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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—APRIL 8, 2024 6 Mayor Grant requested Councilmember Monson take a closer look at the proposed costs for the fire station and to see if the size of the project had grown. Councilmember Holden questioned if the fire board had reached out to Betty McCollum to request funds for the fire station as she believed the window may still be open to request money through the legislature, and she noted that it is a very short window. Councilmember Monson stated the fire board would reach out to Betty McCollum regarding this matter. Council consensus was for the City to bond for its own portion of the fire station project. 3D. Franchise Fee Discussion—April 20 Open House Councilmember Holden asked how the Council wanted to use franchise fees. She supported the City having a specific focus for its franchise fees. City Administrator Perrault stated last July, August and September the Council had franchise fee discussions and the direction to staff at that time was to bring this item back in the spring of 2024. Staff was to give a presentation to the public to gauge feedback and was then to report back to the City Council. He reported staff was aware of funding gaps in the PIR Fund, Public Safety Capital Fund and Equipment Building Replacement Fund. He indicated the finance director has been working on a presentation and this information would be provided to the Council on Wednesday. Mayor Grant commented the feedback would be on bonding, tax increases, and franchise fees. He stated the Council would have to consider its preferred route. Councilmember Rousseau requested that a breakdown on how taxes would increase be included as well. City Administrator Perrault explained staff would provide a breakdown on property taxes versus franchise fees. Councilmember Fabel was of the opinion how the funding was spent confuses the issue. He stated the fact is, the City needed more money than was currently coming in for budgeted expenses. He indicated this funding could come through an increase in property taxes or a franchise fee. Councilmember Holden supported the City including trail expenses in the City's future expenditures. Councilmember Monson stated the Council has not decided whether or not to move forward with trail improvements without State bonding. She supported the Council having this discussion. She believed it would be interesting to have the trails included in some form to show the additional costs for the next five years.