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Minutes of Ramsey Focus Group Meeting DATE: December II, 1997 TO: Focus Group Members and City Staff SUBJECT: December 9,1997, Focus Group Meeting Prepared by Fred Hoisingron Present: Focus Group Members: Tom Kurak, Blaine Edmundson, Mike Sjoquist, Ron Hunt. Terry Hendrikson, Margaret Connolly, Teri Svare, Erika Sitz. Wayne Jeffries, Paul Rogne, Marlys Williams, Del Fredricks, Jeanette Monear, John Ensrrom, Chris Dempsey. Oillers Dresent: John. Peterson,Parti Kurak, Sylvia Prolik, Brad Schelb, and Fred Hoislngton. The meeting began at 7:05 p.m. at City Hall. Fred Hoisington asked for corrections and additions to the December 2, 1997, minutes. Members of the Focus Group noted that three names were misspelled. Terry Hendrikson also stated that the discussion about our opinion on the consistency of the charter with the Comprehensive Plan had been omitted from the minutes. Mr. Hendrikson asked that that opinion be included as an amendment to the December 2 minutes. The opinion rendered was as follows: Technically, the Comprehensive Plan and zoning ordinance should be brought into compliance with the charter. Practically, if the Comprehensive Plan is inconsistent with regional growth management and/or property owners are aggrieved by the Comprehensive Plan amendments, either or both the landowners and the Metropolitan Council could take legal action against the City. Parks. Recreation. Trails and ODen Space The process of issues definition was continued beginning with parks, recreation, trails and open space. After several false starts, it was agreed that there are issues needing resolution. The issues are: . Costs - spend more or less on parks Need - do we need more parks (do we already have enough or do we not?) Open space ~ parks - where should our emphasis be? Location - some areas (rural areas) don't need parks Individual property rights - property rights should/should not be respected in the location of parks and trails . . . . Protect the Rural Lifestvle Following considerable discussion, Fred Hoisington asked the group to define rural lifestyle. The definition included large lot size, minimal noise, privacy, safety, limited services, protection of wildlife, healthy schools, and the right to have horses. The fear is that these qualities are being lost to urban, higher density, development though the City is now more lenient about allowing horses than in the past. There was a strong feeling that four-per~forty densities are not acceptable and people that live at rural densities do not want urban people in their backyards. The issues, then, are: · Rural/urban conflicts (differing densities) · Rural ~ urban services conflicts · Change ~ no change · Dollar costs and environmental costs .....~ t r II"" ,,-,-,n-,n'1 ... In I r"'t.. r T C T nu O(,",OOOC"'C"'_:::'TO