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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—FEBRUARY 21, 2017 2 Mayor Grant wondered if they would be reducing bus service to make up for the budget shortfall. Senior Manager Carlson responded that there is the potential for significant reduction in service. The budget is based on the forecast of motor vehicle sales and the sales tax they receive. Metro-mobility service is also required and very expensive. A fare increase may be contemplated. Councilmember Holden asked if when looking at ridership is it based just on number of employees at large corporations or do they look at younger people that are more willing to take the bus? Senior Manager Carlson said they are looking at how they connect employees here into the region. Part of that would be to avoid the transfer connection at Rosedale, increasing the level of service and matching it to where people are actually coming from. Councilmember Scott remarked that he feels the community here will be receptive to more transit service. Mayor Grant asked if they have had similar discussions with Ramsey County in regards to getting bus service the to TCAAP area. Senior Manager Carlson replied that the county is a significant transit funder, although they haven't had a discussion specifically toward the A-line extension. Metropolitan Council Member McCarthy asked if we were to extend the route, what would the rough estimate be for operating costs. Senior Manager Carlson stated that the rule of thumb is one half million dollars per bus per year. Extending Route 84 to Arden Hills by one bus would get to the County Road F area. Two buses would get to the TCAAP site on a half hour basis. Metropolitan Council Member McCarthy mentioned a handout that was passed around answering other questions the Council had asked at the last meeting she attended. Metropolitan Council Senior Planner Eric Wojchik gave a brief overview of I&I (inflow and infiltration) in the region. Arden Hills has experienced a decline in overall flows in recent years. Arden Hills exceeded the maximum allowable flow rate in 2012, 2014 and 2016 during rainfall events, and successfully completed the requirements for each exceedance. Metropolitan Council Senior Planner Wojchik then addressed the availability of I&I grants, Livable Communities Act grants, storm water grants, and approximate timelines for grant applications. Arden Hills was reimbursed $60,000 through grants last year. The governor has allocated $5 million in his proposed budget for 2017 for I&I mitigation grants. Councilmember Holden expressed concern that more grant money would be given to communities that were behind on I&I than those communities that are working on the issue. Metropolitan Council Member McCarthy stated there is a task force looking into it now and money will be allocated according to what the legislature directs them to do. Metropolitan Council Senior Planner Wojchik noted that Arden Hills is in the Livable Communities Act program. Communities must adopt goals for life cycle housing to be involved. Arden Hills has negotiated for the current cycle. The Innovative Storm Water grant was launched last year. The City would need to partner with the Rice Creek Watershed District for that grant.