Edina City Council — Transcript
Sunday, March 16, 2025
Story
Edina HRA approves modest 2025 budget increase unanimously
2025 Meeting Schedule Planning
Economic Development Outreach
Votes (2)
Approval of Proposed 2025 Operating Budget
Dissent: None. All three commissioners present voted in favor.
Moved by Commissioner Pierce [Timestamp ~7:50] · Seconded by Commissioner Agu [Timestamp ~7:50]
Executive Director Scott Neil presented a 3% incremental budget increase totaling $259,300 in levied amount, representing a $7,600 increase in total revenue. The budget funds staff, administrative, and legal costs for housing and economic development functions. Commissioners discussed the relationship between the HRA levy and the broader city tax levy, confirming that approval today sets the maximum levy for 2025 and that any future adjustments must be downward only. Commissioner Agu noted the HRA's tax capacity allows for significantly higher levies (potentially $2-3 million) but the current proposal remains conservative. The budget increase aligns with current inflation rates.
2025 Meeting Schedule Discussion
Dissent: None. All commissioners expressed general agreement on maintaining Thursday morning staggered meetings with potential for earlier start times.
Executive Director Neil presented options for the 2025 HRA meeting schedule, noting the current 7:30 a.m. Thursday format and alternatives including earlier start times, attachment to city council meetings (which historically ran late into evening), or substitution of work session time. Commissioner Agu expressed preference for maintaining the current format or moving earlier (7:00 a.m.) to ensure completion before workday conflicts, and opposed using work session time. Commissioner Pierce emphasized the need for agenda control to ensure timely completion and noted the complexity of issues requiring adequate time. All commissioners agreed to maintain Thursday morning meetings staggered from city council meetings, with potential for earlier start times. The executive director will return with a formal 2025 meeting schedule proposal in October or early November.
Notable Quotes (6)
the tax levy is approved first by the HRA and then is confirmed by the city council at the same time that the council approves the preliminary uh 2025 total tax levy
when you set this Levy today you're setting the the maximum Levy that could be Set uh for 2025 so as we move forward uh to December and final approval of that Levy uh after today if this is approved as proposed you could only go lower you can't go higher
this Levy that we're uh that I'm recommending to you today would preclude those for 2025 but it does not preclude them for 2026 or Beyond
I don't want to change it dramatically like I don't want to tack this on to the end of a meeting I don't want to go that late um and I also don't love the idea of using our work sessions for it because it feels like we always have things that we want to discuss in those forms
the thing that's difficult to uh deal with is when we move beyond the end day or end time and so um either starting earlier so that we can ensure that we finish um as um expected or we need to build the agendas and control the conversation so that we're done on time
I think second would be we meet when we need to and so if that ends up meaning in a year for HRA we only need to have five meetings then let's just have five meetings um so whatever the need is let's schedule that but let's try to to um schedule it far enough in advance
Ordinances & Resolutions (1)
Resolution approving the proposed 2025 HRA operating budget and tax levy.