031300 CC WS 1 Min
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CITY OF SHOREWOOD
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
MONDAY, MARCH 13,2000
5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
5:30 P.M.
MINUTES
1. CONVENE WORK SESSION MEETING
Mayor Love called the meeting to order at 5:30 P.M.
A. Roll Call
Present: Mayor Love, Councilmembers Garfunkel, Lizee, and Zerby; Finance
Director Rolek; Planning Director Nielsen; Public Works
Director/Engineer Brown, Attorney Keane, Deputy Clerk Panchyshyn,
Planning Commissioners Anderson, Bailey, Bix, and Woodruff, Park
Commissioners Puzak, and Themig
Absent: Councilmember Stover
B. Review Agenda
2.
PRESENTATION ON STRATEGIC PLANNING BY GAIL DORFMAN AND
CHARLIE MEYER
Hennepin County Commissioner Gail Dorfman, formerly Mayor of St. Louis Park, and Charlie
Meyer, City Manager for St. Louis Park, were present to meet with Council, Commissions, and
Staff to discuss strategic planning practices utilized in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. They provided
background on St. Louis Park's visioning process.
They explained the process began approximately five years ago. It included members of the
school district, City staff, City officials, and the business community. Input was solicited from
the community by means of a survey, which was used to establish focus groups. A vision task
force was also developed. Recommendations were narrowed down to eight major elements,
which were routed to the residents of St. Louis Park, the school district, and the business
community. Once the vision was developed, strategic plans were completed for each of the eight
elements, for example-housing. Staff was directed to implement the strategic plans. Currently,
staff are working on outcomes for these strategic plans. A booklet was ultimately sent to all
residents. Staff and council worked together throughout the process.
Shorewood City Council members,.as well as Park and Planning Commissioners, discussed and
questioned Ms. Dorfman and Mr. Meyer about the strategic planning process. Below are the
responses to those questions and highlights of this discussion.
Orientations about the vision process are conducted for new members of the task forces as well
as new staff.
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING MINUTES
Monday, March 13,2000. Page 2
Survey questions were developed by Decision Resources, Inc. It was recommended they be
contacted about developing survey questions should Shorewood pursue this process.
More than one facilitator is helpful in the process.
When in doubt trust the process!
Be prepared for the survey process to provide brutally honest answers to questions.
Process was designed and explained honestly to public as being something new that the City was
trying, and it is up to citizens to step forward and be part of it.
The survey also gives a place to start. For example, in a large redevelopment process, people are
not always going to be supportive of the idea. With the strategic planning process and surveys, it
can be explained. "There was a process begun some years ago for this development process, you
may not have been a part of it, but this is what has been determined by the community as being
needed."
Rather than working from a timeframe perspective, work from a 'what you would like to see
different from today' perspective.
The decision to implement the recommendations from the eight task forces becomes the choice
of the City Council. It is a different process of doing business; there are more people involved in
it.
Using the process has changed the context of the Comprehensive Plan. There is also ongoing
feedback with the community through newsletters, etc.
When sharing services with other cities, it can be viewed as advantageous to bring in the
surrounding communities in terms of allowing the potential to work with more money. For
example, St. Louis Park cited difficulties in transit. They contacted the Metropolitan Council for
help because they were working with more than one agency in transit for their City.
Keep in mind the process is a tool that can be used at any level. In undergoing change, it can be
the right time to utilize it. It does depend on how much change is wanted. The survey may tell
that the community likes things as they are and is not interested in change.
In prioritizing recommendations that came from the survey and task forces, limit the process to a
certain number of recommendations-Example, three areas and 10 recommendations vs.
St. Louis Park's eight areas and 319 recommendations-too daunting.
The task forces are allowed to add information from the survey.
"Remember if you teach the bear to dance, you have to be willing to dance with the bear until he
is through". Meaning if you give away control or discipline as part of the process you have to be
willing to go where your information from your community takes you.
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING MINUTES
Monday, March 13, 2000 . Page 3
3. ADJOURNMENT
Lizee moved, Zerby seconded, adjourning the work session at 6:42 P.M. Motion passed
4/0.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED.
Sally Keefe,
Recording Secretary
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TING CITY ADMINISTRATOR