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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION – NOVEMBER 16, 2020 10 facility usage, planning and zoning, utilities, business licenses, utility fees, and other miscellaneous permits and penalties that are enforced by the City. She indicated the City Council annually establishes a fee schedule for administrative, building construction, liquor licensing, copying of maps and ordinances, park and recreation facility usage, planning and zoning, utilities, business licenses, utility fees, and other miscellaneous permits and penalties that are enforced by the City. Staff reviewed the minor changes that were proposed to be made to the 2021 Fee Schedule and asked for comments or questions. Councilmember Holden asked why the fee for Final Plat permits was decreased. Community Development Manager/City Planner Mrosla reported after completing an analysis with neighboring communities the City fee was reduced to be on average with adjacent cities. He explained staff was trying to make Arden Hills’ fees consistent with neighboring cities. Councilmember Holmes stated she did not understand why the City would be reducing its administrative fees. She did not believe it mattered what other cities did. Councilmember Holden supported the City keeping the Final Plat fee as is due to the fact it requires legal review. Community Development Manager/City Planner Mrosla explained the legal review was covered by the funds provided in escrow. Mayor Grant asked if the escrow was paid back to the applicant if the funds were not used in full. Community Development Manager/City Planner Mrosla reported unused escrow funds are returned to the applicant and upon completion of the project. Councilmember Holden requested further information regarding the erosion control fees. City Clerk Hanson stated this was a fairly new fee section created by the previous Public Works Director/City Engineer. Councilmember Holden questioned why the fee schedule had been amended to state applicants were to contact the Met Council for SAC fee information. Public Works Director/City Engineer Blomstrom reported the City could put the Met Council’s SAC fees into the fee schedule. However, he didn’t want to create any confusion with having the wrong numbers. Councilmember Holden asked when the Met Council would be updating their fees. Public Works Director/City Engineer Blomstrom stated these numbers should have been updated this fall for 2021.