Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 07/11/2019

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Why is this project important? -The City is Ramsey had a population of approximately 10,100 residents in 1980 and was a predominantly an agriculture-based economy. The City grew to 18,510 by 2000, and 26,000 residents by 2016. The City is projected to see a further 50% growth in population by the year 2040 (39,000 people). Looking over the horizon we see an increase in electric vehicles and electric vehicle charging, electrified homes and businesses, and autonomous and connected vehicles. With population growth and increase in density and diversity in land use types and economic sectors comes a greater need to remain vigilant as sound environmental, social, and fiscal stewards of our community’s resources. Through our recent participation in the University of Minnesota’s “Resilient Communities Project” (2017-2018) we identified ways to further our strategic planning priorities, which include financial stability, a connected community, smart citizen-focused government, and an efficient organization. We view the Brightfield redevelopment project as having great potential to support these strategic priorities, which support the short and long term livability, prosperity, and resilience of our community. What challenges has the community faced? -The closed landfill is an eye-sore and has historically had very limited redevelopment potential. However, Solar PV development has emerged within the last 3 years as one of the only viable options for redevelopment. The local electrical utility, Connexus Energy Cooperative, initially had interest in developing a “solar + storage” development at the site, but was stymied by state agencies, which led them to developing at a different site in the City. The MN Pollution Control Agency and the MN Management & Budget Office are extremely wary of this sort of development for federal tax law, state statutory, federal and state financial regulation, state agency regulation, staff time allotment, general obligation bonding safe harbors and allowances, private investment and ownership, and technical risk considerations. The site is also owned by the MN Pollution Control Agency, and the State would like to own the REC’s generated by any renewable development at the site, but that could negate the financial viability for interested investors/developers. Additionally, the site is regulated by the City of Ramsey’s local zoning code. The combination of these areas lacking clarity has stifled the ability for the city and other actors to legitimately analyze what sort of finance, ownership, PPA, virtual net metering, net metering, and operations & maintenance considerations would allow for the development of the site. -MPCA: “A point to keep in mind when planning a location for solar is that the waste is currently undergoing active remediation and management and will be into the future. Because of this we do not allow anything to be installed on the landfill cap, and due to the methane that is being generated during the decomposition process there is a 200 foot setback requirement from the waste. \[However\] The program is in the process of re-evaluating what types of installations could be workable on waste areas. The restrictions outlined below are open for discussion.” MPCA’s Mission: Protect and improve the environment and enhance human health. Why is this reuse strategy the one chosen? -The City has been home to this closed landfill for years and has attempted to find ways in which the land, which would be quite valuable and ripe for development were it not for the closed landfill, could be redeveloped. The Landfill was operated as a dump from 1967 until it was permitted in 1972 and closed in 1993. The MPCA took over responsibility for the Landfill in 1997 when the MPCA and Waste Management signed the Landfill Cleanup Agreement and the MPCA issued the Notice of Compliance. Since 1997, the “Brightfield” concept for redevelopment has been the most feasible and realistic one to date. It has tentative support in the community, is something the electric utility is interested in, and is something we have explored a pathway to since 2014. (“Closed Landfill Use Plan, Anoka-Ramsey Landfill” page 5, page 15: http://156.142.212.178:8080/docs/2015/PR/20150409_1055/5257_Anoka- Ramsey%20CLUP%20Report.pdf)