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lt EN HILLS Approved: November 27, 2023 CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION NOVEMBER 2, 2023 5:30 P.M. - ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Mayor Grant called to order the City Council Work Session at 5:30 p.m. Present: Mayor David Grant; Councilmembers Brenda Holden, Emily Rousseau, Tena Monson and Tom Fabel Absent: None Also present: City Administrator Dave Perrault, Public Works Director/City Engineer David Swearingen, Community Development Director Jessica Jagoe, Alatus Principal Bob Lux, Tradition Homes Representative Todd Stutz 1. PUBLIC INQUIRIES/INFORMATIONAL Mary Henry, 3521 Ridgewood Court read a statement from Kristy Jacobs, 1492 Arden Place West. Ms. Jacobs was strongly in favor of increasing the number of housing units in Rice Creek Commons to 1,960. She wanted to see people of all income levels have the privilege of a safe home. Providing for neighbors makes a more economically resilient, safer, healthier and diverse community, it is a win -win. Mary Henry, 3521 Ridgewood Court continued with her own statement. She was in support of the proposed goal of 1,960 units. She felt reason points to changing the development plan to include more housing and less office space. She provided a Bloomberg News article to the Council, that states our metro area was the first to drop below a 2% inflation rate in May, which they attributed to more housing development here. More housing creates community and improves our economic outlook. Gregg Larson, 3373 North Snelling Avenue said he wanted to contrast what they know and don't know about Rice Creek Commons density numbers, in particular the density number that was advocated by the City in the past and the newly proposed number of 1,960. They lack any evidence or documentation that more than those housing units would be detrimental to the well- being of the city due to demonstrable financial or environmental harm, or that more housing units would result in adverse traffic impacts. What they do know is the housing units in the past proved unacceptable to Ramsey County during lengthy negotiations on a master development agreement.