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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil_Connection_020612Council plans to object to Constitutional Amendment At a work session prior to its regular meeting, the City Coun- cil was asked to take an even bigger stance on marriage equality. The Human Rights & Relations Commission has approved a resolution opposing the pro- posed Constitutional Amend- ment to ban the legal recogni- tion of same-sex relations and unions in Minnesota. The com- mission is asking the City Council to do the same. In 2010, Edina was one of the first cities in the state to adopt a Domestic Partnership Ordi- nance. Today, 15 couples are registered with the City as do- mestic partners. Commission- ers say not opposing the con- stitutional amendment may be seen as a step backward. The City Councils, Human Rights Commissions or Civil Rights Departments of Minne- apolis, Saint Paul and Duluth have already affirmed their opposition to the marriage amendment. The City Council will consider the issue in March. Sensitive to religious observances, Council considers new policy To make sure no one is pre- cluded from participating dur- ing decision-making process- es, the City Council is working to develop a “Public Meetings and Religious Observance Poli- cy.” The League of Women Voters of Edina approached the City’s Administration Department late last year, encouraging staff to develop a policy re- stricting public meetings on days of religious observance. In response, a policy was draft- ed and feedback solicited from the Human Rights & Relations Commission. According to the draft policy, in addition to the holidays on which City offices are closed, City Council, board and com- mission meetings will not be scheduled on other major Christian, Jewish and Muslim days of religious observance with significant work re- strictions. City staff and committee and working group chairs will also be encouraged to avoid sched- uling public meetings or other forums on these dates. Howev- er, special meetings called for emergency purposes would be exempt from the restriction. Staff will continue to work on the policy and bring it back to the Council for approval at a future meeting. Council moves toward denial of preliminary plat request The Council did not approve a request for a preliminary plat with variances on Oaklawn Avenue. Refined, LLC proposed subdi- viding the property at 6109 Oaklawn Ave. The existing home would be torn down and two new homes built on the new lots. Lot-width variances from 75 feet to 50 feet would be required for each lot, as would lot-area variances from 9,000 square feet to 6,699 and 6,693 square feet. A summary of the Feb. 6 Edina City Council meeting Feb. 8, 2012 Volume 14, Issue 3 Council Connection Upcoming meetings: Planning Commission, 7 p.m. Feb. 8 Energy & Environment Com- mission, 7 p.m. Feb. 9 Heritage Preservation Board, 7 p.m. Feb. 13 Park Board, 7 p.m. Feb. 14 Transportation Commission, 6 p.m. Feb. 16 City Contacts City Manager Scott Neal 952-826-0401 Assistant City Manager Karen Kurt 952-826-0415 City Clerk Debra Mangen 952-826-0408 Human Resources Director Lisa Schaefer 952-826-0416 Community Development Director Cary Teague 952-826-0460 City Engineer Wayne Houle 952-826-0443 We’d like to hear from you … If you have any comments, call Communications & Technology Services Director Jennifer Bennerotte at 952-833- 9520. The text of this publication will be available online at www.EdinaMN.gov. www.CityofEdina.com Several area property owners objected to the plans, citing a concern that the new homes might be out of scale. The majority of Council mem- bers did not support the plans, so staff was directed to pre- pare findings of fact con- sistent with denial. The Coun- cil will act on those findings Feb. 21. Council approves site plan for Primrose Day Care The Council approved plans for a new day care center in Edina. Children’s Design Group re- quested a Site Plan review to develop the recently created lot at 7401 Metro Blvd. with a Primrose Day Care Center. During the final platting of this property in September of 2011, this same building was contemplated for construction on the site. Access to the site would be off of Metro Boulevard. No new curb cut would be created. Parking for the site would be provided from the lot to the south through a shared park- ing arrangement. The outdoor play area would be enclosed for security, with an ornamen- tal six-foot black picket fence. The building would be built of stone and HardiePlank lap siding with wood finish. The roof would be made of archi- tectural asphalt shingles. The Council unanimously ap- proved the site plan.