02-09-26-R - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

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