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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEdition Edina August 2022ECMO Truck Brings Mobile Hospital Technology to Edina Partnership with U of M, Helmsley Charitable Trust Officially Launched This Summer BY DAN REISIG In late June, a state-of-the art piece of life-saving medical technology joined the fleet housed at Edina Fire Station 1, 6250 Tracy Ave. As a result, Edina Fire will be on the forefront of a new way to treat cardiac arrest patients utilizing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, or ECMO, in the city and beyond. ECMO is defined by the Mayo Clinic as the process of pumping blood outside of the body to a heart-lung machine that removes carbon dioxide and sends oxygen-filled blood back to tissues in the body. It’s a medical technique that has been used for decades, but only now is being performed in a mobile application inside of a truck specifically designed for this purpose, according to Edina EMS Chief Ryan Quinn. Edina Fire partnered with the University of Minnesota’s Minnesota Mobile Resuscitation Consortium (MMRC) and The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, the latter providing primary funding for the initiative. “The Edina Fire Department was a great location to house the mobile ECMO truck for the initial implementation for many reasons,” said Kim Harkins, Program Manager for the U of M’s Center for Resuscitation Medicine. “Edina Fire has a strong history of working with other agencies on specific response teams and understands the complexity of partnerships in achieving success. The Edina Fire Department is advanced in its response to cardiac arrest calls within the city and this is an exciting project to expand the level of care and potentially improve survival.” ECMO specialist physicians serve on-call and are dispatched to the site of the truck when needed, handling the procedure itself inside the truck along with LifeLink, an emergency medical flight service. Edina’s paramedics serve in a support role by providing medications, assisting with airway management and other duties. The truck is equipped with virtual reality technology that allows physicians to observe and advise during procedures from anywhere in the world. According to the U, every 10-minute delay in treatment increases the patient’s chance of dying by as much as 25 percent. Each minute can have a dramatic effect on survival rate. The vehicle, which cost about $2 million to purchase and equip, is roughly the same size as the Edina Fire Department’s ladder truck and is unlikely to be seen rolling Housed at Fire Station 1, the ECMO truck will be driven by Edina paramedics who will also assist during the procedures. (Photo by Dan Reisig) through neighborhood streets. Quinn explained how the truck is being gradually introduced into real-world use. “Right now, we go to the M Health Fairview Southdale Hospital parking lot and perform the procedure,” he said. “Eventually, the decision will be made to have the truck go to different locations. The truck itself won’t transport patients. The ambulances will continue to do that. Eventually, we will evaluate the best location to meet up with the ambulance to get the ECMO procedure performed in the quickest, most efficient way.” For more information about the ECMO program, call the Edina Fire Department, 952-826-0330. City of Edina EdinaMN.gov 1 Edition: Edina AUGUST 2022 Volume 9, Issue 8Strong FoundationCITY GOALS:Better TogetherReliable Service Livable City - COMPILED BY KATHERINE HULBERT 10 Businesses sponsoring Night to Unite 81 Registered block parties Neighborhoods to be visited by Edina Police and Fire department personnel 44 The Edina Police and Fire departments will be out in the community on the first Tuesday in August 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 about Night to Unite Aug. 2 by visiting EdinaMN.gov/NightToUnite. BY THE NUMBERS 323 pounds of donations collected for Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People (VEAP) during the 2019 Night to Unite Night to Unite City to Put One-Year Moratorium on Sale of THC-Infused Edibles and Drinks City Will Study Issues Related to Regulation and Licensure The City is working toward a one-year moratorium on the sale of THC-infused edibles and drinks in Edina. On July 1, it became legal in Minnesota to sell edibles and beverages containing no more than 0.3 percent Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to people 21 and older, in a form limited to 5 milligrams of THC per serving and no more than 50 milligrams per package. The law empowers local municipalities to enact ordinances on matters such as licensure, compliance, enforcement and zoning. Because the City would like sufficient time to study the issues related to regulation and licensure, City Manager Scott Neal recommended the one-year moratorium. He said a number of other Minnesota cities are adopting similar moratoriums for the same reason. The City Council granted first reading of the ordinance establishing the moratorium at its July 19 meeting. If the Council grants second reading at its meeting Aug. 3, the ordinance will become effective immediately. In other business last month, the City Council: •Granted a conditional-use permit and variance for Interlachen Country Club, 6200 Interlachen Blvd. The country club plans to redevelop some of its existing facilities and expand them to include a new lodge/restaurant, fitness center, five outdoor clay tennis courts, two indoor hard-surface tennis courts, two pickleball courts and three platform tennis courts. •Approved referendum questions for the ballot for the General Election. The two questions are: “Shall the City of Edina be authorized to impose a one-half of one percent (0.5%) sales and use tax for up to 19 years for $21.6 million in improvements at Braemar Park and Arena and associated bonding costs?” and “Shall the City of Edina be authorized to impose a one-half of one percent (0.5%) sales and use tax for up to 19 years for $17.7 million in improvements at Fred Richards Park and associated bonding costs?” A half-percent sales tax would be collected if voters approve one or both questions. The half-cent sales tax amounts to 5 cents on a $10 purchase and would be paid by residents and nonresidents alike. The City Council will next meet 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 3. For more information, visit EdinaMN.gov. - COMPILED BY JENNIFER BENNEROTTE 2 City Pilots Affordable Housing Program to Engage Emerging Developers, Preserve Single-Family Homes in Edina City, LISC and Homes Within Reach Will Partner on Four Homes BY BRITTANY BADER Aiming to preserve moderately priced single-family homes in Edina, the City’s Housing & Redevelopment Authority (HRA) recently approved $1.2 million for a new pilot program. This program will expand upon the City’s existing Housing Preservation Program and utilize smaller, emerging developers to rehabilitate four qualifying homes to be maintained as affordable housing for 99 years. To accomplish this, the City will leverage a new partnership with the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), a national nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) with a Twin Cities presence, and build upon a current partnership with nonprofit Homes Within Reach. In Edina, moderately priced single-family homes, defined by the City as $425,000 or less, make up just about 8 percent of the total number of all single-family homes, according to the Assessing Division’s 2022 market valuation data. This is significantly less than in 2020, when the number was closer to 25 percent. Affordable Housing Development Manager Stephanie Hawkinson says a contributing factor to the decreasing number of affordable single-family homes is losing them to developer teardown and rebuilds, noting that more than 1,000 moderately priced homes have been replaced with luxury ones in about the last 10 years. “When you look at the homes that are being acquired and renovated in Edina, the preservation of moderately priced homes is not happening naturally in the marketplace,” said Hawkinson. “The developers currently in the city are larger, more established developers, and the profit margin is significantly smaller if they buy a small home and renovate it as a small home. So, if a developer has a choice, they’re likely going to choose to tear down and build large.” However, Hawkinson said that with government assistance, some progress has been made in preserving modest-sized homes in Edina. “Through our partnership with Homes Within Reach, we have so far been able to save seven modest-sized homes from being razed since 2021,” said Hawkinson. “But their capacity is currently limited; they have three staff members and work in 14 communities.” The new pilot program addresses the capacity issue of Homes Within Reach by partnering with LISC to find emerging developers to work on modest homes. Emerging in the context of this program is defined in terms of the business’s size and gross receipts, with developer fees not exceeding $250,000 annually. “We started looking for a nonprofit who works with smaller, newer developers as a part of their mission, and LISC was the one. They have the experience and capacity to find and work with developers and loan programs,” said Hawkinson. “What’s really positive is that it gives smaller developers experience so they can find additional opportunities that don’t require public assistance.” LISC’s role in the pilot program will be to help find and select emerging developers for the projects through an application process, with final approval from HRA staff. In addition, they will connect the developers to seasoned industry mentors and serve as the City’s fiscal agent. Once a home has been rehabilitated, it will be transferred to Homes Within Reach, which will place the property’s land in a community land trust to keep it affordable for 99 years. The home will then be sold to an income-eligible buyer. Hawkinson said that allowing homebuyers to lease the property’s land instead of purchasing results in a 50 percent reduction in cost on average to the first buyer and future buyers. Homes Within Reach will also be responsible for establishing home buying criteria at the start of the program to guide the original housing acquisitions. The City and LISC will fund the $2.06 million pilot program together. LISC is contributing an estimated $860,000 that will be paid back by the sale proceeds of the homes by Homes Within Reach upon closing. The City’s $1.2 million contribution from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund will stay with the land, and the value will be converted into a grant. The rollout of the new program is expected to begin in August, with developer selection in September. Hawkinson says the current goal is to have the four homes completed by the fall of 2023. To learn more about Affordable Housing in the City of Edina, visit OpenDoorsEdina.org or contact Hawkinson, 952-833-9578 or shawkinson@EdinaMN.gov. SHOP AND SIP: NEW EDINA LIQUOR STAND DEBUTS AT FARMERS MARKET This summer, enjoy a glass of wine, beer or seltzer from Edina Liquor at the Centennial Lakes Farmers Market. Drinks are available to purchase inside Hughes Pavilion from 3 to 6 p.m. Thursdays through September, with seating areas inside the pavilion and just outside where people can watch and listen to live music. For more information, visit CentennialLakesPark.com. (Photo by Katherine Hulbert) 3City of Edina EdinaMN.gov 952-927-8861 | mail@EdinaMN.govCity of Edina EdinaMN.gov4 Erck Receives 2022 Mayor’s Individual Service Commendation Local Woman Has Been Part of Braemar Golf Course Since its Opening BY DAVID KATZ One of the City of Edina’s top awards for volunteerism was recently awarded to a woman who has been part of Braemar Golf Course since its opening. The Village of Edina opened its fairways with fanfare in 1964. Pacy Erck was there on Day 1 and throughout the busy inaugural season, working in the Pro Shop. Later, she gave lessons there throughout her high school and college years. After graduation, Erck accepted a position at her alma mater, Edina High School, teaching physical and health education. She remained there from 1972 through 2005. Staying local allowed her to maintain ties to Braemar as a member of the Wednesday Braemar Women’s Club League. She became group treasurer in the 1990s – an important assignment in hindsight, as it led to other leadership positions. Erck rotated off Braemar’s Board of Directors in 2021, but remains as invested as ever in its success. Almost as soon as her term expired, she volunteered to realize an ambition that General Manager Joe Abood and the Board had been discussing for years: the purchase and installation of an heirloom clock to grace the clubhouse. “Years passed without anything getting done, and I just decided that Joe had waited long enough,” Erck explained. Thanks to a $30,000 gift from Erck on behalf of her family, Braemar’s new signature clock will be installed within a few months for all to enjoy. In the same spirit, Erck also paid for the new Memorial Garden, located beyond the activity area. Braemar’s appearance contributes in a big way to its ranking as one of the top public golf courses in the Midwest. However, as Erck knows full well from decades as a dedicated golfer (and those bygone days as one of Braemar’s first employees), it is people who make it all possible. Earlier this summer, Mayor Jim Hovland surprised Erck with the 2022 Mayor’s Individual Service Commendation, presented to her at the first tee. “I couldn’t have been more honored, because Braemar is like a second home for me,” she said. Other Mayor’s Commendations included: •Mayor’s Outstanding Service Commendation – Bob Kojetin •Mayor’s Service Club Commendation – Bluebirds & Blooms •Mayor’s Service to Youth Commendation – Cool Planet •Mayor’s Youth Service Commendation – Kawthar Benarouch •Mayor’s Community Involvement Commendation – Video Production Assistant Tom Cornell For more information on the awards or to read stories about all of the winners, visit EdinaMN.gov./HometownHeroes Mayor Jim Hovland presents Pacy Erck with the Mayor’s Individual Service Commendation. (Photo by Dan Reisig) Iskaan-garee koodhkan oo ku fiiri soomaali EdinaMN.gov/SomaliEE EdinaMN.gov/SpanishEE Escanee este código para ver en español 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 UPCOMING RECURRING EVENTS Children’s Concert, Centennial Lakes Park 11 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays Concert in the Park, Centennial Lakes Park 7 p.m. Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays Farmers Market, Centennial Lakes Park 3-7 p.m. Thursdays Performance on the Plaza (P.O.P.), Nolan Mains Plaza 4-7 p.m. Fridays Da Beauty League, Braemar Arena 5-8:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays through Aug. 17 For a complete listing of meetings and events, visit EdinaMN.gov.