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ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION — JUNE 30, 2025 4 B. SCORE Grant Incentive Funding City Administrator Jagoe stated the City applied for grant money from Ramsey County's recycling SCORE grant program for 2025. The base funds are used to offset the cost of the City's recycling program, including administration, equipment, and collection costs. There is incentive funding, in addition to the base allowance, which can be used for up to two approved incentive initiatives per year. In 2024 Arden Hills received $4,007 in incentive funds. The 2025 incentive amount is $23,815. In the past, the incentive funds have been used for the annual Cleanup Day event where Arden Hills partners with Recycle Technologies in Blaine. We are still planning to move forward with that event on October 4, 2025, and as in previous years, residents will be able to use coupons for two free items. The cost associated with this event is generally approximately $4,000, leaving a potential balance of $19,815 to apply toward additional, eligible recycling initiatives. City Administrator Jagoe explained the proposal for an additional cleanup day was presented to Council at the June 23, 2025, Special Work Session. Staff identified a vendor, Freimuth Enterprises, LLC, that would facilitate the recycling event, which would also include paper shredding. The paper shredding vendor, 1 st Choice Document Destruction, Inc., provides on -site paper shredding services. They shred the documents in a secure environment on -site with their Mobile Unit truck and the customer is encouraged to observe the destruction of documents, to ensure peace of mind. City Administrator Jagoe reported at the June 23 Work Session, Council directed Staff to narrow the collection scope as many items can be disposed of for free at the new nearby Ramsey County Environmental Center. Staff reviewed Freimuth's itemized list and compared those against the items collected at the Recycling Center in order to determine which items could be removed from Freimuth's list. Staff outlined the items that could remain on the list and those that could be removed, should Council wish to narrow the scope of items offered. In addition, the Council also directed Staff to provide a cost estimate if the City were to pay for all items, with no cost to the residents. One of the items on the SCORE Performance Work Plan is to "Use Ramsey County materials and information when and where appropriate to promote increased recycling, reuse and repair..." The City will continue to keep residents informed about where they can dispose of certain items for free, and share Ramsey County materials, through the website and social media. Deputy Clerk Estling reported she reached out to the vendor and they were interested in limiting the scope and could cut out electronics. She commented that the vendor has never charged a city more than $9,500 for an entire event. Mayor Grant was of the opinion there was a demand for this type of event in the community. He noted the incentive program would cover the expense for an event of this type. Councilmember Weber agreed noting he supported the City holding a clean up event. Councilmember Rousseau stated she supported the event as well. Councilmember Holden indicated she took an old lawn mower and A/C unit and she paid $10 to get rid of both items.