“Mr Neil deserves a failing grade because he missed the first step in solving a problem. That first step being clearly define the problem you're trying to solve... Mr Neil sees the problem as one of being optics the optics of a 17% increase in property tax levy.”

“$2.6 million almost half of the so-called levy reduction initiatives merely shift the collection of those revenues from what is currently a dino of property taxes to a different taxing authority. A change that would further obscure the real cost of running the city.”

“Slavery is legal and must be ended by legislation. Slavery is legal under the article 1 section two of the Minnesota Constitution which allows slavery as punishment for a crime. Uh yes in Minnesota in 2025 slavery is still legal.”

“As an inmate in Riker's Island I was forced to work up to 16 hours a day at a rate of 17 cents an hour... Here in Minnesota people in prison are forced to work starting at 25 cents an hour at a punishment of incel or actual solitary confinement for failing to do so while at the same time the cost of purchasing hygiene email and other things that you need to survive in prison costs more money more than the money that you can make.”

“If we change the recidivism by 1% uh that will be $1 million that doesn't go to our prison systems and $10 million that our taxpayers are not paying... 58 million... So it's very key that we uh get the support of the city council and we would love uh for you guys to be able to sign on and support as as uh any way possible.”

“We're hoping that we can walk this in January 2026 without a financial attachment necessary the hund00 million that exists could just go to jobs at minimum wage to continue to fund the operations of the prison and now we can set up jobs that can transfer from within to without.”

“The library's mission is to inspire facilitate and celebrate lifelong learning. One of the ways we achieve this mission is by creating inviting inclusive accessible and safe public spaces.”

“We're moving from uh predominantly parking to green space. And that green space is full of trees. Um it's minimizing uh on surface or impermeable surfacing. Um and then it's a restorative or reparative landscape.”

“There's about 19,000 cubic feet of excess water retention on site that we've designed in from what would be required. So we've gone above and beyond... on the resiliency and the sustainable aspects of this.”

“We are establishing a landscape based on a gradient of pre-settlement uh biomes that would have been here in Adina uh prior to European settlement of this land. And so we're restoring the landscape and many of the benefits that that landscape can provide.”

“We've worked really hard to make that a seamless integration of bicycles pedestrians and then again mentioning the vehicular separation that makes it safe.”

“I um was laughing with um member Agnu I drove out there a couple weeks ago from work Uh was planning to do some writing and I think I got all the way over there and I thought 'Oh it's closed.' So and somehow I forgot that But there's three libraries that I spent a lot of time in Ridgedale Minneapolis downtown and the South Dale And I think um this for sure will be my favorite uh when it's completed.”

“Thank you to the county. This is an extraordinary investment in our community and it's just we are so lucky that this is going to be coming to us and it's beautiful and it's functional... Thank you for handling the complexity of this project.”

“I um do want to push back on the idea of the Southdale design guidelines not really being followed because I think you really are breaking up the space beautifully... I think you've provided a wonderful solution and I hope it is something that is picked up and used at other development sites.”

“Your site has some of the fewest trees in our area... This is the little enchanted library forest... if you can keep part of that that would be absolutely wonderful... I really can't get enthusiastic about another open plaza because then no one's going to have any place to go.”

“I don't know how to not overstress or uh talk about the impact of this facility that I in my career I haven't worked on a facility that I think is as spectacular as this... the demand is is really hard to measure and I just know there's going to be a lot of people coming... this is world class.”

“Staff really feels section two is the most important one of this ordinance. Right now state statute does not uh does not have a a requirement to have helmets for individuals 15 to 17 or under 18 years old. We think that's very important to have that in there quickly so the police department has something to start these education outreach initiatives.”

“If there's a a will of the council a majority to say that we should reconsider bikes on sidewalks we would remind you of all the public engagement we had when that originally came forward and all the work that the transportation commission did at the time... we could have that conversation as part of that work that's scheduled for 2025 with more community input.”

“Can you repeat the what you were saying about sidewalks just now if you wanted to regulate bikes on sidewalks that portion... So we would I would not recommend that because in 2014-15 Mark Nolan was a transportation at the time transportation planner there was a huge outreach for the bike and ped master plan and the transportation commission put a lot of work in to change the ordinance to allow bicycles and sidewalks.”

“So um we'll let other questions go forward but I'd like to offer that amendment when it's appropriate.”

“Resident Norah Davis uh did come to community comment at our last meeting and um the way her comments were originally presented in the minutes were very inaccurate. Um she was credited with saying that the neighbors were never notified that a fourth floor was being constructed at the 4040 building and that was not what she said... Norah Davis addressed a previous community comment about the fourth floor of the 4040 building where a resident claimed neighbors were not notified. Um though staff refuted this Miss Davis recalled the project was initially approved for three stories with a setback fourth floor but staff and the developer altered the plans in 2021.”

“I think it's important to understand this is considered minor change and um we go through a lot of process reviewing plans. We have public hearings and all of that and I I just think we need to be mindful of that. Uh but I want to also apologize to um Nora Davis because I I did remember those changes but I didn't have at the time when she brought her concerns forward I just sat and listened and I didn't say anything and I feel really badly that I didn't say anything.”

“When they were in the final stages of construction I think Director Teague is not here tonight Uh we had somebody because I think there were several of us that were concerned about is this getting built the way it was approved We had somebody independent from the from the team here in house take a look at it to see if it was built being built according to the to the plans and specs... I don't but I know that director Teague will be here at the next meeting and he can speak to that because maybe next maybe why don't you make a note to talk to him about that in the gap period here between this meeting and the meeting on the 16th of April.”

“Edina's public safety telecommunicators also known as 911 dispatchers are talented professionals with a desire to serve this community. They are an integral piece of the overall public safety response. And while they may not wear a badge or ride in a squad car they are every bit uh the lifeline that emergency response relies on.”

“Our 911 dispatchers who are often recognized as the first first responders received over 105,000 emergent and non-emergent calls for service. So that's over 280 calls that we field per day. These calls range from accidental misdials all the way to the most serious emergencies. So at any one time you could walk in and our dispatchers could be providing CPR instructions ini advising how to escape a structure that is on fire or helping someone hide from an asalent without a single beat of hesitation.”

“Before the sirens wail before help arrives before lives are saved they are giving everything they have to make sure responders get where they need to be with the information necessary to provide crucial timely assistance to those in desperate need of it. So that is why it is so important that we take the time and honor them during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.”

“It is truly a calling in their lives.”

“We planted over a thousand new trees here uh throughout the city uh focusing in the southeast quadrant. That's where our lowest uh lowest tree canopy is. And so um got an interactive map on the city website you can um peek at and it's got uh uh shows the location of all those trees that were planted in the species as well.”

“Our Arbor Day celebration is Friday April 25th from 10:00 a.m to 2:00 p.m at Braar Golf Course. We're going to be planting um right around 300 new trees at the golf course... we'll be kind of uh you know adding uh more oaks a lot of oaks back in there um as well as some other nut trees and um shrubs.”

“It's kind of like Christmas for me. So I'm really excited about Arbor Day.”

“This year's was very popular. We had about 20 different species and I I think after the first day we only had four left and so sold out um quickly. There's I don't think there's any trees left now. We will have another round of trees though for this fall.”

“Our building department consists of 15 employees and we provide services to the community that safeguard life health property and public welfare by regulating and controlling the design alteration construction materials use and occupancy of buildings and homes in Edina. In 2024 the city of Edina issued nearly 6,000 permits uh and conducted just under 19,500 inspections.”