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<br />TRUST <br />TIl'r <br />PUBLlC <br />LAND <br />... RAMSEY CITY, MINNESOTA <br /> <br />Feasibility Study <br /> <br />Embrace Open Space is a multimedia campaign that encourages Twin Citians to get more <br />involved in local land-use decisions. It was developed in 2002 by a group of nonprofits and <br />involves nonprofit organizations and agency staff, as well as other partners. EOS encourages <br />greater leadership from citizens and elected leadership to conserve and restore lakes and <br />rivers, parks and natural areas in the high-growth 11-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. <br />EOS augments the capacity of each participating organization to conserve land as the region <br />grows and encourages Twin Citians to get involved in local land-use and natural land <br />protection decisions. In addition, the services provided by EOS advance the land <br />conservation efforts of public agencies, and helps raise awareness of the public benefits of <br />natural area protection. <br /> <br />The primary objective of Ramsey's Environmental Policy Board is to review, consider, <br />initiate and recommend to the City Council such policies, plans or projects which will <br />enhance and preserve the natural environment of the City. The Board's scope shall include, <br />but not necessarily be limited to, matters of the preservation of the community forest, water <br />quality, wetland preservation, ground water protection, c0ntrol of soil erosion and air, noise <br />and light pollution. The Environmental Policy Board consists of members from the <br />community and city staff representing critical interests in the continued development of the <br />community. <br /> <br />The primary objective of Ramsey's Park and Recreation Commission is to monitor and <br />reflect the attitudes and concerns of the citizens of Ramsey relative to the park system and <br />recreation programs, and to advise the City Council of citizen attitudes and policy matters <br />relevant to the park and recreation function in Ramsey <br /> <br />State Funding For Land Conservation in Minnesota <br /> <br />In November 1988 Minnesota voters passed a constitutional amendment that permanently <br />established The Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, which receives support <br />through lottery proceeds for land conservation. Funds may also be generated through <br />private donations. In November 1990 and 1998 voters approved dedication of 40 percent of <br />net lottery proceeds to the Trust Fund. The dedication is now currently extended through <br />December 2024. <br /> <br />State land conservation funds in Minnesota are distributed by the Legislative-Citizen <br />Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) which makes funding recommendations to <br />the legislature for natural resource projects primarily from the Environment and Natural <br />Resources Trust Fund. The legislature approves capital budget projects in each biennium, <br />which includes bonds for land acquisition. Since 2000 approximately $30 million in bond <br />funds has been appropriated to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for land <br />acquisition. The Minnesota Future Resources Fund used cigarette tax revenue to fund <br />natural resource conservation, including land acquisition. However, the program was <br />primarily focused on park and trail development. The 2-cent/pack-cigarette tax yielded <br />approximately $13-16 million per biennium. While the funding was shifted to other purposes <br />in 2003, the authority for the program remains in statute. <br /> <br />13 <br />