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ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION — APRIL 15, 2024 7 Mayor Grant reported the staff memo says strategic goal setting. He stated the definition of a strategic goal is one that was longer in terms of timeframe. He indicated if the goal was to set strategic goals, he would think the Council could nail down some of its top strategic goals in pretty short order. He did not believe the Council would disagree with a strategic goal of completing TCAAP. He explained another strategic goal would be to complete certain trail segments. He anticipated the Council could have secondary goals in place under its strategic goals. He questioned how many strategic goals the Council should have in place. He suggested the Council have two more strategic goals in place for the five year time horizon. Councilmember Rousseau supported the Council using a consultant to assist with holding a strategic goal setting. She understood a consultant was reached out to several years ago. City Administrator Perrault stated the City has engaged with a consultant on two different occasions for proposals for a Council retreat. Councilmember Rousseau was in favor of the Council holding a goal setting retreat to set long term goals and then to meet back each year to revisit these goals. She believed land management was an interest in the City and she wanted to understand how staff resources could address this matter. She questioned if rain gardens could be invested in. Councilmember Monson discussed a goal setting session would be one focused session within a Council retreat. She supported the Council setting goals, both short term and long term. She believed it would greatly benefit the Council to hold a cohesive discussion in order to drive the City towards a vision and improvements that the residents in the community want. She indicated she was supportive of bringing in a third party to assist with the goal setting session that addressed both short term and long term goals for the City. Mayor Grant commented he did not believe spending $10,000 on this was not a wise investment. He believed the Council could come together with staff and discuss its strategic goals. He was of the opinion the City did not have to pay $10,000 in order to accomplish his. He stated that was his faith in this Council. Councilmember Rousseau indicated her understanding was this money was budgeted and may not all be spent. She commented on how the public was asking this Council to work together more cohesively and this would provide an opportunity to set standards going forward. Councilmember Holden stated there has been many opportunities for the Council to work together and the Committee assignments has been a slap in the face and there was no intention of the Council working together. Councilmember Fabel commented on how a third party would bring to the Council visions that were encountered by other municipal areas. He discussed how changes were needed for housing and zoning. He supported the Council bringing in a third party in order to bring a larger picture than the Council's regular day to day operations. Councilmember Holden anticipated a lot of this could come from the Met Council. She indicated she was uncertain what would happen with public works, their building or equipment. She commented on how she fought for maintenance of the equipment, streets and trails. She was uncertain if the Council had to split its goals between basic needs versus wants and changes.