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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION — JULY 17, 2023 3 <br />Mayor Grant directed staff to go ahead with scheduling the goats for both phases. <br />PTRC Member Kelliher added it would cost $7,000 for the goats and $1,000 for grass seed over <br />2 years. They could put the grass seed down next spring in tandem with the goats so they can <br />trample it in. <br />B. State of the City Update <br />Senior Communications Coordinator Cardona said at the last meeting the Council decided to <br />have the State of the City on a Thursday in September. NineNorth and the Tavern Grill were <br />available on September 14, 21 or 28. The Tavern Grill was willing to honor the $5 per person <br />pricing from 2018. He asked Council to settle on which date they'd like before going on to the <br />other items to discuss. <br />Councilmember Holden felt this year would be the wrong year to change to January. There will <br />be significant increases to city taxes based on just the fire department alone, and with the PMP <br />projects coming up in the next couple of years people will need to save. After talking with her <br />neighbors, she felt there was no perfect time to have the meeting; in the morning people had to get <br />kids off to school, and in the evening they have to feed them and take them to sports. Seniors <br />don't like to drive in the dark especially in the winter, and there are snowbirds that wouldn't be <br />able to attend in January. She thought they should have the meeting in September or October. <br />Councilmember Fabel stated he agreed 100% with the comments made by Mr. Larson to have <br />the State of the City in January for all of the reasons he stated. He would also like to have the <br />meeting on a Saturday at a civilized hour like 10:00 a.m. at City Hall. <br />Councilmember Rousseau liked moving it to January but the timing of morning or evening was <br />difficult. <br />Mayor Grant agreed with Councilmember Holden. He said this is about the City, not about the <br />new Councilmembers, it's an annual thing and he thought getting out there as they are setting their <br />preliminary levy was important. He thought a Saturday morning might actually work and if they <br />did it at City Hall it would be less expensive. He suggested a Saturday in early September. <br />Senior Communications Coordinator Cardona asked if he should talk to the vendors and <br />NineNorth to see they availability for a Saturday in the fall? <br />Councilmember Fabel said with only four of them there they should bring this to a Council <br />meeting to vote on the date. <br />After further discussion, Mayor Grant directed staff to bring the item to the next Council meeting <br />for a vote on the State of the City being held in the fall or after the first of the year. <br />Senior Communications Coordinator Cardona said then whenever it is held they could <br />promote it in the newsletter, send a postcard and do digital promotions on the website and social <br />media. There was a save the date in the last newsletter and once a decision is made on the date <br />