Proposed DMNA NRP First Step Plan 11/1/98

ARTS, CULTURE & EDUCATION PROPOSAL

Goal: To create a more united downtown neighborhood by utilizing arts, culture and educational resources.

Objective 1: Provide theater experiences for school age children in downtown Minneapolis theaters.

Strategy 1: Organize workshops and theater experiences for downtown schoolchildren in coordination with small downtown theaters.

Workshops may include acting classes and improvisational skills training
Assist MPS with organization of the workshops and theatrical training.
Theaters may include for example Theater De La June Lune or Margolis Brown.

Participants: DMNA, DMNA NRP Implementation Coordinator, MPS, downtown schools, downtown theaters

	1999	2000	Total
Resources:	$25,000	$25,000	$50,000	Workshops

Objective 2: Create a strong cultural identity for downtown by promoting the Warehouse District’s artistic, commercial and historic resources.

Strategy 1: Develop the "Explore the Warehouse District Program".

Organize tours of visual and performing arts locations and historic buildings.
Develop a promotional campaign to attract residents, workers and visitors to the artistic and historic resources of the Warehouse District.

Participants: DMNA, DMNA NRP Implementation Coordinator, Office of Public Affairs, Warehouse District artists and performance groups Warehouse District businesses

	1999	2000	Total
Resources:	$10,000	$10,000	$20,000	Promotion

Strategy 2: Develop the "Word Mural" signage project.

Research the history and architecture of buildings in the Warehouse District.
Work with artists, a sign-company and installation professionals to develop "Word Mural" signs that animate each participating building’s history and architecture through an artistic written description.
Consult and coordinate signage locations with building owners and appropriate city agencies. (*The estimated size or each sign: 4’x10’)

Participants: DMNA, DMNA NRP Implementation Coordinator, Public Works, building owners, historic preservation organizations

	1999	2000	Total
Resources:		$50,000	$50,000	Signs

CRIME & SAFETY PROPOSAL

Goal: Enhance the current level of safety and improve the perception of safety in the downtown neighborhood.

Objective 1: Increase the visibility of positive influences in downtown.

Strategy 1: Develop a Downtown Minneapolis Ambassador Program.

Utilize volunteer and/or paid "Ambassadors" to provide directions, hospitality services, and additional crime watch for downtown residents, visitors and workers.
The Downtown Ambassador Program would be a 2-year pilot project to occur initially during summer months (June-August) in coordination with the Downtown Council Marketing Committee.

Participants: DMNA, Downtown Marketing Committee, GMCVA

	1999	2000	Total
Resources:	$20,000	$20,000	$40,000	Ambassador Staff & Admin.

Strategy 2: Expand the downtown "beat patrol".

Utilize the "police buy-back program" to allow additional beat patrols at times when a high level of crime occurs in the downtown neighborhood.

Participants: DMNA, MPD, Downtown Command, CCP/Safe

	1999	2000	Total
Resources:	$20,000	$20,000	$40,000	Police Buy-Back funds

Strategy 3: Expand the downtown "mounted patrol".

Utilize the "police buy-back program" to increase mounted horse patrols during special events in the downtown neighborhood.

Participants: DMNA, MPD, Downtown Command, CCP/Safe

	1999	2000	Total
Resources:	$10,000	$10,000	$20,000	Police Buy-Back Fund

Strategy 4: Support and expand the downtown "bicycle patrol".

Utilize the "police buy-back program" to provide additional bicycle patrols at times when a high level of crime occurs in the downtown neighborhood.

Participants: DMNA, MPD, Downtown Command, CCP/Safe

	1999	2000	Total
Resources:	$5,000	$5,000	$10,000	Police Buy-Back Fund

Objective 2: Utilize technology to increase the safety of downtown residents, visitors and workers.

Strategy 1: Install Safety Alert Phone Systems (911 phones) on downtown streets and in skyways.

Coordinate phone system with downtown kiosk project.

Participants: DMNA, Downtown Marketing Committee, Skyways Advisory Committee, MPD

	1999	2000	Total
Resources:	$34,000		$34,000	Safety Alert Phones

Strategy 2: Provide downtown block/apartment clubs with cell phones improving their ability to report crime.

Participants: DMNA, existing downtown block/apartment clubs, MPD, CCP/Safe

	1999	2000	Total
Resources:	$2,000		$2,000	Cell Phones

Objective 3: Attack the perception that a high level of crime exists in downtown.

Strategy 1: Develop and implement a marketing program to promote positive images of the downtown neighborhood.

Work with the Downtown Council Marketing Committee to implement the marketing program directed towards residents and visitors in the Twin Cities Metropolitan area.
Work with CCP/Safe to utilize free media to promote crime and safety initiatives such as block/apartment clubs and the police buy-back program.

Participants: DMNA, Downtown Marketing Committee, GMCVA, CCP/Safe, local media

	1999	2000	Total
Resources:	$5,000	$5,000	$10,000	Marketing Program

DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL

Goal: Improve the accessibility and user-friendliness of the downtown area.

Objective 1: Expand and improve neighborhood transportation via vehicular, pedestrian (including skyways) and bicycles in the downtown

Strategy 1: Create a system of signs and "information kiosks" directing residents, workers and visitors to downtown streets and skyways.

Utilize computerized stations/kiosks to provide skyway and street maps and directions, a directory of goods and services, lists of events and emergency alert phones in several languages.
Utilize services of an "information host" to provide additional information.
Increase the number of printed "orientation" signs within skyways and coordinate their design and the information presented.
Enhance street-skyway connections by installing small "Skyway Access" signs near street-level doorways.
Coordinate installation of Safety Alert Phone Systems.
Coordinate long-term maintenance costs of the information kiosks with the Downtown Marketing Committee.

Participants: DMNA, City of Minneapolis, Downtown Council, Downtown Marketing Committee, Skyway Advisory Committee, Private Business Owners, GMCVA, Nicollet Mall Advisory Committee

	1999	2000	Total
Resources:	$132,000		132,000	NRP
	$87,300		87,300	City of Minneapolis
	$235,000		235,000	Building Owners (Donated Retail Space+ Electricity)
	$50,000		(on-going)	Downtown Marketing Committee (Estimated Yearly Maintenance Costs)

Strategy 2: Support efforts by the City of Minneapolis and business community to conduct a comprehensive Current Parking and Traffic Study.

Conduct a "cordon count" of downtown Minneapolis (a comprehensive monitoring of all modes of traffic that enter and exit the city on a given day).
Conduct an analysis of existing parking, proposed parking supply & demand, and parking management.
Analyze downtown’s traffic flow to determine how Light Rail Transit (LRT) will affect residents, workers and visitors.
Determine whether the city is obtaining optimum benefit from the current configuration of one-way and two-way streets, bus lanes and bike lanes.

Participants: DMNA, Downtown Council, Public Works, Planning Department, Private Building Owners, TMO

	1999	2000	Total
Resources:				Traffic Study
	No funding at this time			NRP
	$115,000		$115,000	Business Community
	$125,000		$125,000	City of Minneapolis

Goal 2: Create a distinct, cohesive downtown residential neighborhood.

Objective 1: Formulate and implement comprehensive strategies for Downtown Minneapolis development planning with an emphasis on the residential environment.

Strategy 1:

Provide funding to consolidate existing planning documents and plans (including for example Downtown 2010) into a Master Plan creating a comprehensive vision and guide for downtown neighborhood development.
Develop and detail plan elements that are missing and/or unattended in previous plans including streetscape enhancements and neighborhood development objectives.
Create a plan that defines, develops, preserves and enhances the downtown residential environment.
Develop design guidelines, review and approval processes and a design review board (Patterned after the SEMI Master Plan review process).
Develop implementation strategies such as capital improvement, marketing and financing plans for critical Master Plan elements.

Participants: DMNA, Planning Department, Public Works, MCDA, Downtown Council, City Council Representatives, Additional Stakeholders

	1999	2000	Total
Resources:	$60,000		$60,000	Master Plan

IMPLEMENTATION PROPOSAL

Goal: Increase capacity of the Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association through the NRP process. .

Objective 1: Provide staff and administrative support to implement all components of the DMNA NRP First Step Plan.

Strategy 1: Hire a DMNA NRP Implementation Coordinator and provide administrative support to:

Assist in coordinating theater workshops for school age children.
Coordinate the "Explore the Warehouse District" program tours and promotional campaign.
Coordinate the Word Mural signage project by researching buildings and facilitating the development of signs.
Assist in developing and coordinating the Downtown Ambassador Program.
Work with DMNA, MPD and CCP/Safe to foster the greatest benefit from the downtown police buy-back programs.
Work with CCP/Safe to promote positive images of downtown to the media.
Carry out the administrative and organizational tasks necessary to implement the DMNA NRP First Step Plan.

Participants: DMNA, Implementation Coordinator

Resources: $51,000

Resource Description:

Staff	1999	2000	Total
(20 hrs per week x $18.00 per hour)	18,720	18,720	37,440

Operating Expenses:

Childcare	280	280	560
Supplies	1,250	1,250	2,500
Printing/Copies	2,250	2,250	4,500
Postage	2,000	2,000	4,000
Rm/Eq Rental	1,000	1,000	2,000

	6,780	6,780	13,560	51,000

Strategy 2: Hire a DMNA NRP Housing Coordinator and provide administrative support to:

Research existing housing programs and promote them to downtown neighborhood residents.
Provide a downtown Minneapolis housing needs analysis.
Work with downtown residents, local government and additional stakeholders to develop potential housing programs that meet the unique downtown housing needs.

Praticipants: DMNA, Housing Coordinator

Resources: $25,500

Resource Description:

Staff	1999	2000	Total
(20 hrs per week x $18.00 per hour)	18,720		18,720

Operating Expenses:

Childcare	280	280
Supplies	1,250	1,250
Printing/Copies	2,250	2,250
Postage	2,000	2,000
Rm/Eq Rental	1,000	1,000

	6,780	6,780	$25,500