City Council Work Session March 4, 2025

Tuesday, March 4, 2025

Community engagement strategies

Strategic goal alignment and work plan process

Review of boards and commissions recruitment

Multicultural advisory committee overview

Government 101 municipal academy

Apartment manager coalition and renter outreach

Volunteer programs and coordination

Public hearing process and community perception

City development accountability and follow-through

Areas of Interest (5)

Growing frustration among Edina residents regarding city responsiveness despite extensive engagement efforts.
City Council debates the effectiveness of the 'Public Hearing' format versus modern two-way engagement models.
Concerns over developer accountability regarding tree preservation and project promises at the 7200 site.
The city is actively seeking a new vendor for the 'Better Together' online engagement platform.
Analysis of why 'being heard' has shifted from a procedural acceptance to a demand for agreement.

Notable Quotes (3)

If you want to have a two-way dialogue that I grow from and that you grow from you're going to enter into this engagement model in that way.
— MJ

Community Engagement PhilosophyResponding to concerns about resident feedback.

Our public hearing process oftentimes somebody goes on home unhappy and then that gets translated into they didn't listen to me.
— Council Member Carolyn

Public ParticipationCritique of the formal public hearing structure.

Just because I didn't do what you wanted me to do doesn't mean I didn't hear you.
— Mayor Hublin

GovernanceDistinguishing between being 'heard' and 'agreed with'.

People (6)

Ari LensAssistant City Manager

Facilitated the meeting and introduced the community engagement discussion.

MJCommunity Engagement Lead

Leads community engagement and equity divisions; former volunteer coordinator.

1 quote

“It's just a fun discussion about how do we approach Community engagement here in the city of Adina.”

Setting the tone for the work session.

Mayor HublinMayor

Presides over city council meetings and manages council discussion.

Council Member CarolynCouncil Member

Expressed concerns about the disconnect between public hearings and resident perception of being heard.

JamesCouncil Member

Participated in discussions regarding development accountability and tree removal issues.

ScottCity Manager

Verifies city work plan initiatives and procedural reforms.

Places Mentioned

City of Edina7200 Site (referenced development project)Wooddale Valley View areaValley View (sidewalk)Oakland (sidewalk)

Events & Meetings (2)

March 4, 2025, 5:30 p.m. - City Council Work Session
April-May - Government 101 Municipal Academy

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