Agenda - Council Work Session - 01/10/2017

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• Development and Execution of an EPB Communications Plan/Library. The City's Environmental Policy Board desires to develop a comprehensive outreach program across multiple mediums that focuses on environmentally related issues to educate and inform the community. Communications would address a range of topics such as water (conservation, groundwater, stormwater, and how all three interact), invasive species (aquatic and terrestrial), waste reduction, and community forestry. • Mixed Use Market Analysis. The COR Development Plan vision includes mixed use buildings immediately surrounding the Northstar Commuter Rail—Ramsey Station. While the land use plan allows for, and the City proactively seeks out, the return has not been as successful as anticipated.The City is looking for market feasibility of this approach and methods to better encourage a mixed-use style of development. • Housing Analysis and Housing Plan. The City's housing plan was last updated in 2008. Since then, the City's housing goals have had great successes, especially in terms of workforce housing and senior housing. Unfortunately, public support for many of our housing goals continues to drop. The City desires to update its housing plan, as well as a communication strategy about the needs for various housing types and the value they add to our community, especially in terms of economic development. • Development of a Gateway District Plan. This is a sub-set of the Council's Strategic Plan Goal to improve the image of key corridors in the community. Many of the buildings at our gateways are either vacant, blighted, or both. The City desires to create a redevelopment plan for these areas, focused on an incentive-based approach. • Development of a Corridor Improvement Program.The City's Strategic Plan has a goal to improve the image of our key transportation corridors through an incentive based approach. In October, 2016,the City will be engaging key stakeholders to kick this project