--- ## author: Douglas Shumway date: D:20251218154500Z --- ## City Council Work Session Meeting Agenda January 20, 2026, 5:30 PM Edina City Hall, Community Room, 4801 W. 50th St. ## 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. 2026 State Legislative Delegation Meeting 4. Adjournment

Page 1 ## MINUTES ## OF THE EDINA CITY COUNCIL ## WORK SESSION ## COMMUNITY ROOM, CITY HALL ## TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2026 ## 5:30 P.M. ## 1.0 CALL TO ORDER Mayor Hovland called the meeting to order at 5:32 p.m. ## 2.0 ROLL CALL Answering rollcall were Members Agnew, Jackson, Pierce, Risser, and Mayor Hovland. Staff in attendance: Scott Neal, City Manager; Ari Lenz, Assistant City Manager; Zoe Johnson, City Management Fellow; Chad Millner, Public Works Director/City Engineer; Perry Vetter, Parks & Recreation Director; Chief of Police Todd Milburn; Ryan Browning, I.T. Director; Steve Peckham, Project Communications Coordinator; and Sharon Allison, City Clerk. Delegation in attendance: Senator Alice Mann (remote); Katy Sen, Messerli-Kramer; Patricia Nauman, Metro Cities; Senator Ron Latz; Tony Albright, Metro League of Cities; Pierre Willette, League of Minnesota Cities; Ann Finn, League of Minnesota Cities; Representative Julie Greene; Representative Cheryl Youakim. ## 3.1 2026 LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION MEETING Manager Neal shared the City’s draft 2026 Legislative Platforms were shared with the legislative delegation in advance, with formal Council approval expected later this evening. Neal outlined the platforms including continued pursuit of the local option sales tax authority, flexibility to use remaining authorized proceeds for additional projects, coordination with MnDOT on acquiring undeveloped land in front of City Hall for Fire Station #3 and potential credit for the City’s bridge investment, authorization for a Social District, and exploring the feasibility of lifting state firearm preemption. Neal asked the delegation to provide feedback on the feasibility of these priorities and strategies for moving them forward. The legislative delegation asked clarifying questions about the origin of the $71 million sales tax amount. Delegation members noted similar requests from peer cities, acknowledged challenges in passing tax bills, and suggested a potential compromise approach focused on duration or scope. On Fire Station #3, delegation members were hopeful legislation may not be required and cited similar past situations, while staff noted MnDOT has indicated Edina would have first right at market value after its project package is complete. Regarding firearm preemption, delegation members described significant political and legal hurdles, emphasized concerns about a patchwork of local regulations, and recognized the symbolic value of local advocacy even if immediate change is unlikely. On housing and zoning, delegation members discussed a performance-based approach and a menu of options that preserve local control, including ADUs, condo law updates, financing tools, land trusts, building code considerations, and the practical challenges of building in commercial areas, while acknowledging fatigue around the issue and the difficulty of advancing major reforms in a closely divided Legislature. Additional discussion touched on Social District author…