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ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION – JANUARY 3, 2023 7 Councilmember Fabel stated it was his understanding there was a breakdown in communication between the City and the County. He understood no meetings have been held. He believed it would be important to reopen this discussion, with the legal discussions occurring under the Joint Development Authority (JDA). He agreed it would be important to get input from the developer, the City’s financial advisor and those that put together the term sheet. He supported the JDA being reestablished quickly in order to reestablish communication between the City and the County. After the JDA has been reestablished, then public meetings could be held. Councilmember Holden reported one of the issues with the JDA was that the County Commissioners don’t negotiate, they deferred the work to staff. She indicated the County Commissioners were not willing to come to meetings and talk. Councilmember Fabel stated he understood this was Councilmember Holden’s perspective. He explained he also understood there was another perspective that the City has been unwilling to compromise. He supported getting new players at the table in order to get a dialogue going. Councilmember Holden agreed a dialogue was needed to occur with the County Commissioners. Mayor Grant commented that the County funds the JDA and when the County Commissioners quit showing up for meetings, they also canceled the funding. He noted both sides would have to show up. Councilmember Holden reported this project was very complex and she believed it was important for the new Councilmembers to fully understand the history from both the City and the County. Councilmember Monson stated she would like to review economic modeling and density information from Stacie Kvilvang of Ehlers. She agreed the JDA was the appropriate place for a lot of the conversations to happen in order to move this project forward. Mayor Grant anticipated the numbers had changed and parameters would have to be adjusted. He believed Ehlers was a premier company in providing financing models and he believed having these financing models would assist the City in making data driven decisions. Councilmember Monson suggested Bob Lux attend a future work session as well. Councilmember Fabel agreed Bob Lux had to be involved in discussions quickly. Councilmember Holden stated she believed the Council owed it to the Arden Hills taxpayers to review the profit margins for this project. Mayor Grant noted the Council used to hold JDA work sessions in the past. He stated it was his understanding the JDA would function similar to a Planning Commission. City Attorney Jamnik reported this was the case.