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Community involvement: Burnsville

Burnsville’s visioning process, the third conducted by the city, used themes suggested by Good to Great, a management philosophy authored by Jim Collins. Jim Benson, President Emeritus of Bemidji State University, led participants in discussions of three topics:

• “What are we good at?”
• “What are we passionate about?”
• “What will bring us prosperity?”

The meeting also drew commitments from 120 people to serve on one of 21st Century visioning committees. Each committee explored a theme suggested at the kickoff – youth, transportation, safety, neighborhoods, environment, development and city services. Committees met from July through October, including an all-committee meeting in September.

CEO focus group recommendations

Burnsville’s process had a unique “CEO focus group.” Seven leaders from Burnsville’s largest employers participated, sharing their perspectives about city strengths and weaknesses. CEO focus group recommendations included:

• Adding more continuing education.
• Creating more destinations like the “Heart of the City” project.
• Adding an entry sign, along with better maintenance for Cty. Rd. 42 and Hwy. 13, to increase awareness and make the city more attractive.

“The visioning process was imperative in Burnsville,” said city planner Deb Garros, who is lead developer for the comp plan. “Our city is nearing middle age — we’re planning for its maturity.

“We need to be sure our residents and stakeholders agree with the vision that drives plans for infrastructure, redevelopment, the environment, neighborhoods, and a population that will be older, more diverse and growing,” Garros said. Burnsville is forecast to have 65,000 residents in 2030 compared to 61,000 in 2005.

Burnsville has posted a calendar of its comp plan public meetings on the city’s web site. A 26-member advisory board, composed of city committee representatives and one member of each visioning team, met from January to March of 2007. More large public workshops are planned this year. The city hopes to adopt the plan update in June 2008.