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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL — JULY 22, 2024 2 <br />and an update from Alatus on their ongoing negotiations with a private equity partner. The energy <br />committee is also slated to meet later this week to discuss updates on the consultants work. The <br />engineering contract for the completion of the Spine Road design has been finalized, it was <br />awarded to both Kimly Horn and Bolton and Menk to work on jointly. Lastly, we have not <br />received any updates on either the development of the Thumb, aka Outlot A, or the Primer Tracer <br />properties. <br />Mayor Grant asked if Bob Lux has come back with information after working with Twin City <br />Land Trust. <br />City Administrator Perrault stated City staff has not seen this document. It was his <br />understanding this document was with Mr. Lux's attorney. He anticipated he would receive this <br />document from Mr. Lux tomorrow. <br />3. PUBLIC INQUIRIES/INFORMATIONAL <br />Donna Wiemann, 1406 Arden View Drive, asked the City Administrator if the JDA would be <br />meeting tomorrow or if it was the JDA Advisory Committee. <br />City Administrator Perrault stated the JDA would be meeting on Tuesday, July 23 at 5:30 p.m. <br />Lyle Salmela, 1480 Arden Vista Court, commented on the cost of energy. He encouraged the <br />City Council to consider having Rice Creek Commons be entirely electric in order to save costs <br />and greenhouse gases. He discussed how efficient electricity was versus natural gas, and noted the <br />cost per kilowatt hour of electricity has remained close to the same price for the past 60 years. He <br />offered to be a citizen energy advisor to the City for Rice Creek Commons. <br />Gregg Larson, 3377 North Snelling Avenue, spoke to City Administrator Perrault's tenure with <br />the City, noting he previously served as the Finance Director. He reported he had the fortune and <br />misfortune of seeing City Administrators come and go as a Planning Commissioner, City <br />Councilmember and resident of Arden Hills. He witnessed the City lose its first TCAAP <br />development team, chase the illusion of a Vikings Stadium, toy with a new franchise tax levy and <br />squander the opportunity for a collaborative partnership with Ramsey County. He stated the one <br />thing that was done right was the appointment of Dave Perrault as City Administrator in 2018. <br />He believed Mr. Perrault was the best City Administrator the City has had. He anticipated Mr. <br />Perrault would be surprised by this opinion. He appreciated how Mr. Perrault responded to his <br />questions or comments honestly and professionally. He admired Mr. Perrault's approach with the <br />Council and how he advocated and defended City staff. He thanked Mr. Perrault for serving the <br />City well and wished him all the best in his new endeavor. <br />Mark Kelliher, 3712 Chatham Court, stated not everything was as it seems. He discussed how <br />projects had been mishandled by Councilmember Rousseau. He was of the opinion there were <br />numerous examples of mismanagement and he expressed frustration with the fact grass seed was <br />not included in the buckthorn project. He indicated another example of mismanagement was <br />Councilmember Rousseau's hasty approval of the Lindey's roundabout before receiving comment <br />from the PTRC on what plants should be installed into the center of the roundabout. He reported <br />the City would now be spending an additional $6,000 to relandscape this area. He indicated there <br />were many other examples, including how it took Councilmember Rousseau two years to bring <br />forward PTRC's recommendation to install automated locks on the restrooms at Perry Park. He <br />