Agenda - Council - 09/12/2017 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Resilient Communities Project -City of Minnetonka 2012-2013 Partnership The mission of the Resilient Communities Project is to connect communities in Minnesota with the wide-ranging expertise of University of Minnesota faculty and students to address pressing local issues in ways that advance sustainability and resilience. Resilient Communities Project During the 2012-2013 academic year, RCP partnered with the City of Minnetonka, a fully developed suburb in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, on 14 community -identified projects. These projects were matched with 25 courses spanning 12 departments across 8 academic colleges at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus, engaging more than 200 students. Housing Density and Housing Options Study Housing and Aging in Place Mid -Priced Housing Market Analysis Identified existing policies that inhibit affordable and mid -priced housing, as well as strategies to encourage a more diverse range of housing options Investigated opportunities to help residents age in place through a broader range of housing options, more compact urban design, better transportation options, and improved access to social services and other assistance Conducted a GIS analysis to determine where residential "market leakage" to other communities is occurring for mid -priced housing that appeals to empty -nesters looking to downsize or young families who desire move -up housing Housing Program Evaluation Environment Storm Water and Illicit Discharge Regulation Water Management at Ridgedale Mall Water and Energy Conservation Water Resources Prioritization Plan Green Roofs and Rooftop Gardens Evaluated an existing housing rehabilitation program for low- to medium -income residents to determine why the program is underused, and provided recommendations to improve program promotion, administration, and logistics Conducted an audit of storm water discharge ordinances, and provided recommendations for strengthening regulations and streamlining permitting process Analyzed Ridgedale Mall redevelopment site and identified specific interventions for reducing storm water runoff and surface water pollution Developed education and outreach strategies to assist businesses in the community to address water and energy conservation through operations and site management Modeled leaf litter nutrient inputs and nutrient and chloride surface transport within four priority watersheds, and developed a prioritization plan to guide future investments to preserve and restore water quality Conducted an ethnographic analysis to understand perceptions among residents, developers, and community about green roofs, and recommended innovative best practices for implementing green roofs in a northern climate and suburban context City of minnetonka Where quality is our nature