Edina Fall Into The Arts Festival
The annual Edina Fall into the Arts Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 10 at Centennial Lakes Park. Proceeds from the event benefit the Edina Crime Prevention Fund, Edina Art Center and Centennial Lakes Park.
Highway 169 Project Update
The Bren Road exit and entrance ramps from and to south Highway 169 have been closed for approximately two weeks. Those ramps will open on Friday, Sept. 8 after the p.m. rush hour. MnDOT has informed us that the project is ahead of schedule in regards to opening mainline Highway 169 to two lanes of traffic in each direction. They hope to open traffic in each direction late September. An exact date is not known yet. Although two lanes of traffic will be opened in each direction early, work will continue along the shoulders and median to completely finish the project this year.
ULI Technical Advisory Panel
The ULI-MN Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) review of the Grandview Green Project occurred on Wednesday, Sept. 6. The TAP report was very interesting and supportive of the feasibility of the project. The final report will be process and shared with Council Members later this month.
Open Streets on 50th
The City of Edina will close West 50th Street between Wooddale Avenue in Edina and Chowen Avenue in Minneapolis along with France Avenue from 49½ Street to 51st Street Sunday, Sept. 24, for the third-annual “Open Streets on 50th” event. Along with the 50th & France Business & Professional Association, the City invites the community to get outside, be active and connect with neighbors from 1 to 5 p.m. The street will be open to bikes and pedestrians to enjoy music, food, dance, games, arts, yoga and other creative and active events. Civic, athletic, artistic, creative and neighborhood groups, as well as businesses, will participate by hosting events, demonstrations, activities and more. Dogs are welcome at the event. A listing of activities and booths will be posted on the City’s website closer to the event date.
Development Update
Staff will advance the preliminary plans for the Valley View-Wooddale Redevelopment (Carlson and McGlynn) to the Planning Commission Sept. 27 and to the Council Oct. 3. The Estelle Edina proposal for a height amendment to the City’s Comprehensive Plan will be considered by the Planning Commission on Sept. 27 and by the City Council on Oct. 17. Those meetings will both include public hearings.
Aquatic Center
The Aquatic Center season ended Sunday, Aug. 20 after another safe season. We had 36,427 paid daily admissions and 52,901 member check-ins for a total of 89,328 guests. That does not count the number of swimmers involved in swim club practices or swim lessons. There were several stretches where the weather impacted our attendance. Overall there were only three days where the high temperature was 90 degrees or higher, nine days when the temperature was between 85 and 89 degrees, 32 days when the temperature was 80-84 degrees, 14 days when the temperature was 75-79 degrees, 15 days when the temperature was 70-74 degrees and 6 days when the high temperature was below 70 degrees. We had a nice mild stretch in July, but during the 20 days we were open in August, only four days were above 80 degrees and three days were below 70. The long stretch of cooler days in August took a heavy toll on daily admission revenue, as well as concession revenue.
Sad News for Ike
In July, our K-9 Ike experienced a seizure while at home. After a thorough examination, Ike has been diagnosed with Idiopathic Epilepsy. There is no known cure for Idiopathic Epilepsy. Medications are available to help decrease the severity and frequencies, but it is impossible to predict the influence the medications could have on Ike’s performance. After reviewing the veterinarian’s report, conferring with several outside K-9 trainers, and our former K-9 officers, the decision has been made that Ike will be retired from duty as of today. In addition, we are working the K-9 vendor to secure a replacement K-9 as soon as possible.
Braemar Park Planning
Preliminary concepts for improvements and new amenities at Braemar Park will be presented during a community meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 18 at Braemar Golf Course Clubhouse. At the meeting residents can view potential trail alignments, possible mountain bike and cross-country skiing trail locations, ideas for clubhouse-area changes and environmental improvements. Those in attendance will be asked to give their feedback on the concepts. The meeting is part of the planning process for remaining open spaces in the 500-acre Braemar Park, already home to Braemar Golf Course, Braemar Arena, Braemar Field and Courtney Fields. Among the project goals are to add year-round recreational opportunities, better connect the park to the surrounding neighborhoods and perform some environmental restoration. Any activities cannot adversely impact the golf course. Those who are unable to attend the Sept. 18 meeting will be able to comment in an upcoming online survey or by emailing the City at mail@EdinaMN.gov. Feedback on the concept plans will be incorporated into the draft master plan, which is expected in October. Another community meeting is planned for mid- to late October to gather feedback on that draft plan.
Edinborough Park
Planning is underway to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Edinborough Park on Friday, Oct. 6. Entertainment and activities will take place throughout the day and special offers will be available for $3 daily admissions and a $30 discount on the purchase of annual memberships for Adventure Peak and the Pool & Track. Edinborough Park continues to be an extremely popular gathering place for children, parents and grandparents throughout the year. It has been a model for several other indoor playparks in the upper Midwest and is still looked at as a leader in the municipal indoor playpark industry.
Human Services Funding
The City’s Human Services Task Force has started the process of soliciting 2018-19 funding proposals from organizations that address basic human needs in Edina. Funding is open to nonprofit human service agencies and organizations that serve Edina residents. Organizations don’t have to be based in Edina, but their service area must include Edina residents. Previous recipients include VEAP, Oasis For Youth and the Normandale Center for Healing & Wholeness. Proposals indicating how organizations intend to meet the needs of Edina residents must be submitted by 4:30 p.m. Sept. 25. Applicants will be invited to make a short presentation supporting their funding requests during an Oct. 30, task force meeting. Funding for 2019 is contingent upon completion of a site visit, a work plan progress report and is not guaranteed in the case of an unexpected revenue shortfall. Interested agencies can learn more about how to submit a proposal by visiting EdinaMN.gov and find the Public Notices section under the News tab. Or contact Jessica Wilson at jwilson@EdinaMN.gov or 952-826-0445.
Dan Patch Corridor Meeting
The City hosted the second community conversation last night about the possibility of studying passenger rail service on the Dan Patch Corridor. There were approximately 100 attendees at last night’s meeting. The overwhelming message from the residents attending last night’s meeting was to discourage the City from studying the feasibility of rail service in the Dan Patch Corridor. The next step in this project will be for the Transportation Commission to receive a report and recommendation from the consulting team. The commission will then form a recommendation and present it to the City Council in late October.
Emmy Nominations
It’s Emmy Award nomination season, and, once again, Edina TV has received multiple Upper Midwest Regional Emmy nominations this year. We have been honored with six nominations. A special congratulations to Community TV Administrator Dietrich Nissen, whose hard work on the National Police Week event in Washington, D.C. and his story about the Patamia Sex Abuse case were both recognized with nominations. Here are the categories and nominees:
Crime:
Beyond the Badge: Patamia Child Sex Abuse Segment
Public/Current/Community Affairs – Program:
Beyond the Badge
Special Event Coverage (Other than news and sports):
Beyond the Badge - National Police Week in Washington, D.C.
Interstitial:
On The Job
Public Art Profiles
Editor - Program (Non-News):
Dietrich Nissen for Beyond the Badge
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