7.4. SR 10-17-2011REQUEST FOR ACTION
TO ITEM NUMBER
Ci Council 7.4.
AGENDA SECTION MEETING DATE PREPARED BY
Communi Develo ment October 17, 2011 erem Barnhart, Plannin Mana er
ITEM DESCRIPTION REVIEWED By
Update on Downtown Plan Robert Thistle, Interim City
Administrator
REVIEWED BY
ACTION REQUESTED
Staff seeks direction regarding the Downtown Plan "Mississippi Connections" on a number of questions:
1. Agreement on completing the plan.
2. Direction on the use of a task force.
3. Agreement on Mission Statement.
4. Agreement on next steps.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
City staff is preparing for the reopening of the downtown plan which was tabled in August 2007.
Council members may recall that the plan was tabled pending resolution of the Highway 10 highway plan
as it weaves through downtown. The City Council felt it important to understand these changes before
the plan is finalized. The Highway 10 plan was completed in 2009.
It is not staffs desire to start this planning project over; rather, to reopen the study and pick up where it
left off, while adapting to new information and goals developed since then. Staff will continue to work
directly with the City Council, but does expect at least one meeting with the HRA, EDA, Planning
Commission, and Parks Commission.
Task Force. One of the first steps is to ascertain the Council's interest in using a task force to complete
the project. The alternative to a task force is the city staff complete the project, then submit for review
and comment to the various city commissions and stakeholder groups.
If the Council wants to reopen the task force, staff will poll the previous members to see if they axe still
interested in serving. If they axe not, staff will look for alternative representatives from those stakeholder
groups to serve.
Mission Statement. To develop a comprehensive plan that will redefine the `greater downtown area' to
preserve its historical character while promoting the future viability of the community. Maximum public
input will be gathered to create and assess alternatives resulting in a formal redevelopment plan with a
combination of a master vision, working policies, specific area recommendations, and implementation
priorities.
N:\Public Bodies\Ciry Council\Council RCA\Agenda Packet\10-17-2011\Downtown Plan.docx
Process. In the short term, staff will
1) Continue to review the history of the downtown plan;
2) Develop graphics that illustrate the changes suggested by the Highway 10 study;
3) Identify assumptions/decisions which were made that, due to the progress of time, are
no longer appropriate.
4) Prescribe a list of events/ timeline for completion of the project for approval by the City
Council.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
None
ATTACHMENTS
None
Action Motion by Second by Vote
Follow Up
N:\Public Bodies\Ciry Council\Council RCA\Agenda Packet\10-17-2011\Downtown Plan.docx