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--DRAFT -- City Center Task Force Report Notes Summarized by Dennis Welsch April 5, 1999 BACKGROUND (June.1998) bv Bob Bierscheid Over the past several years, the City of Roseville has invested much time and energy through numerous attempts to defme its future. City Council planning sessions, specialized committees, consultant reports and the Recreation Infrastructure Committee have been extensions of direction received in the VISTA 2000. One common thread of each of the processes has been the recognition of the need for a core community area that is generally described as "City Center." This vision is more than a community center, more than a modern city hall, more than a supporting business district and more than a quality residential site. It is an integration of an of these activities into a blended formula of play, service, commerce and habitation in a commons so coordinated that all of these functions thrive and grow synergistically. Although the key ingredient for the well being of the community will continue to be the strength of neighborhoods, studies of healthy communities reveal a common thread in that they all have a thriving community focus. Several other Twin Cities communities, such as Shoreview, Maplewood and Chaska have developed highly developed community centers. These efforts have relied totally on public spending and government management to provide services. A few cities including the St. Paul Town Square project, Edinborough in Edina and the Lifetime Fitness Center in Plymouth have attempted integrating commerce and government into a common delivery system. The general purpose of the proposed City Council action is to initiate a process to explore Roseville's response to the "City Center" concept with the understanding that planning, design and implementation of the community's vision will be staged over time. "City Center" is envisioned to be a: -communal gathering place -center for the coordination and delivery of essential services -a locale for the development of mental and physical health -major venue for state, national and international cultural, sport and business activities -an entrepreneurial marketplace for services and goods -residential living of varied styles -source of community pride -hub of Roseville community activity The current Civic Center has provided some of these elements but has been limited because of a lack of long range comprehensive planning and the essential critical mass of activities and services. Using the four corners concept, this area has these significant attributes: 5