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1. Transportation Capacity (Highway 10/Highway 47) <br />2. Water Supply Capacity (Groundwater Supply/Surface Water Supply) <br />Transportation Capacity <br />Staff recommends that the City comment on the capacity of Highway 10 and Highway 47 as part of the response to <br />the preliminary forecasts. Although future growth forecasts are lower than what is in the current Comprehensive <br />Plan, the City should acknowledge that both systems currently have capacity and congestion issues. Staff <br />recommends that it is important that regional policies address capacity of these systems, even if no growth were <br />experienced, based on existing levels of service. (NOTE: the current Comprehensive Plan classified Highway 10 as <br />Level of Service 'F' at current levels over the entire stretch through Ramsey. Level of Service scoring ranges from <br />A-F, with F being the lowest score possible). <br />Water Supply Capacity <br />The City fully acknowledges the need to address water supply issues for future growth. The City currently derives <br />its municipal water supply from a series of groundwater wells and pump houses. Based on water supply availability <br />and historical usage data, it will be important to continue to address water conservation and alternative supply <br />issues in the near future. <br />Staff recommends that the City comment on the City's previous policy statements for a need to address water <br />supply issues on a regional issue, not as a local issue. Staffs preliminary analysis of documents used in the <br />preparation of the preliminary forecasts indicate at least a note that this is an issue that will need to be addressed on <br />a regional level. Staff will need additional time to fully analyze to what level this may occur. <br />Timeframe <br />Responses to the Preliminary Forecasts are due by December 1, 2013 in order to be included with the 're -calibrated' <br />forecasts. Once re -calibrated, these forecasts will be the foundation for the development of the 2040 <br />Comprehensive Plan Update. The Regional Framework will be developed based on these forecasts through 2014. <br />The Regional Framework will then lead to System Plans (Land Use, Transportation, Wastewater, Parks and Open <br />Space). The System Plans then lead to Local System Statements that will be the driver of the City's 2040 <br />Comprehensive Plan Update and will be available in late 2015. The 2040 Comprehensive Plan Update will be due <br />December 31, 2018. <br />Desired Outcome <br />To best assist Staff in formulating a recommendation, Staff is seeking general policy direction as to how the City <br />should approach future growth: <br />1. Actively pursue growth and economic development opportunities <br />2. React to development proposals as they come forward <br />3. Assume aggressive growth rates <br />4. Assume average growth rates over the past ten (10) years, or <br />5. Assume conservative growth rates with the ability to react to additional growth if experienced <br />Notification: <br />Notification is not required at this time. <br />Observations/Alternatives: <br />The alternatives for recommendation include the following: <br />1. Metropolitan Council Preliminary 2040 Forecasts as presented <br />2. Existing City of Ramsey Forecasts (revised 2012 within the Comprehensive Sanitary Sewer and Water <br />Studies) <br />3. In Between Metropolitan Council Preliminary 2040 Forecasts and Existing City of Ramsey Forecasts (2012) <br />4. Other <br />