|
|
|
|
- City Advisory Boards & Commissions
The City currently has 21 vacancies for board and commission members. To date, 30 residents have expressed interest in joining a board or commission. If you know of people that you think would make a good board or commission member, please encourage them to apply. The application process closes on Jan. 30. Interviews are scheduled for Feb. 9, 11, and 12 from 5 to 8:30 p.m. in the Mayor’s Conference Room.
- Utility Billing News
We have 700 registered users for our online utility billing website. These are residents who now receive their utility bills electronically, instead of via postal mail. Even more residents are making their payments online through the one-time payment feature. Customers tell us they appreciate the convenience and service level they receive from our utility billing staff.
- Employee News
We are busy interviewing Police Officer candidates this week and were able to make a conditional offer one candidate. Also this week, we have made two conditional offers to firefighter candidates with one additional opening yet to fill.
Matt Egan will be leaving the Public Works Department Jan. 30. He has accepted a position with the City of Wickenburg, Arizona. Matt has been a City employee since April 1999. His skillset, knowledge and leadership in the Utilities Division will be sorely missed.
- CenterPoint Energy
CenterPoint Energy owns a natural gas transmission pipe in Edina that runs from the southeast to the northwest part of town. This transmission pipe is part of a larger network of underground transmission pipes that circle the metro area to provide natural gas to customers in the Twin Cities. CenterPoint has a long-range plan to replace that pipe. They are considering replacing the majority of the pipe within Edina in 2016. Staff is working with CenterPoint to identify the impacts associated with this work.
- Grandview Process Update
As part of its information-gathering phase, the City is offering to host exploration sessions with interested groups. If a group of people, such as a neighborhood association or an issue advocacy group, have ideas to share, we ask they contact the City to schedule a small-group exploration session. Sessions can be customized to be as brief as 15 minutes or up to an hour. Both daytime and evening times are available. If you know of someone who would like to schedule a meeting, ask them to contact Heather Branigin at 952-826-0403 or hbranigin@EdinaMN.gov.
At 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 11, a “discovery session” will be held. In this session, participants will see ideas suggested for the site and discuss how some potential uses could work together. All ideas gathered will be considered as the City and Frauenshuh Commercial Group craft multiple re-use scenarios for consideration. The options and stakeholder comments will be presented to the City Council in June for a decision.
- Liquor Ordinance Review
An issue I intend to raise with the City Council at its Feb. 3 meeting is a recommendation from staff that we conduct a comprehensive review of the regulation of liquor sales and consumption. Staff have a proposal that describes a process and timeline. I would like to share it with Council at the Feb. 3 Council meeting and ask for an action on it at the Feb. 17 Council meeting.
- Cable Television
CenturyLink has expressed interest in providing cable television services in the cities of the Southwest Cable Commission, which includes Edina. I will meet with representatives from CenturyLink next week to hear their specific plan for Edina.
- The Rhinestone Rockettes
The Rhinestone Rockettes are a tap group from the Edina Senior Center. They performed at the St. Paul Winter Carnival with the Senior Royalty Coronation on Jan. 20. A photo of the group appeared on Page B3 of the Star-Tribune this week.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
