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Memo Strategic Planning - . CITY OF HOPKINS oJ MEMORANDUM DATE: SEPTEMBER 2, 1992 TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FROM: PAUL T. '?~ STEINMAN, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST RE: STRATEGIC PLANNING Purpose of Discussion. The purpose of the discussion at the worksession on September 8th is to examine the Plan as it has been revised by the strategic Planning Task Force, and form a consensus and position on the Strategic Planning document. Attached is a position statement which is being proposed for consideration by the Council. .~ Background. The Strategic Planning Task Force last met on June 9, 1992, and detailed a schedule of meetings which would facilitate the collection of public input on the Strategic Plan over the following couple months from various groups and organizations within the City. More than a dozen meetings were held throughout the months of July and August. Attached to this memo is a summary of the public input received to date. The public comments were compiled and returned to the strategic Planning Task Force for incorporation into the strategic Plan at their meeting on August 31. Attached to this memo is the revised Plan. The areas which have been changed are marked with asterisks in the left column. The sentences which have been double underlined are those which were added, and the sentences which have been striked-through are those which have been removed. Here is a brief overview of those changes: Business Retention/Recruitment 0 (Page 12) Action step #1 was revised to clarify the intentions of the Task Force. 0 (Page 14) Action step #11 was added to reflect comments . regarding environmental concerns. 0 (Page 16) Action step #4 was revised to reflect concerns expressed that the plan is ignoring jobs which are not . skilled/technical but still provide a wage which is sUbstantially higher than minimum. Neighborhoods 0 (page 18) Action steps #3 and #4 were revised to clarify "special housing needs", and further emphasize "single family" as a priority over "multi-family" housing. County Road 3 0 (Page 20) The description of the County Road 3 issue was revised to provide a further explanation of the different corridors which bisect our city, and the reasoning behind the Plan focusing on county Road 3. Mainstreet 0 (Page 27) Added to the description, a simple clarification of the boundaries of Mainstreet. City-Wide Image 0 (Page 34) Action step #13 was added to reflect public " comments regarding increasing the Citys' communication efforts. The Council and strategic Planning Task Force will have an opportunity to discuss individual action steps, and prioritize these action steps at a future worksession. The following is a schedule which outlines the dates and purpose of upcoming meetings of the Council and Task Force: 0 August 31 strategic Planning Committee met to finalize plan. 0 september 8 Council meets to review final plan as proposed by the Committee. Council to take final position on plan. 0 September 30 Joint Council/Committee worksession to prioritize goals, rate action steps in order of importance, and discuss funding sources. 0 October 20 Council authorizes staff to begin implementation. 0 October 28 Final strategic Planning committee , meeting. Discuss outcome of process, future evaluation methods, etc. u___.___ . 4t STRATEGIC PLAN FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CITY COUNCIL POSITION STATEMENT The city Council accepts the Strategic Plan for Economic Development, and thanks the members of the Task Force and staff for their dedicated efforts. The Plan is adopted as a "blueprint" for the establishment of goals and development efforts over the next 2 to 5 years. Implementation of the plan through the proposed action steps will occur over time. various elements, such as changing circumstances, or budget and staff considerations, may cause adjustments or development of alternative action steps in pursuit of the stated goals. , . .. ~ ~ STRATEGIC PLANNING PUBLIC INPUT MEETINGS SUMMARY Issue #1 - Business Retention/Recruitment Concerns regarding "retention" of current businesses - some businesses (i.e. pawn shops) should not be maintained. Identify all available commercial, industrial, single and multiple family areas in need of development or improvement. Jim Shirley - Business Retention, Goal 1, #I. Is this possible? Who is responsible? What are examples of training resources? Reword business retention/recruitment to make clear that we are talking city wide. Income correlates with the resultant business activity. Negative impact of transient population. Pursue large corporations to expand here. Focus on entire City, not just downtown. " Action Step 1 - Felt that we should be using metro area training programs. Concerned about City developing training programs. Action step 5 - Concerned about expansion of subsidy programs. Perpetuates mentality of City having to subsidize business. Action Step 9 - Concerned that people may be bothered by specifically mentioning Super Valu. Could offend Super Valu. Perhaps be more generic. Perhaps have something in "Intro" to indicate we met with businesses as part of developing plan. Action Step #2 - John H. suggested it be eliminated or be more specific. John was concerned about traffic impact on his neighborhood. others didn't necessarily agree with this. Action Step #3 - Need to define responsible parties Action step #4 - John H. felt it was too limiting. Why only high skilled/technical. Concerned about IIproviding incentives." Perhaps clarify what this means. What kind of business doe we want to recruit and do we have the . buildings to house them? Paul Richards asked about Goal #1 - Training. What type of training programs? .... . t Fuller asked about lIHighly skilled - Technical" employees. He thOUght' that this was too narrow a focus. Wanted to know what was wrong with other types of jobs. Was concerned with how the verbiage might be construed by a layman or potential employer of people who are not considered "highly skilled - technical" employees. Does the City have a plan to attract businesses that will make downtown successful/profitable? What does the city do with the info? Issue #2 - Neighborhoods Identify all available commercial, industrial, single and multiple family areas in need of development or improvement. Action step # 9: Need to analyze current garbage services provided to aged. Action step # 4: Vacant areas - Signs stating areas proposed for rezoning or stating what the area is zoned. Bob Hessian, HCP coordinator, questioned how the city would establish the Neighborhood Advisory Committee (NAC) . Clarify "special needs housing". ~ Definition of "single family". Important to enforce codes. Mark Senn questioned the words t1special housing needs" under the issue of Neighborhoods. Senn suggested we further define this term because of its ability to be construed as holding several different meanings to different people. He suggested we specifically categorize percentages as they relate to apartment buildings, single family, elderly/handicapped housing. Senn suggested we break this down even further by potentially identifying a dollar value of homes which would be encouraged in neighborhoods within the city. Senn added that if he were to prioritize these five issues, neighborhoods would be the number 1 economic development issue. Senn concluded by stating that the strategic Plan needs to be less specific in some areas, and more specific in others. Larry Smoots stated under Neighborhoods Action Item #3 should emphasize owner occupied "sinqle-family" housing. Strongly against increasing rental property in the city. Action step #2 - Who monitors the City? Action step #4 - Put something in stronger which limits the amount of , mUlti-family housing growth. stop it. Action Step #6 - Planning and Zoning should see Housing Plan. . . , Action step #7 - Possibly clarify. Educate residents. . How are we going to aggressively enforce codes? Goal - Assuming single family only. Need to address all neighborhoods, i.e. apartments, churches, schools, etc. with an increase in the number of mUlti-family dwellings (if we adhere to current zoning of land uses), how will that affect our schools? 60% mUlti-family dwelling is high enough. Let it go no higher. Even less is preferable. Middle income families need a reason to come to Hopkins. There must be encouragement/desirability. Perhaps there should be more upgrading our aging stock of homes. Our neighborhood wants to know what is going on with the Westbrooke Apartments. What are the problems, or redevelopment issues? How does this impact us? All of Hopkins? How can we find out more? one neighbor suggested increasinq lot size to attract pockets of neighborhoods, even combining smaller lots, to encourage more middle income buyers to Hopkins, instead of mUlti-family dwellings. "ssue It' - County Rd. 3 Pedestrian movement across County Road 3 between Blake and Highway 169 needs to be given serious attention, current hazard. Landmark entrances to city. Encourage office buildings. Improvement of County Road 3 may cause more of a barrier for Park Valley residents. Chuck R. - Is County Road 3 the only corridor we have a problem with? What about T.H. 169, Blake Road, Shady Oak Road, Highway 7, etc.? Chuck K. - Goal #3, County Road 3. Felt that linkage between County Road 3 and Mainstreet was probably not feasible. County Road 3 was too much of a barrier and artery. Not realistic. Action step #3 - Feels Planning and Zoning is being mandated to make changes. Rappaport asked if there were specific plans for usage of the County Road 3 corridor. 41 What does it mean to connect County Road 3? Who does this affect? Issue #4 - Mainstreet . , Reword language about Mainstreet to recognize roles of East and West I end. Don't depend on entertainment complex to save downtown. Larry Smoots stated he is concerned about the cost of carrying out this plan. His taxes have doubled in 8 years and he doesn't want that trend to continue. Re thinks too much time and money is spent on Mainstreet and not enough in other areas. Paul Richards asked what is the "inventory of vacant buildings?" Issue #5 - cityWide imaqe Bob King (Super Valu) commented that most industrial based businesses are into trucking much more than railroad. This needs to be considered as to how it impacts residential areas. Trucking will continue to be a big attraction item for industrial employers. Need truck stop or other type of development within 3-4 miles of Hopkins. Need to keep noise, etc. to a minimum, but when dealing with trucks it is difficult to control. This type of business can attract large revenues. community feels crowded due to so many apartments. , Residents are afraid to come to Council and speak. General comments Mark Senn expressed that he was confused with the strategic Planning document. He stated that it was too issue oriented, and that he doesn't feel County Road 3 or Mainstreet should be included as specific issues in this plan. Senn continued by saying the action items under each of these issues are far to specific, (like dealing with super Valu specifically) and that they should be broadened to include all aspects of the city, instead of being site specific. As an example he stated that County Road 3 should be named something which would correspond to all major thoroughfares of the City. Plan doesn't do anything unless it is followed up. Let's see it acted on. Does give us reason to hope. Some key projects, for example child's Play, could really turn things around. city needs to identify these key projects and assign people to act upon. As a resident, I am proud of this effort and feel if this continues, Hopkins will be a much better place to live and shop. Child's Play needs to be acted on now - fits perfectly with plan but , time to react is at a premium. strategic Plan is very positive, go forward and work together with businesses and residents. ~ . . . t Need to assure Child's Playa home in downtown - now - or they will go elsewhere. Spending of public dollars must be looked at on a case by case basis. However, it is agreed that if needed, spending of public dollars to secure Child's Play in downtown would be promoted. Spending of public dollars? Yes, if it doesn't take single family homes and will overall benefit the community. Plan needs to more strongly advocate development of single-family housing. Councilmembers seemed to indicate that the Strategic Plan somehow indicates we don't ignore other major corridors for the sake of County Road 3. Chuck R. - Is the strategic planning process going to help pull together the business community and residential community or will it create more problems or enlarge the rift. Did Task Force provide broad enough representation of community? (John Hutchison) . , Status of tracks east of T.H. 169, are they going to be removed? Blankenship asked when/where education (higher level) was discussed in the plan. He thought we should be emphasizing this high quality asset (school system) because this is a definite advantage to employers/employees of Hopkins. Rappaport comments about environmental issues: Need to recognize environmental issue relative to NAPCO property. other comments Current decision regarding Youngstedt's request for gas station seems to directly contradict this plan. Why were they given a flat "No" instead of "No, but how about here or here " . . . Elle Barth, Insty Prints, asked if development proposals would all be tested against this strategic Plan. Elle Barth asked if a consensus was reached among the strategic Planning Committee. Jim Shirley - How flexible is the document for change? How bound is the Council to the plan? Was concerned that Task Force would be hurt if Council didn't agree with or undertake plan. Perhaps break down some comments and action steps between: " Downtown Industrial other Commercial . ~ Question re: Name of the plan, i.e. the neighborhood topic. Is it t still aD Economic Development Plan? Recent Census data indicates per capita income is somewhat low in Hopkins. Does plan take this into consideration? Felt that consideration should be given to propose specific steps to attract higher income residents. Lower incomes dictate type of Economic Development takes place. Question about whether the plan can be implemented without adding employees. Need to keep communication open between strategic Task Force, P&Z Committee and Council to let them know the progress. Need a variety store in Hopkins Need competition, need two grocery stores Need family restaurants Too many fast food restaurants , .,