pc-agenda-08-14-23
REGULAR MEETING AGENDA
Planning Commission meetings are being conducted in a hybrid format with in‐person and remote
options for attending, participating, and commenting. The public can make statements in this meeting
during the planned public comment sections. Some members of the Commission may attend virtually.
Members of the public may attend virtually by following instructions below.
Remote Attendance/Comment Options: Members of the public may attend this meeting by watching
on cable channel 16, streaming on CCXmedia.org, streaming via Webex, or by calling 1‐415‐655‐0001,
entering access code 2450 765 6844, and password 1234 from phones and video systems.
1. Call to Order & Land Acknowledgement
2. Approval of Agenda
3. Approval of Minutes
July 10, 2023, Regular Meeting
4. Discussion – Report on Neighborhoods
Lia Siro, Planning Intern
5. Discussion – Planning Commissioner Orientation
Jason Zimmerman, Planning Manager
– End of Televised Portion of Meeting –
To listen to this portion, please call 1‐415‐655‐0001 and enter meeting access code 2450 765 6844
6. Council Liaison Report
7. Other Business
a. Reports on Board of Zoning Appeals and Other Meetings
8. Adjournment
August 14, 2023 – 6:30 pm
Council Chambers
Hybrid Meeting
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES DRAFT
This meeting was conducted in a hybrid format with in‐person and remote options for attending,
participating, and commenting. The City used Webex to conduct this meeting and members of the
public were able to monitor the meetings by watching it on Comcast cable channel 16, by streaming it
on CCXmedia.org, or by dialing in to the public call‐in line.
1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 6:30 pm by Chair Brookins.
Roll Call
Commissioners present: A. Brookins, M. McCormick, M. Ruby, C. Segelbaum
Commissioners absent:
Staff present: Myles Campbell – Planner, Lia Siro – Planning Intern
Council Liaison: Denise La Mere‐Anderson – not present
2. Land Acknowledgement
3. Approval of Agenda
MOTION made by Commissioner Ruby, seconded by Commissioner McCormick, to approve the
agenda of July 10, 2023.
MOTION CARRIED
4. Approval of Minutes
June 12, 2023, Regular Meeting
MOTION made by Commissioner Segelbaum, seconded by Commissioner Ruby, to approve the
minutes of June 12, 2023.
MOTION CARRIED
5. Informal Public Hearing – Conditional Use Permit (CUP)
Address: 1840 Major Drive
Applicant: Jessica Roe
Request: To allow for the continued use of an existing boathouse/shed within the shoreland setback
area.
Lia Siro – Planning Intern, started with a summary of the request and said Conditional Use Permit
176 would allow for the continued use of an existing boathouse/shed within the shoreland overlay
setback from Sweeney Lake. He noted the home’s location in the City and that the home was built
prior to state or city shoreland management requirements.
July 10, 2023 – 6:30 pm
Council Chambers
Hybrid
City of Golden Valley Planning Commission Regular Meeting
July 10, 2023 – 6:30 pm
2
The applicant had a variance approved in May for deck improvements, this required additional
landscaping and either the removal or acquirement of a CUP for the boathouse in the rear yard. This
boathouse was built by the previous owner without building permits or a CUP.
Staff went on to describe the boathouse:
Built in late 2010’s
Fully within shoreland setback
Dimensions are 8’x12.5’
5 feet off the side property line
Less than 10 feet in height
Applicant hopes to keep the shed in order to use it for storage of lake and outdoors equipment
Landscaping Work
A recommended condition of the deck variance was restoration work along the shoreland
o Bid sheet from Ecologist is included in the agenda packet
Restoration would include removal of turf and invasive weeds with an herbicide safe for aquatic
use, replaced with native plant species, 20 shrubs and 2 trees.
o Would also include maintenance visits through winter of 2024
Environmental staff have reviewed the bid sheet and are supportive of the efforts to improve
the shoreland ecology
CUP Evaluation – 11 Findings and Evaluations for Review
1. Demonstrated Need – Met
2. Consistency with Comprehensive Plan – Met
3. Effect upon Property Values – Met
4. Effect on Traffic Flow and Congestion – Met
5. Effect on Population and Density – Met
6. Compliance with City’s Mixed‐Income Housing Policy – Not applicable
7. Increase in Noise; Generation of Odors, Dust, Smoke, Gas, or Vibration; Increase in Pests or
Vermin – Conditionally met
8. Visual Appearance – Conditionally met
9. Other Effects upon the General Public Health, Safety, and Welfare – Conditionally met
Recommended Action
As the proposed use meets all the factors of evaluation outlined in the City Code, staff recommends
approval of the Conditional Use Permit subject to the following conditions:
1. Applicant shall follow through with proposed shoreland restoration as described in the
provided bid sheet
2. Shed shall continue to be used solely for equipment storage
3. This approval is subject to all other state, federal, and local ordinances, regulations, or laws
with authority over this development.
City of Golden Valley Planning Commission Regular Meeting
July 10, 2023 – 6:30 pm
3
Commissioner Segelbaum noticed that the ecologist will make visits for a few years but wanted to
clarify that isn’t a condition. Myles Campbell noted that the evaluation wasn’t required but it was a
part of the bid and thus part of the application.
Chair Brookins asked if the shoreland restoration was tied to the shed and he asked what the
correlation is. Staff responded that it’s due to the visual appearance from the lake as well as to create
an ecological benefit. The shoreland setback is partly for structure maintenance but also to maintain
aesthetic. Adding the landscaping would reduce the visual impact.
Brookins followed up by noting the call out to the shed being used only for storage, and asked if uses
beyond that were allowed. Staff responded the boathouse/shed can’t be used for living space or
sanitary. Segelbaum asked if there was a way to reconcile competing restrictions, in this case the
shoreland setback restricts the lot buildability. Staff discussed the variance that was recently
approved in May and reminded the group that the home’s deck and sunroom had been approved via
variance in the 1990s. The home was built two years before Minnesota’s Shoreland Management Act
and all these pieces lead to a home being legally non‐conforming. Additionally, the code understands
that some rear yards are in these setbacks and that led to the CUP allowance so there’s reasonable
review for these cases.
Chair Brookins invited the applicant to speak.
Jessica Roe, applicant, noted the trees she’s planting to shield the boathouse from the lake view. The
applicant added that she’d prefer to replace the shed but acknowledges the restrictions and plans to
repair the shed as best she can to enhance its appearance and usability. The shoreline restoration
company will be out this year and next year to ensure compliance.
Commissioner Segelbaum asked the applicant if she’d like to rebuild the shed. The applicant
responded that she would prefer to rebuild it completely because there are holes in the shed.
However, she acknowledges the City requirements and will do what needs to happen to meet those
requirements. Commissioner Ruby asked staff if they could approve her ability to replace it while
they approve the CUP. Staff clarified that in this moment, replacing the shed isn’t allowed because
the original was build illegally, yet once the CUP is approved, the footprint is also approved. This all
means that the applicant can replace the shed in kind but can not expand. The applicant responded
she would prefer that option the most.
Chair Brookins opened the public hearing at 6:43.
Chair Brookins noted there were no Golden Valley Speaks comments left prior to the meeting and
that staff did not receive comments otherwise in advance.
Chair Brookins invited in person commenters to speak first.
There were no in person commenters.
Chair Brookins invited remote callers to speak.
There were no remote callers.
Chair Brookins closed the public comment portion at 6:45pm.
Commissioner Ruby said he was present at BZA when this item was before them, he added that the
homeowner is doing everything she can to come into compliance. He added that the group should
approve this given all the things the applicant would like to do to accommodate the city and enhance
City of Golden Valley Planning Commission Regular Meeting
July 10, 2023 – 6:30 pm
4
the area for her neighbors. Commissioner Segelbaum echoed that. Chair Brookins asked if there are
conditions around size to consider. The conversation continued on the flooring of the shed, current
foundation, allowing the applicant to expand the size, and impervious surface limitations. They
discussed adding a clause that the setbacks to the neighboring properties and lake maintain the
same, so if the size expands, it does so towards the applicant’s property.
MOTION made by Commissioner Ruby, seconded by Commissioner Segelbaum, moved to
recommend approval of the Conditional Use Permit 176 subject to the following conditions:
1. Applicant shall follow through with proposed shoreland restoration as described in the
provided bid sheet
2. Shed shall continue to be used solely for equipment storage
3. This approval is subject to all other state, federal, and local ordinances, regulations, or laws
with authority over this development.
4. To allow one extra foot in width or length, while maintaining the current setbacks to the
lake and neighbor.
MOTION CARRIED
– End of Televised Portion of Meeting –
6. Council Liaison Report
Council Member La Mere‐Anderson was not present
7. Other Business
Staff gave an update on the approvals for the zoning and subdivision actions for 208 Meander Rd and
4707 Circle Down, which were approved by the Council. Commissioners had questions on if
additional details had been provided for 208 Meander, which staff confirmed they had.
8. Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 7:00pm.
________________________________
________________________________ Secretary, Mary McCormick
Amie Kolesar, Planning Assistant
1
Date: August 14, 2023
To: Golden Valley Planning Commission
From: Lia Siro, Community Development Intern
Subject: Neighborhood Creation Assessment
Summary
The City of Golden Valley is considering pursuing the creation of neighborhoods and examining
the requirements needed pre‐creation and post‐creation. The first step would need to be
defining the City’s purpose and goals of neighborhoods. That said, this is also an opportunity to
look at the City’s community engagement tactics such as resident‐staff contact and local
organization through a critical lens, to see how neighborhoods can either further existing
relationships or cultivate new ones. The end goal is to foster an open dialogue between the City
and its residents that supports the City’s long‐range goals around community enhancement and
development.
Background
In Spring 2023, City Council made a recommendation to Planning Commission to gather more
information on the possibility of established and City‐recognized neighborhoods in Golden
Valley. Planning Commission then directed staff to evaluate the potential benefits and concerns
of neighborhoods, project process, programming details, etc.
Generally, neighborhoods are often utilized for community engagement and/or public safety.
They are a geographically localized community within a larger city, town, or suburb and have
the capacity to carry out tasks of public improvements, crime prevention, enhance civic
engagement, local asset building, etc. Incentive to establish organized neighborhoods comes
from the surrounding programs of first‐ring suburbs in the metro area.
Research
In conducting the neighborhood research, the focus turned to first‐ring suburbs on the west
side of the metro area. The following four cities were interviewed, gathering information on the
city’s neighborhoods that varied in purpose, programming, size, etc.:
Brooklyn Center: Neighborhood purpose focused on crime prevention with community
engagement from BCPD.
Brooklyn Park: Utilize neighborhoods as a census tract, therefore, citywide there are
macro neighborhoods then within macro neighborhoods are micro neighborhoods. The
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neighborhood creation process began in 2013, directly followed by city programming
and organization with city staff. The city has a Neighborhood Activity Fund reimburse
neighborhoods up to $250.00 per year to support neighborhood gatherings.
Edina: More structured neighborhood recognition process that requires a higher level of
organization within communities. Neighborhoods are used as a city vehicle for
community engagement and social building. The neighborhood creation process began
as solely naming and bounding then at a later date in 2011 revamped the program, but
staff was out of touch with neighborhood history and residents.
St. Louis Park: Neighborhoods have shifted under different department, i.e. public
safety and now community development, so focus and purpose have evolved but have
long been established. Currently, utilize neighborhoods as a communication tool and
offer a $3,000.00 neighborhood grant to support required annual neighborhood
meetings.
Evaluation
The primary benefit of establishing neighborhoods is direct communication with residents on a
local organized level from the city. Organized neighborhoods hold value as a community
engagement tool for residents and staff to strengthen city pride as a result of public
improvement programs, crime prevention, and neighborhood identity. Finally, in communities
with further developed organized neighborhoods, residents can share neighborhood practices
and ideas promoting community connectivity and leadership.
For many first‐ring suburbs, including Golden Valley, the greatest concern is the additional cost
the creation of neighborhoods incurs on the City budget. A consultant would likely be
outsourced for the creation process and require a RFQ review process by staff. Following, the
staff would be tasked with the ongoing work of community engagement as well as operating
and maintaining the neighborhood program. Staff capacity would require a minimum of half
(50%) to fully (100%) dedicated time, and unless current staff have the time and expertise to
take on the role, an additional position will need to be created.
Next Steps
If the neighborhood creation process proceeds froward, city staff would likely hire on a
consultant for the creation of neighborhoods in which staff would lay out the purpose of the
program, define the operations, list the neighborhood criteria, and any other neighborhood
considerations. This process should be a resident and community lead engagement with
consultant and staff facilitation to build neighborhood connectivity through neighbor‐to‐
neighbor interactions. The consultant may form a Neighborhood Committee, Taskforce, or
Team as a formal organized group for staff involvement in the process.
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Once the creation process is up and running, the first task would be a citywide
survey/evaluation of resident identified neighborhoods and boundaries so that they can be
reviewed, and a drafted map prepared. This inventory might include information about
residential demographic, existing community assets and HOAs, etc., of each identified
neighborhood. Following tasks would be community engagement focused with neighborhood
meetings that may include resident questionaries, boundary surveys, neighborhood naming,
community feedback, etc.
After neighborhood community engagement was completed, ranging from ten to twelve
months, consultant and staff would finalize a map for first community approval then to the
Planning Commission and/or City Council for final approval and City recognition.
Questions to Planning Commission
1. How are different stakeholders affected with organized neighborhoods, e.g. residents,
city staff, developers, etc.?
2. What are current disparities in Golden Valley communities? How might neighborhoods
either exacerbate gaps in communities or mend and build relationships?
3. What power dynamics may occur due to the creation of neighborhoods? What
inequities may arise?
4. What role do neighborhoods play in working towards the goals of the City’s 2040
Comprehensive Plan? Or in the creation of the 2050 plan?
Attachments
General Research (10 pages)
Meeting Notes (7 pages)
Neighborhood Analysis (2 pages)
Golden Valley
Purpose and Goals
• Email list, communication and target communication
• Community Engagement Organization
• Summarize Findings, Costs and Financing (now and future)
Financing
• Consultant Fee: create, bound, name
• Communication After, Admin/Yearly: pay or absorb, salary budget
• Neighborhood Grant: yearly budget, department, public funds for private use
• Park Insurance and Liability requirements: small and parge pavilion.
Parks & Rec Brookview Park Pavillion Rental, Large and Small Picnic Pa vilion.
• Fee: Resident, Non-resident, Beer/Wine Permit (only available with pavilion rental),
Portable Recreational Equipment (inflatable, dunk tank, etc.), Damage and Use
Guideline Compliance Deposit
• Event Liability Insurnace: The League of Minnesota Cities offers a program called
GatherGuard, an event liability insurance program which allows individual hosts and
groups to protect themselves and their guests at events held at city-owned facilities. For
information on GatherGuard, please see GatherGuard Information.
St. Louis Park
Michael Sund, Civic Engagement Coordinator
JUNE 29, 2023
SLP Neighborhoods Site
Past Neighborhood Process Establishing Boundaries and Defined Areas + Naming
• GV will hire consultant to name and bound neighborhoods
• Community Development, Organization, and Involvement
Established neighborhoods of history
• Major roads, smaller than mpls, park names/street names
Neighborhood size
Current Neighborhood Organization
• Neighborhood Revitalization Commission
• Purpose, Role, Funding, Organization, Community Involvement
• Neighborhoods signs, Neighborhood Uniqueness (similar size and color with identifying
features)
• Neighborhood Pride, Cohesion
• Block Caption Program – Night out events, NAs organized and community feeling at block level
• Physical boundaries are historic but density as evolved
• Same access to funds but more residents
• Edina: Inform within neighborhood boundaries
What can redo
• Elections and redistricts – equity analysis to redistribute funds
• Invites neighborhood, size that shows up doesn’t overwhelm you
• Increase equity in neighborhood, what is goal of leader and neighborhood
• Race inequity for grant submission, leaders who submitted. All white.
• Talk to residents to see.
• Reshape precinct and ward boundaries, required, reduced precinct number
• Multi-family houses
• Ambherst is only townhomes – do not recommend homeowners association (3,000)
• Neighborhoods skew
• Neighborhood Communication Use, neighborhood doesn’t have vote or control, neighborhoods
might have power but no say in development
• Political influence from neighborhoods, engagement and input but not formal
• Initial in Boundaries for Future: Aquila Mixed Family
• Single Family Organizational work and Multi-Family Community Development Work
• Not Neighborhoods too big so people feel included in whole neighbors not just building
or block identifying
• HOA and funding: City Attorney look over!! Housing Authority (slp- tax dollars, housing rehab,
1/8 of bonds sold and interest, revenue from bonds)
• Population, $1 per person. Specific grants with limited amount. What are grant dollars
being used for and really clear and tight. Start small and getting bigger.
• General fund versus, admission budget. Community Engagement tool
• Today not typical for Government pay for events and parties, parades
• Neighborhood Revitalization for public improvement
• Opinion from state auditor cannot fund public parade
• Limit public expeditor: news letters, etc.
• Insurance for events in park, parks and rec
• Control costs, compensated volunteers, cannot protect personal property
• Max money and funding for organized neighborhoods, annual government
• Total budget of 40-50K, 13-14 neighborhoods apply, max $3,000
• Tax dollar use
• Orlanda NUSA. Leadership development program, combat inequity, funding and organization,
build internal civic capacity
• Neighborhood Nonprofit, mpls: Golden Valley Foundation
• Assist Neighborhoods
• Goal of Neighbors and Development Future
• Equity and civic engagement and community capacity.
• CommunityPD, turned to community safety work more closely with community
outreach officer.
• Watch program and block officer
• Cross developmental is key. DEI into community organizer
• Admin. To know other departments
• Purpose and Goals.
• Support neighbors and need for significant amount of staff time
• Quarter of time of Michael. Assistant and specialist who can dedicate time, 50% of job is
neighborhood
• Offer to public and need staff to be actively engaged and respond
• Connection with City then with the public
• Purpose of consultant. Create and finalize or community engagement
• Brooklyn Park. Josie, community engagement. Contiguous for renaming and boundaries.
• Dance with bear, dancing with the bear till they no longer.
• Take step into neighborhoods.
Follow-Up Financing
• Consultant Fee: create, bound, name
• Communication After, Admin/Yearly: pay or absorb, salary budget
• Neighborhood Grant: yearly budget
Roseville
Neighborhood Enhancement Program
Roseville Neighborhood Site
NEP Purpose
• Opportunity to inform property owners about specific City regulations and encourage routine
maintenance [what maintenance – infrastructure] before a problem becomes more severe and
costly to fix.
• Staff [who is staff] works with property owners to remedy any violations.
• Since 2008, the City annually visits more than 4,600 properties [what are they doing on visits –
inspections, code, maintenance]
• Neighborhood Watch & Neighborhood Crime Prevention
• Neighborhood & Neighborhood Association Task Force (2015)
Edina
MJ Lamon, Community Engagement Director
JULY 14, 2023
Edina Neighborhoods Site
Neighborhood engagement is a vehicle for community and social building [purpose of Edina
neighborhoods?].
IADp2: community engagement structure, public participation
• BP: larger in nature
• Edina: stricter structure, “red tape” from neighborhoods
• Outreach and engagement, community members connect with one another and city. Included in
projects. Asset based community development, abc, neighborhoods serve as connection from
individuals to city. Parks and Rec, community foundation separate nonprofit, how does PR
handle liability
• Cultural engagement and renters' connection.
• 45 neighborhoods, not all organized and recognized, a lot of sqft size of the city
• Industry neighborhoods, ploy to development and drive out residents with
property values
• MJ position to
• Neighborhoods tasks force to create neighborhood, yearl ong process, create
program, feet on the street, community input “everyone belongs to a
neighborhood regardless of participation,” some funky lines to neighborhood
• Neighborhood process set up exclusion feeling of homeowners versus
neighborhood association.
• Multi-family connected within unit but not greater neighborhood.
• Diversity challenges and culture to specific neighborhood
• Neighborhoods rally around common space, successful neighborhoods tend to
have parks
• 200-3,000 populations range on parcel
• Send mailer to boundaries to community talk and engagement. Draft set of by laws.
Neighborhood board. By law requirements: anti-discrimination, hear to name and
boundary, annual gathering, transfer leadership, primary contact on city file
• Don’t rally around development, organized around opposition fizzles out.
Neighborhoods are meant for neighbor to neighbor.
• City Benefits: city space for free, city printing, direct city communication, request
speaker, crime prevention fund [police funding] PD and parks and rec staff, assigned
neighborhood engagement officer (contact info to pd, only as effective as city pd)
• Communicating and Public Notice to developers. Developers highly encouraged to meet
with neighborhoods, if not, city council tends to say no.
• Intended to be in community development went to Administration
What can neighborhoods do?
Neighborhood associations foster communication by:
• Distributing information so that residents can make informed decisions
• Enable two-way communication between neighborhoods and city government
• Create smaller venues for interactions
Neighborhood associations also build community through cooperative action by:
• Organize voluntary projects based on community interests
• Support other City programs such as Adopt-a-Park, Neighborhood Watch and Night to Unite
• Promote social activities [there is no way funding at this time, how can promote social
activities without city funding]
• Ensure neighborhood safety and security
• Annual Workshop – the City will coordinate an annual workshop for the recognized
Neighborhood Associations to share ideas and best practices. [how has this gone]
• Annual meeting, Neighborhood master mind, meet monthly, outside city involvement
Full-time job. Doesn't have to be, but what’s going to be added on; events, outreach, etc.
Edina created closed it off then opened it back up. 2012 neighborhood creation and recommunication.
• Out touch with history and why it is the way it is. Hard to make connection with historical
context, starting ground would be leg up and encourage them to recognize. Person that’s going
to run it should be a part of creation. Starting up takes a lot of time then operational is less. City
administration.
• Building capacity outside city mandates.
• Neighborhood identification and signs
Seed money with an equity lens, with city money
Questions
• Purpose of Edina neighborhoods: Community Development and/or Public Safety
• Liability Insurance: Reserving government space (City Hall, Senior Center and Ameson Acres),
reserve a park, and reserve a picnic shelter
• Funding / Neighborhood Support
Brooklyn Park
Josie Shardlow, Community Engagement Manager
JULY, 17 2023
Brooklyn Park Neighborhoods Site
• Where is funding coming from: general funds
• $250 for a limited number of neighborhood projects per year [why $250, totally money
annually the city can give, pay vendors, event insurance]
• Neighborhood Activity Fund: stakeholders for neighborhoods, prevent nimby, macro /
micro neighborhoods (apartment communities, crime watch, homeowners)
• Neighborhood wide event, invite whole macro neighborhood. Geographic specific
“neighborhood” grant, “neighborhoods” self-define
• Same amount for ten years. [who applies], lower fund so city manager doesn’t have to
sign off, “reimbursement fund”
• Southern BP: “lower income” neighborhood groups [prevent neighborhoods in
neighborhoods]
• ARP funds, separate initiatives for inequity
• Goal of neighborhoods for size, drive policy and census tract, large city
• Know name of neighborhoods, know identity and pride of neighborhoods, build
neighborhood leadership. Diversity culture and diversity index in
neighborhoods. Neighborhood capacity with neighborhood panel to share best
practices.
• Doorknob panel with fill-in-the-blank. Better understand neighborhood
gathering. City facilitates neighborhood connections.
• Adopt a park program:
• Number of Neighborhoods / Number of organized and recognized neighborhoods
• 2013 Neighborhood relations specialist
• Community engagement initiative, neighborhood team and committee
• Opt-in survey, big survey with few questions. What do you like currently and how do
you currently define neighborhoods
• Neighborhood taskforce, crime watch, council members, reps from different groups
• Residents identify names and bounds, resident and community lead
• Post Cards to invite to “community café". One in person event per council member.
Blank maps with facilitators, walk dog where do you go, schools and parks
• Draft map then surveys after, then community input. Can't walk along drafted
boundaries. Council finalize, accept map not approve yet. Consensus with neighborhood
[undeveloped neighborhoods, “future neighborhoods”]
• Neighborhood connectivity, positive identity and “branding”, neighborhood pride not
good or bad areas
• Nextdoor recognize neighborhoods, communication capacity
• Gov delivery emails, sign up for email notification with geographic specific: development
occurring etc.
• Cityview GIS mapping, inspectors and assessors etc. Districts and zones follow
neighborhood lines. Neighborhood overlay with demographics, income etc.
• Undeveloped properties, no name communities. [commercial, industrial,
neighborhoods]
• Community Goals 2025: “united community, beautiful places, thriving economy, healthy and
safe people, increased equity and effective, engagement government”
• Share the successes of your project: [how]
• New Connect Program:
• Neighborhood Watch: [create subdivisions in neighborhoods? Block watch / captains, “10-15
houses”]
• Timeline of creation, stop and stop.
• Depends on goals of neighborhood. Is it about people and leaders in neighborhood.
What do you want neighborhood leaders to do. Involvement.
• HOA annual workshop, new connect program, neighborhood garage sale, etc. Connect
and empower neighborhoods, not focuses on neighborhood bounds and names.
• Engagement and Crime Watch: issue with crime prevention, older white residents as
crime captain.
• Nimby: over-involved residents, can’t wholly represent neighborhoods
• City Funding: clear vision for neighborhoods. Neighborhood council requires incentive
for involvement. Mayor and city council, how do they use and view neighborhoods
• Signs: inequity.
• Staff: 2013-2014, year-ish to create, full-time staff. Enough time for engagement. Full-
time staff recommended for neighborhood organization capacity. Call to complain about
neighborhoods. Proactively connect with renters with neighborhood specialist and
inspectors. Administration.
• CAP ac. MPP, program evaluation.
• Neighborhoods USA. Welcoming America.
• Memo form.
Brooklyn Center
Armando Oster, Community Engagement Specialist
JULY 17, 2023
Brooklyn Center Neighborhoods Site
• Neighborhoods for Crime Prevention:
• Split between departments, watch captains with community engagement.
• Separate between community engagement and PD, neighborhood meetings every 3
years in-person with all 17 distinct neighborhoods (combined two business districts)
• Canvas for apartments, business owners
• Break down neighborhoods, 3 groups. Provide food trucks to promote businesses
• [Who invite] 10% of single-family housing attend events, engage younger populations,
55+ attendants. Frequency of meetings to determine involvement
• Communities' meetings with staff department heads, provide basic update and info to
residents. Go through communities and districts to cycle through engagement and
involvement / organization. Questions at the end from presentations, answer in person
or follow up later.
• Community engagement across departments.
• Neighborhood recognize:
• Funding for Creation and Now
• Process and Timeline
• Neighborhood Size
• Equity and Community Engagement
• Email Armando back with questions for Community Development
Golden Valley Neighborhood
Purpose and Goals
• Community Engagement and Organization
• Email list for communication and target communication
Financial Considerations
• Consultant Fee: create, bound, name
• Communication Post-Creation: admin/yearly fee, department absorb, salary budget
• Neighborhood Grant: yearly budget, departmental funds, public funds for private use
Neighborhood Pros
☺ Neighborhood Communication: Create neighborhoods that are sized proportionally so if you
invite the entire neighborhood the crowd that shows up doesn’t overwhelm you.
Neighborhoods should know entire neighborhoods, otherwise there are subdivisions and
separations within one single neighborhoods.
☺ Community Engagement Tool: Engagement on a local level, block to block, neighborhood
organization, events, newsletters, etc., that keep residents engaged and committed to the
community. Often, neighborhood have greeting committees to new residents, working to
actively involve every resident.
☺ Neighborhood Identity & Pride: Greater connection to community with a labeled identity,
neighborhood pride and community support.
☺ Public Improvements and Programs: Neighborhood engagement can revitalize areas through
public improvements such as trash clean up, neighborhood garage sales, neighborhood signs,
etc. Additionally, neighborhood programs like adopt-a-park, night to unite and leadership
programs for neighborhood leaders.
☺ Crime Prevention and Watch: Create safer communities and be proactive about crime, let
criminals know that you are committed to keeping your neighborhood safe. Greater
communication with GVPD and CommunityPD with community outreach officers / block
captains, that helps keep neighbors informed and area of crime rates in the city.
☺ Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Neighborhood engagement should be cross developmental,
working with community organizers and city staff as an administrative position with the ability
to work across departments.
☺ City Communication: A direct line of communication to neighborhoods on a local organized
level from the city, to notify of development, emergencies, crime, etc.
☺ Neighborhood Leadership: Key residents who are able to share city information, updates, etc.,
with their community. The city should define what role neighborhood leaders are to the city.
Neighborhood Cons
Inequitable Development: Periodic equity analysis to redistribute funds, elections and redistrict.
Creation of neighborhood needs to be sized and proportioned conscious to any inequities,
current and future, to any proposed development in the city. Be conscious of creating
boundaries in single-family residential and multi-family residential, getting community input but
also not relying solely on block or building identity.
Neighborhood Influence: Easier organization opposing developments with greater involvement
and more sway in developments. One voice in opposition may speak louder than multiple in
support and acts for entire neighborhood.
NIMBY: Neighborhoods that organize and rally around a development tend to fizzle out after
development controversy comes and goes.
HOAs and Funding: Public funds for private use, requires City Attorney to look over, define
financial use and limit public expeditors. The city should have a clear vision for neighborhood
funding, how does the mayor, city council and city manager view neighborhoods and
neighborhood capacity.
Insurance and Liability: Insurance requirements for neighborhood events in public areas, e.g.,
parks, and liability concerns along with coverage costs. Define insurance requirements and
coverage, i.e., city requirements for insurance exclude private property at residential homes,
control costs for neighborhood funding.
Homeowners Association: Not recommended, but used for townhomes and tends to skew
neighborhoods. Higher density and concentrated population in a smaller area.
Staff Capacity: To support neighbors and their neighborhoods requires significant staff time,
need a staff member who can spend 50%-100% of their time dedicated to neighborhood work,
with more work at the beginning to start program and less operational work to maintain. If you
offer this public service, then you need a staff member who can continually and actively be
engaged, responsive and connect with residents.
Historical Context: Closing off neighborhood engagement after creation and reopening later is
possible, but staff loses historical context to neighborhoods along momentum to creating
organized recognized neighborhoods with residents that are involved in the beginning. The
person that is going to be running neighborhood programming should be part of the creation
process and community engagement.
Neighborhood Staff: Administrative Services
Community and Economic Development Department
Programs
• Neighborhood Revitalization Commission
• Neighborhood Enhancement Program (NEP)
• iLead Neighborhood Leader Training
Staff
• Community Engagement Manager
• Community Engagement Specialist
• Community Mediation Services
• Community Relations Manager
• Elections and Civic Engagement Coordinator
• Neighborhood Relations Specialist
Police, Programs & Services Department / Public Safety
Programs
• Block Captain Program
• Night to Unite
• Neighborhood Watch
• Neighborhood Crime Prevention
Staff
• Community Relations Manager
• Crime Prevention
1
Date: August 14, 2023
To: Golden Valley Planning Commission
From: Jason Zimmerman, Planning Manager
Subject: Planning Commissioner Orientation
Summary
With new members joining the Planning Commission, staff will provide a presentation and
discussion around Commissioner roles, responsibilities, and expectations, including an overview
of the different types of applications that are typically heard by the Planning Commission.