20/20 Cold Spring Vision Team

Minutes of the Meeting
Design Standards Committee
January 27, 2005

Minutes of the Meeting
Design Standards Committee
January 27, 2005

Members Present: John Frischmann, Melissa Kolbjornsen, Nichole Matuska, Brigetta Klemek, Steve Penick, Ann Harren, Larry Lahr

Guests: Karin Tank, Joann Faust, Dave Olson, Doug Schmitz, Ken Hollerud, Mike Kathman

1. Review Municipal Development Group (MDG) suggestions for Downtown Commercial Zone.

Committee members went through MDG’s proposed downtown commercial district draft that consisted of 10 subdivisions. Subdivision 1 established a purpose statement of the downtown commercial district, its goals, and general accepted activities.

Subdivision 2 listed a proposed 66 acceptable businesses for the downtown commercial district. Committee members discussed each business that the committee had previously drafted and also ones that MDG deemed a recommended use for this zone.

The following businesses were deleted from the list: Bus stations, Laboratories, Medical supply stores, Mortuaries, Motel/hotel, Newspaper distribution agencies, Printing or publishing shops, Retail greenhouses, Skating rinks, Veterinary hospital.

The following businesses were added: Antique shop, Art gallery, Bed and Breakfast, Bar/Grill on/off liquor, Garden store, Medical clinics also includes dental, medical, chiropractic, Recording studios also includes digitization studios, Salon/spa

Subdivision 3 pertained to Accessory Uses, or separate structures, that business may need for their operation. Members discussed both current uses and potential needs for those businesses accepted in Subdivision 2. The group determined only one current use in downtown and decided future zoning accessory uses should comply with a Special Use Permit (SUP). MDG also recommended updating the sign ordinance.

Subdivision 4 dealt specifically with the Special Use Permit. Section A deleted: Plumbing showrooms and shops, Printing or publishing shops, Retail greenhouses, nurseries or garden store, veterinary hospital.

Added to the list: Bed and Breakfast, Daycare

Subdivision 5 pertained to Height, Yard, and Lot coverage regulations.
1. Buildings are limited to 3 stories for fire safety regulations. Members discussed minimum height regulations, as some commercial buildings are only a single story. It was decided to only implement a minimum height requirement, a figure to be determined at a later date.
2. Yard regulations developed into a major discussion point for committee members and their vision of this district.
In a., it was generally agreed upon that building up to sidewalk was acceptable. Some committee members were concerned about a side-to-side requirement that will be addressed in point 3. MDG added an iii that addressed city council and planning commission approval to conform to adjacent buildings on the same block.
b. Covered the buffer from residential districts. MDG suggested a lot line measurement for a buffer as noted in point i.
3. Lot Area Coverage Regulations produced vision questions about what downtown should look like and what may be reality for the community. This section will be revisited for the next meeting.

Karin and Joann also provided a brief PowerPoint that illustrated a photographic tour of area zoning requirements for some local communities. They suggested a more in-depth look at these photos, perhaps even by the next meeting, to provide examples of the committee’s requirements, examples of potential concerns, and some suggestions for what works well.

Minutes from January 12, 2005

Members Present: April Stadtler, Betty Johnson, Terri Larison, Liz Kruger, Karen Minnerath, John Binsfeld, Michelle Prow

Guest: Jeff Fromm

1. Steering committee update
-Band is starting up
-Great Northern Theatre is doing a dinner theatre “Clue”
-There is work on a sledding hill for the community
-Possible sculpture projects for community parks
-Duane Kuss is doing a history of Cold Spring video, specializing on Herbie Theis
2. Memorandum of Understanding
-Nancy Melgaard looked over it, made a few suggestions. Jeff has copy of these suggestions
-Are we 501C3? Not yet, Fait in Action is on this route
-Cost is 8% of what? All money brought in or just the grants we get?
-Jeff doesn’t know at this point. This group is the first of this kind for him to deal with and will be defiantly open to compromise. He explained what this funding was for. (Basic operating costs, keeping us ‘legal’ ECT.) He also wants other areas and communities to create hubs such as what we are trying to accomplish.
-Michelle asked about reports
-Jeff would do our reports and all of our documentation will go to him. We are just a part of RSFIA, and Jeff envisions a paper trail to begin with. As the coordinator and Jeff become acquainted and each understands what is expected a data base may form.
-Betty discussed county services
-Jeff explained that a lot of these services are difficult to qualify for, and that if we do qualify for any reimbursement from the county for services provided it really isn’t enough to count on. Jeff mentioned that he received only about $200 last year in reimbursements for his programs
-Having someone on the RSFIA board was discussed
-Jeff liked that idea a lot and discussed with us the different types of members we could be. We could report only once in a while, be a permanent member or when the need is there we can sit on the board. The board is very small and as new hubs are formed it will obviously grow. The board also knows about the memorandum of understanding and has unofficial approved it, but is waiting for all the ‘kinks’ to be ironed out.
-We will have an understanding as to not cross over resources
-Jeff will be writing grants and we will also let him know what business, organizations and any other fundraising efforts are being made.
-We will also not speak to government officials with out talking to Jeff first
-This will allow for us and RSFIA to be talking about the same issues and be presented in the same light.
-The start date and end date will be added to the memorandum, but it will not be binding, we will just need to let Jeff know a head of time what is going on.
-We will have ONE spokes person to contact Jeff with concerns.
-We will have volunteer insurance through RSFIA
-Not personal liability
-Auto is available
-We can choose how much insurance is needed
-We need to set up boundaries
-No medical care provided by our volunteers
-No bathing
-No other personal care
-Michelle said she has some information that we can use to set up ‘rules for volunteering’ - She will email John that list

3. Timeline
-Jeff talked about how we just need to get going, that there are resources for people and we can just start!
-Training can take different amounts of time

4. Churches/congregations
-Betty suggested we find a member of each area congregations and discuss with them the possibility of having the member speak to their congregations and talk about what we have to offer.
-We need information on what where and why exactly and that we need to make sure that our contacts aren’t over used!!!
-Each congregation member would meet with the volunteer coordinator to keep these people on track
-More information will be discussed about this once more contacts are made

***Next Meeting January 31, 2005 @ 6:30pm
Please note this is a MONDAY!!!!!***

COLD SPRING 20/20 VISION TEAM

STEERING COMMITTEE Minutes
January 12, 2005

2020 Party Update January 14th, 2005
** 35 Scheduled to attend... 37 had registered.
** Should we make phone calls?... All committee chairs would contact their members.
Motion made by Duane and 2nd by Betty to fund $50.00 in prizes Motion carried.
Brigetta would pursue prizes for the evening
Kay will be MC of party
2 drink tickets per person

Grant Committee Update
Rita, Nadine and Kay had met to further develop a 2020 Team Grant request.

Other Committee Updates

Arts & Culture
First practice for community band scheduled for Jan 18th
Jason Kunz will direct the group
Will perform a March concert in the High School Auditorium

Land Use
Still pursuing a Comprehensive Plan for the community

Design Standards
Have developed a zoning concept dividing the city into 6 zoing areas
Working with the city for formalize the plan and to present it publicly March-April
Will include building design standards
Motion made by Nadine, 2nd by Mark, to allocate approx. $300 for this committee to attend a workshop in Staples on design standards. Motion carried

Natrual Resources
Rocori Trail:  The application for federal TEA-21 funds was reviewed by the Trails Task Force and was submitted with Stearns County acting as sponsor.
Lookout Park:  A grant application has been submitted through the Minnesota Conservation Corps for $10,000 toward the restoration of Lookout Park.  AgStar Financial should announce grant recipients sometime early this year.
City Sledding Hill:  Legal technicalities may delay the City Sledding Hill project for this season, but it is expected to go through by next year.
Community Art Project:  Claire Witt, Public Art Designer, is currently working with St. Boniface School and the Rocori Senior Center to create mosaic covered sculptures and murals as a public art project.  Our group would like to work with Ms. Witt to create a sculpture in one of our parks.  Claire will be joining us at our next committee meeting to discuss the project, please bring any ideas you may have for location and/or content of the sculpture/mural.  The grant application deadline for this project is February 3.
We will have an opportunity to meet with the Park Board at our next meeting to discuss these and other projects.  This will be: Wednesday, January 19, 7pm at the Cold Spring City Hall.

Social Action
Working up a letter of understanding with Jeff From
Planning to contact 7-8 churches looking for support and volunteer leaders
Continuing to develop the Faith In Action Project to serve needy clients in area
At the stage where volunteers are needed to begin providing services.
Going to a council on aging meeting on Jan. 25th

Tourism
Continuing work with Chamber to install a brochure kiosk in their new office
Contacted Linda Libel with Rocori School District, Community Ed, and City of Cold Spring about web sites, calendars and possible integration. A plan will be developed.
ATTENDED 2nd Annual GRANITE SUMMIT Group has put together a “Granite Country” Documentary
Herbie Theis History Of Cold Spring DVD Created by Duane Kuss
REGIONAL PROMOTION PIECE
Stearns History Museum articles are being reviewed for Spring Publication
Water District has submitted research for creation of a Chain Of Lakes history article.
Kasi Stein has developed a self guided walking tour of downtown Cold Spring.
Herb Theis Story will be written for Spring 2005 edition