1. Introduction 2. Why we do Engagement 3. The DC 2040 Update Planning Process 4. Who will be engaged and how 5. Schedule 6. Attachments Introduction DC 2040 is an update to Dakota County s Comprehensive Plan, a document that guides how the community will grow and change over the next 20 years. Dakota County is required to update its Comprehensive Plan as required by the Metropolitan Land Use Planning Act. Dakota County is required to update its Comprehensive Plan as per state statutes first adopted in 1976 (the Metropolitan Land Use Planning Act). The Dakota County Comprehensive Plan needs to be consistent with THRIVE 2040, the regional vision and policy document adopted by the Metropolitan Council in 2014. The County's Comprehensive Plan is the overarching policy document for transportation, parks and open space, water resources, and land use. This overview outlines why stakeholder and public engagement is important to the plan, who will be engaged, how it will happen, and when it will happen. A detailed Stakeholder and Public Engagement Plan has been prepared to guide the overall engagement efforts throughout the planning process. The Plan will be a dynamic plan and be amended from time to time. As events happen, results will be documented and appended to the plan. In addition, we will learn from engagement efforts to make improvements upon future events and efforts as we navigate through the process. Why do we do engagement Public engagement is a critical aspect in ensuring that all Dakota County government services are performed efficiently, effectively and in a responsive manner. Dakota County strives to ensure that the proper level of public engagement is realized in all projects. To identify this proper level of engagement, the County utilizes a public engagement process tool that is standardized across the organization and results in consistent approaches and outcomes. The levels of engagement and what each entails in terms of description and specific examples can be seen in the table that follows. 1 P age
The DC 2040 Update will engage in all three levels throughout the course of the project. The DC 2040 Update Planning Process The DC2040 plan update process includes a series of work tasks that will occur over the next 12 to 18 months. Engagement efforts are spread over the course of the full project in three key phases: Phase 1 - Inform and Listen The first engagement phase will accomplish the following key objectives: 1. to broadly communicate the plan s purpose and goals, the planning process and methodologies, and the project schedule 2 P age
2. to provide an opportunity for ALL interested parties to express opinions and ideas relative to the existing comprehensive plan vision elements and topic areas 3. to determine if and where changes to the plan are warranted 4. to coordinate planning with cities and agencies Key components of Phase 1 will include: Preparation and distribution of a scientifically valid survey to gauge county resident s opinion on key comprehensive plan topics. Establishment of a web site to disseminate information and provide a location to post and push out plan materials for community review. After the initial survey is distributed in a scientifically valid way, the same survey questions will be posted online for wider distribution. Results between the two distribution methods will be kept separate to maintain integrity of the scientifically valid survey but will be looked at in whole as part of the reporting. Facilitation of a vision summit (s) with partner communities and key agencies. Small group meetings/workshops with targeted stakeholder groups or partner communities /agencies unable to attend the summit or where follow up is needed. A public open house or intercept event to engage the general public. Phase 2 Present and Collaborate The second phase of engagement has 2 key objectives: 1. to present potential changes to the comprehensive plan based on Phase 1 input and technical analysis conducted by the consulting team and County staff 2. to collaborate with interested stakeholders in refining those changes to better adapt to expressed needs and required planning components The following represent the components of phase 2: Use the web site to disseminate information from Phase 1 and as a survey mechanism that allows participants to weigh in on potential changes to the vision, guiding principles, strategies, concepts, and ideas generated. Facilitation of a vision summit follow up to report out possible directions and changes through a focused round table dialogue with partner communities and key agencies. Follow up small group meetings/workshops with targeted stakeholder groups. A second public open house or intercept event to engage the general public. Phase 3 Report, Discuss, and Agree This phase of community engagement will include the following key objectives: 1. reporting out the draft plan 2. providing opportunities to discuss key elements 3 P age
3. to reach general consensus on plan directions. Recognizing that not every stakeholder or stakeholder group will be 100% satisfied with 100% of the content of the plan, our goal is to get as close to that as possible. The following represent the components of phase 3: Use the project web site to post draft materials and employ a simple survey mechanism to gauge public support Facilitate pop up event or intercept with presentation materials and information on the draft plan Conduct public hearing at the County Planning Commission Who will be engaged and How A holistic public engagement process requires a diverse group represented by various populations that are involved from start to finish. A process that involves diverse stakeholders assists in achieving a project that is reflective of the County s diverse interests and ever-changing population. However, in order to effectively reach and involve various stakeholders different types of specific engagement methods need to be used as their effectiveness can vary from one group to another. Major groups to engage and methods of engagement most likely to be successful are listed in the following table. Neighborhood organizations/neighborhoods (do we have a list of neighborhoods) Engagement Group Survey Open Pop-ups Vision Focus House Web Summit Groups Intercepts Site General Public X X X Other Business/Econ Devel: Chamber of Commerce, Developers, Architects, Engineers, ULI, Trade/Vendors, Waste Management/Landfill Haulers or operators, Intermodal Freight Cos, Energy/Utility Cos, Rail Road Cos, Air Lake, Ag Business X X Agencies: US Army Corp. of Engineers, MNDOT, MVTA, FHWA, METRO Transit, Metro Council, MAC, School Districts, DNR, MNRRA, National Parks, US Fish and Wildlife, BWSR, Watershed Districts, MPCA, South Metro Ground Water Council, MN Geological Survey, National Research Technical Advisory, MN extension, Farm Bureau X X X 4 P age
Engagement Group Cities and Townships (Staff focused): Planning, Engineering, Park and Recreation, Public Works, Economic Development and Housing, Environmental, Emergency Management, Community/Senior Centers Survey Vision Summit Focus Groups Open House Intercepts Pop-ups Web Site X X X Other Cities and Townships: Elected Officials X X1 Interest Groups: Para-Transit Providers, Ped./Bike Groups (MN Bike Alliance, Hiawatha Bike Club, ADA Groups, State council on disabilities (MSCOD), Wilderness in the City, FOM, Great River Greening, Women Observing Wildlife, Sportsman Groups, Dakota Habitat Alliance, Underrepresented Groups, Social Service Groups, Senior Housing or Services Coordinator, CLUES, Health Care Insurance Providers, YMCA, College/University, Workforce Training Centers, Art Centers/Councils, Faith Communities, American Farmers Association, SE Irrigators Associations, Food Shelves/banks, Legislators or Legislative Commissions: Elected Representatives, (State and Federal), LCCMR, Lessard Outdoor Heritage Council, CTIB, Metropolitan Council appointed member X X X X2 1 Provide presentation materials and updates for packet distribution. Potential presentation at Quarterly or Annual Township Meetings or City Mayors and Managers meetings. 2 Attend and present at regular meetings or coordinate one on one. Participation at legislative breakfasts and distribute press release information. 5 P age
Engagement Schedule Phase 1 2017 2018 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Phase 2 - Distribute Survey - Launch Web Site - Vision Summit - On-line Survey - Focus Groups - Pop Up Events Prepare Plan Update Draft - Web Site - Vision Summit Follow Up - Second round of Focus Group Meetings - Open House Prepare Final Draft Plan Phase 3 2018 Q2 Q3 Q4 Web Site Update - Pop Up Events - Public Hearing - Statutory six-month review and comment process Prepare Final Plan Conduct Formal Public Hearing and Adoption process February: March: May: June: June: The project website went live in February. Information is being updated on a periodic basis as events happen. www.hkgi.com/projects/dakotacocompplan/ A scientifically valid survey was prepared with assistance from the University of Minnesota and distributed 800 households in the County. The Survey was mailed and data collected between March 14 and May 8, 2007. A series of vision summit meetings were held in May 2017 with municipal staff to coordinate comprehensive planning efforts, discuss trends and background information, and discuss emerging policy and project topics important to each community. These meetings were attended by representatives from Eagan, Burnsville, Apple Valley, Hastings, Farmington, Lakeville, Mendota Heights, Sunfish Lake, Inver Grove Heights, Northfield, Rosemount, West St. Paul, and Vermillion. Invitations were sent to all municipalities in Dakota County. Invitations were also sent to the planning consultant leading the County Collaborative and to Townships not part of the collaborative. Presentation materials from these meetings can be found on the project web site or by clicking here. The survey mechanism was posted on-line June 9, 2017 for broader distribution. Vision Summit/Coordination meetings were held on June 15 th with invited regional agencies representing natural resource, park/recreation, water resources, transportation, transit, etc. 6 P age
Upcoming Events July 12: July 19: July 26: July 27: An information table was staffed at the Mendota Heights Concert Series (Village of Mendota Heights) from 6:00 to 8:00. A tent and information table was staffed at the Eagan Market Fest (Eagan Central Park Festival Grounds & Rotary Band shell) from 4:00 to 6:00 along side the City of Eagan Comprehensive Plan table. A focus group meeting was held from 5:00 to 6:30 focusing on transportation and mobility related topics. A focus group meeting was held on Thursday, July 27 from 7:00 to 8:30 with a focus on topics related to parks, recreation, trails, and the environment. Focus Group meetings will afford the opportunity to learn about general comprehensive plan topics and emerging trends, and to share with the project team specific areas of interest including issues, opportunities, and desired updates to the plan. The project will use this information to help define the scope of the updates to the 2040 Comprehensive Plan. Invitations are extend to all interested stakeholder groups. Please contact Kurt Chatfield if you are interested in scheduling or participating in this focus group meeting. August 9-10: A vendor booth was staffed at the Dakota Count Fair for two days. We are compiling summary notes from these meetings and will make this available at follow up meetings scheduled for first quarter of 2018. Events in planning stages: January 2018: We will be setting up and conducting a second round of input with various stakeholders including local jurisdictions (municipalities and townships) and focus groups around the topics of transportation and parks, natural resources, and the environment. Longer term anticipated events to conduct FINAL plan review Spring 2018: Host an open house event or a booth/tent at community spring festivals. Spring 2018: Conduct Public Hearing at a Planning Commission Meeting followed by the distribution of the plan for agency and stakeholder review. * End of Plan Document 7 P age