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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION – NOVEMBER 20, 2017 5 <br /> <br />City Clerk Hanson reported staff is looking for Council input regarding Council Liaison and <br />JDA appointments, as applicable. A resolution delegating appointments will be brought to a future <br />City Council meeting for approval. <br /> <br />Councilmember Scott stated he was interested in serving as the Planning Commission liaison. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holmes stated her preference would be to serve as the Planning Commission <br />liaison as well. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant requested the Councilmembers send their preferences to him and recommended <br />this item be placed on the December 11 Consent Agenda. <br /> <br />F. Draft Comp Plan <br /> <br />This item was removed from the agenda. <br /> <br />G. Lake Johanna Fire Department/Presbyterian Homes Donation <br /> <br />Interim Director of Finance and Administrative Services Perrault stated City Council <br />requested staff to explore having Presbyterian Homes donate a portion of the cost for upcoming <br />capital expenses related to the Lake Johanna Fire Department. The rationale was that Presbyterian <br />Homes is responsible for approximately 20 percent of the City’s fire calls, and it would be prudent <br />for them to contribute towards the City’s share of capital expenses. Upon further investigation, <br />Presbyterian Homes accounted for approximately 15 percent of the Lake Johanna Fire <br />Department’s calls in 2016 and approximately 17 percent of the calls year-to-date. Also of note, <br />Presbyterian Homes represents approximately 12 percent of the dwelling units (not actual <br />population) of the City of Arden Hills. <br /> <br />Interim Director of Finance and Administrative Services Perrault explained City staff <br />reached out to both the City Attorney and the League of Minnesota Cities for their opinion. Those <br />opinions were reviewed with the Council. Following the advice of our City Attorney and the <br />League of Minnesota Cities, staff would advise the City not pursue a donation request from <br />Presbyterian Homes. If Council would like to move forward with a fee based system for Fire <br />Protection, Council should direct staff to work with the City Attorney to draft a policy and <br />ordinance to collect fees for fire services on a city-wide basis. <br /> <br />City Attorney Jamnik provided further comment on his legal opinion regarding the matter and <br />explained solicitations or donations were not supposed to be made by Police or Fire Departments. <br />He reported the City did not want to have any donation appear to be coerced or be made under <br />pressure. He provided further comment on the services the City could charge and could not <br />charge for. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant asked if a third party, such as the Arden Hills foundation, could take the donation <br />for the City. <br /> <br />City Attorney Jamnik stated this would not be a problem but recommended the foundation <br />pursue equipment.