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ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION — AUGUST 25, 2025 36 Mayor Grant asked if there is a need for an additional work session needed for further discussion about the preliminary levy increase before the end of September. Councilmember Rousseau confirmed. There are some scenarios that will come back. C. Agenda Planning Mayor Grant said we should discuss agenda planning. Councilmember Monson said she doesn't have any comments about the September 8 work session. The special one that Mayor Grant wants is the strategic session. Mayor Grant is tossing out to Council that the Buy Nothing Clean Up Day said Staff recommendation and the majority of Council was that Staff can just do that. Councilmember Holden asked for clarification that any of the items on the list that have staff recommendations are items that Council can vote that Staff complete? Mayor Grant doesn't think that. He thinks Staff could do the Buy Nothing Clean Up Day and not have to bring it back. Other items should be brought back to Council. We want Staff to go out and come up with a recommendation so we aren't reinventing the wheel at a work session. Public Works Director/City Engineer Swearingen said September 22 is the meeting that Ramsey County wants to talk about Lake Johanna Blvd. Trail and likely the Old Highway 10 Trail. Council agreed Staff can move forward with the Buy Nothing Clean Up Day and not bring it back. Councilmember Weber clarified that when he said Staff recommendation, he expected that Staff will develop it and bring it as a consent item. Otherwise, what's the point? If we're bringing them back for another work session, why are we designating them? He expects a recommendation from Staff on everything. If they propose something there should be some recommendation to guide council. This is more than that. This is putting it in Staff s court. These are the things Staff should take care of. That's what he was thinking when he did his rating. Mayor Grant asked Council if Staff recommendation meant bring it back to a work session or to the bench. Councilmember Holden said if an energy audit will cost $20,000 then it needs to come back to a work session. Some of them are non -committal. She doesn't care about volunteer recognition. We always sent thank you notes. Councilmember Monson said she rated them thinking Staff would bring them back on Consent Agenda. That won't work for everything on this list. The encroachment discussion won't be just a staff recommendation. The list isn't that clean.