Over the past few weeks, this series has pondered a few ways the city of Chaska could help downtown – through urban planning, downtown city functions, and building trail connections.

Of course, the city isn’t in the business of directly subsidizing downtown businesses. The more it takes on that role, the stickier it gets – case in point, the ongoing Klein mansion restaurant quagmire.

“Downtown needs a stimulus plan,” recently commented a long-time downtown businessman. Not a bad notion. Unfortunately, downtown will keep waiting and waiting for its own billion dollar bailout check.

However, it did receive $540,000 in federal stimulus dollars toward a Second Street stoplight and Highway 41 improvements. This stoplight will improve pedestrian safety and downtown connections – hopefully developing some synergy in a downtown that has been split in two.

So even a small piece of the stimulus pie can help.

It’s up to the city to continue looking for these dollars for downtown. And it’s up to downtown businesses, churches and residents to keep them on task – as they did with the Second Street stoplight.

Through its efforts to keep affordable housing in Chaska, the city has received millions in Met Council dollars. Can it use this aggressive approach to find other pools of money, or direct residents toward state and federal funds?

The city offers a storefront loan program, for building owners looking to restore a historic appearance. Now, earlier this month, Gov. Tim Pawlenty signed into law the Minnesota Jobs Stimulus Bill, which includes the State Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit.

According to the Minnesota Historical Society, this historic preservation tax credit will allow a state income tax credit equal to 20 percent of the cost of rehabilitating a qualifying historic property. That’s a huge boon for downtown residents and shop owners. How can downtown benefit from this credit?

The Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment pumping thousands of dollars into programs throughout the state. The city and local groups need to consider how it can tap into this fund to benefit downtown.

A recent Carver County Library program that brought Minnesota author/humorist Kevin Kling to town packed the Chaska Community Center auditorium.

Can this funding be used to bolster the city’s Friday night band concerts? How about using it to add historical markers to trails? How about money to fund public art and attract people downtown?

There are other ways the city can help downtown and its businesses. Some business owners have called for revising the city’s sign ordinance – something that should be considered.

At the very least, the council and staff should ponder the meaning of its ordinance that “The choice of signage shall be consistent not only with the building and its surroundings, but also with the small-town, historic character of Chaska.” Yes, ye olde Chaska had neon lights. If we can’t live with that fact, perhaps downtown traffic should be limited to horse-drawn carriages.

The city also needs to make sure it doesn’t kill downtown with taxes – of key concern is the current proposal to assess commercial properties 100 percent of street reconstruction. Once the city begins reconstructing its downtown commercial roads, this could be a killer for many downtown businesses. No doubt, this idea will have its share of debate.

The city needs to be sensitive to the impact of taxes (incoming and outgoing) and ordinances on downtown Chaska.

Editor's Note: In a series of Downtown Turnaround"editorials, the Herald is offering ideas to improve downtown Chaska. Join the discussion by posting your own comments or e-mailing [email protected].

This editorial was first published in the April 15 print edition of the Chaska Herald. For previous Downtown Turnaround editorials, click on these links: Making a connection; Permanent? Not Necessarily; Show them what you've got; Flood of Illusions; Keep it practical, keep it affordable; What makes us strong?