Temporary Sidewalk, Flag Policy on Tonight's Council Agenda

The Edina City Council will consider this evening, July 5, whether they should spend $90,000 to install a temporary sidewalk along Valley View Road.

City officials report the sidewalk came about because of a petition by area reasidents, but has to be "scaled back" due to Municipal State Aid funding shortfalls. The city's public works department is proposing building a raised sidewalk along Valley View Road for the time being, as full reconstruction of the roadway—a $1 million project which will include a boulevard style sidewalk—has been delayed until 2015.

The proposed sidewalk would run from McCauley Trail to Hilary Lane. The materials used for the sidewalk would be removed and recycled into the new roadway at the time of construction, according to city documents.

Mike Benner, a 12-year-old who lives on Sally Lane, wrote the council asking them to reconsider the project. Benner said he could not foresee using the sidewalk to make his way to , even though he only lives 1.4 miles away.

"I play the trumpet, which I carry to school for band, and on light homework days, my backpack weighs about 25 pounds," Benner wrote. "There is no way I am walking to school, ever!"

Locals have also been circulating a message asking Edina residents to write in asking the council to vote against the project "if (they) are opposed to $80,000+ of your tax dollars being spent on a temporary sidewalk."

The council will also consider adopting a formal policy regarding flags in front of . 

The new policy will see the City of Edina lower its flags during whenever deemed necessary by the state or federal government. The city previously had no formal policy for lowering its flags.