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<br />Downtown Redevelopment Plan Taskforce 1vfinutes <br />January 2, 2007 <br /> <br />Page 2 <br /> <br />. Downtown can be defmed by "a place where the greatest number of activities take <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 <br />and 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 <br />plan. Mr. Schroeder reminded the group that there are costs for developing the <br />redevelopment plan itself and costs for plan implementation. Community Development <br />Director Scott Clark stated that the tasHorce will complete a better plan if they focus on <br />visioning rather than the constraints of funding. He added that typically it is staff's role to <br />determine how to fund the plan's implementation. He further explained that funding <br />strategies will be included within thc plan and that it is a long-term plan. <br /> <br />Mr. Schroeder added that the taskforce should not forget about the private sector's role in <br />redevelopment. Member Hahne mentioned that City staff should remain proactive in the <br />redevelopment process rather than allowing developers to push redevelopment ideas onto <br />the community. <br /> <br />Member Dana Anderson stated that he wants to create momentum with this plan rather <br />than reverting back to the past thirty years when numerous taskforces or community groups <br />tried but 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 <br />putting a plan together because of Hwy 10 and the railroad. He asked Mr. Schroeder for <br />input. Mr. Schroeder suggested that staff discuss the issue with MnDOr employees who <br />support context sensitive design, which is a type of design that considers the context in <br />which highways flow within a community. Member Niziolek asked Mr. Schroeder how <br />important the highway and railroad are in relation to the plan. Mr. Schroeder answered that <br />both are just as important as all of the other issues within the plan. <br /> <br />4. Next Steps <br />February Meeting <br />Ms. Kvilvang informed the taskforce that developers will be attendiug the Fehruary meeting <br />to educate the group on current market conditions. She explained that tonight's meeting and <br />February's meeting represent two opposite sides of the redevelopment spectrum; the dream <br />and the reabty. <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, <br />which will be used as examples for what they feel should! should not be included in the <br />redevelopment plan. Ms. Kvilvang asked the tasHorce to take photos of anything and <br />everything whether it be photos of something that represents a sense of place, landscaping, <br />parking, buildiugs, etc. The results of tbis homework assignment will be provided in March. <br />