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 the homeowner to remove them by Sept. 12, 2025. If not removed by that date, the city will consider the trees abandoned, offer them free to residents who will remove and replant them by Sept. 26, and then remove and dispose of any remaining trees.

The council also approved a subdivision and related variances at 316 Madison Avenue to allow Homes Within Reach to create two lots and sell both as long-term-affordable homeownership units. The Planning Commission had recommended approval.

The council held an in-person public hearing on Rivian’s proposal for a small indoor electric-vehicle showroom at the Galleria Mall and received substantial questions from the fire marshal and council members about how to manage fire risk for battery-electric vehicles inside an enclosed mall space. Fire Marshal Davey Miller said electric-vehicle battery fires can be different from internal-combustion-vehicle fires — “they tend to last, not minutes ... but hours and in some instances weeks” — and recommended stronger sprinkler capacity, a plan for removal/extraction routes, and limits on the state-of-charge of showroom vehicles. The council voted to keep the public comment record open until noon on Aug. 10 and continue action to the Aug. 19 council meeting so Rivian, the mall owner and city staff can develop further safety proposals.

Other formal actions at the meeting included awarding a construction guaranteed-maximum price for the aquatic center pump/filter-room work to the city’s construction manager at risk and approving two alternates (a reservable group space and replacement of an existing shade canopy). Council vote totals, motions and key details for the formal actions taken at the meeting are listed below.

Votes at a glance - Award sale of $22,345,000 general obligation bonds, series 2025A: approved (award to Baird). Purpose: final financing for Fire Station 2 and capital projects. (Motion approved) - Authorize sale of up to $11,235,000 general obligation bonds, series 2025B: approved (to fund Highway 100 work and aquatic center; bond sale to be solicited/awarded in September). (Motion approved 3–1) - Adopt ordinance converting CenterPoint franchise fee to 4% usage-based: adopted (first reading and waived second reading). (Motion approved) - Adopt ordinance converting Xcel franchise fee to 4% usage-based with 0.3% above $200,000: adopted (first reading and waived second reading). (Motion approved) - Reject acceptance of six Colorado blue spruce at Pamela Park (resolution 2025-58): rejected (council voted to deny acceptance); council directed homeowner to remove trees by Sept. 12, 2025 or the city will treat them as abandoned and offer or remove them per staff process. (Motion approved) - Approve subdivision and variances at 316 Madison Avenue (resolution 2025-38): approved. Purpose: create two lots for affordable homeownership through Homes Within Reach. (Motion approved) - Approve aquatic center construction guaranteed-maximum price with H+U Construction (base GMP $5,030,827) and add Alternates A and B (reservable group space and replacement shade canopy): approved (3–1). (Motion approved)

Why it matters The bond awards and authorizations move forward capital work the city has budgeted for including a new fire station, trunk-highway work and aquatic center infrastructure. The franchise-fee change shifts how municipal user fees will be collected and may affect the annual budget and the city’s Streets, CAST and PAX funds; staff framed the change as tying cost more closely to use and incentivizing conservation. The Pamela Park decision enforces the city’s donation policy and clarifies removal steps when private plantings are made on public property without prior approval. The Rivian hearing left final approval open, while the council signaled it expects additional safeguards in response to fire-safety concerns.

What’s next - Public comment on Rivian will remain open through noon Aug. 10; the council will take action on Aug. 19. Rivian and city staff were asked to provide additional materials addressing fire safety, vehicle handling/extraction routes and operational limits for showroom vehicles. - The city will proceed with soliciting bids and awarding Series 2025B bonds in September, with staff to refine the borrowing amount based on final construction contract figures and available one-time funds.

Ending Council chambers recessed after more routine consent items and department reports; the council scheduled further consideration of budget and levy questions at upcoming work sessions as staff continue to model levy impacts and potential use of one-time funds.