5.1. SR 01-10-2011Item #5_1.
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.`~.~, MEMORANDUM
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TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Lori Johnson, City Administrator
DATE: January 10, 201 1
SUBJECT: Review Action Steps for Visioning Program
At the worksession, we will begin our discussion of the initial action steps identified by staff
and some boards and commissions for review and comment by the Council. The action
steps support and form part of the implementation of the four goals adopted by the Council
in October. The next step in this process is the follow-up session scheduled with Jermaine
Davis on February 22.
The action steps attached are a combination of staff and board and commission suggestions.
The list is not intended to be a complete list; it is a starting point from which the Council
and ultimately each department can build upon to create more detailed and defined actions.
The staff identified action steps are the result of the initial visioning group of approximately
30 employees reconvening fox a morning session of action step brainstorming. From that
session, there were over a hundred ideas. A subcommittee of that group consisting of Tina
Allard, Jeremy Barnhart, Annie Deckert, Justin Femrite, Cathy Mehelich, and myself was
formed to review the long list of items to identify common themes, combine similar ideas,
and to refine and clarify the ideas into action steps. That was a big task given the volume of
ideas. In the end, we feel we captured the spirit of the majority of the ideas. A few of them
were too department specific to be included during this discussion; those will eventually
become that department's action step thus they will not be lost in the process.
As you will notice in reading the attached actions, the list is long and while some may be one
time actions, some are ongoing. Additionally, staff did not attempt to prioritize the actions.
Staff is awaiting comment and prioritization of these items from the Council prior to moving
forward on them with the exception of the branding project that was authorized by the
EDA. Keep in mind that we may implement a lower priority action step first if it is easily
and inexpensively accomplished. Some of these action steps require involvement of all
departments and elected and appointed officials while others are directed at one or two
departments.
It is important that once identified as priorities, funding and staff are made available to carry
out the action steps. It is critical that the funding be included in the budget and capital
N:\Public Bodies\City Council\Lori\2011\Action Steps Jan l0.docx
improvement plan if this work is to get done. Further, we must keep the action steps, goals,
and vision in mind with each decision and action we take to ensure that it is upholding the
vision and achieving the goals.
Finally, at Monday's meeting staff will begin by providing a summary of the action steps and
giving background on how these fit with the vision and goals. Following the brief
presentation, staff requests the following from the Council:
• Comment on the actions presented
• Additional Council requested action steps
• Council priorities for 2011
N:\Public Bodies\Ciry Council\Lori\2011\Action Steps Jan l0.docx
The Vision:
Abounding in natural beauty, Elk River is a vibrant, historic river town that
promotes an active lifestyle in an innovative and involved community offering
unlimited opportunities.
The Goals (4):
Innovation- Develop new programs and services to meet the needs of the community.
Actions to Support Goal (6):
1. Explore and develop new programs and services
• Survey what does the community want + what do they use currently
2. Evaluate existing programs and services
• Evaluate new ways to present existing programs and information
• Make materials user friendly
• Design programs and interfaces from customer side
3. Enhance communication
• Evaluate need for dedicated communication staff
• Identify, evaluate, and select preferred communication methods
• Push information versus respond to requests
• Expand and enhance Council communication (internally and externally)
4. Evaluate and enhance transportation systems
• Improve connectivity
• Pedestrian/ bike friendly community
• Identify traffic calming priorities
5. Strengthen and preserve neighborhood image and involvement
• Strenthen image and pride
• Communication
• Encourage and recognize
6. Increase awareness, utilization, and expansion of public spaces
• Expand and enhance programs
• Gathering places (Art Center)
Community Development- Enhance community involvement and public participation through
a variety of innovative outlets.
Actions to Support Goal (6):
1. Continue to build strong partnerships with county, school, and community organizations
2. Increase volunteerism
• Promote volunteer opportunities
• Connect opportunities with volunteers
3. Expand and enhance communication
• Evaluate need for dedicated communication staff
• Identify, evaluate, and select preferred communication methods
• Push information versus respond to requests
• Expand and enhance Council communication (internally and externally)
4. Enhance, expand and diversify public education and outreach
5. Explore community day
6. Create Elk River brand
• In process through branding project
Beautification -Have attractive, welcoming streetscapes at City entrances and primary
corridors. Enforce zoning ordinances.
Actions to Support Goal (5):
1. Improve, revitalize and invest in streetscaping along primary corridors and entrances
• Funding
• Banners
• Weeds
• Medians
• MnDOT mowing
2. Create opportunities to beautify Community
• Flowers
• Neighborhood/ business beautification programs
• Volunteers
3. Provide consistent and expanded signage
• Consistent entrance signs
• Way finding signs
4. Consistent and uniform enforcement of ordinances
• Consistent and proactive enforcement of all ordinances
5. Facilitate Redevelopment
• Define and prioritize primary corridors
• Facilitate public/ private relationships that form the streetscape
Opportunities -Foster apro-business atmosphere that provides incentives and other
opportunities for new and existing business growth.
Actions to Support Goal (5):
1. Position land for development
• Available land for commercial, retail, and business park
• Infrastructure
• Proper zoning
• Prepare plan according to priority
2. Facilitate development and redevelopment
• Remove internal and external barriers to development
• Support redevelopment opportunities
3. Support desired image
• Beautify (public spaces and streetscapes)
• Brand
• Consistency (Ordinances, process)
4. Customer service
• Post process follow up survey
• User friendly apps
• Assign project lead
5. Provide attractive business incentives
• Evaluate existing incentives
• Competitive incentives, fees, rates, and etc.
• Partner with ERMU
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