2016.06.01 EDC Packet Combined- With Additional Handout

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IWAts city of I)NEW MGHTON the city that works for you DATE: May 27, 2016 Community Assets & Development Department MEMORANDUM TO: Economic Development Commission FROM: Janice Gundlach, Asst. Director of Community Assets & Development/Planning Director f e SUBJECT: Sense of Place Discussion Follow -Up Going back to February of 2015, the EDC developed four categories that collectively defined the Commission's work plan surrounding Economic Development. The City Council was presented these items in March of 2015 and affirmed the following topic areas: • Physical Redevelopment • Business Retention & Expansion (BR&E) • Sense of Place • Housing Programs The Commission has spent considerable time on the Physical Redevelopment topic, providing recommendations and guidance to Council on all issues New Brighton Exchange. Additionally, in 2015 the Commission formulated policies surrounding BR&E and bringing in Open to Business to provide services to existing business. On March 2nd of this year, the Commission began discussing the Sense of Place theme and what that might mean for the City's economic development program. The intent with this memo, and the June 1st Commission meeting, is to attempt to build consensus surrounding 3-5 guiding principles that effectively communicate the Commission's goal of building a Sense of Place as part of New Brighton's Economic Development policies. Based on the discussion on March 2nd, staff has summarized the following issues: • Public Safety and specifically traffic calming allows people to more safety be out in the community • Creation of gathering places or destinations, whether in plaza -type environments or at a local restaurant or bar • Connection with the schools • Walkability and being mindful of what people can walk to and where crosswalks are located