HomeMy WebLinkAboutEditionEdinaAugust2021City of Edina EdinaMN.gov 1
Residents Rate Quality of Life High
Polco Completes 2021 Quality of Life Survey
Low-Cost Loans Available To Improve Modest Homes
Income-Eligible Homeowners Can Borrow Funds Through Homeownership Rehabilitation Program
Edina residents enjoy a high quality of life
in 2021, as in previous years.
In the Quality of Life Survey conducted this
spring by independent research company
Polco, nearly all residents awarded
“excellent” or “good” ratings to the
quality of life in Edina, which was a higher
rating than seen in other communities
across the nation and similar to ratings
given elsewhere in Minnesota. This rating
has remained stable since 2011.
Other highlights of the survey include:
•More than 9 in 10 residents indicated
they were very or somewhat likely to
remain in Edina for the next five years
BY DAN REISIG
Many Edina homeowners can enhance
their properties at little cost, thanks to
the new City’s Homeownership Rehab
Program. The loans range from $2,000
to $30,000 and allow for improvements
to owner-occupied houses and condos
valued up to $425,000.
“This program allows income-eligible
homeowners to borrow money from the
City at lower-than-commercial rates to do
rehabilitation projects on their homes,”
said Affordable Housing Development
Manager Stephanie Hawkinson. “It’s a
highly popular program in other cities in
Minnesota and gives us an opportunity to
continue to preserve our modestly priced
housing stock while providing immediate
benefit to current homeowners.”
and would recommend living in Edina to
someone who asks.
•Top community characteristics were
defined as safety, education and
enrichment, economic health and
health/wellness opportunities.
•“Location/convenience,” “a safe
community,” “good schools,” “an
attractive community,” “good
neighborhoods” and “amenities” were
the most commonly chosen reasons for
living in Edina.
The City of Edina conducts a Quality
of Life survey in odd-numbered years
to monitor trends in resident opinion;
measure government performance; inform
Administered by the Minnesota Center for
Energy and Environment in partnership
with the City, the program limits
homeowner income to 125 percent of
Area Median Income. That equates to
$105,000 for a two-person household.
“This program allows homeowners
to address maintenance issues while
continuing to live in their homes at little
or no cost to them, while also allowing
accessibility issues to be addressed,”
Hawkinson said.
What makes the loans so attractive are the
highly favorable terms – simply put, there
are no monthly payments while the owner
lives there. When ready to sell, the owner
can give the City first right of refusal.
Edition: Edina
AUGUST 2021
Volume 8, Issue 8Strong FoundationCITY GOALS:Better TogetherReliable Service Livable City
budget, land use and strategic planning
decisions; and benchmark service ratings.
Complete survey results can be
found online at EdinaMN.gov under
“About>Information for Residents.”
For more information, contact the City’s
Communications Department,
952-826-0359.
– COMPILED BY JENNIFER BENNEROTTE
If the Housing & Redevelopment Authority
chooses to purchase the house, the loan
is forgiven. Otherwise, the loan’s principal
amount plus 2 percent non-compounding
simple interest is due upon sale.
“Unlike our Housing Preservation
Program – which allows our affordable
housing partner Homes Within Reach
to acquire homes immediately in as-is
condition – this program is intended for
the current homeowner to borrow money
and rehab their home while continuing to
live in it, until they’re willing to sell or 30
years, whichever comes first,” Hawkinson
explained.
A full list of loan terms and eligible
improvements can be found at
EdinaMN.gov/AffordableHousing.
File Photo
2
BY THE NUMBERS
Night to Unite
For the first time in two years, the Edina Police and Fire
Departments will be out in the community Aug. 3 for “Night
to Unite.” Night to Unite is designed to build neighborhood
involvement by bringing first responders and communities together
and bring awareness to crime prevention and local law enforcement
efforts. Learn more at EdinaMN.gov/NightToUnite.
days between Night to Unite
2019 and 2021 neighborhoods reached
729 30
– COMPILED BY DAN REISIG
59 number of registered
block parties and events
By the year 2038, street reconstruction
in Edina will be completely paid for with
property taxes.
Since the late 1990s, adjacent property
owners have been assessed roadway
reconstruction costs. As estimates for
special assessments increased to as much
as $32,000, it became apparent the City
may not be able to justify the benefit of the
cost to each property owner as required by
Minnesota law. A Street Funding Task Force
was formed by City Manager Scott Neal
in 2020 and charged with reevaluating the
Special Assessment Policy.
At its meeting July 21, the Edina City
Council approved the Task Force’s
recommendation to reduce assessments
each year until it reaches no assessment
at Year 16. As a result, all taxpayers
will pay taxes to the City for street
reconstruction. In the first year, City taxes
on the median-valued home will increase
by approximately $40 for funding street
reconstruction. In the remaining 15 years
of the transition, those taxes would
increase by about $11 per year.
“I ask myself, ‘If we were starting from
scratch, how would we do this?’ I think
we reached consensus that if we were
starting from scratch, we would do it with
100 percent taxes,” said Council Member
Kevin Staunton during the meeting. “This
notion of a special assessment is that
a group of people who are getting
something the rest of the community isn’t
pays extra for that. And while that kind of
happens here, it isn’t really true, because
eventually everyone is getting the streets
in their neighborhood redone. So, it
doesn’t really feel like an appropriate thing
for a special assessment. … I think this
gets us to the right place. I think this is the
right answer.”
In other business last month, the Council:
•Appointed Student Commissioners for
the 2021-2022 school year.
•Approved preliminary rezoning and a
preliminary development plan for a
redevelopment at 4660 77th St. W.
Solhem Companies plans to raze two
office buildings and build a five- to
seven-story, 408-unit apartment
complex.
•Affirmed and authorized submission
of a request for State Bonding Bill
funding. At the request of Sen. Melisa
Franzen, the City submitted a request
for funding for an expansion of
Braemar Arena.
The Council will next meet 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 4, and Tuesday, Aug. 17.
For more information, visit EdinaMN.gov.
– COMPILED BY JENNIFER BENNEROTTE
Council Revises Special Assessment Policy
Cost of Street Reconstruction To Be Borne by All Taxpayers
Student Commissioners for
2021-2022 School Year
Arts & Culture
Commission
• Reeya Anand
• Tiffany Shen
Community Health
Commission
• Ben Hykes
• Elizabeth Mullen
Energy &
Environment
Commission
• Suryash Rawat
• Ava Shumway
Heritage
Preservation
Commission
• Ashwin
Maheshwari
• Sadie Roy
Human Rights
& Relations
Commission
• Francesca
Lichtenberger
• Sabeehudeen Mirza
Parks & Recreation
Commission• Urva Jha
• Sammy Prestus
Planning Commission• Kenley Barberot
• William Hayward
Transportation
Commission
• Anna Clark
• Stephen Kanti
Mahanty
3City of Edina EdinaMN.gov
UPCOMING EVENTS
Recurring Events:
Children’s Entertainment,
Centennial Lakes Park
11 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays
Concerts in the Park,
Centennial Lakes Park
7 p.m. Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays
and Wednesdays
Farmers Market,
Centennial Lakes Park
3-7 p.m. Thursdays
Movies in the Park,
Centennial Lakes Park
Sunset, Thursdays
Performance on the Plaza (P.O.P.),
Nolan Mains Plaza
4-7 p.m. Fridays
Tuesday, Aug. 3
Night to Unite
Each year, Edina neighborhoods join
forces with communities statewide for the
“Night to Unite” crime prevention event.
Neighbors are encouraged to lock their
doors, turn on outside lights and spend
the evening outside with neighbors.
Wednesday, Aug. 4, 7 p.m.
City Council meeting, Edina City Hall,
Council Chambers
Thursday, Aug. 12, 7:30 a.m.
Housing & Redevelopment Authority
meeting, Edina City Hall
Tuesday, Aug. 17, 7 p.m.
City Council meeting, Edina City Hall,
Council Chambers
Wednesday, Aug. 18, 6:30 p.m.
Walk With the Mayor, Fred Richards
Park
Thursday, Aug. 26, 7:30 a.m.
Housing & Redevelopment Authority
meeting, Edina City Hall
For a complete listing of meetings and
events, visit EdinaMN.gov.
Watch City Council, Housing & Redevelopment Authority and Planning
Commission meetings live:
• Edina TV (Comcast Channels 813 or 16)
• Facebook.com/EdinaMN
• “Watch a Meeting” web page at EdinaMN.gov/LiveMeetings
Watch other meetings live at
youtube.com/EdinaTV.
Finance Director Don Uram plans to retire in
September. (Photo by Dan Reisig)
BY DEBBIE TOWNSEND
When Don Uram was hired as Finance
Director in 2017, City Manager Scott Neal
said, “I think his strengths are exactly
what we needed at this time in the City’s
history.”
How prescient that would turn out to be.
Uram’s broad private and public work
experience includes having served
other communities as Finance Director,
Community Development Director
and City Manager. His knowledge of
government, business, housing and
economic development turned out to be
the ideal combination. He got Finance
more directly involved with assisting
enterprise operations such as Braemar
Arena and Edina Liquor, led City-wide
projects beyond the usual finance arena,
mentored other leaders and, most notably,
guided the City financially through the
COVID-19 crisis.
“Edina has benefitted greatly from Don,”
Neal said.
Uram is participating in a phased
retirement program and will assist
incoming Finance Director Alisha
McAndrews. McAndrews begins work
Aug. 9.
One change Uram initiated was to have
Finance staff work more directly with each
department to better understand their
needs, operations and what assistance
Finance could provide. Parks & Recreation
Director Perry Vetter found this invaluable.
“I think a big piece of what Don has
brought to Parks & Recreation and the
enterprises is a solid understanding of the
intricacies of their operations and their
value to the community, not just from a
quantity perspective, but from a quality
perspective,” Vetter said.
Uram’s leadership helped the Finance
Department – and the City – come
through the height of the COVID-19
pandemic in solid financial shape.
“We really worked together as a team
to accomplish what we needed in the
pandemic,” said Assistant Finance Director
Kyle Sawyer, noting Uram has been an
excellent leader and mentor. “We will miss
him in the Finance Department. He was
always willing to roll up his sleeves and get
the work done.”
Even if that meant coding invoices or
calling a resident who had a question
about their utility bill.
“Every so often, I return calls to our
customers just to talk to them,” Uram said.
“It really helps to work customer service
occasionally so you can hear the concerns
they have. I’ve learned a lot.”
In retirement, Uram plans to travel, spend
time with family and continue to compete
in cross-country skiing, mountain biking
and swimming events. He deflects any
credit for leaving the City better off
financially than when he arrived.
“I’m really proud of the staff, both my staff
and all the staff I’ve worked with,” Uram
said. “The staff is what makes this place
great.”
Learn more about the Finance
Department at EdinaMN.gov/Finance.
Finance Director’s Leadership and Experience Pay Off
Don Uram Retires After Helping City Improve Operations
and Weather Pandemic
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BRAEMAR ARENA
952-927-8861 | mail@EdinaMN.gov City of Edina EdinaMN.gov4
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BY KAITLIN GAULT
The City of Edina’s rental housing
inspections program began in late 2019 to
more proactively address tenant safety.
Before the creation of the program, when
the Health Division received complaints
about rental properties, staff was sent
out for an inspection. Now, property
owners who want to rent out their multi-
family apartments and single-family home,
duplex, townhome or condo must apply
for an annual rental license. Through the
licensing process, property owners are
made aware of the requirements and
what type of issues to look out for to
ensure compliance with the building code.
Community Health Administrator Jeff
Brown says proactive inspections are a big
component of the new program’s success.
“Historically, the Health Division did
complaint-based enforcement of property
maintenance,” he said. “We realized
communities around us were starting to
license rental properties to better oversee
the issues we’d get calls about, so the
idea was put forward and ultimately
adopted. We use the same code, but now
work with property owners to conduct
proactive inspections.”
Aidrous Ali, a Housing Inspector for the
City, said the program started strong at
the beginning of 2020.
“We had good momentum going until
the global pandemic happened and
everything changed starting mid-March,”
Ali explained. “Until late fall, we paused
on doing rental inspections and we
only inspected vacant properties and
emergency cases.”
Apartment inspections were put on pause
because a typical day for an inspector at
an apartment involves visiting 25 units.
Despite the in-person challenges of
COVID-19, the City completed 140
inspections in 2020 and issued 685
licenses for single-family and multi-family
buildings.
Common issues inspectors look for
include missing or damaged handrails and
electrical outlets, inoperable smoke and
carbon monoxide detectors, deteriorating
furnaces and boilers and bare wood
and peeling paint on exterior surfaces.
Housing Inspector Abdullahi Ahmed says
he tries to give property owners ample
time to make corrections and encourages
compliance while being patient.
“I explain to them that they get an
adequate amount of time to remedy and
make repairs, and even then can get an
extension if they need one,” said Ahmed.
“I also reiterate to them that resident safety
is our top priority.”
Inspections have now resumed to normal
operations.
To learn more about the Rental
Housing program, visit EdinaMN.gov/
rentalinspections or call
952-826-1656.
Rental Housing Inspections Program Focuses on Safety
Despite Limited In-Person Capabilities, Staff Successfully Launched New Program
Housing Inspector Aidrous Ali checks plumbing at a
rental. He is one of two Inspectors and a Licensing
Specialist who helped make the new program a
success in 2020. (Photo by Scott Denfeld)
CITY OF EDINA
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EDINA, MN 55424
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