Council hears plan to fast-track downtown master plan with MN Collaborative; focus on implementable projects and developer engagement

City staff on April 8 introduced a consultant team selected to develop an implementation‑focused downtown master plan and described a community engagement process designed to produce specific, fundable projects.

Assistant City Manager Benson told council the city issued a request for qualifications seeking firms experienced in small‑area plans that are implementable and grounded in market realities. Staff recommended MN Collaborative (presented as MEN Collaborative in the consultant—s slides) with Catalyst Urban Planning on the team. The consultant team said they will emphasize project‑level recommendations, funding strategies and developer engagement rather than a purely visionary plan.

Zach Lokrum of MN Collaborative (project manager) and Paris Rutherford of Catalyst described a three‑phase, action‑oriented approach: Understand (diagnose barriers and assess prior plans and market conditions), Envision (translate community input into prioritized projects and conceptual designs) and Act (detailed implementation steps, funding strategies and developer workgroups). The consultants proposed an approximately eight‑month timeline with built‑in touch points for council and joint workshops with Planning & Zoning and other boards.

“The key components of the project that are external facing to the community, it—s really three key phases that we try to name them with action verbs so that it—s easy to understand what it is that we—re trying to achieve,” Lokrum said. The team said deliverables will include a "case for action," conceptual designs for catalytic projects, a development funding strategy and an implementation matrix with a tracking spreadsheet for city staff.

Councilmembers asked about coordination with economic development staff, prior community engagement efforts, and how to translate market demand into projects. Consultants said they will work closely with the city—s economic development director and involve stakeholders, developers and residents in interactive engagement exercises. Councilmembers stressed wanting a plan that advances concrete projects and avoids repeating previous processes that did not produce implementation.

The consultant selection and an agreement with MN Collaborative were listed on the consent agenda (Item B) for council consideration. Staff said they plan city staff tours, one‑on‑one interviews with council members, public events and a developer workgroup as part of the outreach schedule.