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'It <br /> "ENILLS <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 INQUIRIES/INFORMATIONAL <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 />