09-14-2020 BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE MEETING PACKET
Meeting
of the
EDA Beautification
Committee
AGENDA
Monday, September 14, 2020
10:00 a.m.
Elk River City Hall
The Elk River Vision
A welcoming community with revolutionary and spirited
resourcefulness, exceptional service, and community
engagement that encourages and inspires prosperity
1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
2. ROLL CALL
Tamara Ackerman
Ann McCormick
Ryan Hardin
Rhonda Magnussen
3. CONSIDER AGENDA
4. CONSENT AGENDA
Considered to be routine and noncontroversial by the EDA and will be approved by one motion. There will be no separate
discussion of these items unless a Commissioner, staff member, or citizen so requests, in which case the item will be removed
from the consent agenda and considered under the regular agenda.
4.1 July 13, 2020 Meeting Minutes
5. GENERAL BUSINESS
5.1 Beautification Application Review
6. ADJOURNMENT
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, July 13, 2020
Members Present: Tamara Ackerman, Ann McCormick, and Ryan Hardin
Members Absent: Rhonda Magnussen
Staff Present: Colleen Eddy, Economic Development Specialist
1. Call Meeting to Order
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting of the EDA Beautification Committee
was called to order at 10:09 a.m.
2. Consider Agenda
Motion by McCormick and seconded by Hardin to approve the agenda. Motion
carried 3-0.
3.0 Consent Agenda
Motion by Hardin and seconded by McCormick to approve the consent agenda.
Motion carried 3-0.
4.1 Beautification Application Review
Ms. Eddy presented the staff report. The group discussed Plaisted Companies application
and completed the judging rubric. The application received 13 points, so will be part of the
list of candidates for the winner of the Beautification Award.
Committee members discussed the policy and received information on program promotion
activities. The group decided to create a thank you, which would be sent to finalists to let
them know their application was received and that they will be notified in October if they
won the award.
5.1 Announcements
Ms. Eddy stated there is still a vacancy and to let her know if any members have any
recommendations.
6. Adjournment
Motion by Ackerman and seconded by Hardin to adjourn the meeting at 10:41 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. Updated: August 2020
Request for Action
To
Economic Development Authority City Beautification Committee
Item Number
5.1
Agenda Section
General Business
Meeting Date
September 14, 2020
Prepared by
Amanda Othoudt, EDD
Item Description
EDA City Beautification Award Application
Review
Reviewed by
Cal Portner, City Administrator
Reviewed by
Action Requested
Review the EDA City Beautification Award application 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, interior/exterior spaces and the landscaping are important elements for consideration.
Dr. Hunter, owner, of Elk Plaza Dental, has made significant improvements to the facade of his business. The entire
outside of the building along with new landscaping has modernized this building that has been in the community for
many years. The work started late fall and continued even during a COVID closure of his business. He has taken an
older building and given it much need pop and beautification. The investment signals his dedication to making Elk
River a better place for business.
Financial Impact
N/A
Mission/Policy/Goal
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 the business, property and/or space thereby maintaining the
beauty of their neighborhood and surroundings. It is presented to encourage community improvements, enhance
our city’s image and economic vitality
Attachments
City Beautification Award Application
Judging Rubric
13065 Orono Parkway
Elk River, MN 55330
763.635.1000
ElkRiverMN.gov
City Beautification
Award Policy
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City Beautification Award Policy
What is the 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 the business,
property and/or space thereby maintaining the beauty of their neighborhood and
surroundings. It is presented to encourage community improvements, enhance our city’s
image and economic vitality.
From May through October, The Beautification Committee will accept nominations from
the public and/or self-nominations. Nominations meeting the judging rubric of the
Beautification Award will become finalists. All finalists will receive public recognition for
making and continuing to help keep the City of Elk River beautiful!
Businesses can be nominated for this award by others within the community or they may
nominate themselves (self-nomination is encouraged!). Award finalists will be shown in
promotional materials.
In November of each year, the Beautification Committee will select one of the finalists to be
awarded The City Beautification Award. The City Beautification Award Recipient will
receive the award at the following EDA meeting presented by the EDA President and a
member of the Beautification Committee. In addition, award recipient will be recognized by
the Mayor and City Council at their November meeting.
What does the Beautification Committee look for?
The City of Elk River Beautification Committee seeks to recognize commercial/industrial
site impro vements, commercial/industrial upgrades, landscapes, interior/exterior
renovations, restorations, and new structures that are architecturally noteworthy and well
maintained.
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 /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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Application Requirements
1. Submit completed entry form plus at least two 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
Eligibility
Site must be located within the City of Elk River corporate limits.
Self-nominations are encouraged!
A photo release approval will be needed to authorize the use of photos in various
social media and print forums.
For new construction or renovations, a certificate of occupancy must have been
issued.
Public projects are not eligible.
Previous recipients of The City Beautification Award are ineligible to receive the
award in the succeeding two years at the same location.
City Beautification Award Entry Form
Nominee:
Business Address:
Email:
Office Phone: Cell
Description/Reason for the nomination along with work completed:
How does your business property/space meet the minimum scoring rubric?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
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Judging Rubric
This award recognizes business, property and/or spaces that contribute to the beautification
of the city through landscaping and architecture. Applicants need to score a minimum of 10 points
in order to qualify as a finalist.
Scoring Rubric 0 1 2 3 Total
Criteria Does not meet
the criteria
Neutral Meets the
criteria
Exceeds the
criteria
The business property/space
visually enhances the
surrounding neighborhood.
The business property/space
is well maintained.
The business property/space
incorporates a visually
pleasing color scheme.
The business property/space
incorporates creativity and
design.
The business made
substantial improvements to
their business
property/space, either
interior/exterior.
Grand Total
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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
EDA 10/21/2019 7.1