Agenda - Council Work Session - 03/16/2020 - Special

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136 Natural Resources Goals and Strategies The following represents goals and strategies for Natural Resources Plan, which are consistent with the five key goals of the Comprehensive Plan, as set by the City Council. Subsequent chapters will include their objectives, policies and actions related to these goals. Specific policies and actions for the land use plan goals and strategies appear at the end of this chapter. • Prioritize areas of preservation to identify key areas of preservation • Utilize staff and local knowledge to reduce consulting costs • Utilize Planned Unit Development (PUD) process where applicable to acquire high -priority natural resource areas and provide flexibility in development design • Ensure sustainability of food supply and food web • Maintain and enhance the public community forest (boulevard tree program) • Reduce erosion along both the Mississippi and Rum Rivers • Preserve significant ecological resources through conservation design. • Improve sustainability and resilience • Improve connections to significant ecological resources • Improve recreation opportunities along the City's Priority Greenway Plan • Improve water quality of Mississippi River • Improve awareness for groundwater planning • Improve awareness for solid waste reduction • Maintain efficient use of public works staff to maintain community natural resources 2030 Plan Accomplishments Before looking forward to what Ramsey will strive to accomplish within the timeframe of this Comprehensive Plan, it is always good to pause and look back to what it was able to accomplish over during the course of the 2030 Comprehensive Plan. The last plan was adopted in 2010. While a number of factors have changed since the adoption of the last plan, the City can celebrate a number of successes as it relates to natural resources. Subsequent chapters of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan will celebrate their own successes. • Relied on the Natural Resources Inventory (NRI) to inform recommendations on subdivision design and areas of focused protection/preservation where feasible. • Purchased two (2) Weed Wrenches to assist property owners with managing and eradicating certain invasive species, specifically Buckthorn. • Protected Ramsey's rural character in many areas of the community, representing the largest land area category in the community. • Mitigated City's financial risks associated by new developments by encouraging new development to focus near existing infrastructure. • Ensured new development protected natural resources, made trail connections, and blended in with surrounding development. • Employed conservation subdivision practices intended to protect existing neighborhoods and natural resources. city of RAMSEY Comprehensive Plan 2040