Agenda: Edina - Late August 2024 - Full Episode
Affordable Housing Development at Fire Station 2 Site
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Management
Smart 911 Public Safety Notification System Relaunch
50th and Range Street Infrastructure Project Delay
Full Document Analysis
Votes (4)
Affordable Housing Development Concepts for Fire Station 2 Site
The Edina Housing Foundation presented three preliminary housing options to City Council at a work session: Option 1 consists of five sets of 4-unit two-story townhomes (20 units total); Option 2 includes a four-story apartment building with 45-50 units plus three sets of 4-unit townhomes; Option 3 is the densest option with three and four-story apartment buildings. Council members provided feedback and requested additional information. The foundation must request control of the site from the city, and the land acquisition cost has not been determined. The project supports both the comprehensive plan's affordable housing goals and climate action plan objectives.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Manager Appointment and Initiatives
Thomas Brooks, the new Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Manager, began work in summer 2024. He brings a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and a master's degree in industrial and organizational psychology, plus experience from the State of Minnesota and service on the Minnesota Board of Social Work. His priorities include understanding community demographics and service access, developing an Equity Strategic Action Plan, improving recruitment and retention of diverse staff in hard-to-fill positions, and leveraging an inclusive and equity lens across city operations.
Smart 911 Public Safety Notification System Relaunch
The Edina Police and Fire Departments relaunched Smart 911, a service with two primary functions: (1) notifying the public of public safety incidents via text, email, Facebook, and Twitter within 1.5 to 2 hours of significant events, and (2) allowing residents to voluntarily share personal health information, pet details, and other data with first responders for emergency response purposes. Police sergeants, fire chiefs, 911 dispatchers, and communications staff can send alerts. Enrollment is available via text ('Edina alerts' to 67283) or online at Edina.mn.gov/alerts.
50th and Range Street Infrastructure Project Status Update
The 50th and Range Street project near Edina City Hall is experiencing delays due to unexpected soil conditions discovered during construction that differ from preliminary boring results. These conditions necessitated a change in the construction methodology for two retaining walls on the north side of West 50th Street. Contractors and engineers have determined an alternative construction technique scheduled for mid-August. Following wall installation, concrete curb, sidewalk, and pavement work will proceed, with street reopening targeted for late September pending safety clearance.
Notable Quotes (4)
housing on this site uh would help the city uh with achieving its comprehensive plan goal of uh providing approximately 1,800 units uh of affordable housing by 2030 um and also uh helping the city with meeting its climate action plan goals uh reducing VMT and increasing public transit ridership by providing more housing near near Transit and jobs
it's a great way for me and for staff to one make sure that we understand the community um who's actually in the community and who's actually accessing City programs and services
I look at a city like AA and certainly something special has been built here in the city but I also look at a city like AA and there there is so much potential and opportunity particularly when we start to leverage um an inclusive and and and Equity lens and the work that we're doing
the goal around the smart 911 is to try to inform the public as quickly and efficiently as possible about a significant event our officers and our sergeants have to try to maintain the scene they have to try to manage it manage the Personnel manage the situation so they're not going to be able to do it in a real-time setting so it's going to be within an hour and a half or two hours of an of a significant incident that will allow them to be able to communicate out via text email Facebook and Twitter uh what the situation was
Ordinances & Resolutions (3)
City planning document establishing goal of approximately 1,800 affordable housing units by 2030
City planning document with goals to reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and increase public transit ridership
Planned document to be developed by Thomas Brooks and city staff to guide equity initiatives and community engagement