Edina City Council Meeting – October 6, 2026

The Edina City Council met Tuesday, October 6, 2026, from 7:02 p.m. to 11:11 p.m. in Council Chambers at Edina City Hall. The meeting included extended community comment on regional gun violence, an early community safety update from Police Chief Todd Milburn, the annual special assessment public hearings, a variance approval, a sketch plan review for the former Public Works site, and acceptance of a federal SAFER fire staffing grant. The agenda was approved unanimously and then reordered so the police chief's presentation was heard before the consent calendar.

Consent Calendar

• The council approved the consent agenda unanimously, with one exception: Councilmember Risser removed the regular September 15, 2026 meeting minutes for separate discussion.
• Routine approvals included minutes from special meetings on Sept. 10 and Sept. 22 and the Sept. 15 work session, payment of claims, the Livable Communities Policy and Affordable Housing Program Development Grant Agreement, 2027 squad replacements, City Hall workstations, a traffic safety petition for Woodland Circle and W. 56th Street, the Interlachen Blvd soil investigation change order, milling machine replacement grinding teeth, facility management software renewal for 2027, Fire Engine-81 repair, professional services for the 2027 Vernon Avenue improvements, playground equipment for Sherwood, Normandale and Tingdale parks, Braemar Park/Courtney Fields electrical infrastructure replacement, citywide ash tree removal and replacement, Ordinance 2026-13 updating salary escalator references, and two on-sale intoxicating liquor licenses for 5036 Americana, LLC and MRK Edina, LLC.
• The regular September 15, 2026 minutes were then approved 4-1. Councilmember Risser voted no, explaining that the minutes reflected a variance approval she believed did not meet water-body setback standards because the rationale focused on neighborhood quality rather than buffer and impervious-surface criteria.

Community Comment

• A senior resident, Ms. Nelson, expressed fear about being out at night and called for a metro-area gang task force with specialized officers, citing Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher's statistics of about 300 youth involved in 12 local Somali gangs connected to more than 100 shootings and 14 murders over two years. She said catch-and-release does not stop gang activity and urged Edina to get on board.
• Sammy Sussman, an Edina resident and former candidate, expressed support for Chief Milburn and regional collaboration, called for accountability plus secure juvenile detention and treatment resources, and said the Somali community should not be defined by a small number of individuals.
• Steve Clausen described property crimes and assaults he said occurred in Edina and urged enforcement, early school accountability, more police presence, cameras, federal law enforcement cooperation, and stronger gun laws.
• Bishop Harding Smith said community members have failed to prosecute violent offenders and called for intelligence-led policing, parental engagement, interventions in schools, and an all-hands-on-deck approach while praising the Edina police chief.
• Jack Burnett, a former juvenile lifer and justice champion at STEM Justice Center, said the issue is not only where to send children but how to help them; he urged parents to outthink their children, avoid explosive language, and provide therapy, structure, and rehabilitation.
• Jordan Kalpa said he was angry and believed the problem is Somali gangs, not the broader Somali community; he called for aggressive data-driven policing, lawful stops and frisks, and a county attorney who prosecutes.
• Derek Carsh opposed the city's Flock Safety camera contract, saying a camera outside his apartment logs his movements and could be misused by the federal government; he acknowledged local safeguards but asked the city to stop paying for the surveillance network.
• Ryan Day, an Edina Planning Commission member speaking personally, said council overrides of staff and commission decisions should trigger an institutional review. He urged consistent application of land-use standards and more explanation when the council departs from staff analysis.
• Janie Weston provided copies of state statutes and shoreland information, arguing that public-hearing notice requirements and non-conforming structure rules were not followed in a previous matter.
• Kirk Adalin praised the council for reducing the proposed maximum property tax levy from 8.83% to 6.5% using an $8.65 million surplus, but opposed a proposed $2 million AI program and asked that surplus funds be used only for levy relief or deferred maintenance.
• Claudia Pinella called the Kevin Key property urban blight and asked the council to offer residents three development alternatives for a public vote.
• Osman, a 35-year Minnesota resident and father of eight, asked for collaboration rather than division.
• A resident who moved from California urged problem-solving through mosques and faith leaders, schools, and parents, and warned against stereotyping ethnic groups.
• Lou Mohammed, a Somali American from St. Louis Park, said her community feels targeted, acknowledged the need for parental accountability, and called for cross-city data sharing, youth prevention investments, compassion, and rehabilitation pipelines.

City Manager Responses to Prior Community Comments

• City Manager Neal reported that Edina is not a member of the Minnesota IT Services Transparent Artificial Intelligence Governance Alliance because cities are not eligible, and that Edina is an active member of the GovAI coalition.
• He also explained that the Braemar Arena renovation change order was the technical and legal mechanism to authorize the guaranteed maximum price after the initial pre-construction contract with Knutson Construction was established.

Community Safety Update

• Chief Todd Milburn summarized recent gun violence cases in Edina: an April homicide in the 3300 block of 66th Street; a May domestic-related shooting in the 6300 block of York Avenue South where the suspect was caught with Flock camera assistance and charged with first-degree attempted murder; a July party shooting in the 7200 block of York Avenue South where 31 shell casings were recovered and two adults were arrested; a July shooting at Yancy Park where victims and witnesses were uncooperative and no reward claim was made; and a September shooting at Our Lady of Grace where 55 casings were recovered and no arrests have been made.
• He also noted the Highway 100 shooting in St. Louis Park and the Eden Prairie High School homecoming shooting, both under active investigation, and said regional connections cannot be ruled out.
• Chief Milburn said enforcement alone is not enough. Edina has increased park patrols, used overtime shifts, cadets and reserve officers, and made changes at Centennial Lakes Park. Firearms recovered have increased from 24 in 2024 to 40 in 2025 and 42 so far in 2026.
• He described engagement with Somali elders, the Multicultural Advisory Committee, and community-police liaisons, and said those partnerships helped reduce disturbance calls at Centennial Lakes.
• On policy, Edina joined the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Violent Crime Reduction Unit, known as V-Crew, with a full-time investigator and access to about 30 regional detectives. He said law enforcement leaders expected to make a broader regional task-force announcement the following week.
• Mayor Hovlin said the school district reported no indication that recent incidents involve Edina Public Schools students, and noted the district's discipline data is trending downward. Chief Milburn agreed to provide recurring updates to the council.

Public Hearings: Annual Special Assessments

Unless noted, each public hearing was closed and the resolution adopted unanimously.

Resolution 2026-59: Presidents A/B Neighborhood Roadway Reconstruction Assessment

• City Engineer Chad Milner presented final assessments for Improvement Nos. BA-466 and A-293. Street costs totaled $3,449,776.94; storm sewer costs were approximately $2.184 million; sanitary sewer costs were $586,000; water main costs were approximately $3 million; sidewalk costs funded by PAX were approximately $450,000; and the alley improvement totaled $61,237.47.
• Assessments were reduced to $6,953.40 per residential equivalent unit from an estimated $8,600, and alley assessments were reduced to $1,047.57 from an estimated $1,300, both about 19% lower. One formal email objection from 500 Tyler Court was received.
• Resident Judy Hemstead Anderson asked the council to postpone the assessment, saying residents were told construction would finish in 2025 and final assessments would follow about a year later. The city identified substantial completion as July 24, 2026, and her hardscape restoration remained unfinished. Director Milner said restoration items were on the contractor's punch list and the city would press for completion; plantings may need to wait until spring under MnDOT planting rules. The council approved the resolution 5-0. Assessments will be filed with the county by the end of November and appear on 2027 tax statements.

Resolution 2026-65: Aquatic Services Special Assessment

• Water Resources Manager Jessica Wilson presented the annual aquatic services assessment for organized lake associations under the city's lake and pond policy. No formal testimony was offered, but Janie Weston asked about phragmites; Wilson said invasive phragmites was confirmed at Roslyn Park and control work would proceed. Resolution AQ-26 was adopted unanimously.

Resolution 2026-60: 50th & France Maintenance District Assessment

• The M-26 assessable cost was $489,110.84 across 452,347 square feet, equal to $1.081 per square foot. This was lower than the prior year's $522,951.36. Costs included contractual services, repairs and paver replacements at 41%; utilities at 20%; equipment and event costs at 5%; custodial supplies at 1%; and risk management at 1%. No public testimony was offered, and the resolution was adopted unanimously. The mayor verbally referred to Resolution 2025-93, but the item adopted was Resolution 2026-60.

Resolution 2026-61: Grandview Maintenance District Assessment

• The G-26 assessable cost was $14,058.14 across 433,887 square feet, equal to $0.0324 per square foot, down from about $64,300 in 2024. Costs comprised snow removal and landscaping at $10,400.26 and hand railing improvements at $3,657.88. No public testimony was offered, and the resolution was adopted unanimously.

Resolutions 2026-62, 2026-63, and 2026-64: Tree Removal, Weed Mowing, and Delinquent Utilities

• The tree removal assessment, TR-26, was adopted unanimously. City code requires property owners to remove disease or public-safety trees after notice and a 31-day compliance period. Assessment terms are one year for trees under $1,000, five years for $1,000 to $10,000, and ten years for more than $10,000.
• The weed mowing assessment, WD-26, was adopted unanimously. Weeds over 12 inches are cited, owners have 10 days to comply, and 12 properties were mowed by a contractor this year.
• The delinquent utilities certification, DU-26, was adopted unanimously. Assistant Finance Director Nellie Chick Brewer reported 1,028 accounts totaling over $1 million outstanding in September, with 547 accounts and over $600,000 still outstanding as of the prior Thursday. A $35 administrative fee is added after this meeting, and customers have until November 16 to pay before certification to Hennepin County for collection with 2027 property taxes.

Reports and Recommendations

Resolution 2026-66: Accepting Donations

• The council adopted the donations resolution unanimously. Donations included cash from Jerry's Foods to the police department and contributions from Griswold Care, Minnesota Humanities Center, and resident Jonathan Gross to the Senior Center.

Resolution 2026-48: Variance Approval at 5620 Woodcrest Drive

• The council voted 3-1-1 to adopt a resolution formalizing its prior approval of a variance to replace an existing deck with a 14x12 four-season porch, reduced from the originally proposed 14x14. Director Teague said the reduction did not change the requested setbacks and the council had authority to approve a smaller scope.
• Councilmember Agnew supported the variance, saying more than half of the lot is in water and the property is uniquely constrained. Councilmember Risser opposed it, arguing the property is not unique, water-quality buffer standards matter, and the decision could open the door to similar requests. Councilmember Pierce abstained because he was not present for the prior discussion.

Sketch Plan Review for 5146 Eden Avenue

• The development team presented a sketch plan for the former Public Works site. Partners include Brent Frederick of Gastric Concepts, John Kramer of John Kramer & Sons, Carl Runk, architect Evan Jacobson of Tushie Montgomery, and landscape architect Terry Manaric of Confluence.
• The proposal includes a 6,000-square-foot retail building with two restaurant concepts, four three-story condo buildings with 18 units, two five-story condo towers with 36 units, 54 total condos, 108 enclosed parking spaces, and about 76 surface parking spaces. A formal application would seek rezoning to a planned unit development.
• Carl Runk described phased construction: site work and the restaurant first, followed by one townhome-style condo building with model units, then the remaining residential buildings based on pre-sales, with construction moving south to north.
• Council comments were broadly supportive. Members praised the density, landscaping, public realm, restaurant activation, larger trees, underground parking, and pedestrian connections. They also asked for clearer accessible routes to all public spaces, more detail on the water feature, and continued attention to the Arcadia setback and fire-service access. No vote was taken on the sketch plan.

Acceptance of Federal SAFER Grant Funds

• The fire chief announced that Edina had been awarded a FEMA SAFER grant of $3.4 million in federal funds to support 12 additional paramedic firefighters over a three-year grant period. The federal share is 75% in the first two years and 35% in year three, with the city paying the matching share. The city will also cover costs not covered by the grant, including step increases, cost-of-living adjustments, lateral pay, equipment, and training.
• Edina was notified September 25, 2026, and must accept within 30 days. Hiring must be completed within 180 days from acceptance. Eight Minnesota departments were awarded grants this year, adding 85 new positions in the metro, which officials said would create a competitive hiring environment.
• The chief said current staffing is insufficient for the city's risk and call volume. The grant would increase daily staffing to 19 memberships, allow the department to staff its tower for the first time, support a fourth ambulance through cross-staffing, and help prepare for a temporary or permanent fire station three.
• In response to questions, officials said staffing one 24-hour position requires about 3.6 full-time employees due to the staff relief factor. Attorney Dave Kendall said the city reviewed the grant agreement and believes it is in compliance with all data-sharing and immigration-related federal requirements, and that the city has no evidence of other grant recipients being forced to provide immigration data.
• The council voted unanimously to accept the fiscal year 2025 SAFER grant funds and authorize the fire chief to proceed.

Manager's Comments

• City Manager Neal announced that the HRA meeting scheduled for December 10 would be moved to Thursday morning, December 3, to resolve scheduling conflicts. Council members indicated availability.

Council Comments

• Councilmember Pierce said he still did not feel much safer and did not think the public had a clear action plan; he urged the city not to let more than two days pass without a public update.
• Mayor Hovlin thanked police and city staff, suggested a public service announcement asking parents if they know where their children are, emphasized that investigations take time, and said the city must avoid merely admiring the problem. Councilmember Agnew thanked staff for organizing the previous night's community conversation, praised police officers, and highlighted election security planning, the Edina Theatre reopening, and the adaptive open at Braemar.

Key Outcomes

• Agenda approved unanimously; the Community Safety Update was moved ahead of the consent calendar.
• Consent calendar approved unanimously, with the regular Sept. 15, 2026 minutes approved separately 4-1.
• Public hearings closed and assessment resolutions 2026-59, 2026-65, 2026-60, 2026-61, 2026-62, 2026-63, and 2026-64 were adopted. All were unanimous except no contested votes were recorded.
• Resolution 2026-66 accepting donations was adopted unanimously.
• Resolution 2026-48 approving the variance at 5620 Woodcrest Drive was adopted 3-1-1.
• The sketch plan for 5146 Eden Avenue received supportive council feedback; a formal application will follow.
• The city accepted the federal SAFER grant funding for 12 paramedic firefighters and authorized the fire chief to proceed, with hiring expected within 180 days.
• The HRA meeting was rescheduled to the morning of Thursday, December 3, 2026.