Agenda - Council Work Session - 06/12/2018

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The City provides a variety of municipal services. These include a full-time police department, a volunteer fire department, engineering services, street and park maintenance, building inspections, planning and zoning, public improvements, general administrative services, and public water and sewer utilities in the urban service areas. The City adopts an annual budget for the General Fund and the EDA Special Revenue Fund. Legal level of control is at the function level. Department heads may transfer resources within a department as they see fit. Transfers between functions, however, need special approval from the City Council. LOCAL ECONOMY The City has an unemployment rate of 3.0% in comparison to the state average of 3.4%. Ramsey has an employed labor force of 15,123. Anoka County, in which Ramsey is located, has an employed labor force of 194,590 and an unemployment rate of 3.1%. There are approximately 6,776 detached single-family homes and 2,382 multifamily units located within the City. In addition, there were 82 single-family homes and 122 multifamily homes constructed in 2017. The City has two major industrial districts containing multiple business parks with a combined capacity of 320 acres and 25 businesses. A new 115 acre new business park, west of Armstrong Boulevard has begun construction. A 20-year build -out of this park is estimated to generate about two million dollars in total annual property taxes and create about 3,000 jobs. In addition, the city is actively developing a city center known as The COR (Center of Ramsey). The development vision for this 400 acre area located in the heart of Ramsey is for it to become the region's center of retail, restaurants, service and office space, outdoor entertainment and parks, community amenities and housing. LONG-TERM FINANCIAL PLANNING The City of Ramsey prepares a ten-year capital improvement plan in an attempt to anticipate major capital expenditures in advance of the year in which they are budgeted. The City has a policy to maintain unrestricted General Fund balance in an amount equal to 50% of the following years adopted operating budget. This policy is designed to establish a fund balance at a level which is sufficient to avoid issuing debt to meet current operating needs. RELEVANT FINANCIAL POLICIES The City has a comprehensive set of financial policies that provide the basic framework for the overall fiscal management of the City. The City had no unusual occurrences affecting these policies. MAJOR INITIATIVES In 2017, city staff has worked with various individuals across the community to develop a 20-year vision for the community known as Ramsey 2040 — the city's comprehensive plan. Four key themes have emerged: 1. Balanced rural character and urban growth. 2. An active community (parks and recreation). 3. A connected community (transportation). 4. A positive learning environment (planning for schools). The Anoka -Hennepin School District #11 passed a bond referendum that will allow for a new elementary school to be built in Ramsey near 170th Avenue and Nowthen Boulevard with construction to begin in 2018 and be completed by the 2019 school year. 16