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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION — APRIL 27, 2026 4 Councilmember Holden said we've had flooding over and over again. Her question is have they increased the volume so we don't have full or overflowing stormwater ponds. Mr. Mazzitello said about 10 years ago there was a study on storm frequencies and intensities. They increased the rainfall amounts that we use to calculate the storage volumes of the ponds. Mayor Grant said we have general consensus on 10-feet trails. He asked they present the other item. Mr. Fosmo concluded that the proposed amended trail width language is in the agenda packet. He noted the amended language is only requesting this along the spine road. Mr. Fosmo said the second topic is street lighting along Rice Creek Boulevard. The current TRC code requires streetlights to be placed every 40 feet. The amendment request is to allow for more context appropriate street light spacing. Essentially it references the MnDOT roadway lighting design standards as the basis for placing streetlights. He said 40-foot spacing for streetlights is far denser than any other example they could find. It is cost prohibitive for construction, as well as long-term maintenance for the City. Requiring 40-foot spacing would result in excess light on the roadway. The 40-foot spacing on the roadway would not light the trail sufficiently, if that was the intent. Mr. Fosmo said the City contracts the maintenance of streetlights with Xcel Energy. The City's selected type is based on what is available through Xcel. Councilmember Rousseau asked if the streetlights will face downward. Mr. Fosmo confirmed. He said the design intent is a downcast fixture. Mr. Mazzitello said a traditional cobra head design has a bulb, this fixture has a box that is directed downward. Public Works Director/City Engineer Swearingen said the City's lighting palette includes the dark sky element. These will meet that. Councilmember Holden said when the 40-foot spacing was put in place, there were different lightbulbs. The decision was based on safety of residents using the trail. The lighting has changed so significantly, it doesn't matter if we go to 50 feet now. Mr. Fosmo said if MnDOT roadway lighting standards are applied, the lighting along the streets would need to be spaced at 200 feet and if we wanted to do pedestrian lighting, they would be spaced at 50 feet. The standard recommended roadway illuminance would be 1 foot candle. The 40-foot spacing would be 7.3 foot candle lighting. When you set up streetlighting for a roadway, you want the intersections better lit than the straight sections with no intersections. At 40-foot spacing, the straight aways will be better lit when intersections are wider than 40-feet and you can't maintain that distance between light poles. That makes activities less safe along those roadways and at those intersections. Councilmember Holden asked who is responsible for maintaining the green space and boulevard.