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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL — APRIL 22, 2024 4 <br />City Administrator Perrault explained this was not the plan going forward. He reported the City <br />had an independent MOU with the developer previously. He stated he would be open to similar <br />terms, but he did not know if this would be feasible today. He commented it was his <br />understanding the trunk utilities and water tower would be financed through assessments and <br />charges. <br />Mayor Grant questioned if the water tower/utility MOU was not enforced, would this mean the <br />parks MOU would also not be enforced. <br />City Administrator Perrault stated it was his understanding the developer intends to honor the <br />parks MOU. He discussed how the developer was working through the horizontal infrastructure <br />first and then would move down the different facets of the development agreement. He indicated <br />it was his understanding the developer intends to honor the parks MOU. <br />Mayor Grant asked if the civic center MOU would be honored. <br />City Administrator Perrault explained he has not had any conversations with the developer <br />regarding the civic center MOU. He reported discussions have not reached this point but would be <br />discussed more in depth after the horizontal infrastructure was determined. <br />Mayor Grant expressed frustration with the fact the City had agreements in place and now it did <br />not. <br />Councilmember Rousseau asked what year the MOUs were executed. <br />City Administrator Perrault stated the parks and civic center space MOU was executed in 2017 <br />or thereabouts. He indicated the utility/water tower MOU was executed in 2022. <br />Councilmember Rousseau questioned when the MOUs expired. <br />City Administrator Perrault explained he did not believe the MOUs had an expiration date <br />attached to them. <br />Councilmember Monson addressed the comments regarding the financial questions. She stated <br />she appreciated how staff responded to the questions. She reported the JDA was working through <br />the horizontal infrastructure costs and would answer these additional questions in the future. She <br />commented the first piece had to be done before moving to the next piece. She indicated time has <br />not been in favor for this project and costs have increased significantly. She reported the County <br />may have been in favor of covering certain costs in the past, but this was no longer the case. She <br />indicated there were other macro issues, such as interest rates, that were impacting the project. <br />She reported the numbers were not set in stone but rather discussions were taking place and the <br />JDA was working through how to proceed with the project. She stated the JDA would continue to <br />work to find a path forward. She commented it was her understanding the energy costs would be <br />on top of the proposed numbers. She reported the proposed numbers do not have the energy <br />vision incorporated. <br />Councilmember Holden understood the group had to work through the first piece in order to <br />move on to the next. She discussed how the project's financials were not simple years ago and <br />things have not changed. She reported the location of the spine road has not changed, the County <br />