Agenda - Council Work Session - 10/03/2006

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City of Ramsey City Council Interview January 31, 2006 Two interview sessions were conducted with the entire City Council as well as one individual interview of a Councilmember. The following paragraphs list the questions that were asked of the participants, along with a summary of their discussions and responses. What cities do ,you want to be compared to in the future? Council expressed some reluctance in being compared to other cities. They did mention Maple Grove, Oakdale, Roseville and Brooklyn Park as examples, but the most common sentiment was that they want Ramsey to be unique. They want Ramsey to be the "best of the best;" they believe that the city has the opportunity to pick and choose the best elements of other communities in Minnesota and to create something different and unique. When asked how they would define success, Council members used the following descriptors: community identity, approachable, friendly, personal attention, seamless service, urban and rural blend, a "gem" in the middle of other communities. They want Ramsey to be attractive to multi -generational residents and create many and varied community gathering spaces. What does the City do well now? What could be done better? Everyone mentioned the solid reputation of the police and fire services. As one member put it, "We are the best in the industry." Others remarked on the quality of the public works operation and the generally high regard that citizens have for all the public facilities in the community. They felt that their efforts to provide a quality trail and bike path system are well regarded, and their attention to and valuing of open space is shared and appreciated by residents. They mentioned that complaints are down dramatically from a year ago, and credit a professional, courteous staff for that outcome. They also mentioned the Council's ability to deal in a civil manner with one another, and they said that this filters down through the organization to the point of contact with the residents. They credit the City Administrator for setting the standard. Most common compliments and complaints. Many of the members commented that they receive good feedback on the services mentioned above and that complaints have diminished substantially. They believe the "silence" of residents indicates a generally good feeling about the quality and responsiveness of the services being provided. Some comments were made about the old community survey that rated all the City services at high levels, and the need to update that information. Any new services that need to be provided in the future? There was a uniform opinion that an independent park and recreation department was in the city's future. They do not believe the space and programming requirements can be handled by the current volunteer organization, even though it has been a quality effort to date. They mentioned the need to think in terms of a diverse community and of providing recreational services and programs to all generational segments and types of residents. Mention was made of recognizing the programmatic needs of the Town Center population, both visitors and the commercial interests. Technology was recognized as a need in two areas. The city needs to stay on top of new technology that can be used to deliver current and future services in a cost-effective manner. Working smarter rather than unlimited hiring is desirable. It was also thought that the City would begin to see pressure to investigate Wi-Fi service, at least for the Town Center area. Technology, in terms of access to government, needs to be addressed and is important in getting the City's message out to the people.