City Council - Regular Meeting

Welcome to Agenda Edina, a program summarizing the actions taken at City Hall that affect you most. I'm your host, Dorothea Marty. The City of Edina's proposed 2027 budget is nearly $1.5 million lower than projected just three months ago. City Manager Scott Neal's proposal includes a total property tax levy of just under $68 million, a 6.5% increase over 2026. Since sharing preliminary projections with the City Council in April, staff identified additional savings through operational efficiencies, reduced printing costs, adjustments to service levels, debt repayment strategies, and the use of one-time funds for one-time expenses. The proposed budget also reflects savings from previous Council decisions, including transferring assessing services to Hennepin County and combining the public works and engineering departments. While reducing the overall levy, the proposal continues to invest in the City's long-term priorities. It increases funding for deferred maintenance of City facilities, strengthens annual capital and equipment replacement funding, and sets aside resources for process automation and artificial intelligence initiatives to improve efficiency and customer service.

We had a number of goals when we started our budget making process for 2027. A couple of those were to reduce the rate of growth of our general fund spending and property taxes. So we've been able to do that. This will be the fourth consecutive year that we've reduced that rate of growth from year to year. So that was one goal we had. Another was to figure out how to fund and to manage a number of deferred maintenance projects, some that residents might notice and some that you might not notice that are behind the scenes. So we spent a lot of time doing that, figuring out how to use existing reserves, existing project budgets to really accomplish a lot behind the scenes there.

Presenting a draft budget in June is the earliest ever by any Dinah City Manager. City Council will review the proposal throughout the summer, including a budget work session August 18. The Council must adopt a preliminary property tax levy by the end of September, and residents will have opportunities to provide feedback before the budget is finalized in December. Edina residents continue to embrace energy-saving projects at such a high rate that the city's Community Climate Action Fund has reached capacity for the third straight year. The city has established a waitlist for residents and businesses interested in incentives for projects such as insulation, heat pumps, solar panels, and home electrification. If any previously approved projects don't move forward, funding may become available for applicants on the waitlist. Since the program launched in 2022, demand has continued to grow. This year alone, the fund has helped support 71 projects in homes, businesses, and nonprofit organizations, generating nearly $1.2 million in private investment. almost 10 times the amount awarded through the program.

When it first launched in 2022, it mostly just focused on solar panel installations. And in response to community wants and parts of the Climate Action Plan and increased utility rebates, we've been able to expand it to things like insulation, which is huge at helping folks reduce their heating bills in the winter and their cooling bills in the summer. heat pumps to heat and cool their homes comfortably all in one system, e-bikes even to help folks get around a little more sustainably and maybe not have to get a second car for their family, for example. So it's been really exciting to add to those things that not only help folks reduce their emissions, but make their homes more comfortable and lower their utility bills.

The waitlist does not affect the city's e-bike rebate lottery, which remains open. The next lottery drawing is Tuesday, August 4th. City staff will review the program later this year to explore ways to support even more projects while keeping overall funding levels the same. The 2026 Special Olympics USA Games brought thousands of athletes from across the country to Minnesota last month to showcase their talents, determination, and competitive spirit. Among them was Edina City Hall office aide, Lisa Santamaria, who competed in bocce ball. Edina TV was there to capture Lisa's inspiring journey and celebrate her success on the national stage.

It is a rare occasion to witness one of the most prestigious events in the world. The Olympics date back to the 8th century BC. Bocce also dates back to around that time, approximately 3,000 years ago.

You're trying to set your colored ball as close as possible to what's called the white polina. For those of you who watched Winter Olympics this past year, it's a little bit like curling.

The Special Olympics began in 1968 as a way to provide training and activities for those with intellectual disabilities. It includes participants from all 50 states gathering in a week-long event to not only compete, but to celebrate ability and inclusion. Current games include track and field, basketball, volleyball, swimming, cornhole, tennis, and more. One of Edina's own qualified for the Minnesota bocce team.

Lisa was one of those we chose based on not just her abilities but also her personality and just the things that really make her unique and perfect for what we're looking for in a Special Olympic athlete.

Lisa Santamaria has been a long-time employee for the City of Edina.

I deliver mail. I do stuffing. I do whatever needs to be done.

Good morning. Good morning. Thank you. Lisa has been working here for 21 years. A very inquisitive, fun-loving, driven individual.

Outside of work, Lisa stays physically active, playing a variety of games.

Bucky and bowling. She also has played poly hockey, they call it, and basketball. She loves to be busy, loves to be active.

She tried out for the Minnesota Special Olympics bocce team.

Well, it was just a great thing when she qualified to apply. So we were pretty excited about that, and we never thought that she would make it all the way.

Being a part of a massive gathering, appearing on national TV, surrounded by officials, volunteers, and avid fans can be a daunting experience.

It was amazing just to see all the people there. And she remains very cool and collected, unlike what I would do. But she just never missed a beat, and it was just a lot of fun to watch her compete.

And Lisa did more than just compete.

I got third in doubles and second place for singles and then for team. Second place.

This was not just a special moment for Lisa, but for all of Minnesota. And it was a celebration of personal achievement.

Sometimes people don't really understand the type of camaraderie, the type of family that Special Olympic athletes really become. And so having it right in our home state to be able to display that, it's an awesome experience.

From the University of Minnesota, with Brett Pettit, I'm Kenneth Gamill for Edina TV.

The 2026 Special Olympics USA Games welcomed more than 3,000 athletes from across the nation. Santa Maria was just one of thousands of competitors who proved that success isn't measured only by medals, but by courage, perseverance, and the willingness to give your very best. Before we go, the City invites you to celebrate the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act during National Disability Independence Day, also known as ADA Day. The ADA transformed access and opportunity for millions of Americans, and ADA Day is a chance to celebrate that progress while continuing the work of making Edina welcoming and accessible for everyone. That's all for this episode of Agenda Edina. Thanks for watching. I'm your host, Dorothea Mardy.