1993 CAFR - Laserfiche WebLink

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MAIM T[N11I11AT1TV (Continued) Transportation Significant staff time was dedicated in 1993 to current and future street projects and programs. The City of Ramsey currently maintains 127.78 miles of paved roadways, up from 123.05 miles in 1992 and 113.24 miles in 1990. Also maintained in the City are 5.6 miles of dirt and gravel streets and the County and State maintain an additional 38.46 miles of paved roadway. In December, the City Council approved the 1994 - 2000 Capital Improvements Program which proposed several more miles of street construction over the next seven years. The City also budgets annually to sealcoat or overlay approximately 15 miles of street each year (of which approximately half of the cost is assessed to benefiting properties). Parks In 1992, the City Council authorized the use of $120,000 annually in 1993, 1994 and 1995, in landfill trust fund interest earnings toward park development. This fund has received royalty payments from the landfill the past several years. The City has determined to not spend any of the principle balance since the revenue source, the landfill, is now closed. The interest earnings from the fund, however, are dedicated to the benefit of the community. The Park and Recreation Commission has, as a goal, construction in most of the City's 17 park districts over the next seven years. At present, the City actively maintains 107.69 acres of its over 400 -acre park system. The balance is currently either undeveloped or designated as natural areas. Public Safety The newest Fire Department in the State continued to grow and improve in 1993. The 24- member department, which was created in 1988, responded to 137 fire incidents and 66 medical emergencies during 1993. Their efforts were assisted by the installation of a data terminal at the fire station that allows immediate information to the responding fire units including routing, hazards, occupancy and fire loads. In November, the City Council authorized replacement of the second line tanker truck which will be delivered in 1995 as an addition to the fleet which includes two pumpers, two grass fire rigs and another tanker. The Police Department in Ramsey provides 24 -hour patrol, 365 days each year. Dispatching for both police and fire or other emergency is through the Anoka County Communications Center. In 1993, the Ramsey Police Department responded to 7,796 incidents related to areas such as traffic, burglary, runaways, motorist aid, and gun permits. In 1993, Anoka County provided an opportunity to all cities in the County to install mobile data terminals (MDT's) in its squad cars. Ramsey was the first patrol unit to provide MDTs in each of its patrol cars. This technology improvement allows the officer immediate access to information through a link to the County computer system. It improves the efficiency of the officer and, ultimately, response time. Ramsey historically has had among the lowest crime rates in the Twin City Metropolitan Area; hopefully, this will continue with quality land use planning and a community policing focus in future years. In 1993, the Police Department provided Ramsey Elementary School with the second year of the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program. With the addition of an eleventh sworn officer in 1994, programs such as this one can continue. iv