Minnesota Record
Edina
JH

James Hovland

Mayor2004-11-01 – 2029-01-01 (month-level start: November 2004 per edinamn.gov 'Meet the Mayor and City Council' page and staff directory entry ('Elected November 2004'; the office of that first election is not stated, so this is first-office); month-level end: January 2029 per same page ('Current Term Expires January 2029'))

No biography on file yet.

At a glance

News mentions
0

Term ending Jan 1, 2029.

Voice

Meetings spoken in
24
Total speaking time
6:57:10
Avg per meeting
17:23
Segments
6595

Want every word Hovland has said?

The OpenCity MCP for Claude.ai answers questions like “what has Hovland said about housing this year” with one prompt — full speaking history, with YouTube timestamps.

Filtered to Parks Rec

Top issues during term (20)(Parks Rec)

medium↑Feb 2026[33]

2027/2028 Work Plan Development

Work plan priorities could affect future budgets, staff capacity, and consultant spending.

high↑Feb 2026[26]

Art Center Colocation at Southdale Library

Possible funding needed for marketing and outreach.

medium↑Aug 2026[15]

Trail Connection to Nine Mile Creek Regional Trail

Shared construction costs with Three Rivers Park District; the city's share wasn't stated.

medium↑Sep 2026[15]

Parks Improvements and Ordinance 2026-12

The repairs and improvements carry purchase costs outlined in the consent items.

high↓Jan 2026[12]

Braemar Ice Arena Expansion Concept Plan

The guaranteed maximum price sets the construction cost ceiling for a major city recreation facility project.

medium↑Jan 2026[11]

Social connection initiatives: Bin Buddies and Connection Through Plants

The commission noted Jessica Connors already has funding for the events; the commission's role would be support, not funding.

medium↑Jan 2026[11]

2026 Arts & Culture Workplan

Study first; pilot programs would need funding later.

medium↑Feb 2026[11]

Edina Art Grant Program

About $1,104 in remaining city film festival funds will support this year's event; 1,700+ tickets were sold in 2025.

medium↑Apr 2026[11]

Horizon Parks and Recreation Projects

$330,000 in annual Centennial Lakes operating revenue expires at the end of 2028.

medium↑Oct 2026[10]

Alternate funding for parks: philanthropy, naming rights, sponsorships

No immediate cost, but the goal is to bring in new private money for parks.

medium↑Oct 2026[10]

Public Art for New City Facilities

medium↑Oct 2026[10]

Senior Center rebranding as a community center

Unknown — any facility changes would carry future costs.

low↑Oct 2026[10]

Unplug Edina Day feasibility study

Study only at this stage; no budget identified.

low↓Sep 2026[5]

New Edina Art Center Design

The purchase request would commit city funds to architectural design for the new art center.

high↓Jan 2026[3]

Braemar Arena roof replacement funding

Could raise the roughly $2.5 million needed for the west entrance and fund long-term arena maintenance without additional taxes.

medium↓Mar 2026[3]

Braemar Golf Dome trailhead parking and pickleball improvements

Costs for the parking lot expansion, oversight, charging stations and rink improvements were not detailed in the available materials.

low↓Jan 2026[1]

Food, Beverage and Alcohol Service at Braemar Arena

Could add revenue through a food and beverage operator, though terms are not yet defined.

medium↓Jan 2026[1]

Refrigerated Outdoor Ice at Lewis Park

Not yet estimated; hockey association rental revenue from other communities could help offset costs.

low↓Jan 2026[1]

Park Maintenance and Natural Resources Operations

medium↓Feb 2026[1]

Braemar Golf operations and tee-time availability

The course brought in $876,000 to its bottom line last year and will spend about $30,000 from the Braemar Memorial Fund on an adaptive golf cart.

Decisions during term (0)

Recorded while Hovland was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.

No decisions found matching Parks Rec.

Voting record (0)(Parks Rec)

No votes found matching Parks Rec.