During the 2024–2025 academic year, RCP is partnering with the City of Chaska, the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC), and the Metropolitan Council on projects to advance community sustainability, equity, and resilience. You can learn more about the projects below.
Does your local government agency have a project idea to build community resilience that could benefit from research or technical assistance? It's not too late to apply for an RCP Partnership!
Chaska: Pedestrian and Bicycle Evaluation Plan
Project Goal: Develop an evaluation program that establishes baseline data for pedestrian and bicycle usage so the City can track progress over time, assess unmet needs, and make strategic infrastructure investments (Project Brief)
Partner: City of Chaska
Project Lead: Ashley Cauley, City Planner, City of Chaska
Course Matches: TBD
Chaska: Defining Properties for Historic Nomination
Project Goal: Research historic buildings in Chaska to support the City's goal of nominating more properties that are eligible to be added to the City’s local register (Project Brief)
Partner: City of Chaska
Project Lead: Elizabeth Hanson, City Planner, City of Chaska Community Development Department
Course Matches: TBD
Chaska: Downtown Paseo Placemaking and Activation Toolkit
Project Goal: Create a placemaking/activation plan that can be used by the City, businesses, and the local business district as a guide and inspirational tool to foster social activity in newly constructed paseos in order to bring more people downtown to socialize, shop, eat, and explore (Project Brief)
Partner: City of Chaska
Project Lead: Julie Grove, City of Chaska Economic Development Coordinator
Course Matches: TBD
Chaska: Strategies for Metro Area Sales and Use Tax for Housing
Project Goal: Determine best strategic use for new Metro Area Sales and Use Tax for Housing fund to support affordable housing opportunities for residents (Project Brief)
Partner: City of Chaska
Project Lead: Nate Kabat, City of Chaska Community Development Director
Course Matches: TBD
Chaska: Neighborhood Traffic Calming Toolbox
Project Goal: Create a traffic calming toolbox and evaluation process to help City staff identify possible interventions and programs (Project Brief)
Partner: City of Chaska
Project Lead: Alex Mollenkamp, Assistant City Engineer, City of Chaska
Course Matches: TBD
Metropolitan Airports Commission: MSP Airport Rates and Charges Review
Project Goal: Evaluate current fees, rates and charges the MAC charges to non-airline companies operating at MSP, conduct a benchmarking review of rates structures at other large-hub airports, and recommend changes based on these insights.
Partner: Metropolitan Airports Commission
Project Lead: Tim Simon, Chief Financial Officer, Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC)
Course Matches: TBD
Metropolitan Airports Commission: Standardized Method of Hiring Personnel Versus Consultants
Project Goal: Develop a standardized set of criteria and triggers to guide the MAC about when to hire an FTE, when to hire an external consultant or contractor, and when to change from a consultant to FTE
Partner: Metropolitan Airports Commission
Project Lead: Tim Simon, Chief Financial Officer, Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC)
Course Matches: TBD