Laserfiche WebLink
DRAFT <br />-ARQEN_HILLS <br />Approved: September 25, 2023 <br />CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA <br />CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING <br />AUGUST 21, 2023 <br />5:00 P.M. - ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS <br />CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL <br />Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Mayor Grant called to order the City Council <br />Work Session at 5:00 p.m. <br />Present: Mayor David Grant; Councilmembers Brenda Holden, Emily Rousseau, <br />Tena Monson and Tom Fabel <br />Absent: None <br />Also present: City Administrator Dave Perrault; Finance Director Gayle Bauman; Public <br />Works Director/City Engineer David Swearingen; Community Development Director <br />Jessica Jagoe; and Assistant to the City Administrator/City Clerk Julie Hanson <br />Others present: Mark Ryan, CEO Bolander, and Stacie Kvilvang, Ehlers <br />1. PUBLIC INQUIRIESANFORMATIONAL <br />Gregg Larson, 3377 North Snelling Avenue, spoke to the Council regarding franchise fees. He <br />stated in 2014 the Council wanted to impose franchise fees to pay for parks and trails. He read an <br />article from the April 2014 Arden Hills Notes newsletter regarding discussions the Council had <br />surrounding franchise fees. This article stated more than 30 people from the public attended this <br />meeting and spoke regarding the propose fees. While some members of the public offered <br />support, the majority did not. He discussed how utility bills were already on the rise and stated he <br />believed franchise fees were bad City policy. He stated it was not wide practice for municipalities <br />to impose franchise fees. He noted this was a losing proposition in 2014 and requested the <br />Council not pursue this further. <br />Don Wahlberg, 1451 Arden Place, explained he wanted to install solar panels on the ground in <br />his backyard. He stated this was contrary to City policy. He reported Arden Hills was one of the <br />few communities that does not allow ground mounted solar panels. He indicated his situation was <br />unique noting the panels would not be visible to neighbors. He commented his backyard was <br />surrounded by trees and lilac bushes making it nearly invisible. He requested the Council <br />reconsider its current policy in order to allow ground mounted panels when they are not visible <br />from neighboring properties. <br />