Agenda - Council Work Session - 02/12/2019

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Strategic Plan Update 2019 Update ABOUT RAMSEY Ramsey is a suburban city located in the northwestern part of Anoka County, with a population of 26,500 Two rivers dominate its borders, the Rum River and the Mississippi River. The first settlement in Ramsey began because of trading along the banks of the Mississippi. Many settlers came here on a steamboat called "The Governor Ramsey" named after our first territorial governor, from which the city reportedly acquired the name. Only a few of the first houses and structures built in Ramsey remain today. The most notable structure of historic significance is on the National Register of Historic Places, the Old Ramsey Town Hall, located west of Highway 47 just north of County Road 116. This structure dates to the late 19th century and was originally used as a schoolhouse. The building is a community landmark and the city has preserved and maintained the structure, which currently sits vacant waiting for a user. Two school districts now serve Ramsey, Elk River #728, and Anoka -Hennepin #11. Students from both districts regularly exceed the state average on the Minnesota Basic Standards in math, reading, and writing, and score well above the national average on college entrance exams. Many people have chosen to live in Ramsey because of its rural character, wetlands, wildlife and the housing choices. Our city is a mixture of farms, single-family homes on large parcels of land and single- family homes on urban sized lots ranging from starter homes to executive style homes. New to our city is senior housing apartments and single -level town homes. Our city's development slowed from 1997 to 2000 but, since the year 2001 the city has experienced growth in both townhouse, single-family and multi -family housing development within the urban services area. Our city boasts a growing business district. Within the city are 4 business parks: Energy Park, Business Park 1995, Gateway Park, and the Bunker Lake Industrial Park. Since 1995, we have added several thousand new jobs. We are proud of our commitment to attract economically and environmentally sound commercial development. The City staff and City Council seek to manage future growth to provide a high quality of life, enhanced employment opportunities, and a stable tax base. We are proud to have Connexus Energy, and a variety of manufacturing businesses as our lead employers. Looking ahead, our city is working toward retail and commercial growth that includes restaurants, shopping, entertainment and additional employment opportunities.