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t Metropolitan Council Improve regional competitiveness in a global economy January 10, 2001 Jim Norman City Administrator City of Ramsey 15153 Nowthen Blvd., NW Ramsey, MN 55303 RE: Respo e to City Regarding Giving Up Metropolitan Sewer Capacity for Future Growth Dear Mr Metro$1{tan Council staff and the city of Ramsey met on November 2, to discuss the Council's review of the city of Ramsey's Comprehensive Plan Update that began on October 4, 2000. The plan, as revised and submitted in September 2000, would substantially depart from the regional Water Resources Management Plan and have a systems impact on the wastewater treatment system. This departure is due: to an inadequate program for maintaining individual sewage treatment systems; and a city land use plan that does not accommodate sufficient urban growth within and beyond a proposed 2015 MUSA line. At the city's request, more than 20 years ago, the Council planned and built approximately 14.5 miles of interceptor pipe to serve at least 5,400 more households than would ever be accommodated by this plan. This segment of pipe includes that portion between the Ramsey border with Anoka, and the southern portion of the CAB interceptor located near the intersection of West River Road and 87 Avenue in Brooklyn Park. City policy makers asked if the Council could reallocate its reserved interceptor capacity to another city that wants to grow, such as Dayton. Although plant capacity can be reallocated, interceptor capacity is fixed. Ramsey is served by the Metropolitan Wastewater Treatment plant in St. Paul. The Council allocates sewer plant capacity based on the forecasted demands of all the cities on the system. However, the immediate conveyance system that carries flow from Ramsey is delivered through a series of interceptors that were constructed by the MCES in the 1980's. These facilities are those referenced in the above paragraph. If the Council could bill the city for these costs, Ramsey's share of the system would be based on the current value of the 1983 -1984 expenditure; three million dollars ($25 million dollar total construction). However, the Council has responsibility not only for the sewer system operation, but also for guiding regional growth through the state - required Regional Development Framework of which sewer system plans are a part. Therefore, the question of allowing Ramsey to reimburse the Council and relinquish allocated sewer capacity requires legal research and policy deliberation by the entire Metropolitan Council. This overall policy matter will be scheduled for discussion before the Council's Livable Communities Committee in February 2001. The city is welcome to attend and will be notified of the agenda. www.metrocouncil.org Metro Info Line 602 -1888 230 East Fifth Street • St. Paul, Minnesota 55101 -1626 • (651) 602 -1000 • Fax 602 -1550 • TTY 291 -0904 An Equal Opportunity Employer