7.0. EDSR 10-11-2004 ITEM # 7.
City Elk
River
MEMORANDUM
TO: Economic Development Authority
FROM: Catherine Mehelich, Director of Economic DevelopmentC////�%
DATE: October 11, 2004
SUBJECT: City Council Goal Setting Work Session with Boards & Commissions,
October 11, 2004
Attachment
• Staff memo RE: Board& Commission Handbook and Council Policy,August 4,2004
• DRAFT 2004-2007 Economic Development Strategic Plan
Background
The EDA recently received a Boards and Commissions Handbook that was adopted by the City
Council. The attached staff memo was included with the handbook and announced that a special
meeting was scheduled by the City Council for October 11, 2004 at 6:30 pm with all Boards and
Commissions. The meeting will be held at Lion's Park Center.
The Chair of each Commission is asked to briefly share the top goals and projects of the respective
Commission at the work session.
Action Requested
Staff recommends that the EDA provide input on the following top EDA goals and projects as
identified in the attached draft Strategic Plan for Economic Development:
1. Industrial Development—promote Elk River as the Light Industrial Hub of the
Northwest Metro,provide financing options and site options for industrial businesses.
2. Transportation -Advocate and support proactive planning for improvements to the
local and area transportation system.
3. Commercial Development—Encourage desired commercial development in identified
areas.
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City of
Elk -�-�
River
MEMORANDUM
TO: Economic Development Authority
FROM: Catherine Mehelich, Director of Economic Development
DATE: August 4, 2004
SUBJECT: Board and Commission Handbook and Council Policy
Attached,please find the recently adopted Board and Commission Handbook. The handbook is
intended to provide guidance to commission members and provide a location to keep key
information. In the handbook there is pertinent statutory and ordinance information, schedules of
meetings, references to the open meeting law,and the newly adopted Board and Commission policy.
110 The Board and Commission policy outlines the Council's expectations of its Boards and
Commissions,including communications with the Council and with those outside of the City. It is
intended to improve communication between the Council and its Boards and Commissions.
Please mark on your calendar October 11,2004,a Monday evening. The Council has set that
date as a goal-setting session with all of its Boards and Commissions. The goals will be set for 2005.
An annual orientation for new commission members will be scheduled after commission
appointments are made in February sometime in April or May of each year. However,if you are a
senior member of the commission,you are welcome to attend should you need a refresher course.
S:\EDA\Boards&Comm mtg.doc
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City of Elk River
2004-2007
Economic Development
Strategic Plan
Revised October 2004
Revised November 1999
Original Plan Adopted May 1997
•
Elk
'A historic river community serving as a regional center
with a favorable location near the Twin Cities
metropolitan area"
Our mission is to actively participate in economic
• development by utilizing available resources to leverage
viable and healthyinvestments in our community. Such
tY
investments will create diverse job opportunities as a
result of a stable and growing business and industrial
base. We will strive to provide quality services, maintain
a favorable tax rate, supply full-cycle housing options for
our residents, and foster an environment that will result
in substantial growth of our local economy.
ID
Modification Co
City Council
Economic Development Authority
Housing and Redevelopment Authority
EDA Business Incubator Advisory Committee
EDA Finance Committee
EDA Marketing Committee
Facilitator: Jim Brimeyer, The Brimeyer Group
•
Major Issues and Goals
m Industrial Development
• Attract new businesses and expand
existing businesses to increase the city's
industrial tax and job base
Central Business District (CBD)
�
• Undertake planning and activities that
facilitate redevelopment in the Central
Business District
Transportation
• Advocate and support proactive planning
for improvements to the local and area
transportation system
g Commercial Development
• Encourage desired commercial
development in identified areas
i
I . Industrial D
„„
Make available several location options for industries
• Obtain joint development agreements for Elk Path
Business Center and Elk River Business Park
• Consider options to reduce landowner cost of
development
• Develop a "price point" policy
• Consider making current City/EDA-owned land
available (Brown, Cargill)
• Complete initial phase of roads and utilities in all parks
• Consider a program to purchase portions of private
parks over time — with options to purchase additional
land
• Consider unique attributes/vision for each park
(ie. "Elk River Energy City Industrial Park", Northstar Corridor)
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I. Industrial Development
Continued . . .
Develop unique and more generous business incentive
programs (TIF, Tax Rebate Financing, Micro Loans, etc.)
• Maintain consistent marketing image as "The Light
Industrial Hub of the Northwest Metro", materials and
methods.
• Maintain and build networks with banks, brokers,
chamber, existing businesses, media, and others.
• X Maintain annual Business Retention & Expansion visits
with participation from elected/appointed officials and
Chamber, promote expansion incentive programs.
lit Maintain prospect/inquiry tracking and distribute semi-
annual results to the EDA and Planning Commission.
• Utilize DEED's Manufacturing Week to showcase existing
firms.
• Utilize GIS to manage data of industrial real estate
• Maintain inventory of available industrial land/buildings
• Maintain commitment to the Business Incubator Program
• Identify developer and location for "next generation"
incubator building
• Explore continued program funding options
40
1�i . Central Business District
(CBD)
• Complete long range master plan for guiding vision of the CBD;
break down activities into "manageable chunks"
• Identify priority redevelopment areas
▪ Develop list of "preferred" uses, including:
• Office
• Mixed use
• • Residential
• Specialty retail
• Restaurants/bars
• Consider incentive programs, in addition to Micro Loan, for
commercial building rehabilitation
▪ Design connections (to river, businesses, Lions Park, schools, etc)
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III . Transportation
U
Undertake a local proactive advocacy role to generate
improvements
• Consider connections, service roads within developments
• Limit development by land use (interim uses to preserve
corridors)
• Make necessary improvements to existing roads
• Consider alternative routes for east/west connections (partner
regionally)
• • Object to any Hwy 10 bypass of Elk River
• Encourage service drives along new commercial areas
(e.g. East Hwy 10)
U Consider transportation improvements in areas with
redevelopment/development opportunities
U Consider transportation connections/traffic flow for
problem areas (e.g. Elk River Concrete and Contour Mold
area)
la Accessibility for businesses along Highways 10 and 169
111 Support the City's Transportation Plan; support the
Planning Dept and Engineering staff in the Plan's
implementation.
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IV. CoDevelopment
- ,
• Consider focus area study of the gravel mining area to
identify commercial sites
• Consider development of commercial areas identified in the
Comprehensive Plan
• Co Rd 33 and Hwy 169
• Elk River/Ramsey border
• _-- Identify areas for redevelopment and determine priorities
• Designate large area for "shopping mall" or clustering of
retail that is pedestrian friendly and integrated
• Utilize the Chamber of Commerce for marketing
availability of commercial areas (land and building space)
Explore/consider neighborhood commercial
(the "corner store")
• Explore incentives to lure desired businesses to locate in
areas that the market is not interested in at this time
(e.g. Hwy 10)
•S