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Home My WebLink AboutCouncil_Connection_120611Council considers providing financial assistance to mall owner Council members showed some support for providing financial assis- tance to the owners of Southdale Center for renovation of the shop- ping center. Simon Properties has requested a $5.378 million grant from the City as an incentive that would cause them to do a $15 million renovation at Southdale Center. Simon officials have said the project will not be possible without help from the City. Most Council members indicated their support of providing Simon with $4-5 million loan, possibly at no interest, that would partially be paid back from a TIF district created to exploit the new valuation created by the project. Additional terms the City is considering include: • A permanent easement for a water treatment facility at no cost that would allow the City to complete construction of the facility by 2013. • Land for a transit station. • Option to lease third-floor space at the mall for a prede- termined lease rate. • Landscaping and site plan improvements that provide improved pedestrian connec- tions in the greater Southdale area. The Council directed City Manager Scott Neal to further negotiate a deal with Simon Properties. Council moves toward approving budget No one testified at a public hearing on the proposed 2012 City budget. In September, the City Council set the maximum tax levy for 2012. The preliminary General Fund expendi- ture budget prepared by City Man- ager Scott Neal is $30,604,436. The preliminary expenditure budget for the General Fund, the equip- ment replacement program within the Construction Fund, and all debt levies is $36,440,420. Neal prepared the draft budget with several goals in mind, including stabilizing City operations and em- ployee headcount, keeping employ- ee compensation at market levels and maximizing use of available unreserved fund balances. The City’s current unreserved fund balance is nearly $2.5 million. Neal has proposed transferring $700,000 to the Construction Fund, spending $300,000 on tech- nology and human resources pro- jects, and providing one-time prop- erty tax savings of $378,000 by paying debt service. The rest of the money would be used to restructure the City’s debt and provide property tax relief. Total of all levies would increase by $462,009, or 1.8 percent. The 1.8 percent increase would be the maxi- mum property tax increase the City could levy. However, expenditures and revenues could change before final budget adoption. The Council will hold another work session on the budget Dec. 15 and will act on the budget and levy at its meeting Dec. 20. Council gives nod for France Avenue redevelopment The Council granted preliminary rezoning and development plan approval for a redevelopment on France Avenue. The developer plans to raze the existing gas station at 6996 France Ave. and build an 8,260-square-foot office and retail building. The build- ing would include a 3,000-square- foot retail store to be occupied by the Vitamin Shop and a 5,260- square-foot financial office. The Council approved preliminary rezoning from “PCD-4, Planned Commercial District” to “Planned Unit Development” (PUD). Members also approved the preliminary de- velopment plan for the project. Council approves plan to remove vegetation in ROW The Council approved a revised staff recommendation to remove some vegetation from the public A summary of the Dec. 6 Edina City Council meeting Dec. 9, 2011 Volume 13, Issue 22 Council Connection Upcoming meetings: • Heritage Preservation Board, 7 p.m. Dec. 13 • Park Board, 7 p.m. Dec. 13 • Planning Commission, 7 p.m. Dec. 14 • Art Center Board, 4:30 p.m. Dec. 15 • Transportation Commission, 6 p.m. Dec. 15 City Contacts City ManagerCity ManagerCity ManagerCity Manager Scott Neal 952-826-0401 Assistant City ManagerAssistant City ManagerAssistant City ManagerAssistant City Manager Karen Kurt 952-826-0415 City ClerkCity ClerkCity ClerkCity Clerk Debra Mangen 952-826-0408 Finance DirectorFinance DirectorFinance DirectorFinance Director John Wallin 952-826-0410 Planning DirectorPlanning DirectorPlanning DirectorPlanning Director Cary Teague 952-826-0460 City Engineer/Director of Public WorksCity Engineer/Director of Public WorksCity Engineer/Director of Public WorksCity Engineer/Director of Public Works Wayne Houle 952-826-0443 We’d like to hear from you … We’d like to hear from you … We’d like to hear from you … We’d like to hear from you … If you have any comments, call Communications & Marketing Director Jennifer Bennerotte at 952-833-9520. The text of this publication will be availa- ble online at www.CityofEdina.com. www.CityofEdina.com right-of-way at the intersection of Valley View Road and Sally Lane. In October, the Council approved a staff recommendation to remove all of the vegetation from the right- of-way there. In November, Douglas and Jill Benner of 7025 Sally Lane requested that a hold be placed on removing the vegetation, based on the findings of their own transpor- tation engineer, RLK. The Council agreed and directed staff to reeval- uate their findings. After reviewing the case again, staff recommended a compromise be reached. The Council approved RLK’s recommendation for removal of some of the vegetation. After the plant materials have been re- moved, City staff will again analyze the sight lines. If more removal is required, the Benners will be in- structed to do so. Council considers larger signs The Council granted first reading of an ordinance amendment allowing for greater real estate signs in the community. The City recently received a com- plaint about the size of a real es- tate sign in the “R-1, Residential” zoning districts. Upon investigation of the complaint, it was discovered that most all of the existing “For Sale” signs in Edina don’t conform the City’s maximum size require- ment of six square feet. A tradition- al For Sale sign is six square feet in size. However, over time, it has become standard to add signs to the original sign, including open house information, website infor- mation and real estate agent names. The combination of all of these signs exceeds the maximum size requirement. The Council settled on an amend- ment that will allow real estate signs up to 10 square feet in size in the R-1 and R-2 Residential zoning districts. The Council will consider the mat- ter again at its Dec. 20 meeting.