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Memo Strategic Plan Review . C I T Y o F HOP KIN S MEMORANDUM DATE: June 20, 1995 TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council pr5 FROM: Paul T. steinman, Community Development Specialist ~ SUBJECT: Strategic Plan Review--June 27, 1995, Work Session I. The purpose of this memo is to provide a brief summary of the proposed modifications to the Strategic Plan. This memo will highlight the major changes and modifications to the plan which have been proposed by the strategic Plan Review Committee. II. Summary of Plan Revisions ISSUE 1 - BUSINESS RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT Goal 1 - Foster the stability and growth of existing e businesses (Pages 4-5 of Revision Draft). Major modifications as proposed: . Support and promote "business-to-businessll purchasing of goods and services. . Work with developers to initiate an appropriate development on the Hennepin County Public Works site. . Work with the City's Administrative Assistant for Community Relations to provide public awareness regarding the goals of the strategic planning process. . Ensure that pedestrian and vehicular accesses are protected throughout the period of a planned construction process, such as County Road 3, for the benefit of the affected businesses. Goal 2 - Induce targeted business and industry to locate in Hopkins (Page 6 of Revision Draft) . e . e . . Major modifications as proposed: . Undertake a process to assess the market's (businesses, residences, and consumers) perceptions of Hopkins and the types of businesses considered appropriate but not currently located here, and use the information gathered to determine appropriate sites for those types of business. - Continue to plan for and encourage commercial development and redevelopment appropriate to location and zoning. - Prepare description of the appropriate development for each commercial property within the community. - Direct City staff to take an active role in implementation of a business recruitment plan utilizing this information. . Recruit businesses which have a relationship to other existing businesses, not just the grocery industry. . Work with and be supportive of youth-owned and youth-operated businesses. . . Work with and be supportive of community arts-related businesses. Goal 3 - Develop and implement new financing programs to offer additional alternatives for financing redevelopment or rehabilitation projects (Page 7 of Revision Draft) . In the original strategic Plan, this goal appeared under the major issue of Mainstreet, but has been revised only in that it now appears under Business Retention and Recruitment, rather than under Mainstreet. Goal 4 - Develop and implement a public relations strategy (Page 8 of Revision Draft). This is a new goal under Business Retention and Recruitment and seeks to focus the City Council and Economic Development Staff towards a public relations effort, utilizing as a resource the new Administrative Assistant for Community Relations. There is one action step under the goal, which indicates the Council will provide support to . organized groups within the community in order to develop a public relations strategy. In addition, these organizations will encourage individuals to . - e participate in developing policy guidelines and . also to aid implementation of the public relations plan. ISSUE 2 - NEIGHBORHOODS Goal 1 - Ensure strong and well maintained neighborhoods to foster an overall positive economic development climate in Hopkins (Page 10 of Revision Draft). Major modifications as proposed: . Determine the appropriateness of re-zoning or re-guiding properties to a less dense residential use or a different land use. . Work to enact the Westbrooke Special Legislation and the acquisiton/demolition/replacement program. . Direct the Hopkins Police Department to promote the use of neighborhood groups through education and awareness programs to help protect their local residential areas. . Use the resources of the Administrative Assistant for Community Relations to improve the perception of the City's mUlti-family housing. ~ Goal 2 - Foster communication and cooperation in the .., City, neighborhoods, schools, and the business community (Page 11 of Revision Draft). Major modifications as proposed: . Help to foster interaction and communication among the City, Hopkins Business & civic Association, and owners/managers of commercial/industrial properties. ISSUE 3 - COUNTY ROAD 3 Goal 1 - Improve vehicular and pedestrian movement along county Road 3 and enhance the link between County Road 3 and Mainstreet (Page 13 of Revision Draft). Major modifications as proposed: . continue to work with Hennepin County to implement a County Road 3 Improvement Project. . Begin immediately implementing landscaping improvements along County Road 3. . Encourage acceleration of improvements to the proposed bike path between Eighth Avenue to east . of Highway 169. . Rehabilitate and maintain the railroad depot. e e . . Goal 2 - Foster the development/redevelopment of property along County Road 3, including consideration for a business park and/or other major uses (Page 14 of Revision Draft). Major modifications as proposed: . Support the redevelopment of the 13-acre R.L. Johnson property on 11th Avenue. . continue to work with Hennepin County on redevelopment of the Hennepin County Public Works site. . Utilize the services of the City's Community Relations personnel to communicate with existing business/property owners regarding the County Road 3 improvement project. Goal 3 - Improve/enhance function and appearance of existing commercial, industrial, and pUblic/semi-public land uses, including visual improvements such as landscaping, screening, and tree planting (Page 15 of Revision Draft). Major modifications as proposed: . . Begin immediately implementing landscaping improvements throughout the corridor, consistent with the design plans for County Road 3. ISSUE 4- MAINSTREET Goal 1 - Provide an atmosphere which will foster the retention of existing businesses on or near Mainstreet and attract new businesses (Page 17 of Revision Draft). No major modifications are being recommended to this goal. Goal 2 - continue to provide a high level of upkeep and maintenance to the physical improvements which were completed on Mainstreet and develop the corridors connecting Mainstreet to County Road 3 (Page 18 of Revision Draft). Major modifications as proposed: . Establish uniformity in design of corners and corridors connecting Mainstreet and County Road 3. e e e e ~ ISSUE 5 - CITY-WIDE IMAGE Goal 1 - Develop and maintain a positive appearance and perception of the City of Hopkins (Pages 20-21 of Revision Draft). Major modifications as proposed: . Develop methods of providing information to various consumers of retail goods and recreational activities/services within Hopkins. Work with Hennepin Parks in incorporating this idea in the construction of a shelter at the trailhead on Eighth Avenue South. Goal 2 - Develop and implement a public relations strategy. . This goal has simply been restated from Page 8 of the Revision Draft for the purpose of emphasizing its importance. *ISSUE 6 - YOUTH/FAMILY The committee participated in several hours of discussion regarding whether or not Youth/Family was an economic . development related issue. As is indicated in the narrative description of this issue in the Revision Draftp it was the consensus of the strategic Plan Review Committee that Youth/Family do play an especially important role in the economic development of a community. The committee also concurred that in order to create a positive environment for economic development, it is the responsibility of the City and its citizens to provide opportunities for and encourage youth interaction and involvement in Hopkins. Goal 1 - Foster an environment of awareness within the community regarding the importance of youth to our social and economic viability (Page 24 of Revision Draft) . Suggested Action steps: 1. Develop a Youth Advisory Committee, the purpose of which is to provide input to the City Council on issues which affect youth in our community. 2. Encourage hiring of Hopkins area youth for jobs which are appropriate and may provide experience, potential career direction, and interaction with business people, citizens, and other members of the community. ~ * Proposed addition to the five original major issues. e e e 3. Closely examine impacts on youth when considering e changes in city services. 4. Improve and maintain communication between city and School District to develop a more cooperative effort toward aChieving the goals of both public entities, such as youth entrepreneurs. 5. Actively encourage businesses to mentor youth and entrepreneurship. . . e e .