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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION – FEBRUARY 10, 2025 14 Councilmember Holden said it should be opened up to the people who are interested in the community and have deep roots here. Councilmember Rousseau asked what she meant by deep roots. Councilmember Holden said people that used to own land along Lake Johannah, the Perry’s. There are people who have lived here since 1940, before it was changed over. Dan Ashbach has owned that piece of property. His grandpa owned it back in the 30s. There is a historian here who’s been here for 50 years. Mayor Grant said there are people living here that owned land on TCAAP. Councilmember Holden said these are people that really have an interest in stuff like this. Not everyone has just moved in, in the last ten years. Councilmember Weber said a lot of the committee members are very long-time residents who are deeply involved in the City. However, this should be open to others. We want to keep it small. Councilmember Holden said she never said to keep it small. She said Councilmember Weber wants the other committees to do it and open it up to other people. Councilmember Weber said he already stated it maybe shouldn’t be assigned to any specific committee, but that members of the committees could join as they are residents. He said especially the historians who live here. Councilmember Holden heard him say that but Councilmember Rousseau said something different. Councilmember Rousseau said she would rather see a steering committee with fewer members. She thinks a larger committee would be less productive. Councilmember Monson thinks this is getting heated for no reason. She thinks it should be opened up to the public. The people who want to participate can. She would like to keep it small because she agrees the production of a larger group is tough. She thinks committee members can be invited to be involved. Extending an invite to the Perrys and some other long term residents, would be fine. Mayor Grant summarized that there seems to be a consensus to open it up to the public, including current committee members and to keep it small. Councilmember Holden wanted to know what “small” is. She wonders, what’s too big. Mayor Grant thinks if it’s more than ten, it’s too big. Discussion ensued about how many residents should serve on the committee. Council agreed it should remain less than ten.