October 19–25, 2026
The Edina City Council had a full plate: parking at 50th & France gets pricier, Fred Richards Park gets upgrades, and the Nine Mile Creek trail opens for winter use.
At the 50th & France district. The council adopted higher parking rates at the 50th & France ramps, so your next trip to that shopping area will cost more at the meter. No new rate schedule was published in the bill data, but the direction is up. If you park there regularly, budget accordingly.
At Fred Richards Park. Two improvements to Fred Richards Park are now adopted by the council. New playground equipment is on the way, giving families updated play structures. The park also gets EV charging stations, so electric vehicle owners can plug in while they visit. Both purchases cleared the council on Tuesday, October 20.
On the trail. The council also adopted a formal winter-use agreement with Three Rivers Parks District for the Nine Mile Creek Regional Trail. That means you can walk, ski, or snowshoe the trail through the colder months under a shared set of rules between the city and the parks district.
Around the neighborhood. The council amended its property deal with Arcadia Ave Partners for the site at 5146 Eden Avenue, adjusting the terms of a purchase and redevelopment contract. The bill data doesn't specify what changed in price or timeline, but the amendment signals the city is moving forward with redevelopment at that location.
At the county. Hennepin County had a busy Tuesday as well. The county board adopted a $450,000 research contract with the University of Minnesota to measure how local land absorbs and stores carbon through 2029. That research could shape future land-use and climate decisions across the county. The board also approved Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority receiving surplus land for potential rail expansion, renewed health and human services contracts to keep programs running, extended its trash-delivery arrangement with Minneapolis facilities through 2027, and approved new Samsung radiology equipment for county hospitals, with a maintenance contract running through 2033. Separately, the county gained authority to buy or, if necessary, force the sale of private land needed for road and transportation projects, with fair-market compensation required by law.
For families at the library. Hennepin County libraries will offer hardcover children's books with built-in audio players from October 2026 through October 2029, adopted by the board Tuesday, October 20.
Federally. A new law (HR 7022) is now in effect that allows wireless carriers to send emergency alerts, like severe weather or missing-persons notices, through satellite networks in addition to cell towers. Your carrier has to opt in, and you can opt out of satellite delivery. This could improve alert reach if you're in a cellular dead zone. Clergy members who previously opted out of Social Security on religious grounds now have a two-year window to rejoin, under a separate measure (HR 227) that is now law. Several other federal bills this week dealt with matters outside Edina.
Coming up next week:
San Francisco Bay restoration funding. HR 1382, which expands federal funding for San Francisco Bay cleanup and lets private companies and nonprofits lead restoration projects, cleared committee and is headed to a House floor vote. No firm date is set for that vote, and the bill has no direct effect on Edina residents.
See what's up for a vote now · Find your representatives