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ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION — AUGUST 19, 2024 9 Public Works Director/City Engineer Swearingen stated last time, the process is you have to apply for whatever project you are looking to do. Say we'd like to be reimbursed for a certain quantity. You can get roughly 25% of the amount. It's a competitive process. Councilmember Monson asked if this is something that should be included in the budget, or not. Or include a portion with the assumption that we may not actually go after it unless the Met Council funding is approved. Mayor Grant stated if something is in the budget, it's not a guaranteed approval. Council can always delay a project if the funding is not received. Councilmember Holden said we've always gotten what we asked for. Public Works Director/City Engineer Swearingen said the last go -around we did not because it was very competitive. He thinks the way it was applied for, initially did not account for all the projects. His final submission included all of the projects, but they weren't identified at the original application. Councilmember Holden stated there was no money left over this time? She said in the past they have called to ask if we want more. Her question is, is there a way to split Glenarden if we don't receive a certain amount from the Met Council? Public Works Director/City Engineer Swearingen said yes. With lining projects like this, it's easy to section them out. Councilmember Rousseau asked when the Met Council grant will go through. Public Works Director/City Engineer Swearingen said the program runs through January of 2026. Then it would be the fall of 2026 if they open up another round. He can reach out to Met Council and see if he can get a better idea of the number of applications they've received to better gauge how competitive it will be. He will reach out this week and will forward the response to Council when he receives it. He noted the actual reimbursement amount was not known until everyone submitted invoices. Mayor Grant said that if the City is being charged 9% more, then we have to charge 9%. The Council could back it off by a percent and make it up next year. He asked if Council is okay with the 9%. Councilmember Holden wanted to know what the percentage is for the water. Finance Director Yang said water fund will be 3%. Surface water is also 3%. Councilmember Holden calculated that everyone's bill will increase by 15%. Councilmember Monson asked if the reason for the 3% increase in the other funds is because that is what has been scheduled, making this a standard increase on water and surface water. The sanitary sewer is recommended at 9% to cover the Met Council wastewater charge. She clarified that staff is seeking direction on if the 3% increases should continue, knowing that Met Council said it will be 4-6% in the future, moving forward. Finance Director Yang confirmed.