_04132020-1216

REGULAR MEETING OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN STEERING COMMITTEE CITY OF HUDSON Monday , April 1 3 , 20 20 Page 1 The Hudson Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee meeting was called to order by Weiss at 1 :0 3 p.m. PRESENT. Rich O ’Connor, Fred Yoerg, Tiffany Weiss, Michael Mroz, Aaron Reeves, and Jim Webber . ABSENT. Michael Johnson. OTHERS PRESENT. Brea Grace and Nate Day. Discussion and possible action on February 3 , 20 20 meeting minutes. Motion by Mroz , seconded by Webber to approve the minutes of the February 3 , 20 20 Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee. All Ayes ( 6 ). Motion Carried. UNFINISHED BUSINESS . None. NEW BUSINESS . Community Survey Results Update . Grace gave an update on the number of surveys received online through POLCO (the number of received surveys roughly representing 2% of the population). O ’Connor inquired why City residents are not responding and what we could do to improve the numbers to reach a response rate of 10-12%. Grace showed some analytics from the project website which expressed two big spikes in number of online surveys taken (spike in November when it was first announced and another smaller spike in February after the postcards were mailed out). Yoerg inquired into the possibility of pushing another press release, or some other communication outreach method, to get more residents to respond with a note specifying an end date when the survey will be closed to stop people from thinking they have all the time in the world to take the survey. Discussion was held amongst Committee members to keep the survey open for at least another month, until Memorial Day (May 25 th ). Motion by Yoerg, seconded by O ’Connor to close all main comprehensive plan survey collections on Memorial Day (May 25 th , 2020). All Ayes (6). Motion Carried. Further discussion was held regarding how to reach out to community members one last time to take the survey. Yoerg inquired about the previous post card mailing. Weiss noted that the previous post card mailing was sent to 5,311 addresses which cost the City $1,588 to print, package, and send. Webber asked if the mailing was also sent to apartments since the list was based off of utility bills and not everyone pays a utility bill (some landlords pay water bills for their renters). Weiss noted that the list does include renters (several addresses in the mailing list had unit numbers). In instances where the property was single-family housing being rented out, the mailing was sent to the physical property addresses to “Current Residents ” and not specific people. REGULAR MEETING OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN STEERING COMMITTEE CITY OF HUDSON Monday , April 1 3 , 20 20 Page 2 Motion by O ’Connor, seconded by Webber to mail out a second post card to City of Hudson addresses noting the survey ’s closing date of May 25 th (Memorial Day). All Ayes (6). Motion Carried. Hot Air Affair Event Follow-up and Report. Grace discussed the activities that took place at the booth during the Hot Air Affair Event in February and noted down the various comments that were received by community members: - Keep downtown Hudson quaint/historic/original - Community events are valued (i.e. kid friendly, music in the park) - Keep small town charm - Hudson ’s parks and beach are valued and need to be maintained - Interest in a new splash pad/community pool - Local businesses are appreciated in Hudson - Parking meters/free parking/more parking - More bike/pedestrian paths needed, especially around schools - Interest in expanding transit – maintaining disability/senior citizen transportation services - Inclusion/acceptance/kindness Further discussion was held toward the involvement of future in-person meetings, workshops and activities, and the likelihood of pursuing these outreach options in September at the earliest. Grace mentioned that a vision statement would be drafted and shared with committee members after the main comprehensive plan survey has closed on Memorial Day . This will allow SEH staff to look for themes that pop up from public comments that were received and incorporate them into their corresponding chapters . Grace also noted that she spoke with Weiss regarding the development of web map applications online to allow people to provide specific comments using polygons/polylines/and points on a virtual map, similar to how the Bike/Ped web map application was developed for the Master Bike Ped Plan. O ’Connor said the Housing Element should be the first topic of discussion with residents and not transportation since staff hear more comments from the community regarding housing issues rather than transportation issues (outside of downtown parking concerns). Grace said this could be done. Yoerg noted that the Housing Element would tie in well with the Land Use Element of the comprehensive plan. Discussion on City of Hudson Demographic Data. Weiss inquired if any Committee members had any questions regarding the recent draft of the Demographics section of the Comprehensive Plan. Webber noted the increase in elderly population in Hudson and St. Croix County and how this would require the city to keep or increase the amount of senior housing. Yoerg noted the trend is likely due to the high costs of housing permits in Minnesota. Webber also mentioned there is a ‘notable weakness ’ in the City ’s middle-aged population where numbers slowed, interpreted to mean that younger adults are leaving the City of Hudson for opportunities elsewhere. O ’Connor questioned the population data for the City of Hudson on page there where it noted the City ’s population would be over 15,000 (currently city staff are aware of the population recently going above 14,000 as of 2019 population estimates). REGULAR MEETING OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN STEERING COMMITTEE CITY OF HUDSON Monday , April 1 3 , 20 20 Page 3 Grace requested further comments from committee members at the next meeting on May 4 th . More drafted chapters would be brought forward to committee members as well potentially by that point for more review. CO MMUNICATIONS AND ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS. Next meeting date was scheduled for Monday , May 4 , 20 20 at 1 :00 p.m. Weiss noted that the upcoming May Public Involvement Workshop would possibly need to be cancelled or moved to a later date, but discussion regarding that should happen at the next Steering Committee meeting when more details come to light regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Mroz also noted that impacts the virus is having on the overall Comprehensive Plan update should be mentioned. ADJOURNMENT. Motion by Mroz , seconded by Yoerg to adjourn at 2:0 6 p.m. All Ay es ( 6 ). Motion Carried. Respectfully submitted, Tiffany Weiss , Acting Secretary