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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL—APRIL 27, 2026 15 <br /> Mayor Grant asked if the development next to North Heights Church would be 200 units. He <br /> recalled this development would have 119 units. He noted he did research on salaries noting the <br /> average teacher salary was $68,000. He stated the starting salary for teachers was $46,000 and high <br /> end for teachers was $98,000. He commented full time firefighters earn approximately $89,000 to <br /> $113,000 annually. He provided further information on the salaries for firefighters/EMT's, police <br /> officers and sheriff deputies. <br /> City Administrator Jagoe clarified the North Heights Church housing project would have 119 <br /> units. <br /> Councilmember Holden discussed how residents in the City moved out of the smaller houses and <br /> into the new senior housing, which provided turnover for the City's housing units. She asked if <br /> Eden Prairie, Edina, Golden Valley, Hopkins and St. Louis Park have a rental licensing procedures <br /> in place. <br /> Community Development Director Reilly stated he was not certain if these communities had a <br /> rental licensing procedure in place. <br /> Councilmember Holden reported she received 20 emails in support of this ordinance and 15 emails <br /> against the ordinance. She referred to Section 2, noting the language states the City was to create <br /> affordable housing without requiring public subsidy or tax increment. She was of the opinion the <br /> City was offering too much density in order to receive affordable housing units. She indicated she <br /> would like to see affordable units being built without the density reward. She hoped the Council <br /> could amend this language. She noted in Subdivision 5, Applicability Item 5, she recommended <br /> this language be changed to read: Purchase from the City of Arden Hills unless the City Council <br /> approves a waiver. She reported 30% AMI was originally excluded because that was already low <br /> income, noting the maximum was to be 50% AMI. She feared the language within the ordinance <br /> was being repetitive. She commented under Item C Item 1, she suggested the language be tighter <br /> when it comes to the distribution of units. She questioned if it was a state law that all units had to <br /> be constructed with the same design, building materials and construction quality. <br /> Community Development Director Reilly indicated he could not confirm this was a state law. He <br /> explained this was why he included a provision within the ordinance that all of the units had to be <br /> equal in quality. <br /> Councilmember Holden commented under Item 2C it states all units are to have access to all <br /> amenities. She questioned how this would be managed if an affordable renter was damaging the <br /> game room. <br /> Community Development Director Reilly stated this ordinance would allow all residents to have <br /> access to the amenities and facilities within the apartment building. He reported this requirement <br /> was to be followed up to and unless a situation was created when the provision was provoked and <br /> this situation would be managed between the property owner and the renter. <br /> City Attorney Kirchoff explained this provision would not prohibit a property owner from using <br /> another state law to trespass or remove someone from a facility. <br /> Councilmember Holden stated under Item 3 would a developer be required to have all five (or <br /> 5%) of the three-bedroom units within a housing development remain affordable. <br />