Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 04/19/2021

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Continuing to provide tools and resources through the City will be important, while also assigning responsibility to community stakeholders to act upon and give input on city initiatives. The final limitation around current community engagement practices is the historical conflict of prioritizing development around a growing economy and respecting natural resources. Changing the priorities around preservation of resources, and holding them to the same level of importance as development, will be crucial for the future of Ramsey. Fortunately, there are ways that a city can respond to growth while also being conscious of environmental stressors. Regulating Natural Resources through Permitting and Overlay Districts Currently, Ramsey has implemented overlay districts over portions of the community to protect existing resources (e.g. Wild and Scenic Overlay District along the Rum River and the Critical River Overlay District along the Mississippi River). The City has also adopted various legal measures (ordinances) to take this one step further. The implementation of environmental permitting standards, reforestation requirements, topsoil requirements, and the required use of water efficient technologies in irrigation systems are just a few examples. These types of legal actions can allow development while also protecting the existing resource base, which will be important as Ramsey grows and changes in the coming decades. Proposed Strategic Actions A. Expand the Scope of the Environmental Policy Board City boards and commissions help to advise and guide city staff in their decision-making in particular areas. Ramsey currently has a Charter Commission, Economic Development Authority, Parks and Recreation consider, initiate and recommend to the City Council such policies, plans or projects which will enhance and include, but not necessarily be limited to, matters of the preservation of the community forest, water quality, (City of Ramsey Website, 2017). This existing board should be leveraged to maximize community engagement on the topic of natural resources. We turned to the City of Eden Prairie for a case study on how natural resource communications can be approached utilizing municipal boards and commissions. Eden Prairie has a Conservation Commission that looks at natural resources at a high level. The commission focuses on city-wide programs like recycling, lake management, and stormwater plans. The commission also makes recommendations to City Council on how to approach these issues, while dedicating time to doing public outreach at city events. The City takes the ties. On a more technical level, Eden Prairie also has a Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources Commission that is responsible for reviewing development plans and city ordinances that address topics within its scope. This commission works more with residents to make sure their concerns are heard and brought to a larger stage. This commission takes on more of an education role, engaging with residents and maintaining accessibility. We 10