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Home My WebLink About2012-05-09 Handouts DRAFT SURVEY DOCUMENT 1. Thank you for being in business here in Centerville. I would like to ask you a few questions. If you feel that any of the questions is too private to provide an answer, please feel free to decline. 2. What brought your business to Centerville in the 1st place? 3. What do you like best about Centerville? What do you like least? 4. Are there any concerns you have about operating in Centerville? a. City staff b. Centennial Police services c. Centennial Fire District services d. Roads, infrastructure, etc. 5. Are you aware that Centerville compiles a business directory and posts it on the city website? The directory is also printed in hard copy and delivered to city residents about every two years. 6. Do you find you get business from the local directory? [Would you like the city to continue updating the directory and make new updated ones available again ?] 7. In the past the city council /staff hosted a business appreciation picnic in the summer. All the Centerville businesses where invited and everyone had a chance to network and talk about current business conditions and what is working for them and their business. Unfortunately attendance dwindled and the event was discontinued. Would you attend if the city were to start doing this again? 8. What could the city do to assist you in further growing your business? 9. What could the city do to attract other business owners to town? 10. Are you aware of other business owners who might consider locating in Centerville? 11. How has your business been over the past year? a. Flat or stable b. Growing c. Contracting 12. How would you rate the outlook for your business looking forward? (same answer choices) 13. In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges facing your business today? 14. What services, if any, should the city provide that will directly benefit your business? 15. If you could change one thing about Centerville, what would it be? 16. When was the last time you visited city hall and/or spoke with a city employee? Why? How would you rate that interaction: Excellent Good Satisfactory Not very good Poor. 17. How would you rate the police services provided by Centennial Lakes Police Department? Excellent Good Satisfactory Not very good Poor. (If you get unsatisfactory ratings - follow up to find out why.) Thank you again for operating your business in Centerville and thank you for taking the time to visit with me. Jeff 1. What could the city council and city staff do to make your business more successful? 2. What do you like most about doing business in Centerville? 3. What do you like least about doing business in Centerville? 4. Do you find you get business from the local directory we do every couple of years? Would you like the city to continue updating the directory and make new updated ones available again? 5. Did you know the business directory is on the city website? 6. In the past the city council /staff had a business appreciation picnic in the summer. All the Centerville businesses where invited and everyone had a chance to network and talk about current business conditions and what is working for them and their business. Would you like the city to start doing this again? 7. In the past the city did a "scavenger hunt" where participating businesses had a number and patrons had to go into businesses and get the numbers. Once a person collected all the numbers they turned in a card and the cards where then drawn for cash, business cash (Cougar Cash), and other prizes. Would you like the city to do this again during the year? Maybe during Fete Des Lacs, fall, and Christmas? 8. Would you like to see the downtown project move forward, even if the plan is a little different? Why or why not? 9. Did you know North Metro Cable does a Business Spotlight, where they can promote your business? 10. Did you know we have two local newspapers that have very reasonable advertising rates? 11. Would you like to see Cougar Cash get promoted again? This is just like cash and can be purchased at city hall and can be used at any Centerville business. 12. Do you think having a business spot light at our council meetings would be a good idea? A business could sign up to come to a meeting and have a few minutes to promote their business and let residents know what services they provide. D 1) How long have you been in business in Centerville? 2) What motivates you to maintain your business here? 3) What could the city do to assist you in further growing your business? 4) What could the city do to attract other business owners to town? 5) Are you aware of other business owners who may be interested in Centerville? B) Would you be willing to share their information? T 1. Thank you for being a business here in Centerville. 2. What had brought you to Centerville in the 1st place? 3. What do you like best about Centerville? What do you like least? 4. Are there any concerns you have about operating in Centerville? - a. City staff b. Centennial Police services c. Centennial Fire District services d. Roads, interstructure, etc. 5. What can the council & city staff do to improve services or assistance to you and other businesses? 6. Thank you again for being a business here in town and thank you for taking the time to meet with me. Ben 1. How has your business been over the past year? a. About the same b. Growing c. Contracting 2. How long have you owned /operated this business? 3. Of that, how many years have you been in Centerville? 4. Why is your business located in Centerville? 5. In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges facing your business today? 6. What services, if any, should the city provide that will directly benefit your business? 7. We are well aware that Centerville has a relatively high property tax rate. Short of reducing taxes, what else can Centerville do to retain existing businesses? 8. What can we do to attract new businesses? 9. Are there any services that the city should consider cutting? 10. The city used to host an annual business appreciation luncheon. Should we continue that tradition? Why or why not? 11. If you could change one thing about Centerville, what would it be? 12. When was the last time you visited city hall and/or spoke with a city employee? Why? Steve 1. What obstacles did you face in starting your business? 2. What obstacles do you now face in continuing your business? 3. Would you like the city's help in contacting the legislature on issues that affect your business? Kurt offered these: Business Outreach Questions & Issues 1. Who `are' our businesses a. Who / where are they / what do they sell i. Pull Census data regarding businesses to identify businesses to better determine the scope of questions / issues to pose. b. How do they sell or market 2. What the City staff can do for local business a. Create marketing opportunities b. Provide infrastructure c. Increase traffic to the City (residents / non - residents) d. Attract / assist businesses who will hire residents e. Lower the cost of doing business 3. Concepts a. A joint Centerville / Lino / Hugo business corridor along Cty Rd 14? b. Recreation as a draw into Centerville i. Lakes / County Park / City Parks c. Has the Cty Rd 14 closure in Blaine adversely affected Centerville businesses? d. How to capitalize on new 35E / Cty Rd 14 interchange e. City using its taxing authority or general fund to: i. Target `attractive' businesses (businesses which increase traffic to the city) 1. i.e. Trader Joe's / Walgreens / CVS 2. Develop `Waterworks' site a. Supper Club b. Family Restaurant c. Watersports f. Increase roadway accessibility i. How can the City move Cty Rd 14 traffic 1. to southbound 21 St 2. 21 to westbound Cty Rd 14 4. Marketing opportunities a. Using City website b. Media information which focuses on city business i. To assist current businesses ii. To attract additional businesses 5. "Event" opportunities for local business marketing a. Easter Egg Roll i. Taken over by local businesses ii. Was this an effective marketing event? b. Fete Des Lacs c. Ice Fishing Tournament d. Activities at School 6. How do you market / advertise your business. Are you more likely to .... a. Market individually b. Market cooperatively with other businesses c. Use coupons d. Advertise sales e. Direct marketing, Using: i. direct mail ii. internet iii. news paper f. Indirect marketing, Using i. Word of mouth ii. Former / current clients g. Location i. Retail storefront ii. Commercial operation 7. Citywide marketing for local businesses a. Groupon b. Foursquare ADOPTED CITY COUNCIL GOALS AND OBJECTIVES 2012 GOAL OBJECTIVE STEP 1 Council / Staff Consultant Other Time Frame 1. Plan for Community Needs and Facilities A. Public Works Facilities. 1. Dispose of 20th Avenue Site. (Proceeds to pay debt on 2085 Cedar Street). xx xx B. Street Improvements 1. Update Pavement Management Plan - xx xx 6/30/2012 20 year street capital improvement and maintenance plan 2. Determine streets to include in 2013 project. 6/30 /2012 1 C. Manage Stormwater facilities 1. Inspect stormwater facilities and ponds. xx Annual 2. Identify system improvements and maintenance projects. xx xx 6/30/2012 _ 3. Develop funding strategies for needed maintenance and improvements. _ _— xx 7/31/2012 4. Update stormwater management plan xx 6/8 /2012 5. Identifyrear -yard drainage problems and work with property owners for solution. xx xx 12/1/2012 1 ll. Community Development to attract new business and tax base A. Activate Economic Development Author{ EDA) 1. Identify areas of involvement for EDA. _ — xx xx B. Downtown Redevelopment 1. Finalize and execute developer agreement _- xx xx xx Developer Complete _ 2. Complete Masterplan for infrastructure xx Complete a. Secure permits for project — -- _ xx Developer 3. Environmental Assessment xx _ Complete 4. Establish TIF district for Phase 1 5. Incorporate school district concerns into redevelopment plan - Developer 6. Secure grants for redevelopment xx Developer 7. Purchase property _ _ - xx _ Developer 8. Construct Phase 1 - Developer _ 9. Construct drainage ponds 1 & 2 10. Construct downtown streets and utilities. _ 11. Acquire surplus properties from Anoka County - - xx xx Complete ADOPTED CITY COUNCIL GOALS AND OBJECTIVES 2012 GOAL OBJECTIVE STEP 1 Council Staff Consultant j Other Time Frame C. Encourage industrial development- - - - -- - - - - - -- -- - 1. Market lots in conjunction with Commerce Drive (backage road). _ _ xx - a. Register site in DEED "Shovel Ready" program - — xx xx Complete b. Market Commerce Drive sites 12/31/2012 2. Redevelopment of Reel Mfg Site 3. Work with Rehbein to remove dirt piles and develop land. xx xx _ 4. Support regional cooperation in economic development _ _ a. Anoka County Communities b. MnPro website. 6. Promote Anoka County Broadband Project. Potential benefit to business/industrial properties. xx 0. Encourage Residential Development _ 1. Consider abatement subsidies to encourage development of lot inventory. Complete-not needed at this time 5/1/2012 2. Work with developers to market lot inventory. 1 _ - xx Ongoing 3. Consider requests for adjustment to development security (Letter of Credit) xx xx E. Business Outreach/Retention Project 1. Prepare a business contact list with phone numbers. xx Complete 2. Prepare a list of business needs/satisfaction questions. xx xx , 4/30/2012 3. Break the contact list among council members for call and follow -up. xx _ 5/15/2012 4. Prepare a report of results with action plan. xx xx 7/15/2012 lll. Manage Revenue - Taxes and Tax Rates A. Analyze utility rates and charges- Implement adjustments as needed _ 1. Review rates and charges for sanitary sewer and water xx xx Annual 2. Report to Council on recommended rate change 1 - _ xx 1 7/31/2012 3. Consider alternative method of charges (ie metered sewer charges) xx 7/31/2012 4. Implement automated meter reading system xx 12/1/2013 B Analyze rates and charges for stormwater utility -plan future pond maintenance expenditures 1. Develop pond maintenance plan with cost estimates by year xx xx Annual 2. Adjust stormwater fees to accumulate funds for stormwater system maintenance _ xx xx _ 3. Review rates and charges xx _ Annual 4. Report to Council on recommended changes. _ — xx 7/31/2012 5. Capital improvement and maintenance plan. xx 7/31/2012 ADOPTED CITY COUNCIL GOALS AND OBJECTIVES 2012 GOAL OBJECTIVE STEP ' Council Staff Consultant Other Time Frame C. Explore other revenue sources _ 1. Consider street lighting utility xx xx 2. Apply for grants and other sources of funds xx _ Ongoing 3. Encourage legislature to adopt a more balanced LGA formula xx xx Ongoing_ 4. Work with League of Cities to advocate for stormwater management xx xx Ongoing D. Plan for reductions in State revenue _ _ _ 1. Review forclosures and delinquencies and report to Council. xx Ongoing 2. Consider revenue Toss impacts and make adjustments in budget. xx 3. Identify ways to cooperate and collaborate with other government units. xx xx — 4. Provide direction to administrator for 2012 labor agreements. xx 9/1/2012 5. Concession for LaMotte Park. xx 5/1 /2012 E. Plan Capital Expenditures _ 1. Identify capital needs for next twenty rs. _ xx xx 7/30/2012 2. Identify revenue sources and tax impacts. _ xx _ _ 3. Approve capital expenditure plan. xx 4. Plan park facilities to correspond with full development of Comp Plan J P & R F. Taxpayer Satisfaction /Excellent Services The Council recognizes the difficulty of reducing taxes and tax rates. However, the city can — _ strive to provide excellent services in order to encourage a high level of satisfaction with the performance of the city and its staff. I 1. Develop a means of surveying the public to identify the level of satisfaction xx xx 4/1/2013 with city services. _ I 2. Complete the survey and tabulate results. j xx xx 571/2013 3. Formulate plan of action to address any issues identified in the survey. xx xx 7/1/2013 IV. Maintain a safe community to attract and retain citizens and business _ A. Adopt emergency plan. 1 _ 1. Train council and staff in emergency preparedness xx xx — Ongoing 2. Support implementation of Citizen Corp Council _ _ Ongoing 3. Land Use Training for Council and P8Z. xx xx Ongoing B. _ Increase community safety & awareness 1. Encourage neighborhood watch groups _ Ongoing 2. Encourage participation in National Night Out _ Ongoing - 3. Promote CERT volunteer program. _ Ongoing 4. Consider alternative communication opportunities Ongoing ADOPTED CITY COUNCIL GOALS AND OBJECTIVES 2012 GOAL OBJECTIVE STEP Council Staff Consultant Other Time Frame 5. Promote Fete des Lacs by supporting annual parade. xx xx 8/1/2012 C. Implement neighborhood trails using grant funds. - 1. Secure easements _ xx Complete 2. Engineering for bids _ xx Complete 3. Secure and approve bids xx xx xx Complete 4. Construct Project- closecontract _ _ xx . xx 6/30/2012 Future Issues List A. City Hall- consider addition to existing or relocation to another site I _ This is considered a low priority by Council at this time. j B. Community entry signs.(Welcome to Centerville) — 1. Identify sign types and costs 2. Identify location for signs 3. Present report to Council for decision 4. Acquire lease or permit for proposed locations. _ 5. Construct signs Council feels that the design should be finalized, along with acquiring the locations. C. Eagle Park Lighting D. Consider adequacy of street lighting E. Trailside park - indian burial mound. F. Develop sign replacement plan r