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ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION — AUGUST 25, 2025 11 <br />Councilmember Holden said we continue to get requests for pickle ball repeatedly. <br />Public Works Director/City Engineer Swearingen would hesitate to put pickle ball at that <br />location. <br />Councilmember Holden was thinking Hazelnut. We have pristine tennis courts at Cummings. <br />The cry for pickle bill is still outstanding. If we can save money by doing the tennis court with the <br />parking lot, that might be a slam dunk. <br />Councilmember Weber wanted to know if pickle ball is louder than basketball. <br />Public Works Director/City Engineer Swearingen said it generates a lot of complaints. <br />Mayor Grant said tennis balls are soft, pickle balls are hard. <br />Councilmember Monson asked if it is realistic for Staff to complete resident outreach before <br />2026. <br />Public Works Director/City Engineer Swearingen confirmed. If he got direction tonight that <br />Council wants to move forward, he would work with Parks and Recreation Manager Skalicky to <br />review. The area was surveyed when we were designing it, in 2022. He will review that <br />information and they will figure out how to approach the outreach. <br />Councilmember Monson would prefer to do the outreach and see what comes up. Then we can <br />make the decision to hold it for 2026 or swap a different project. <br />Councilmember Weber said if we were to decide to push Arden Manor and go with Hazelnut, is <br />that a swap that can be made easily? <br />Public Works Director/City Engineer Swearingen thinks so. The tennis court at Hazelnut will <br />just be replaced in the same spot. The soil borings there showed there is no major reconstruction <br />work needed. The biggest discussion is what the use will be and if we want to convert it to pickle <br />ball space. <br />Councilmember Weber would prefer to stick to this new schedule, pending what is discovered at <br />Arden Manor. If possible address Arden Manor in 2026. If that isn't possible we have to discuss <br />it. There are at least two councilmembers who don't want to push this two more years. <br />Mayor Grant said he doesn't think we can definitively decide this tonight. There is a lot of <br />information to discuss. He thinks we should move on. <br />Public Works Director/City Engineer Swearingen asked for direction if Council wants Staff to <br />move forward with the public outreach. <br />Mayor Grant said to start with looking at the old survey and see what was said, at that time. <br />Public Works Director/City Engineer Swearingen said that is what he will do. If that is <br />insufficient, he would like to begin a public survey process in that community. He asked if <br />