03-09-26-WS - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION — MARCH 9, 2026 11 Councilmember Holden said the money makes a difference. We'll have to come up with whatever they don't pay for. Public Works Director/City Engineer Swearingen said there was a County in the metro area that was at 12% for the city's portion. Discussion ensued that 96 is low priority and the ones that should be submitted to Ramsey County are New Brighton Road, County Road D and Ingerson. C. Met Council's Livable Communities Act Fund for Housing Planning and Policy Development Grant Discussion Community Development Director Reilly said Metropolitan Council Livable Communities Grant applications close April 15, 2026. The grant money is designed to support housing policies in the 2040 Comprehensive Plan. The benefit of implementing those policies is they are based in facts about the existing housing supply and Arden Hills resident demographics. That hasn't changed much recently, althoughthe argument can be made that people are older and making less in comparison to how much costs have increased. The outcomes remain achievable if we receive some financial support. That's what the Livable Communities Act was established to do. We have been working on policies associated with housing supply and setting the conditions for redevelopment and development, along with having conversations about potential small area planning. The Metropolitan Council puts money towards policy planning and implementation. We can ask for up to $100,000 in April and another $100,000 in October. Community Development Director Reilly said in order to be eligible to apply we first have to adopt a Fair Housing Policy Statement. He provided a sample in the agenda materials. He asked if Council would like to discuss the statement. Second we need to answer some questions about existing housing stock and housing choice.. Mayor Grant summarized that Council is being asked to approve that statement so that Arden Hills can be a part of the LCA and be able to apply for those two grants to help us with planning and zoning. Councilmember Rousseau asked if we would be competitive for this. She sees one of the criteria is that the city prioritizes racial equity when implementing a proposed policy or program. We would have to put together a description of a racial equity implementation approach. Is that doable for us by the April 15 deadline? Community Development Directory Reilly confirmed it is doable. It is possible to pull the answers from the 2040 Comprehensive Plan. Councilmember Weber said the statement is fine with him, for now. It might be worth revisiting later. Councilmember Rousseau suggested as part of the humanitarian subcommittee, from the immigration discussion. Councilmember Weber said Shoreview has one and he is interested in looking at that for Arden Hills. That is a good topic for discussion when there is time. ADUs should come first.