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8) Way Finding Signage Moving throughout the community can be made more effective through the addition of way finding signs. As their name implies, these signs help to direct travelers to specific destination points in the community such as city hall, parks, shopping districts, schools, etc. When incorporated into the design of the gateway signage, they add to the style of the community creating a greater sense of presence that someone has arrived in Arden Hills. 9) Capital Improvement Planning One of the most challenging, yet unglamorous roles that community leadership must address is creating an operating and maintenance program for its many assets. To the average citizen these assets seem like permanent infrastructure that will be there forever. To anyone who has served in the public arena the knowledge that these assets are in a continual state of decay is well known. Improvement plans and budgets need to be put in place so that this process is an annual appropriation of funds. The electorate is most focused on those items that are above ground, i.e. streets, sidewalks (trails)and parks. Prudent fiscal planning will also address those items below grade; sewers, water and utility infrastructure. Middle: Years 2-4 10) Central Business District. • The lack of a city center is a common challenge for modern communities. Many of these communities developed similarly to Arden Hills, as a suburb from a larger metropolitan center. Once critical mass was soon achieved and a community was formed by the first settlers. Since the "city" at that time was the larger metropolitan downtown, the focus on creating a central business district did not exist. However, as the community grew the need for its own identity grew with it. As is frequently the case, the area for a city center was not zoned or planned in the process. Arden Hills has areas of higher retail and service concentration; however they were planned for vehicular transportation and have the look and feel of such a decision. A city center is more pedestrian oriented consisting of: a. Higher buildings b. Zero lot line development (front and side yards) c. Shared parking d. Parks (typically passive) e. Entertainment and dining venues f. Niche retail Areas like this do not currently exist in Arden Hills. This matter is further complicated by the fact that the "historical' city center/main street which many have defined as CR E has been "abandoned" by the construction of the new City Hall along CR G/96th Street as city halls are traditionally located in the City Strategic Plan for Economic Development Page 15 of 23 Draft—Subject to Approval and Adoption