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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION – OCTOBER 16, 2017 2 <br /> <br />Mr. Boguszewski stated there is a “Yes” committee, called Commitment 2 R Schools. He also noted <br />that Emmet D. Williams School is the default school for the Arden Hills residents in the district. <br /> <br />C. COUNCIL POLICIES <br /> <br />Mayor Grant introduced this item as a place to start a discussion in regard to Council policies, both <br />formal and informal. He mentioned the purchasing policy and it was noted that the City Administrator <br />can approve up to $7500 for budgeted items, and $5000 for unbudgeted items. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant also wished to discuss hiring and the Personnel Committee. He noted that Council <br />should approve job postings and the Council will decide if the position is within the budget. The <br />Personnel Committee makes recommendations and the full Council decides whether or not to approve <br />the selection. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden requested the header on the memos show the budgeted amount for the item <br />being presented. <br /> <br />Interim Director of Finance and Admin Services Perrault noted that beginning in January the <br />memo will be identical for each department with the budgeted or non-budgeted amount listed on each <br />memo. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden wondered the process for Staff to respond to resident comments and <br />complaints. She also felt Council should be kept more informed through the Admin Update. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant stated that the Admin Update should include more information on the day to day work <br />of Staff, meetings, and learning opportunities. <br /> <br />City Administrator William Joynes noted that the new Communications Coordinator will be working <br />on communicating information with the Council. The Council has the opportunity to meet with the <br />Communications Coordinator to establish the types of things they want to know and how they’d like to <br />receive it. <br /> <br />D. DEVELOPMENT FEE AND UTILITY RATE STUDY <br /> <br />Ehlers, Inc. Senor Financial Advisor/Director Stacie Kvilvang briefly reviewed the proposal for a <br />Development Fee Analysis for TCAAP and a city wide Utility Rate Study. The biggest issue will be the <br />timing for the water tower, booster station and lift station at TCAAP. There will be a need to have <br />adequate reserves in case the City needs to borrow against the Utility Fund. The study will look at <br />different options involving user fees or trunk charges against the properties. Recommendations will be <br />made about how and when to bill for the water tower, along with risk based scenarios. The last rate <br />study was in 2008. <br /> <br />After discussion, Mayor Grant directed Staff to put this item on the next Council agenda for potential <br />approval. <br /> <br />E. STATE FAIR PARKING RECAP <br /> <br />Ramsey County Sheriff Commander Rich Clark noted that State Fair parking went better this year <br />than last. He said in 2016 the Sheriff’s Department fielded a lot of complaints that needed to be