Memo - Blake Road Corridor Collaborative UpdateMEMO
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council
From: ✓Tara Beard, Community Development Coordinator
Date: November 10, 2009
Subject: Blake Road Corridor Collaborative Update
Efforts to revitalize and improve livability in the Blake Road Corridor began in an organized
way in 2005 with the creation of the Blake Road Corridor Stakeholders Collaborative. Initiated
by Hopkins Police Chief Craig Reid, many partners were brought in to find and create resources
to address increases in crime and a lack of youth activities. This original Collaborative received
funding to do a community -wide assessment of the needs and concerns in the area that was
completed by the Wilder Foundation in April 2008.
The Wilder assessment included face -to -face interviews with over 300 residents and information
gleaned through the many stakeholders in the Collaborative. It concluded with recommendations
for further action that City staff categorized into three parts: Public Safety and Youth Activities,
Redevelopment and Physical Improvements, and Social Services and Community Engagement.
These categories are interconnected but have different needs and different leadership structures.
Hopkins Police Department and Hopkins Public Schools continue to lead efforts that increase
community policing, reduce crime, and provide structured activities for youth. Hopkins
Planning and Economic Department lead efforts toward redevelopment and infrastructure
improvements and have completed a small area plan for the area and received funds to build new
sidewalks on the Corridor. Community Services has strengthened housing inspection codes to
bring more accountability to residential property owners in the area.
The final category, Social Services and Community Engagement, included recommendations for
improving connections between Corridor residents and existing social services in Hopkins, and a
way to engage the community in a grassroots way. Social Service leaders in the community,
Resource West and Intercongregation Association (ICA) stepped up to take on these endeavors
with generous help from Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC). Together they have
created a new Blake Road Corridor Collaborative (BRCC) that builds on past and current work
in the Corridor and strives to empower residents and businesses to work together with local
government and organizations to create the changes in their neighborhood that they would like to
see.
LISC has funded a consultant to engage the community in the creation of a Community Action
Plan to address needs and concerns in the community. The consultant, Holly Ziemer, has been
working since June of 2009 to engage residents in a planning process to create a neighborhood
action plan. LISC has also provided an AmeriCorp VISTA staff - person for one year to maintain
the initiative's momentum and help implement the plan.
Today's worksession presentation will be an update on the BRCC including the status of the
Community Action Plan and how the collaborations that are being developed will be sustained
over time.
Attachments:
DRAFT Community Action Plan
REVISED Work Plan/Time Line
Blake Road Newsletter, Summer and Fall 2009
Prepared for the Hopkins City Council by Holly Ziemer, Blake Road Outreach and
Communications Coordinator
November 5, 2009
Outline of items being discussed by working groups for the Blake Road
Neighborhood Action Plan for 2010.
Vision: A safe, healthy place to live, work and to raise children, with opportunities for
adults, youth and business owners to interact, watch out for each other, and improve the
environment for all residents.
Preventing Crime and Improving Safety
Goal: A neighborhood where residents and businesses watch out for one another and
where it is a safe place to live, work and raise children.
Strategies being discussed by the Safety Working Group:
Continue Increased Police Patrols in the Blake Road corridor
Seek resources for analysis of crime data to use police patrols strategically
Strengthen and expand Neighborhood Watch
• Recruit, train and support Block Club leaders
• Update tool kit for Block Club Leaders
• Assist with organizing events, "tree- phone" for residents without email access
Create Resident Walkers Program
• Study similar programs, including the Lyndale Walkers in Minneapolis, Trail
Watchers, Mall of America parent escort program
• Recruit volunteers, draft manual, provide training, equip walkers (Vests /t- shirts,
communications equipment, call book); educate residents and businesses about
walkers
Improve communication among businesses to improve safety and loss prevention
• Police provide weekly emails re: police calls in Grids 30, 33, 50, 51 to businesses
that request them
• Maintain current list of neighborhood businesses and contacts
• Provide opportunities for residents to share community values with businesses
• Support events by neighborhood businesses
• Seek out neighborhood businesses for youth mentors
• Support communication to neighborhood businesses, including efforts by police,
the city and the neighborhood
• Invite businesses to participate in neighborhood events, meetings
• Invite businesses to quarterly meetings for socializing and networking — Invite
city officials and police to make special presentations on issues of
concern/interest
• Seek funding to provide small grants to businesses to upgrade lighting, security
cameras
Strategies being discussed by the Neighborhood Improvement Working Group
Goal: A neighborhood where residents and businesses work together to reduce litter,
create a pleasing neighborhood aesthetic, and are actively engaged in development efforts
that will enhance green space, improve recreational space, and are neighborhood -
friendly.
Reduce litter along streets, sidewalks, residential yards and parking lots of apartment
complexes and businesses.
• Organize annual neighborhood -led Spring and Fall clean up for residents, local
businesses and their employees, and youth.
Increase the number of garbage and recycling bins available along Blake Road and in
Cottageville Park
Create an Adopt -a -block program
Modeled on the Adopt -a- Highway program
Work with youth to develop a sense of community responsibility and ownership of
Cottageville Park and their neighborhood
• Organize adult - supervised youth groups to walk through neighborhood to pick up
litter (Once a month/alternate weekends, May through September)
• Identify teens interested in assisting with Adopt A River clean up of Minnehaha
Creek
• Create activities for Park and Rec programs at Oakes /Cottageville Park to create
ownership and responsibility
• Partner with schools to reinforce neighborhood efforts
Create a resident -led committee to engage with the City of Hopkins and Hennepin
County for much - needed improvements to Cottageville Park, Blake Road to improve
safety for pedestrians and bicycles, and other neighborhood developments that arise.
• More lights on Blake Road
• Improve safety of crosswalks and walkways when crossing Blake Road
• Cottageville Park: Street access to park, parking, clearing of shrub- weeds, water
fountains, picnic tables and grills, full basketball court; new playground
equipment, bathroom and shelter so Park and Recreation programs for youth can
be held at park; community garden options, links to Minnehaha Creek.
• Signs to point out amenities and identify neighborhood
• Identify opportunities for resident input into government deliberations (i.e. public
hearings on planning, budget, priorities; building relations with representatives
and public works and planning and development staff
Residents, including homeowners, landlords and renters, take personal responsibility for
beautifying and reducing waste in their home, on their block and in the whole
neighborhood.
• Award businesses, apartment complexes, duplexes and private homes for efforts
to maintain aesthetically pleasing properties
• Raise awareness of Hopkins Home Improvement grants /loans to Blake Road
residents
• Educate homeowners /property owners on environmental design, lighting and
other strategies that improve safety and livability
• Create opportunities for residents to share and learn from each other (i.e. produce
swap, plant exchanges, garden clubs, master gardener event)
Communication Strategies:
Develop effective communication tools to keep residents informed of activities, events
and neighborhood news
• Neighborhood Web site and Facebook
• Neighborhood newsletter
• List serve to residents, landlords, property owners, businesses, city, etc.
• Translate materials to relevant neighborhood languages
• Use flyers, businesses and community event boards
• Engage youth and adult residents in contributing to Web and newsletter.
Create Neighborhood Diversity Committee
• Events to celebrate and learn about the Blake Road cultures
• Advise residents on how to engage diverse communities and remove barriers to
getting involved
Youth strategies:
[Note: Youth discussion groups will be held at North JH and Hopkins HS to gain insight
into the goals and interests of Blake Road teens. Individual and group outreach to parents
is ongoing. Input from youth and parents will be included in the development of the
Youth portion of the plan]
Goal: A neighborhood that is safe for children and teenagers and in which residents
watch out for the needs of all youth.
Understand existing programs and resources for children and families
• Assist with informing residents about resources available
• Continuously work to understand barriers to participation and provide that
information to service providers, schools, etc.
Youth Programming at Cottageville Park
• Park and Rec exploring programming options available given the park has no
bathroom facilities or bad weather shelter
• Shepherd of the Hills is exploring a one -week camp at the Park next summer
Youth Programming at Westside Village
• Adult- supervised, teen -led discussion circles
• Afterschool crafts for women and girls
• Friday night video game nights for teens
Explore options for "Y- Start" type program for middle school and high school -aged kids
Work with Minnesota Streetworks field workers to identify at -risk teens and homeless
youth and provide them with necessary services (in conjunction with Teens Alone)
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B'LAKE ROAD NEIGHBORHOOD
A newsletter for people who live and work along Blake Road in Hopkins
Summer 2009
YOU ARE INVITED!
JOIN YOUR NEIGHBORS FOR AN EVENING OF SHARING AND
COMMUNITY BUILDING
Blake Road residents and businesses are invited to hear the
results of a survey that identified concerns of the people who
live and work in the neighborhood. The event will be held
Thursday, July 30 at 7:00 p.m. at 43 Hoops Basketball
Academy, 1002 Second Street N.E. in Hopkins. Refreshments
will be provided.
In an effort to revitalize the Blake Road neighborhood, the
Blake Road Corridor Collaborative conducted a survey of
residents and businesses. The feedback you and your neighbors
provided influenced actions taken by the Hopkins city planning
department, police and schools. This community gathering is a
chance to learn more about what is happening in the Blake
Road neighborhood.
We also want to hear from you. There will be time to talk
with your neighbors, offer reactions to the survey, and share
ideas for improving your community.
Need Translation? Si necesita traduccion, Contacta /Hadii aad
u baahantahay tarjumaad, waxaad la xiriirtaa Holly Ziemer
612 - 267 -1726 or ZiemerCommunications@gmail .com
The Blake Road Corridor Collaborative is seeking your
participation to create a safe and vibrant community.
Beginning this fall, people who live and work in the Blake Road
neighborhood - people like you - are invited to join a community
planning process to identify concerns and seek solutions
together.
A staff person with the Blake Road Corridor Collaborative will help organize the meetings,
find locations and times to meet your needs, and provide support throughout this process. We
need your time for a few meetings from September through December. The goal is to create a
Community Action Plan to guide neighborhood improvements in 2010.
Ask a neighbor to join you and contact Holly Ziemer, Blake Road Outreach ft Communications
Coordinator, 612 - 267 -1726 or ZiemerCommunications@gmail.com to get involved.
NATIONAL NIGNT OUT AUGUST 4
National Night Out
Join your neighbors for our annual National Night Out on
Tuesday, August 4 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. National
Night Out is sponsored by the Hopkins Police Department and
is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness.
It is also a time to celebrate police- community partnerships in
crime prevention efforts. Blake Road neighborhood block
parties will be held at Cottageville Park, Westside Village,
and Knollwood Apartments. There is still time to sign up your
block or apartment building for National Night Out! For more
information, contact Anne Marie Buck, Hopkins Police Services
Liaison, at 952 - 548 -6407.
Multicultural Residents and Police Working Together
Hopkins Police Department joined an initiative called the
Joint Community Police Partnership in 2008 to reduce
cultural barriers, improve communication, and increase
understanding between the multicultural residents of Hopkins
and its police officers. The ultimate goal of the JCPP is to
improve the safety and livability of the city of Hopkins. Call
Tsehai Wodajo at 952 - 548 -6428 to learn more or get involved.
Blake Road Neighborhood News
Blake Road Corridor Collaborative
C/O Intercongregation Communities Association
12990 St. Davids Road
Minnetonka, MN 55305
For information contact:
Holly Ziemer
Blake Road Outreach and
Communications Coordinator
612.267.1726
ZiemerCommunications@gmail.com
FIRST CLASS.
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
PERMIT NO. 1135
HOPKINS, MN 55343
BLAKE ROAD NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
A newsletter for people who live and work along Blake Road in Hopkins
Fall 2009
BLAKE ROAD WORKING GROUPS
BE PART OF CREATING THE NEIGHBORHOOD YOU WANT
Residents and businesses in the Blake Road neighborhood are
invited to work together in creating a safer, more vibrant
community. Based on community meetings, discussions and a
survey, residents have identified concerns they want addressed
and working groups are forming to seek solutions. The groups
will meet from September through early December to develop
a Neighborhood Action Plan for 2010.
The Safety Working Group will discuss strategies to reduce
crime, improve neighborhood connectivity and address traffic
and pedestrian safety.
The Neighborhood Improvement Working Group is focusing
on the physical appearance of the neighborhood including
litter and improvements to Cottageville Park.
The BRCC continues to talk with young adults, parents and
guardians to address the needs of youth who live in the Blake
Road neighborhood.
We need your input on any of these topics. Contact Holly
Ziemer at 612 - 267 -1726 or ZiemerCommunications@email.com
to share your hopes and dreams for your neighborhood and
learn more about participating with a working group.
I N
•
Hennepin County provided the City of Hopkins funding to
install new concrete sidewalks on the east side of Blake
Road. Finishing touches are underway. The City is
reminding property owners that any public sidewalks
adjacent to their property are their responsibility when it
comes to litter, weeds, and snow removal. Enjoy a walk in
your neighborhood!
Additional streetscape improvements are needed on the corridor and will be pursued as
funding allows. For more information on the long -term vision for the Blake Road, check out
the Blake Road Corridor Small Area Plan at: www.hopkinsmn.com.
October 3 is Blake Road Neighborhood Clean Up Day
Grab a neighbor and meet us at Cottageville Park (just behind 437 Blake Road N.) on Saturday,
October 3 at 12:00 p.m. Be sure to wear old clothes, and bring heavy gloves if you have
them. Volunteers will spread out along Blake and adjacent roads to pick up trash and spruce
up the neighborhood. Clean up will continue from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. followed by an Ice
Cream Social in the park to celebrate your hard work. Parental supervision is required.
The Blake Road Clean Up is sponsored by the faith communities of Hopkins and Minnetonka and
the Blake Road Corridor Collaborative. Sign up to volunteer at:
http: / /www. Icontine.org /node /1355 or contact Holly Ziemer, Blake Road Outreach and
Communications Coordinator, at 612- 267 -1726 or ZiemerCommunications@email.com.
Student to Share What They Want to Know About Police Services
The Joint Community Police Partnership (JCPP) is planning a focus group for students in grades 7-
9. The focus group will allow students to share their opinions about police. The first meeting will
be mid - October followed by an all -day workshop Nov. 2.
Police Information Session in Span ish / Informacion de la Policia en Espanol
JCPP will hold an All that You Want to Know About Police session in Spanish October 24. La
Asociaci6n de policia comunitaria, celebrarb una conferencia en Espanol acerca de todo to que
usted desea saber de la Policia el 24 de octubre. Para obtener mbs information, comuniquese con
Tsehai Wodajo, 952 - 548 -6428.
For information on any JCPP event, contact Tsehai Wodejo, 952 - 548 -6428
Blake Road Neighborhood News
Blake Road Corridor Collaborative
C/o Intercongregation Communities Association
12990 St. Davids Road
Minnetonka, MN 55305
For information, contact:
Holly Ziemer
Blake Road Outreach and
Communications Coordinator
612.267.1726
ZiemerCommunications@gmail.com
NONPROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
PERMIT NO. 1135
HOPKINS, MN 55343