OpenPublica

Accountability starts with access.

© 2026 · Filed for the public record

Use casesAboutAPIPrivacyTermsLinkedIn
Home/Edina, Minnesota/City Council
OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Edina City Council Meeting – August 18, 2026: Park Ordinance, Election Results, and Community Concerns

City Council — Tuesday, August 18, 2026
BodyEdina, Minnesota
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, August 18, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:50:13

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.

Speaker 1

0:00

Well, good evening, everybody, and welcome to the Adina City Council meeting.

0:02

It is Tuesday, August 18th, 2026, 702 p.m.

0:07

Uh, as uh Director Benarod indicated, we are doing these meetings in a hybrid fashion.

0:12

People are watching remotely, have been uh during uh the pandemic and and ever since the pandemic, uh we continue to conduct these business these meetings in this uh in this forum, uh which I think is important for our for our residents to be able to either watch remotely or uh be in in City Hall itself uh in council chambers uh to share their views on things.

0:35

We don't have any uh public hearings this evening.

0:37

There's one uh chance for community comment, and uh typically we would cover things that uh you know we you would not be able to talk about things that are are on the agenda or scheduled for a future public hearing.

0:49

There's uh one person here I think is going to speak tonight on a on a matter that is indirectly related to um something that's on the agenda that I'm gonna let her speak.

0:59

So um having provided that information, and there's the call in information if you want to call in if you're watching from home or some other location.

1:06

Um I'm gonna call the meeting to order and ask our clerk Sharon Allison to call the roll.

Speaker 2

1:11

Councilmember Agnew is absent.

1:13

Councilmember Jackson.

1:14

Here.

1:14

Councilmember Pierce.

1:15

Here.

1:16

Councilmember Risser.

1:17

Here.

1:17

Mayor Hublin.

Speaker 1

1:18

Here.

1:19

Next is the Pledge of Allegiance.

Speaker 3

1:27

And to the Republic for

Speaker 1

1:29

which

Speaker 3

1:29

it

Speaker 1

1:29

stands.

1:30

One

Speaker 3

1:30

nation underground.

1:32

Indivisible with liberty and justice

Speaker 1

1:35

for all.

1:36

Thanks,

Speaker 4

1:37

everyone.

Speaker 1

1:39

Um we've got a form of meeting agenda that's been published for the benefit of the council and staff and the and the general public.

1:46

Is there any anyone on the council or from a staff standpoint that wishes to modify the agenda in any form or fashion?

Unassigned speaker

1:51

Is

Speaker 1

1:52

there a motion to approve the meeting agenda is published?

Speaker 5

1:54

So moved.

Speaker 1

1:56

Member Jackson moves.

1:57

Member Pierce seconds the adoption of the meeting agenda is published.

2:00

Any further discussion?

2:02

Roll call, please.

Unassigned speaker

2:03

Councilmember.

Speaker 2

2:05

Councilmember Jackson.

2:07

Aye.

2:07

Mayor Hublin.

Speaker 1

2:08

Aye.

Speaker 2

2:08

Councilmember Pierce.

Speaker 1

2:10

Aye.

2:10

All right.

2:11

We have a meeting agenda and we have something to work from here this evening.

2:14

Uh and the next thing on that agenda is community comment.

2:18

And if there's anyone in the audience that wishes to address the council on a matter of concern to them, please come forward.

2:30

Good evening.

Abby Reynolds · Speaker 6Inferred

2:31

Good evening.

2:32

My name is Abby Reynolds.

2:35

Uh good evening, uh, Mayor Hoveland and members of the City Council.

2:39

Thank you for allowing me to speak tonight about an issue that has become increasingly concerning for my family and our neighborhood at Arneson Acres Park.

2:47

I live next to the park and we love Arneson Acres.

2:50

It is a beautiful garden and a real asset to our community.

2:54

That is exactly why I am asking the city to protect it as a public park and not allow it to become an unregulated venue for large private commercial style events.

3:05

Throughout this summer, we have repeatedly seen large gatherings and elaborate luxury picnic setups occupying substantial portions of the garden.

3:14

These events can involve dozens of people, large tables, backdrops, balloons, decorations, and amplified music.

3:21

On August 8th, for example, there were multiple large gatherings beginning around 4 o'clock P.M.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Parks and Recreation█████████████████████████████████████████████48%
Public Safety█████████████████████22%
Youth Programs██████6%
Procedural█████5%
Election Procedures█████5%
Technology and Innovation████4%
Water And Wastewater Management███3%
Community Engagement███3%
Engineering And Infrastructure██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Edina City Council Meeting – August 18, 2026

The Edina City Council met on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, at 7:02 PM in a hybrid format. Key actions included tabling a proposed park ordinance restricting large gatherings, approving a trail construction agreement, accepting donations, and reviewing primary election results. Council also discussed changes to the city's legislative platform methodology and heard numerous public comments on park noise, privacy concerns, and budget sustainability.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved (unanimous): Minutes of August 5, 2026; Payment of Claims; Agreement Amendment for Verizon Small Cell Infrastructure; Encroachment Agreement with 319 Harrison Avenue; Out-of-State Travel for Mayor Hovland; On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor License for Smithsons.
  • Item 6.5 (Construction Cooperative Agreement for local trail connection to Nine Mile Creek Regional Trail with Three Rivers Park District) was removed for discussion and later approved unanimously (4-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Abby Reynolds (resident adjacent to Arneson Acres Park) described repeated large, commercial-style gatherings with amplified music, bright lights, and late-night noise. She requested the city protect the park as a public space and not allow unregulated event use. She noted calls to non-emergency line on July 29, 30, August 3, 6, and 14, 2026.
  • Derek (concerned citizen) criticized the city's contract with Flock Safety for automated license plate readers, arguing that tracking all citizens without public consent or a vote is problematic. The Mayor responded that informational materials would be posted on the police website.
  • David Frankel raised concerns about Braemar Arena’s aging infrastructure (60-year-old steel roof), the city’s AI budgeting approach, dead tree removal on public property, and past advertising revenue changes that alienated sponsors.
  • Helen Ferraro (four-year Edina resident) cautioned that the proposed park permit requirement for gatherings of 25+ could lead to racial profiling and enforcement confusion. She urged clarity on how officers would determine if groups are together.
  • Ralph Zickert criticized the proposed 2027 budget, calling the 6% levy increase unsound. He argued that using $7 million in prior tax surpluses to buy down the levy is unsustainable, especially given deferred maintenance and capital needs.
  • Marsal (parent and community member) expressed concern that park restrictions would criminalize youth and urged the council to focus on positive solutions rather than punitive ordinances.

Discussion Items

  • Ordinance 2026-12: Park Restrictions – Parks Director Dave Vetter presented a revised ordinance requiring permits for groups of 25 or more using rentable buildings, shelters, or athletic fields, with priority for permit holders. For Arneson Acres Park, specific limits on gatherings of 10+ in the formal garden area, no amplified music, and no commercial use were proposed. Council debated scope, enforcement, and potential overreach. Concerns were raised about discouraging casual soccer games or family photos. Mayor Hovland suggested combining sections 24-255 and 24-256 to encourage permits without mandating them. Council agreed to table the ordinance to the September 1, 2026 meeting for further work-session refinement (motion passed 4-0).
  • Changes to Legislative Platform Methodology – City Manager Neal proposed streamlining by relying on platforms from League of Minnesota Cities, Metro Cities, and Municipal Legislative Commission, supplemented with a short list of Edina-specific priorities. Council supported the approach and asked for dates of regional input sessions.
  • Primary Election Results – Clerk Sharon Allison reported 37% turnout (26% election day, 8% early voting at City Hall, 3% by mail). Over 18 days of early voting, 3,175 votes were cast at City Hall, with the highest single day on August 10 (735 voters). A note was made about 200 voters mistakenly coming to City Hall on election day expecting to vote there.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Agenda adopted (except 6.5) by unanimous roll call.
  • Trail Construction Agreement (6.5) approved 4-0.
  • Resolution 2026-46 (Donations) approved 4-0, including a $3,200 bench donation from Pauly Norman and Richard Fox, and an in-kind donation from MPX Group.
  • Ordinance 2026-12 tabled to the September 1, 2026 regular meeting for further discussion and drafting. Motion passed 4-0.
  • Legislative platform methodology change endorsed by council; staff will provide dates for upcoming League sessions.
  • Manager announced cancellation of the October 1, 2026 HRA meeting.
  • Council comments included reminders about the September 4 Ed Fund Big Band event and a request to clear buckthorn from the public right-of-way on Wooddale Avenue.

Meeting Transcript

Well, good evening, everybody, and welcome to the Adina City Council meeting. It is Tuesday, August 18th, 2026, 702 p.m. Uh, as uh Director Benarod indicated, we are doing these meetings in a hybrid fashion. People are watching remotely, have been uh during uh the pandemic and and ever since the pandemic, uh we continue to conduct these business these meetings in this uh in this forum, uh which I think is important for our for our residents to be able to either watch remotely or uh be in in City Hall itself uh in council chambers uh to share their views on things. We don't have any uh public hearings this evening. There's one uh chance for community comment, and uh typically we would cover things that uh you know we you would not be able to talk about things that are are on the agenda or scheduled for a future public hearing. There's uh one person here I think is going to speak tonight on a on a matter that is indirectly related to um something that's on the agenda that I'm gonna let her speak. So um having provided that information, and there's the call in information if you want to call in if you're watching from home or some other location. Um I'm gonna call the meeting to order and ask our clerk Sharon Allison to call the roll. Councilmember Agnew is absent. Councilmember Jackson. Here. Councilmember Pierce. Here. Councilmember Risser. Here. Mayor Hublin. Here. Next is the Pledge of Allegiance. And to the Republic for which it stands. One nation underground. Indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thanks, everyone. Um we've got a form of meeting agenda that's been published for the benefit of the council and staff and the and the general public. Is there any anyone on the council or from a staff standpoint that wishes to modify the agenda in any form or fashion? Is there a motion to approve the meeting agenda is published? So moved. Member Jackson moves. Member Pierce seconds the adoption of the meeting agenda is published. Any further discussion? Roll call, please. Councilmember. Councilmember Jackson. Aye. Mayor Hublin. Aye. Councilmember Pierce. Aye. All right. We have a meeting agenda and we have something to work from here this evening. Uh and the next thing on that agenda is community comment. And if there's anyone in the audience that wishes to address the council on a matter of concern to them, please come forward. Good evening.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com