Browsing by Subject "Local Government"
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Item Bee-ing Ramsey: Planning Pollinator Habitats(Resilient Communities Project (RCP), University of Minnesota, 2017) de Alcuaz, Ally; Page, Katie; Weaver, BlakeThis project was completed as part of the 2017-2018 Resilient Communities Project (rcp.umn.edu) partnership with the City of Ramsey. Ramsey is rich in natural resources, which are highly valued by residents. The City was in the process of updating its Comprehensive Plan, including the natural resources component, and wanted to develop innovative strategies to identify, protect, and communicate to the public the value of natural resources. With a focus on protecting and restoring habitat for pollinators, students in Dr. Fernando Burga’s Land Use Planning class identified key pollinators and habitats, outlined existing pollinator-friendly policies in Ramsey, researched best practices in other communities to protect and expand pollinator habitat, and identified key opportunities to protect pollinators in conjunction with residential and mixed-use development, open space areas, and transportation corridors. A final report is available.Item Capital Gains: Rethinking Developmental Fees in Ramsey, MN(Resilient Communities Project (RCP), University of Minnesota, 2017) Austin, Todd; Powers, Denetrick; Imihy, PeggysueThis project was completed as part of the 2017-2018 Resilient Communities Project (rcp.umn.edu) partnership with the City of Ramsey. Approximately every five years, the City updates its capital improvement plans and sources of funding, including development fees charged to builders for new developments. To remain competitive with peer communities, the City wanted to assess its current development fee schedule relative to fees charged in other communities. Students in Dr. Fernando Burga’s Land Use Planning class researched state regulations regarding development fees; calculated fees for several hypothetical developments in Ramsey and compared the costs to fees charged for similar developments in other communities; interviewed developers to assess how important development fees are as a factor in determining whether or not to develop in a particular community; and recommended changes to Ramsey's development fee structure, as well as other funding mechanisms the City could consider for paying for infrastructure improvements. The students’ final report is available.Item Circle of Ramsey: Linking People and Landscape Through Greenways(Resilient Communities Project (RCP), University of Minnesota, 2017) DesGrado, Alena; Neill, Samantha; Schutt, JakeThis project was completed as part of the 2017-2018 Resilient Communities Project (rcp.umn.edu) partnership with the City of Ramsey. Ramsey has identified several key ecological and recreation corridors that are prime locations to be connected, integrated, and receive public protection. The City’s broader vision, referred to as the “Circle of Ramsey,” employs a strategy to connect key ecological corridors with larger community parks using greenways and trail corridors. The Circle of Ramsey concept has helped to focus discussion about park dedication for new developments and to identify priority trails for construction within the city. To build public support for additional greenway development, students in Dr. Fernando Burga’s Land Use Planning class outlined the health, environmental, and economic benefits of greenways and recreational trails; researched cases studies of successful greenways in other communities; and proposed options for three extensions to the existing greenway that would better serve specific geographic areas of the community. The report concludes with recommendations to the City for moving forward. The students' final report is available.Item City of Ramsey Career Development Program(Resilient Communities Project (RCP), University of Minnesota, 2017) Zamora-Weiss, JessThis project was completed as part of the 2017-2018 Resilient Communities Project (rcp.umn.edu) partnership with the City of Ramsey. The City of Ramsey has about 80 staff. Recruiting and retaining talented professionals is an important aspect of the City’s human resource strategy. To that end, the City wanted to implement a career ladder for maintenance workers to increase staff retention. A student in Human Resources and Industrial Relations participated in a directed study, under the direction of Stacy Doepner-Hove, to identify career ladders and career development programs in other cities; interviewed maintenance staff and employee union representatives; proposed career ladders, advancement criteria, and training and licensing requirements for employees in various positions at the City to advance up the ladder; and created application forms and other materials that could be used to implement such a program. A final report and presentation are available.Item City of Ramsey Housing Engagement Plan(Resilient Communities Project (RCP), University of Minnesota, 2017) Bai, Shunhua; Degerstrom, Andrew; Gemheart, Adrienne; Kohlhass, Alex; Lauderdale, Casey; Schneider, OliviaThis project was completed as part of the 2017-2018 Resilient Communities Project (rcp.umn.edu) partnership with the City of Ramsey. Ramsey’s housing plan was last updated in 2008. The plan identified numerous strategies for achieving the City’s housing goals, including increased housing density, redeveloping underutilized land, and engaging underserved populations. Since then, the City has made good progress in terms of achieving its workforce and senior housing goals, but public support for some of the City’s other housing goals has not been as strong. The City requested assistance developing a communication/outreach strategy to make the case for underrepresented housing types and the value they add to the community. Students in Dr. Dan Milz’s Planning and Participation Processes addressed some of the myths around higher density housing, identified strategies for engaging the public around housing issues based on case studies of other communities, and piloted a mapping engagement strategy that can be used with the public. The students’ final report and poster are available.Item Clean Water, Clean Soil: City of Ramsey Septic System Engagement Plan(Resilient Communities Project (RCP), University of Minnesota, 2017) Hoffman, Maureen; Engels, Elizabeth; Schutt, Jake; Cloutier, Callissa; Freesmeier, ClaireThis project was completed as part of the 2017-2018 Resilient Communities Project (rcp.umn.edu) partnership with the City of Ramsey. The historic exurban development patterns evident today in the City of Ramsey initially emerged during the 1970s, when residential development was dominated by single-family homes with private wells and septic systems. Today, there are some 4,000 private septic systems in Ramsey. If not properly maintained or if in disrepair, septic systems present a serious threat to ground water quality and public health. The City of Ramsey wanted to improve outreach to septic owners to communicate the importance of regular septic system maintenance, and provide resources to protect the integrity of the systems and extend their useful life. Students in Dr. Dan Milz’s Planning and Participation Processes class evaluated current City communication and outreach efforts to septic system owners, interviewed topic experts and researched septic system maintenance best practices in other communities, and proposed an educational campaign and regulatory strategies to motivate residents to properly maintain their systems. The students’ final report and poster are available.Item Comm[unity] Centered: People, Places & Play in Ramsey(Resilient Communities Project (RCP), University of Minnesota, 2017) Russell, Kathleen; Thompson, Erik; Van Dort, LeomaThis project was completed as part of the 2017-2018 Resilient Communities Project (rcp.umn.edu) partnership with the City of Ramsey. The City wanted to develop a long-term vision and strategy for a community center and associated programming and activities. Students in Dr. Fernando Burga’s Land Use Planning class researched options for various geographic models (centralized vs. satellite) and governance structures (public vs. private) for a community center in Ramsey, including detailed case studies of these models and governance structures in other communities; created an inventory of existing community recreational programs and opportunities; and provided recommendations for moving the discussion forward. A final report is available.Item Connecting and Restoring Ramsey(Resilient Communities Project (RCP), University of Minnesota, 2017) Baehm, Dani; Handmaker, Orli; Kieser, Nick; Kreiter, Emily; McNiel, Dan; Shavit-Lonstein, NoahThis project was completed as part of the 2017-2018 Resilient Communities Project (rcp.umn.edu) partnership with the City of Ramsey. Ramsey is fortunate to have several public parks for residents to use, but not all residents have the same level of access to these parks. Students in Dr. Mae Davenport’s Sustainable Land Use Planning and Policy course identified key principles to guide sustainable land use planning (community connectivity, ecological connectivity, and equity and accessibility), and reported results from a pilot survey administered to Ramsey residents regarding their perceptions of natural areas in Ramsey, and their access to and use of parks and open space in the community. Based on these preliminary results, students made recommendations and an action plan for how to best move forward with park and trail planning. A final report and presentation are available.Item The Draw: Algal Removal Feasibility Study(Resilient Communities Project (RCP), University of Minnesota, 2017) Christenson, Mark; Lokke, Ann; Rickbeil, Darrin; Taguchi, Vinicius; Weis, RenaThis project was completed as part of the 2017-2018 Resilient Communities Project (rcp.umn.edu) partnership with the City of Ramsey. With more high-intensity storms and above average precipitation amounts predicted for the region in the coming decades, storm water management will become a more significant issue in developing communities like Ramsey. The Draw is a 2.8-million-gallon retention and irrigation pond that serves an aesthetic function in the community and is a popular fishing spot for residents. Despite filtration, the pond is being overtaken by filamentous algae, which impacts the aesthetic appeal of the water feature and reduces the overwintering fish population. Students in Dr. John Gulliver’s Urban Hydrology and Water Quality class explored methods for reducing filamentous algae and improving overall water quality in The Draw. The students’ final report, presentation, and flyer are available.Item Encouraging Small Business Growth and Expansion: Ramsey COR Retail Market Analysis(Resilient Communities Project (RCP), University of Minnesota, 2017) Boerschinger, Olivia; Svitavsky, Kate; Yoder, AmyThis project was completed as part of the 2017-2018 Resilient Communities Project (rcp.umn.edu) partnership with the City of Ramsey. The City of Ramsey has long had a goal to create destinations in the community for residents to shop, eat, and enjoy entertainment. Market forces make achieving this goal challenging, and current efforts have fallen short of meeting community expectations. Students in Bob Streetar’s Community and Economic Development class conducted a retail market power and consumer buying power analysis to identify “gaps” in the Ramsey market that the City could capitalize on, identified barriers to commercial-retail development in the city, and made recommendations for strengthening retail demand in Ramsey by promoting housing density and developing a unique character to distinguish the city from competitor communities. The students’ final report and presentation are available.Item Exploring Shared Mobility Public-Private Partnerships(Resilient Communities Project (RCP), University of Minnesota, 2022) Henly, Katherine; Irber, Kari; Erica, OrcholskiThis project was completed as part of a 2022–2023 Resilient Communities Project (rcp.umn.edu) partnership with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT). MnDOT promotes the growth of innovative shared-mobility options in Minnesota. Shared mobility services offer an opportunity to provide better overall mobility and quality of life, especially for those who do not have access to a private automobile due to income, age, or physical ability. As these services grow, cities and transit agencies need to understand how to approach partnerships with shared mobility providers to achieve the best results for their communities. MnDOT requested assistance creating a public-private partnerships (P3) guide to increase public sector knowledge of these types of agreements and support local communities in providing shared mobility options. MnDOT project lead Elliott McFadden worked with students in Robin Phinney's PA 8081 Master of Public Affairs Capstone course to interview shared-mobility professionals and providers in Minnesota to learn about best practices for developing successful P3s that benefit both cities and shared-mobility service providers. The students' final report and presentation are available.Item Find It, Cook It, Save It: From Healthy Food Access to Food Hub and Food Recycling in Brooklyn Park(Resilient Communities Project (RCP), University of Minnesota, 2017) Priestly, Kevin; Lampe, Joe; Degerstrom, AndrewThis project was completed as part of the 2016-2017 Resilient Communities Project (rcp.umn.edu) partnership with the City of Brooklyn Park. Many Brooklyn Park residents live in food deserts, areas where access to healthy and affordable food is limited. The city has also witnessed an increase in commercial food operations arising in residential homes, which can pose health risks to consumers and fire risks in residential areas from commercial-scale production in home kitchens. To address these issues, students in Dr. Fernando Burga’s Introduction to Site Planning course used geographic information systems analysis to identify areas of Brooklyn Park where residents have limited access to healthy foods, provided concept plans for a commercial-grade community kitchen where individuals would be able to safely prepare and package food products for sale to the public, and recommendations for an organics recycling and excess food donation program to reduce solid waste from both the proposed community kitchen and restaurants, retail establishments, and institutions that sell or prepare food. The students’ final report is available.Item Floodplain Communications Plan for the City of Ramsey, Minnesota(Resilient Communities Project (RCP), University of Minnesota, 2017) Brittain, Chris; Campbell, Myles; Phua, Pei Yu; Svitavsky, Kate; Van Oss, EricThis project was completed as part of the 2017-2018 Resilient Communities Project (rcp.umn.edu) partnership with the City of Ramsey. Ramsey is blessed with an abundance of rivers, lakes, and wetlands, which provide many ecological benefits, but also bring the risk of periodic flooding and potential damage to property and infrastructure. Ramsey currently lacks the resources to easily explain to landowners the risks of flooding and steps to avoid property damage from floods. Students in Dr. Dan Milz’s Planning and Participation Processes class worked to develop materials that help explain flooding risks in Ramsey, how residents and businesses may be impacted, and what they can do to reduce risks and prepare for flooding. A final report and poster are available.Item A Gathering Within: An Attraction Beyond - The COR Development Engagement Plan(Resilient Communities Project (RCP), University of Minnesota, 2017) Cho, Joanne; Singer-Berk, Lila; Howard, Kurt; Powers, Denetrick; Steinhoff, Forrest; Mohamed, KowsarThis project was completed as part of the 2017-2018 Resilient Communities Project (rcp.umn.edu) partnership with the City of Ramsey. The COR, the city’s mixed-use, transit-oriented development along the Northstar Commuter Rail Corridor, was intended as a vibrant destination in the community, with a variety of uses of varying intensities within walking distance of each other. With less than half of The COR currently developed, Ramsey staff will soon be updating The COR development plan, and wanted assistance identifying appropriate strategies for including the public in the plan update processS. tudents in Dr. Dan Milz’s Planning and Participation Processes class reviewed the literature on public engagement around a planned development, researched case studies of engagement efforts around similar developments in other communities, and recommended key strategies for Ramsey to consider for engaging residents around development of The COR. The students’ final report and poster are available.Item Historic Ramsey Town Hall: Ramsey, MN(Resilient Communities Project (RCP), University of Minnesota, 2017) Deger, Corinne; Kuehn, Morgan; Stanger, Kate; Walton, VanessaThis project was completed as part of the 2017-2018 Resilient Communities Project (rcp.umn.edu) partnership with the City of Ramsey. Ramsey is home to an historic building from the mid-1800s that originally served as a one-room schoolhouse before it was repurposed for use as the Ramsey Town Hall (and, briefly, city hall) in the twentieth century. The building now sits vacant, and the City of Ramsey wanted an assessment of the building to determine if it is still structurally sound and historically significant. Students in Todd Grover’s Historic Building Conservation course conducted a building conditions assessment survey and recommended restoration and preservation treatments based on their findings. The students’ report and presentation are available.Item Historic Wilson Farmstead: Anoka County, MN(Resilient Communities Project (RCP), University of Minnesota, 2017) Noormohammadi, Ali; Nystrom, Ali; Deacon, Catherine; Jensen, SteveThis project was completed as part of the 2017-2018 Resilient Communities Project (rcp.umn.edu) partnership with the City of Ramsey. Ramsey is home to the historic Wilson Family Farmstead, which has been repurposed in contemporary times as a business called Plants and Things. Because the property on which the farmstead is located is on U.S. Highway 10 and may be impacted by future improvements to this transportation corridor, the City of Ramsey wanted an assessment of the building to determine if it is still structurally sound and historically significant. Students in Todd Grover’s Historic Building Conservation course conducted a building conditions assessment survey and recommended restoration and preservation treatments based on their findings. The students’ report and presentation are available.Item Incorporating Ramsey: Strengthening Community through Placemaking(Resilient Communities Project (RCP), University of Minnesota, 2017) Picone, Ben; Daly, Erin; Sevening, Haley; McSorley, MeaghanThis project was completed as part of the 2017-2018 Resilient Communities Project (rcp.umn.edu) partnership with the City of Ramsey. The COR, the city’s mixed-use, transit-oriented development along the Northstar Commuter Rail Corridor, was intended as a vibrant destination in the community, with a variety of uses of varying intensities within walking distance of each other. With less than half of The COR currently developed, Ramsey staff will soon be updating The COR development plan, and wanted assistance identifying appropriate strategies for including the public in the plan update process, as well as with analysis that can inform development of the plan itself. Students in Dr. Fernando Burga’s Land Use Planning class assessed current conditions in The COR, identified key placemaking principles that could inform future development of The COR, and proposed specific outreach and engagement strategies that leverage placemaking principles to gather public input in the planning process. The students' final report is available.Item Infrastructure X-Ray: Piloting Asset Management in Ramsey(Resilient Communities Project (RCP), University of Minnesota, 2017) Walburg, Lauren; Guo, Yuxuan; Pattsner, MaxThis project was completed as part of the 2017-2018 Resilient Communities Project (rcp.umn.edu) partnership with the City of Ramsey. Cities own and maintain a large amount of infrastructure, which can be difficult to track for purposes of maintenance and replacement. To better understand the condition and location of each asset the City owns, the City of Ramsey asked students in Dr. Fernando Burga’s Land Use Planning class to investigate various asset management programs, their functionality, and their usefulness for tracking infrastructure and other public assets. The students interviewed staff in other cities that use four popular asset management programs--PubWorks, CityWorks, Infraseek, and Cartegraph--and piloted several of the programs using City data. The report concludes with recommendations for further investigating several of the most promising asset management programs. The students’ final report is available.Item Integrating Resources into Our Future(Resilient Communities Project (RCP), University of Minnesota, 2017) Dickson, Max; Dorow Hovland, Olivia; Jerome, Nellie; Neill, Sam; Scherber, Liz; Pansch, JoshThis project was completed as part of the 2017-2018 Resilient Communities Project (rcp.umn.edu) partnership with the City of Ramsey. The City was beginning the process of updating its Comprehensive Plan, including the natural resources component, and wanted to develop innovative strategies to communicate the value of natural resources to residents. Students in Dr. Dan Milz’s Planning and Participation Processes class identified opportunities to expand public outreach at community events, to community stakeholders, and to established institutions/groups through three key strategies: expanding the scope of the City's existing Environmental Policy Board, using strategic education tools, and creating a frequently asked questions (FAQ) page for developers on the City’s website. A final report and poster are available.Item Managing Storm Water: Emerald Pond Project Report(Resilient Communities Project (RCP), University of Minnesota, 2017) Barth, Brendan; Dempsey, Griffin; Erhart, Emily; Muramoto-Mathieu, Megumi; Yetter, KaraThis project was completed as part of the 2017-2018 Resilient Communities Project (rcp.umn.edu) partnership with the City of Ramsey. With more high-intensity storms and above average precipitation amounts predicted for the region in the coming decades, storm water management will become a more significant issue in developing communities like Ramsey. Storm water management can be a particular challenge in neighborhoods that are already established and where there is little room to develop retention ponds or reroute storm water infrastructure. This project focused on Identifying appropriate best management practices (BMPs) to accommodate storm water runoff in an established neighborhood in Ramsey. Students in Dr. John Gulliver’s Urban Hydrology and Water Quality class sampled water in the neighborhood's Emerald Pond, investigated best practices for treating organic matter-rich storm water runoff, and made recommendations for Emerald Pond. The students’ final report and presentation are available.