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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-27-25-R 'It WIZEN HILLS Approved: November 24, 2025 CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING OCTOBER 27, 2025 7:00 P.M.- ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Mayor David Grant called to order the regular City Council meeting at 7:00 p.m. Present: Mayor David Grant, Councilmembers Brenda Holden, Tena Monson, Emily Rousseau and Kurt Weber Absent: None Also present: City Administrator Jessica Jagoe; Public Works Director/City Engineer David Swearingen; Finance Director Joua Yang; Community Development Director Jake Reilly; and Assistant to the City Administrator/City Clerk Julie Hanson PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Councilmember Holden requested Item 8G be pulled from the Consent Agenda for discussion as Item 9A. MOTION: Councilmember Monson moved and Councilmember Holden seconded a motion to approve the meeting agenda as amended. The motion carried (5-0). 2. TCAAP/RICE CREEK COMMONS UPDATE City Administrator Jagoe stated the Joint Development Authority and neither of the advisory committees have met since the last Council meeting. The next JDA meeting will be on Monday, November 1 st The upcoming sustainability webinar to be hosted by the JDA is scheduled for Thursday, November 13, from Noon to 1 PM. This will be an informational webinar on how clean energy and innovation are advancing the vision of a long-term sustainable development at Rice Creek Commons. A link to register for the webinar will be posted soon on the Rice Creek Commons and City websites. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL—OCTOBER 27, 2025 2 Councilmember Holden indicated she was concerned with the impacts a Darcy Waiver would have on the property owner. She discussed how the cost to clean wells was very burdensome and noted she did not want the City to be held responsible if a Darcy Waiver was given to Ryan Companies. City Administrator Jagoe reported she would investigate this matter further and would report back to the Council. Councilmember Monson questioned why Councilmember Holden brought up the Darcy Waiver. Councilmember Holden explained the last time the Council received an update from staff the Co p p Council was told Ryan Companies would be applying for permits, which may include a Darcy Waiver. She indicated she would forward the information she researched regarding Darcy Waivers to City staff to be forwarded to the remainder of the City Council. 3. PUBLIC INQUIRIES/INFORMATIONAL Gregg Larson, 3377 North Snelling Avenue stated he has been an advocate for affordable housing in Arden Hills. He explained he has enjoyed reading the staff memos drafted by Jake Reilly and commended him for the quality of the work he was doing on behalf of the City. He appreciated all of the well documented information that was included in these memos and for addressing the type of affordable housing that was currently available in Arden Hills. Andrea Pidde, 1619 Lake Johanna Boulevard, expressed concerns with Planning Case 25-008 for the lot consolidation for the property at 1622 and 1624 Lake Johanna Boulevard. She reported that the property owner has requested seven large variances from City Code. She indicated she was concerned with where snow would be placed for this property, noting she did not want the snow pushed onto her property. She noted there has been no shoreline mitigation in the past. She recommended this matter be addressed prior to the Council considering the variance request. Mayor Grant asked if snow removal was addressed by the Planning Commission. Councilmember Weber stated snow was mentioned during public comment but was not debated by the Planning Commission. Mayor Grant thanked Ms. Pidde for bringing this matter to the Council's attention and reported this Planning Case would be coming to the Council for consideration at the November 24, 2025 City Council meeting. 4. RESPONSE TO PUBLIC INQUIRIES None. 5. PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS None. 6. STAFF COMMENTS ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL—OCTOBER 27, 2025 3 A. Transportation Update Public Works Director Swearingen reported the Lift Station 5 project was moving towards the final phases of construction. He indicated Stowe Avenue and Noble Road were now open for traffic. He stated detour signs have been put in place for County Road E for traffic traveling through the project area. Mayor Grant explained it was his understanding this project had come in under budget ($130,000 to $140,000) as a secondary water line was not required and there was some savings in the area of fire hydrants. Public Works Director Swearingen stated the final numbers had not been presented to him, but he anticipated the project would come in under budget. B. Round Lake Update City Administrator Jagoe stated at the October 13 City Council meeting staff was asked to provide the public with an update on the Round Lake remedial action. She explained in following up with the US Army staff has confirmed that an action plan has been approved and three areas of the lake will be dredged. She noted the dredging would be controlled on the north end of Round Lake and would be transported to Ramsey County property via pipelines routed through storm sewer for handling and treatment. She explained in the pre-design investigation there was a difference in the amount of sediment needed to be removed in some areas of the lake, however there was no additional funds and insufficient time within the contract period to complete this work. She noted only three areas of lake would be dredged at this time and additional work would be completed in the future. She reported this project was slated to begin mid-2026 and would be completed in 2027. Councilmember Weber noted he lived on Round Lake and he had noticed the lake was filling in and that bogs were collecting in the middle. He reported if the original contract moves forward, not all of the sediment will be removed, which means a second contract will be necessary in order to achieve any sort of certification of completion. He stated even though this project would not resolve the concerns entirely, it would assist with addressing some of the sediment in the lake. Mayor Grant reported the sediment would be piped to the TCAAP property and would be trucked to another facility. He said it was not going to be piped to TCAAP and sit there, TCAAP is simply a staging area. Councilmember Holden expressed concern with the fact only two areas within the lake would be dredged at this time. She explained she asked the Army when they would be applying for additional funding and learned that it would not be anywhere in the near future. 7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. October 13, 2025, City Council Work Session B. October 13, 2025, Regular City Council ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL—OCTOBER 27, 2025 4 MOTION: Councilmember Monson moved and Councilmember Holden seconded a motion to approve the October 13, 2025, City Council Work Session meeting minutes as amended and the October 13, 2025, Regular City Council meeting minutes as amended. The motion carried (5-0). 8. CONSENT CALENDAR A. Motion to Approve Consent Agenda Item - Claims and Payroll B. Motion to Approve 2025 3rd Quarter Financials C. Motion to Approve Resolution 2025-067 Accepting the Liability Coverage Limits from the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust(LMCIT) D. Motion to Approve Cancellation of the January 26, February 23 and March 23, 2026 City Council Regular Meetings and Work Sessions E. Motion to Authorize Application for Ramsey County Public Entity Innovation Grant(PEIG) for Municipal Recycling Carts F. Motion to Approve Resolution 2025-068 Authorizing 2026 Ramsey County SCORE Grant Application Mien to ^ Payment No. 8 (Final) S.M. H. Motion to Approve Payment No. 1 and Change Order No. 1 — New Look Contracting—Lift Station No. 5 Rehabilitation Project I. Motion to Approve Alexandria Troy to Serve as an Arden Hills Board Member on the Twin Cities Gateway Visitors Bureau Board of Directors J. Motion to Approve Resolution 2025-069 — Variance at 3254 Hamline Avenue North—Planning Case 25-011 K. Motion to Approve Contract for Impound Services with Companion Animal Control LLC MOTION: Councilmember Holden moved and Councilmember Weber seconded a motion to approve the Consent Calendar as amended and to authorize execution of all necessary documents contained therein. The motion carried (5-0). 9. PULLED CONSENT ITEMS A. Motion to Approve Payment No. 8 (Final) — S.M. Hentges & Sons, Inc.— 2024 PMP Street and Utility Improvements Project Councilmember Holden indicated the City had $3 million budgeted for this project and there was almost $500,000 left over. She asked how these additional funds would show in the budget for 2025. Finance Director Yang explained the $500,000 in savings would show in the Enterprise Fund. MOTION: Councilmember Holden moved and Councilmember Rousseau seconded a motion to Approve Payment No. 8 (Final) — S.M. Hentges & Sons, Inc. — 2024 PMP Street and Utility Improvements Project. The motion carried (5-0). ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL—OCTOBER 27, 2025 5 10. PUBLIC HEARINGS None. 11. NEW BUSINESS None. 12. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. 13. COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilmember Rousseau explained the EDC held a business gathering at Flaherty's last week. Councilmember Rousseau encouraged residents to drive safely and watch out for kids on Halloween, which was Friday, October 31. Councilmember Holden thanked the Gathering Place for hosting a community trunk or treat event. Councilmember Holden discussed the steps the City had been making to improve its parks. She commented on the two pavilions that had been built at Perry and Cummings Parks. She stated that Perry Park was not totally utilized as the ball fields were water saturated. She noted that was addressed and there is now good drainage and better irrigation at Perry Park. She noted a small dog park had also been constructed at Hazelnut Park in the ice rink. Councilmember Monson thanked Councilmember Weber for attending the Fire Department Relief Association meeting on her behalf. Councilmember Monson reported organics collection should begin in Arden Hills the second half of 2026. Mayor Grant thanked Councilmember Weber for attending the Fire Department Relief Association meeting on behalf of the City. Mayor Grant thanked Alexandria Troy for being willing to serve on the Twin Cities Gateway Visitor Bureau Board of Directors on behalf of the City of Arden Hills. Mayor Grant explained residents could recycle organics at this time by bringing them to the New Brighton Public Works Facility or by dropping their organics off at the compost site. Councilmember Weber commented the trustee would be stepping down from the Fire Relief Board and new representation would be sought. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL—OCTOBER 27, 2025 6 ADJOURN MOTION: Mayor Grant moved and Councilmember Rousseau seconded a motion to adiourn. The motion carried (5- Mayor Grant adjourned the Regular City Council Meeting at 7:30 p.m. Aft Hanson David Grant Cq Clerk Mayor i