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REQUEST FOR ACTION <br />TO ITEM NUMBER <br />Ci Council 7.4. <br />AGENDA SECTION MEETING DATE PREPARED BY <br />Communi Develo ment October 17, 2011 erem Barnhart, Plannin Mana er <br />ITEM DESCRIPTION REVIEWED By <br />Update on Downtown Plan Robert Thistle, Interim City <br /> Administrator <br /> REVIEWED BY <br />ACTION REQUESTED <br />Staff seeks direction regarding the Downtown Plan "Mississippi Connections" on a number of questions: <br />1. Agreement on completing the plan. <br />2. Direction on the use of a task force. <br />3. Agreement on Mission Statement. <br />4. Agreement on next steps. <br />BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION <br />City staff is preparing for the reopening of the downtown plan which was tabled in August 2007. <br />Council members may recall that the plan was tabled pending resolution of the Highway 10 highway plan <br />as it weaves through downtown. The City Council felt it important to understand these changes before <br />the plan is finalized. The Highway 10 plan was completed in 2009. <br />It is not staffs desire to start this planning project over; rather, to reopen the study and pick up where it <br />left off, while adapting to new information and goals developed since then. Staff will continue to work <br />directly with the City Council, but does expect at least one meeting with the HRA, EDA, Planning <br />Commission, and Parks Commission. <br />Task Force. One of the first steps is to ascertain the Council's interest in using a task force to complete <br />the project. The alternative to a task force is the city staff complete the project, then submit for review <br />and comment to the various city commissions and stakeholder groups. <br />If the Council wants to reopen the task force, staff will poll the previous members to see if they axe still <br />interested in serving. If they axe not, staff will look for alternative representatives from those stakeholder <br />groups to serve. <br />Mission Statement. To develop a comprehensive plan that will redefine the `greater downtown area' to <br />preserve its historical character while promoting the future viability of the community. Maximum public <br />input will be gathered to create and assess alternatives resulting in a formal redevelopment plan with a <br />combination of a master vision, working policies, specific area recommendations, and implementation <br />priorities. <br />N:\Public Bodies\Ciry Council\Council RCA\Agenda Packet\10-17-2011\Downtown Plan.docx <br />