A comprehensive plan creates a long-term vision for how a community will grow and change over the next 20 years. The comprehensive plan typically includes a set of policies, goals, and strategies to guide growth and investments in facilities and services to achieve the long-term vision.

Minnesota law requires that all cities, counties, and townships within the seven-county metropolitan region update their comprehensive plan every ten years. In addition, the Metropolitan Council is required to prepare a regional development plan and related systems plans for transportation, water resources, and parks and open space. In 2015, the Metropolitan Council also prepared a policy plan for housing and water supply. The purpose of this process is to ensure the orderly and efficient growth and development within the seven-county metropolitan area.

The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners established a comprehensive plan policy advisory committee in 2016 to provide guidance and direction for the Hennepin County 2040 Comprehensive Plan. The committee was comprised of 21 members including three county commissioners and 18 appointed members.

The collective experience and expertise of the members helped to ensure the plan is reflective of the county and responsive to community aspirations.

The policy advisory committee met throughout 2016 and 2017.

June 1, 2017 meeting

6–8 p.m.
Hennepin County Library – Southdale
7001 York Avenue, Edina

Meeting documents

• Agenda (PDF)
• Full presentation (PDF)
• Public Works overview (PDF)
• Capital projects report 2016 (PDF)
• Asset management report 2016 (PDF)

October 26, 2017 meeting

6–8 p.m.
Hennepin County Library – Brookdale
6125 Shingle Creek Parkway, Brooklyn Center

Meeting documents

• Agenda (PDF)
• Notes (DOC)
• Presentation (PDF)

The policy advisory committee hosted a series of idea forums where experts on a wide variety of topics were invited to share their thoughts on what the county should do to better serve residents today and to prepare for changes coming in the next 25 years.

Idea forum 1

September 29, 2016
6–8 p.m.
Hennepin County Library – Brookdale
6125 Shingle Creek Parkway, Brooklyn Center

Panelists

• Tawanna Black, Northside Funders Group
• Tom Fisher, University of Minnesota
• Patrick Hamilton, Science Museum of Minnesota

Watch videos of the forum

• Video 1 (YouTube) (29 minutes)
• Video 2 (YouTube) (29 minutes)
• Video 3 (YouTube) (31 minutes)
• Video 4 (YouTube) (16 minutes)

Idea forum 2

October 27, 2016
6–8 p.m.
Hennepin County Library – Washburn
5244 Lyndale Avenue South, Minneapolis

Panelists

• Susan Brower, Minnesota State Demographer
• Ed Ehlinger, Minnesota Commissioner of Health
• Anu Ramaswami, University of Minnesota

Watch videos of the forum

• Video 1 (YouTube) (30 minutes)
• Video 2 (YouTube) (30 minutes)
• Video 3 (YouTube) (33 minutes)

Idea forum 3

November 30, 2016
6–8 p.m.
Hennepin County Library – Ridgedale
12601 Ridgedale Drive, Minnetonka

Panelists

• Sharon Sayles Belton, Thomson Reuters
• Yingling Fan, University of Minnesota
• Peter Frosch, Greater MSP

Watch videos of the forum

• Video 1 (YouTube) (32 minutes)
• Video 2 (YouTube) (21 minutes)
• Video 3 (YouTube) (29 minutes)
• Video 4 (YouTube) (29 minutes)

Idea forum 4

January 5, 2017
8:30–10:30 a.m.
701 – 4th Avenue South, Minneapolis

Panelists

• Judy Regenscheid, Assistant County Administrator – Operations
• Jennifer DeCubellis, Deputy Administrator – Health & Human Services
• Mark Thompson, Assistant County Administrator – Public Safety

Idea forum 5

January 19, 2017
6–8 p.m.
Hennepin County Library – Brookdale
6125 Shingle Creek Parkway, Brooklyn Center

Panelists

• Sharon Pierce, Minneapolis Community and Technical College
• Deidre Schmidt, CommonBond
• Charlie Zelle, Minnesota Commissioner of Transportation

Watch videos of the forum

• Video 1 (YouTube) (16 minutes)
• Video 2 (YouTube) (20 minutes)
• Video 3 (YouTube) (21 minutes)
• Video 4 (YouTube) (24 minutes)
• Video 5 (YouTube) (24 minutes)

Hennepin County engaged regional thought leaders for their big-picture, future-oriented advice and paired that with what was learned from cities and their on-the-ground engagement efforts with residents.

Documents

• Thought Leader Report (PDF)
• Thought Leader Report Summary (PDF)

Public hearing

• November 15, 2018, 1:30 p.m.
• Hennepin County Government Center, Board Room (A-2400)
  300 – 6th Street South, Minneapolis