1995 CAFR - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Planning (continued) On November 14, 1995, the City Council approved the 1996 - 2001 Capital Improvement Program. This document projects the priority and the schedule for completion of $13,359,418 in public improvements over the next six years. Most of these improvements are funded through dedicated funds that are set aside specifically for the noted project at this time. A few projects [totaling $106,000] will require general tax levy in order to realize completion. It is this document that gives the community the best picture of projected new roads, utilities and parks over the next several years. Transportation Ramsey currently owns and maintains 131.14 miles of paved roadways after the addition of 2.33 miles of new road and completion of the paving of .26 miles of dirt road in 1995. This is up from 123.1 miles in 1994, 118.27 in 1993, 112.09 in 1992 and 106.01 in 1990. We also maintain 7.02 miles of dirt and gravel roadways and Anoka County and the State control another 38.46 miles of paved arterial highway corridors. A major effort over the past few years has occurred toward the ongoing maintenance of these roadways. Annually, the City completes sealcoating or overlays on approximately 15 miles of existing City streets. In 1993, the Council created the Public Improvement Revolving Fund [PIR] to provide the dollars necessary to pay for half of the cost of this maintenance program. Without the PIR Fund, either the property owner would pay for all of the necessary costs, or a tax increase would be required for the City portion. The PIR is self - supporting through its interest earnings. During 1995, the City completed the bulk of the engineering work to complete major roadway projects in 1996 and 1997. Sunwood Drive, from Krypton Street west to Sunfish Lake Boulevard, will be constructed in 1996. The segment between County Road 116 and Ramsey Boulevard will also be completed in 1996, as part of the trunk water and sewer project to service the AEC Energy Park. The last segment of 153rd/155th between Variolite and Armstrong Boulevard is scheduled as a 1997 project. The paving of McKinley and Uranium Streets in the Ramsey Business Park was completed as well as paving in new residential subdivisions and existing neighborhoods. Parks MAJOR INITIATIVES (continuedl Park construction activity was again significant during 1995. The Lake Itasca Trail was completed up to 167th Lane. It currently originates at 156th Avenue and includes over two miles of paved or boardwalk wilderness trail through prairie, wooded areas and wetlands. Improvements, including completion of a playground, for Fox Park just off Highway 47, at 171st, were started as part of a two -year project. Activity in Emerald Pond Park, north of County Road 116 west of Neon Street, continued with the addition of an arboretum, a bridge to a picnic island and baseball and soccer field improvements. Riverdale Park, just south of Highway 10 at Feldspar Street, received a walkway extension, landscaping around the playground and the tennis court construction was started [to be completed in 1996]. River's Bend Park east of Highway 47 received several safety improvements such as fencing, as did Central Park. The latter, the City's largest activity park located between Variolite Street and Armstrong Boulevard on 161st Avenue, saw bleachers installed, new surfaces for the ball fields, additional soccer goals, security lighting, fencing, and turf and landscape improvements. The City entered into a joint powers project with Anoka - Hennepin Independent School District #11 for the construction of two hockey rinks at Ramsey Elementary School. These were completed for the 1995/1996 winter season. In Rabbit Park, in northwestern Ramsey, extensive grading work and installation of a backstop on the ball field were completed. City crews also completed the Solstice Park playground and trail paving. In 1995, the City also gained control of a future 80 acre park along 153rd Avenue, west of Sunfish Lake Boulevard. It is currently expected that construction of this park will be initiated in 1997 or 1998, following citizen planning in 1996. Upon completion, this park will rival 45-acre Central Park in importance to the community. v