u n c h e d in April and is a coalition of more th a n 7 0 public, private and nonprofit org a n i z a t i o n s , including the City of Edin a and the Nine Mile Creek and Minnehaha Creek watershed districts. Those who sign up commit to keeping drains clear of tras h , leaves and grass. In addit i o n , participants are encouraged to spread the word that pet waste, plant debris and road salt directly impact Minnesota lakes , s t r e a m s and rivers. “The Adopt-a-Drain program em p o w e r s residents and businesses to dir e c t l y c o n t r i b u t e to clean water. Whether you c a n s e e a l a k e o r creek from your home or n o t , t h e a c t i o n s y o u take in your neighborhood have an i m p a c t . T h e collective actions of a community c o m m i t t e d t o clean water are powerful,” said W a t e r R e s o u r c e s Coordinator Jessica Wilson. When pollutants enter a wa t e r w a y , t h e y b r e a k down and feed algae, wh i c h c a u s e s t h e w a t e r t o become green and soupy, filters sun l i g h t s o f i s h and plants can’t grow, and eventu a l l y c r e a t e s dead zones. Those interested in signing up i n t h e p r o g r a m can do so at Adopt-a-Drain.o r g . F r o m t h e r e , you can select the drains y o u ’ r e i n t e r e s t e d i n adopting, give each drai n a p e r s o n a l n a m e a n d track the amount of waste you’ve el i m i n a t e d from waterways. To learn more about Adopt-a-Drain a n d E d i n a ’ s involvement, contact Wilson at 952- 8 2 6 - 0 4 4 5 . Strong FoundationCITY GOALS: Better Together Reliable Service Livable City The new Adopt-a-Drain program is a great w a y f o r y o u n g e r residents to take an active role in keeping t h e i r c o m m u n i t y and waterways clear. Photo by Krystal Caron Care for Neighborho o d S t o r m D r a i n s , H y d r a n t s a n d P a r k s Adopt One to Help Firefi g h t e r s , L a k e s a n d K e e p C o m m u n i t y C l e a n We hope people sign up for t h e Adopt-a-Hydrant program a n d commit to helping keep t h e i r hydrant clear in the w i n t e r a s well as the summer. LATE 2019 • 9 It’s Not Only Neighborly … It’s The Law The Law: Edina City Code Sec. 20-126. Refuse containers. Containers on residential properties shall not be placed or maintained in such a way as to unreasonably interfere with the use of the adjoining property. … Containers kept outside shall be placed and kept in such a manner as not to permit entry of or harborage for animals, insects or other vermin. Containers on residential property shall be stored in such a manner as to be out of view from the street in front of the premises or stored within 5 feet of a dwelling unit or garage or in a garage located on the premises except as provided hereafter. Occupants of single dwelling unit, double dwelling unit and townhouse properties may, but are not required to, place refuse containers adjacent to the street or alley adjoining the dwelling and off the traveled portion of the road, but not earlier than 12 hours prior to the day scheduled for collection. Within 12 hours after the scheduled collection, the containers and any material not collected shall be returned by the resident of such dwelling to the same location designated for storage by this subsection. What it Means: Refuse containers in good condition may be stored outside. They can be taken to the curb for garbage or recycling collection, but not more than 12 hours before collection. Within 12 hours of collection, they must be stored as described in the paragraph above. The Law: Edina City Code Sec. 26-282. Operation of Bicycles. Any person operating a bicycle on any street or bicycle lane must comply with Minn. Stats. 169.222. What it Means: Traffic laws apply. Like any other driver, bicyclists must follow all the rules of the road. Specifically: • Bicyclists may ride on all Minnesota roads, except where restricted. • Bicyclists must obey all traffic control signs and signals, just as motorists. • Motorists and bicyclists must yield the right-of-way to each other. • Bicyclists must signal their turns and should ride in a predictable manner. • Bicyclists must use a headlight and rear reflectors when it’s dark. To increase visibility, add a rear flashing light. • Bicyclists should always wear helmets. For more information, contact Transportation Planner Andrew Scipioni at 952-826-0440. Location of Refuse Containers Bicycling LATE 2019 • 9 10 • ABOUT TOWN Donaldson’s - Edina Propelled Southdale Project To ‘Retail Archetype’ Editor’s Note: This is Part 2 of a two-part series. Part 1 appeared in the Spring 2019 issue of About Town. See the previous issue for Donaldson’s origin story, decades-long rivalry with Dayton’s, and surprising decision to partner with its arch-competitor on the revolutionary Southdale project. By David Katz Southdale’s master architect, Victor Gruen, disliked what he termed “extroverted” design, typified by storefronts for each vendor and a strong emphasis on curb appeal. Unassuming brick and pre-cast concrete with a quartz finish comprised most of Southdale Center’s original forgettable façade. Courtesy of store designer John Graham, Donaldson’s main entryway proved a conspicuous exception to that rule. When entering from the upper level parking lot, shoppers passed into a 35-foot-high vestibule. A matrix of 8-by-10-foot aluminum frames, colored sky blue, held aloft nearly 20,000 square feet of plate glass. Although impressive in its own right, the vestibule served as window dressing (pun intended) for the real showstopper: a 16-by-11-foot crystal chandelier studded with 62 lights, each capped by a “sleek, modern, tubular shade.” Workmen painted the body of the chandelier blue, to match the anodized aluminum and complete the ethereal look. Shades of blue dominated the interior of Donaldson’s first suburban store as well – “although other colors and treatments have been used to offset various departments,” noted a Minneapolis Tribune feature. Memorably, in the women’s shoe aisles, columns overlaid with a sparkling gold finish cast a gleam against silken shantung wall coverings. In a circular printed for the October 1956 grand opening, Donaldson’s adopted a personable tone: “For us, this is a dream become reality. We want all of you to share in the thrill we’ve experienced in creating one of the most beautiful, most comfortable, most casual suburban stores in America. And, please don’t take offense if we appear to be a little proud – ‘cause we are!”Photo courtesy of WikiCommonsWhen Southdale Center opened its doors in 1956, Donaldson’s comprised 140,000 of the mall’s original 800,000 total square feet. LATE 2019 • 11 Behind The ScenesIf this opulence and attention to detail did not mark Donaldson’s - Edina as a true and worthy successor to the chain’s iconic flagship in downtown Minneapolis (“the Glass Block”), the sheer scale of the suburban experiment certainly did. When Southdale opened its doors in 1956, Donaldson’s comprised 140,000 of the mall’s 800,000 total square feet. It employed 300 full- and part-time sales and stockroom workers. Only rival Dayton’s edged them out, with 195,023 square feet and 400 employees. For context, the largest of the original tenants, Red Owl Supermarket and F.W. Woolworth, each occupied only about 29,000 square feet and employed 75 workers. Naturally, stocking and otherwise maintaining department stores of this size is a logistical feat. Gruen devised an ingenious way to facilitate these behind-the-scenes operations. He designed a 30-foot wide, 720-foot long one-way tunnel under the mall. Strategically spaced loading docks and freight elevators made it surprisingly easy for trucks and other service vehicles to reach every corner of the mall. (Donaldson’s dock purportedly allowed for the unloading of multiple trucks at once.) Guests could go about their day oblivious to all this, courtesy of a sloping periphery road connecting Edina’s streets to the tunnel. In addition to merchandise (“the largest assortments carried of any suburban store in the Twin Cities,” ads claimed), Donaldson’s - Edina also received enormous quantities of foodstuffs at this busy dock. Donaldson’s Minnesota RoomIt may sound incongruous to shoppers too young to remember stores like Donaldson’s and Dayton’s in their heyday, but for many decades, fine dining represented an integral part of the department store shopping experience. In the Twin Cities market, Donaldson’s holds distinction as first out of the gate in this regard. L.S. Donaldson’s Co.’s downtown Minneapolis flagship added foodservice to its impressive repertoire of offerings as early as the 1880s. (Across the street, Dayton’s did not add its first tearoom until 1912.) (continued on next page)Photo courtesy of Minnesota Historical SocietyDonaldson’s so-called Minnesota Room sat 210 at a time, making it Southdale’s largest restaurant on opening day. 12 • ABOUT TOWN At its highwater mark, Donaldson’s Glass Block offered not one or two, but six on-site restaurants, cafes and tearooms. This was not plain and forgettable food court fare, either. For instance, by 1964, Donaldson’s North Shore Grill offered Minneapolis shoppers 75 different fish entrees alone. Unsurprisingly, both Dayton’s and Donaldson’s made an effort to emulate this success at Southdale. Donaldson’s - Edina’s main eatery, the so-called Minnesota Room, seated 210 at a time. This made it larger than the Dayton’s-run Valley View Room on the other end of the mall (which had a seating capacity of 200), and considerably larger than Southdale’s other seven original eateries. A copper-hooded fireplace, open on all sides, dominated the entryway to the Minnesota Room. Inside, a color palette selected to accent the space’s sumptuous butternut paneling helped to delineate the restaurant from the rest of Donaldson’s. Perennial favorites at the Minnesota Room included a French dessert called maple frango, a cream and syrup-based confection allegedly uncovered by company founder Lawrence Stedman Donaldson on a family trip to Oregon. Pecan crunch cake with lemon sauce, and sour cream raisin meringue pie, are other representative examples of the decadent desserts that made Donaldson’s house restaurants destinations in and of themselves. As if that were not enough, Donaldson’s - Edina also maintained a separate malt shop! When designing Southdale in the 1950s, Gruen envisioned a “satellite downtown,” an almost utopian mixed- use development able to “fill the vacuum created by the absence of social, cultural and civic crystallization points in our vast suburban areas.” The shopping mecca anchored by Dayton’s and Donaldson’s would be only a point of departure. In his final years, Gruen was the first to admit that Southdale fell somewhat short of those lofty goals. For many years, however, the Minnesota Room functioned effectively as a “third place,” quite in keeping with Gruen’s original aspirations. Photo courtesy of Minnesota Historical SocietyIn addition to apparel, Donaldson’s - Edina stocked merchandise ranging from household appliances to fabric bolts and sewing supplies to children’s toys and an impressive candy selection. LATE 2019 • 13 Up through the 1970s, the archives of the Minneapolis Star and Minneapolis Tribune are littered with references to charity organizations, school and church committees, garden clubs and professional organizations of all stripes congregating at Donaldson’s to transact their business and socialize (presumably over raisin meringue pie). Emulating EdinaDayton’s Development Co. estimated that upwards of 5 million people visited Southdale Center in its first year of operation. Opening day alone drew 75,000 – this at a time when the Village of Edina boasted scarcely more than 15,000 residents. If those statistics alone did not validate L.S. Donaldson Co.’s decision to throw in with archrival Dayton’s, the company’s announcement that it intended to expand its footprint at Southdale certainly did. Donaldson’s - Edina added a 30,000-square-foot basement annex, giving it 430,000 square feet overall. Moreover, the viability of Southdale quickly spawned successor projects in other corners of the growing metro. First came “Brookdale,” opened in 1962 in Brooklyn Center. Learning from the trailblazing experience in Edina, Dayton’s and their partners opted this time for a two-stage construction and, ultimately, four anchor stores. Sears, Roebuck & Co. and J.C. Penney Co. joined Donaldson’s and Dayton’s at Brookdale. Next, in July 1966, Donaldson’s went public with their intention to partner on Minnesota’s third indoor shopping complex, this time in Roseville. In a reversal from the original Southdale dynamic, where Dayton Development Co. owned the 500-acre plot slated for development, this time it was L.S. Donaldson Co. that owned the deed to the 150-acre tract north of Saint Paul. Donaldson’s had purchased this land, located at the crossroad of Highway 36 and Snelling Avenue, back in 1952, before pivoting to focus first on Edina. In August 1969, Rosedale debuted with 659,854 square feet of retail space and nearly 80 tenants to fill it. Its grand (continued on page 15)Photo courtesy of Minnesota Historical SocietyDonaldson’s ads from the 1950s and 60s, particularly those focused on women’s clothing, touted “the largest assortments carried of any suburban store in the Twin Cities.” 14 • ABOUT TOWN Department Stores – Engineering Marvels?When Southdale Center opened in October 1956, it ushered in a new era for retail. Among other seminal firsts, never before had a shopping destination of this scale promised a year-round temperature controlled shopping experience. While utilities are easy to take for granted, reliably heating, cooling and otherwise maintaining the 800,000-square-foot facility represented a real design challenge. For Donaldson’s, it was déjà vu. In the 1910s, the company faced the equally vexing challenge of supplying water to its gargantuan Glass Block flagship on Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis. In that case, engineers solved the sourcing issue by digging a massive 722-foot-deep artesian well right underneath the department store. The well was so large, and so effective, that Donaldson’s pumped enough surplus fresh water to service the entire Minneapolis public school district for many years. Forty years later, the masterminds behind Southdale took an analogous approach to solving their problem. Engineer and hydrologist Adolph Meyer drilled three wells beneath the complex – including one beneath Donaldson’s – to pipe millions of gallons of water up from a porous, 400-foot-deep layer of sandstone underneath Edina. Meyer pumped this 45-degree water through Southdale’s air conditioning system in the summer and returned it unpolluted afterward to a stratum of sand and gravel 75 feet below the complex. In the winter, a heat pump allowed this same water to warm the mall’s stores, hallways and atrium without need for gas or coal.Photo courtesy of Minnesota Historical SocietyIn order to handle the enormous quantities of incoming merchandise needed at Southdale Center, architect Victor Gruen designed a 30-foot wide, 720-foot long one-way tunnel under the complex. LATE 2019 • 15 opening ceremony spanned three days and included the display of a boggling 150,000 fresh-cut roses – as clear an indicator as any that indoor malls had reached a golden age. Donaldson’s DemiseLike the original “-dale” in Edina, both Brookdale and Rosedale operated an on-site Minnesota Room. Sadly, all three restaurants would close shop in 1988, portending the end of an era. Donaldson’s longtime parent company, Allied Stores Corporation, sold the entire chain to Chicago-based Carson Pirie Scott just a few months before those closures. Carson chairman Peter Willmott explained the acquisition – which included both the landmark Glass Block store in Minneapolis and Southdale in Edina – as a gambit “to put to rest the perception of [Carson Pirie Scott] as a primarily Chicago department store company.” Unfortunately for them, unlike the homegrown Donaldson’s brand, “this name meant nothing to anyone” in Minnesota – a terse but accurate enough assessment from a 1999 retrospective penned by Twin Cities columnist James Lileks. In short order, Carson’s turned around and sold its unprofitable acquisition to none other than Dayton’s (then Dayton-Hudson Corporation), Donaldson’s age-old rival. One wonders what a century of L.S. Donaldson Co. leaders – particularly Southdale Center partnership negotiator Kenneth G. Iverson – would have thought of this last twist of fate. Few physical traces of Donaldson’s groundbreaking, first suburban department store remain, courtesy of numerous large-scale renovations and tenant turnover of Southdale’s anchor spaces. (After the Carson’s sale, Dayton’s revamped and reopened the space under its mid-level Mervyn’s banner. Mervyn’s shuttered in 2004. After an extended period of vacancy, Herberger’s occupied the space from 2011 to 2018.) This lost Edina landmark has left an indelible legacy on the retail industry. As proof of concept for what lifestyle historian William Severini Kowinski terms “mall synergy,” the first-of-its-kind partnership between Donaldson’s and Dayton’s makes Southdale Center the forerunner of more than 1,100 multi-anchor malls across America. 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). 16 • ABOUT TOWN Six Recognized With Mayor’s Commendations By Krystal Caron Each year, Edina Mayor Jim Hovland receives nominations highlighting the good work community members and organizations do in Edina. This year, six were recognized with commendations at the 40th-Annual Community Volunteer Recognition Reception. Jessi Kingston and James Pierce were awarded the Mayor’s Individual Service Commendation for their work leading a Race & Equity Task Force that worked to assess the City’s facilities, institutions and services to address issues of race and inequity within the City. “In 2016, the City Council recognized long-term racial inequities have manifested in our community for decades. The City wanted to take a proactive approach to identify, repair and prevent future disparate outcomes in our community,” said Hovland at the reception. “Over the course of 18 months, the Task Force, led by Jessi Kingston and James Pierce, worked to assess the City’s facilities, institutions and services. [We are] now working toward implementation of many of the Task Force’s recommendations.” “Talking about race and confronting racism isn’t an easy conversation. If it was, it wouldn’t exist. As an Edina resident for more than 20 years, I was honored to co-chair with James. I’d like to thank our community for coming together and beginning a journey of healing and change,” said Kingston. Edina Give and Go was awarded the Mayor’s Service Organization Commendation, given to an organization that has made outstanding contributions to the community. The mission of Edina Give and Go is to bring life and learning opportunities to Edina Public Schools students who are economically disadvantaged. “Our organization is focused on about 9 percent of the students – about 750 students. We are thrilled that families are starting to see us as a resource,” said Edina Give and Go Executive Director Maggie McCracken. “They’re looking to us in new ways. We’re really about seeing every student and making sure they know they belong.” Hope Melton was awarded the Mayor’s Outstanding Senior Commendation, given to a senior for outstanding volunteer service within the community. Melton is Coordinator of Edina Neighbors for Affordable Housing. “I’m really honored. This award really goes to the members of our housing team, City Council and staff. This project has been the most enjoyable, the most conflict free and most inspiring,” she said. Working with the City of Edina, its staff and other community organizations, Melton and her organization are dedicated to preserving Edina’s existing affordable housing, protecting its tenant population, and producing more affordable housing in order to meet the Metropolitan Council’s forecast that Edina needs 1,220 units by 2030. “She educates the public, writes letters of support to the City Council, attends and testifies at public hearings, raises the issue at public meetings, monitors the City’s work on its Comprehensive Plan, and generally organizes the community in support of affordable housing,” said Hovland. LATE 2019 • 17 The Mayor’s Commendation for Service to Youth was given to Glenn Gray. This award is given to an individual or organization making a positive impact on the lives of Edina youth. “Edina soccer sometimes is the only time kids have to get out and get involved,” Gray said. “We work hard to make things accessible and keep it diverse. Keep volunteering. That’s the only way these kids can get these sort of opportunities.” Gray has served on the Edina Soccer Association (ESA) Board of Directors for over six years and is a past president. He helped coordinate an event in which over 200 ESA players and their families attended a Minnesota United game last June, championed refreshing the ESA website, worked with a local vendor to redesign the ESA logo and created ESA’s Adult League in the fall of 2017. The Mayor’s Community Involvement Commendation is given to a City employee for outstanding volunteer service to the community above and beyond his or her position with the City. City Assessor Bob Wilson received the award. In addition to performing his job at an exemplary level, Wilson has served on multiple Minnesota Association of Assessing Officers committees and held multiple chair positions. “It is very clear that Bob has a strong dedication for his profession and his family. Bob truly embodies the City’s values of Integrity, Quality and Service,” said Hovland. He is most influential within the organization in the areas of assessor education. In addition, he and his wife, Marie, spent last summer coordinating the Kidsave Summer Miracles Program for Columbian orphans to be hosted and potentially adopted in Minnesota and western Wisconsin. “It was an honor and a surprise to be recognized through the Mayor’s Commendation. I’m most proud of my office and the people that I work with. That’s what really means the most to me; I have a good team,” said Wilson. For more information visit EdinaMN.gov/Commendations or contact Communications & Technology Services Director Jennifer Bennerotte at jbennerotte@EdinaMN.gov. Five Mayor’s Commendations were given to six people at the Annual Community Volunteer Recognition Reception. Pictured are Hope Melton, Stephanie Pierce (accepting for her husband, James), Jessi Kingston, Mayor Jim Hovland, Bob Wilson, Glenn Gray and Maggie McCracken of Edina Give and Go. Photo by Jennifer Bennerotte 18 • ABOUT TOWN 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 !$"'% 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-JJ.pdf 1 4/30/19 10:07 AM LATE 2019 • 19 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). •Over 50% SOLD in Phase I •Several models to view •Homes range from the mid $400sto the $800s •Amenities: clubroom, guest suite, fitness center & heated underground parking 952-947-3028 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 Stephane Cattelin THE International Approach to Real Estate 612-703-8229 www.stephane cattelin.com Serving the Edina French-American Community 20 • ABOUT TOWN By Debbie Townsend A special garden for people to simply relax and enjoy is starting to take form inside Arneson Acres Park, 4711 W. 70th St. This summer, the first soil is being moved for the Tranquility Garden, which has been more than three years in the making thanks to the dedication of Edina Garden Council members. “Enjoy a quiet place to rejuvenate, celebrate, contemplate” is the description the Garden Council put on its fliers for the project. “It’s going to be a beautiful, unique spot,” said Karen Platt, Co-Chair of the Edina Garden Council’s Tranquility Garden Committee. “It’s going to be the horticultural highlight of the horticulture park in Edina.” If you visit the park this summer, wander past the gazebo, along the flowerbeds in full bloom and the fountain (all Edina Garden Council projects). Just past the fountain, veer off to the east. You’ll find work beginning on the Tranquility Garden, tucked behind the trees. The space previously was called the Memory Garden and long featured a large flowerbed of peonies surrounded by trees and a wall of hedges. It had been a garden-style memorial to Edina Garden Council members and residents. That name didn’t quite fit anymore. Memory gardens are often thought of as somber places full of markers. The garden’s visitors were finding other uses. “We found out some people were having very small weddings there,” said Liz Genovese, the committee’s other co-chair. “People would go to this space and even if benches weren’t in great shape, we would see people eating their lunch or reading there.” So before the new garden is born, it was renamed the “Tranquility Garden.” “We wanted the name to be more life-affirming,” Platt said. “Our plan for the design was if somebody wants to [rent the space to] have a small wedding or a small gathering, it would lend itself well to that,” said Joan Scott, Greenhouse Chairwoman. “It also can be a space where people can just go and reflect and have quiet.” Work on the first phase, being done by English Stone in Shakopee, includes brick pavers that stretch to three garden entrances and allow people to meander through the garden. Soils to provide the foundation of plants to come will be put in. Boulders will be strategically placed around the garden. The $47,210 cost of this work is being paid for by the Edina Garden Council, which raises money through its annual May plant sale, garden tours, donations, grants and the efforts of its five clubs. All five clubs have been involved in developing the Tranquility Garden design, which was done by Tony Siebenaler-Ransom of Studio Tsuke and Ben Erickson of b.e. landscape designs. Edina City Council Member Mary Brindle took a moment during the Council’s April 2 meeting to thank the Edina Tranquility Garden Coming To Life At Arneson Acres Park LATE 2019 • 21 (continued on next page) Garden Council members for their efforts. “It’s a wonderful project being taken on by wonderful people,” she said. Mayor James Hovland hailed the fundraising efforts and the donation. “It’s really a tremendously generous gift on their part,” he said. The Edina Garden Council hopes to raise enough money to add special features and plantings to the Tranquility Garden next summer. Those features include a seat wall covered by a pergola along one of the paths, swing bench with an arbor, open benches, and a variety of plants, shrubs and trees to give the garden a unique feel apart from the other garden areas of Arneson Acres Park. Among the more ambitious parts of the plan is a short stone wall across the north edge of the garden, much like an English stone wall. studioॻӃTSUKE turf specimen tree sculpture garden bed swing benchon arbor turf columnartrees multi-stemunderstorytrees 6 new conifers new conifers new arborvitae bluestoneflagstoneedge bluestoneflagstonepath gravelpath pergola stone seatwall seatwall bench w/back bench w/back stoneoutcropping paver pathrunning bond new arbarch entry entrywaygardens entrywaygardens existing arbentry arch existing arbentry archstone fence moon door existing arb hedgeentrance monument entrance monument 6 6 The full design of the Tranquility Garden at Arneson Acres Park includes adding brick paver paths, benches, a pergola, seating walls and new plants, trees and bushes.Submitted IllustrationTo DonateTax-deductible donations of any amount are welcome. Send a check made out to the Edina Garden Council (put Tranquility Garden in the memo line) to Tim Zimmerman, City Horticulturist, 7450 Metro Blvd., Edina, MN 55439. Include a note with your name, mailing address and email address. 22 • ABOUT TOWN FAMILY OWNEDAND OPERATEDSINCE 1857 EDINA CHAPEL 5000 W 50th Street952.920.3996 washburn-mcreavy.comFuneral Chapels, Cemeteries and Cremation Services “It won’t need maintenance. It’s a sign of permanence. It’s a sign of, ‘There is something special here,’” Genovese said of the proposed wall. “The area is so beautiful with the pines on the north side of the garden.” The 125 Edina Garden Council members would prefer the plan happen in one season, but they are ready for tackling it in phases as they raise money. “It’s kind of like a chessboard,” Platt said of the phases. “We’ll get the chessboard down, then paint it with some greenery, and then put in the pieces like the pergola as the funding comes in.” Learn more by visiting edinagardencouncil.org or calling the Arneson Acres greenhouse at 952-826-1620. CONCRETE WORKS 612-861-4243HageConcrete.com LifetimeNo CrackGuarantee. LATE 2019 • 23 R.F. MOELLERJEWELER Celebrating Your Milestones Visit us at 50th & France for a complimentary ring cleaning & inspection. Providin more than 40 yearsof expert care in EdinaProvidin more than 40 yearsof expert care in Edina 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 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 24 • ABOUT TOWN City Recognizes 44th & France Small Area Plan With Heritage Award By Krystal Caron The Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) gives a Heritage Award out each year to recognize efforts being done to preserve, rehabilitate or restore a historical place in Edina. This year, the award recognizes the significance of the 44th & France Small Area Plan. “The HPC really liked the community process and the efforts made by the working group to preserve the neighborhood village-like character of that 44th & France area,” said Assistant City Planner Emily Bodeker, who serves as staff liaison to the Heritage Preservation Commission. “They appreciated the effort that the working group members and community volunteers had in making sure that was an element of the plan.” The plan was spearheaded by the Small Area Planning Team Working Group: Katie Ayotte, Jimmy Bennett, Sheila Berube, Harvey Ronald Berg, Lisa Fagan, Eric Olson, Mike Platteter and Rebecca Sorensen. Mark Ehling, Sara Lathrop, Mark Schmidt and Julie Schmidt served as community input volunteers. Nominator Jane Lonnquist noted that there was a significant amount of volunteer effort and community engagement that went into creating this plan. Those efforts led to a plan that made preservation a top priority. “The future development of Edina’s 44th & France commercial node explicitly commits to preserve the village-like character of the area. The plan highlights three properties on the Edina side of France Avenue as central to the area’s character,” she said in her nomination. “By highlighting the history of these properties, the Small Area Plan advanced the community’s awareness and appreciation of these buildings and their rich community history.” The three properties were determined to be eligible for Heritage Landmark designation and were identified for protection because they prominently contribute to the historic character and authenticity of the Edina side of France Avenue. The properties are 4388 France Ave. S. (formerly Odd Fellows Hall), constructed 1908; 4400-4412 France Ave. S. (formerly Griffen Drug Store), constructed 1920; and 3910 Sunnyside Road (Convention Grill), constructed 1934. “The area is really special to me and a lot of people in the community. Everyone involved in the process sees there is a history there and it predates their time and that’s what makes it special,” said Bennett. “Having such a variety from façade to façade is something people like. Maintaining and encouraging that type of expression is important. Because of the scale of that area, they walk it and they bike it and we just really want people to be safe. It’s a change of history, but it’s an important community gathering place. We want to get people there safely and in a way they can enjoy as they journey around the area.” Visitors to 44th & France will immediately recognize the difference in style and character of the neighborhood. The commercial node in 44th & France developed between 1905 and 1936 as a streetcar suburb and, though there have been some updates, the area retains a walkable character and identity. The area’s convenient shopping opportunities and mix of goods and services are LATE 2019 • 25 important characteristics of 44th & France that the Small Area Plan sets out to preserve and enhance. The tool is a framework to help policymakers, staff and leaders make decisions that will protect character-defining features that have contributed to the success and desirability of the area, while permitting the market to take advantage of opportunities to redevelop existing uses. William Smith, owner of Biko Associates, served as a consultant for the plan and found that the area presented the group with unique challenges. “It’s an interesting area because it is two cities but one node. And interestingly that means there are two kinds of concerns. One is specifically what is of interest and important to the City of Edina and what is interesting and important to the node,” he said. “Parking was addressed, as well as maintaining vibrancy, neighborhood character and orientation. And critical issues were addressed such as parking, linkages and pedestrian circulation.” Both Bennett and Berube reiterated that this plan is remarkable because of the dedication of many volunteers. “A lot of work went into this. It’s a community-led process and having everyone involved helps to make sure we’re working toward one common goal,” said Bennett. “I’m proud to see the passion we have in our community and how many people really care about a place. I think it made people really focus on the process and make sure it was done right.” “We had a lot of different voices and opinions and that’s a really positive thing, so in the end you come with this product that’s a mix of everyone’s thoughts. I was really pleased to see the plan was awarded this honor,” said Berube. “The group came together despite having differences of opinions and in the end the group came up with a really quality product.” The award was presented in May during Preservation Month. To view the plan visit EdinaMN.gov/44th-France. To learn more about the Heritage Award, contact Bodeker at ebodeker@EdinaMN.gov or 952-826-0462. 44TH &FRANCE SMALL AREA PLAN EdinaMN.gov/CompPlan 26 • ABOUT TOWN LATE 2019 • 27 Brin g i ng yo u real estate insights since 1955. EDINA 6800 FRANCE EDINA 50TH & FRANCE edina6800france.edinarealty.comU N 952.927.1100 edina50thandfrance.edinarealty.comU N 952.920.1960 WeSellEdina.com Jeff & Diane Anderes 952-927-2842 Charlie Aul 612-812-7737 Heidi Barcelow 612-232-9777 Laura Bergman 612-644-7799 Winnie Crosbie 612-741-9556 John Everett 952-927-1646 Mark Granlund 612-803-8129 Cindy Jarvis 612-600-4119 Gary & Terri Judson 612-859-4863 Mary Krieter 612-719-0665 Deb Langevin 651-343-0404 Jane Larson 612-720-1048 John MacKany 952-927-1163 Kim Melin 952-201-4758 Jane Oelfke 952-200-5712 Keenan Olson 952-240-4903 Jude Dugan Olson 952-927-1186 Aaron Ouska 612-940-8020 Ginna Raming 952-210-8342 Tom & Erick Ries 952-393-6600 Margie & John Sampsell 612-701-6081 Danya Spencer 612-237-6611 Susan & Gary Wahman 952-334-4663 Chris Willette 612-388-8828 Pam Aagaard 952-261-7576 Dave Anderson 612-750-2209 Meg Boehne 952-240-4417 Cari Ann Carter 612-926-9999 Connie Cauble 612-751-3930 Stephanie Chandler 612-599-7107 Krysta Clark 612-644-3173 Barby Collins 612-801-0027 Sheila Cronin 952-913-2129 Karen Daly 952-922-3389 Alli Deckas 612-306-3735 Amy Deckas 612-735-7430 Lisa Eckert 952-240-7890 Lisa Heim 612-382-9672 Mark Kouatli 612-708-8400 Anna Mae Lambert 612-730-3121 Kyle Litwin 952-924-8787 Brad, Amy & Meghan McNamara 612-805-8785 Meg & Tom Meyers 952-924-8712 Jane Paulus 612-702-5694 Linda Smaby 612-325-7972 Martha Webb 612-384-4413 Sylva Zoraqi 612-710-8081 28 • ABOUT TOWN Former Hopkins Mayor Assumes West Metro Seat On Met Council By David Katz In the late 1960s, the Twin Cities stood at something of a crisis point. Across the metro, a decades-long population boom strained infrastructure and threatened residents’ quality of life. Among other endemic issues, existing wastewater management facilities proved inadequate to their task – leading to a rash of septic tank failures and river contaminations. A failing, privately owned bus system provided only patchwork service to the expanding suburbs. Meanwhile, private investors gobbled up some of the region’s most picturesque landscapes for further development. Fast forward to today, and the region’s infrastructure and outlook could not be more different. Minneapolis-St. Paul boasts an integrated and award-winning water treatment system, one of the most enterprising public transit systems in the nation, and a regional parks network spanning some 54,000 acres. This “about face” did not come about by chance, and its timing is no coincidence either. In 1967, the Minnesota Legislature created the Metropolitan (“Met”) Council to address metro-wide challenges and guide intercommunity collaborations such as these. “We, the Twin Cities, span seven counties and dozens of communities,” explained Molly Cummings, Edina’s new representative to this key body. “Obviously, no one city or town could meaningfully address a truly regional issue like wastewater management or public transportation … This is not just true historically. It remains true today. “In the coming years, our region is projected to grow by another 700,000 people. That’s the equivalent of the entire state of North Dakota moving to the Twin Cities ... So, the need for a guiding Met Council is as great as ever.” Cummings stepped into the role of District 5 Council Member in early March. In addition to Edina, this large district encompasses Bloomington, Richfield and her native Hopkins. “Step into” is something of a misnomer, however. The Met Council appointment process is an extremely rigorous one, as Cummings can now personally attest. “With every change in governor and administration, there is a new opportunity for folks to put themselves forward for consideration through the Secretary of State’s office,” she explained. After the election of Gov. Tim Walz, more than 200 people did exactly that. Molly Cummings is Edina’s new representative to the Met Council.Photo by Michael Braun LATE 2019 • 29 “In my case, I was drawn in by the incoming administration’s commitment to One Minnesota – building up an environment of prosperity for all of our different communities,” Cummings said. “The Met Council has a key role to play in that.” After several rounds of deliberation, a 12-member selection committee handpicked by the governor winnowed this field to a slate of 48 top contenders – three for each of the Council’s 16 districts. Walz himself then made the final appointments. Cummings’ nomination comes as no surprise to those who know her. Her varied and impressive public service track record stretches back more than a decade. Highlights include time on both the Planning & Zoning Commission and the Park Board for the City of Hopkins, followed by four years on the City Council. Her career in Hopkins culminated in another four years as mayor. Cummings says that these posts give her an intimate understanding of the growth pains common to nearly all west metro communities. “As the mayor, I don’t think a day went by where I didn’t field at least one call from a local business leader concerned about transportation or housing,” she recalled. One example, in particular, left a lasting impact on her. “Supervalu maintains a large distribution center in Hopkins,” Cummings said. “Leadership wanted to expand this operation with a third shift. Unfortunately, the buses in that area stop running at 10 p.m., making this proposed night shift unrealistic for the many Supervalu workers who rely on public transportation.” Until transitioning into the Met Council (which required her to yield the mayorship), Cummings co-chaired a voluntary association called the Regional Council of Mayors. She split these executive duties with her “neighbor” to the east – Edina’s own Mayor Jim Hovland. “This body is basically a monthly roundtable, where mayors from across the Twin Cities gather in a nonpartisan [environment] to share best practices ... and discuss topics of regional interest,” she explained. “It shares the Met Council’s goals of cooperation and collective prosperity.” Founded in 2004 with only eight members, the Regional Council of Mayors now boasts an affiliation of 58. In 2017, Cummings expanded the concept with a new initiative called Minnesota Mayors Together. Envisioned as a vehicle to forge connections and foster empathy across the so-called urban/rural divide, this statewide pilot brought more than 20 mayors to summits in Bemidji and Duluth. Cummings led the Twin Cities delegation to both. Taken as a whole, “this impressive resume puts Molly in a good position to ‘hit the ground running,’ as they say, on the Met Council,” praised Hovland. “She is an immediate asset to her home district.” Hopkins City Manager Mike Mornson agrees wholeheartedly. “Molly has proven herself a good collaborator with other units of government – other cities, county administration, school districts and so on … She will do well in her new role because of this skill.” Cummings’ freshman year on the Met Council will be a jam-packed one. Her commitments include assignment to (continued on next page) 30 • ABOUT TOWN the Community Development Committee – a key Met Council commission with an expansive charter. “This body is responsible for monitoring housing inventory generally, and ensuring affordable housing opportunities in particular,” she explained. “I have long been passionate about diversity and equity issues. Housing disparities are one of the major areas where we see inequalities in action.” Cummings also sits on the Met Council’s nine-member Transportation Committee. While it maintains its own brand identity, Metro Transit is actually an operating division of the Council. Consequently, Cummings and her colleagues are the authority behind its assets and operation – including a fleet of over 900 buses covering 130 routes across a 910-square-mile service area. Metro Transit administers the growing light rail network, too. This last responsibility holds a particular resonance for Cummings. Crews are currently hard at work on a 14.5-mile extension to the Southwest Light Rail Transit (SWLRT) Green Line, which will bisect Hopkins and bring three new stations to her hometown. “Strategic investments like this … do a lot to level the playing field and ensure prosperity for all of us,” she explained. “It’s a good example of why I’m so committed to the Council’s work.” For more information on the Met Council, visit www.metrocouncil.org. Contact Cummings at molly.cummings@metc.state.mn.us. 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 50th Street between Wooddale and Chowen Avenues will close for S R EETS On 50th O PEN 1-5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22 LATE 2019 • 31 952.905.5558www.ramonajenkins.com Ramona JenkinsSenior Mortgage Loan Officer NMLS# 264221 When it comes time to make your most important financial decision, trust an expert. Experience the Bell Bank Mortgage Difference. Bell Ads 3.6x3.6_OCT16.indd 2 10/21/16 12:06 PM Expires January 1, 2020 Energy Psychology Healing If you struggle with: • Anxiety • Depression or Sadness • Chronic Pain • Stress or Overwhelm • Emotional Trauma • Feeling Stuck Energy Healing is a chance to break free from medications and endless therapy. Release unresolved issues and feel more at peace! Linda Duncanson is a certified holistic healer and is here to meet your needs. www.oroholistichealth.com 612-280-2530 5780 Lincoln Drive #205 Edina, MN 55436 32 • ABOUT TOWN New Race & Equity Coordinator Focuses On Building Relationships By Kaylin Eidsness Heidi Lee’s parents came to Minnesota from the Philippines with a couple suitcases of clothes, a few personal items and the notion they would have different opportunities in the United States. Along with the support of family and friends, Lee and her family were able to create and build a different life in St. Paul. Lee, who is the City’s first Race & Equity Coordinator, wants to make sure everyone has equitable access and opportunities to flourish. Relationships are very important to Lee, and they will be an important part of her work to ensure race and equity principles are emphasized as part of Edina’s culture and standard operating procedures. “It can start with a conversation,” said Lee, who started work for the City in mid-March. “Let’s work together to move the needle forward. It doesn’t need to be a huge movement, because it’s going to take time. But let’s meet, and let’s talk.” Lee brings to the job prior equity experience with the Saint Paul School District as Project Coordinator with the Office of Equity, where she worked with District departments to provide equity plan support and implementation. She also coordinated and facilitated district-wide racial equity training. During a portion of that time, Lee also took part in the Administrative Intern Residency, where she provided racial equity coaching and support to leadership. “I’m grateful that I had opportunities in Saint Paul that allowed me to get this opportunity in Edina,” said Lee. “I want to be able to help and support what transformation looks like in a different area. Just to be able to create is huge.” “Heidi stood out to us because of the variety of her race and equity experience,” said City Manager Scott Neal. “People here were really impressed with Heidi, with her enthusiasm for the work and her ability to translate it from a school setting to local government. We’re excited to have her on board and look forward to developing the position together.” Heidi Lee started as Race & Equity Coordinator with the City in March. Photo by Michael Braun LATE 2019 • 33 As Race & Equity Coordinator, Lee will focus on serving as an equity liaison to the public, staff and elected and appointed officials. Her duties also include working with staff throughout the organization to develop and provide community outreach to advance the City’s race and equity goals. As Lee works her way through the Race & Equity Work Plan adopted by the Edina City Council in 2018, she’s already strategized about ways to ensure the changes won’t be temporary but instead incorporated into the way the City operates. “I’m working with staff to ensure that what we’re doing to further racial equity is sustainable, and not just an initiative,” said Lee, who also mentioned there are multiple ways to go about doing so, but that the key is to make sure the changes are authentic. “When you’re able to involve people in the process to make it more authentic, then people are more connected to one another, which builds grace. Grace is what we need to hold onto tight when things may not go the best,” she said. When Lee’s parents came to the United States, they depended on that grace to start their new life in a foreign country. They also had the support of Lee’s extended family and the Saint Paul community, in which they grew roots. Lee said in a perfect world every person would receive love and support from their community, and even though it seems out of reach, that’s what she’s going to work toward. “It sounds so idealistic, but it’s the truth,” she says. For more information about the position, contact Lee at 952-826-1622 or HLee@EdinaMN.gov. For more information on the Race & Equity Workplan, visit EdinaMN.gov/Race-Equity. SOUTHDALE Y FREE 5 DAY PASS *OFFER EXPIRES 12/18/2019 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 • ABOUT TOWN Two Edina Officers Catch Themselves Awards By Lauren Siebenaler Edina Detective Joel Moore and Sgt. Kevin Rofidal were recently named the 2018 Mike Siitari Officers of the Year. Both officers were chosen by the Edina Crime Prevention Fund for these awards. The Crime Fund has recognized one officer a year since 2011 in honor of former Police Chief Mike Siitari. For the first time, they chose two people to honor. “I fully support these two being recognized,” said Police Chief Dave Nelson. “I think it’s outstanding and I agree with the board’s decision that both of these officers should be recognized. Both of them have been with the department for many years and the things that they do for the department is so great.” Last year, Moore solved two third-degree murder cases, a Walgreens robbery and a homicide, that he began work on in January 2018. It was a case that crossed state lines and received nationwide attention. Edina resident Christina Prodan was reported missing Jan. 7 by her mother. After spending hundreds of hours on the case, on March 30, Moore interviewed Prodan’s boyfriend, Joseph Porter, in Little Rock, Arkansas, where Porter confessed to killing Prodan. On Jan. 15, 2019, Porter was sentenced to more than 21 years in prison. Moore led the investigation and coordinated efforts with the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Little Rock and New Orleans police departments. “Joel’s work was just outstanding,” said Police Chief Dave Nelson. “The man strangled her in the apartment and then he carried her out to the car. There was no crime scene, no blood, no sign of a struggle, per se. You always like to be able to present your crime scene in court; you want your photographs to show what happened. But in a case like that, you’re not going to have it. It was just one more thing that Joel had to overcome to prove this happened here in Edina. It was amazing the amount of hours he put in and just wouldn’t let it go.” “Tenacity would be a word that comes to mind for what Joel did,” said Jon Barnett of the Edina Crime Prevention Fund. “And I think he was motivated by really helping this family get closure.” Nelson spoke highly of his history of solving burglaries. But this homicide case was his first. “When I got that call, my first thought was, ‘I’m getting called in on a Sunday for a missing person and she’s probably going to show up tomorrow,’” said Moore, who’s Edina Detective Joel Moore and Sgt. Kevin Rofidal are the 2018 Mike Siitari Officers of the Year. Photo by Michael Braun LATE 2019 • 35 been with the department since 2001. “That was not the case. I started reviewing all of the historical reports on the two of them and learned that the boyfriend had been stopped in two different states and she wasn’t with him. At that point, I knew something was wrong and that something bad had happened.” “It’s great to be recognized when you put a lot of work into cases, but I didn’t do all of this by myself. There are so many people involved in these big cases. The credit goes to all the other people who assisted on these cases.” Police work runs in Rofidal’s blood. His grandfather, Louis Rofidal, was a Police Officer in Brainerd. He died as Police Chief three years before Kevin was born. “One thing that inspired me to get into law enforcement is my grandfather. I grew up hearing the stories about Grandpa Louie and what he did,” said Rofidal. “I’m just always trying to live up to his expectations.” Before becoming an officer, Rofidal volunteered more than 3,400 hours for the City through various events and during his time as a Police Explorer. “Kevin grew up in Edina and he always wanted to be a cop,” said Nelson. “When he became eligible to become a Police Officer, his first job was with Farmington. So he kind of left here and went to Farmington, and everyone in the Edina department knew he would come back. After two years, we hired him back. He’s just got such a strong drive on making the City of Edina and the department a better place.” Rofidal always looks for opportunities to improve. He is credited with applying for a grant for the City to purchase a BearCat in 2003, and bring it to Edina to use in the west metro. He worked hard to bring back the K-9 Unit that dissolved decades previously. He garnered community support and found other donors who spurred the start of K-9 retirement funds. He is the department’s self-appointed historian. “I’m most proud of the work I’ve done on the history of the department,” said Rofidal. “The stuff that’s happening today, the big stuff, in four or five years will be history. It doesn’t need to be stuff back in the 1930s.” “He’s our department historian and so he knows everything about everything,” said Nelson. “That’s huge in itself because it lets everyone know, even within our department, what our history is, what our culture has been and how our department has changed.” For more than 45 years, the Edina Crime Prevention Fund has been a valuable community partner. The Fund is a proud and significant contributor to many police department services and programs, including the K-9 Unit, Bike Patrol, Junior Police, Foot Patrol, Motorcycle Unit, Night to Unite, Mobile Surveillance Unit, Citizens’ Academy, Police Explorers and rewards. “The Crime Fund exists to help our police in whatever way we can,” said Barnett. “I think these guys are exemplary of what we see in our whole department. We have a great group of people that help keep us safe. …. It just makes you thankful that we live in a town where we have such a good team of people to help us.” For more information about the Edina Crime Prevention Fund, visit www.EdinaCrimeFund.org. 36 • ABOUT TOWN Edina Community Foundation: Bold New Ideas By Dick Crockett, Edina Community Foundation Executive Director Edina residents have Bold New Ideas. The Edina Community Foundation (ECF) stands ready to make their ideas a reality. ECF already serves as the charitable giving partner for more than 65 independent nonprofit community organizations and programs. In April, we expanded our reach by launching the Bold New Idea Contest, an initiative to help find and fund new nonprofits that benefit our community. ECF Board Member Caroline Correia proposed the Bold New Idea initiative, harnessing the power of crowd funding and a selection event where attendees chose the winning idea. Twenty individuals or groups submitted ideas, and the ECF Board selected five finalists who prepared short videos of their proposals. Finalists presented their ideas at a selection event April 4. The Bold New Idea winner was Her Next Play/Edina Girls Sport Summit, presented by South View Middle School student Claire Wegmann-Krider, assisted by a team of South View students. Her Next Play will host an annual event for girls and sports leadership—the Edina Girls Sport Summit. This event will celebrate Edina athletes and inspire girls to stay in sports and develop their leadership skills. The event will feature a top sports female role model as well as experts in mental toughness, leadership, teamwork, risk-taking and confidence. Her Next Play has since established a Community Impact Fund with ECF and has received its winning grant of $5,000 to help finance the first sport summit in the fall. All of the Bold New Idea finalists had ideas that make Edina a stronger community, and ECF is committed to help them find funding. Here’s a recap of the other four finalists and updates on their journeys toward launching their nonprofits: Edina Mural Project (presented by Julie Greene) was the second-place finisher at the Bold New Idea event. Under the leadership of Minnesota-based GoodSpace Murals, our community would create a series of canvas murals for permanent display in public spaces in Edina. In the first phase, the community would be invited to share their unique expressions and interests to create the specific design of each mural with an artist. Phase 2 would be a series of painting parties for all to join, sparking conversations and connections. Phase 3 would be the community “reveal celebration” with an opportunity to celebrate a joyful experience together. Finally, Phase 4 would be the final mural that splashes joy in Edina, reminding us that we are all connected, for years to come. ECF has identified a funding sponsor for Julie’s project and expects it to be financed in the near future. Edina Entertainers (proposed by Kira Hoedeman, an Edina High School sophomore) envisions an opportunity for Edina’s music, dance and theater artists to entertain our community with a series of “pop-up” events in public Submitted PhotoCaroline Correia LATE 2019 • 37 locations. Imagine a musical trio entertaining shoppers at 50th & France on a beautiful spring afternoon or a lyrical dance group sharing their love of dance at the Maetzold Amphitheater at Centennial Lakes Park on a cool fall evening. These performances would have the goal of showcasing Edina’s talented fine arts community and creating happiness and cheer in our community. Kira has since established a Community Impact Fund that has been partially funded with a $1,000 challenge grant from the ECF Founders Club Fund. Seed to Feed: School Farm to Table (presented by Clover Hackett for the Concord Wellness Committee) proposed enhancing the current outdoor vegetable garden at Concord Elementary School with a “farm to table” focus for students and the Edina community. Several features would be added to provide extended season and water conservation practices, enabling the vegetables and herbs to be grown by students from early spring to late fall. The harvested foods would be used as part of the school lunch program. Step to It Challenge (proposed by City of Edina Recreation Supervisor Nicole Gorman) is a community-wide annual activity challenge during the month of May to motivate people of all ages and abilities to become more physically active. ECF secured full funding of $3,500 for this project from Community Impact Funds previously established for the Edina Parks & Recreation Department and the Edina Senior Center. Edina thus offered the program for the first time in 2019. As these Bold New Idea finalists find funding and launch, they will join the 65 Community Impact Partners that already work with ECF. Together, we “Build Edina, One Great Idea at a Time.” For more information on ECF or the Community Impact Program visit www.edinacommunityfoundation.org or email ed-foundation@EdinaMN.gov.Photo by Suzanne Ressemann courtesy of Edina MagazineSouth View Middle School students Lilly Green, Joely Emerson, Claire Wegmann-Krider, Lila Emerson, Carolina Cultu, Olivia Wegmann-Krider and Molly Bennett prepared the winning proposal for the Edina Community Foundation’s Bold New Idea initiative. 38 • ABOUT TOWN Street Sweeping Beautifies More Than Our Roadways By David Katz Whether you drive a car, take the bus or ride a bike, each of us relies on Edina’s roadway network to get around. Unfortunately, urban pollutants use these same highways and byways to travel to where they can do the most damage. “It might not be terribly obvious, [but] drainage from streets and other paved surfaces is one of the major ways in which harmful materials reach our lakes,” explained Water Resources Coordinator Jessica Wilson. Manmade trash is one factor, of course – but natural debris is a far bigger culprit. Each year, hundreds of pounds worth of leaves, twigs and soil trickle into our stormwater management system and, ultimately, our water bodies. “Decomposing leaves and sticks release large amounts of phosphorus,” Wilson explained. “Phosphorus is a key nutrient found in all plants. Everything in nature requires some amount of this nutrient to grow.” Just as phosphorus applied to a lawn promotes plant growth, phosphorus in a lake promotes algae growth. If that growth reaches “toxic bloom” levels, algae deoxygenates the water – increasing stress for native wildlife. Algae blooms are also unsightly, making our lakes unattractive for boating, swimming and other recreational purposes. Before asphalt and other manmade surfaces overtook Edina, this was a non-issue, Wilson explained. “Water tended to absorb where it landed, and leaves would decompose where they fell.” The storm drain network – although it provides a drainage and flood protection service – concentrates phosphorus in downstream lakes and ponds. Numerous studies have shown that one of the best ways to mitigate this vexing issue is to invest in timely, citywide street sweeping. “Our team goes out and sweeps the entire City twice a year, in the spring and again every fall,” explained Street Supervisor Shawn Anderson. This timing is dictated by the seasons. “Fall allows us to pick up leaves before Photo by Kaylin EidsnessStreet cleaning has a major – if largely unseen – impact on the health of Edina’s lakes and other natural resources. LATE 2019 • 39 winter and snow set in. Spring is when we get debris left after the snow melt.” Each of these comprehensive cleanings takes approximately 4-5 weeks – a steady clip, considering that the City of Edina is crisscrossed by 230 miles of roadways and bike lanes. This is made a little more manageable by the City’s investment in a regenerative air sweeper. This compact Public Works vehicle is a step up from traditional mechanical sweepers, which rely on large brushes that inevitably leave some residue behind. Instead, “the regenerative air sweeper uses air generated in a sealed head to move dirt and debris … this suction cup does a better job picking up finer particulate matter,” Anderson explained. The City of Edina rolled out its first regenerative air sweeper in 2014. Efforts to date have already paid big dividends. According to the City of Edina’s Street Sweeping Management Plan (2015), this sweeping regimen keeps upwards of 208,900 pounds of solids out of at-risk watershed areas each year. This mass includes approximately 185 pounds of phosphorous that would otherwise contribute to increased algae growth. Gains are also apparent on the statewide level. “A recent report commissioned by the Metropolitan Council looked at water clarity and chemical concentrations over 40 years,” Wilson shared. “In the Mississippi, Minnesota and Saint Croix rivers, [and other boundary-spanning waters], phosphorous levels are on the decline.” Unfortunately, that same report indicates that chloride levels are on the rise. “Chloride is an ingredient in many road salts,” Wilson said. Like phosphorous, too much of this pollutant is toxic to fish and other wildlife. Road salt debris is the main reason the City conducts a second thorough street sweeping after the seasonal thaw, Anderson added. While the prime sweeping windows are relatively short, the work of the Streets Division is never done. Spot cleaning services are available throughout the summer. “Construction zones often need a little extra attention, and the sweeper can also go out at resident request,” Anderson reported. Neighborhoods with a dense tree canopy, and low-lying areas (where loam and other detritus tends to accumulate through wind and rain), are also good candidates for extra attention. As with so many Public Works maintenance measures, there is always a role for residents to play alongside the professionals. “The most important thing that homeowners can do is ensure that their yards are cleared of leaves,” Anderson said. Otherwise, “this is likely to blow from lawns right back into the cleaned streets.” At the same time, residents are advised not to pile tall leaf piles onto their curb. Sweepers, even regenerative air units, cannot effectively mop up stacks nearly as tall as the vehicle itself. Residents may consider composting or coordinating yard waste service with their trash haulers. (continued on next page) 40 • ABOUT TOWN • 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 For those interested in conservation, Wilson recommends taking it even a step further. When stormwater management systems are functioning properly, “drains and grates can clog up with some frequency.” Residents can make a real difference by simply clearing trash and natural debris from these outlets with a rake or broom between street sweepings. Wilson encourages those who choose to go this extra mile to record their efforts through a new Adopt-a-Drain program, a coalition of more than 70 public, private and nonprofit organizations, including the City of Edina and the Minnehaha and Nine Mile Creek Watershed Districts. Adopt-a-Drain tracks grassroots efforts across the Twin Cities. More than 104,060 pounds of clogging material has already been cleared through this program. While the bigger picture can sometimes be hard to fathom, “street sweeping is proof that picking up leaves and sticks before they can get into our water and degrade is the most effective, and most cost-efficient, way to minimize phosphorous,” Anderson said. For more information on the City of Edina’s street cleaning efforts, visit EdinaMN.gov/PublicWorks or contact Anderson at 952-826-0313. To adopt a drain, visit adopt-a-drain.org. NORTH RAMPOPEN To better serve you! EdinaMN.gov LATE 2019 • 41 SHARE your knowledge skills passion experience. LEARN with students as a volunteer. We’re working for a stronger community becoming more curious, more vibant and more connected through lifelong learning. Join us! VOLUNTEER in Edina Public Schools. Volunteers help students practice academic skills like reading and math, provide one-on-one mentorship, keep our media centers running smoothly, lend energy to special events, and more. Interested? Contact Carynn Roehrick Volunteer Program Manager Edina Community Education Volunteer@EdinaSchools.org 952-848-4923 42 • ABOUT TOWN New Parks & Recreation Director Returning To His Passion By Debbie Townsend Perry Vetter’s vision of parks and recreation can be found in his Twin Cities favorite: Minnehaha Regional Park. “You have these really valued natural resources that meet with people doing a variety of active recreational pursuits and passive recreational pursuits,” he said of the Minneapolis park, which boasts dramatic waterfalls, gardens, pools, historical sites, trails and paths, picnic areas, disc golf, a dog park and more. “It provides a little something for everyone. I think that’s a really cool spot to go to.” Not that every park should have all that. Vetter, 45, is just as big of a booster of neighborhood parks where people read a book, take a walk or bring the kids to play and meet their neighbors. “A lot of our neighborhood parks are the connection in our neighborhoods,” he said. As the new Parks & Recreation Director for the City of Edina, Vetter oversees more than 40 parks and eight recreation facilities, which include Braemar Arena, Braemar Golf Course and the Edina Aquatic Center. For Vetter, who started his new position in June, it’s an exciting opportunity in a career he was destined for. “Parks & Recreation was a little bit in my blood,” he said. “I remember once conducting a basketball camp for kids in my neighborhood. The only issue was I was around 12 years old at the time.” He would keep following that path, earning a bachelor’s degree in Recreation Management from University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and completing an internship at the Three Rivers Park District. From there, he was hired as a Recreation Program Manager, the start of a 21-year career at the City of Minnetonka. He advanced through the recreation division, including managing a $1.2 million budget for recreation services programming that served 35,000 attendees. As his Minnetonka career continued, he took over managing 50 park locations, 80 miles of trails, a thousand acres of public land and 14 buildings, along with dozens of employees. In 2010, he was named Assistant Public Works Director with responsibility for managing Photo by Michael BraunPerry Vetter began work as the City of Edina’s Parks & Recreation Director in June. LATE 2019 • 43 the buildings and grounds division, park inspections program, residential recycling and GIS operations. Two years later, his success shifted his path as he was appointed Assistant City Manager in Minnetonka. While he remained tied to parks by serving as the staff liaison to the Park Board, his new position included city-wide budgeting, capital planning and overseeing the human resources, information technology, communications and city clerk departments. While the experience he gained was invaluable, his passion remained for the outdoors and recreation. He had grown up playing sports, including football, basketball and track and field. He rattles off his favorite outdoor pastimes: biking, hiking, camping, kayaking, walking trails, catching the sunset on the lakes. He’s completed three Ironman triathlons, most recently the Ironman Wisconsin in September 2018. “He’s a parks and rec guy at heart,” said Edina City Manager Scott Neal, who has known Vetter a few years through their work connections. Neal called Vetter a good leader who explored other opportunities in Minnetonka but who clearly wants to focus his career on his true passion. Of all Vetter’s accomplishments in Minnetonka, his favorite was implementation of a 2001 referendum to renew that city’s parks. It funded walking paths, playground replacements, new shelter buildings, lights at outdoor rinks and many other improvements, park by park. The whole process involved neighborhood input, including that of children, and a thorough examination of nearly every park in the city. While the work took years, to Vetter the goal was simple: “How are we best going to have a park that you are going to be proud of in your neighborhood?” It’s the same question he will be asking in Edina. When the Parks & Recreation Director position opened with former director Ann Kattreh’s departure to Bloomington, Vetter saw the opportunity to return to his passion. “It’s a very high quality city. It has this amazing collection of parkland, facilities and program offerings. It had all those things heading in a positive direction,” he said. “During the recruitment process I was blown away by the professionalism and the commitment and how top-notch the staff was. “I’m really looking forward to bringing my experience and my passion for parks and recreation to help and contribute.” City of Edina Recreation Supervisor Nicole Gorman worked with Vetter a few years ago while at Minnetonka. “He was great to work with. I’m excited,” Gorman said. “Having his experience being an assistant city manager and coming over to be Parks & Recreation Director, I think he’s going to be really well prepared.” Vetter is already thinking of Edina’s parks and facilities and how people enjoy them, from skating at Braemar (continued on next page) 44 • ABOUT TOWN Arena to playing the new Championship 18 golf course to birding or strolling through Bredesen Park. “Parks & Recreation are kind of that catalyst to experience nature or to have a better chance to meet a neighbor,” Vetter said. “People try an activity they never attempted before. Others work on an activity they try to master their entire life, like hockey.” One of his subtly simple goals is for people to enjoy Edina’s parks so much that they spend just a few minutes more each visit. “If they are at the park an additional 10 minutes, another neighbor might visit and they make an additional connection in their neighborhood. That’s how you build community.” Reach Vetter at pvetter@EdinaMN.gov or 952-826-0430. • Headache/Migraine • Epilepsy/Seizures • Head Injury/Concussion • Alzheimer’s Disease • Neuromuscular Disease • Movement Disorders • Parkinson’s Disease • Tremors • Multiple Sclerosis • Muscle Weakness • Neck/Back Pain • Arm /Leg Pain • Sleep Disorders • Stroke • Dizziness • Dementia • Numbness • And other Neurological Disorders Specialists in the diagnosis and treatment of... Noran Neurological Clinic provides adult and pediatric neurology, EMG/NCS, sleep studies, infusion and imaging services. Blaine | Edina | Lake Elmo/Woodbury| Lakeville | Minneapolis | Plymouth 612.879.1500 www.noranclinic.com Personalized Care. Compassionate, Comprehensive, LATE 2019 • 45 Whether you’re on the road or on vacation, AAA has you covered. AAA.com | 952-925-2244 | 7151 France Ave S. • Plan your next adventure with a AAA Travel Agent • Learn about AAA Roadside Assistance and all the benefits of joining AAA • Manage your AAA Membership • Meet with an independent insurance agent to review your policy • Shop for luggage and travel accessories in the Travel Store Open Monday-Friday from 9am-6pm and Saturday from 9am-3pm Discover Everything YouCan Do at AAA in Edina 46 • ABOUT TOWN Thanks to the generous donations of many philanthropic individuals, clubs and causes, the City of Edina received more than $340,000 in donations to use toward worthy endeavors and programs, public safety and park improvements. The reasons for donating are varied and many; each one is gratefully received by the City and has a profoundly positive impact on the community. The largest donation came from Edina Baseball Association. These funds, totaling $125,000, were added to a grant the City applied for and received from Hennepin County to help purchase new lights for Courtney Field 1, and the City couldn’t be happier with the results. “The energy-efficient lights offer less spillover and can be managed electronically anywhere with a phone or online,” said Recreation Supervisor Tiffany Bushland. Nine Mile Creek Watershed District also gifted the City a substantial contribution of $18,750 to remove invasive buckthorn and help with habitat restoration at Bredesen Park. City Manager Scott Neal summed up the gratitude for and impact of contributions: “There is such an immense amount of civic pride and generosity in the community of Edina, and these sentiments are reflected and reinforced in the resources donated to the City.” He added that “the City takes the stewardship of monetary gifts very seriously and strives to use them in the best way possible.” For more information on donations made in 2018, contact City Clerk Sharon Allison, 952-826-0408. To donate to a City department or program this year, contact the Communications & Technology Services Department, 952-826-0359. Donors Contribute Over $340,000 To City In 2018 Contributors of $500 or more in donations to the City in 2018 were: Edina Baseball Association $100,000 toward Hennepin Park Grant Matching Funds for Courtney Fields improvementsEdina Baseball Association $25,000 toward Courtney Fields improvements Nine Mile Creek Watershed District $18,750 grant for buckthorn removal and habitat restoration at Bredesen ParkEdina Crime Prevention Fund $17,920 for Police Harley Davidson MotorcycleEdina Crime Prevention Fund $16,070 for 2017 Police Motorcycle ProgramEdina Community Foundation $15,793 to Arneson Acres Tranquility Garden Renovation DesignEdina Crime Prevention Fund $15,000 for 2017 Police Bike PatrolEdina Crime Prevention Fund $13,000 in proceeds from the Edina Fall into the Arts Festival, benefitting the Edina Art Center Edina Crime Prevention Fund $13,000 in proceeds from the Edina Fall into the Arts Festival, benefitting Edina Parks & Recreation – Compiled by Danielle Boschee LATE 2019 • 47 Edina Community Foundation $10,900 for Lucas 3 CPR DeviceEdina Crime Prevention Fund $10,639 toward Police K-9 supportEdina Garden Council $9,280 to Arneson Acres Tranquility Garden Renovation DesignEdina Crime Prevention Fund $9,048 for Police SWAT equipmentEdina Crime Prevention Fund $8,500 for new Police K-9 dog GryfEdina Crime Prevention Fund $8,124 for Police training equipmentEdina Community Foundation $8,000 toward the Connect Card ScholarshipEdina Crime Prevention Fund $4,956 for four Police LMT Tactical LaunchersPacy Erck $4,600 toward City golf coursesAndy Porter and Eric Nelson $4,500 for 15 park trees (oak, maple and linden)Mark Morris and Cynthia Riebe $3,200 for memorial bench in honor of Arthur and Virginia Morris at Williams ParkEdina Crime Prevention Fund $3,002 for Police Neighborhood Officer ProgramEdina Crime Prevention Fund $3,000 toward 2017 Police motorcycle maintenanceAndy Warczak $2,800 for four spaded trees (maple, oak and pine) at Strachauer ParkAAA $2,000 for Police Teen Safe Driving GrantN.C. Little Memorial Hospice $1,500 to Fire Department N.C. Little Memorial Hospice $1,500 to Police DepartmentKelodale Garden Club $1,400 toward foliar spray and buckthorn removalEdina Lions Club $1,200 for Senior Center laptop computerWestin Edina Galleria Hotel $1,050 for three trees at Centennial LakesEdina Crime Prevention Fund $1,000 for 2017 Foot Patrol at 50th & FranceEdina Community Foundation $965 to the Youth Wrestling ProgramEdina Crime Prevention Fund $670 for K-9 Retirement FundEagle Scout Service Project $690 Service project to build garden boxes at Fire Station 1Mark Mudra $600 memorial bench in honor of Harry Mudra for the pickleball complex at Rosland ParkMarshall Lewis $500 Memorial Fund donation toward City golf coursesEdina Lions Club $500 for Fam Jam 48 • ABOUT TOWN Lake Buffer Restoration Planned For Lake Cornelia By Krystal Caron Last summer, the City completed an internal turf management inventory and staff are in the early stages of developing a land management plan. All of these steps will help guide decisions on how to handle vegetation throughout Edina. One key area is a portion of the shores of Lake Cornelia. Native vegetation will soon be planted around the southwest shore on land owned by the City. The plantings will increase habitats for native wildlife and pollinators and decrease the impact that mowing and landscaping has on the environment. “There is a bit of a culture shift around turf. People are more open to alternatives that are better for sustainability, resilient landscaping and better for air quality,” said Water Resource Coordinator Jessica Wilson, further explaining that a desire to address the water quality of Lake Cornelia and a focus on pollinator protection and habitat came together in the lake buffer restoration project. Construction on the project is expected to begin later this summer and will be funded entirely through the storm water utility fund. City officials plan to use residents’ feedback to help determine what to plant in this area. “We want to emphasize native plants, which come in different heights, colors and textures,” Wilson said. A design consultant has completed an initial status assessment and was asked to provide ideas on how to accommodate views of the lake and other benefits to nearby property owners. Concept drawings were developed and shared with stakeholders for feedback. After feedback is compiled, a final plan will be taken to the City Council for approval. Tom Swenson is the first to hold the role of Assistant Director of Parks & Natural Resources, a position that’s File IllustrationThe southwest shore of Lake Cornelia will soon have native vegetation growing on its banks. LATE 2019 • 49 tasked with focusing specifically on caring for and protecting the City’s natural resources. “The City is focused on converting mowed grasses to native plantings in Edina for multiple reasons. The main reason to consider this conversion is, of course, environmental. Native plantings provide pollinator habitat, increase wildlife diversity, reduce runoff and decrease emissions from mowers using fossil fuels. These conversions will also save staff time spent on mowing, allowing more staff hours to be focused on active use areas in parks throughout Edina. Established native areas can have blooming flowers that create an interesting landscape in our park setting,” said Swenson. Native vegetation doesn’t come without maintenance, though. While the area doesn’t require weekly mowing, there still may be times during the year that require mowing or weeding to maintain the intended vegetation. The City made a similar change at the Braemar Academy 9 Golf Course in 2016. “That was installed in 2016 and things are still looking really good there. It still requires maintenance, but it’s a different kind of maintenance. So, at Academy 9, they mow it up to three times a year and they do a spot herbicide spray for things like buckthorn and thistle. When folks think of native restoration, they think of tall grass, but we have lots more options than that,” said Wilson. Other areas throughout Edina will soon see additional changes as the land management plan continues to develop. The plan will serve as a tool to help inventory and benchmark the public spaces in Edina. It will provide staff with an overview of areas that need mowing, spaces that could be converted to a different type of groundcover and additional opportunities for native vegetation. To learn more or share additional comments contact Swenson at 952-826-0317 or tswenson@EdinaMN.gov. Sept. 7 & 8 Centennial Lakes Park EdinaFallintotheArts.com 50 • ABOUT TOWN Ride all day Friday in the Southdale area for $3! EdinaMN.gov/CloverRide Lucky You! 952-826-0322 Sylva ZoraqiREALTOR® Edina Realty Office: 952-924-873950th & France Cell: 612-710-8081 SylvaZoraqi@edinarealty.com SylvaZoraqi.edinarealty.com LATE 2019 • 51 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 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.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 52 • ABOUT TOWN Comprehensive Plan Update Reaching Final Steps By Debbie Townsend The draft of the plan that will guide development and redevelopment and address changes likely to occur in Edina is now being reviewed by surrounding communities. The 2018 Comprehensive Plan Update will shape growth while protecting what Edina values and create an even more attractive and sustainable Edina, Planning Commission Chairwoman Joann Olson told the City Council in May. It was developed over the last few years by community members, working groups, commissions and staff. “We’ve had 146 residents of Edina who have worked on a portion of this plan directly,” said Community Development Director Cary Teague. That includes the working groups for the Small Area Plans for 44th & France, 50th & France, 70th & Cahill, Greater Southdale and Wooddale/Valley View that are part of the overall update. The draft Comprehensive Plan Update has chapters on a variety of topics, including land use, transportation, housing, water supply and parks. In addition to all the people who worked directly on the plan, it was part of 179 public meetings. Many residents also provided comments on the draft, far more than a decade ago when the last Comprehensive Plan was done. “Thank you to all the residents who have commented and submitted comments,” Teague said. Changes were made to the draft throughout the process to address many concerns. City Manager Scott Neal said the community members didn’t treat this like an update, instead digging in deep to get to the heart of the plans for the future of their city. “The number and kinds of people we got involved from the community really pushed to make sure the community was fulfilling its potential, was going in a direction that was sustainable and was moving in a way they could really be proud of in the future,” Neal said. The City Council voted May 7 to send the plan out to adjacent communities for a sixth-month review, a required step in the process. Rarely does another community raise an issue that requires changes in the draft, Teague said. While the review is taking place, a newly created Housing Task Force will examine issues including housing types, sizes, affordability and location. The task force’s work could lead to changes in the Comprehensive Plan before it’s finalized. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CITY OF EDINA 2018 The Comprehensive Plan will guide development and redevelopment and address changes likely to occur in Edina. LATE 2019 • 53 Once the six-month review is up, two more public hearings on the plan will be held in Edina. The first, before the Planning Commission, is expected Nov. 13. The second is tentatively planned for Dec. 3 before the City Council. The plan needs to be finalized before the Dec. 31 deadline to submit it to the Metropolitan Council. Read the draft Comprehensive Plan Update and learn more about the process at EdinaMN.gov/compplan. DRIVEWAYS BIKE PATHS PARKING LOTS Serving the 11 County Metro for over 35 years! Over 140,000 satisfied customers! Residential • Industrial • Commercial $150 off $25 off Any New Driveway Discount for All Sealcoating PATCHING SEALCOATING WALKWAYS Expires 7-15-19 Expires 7-15-19 952-649-5808 ASPHALT ASPHALT ASPHALT Call for FREE Estimate or email us office@expertasphaltinc.com www.expertasphaltinc.com952-657-1181 3-7 P.M. THURSDAYS JUNE 6 – SEPT. 26 CentennialLakesPark.com 54 • ABOUT TOWN Archeological Study Charts Prehistoric Finds In Edina By Krystal Caron The City of Edina’s Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) and Edina Historical Society are working to complete an archeological study to learn more about the populations that may have lived here before Edina was developed. The study was commissioned to Nienow Cultural Consultants after the HPC received a Certified Local Government grant from the Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office to complete the work. This archeological study will help identify areas where significant historical sites throughout the city are likely to exist. “It will be sort of like a map that will tell us that there is a higher likelihood of finding an artifact in one area or another,” said Assistant City Planner Emily Bodeker, who serves as Staff Liaison for the HPC. In May, people were encouraged to come to an Artifact Identification Day, show what they’ve found and plot it on a map. Nienow Cultural Consultants photographed the artifacts that came in, but did not take or purchase them. The artifact identification day brought in over a dozen people who helped identify several areas in Edina that might be historical sites. “People have been living in this area for at least 10,000 years, so there is no doubt in my mind that there are some archeological locations in the city. The artifacts from these people’s lives can tell us so much more about how they lived, their gender and their economic status,” said Registered Professional Archeologist Jeremy Nienow, Principal Investigator and owner of Nienow Cultural Consultants. “When the city was first settled and the area was farmland, people may have uncovered pieces of arrowheads, stone knives, pieces of pottery – evidence of daily life.” The Artifact Identification Day was just one step in the process. Nienow also completed walk-over inspection of certain areas and researched Edina’s history and development for the study. Once completed, the study will provide the City with information about where historic Archeologist Jeremy Nienow met with residents during an artifact identification day to learn more about items found in Edina and possible historical sites that exist. Photo by Katie Laux sites are likely to exist. That information will be helpful when development proposals are considered. “Often, we think about the building being built or torn down, but we don’t think about who was there before us. Having a client like the City of Edina proactively think about the cultural resources from the periods of the past and have them think about the historical ramifications of development is really applauded in the historical community,” said Nienow. “The more we can think about the past, the more we can learn from it. Artifacts are a physical, tangible connection to our past. That’s a very powerful connection. Having the City think about archeology is a great way to reconnect the City’s past and the past of the people who were here thousands of years before the city came along.” Bodeker is excited to see what areas might have the highest probability of having archeological artifacts and knows those areas exist within the city. “There are archeological sites surrounding every town around Edina. We only have one site – the Edina Mill site that was partially excavated in 1977 – but outside of that, we haven’t identified any additional areas. It’s good for the City to know as we look at projects where there may be a higher likelihood for significant historical sites,” she said. The study is expected to be completed soon. For more information, contact Bodeker at ebodeker@EdinaMN.gov. LATE 2019 • 55 The Last Word The results are in from the City’s 2019 Quality of Life Survey, and the big news isn’t news at all: Edina residents think highly of their quality of life in Edina. In our 2019 survey, 98 percent of the survey respondents rated their quality of life in Edina as “excellent” or “good.” That compares to 97 percent in 2017, 96 percent in 2015, 99 percent in 2013 and 99 percent in 2011. It ranks Edina in the top 5 percent of a group of 456 benchmark cities nationwide. People like living in Edina, and they’re not bashful about telling others about it. The 2019 is the fifth Quality of Life Survey that I’ve been involved in since coming to Edina in 2010. We have been conducting the surveys in odd-numbered years since 2011. The surveys in 2011 and 2013 were conducted by a professional surveying outfit that conducted the survey by telephone. In 2015, we switched the survey companies, moving to the National Research Center, which uses a paper mail-in methodology. We made the change because there is some evidence in the public opinion collection business that survey respondents feel more comfortable giving honest responses on a mail-in survey form than they do on a telephone call with a live person asking them questions. The information we get from the survey is important, and it’s more valuable to those of us in city government if it’s honest, even if that honesty hurts our feelings a bit. The surveys, regardless of methodology, have always been conducted using standardized methods for public opinion surveying. The City has the survey conducted by a professional surveying consultant because they know how to correctly conduct a public opinion survey with scientifically and mathematically reliable results. That’s what distinguishes the City’s biennial Quality of Life Survey from surveys conducted by petition, SurveyMonkey, Facebook or NextDoor. If the City is going to use survey data as an input to make public policy decisions that impact the lives of Edina residents, then the responsible and prudent thing to do is to use reliable information – and we do. We use other polls, including some on our own websites, for other types of things not related to imminent policy decisions. Surveys were mailed to 1,500 randomly selected resident households in late February and early March. The City is not involved in mailing or processing the surveys. More than 425 surveys were returned directly to the surveying company. The rigor of the survey consultant allows anyone to attribute a high degree of reliability to the survey results. The margin of error for the full survey results is plus or minus 5 percent. The City provides input to the survey company on survey questions, but the exact wording of the questions is controlled by the survey company. The consultant is very careful to ensure that survey questions are worded in a manner to draw out honest responses. Most questions are the same from survey to survey, which allows us to observe changes in public opinion, but we add a few new questions each survey based on current events in the community. City Council and staff use the results of the survey to shape policy discussions and budget proposals. That’s why it’s so important that the survey is conducted professionally. Reliable data, community engagement and good judgment are the three most important factors in creating effective public policy and a community where almost all of its residents say their quality of life is excellent or good. Find the survey results online at EdinaMN.gov/Survey. Scott H. Neal City Manager 56 • ABOUT TOWN tcclosets.com 612.623.0987 2634 Minnehaha Ave, Minneapolis #ORGANIZETHENORTH ONLY ONE MUSCLE GIVES YOU MORE LIFE CONNECT YOUR HEART TO YOUR WORKOUT EXPERIENCE THE SMARTESTONE-HOUR WORKOUT BOOK YOUR FREE CLASS TODAY! *First-time visitors and local residents only. Certain restrictions apply. $28 minimum value. At participating studios only. Orangetheory® and other Orangetheory® marks are registered trademarks of Ultimate Fitness Group LLC. © Copyright 2018 Ultimate Fitness Group LLC and its affi liates. OTF Edina 3523 W 70th St | Edina, MN 55435 612.930.4630 LATE 2019 • 57 AboutTown Magazine City of Edina 4801 West 50th Street Edina, MN 55424 EdinaMN.gov ***ECRWSS***POSTAL PATRONCAR-RT-WS PRESORT STD U.S. POSTAGEPAID TWIN CITIES MN Permit No. 3932 Edina officE | 6600 francE avE S 952-285-5800 | crown-bank.com MeMber FDIC equal HousIng lenDer Living well starts with banking better