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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Connection 08052013Decision Resources presents survey results Bill Morris of Decision Resources presented the findings of the 2013 Quality of Life Survey. In the survey conducted this spring by Decision Resources, 99 percent of respondents rated the quality of life in Edina as “excellent” or “good.” Other high- lights include: “Schools” and “natural beauty” topped the list of reasons why people like living in Edina. A high in the metro area, 92 percent of residents polled believe things in Edina are “generally headed in the right track.” Eighty-four percent of residents polled believe that if they want- ed to, they could have a say about the way things are run in the community. More than 30 percent couldn’t identify a serious issue facing Edina today. Other issues iden- tified by about 1 in 10 people were taxes, housing teardowns and traffic congestion. The Edina Sun-Current and About Town are the majority of residents’ primary source of information of City government activities and services. Decision Resources completed the random survey of about 400 Edina residents from around the community in May and June. The results are accurate to +/- 5 per- cent and will aid City decision makers going forward. Council gives preliminary nod for ‘Aurora on France’ The Council granted the first set of approvals for the development of “Aurora on France” at 6500 France Ave. and 4005 W. 65th St. Earlier this year, the Council ap- proved proposal to redevelop the property at 6500 France Ave. with a five-story, 62-foot tall, 102,478- square-foot medical office/retail building with an attached four- or five-level parking ramp. Mount Development and Aurora Investments have since requested consideration of a change in use to 111 units of senior assisted and independent living, 66 units of traditional care/skilled nursing and memory care beds and 18 care suites. The “care” suites would include short-term stays by patients who have had surgery at Fairview Hospital or Twin Cities Orthopedic. The building would be similar in style to the previously approved building and still be five stories in height. A pedestrian skyway would connect the build-ing to the hospital parking ramp to the north. The previously ap-proved parking ramp would be removed and replaced with hous-ing. The parking would be provid- ed underground. The Council unanimously ap- proved a Comprehensive Guide Plan amendment to allow senior housing in the Regional Medical District and High-Density Residen- tial District. The Council also granted preliminary rezoning and the preliminary development plan for the project. Council approves priority use policy for Braemar Arena The Council approved a two-year priority use policy for Braemar Arena. The purpose of a priority use poli-cy is to provide a rational basis for the distribution of a limited re-source. In the case of a City's recreational facility, that resource is private use of the facility. At other municipal recreational facili-ties, the City bases its priority use policies on the residency of the user group. If there are multiple groups vying for the same re- source, the City has established policies that give preference to the group that meets a minimum threshold for the residency of the participants in that group. A summary of the Aug. 5 Edina City Council meetings Aug. 7, 2013 Volume 15, Issue 11 Council Connection Upcoming meetings: Heritage Preservation Board, 7 p.m. Aug. 13 Park Board, 7 p.m. Aug. 13 Planning Commission, 7 p.m. Aug. 14 Transportation Commission, 6 p.m. Aug. 15 City Council, 7 p.m. Aug. 20 Arts & Culture Commission, 4:30 p.m. Aug. 22 City Contacts City Manager Scott Neal 952-826-0401 Assistant City Manager Karen Kurt 952-826-0415 City Clerk Debra Mangen 952-826-0408 Community Development Director Cary Teague 952-826-0460 Parks & Recreation Director Ann Kattreh 952-826-0430 Braemar Arena General Manager Susie Miller 952-833-9502 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.EdinaMN.gov Braemar Arena has been the home to the Braemar City of Lakes Figure Skating Club (BCLFSC) and the Edina Hockey Association (EHA) since opening in 1967. Over the years, the de- mand to rent ice time at the are- na has grown, especially for prime season ice. While Braemar Arena is currently able to meet nearly 100 percent of ice needs for BCLFSC, it is able to meet less than 50 percent of the ice needs for the EHA. In August 2012, the City Council directed staff to prepare a recom- mendation for a new priority use policy to govern the distribution of ice time at Braemar Arena. Previ- ously, such a policy did not exist and it was the only City facility utilized by youth athletic associa- tions that operated without an agreement. Ice time at the arena has historically been distributed based on the City's relationship BCLFSC and the EHA, and the need for ice time for its own rec- reational programming. As staff began the process of preparing a priority use policy for Braemar Arena, the staff was challenged with creating a princi-pled priority use policy that would provide bona fide priority access to the recognized association that meets the residency requirement (EHA), while also recognizing the 40-plus-year relationship be- tween the City of Edina and the BCLFSC. After much deliberation, the Council approved a priority use policy that will result in the figure skaters giving up 159 hours of prime time ice for the EHA for two years. During that time, staff is directed to monitor the impact of the change on the BCLFSC and report back to the Council with its findings in May 2015. The Coun-cil also directed staff to negotiate agreements with the BCLFSC and EHA for support of the Hornets Nest.