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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION — APRIL 14, 2025 16 Councilmember Weber can support the use for save the date for the 75th Anniversary. He thought vinyl signs attached to sidewalks. He is a little concerned with the proposal from the ice swim that Council heard during the Public Inquiries. He doesn't know how they calculated that they brought in $150,000. They are projecting $1 million next year. That seems ambitious. He doesn't know if that is accurate. He does support the ice swim and he would love to see it grow. He isn't against giving them some of the money. Councilmember Monson said she is good with Rib Fest, the ice swim and the 75th. She said we have talked about forming a committee for the 75th Anniversary. She said that could be part of the advertisement. Mayor Grant will have a conversation with Mr. Stauffacher about promoting the ice swim. He will also ask if the 75th, since it is next year, would qualify to use funds granted this year. Councilmember Weber asked if the 75th doesn't qualify for this year, the rest will go to Rib Fest. Mayor Grant confirmed it could be split between the two other events. Councilmember Rousseau sought clarification. She said the goal is heads in beds. If we market in Arden Hills, are we hoping they will invite out of town friends? Mayor Grant said with community festivals, it's a little more flexible. The regional grant opportunity is where they get a little more focused on bringing people in. If Ice Swimming becomes an Olympic event in 2030 it could become more popular. This may be like Rib Fest where it's an event that will continue to grow. Councilmember Holden doesn't like that Rib Fest didn't put us up as a sponsor last year. We've been donating to them for years. She had to go to them to ask why they didn't include Arden Hills as a sponsor. They made one announcement over the loud speaker. They are fully funded for Rib Fest. If we don't give them as much as we have in the past, she's fine with that, because they haven't advertised us as a sponsor. Mayor Grant said that goes back to a previous City Administrator. For some reason that person didn't want Arden Hills name on Rib Fest. The organizers haven't gotten the new message because he has approached them, as well. Councilmember Weber said the organizer of the Norwegian Foot March is really ambitious about developing that in Arden Hills. That may be worth thinking about for next year. Mayor Grant has talked with him, as well. That event is a little more targeted to the military, with participants receiving a ribbon for the ROTC program. Councilmember Weber said there is a 5K and a 20K for civilians. It could be a draw. Councilmember Holden said the nice thing about the Norwegian March is when part of the Red Bulls went to Norway for three months last year to train. They brought a lot of that experience back.