Edina council awards bond sale, rejects Pamela Park tree donation and continues Rivian hearing; multiple ordinances approved

The Edina City Council on Aug. 6 moved forward on several financing and land-use items while postponing a decision on a proposed Rivian showroom at the Galleria and rejecting a retroactive tree donation at Pamela Park.

Council members awarded the sale of $22,345,000 in general obligation bonds (Series 2025A) to Baird for projects previously authorized by the council, including final financing for Fire Station 2 and various capital projects. The council also approved a resolution to authorize sale of up to $11,235,000 in general obligation bonds (Series 2025B) to fund the City’s portion of the Highway 100 interchange project and the aquatic center improvements; council members scheduled that sale to be solicited and awarded in September.

The council adopted two franchise-fee ordinances that change Edina’s flat monthly utility charge to a percentage-based fee. The council approved a 4% usage-based franchise fee for CenterPoint Energy and a similar 4% fee for Xcel Energy (with a lower 0.3% rate on electricity revenue above $200,000 for very large meters). City staff and council members said the change will better align user payments with energy consumption and create incentives for conservation while acknowledging year-to-year revenue variability tied to weather.

On a separate matter the council rejected a retroactive donation of six Colorado blue spruce planted without prior city approval at Pamela Park adjacent to 5805 Brookview Avenue. The council voted to reject acceptance of the trees and directed staff to notify…