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#RCP 201 7-6a <br />PROJECT INFORMATION <br />September 18, 2017 <br />Project Background: Provide the context for the project, including the specific problem or opportunity to be <br />addressed and why it is being addressed now. <br />Ramsey is rich in natural resources, including the Mississippi and Rum Rivers, lakes and <br />wetlands, floodplain and upland forests, prairie remnants, and productive farmland. The <br />City is beginning the process of updating its Comprehensive Plan, including the natural <br />resources component, and desires to develop innovative strategies to communicate the <br />value of natural resources especially as it pertains to sustainable development. <br />Project Description: Provide a general description of what students will do and how they will do it. <br />Drawing on literature research, precedents and practices in other suburban communities, <br />information gathered from community stakeholders and other research, a team of students <br />in PA 5253 will investigate the questions listed below. A memorandum of understanding <br />negotiated between the students and the project lead, which will outline a detailed work <br />plan for the project, is hereby incorporated by reference. <br />1. How can Ramsey better encourage the conservation of natural resources? <br />a. What methods of promoting conservation exist outside of city -mandated <br />regulation? <br />b. What benefits might a developer realize if natural resources were prioritized and <br />preserved as part of a development? <br />c. How have other cities engaged the public in conservation strategies? <br />d. What issues have other cities met while using resident based conservation <br />strategies, and how have other cities overcome them? <br />e. What formal avenues currently exist for residents and business owners to <br />express their natural resource -related concern to the city? <br />2. How can the value of natural resources be better communicated to practitioners and <br />residents? <br />a. What public environmental assets does the public care about most? <br />b. What are the best practices for communicating potential threats to <br />environmental resources to residents and practitioners? <br />3. How can environmental conversations and education be continuous? <br />a. How have other cities facilitated on -going discussions of environmental resource <br />use? <br />b. What methods can be used to educate residents and practitioners about <br />sustainable environmental resource use on an ongoing basis? <br />Page 2 of 5 <br />