Review Draft Comprehensive Plan Update

Background
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.

Purpose
The Purpose of this case is for the Commission to provide comment at this stage of the refinement to the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Chapter (noting that the Commission has been engaged in this process for over a year).  The attached Parks' chapter may be considered a 90% draft. The focus has been organization and content. The document will be formatted and last refinements made prior to final approval.

Additionally, within attached draft chapter is an element entitled '2030 Plan Accomplishments.' A portion reads:
"While the question might be rhetorical in nature, it is asked, ‘Why do a Comprehensive Plan?’  One answer is, because the Comprehensive Plan is so well vetted by policy makers and the community’s engagement and participation—only true priorities make it into the Plan, and so those goals and strategies identified, become the City’s work plan and focus for the coming years."  What follows is a listing of some of the accomplishments of the city's most recent (and current) Comprehensive Plan—which further illustrates the purpose of the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Chapter of the Comprehensive 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, in addition to two direct mailings to all households in Ramsey.
 
Near term/Upcoming Meetings for Review of the entire Comprehensive Plan (not just the Parks' Chapter):
 
    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)
 

The next major milestone is intended to send the entire draft Comprehensive Plan 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.
 

Staff recommends approval of the draft Parks, Recreation and Open Space Chapter, noting that (the document will be able to be updated throughout this adjacent review period).

Based upon discussion, motion to approve the draft Parks, Recreation and Open Space Chapter.