Receive Update on Strategic Plan Initiative - Corridor Improvement Program & Authorize Highway 10 Update Workshop

The City Council's Strategic Plan includes an initiative to improve the image of key corridors such as Highway 10, Highway 47, Nowthen Boulevard, and Armstrong Boulevard (this is not an all inclusive list). On April 12, 2016, the City Council directed Staff to engage stakeholders along these key corridors to identify issues and solutions to said issues. The Council had also asked for EDA feedback on this topic.

Notification is not required at this time.

Key outcome indicators of the Strategic Initiative itself are an adopted Statement of Goals of how to improve the image of key corridors as well as targeting 30% of properties for clean up per year of the plan.

A significant amount of discussion took place at the April 12, 2016 City Council Work Session where this topic was discussed. General consensus of the City Council was that the City should not define the issue itself nor simply propose a list of solutions to area stakeholders. Instead, direction was given to look more comprehensively and collaboratively and engage stakeholders. Council did clarify that this should be a simple engagement process, perhaps as one (1) or two (2) meetings. Finally, the City Council clarified that this initiative is not about code enforcement itself, which is a separate process. This initiative appears to be more incentive based and collaborative.

One step in the process prior to engaging stakeholders was to define the goal of the process. In other words, what is the question we should ask attendees? For purposes of starting a discussion, but not necessarily recommending as the question to be asked, Staff poses the following:

• "How can the City improve the image of Highway 10 (and other corridors)?"

Additionally, in order to maintain momentum on this initiative while the broader policy discussion unfolded, the City Council felt comfortable in the City (Staff) identifying 'low hanging fruit' (low-cost, high-benefit) initiatives that will incrementally improve the image of these corridors. A copy of findings from a recent Staff tour is included for review.

Logistics

Since this workshop is focused on business owners along the corridor as primary stakeholders, Staff recommends a daytime workshop to maximize attendance. Additionally, as Staff began to develop the logistics of the workshop, it was suggested to broaden the scope of the workshop as a general Highway 10 Update, including the Strategic Plan Initiative focused on image. In various conversations with corridor stakeholders, it has become evident that additional updates are warranted. This would be an excellent opportunity to communicate the corridor's broader strategy - the Greater Minnesota Gateway. There are a number of other updates of interest to Highway 10 stakeholders.

Staff suggests the morning of Wednesday, October 19. Agenda would be as follows.

1. Update on Highway 10 Access Planning Study
2. Update on City's Land Use Controls/Zoning (consistent allowable uses along corridor, updates to Official Map)
3. Update on RALF Program (property acquisition)
4. Discussion and Brainstorming for Corridor Improvement Program (incentive based)

This case and initiative are being handled as part of normal Staff duties.

Generally speaking, the EDA was supportive of this initiative as proposed. Much of the discussion with the EDA centered around financial incentives/loans less than $25,000 to encourage facade and exterior improvements above and beyond code requirements. By consensus, the EDA agreed to one (1) initial workshop to scope potential alternatives, inviting individual businesses to participate to refine the alternatives, and then one (1) final workshop to agree on a policy for consideration by the City Council.

Motion to authorize the Highway 10 Update for corridor stakeholders for the morning of October 19, including discussion on the Corridor Improvement Program.