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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION – MAY 16, 2022 6 <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden said she is more concerned about New Brighton Road or Pine Tree <br />Drive where there are no sidewalks or trails. But Highway 96 was fine. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant instructed staff to have it placed where it will have the maximum impact where you <br />are making a left hand turn onto Old Highway 10. <br /> <br />Public Works Director/City Engineer Swearingen said he will work with the Ramsey County <br />engineer for placement eastbound on Highway 96 between Holiday and Highway 10. <br /> <br />E. City Hall Layout Reorganization <br /> <br />City Administrator Perrault said this was discussed by the Personnel Committee as part of the <br />potential need to add staffing when TCAAP develops and reorganizing now for better efficiency <br />and effectiveness of departments working together. There were three different scenarios <br />discussed; moving a department upstairs, transforming the upstairs area into a c-suite for <br />department heads and city administrator, or making changes to the lobby, basement or both to <br />build out additional office space. The third option would impact public access and be the most <br />costly. <br /> <br />City Administrator Perrault stated the preferred option is Option 1; to move a department <br />upstairs and build out offices there. Public Works makes the most sense to move upstairs, they <br />will have potential additional staff and the least amount of public contact at City Hall. That would <br />involve building out two to four offices, retaining some cubes and maintaining some collaborative <br />work space. Timing-wise they could start right away or wait six months to a year. There has not <br />been a budget identified yet, but they could be looking at around $10,000 per work space. This <br />could be done in two phases, moving a department upstairs and the communications person <br />downstairs in the first phase, and reconfiguring the first floor after additional staff is hired as <br />phase two. <br /> <br />City Administrator Perrault said the advantage of moving staff includes having department staff <br />close together to work more effectively and for ease in supervising. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden said she wants the cubes to be a set size for everyone. She wondered if <br />there were enough conference rooms. She wanted the upstairs to be lit. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant said his concern was there be enough room for staff to run TCAAP, and not come <br />back to make more room. If they start building walls and use up floor space and decide later they <br />need floor space they won’t be taking down walls to recover it. And they may need a small <br />conference room. <br /> <br />City Administrator Perrault said they are projecting the need for 6 additional staff. If the <br />Council desires, he could start the planning process with Fluid Interiors or another contractor to <br />talk about what is possible. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holmes felt that people upstairs aren’t as efficient as they could be and it’s a <br />disservice to the staff that are upstairs by themselves. <br />