As the CRA Board is aware, Stantec has been actively engaged in an Update to the Community Redevelopment Plan (Update) since summer 2022 pursuant to a scope of services which included the following items.

• Kick Off
• Document Review & Assessment
• Public Involvement
• Evaluate CRA District Boundary Map
• Vision and Goals, Objectives, and Policies
• Five Year Capital and Operating Budget, and Funding Sources
• Grant Programs
• Economic Development Incentives
• Redevelopment Plan
  
  

At the Board’s meeting of March 19, 2024, Stantec, Staff, and the Board began a discussion regarding the work to date, which includes: studying relevant past planning efforts, especially the previous versions of the Community Redevelopment Plan; incorporating community input; recognizing the many accomplishments to date; and drafting the preliminary statement of Vision, Goals, Objectives, and Specific Strategic Priorities for your consideration.  The meeting of March 28, 2024, provides us with the opportunity to continue this discussion, and it is hoped that the Board will see fit to provide our team with policy guidance and direction on:

• The Vision.
• Goals and Objectives.
• Specific Strategic Priorities.

• Completing a Finding of Necessity Study for the Leisure and Van Doren Area.

With this end in mind, staff will make an introductory presentation and then turn over facilitation of the meeting to Stantec, who is expected to guide the Board through a detailed discussion of Draft #2 of the Vision, Goals, Objectives, and Specific Strategic Priorities.  Please know that we would be grateful for your guidance on additions, deletions, and other desired modifications, and we will take the meeting subject matter item by item in order to encourage active discussion and ideation.  

We think it is fair to say that we want this effort to lead to the adoption and implementation of a good plan or, even better, a great one.  Accordingly, in addition to incorporating the Board’s feedback to date into the attached Draft #2 of the proposed Vision, Goals, Objectives, and Specific Strategic Priorities, staff has also inserted comments on what makes for a good plan and a good vision statement.