West metro news briefs: Edina officials reopen the possibility of rooftop dining

City officials are considering whether to allow rooftop dining following a request by an incoming business.

The City Council prohibited rooftop dining in 2011, concerned about the noise created by open restaurants so close to residential areas.

However, the matter recently resurfaced after Life Time Fitness, an athletic club expected to open at Southdale Center in 2019, expressed interest in serving food on its deck.

Neighboring suburbs of Bloomington, St. Louis Park, Minnetonka and Eden Prairie allow rooftop dining, according to city documents.

The Edina Planning Commission discussed the topic at its Jan. 10 meeting and will revisit it on Wednesday, when it is expected to make a recommendation to the City Council.

The council will hold a public hearing on the commission's recommendation at its Feb. 21 meeting, according to City Manager Scott Neal.

Miguel Otárola

Both teams playing in the big game are expected to use the Vikings' Winter Park facility from Jan. 29 to Feb. 2, according to the city. During that period, there will be restricted access surrounding the facility, at the northwest corner of Interstate 494 and Hwy. 169.

Exit ramps to roundabouts surrounding the facility will be closed, as will the intersections of W. 76th Street and Washington Avenue S. and Viking and Golden Triangle drives.

Commuters will be able to get to Washington Avenue from the Valley View Road exit off Hwy. 169.

The area surrounding Winter Park is home to several businesses, and the city posted a notice on Facebook encouraging workers to plan accordingly and to inform visitors and delivery drivers about the road closures.

A map of the closures is available online at bit.ly/2mEDuOq/.

Miguel Otárola

The St. Louis Park City Council voted last week to raise campaign contribution limits for candidates in an election year, from $250 to the state limit of $600.

The issue led some council members to express concern that other parts of the city charter also were inconsistent with state law.

Officials said the change was made to close the gap between the contribution limit in state law and the much lower limit in the city's charter. City staffers were made aware of the difference last year, according to council documents.

Council Member Anne Mavity said sections of the charter that focused on anonymous contributions and forms of payment also were outdated, and that the entire charter might need a full review.

If the council ratifies the new limit on Feb. 5, the new limit will take effect on May 16.

No municipal elections are scheduled for St. Louis Park this year.

Miguel Otárola

Local officials are reaching out to Hennepin County for help with the city's growing carp population.

In its grant proposal request to jump-start the process of carp management, the Long Lake Waters Association has submitted a comprehensive plan for a $200,000 project to handle carp removal and water quality not only in Long Lake but for the entire watershed district.

The association presented a four-step plan to the county, the first step of which would be the removal of debris this fall from the bottom of Long Lake.

The plan also includes completion of a carp assessment this fall with an organization that would identify, tag and locate carp for the city; removal of the carp next winter; and evaluation of the project in the spring of 2019.

The cities of Long Lake, Medina and Orono have already contributed funding, but officials also are hoping for funding from the county and the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District.

The Long Lake City Council will discuss the carp removal proposal next month after Long Lake Waters Association officials talk with officials in Medina and Orono. The group then plans to present the grant proposal to the county.

David Chanen

Romansky has served on the Shakopee governing board since 1997. She also served on the board for the Southwest Metro Educational Cooperative and created the nonprofit "Good to Go Kids," which provides food donations and graduation photos to students who can't afford them.

In 2016, she was named to the All State School Board, the MSBA's most prestigious award.

"Mary is a dedicated servant of the community," said acting interim Superintendent Jon McBroom.

"We are lucky to have had her on the school board for so long."

Romansky, a former school board chairwoman, is a U.S. Army veteran who served as a Russian linguist.