EDA Meeting Date: April 22, 2024
To: Members of the Economic Development Authority
From: Jake Reilly, Community Development Director
Title
Comprehensive Plan Update
Body
Action Requested:
None.
Summary Report:
This report updates board and commission members on the status of the 2045-horizon Comprehensive Plan.
Progress Update:
The Vision phase is now complete, with the completion of engagement on the draft vision and guiding values. The vision and guiding values are now accompanied by a draft decision-making framework (attached). This framework is meant to be used by decision-makers to keep the City’s vision and guiding values in the forefront of decisions on budget, new policies, investments and capital improvements. The framework should be used by staff, the Planning Commission, other boards and commissions, and the City Council to make sure that actions are consistent with the guiding values and are moving the City towards the vision. Staff would like feedback on the “questions” and “metrics” included in the framework, as well as any additional comments on the vision and guiding values themselves.
All the topic-based analyses have been drafted and are attached for review (save the Climate Change analysis, which will be coming soon). The Planning Commission had a discussion of these and the decision-making framework at the April 18 regular meeting of that body.
The updated project schedule is below for reference.
Steering committee update:
The steering committee has not met since February. We anticipate the next meeting sometime in May to review the analyses and provide guidance on what goals/strategies the analyses are pointing toward.
Engagement:
The Vision phase of engagement is now complete. A series of pop-up events and focused conversations, along with an online survey informed the summary of what we heard during the Vision phase and is attached for your review.
Also attached is a version of the Vision and Guiding Values with links to the relevant community
engagement we’ve received. This should help clarify how the engagement played a pivotal role in creating the vision and guiding values statements. Per the community engagement plan, our next engagement push will be topic-focused and include targeted pop-ups or focus groups as well as a large community open house. More information on the timing of that will be forthcoming
If there are specific questions or concerns about the process, the monthly update, or other Comprehensive Planning issues, please do not hesitate to contact Jake Reilly, Community Development Director at jake.reilly@northfieldmn.gov or 507-649-7018.
Alternative Options:
N/A
Financial Impacts:
N/A
Tentative Timelines:
October 28, 2023: Public Kick-off meeting for the Comprehensive Plan, Greenvale Park School R
• November 7, 2023: Steering Committee appointed by City Council
• November 11, 2023: Staff requests adjustments to scope and schedule based on an understanding that Planning Commission members are interested in more communication from the consultant team, or staff, about the Plan.
• December 18, 2023: Steering Committee meeting No. 1 R
• December 20, 2023 - Northfield Youth on Boards/Mayor’s Youth Council and members of Age Friendly Northfield steering committee R
• January - April 2024 - Vision phase: Staff/consultant team meets with other boards/commissions for structured/facilitated conversations about desired outcomes of 2045-horizon comprehensive plan.
§ January 17, 2024 - Environmental Quality Commission R
§ January 29, 2024 - Housing and Redevelopment Authority R
§ February 5, 2024 - Parks and Recreation Advisory Board R
§ February 7, 2024 - Heritage Preservation commission R
§ February 14, 2024 - Library Board R
§ February 26, 2024 - Economic Development Authority R
§ February 28, 2024 - Human Rights Commission R
§ March 14, 2024 - Laura Baker Services Association R
§ April 11, 2024 - Rotary Club of Northfield R
• February 28, 2024 - Steering Committee meeting No. 2 R
• February/March, 2024 - Pop-up engagement events: Northfield Hospital, Kwik Trip/Post, Dawn’s Corner Bar, Viking Terrace, NCRC/50th North/Library Oasis R
o January through April 2024 - Analysis Phase
• April 18, 2024 - Planning Commission discussion
• TBD Steering Committee No. 3
• TBD Steering Committee No. 4
o April through July 2024 - Plan Phase
• TBD Steering Committee No. 5
• TBD Steering Committee No. 6
• December 2024 - Adoption of final document by Council