Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Park Permitting topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Edina leaders weigh permit for unsanctioned large park gatherings after shots fired
Summary
Following gunfire at a neighborhood park, Edina officials outlined a package of enforcement and outreach steps and said staff will bring an ordinance idea — requiring permits for unsanctioned gatherings above a set threshold (discussed as 25 people) — to city council for consideration.
Mayor and Edina police leaders met with neighbors after shots were fired at a local park and said they will present an ordinance concept to city council that could require permits for unsanctioned gatherings above a defined threshold.
"If there's more than 25 people and it's not sponsored and it's not recognized through the city, it at least gives the officers some tools," Chief Todd Milburn said, describing how a permit requirement would create an enforcement option short of criminal charges. The mayor said staff had developed a three-pronged approach — enforcement, engagement and public policy — and that the council would discuss the proposal at its next meeting.
Officials emphasized the permit idea is one tool among several, not a sole solution. Milburn said the measure would likely be a misdemeanor-level enforcement tool intended to allow officers to clear a situation before it escalated. He and other speakers said any ordinance change would be paired with increased patrols, community engagement and possible capital or programming changes in parks.
The city did not announce a final threshold or a timetable for formal action; officials said they would bring language to council for review and public comment. Residents at the briefing urged caution about how ordinances are enforced and asked about alternatives such as reduced park hours, more sustained park staffing, and programs for youth engagement.
