7.2. EDSR 07-15-2019Request for Action
To Item Number
Economic Development Authority 7.2
Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by
General Business July 15, 2019 Colleen Eddy, Economic Development Specialist
Item Description Reviewed by
Beautification Award Amanda Othoudt, ED Director
Reviewed by
Cal Portner, City Administrator
Action Requested
Approve, by motion, the recommendation from the Beautification Committee and recognize the
recipient.
Background/Discussion
The Beautification Committee was established in March of 2017. One winner will be chosen each month
from May through October. All winners will be recognized at the November City Council meeting.
Business owners will receive public recognition and an award for making the City of Elk River beautiful!
At their July 8, 2019, meeting, the Beautification Committee reviewed applications and recommends The
Bank of Elk River, School Street location, for their efforts to clean, repair, improve and enhance the
overall aesthetics of their property thereby maintaining the beauty of their neighborhood and
surroundings.
David Black, the School Street Manager, will accept the award.
Financial Impact
N/A
Attachments
July 8, 2019, Beautification Committee Meeting Packet
The Elk River Vision
A welcoming community with revolutionary and spirited resourcefulness, exceptional
service, and community engagement that encourages and inspires prosperity
Meeting of the EDA
City Beautification
Committee
AGENDA
Monday, July 8, 2019
10:00 am
Elk River City Hall
Upper Town Conference Room
1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
2. CONSIDER AGENDA
3. CONSENT AGENDA
Considered to be routine and noncontroversial by the City Council and will be approved by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of
these items unless a Councilmember, staff member, or citizen so requests, in which case the item will be removed from the consent agenda and
considered under the regular agenda.
3.1 Minutes
June 10, 2019
4. GENERAL BUSINESS
4.1 Beautification Application Review
4.2 Beautification Policy Review
5. ANNOUCEMENTS
6. ADJOURNMENT
This agenda is available in alternate formats upon a 72 hour advanced notice. Auxiliary aids and services are also available upon a 72 hour
advanced notice. Please contact the City Clerk at 763. 635.1000 to make a request. Examples of alternate formats may include: large print,
Braille, audio tape, etc. Examples of auxiliary aids may include a sign language interpreter, assistive listening device, etc.
Meeting Protocol
No sidebar discussions
No interruptions
State your concern
Ensure you understand
Don’t take things personally
Adhere to time limits
Come prepared
Ensure all are heard
Meeting of the EDA Beautification Committee
Held at the Elk River City Hall
Monday, June 10, 2019
Members Present: Tamara Ackerman, Rhonda Magnussen, and Ryan Hardin
Members Absent: Ann McCormick
Staff Present: Colleen Eddy, Economic Development Specialist and Amanda Othoudt,
Economic Development Director
1. Call Meeting to Order
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting of the EDA Beautification Committee
was called to order at 10:16 a.m.
2. Consider Agenda
Motion by Hardin and seconded by Magnussen to approve the agenda. Motion
carried 3-0.
3.0 Consent Agenda
Motion by Hardin and seconded by Magnussen to approve the consent agenda.
Motion carried 3-0.
4.1 Beautification Policy Discussion
Beautification Committee members discussed revising the beautification policy as follows:
1. Changing the policy to allow a larger pool of applicants, with one winner at the end of the
season.
2. Adding an interior beautification component.
3. Recognizing service groups who have contributed to beautifying areas within the city.
4. Incorporating videos and public input.
5. Providing an incentive for the grand winner in November.
5.1 Announcements
6. Adjournment
Motion by Magnussen and seconded by Hardin to adjourn the meeting at 11:16 a.m.
Motion carried 3-0.
Minutes prepared by Colleen Eddy.
_____________________
Tina Allard, City Clerk
___________________
Amanda Othoudt, Economic Development Director
The Elk River Vision
A welcoming community with revolutionary and spirited resourcefulness, exceptional
service, and community engagement that encourages and inspires prosperity
Request for Action
To
Economic Development Authority City Beautification Committee
Item Number
4.1
Agenda Section
General Business
Meeting Date
July 8, 2019
Prepared by
Colleen Eddy, ED Specialist
Item Description
EDA City Beautification Award Application Review
Reviewed by
Amanda Othoudt, ED Director
Reviewed by
Cal Portner, City Administrator
Action Requested
Review the EDA City Beautification Award applications and provide a recommendation to the EDA.
Background/Discussion
The City of Elk River Beautification Committee seeks to recognize commercial/industrial site
improvements, commercial/industrial upgrades, landscapes, renovations, restorations, and new structures
that are architecturally noteworthy.
A major criterion is how the project visually enhances the surrounding neighborhood and community.
How the business incorporates design, maintenance, color, organization and creativity within the existing
community. Improvements to structures, outdoor spaces and the landscaping are important elements for
consideration.
The Bank of Elk River on Freeport has been nominated this month. The Bank of Elk River’s School
Street office has received multiple updates with the past couple of years. In 2017, the exterior sign was
replaced with the bank’s updated logo and in 2018, the building was painted and an old fence was
removed. Although it cannot be seen from the street, it should be noted that interior renovations also
took place in spring 2019.
Financial Impact
None
Attachments
City Beautification Award Applications
Judging Rubric
The Elk River Vision
A welcoming community with revolutionary and spirited resourcefulness, exceptional
service, and community engagement that encourages and inspires prosperity
Request for Action
To
Economic Development Authority City Beautification Committee
Item Number
4.2
Agenda Section
General Business
Meeting Date
July 8, 2019
Prepared by
Amanda Othoudt, ED Director
Item Description
EDA City Beautification Policy discussion
Reviewed by
Cal Portner, City Administrator
Reviewed by
Action Requested
Review the Draft EDA City Beautification Policy.
Background/Discussion
At their June 10, 2019, Beautification Committee meeting, members discussed revising the beautification
policy as follows:
1. Changing the policy to allow a larger pool of applicants, with one winner at the end of the
season.
2. Adding an interior beautification component.
3. Recognizing service groups who have contributed to beautifying areas within the city.
4. Incorporating videos and public input.
5. Providing an incentive for the grand winner in November.
At their June 17, 2019, meeting, the EDA discussed changing the policy to incorporate the suggestions of
the committee. The EDA is supportive and encouraged the committee to discuss the policy and bring
back to the EDA.
Based upon discussions at the City Beautification Committee and the EDA, staff made some suggested
changes to the policy. Any changes to the program and/or policy would be implemented in 2020.
Financial Impact
None
Attachments
DRAFT Beautification Policy
1
City Beautification
Award Policy
2
City Beautification Award Policy
What is a City Beautification Award?
The City Beautification Award recognizes business owners whose efforts to clean, repair,
improve and enhance the overall aesthetics of either the interior or exterior of their property
thereby maintaining the beauty of their neighborhood and surroundings. It is presented to
encourage community improvements, enhance our city’s visual image and economic vitality.
From May through October, one winner will be chosen each month.the
Beautification Committee will select several semi- Businessfinalist. The semi-finalist owners
would first receive public recognition and an awardat the monthly EDA meeting for making
the city of Elk River beautiful!
In November of each year, all of the semi-finalist will compete to win the grand
prize. The winner will receive an engraved plaque to display at the following EDA meeting
presented by the EDA President. All of the winners will be recognized by the Mayor and
City Council at their November meeting.
Businesses can be nominated for this award by others within the community or they may
nominate themselves (self-nomination is encouraged!). Winning properties may be shown in
promotional materials with owner’s consent.
What does the Beautification Committee look for?
The City of Elk River Beautification Committee seeks to recognize commercial/industrial
site improvements, commercial/industrial upgrades, landscapes, interior/exterior
renovations, restorations, and new structures that are architecturally noteworthy.
A major criterion is how the project visually enhances the surrounding neighborhood and
community. How the business incorporates design, maintenance, color, organization and
creativity within the existing community. Improvements to structures, interior/outdoor
exterior spaces and the landscaping are important elements for consideration.
Applications will be evaluated based on the overall visual appearance of the completed
project.
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3
Application Requirements
1. Submit completed entry form plus two recent high-quality digital photos, including a
“before” if available and “after” (if applicable) by the first Monday of each month
beginning in May through October of each year.
2. Deliver via email by the end of the business day on the first Monday of the month:
Subject: Attention City of Elk River Beautification Committee
Attach the completed and signed form and pictures to the
Economic Development Specialist: ceddy@ElkRiverMN.gov
3. The Beautification Committee will meet and select a winner. semi-finalist.
4. In November, of each year, all of the semi-finalist will compete to win the grand
prize. The winner will receive an engraved plaque to display at the following EDA
meeting presented by the EDA President. All of the winners will be recognized by
the Mayor and City Council at their November meeting.
Eligibility
Properties must be located within the City of Elk River corporate limits.
Self-nominations are encouraged!
Projects must be visible from a public street. A photo release approval may be
needed to authorize the use of photos in various social media and print forums.
For new construction, a certificate of occupancy must have been issued.
Public projects are not eligible.
Projects Properties that have won received the grand prize in previous two years are
not eligible.
City Beautification Award Entry Form
Nominee:
Business Address:
Email:
Office Phone: Cell
Description/Reason for the nomination:
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4
Judging Rubric
This award recognizes commercial properties that contribute to the beautification of the city
through landscaping and architecture. Businesses need to score a minimum of 10 points in order to
qualify for the award.
Judging is limited to the property visible from the public right of way
Scoring Rubric 0 1 2 3 Total
Criteria Does not meet
the criteria
Neutral Meets the
criteria
Exceeds the
criteria
The business visually
enhances the surrounding
neighborhood?
The property is well
maintained?
The property incorporates a
visually pleasing color
scheme?
The property incorporates
creativity and design?
The business made
substantial improvements
to their
landscaping?property, either
interior/exterior
The business consistently
maintained their property in
an attractive and well-kept
manner?
Grand Total
5
City Beautification Award
Policy History
Adopted by: On (date) Item #
EDA 12/19/2016 6.2
EDA 4/17/2017 6.4
EDA 5/15/17 6.5
EDA 10/16/2017 3.5
EDA 12/17/2018 6.2