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Mayor's Report February 6,1996 On January 25, I attended the open forum on Social Outcomes for Our Community as it enters the 21st century, held at the Washington county Government Center. I provided copies of the Wilder Foundation report to the Council members, the City Administrator and Planner. The report reviews five outcomes which are considered critical to the Social Health of the Bast Metro region, covering education, affordable housing, economic conditions, crime levels and health. The report measures the benchmark conditions that exist in the 1992/1995 period, so that subsequent progress towards the goals can be assessed and actions taken as necessary. January 29, 1 attended the discussion on affordable housing at the Landmark Center, featuring Curt Johnson, Chair of the Met Council and a panel drawn from Public Housing authorities of Minneapolis, St.. Paul and Dakota county, With ex St. Paul Mayor George Latimer as facilitator. It was apparent to me that the Met Council goals were being seriously viewed by the various communities. Woodbury has ordained that 20% of a new development will be on 7500 sq. ft. lots. Maple Grove has dropped all rules on home size, and has decreed that all developments should have room for rental properties. The aim was to achieve high quality housing for ALL income groups. This implies a decent unit, suitable for a household, with full support services, access to public transport, and proper neighborhoods settings (good schools, parks, and rec. facilities). Discussions related to the quantity and level of affordable housing, the prospect of decreased federal support, the ability of cities to fund affordable housing, and their lack of capacity and experience to deal with this type of housing. This is a very complex issue, and I came away with the feeling that in spite of the agreements that Cities had entered into, the implications of these desirable aims needed greater exploration and community support to ensure that a successful outcome is achieved. January 31, Councilor Conlin and I attended the Sensible Land Use Coalition meeting at the Minneapolis Convention Center. A number of outside speakers were featured from Florida, New Jersey, and Michigan, to discuss "New Urbanism". One speaker covered the seven principles of Sustainable Development: Diversification of land use, Availability of public transport, Vitality of the community, Integration of built and natural systems, Physical health, Private sector profitability and Social equity. Developers were described as playing a high risk game, where rules were set, and changed by others, who built what local government allowed and the financiers will support. "Land Costs drive the deal' Other features of Cluster developments: Relatively higher densities in the housing area. 1 Lower up front infrastructure costs.