KRPD Strategic Plan - Comment Form Please review the Draft Kaskaskia Regional Port District (KRPD) Strategic Plan, answer the questionsKaskaskia and provide your comments Regional below. (Circle Your Responses) Port District Do you feel the Vision statement is representative of the Kaskaskia Regional Port District (KRPD)? Yes, very Somewhat No, not No opinion representative Strategicrepresentative representative Plan Do you feel the Mission statement is suitable for the KRPD? Yes, very Somewhat No, not No opinion suitable suitable suitable Do you agree with the proposed Goals and Objectives for the KRPD? Yes, Somewhat Somewhat No, No opinion I agree agree disagree I disagree Do you agree with the Short Term and Long Term Goals set for the KRPD? Yes, Somewhat Somewhat No, No opinion I agree agree disagree I disagree Other Comments: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Name and Address (Optional) _____________________________________________________________ YouA may Vision also fill out thefor survey atthe www.surveymonkey.com/s/KRPD-CommentForm Next Twenty-Five Years Please complete the survey by April 11th, 2014: either on-line, at the public open house, or returning the survey by mail to: HeartLands Conservancy, Attn: KRPD Strategic Plan,25 406 E. Main Street, Mascoutah, IL 62258 Visitors enjoying the annual Lower Kaskaskia Stakeholders, Inc. Barge Trip. The annual event allows elected officials, community leaders, and the general public to experience a first-hand look at the river and learn of the value the river adds to the region. Kaskaskia Regional Port District Strategic Plan A Vision for the Next 25 Years Table of Contents Executive Summary ..................................................................................................................... 6 Chapter 1: Before the Storm, Background and History ......................................................... 9 Chapter 2: Existing Conditions ................................................................................................. 15 Chapter 3: Public Engagement Summary ................................................................................ 25 Chapter 4: SWOT Analysis ........................................................................................................ 35 Chapter 5: Vision, Mission & Values ........................................................................................ 43 Chapter 6: Strategic Objectives, Goals and Actions ............................................................... 49 Chapter 7: Priority Projects and Initiatives (Short and Long Term) .................................... 61 Chapter 8: Port District Facility Plans ...................................................................................... 83 Chapter 9: Industry Trends ........................................................................................................ 113 Glossary of Terms ........................................................................................................................ 118 Appendix A: Survey Results B: September, 2013: Public Open Houses - Meeting Boards C: Stakeholder Project Brochure D: April, 2014: Public Open House - Meeting Boards E: Public and Agency Comments to Draft Strategic Plan (dated March 26, 2014) Adopted by the Kaskaskia Regional Port District on May 12, 2014 Industry and recreation in close proximity on the Kaskaskia River. The background shows a barge of scrubber stone being unloaded at KRPD #1. In the foreground a recreational boater is enjoying an evening on the river. Acknowledgments The Planning Team would like to acknowledge the following for their insights and efforts for this process and report: The Advisory Committee Terry Beach Director, St. Clair County Economic Development Nora Feuquay University of Illinois Extension, Monroe County Economic Development Christopher Martin Coordinator, Randolph County Economic Development Ed Weilbacher General Manager, Kaskaskia Regional Port District Kaskaskia Regional Port District Board George Obernagel, Chairman Terry Liefer, Vice-Chairman Robert Myerscough, Treasurer Charles Bauer Virgil Becker Mike Conrad Clem Esker Brian Funk Richard Guebert, Jr. Bernard Heck, Jr. Rodney Linker Joe Luechtefeld Dennis Rodenberg Roger Rubemeyer Nancy Schilling Kaskaskia Regional Port District Staff Ed Weilbacher, General Manager Donna Gariglietti, Secretary HeartLands Conservancy Stephen Ibendahl Sarah Vogt Stakeholders See Chapter 9 for complete list of stakeholders involved in the planning process. Strategic Plan - A Vision for the Next 25 Years | 5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Background In early 2012, Community Development Block Grant Funds (CDBG) under the federal government’s Ike Disaster Recovery Planning Program (Ike-PLP) were made available to those Illinois communities damaged by Hurricane Ike. In March of 2012, the Kaskaskia Regional Port District (KRPD) determined that the lower Kaskaskia River region would qualify for Ike-PLP funds. KRPD sought application for a grant to compose a Comprehensive Strategic Recovery Plan (plan) for Ike-affected areas. A grant for $100,000 was awarded to assemble the plan. The Plan The Kaskaskia Regional Port District Comprehensive Strategic Recovery Plan incorporates these priority projects and initiatives. Short term priorities include: 1. Use of the Water Resources, Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) to create certainty for private sector investment along the Kaskaskia River and within the Port District. 2. Develop Phase 1 of the Fayetteville Port. 3. Develop public/private partnerships for river maintenance, including channel dredging. 4. Create new Corporate Graphic Standards, including a Port District brand/logo and develop a marketing/communications plan. 5. Evaluate the potential for the Kaskaskia Regional Port District to incorporate all of St. Clair County, including the Southwest Regional Port District. 6. Enhance Scott Air Force Base multi-modal shipping possibilities by utilizing the Kaskaskia River primary or redundant shipping options. 7. Annually update the list of the top five Port District capital improvement projects. 6 | Kaskaskia Regional Port District Long term priorities include: 1. Identify and implement stewardship best practices to reduce silt in the Kaskaskia River from head cutting, agriculture and urbanization. 2. Identification, master planning and development of a new Port Facility between Evansville and the Lock and Dam. 3. Full analysis study of raising the Kaskaskia River Project pool elevation. 4. Promote the development of the Prairie State Energy Campus and other opportunities for large development sites. 5. Implementation of freight priority projects and routes for rail and highway. 6. Promote establishing a four-lane highway within the Port District. Strategic Objectives Strategic Objectives, goals and actions to achieve the short and long term tasks and priorities include: • Be an economic catalyst for Southwestern Illinois, including pre- screening large development sites of 300 acres or more within the Port District, and marketing those sites. Create and regularly update Port District facility master plans. Enhance the Scott Air Force Base connection, develop the Fayetteville facility, and support efforts to broaden Port District economic development powers. • Be a key gateway to the Mississippi River by being an integral part of the M-55 Marine Highway, evaluate incorporating all of St. Clair county and the Southwest Regional Port District into the Kaskaskia Regional Port District, and seek opportunities to leverage a Union Pacific Railroad connection and rail yard at the Kellogg facility. • Be more visible by increasing awareness of the Kaskaskia River and the Port District regionally, statewide and nationally to better position the Port District for future funding possibilities, develop a marketing and communications plan, develop corporate graphic standards and logo, increase visibility of Port District facilities, and coordinate with tourism partners to promote recreation-focused events on the Kaskaskia River. Strategic Plan - A Vision for the Next 25 Years | 7 • Promote Multi-Modal Shipping by keeping the river navigable, increasing competitiveness with Mississippi River shipping, enhancing highway connections, investing in key rail spurs, establishing a Port Facility between Evansville and the Lock and Dam, promote transload opportunities, and work to develop an in-river donor barge transfer station upstream from the Lock and Dam. • Promote recreation opportunities by increasing public access to river and surrounding IDNR lands, increasing recreational opportunities along the river, encouraging ecotourism, and creating a trail connection north and south along the river. • Promote environmental stewardship by becoming the “greenest” port district in the region, by best conservation practices, and by promoting regional green infrastructure strategies. • Be collaborative by continuing existing relationships and developing new relationships with local, state and federal agencies including the Economic Development Administration, USDA Rural Development, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers,