Agenda - Planning Commission - 04/07/2011

Home

The project is an example of how project stakeholders initially approach a problem with differing objectives, but through a process of compromise and collaboration a preferred alter- native can be agreed upon. This process of col- laboration can build positive working relation- ships that can influence future projects. The project resulted in collaboration between the City, County and Mn/DOT to add a pedes- trian refuge island to a Trunk Highway. Ini- tially, the County hired WSB to prepare several alternatives that could be used to help pedestri- ans cross 3rd Avenue. However, since 3rd Ave- nue is a state highway, the City and County had to work closely with Mn/DOT to gain approval. As discussions began, Mn /DOT expressed some concerns about some of the strategies the City and County wanted to use. In the end, all parties were able to come to an agreement about how to enhance the pedestrian crossing. Shortly thereafter, the City began a streetscape project on nearby Broadway, which is also a state high- way. Based on the positive working relation- ship developed through the 3rd Avenue project, the City, the County and Mn/DOT were able to work more effectively and efficiently on the Broadway Streetscape project. As a result of the success of the collaborative process, the City has received 2014 Enhance- ment Funds from Mn /DOT District 4 for the project. A presentation on the project entitled, The Benefits of the Collaborative Process of Com- promise: A Case Study from Alexandria, MN, will be highlighted in the upcoming program of the 22nd Annual Transportation Research Conference, with the theme, The Benefits and Challenges of Building Successful Public - Private Partnerships. The conference, spon- sored by the Center for Transportation Studies at the University of Minnesota, will be held May 24 and 25 at the Crowne Plaza St. Paul Riverfront Hotel, 11 East Kellogg Boulevard, St. Paul. The conference offers CM credits for AICP planners. •\ V'1 1 /I`I planning minnesota March, 2011 Introducing APA -MN Vice President, Trisha Rosenfeld, AICP In the last newsletter, the Board announced that it was seeking a new Vice President due to the resignation of Mike Dar- row. Since that time, the Board has reviewed all the candidate submis- sions and made an ap- pointment of Trisha Rosenfeld to fill the position. Trisha Rosenfeld has been the Community Development Director with the City of Belle Plaine for nearly four years. Prior to working for the City of Belle Plaine, she was employed by Greater Mankato Growth to assist with the coordination of the regional planning effort, En- vision 2020. Rosenfeld has her Master's degree from the Urban and Regional Studies Institute at Minnesota State University- Mankato, with a focus in Management and Planning Her under- graduate degree is in Marketing and Speech Communications. Prior to her career in com- munity development, Rosenfeld worked in mar- keting for the private sector. She currently serves on the education and legislative commit- tees for EDAM. A message from Trisha... . "My past involvement with APA Minnesota in- cludes the 2009 Co -Chair for the Annual Planning Conference. Until December, 2010, I was the APA Minnesota Webmaven for approximately two years. I look forward to serving as the Vice President of the APA Minnesota organization to continue my involvement with the organization. With both of my previous roles with the organization having con- cluded, it is important to me to be integral in the planning issues that affect the planners of Minne- sota. Having previously been involved directly with the organization's website, my experience will lend itself well to the roles of this position. I am also committed to aiding the decisions that affect Minne- sota planners, while helping to obtain the necessary legalities in order to perform our job as planners with the appropriate tools." 3