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ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—JULY 27, 2020 6 <br /> Mayor Grant questioned how the local non-profits were funded. <br /> Councilmember Holmes explained these organizations are paid a fee by the City to provide a <br /> service. <br /> Mayor Grant supported the City moving forward with a small business grant program. <br /> Councilmember Holden agreed noting the City had a handful of small businesses that could <br /> benefit from a CARES Act assistance grant program. She requested City staff reach out to the <br /> mobile home park to see how they have been impacted due to COVID-19. <br /> Councilmember McClung asked if Lake Johanna Fire Department PPE expenditures could be <br /> reimbursed through CARES Act dollars. <br /> Finance Director Bauman reported this would be a reimbursable expense. <br /> Councilmember McClung stated the Lake Johanna Fire Department has been documenting their <br /> expenditures. He commented he would support the City using a portion of the CARES Act <br /> dollars for small business grants. He recommended the City wait a little bit on this programming <br /> given the fact the terms were changing on a daily basis. <br /> Councilmember Holmes asked if contract police services with Ramsey County could be <br /> reimbursed through CARES Act funding. <br /> Finance Director Bauman stated she was hoping to learn more about this through a webinar later <br /> this week. She assumed Ramsey County would not be using their dollars to cover contract city <br /> expenses. <br /> Councilmember Holmes questioned if it would benefit the City to refer residents to Ramsey <br /> County for mortgage and rental assistance and then the City could offer assistance to local small <br /> businesses. <br /> Councilmember Holden supported this recommendation because Arden Hills did not have <br /> staffing in place to work on this. <br /> Mayor Grant supported this suggestion as well. He commented on how things were changing <br /> rapidly and recommended the City encourage residents to seek assistance through Ramsey County <br /> and that local small businesses approach the City. <br /> Councilmember Scott supported the funding being used for local small businesses to include <br /> non-profits. He stated the City did not have staff in place to handle resident requests. <br /> Councilmember McClung commented he would be open to the City addressing small business <br /> requests. <br /> Councilmember Holden asked if the City was able to define what a small business was. <br />