INFORMATIONAL ITEMS 10-03-2011INFtlRMATION
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MEMORANDUM
TO: Housing & Redevelopment Authority
FROM: Annie Deckert, Director of Economic Development
DATE: 3 October 201 I
SUBJECT: River's Edge Update
ATTAC H M E NTS•
River's Edge minutes dated 9-14-11
Kemper Drug Powered By Nature
2°d Annual River's Edge Art Crawl
Staff continues to attend the monthly Downtown River's Edge Business Association
meetings to maintain our relationship with the downtown businesses. Staff presented an
overview of the brand plan to the group at their September 14t" meeting. Attached you will
see a couple of examples of how Kemper Drug and the Arts Alliance have begun utilizing
our community's brand, Powered by Nature.
The Arts Alliance will be holding its 2"d Annual Art Crawl on Thursday, October 20t" from
5pm-9pm in downtown Elk River. Local artists will be displaying and selling their art in
downtown businesses. Refreshments will be served at the Arts Alliance and other
participating businesses. This event is sponsored by the River's Edge Business Association
and the City of Elk River Parks and Recreation Department.
N:\Departments\Community Development\Economic Development\Downtown Revitalization\Rivers Edge\2011\10-3-11 HRA
update.doc
Rivers Edge Minutes Sept 14, 2011
Attending: Fred McCoy(McCoy's Pub), Wendy Simenson (Kemper Drug), Clay Wilfahrt (EDA
Assistant ), John Stander (Arts Alliance), Tony Mikols (Dare's Funeral Home), Tnnua Anderson
(1St National Bank), Stephanie Albans (Paxk and Rec) Annie Deckert (EDA Director) Neil
Gagnon (The Bank of Elk River), Deb Rydberg (Chamber of Commerce), Sandi Yaedo (Edward
Jones)
Meeting was called to order at 2:30PM on Wednesday, Sept 14, 2011.
Treasurer's Report: Neil Reported that there is 2488.81 in our account.
Secretary's Report:
Old Business:
City Update by Annie: City is upgrading and expanding Public Works Facility -should be
completed in 2013. Northstar train will be running for all Vikings games. The parking lot
resurfacing was ahead of schedule and so downtown businesses were not adequately informed
that the parking lot would be closed the morning that it was. Discussion followed about the
importance of downtown businesses knowing ahead of time when access to the lot would be
restricted.
Clay Wilfahrt has been hired by the City of Elk River as the Assistant Director of Economic
Development. He will be attending RiversEdge meetings and working with downtown
businesses to promote business downtown as Annie has been doing. Annie will still try to come
to our meetings and help out when she is available. The Windows at the empty building next to
the Arts Alliance could have its windows painted as an advertisement for upcoming downtown
events such as the ArtCrawl, Halloween Downtown and Downtown Holiday Celebration.
Park and Rec Update: New Park and Rec Director has been hired. His name is Michael Hecker
and he is from Mason Ohio. He will start the 1St week of October. Park and Rec offices will be
moving from Lions Park to City Hall. The move should be completed by November. The
January edition of the Park and Rec guide will be going to press soon. Any information that
Downtown needs included should get to Stephanie before October. Fright night will be held on
October 22°d in Lions Park. Businesses desiring a table on the "treat trail" to pass out info and
goodies should let Stephanie know. There are 2 more movies in the park scheduled for this year.
Pumpkin Roll: Plans are being made for our first annual downtown pumpkin roll fundraiser for
RiversEdge. A course will be set up by RiversEdge Commons Park. People can buy a pumpkin
and propel it down the course. McCoys will be offering a Trip to LasVegas for the winner.
Tanna is trying to secure pumpkin donations. The date is tentatively set for October 29tH
ArtCrawl: There will be an ArtCrawl downtown Elk River on Thursday, October 20tH. It will
run from 5 to 9PM. There are currently 17 artists signed up. Fred is contacting businesses to host
artists. If you are interested in having artists set up at your business that evening, let him know.
Samples of the art that will be for sale .will be up in businesses prior to the event. There will be a
Mariachi Band strolling through the streets. Goose River Farms and Winery will be holding a
wine tasting at the Arts Alliance Gallery. Posters will be passed out to put up downtown. Maps
listing artists and businesses participating will be posted online and handed out the night of the
ArtCrawl. We will once again do a word find and prize for completed entry to encourage people
to visit all of the locations. Powered by Nature -Energized by Art! It would be wonderful if all
downtown businesses would decorate outside their buildings for Fall/Halloween to make
downtown mare festive for this event and Halloween
Halloween Downtown Trick or Treating: Friday October 28, 2011 from lOAM to SPM.
Businesses who wish to participate can put up signs in their windows that say Welcome Trick or
Treaters. The park will be staffed by Park and Rec, and it will be decorated for Halloween
Photos. Wendy will contact Donna Busch to see if she can share some of her decorations and
help us decorate it. Park and Rec will supply hay bales. There will be face painting at the Arts
Alliance. We are targeting this event to 12 and under and parents or caregivers. More
information will be provided. Those who wish to give out candy for a shorter period of time can
take the signs out of your windows when you are done or out of candy.
Downtown Holiday Celebration Saturday December 10th (incorrect. day on agenda). We have
confirmed that the animals will be available for that day (Wendy will check on cost) as will
Santa. The Toy Soldiers will be back. Stephanie has gift bags that we can fill for Santa to hand
out. Pick up some extra Halloween Candy, gift items or coupons and bring them to the
November Rivers Edge Meeting so the bags can be filled. We will also contact Gifts Anonymous
and ask them to drop off boxes for donations. Sandi would like to see a big reusable artificial tree
put in the park for a back drop and also suggested that we have a tree lighting ceremony
downtown. Possible locations for the tree to light are on the corner by The Bank of Elk River or
in Rivers Edge Commons Park. Sandi has been pricing trees -run around $6,000 for a big one.
If you will be running any special promotion this day, let Wendy know. We will be putting
together a flyer and advertising what is happening downtown on Dec lOthi
Rivers Edge Dues: We sent out dues requests last week along with info about RiversEdge and
Agendas for the Sept meeting. It would be nice to have a full treasury as we approach this busy
season for downtown.
Chamber of Commerce update: Oktoberfest will be held Thursday, October 6, 2011
5:30 p.m. at Riverwood Inn, 10990 95th Street NE, Otsego $35.00 per person. The entire
community is invited to this fun event. German food, music a silent auction and games will be
provided. Tickets are available from the chamber of commerce
http://www.elkriverchamber.org/pages/Oktoberfest/
The Chamber is partnering with community ed to offer a "Business Education over Lunch"
Series. The first Class will be The Top Reasons Businesses Fail and Date: October 19, 2011
Time: 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM. Classes are $29 for Chamber members.
Remember if you are a chamber member you can put your calendar items on the chamber
website calendar. If you want to get a monthly email from the chamber with a listing of whats
happening for the month, sign up for the Chamber's Community Gram email which comes out
once monthly.
Tax Exempt Status: The check will be in the mail shortly to update Rivers Edge Tax Status.
New Business:
Clay presented information on the Branding Project: The Power of the Brand: A
community's reputation will be defined by its government, its businesses, its organizations and
its residents - or, it will be defined by others. The City of Elk River just finished the first stage of
its branding journey -defining who we are as a city and how we want people to think of us. The
brand promise which was put forth is:
Elk River Brand Promise:
For people who want to breathe the outdoors, yet want access to big city amenities, Elk River is
an emerging small city where the Elk and Mississippi Rivers flow together on the fringe of the
Twin Cities and where the heart is powered by its nature so you are energized and inspired to
make a difference.
This brand isn't just for the City to use but for all members of the community to use. Feel free to
add it to your tagline, use it on your letter head or on your emails. We know how the beauty of
our natural amenities in Elk River and the caring nature of our residents makes Elk River a great
place to be -the next step is for us to share this fact!
Red Cross Blood Drive: There will be a Red Cross Blood Mobile parked by 1St Naional Bank of
October 3`a from 9AM to 1PM. The process takes about an hour. You can sign up with Tanna at
1St National ahead of time, or just knock on the door of the blood mobile.
SnoCross Race ERX National Track March 10-11, 2012: Annie, Clay, Fred and Wendy have
a meeting scheduled with Chris Carlson of Sportech on Sept 15, to discuss partnership
opportunities for the ISOC SnoCross race that is scheduled at the ERX National Track in Elk
River in March. Chris expects 8000 visitors to Elk River that weekend to view and participate in
the activities. Our goal is to steer some of those people to beautiful downtown Elk River. We
will ask about getting business directories and maps to downtown in the racers packets and
discuss ways to have a presence at the track.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:45PM
Next meeting will be Wednesdy October 12, 2011 2:30PM at Edward Jones
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Deckert, Annie
From: Wendy Simenson <simen003@umn.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, September 27, 2011 9:33 AM
Subject: Rivers Edge Minutes, artcraawl and Logo
Attachments: Rivers Edge Minutes Sept 14 2011.doc; artcrawl11b1.pdf; PoweredbyNatureLogo.eps;
PoweredbyNatureLogo.jpg; pbn logo.pdf
Hi All, lots of happenings in Beautiful Downtown Elk River! Please post the Artcrawl Flyer at your business for
employees and customers to see - it was a fun night last year and we are looking forward to it again this year!
Kemper Drug is planning on having a side walk sale the day/night of the artcrawl to attract people and to take
advantage of the people coming downtown for the artcrawl. The logos are for members of the community to use
to help promote the branding process.
Keep you and your employees healthy this flu season. Kemper Drug Pharmacists are giving Flu Shots daily. We
make it quick and easy!
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Downtown Elk River
Thursday,
October 20, 2011
5PM to 9PM
Stroll Through Downtown Elk River
and see Local Artists displaying
and selling their art in Downtown Businesses.
Listen to music, enjoy refreshments
Enter a drawing to win $100.00'
Sponsored by The RiversEdge Downtown Business Assoc.,
The Arts Alliance and by The City of Elk River Park and Rec Dept.
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INFORMATION
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Downtown Elk River
Thursday,
October 20, 2011
5PM to 9PM
Stroll Through Downtown Elk River
and see Local Artists displaying
and selling their art in Downtown Businesses.
Listen to music, enjoy refreshments
Enter a drawing to win $100.00'
Sponsored by The RiversEdge Downtown Business Assoc.,
The Arts Alliance and by The City o f Elk River Park and Rec Dept.
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*Attendees can compete for a cash prize by completing a "Mystery Phrase" as they visit the various artists. The prize will
be awarded via a drawing. Refreshments will be served at the Arts Alliance as well as some of the other locations.
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13439 185th Lane N.W. • Elk River, MN 55330 • (763) 241-7682 • fax (763) 274-1349
www.guardianangelsmn.org