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PLANNING In 2003, the City Council approved 11 residential plats creating 147 urban single- family lots, 489 townhome lots, and 17 rural, single - family lots. Each year the City Council approves a Capital Improvement Program. This document projects the priority and construction schedule for the completion of public improvements over the next five years. Most of these improvements are funded through dedicated funds that are set aside specifically for the noted project. It is this document that gives the community the best picture of projected new roads, utilities and parks over the next several years. After several years of planning, the Ramsey Town Center project is in the ground and moving ahead. The City created a separate zoning district that will regulate the Town Center development. After a lengthy process, the City approved the final plat of the first phase of the Town Center Development and entered into a Master Development Agreement with a Developer, Ramsey Town Center, LLC. The City also approved the first site plan for the project, the P.A.C.T. Charter School, for the construction of a 71,000 square foot, two story facility that will serve 560 students from kindergarten through 12 grade. At the close of the year, Ramsey Town Center, LLC brought forward a proposal for development that included 100 units of attached housing that will be built by the D.R. Horton Company. TRANSPORTATION The City currently owns and maintains 148.10 miles of paved roadways after the addition of 4.40 miles of new street construction in 2003. The City also maintains 6.40 miles of dirt and gravel roadways, and Anoka County and the State of Minnesota control another 39.51 miles of paved arterial highway corridors. A major effort over the past few years has been 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 City 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's portion. The PIR Fund is self - supporting through its interest earnings. UTILITIES Major improvements were also made to the City's utility system in 2003. A total of $1,806,512 worth of water and sewer lines were installed in new subdivisions or to interconnect (loop) lines within the urban section of the community. To alleviate persistent drainage problems throughout the City, a Storm Water Utility Fund was created in 2000. A total of $1,027,902 of storm sewer lines were installed in 2003. During 2003, more than 411 million gallons of water was pumped from the City's five municipal wells, which is a 2% increase over the preceeding year. PARKS The City is fortunate in being home to 565 acres of state, county, and city park space. Included in the City inventory is almost thirty miles of trails, sidewalks, and over 200 acres of active park spaces. The balance of the system is either yet to be developed or dedicated as nature preserves. In 2003, the City was awarded a $500,000 grant from the State of Minnesota. This grant is to be used for conservation and easements adjacent to Trott Brook. viii