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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil_Connection_031511Council looks to deny resident’s request for 5 dogs The Council showed its opposition to a request by a resident to keep more than three dogs, directing the City Attorney to prepare find-ings consistent with a denial. Wayne Carlson made a request to keep five dogs at his home on Coventry Lane. His three dogs are trained in agility and nearing re- tirement. Since it takes about three years to train a champion dog, Carlson would like to begin working with two more dogs be- fore the others are retired. Local law allows no more than three cats or dogs in aggregate be kept at any place in the City ex- cept in pet shops, animal hospi- tals or commercial kennels, un- less a permit has been issued. The Edina Police Department recommended the law be upheld in this case because the home is in an area of high-density housing where noise and fecal matter generated by five dogs might pose a concern. Council Members agreed with the Animal Control Officer’s recom- mendation and directed the City Attorney to prepare findings con- sistent with a denial. The Council is expected to act on the findings and deny the request at its April 5 meeting. Council approves Golf Terrace street reconstruction The Council approved street re- construction in the Golf Terrace neighborhood. The project includes work on Dal- rymple Road, Golf Terrace, Lake- view Drive, Sherwood Avenue, Saint Andrews Avenue and Wind Road. In addition to reconstruc- tion of the street pavement, the project involves rehabilitation of the sanitary sewer, upgrades to the storm sewer system and fire hydrants and the addition of con- crete curb and gutter. Curb and gutter will be added to all of the streets, including those adjacent to Lake Harvey. During the planning process, resi- dents requested staff look into the feasibility of installing traffic- calming measures. Staff recom- mended the installation of land- scape islands at the intersections of Willson Road and Wind Road and Willson Road and Lakeview Drive and sidewalks to separate pedestrians from vehicles in the area. The Council approved the sidewalks, but took the landscape islands out of the project. The project is estimated to cost approximately $2.8 million. The estimated assessment per house- hold is $12,500, which will pay for the roadway portion of the project. The project will be bid out in April. Construction is expected to begin this spring and be complete by fall. Council OKs Nice Ride’s plans for expansion into community The Council agreed to support Nice Ride MN’s plans to expand into Edina. Nice Rice MN is a non-profit or- ganization that provides bicycles for use by subscribers. Anyone may become a subscriber. Sub- scribers simply take a bike when they need one and return it to any station in the system when they arrive at their destination. The cost to use the system is a combi- nation of a subscription price and trip fees, which are paid using a credit card online or at terminals adjacent to Nice Ride stations. Nice Ride bicycles are available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week from April to November. Stations are removed from streets during the winter. The Bike Edina Task Force has recommended the stations be placed at 44th and France and at 50th and France. A summary of the March 15 Edina City Council & HRA meeting March 18, 2011 Volume 13, Issue 6 Council Connection Upcoming meetings: Annual Meeting of City Council and Advisory Boards, Commissions and Committees, 5 p.m. March 21 Human Rights & Relations Commission, 7 p.m. March 22 Planning Commission, 7 p.m. March 23 Art Center Board, 4:30 p.m. March 24 City Contacts City Manager Scott Neal 952-826-0401 City Clerk Debra Mangen 952-826-0408 Animal Control Officer Tim Hunter 952-826-0494 Public Works Director/City Engineer Wayne Houle 952-826-0443 Fire Chief Marty Scheerer 952-826-0332 We’d like to hear from you … If you have any comments, call Communi- cations & Marketing Director Jennifer Bennerotte at 952-833-9520. The text of this publication will be available online at www.CityofEdina.com. PLEASE RECYCLE. www.CityofEdina.com Nice Ride MN will work with City officials to determine station locations. Council approves cost of Decision Resources survey The Council set a limit on the cost of a citizen satisfaction survey to be conducted next month. In April, a local polling firm will contact a random sample of Edi- na residents to gather infor- mation about issues facing the City. Approximately 400 residents will be contacted via telephone and asked their opinions on top- ics ranging from City parks and recreation to communications and public safety. A survey like this has not been completed in Edina in over 10 years. City Manager Scott Neal says he believes gathering infor-mation through surveys like this is important, and that he plans to complete them more regularly. The survey will be conducted by Decision Resources at a cost of $24,000, which will be paid for out of the City’s Communications Fund. A report is expected to be complete by the end of May. Council approves 3-year firefighters’ contract The Council approved a three- year contract with IAFF 1275 representing Edina’s firefighters. Those in the union will receive a retroactive 2 percent wage in- crease for 2010, a 2 percent increase for 2011 and a 1.5 per- cent increase for 2012. The City also agreed to pay the three-year licensing fee of $75 for each of the firefighters. In addition, the City will give firefighters a $25 monthly increase for insurance in 2010 and another $25 monthly increase in 2011. The union agreed to accept whatever the City Council approves for 2012.