10.3. SR 02-02-2015 City of
Elk=' Request for Action
River
To Item Number
Mayor and City Council 10.3
Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by
Work Session February 2, 2015 Jeremy Barnhart,Deputy Director, CODD
Item Description Reviewed by
Visioning/ Goals Update Cal Portner, City Administrator
Reviewed by
Action Requested
Receive 2013-2014 Goals update, begin discussion of 2015-2017 Goals
Background/Discussion
In 2010, staff leaders and the City Council developed a comprehensive community vision: Abounding in
natural beauty, Elk River is a vibrant, bistoric rivertown tbat promotes an active lifestyle in an innovative and involved
community offering unlimited opportunities.
During the formation of the vision, four goals were created to either protect or enhance the vision and a
fifth goal was added in 2013:
1. Innovation- Develop new programs and services to meet the needs of the community.
2. Community Development - Enhance and expand community involvement and public participation
through a variety of innovative outlets.
3. Beautification - Have attractive,welcoming streetscapes at city entrances and primary corridors.
Enforce Zoning Ordinances.
4. Opportunities - Foster a pro-business atmosphere that provides incentives and other opportunities
for new and existing business growth.
5. Planning and Positioning - Employ resources toward long-range benefit to the community.
From the goals,Action Steps were identified to focus resources toward the achievement of a broader goal.
Each department developed tasks that satisfies Action Steps and achieve the stated goals. Collectively, the
Goal,Action Step, and Task process is called the VAST process and the spreadsheet, the VAST plan.
In the attached VAST Plan, note that many tasks are ongoing. The intent is to develop cultural changes at
all levels, and in future VAST plans, these ongoing goals would be removed.
At this time,it is appropriate for the Council to evaluate the Vision and the Goals. Once confirmed, staff
will develop Action Steps and Tasks for Council approval.
Financial Impact
None
Attachments
■ 2013-2014 VAST plan
P a w E A E U s r
Template Updated 4/14 INIM UREI
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
Percent complete
Action Steps Tasks 25 50 75 100
Resurvey residents;Establish a metric system for the evaluation of city
Evaluate existing programs;Eliminate services no longer valuable as once was;Review programs
Al All Departments
programs and services for three tests:1.Required/Mandated/core service,2.Quality of Life,3. Park and Rec master plan includes a
Service that others provide survey.
ERMU added CSR training.
A2 Redefining government Employee development and retention,customer service training Organization wide incident
management and crisis training.
as customer service All Departments Sunmmer hours
A3
ERMU/Di rectors/
Foster collaborative Develop district energy,Job shadowing,IT collaboration Finance IT collaboration with SC,ERMU
A4 opportunities City day at ER schools Administration
Shift more talking to online. Engineering blog for street assessments excellent
A5 Communication
Enhance communication example Ongoing.
A6 Single source for newspaper/uniform comments Communication
A7 Explore and develop Review programs to protect and enhance existing commercial property and Economic
housing stock Development
new programs and
A8 services Conservation Improvement programs:refrig harvest,LED holiday lighting
contest,energy audits,etc. Environmental Ongoing
Goal:Community Development-Enhance and Expand community involvement and public participation through a
variety of innovative outlets
Action Steps Tasks
B1 Coordinator is working with individual
Evaluate,Enhance and Independent review of communication practices Communication departments to assist on their practices
B2 expand communication
Statistically significant survey to compare against benchmark established by Administration Budget discussion,2015.Moved to
2010 survey and drill into specific areas(See also Al) 2016/Cost$15,000-25,000
Shifting more talking to online. Engineering blog for street assessments
B3 Communication
excellent example,evaluate website
B4 City Day at Schools,Community Education:walking tours,history,water quality, Administration,
Enhance and Expand and city stuff Environmental StCloud State walking tour:HPC
diversify public Streets plans to have annual event
B5 education and outreach during Natl Public Works Week.ERMU
Celebrate/promote national and state wide professional weeks. (e.g.Public will recognize Public Power Week in
Power week,National Planning month...) All Oct.
B6 Define/establish a program and policies to support/administer special events
hosted by others Parks and Recreation
B7 Parks/Econ Approved downtown festive lighting
Build Community Spirit Expand and enhance events(downtown) Development and lighting infrastructure
B8 Explore History Day,art promotion Environmental Art project
B9 Added frequency of press releases;
Recognize community successes(internally and externally) All Administrator blog
B10 Engage younger populations Parks Skate park advisory committee
B11 Develop tree ordinance CODD
B12 Inject/preserve nature in visible ways CODD Twin Lakes Road Beautification projects
Promote community
B13 brand Promote interaction with rivers Parks Bailey Point Park,Houtlon propoerty
B14 Increase volunteerism Implement Volunteer program: Seek opportunities within each department Parks
Volunteer coordinator
Goal:Beautification-Have attractive,welcoming streetscapes at City entrances and primary corridors. Enforce Zoning
Ordinances
Action Steps Tasks
Cl Prepare plans to improve primary intersections with landscaping,lighting,and Ongoing,implementation pending state
hardscaping CODD funding
C2 Renovate Orono Park Parks
C3 Improve,revitalize,and Plans being prepared,downtown tree
invest in streetscaping Improve visual impact into King Avenue Parking lot,Planters downtown CODD replacement started
C4 along primary corridors Introduce public art;Destination-type amenities
Econ Development ongoing,EDA brand scultpure
and entrances
C5 Implement median and streetscape design and maintenance standards Streets Ongoing,budget permitting
C6 Increase maintenance of Hwy 10/169 Code Enforcement Ongoing
C7 Actively enforce zoning and signage standards on primary corridors Code Enforcement Ongoing
C8 Review design standards for all development types Planning Pending completion of Comp Plan
C9 aesthetics w/b encouraged in BM
Improve water quality When employing BMP,consider aesthetic component CODD guidelines alongw/recommendations
Provide consistent and Comprehensive sign plan,RFP
C10 expanded signage Review all public signs,make improvements as necessary Communications advertised.Wayfinding.Wil be long-
term program over 20+years
Goal:Opportunities-Foster a pro-business atmosphere that provides incentives and other opportunities for new and
existing business growth
Action Steps Tasks
D1 Position land for Complete mining area study
development Planning completion expected May 2015
D2 Facilitate development ID opportunities to expand Industry/jobs,in particular data centers.Develop a
and redevelopment to business recruitment strategy plan
p Econ Development Stratigic plan being updated
support rapidly changing
D3 technological advances Explore Fiber Optic expansion via incentives:NEBC,Business parks Fiber Optic loop installed for
Econ Development government.
D4 Promote and amend Conservation improvement programs:Technology,rebates,audits,design
assistance Environmental Energy City Action plan
existing programs and
D5 services Evaluate objects of Project Conserve;utilize existing programs or redirect funds
to other opportunities Environmental Reviewing
D6 Address the housing Implement findings and recommendations of 2012 housing study Econ Development Developing Housing TIF protocol
D7 needs of current and Review opportunities for historic,culturally significant districts;establish
future Elk River residents programs to assist low income/work force housing reinvestment I Planning Budget 2016 discussion
Goal:Planning and Positioning. Employ resources toward long range benefit to the community.
Action Steps Tasks
E1 Complete the Comprehensive Plan update Planning May 2014 approval
E2 Complete the Park Master Plan Parks Started in January 2014
Developing a template for staff to
follow to undertand tools and target
E3 Complete a communication plan
Complete Administration/Comm audience.Not developing a strategic
comprehensive plans unications plan at this time.
E4 Implement FAST zoning Planning Late 2014,moved up in priority,tabled
E5 Acquire parcels necessary for the implementation of approved plans and Economic
studies. Development Projects being actively pursued
E6 Adhere to plans and studies All
E7 Frequent review of pending/new legislation. Develop policy to comment on
said legislation Adminstration Ongoing
E8 legislative advocacy Administration&
Yearly legislative goals meeting with legislators Communications
E9 Participate in industry agencies. E.g.MMUA,APPA,MRWA,MCFOA,LMNC,
APA,MFSCA,MPWA,MNAPA... All Ongoing
E10 Preservation of assets Complete facility feasibility study/studies to maximize utilization of assets Parks/Finance/Admini
stration RFP expected spring 2014
Leadership training through Parks
E11 Establish an employee development program Directors/HR Department
Employee development
E12 and retention Encourage growth in Leadership ER CODD EDD 2014 particpant
Positive progress w/Connexus.
E13 Expand city services to provide uniform electric utilities service to all residents Collaborative reintegration study
of city through organized electric service territory acquisition ERMU complete.Orderly area acquisition plan
E14 positioning to improve Seek partnerships and collaboration to acquire Houlton property Parks
E15 services and value to Improve terms and/or supplier for wholesale power contract ERMU Contract signed.Transition in 2018.
community
Ongoing:HDM,Pavement management
E16 Administration plan,franchise fee,micro/forgivable
Promote and highlight successful programs and efforts by employees and loans,Streets employees assisting
employee teams that reflect positively on Elk River and on public servants domestic situation