HomeMy WebLinkAboutEditionEdina_Dec_ 2014Fifteen year-old Edina resident Will Burns Jr. wanted to
transform young children’s down time into educational
moments through his Eagle Scout service project. With
this idea in mind, he created “little libraries” to be
placed throughout Edinborough Park, 7700 York Ave. S.
Burns has grown up swimming competitively at
Edinborough Park with the Edina Swim Club. During
one of his practices, he noticed kids just sitting around
– swimmers on break or siblings of the swimmers
waiting for their brothers or sisters to finish practices.
At that moment, a light bulb went off in his head; he
had an idea for how this “lost time” could be better
utilized.
“My Eagle Scout project addresses youth literacy –
specifically, how to take advantage of the ‘lost time’
kids have today and turn [it] into an opportunity to
improve their reading skills,” he explained.
Since Burns spent so much
time at Edinborough Park as a
young boy, he thought placing
mini libraries throughout the
park would be the best way to
reach other young children.
He shared his idea with Patty
McGrath, General Manager of
Edinborough Park. McGrath and
her team were eager to help
Burns bring his plan to life.
“Kids think of Edinborough Park
as a really fun place to be, so if
kids discover reading is fun while
they are here, then it is a win-win
for everyone,” said McGrath.
Edinborough Park has three
permanent libraries and one mobile library that will be
moved throughout the park. Children can take a book
home from one of the libraries and bring the book back
the next time they visit or they can keep that book and
bring one of their own books to the library instead. The
idea is to maintain an appropriate amount of ever-
changing books in the library.
Both Hitachi Foundation and Cargill Foundation helped
fund Burns’ project and many volunteers helped with
the book drive that was held to stock the libraries.
Southwestern Publishing also donated a significant
amount of reading materials.
“I hope kids visiting Edinborough Park will take
advantage of the libraries to get in a little extra reading
time and be better prepared to succeed in school,”
said Burns.
For more information about the park, contact McGrath
at 952-833-9542.
4801 W. 50th St.
Edina, MN 55424
952-927-8861
mail@EdinaMN.gov
www.EdinaMN.gov
City CounCil
Mayor Jim Hovland ............................612-874-8550
Council Member Joni Bennett .........952-927-0661
Council Member Mary Brindle .........952-941-7746
Council Member Josh Sprague ........612-501-0252
Council Member Ann Swenson .......952-484-4894
ExECutivE lEadErship tEam
City Manager
Scott Neal ..........................................952-826-0401
Assistant City Manager
Karen Kurt ..........................................952-826-0415
Communications & Technology
Services Director
Jennifer Bennerotte ..........................952-833-9520
Community Development Director
Cary Teague .......................................952-826-0460
Engineering Director
Chad Millner ......................................952-826-0318
Finance Director
Eric Roggeman ..................................952-826-0414
Fire Chief
Tom Schmitz ......................................952-826-0332
Human Resources Director
Lisa Schaefer ......................................952-826-0416
Parks & Recreation Director
Ann Kattreh ........................................952-826-0430
Police Chief
Dave Nelson ......................................952-826-0467
Public Works Director
Brian Olson ........................................952-826-0311
The City of Edina
City of Edina Directory
Speak Up, Edina!
December 2014
Volume 1, Issue 12
Legend:
Infrastructure
Commercial and Mixed-Use Redevelopment
Workforce
Communication and Engagement
Community Vision
Aviation Noise
Edi tion:
Police K-9 Diesel To Retire
The City’s next online discussion is now
available at www.SpeakUpEdina.org. The
discussion, which focuses on liquor laws, is
available until Jan. 30.
In November, Minneapolis residents voted
to repeal a local ordinance that required
restaurants outside of downtown Minneapolis
and major commercial areas to adhere to a
70-30 food-to-liquor sales ratio, which affected
about 70 neighborhood restaurants. Other
restaurants in the City were limited to a 60-40
ratio which was also repealed. Edina requires a
food-to-liquor sales ratio of 60-40 percent.
In the discussion, the City asks whether
residents think Edina’s liquor licensing
standards should be changed to eliminate the
connection between food sales and alcohol
sales, whether residents would welcome bars or
taprooms in Edina if such a change were made
and what sort of concerns they have if the City’s
food-to-liquor sales ratio was to be eliminated.
In early 2014, the City also held a similar
discussion asking residents’ opinions about
adjusting the existing ratio. Comments
received in the discussion were generally
supportive of a change in the ratio.
”The context of this discussion is much
different than the last,” said City Manager Scott
Neal. “Our neighboring City got rid of their
sales ratio entirely, so we want to know what
Edina residents would think if we made a similar
change.”
This month, the City has been gathering
feedback on plastic bags. Questions posed
range from whether Edina should ban
plastic bags, whether to impose a fee or a
tax on plastic bags and how the City can
educate shoppers about plastic bag waste.
The discussion is open until Monday, Jan. 5.
Feedback from the discussion will be presented
to the City Council Jan. 20.
To weigh in on a discussion, visit
www.SpeakUpEdina.org.
After eight years on duty with the Edina Police
Department, Officer Mike Seeger’s K-9 partner, Diesel,
will retire Dec. 27.
“He’s my partner. Think about spending every waking
hour with a dog. You start to learn what he’s thinking,”
said Seeger. “It’s going to be a huge change not to
have him by my side.”
Diesel, a black German Shepard who will turn 10 years
old in January, was imported from Slovakia and joined
the Department in March of 2006. He’s the last of the 16
dogs in his class from the St. Paul Police Department’s
K-9 Academy that is still working.
Seeger laughs when he recalls the first time he met
Diesel. “He was 55 pounds, skinny, matted and looked
as if he just came from the pound. Next to him was a
regal black-and-tan German Shepard. I point to the
black-and-tan dog and ask if that was my dog, and
the instructor said, ‘no, the other one,’ and I thought,
‘oh boy.’
“But we got him fed, bathed and up to speed. He
ended up graduating top of his class and turned out to
be a really smart dog. We just really clicked.”
The duo have won numerous
awards, but one that stands out
to Seeger is when they placed in
the top 20 for narcotics detection
at the 2012 United States Police
Canine Association’s National
Detector Trials in Florida.
However, Seeger said that even
though they work well together,
they each have their good days
and bad. He remembers a time
when Diesel alerted that there
were drugs near the passenger
seat of a vehicle and after a few
minutes of searching that area
of the car, Seeger could not find
them.
“I’m talking to him, saying ‘you’re
not a very smart dog today. You
don’t understand, there are no
drugs in here,’” he recalled. “And
I look up and the tow truck driver
is looking at me and I said, ‘can
you give me a minute, I’m talking
to my dog here?’ And we went
through this for another minute
or so and finally I said, ‘there’s
nothing here!’ Then he grabbed
ahold of the arm rest and ripped
it off and out dropped the drugs.
Then he looked at me like, ‘I told
you they were here.’ It was funny.”
Diesel will also be missed by others in the Department.
“They were great together,” said Sgt. Dan Conboy, who
has worked with the team. “Mike was always listening
[on the radio] to see if there was a scenario where they
needed the K-9 or if another agency needed a K-9.
Having the team has been extremely beneficial. We
can only hope that the next K-9 and handler can be as
effective of a team as Mike and Diesel.”
Not only did Diesel work with other officers while on
the job, but he made many visits to local elementary
classrooms. Seeger estimates that Diesel has met more
than 2,000 children.
“Diesel loves kids,” said Seeger. “He knows the routine,
whether he’s working or visiting the kids.”
To celebrate Diesel’s retirement, there will be a
community party from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 31
in the Edina City Hall lobby, 4801 W. 50th St. Residents
of all ages are encouraged to attend.
For more information, call the Edina Police Department
at 952-826-1610.
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Officer Mike Seeger’s K-9 partner, Diesel, will retire Dec. 27.
Eagle Scout Builds Little Libraries for
Edinborough Park
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Will Burns with his Eagle Scout project, little libraries.
December 2014
January Edina 16
Broadcast Schedule
Edina City Council (shown until the next
scheduled meeting – generally two weeks)
• Sundays – 3 a.m., 11 a.m.
• Tuesdays – 7 p.m. (live broadcast on first
and third Tuesdays of every month)
• Wednesdays – 3 a.m., 11 a.m.
• Saturdays – 7 p.m.
planning Commission (shown until the next
scheduled meeting – generally two weeks)
• Wednesdays – 7 p.m. (live broadcast
on second and fourth Wednesdays of
every month)
• Thursdays – 3 a.m., 11 a.m.
• Fridays – 7 p.m.
• Saturdays – 3 a.m., 11 a.m.
human rights & relations Commission
(airs dec. 1 –Jan. 8)
• Sundays - 7 p.m.
• Mondays - 3 a.m., 11 a.m.
• Wednesdays - 10 p.m.
• Thursdays - 6 a.m., 2 p.m.
transportation Commission
(airs Jan. 15–Feb. 12)
• Sundays - 7 p.m.
• Mondays - 3 a.m., 11 a.m.
• Wednesdays - 10 p.m.
• Thursdays - 6 a.m., 2 p.m.
arts & Culture Commission
(airs Jan. 22–Feb. 19)
• Sundays - 7 p.m.
• Mondays - 3 a.m., 11 a.m.
• Wednesdays - 10 p.m.
• Thursdays - 6 a.m., 2 p.m.
agenda: Edina (new episode on
the 1st and 15th of each month)
• Daily at 2:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 6:30 p.m.
Beyond the Badge (new episode on
the 1st of each month)
• Daily at 2 a.m., 10 a.m., 6 p.m.
Enterprise Edina (new episode on
the 15th of each month)
• Daily at 2:15 a.m., 10:15 a.m., 6:15 p.m.
rotary Club of Edina meetings
(new episode weekly)
• Daily at 1 a.m., 9 a.m., 5 p.m.
Programs can be watched on cable channels
16 (standard definition) or 813 (high definition).
All content is also streamed online at
www.EdinaMN.gov and www.youtube.com/
EdinaChannel16.
City Looks Ahead with the 2015-2019
Capital Improvement Plan
This month, the City Council reviewed and approved
a plan for capital maintenance and improvements
in 2015 through 2019. The plan, called the Capital
Improvement Plan (CIP), represents a framework
for planning the preservation and expansion of
infrastructure, facilities and equipment in Edina.
Finance Director Eric Roggeman explained that the
City operates under a two-year budget process.
Last year, Edina set the overall budget for operating
services, such as the services offered by the Police,
Public Works and Parks & Recreation departments.
That budget it set for two years. This year, the City
reviewed its CIP which is also reviewed every two years,
but looks ahead four years at a time.
“There is not much changing with the services we
provide to residents and the taxes we assess for those
services. This year, we took a look at the capital side,”
explained Roggeman. “The big thing that’s going
to affect people in the community and in their taxes
is the Braemar Field project. … We’re also going to
continue our neighborhood street reconstruction
program, street improvements, utility improvements
and sidewalks.”
The construction of Braemar Field, the Backyard rink
at Braemar Arena and the Pamela Park project resulted
in the City imposing a new 20-year levy for about $1.1
million, annually. Looking ahead, Braemar Field and
the Backyard are expected to collect income sufficient
to pay for their operating costs. Roggeman explained
that this initial levy is only required to help cover costs
of construction.
In recent years, the City has addressed many
pressing capital improvement projects, such as the
construction of City Hall and the Public Works & Park
Maintenance Facility, Fire Station No. 1 and the two
new gymnasiums on Edina Public Schools property.
Despite these projects, Edina continues to provide one
of the lowest city tax rates in the metro.
“The budget is really a process to balance what are
our priorities of the services we want to provide to
residents and things we want to accomplish,” said
Roggeman. “We have to balance those service
priorities with the tax priorities; we don’t want to raise
taxes too much and we want to keep it consistent for
people. It’s a balancing act.”
The 2014-15 Budget and the 2015-19 CIP can be found
on the City’s website at www.EdinaMN.gov/finance.
The documents offer several hundred pages worth
of detail and explanation, and both Roggeman and
City Manager Scott Neal believe these documents
will provide a thorough look into the City’s projected
finances.
“One of the things I have watched evolve during my
25 years as a City Manager has been the desire of
residents and taxpayers for more transparency in
local government,” noted Neal in regards to the City’s
budget documents. “[Edina’s Budget and CIP] is a
strong step in the direction of what I call ‘informed
transparency.’ It provides its readers the numbers, but
those numbers are accompanied with many different
kinds of context.”
For more information about the Edina Budget and CIP,
contact the Finance Department at 952-826-0366 or
FinanceDepartment@EdinaMN.gov.
Edina Works Toward Providing Affordable
Housing Options
As the Twin Cities affordable housing shortage
continues to grow, the City of Edina is working to offer
additional options. Approximately 900 affordable
housing opportunities have been created in Edina and
the City Council has approved about 190 additional
units since 2011.
In 2006, the Metropolitan Council and the City of
Edina agreed on a goal to build 212 affordable
housing units between 2011 and 2020. After only
a few years, the City has already approved over 80
percent of that goal.
Of the subsidized affordable housing units in Edina,
77 percent of those are available for senior living while
the remaining 20 percent are allotted for families.
Senior Planner Joyce Repya explained that allocating
affordable housing units for income-eligible families is
a priority for the City.
“We have some unique conditions. Land values
are high, which raises the cost per unit. Generally
speaking, in order to make an affordable development
fly, you’ve got to have higher density and more units,”
Repya explained.
While the City has made significant progress on
the goal issued by the Metropolitan Council, major
roadblocks still exist. Of the approved units, only a
handful have been built. Financing continues to be
difficult for builders to obtain, so approved projects
sometimes don’t get off the ground.
Recently, the City approved 39 affordable housing
units for a new development called 66 West. 66 West,
being built by a partnership between Beacon Interfaith
Housing Collaborative and Edina Community Lutheran
Church, will be designated for homeless youth who will
sign leases, pay rent and are encouraged to move on
to independent housing after one to two years.
“It’s huge that [the Edina City Council approved
the project], but it doesn’t mean it opens up in a
year,” said Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative
Executive Director Lee Blons in a recent interview with
The Atlantic. She explained that the group will need to
obtain $9 million in order for the project to proceed.
Repya hopes that 66 West and the other affordable
housing properties in Edina are successful. “People
used to be wary of [bringing affordable housing to
Edina]. They didn’t know who those people were, but
now they’re realizing that those people are the nurses
and the teachers and the young families,” she said.
“When people need to spend 30 percent of their
gross income on housing, we could all reflect on what
that would be for us.”
For more information about affordable housing in
Edina, contact the Planning Division at 952-826-0369.
Upcoming Events
tuesday, Jan. 6, 6:30 p.m.
Community Health Commission Meeting,
Edina City Hall
tuesday, Jan. 6, 7 p.m.
City Council Meeting, Edina City Hall
thursday, Jan. 8, 7 p.m.
Energy & Environment Commission Meeting,
Edina City Hall
sunday, Jan. 11, 1-5 p.m.
Winter Ice Festival, Centennial Lakes Park
Visitors can enjoy a horse-drawn sleigh ride
that will take riders on a tour of the north
park, view an artist carve big ice blocks into a
fantastic work of art and have their faces painted
indoors! All three fireplaces will be on to keep
our visitors warm and give ice skaters a break
from the cold. A full concessions stand will be
available throughout the festival for park goers
to enjoy hot chocolate, hot dogs, popcorn and
many more snacks. Skate rentals are $6.
tuesday, Jan. 13, 7 p.m.
Park Board Meeting, Edina City Hall
tuesday, Jan. 13, 7 p.m.
Heritage Preservation Board Meeting, Edina
City Hall
Wednesday, Jan. 14, 7 p.m.
Planning Commission Meeting, Edina City Hall
thursday, Jan. 15, 6 p.m.
Transportation Commission Meeting,
Edina City Hall
saturday, Jan. 17, 9 a.m.
Walk with the Mayor, Southdale Center
Walk and talk with Mayor Jim Hovland.
Meet at Caribou Coffee.
monday, January 19
Martin Luther King Day, Edina City Hall
will be closed
tuesday, Jan. 20, 7 p.m.
City Council Meeting, Edina City Hall
thursday, Jan. 22, 6:30 p.m.
Arts & Culture Commission Meeting,
Edina City Hall
tuesday, Jan. 27, 7 p.m.
Commission Meeting, Edina City Hall
Wednesday, Jan. 28, 7 p.m.
Planning Commission Meeting, Edina City Hall
‘Obstructed Vision’ is Police Focus for January
Due to the success of the “Focus In” campaign, the
Edina Police Department has decided to continue
the initiative. Edina patrol officers will focus efforts on
obstructed vision during January.
“During the winter months, motorists are often in
a hurry, because it’s cold outside. They don’t take
the proper time to clear their windshields and back
windows of snow or frost,” said Lt. Brian Tholen.
Education will include a warning to those who violate
the statutes or codes. In extenuating circumstances,
a citation may be issued. In 2014, around 800 verbal
or written warnings were issued for the Focus In
campaign.
Each month, patrol officers focus police efforts on
a specific statutory violation in order to educate the
public and gain compliance.
In upcoming months, police will “Focus In” on unsafe
equipment, failure to display headlights, bike safety,
curfew violations, pedestrian safety, child and seatbelt
safety, distracted driving,
speed in school zones, night
and snow parking, and the
“move over” law.
The violations the Police
Department “Focus In” on
have seasonal relevance,
affect the quality of life in
Edina or pose safety risks
to residents. All statutes are
enforced year-round, but
additional attention will be paid to the focus of the
month.
“This program is a great opportunity to educate
the public on state statutes and local ordinances,”
said Tholen. “We hope this makes for safer roadways
in Edina.”
For more information, contact the Edina Police
Department at 952-826-1610.
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