Agenda - Economic Development Authority - 08/04/2016

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In order to complete this work, staff would suggest completing a preliminary infrastructure analysis (similar to the business park), a regional stormwater plan (which would be built from previously completed work), and revitalize The COR sign plan. This tactic will cost the City significant professional service dollars. Staff believes various funding sources exist to accomplish this work, and the EDA doesn't need to increase their budget to accomplish. Staff believes completing a detailed pro-forma for The COR is prudent step to take and will put the City in a much stronger position to evaluate development proposals, purchase offers, and public improvements to The COR. Furthermore, it will help the City better understand our obligations as master developer, and our overall financial performance related to The COR. Lastly,this pro-forma will allow the city to more clearly set goals for The COR, have meaningful policy discussions related to The COR(who is paying for what,when will improvements be made,what are city funding sources, how will the city recover their contributions to The COR,etc., etc.),and better respond to questions from residents/business/developers RE The COR. 8 RALF Staff has recently met with MetCouncil staff RE this item. It appears the MetCouncil may be willing to make exceptions to their rules that will allow Ramsey to utilize RALF again. The first step in the process is to submit a pre application. Staff has completed that step—and expects to hear back from the MetCouncil by mid- August. Staff is applying for the former Shell Gas Station to be purchased. (9) Business Incubator The Ramsey Planning Commission,through their workplan efforts, has showed general interest item. Staff has made very little movement on this initiative—due to staffing levels. (10) Zip Code In the past ten (10)years, City staff and officials have written letters to the manager of Address Management Systems at the USPS.The majority of these letters emphasized that the City of Ramsey is a rapidly growing community that should have its own ZIP Code due to population size.The letters also emphasized that the City had reached one (1)of the four(4) benchmarks the USPS requires regions have before obtaining a ZIP Code.Although the USPS officials saw value in these points,they denied requests due to their policy that regions must reach all four(4)of the required criteria before receiving a unique ZIP Code.The last of these letters was sent in 2009. Criteria needed for cities to obtain a new ZIP Code: Delivery Routes(#of routes): 55 Delivery Points(#of stops by Post Office on all routes): 25,000 Scheme Items(special casing for carriers): 1,000 #Sectors(how many Zip+4 are available): Exceed 70 Evaluation of 55303 ZIP Code (2009): Delivery Routes(#of routes): 33 Delivery Points(#of stops by Post Office on all routes): 18,768 Scheme Items(special casing for carriers): n/a (938 in 2006) #Sectors(how many Zip+4 are available): 70.3% Current Progress: We have requested that an evaluation of these criteria be done once again in 2016. Page 3 of 4