Agenda - Council - 09/27/1983 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I I I I I City of Ramsey 16163 NOWTHEN BOULEVARD N.W., RAMSEY, MINNESOTA 65303 · (612) 427-1410 September 7, 1983 Mr. Gerald Isaacs Chairman, Metropolitan Council 300 Metro Square Building Seventh and Robert Streets St. Paul, MN 55101 I I I I I I I I I I I I I Dear Mr. Isaacs: We are addressing a policy of the Metropolitan Council that the City of Ramsey has had a problem with for about the last five years. It centers around Criteria 9a of the LAWCON/LCMR grant applications. This states: In those parts of the Rural Service Area outside rural centers, only applications for passive recreation will be considered. As you can see by the enclosed city map, Ramsey Central Park is located in the Rural Service Area. Because of this location, let me quote a letter from the Metropolitan Council dated August 17, 1983: "Since Ramsey Central Park is in the Rural Service Area and the project is athletic fields (i.e., active recreation facility), the Council will not review the application." This same letter also states "that Developmental Framework Policy 19b discourages active urbanized areas. If the project was located in the urban portion of Ramsey, it would be eligible for a grant." We in Ramsey feel that the guidelines are just too simplistic. If Park A is located inside Boundary B, then its application will be reviewed by the Council. If Park A is located outside of Boundary B, then the Metropolitan Council will not review the grant application. This policy does not take in the total needs of a City. The Ramsey Central Park is located outside the Urban Center Area by about 3% to 4 miles. This outstanding piece of level property was donated by the Federal Cartridge Corporation of Anoka. This property has the potential for satisfying Ramsey's overwhelming need for an active recreation complex. We do not feel it should be disqualified for a grant application just because it is located outside of the Urban Area. The park will serve all of the citizens regardless of whether they live in the Rural Service Area or the Urban Area. We realize that the Metropolitan Council would perhaps like to develop passive recreation in non-sewered areas such as Ramsey. ~owever, Ramsey's growth has already taken place and the City has an obligation to meet the active recreational needs of its citizens. When a person lives on a large lot, the spaciousness of that lot reduces one's need for passive recreation areas.