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10 / Chapter 3: Using the Plan <br />Elk River Comprehensive Plan <br />Initiatives <br />A Comprehensive Plan is a general plan that can provide the framework for more detailed plans <br />relating to a special topic or special area in the city. The following provides, a summary of key <br />initiatives that are important steps in moving Elk River towards its vision for the future. <br />Holistic Approach <br />An overarching principle of this Plan is to consider economic, <br />social and environmental issues and opportunities simultaneously. <br />In addition, each chapter within this Plan is integrated and <br />connected to other chapters. Therefore, the successful <br />implementation of this Plan requires that the City Council, Boards <br />and Commissions, City Staff and others consider this Plan as <br />a whole when making decisions. This balanced approach will <br />ensure that Elk River makes informed decisions that will help the <br />City meet its overarching vision of a “vibrant, historic rivertown <br />that promotes an active lifestyle in an innovative and involved <br />community offering unlimited opportunities.” <br />Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) <br />The Comprehensive Plan is a guide for public action. In many cases, these actions lead <br />to public investments in infrastructure and facilities. Planning for these investments must <br />include a fi nancial element. <br />The City’s capital improvement plan (CIP) matches the estimated project costs over a <br />fi ve-year period with funding sources, allowing the City to prioritize projects and make <br />the best use of available revenues. By looking at future needs, the City is better able to <br />fi nd funding sources to fi ll gaps and to coordinate projects with other jurisdictions. <br />The City adopted its fi rst fi nancial management plan, Key Financial Strategies for Elk <br />River, in 2002. Since then the City has prepared a fi ve-year CIP annually. Future capital <br />improvement plans should continue to be coordinated with the Comprehensive Plan. <br />Sanitary Sewer Capacity <br />In 2013 the City underwent a study and investigation of the sanitary sewer system <br />capacity. Sewer capacity (or the lack thereof) infl uences the type and intensity (density) <br />of development and private and public costs of these improvements also infl uence <br />development in this area. While the study completed in 2013 addresses many of the <br />questions pertaining to capacity gained through expansion of the wastewater treatment <br />plant and the fi nancial implications of making these improvements, continued study and <br />analysis of the future sanitary sewer system will be critical for future planning efforts, <br />particularly those areas in the northern half of the City currently outside of the municipal <br />urban service area.