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4.0. HRSR 01-18-2000 CD 0 —I 0 crt • Cl)• O CD � y o .-. S O CS O m (OD CD c Q O O 94. CD O CD Q 37 7 = .moi �+ .art r�i. rt w rt: .�+ (C CC3 CC3 (C tL3 CQ CQ C1! O 3 CU 5 T w O + N •p TI Z * x y 0 2 f,.3'.) o N z �- N r CD (,D - N Z CSD : y : W 0 r�i. c:1 CD CD - CD .r co O Cn A> CS "' T1 S CD + Cl)' I �» w CD y o E �_ 3 CD 0 O ' 0 00 CD µ o Z go E a -n . , z Z 0 co M O 7 O co T _ _ 0C ib rn o W o arfl Cr C s o V' CA Co m o0 0 0) N C-) 0 CD 0 PRELIMINARY PARKING ANAl SIS Total number of public off-street and on-street parking spaces 334 • Total number of off-street private parking spaces 362 Total number of parking spaces 696 Total number of parking spaces required by code 594 Total number of surplus parking spaces, public and private 102 If the number of private parking spaces provided (362) is compared to the number of private parking spaces required by code (594) there is a shortage of 232 spaces. That shortage can be supplied by public spaces available (334). If the shortage of private spaces (232) is subtracted from the public spaces available (334) there is a surplus of 102 spaces. The total number of public spaces listed above includes the 70 spaces located in the city lot on the north side of Highway 10, west of Jackson Avenue. People visiting downtown seldom use these spaces, because of the difficult pedestrian access across Highway 10. However, the lot has limited used as a park and ride facility for commuters. If this lot is not included in the number of public spaces available, the number of surplus spaces drops to 32. • King & Main in old downtown Elk River is the ideal site for: • Track of the Wolf, Inc. Track of the Wolf, Inc. is a Minnesota corporation with conservative management. We have grown in 7 ' - size and reputation during our 28 year history. We need very little advertising, since our 80,000 customers are repeat buyers. Our products are 4 ' -.... mostly ancient in design, sought for their endur- • ` NOT ,, ing qualities. We do not sell fads,nor high I BATH , technology items likely to become obsolete. A 4 , ' ' it A rare business, Track is one of fewer than i� twenty mail order enterprises serving the -A, 4` :1 ( 411b - mi 771e loading gun and primitive camping enthusiast. A few of our larger competitors ,. , have more than one hundred employees, and y ,, we continue to grow. ,.... •, ,S. Over one hundred thousand of Track's 432 ' -.• • "`' k r page mail order catalogs have been sold. It ' �a$ is renowned as the largest and most useful , -., publication of its kind. Our customers 4 treasure the book for its technical data. It is ;° common for Track to receive orders from ( 1 • catalogs over ten years old, something of ! a record during this age of disposable `a' bulk mail. c1c of rl Track produces positive cash flow �' ,,k ,o `,,,,,aye"Wou \ Track's ' d" r into our community.Over 92%of our Catalogs,as old as • - , . income flows in from outside Minne- this 1983 issue,draw mail orders. :, sota. Positive cash flow into our community has a compound leverage effect. For instance,we expect to purchase $80,000.00 postage during 2000, which may create employment opportuni- ties for others in Elk River. Negative cash flow businesses drain our community. Unlike Walmart stores,where profits are drained away to Arkansas, or auto dealers who must send the bulk of our money to Detroit, Track's income flows into our community,to stay here. Neutral cash flow businesses trade cash for an equal value of goods and services,with no net I gain or loss to our community. Bakeries and banks are examples. They serve our community well, but add nothing to our community's overall net worth. Track offers diversity to Elk River.Although downtown Elk River has become dominated by four banks within three blocks, Track offers Elk River badly needed diversity, of many kinds. Employment diversity is a benefit to the citizens in our community, who have different skills 1 and needs. We are hiring now, and we expect to add several positions in the near future. Economic diversity is a little known and little understood advantage that Track offers. Our business often appears to be inversely affected by the economy. During periods of recession,we experience a significant upturn. Our customers tend to buy new homes, cars, appliances, furni- 0 ture, and large ticket items during boom times, spending less on hobby items. They tend to buy small ticket items, such as our craft items, when tough times discourage large ticket spending. We can be a hedge against recession. 0 Ike 1. , 4 •• ♦ • • e L •• ..41 144 k .! •4� +Vr=v` i" Asa"i' �� �.. 'L ,r f It ....• ` vv. 't - y • , w • t1 ‘ g; S 44 Gun powder for a Committee of 1 it r " `♦-. Safety musket is carried in this powder �` ,/ horn,decorated with scrimshaw incised folk ` art designs. Track requires very little from Elk River. Our business does not consume great resources, III nor cause pollution. Often misunderstood, our business sells products which are less dangerous, less costly to insure, but more heavily licensed and regulated than local businesses who might sell paint, fuel, or strong detergents. We do not compete with other local merchants. Since we draw the bulk of our income from outside of Minnesota, and since our products are unlike those offered by other retailers, we tend to compliment and support other local enterprises. This is in stark contrast to Walmart and similar big-box stores, which tend to quickly kill off local competition,then hire the experienced former business owners and key employees. Track offers a unique opportunity to Elk River. Our business is ideally matched to old downtown Elk River. Unlike historic heritage events which may last one day or one weekend, we live and breathe the pre-1898 time period every day. Our products closely match those found in early Elk River. We propose a period storefront that will please the eye, inside and outside. Our staff members and our customers are likely to be clothed in period dress, especially during special events, and many holidays. We will draw an unusual mix of customers to Elk River, including a few who travel great distances to seek our sales and services. Downtown Elk River will be a showcase for our products, and we will have an influence on the city's complexion. By our example, we will encourage other property owners to restore their buildings to correct early appearance. We will strongly support the city's plan for a river boat park, and similar projects. In conclusion: • 'I If your decision will based on merit, we urge you to recall these facts when deciding: Track will bring positive cash flow to Elk River,with 92%of funds coming from outside of Elk River. Track will bring financial diversity to Elk River,with income sources far different than most other firms. Track will add a hedge against the economy, flourishing during downturns, as well as good times. Track will bring diverse employment opportunities to the community,far beyond other businesses. Track's product mix is a perfect match to the pre-1898 theme of historic downtown Elk River. Track's example will encourage other property owners to restore and beautify their buildings. If the city's future will be determined by a sale to the highest bidder,we can never hope to compete with a bank. Banks have the ability to outbid any builder. Banks are already the domi- nant business in downtown Elk River. Banks will continue to be important to our community, to enable commerce, development, savings, and investment, until new technology converts local banking functions to simple internet transactions. If the city's decision is based on the greatest good,then Track is clearly the best choice. Our plans include considerable retail space,professional space, and space for bank expansion, tai- lored to meet the bank's current and future needs.No other proposal accommodates the needs of so many different interests. If the city's decision is based on potential economic expansion,then Track is clearly the best choice. Every other business considered here expands by attracting market share from local competitors, resulting in a zero sum gain for the overall community. Track is purely an asset to local merchants, not a competitor. If the city's decision is based on maximizing the King and Main site's long term benefit, then Track is clearly the best choice. A larger project, on any given site,tends to produce larger revenue to the city, over the long term.No other plan requires a larger project. Ours is largest,to accommodate this all inclusive group. If the City of Elk River will welcome Track of the Wolf,we ask these urgent questions: If our period business is not matched to the King&Main site,then what site �,- -i ' t° will the city find to best match our unique nature, and take best advantage of ,�,` 44our theme? It would be a great loss to hide Track of the Wolf's historic ,26 / period business in a modern industrial park. �`� - If not now,then when? Our schedule requires occupancy during the P — third quarter of 2000. r-111 If not King& Main,then where? The city requires C-1 Olgzoning for us. We see no alternate site. f + • .rte + • • ' ' We ask you to select our proposal, and quickly ap- ~'" _ • •• prove our building plans, so we can make King &Main • • • our new home address. .111 Ntb. When the citizens of Elk River ask why you selected Track's proposal over all others,you can honestly state � � , s = that your decision was easy, based on the best use of the �, site, the greatest good for the largest group, and that it will '� _ produce the highest benefit to the city over the long term. Who will shop in Elk River? During our 28 years in business, Track has served over 80,000 customers, • including a number of well known names. In recent years we have served these well recognized customers: Boy Scouts of America, Royal Rangers - Frontier Camping Fraternity, Assembly of God Church summer camps, Minnesota Historical Society, Bent's Old Fort, Castillo de San Marco, St. Augustine, Florida, Angel Island State Park, California, Eastern National Parks Association, The First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry- featured in the movie "Gettysburg", "Interview with the Vampire"movie company, The New Ulm Battery, Fort Snelling Historic Site, "Dances with Wolves" movie company, Parks Canada, Old Fort William, "Hawkeye" the TV series, "Walker"movie company, "Last of the Mohicans"movie company, The Hand Prop Room - Hollywood, Disney Enterprises, The Veteran's Administration, ...,- Pine City Technical College. II A 1760 era American flint fowling gun # ,. replica by Minnesota's Michael Hayes. All parts from Track of the Wolf,Inc. *t- 5%4 hx - 4444 ! riallitla ` 1 to, Er- • - ' 4 , , jam,,r + , c, ... ,,,, ,=.. .,41 * .' - ..i., Black powder at 100 yards! Metro area businessmen may be difficult to recognize in this cover photo of Norwest Bank's Weatherball Quarterly.The • shooter is Mr.Paul Koch, Norwest Bank systems administrator,followed by Mr.David Fraser of Osseo.Third in line is Mr. Mike Stanton, president of C&S Blacktopping. Sponsored by the Minnesota Historical Society, this metro area primitive shooting match was held on Pike Island, drawing record admissions to Fort Snelling State Park.