Approve Work Plan for Highway 10 Planning Efforts

↵The City's Strategic Plan includes an initiative to 'improve the image of key corridors' by using Property Owner/Citizen Engagement strategies to develop an adopted Statement of Goals. The primary corridors identified in the Strategic Plan include Highway 10, Nowthen Boulevard, Highway 47, and Armstrong Boulevard. The purpose of this case is to develop a pilot work plan for Highway 10 that can then serve as a model for other key corridors.

Staff proposes a Highway 10 Update 'Summit' to kick-off this process and to highlight other key goals and needs for this corridor.  Components of this program would include:

• An update on Highway 10 Access Planning Study/Greater Minnesota Gateway Initiative
• An update on City of Ramsey Legislative Priorities for Highway 10 and Funding Applications
• A corridor Improvement Program Kick-off and Engagement Process

Staff has identified a need/opportunity to communicate an update to key stakeholders. In various discussions with Highway 10 stakeholders, a number of stakeholders are not aware of the status of the Highway 10 Access Planning Study or that said study even exists.

A draft communications plan for Highway 10 includes the following topics:

1. Highway 10 Access Planning Study
2. Greater Minnesota Gateway Initiative
3. Stakeholder Engagement
4. Corridor Improvement Program
5. Land Use Control Update (Official Map, Zoning District Consolidation)
6. Right-of-Way Acquisition and Loan Fund (RALF) Policy Initiative

The Corridor Improvement Program Work Plan is recommended to have the following steps:

1. Stakeholder Engagement (Does an issue exist, and if so, how do we correct it?)
   1. Highway 10 kick-Off meeting
   2. Online survey
   3. Business visits
2. Develop list of potential solutions
3. Adopt a Corridor Improvement Program

The idea is to create an incentive-based approach, with solutions suggested by stakeholders (not a pre-populated list developed by the City) at the request of the City Council.

This workshop was generally approved in September, 2016. However logistical conflicts, overlapping projects, and workload required that Staff push the event out. With the time allotted, Staff has made some proposed improvements to the process. Staff is working with the Fountains of Ramsey to secure a venue for either February 23 or March 9 in the morning.

This case is being handled as part of normal Staff duties.

Staff recommends approval of the attached work plan.

Motion to approve the work plan for the Highway 10 Corridor Improvement Program.