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ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION — JULY 28, 2025 4 <br />Finance Director Yang outlined the changes since the July 14 Special Work Session. The PIR <br />fund was increased by $1.423 million. This was for park development and residential dedication <br />fees from Trident Development. That will be a one time revenue source and will go towards park <br />development and trail projects. There is a proposed tax levy of $600,000 in the PIR for 2026 and <br />forward. That is an annual increase of $350,000. This will ensure there is appropriate funding to <br />meet future project expenditures into 2029. <br />Finance Director Yang said the Lake Johanna Boulevard Trail project commencement date has <br />been shifted from 2028 to 2029 after discussions with Ramsey County. <br />Finance Director Yang said project expenditures for the Snelling Avenue North and Royal Oaks <br />Trail improvements were increased by $90,000 due to updated cost estimates. <br />Mayor Grant asked if that was $90,000 on top of the other $90,000. <br />Public Works Director/City Engineer Swearingen said this was related to the church <br />development. <br />Mayor Grant asked if there were one or two $90,000 increases. <br />Public Works Director/City Engineer Swearingen said it's one. The total budgeted cost is <br />$450,000. <br />Mayor Grant just wanted to verify it was just one increase. <br />Finance Director Yang said the EDA Fund was reduced by $90,000 for 2026 and will be <br />increased the same amount in 2027. <br />Finance Director Yang said the rates within the Utility Fund are set to 4% in 2026, 6% in 2027, <br />and 3% in 2028 and thereafter. <br />Finance Director Yang said those are the primary changes from the last work session. <br />Councilmember Monson asked for confirmation that the numbers reflect that the Lake Johanna <br />Trail will be in 2029. <br />Finance Director Yang confirmed. <br />Councilmember Monson had questions regarding the fire department. She said the Public Safety <br />Capital Equipment Fund shows property tax levy of $300,000 is being proposed for 2026 which <br />includes $40,000 to go towards the reserve bank for the six new fire captains. She said those are <br />the six that have already been hired and it's when the grant runs out. She asked how we landed on <br />$40,000 and is it sufficient? <br />Finance Director Yang confirmed that as of now, $40,000 is still sufficient for those six <br />captains. <br />Councilmember Monson asked if there is a big increase after the grant runs out. How much will <br />we owe? <br />