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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION — OCTOBER 13, 2025 17 <br />Councilmember Holden said Staff s recommendation has worked in the past and she thinks we <br />should continue, as Staff recommended. It's safer for Staff who may be driving on dark icy roads. <br />She is okay with letting meetings end at 10:00 pm. <br />Mayor Grant is in favor of Staff s recommendation. It makes it easier for them to plan. He asked <br />if Councilmember Monson wanted to weigh in. <br />Councilmember Monson said you have three. <br />Mayor Grant stated that would be true but he values her opinion. <br />Councilmember Monson said it's fine. She's fine with whatever and fine with the majority. <br />Mayor Grant asked that this item be placed on the next Council meeting agenda. <br />D. Affordable Housing Policy Discussion <br />Mayor Grant asked for Council's opinion on beginning this discussion as 8:30 pm is a hard stop <br />for this evening. <br />Councilmember Weber really wants to dive into this discussion and he doesn't want to miss it. <br />He also wants to give it the time it needs. He would prefer to push it. <br />Councilmember Rousseau said she would prefer to have all five members present for this <br />conversation. <br />Community Development Director Reilly asked if there are any questions from Council that <br />could be covered in the time remaining, without diving into the full discussion. <br />Councilmember Holden said it sounds like we have a major problem. How can we catch up <br />when people purchase the affordable homes, fix them up and sell them at a price that is no longer <br />affordable? We'll never be caught up. She wants to know where the numbers come from and how <br />Met Council comes up with them. There isn't anything in the information about costs. What do <br />we lose in property tax? Where does the money come from? Every affordable home only pays <br />25% of the property tax. How does that work? We don't want to lose money. <br />Councilmember Rousseau said the information related to residential land lists the multi -family <br />units. What percentage of the multi -family units in our community restrict ages? She thinks we've <br />had a lot of 55 plus communities. She noted the median home sale value was $460,000. Are we <br />getting both sides of that median, with the housing inventory we have. Do we have attractive <br />options on both sides of the spectrum? <br />Mayor Grant said he wants to know what it costs the City. There are a variety of tools. Someone <br />must pick up that cost. It is important for Council to understand the cost, as well as the tools <br />available. He would like to see where we are in terms of affordable housing. He would like to see <br />that in a historical context. Are we the affordable housing leaders when compared to surrounding <br />communities? Whatever we are today, it will change when TCAAP happens. He would like to see <br />how that will blend. <br />