Edina City Council Meeting – November 4, 2026

The Edina City Council met in hybrid session at 7:00 p.m. on November 4, 2026, in Edina City Hall Council Chambers. Mayor Hovland presided; Councilmembers Agnew, Pierce, Jackson, and Risser were present. The council approved the agenda, acted on the consent calendar, set a December 7 public hearing for the Rolling Green reconstruction project, received reports and recognitions, adopted a proclamation and a donations resolution, and approved the October 6 minutes as presented.

Consent Calendar

• The consent agenda was approved by a 5-0 vote with item 6.11 (Resolution 2026-71 setting the Rolling Green/Interlachen/Griffit Street public improvement hearing) removed for discussion.
• Approved consent items included: October 20, 2026 work session and regular meeting minutes; payment of claims; Resolution 2026-75 naming pedestrian walkways and public plazas at 50th & France; Resolution 2026-26 site plan with variances for a dental office at 7300 Metro Boulevard; an amendment to the Republic Services recycling collection agreement; Minnesota Task Force One joint powers agreement renewal; purchases including a 2026 GMC Acadia, Laserfiche software maintenance, Cityworks annual contract, and 2027 Ford F250; design and bidding services for the Public Works cold storage building; an on-sale 3.2 and wine liquor license for Wold, LLC; and Ordinance 2026-14 amending parking fees at 50th & France ramps.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Judy Hempstead Anderson asked the council to reconsider the assessment schedule for the Presidents neighborhood A and B project and move assessments to November 2027, offering refunds to residents who already paid. She argued that city materials linked assessment timing to construction completion and that residents were given less than four months after substantial completion to pay, despite written assurances of a one-year interval. She requested a mailed explanation and apology to all 301 affected residents if the council did not change course. The mayor indicated her comments would receive a written response and be addressed by city staff.

City Manager's Responses to Previous Community Comments

• City Manager Neal reported that the council used $1.47 million of the $7.64 million proposed surplus designation to pay off Fire Station 1 and Public Works facility bonds, saving $94,000 in future interest and reducing the 2027 debt service levy by 2.17%. The remaining $6.19 million surplus designation will be discussed later this year.
• The city will install alternating two-way stop signs on 55th Street at Kellogg and Oaklawn Avenues, as recommended by the traffic safety committee.
• The Kevin Keyes site is privately owned; the city acts on land use applications as they are submitted. The comprehensive plan update will begin in 2027 with a target completion date of December 31, 2028. A question about tree health was deferred to the Rolling Green discussion.

Discussion Item: Rolling Green Roadway Reconstruction and Resolution 2026-71

• Public Works Director Milner presented the Rolling Green project, saying it is an infrastructure-driven project in the capital improvement plan since December 2020. Roads were built in 1937 and the 1950s, most utility systems were installed in the 1950s through the 1970s, and the pavement condition index is 21 out of 100. Existing roads average 23 feet wide, ranging from 20 to 26 feet.
• Staff proposed a 20-foot wide street with concrete curb and gutter and parking on one side, with no pavement markings and no parking signs. The city fire department supports a 24-foot width and does not support narrowing further because of emergency access; Public Works also opposed narrowing below 24 feet for snowplow safety and efficiency. Curbs are a city standard, are not assessed, and help manage drainage, plowing, and pavement longevity.
• About 200 trees were identified by residents as potentially at risk, but that number is not confirmed. Staff said a preliminary review found fewer than 15 trees within three feet of the proposed curb and gutter before design adjustments. Tree surveys, design changes, air spading, and individual property owner discussions would be used to minimize impacts, and replacement trees would be provided where possible. Utility work is the largest potential threat to trees.
• Councilmembers raised concerns about tree loss, access to homes through the neighborhood's three access points, timelines for residents unable to use driveways during construction, lack of nearby alternate parking, and the need for detailed maps showing 20- and 24-foot road segments. Councilmember Agnew asked for a written policy on replacement of private improvements such as mailboxes and pavers in the right-of-way. Councilmember Pierce asked for more evidence from past projects and a more detailed schedule to build resident confidence. Councilmember Risser noted that the current Interlachen Boulevard website still said assessments are payable starting one year after construction and asked staff to correct that language. Mayor Hovland questioned whether 24-foot widths were necessary and asked for stronger evidence that utility and road work is needed now.
• Staff said council action on December 15 is the deadline to keep the project on schedule; if delayed, the project could be pushed back and affect the city's construction program. The council could approve with conditions and receive further tree impact information in January or February.
• Resolution 2026-71 was approved 5-0 to set a public improvement hearing for Monday, December 7, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. for Rolling Green neighborhood roadway reconstruction, Interlachen Boulevard roadway reconstruction, and Griffit Street Alley reconstruction improvements. Online comments will be accepted until noon December 9, and additional virtual office hours were scheduled for November 13 and November 17.

Special Recognitions and Presentations

• The 2026 Tom Oye Human Rights Award was presented posthumously to Raja Chinacotla; his parents accepted. Nominations described his kindness, cultural bridge-building, and activism, including co-founding the Edina Asian American Alliance and organizing the city's first public Lunar New Year celebration. Raja passed away unexpectedly in June 2026. The selection committee included seven community members and reviewed 10 nominations.
• The Energy & Environment Commission presented a food security assessment. Findings included that several thousand Edina residents are already food insecure, grocery stores are unevenly distributed, the southeast quadrant contains five of eight licensed grocery stores, seven of eight stores are bus-accessible, and there are no food pantries within Edina. The report recommended increasing commercial/mixed-use zoning in priority areas, studying a municipal grocery store, supporting food pantries, expanding local food production, and educating residents on transit options. Discussion included possible co-ops and partnerships with VEEP.
• Explore Edina, operated by the Edina Chamber of Commerce, reported 2025 lodging tax income just under $600,000 and expenses just over $606,000. Salaries represented about 30.9% of expenses and rent nearly 14%. A roughly $225,000 grant fund established in 2024 was fully deployed, including $142,115 in 2025 to support events and marketing by other organizations. Councilmember Risser asked about outdated website images and a new $50,000 line from the Edina First Responders Fund, and Chamber President Shelly Loberg explained those funds are separate from lodging tax accounts.
• A proclamation designating November 2026 as Lung Cancer Awareness Month in Edina was adopted 5-0.

Reports, Donations, and Minutes

• Resolution 2026-76 accepting donations was adopted 5-0. Donations included $3,200 from William Davis for a park bench, almost $7,000 from the Chamber of Commerce from the Fall into the Arts Festival, and an estimated $14,000 to $15,000 from the Edina First Responders Fund for canine, officer health screening, recruitment, and motorbike expenses.
• The council considered Councilmember Risser's proposed amendment to the October 6, 2026 regular meeting minutes, which would have changed an ambiguous pronoun in a statement by Planning Commissioner Ryan Day. City Clerk Allison recommended against the amendment, saying the minutes are summary style and the issue was interpretation, not factual error. The council voted to approve the October 6 minutes as presented.
• The council received the Transportation Commission advisory communication regarding Interlachen Boulevard.

Mayor and Council Comments

• Members congratulated election winners: Councilmember Kate Agnew was re-elected with over 12,000 votes, Patrick Gage was elected to the council, Representative Julie Green was re-elected to the Minnesota House, and four school board members were elected. Councilmembers also honored election judges, reminded residents of World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims on November 14, and paid tribute to Raja Chinacotla.

Key Outcomes

• Agenda approved 5-0 as published.
• Consent agenda approved 5-0 with item 6.11 removed.
• Resolution 2026-71 approved 5-0, setting the December 7, 2026 public improvement hearing.
• Proclamation for Lung Cancer Awareness Month adopted 5-0.
• Resolution 2026-76 accepting donations adopted 5-0.
• October 6, 2026 regular minutes approved as presented; Councilmember Risser's proposed amendment was not adopted.