Agenda - Planning Commission - 04/07/2011

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SHIP encouraged community leaders in Breckenridge to take the same approach with the upcoming Highway 75 resurfacing project, and SHIP's efforts are now impact- ing the process. • Safe Routes to School. SHIP Staff held a series of meetings with all four cities to re- veal the results of our school surveys of fifth graders (or sixth graders in the case of Breckenridge) and to motivate them to ap- ply for Safe Routes to School grants in 2011. (The results of the school student sur- veys are available at http: / /www.ndsu.edu /sdc/ publications /research.htm) All four cities and all four school districts said that they were interested in applying for a Safe Routes to School grant in 2011. Three of our cities attended the Safe Routes to School training in Alexandria on February 9, jointly hosted by Blue Cross Blue Shield and the Minne- sota Department of Health. • Sidewalk Policy. The Breckenridge City Council adopted a revised sidewalk ordi- nance on August 2n (Ordinance #478) The adoption of this ordinance has two im- pacts. First, the new sidewalk ordinance requires that sidewalks along streets and avenues shall be constructed at the time of any street construction/reconstruction unless the Council grants an exemption due to spe- cial considerations. Second, the City will enforce the prohibition on destruction of sidewalks by adjacent property owners. The Council always had the power to enforce this, but now they are committed to doing so and revised their sidewalk ordinance to make the requirements for adjacent home- owners to maintain (and if necessary recon- struct) sidewalks even more explicit. • Mini- Grants. All four cities have received "mini- grants" from SHIP, each to further the cause of Active Living. Breckenridge is using their mini -grant for a variety of pur- poses, including handicapped bikes, geo- caching, bike racks and the promotion of planning minnesota March, 2011 use of the City's walking trails. Perham is using their mini -grant funding to revive the Cal Miller Bike route through town, which was first designated over a decade ago but has largely faded from memory. Detroit Lakes is using their mini -grant money to provide more bike racks and bike and walk- ing trail design. Dilworth is using their mini -grant for winter recreational equipment and promotion of their city parks and recrea- tional facilities. We anticipate many policies to be developed in the coming months that would support the sustainability of these system and environmental changes. Check out our Facebook page ( "Statewide Health Improvement Program ") and our You - Tube channel (`BCOWSHIP "). If you have any questions about any of the above or want to learn more, feel free to contact me at either 218- 329 -1809 or Patrick .hollister(c�co.clay.mn.us. Patrick C. Hollister SHIP Active Living Planner Becker, Clay, Otter Tail, and Wilkin Counties WEBER William C. Weber, AICP, PTh 952.451.4818 billaweberplann ing.corn 3824 Huntington Avenue St. Louis Park, Minnesota 55416 www.weberplanning.com 1`41� BIKO ASSOCIATES .■■ I N C O R P O R A T E D COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DESIGN LAND USE AND TRANSPORTATION POLICY RES EAR C II AND ANALYSIS GRAIN BELT BREWERY BOTTLING HOUSE • IMY Avenue NE, Muslin 104 Mieueapalis, N1ienesata 55413 - 1073 Phase, 612-6234000 Pas; 612. 623.0200 a nenBikuassneiates.eutn WILLIAM P. SMITH, AICP Principal Troe.rpenaion Planner 7 than DC1Ik#er ws m11 11401 Pro ascot 161 : I s.na ierle t a,nd. cape : I rcl hear Sire De ei,gner Urhan Designer ta HAROLD SKJELSOSTAD, RLA hskJ e l b o sl odebik o ass oe f ales. e o 6