06-20-23-WS - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION — JUNE 20, 2023 4 Mayor Grant said one of the stipulations for both ribfest and Bethel be that they recommend our hotels for people to stay. He didn't know if a direct subsidy from the Visitor's Bureau is what they had in mind when they gave the City those funds. Councilmember Fabel recommended the entire amount be given to the ribfest. He thought it was going to be a great new event for the City and we should give them some financial help. He didn't think we had any business giving money to Bethel University, and that if we gave to Bethel we should give the same amount to Northwestern, but he didn't think they should be given City money when we could help promote a major city-wide event like the ribfest. Councilmember Holden was against giving all of the money to the ribfest, she preferred to give them half. City Administrator Perrault stated the ribfest hadn't made a financial request from the City, $5,000 was suggested as a dollar value on marketing the city could do. Councilmember Rousseau said they don't know if ribfest will be an annual project, so giving them support could help make it an annual event. Mayor Grant felt they shouldn't hold it against Bethel just because they are a college. Councilmember Monson didn't have any great ideas for alternative use since $15,000 isn't enough for an entire event. She thought supporting ribfest was a good idea. She asked for more information about what Bethel would do with the money. Mayor Grant said it would be funding to help bring alumni back, advertising for homecoming, putting things on their website etc., trying to keep them engaged in the community. Councilmember Monson said she was fine splitting the money between ribfest and Bethel. Councilmember Holden asked if there was a date the money had to be utilized by. Mayor Grant replied by the end of the year. They'd be expecting approximately the same amount next year. Councilmember Fabel again mentioned if they were going to give money to Bethel they should split it and give an equal amount to Northwestern. Councilmember Holden felt if they gave money to Northwestern people would stay in and eat in Roseville. The idea was to get people to eat in our restaurants and stay at our hotels, which would apply more to Bethel. She was OK with splitting the money between Bethel and ribfest. Councilmember Rousseau agreed with splitting the money. Mayor Grant directed staff to split the money.