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Hastings Rivertown News City of Hastings phone (651) 480-2350 101 Fourth Street East website www.ci.hastings.mn.us Hastings MN 55033-1955 e-mail citvhall@ci.hastinas.mn.us Volume X Issue 1 Wmter 2005 Page 1 Downtown Riverfront Redevelopment Update Background Information Sherman Associates was selected as the lead developer for downtown riverfront property by the City and Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) in November 2003. During the first half of 2004, Sherman prepared plans for City consideration. At the same time, in response to suggestions that the area needed a way to attract visitors, a market study was completed on the feasibility of hospitality uses along the river. The study indicated that a unique inn and/or a restaurant with banquet space could work as a destination but it would likely need public financial assistance to succeed. Plans Under Revision Following several meetings and discussion, a joint City Council/ HRA meeting in August, 2004 gave Sherman Associates direction for revising their concept plan. The revised master plan includes a condominium, a mixed use building and a restaurant/banquet facility, all on Block 1 (North of Second Street and East of Tyler Street). Sherman Associates agreed that Block 1 would be the first phase, rather than Block 3 between Sibley and Ramsey as initially proposed. The master plan and draft building designs were then reviewed by both the Planning Commission and the Heritage Preservation Commission and changes have been made based on their comments. Downtown Redevelopment. continued on Page 11... Local Government Partnerships High Performance Partnerships (HiPP) Project Dakota County and many of the county's cities are working together to identify opportunities for local government collaboration and partnerships. The cities and Dakota County are committed to collaboration in delivering services to our citizens that: . Enhance the quality and effectiveness of services . Increase the efficiency and reduce the cost of those services HiPp, continued on Page 11... MESSAGE FROM TNE MAYOR Reflecting on the past year is an opportunity to assess how our community has managed the issues we have been confronted with as well as preparing ourselves for the coming year. 2004 provided many challenges and opportunities, as Hastings continues to not only cherish its history but look forward to its future. . This past year, the city held elections for the four ward city council positions with one challenger for the first ward and uncontested races in wards 2, 3 and 4. Anthony Alongi was the first ward challenger and was successful In his bid for that city council position. I welcome Anthony to his new elected official roie and thank Janette Yandrasits for her 8 years of service on the Council. message from the mayor. continued on Page 5... ~ Canine Program to ~~ Begin at Police Department }I )~. The Hastings Police Department will have a new member in its department beginning in March of 2005, with the addition of a trained police dog. The St. Paul Police Department Canine Foundation has a program in place where they co-sponsor and partner with a smaller sized community and provide a police dog for that city and department to use. In mid-Spring 2004, Hastings Police Department was contacted by the St. Paul Police Canine Foundation about their program to see if Hastings would be interested in obtaining a police dog for our department. The initial start-up cost for a canine program is $6,000, which includes the cost of the dog as well as training for both the dog and a Hastings police officer chosen to be the handler for the dog. St. Paul Canine Foundation pays $3,00001 the $6,000 cost. Canine Program continued on Page 8...