Minutes of

Strategic Planning for 2025 Steering Committee

Tuesday, March 22, 2005, 9 a.m. at YWCA

Reasons for moving forward on a regional planning effort are to be competitive and mobilize resources.  Success doesn’t just happen, we have to plan for it and develop a common vision.

Topics Discussed

The importance of getting school children involved in the process was discussed.

The Eagle Lake Mayor said he thought citizens would be served by the process.  What happens in Mankato impacts Eagle Lake.

Bill Bernhagen suggested that the process may be more important than a product.

David Schooff said the Greater Mankato Chamber of Commerce would be willing to do the administrative functions for the steering committee and be the repository.  GMED would assist with the mobilization of the CEO’s; and Citizens Voices would be the grass roots based movement. 

Excitement was expressed about the community voice.

Curt Fisher provided several recollections of the ACT 2000 process.  The Mayors of Mankato and North Mankato served as the catalyst and organized the movement which was key because it legitimized the process and caused all to become interested in the process.  At one point 1,000 people were involved.  The process and movement was well-organized, there was open thinking and it was an open process.  This group moved to an action plan where many of the items were actually implemented.  Curt Fisher said who starts the process is key and that the steering committee is critical to the success.  ACT 2000 was an energy that started with the cities and handed off to the citizens.

Attitudes and motivations need to be properly aligned in the beginning.

John Brady said we just don’t hear from the community enough…that’s what he likes about this effort.  He said he would expect that both mayors would embrace the notion of working together to move things forward.

By having many stakeholders involved, responsibilities are easily picked up because people are already at the table.

All agreed an important next step is to assemble a Steering Committee.

A regional approach was discussed—it would be positive to invite people to engage.  Inclusion is a good way to embrace.

Using the Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) primary, secondary and tertiary population rings was discussed.  By using this geographic map, it could help identify the planning boundaries.

Tony Filipovitch said perhaps someone from the State Demographer’s Office would give a presentation to the steering committee about what the MSA is anticipated to look like in 2025.

It was mentioned that many area market studies refer to a population of 350,000.

Steering Committee—12 to 15 members were discussed.  Some key slots seem to be representatives from:

¨ Chamber

¨ GMED

¨ Citizens Voices

¨ Mankato

¨ North Mankato

¨ Eagle Lake

Pat Hentges suggested we should be inclusive of the small cities.  Perhaps there could be a Greater Mankato subgroup (include someone like Bob Gunther?) and a representative from this subgroup could serve on the Steering committee.  Interdependency among cities and jurisdictions is significant.

All agreed the group should be diverse.  Members should be visionaries, think ahead, and have credibility and a great source of contacts.  Corporations, retail, non profits, church, arts, education, health care were all identified as important voices.

Going into successful companies and tapping into their talent and input was also suggested.  The group was cautioned to avoid imbalance in the input process.

Marsha Danielson suggested we look at available resources through the Blandin Foundation and the Initiative Fund.

Wendell Sande suggested that once the Steering Committee is formed they would make a presentation to the Mankato and North Mankato City Councils and request that each appoint a member to the Steering Committee.

It was suggested that Citizens Voices can be a catalyst in bringing people to the table and then the effort shifted to the Chamber.

Curt Fisher suggested that a great way to begin building energy is to as people, “What do you want the community to be in 2025?”

The process of work

1.David Schooff said the Greater Mankato Chamber of Commerce would be willing to do the administrative functions for the steering committee and be the repository.  GMED would assist with the mobilization of the CEO’s; and Citizens Voices would be the grass roots based movement. 

2. Wendell Sande suggested that once the Steering Committee is formed they would make a presentation to the Mankato and North Mankato City Councils and request that each appoint a member to the Steering Committee.

3. Make presentations to the City Councils of Mankato & North Mankato to gain their support. Ask that someone be designated as the member of the Steering Committee.

4. Gain positive & prevent negative feelings of the surrounding communities by making presentations to their governing bodies in the secondary & tertiary "rings".

5. It was suggested that Citizens Voices can be a catalyst in bringing people to the table and then the effort shifted to the Chamber.

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Next Steps Tuesday, April 5, from 9 to 10 a.m. at the YWCA

1. Presentation to the two city councils.

2. Form nucleus of steering committee

3. Students working on market area research (Bill's ideas)

4. Role of Citizens’ Voices staff support provided by SMIF