9/16/2024 - City Council - Work Session - Agendas
CITY OF SPRING PARK
WORK SESSION AGENDA
SEPTEMBER 16, 2024 – 5:00 PM
SPRING PARK CITY HALL
(Work Session discussion times are approximate)
1. 5:00: Planning Commission Interview – Gloria Stafford
2. 5:30: Planning Commission Interview – Kathryn Alexander
3. 5:55 Miscellaneous
4. 6:00: Adjourn
Gloria Stafford
4201 Sunset Drive, Apartment #405
952-715-0880
glrstffrd@aol.com (Gloria Stafford without the vowels)
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I have never been employed by a municipality, but have served as Member of Faculty Senate, University of
Northern Iowa, 2016-2019; Member of Facilities Planning Advisory Committee, University of Northern Iowa,
2017-2024; Member of Public Art Commission, University of Northern Iowa, 2019-2024; President of Painter’s
Creek Homeowners Association, Minnetrista, 2005 -2010
Retired in May, 2024 as a tenured Associate Professor from the University of Northern Iowa. Prior to 13 years of
college teaching, I had worked as a commercial interior designer from 1992-2008. I also operated my own
residential interior design business from 2009 – 2011.
Ph.D. from the University of Missouri in Human Environmental Sciences with an emphasis in Architectural
Studies -2016 (program included coursework in Urban Planning). M.A. from Savannah College of Art & Design
in Interior Design – 2011. B.A. University of Minnesota -1980.
Faculty mentor for Student Chapter of IIDA (International Interior Design Association) –2016 -2023.
Interior Design Excellence Award – Member of the Year – awarded by the IIDA Great Plains
chapter for contributions to legislative efforts towards interior design professional recognition in Iowa.
Associate Editor, The Exchange, the newsletter of the Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC) – 2018-2023.
American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) – Program Director for Minnesota Chapter –2008 – 2011.
As a long-practicing design professional, I have a keen awareness of aesthetic, functional, and usability
issues and environmental concerns.
I have been a LEED (Leadership on Energy and Environmental Design) Accredited Professional since 2009 so
I have extensive knowledge of sustainable building and land use practices.
I have resided in Spring Park since 2019, and before that, in Minnetrista, since 2000, so I am very familiar with
the area, the neighborhoods, and the amenities.
I have benefitted from some of the most recent improvements in Spring Park: having used the pickleball courts east of
Thor Thompson Park and the improved boat launch on Sunset Drive. I have also very much enjoyed the development of
Back Channel Brewing in recent years, live in The Mist, and utilize the regional trail. I very much look forward to the Sunset
Drive reconstruction project (I realize it is a Hennepin County project) and the Yacht Club/Shoreline Hotel development! I
would love to see full retail tenant occupancy of the first level of the south Mist building, first level of Lakeview Lofts, and
first level of the Shoreline Place condo building, as well as other vacant commercial buildings, and would prefer tenants
that brought additional traffic and vitality into the city.
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Gloria Stafford
July 30, 2024
Although I am fully aware these issues are beyond the scope of city government, I have been disappointed with the multi-year
delays to both The Yacht Club/Shoreline Hotel development and the Sunset Drive reconstruction project. I realize the city is
continuing to monitor some of the poorly maintained single-family homes, such as those on the southeast of the Kings
Road/Shoreline Drive intersection. I would love to see a long-term visioning plan for the current industrial property (red brick
buildings) on the north side of Shoreline between Spring Street and Interlachen.