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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL—JULY 24, 2023 2 City Administrator Perrault explained this group would meet next on Thursday, July 27. Councilmember Monson stated she believed the discussion the JDA had at the worksession about community engagement was really good. She encouraged those interested to watch this meeting. 3. PUBLIC INQUIRIES/INFORMATIONAL Mary Henry, 3521 Ridgewood Court, explained Arden Hills will receive updated financial projections for Rice Creek Commons this fall. It was her hope this information, along with further market study information, would give the Council added lenses on how to consider the housing goals for this project. She commented on a research study by Robert Alexson noting local zoning almost always works to freeze land use. She encouraged the Council to thoughtfully consider residential zoning within Rice Creek Commons. She reported the neighborhoods that were created in Arden Hills in the 1940's and 1950's look the same as they did when they were developed. She indicated she would not be around in 50 years but she hoped the new neighborhoods would be walkable and environmentally efficient with sufficient density. She trusted that the Council would have the City's best interests at heart because the zoning of this project would be the City Council's legacy. Gregg Larson, 3377 North Snelling Avenue, explained the Council made a significant change that he wanted to recognize, which was to clean up the narrative that went along with public comment. He thanked the Council for taking this action. Linda Swanson, 1124 Ingerson Road, indicated she had an issue, noting not all of the questions she had raised had not been answered by the City or staff. She reported given how secretive the JDA Advisory Committee is, she recommended the full City Council have a worksession to discuss what the City and residents of Arden Hills want. She suggested a TCAAP public engagement event be held in August or September and not October. She feared if the City waited to do this meeting after October, too many decisions will have already been made by the JDA. She encouraged residents of Arden Hills to remember that Tom Fabel is not registered with the American Bar Association, nor the State Bar Association. She indicated it would be unlawful for Councilmember Fabel to render any legal advice. She urged the Council to continue holding the State of the City in September or October because this event kept the City moving forward and was not deemed an event for looking back. Kathy Sukke, 1286 Karth Lake Circle, reported at the Council worksession last Tuesday, Gregg Larson, mayoral candidate, who lost to Mayor Grant, suggested the State of the City be held in January. She explained this event was typically held in the fall. She noted Gregg Larson was not the Mayor, but he ran with other members of the slate on transparency, openness and inclusivity. She discussed how things have changed over the past seven months with secret JDA Advisory meetings. She believed it would be nice if City Administrator Perrault wrote things down from the JDA Advisory meetings. She expressed concern with how the thumb property was being sold and developed, noting the zoning had changed half-way through this process. She feared this was not a transparent process. She recommended a visible audit function be created for TCAAP to keep the public apprised of the accomplishments and progress being made on this project. She encouraged the Council to hold a State of the City event this fall because it would assist in informing the