HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes i�
��tJV�
�ri°t �
y � ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
���� �ri e ar�d PC�� t
MINUTES
COTTAGE GROVE CITY COUNCIL September 20, 2017
COUNCIL CHAMBER
12800 RAVINE PARKWAY SOUTH
SPECIAL MEETING - 6:00 P.M. - ST. CROIX CONFERENCE ROOM
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Bailey called the Special Meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
City Administrator Charlene Stevens asked that everyone introduce themselves.
Present were: Rebecca Ryan, Next Generation Consulting; Sharon Madsen,
Communications Coordinator; Bart Fischer, resident and member of the Task Force;
Lisa Maxwell, resident and member of the Task Force; Council Member Wayne
Johnson; Council Member Steve Dennis; Mayor Myron Bailey; Council Member Dave
Thiede; Robin Roland, Finance Director; Katie Nelson, South Washington County
Bulletin; Council Member La Rae Mills; Joe Kovarik, resident and member of the Task
Force; Joe Fischbach, HR Manager/City Clerk; Jess Davison, resident and member of
the Task Force; Craig Woolery, Public Safety Director; Becky Alvin, Management
Assistant; Regina Boston, resident and member of the Task Force.
3. AGENDA ITEM
A. Workshop: My Future Cottage Grove Report
Staff Recommendation: Receive the My Future Cottage Grove Report.
Rebecca Ryan stated that when she wrote this document she had three audiences in
mind: the general public, the City Council, and City staff. She indicated the
recommendations came from residents' input, and they received 3,729 total community
comments. Ms. Ryan reviewed the methods used to gather input, including two Town
Hall meetings (with 12-15 attendees), as well as a Facebook Live event, where they had
received many more comments. The online survey gave them demographic results,
which helped to drive the recommendations. There was also a question of the week on
Facebook and chalkboards that were placed throughout the City, on which residents
wrote comments. There were two special focus groups; one with senior citizens and
another with high school students.
Ms. Ryan stated it was very clear that the City was at a turning point in the minds of the
residents; Cottage Grove is a City that's growing and has more and more going on.
CITY OF COTTAGE GROVE • 12800 Ravine Parkway • Cottage Grove, Minnesota 55016
www.cottage-grove.org • 651-458-2800 • Fax 651-458-2897 • Equal Opportunity Employer
City Council Meeting Minutes
September 20, 2017
Page 2
She hoped that this process will help the Council and City staff on how they think about
growth. There were three main themes that surfaced with this project: Retail,
Recreation, and Housing. Amenities residents wanted included local restaurants.
Recreation wants included more bike paths and a Community Center, with or without a
pool. Two housing themes were affordable rentals and senior housing options.
Four subgroups were looked at closely: 1) Residents over age 55; 2) Families with
school-age children; 3) Young people without children; 4) Promoters, those who really
love the Cottage Grove community. Ms. Ryan reviewed the preferences of each group,
which included more local and chain restaurants, a Community Center with a pool,
fewer bike paths or more bike paths, and moderate-size housing.
Interestingly, fewer promoters of Cottage Grove are married with children; Ms. Ryan
stated she felt that spoke to the changing nature of Cottage Grove. Promoters are
empty nesters who want to stay here while some promoters are moving here for choices
beyond the schools; she felt that was a nice surprise. Council Members felt it would be
helpful for Ms. Ryan to pull out the ages of the survey's highest promoters.
Ms. Ryan stated the Task Force had four trend teams: Resource Trends, Technology
Trends, Demographic Trends, and Governance Trends. Task Force members read
about 44 trends that are likely to affect cities; they prioritized those trends based on how
much of an impact they felt this could have on Cottage Grove and the certainty that it
would happen. Some Resource Trends that can have the most impact on the City are
water availability and air quality; Technology Trends that can have the most impact are
an energy grid failure, digital citizenship, nanotechnology, and telehealth. Ms. Ryan felt
these trend rankings could be used as a communication tool for the City to inform
citizens of what plans for these trends already exist. Demographic Trends include an
aging population and also rural versus urban living. Governance Trends indicate trust in
local government is back to where it was, although trust in Federal government
continues to slide. Residents like having more of a direct say in how decisions are
made with remote participation (Facebook Live).
The recommendations include:
1) A Community Center, with a pool or without; the demographic results show that
every population group favors one.
2) Engage young people, as they feel that they're not necessarily being reflected in
Cottage Grove.
3) Ambitiously renovate and promote Settler's Island.
4) Housing mix options, including more rentals, and affordable housing for seniors
and empty nesters.
5) Pedestrian safety and the connection of the parks and trails to each other and to
neighborhoods.
6) Citizen engagement, especially via online technology.
7) Retail, both stores and restaurants. Encourage citizen engagement for
strengthening the retail mix in Cottage Grove.
City Council Meeting Minutes
September 20, 2017
Page 3
Areas of higher-density housing are favored, which can sometimes be affordable
housing; however, those can be construed as being for Hispanics, African-Americans,
Latinos, etc. The City needs to guard against those connotations, as that's not what
higher density means; it means walkability, good land use with less shoveling, less
plowing, etc. than single-family homes on large lots.
Mayor Bailey stated the Community Center has always been front and center, but
financial questions exist regarding how much citizens want to pay for that.
Ms. Ryan thanked the City staff for all of their assistance and support throughout this
project.
The Task Force members were asked if they wanted to add anything; one member
stated he'd lived here for many years. He stated at first there weren't many businesses
or services in Cottage Grove so they'd have to travel to other cities to see a doctor or
dentist. He stated the Task Force members were glad they did this; they hoped the
information obtained will assist the Council and staff in making decisions for the City.
The Task Force members were thanked for taking the time to serve the community.
4. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 6:56 p.m.
Minutes prepared by Judy Graf and reviewed by Joe Fischbach, HR Manager/City Clerk