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ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION — AUGUST 25, 2025 31 Councilmember Rousseau asked about purchasing from Northern Soda. Would that be considered advertising for the local area? Does it have to be swag? Mayor Grant believes it has to be advertising but he will take it back to the Gateway director. Councilmember Rousseau asked if we want to set something aside to build in for the Park Master Plan. Or is that a conversation for next year and we look at the park dedication fees for the development at North Heights? Councilmember Holden said we should look at it next year. Part of the park plan will include the trails that we already have lined up. Mayor Grant said there was a request for a trail segment on New Brighton Road, from County Road E2, down to the park. That would be a safe route to school. Councilmember Monson is open to waiting on the parks until the plan is finalized. She is also fine with investing a small amount to show our commitment. Councilmember Rousseau suggested a place holder of $10,000 so next year we can have the discussion on if we should continue. Councilmember Holden said she would like to put some money aside for a community survey. That's more important. We haven't even seen the park survey to see what people want. If we're going to start putting money into little pots, she has a whole list of them. Mayor Grant said we need to be careful. Once we start creating a bunch of pots then we've got a levy point. Councilmember Rousseau would like $20,000 for Morris Leatherman Company or something. We can address it in two years if we are following the strategic plan that we're starting to build out. Councilmember Weber agrees. The response to the question of how much money do we need is enough to buy the things we need to buy and hopefully a little more for the things that we want. We have wants and needs. He supports $10,000 to show a commitment toward the future of the Park Master Plan. Finance Director Yang asked if it should be $10,000 per year, going forward, or just in 2025. Mayor Grant asked if there was consensus in Council. He heard two in favor of $10,000. Councilmember Monson is fine with $10,000. When we get to the levy points and we need to cut $10,000 she will maybe look here for the space to do that. Mayor Grant said $10,000. He asked Staff to move on, with just 12 minutes left before 8:00. Finance Director Yang said she is happy to walk through the presentation. She is also open to fast forward to the main General Fund levy discussion.