5.3.G. SR 09-10-2007Item # 5.3.G.
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MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and City Council
Lori Johnson, City Administrator
FROM: Scott Clark, Community Development Director
DATE: September 10, 2007
SUBJECT: Community Development Framework Questions
Several months ago, Community Development staff prepared strategic policy questions
(attached) for Council consideration at workshops or a retreat. The Council concluded that
they did not want to have a formal retreat to discuss this, but was of the opinion that some
of these questions could be discussed at various City Council worksessions. Since that time,
a number of these issues, e.g. code enforcement and downtown redevelopment, have been
answered in part. Instead of discussing these questions directly, staff has prepared for the
Council a list of specific project activities, many of which are in progress and also new
initiatives. Staff is looking for Council concurrence with these activities and any
modifications or additions.
Economic Development
1. Restaurant Marketing -The purpose of this will be to search and create a prospect
database, research location criteria, identify site location options and to perform an
overall marketing campaign. A work plan for this will be reviewed by the Economic
Development Authority on September 10`". It is anticipated that this will be an
ongoing effort with a concentrated amount of work in the first three months.
2. Downtown Parking -Staff does not know how much time will be needed to do
possible modifications to parking regulations, permitting, ordinances or other
strategic initiatives until the City Council gives directions, based on a presentation by
the Carl Walker, Inc. Group at the Council meeting on September 17th
3. Industrial Land Inventory -The purpose of this will be to analyze potential land that
can be converted to industrial development. One of the considerations would be
utilizing Maxfield Research to analyze existing and future demand (types of
industrial, users/lot size, amenities, on a city/regional basis). It is anticipated that
Community Development Framework Questions
September 5, 2007
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this will be completed within the next four or five months, with this item going back
to the EDA and potentially the EDA Marketing Committee for advisory opinions.
4. Economic Development Strategic Plan -The City's Economic Development
Strategic Plan was adopted in 2004 and runs through 2007. Based on this,
discussions should occur as to how the city wants to proceed with developing a new
three-year plan and identifying priority goals, projects and allocation of resources.
5. Housing Inventory -The Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) authorized
money in the 2008 budget for a housing inventory, which will be similar to a study
that was done in approximately 2001, to analyze the strength and the diversity of our
city's housing resources. It is anticipated that this study will be done in spring of
2008.
6. Future HRA Projects - To be determined.
Environmental
Expansion of Energy City Commission Activities -This item will be discussed and
direction given by the Council at the September 10, 2007 meeting.
2. Elk River Landfill Expansion -Anticipation that a conditional use permit and a
rezoning for the landfill expansion will occur in October of 2007, with public
meetings and City Council action running through late 2007/early in 2008.
3. Alternative Fuel Ordinance -The Energy City Commission (ECC) has been having
speakers attend meetings when feasible to better educate themselves on all the
alternatives. Staff is working with the Fleet Management Committee to have
language in their mission statement to require them to look at the most energy
efficient vehicles for the departments. It could be anticipated that the ECC may
have a policy in place for Council consideration by summer of 2008.
4. Business Recycling -Staff is in the process of sending out a survey by mid-
September. Once the surveys are in, the results will be tallied and assistance given to
those seeking it. This program will be voluntary. Another project staff is working
on is to deal with business recycling is working with the recycling Association of MN
(RAM) and Sherburne County on providing recycling at gas stations, car washes,
schools, churches, golf course, etc. This program also provides employment
opportunities for individuals with disabilities. The goal is to have something in place
by January 2008.
5. Historical Neighborhood Study -Based on inclusion of monies in the 2008 budget,
staff will work with the State Historical Preservation Office to develop a survey and
modeling ordinances as to how to ensure that design guidelines are kept in place for
our historical neighborhoods. This will also be a jump-off point to develop an
ordinance to ensure any new construction within the greater downtown area meets
certain design guideline.
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Community Development Framework Questions
September 5, 2007
Planning
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Gateway Industrial/Commercial Development- Since the Economic Development
Authority switched the main focus from industrial to commercial; staff has not
platted nor prepared utility plans for this area in 2007. There are a number of
projects under consideration which may influence both design and timing of the
same. Council, through the EDA, will be kept apprised as to the status of this
project.
2. Gravel mining -The Council approved a budget item for consultants to work with
city staff in the preparation of a gravel mining study. It is anticipated that this will be
along and complicated land use study process and could take up to a year to
complete. Staff would anticipate that we will begin that process at the end of this
year by meeting with representatives in Maple Grove and other communities which
have undergone the same type of process in order to better understand all of the
issues that need to be considered.
3. Opening of new property in 2008 - Based on the City's Comprehensive Plan, a new
section of Elk River's properties will be opened in 2008 for development. Along
with this, staff will be looking at rezoning considerations in the fall of 2007. In
addition staff would like to bring the Natural Resources Inventory back to the
Council to see how this document could be used in future platting review processes.
Lastly, staff would like direction from the Council as to whether they would like the
Planning Commission to review the City's cluster ordinance in anticipation of
opening these new properties.
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1. Fire Sprinklers -Late in 2007, our Building Official and the City's Fire Chief will be
completing a report on the potential of mandating fire sprinklers in all areas of the
City (with or without city water).
2. Business License - As part of this discussion, staff would like to have a discussion
with the Council regarding the idea of requiring business licenses in the community.
The purpose of this will be a mechanism to review buildings that have been
retrofitted, without building permits, and may have severe life-safety issues or other
major building code issues that have been constructed after the original certificate of
occupancy was issued.
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Potential Retreat/ Work-session Questions
A. IMAGE - A basic community development principle is that the image of a city
reflects its economic viability and community health. At this point, the City has an
opportunity to confirm and/or reinvent the framework that defines the future
image. Identifying this image is critical for the Community Development
Department, and its commissions, to partner with the Council, to ensure that our
collective actions establish our Community's highest ideals.
1. Gateway/ Northstar - Is the Council willing to impose design standards on
private property owners and a land use vision which may not be ready for today's
market, with an understanding that the market may absorb these uses at a much
slower rate?
2. Highway 10 corridor -Does the Council view Hwy 10 as a gateway to the
community and does this gateway reflect the vision the Council has for the
community? If not, does the Council desire to dedicate its resources (financial,
time, etc.) to radically redefine this corridor?
3. Components -Are there components of other cities that you would like to see
incorporated into Elk River's planning and redevelopment efforts?
4. Commercial Reserve -Does the Council see maintaining chard-line approach
against temporary land uses in the commercial reserve area as a necessary and
important policy in order to successfully develop this area in the future?
5. Large scale, intense land uses -Does the Council feel that the large scale land
uses (Mining, Land Fill, Peaking plant) impact the image of the community?
Does the Council desire staff to take a more in-depth review of these proposals
and their potential impacts to both surrounding properties and the community at
large?
6. Entrances - Do the entrances (Land Fill, Great River Energy, Allina, etc.)
adequately express the Council's image of the City of Elk River, and if not,
should improvements be made (public and private) to redefine or redirect this
image?
7. Fairgrounds -Does the Council feel that it is advantageous to initiate the
planning and proactively guide the County fairground property?
8. Commercial/ Industrial -Has the Council identified any major market
components that are not currently in the City (office park, corporate campus,
higher valued manufacturing) and, if so, is the City willing to secure property,
and/or protect the property from development of projects inconsistent with this
vision?
B. REVITALIZATION - As a community ages, a city must decide what role they
are going to play in this process: lead and anticipate these changes, or to allow the.
private market to guide these changes.
1. Neighborhood Reinvestment -Does the Council agree that neighborhoods
create the foundation of the community? As the City ages, does the Council view
it necessary to play a role in supporting our neighborhoods in their efforts to
maintain themselves in relation to safety, reinvestment, and overall sustainability?
2. Marginalized Uses -Does the City feel that marginalized or inconsistent uses
have an impact on the community at large in addition to their understood impacts
on the immediate area? Does the Council agree that the sum total of every
decision (code enforcement, land use, signage, variances, etc.), establishes the
ultimate image for our community? If yes, what should be the City's role to
ensure that our collective actions move us toward our desired image?
C. ENVIRONMENT -The environmental character is unique to our community
and we have an opportunity to fully protect, and/or enhance these features. Every
action the City takes affects these environmental features in some fashion and it is
critical that the City establishes for itself the level of importance of the environment.
1. What level of importance does the Council place on preserving and/ or
enhancing the natural environment? In balancing the interaction between the
environment and private market demands, how aggressive should the City be in
it's role as a steward of the environment in the. face of this development pressure?
D. ENFORCEMENT - As a city ages, the necessity of code enforcement becomes
more identifiable. Issues that surround this question include overall property
maintenance and value, building and personal safety & the community image this
reflects.
1. Does the City Council feel that as its' commercial, residential, and retail
neighborhoods age, increased code enforcement (property and building inventory)
becomes both necessary and unavoidable? Assuming that the level of
enforcement will need to increase, and that a highly aggressive level of
enforcement is neither desired nor effective, does the Council agree that the City
should start a gradual level of enforcement and programs to prevent the need for
drastic enforcement efforts at a future date?
E. RELATIONSHIPS - Traditionally, the function of a city's boards and
commissions is to serve a variety of functions including development review, idea
generation, resident interaction and participation, and partnering with the City
Council to achieve-the community's overall vision.
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1. Does the City Council agree that its relationships to boards and commission
are critical and beneficial to the city's overall decision making process? In what
way can. the City's commissions and boards better serve the City Council in their
decision making process?
2. Does the Council agree with the established core mission statements of each of
the commissions, and if not, what should be changed?
F. EXPECTATIONS- In order to effectively communicate a city's objectives, it is
imperative that the Council and staff have an equal understanding of our desired
outcomes. It is critical that the Council and staff have the same understanding in
order to better advise property owners, applicants, and the general public toward
these expectations.
1. Does the Council agree with the perception that different development
standards and expectations apply to different areas of the community (Hwy 10,
Downtown, Hwy 169)?
2. How can the staff better understand and support the Council's expectation for
the different areas of the community?
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