2015–2016 Partner: Carver County

Identify best practices and policy tools that can be used by County and local government to accommodate and attract high-quality solar and other alternative energy projects while protecting community interests.

Evaluate three parcels in Chaska that have been identified as potential sites for a solar field. Results of this project will lead to development of renewable green power to serve Chaska residents and the municipal utility.

Determine options for integrating renewable energy sources into Carver County government buildings, including the government center in Chaska and the public works building in Cologne.

Determine best practices in developing stormwater re-use (irrigation) systems that account for soil suitability, vegetation types, application areas and rates, efficient storage, maintenance, redundancies, and monitoring effectiveness to inform updates to the Carver County Water Management…

Investigate the feasibility of removing or restructuring the dam on the Crow River to enhance the fishery in the river and create a whitewater recreation attraction in the City of Watertown.

Build on the results of the recently completed Comprehensive Housing Needs Assessment by Maxfield Research by analyzing how existing County and City policies, codes, and practices impact market supply for senior housing, workforce housing, and housing for homeless populations.

Determine the need for HIAs within Carver County, and research and evaluate approaches being used nationally to administer HIAs.

Explore how the Carver County Community Development Agency (CDA) can build on the success of the Community Land Trust  program in Waconia by expanding the program to create permanently affordable homeownership options in other communities in Carver County.

Develop a marketing campaign that highlights the City of Watertown’s amenities and community characteristics—such as natural resources, schools, and a vibrant downtown—to attract home buyers and business development.

Develop a trail wayfinding program for the City of Victoria, and coordinate with neighboring Cities and the County to promote consistent user experiences for trail users.

Evaluate the Chaska Community Center and School District 112 middle and elementary school complex located at Highway 41 and Engler Boulevard to recommend improvements that would enhance bike and pedestrian access to the area and circulation within the complex.

Inventory the current pedestrian and bicycle environment at SouthWest Transit park-and-ride facilities, identify options for improvements, and prioritize improvements for implementation.

Develop marketing materials and strategies that can be used to promote the sustainability benefits of SouthWest Transit’s services.

Identify school-based mental health models and best practice to determine options, implementation strategies, and resource needs for developing such a program for the Central School District, located in Norwood Young America.

Analyze the incidence and impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in the County, and identify opportunities to build resistance, support families, and strengthen communities to reduce the incidence of childhood maltreatment.

Assess the public-health needs of mobile-home community residents in Carver County, and identify interventions and communication strategies that are culturally appropriate for residents.

Promote hiring of ex-offenders by local employers in Carver County, and develop strategies for ex-offenders to be successfully reintroduced into the local workforce and to sustain successful placements.

Develop a water conservation and education program to reduce outdoor water use for lawn irrigation in the City of Victoria.

Based on results from a recent resident "knowledge, attitudes, and practices" survey, develop education and marketing tools that the Carver County Water Management Organization (WMO) can use to encourage and assist residents to implement best-management practices that treat storm water…

Identify best practices and strategies for Carver County, local governments, and other agencies to more effectively engage the Latino population in the county about community services and programming.

Identify and assess models and strategies for delivering adult education programming in the absence of a higher education institution within Carver County.

Create a marketing plan that encompasses the unique natural amenities located in Victoria and Eastern Carver County, including parks, the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, lakes and water bodies, outdoor recreation activities, wineries and orchards, breweries, and other businesses that are…

Inform planning and historic preservation efforts related to the Andrew Peterson Farmstead to maximize the site’s potential as a public resource and an historic attraction.

Evaluate the impacts and outcomes of Carver County's continuous improvement and innovation programs. Specifically, the County is interested in methods for evaluating outcomes of LEAN/Kaizen events, explaining innovation outcomes to the public, and developing more intentional approaches to…

Review the City of Victoria's firefighter staffing model and identify options for meeting increased service needs that will result from anticipated future population growth.

Inform the City of Watertown about how GIS tools available through its partnership with the Carver County GIS Office can best be employed in the field to increase staff efficiency.

Explore best management practices that the City of Watertown can use to maintain playing field surfaces in a way that meets growing community demand for recreational fields, limits adverse impacts to the environment, and decreases long-term maintenance costs.

Identify evaluation approaches and methodologies Carver County can use to measure the effectiveness of and impacts of its Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Program to inform future improvements to the program.

To conduct a formative evaluation of the Intercultural Specialist program for Eastern Carver County School District Community Education.