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ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—AUGUST 19, 2024 14 Councilmember Holden noted the main increase for fire was due to the six captains. She thought there was a Safer Grant for three years. She asked if the levy increase of$120,000 is for fire only or does that include police/sheriff, too. Finance Director Yang answered it's for fire. Councilmember Holden asked how much the cost-of-livingadjustment COLA increase was. J (COLA) Councilmember Monson said we started putting money even though we had the Safer Grant. That's the $40,000 figure mentioned. There is a compensation increase on the captains, the part time officers, the part time firefighters and the full time, non-exempt overtime. Union negotiations have not been finalized. Councilmember Holden clarified there will be a COLA increase and a market adjustment. Councilmember Monson responded yes, for some of them. The full-time captains will have a COLA and a market adjustment. Part time officers is the hourly pay. Councilmember Holden asked if the increase is $40,000 in 2025. Finance Director Yang confirmed. Discussion ensued about the Public Safety budget and the timing of increases for new employees. Finance Director Yang stated the recycling fund assumed a 50% increase as a place holder. We will know more when the RFP is in process. Councilmember Holden asked if this would give us an increase in the SCORE Grant. Interim City Administrator Jagoe said it would be minimal. Finance Director Yang opened discussion for the EDA Levy transfer. There has been discussion regarding gateway signs. The 2025 budget includes $270,000 for gateway signs. She stated the EDC thinks that money could possibly be transferred to some other fund. The need is not now and discussions on the topic will continue. The balance could possibly be transferred to the equipment fund. Mayor Grant noted there would be no impact to the levy. A decision does not need to be made today. If the EDA went out and visited companies and they expressed an interest in the gateway signs, the money is there. He thought the transfer could be made mid-year, if the Council chose to do that. Councilmember Rousseau said this is one area with flexibility. The EDC will be reaching out to businesses with in-person visits to engage businesses. That would be a good time to discuss what businesses are wanting. Councilmember Holden thinks if we aren't doing the gateway signs, we should pull the $270,000 from the budget. Councilmember Monson would also be open to pulling the gateway sign funding off 2025 or transferring it somewhere else.