Review Draft Comprehensive Plan Update

The purpose of this case is to review a draft of the Comprehensive Plan Update. Staff has completed an initial draft of all Chapters, but not all are complete and ready to publish for review. These documents are still in draft format. The focus has been organization and content. The document will be formatted into a final design prior to final approval.

Note: by consensus at their March 27 Regular Meeting, the City Council asked that the following changes be made to be more consistent with the City Council's Strategic Plan (3 Year Organizational Plan):

• Key Goals/Themes Amended as Follows:
  • A Balance of Rural Character and Urban Development
  • An Active Community
  • A Connected Community
  • Smart, Citizen-Focused Government
  • Financial Stability
• In order to keep focus on priority on Highway 10 and Future Mississippi River Crossing as well as concerns about true impact, remove tactic to consider a Rum River Crossing connecting to the City of Anoka/Andover. The Planning Commission would still like to keep some language about this topic in the plan.

Notification is not required at this stage. The City has hosted a variety of public engagement opportunities in person and online over the past two (2) years.

Upcoming Meetings for Review

• April 9 Public Workshop
• May 3 Planning Commission
• May 22 City Council (authorize for distribution/comment)
• December 6 Planning Commission
• December 11 City Council (approve final draft for Metropolitan Council)
• Early 2019 Planning Commission and City Council (adopt Final Plan)

Every ten (10) years, the City is required (as all metropolitan area communities are) to submit a Comprehensive Plan to the Metropolitan Council for review and approval. Regardless of the statutory requirements, there were a number of planning projects and updates that warranted updates to the City's long-range vision (20 years). The City has seen significant benefit in terms of securing outside funding and community consensus by having a clear vision for our community. This long-range planning also helps plan and prioritize for larger capital items such as transportation improvements, utilities, parks, trails, etc. With a limited amount of resources, it is important to plan and prioritize these important capital investments.

Please note that we are required to attach our existing Water Supply, Wastewater, and Surface Water Plans/Studies as appendices. These attachments noted by 'Appendix' are not part of the formal review. There is a DNR Water Supply Template that the City must complete as part of this update, and that is being reviewed as part of this process. This template was previously approved for distribution for comment by the City Council.

The only Chapter not published for review at this point is the Parks and Recreation Plan. A draft of this plan has been completed, and Staff is working on edits and formatting before sending for review.

The next major milestone is intended to send the draft document for adjacent community review, as required. Adjacent communities are allowed six (6) months to comment. In order to make the December 31, 2018 submittal deadline to the Metropolitan Council, the draft plan must be sent for comment by the end of May. The document will be able to be updated throughout this adjacent review period.

For more information on the update, visit www.cityoframsey.com/ramsey2040.

This case is being handled as part of normal Staff duties. Assistance on various Chapters is provided by WSB Associates, Bolton and Menk, and LHB/Bruce Jacobson. Funding for these services is provided through the General Fund as part of Departmental Professional Services Budgets.

Additionally, the City received a $32,000 Planning Grant from the Metropolitan Council for aide in the completion of the update.

No action is being requested. General feedback on the draft is appreciated.

No action is being requested. General feedback on the draft is appreciated.