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Regular City Council Meeting Monday,November 6, 2017 Page 11 In closing, Commissioner McGuire encouraged residents to stay abreast of county issues and activities by signing up for the District 2 email newsletter at ram- seycounty.us/district2. City Council Comments/Questions Councilmember Willmus asked for an update on the county's economic develop- ment efforts, specifically with Rice Creek Commons and the Riverfront site, be- yond progress reports from the news media. Commissioner McGuire stated it was in progress, and continued to be a give and take, with the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners wishing things would move faster and developers could be secured for the highest and best use of those properties. Specific to Rice Creek Commons, Commissioner McGuire reported that the county continued to work on the partnership with the City of Arden Hills to balance density concerns, with the chosen developer working to secure the best commercial investment for the site, combining commercial, retail and residential uses. Commissioner McGuire expressed her confidence that the development would result in the best return on investment for the property, and with it cleaned up to residential standards, result in getting the property on the tax roles to benefit the county's tax base for all taxpayers. While not having more details available at this point, Commissioner McGuire of- fered to have county staff, at the city's invitation, provide a longer presentation on Ramsey County economic development efforts and a status report on all proper- ties; with the county having recently hired an Assistant County Manager tasked to work on economic development efforts. Councilmember McGehee asked at what point all of trash collected in Ramsey County would go to the county's burner. Commissioner McGuire clarified that the Newport facility was a processor, not a burner, serving as a separating and processing plant. Commissioner McGuire re- viewed some statistics from the facility in an attempt for the county to become a zero waste landfill user. At the request of Mayor Roe, Commissioner McGuire confirmed that as of the end of 2017, all waste was required to be transported to the Newport facility. Councilmember McGehee noted her observation on many roads the implementa- tion of stakes separating the bike path from the traffic lane, and asked if the coun- ty would consider their use as part of their Active Living initiative. Commissioner McGuire offered to do more research on their use and installation.