Agenda - Council Work Session - 12/09/2014

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(7) Ground Water ISSUE: A clean and reliable source of ground water is critical to the function of any healthy community. In many cases, communities utilize aquifers as their primary source of ground water. The City of Ramsey is located in a "recharge zone" for aquifers utilized throughout the Twin Cities Metro region, known as the "Anoka County Sand Plain." The City of Ramsey is a developing community and anticipates significant growth over the next two decades. As a result, additional water supply will be required to meet the demand of future development. Recently, the City of Ramsey was notified by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) that the City 'MAY' no longer be permitted to install new wells to utilize aquifers as a water source without first evaluating the ability to use surface waters, such as the Mississippi River. The DNR made this decision in order to protect existing, and future, ground water supplies of communities throughout the entire Twin Cities Metro region. As a result, the City of Ramsey recently began planning for a new surface water treatment plant, which would draw from the Mississippi River. The City does plan to retain its ground water supply system as a back-up to the purposed surface water supply system. The estimated cost of the proposed surface water treatment plant in Ramsey is significant, at $36.5 million. Costs for retaining the ground water supply system will be minimal compared to the treatment facility costs. Clearly, utilization of ground water resources is not solely a local issue, as aquifers and "recharging zones" span across the entire Twin Cities metro region. The need for the City of Ramsey to switch from a ground water system to a surface water system is not a result of development in the City of Ramsey alone; it is the result of demand across the entire Twin Cities metro region. RAMSEY CITY COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION: The City of Ramsey supports a regional analysis and planning effort to utilize ground and surface water throughout the Twin Cities as a whole, rather than community - by -community. The City of Ramsey opposes actions limiting the ability of Ramsey to develop in order to sustain, or allow new development, in other Twin Cities communities affected by the Anoka County Sand Plain "recharge zone." The City of Ramsey supports regional solutions to address regional ground water supply concerns; specifically including, regional funding sources. >Topic Generally Supported by: Anoka County (8) Levy Limits* ISSUE: During the 2013 State Legislative session, levy limits were imposed on Cities over 2,500 population for one year. Levy limits replace local accountability with State judgment about the appropriate level of local taxation and local services. Additionally, State restrictions on local budgets can have a negative effect on a City's bond rating due to the restriction on revenue flexibility. Levy limits also fail to account for the decertification of tax increment financing districts —Upon decertification, property taxes that formerly collected and used to support public improvements in a TIF district can no longer be collected at the same rate, to support existing City operations. RAMSEY CITY COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION: The City of Ramsey supports the principle of a representative democracy that allows the Ramsey City Council to formulate local budgets without State restrictions. >Topic Generally Supported by: League of Minnesota Cities *Similar language as 2014 League of Minnesota Cities Legislative Platform 2014 City of Ramsey Legislative Platform Page 4 of 6