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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION — NOVEMBER 24, 2025 5 Councilmember Rousseau said she is interested in that. She would like to look at reducing the levy by six points now and look at the other pieces for next year where we could save money. Councilmember Weber said he generally agrees. He really agrees with Councilmember Monson that we shouldn't assume all of it. If we assume 75% with $500,000 claimed, it would leave about $175,000. He doesn't think we can get to 6 levy points using the 75% assumption. He said $175,000 is about 3 levy points. He would support doing that. He said if we are going to reduce the levy he is willing to hear that but he wants to reiterate keeping the $180,000 to the PIR Fund is important to him. We need to start building that PIR now. Councilmember Holden asked if the PIR includes the trails. Staff confirmed. Councilmember Holden said we pay 50% for the trails. Public Works Director/City Engineer Swearingen confirmed. The current cost share is 50% with the County paying the other half. Councilmember Holden said Director Swearingen had meetings and that everyone agreed. She asked what the new percentage is. Public Works Director/City Engineer Swearingen can't say numbers. It is one of the County's goals to make the cost participation more favorable for the cities. Once we come to terms, it will be better than the 50150 split. Mayor Grant said he asked Finance Director Yang to prepare this memo. He asked her to prepare another memo on capital, but that was not prepared. Capital relative to the budget came in $500,000 positive. Finance Director Yang clarified it was $500,000 unfavorable. So more expenditures than what was originally projected. Mayor Grant said he remembers it being favorable. Councilmember Weber said he would prefer conversations with Staff, especially regarding the budget, happen at this table. We all need to be getting this information. Mayor Grant said that is why he asked Director Yang to create this memo. Otherwise, we wouldn't have this memo to discuss. Originally it was $1,040,000 favorable. That is on a $6 million levy. That's huge. Councilmember Weber understands that. He is saying that conversation_ should happen at this table. Mayor Grant said we have this memo because he asked for it. His point is we should have another memo regarding the capital. Councilmember Weber said it doesn't sound like that will be favorable.