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ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION – NOVEMBER 13, 2018 3 <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden commented TCAAP was proposing to have 40-foot lots, which was not <br />found anywhere else in Arden Hills. <br /> <br />Mr. Olson stated if the density question was raised by the public the Council could expect to <br />receive feedback from the public. <br /> <br />City Administrator Perrault discussed the order of the slides for the upcoming meeting and <br />asked if the Council would like to make any changes. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant recommended a speaking introduction be given prior to the slides being discussed. <br />He recommended the financing of the project be addressed. <br /> <br />Council consensus was to keep the slides as is. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden asked how the Council should proceed with the County. <br /> <br />Mr. Olson informed the Council that he works for them and could proceed as directed by the <br />Council. He anticipated that the County could be brought back to the table if this was what the <br />Council wanted. He commented it was a move by them to create new leverage with the density <br />issue but noted there was some authenticity to the letter that the County was close to walking <br />away from the project altogether. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant commented on the importance of holding JDA meetings. He suggested <br />Councilmember McClung and himself urge the JDA to meeting again in December. <br /> <br />Councilmember McClung indicated he did not support JDA meetings being canceled and stated <br />he had expressed this concern with City Administrator Perrault. He stated he wanted to learn if <br />this project was dead and if so, he did not want to invest any further City money. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden indicated if a line had been drawn in the sand by the County, she <br />anticipated this would not be the last. <br /> <br />Councilmember Scott feared this conversation was morphing into an us versus them situation. <br />He reminded the Council that Arden Hills residents were Ramsey County taxpaying citizens. He <br />stated this was not strictly our turf versus their turf. He noted the County has assumed a <br />substantial risk for this project. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden expressed concern that if the City agrees to more density, there would <br />be no tax revenue from this project and the City would be asked for further density. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holmes commented the Council has agreed to not increase the density further. <br /> <br />Councilmember Scott suggested the Council clarify with the County that the City is not <br />interested in increasing the density again. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant expressed frustration that the County Commissioner has not been speaking to the <br />City Council or its staff regarding the development.