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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION – JUNE 20, 2023 3 <br /> <br />Councilmember Rousseau asked if they could have it later in the day, maybe 5:00 or 6:00 p.m. <br />or does 7:00 a.m. work better for attendance? <br /> <br />Mayor Grant said it seemed to work better for the business community. The last one was at <br />Boston Scientific and he didn’t particularly like the venue. They have tried meetings at night but <br />no one showed up. At 7:00 they can have refreshments and that’s a draw for people. Mornings <br />seem to work better based on their history. <br /> <br />Councilmember Monson felt 7:00 a.m. was a little too early, do they have coffee until 7:30 and <br />then it starts? <br /> <br />Mayor Grant said they could have casual discussions between 7:00 and 7:30, and the formal <br />presentation at 7:30. <br /> <br />Councilmember Monson thought even 8:00 would be OK. It might be particularly hard for <br />people with children to be there at 7:00. She liked the morning meeting. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden said she thought they should have it this fall and it should be at <br />Flaherty’s or the Tavern Grill. <br /> <br />Councilmember Fabel suggested they have the event in January. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant explained that they will go through the budgeting process, then they get to <br />construction season, and in September kids are back in school and it seems like sweet spot; they <br />have things to talk about and people want to go. He recommended early September. <br /> <br />Councilmember Fabel said he agreed with an evening event as last year’s meeting wasn’t well <br />attended. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden mentioned that last year they didn’t send postcards and advertise like <br />they had in the past. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant felt the issue was in part due to the venue. Flaherty’s and the Tavern Grill are <br />always packed. It also could have been a little of residual COVID. <br /> <br />After further discussion it was determined to hold the event in the fall with a slightly later start <br />time. The venue should be somewhere people could easily find. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant said he’d like to follow the same format as last year where everyone gets a topic. <br /> <br />B. Twin Cities Gateway Grant Discussion <br /> <br />Mayor Grant stated there is a balance of $15,380 to use. He suggested allocating half to the <br />ribfest and half to Bethel College. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden said the Quality Inn is hurting because of the construction on Lexington <br />and she wondered if there was something they could do for this small hotel in the community to <br />help them survive.