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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL — FEBRUARY 13, 2023 4 condescending. She believed Councilmember Fabel owed the residents of Arden Hills a heartfelt apology but she did not believe this would happen. Donna Wiemann, 1406 Arden View Drive, stated she was pleased the Council was taking applications for an Arden Hills resident to serve as the JDA Chair. She believed this person should be objective and should take into consideration the TCAAP development would have on the City's roads, traffic and upfront costs. She asked that the selected individual not automatically align him or herself with the "we are all of one mind" mantra. She feared this was the action that would be taken by the new City Councilmembers. She understood that at the February 6 JDA meeting an advisory committee was established and was made up of Councilmember Fabel and County Commissioner Frethem. She stated it was not clear to her if these meetings would be public, but she was hopeful that they would be. Mark Kelliher, 3712 Chatham Court, explained he has been a resident of Arden Hills for the past 30 years. He reported he attended the recent JDA meeting. He described the idea of free ridership and expressed concern with the fact all parties involved in the JDA were recognized for their great efforts except for the previous JDA leadership. He reported the previous leadership was responsible for creating the JDA. He noted the new members on the JDA should have taken the high road and acknowledged these individuals for their efforts. He ended his comments by stating at the JDA meeting he sensed a great deal of excitement. However, as was demonstrated by the freshman Councilmembers with the roundabout, he feared the new Councilmembers would be all too willing to accept anything they are told by the County. He explained he was for the Council not taking the same approach when it comes to the TCAAP development. He did not believe any amount of rushing would make up for the time that has been wasted in the County showing any interest in JDA participation. He stated the Councilmembers representing the City of Arden Hills on the JDA have a fiduciary responsibility to all Arden Hills residents. He encouraged them to not rush to embrace the County at every turn but rather he urged the Council to complete their own research before making decisions. Chris Hughes, 3515 Snelling Avenue North, explained he attended the January Council meeting and he applauded the number of residents in attendance. He indicated he did not applaud everything that came out of the mouths of his fellow citizens. He stated he was the campaign treasurer for the three new Councilmembers. He commented there have been comments in the Council Chambers and on social media that the new Councilmembers received money from Ramsey County and the Met Council, both interested parties in the TCAAP project. He reported this was categorically false. He stated no donations were received from Ramsey County or the Met Council. He indicated he filed multiple campaign financing reports as required and all were public record. He clarified for the record that Councilmember Fabel did not receive a donation from a Ramsey County Commissioner. He explained the attorney who donated to Councilmember Fabel's campaign is not employed by Ramsey County, rather his independent firm was employed by Ramsey County. He reported Councilmember Fabel knows this attorney personally and professionally. He stated Councilmember Fabel received campaign donations from other lawyer friends as well, but this did not mean that Councilmember Fabel supports the clients his lawyer friends represented. He explained Councilmember Fabel was not being bought out by a campaign donation of less than $600. He indicated Councilmember Holden has been on the City Council for the past 20 years, Councilmember Holmes served for 16 years and Mayor Grant has been the Mayor for the past 12 years. He noted these individuals were not able to reach a TCAAP deal during their long tenures. He did not believe this was a coincidence. He believed leaders got things done and did not point fingers but rather leaders figured things out. He finished his comments by stating he was the treasurer for the campaigns, and he finds these Councilmembers to be intelligent, highly ethical and