Edina City Council — Transcript
Saturday, January 3, 2026
Story
Edina Abandons Wetland Banking Bid, Moves Forward With Park Project
Votes (1)
Fred Richards Park Wetland Preserve Design and Development Strategy
Staff recommended withdrawal from the wetland mitigation banking application process after three rejections. The city council approved this recommendation. Despite abandoning the mitigation bank designation, the park design will maintain its focus on creating a high-quality wetland preserve featuring native and climate-resilient plantings across multiple ecotypes (upland wildflower areas and wetter areas with cattails, sedges, and rushes). Invasive species removal, including buckthorn, will be part of the restoration process. The council awarded a contract to HNU Construction for early earthwork, representing significant project advancement.
Notable Quotes (2)
We're working with native and um climate resilient plantings. So, they're going to be some upland areas, so you're going to see some wild flowers. Um, you're also going to see some of the wetter areas, so some of what people typically think of as a wetland. So, the cattails and the sedges and and the rushes. Um, so a little bit of uh variability in all the different ecoypes.
we're taking all of what's existing and removing any invasive species. So, you'll probably even see there's some buckthornne behind me. Um, those will all be removed as part of this process. Um, and a sustainable native habitat will be put in.
Ordinances & Resolutions (2)
Three full applications submitted to regulators between 2023 and present; all denied due to design incompatibility with program requirements
Contract awarded last month for early earthwork phase of the Fred Richards Park project valued at $17.7 million