9.C.1. PRSR 03 12 2003 Item # 9.C.I.
a
River MEMORANDUM
TO: Park and Recreation Commission
FROM: Michele McPherso i, Director of Planning
DATE: March 12, 2003
SUBJECT: Discuss Riverwalk Concepts
Attachments
• September 6, 1995 Star News Article
• October 4, 1995 Star News Article
• Aerial Map of Downtown Elk River
As the Commission may be aware,the City has entered into a preliminary development
agreement with Metro Plains to redevelopment a portion of the downtown area. One of the
issues that have been discussed with the developer is the riverwalk concept. The riverwalk
has been an idea discussed over the years and would allow public enjoyment of the
Mississippi River adjacent to downtown. This would allow public focus on the river, as the
City has "turned it back" on the river.
The Commission is asked to have a broad concept discussion regarding a riverwalk:
• What would the riverwalk be used for?
• How would it be designed?
• Should it be publicly owned versus obtaining access easements over the property,
etc.
Once the Commission has outlined some broad conceptual parameters for the riverwalk,
staff will prepare some preliminary design ideas for consideration by the Commission at the
April meeting.
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Y .ANNING\Michele McPherson\PARKNREC\riverwalk discussion 3-12.doc
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City approves preliminary plans for a
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:iverwalk, next phase of work to begin .
by Joni Astrup I Elk River Nadeau's Clothing Care a stuffy project
Associate editor Center on Main Street, raised Landscape architects from r
Ci Beat Inc., gton Koegler Group
A project to dress up the tY specific issues. Inc., the firm hired to design r
riverfront and establish a trail Testimony before the City Nadeau told the council that the riverwalk, took a whimsi-
system in downtown Elk River Council was mixed. at least 30 to 40 feet of river- cal approach c
got the green light Monday "A bank has been lost since 1971. PP oach and proposed
y pie in the sky," Gerald
night, but don't plan a picnic Palmer told council members He urged the city to address lightstotona nuts 'n bolts hfoun-
or lace up your walking shoes after stepping up to the micro- issue of erosion, taro–featuring water rushing
just yet '. phone. "They talk of grants. He also supported moving to over nuts, bolts and other
The 4-1 vote by the Elk River They talk of taxation. I want the next phase, "where the hardware – to commemorate tt
City Council just put its stamp you people to remember that serious questions are going to the hardware store that once 81
of approval on preliminary all money spent is your money, be discussed: funding, cost, stood at the corner of Main
plans and gave the go-ahead to one way or the other." etc."
Street and Jackson Avenue. g7
proceed with the next phases He said those who would "We tried not to get too seri- I
of the work. benefit from the riverwalk Cost still an issue ous with the project, knowing ai
A final vote on whether the should be prepared to pay the Preliminary estimates put that it probably has more '
riverwalk will be built is still major share of the cost the cost of the riverfront path- value if it has a little bit of fun Cl
in the future. Others,like Bob Minton,said way at $950,000. But Council integrated into it," said Paul n'
About $14,500 has been the riverwalk is something the Member Cecilia Scheel, who Paige,one of the project archi- al
spent on the project so far.The city needs. voted against proceeding any tects
next two phases authorized by "Downtowns are usually an further, said she thinks the Designers have also proposed gi
the council will cost about asset that people do not appre-
price tag would be closer to$3 recreating a flower garden on Pr
$11,000 and include refining date until they disappear and million with land acquisition an island in the Mississippi
the project plans,nailing down then they wish they had them and other costs. River to commemorate a nun gl'
the cost of the project and pur- and they try to redevelop do we stop and take a who once crossed a wooden fir
suing funding sources such as them," Minton told the coun- long, hard look?" she asked. footbridge to garden there.
ar
a federal grant. "I've had a lot of phone calls g
grant• Anything that we can The man, Abner Lero, may
3th the Elk River Housing do to help along the rejuvena- fr°malotofpeople...that also be immortalized in a
.mod Redevelopment Authority lion of downtown I think extremely concerned about the sculpture on the island. •
(HRA) and the City Council would be extremely helpful." fires" The project also contains C
held public hearings on the Several others also testified But Mayor Hank Duitsman
m Monday night. said they won't know what the more conventional elements, ri
project Moada ni ht. in favor of the project, includ- includ'
Earlier the HRA,after listen- ing Jackie Schuelein of the Elk cost is unless they move for- le:
ing to all favorable testimony, ward with the next phase,dur-
ing •pathways for bik;nghn-line of
y River Area Chamber of which those costs will be skating and walking 2
had unanimously voted to sec- Commerce, Paul Ammerman •a fishing pier that could
ommend to the City Council a of United Power Association, determined. include an environmental test is
proposal to continue to refine Sharon Bromen of Buy the Council Member John Dietz ing center for students r
the project. Mayor Hank Book in the Elk River also expressed concern about a pavilion at the bottom of W
Duitsman, a member of the and Shelle Jewett Perleberg of ttse finances, but said he is King Avenue, overlooking the n
n, willing to move on to the next Z
HRA, seconded the motion. Natural Expressions florist in island and Abner Lero's gar-
Following the vote, BRA downtown Elk River.
phase to determine if the pro- den- Rs
member Duane Kropuenske Jewett Perleberg said the j�ct is feasible. •a plaza at what once was cli
stressed this project will bene- riverfront project would be an
"If we can get grants to help the hole in the ground at the Or
fit the entire community, and asset to businesses and bring
pay for this, I think it's worth corner of Main and Jackson. ed bri
in the transition the down- pride and joy to the communi- pursuing,"he said. . . . What The site would be transformed ed
town will be revitalized. ty."Elk River has so much her- it comes down to tonight is all G
"The entire community will i we have to decide is whether with the nuts `n bolts amphitheater
ty itage and beauty to tap into we want to spend $11,000. I and a grassy amphitheater
have a chance to see the river with the Mississippi River," overlooking a bandstand at
and use it,"he said. she said. don't think we should kill it at the bottom of the hill.
The HRA has conceptually Others simply wanted to see this point." •overlooks along the trails,
approved a$150,000 grant for the project proceed to the next possibly incorporating
the project if the council ' phase to see if it is feasible. The project stonework reminiscent of the
approves it. And some, like Al Nadean of The riverfront pathway is not_
Handke pit.
City attorney switches.to Doherty, Rumble and Butler-law firm and so di
by Joni Astrup years, has left the law firm of stay with him by-retaining the The'terms will be the lame hour
Associate editor Larkin Hoffman Daly 'and new law firm. for now—a$1,650 per month city I
k River has a new law Lindgren and joined the firm The council complied, voting retainer which covers routine legal
....n, but the same city attor- of Doherty Rumble and Butler. 4-0 to_end its relationship city business. Special projects gene
ney'% r '^'c" .',, '! =Beck notifiedrthe"Eik'Rrver 'with ,, arkin 1-1offniab,,and will,,eontinue tn,be billed.-at As
`Peter Beck,who has been the City Council of the change ;retains f.oherty,Rumble and ;$90 an hour for lawyers who most
city's attorney for a'tmmber tlf 'recently"an'd"oiSited'the City't6 Butler. are associates and $110 an will 1
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