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To: Anoka County Parks <br />Fm: City of Ramsey Staff <br />Re: Draft Master Plan Amendment for Mississippi West Regional Park <br />Overview <br />The City of Ramsey is in receipt of the March 6th, 2017 Draft Master Plan Amendment for <br />Mississippi West Regional Park, (hereafter referred to as the 'Draft Amendment'). We <br />understand that Anoka County Staff has requested City Staff's comments, and further <br />understand that the 60 day comment period is applicable here too, which will allow <br />enough time for review by the Park and Recreation Commission, Environmental Policy <br />Board and City Council. <br />Foremost Staff appreciates Anoka County's willingness to accommodate the Riverdale <br />Drive frontage road project, which is the impetus for the developing and submitting to <br />Metropolitan Council the Master Plan Amendment for approval. The request for early <br />comment is valuable as well, to ensure that the Public's best interests are carried forward <br />within the original Master Plan, or improved upon within the Draft Amendment. <br />Requested Revisions <br />The City requests the following revisions to the Master Plan Amendment: <br />1. Clearly name the proposed pedestrian bridge as a future Phased Improvement of <br />the regional park, thereby to be found in conformance with the Thrive 2040 Regional <br />Parks Policy Plan, and the approved Master Plan. <br />2. Identify within the Draft Master Plan Amendment a schedule for a negotiated cost - <br />share agreement for completion of the skyway and pedestrian bridge — in a <br />timeframe that allows for a joint application in 2018 for Transportation Advisory <br />Board solicitation for funding (and potentially other sources). <br />3. Add a narrative and exhibit to the Draft Master Plan Amendment that shows the <br />realignment of the Central Anoka County Regional Trail to a safe alignment for <br />bicyclists and pedestrians (to the location of the pedestrian overpass when <br />complete), which also will connect the regional park directly to the Metropolitan <br />Transit system, and thereby to come into conformance with both the Thrive 2040 <br />Regional Parks Policy Plan as well as the 2040 Transportation Policy Plan relating to <br />directives for regional parks. <br />Further, that the City be afforded the fu1160 Day Review Period in order to review <br />the Master Plan Amendment with our Parks and Recreation Commission, <br />Environmental Policy Board, and City Council. <br />Mississippi West Regional Park Master Plan Amendment — City of Ramsey Response <br />Page 1 of 15 <br />