8.4. SR 05-20-2013City of
Elk -
River
REQUEST FOR ACTION
TO
ITEM NUMBER
Mayor and City Council
8.4
AGENDA SECTION
MEETING DATE
PREPARED BY
General Business
May 20, 2013
Jeremy Barnhart, Planning Manager
ITEM DESCRIPTION
REVIEWED By
2013 -2014 Visioning Update
Cal Portner, City Administrator
REVIEWED BY
ACTION REQUESTED
Receive updated Vision/ Action Step/ Task (VAST) worksheet, authorize implementation.
BACKGROUND /DISCUSSION
Since the last update on March 4, 2013, staff has met to identify, review, and refine tasks that once
completed, help meet previously established Goals and Action steps for the 2013 -2014 period.
The Council may recall the goals were identified as:
Innovation - Develop new programs and services to meet community needs.
Community Development - Enhance and expand community involvement and public
participation through a variety of innovative outlets.
Beautification - Have attractive, welcoming streetscapes at city entrances and primary corridors.
Enforce zoning ordinances.
Opportunities - Foster a pro - business atmosphere that provides incentives and other opportunities
for new and existing business growth.
Planning and Positioning - Employ resources toward long -range benefit to the community.
The attached worksheet outlines a number of tasks that were developed by the entire city staff, with
leadership of department directors. Some of these tasks will require further study and research, some of
which it will be decided that the benefits do not outweigh the costs. Many of these tasks will result in
future action, including budget recommendations for 2014.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
None
ATTACHMENTS
■ 2013 -2014 VAST spreadsheet
Pv0WIAEU 9T
N: \Public Bodies \Agenda Packets \05 -20- 2013 \X8.4 sr visioning Update to CC 5- 20- 13.docx IN"Af UR
City of Elk River 2013 -2014 Goals
Abounding in natural beauty, Elk River is a vibrant, historic rivertown that
promotes an active lifestyle in an innovative and involved community offering
unlimited opportunities.
Goal: Innovation- Develop new programs and services to meet the needs of the community
Crtinn Gcnc I Tack,
Goal: Community Development- Enhance and Expand community involvement and public participation through a
variety of innovative outlets
Action Steps Tasks
B1
Evaluate, Enhance and
Resurvey residents; Establish a metric system for the evaluation of city
Al
Evaluate existing
programs; eliminate services no longer valuable as once was; Review
expand communication
programs and services
programs for three tests: 1. Required/ Mandated/ core service, 2. Quality of
Shifting more talking to online. Engineering blog for street assessments
B3
Life, 3. Service that others provide
A2
Redefining government
Renovate Orono Park
City Day at Schools, Community Education: walking tours, history, water
as customer service
Employee development and retention, customer service training
AS
Foster collaborative
opportunities
Develop district energy, Job shadowing, IT collaboration
A4
City day at ER schools
Power week, National Planning month...)
B6
Shift more talking to online. Engineering blog for street assessments
AS
Enhance communication
excellent example
AT
Single source for newspaper/ uniform comments
A7
Explore develop
Review programs to protect and enhance existing commercial property and
B9
and
new programs and
housine stock
Engage younger populations
Conservation Improvement programs: refrig harvest, LED holiday lighting
AS
services
contest, energy audits, etc.
Goal: Community Development- Enhance and Expand community involvement and public participation through a
variety of innovative outlets
Action Steps Tasks
B1
Evaluate, Enhance and
Independent review of communication practices
B2
Statistically significantly survey to compare against benchmark established by
El
expand communication
2010 survey and drill into specific areas (See also Al)
Prepare plans to improve primary intersections with landscaping, lighting, and
Shifting more talking to online. Engineering blog for street assessments
B3
a business recruitment strategy plan
excellent example, evaluate website
B4
Renovate Orono Park
City Day at Schools, Community Education: walking tours, history, water
Improve, revitalize, and
Enhance and Expand
and diversify public
education and outreach
quality, city stuff
B5
Celebrate/ promote national and state wide professional weeks. (e.g. Public
C4
Introduce public art; Destination -type amenities
Power week, National Planning month...)
B6
Implement median and streetscape design and maintenance standards
Define/ establish a program and policies to support/ administer special events
C5
Build Community Spirit
hosted by others
B7
Expand and enhance events (downtown)
B8
Explore History Day, art promotion
B9
Recognize community successes (internally and externally)
B10
Engage younger populations
Bll
Promote community
brand
Develop tree ordinance
B12
Inject/ preserve nature in visible ways
B13
Promote interaction with rivers
B14
Increase volunteerism
Implement Volunteer program: Seek opportunities within each department
oa : eau i ica ion- Have attractive, we coming s ree scapes at i y entrances and primary corridors. Entorce
Zoning Ordinances
Complete mining area study
Action Steps
Tasks
El
Cl
Facilitate development
Prepare plans to improve primary intersections with landscaping, lighting, and
Complete the Park Master Plan
and redevelopment to
support rapidly changing
a business recruitment strategy plan
hardscaping
C2
Renovate Orono Park
technological advances
Improve, revitalize, and
C3
Improve visual impact into King Avenue Parking lot, Planters downtown
Explore Fiber Optic expansion via incentives: NEBC, Business parks
invest in streetscaping
C4
Introduce public art; Destination -type amenities
D4
along primary corridors
Implement median and streetscape design and maintenance standards
C5
and entrances
C6
increase maintenance of Hwy 10/ 169
services
C7
Actively enforce zoning standards on primary corridors
Address the housing
needs of current and
Implement findings and recommendations of 2012 housing study
CS
1 Review design standards for all development types
D7
future Elk River
Assist 1st time homebuyers; establish historic, culturally significant districts;
C9
Improve water quality
lWhen employing BMP, consider aesthetic component
C10
Provide consistent and
E12
expanded signage
I Review all public signs, make improvements as necessary
Goal: Opportunities- Foster a pro- business atmosphere that provides incentives and other opportunities for new and
existing business growth
Action Steps Tasks
Cl
Position land for
Complete mining area study
Tasks
development
El
D2
Facilitate development
ID opportunities to expand Industry/ jobs, in particular data centers. Develop
Complete the Park Master Plan
and redevelopment to
support rapidly changing
a business recruitment strategy plan
E3
Complete a communication plan
D3
technological advances
E5
Adhere to plans and studies
Explore Fiber Optic expansion via incentives: NEBC, Business parks
E6
Conservation improvement programs: Technology, rebates, audits, design
D4
Promote and amend
existing programs and
assistance
Legislative advocacy
DS
Participation in industry agencies. E.g. MMUA, APPA, MRWA, MCFOA, LMNC,
Evaluate objects of Project conserve; utilize existing programs or redirect
services
funds to other opportunities
D6
Address the housing
needs of current and
Implement findings and recommendations of 2012 housing study
E9
Preservation of assets
D7
future Elk River
Assist 1st time homebuyers; establish historic, culturally significant districts;
employee development
residents
establish programs to assist low income/ work force housing reinvestment
Goal: Planning and Posistioning. Employ resources toward long range benefit to the community.
Action Steps
Tasks
El
Complete the Comprehensive Plan update
E2
Complete the Park Master Plan
Complete
comprehensive plans
E3
Complete a communication plan
E4
Implement FAST zoning
E5
Adhere to plans and studies
E6
Frequent review of pending/ new legislation. Develop policy to comment on
said legislation
E7
Yearly legislative goals meeting with legislatures
Legislative advocacy
E8
Participation in industry agencies. E.g. MMUA, APPA, MRWA, MCFOA, LMNC,
APA, MFSCA, MPWA, MNAPA...
E9
Preservation of assets
Complete facility feasibility study /studies to maximize utilization of assets
E10
employee development
Establish an employee development program
Encourage growth in Leadership ER
Ell
and retention
E12
Expand city services to provide uniform electric utilities service to all residents
of city through organized electric service territory acquisition
713
Seek partnerships and collaboration to acquire Houlton property
Positioning to improve
E14
Improve terms and /or supplier for wholesale power contract
services and value to
community
E15
Promote and highlight successful programs and efforts by employees and
employee teams that reflect positively on Elk River and on public servants