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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL—JANUARY 12, 2026 2 <br /> 2. TCAAP/RICE CREEK COMMONS UPDATE <br /> City Administrator Jagoe stated the Joint Development Authority met in a closed session on <br /> December 22nd to discuss attorney-client privilege related to litigation with Alatus Arden Hills, <br /> LLC. The January 2nd work session and regular meetings were cancelled and neither of the <br /> advisory committees have met. The next JDA meeting will be held on Monday, February 2nd <br /> Councilmember Holden inquired if the JDA was considering not pursuing a developer and <br /> allowing the County to develop the site. <br /> City Administrator Jagoe reported the January JDA meeting was canceled to allow JDA staff <br /> additional time to come back to the JDA with pros and cons of having a lead developer versus a <br /> hybrid developer role. <br /> Mayor Grant questioned if staff had an additional update on the mediation process between the <br /> JDA and Alatus. <br /> City Administrator Jagoe stated the mediation process was not successful, noting this update <br /> was provided to the Council in December. She reported she could not provide the Council with <br /> information from the closed session that was held by the JDA at the end of December. <br /> Councilmember Monson reported if the hybrid developer role were pursued by the JDA, <br /> Councilmember Weber, herself and staff would work to ensure the same terms would remain in <br /> place. <br /> Councilmember Holden thanked her for the clarification and said that her worry is more that the <br /> County becoming the developer is bothersome. <br /> 3. PUBLIC INQUIRIES/INFORMATIONAL <br /> Gregg Larson, 3377 North Snelling Avenue, stated once upon a time the Council worked to levy <br /> a new tax on residents that would be buried in electric bills on a monthly basis. He noted in 2024, <br /> the Council ordered residents to pay this new franchise fee with promises that these funds would <br /> be dedicated to financing a new fire station, designated for fire bonds and any overages would be <br /> directed only to early payoff of these bonds. He expressed concern with the fact the Council has <br /> used this new tax revenue for other purposes and questioned why the Council had not held to the <br /> promises they had made regarding the franchise fees. He noted after he spoke with the Mayor <br /> regarding this topic, he was told the excess would be used for excess salaries within the fire <br /> department. He asked why the Council has not abided by the promises that were made. He <br /> questioned what the percentage increase would be to the 2026 property tax levy without the <br /> transfer of $165,000 from the public safety capital fund to the general fund. He inquired if the <br /> Council intended to continue to misappropriate excess franchise fees to cover City expenses <br /> rather than pay down the fire station bond as promised. He urged the Council to make amends. <br /> Patrick Burlingame, 3590 Snelling Avenue North, stated he was speaking to the Council as a <br /> resident and not as a Planning Commissioner. He encouraged the Council to consider if the City <br /> has clear publicly available guidance on the role of local law enforcement when federal <br /> immigration agencies operate in or around the community. He understood the City could not <br /> control federal operations but asked for clarity regarding what role local law enforcement played <br />