Agenda - Council - 03/28/2017 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mr. Ouelette stated he likes the concept of trails connecting and defining neighborhoods within the City. Mr. Riverblood stated a lot community feedback has been received about the value of trails as a natural resource. Mr. Gladhill stated a potential community center continues to resurface as an amenity that the City's residents support. He added the City Council has reviewed public and private partnership and funding scenarios but further review is necessary and a feasibility study is planned. Mr. Gladhill stated Adrenaline Sports Center, an indoor sports facility with a variety of indoor sports programs, hopes to relocate to Ramsey. Ms. Roering stated a community center, as well as the City's parks, should have programs and services that appeal to all the City's residents. Mr. Riverblood stated the data is available and the larger neighborhoods can be studied to determine who is using the parks. Mr. Bennett stated he likes the idea of parks that can be adjusted to suit the people who are using them. Mr. Torgerson stated parks that have amenities that cater to every age group are ideal as there is less of a cyclical component. Mr. Riverblood stated Parks Planning was previously carried out with that in mind, to accommodate as many age groups as possible. He added it is important to have a balance of park uses, including trails, to reach a wider demographic range. Ms. Roering stated the five large parks, which are the City's priority, should have a variety of amenities for all age groups. Mr. Riverblood stated each of the rive parks has its own focus or emphasis. He added, for instance,Riverbend is the most actively-used community park,with park users from all different demographics. Mr. Bennett stated community parks with a variety of amenities, such as a municipal plaza or water feature, are a significant draw for park users. Mr. Gladhill stated the parks maps would be available at the Committee's next meeting, as well as Workshop meeting notes. He added finalizing the Comprehensive Plan will be a two-part process, with a draft plan ready by October 2017 followed by a review phase. He added the April 10 Workshop will be held at 6:00 p.m. at so there will be more room as a larger crowd is expected. He noted the third Workshop will be held June 12, 2017. Mr. Gladhill stated the City was recently selected by the University of Minnesota's Resilient Communities Project to be the Partner Community for the 2017-18 school year. He added the project will be a significant investment for the City,but resources are already allocated for strategic planning, and this is an exciting opportunity for Ramsey. Mr. Gladhill stated City staff created a Facebook page, "City of Ramsey Comprehensive Plan Update". He encouraged the Committee members to visit the Facebook page and share this information with other residents. 2040 Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee/March 13, 2017 Page 6 of 7