Agenda - Council Work Session - 04/03/2019 - Special - Strategic Planning

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Strategic Plan Update 2019 Update — April 2 Version ABOUT RAMSEY Ramsey is a suburban city located in the northwestern part of Anoka County, with a population of approximately 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 (Saint Francis Boulevard) just north of County Road 116 (Bunker Lake Boulevard). This 19th century structure was originally used as a schoolhouse. The building is a community landmark and the City is working on a long term plan for the structure. 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, parks, recreation and the housing choices. Ramsey is a mixture of farms, large -lot single family, urban single-family, and multi -family with a range of prices that appeals to a wide variety of families and individuals. The City is expected to grow by approximately 10,000 people over the next 20 years. Economic Development continues to be a priority for our City. With nearly 7,000 employees working in Ramsey everyday, new industrial and retail growth may add an additional 5,000 employees over the next 20 years. We are proud of our commitment to attract economically and environmentally sound commercial development. Ramsey is committed to manage future growth to provide a high quality of life, enhanced employment opportunities and a stable tax base. Looking ahead, our city is working toward retail and commercial growth that includes restaurants, shopping, entertainment and additional employment opportunities. Please note: this document is a work in progress. Staff is still working on final formatting. Please focus on content over formatting at this stage.