12-09-24-R - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION — NOVEMBER 7, 2024 13 Councilmember Holden thinks we need the monetary aspect. We need to know how many acres a park should be based on surrounding households. The consultant can tell us what kind of equipment we need. Pickleball courts are in. Do we design a tennis court in case Pickleball is not popular in ten years? She thought we may want there to be a more adult focused park in The Creek vs. in areas where people may be purchasing their first homes. Councilmember Rousseau said walkability is important. Interim City Administrator Jagoe wondered what timing would look like to get Bolton and Menk in for a discussion. Public Works Director/City Engineer Swearingen said they could be available any time. They already have a team proposed in anticipation that it would be needed. He said they are quick to respond to any requests he makes. He assumes they will be able to jump on this as soon as we need them. Interim City Administrator Jagoe said Staff will gather the information and get it to them. They already know the sizing and equipment needed for the quantity of people next to a park and should be able to turn the information around quickly. Interim City Administrator Jagoe summarized there is direction for Staff to schedule a Work Session on the Parks MOU and a parks discussion. She asked if Council had direction on next steps on the other items. Mayor Grant said Councilmember Rousseau is requesting standing weekly meetings. He doesn't know if we need that many. Councilmember Rousseau said not the week of Thanksgiving but having something on the calendar for the next four or five weeks. If they aren't needed, they can be canceled. Councilmember Monson thought in the meantime, the JDA reps can talk to Bob Lux about the redline Term Sheet. We can express the desire to hold the affordable housing number at 20%. She wondered what the topics would be for the standing meetings. Mayor Grant said we don't know if we need the meetings but Council is penciling in dates as a placeholder for discussions. Councilmember Holden said the JDA reps shouldn't meet with Bob Lux until we know what we want. Negotiating bits and pieces is not the right way to go. Mayor Grant agreed. Councilmember Monson said it would be worthwhile to have a phone call with him to walk through it. If there is anything he shares, they can come back and talk about it with Council. Councilmember Holden said that is the reason Stacie Kvilvang was invited to tonight's meeting, so she can explain the redlines. Councilmember Monson said she is trying to ensure that we keep Bob Lux moving as well. She is concerned about Council getting stuck in their own conversation for weeks and weeks. There has to be time to discuss with him. Also, there was worry about too much public negotiation.