VII.7. Friendly Store Fronts Program; Howard (CR2017-085)
June 20, 2017 Council Report 2017- 085
Friendly Store Fronts Program
Proposed Action.
Staff recommends adoption of the following motion: Move that Council approve the Friendly Store
Fronts Contract between the City and the Musicant Group and authorize staff to make minor
revisions to the contract prior to signing.
Overview:
The Friendly Store Fronts program seeks to connect up to 20 downtown businesses with
resources to activate their storefronts and contribute to the vitality of Mainstreet through access
to micro-grants up to $500 and professional placemaking consulting services. The cost of the
contract, including the micro-grants is not to exceed $40,000.
Hennepin County has agreed to fund the program up to $30,000. The City of Hopkins will
leverage those resources by working with the Musicant Group to offer expertise in making
connections in the growing downtown area. The Musicant Group will complete a needs
assessment walkthrough of downtown with city staff, provide one-on-one consultations and a
community workshop for participating businesses, and also develop a storefront activation
toolkit to be used by merchants going forward. City staff will undertake the promotion of the
program and recruitment of businesses to participate.
In addition to the Friendly Store Fronts program, the City will plan and put on an Open Streets
event on Mainstreet on Saturday, October 14. The purpose of the Open Streets event, in part, will
be to showcase the various projects that were completed through the Friendly Store Fronts
Program. The cost of the Open Streets event will not exceed $5,000.
Primary Issues to Consider:
• What are the goals of the program?
• What are the concerns of the program?
• How will the partnership between the city, businesses and the Musicant Group work to
ensure successful implementation of the program?
Supporting Information:
• Friendly Store Fronts Contract
________________________________________
Kurt Howard
Council Report 17-085
Page 2
Planning and Economic Development Intern
Analysis of the Issues
What are the goals of the program?
• Strengthen the vitality of Mainstreet – activating storefronts along Mainstreet will create
a more vibrant public space that will attract visitors and community members alike. This
activation will lead to increased business activity and sales which will continue to spur
economic growth in this area.
• Making connections – creating friendlier storefronts will enhance the walkable character
of downtown Hopkins and encourage connections between the heart of Mainstreet with
western Mainstreet as well as the blocks north and south.
• Build visibility – enhancing storefronts will help build visibility and brand awareness for
downtown Hopkins.
What are the concerns of the program?
• Unsure of demand – This program offers a significant incentive for property owners to
participate. Since the program is new, city staff is unsure of what interest may be
generated. Businesses will be moved through stages of the program in 3 cohorts such that
the consultant can manage projects in the event that participation in the program is
robust, or advertise successful installations to recruit additional participants if needed.
How will the partnership between the city, businesses and the Musicant Group work to ensure
successful implementation of the program?
• City staff and the Musicant group will conduct a needs assessment walk-through resulting
in a memorandum outlining the needs and opportunities for the entire district and
locational targets for the Friendly Store Fronts initiative.
• City staff will promote the program and recruit businesses for participation.
• The Musicant Group will lead 1-2 placemaking workshops for business and property
owners and provide one-on-one consultations with businesses to develop a Friendly Store
Front project for their business.
• The Musicant Group will develop a Friendly Store Fronts Toolkit with step by step
guidance on creating social and commercial activity through savvy but low cost
placemaking improvements within and outside storefronts to be used by merchants going
forward.
Financial Impact: $_$45,000_Budgeted: Y _Source: Hennepin County Grant and
Economic Develeopment Fund________
Related Documents (CIP, ERP, etc.): _______________________________________
Notes: _______________________________________________________________
Council Report 17-085
Page 3
Alternatives
The Council has the following alternatives:
• Approve and adopt the Friendly Fronts Program
• Approve the Friendly Fronts Program with revisions
• Deny and opt not to move forward with the Friendly Fronts Program
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PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT
This Professional Services Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into this
___ day of ____________, 2017 (the “Effective Date”), by and between the City of Hopkins, a
Minnesota municipal corporation (the “City”), and The Musicant Group, LLC., a limited liability
company established under the laws of Minnesota (the “Contractor”). The City and the
Contractor may hereinafter be referred to collectively as the “Parties.”
WHEREAS, the City wishes to hire the Contractor to perform the professional services
described in Exhibit A attached hereto; and
WHEREAS, the Contractor represents that it has the necessary skill, equipment,
experience, and personnel to provide the requested services to the City; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to contract with the Contractor to provide, and the
Contractor desires to provide, the requested professional services in accordance with the terms
and conditions of this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and the mutual obligations of
the Parties hereto, each of them does hereby covenant and agree with the other as follows:
1. Services.
(a) The Contractor agrees to provide the City with the professional services as described
in Exhibit A, attached hereto, for the purpose of developing the Friendly Storefronts
Initiative within the City (the “Services”). The list of Services may be further
expanded upon by mutual agreement of the Parties without invalidating this
Agreement.
(b) The Contractor agrees to furnish all labor, equipment, and materials necessary to
perform the Services. All Services provided by the Contractor shall be of similar
quality of other professionals who provide similar services and consistent with any
applicable professional standards.
2. Compensation for Services. In exchange for the Services, the City agrees to pay the
Contractor in accordance with the following fee schedule, plus any applicable sales taxes
or other fees approved by the City:
(a) Total Fee: $30,000.00, paid pursuant to the schedule contained
herein
(b) Reimbursable Expenses: Not to exceed $2,000, pursuant to the terms herein
No claim for services furnished by the Contractor not specifically provided for and
identified herein, or otherwise agreed-upon by the Parties, will be honored by the City.
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3. Reimbursable Expenses. The following expenses shall be reimbursable to the
Contractor by the City, at the rates herein specified:
Mileage: 53.5 cents per mile (2017 IRS rate)
Postage: Actual Cost
Workshop Supplies: Actual Cost
No reimbursable expenses shall be paid by the City unless the Contractor has provided
the City with an itemized invoice of such expenses, along with proof of purchase for such
expenses.
4. Request for Payment. The Contractor shall submit itemized invoices for the Services it
provides to the City on a monthly basis. The itemized invoices shall clearly identify all
work completed. Invoices submitted will be processed and paid in the same manner as
other claims made to the City.
The Contractor shall be entitled to collect its total fee of $30,000 in three equal
installments. The Contractor shall request payment of such installments on the following
dates:
Payment 1: Upon execution of this Agreement
Payment 2: September 1, 2017
Payment 3: December 31, 2017
5. Term and Termination. The term of this Agreement shall commence on the Effective
Date of this Agreement and continue until December 31, 2017. The Agreement may be
terminated for any reason by either party upon providing 30 days’ written notice to the
other party. Upon termination, the City shall be responsible for paying the Contractor
only for the Services performed up to the date of termination. The Contractor’s
indemnification obligations shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
6. Independent Contractor. The Contractor shall at all times be deemed an independent
contractor. The Contractor is not to be deemed an employee or agent of the City and has
no authority to make any binding commitments or obligations on behalf of the City
except to the extent expressly provided herein. All Services provided by the Contractor
pursuant to this Agreement shall be provided on an independent contractor basis and not
as an employee of the City for any purpose including, but not limited to, income tax
withholding, workers' compensation, unemployment compensation, FICA taxes, liability
for torts, and eligibility for employee benefits.
7. Compliance with Laws and Regulations. In providing the Services hereunder, the
Contractor must abide by all applicable statutes, ordinances, rules, and regulations.. Any
violation of this section will constitute a material breach of this Agreement and entitle the
City to immediately terminate this Agreement.
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8. Equal Opportunity. During the performance of this Agreement, the Contractor must not
discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color,
creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, status with regard to public assistance,
disability, or age. Violation of any part of this provision shall entitle the City to
immediately terminate this Agreement.
9. Indemnification. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Contractor, and its
successors or assigns, agrees to protect, defend, save, and hold harmless the City, its
officers, agents, and employees from all claims, suits, or actions of any kind, nature, or
character, and the costs, disbursements, and expenses of defending the same including,
but not limited to, attorneys’ fees, professional services, and other technical,
administrative, or professional assistance resulting from or arising out of the alleged
negligence, breach of contract, or willful misconduct of the Contractor, its
subcontractors, agents, or employees related to or arising out of the performance of, or
failure to perform, the Services under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall be construed
as a limitation on or waiver of any immunities or limitations on liability otherwise
available to the City.
10. Insurance. During the entire term of this Agreement, the Contractor must maintain
workers’ compensation insurance (to the extent required by law).
11. Notices. Any notices permitted or required by this Agreement shall be deemed given
when personally delivered or upon deposit in the United States mail, postage fully
prepaid, certified, return receipt requested, addressed to:
The City: The City of Hopkins
1010 1st St. S.
Hopkins, MN 55343
Attn: City Manager
The Contractor: The Musicant Group, LLC
2216 Harriet Avenue S.
Minneapolis, MN 55405
Attn: Max Musicant
Or such other address as either party may provide to the other by notice given in
accordance with this provision.
12. Third Party Rights. The Parties to this Agreement do not intend to confer on any third
party any rights under this Agreement.
13. Assignment. Neither party will assign any part of this Agreement, nor any interest
arising herein, without the written consent of the other party.
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14. Not Exclusive. This Agreement does not constitute an exclusive contract between the
City and the Contractor. The City remains free to contract for similar services from other
contractors and the Contractor remains free to contract to provide similar services to
others, provided that any such contracts do not interfere with its ability to provide the
Services under this Agreement.
15. Audit Disclosure. The Contractor must allow the City, or its duly authorized agents, and
the state auditor or legislative auditor reasonable access to the Contractor’s books,
records, documents, and accounting procedures and practices that are pertinent to all
Services provided under this Agreement for a minimum of six years from the termination
of this Agreement.
16. Data Practices Act Compliance. Data provided, produced, or obtained under this
Agreement shall be administered in accordance with the Minnesota Government Data
Practices Act, Minnesota Statutes Chapter 13. The Contractor will immediately report to
the City any requests from third parties for information relating to this Agreement. The
Contractor agrees to promptly respond to inquiries from the City concerning data
requests.
17. Waiver. Any waiver by either party of a breach of any provision of this Agreement will
not affect, in any respect, the validity of the remainder of this Agreement.
18. Entire Agreement. This document, including the above recitals and the attached exhibit,
constitute the entire agreement between the Parties and it supersedes all oral agreements
and negotiations between the Parties regarding the subject matter of this Agreement.
19. Amendments. No modification, amendment, deletion, or waiver in the terms of this
Agreement is valid unless it is in writing and signed by the Parties, with the exception of
any mutually agreed-upon modifications to the scope of Services provided hereunder.
20. Headings. The headings contained in this Agreement have been inserted for
convenience of reference only and shall in no way define, limit, or affect the scope and
intent of this Agreement.
21. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement are severable. If any portion of this
Agreement is, for any reason, held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be contrary to
law, such decision will not affect the remaining provisions of the Agreement.
22. Governing Law and Venue. This Agreement will be controlled by the laws of the State
of Minnesota. Any disputes, controversies, or claims arising out of this Agreement shall
be heard in the state or federal courts of Minnesota in Hennepin County, and all Parties to
this Agreement waive any objection to the jurisdiction of these courts, whether based on
convenience or otherwise.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed by
their duly authorized representatives in duplicate on the respective dates indicated below and
effective as of the date first written above.
THE CITY: THE CONTRACTOR:
By: ___________________________ By: ___________________________
Molly Cummings, Mayor Its: ___________________________
By: ___________________________
Mike Mornson, City Manager
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EXHIBIT A
Description of Services
Project Overview
Goals
• Strengthen the commercial and social vibrancy of Downtown Hopkins through dynamic
business-led storefront activations and merchandising
• Build visibility and brand awareness for Downtown Hopkins as the “friendlies
downtown”
Strategies
• Create a toolkit and process on how to activate one’s storefront that can be used by all
merchants going forward
• Create a culture among businesses that dynamic store window and sidewalk activations
and merchandising is the norm
• Jump-start the adoption of this culture by providing technical assistance and micro-grants
to up to 20 businesses who opt-into the program
Deliverables for Musicant Group
• 1 walk-through and needs assessment of Downtown Hopkins with city staff. Will result
in a short memorandum outlining needs and opportunities for the entire district and
locational targets for the Friendly Store Fronts initiative
• Development of a Friendly Store Fronts Toolkit. Would be a step-by-step guide on how
to create social and commercial activity through savvy but low cost placemaking
improvements within and outside of storefronts
• Leading 1-2 workshops for business and property owners on placemaking and the
Friendly Store Fronts process
• Providing 1-on-1 consultation, assessment and implementation support for up to 20
businesses on deploying a Friendly Store Front project for their businesses
• Administering distribution of micro grants and contracts to participating businesses
• Collecting data from businesses regarding the impacts of their participation in the
program
City of Hopkins Responsibilities
• Promoting the project and recruiting the participating businesses
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Schedule
Businesses will be enrolled through three cohorts of up to 8 businesses at a time.
Cohort 1’s Schedule will be:
● June 26 - 30 — Site visits and interviews
● July 10 - 21 — Plan implementation
● September 28 — Evaluation surveys due
Cohort 2’s (tentative)
• July 10-15 – Site visit and interviews
• July 24-28 – Plan implementation
• September 28 – Evaluation surveys due
Cohort 3’s (tentative)
• August 1-4 – Site visit and interviews
• August 14-18 – Plan Implementation
• September28 – Evaluation surveys due
Draft of Toolkit submitted for review and comment, based in part on findings of evaluation
surveys – October 27
Final version of Toolkit delivered: November 17 or 3 weeks after getting comments back,
whichever is later.