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City Council Work Session

Date: Wednesday, October 22, 2025 at 5:00 PMActual: Wednesday, October 22, 2025 at 5:00 PM

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AgendaAnalysis ready

Published Wednesday, October 22, 2025

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Meeting location: Edina City Hall Community Room 4801 W. 50th St. Edina, MN City Council Work Session Meeting Agenda Wednesday, October 22, 2025 5:00 PM Accessibility Support: The City of Edina wants all residents to be comfortable being part of the public process. If you need assistance in the way of hearing amplification, an interpreter, large-print documents or something else, please call 952-927-8861 at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting. 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Meeting Topics 3.1. Closed Session for Attorney-Client Privilege Regarding Litigation 3.2. Motion to Adjourn the Closed Session and Move Back into Open Session 3.3. 2026-2027 Proposed Commission Work Plans 3.4. Administrative Updates 4. Adjournment Page 1 of 30 d ITEM REPORT Date: October 22, 2025 Meeting: City Council Agenda Number: 3.1 Item Type: Report & Recommendation Item Activity: Discussion Prepared By: Kari Sinning, Deputy City Clerk Department: Administration Item Title: Closed Session for Attorney-Client Privilege Regarding Litigation Action Requested: Motion to close the work session as allowed under MN. Stat. 13D.05 Subd. 3. (b) for attorney-client privilege to discuss USDOJ vs. City of Edina. Information/Background: A League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust attorney will discuss the case with City Council. Supporting Documentation: None Page 2 of 30 d ITEM REPORT Date: October 22, 2025 Meeting: City Council Agenda Number: 3.3 Item Type: Other Item Activity: Discussion Prepared By: MJ Lamon, Special Projects & Engagement Manager Department: Administration Item Title: 2026-2027 Proposed Commission Work Plans Action Requested: None. Information/Background: Starting in 2026, commission work plans are transitioning to two-year work plans. This year, City Council will hear from the Planning Commission, the Heritage Preservation Commission, the Transportation Commission, and the Energy & Environment Commission. The commission chair or designee will present proposed initiatives. Resources/Financial Impacts: Reviewing commission work plans ensures that proposed initiatives align with available City capacity and resources. Staff liaisons identified whether each initiative has a budget impact and confirmed that a funding source is available, as well as the level of staff support required. These considerations inform staff recommendations to Council, ensuring that both funding and personnel resources are appropriately aligned with proposed work plan activities. Relationship to City Policies: The commission work plan process is integrated into the City’s overall work plan framework, which emphasizes alignment with Council priorities and strategic goals. Budget Pillar: Better Together Values Impact: Engagement Equity Health The work plan process ensures commissions have structured opportunities to sha…
TranscriptAnalysis ready

Published Wednesday, October 22, 2025

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I have a bit of information for you first and then we will do popcorn style and everyone will share their proposed commission work plan for 2026, 2027. Okay, so this is the first time you do this webex in a long time. So Chris is going to stay up there and I'm going to see if I can get this in the presentation. Okay, so here is the timeline and roles. It's not a lot different than we've done in the past. The biggest difference is that there's four commissions here tonight. Instead of the larger amount of eight tonight, the chairs are going to be or doesn't need you're going to be presenting a work plan proposals. Those were included inside of your packet. They're going to focus on the items that need explanation. Some of the items are kind of repeat things they do on an annual basis. City Council, so this is your job or your turn to ask questions about what they put in their proposed work plan and make sure that you understand the scope and what's being requested by the individuals. And then there is some admin staff here in liaisons were available for questions, but really admin staff after this will have a chance to review them as well. We will be back on November 4th with that review and some of our recommendation. Our staff liaisons, all of them will be here as well again and available and then City Council. That's really when you give us that direct feedback so that we can incorporate it and bring you a final work plan for approval. So this kind of lays that same timeline that I just talked about, but we will do a review and then ultimately you will approve them on December 2nd. And these work plans ultimately start on January 1st. And this is the first year that they're going to be a two year work plan. So tonight we have four of the commission. We're going to start with energy environment. Everyone has about eight minutes because we do have one presentation that happens after this. So I will turn it over to Corey. Thanks everyone. I'll be relatively quick. We've got seven work plan items for the next two years. Three of those seven are continuations of existing programs that we have in place, but I'll walk you through kind of the four net new ones that are worthy of discussion. So the first one is an initiative around studying internal combustion engine idling and air quality in the city. I know Carolyn and I have talked about that. It's something that we think is needing some attention. We'd like to do a little bit of research around that study and report back to Council on different things. So I think it's a good question. I think it's a good question. I think it's a good question. I think it's a good question. I think it's a good question. I think it's a good question. I think it's a good question. I think it's a good question. I think it's a good question. I think it's a good question. I think it's a good question. All work out for a computer. And then a little bit out of order because I switched the presentation on it as well. Okay. Y…

Stories from this meeting (2)

Edina Reviews Commission Plans, Faces Web Accessibility Deadline CrunchEdina Council Reviews Plans for Environment, Planning, and Digital Access

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Edina Reviews Commission Plans, Faces Web Accessibility Deadline Crunch

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2026-2027 Proposed Commission Work Plans

ADA WCAG 2.1 Level AA Web Accessibility Standards Compliance

Community Comment and Public Hearing Procedures

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Votes (3)

2026-2027 Proposed Commission Work Plans (Agenda Item 3.3)

No formal vote recorded; item was for discussion and presentation only

Four commissions presented two-year work plans with 18 total initiatives. Planning Commission presented four initiatives including ongoing land use application review, zoning/subdivision ordinance update (target Oct 2026), 2028 Comprehensive Plan Update (target Dec 2028, required by state law), and a food truck ordinance study (target Dec 2026). Heritage Preservation Commission presented three initiatives: ongoing Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) applications, Edina Heritage Landmarks designation, and Heritage Preservation Award (23rd year in May 2026/2027). Transportation Commission presented four initiatives including SEMAP working group participation (Q4 2027), Traffic Safety Standards/Warrants Review and Decision Guide (Q4 2026), Innovative Traffic Calming Solutions with seasonal adaptations including Helsinki-inspired winter strategies (Q4 2027), and Transportation Comprehensive Plan chapter review/revision (Q4 2027). Energy & Environment Commission presented eight initiatives including Internal Combustion Engine Idling and Air Quality study (Q2 2027), Education and Outreach to Schools (Q4 2027), Organics Outreach with neighborhood contest (Q4 2027), Food Security Assessment (Q3 2026), Tree Recognition Campaign continuation (Q4 2026/2027), Earth Day Promotion (Q2 2026/2027), and Green Business Outreach Program (Q2 2026/2027). All initiatives were reviewed for budget impacts and staff resource requirements. Staff liaisons confirmed funding sources and personnel availability.

Administrative Updates: ADA WCAG 2.1 Level AA Web Accessibility Standards (Agenda Item 3.4)

No formal vote recorded; item was for discussion and information only

Communications Director Jennifer Bennerotte presented the federal requirement for web accessibility compliance. The Department of Justice final rule published April 24, 2024 requires all web content and mobile applications to conform to WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards by April 24, 2026 (smaller cities have until 2027). Edina has begun remediation including: reviewing web-based platforms and applications, reviewing documents posted online (removing, remediating, or archiving), providing staff training on accessible document creation, creating accessible templates for Word, PowerPoint, and PDF files, and requesting compliance documentation from vendors. The city has begun redesigning EdinaMN.gov and remediating city templates including letterhead, memoranda, PowerPoint presentations, staff reports, and advisory communications. Staff acknowledged that without additional resources, full compliance by April 24, 2026 is unlikely, and a written remediation plan is being developed for remaining work. Council packet and presentation adjustments will be noticeable to Council members.

Administrative Updates: Call-In Option for Televised Meetings (Agenda Item 3.4)

No formal vote recorded; item was for discussion and Council input only

Staff requested Council input on whether to continue providing a call-in option for community comment and public hearings during Council meetings. The call-in option was implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic as an accessibility feature. However, participation has been minimal in 2025 with only six total calls across all televised public meetings (1 City Council community comment, 1 City Council public hearing, 2 HRA community comment, 0 HRA public hearings, 2 Planning Commission public hearings). The current process requires coordination among three staff members for each meeting. Residents can provide input in advance and after in-person public hearings through the city's online engagement platform BetterTogetherEdina.org. Staff is evaluating whether to maintain this accessibility feature or redirect resources to other priorities.

Notable Quotes (6)

Starting in 2026, commission work plans are transitioning to two-year work plans. This year, City Council will hear from the Planning Commission, the Heritage Preservation Commission, the Transportation Commission, and the Energy & Environment Commission.

— MJ Lamon, Special Projects & Engagement Manager [Agenda Item 3.3]
2026-2027 Proposed Commission Work Plans (Agenda Item 3.3)

Required by State Law. Goal is to complete the Plan by December 31, 2028.

— Staff Liaison - Planning Commission [Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance Update]
2026-2027 Proposed Commission Work Plans (Agenda Item 3.3)

This initiative supports the Comprehensive Plan goal to 'manage, maintain and operate roadways to maximize wherever possible the safety and mobility of all users and all modes.'

— Staff Liaison - Transportation Commission [Innovative Traffic Calming Solutions]
2026-2027 Proposed Commission Work Plans (Agenda Item 3.3)

Reducing vehicle idling and the associated greenhouse gas emissions is part of achieving our CAP emission reduction goals.

— Staff Liaison - Energy & Environment Commission [Internal Combustion Engine Idling]
2026-2027 Proposed Commission Work Plans (Agenda Item 3.3)

Without additional staff, all of this work is a tremendous undertaking and it is unlikely that all platforms and documents will be accessible by April 24, 2026. Communications staff is leading work to create a written remediation plan for whatever work will remain.

— Jennifer Bennerotte, Communications Director [Agenda Item 3.4]
Administrative Updates: ADA WCAG 2.1 Level AA Web Accessibility Standards (Agenda Item 3.4)

The call-in option was started during the COVID-19 pandemic, but there has been low online participation this year. (There have been a total of six calls for televised public meetings this year.) For projects with public hearings, residents are able to provide input in advance and often after the in-person public hearings by visiting the City's online engagement site BetterTogetherEdina.org. Currently, setting up the process involves time and coordination between three staff members for each meeting.

— Jennifer Bennerotte, Communications Director [Agenda Item 3.4]
Administrative Updates: Call-In Option for Televised Meetings (Agenda Item 3.4)

Ordinances & Resolutions (9)

MN. Stat. 13D.05 Subd. 3(b)Ordinance

Minnesota statute authorizing closed sessions for attorney-client privilege discussions

Zoning/Subdivision Ordinance Audit Report (2024)Plan

Completed audit identifying issues to be addressed in the Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance Update initiative

Safe and Equitable Mobility Action Plan (SEMAP)Plan

Streamlined action plan merging Safe Routes to School, Living Streets, Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan, and other transportation-related plans

Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) GrantOther

Federal grant requiring annual Task Force review of safety action plan implementation progress

2028 Comprehensive Plan UpdatePlan

Required state-mandated comprehensive plan revision with target completion of December 31, 2028

Climate Action Plan (CAP)Plan

City plan with emission reduction goals and local food/agriculture strategies referenced across multiple commission initiatives

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AAOther

Federal accessibility standard required by April 24, 2024 DOJ final rule; compliance deadline April 24, 2026

BetterTogetherEdina.orgOther

City's online engagement platform where residents can provide input on projects and public hearings

EdinaMN.govOther

City website undergoing redesign to meet WCAG accessibility standards

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