Edina Council to Vote on $9M Aquatic Center Upgrade
The Edina City Council will decide July 15 whether to use tax abatement bonds to fund a $9 million replacement of the Aquatic Center's aging pump house, a critical infrastructure project aimed at preventing potential facility closure.
The current pump house, in use since 1958, has experienced significant operational issues, including mechanical failures in 2021 and electrical spikes in 2024. City officials warn that the deteriorating infrastructure poses safety concerns and compliance issues that could force the facility to close if not addressed.
After unsuccessful attempts to secure state bonding in 2023 and 2025, the city's finance department proposed tax abatement bonds as the most viable funding solution. The project would include constructing a new filter room adjacent to the current pump house, with completion targeted before the 2026 season.
In other infrastructure news, the city has begun a major sewer capacity expansion project in the Southdale area. The two-phase construction, which started in June, aims to upgrade the 70-year-old system to accommodate increased wastewater flow from new high-density developments. The project is scheduled for completion in November.
Starting this July, the city will implement a 3% convenience fee for credit card payments, beginning with the fire department. The change comes after the department processed nearly $5 million in card transactions in 2023, incurring more than $125,000 in processing fees. The convenience fee will eventually expand to other city departments, though cash and check payments will remain fee-free.
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Summary
This Edina city meeting covered several key infrastructure and facility updates, with major focus on the Aquatic Center's pump house replacement, sewer expansion in the Southdale area, and the introduction of credit card convenience fees. The meeting also addressed temporary facility closures.
Key Highlights
Action Items
City Council to decide on tax abatement bonds for Aquatic Center
Complete sewer capacity expansion project
Implement credit card convenience fee
People, Places & Organizations
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