Agenda - Council Work Session - 01/24/2012

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This survey first gathered information from the resident about the satisfaction that they have had with their overall quality of life within the City of Ramsey. An overwhelming 93% of the residents rated their quality of life in Ramsey as good or excellent. They also felt that the two largest issues facing the City over the upcoming years were the COR and maintaining an aging roadway system. Additionally, the resident survey asked the residents to choose between 3 financing scenarios: Option 1: Raise the general fund levy to accommodate the need Option 2: Assess 100 % of the costs to the benefiting property owners Option 3: Implement a new revenue source (franchise fee) In July of 2011, the City Council received the attached presentation by Himle Rapp and were given an opportunity to express their desires and or concerns about preparing a communication plan. Of the three funding scenarios, the one that got the most support was the implementation of the franchise fee for road reconstruction. During August and September, Staff worked with the consultant to prepare a draft communication plan, FAQ, fact sheet, a draft website, an online survey form, etc. On October 18, 2011, the City was given the attached Communication plan as well as distribution materials and the website was unveiled in Draft form. The following comments were provided: •The Garnet Street project was shown as a project that we would provide an alternative funding source for so that we could move forward with surveying, design etc and therefore move forward next summer to show signs of a successful integration of the program. At the Public Works Committee in December, this item was removed due to lack of interest from the abutting residents at a subsequent meeting until a decision is made about the long term road maintenance initiative even though we told the residents that we would write in the feasibility study that we would match whatever funding scenario resulted from the decision. •Council commented on the online survey. After much deliberation, it was the Council direction to allow for an online survey as long as the name and address fields were required for the comments to be registered. •All meetings that will be held regarding this program will be done at the Ramsey Municipal Center and not in the neighborhoods" at a neutral site per City Council direction. •The meeting format will be similar to the Ramsey 3 process. A brief presentation and break into smaller groups to discuss agenda items that are generated by the group. (Open Space technology) •The City Council wanted more interaction and graphical representation of the issue in the website. This is a funding issue but do not lose sight of the issue. Use the year of original construction map and generate a FAQ that is dynamic and updated frequently. •The City Council direction was to provide a video on QCTV with the Mayor, Public Works Chair, Public Works Director and City Administrator. Included in this case is a FAQ that will be the primary dialog in preparation of this video. On November 15, 2011, Chuck Tombarge from Himle Rapp was present and Staff specifically requested direction on the attached communication plan, attached fact sheet, public engagement survey, power point presentation, an FAQ prepared by Himle Homer relative the long term road maintenance program. The direction at this meeting was to: Tighten up the numbers so they are more realistic, make revisions to the communications plan by taking out the language about the costs being equivalent to a cup of coffee a day, and consider a franchise fee of $14 per month per household to create a source to fully fund the issue without assessments. Notification: N/A Observations: