Memo- Proposal For Creating Community Wide Commitment to a Strategic Direction
ALLEN
&
ASSOCIATES
4749 Coventry Road East
Minnetonka, MN 55345
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DRAFT #2
DRAFT #2
DRAFT #2
TO: Hopkins City Council
FROM: Tom Allen, Allen & Associates
SUBJECT: Proposal for creating community wide commitment to a strategic direction
DATE: August 31, 1999
This proposal is submitted at your request and is based upon conversations with Steve Mielke,
city manager. It sounds like the community is pleased with its work over tpe last 10 years to
redevelop the downtown. While the downtown area needs continuing development and
commitment, the council seems to be asking itself, "What comes next?" There is some
agreement in the council that attention should be shifted to neighborhoods, but there is not yet
consensus about what that means or what action to take. This has resulted in the council's
request for proposals from outside resources to support a strategic planning process. Does this
properly characterize your situation? What's present or missing in this characterization?
This proposal assumes that:
Incorporating neighborhoods into a vision changes the question from "What's best for the
city of Hopkins?" to "What's best for the community of Hopkins?"
There needs to be active participation and commitment in this process by the larger
community, in addition to participation by members of city council, boards, and
comnuSSIOns.
The city council has an important leadership role in creating that commitment.
If these are incorrect assumptions, a revised proposal can be submitted to council upon request.
Proposed results/or phase one - Assessment: (participants will achieve the following objectives)
1. Evaluation of community effectiveness. ("What's present and missing in the community of
Hopkins as an attractive place to live, work, and do business?")
2. Agreement among city council members to a planning process that:
Will result in community wide commitment to a direction.
Will optimize council member time over a series of several shorter sessions.
FAX 612-988-9350
PHONE 612-988-9332
E-mail: AllenAsc:!Paol com
Page 2
Proposed results for phase two - Community wide commitment to a direction and its
implementation: (participants will achieve the following objectives)
1. Community wide commitment to a direction and a mission.
2. Commitment to goals and priorities.
3. Agreement on action plans.
4. Agreement on roles for implementation by city council, boards and commissions, staff,
community leaders, and residents.
Action plan to achieve phase one results: Assessment
1. Agree on project parameters. (in process)
2. Conduct phone interviews with each council member and city manager. (6)
3. Conduct focus group of staff
4. Conduct 4-8 focus group sessions of boards and commissions, community sectors,
leaders, and citizens. (What would be the proper number of focus groups?)
5. Develop a written summary of community effectiveness and a proposed process for
achieving phase two results.
6. Facilitate staff evaluation of written report and phase two proposal. (Y es/No)
7. Facilitate city council evaluation of written report and phase two proposal. (Yes / No)
Action plan to achieve phase two results: Facilitation of community wide commitment to a
direction and its implementation.
A formal proposal of action steps to be taken in phase two will be submitted as part ofthe phase
one summary report.
Investment:
Your investment in consulting fees for this project will be @ $125. per hour, plus travel and out
of pocket costs.
Phase one - assessment
(Varies based upon # of focus groups)
Phase two - facilitation of community wide commitment
$5,250. - $6,250.
To be submitted at end of
phase one.
This investment also assumes the support of city staff for communication and coordination.
Related client references:
1. City of St. Louis Park - Charlie Meyer, city manager and Jim Brimeyer, city council
member - city manager evaluation and team building.
2. City ofMinnetonka - Dave Childs, city manager and Janis Callison, council member - open
space preservation task force community listening sessions.
3. Hopkins Business and Civic Association - Nora Davis, president - strategic planning.
4. Minneapolis area synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America - Bishop David
Olson - visioning process for 175 congregations.
5. Minnesota Council of Churches - Peg Chemberlin, executive director - visioning process
across multiple religious denominations.