Proposed agenda items for next Economic Development Meeting

 

Here are my submitted agenda items for the Franklin Economic Development Commission meeting scheduled for Monday, April 26 (6pm; room to be announced).

I'll post the agenda when it appears; unfortunately, there is no guarantee that any of these items will appear.

1) Digital Visioning Presentation: This will reprise the presentation I gave, at the mayor's request, to the Ad Hoc Development Process Review Committee. IT WOULD BE USEFUL TO HAVE POWERPOINT CAPABILITIES FOR THIS; I can make paper handouts if PowerPoint is not possible. [Note: I'm long overdue in sharing my Digital Visioning presentation here on SPRAWLED OUT. The illustration above is a preview.]

2) Franklin Trails Committee update: Walking Workshop and next steps.

3) Web 2.0 and Economic Development: Discussion of implementations to the City of Franklin website that can be made at little or no cost; discussion of FaceBook page for Franklin Economic Development news and issues; etc.

4) Re-engagement with/re-assessment of the 27th Street project: I'm told by Mayor Taylor that the Economic Development Commission is essentially responsible for the 27th Street Steering Committee, yet it is my opinion/observation that the EDC membership is woefully under-informed as to the issues facing the project as well as the monies being spent. (I note, for instance, that the 4/20/10 Common Council agenda item G.5 concerns the Drexel Avenue Interchange in relationship to 27th Street, and the EDC has not offered the Common Council a recommendation on the issue.)

I think we have to:

• Tear this thing down to its component pieces, review the timeline, and make sure this ongoing expenditure still makes sense in the current (and anticipated) economic climate, as well as in light of Oak Creek's evolving indifference; and
• If we're going forward, reassess the streetscape planning and design to leverage new federal grant and funding opportunities that accompany certain design choices that I do NOT see in any current streetscape drafts.

If the 27th Street reassessment means distributing a bunch of binders full of review information at this meeting and then holding the discussion at a subsequent meeting (after the EDC membership has had time to review the material), so be it.

Comments

[Greg Kowalski]

According to former EDC/CDA member Ted Grintjes, the EDC supported the Drexel Interchange concept. Or so that's what he said at Tuesday's council meeting.

[John Michlig]

They very likely did, but that was before my time. If it came up for vote again, there would be at least one dissenting vote and a vigorous debate - - something I doubt occurred very much during the tenure of Mr. Grintjes.

[Scott Thinnes]

Want to know who benefits from the I-94 / Drexel Avenue Interchange... follow the money.

Who's willing to 'kick-in' the most funds to pay for it. Oak Creek, $3.75 million. Oh yeah, I'd say they benefit plenty (Howell, Delphi, Urban Village...). Then, NML, $1.6 million. They have plenty to benefit too. (Their campus access, Urban Village; I believe they are the current land owners). Franklin???...not so much (27TH Street).

Maybe the 27TH Street Corridor will benefit marginally. But, for commercial to be sucessful along the corridor wouldn't they like to have traffic? Why make it so easy for that traffic to get back to I-94 without even having to pass by the potential merchant locations?

A lot of comparisons are made between 27TH Street and Bluemound Road. They are similar, except Bluemound has a far end destination; Waukesha. 27TH Street really doesn't. Bluemound is a traffic nightmare, but, it is a commercial success. Why? Could the reasons for both of those be... only two Interstate access points (Moorland Road and Barker Road)? We all hate driving there; but, we all shop there also.

NML came into the deal with their $1.6 million at the last minute. But that's good business. Why commit anything until you see what the stupid governments will kick in first. NML wants the interchange, but at the least expense to them, $0 if at all possible. I don't fault them for that. Again, good business. After all it's 'the quiet company'.

I wonder if Franklin even tasted the bait as they went hook, line and sinker into that MOU double talk. The majority didn't even understand it, and still don't; even as it unfolds in front of their faces.

One more reason why... Government has no business being in business.