06-11-24 City Council and Planning Commission Special Joint Work Session Agenda June 11, 2024 — 6:30 PM
Council Conference Room
Hybrid Meeting
1.Downtown Golden Valley User Experience Framework (also known as a
Streetscape/Wayfinding Improvement Plan)
JOINT WORK SESSION AGENDA
City Council and Planning Commission
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Discussion Item(s)
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Council.
City of Golden Valley Joint Work Session June 11, 2024 — 6:30 PM
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Community Development
763-512-2345 / 763-512-2344 (fax)
Golden Valley City Council Work Session
June 11, 2024
Agenda Item
1. Downtown Golden Valley User Experience Framework (also known as a Streetscape/Wayfinding
Improvement Plan)
Prepared By
Alma Flores, Community Development Director
Christine Costello, Housing and Economic Development Manager
Summary
On December 19, 2023 the City Council approved the Hennepin County Planning Grant through the
Business Development Initiative Fund to help fund the Streetscape Improvement and Wayfinding
Systems Plan. Hennepin County offers funding to municipalities to support long-range planning
studies. The City of Golden Valley's Community Development Director commissioned this study to help
the City understand the impacts of redevelopment and revitalization efforts on our streetscape and
the need for signage to direct users of the downtown to key assets. This work builds off previous
studies, such as the 3-phase downtown redevelopment study completed in 2021 and the 2018 Urban
Land Institute Golden Valley Downtown West plan. This effort will examine how the City should
improve downtown at the pedestrian level. The City of Golden Valley is working to create a User
Experience Framework that enhances the character, circulation, accessibility, and redevelopment
possibilities of the downtown area. In 2021, the City published a study of existing conditions in the
downtown area. While this study identified potential redevelopment patterns and land uses for
downtown, the User Experience Framework will take the next step towards redevelopment and re-
thinking of the streetscape. Wayfinding design can improve circulation and access in the area. The
project will identify and analyze existing downtown facilities, engage with the public to provide
equitable and accessible input opportunities, highlight market gaps and use spatial modeling to
determine development feasibility. The consultants will provide the City with access and circulation
plans, streetscape and wayfinding guides, conceptual design standards, and a phasing plan for short to
long term implementation.
Of particular interest is the community engagement effort that will drive the future planning of the
streetscape, gateway entrances, and signage to direct visitors, residents, and other interested
stakeholders through our downtown. The final product will be in the form of a report that covers
existing conditions, best practices and recommendations, as well as a broad engagement process that
connects the plan with local business and resident interests. It will also serve as a basis for capital
improvement planning and budgeting.
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Project Timeline
Existing Conditions Review: April – May 2024
Engagement: June – September 2024
Joint City Council/Planning Commission work session June 11th
Various Community Events (i.e. Pride, Market in the Valley, Public Safety Open House,
etc.)
Market Gap Analysis: April – June 2024
Development Test Fits: May – July 2024
Public Realm Study: June – September 2024
Phasing and Implementation: September – October 2024
Final Report: October 2024
Community Collaboration
This project is intended to be a collaborative visioning effort with the community and will rely heavily
on feedback from the public. The City is interested in gathering input from a diverse range of
community members and stakeholders to understand the existing user experience of downtown
Golden Valley. Public engagement for this project will help identify important destinations and
amenities, issues with access and circulation, and opportunities for improving the future user
experience of the downtown area.
Engagement Opportunities
The City of Golden Valley is providing several opportunities for the public to engage with this project
throughout its duration. Staff and the consultants will be sure to hold community touch points during
times that do not conflict with City Council meetings, whenever possible. Please review the draft
community engagement summary attached.
Financial or Budget Considerations
Currently budgeted for in the Capital Improvement Plan for downtown revitalization efforts. The
apportioned cost to the City is $35,000 of the $85,000 contract. The Hennepin County Grant is applied
to the difference of the total cost.
Legal Considerations
Not applicable at this time.
Equity Considerations
Access and transparency are critical to this project. All program flyers will be translated into Spanish
and Russian and every effort to engage with marginalized populations will be adhered to. The City's
public engagement specialist is part of our internal project team.
Recommended Action
Listen to a presentation by the Consultants at Van Meter Williams Pollack and Toole Design on the
development of the Downtown Golden Valley User Experience Framework, sometimes referred to as
the Streetscape Improvement Plan/Wayfinding Systems Plan.
Supporting Documents
DRAFT Golden Valley Public Engagement Plan
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MEMORANDUM
June 4, 2024May 28, 2024
To: Alma Flores
Organization: City of Golden Valley
From: Jaz Warren and Noah Halbach, Toole Design
Project: Downtown Golden Valley User Experience Framework
Re: Public Engagement Plan
Overview
Resident and stakeholder input and support is a vital piece of any project, plan, or program. It allows project
teams to gather critical insight from community members who offer valuable local knowledge and insight.
Engagement for this project will help the project team form an understanding of the current user experience in
Downtown Golden Valley and develop a vision for the future of Downtown. This allows the public to have a role in
creating their desired urban environment. This Public Engagement Plan (PEP) serves as a guiding document for
collaborating with the community and stakeholders for this User Experience Framework. The PEP helps establish
clear roles and responsibilities for staff, the consultant, the public, and stakeholders throughout the project.
Goals of Engagement
Public engagement will occur throughout the project, allowing the project team to gather information and have
community conversations at relevant points in the project. Overall, the public engagement for the User Experience
Framework will do the following:
• Inform existing conditions analysis
• Allow equitable collaboration with the community
• Understand the downtown user experience today
• Identify popular and desired destinations
• Identify existing and desired public amenities
• Identify network and circulation issues and opportunities
• Understand the existing and desired urban identity
• Inform the vision for the future of Downtown Golden Valley
• Inform prioritization and implementation recommendations
Engagement Audiences
There are four unique audiences that will be engaged as part of the Plan's outreach efforts:
• General Public: The general public includes all residents of Golden Valley, in addition to those that may
not live in Golden Valley but spend a significant amount of time downtown, such as youth, families,
employees, and business owners.
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• Community Representatives: Representatives of the community, such as elected officials and
commission members, can provide important insight and act as liaisons for residents.
• City Staff: City staff across various departments will have input from different lenses regarding the
various element of the public realm, as well as Golden Valley standards and procedures.
• Consultants: This engagement process will also involve consulting with design and planning
professionals outside of the project team.
Equitable Engagement
Community engagement provides project teams and decision makers with key information and local expertise that
may not be available anywhere else. Conducting equitable engagement invites all members of the public to
reflect on their lived experiences and bring their unique perspectives to the conversation in order to address past
planning wrongs and prevent inequities in future planning efforts.
Equitable engagement makes special effort to search out and listen to voices of focus communities including
BIPOC, low-income households, people with disabilities, people with low English proficiency, children, elderly
adults, students, limited vehicle access households, and other groups who have intentionally and unintentionally
been excluded from transportation planning efforts and decision-making in the past. This exclusion from prior
community conversations, along with other factors, generally results in gaps and unrealized opportunities in the
planning system. Members of underrepresented communities should feel empowered to participate in and should
influence decision-making and outcomes. Involving these individuals, listening to their perspectives, and
implementing their ideas is the first step to creating safe, inclusive, cohesive Downtown for all residents of Golden
Valley.
Engagement Strategies & Timeline
Engagement will be conducted both virtually and in-person throughout the project to better serve City residents
and stakeholders. There will be four phases of engagement through the course of the project intended to collect
targeted feedback from the public and stakeholders, and will include the following engagement strategies:
Phase 1: Visioning (Early June)
The purpose of this phase will be to determine the goal of the plan and form a vision for the future of Downtown
Golden Valley. This should occur in early June and will incorporate feedback from the public and community
representatives through the following activities:
▪ Virtual Open House #1
Phase 2: Public Realm Development (June)
The goal of this phase will be to progress the vision for downtown and form an understanding of desired
character, urban themes, and elements of the public realm by the community. This will involve a series of public
activities through June:
▪ Online Engagement
▪ Pop-Up Tabling
▪ Council/Commission Meeting #1
Phase 3: Recommendations (July-August)
The final stage of engagement will aim to form preliminary design and planning recommendations. This will
involve collaboration with select stakeholders, design and planning professionals, and community representative s.
▪ Stakeholder Meeting
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▪ Workshop
▪ Virtual Open House #2
▪ Council/Commission Meeting #2
Phase 4: Adoption of Plan (November)
▪ Council/Commission Meeting #3 to take place by the end of 2024.
Virtual Open Houses
The project team will host and facilitate two (2) one-hour virtual open houses. Participants will be invited into a
casual environment in which the project team will present project analyses and findings and coordinate interactive
activities to obtain feedback from attendees. Table 1 outlines the goals and action items for each open house.
The open houses will be promoted by online webpages, social media posts
Table 1: Open House Goals and Action Items
Target
Date
Goals Activities/Promotion
Strategy
June 4
6-8PM
▪ Explain the purpose and goals of the project to the public
▪ Introduce the public to the planning and engagement
process
▪ Present findings from the preliminary existing conditions
analyses and other engagement activities
▪ Seek input to craft a vision and goals for the downtown
public realm
▪ Hear about concerns, interests, and priorities of the public
regarding this plan and the future of downtown
▪ Presentation by project
team
▪ Interactive virtual
activities (e.g., miro
workshop, mentimeter,
etc.)
▪ Open Discussion
▪ Promote via the
webpage and social
media posts
End of
July/
Early
August
▪ Explain the project process to date and purpose of open
house event
▪ Present project vision and goal
▪ Present the project studies/analysis
▪ Summarize feedback from May/June
▪ Present and seek feedback on starter ideas/initial
recommendations
▪ Presentation by project
team
▪ Interactive virtual
activity (i.e., pin up and
post-it comments
and/or dot voting)
▪ Q&A
▪ Promote via the
webpage, social media,
and newsletter/monthly
bill)
Online Engagement
Online engagement allows the city to spread information quickly and efficiently throughout Golden Valley. It also
allows for those who cannot make it or do not want to attend in -person events to engage with this project on their
own time. The project team will utilize Golden Valley’s online engagement platform and other city and county
engagement tools to obtain virtual feedback from the public.
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Successful online engagement will rely on city and county staff to regularly post on social media, keep websites
up to date, promote the surveys, and disperse promotional materials. The project team will provide one page of
project information content to be adapted for different online platforms. See Table 2 for target dates and action
items for the online engagement strategy.
Table 2: Online Engagement Action Items
Engagement
Strategy
Target
Date(s)
City Staff
Responsibilities
County Staff
Responsibilities
Consultant
Responsibilities
Website May (update
throughout
project)
Update city website to
include project information,
engagement opportunities,
and link to survey
Update county
website to include
project information,
engagement
opportunities, and
link to survey
Provide one page of
content for website
including:
▪ Intro
▪ Purpose of
project &
process
▪ Engagement
timeline
Online Survey
May through
____
Create survey through City
survey monkey
Provide survey
content/questions
Social Media
Posts
Monthly
posts from
May through
____
Create posts for
engagement events,
survey, and other project
updates
Create posts for
engagement events,
survey, and other
project updates
Review graphic/social
media post
Flyering May/June Print and post at city hall,
library, parks, and other
public/community spaces
and events.
Email blast digital flyer
Email blast digital
flyer
Review flyer
Newsletter May/June Include project info,
website, and engagement
opportunities in monthly
newsletter
Review newsletter
Postcards May/June Mail post cards and/or
hand out and pop-up
tabling events, other
community events, or at
community spaces
Mail postcards and/or
hand out at events
Review postcard and
provide template (if
desired)
Staff/Repre-
sentatives
May-June Enlist other staff members
and departments, as well
Enlist other staff
members and
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as City Council to help
promote survey
departments to help
promote survey
Pop-Up Tabling
“Pop-up” engagement is designed to reach people where they already gather, such as along trails, bus stops, at
frequent destinations, community events, and/or community spaces. The project team will conduct one (1) pop-up
engagement tables for an hour and a half (1.5) hours at the Pride event on June 8th. The city is encouraged to
conduct five (5) or more additional pop-up tabling events as well through the month of June.
These will consist of an interactive activity designed to develop a vision for downtown Golden Valley and discover
priorities using the feedback of the community. The consultant team will develop the activities, provide the
materials required for the pop-up, and will summarize and incorporate the feedback received. Flyers and/or
postcards for the survey will be included at the tables. The project team will provide Spanish and Russian written
translations for the pop-up event activity, which will be available at all pop-up tabling events. Table 3 lists
locations that are suggested to consider for pop-up tabling (event locations to be selected by the city):
Table 3: Recommended Pop-Up Tabling Events
Activity Location Date/Time
Concerts in the Park Brookview Park Mondays beginning June 3 | 7pm
Pride TBD June 8 | 12-6pm
Public Safety in the Park • Lions Park: June 12 | 2.30pm
• Gearty Park: Jun 27 | 2.30pm
Mini US Open Brookview Park June 15 | 10.30am-12pm
Market in the Valley
(Farmers Market)
City Hall parking lot Sundays beginning June 16 | 9am-1pm
Juneteenth Celebration TBD June 19
Music on the Patio Three One Six Bar & Grill June 23 | 5-8pm
Public Safety Open House Police and Fire Station 1 June 26 | 5pm
Public Library Events Golden Valley Public
Library
• Read with an Animal: May 18 | 1.30-3pm
• Family Storytime: May 23 & 30, June 6,
13, & 20 | 10.30-11.30am
• Poetry Lovers Converge: June 5 | 6.30-
8pm
• Book Club: June 10 | 1.30-3pm
• Raptor Center: June 27 | 11-11.45am
• Summer Crafts & Coloring: June 28 |
1.30-3pm
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Playground Adventure Van Glenview Terrace Park Tuesdays beginning June 11 | 9.30-11.30am
Water Day Scheid Park June 21 | 12.30-2pm
While events are effective ways to communicate with a large number of community members, not all community
members are interested or available to attend events. Conducting pop-up events at various community
destinations is also recommended to reach the widest range of members of the public. Below is a list of additional
non-event locations for pop-up tabling:
▪ Grocery stores
▪ Local shops
▪ Coffee shops
▪ Breweries and restaurants
▪ Recreation centers
▪ Parks
▪ Trailheads
▪ Schools
Stakeholder Meeting
The project team will host and facilitate a focus groups style meeting with target stakeholders from the Golden
Valley community. The goal will be to hold conversations with and gather input from a diverse and representative
cross-section of the community. The stakeholder group should consist of 10-15 people. Suggested groups are
included below (to be selected by the city). The project team will prepare materials for and facilitate the
stakeholder meeting. The target date for the stakeholder meeting will be mid-July.
Youth
▪ Student groups/programs
▪ Parent groups/organizations
▪ After school groups/programs
▪ Grade school students and parents
Underrepresented Groups
▪ Spanish speaking resident
▪ Russian speaking resident
▪ BIPOC residents
▪ Senior resident
▪ Veteran resident
▪ Resident with mobility and/or sight impairment
▪ Resident who relies on bicycling, walking, and/or
public transit for transportation
Community Partners
▪ MnDOT
▪ Hennepin County
▪ Metro Transit
▪ Three Rivers Park District
▪ Bicycling/walking advocacy groups
▪ PRIME
▪ Damascus Way
▪ PRISM
▪ Other community organizations (e.g., Golden
Valley Community Foundation)
Other
▪ Business or district groups
▪ Business owner
▪ Bicycle and or walking group members
▪ Business Employee Resource Groups (e.g.,
General Mills, Honeywell, etc.)
Workshop
The project team will host and facilitate a 1.5 hour, in person consultant design workshop that will be a
brainstorming session for the project team, interdepartmental staff, and other planning professionals. The target
date for the workshops will be mid-July.
The consultant workshop will provide an opportunity for the project team to present their findings, starter ideas,
and engagement feedback to other design professionals and garner their feedback to form recommendations for
the plan. The consultant workshop team will be selected by the county. The venue for meeting in-person is to be
arranged by the City and/or County.
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Council/Commission Meetings
To assure the support of the city of Golden Valley elected officials and community representatives, the project
team will host three (3) interactive presentations with the City Council and/or the Planning Commission. Table 4
outlines the goals and timeline for the meetings.
Table 4: City Council Meeting Timeline and Goals
Target Dates Purpose
Meeting 1: Mid-June
Goal Setting Workshop (City Council and Planning Commission):
▪ Respond to goals and objectives of the plan
▪ Discuss and obtain feedback on planned engagement
▪ Seek in put for public realm development
Meeting 2: Late
July/Early
August
Recommendations Workshop (Planning Commission):
▪ Discuss feedback received from engagement events and workshops
▪ Present and obtain feedback on starter ideas and preliminary recommendations
Meeting 3: November Recommendations Workshop (City Council):
▪ Present the final plan
▪ City council adoption of plan
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