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Downtown Redevelopment Plan Taskforce Minutes Page 2 <br />January 2, 2007 <br />------------------------------------------ <br /> <br /> place in the least amount of space.” <br /> Provide less parking than logic dictates; sharing of parking spaces allows for sharing of <br />customers. <br /> A successful downtown has a “layered texture”of regular events/activities, places to go and <br />destinations. <br /> It is important that Elk River focuses on its assets. <br /> Redevelopment/restoration can be done incrementally. <br /> <br />Question/Answer Session <br />Member Holme asked how we are going to fund the implementation of the redevelopment plan. Mr. <br />Schroeder reminded the group that there are costs for developing the redevelopment plan itself and <br />costs for plan implementation. Community Development Director Scott Clark stated that the <br />taskforce will complete a better plan if they focus on visioning rather than the constraints of funding. <br />He added that typically it is staff’s role to determine how to fund the plan’s implementation. He <br />further explained that funding strategies will be included within the plan and that it is a long-term <br />plan. <br /> <br />Mr. Schroeder added that the taskforce should not forget about the private sector’s role in <br />redevelopment. Member Holme mentioned that City staff should remain proactive in the <br />redevelopment process rather than allowing developers to push redevelopment ideas onto the <br />community. <br /> <br />Member Dana Anderson stated that he wants to create momentum with this plan rather than <br />reverting back to the past thirty years when numerous taskforces or community groups tried but <br />were unsuccessful to implement various redevelopment plans. <br /> <br />Member Niziolek stated that he views that the taskforce is going to have major challenges in putting <br />a plan together because of Hwy 10 and the railroad. He asked Mr. Schroeder for input. Mr. <br />Schroeder suggested that staff discuss the issue with MnDOT employees who support context <br />sensitive design, which is a type of design that considers the context in which highways flow within a <br />community. Member Niziolek asked Mr. Schroeder how important the highway and railroad are in <br />relation to the plan. Mr. Schroeder answered that both are just as important as all of the other issues <br />within the plan. <br /> <br />4. Next Steps <br />February Meeting <br />Ms. Kvilvang informed the taskforce that developers will be attending the February meeting to <br />educate the group on current market conditions. She explained that tonight’s meeting and February’s <br />meeting represent two opposite sides of the redevelopment spectrum; the dream and the reality. <br /> <br />Homework <br />Staff distributed disposable cameras as part of a “homework” assignment for the taskforce. <br />Members were asked to take pictures over the next month of things they like and/or dislike, which <br />will be used as examples for what they feel should/should not be included in the redevelopment <br />plan. Ms. Kvilvang asked the taskforce to take photos of anything and everything whether it be <br />photos of something that represents a sense of place, landscaping, parking, buildings, etc. The <br />results of this homework assignment will be provided in March. <br /> <br />5. Final Comments <br />Ms. Kvilvang asked each taskforce member to talk about his/her “ah ha” moment during Mr. <br />Schroeder’s presentation. The following items were mentioned more than once: <br /> <br />