For the 2017–2018 academic year, RCP partnered with the City of Ramsey on 21 projects matched with 20 courses spanning 16 academic departments at the University of Minnesota, offering 280 students hands-on, applied learning opportunities while providing the City with information, ideas, and new perspectives on locally identified community resiliency issues. Projects were designed to further the city’s strategic planning priorities, which include financial stability, a connected community, smart citizen-focused government, and an efficient organization. On Friday, May 4, University of Minnesota faculty and students celebrated with City of Ramsey residents, public officials, and staff at the annual RCP End-of-Year Celebration.
A northwestern suburb of the Twin Cities only 25 miles from Minneapolis, Ramsey is located along the rapidly growing Interstate 94/U.S. Highway 10 corridor between the Twin Cities and St. Cloud, and has a stop on the Northstar Commuter Rail Line. Ramsey has long benefitted from its location on the Mississippi River. It contained one of the first permanent European settlements in the area, and was officially organized as Ramsey Township in 1857, a year before Minnesota was granted statehood. The township was incorporated as the City of Ramsey in November of 1974. The city’s population is projected to grow rapidly over the next two decades, from 23,000 residents today to nearly 35,000 residents and 13,000 households by 2040.
You can view a summary of the partnership and projects, or learn more about individual projects and read news items about the partnership below.
Community Identity and Engagement
Every Voice Matters (Resident Engagement and Volunteerism Plan)
Project Goal: Develop strategies and policies to expand the City's resident engagement efforts beyond land use policy to include other types of community issues and decisions; and facilitate volunteer opportunities that can cultivate future community leaders.
Project Lead: Kurt Ulrich, City Administrator
PA 5253: Planning and Participation Processes (Instructor: Dr. Dan Milz) Fall 2017 Course | Report + Poster
PA 8081: Planning and Public Affairs Capstone (Instructor: Dr. Dan Milz) Spring 2018 Course | Report + Poster
A Gathering Place for Community (Community Center Plan)
Project Goal: Assess community need for and explore options to develop a recreation, performing arts, or other community center in the heart of The COR, a nearly 400-acre transit-oriented, mixed-use development along the Northstar Commuter Rail line.
Project Lead: Patrick Brama, Assistant City Administrator/Economic Development Manager
PA 5253: Land Use Planning (Instructor: Dr. Fernando Burga) Fall 2017 Course | Report
SMGT 3881: Senior Seminar in Sports Management (Instructor: Dr. Lisa Kihl) Spring 2018 Course | Report + Presentations
ARCH 3250/LA 3002: Design Workshop/Informants of Creating Landscape Space (Instructors: James Wheeler, Joseph Favour) Spring 2018 Course | Team 1 Report | Team 2 Report | Team 3 Report | Team 4 Report | Team 5 Report
Sustaining Our Legacy (Historic Town Hall Plan)
Project Goal: Help the City develop a plan for the Historic Ramsey Town Hall, including opportunities for adaptive reuse or shared use at the current or other locations; and engagement strategies to involve the public in planning for the future of the facility.
Project Lead: Kurt Ulrich, City Administrator
PA 5211: Land Use Planning (Instructor: Dr. Fernando Burga) Fall 2018 Course | Final Report
ARCH 5672: Historic Building Conservation (Instructor: Todd Grover) Fall 2018 Course | Town Hall Report + Presentation | Wilson Farmstead Report + Presentation
Creating Community Identity (Branding and Marketing Plan)
Project Goal: Help the City develop a branding and marketing plan, and identify potential strategies to increase the City’s visibility and profile in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
Project Lead: Kurt Ulrich, City Administrator
JOUR 8202: Generation and Selection of Communication Strategies (Instructor: Steve Wehrenberg) Spring 2018 Course | Team 1 Report | Team 2 Report | Team 3 Report | Team 4 Report
Housing and Economic Development
Encouraging Small Business Growth and Expansion (Business Incubator Plan)
Project Goal: Build on the City’s successful business retention and expansion program by exploring new and emerging models for business incubators and other public or private business development initiatives.
Project Lead: Patrick Brama, Assistant City Administrator/Economic Development Manager
PA 5511: Community and Economic Development (Instructor: Bob Streetar) Fall 2017 Course | Report + Presentation
PA 5211: Land Use Planning (Instructor: Dr. Fernando Burga) Fall 2017 Course | Report
Economic Development Fellows Consulting Program (Mentor: Tim Tripp) Spring 2018 Course | Report + Poster + Presentation
Creating Housing Opportunities for All Generations (Housing Plan)
Project Goal: Help the City update its housing plan by assessing current housing stock and housing gaps, identifying policies and financial tools to create a diverse housing stock, and designing a communications/outreach strategy to garner public support for the City’s housing goals.
Project Lead: Tim Gladhill, Community Development Director
PA 5253: Planning and Participation Processes (Instructor: Dr. Dan Milz) Fall 2017 Course | Report + Poster
PA 5211: Land Use Planning (Instructor: Dr. Fernando Burga) Fall 2017 Course | Report
HSG 5467: Housing and the Social Environment (Instructor: Dr. Becky Yust) Fall 2017 Course | Report + Post Occupancy Evaluation + Presentations
Creating Destination (Retail Market Analysis)
Project Goal: Assist the City in attracting destination retail by identifying the types of retail likely to locate in Ramsey, and recommending marketing approaches, incentives, and other tools/strategies to attract retail development.
Project Lead: Patrick Brama, Assistant City Administrator/Economic Development Manager
PA 5211: Land Use Planning (Instructor: Dr. Fernando Burga) Fall 2017 Course | Report
PA 5511: Community and Economic Development (Instructor: Bob Streetar) Fall 2017 Course | Report + Presentation
Paying for Future Infrastructure Needs (Development Fee Study)
Project Goal: Help the City revise its approach to funding infrastructure by comparing Ramsey's current development fees to those in peer communities, investigating other mechanism to locally fund infrastructure improvements, and identifying cost-reduction strategies for infrastructure improvements and maintenance.
Project Lead: Tim Gladhill, Community Development Director
PA 5211: Land Use Planning (Instructor: Dr. Fernando Burga) | Report
Land Use and Transportation
Highway 10: A Community and Regional Focal Point (U.S. Highway 10 Corridor Plan)
Project Goal: Assist with ongoing development of the City's U.S. Highway 10 Corridor Plan by assessing potential future land uses in the corridor, investigating incentive-based approaches to encourage building and site improvements, and identifying existing and emerging models for multimodal highway corridor planning.
Project Lead: Tim Gladhill, Community Development Director
PA 5211: Land Use Planning (Instructor: Dr. Fernando Burga) Fall 2017 Course | Report
PA 5253: Planning and Participation Processes (Instructor: Dr. Dan Milz ) Fall 2017 Course | Report + Poster
PA 8081: Planning and Public Affairs Capstone (Instructor: Dr. Dan Milz) Spring 2018 Course | Report + Posters
Connecting Ramsey (City-Wide Greenway Plan)
Project Goal: Assist with development of a city-wide greenway plan by identifying incentive-based approaches to creating greenways; strategies for communicating to property owners the importance and value of greenway protection; and innovative storm water management design and policy solutions that leverage greenway investments.
Project Lead: Mark Riverblood, Parks and Assistant Public Works Superintendent
PA 5211: Land Use Planning (Instructor: Dr. Fernando Burga) Fall 2017 Course | Report
ESPM 5245: Sustainable Land Use Planning and Policy (Instructor: Dr. Mae Davenport) Fall 2017 Course | Report + Presentation
ARCH 3250/LA 3002: Design Workshop/Informants of Creating Landscape Space (Instructors: James Wheeler, Joseph Favour & Jessica Rossi-Mastracci) Spring 2018 Course | Team 1 Report + Poster | Team 2 Report + Poster | Team 3 Report + Poster | Team 4 Report + Posters
GEOG 5564: Urban Geographic Information Science and Analysis (Instructor: Dr. Ying Song) Spring 2018 Course | Marsh Gap Report | Greenway Accessibility Report | Circle of Ramsey Story Map
A Gathering Within: An Attraction Beyond (The COR Development Plan Update)
Project Goal: Assist with update of The COR Development Plan for the City's transit-oriented town center by outlining an engagement strategy, assessing the sustainability of proposed land uses and opportunities to maximize development potential, identifying strategies for measuring market relevance and return on investment, and recommending implementation approaches to accommodate both short-term and long-term investments in The COR.
Project Lead: Tim Gladhill, Community Development Director
PA 5211: Land Use Planning (Instructor: Dr. Fernando Burga) Fall 2017 Course | Report
PA 5253: Planning and Participation Processes (Instructor: Dr. Dan Milz) Fall 2017 Course | Report + Poster
PA 8081: Planning and Public Affairs Capstone (Instructor: Dr. Dan Milz) Spring 2018 Course | Report + Posters
Environmental Stewardship
Integrating Resources into Our Future (Natural Resources Management and Outreach Plan)
Project Goal: Help the City update the Natural Resources chapter of the comprehensive plan by developing outreach and education strategies to communicate to residents the value of natural resource projection; identifying and prioritizing high-value natural resources for conservation or restoration; and identifying incentives and other non-regulatory strategies to protect and manage natural resources.
Project Lead: Chris Anderson, City Planner
PA 5211: Land Use Planning (Instructor: Dr. Fernando Burga) Fall 2017 Course | Terrestrial Resources Report | Aquatic Resources Report
PA 5253: Planning and Participation Processes (Instructor: Dr. Dan Milz) Fall 2017 Course | Report + Poster
ESPM 5245: Sustainable Land Use Planning and Policy (Instructor: Dr. Mae Davenport) Fall 2017 Course | Report + Presentation
Preventing Flood Damage and Disaster (Floodplain Communications Plan)
Project Goal: Identify communication strategies, as well as practical tools and resources, to encourage and assist business owners and homeowners to preserve natural floodplains and protect structures from flood damage.
Project Lead: Bruce Westby, City Engineer
PA 5253: Planning and Participation Processes (Instructor: Dr. Dan Milz) Fall 2017 Course | Report + Posters
GEOG 5564: Urban Geographic Information Science and Analysis (Instructor: Dr. Ying Song) Spring 2018 Course | Report + Presentation + Poster
Reduce Waste, Reuse Resources (Organics Recycling Plan)
Project Goal: Assess the feasibility of creating an organic waste recycling program by investigating local examples of successful organic waste diversion programs, identifying barriers to successful implementation, and documenting strategies to build local capacity for and public participation in such a program.
Project Lead: Chris Anderson, City Planner
PA 5712: Science to Action (Instructor: Steve Kelley) Spring 2018 Course | Report
SUST 4004: Sustainable Communities (Instructor: Amir Nadav) Spring 2018 Course | Report
OLPD 5204: Designing the Adult Education Program (Instructor: Catherine Twohig) Spring 2018 Course | Report + Presentation
Clean Water, Clean Soil (Septic System Communications Plan)
Project Goal: Identify best practices for private well and septic system maintenance, and outline a strategy for communicating to homeowners and business owners the importance of proper septic system maintenance so they will adopt these practices.
Project Lead: Rick Jarson, Building Official
PA 5253: Planning and Participation Processes (Instructor: Dr. Dan Milz) Fall 2017 Course | Report + Posters
OLPD 5204: Designing the Adult Education Program (Instructor: Catherine Twohig) Spring 2018 Course | Report + Presentation
Will the Faucet Turn On? (Water Conservation Toolkit)
Project Goal: Help the City develop a citywide water conservation approach by investigating regulatory, financial, and incentive-based approaches to reduce potable water usage; and outlining a public engagement strategy to gather resident input on proposed policy changes.
Project Lead: Bruce Westby, City Engineer
PA 5253: Planning and Participation Processes (Instructor: Dr. Dan Milz) Fall 2017 Course | Report + Poster + Scorecard
SUST 4004: Sustainable Communities (Instructor: Amir Nadav) Spring 2018 Course | Report + Poster
Restoring Our Edge (Mississippi Shoreline Plan)
Project Goal: Identify strategies and best practices for reducing soil loss and erosion along the Mississippi River, including public or private partnerships and financial assistance available to help impacted shoreline owners.
Project Lead: Chris Anderson
PA 5211: Land Use Planning (Instructor: Dr. Fernando Burga) | Fall 2017 Course | Report
ESPM 5245: Sustainable Land Use Planning and Policy (Instructor: Dr. Mae Davenport) Fall 2017 Course | Report + Presentation
Storm Water Management Strategies
Project Goal: Identify strategies and best practices for managing storm water to reduce flooding and improve surface water quality.
Project Lead: Bruce Westby, City Engineer
CEGE 5511: Urban Hydrology and Water Quality (Instructor: Dr. John Gulliver) Fall 2017 Course | Emerald Pond Report + Presentation | The Draw Report + Presentation + Flyer
Administration
Protecting Our Investments (Asset Management Plan)
Project Goal: Inventory existing City assets such as streets and trails, storm water infrastructure, and boulevard trees; and develop a plan to manage these assets to ensure safety, maximum value, and return on investment.
Project Lead: Bruce Westby, City Engineer
PA 5211: Land Use Planning (Instructor: Dr. Fernando Burga) Fall 2017 Course | Asset Management Report | Public Trees Report
FNRM 5501: Urban Forest Management: Managing Greenspaces for People (Instructor: Dr. Gary Johnson) Spring 2018 Course | Report + Presentation + Volunteer Training Manual
Sustaining Our Team (Employee Development Plan)
Project Goal: Assist with the creation of an employee development plan that includes training, professional development, career advancement, and volunteer opportunities.
Project Lead: Colleen Lasher, Human Resources Manager
HRIR 5992: Independent Study in Human Resources (Instructor: Stacy Doepner-Hove) Fall 2017 Course | Report + Presentation
HRIR 6304: Employee Development: Creating a Competitive Advantage (Instructor: Stacy Doepner-Hove) Spring 2018 Course | Employee Engagement | Onboarding | Performance Management | Employee Wellness | Workplace Diversity
Protecting the Public (Police and Fire Services Evaluation)
Project Goal: Create a survey for business owners in Ramsey to assess satisfaction with Ramsey Police and Fire services.
Project Lead: Brad Bluml, Police Captain
PA 5311: Program Evaluation (Instructor: Pete Bernardy) Spring 2018 Course | Report + Presentation + Survey Tool
RCP–City of Ramsey Partnership in the News:
- Hope for the Historic—Helping Ramsey Honor Its Roots, RCP Blog Post, June 2018
- Ramsey News & Views: RCP End-of-Year Event (video—segment begins at the 5:20 mark), Quad Cities Community Television (QCTV), June 5, 2018
- Celebrating the RCP–City of Ramsey Partnership, RCP Blog Post, May 2018
- Stacy Doepner-Hove Receives Outstanding Faculty Award from Resilient Communities Project, Center for Human Resourcesa and Labor Studies website, May 8, 2018
- Matched Pairs Method, Humphrey School News post (website), May 29, 2018
- Stepping Up: Developing Career Ladders for Ramsey City Employees, RCP Blog Post, May 2, 2018
- U of M student project with Ramsey halfway done, Anoka County Union Herald, February 12, 2018
- Making Planning Legible, Humphrey School News (UMN Humphrey School of Public Affairs), December 15, 2017
- Coming Home to Ramsey: Housing Diversity and Community Resilience, RCP Blog Post, December 12, 2017
- Ramsey News and Views: RCP Update (video segment begins at the 6:15 mark), Quad Cities Community Television (QCTV), December 2017
- Managing Storm Water Sustainably through Better Engineering, RCP Blog Post, October 17, 2017
- Ramsey Matters: Resilient Communities (video), Quad Cities Community Television (QCTV), September 2017
- Ramsey Resilient Communities Project (see p. 12), Planning Minnesota, May-June 2017
- City of Ramsey Partners with University of Minnesota through Resilient Communities Project, The Ramsey Resident (city newsletter), May-June 2017
- Resilient Communities Project to partner with City of Ramsey, Conversations (Center for Transportation Studies blog), April 27, 2017
- University of Minnesota to partner with Ramsey on long-range planning, ABC Newspapers, April 24, 2017
- Ramsey News & Views (video), Quad Cities Community Television (QCTV), April 2017
- U project picks Ramsey for partnership, Star Tribune, March 24, 2017
- RCP Selects City of Ramsey as Next Community Partner, Press Release, March 16, 2017