05/08/2006 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Search

• • • COUNCIL MINUTES APRIL 24, 2006 DRAFT sustainable. and workable. Our "Parks, Natural Open Space / Greenways, and Trail System Flan" can be implemented and paid for largely with private development dollars. In the past vear our city staff has been asked to speak about conservation development at conferences sponsored by the Regional Greenways Collaborative. the Minnesota Recreation and Park Association, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the American Planning Association, and Minnesota Land Trust. The Pioneer Press recently reported on the Foxborough Estates conservation development in Lino Lakes. So, we now have a plan and a wav to implement that plan. We are proud of our progress. We have tools, resources and experience we did not have 10 years ago. Since 2003, the city has increased funding for trail development. We have partnered with Anoka County to provide a paved trail segment connecting the Town Center with the regional park trail system. Soon. residents will be able to get from Pheasant Hills to city hall and the YMCA via off -road trails. Anyone who has lived in this city for any length of time is aware of the years of planting this city has put into creating a "downtown" Lino Lakes. We are proud to say it is underway. and the initiative we took as a city is paying off. As the 20/20 Vision Commercial Development Group recommended, it is compatible with the environment, provides a business center, supports multiple ty3.res of zoning, and supports community activities and family values. Country inn and Suites is going up, and townhomes are going through approvals. The YMCA is holding its groundbreaking on May 10. Anoka County has selected Lino Lakes Town Center for a future regional resource library. Hampton Inn is also building on the north side of 35W, and we are getting additional users in the Target/Kohl's development. The 20/20 Commercial Development advisory group also promoted "Community Unity" through better communication between city officials and citizens. Communications with residents, I believe, continues to improve. The city received high praise for the vervpublic way that the environmental review of the 35W Corridor the AUAR) was handled before its adoption last year. Our website is filled with information and is easy to use. We learned from the recent survey that 83% of our residents read the newsletter, which is considerably higher than the none for suburban cities. We televise and replay our council and advisory board meetings on cable. Our staff is involved in the local chamber, and other local business organizations. Our recently completed city survey is a vital tool that provides insight into the residents' perceptions about the community. It was rewarding to receive such positive responses. It is also necessary and helpful to hear the negatives, and it helps us know where to focus our attention. An abbreviated summary of survey results will be in your next newsletter, and the full results will be on the city website soon. The city also plans to run a series of follow -up guest columns in the Quad. Press to provide more detail to residents regarding the survey results. We continue to work on communication with our citizens, and look forward to resident involvement in our visioning process this summer. Another 20/20 Vision .recommendation in 1996 was to monitor the adequacy of our roads and work with other agencies on hansporation issues. We all know that transportation needs and lack of funding have grown dramatically since 1996 across the metro area. We are taking aggressive action. in cooperation with. Anoka County and MN /Dot. to find ways to fund improvements at the 35W and 35E interchanges. Federal funds for 8 Formatted: Centered'.`.