Agenda Packets - 1997/02/10 - Laserfiche WebLink

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City of Mounds View Staff Report Joint Powers Agreement for Ramsey County GIS User Group • February 6, 1997 Page 2 Metropolitan Council to work with counties to make roe data from the State legislature and the p property rty and a parcel-based map available to their cities. Approximately 18 months ago,interested cities in Ramsey County started a GIS Users Group. The aim of the Users Group has been"to encourage organizations to cooperate through the sharing of resources, data and ideas,primarily for the establishment and maintenance of geographic information systems within local units of government." Ramsey County is interested in working with the GIS Users Group to establish and maintain a county- wide geographic information system. The information would consist of a base map showing all parcels in the County as well physical features such as buildings, road edges, and water bodies. The parcel map can be used as a base map to which each city can add such information as comprehensive plan designations, zoning districts,land use,utility lines, and parks and trails. The county-wide information system would also give access to property data maintained by the Department of Property Records and Revenue. Each city could also link the parcel map to its own data bases. It would then be possible to map such items as calls for service to the Police Department, code enforcement cases, building permits, and participation in recreation programs, as soon as this information is linked to property identification numbers. Staff regards having access to a county-wide geographic information system, which includes both a parcel-based map and links to Ramsey County property records and data on physical features, as an invaluable tool. Geographic information systems make it possible to display the information in data bases on maps by linking the data to physical locations. The link most often used by counties and cities are the property identification numbers assigned to parcels by the County Assessor. Mapping often gives the data more meaning because it shows patterns and relationships. A map of code enforcement cases will show whether there are areas where these cases are concentrated much better than a listing of cases. Understanding patterns helps in developing policies on how to deal with issues and deciding • where to focus resources. Cities also use maps to show the location of water, sewer and storm drain lines, snow plow routes, pavement management, comprehensive plan designations,zoning districts, parks and trails. It is much easier to update and revise maps which are in digital form on a computer than if they are hand-drafted. It is also possible to change the scale of these maps much more quickly and easily. Mounds View creates and maintains these types of maps. A geographic information system which produces computer-generated maps is a much more efficient way to do this work. Mounds View has been working to establish a geographic information system, and is close to completing a parcel-based map. Because of conflicting demands on staff time,however, it has been difficult to proceed beyond this very initial step to add layers of information and to link data collected in the various departments to the map. Joining the GIS Users Group would deliver an up-to-date parcel map which would also show physical features including buildings, road edges, and water bodies,with this information maintained and updated by Ramsey County. It would provide access to County property records and save the cost of subscribing to IRIS. Staff anticipates that the comprehensive plan designations,zoning districts, land use and road names will be added to the parcel map through the 35W Corridor project. Participating in the Ramsey County GIS Users Group will further our efforts to establish a geographic information system for the City of Mounds View. Recommendation: Approval of Resolution No. 5085 approving a joint powers agreement with the Ramsey County GIS Users Group, with the one time membership fee and annual fee being paid from the MIS account. 'lu' L & 411) Pamela Sheldon, Community Development Director C:\OFFICE\WPW1N\WPDOCS\SPECPRO]\GISMAP\USERJPA.CC