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gi . 4Item No. Staff Report No.fij—1 99 2 2,(.1 S Meeting Date:3/3/97 Type of Business:Work Session WK::Work Session;PH:Public Hearing; II CA:Consent Agenda;CB:Council Business CI of Mounds View Staff Report To: Mayor and City Council From: Pamela Sheldon,Community Development Director Item Title/Subject: Proposed Cooperative Project with University of Minnesota Re: Highway 10 Corridor Date of Report: February 27, 1997 Summary: Staff from the University of Minnesota's Design Center for the American Urban Landscape have contacted us regarding a design course they are proposing to offer on issues facing first ring suburbs. They expect to invite Mounds View to be one of four to six cities which will participate in this course. In the case of Mounds View,the Design Center has suggested that the Highway 10 Corridor be used as a"focus issue". A description of the course is attached. No commitment of financial resources is required to participate,other than funds for copying and distribution of materials. The largest community commitment will be in staff time. Both the Economic Development and Community Development Departments see significant benefits which could be gained from participating in this project. Background: The Design Center for the American Urban Landscape is proposing to offer an intensive, six-week • course for city officials and staff in issues facing first ring suburbs. The course will focus on four to six cities, each of which has a particular issue which is common to many suburbs built in the post-war era. The goal is to create a community team, which would include elected officials, citizen activists, business people, and staff. The community team would work together with University faculty and experts that they have available to develop strategies and creative solutions for dealing with the"focus issue". There would be sessions both at the University and in the community. The Design Center expects to send an invitation to Mounds View to participate in this project, with the Highway 10 corridor being our focus issue. The advantage to the City is that we would have access to resources which otherwise would not be available, and attention would be given to a key element in the City's fabric. The expertise available through the University will help in developing an overall plan for the Highway 10 corridor. Cathy Bennett,the City's Economic Development Director has been talking with the Design Center for the last two years about using Highway 10 as a study area. In part,this course represents a fruition of that effort. Recommendation: Because participation involves a commitment of time from community members and staff,we wanted to alert the City Council to this project and the anticipated invitation from the Design Center. Staff recommends that Mounds View accept the invitation to participate in this project as one of the six cities selected to be a part of"Metropolitan Livable Communities Design Course." Staff support would be provided by both the Economic Development and Community Development Departments. 1!l i ,,A,t _,'A- tt a,/fLo—Y ______-_ cc: Cathy Bennett Pamela Sheldon, Community Development Director Carol Swenson,Design Center 4110 N:\DATA\USERS\PAMS\SHARE\SPECPROJ\SP015.97\3-3-97.SR