11-06-2006 DTMIN
MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER
DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT PLAN TASKFORCE
HELD AT THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2006
Members Present: Stewart Wilson, HRA Chair; Louise Kuester, HRA Commissioner; Larry Toth,
HRA Commissioner; Jean Lieser, HRA Commissioner; Lance Lindberg, Heritage
Preservation Commissioner; Dana Anderson, Planning Commissioner; Mike
Niziolek, Parks & Recreation Commissioner; Dan Tveite, EDA Commissioner;
Dave Rymanowski, Business Representative – First National Bank; Keith Holme,
Business Representative (Kemper Drug); Mark Urista, Business Representative
(Coldwell Banker Vision); Molly Nadeau-Peterson, Resident Representative
Staff Present: Community Development Director Scott Clark, Director of Economic
Development Catherine Mehelich, Planner Chris Leeseberg and Assistant Director
of Economic Development, Heidi Steinmetz
Others Present: Stacie Kvilvang of Ehlers & Associates, Inc. and John Anderson, downtown
resident
1. Welcome & Introductions
Assistant Director of Economic Development Heidi Steinmetz welcomed the taskforce members to
their first meeting. She introduced the staff project team and Stacie Kvilvang of Ehlers & Associates.
Ms. Kvilvang will facilitate each meeting and serve as a redevelopment planning expert to City staff.
Ms. Steinmetz asked taskforce members to contact her directly with any taskforce issues/concerns
between meetings.
Taskforce members introduced themselves and indicated their reason for involvement.
2. Overview & Schedule
Ms. Steinmetz reviewed the role of the taskforce, which is to assist in the completion of a
redevelopment plan for the greater downtown area that will represent a consensus of the City
Council, City boards, commissions, business owners and citizens for future redevelopment actions.
She added that the plan will serve as a guiding document for the City Council, City boards,
commissions and staff.
Ms. Kvilvang presented taskforce expectations, ground rules, the purpose of visioning and the
general schedule/work plan. She provided visual examples of other cities’ redevelopment plans,
comparing the plans with final outcomes, which were very similar.
Ms. Kvilvang proceeded to facilitate the taskforce’s selection of a chairperson. It was the consensus
of the taskforce that Mark Urista serve as the chairperson. It was understood that the chair will
present the final plan to various city commissions/boards. In the event that Mr. Urista is unavailable
to attend meetings, the taskforce agreed that Louise Kuester will serve as the vice chair.
3. Redevelopment 101
Staff provided general redevelopment principles to the taskforce. Reasons for redevelopment and
barriers to redevelopment were presented.
4. Taskforce Mission Statement
Ms. Steinmetz asked the taskforce to develop a taskforce mission statement to describe the purpose
Downtown Redevelopment Plan Taskforce Minutes Page 2
November 6, 2006
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of the taskforce, the reasons why a plan is needed and the expected results of the plan. Staff
provided an example mission statement for the taskforce to modify. After much discussion, the
taskforce mission statement evolved into the following:
“To develop a comprehensive plan that will redefine the “greater downtown area” to preserve its
historical character while promoting the future viability of the community.
Maximum public input will be gathered to create and assess alternatives resulting in a formal
redevelopment plan with a combination of a master vision, working policies, specific area
recommendations and implementation priorities.”
Ms. Steinmetz mentioned that the taskforce is welcomed to rename the redevelopment area. She
also asked them to think about the mission statement until the next taskforce meeting when it will be
finalized.
5. Redevelopment Area Boundary
Planner Chris Leeseberg presented the taskforce with a draft area boundary based off of the 2001
Maxfield Research Market Analysis of the downtown area and the Housing and Redevelopment
Authority’s recent redevelopment planning for north of Hwy 10 downtown. The taskforce discussed
minor changes and why certain residential neighborhoods were included. Ms. Steinmetz indicated
that including the housing stock within the boundary will better incorporate it into the plan and that
redevelopment is not solely about the removal of homes or buildings. Restoration and rehabilitation
is also a component of redevelopment. Ms. Steinmetz asked the taskforce to think about the
boundary until the next taskforce meeting when it will be finalized.
6. Downtown Overview
Director of Economic Development Catherine Mehelich provided an overview of the City’s
downtown planning efforts over the past thirty years.
Staff also presented general information about how property value is determined in addition to
specific downtown Elk River property and land value trends.
Ms. Steinmetz presented traffic and public safety information obtained by Police Chief Beahen and
City Engineer Terry Maurer.
7. Elk River in the Next 10 Years
Community Development Director Scott Clark presented figures regarding predictions for
demographic and development changes ten years from now.
8. Homework
Staff distributed the following reading materials to the taskforce: the Downtown Planning & Project
History, the 2002 Historic Contexts Study and 2001 Downtown Market Analysis. Ms. Kvilvang
asked that the taskforce send Ms. Steinmetz the answers to the following questions within two
weeks: What does downtown Elk River mean to you? and What are the components of a successful
downtown?
9. Final Comments
Each taskforce member stated what he/she thought about the first meeting. Most members
indicated that they are proud to be part of the taskforce and that they expect the redevelopment plan
to be implemented rather than “just another plan for the shelf.”
Downtown Redevelopment Plan Taskforce Minutes Page 3
November 6, 2006
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Submitted by,
Heidi Steinmetz
Assistant Director of Economic Development