City Council Meeting Date: September 15, 2020
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator
From: Mitzi Alex Baker, AICP, Community Development Director
Title
Presentation: Brief Update on Riverfront Enhancement Action Plan.
Body
Action Requested:
No Action/Informational
Summary Report:
Staff will present a brief update and preview of the draft Riverfront Enhancement Action Plan materials.
The Riverfront Enhancement Advisory Committee (REAC) was established at the end of 2018 as a temporary committee to advise development of a Riverfront Enhancement Action Plan. The City Council adopted a resolution 2018-115 in November 2018 to create the Riverfront Enhancement Advisory Committee to further the City’s strategic priorities, including:
§ "riverfront enhancement";
§ “enhanced tourism”; and
§ “expanded downtown”
All of which contribute to “Economic Development: A Community That’s Economically Thriving”.
The Council adopted resolution further established an expectation that a Riverfront Enhancement Action Plan that include the following elements:
q Prioritization to align with the strategic plan; and
q Concept plans for strategic park improvements; and
q Identified short term and long term projects and funding sources; and
q Preservation and conservation of the riverfront; and
q Identification of stormwater management project priorities; and
q Strategies for increased active use of the riverfront; and
q Opportunities for business expansion on the corridor.
Over the last 18 months, the REAC had the benefit of significant support from the National Park Service through a Technical Assistance Grant, as well as a consultant team that joined the project to augment the effort to create concept diagrams and prepare the Plan documents.
The draft Plan is not a “doorstop” plan, but a series of brief documents that quickly covey the grand opportunity Northfield has to develop its riverfront area as a Regional Park destination.
Action Plan materials will be made available for broader distribution and feedback from the community, stakeholders and local boards and committees. Comments will be collected and synthesized to inform finalizing documents for the Council’s consideration.
Though the draft documents include some typos and will require refinement, they largely represent the essence of the Committees work. Edits will be completed prior to bringing the Plan forward for Council action. Attached is the working draft document.
A presentation summary will be coming as a supplemental memo.
Alternative Options:
N/A at this time
Financial Impacts:
N/A at this time
Tentative Timelines:
Following a period of public comment, the Plan documents will be refined and brought forward for Council consideration. Tentatively in November.