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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03 March 2026 Arden Hills Notescityofardenhills.org • March 2026 • 1 At their February 2 meeting, the Joint Development Authority (JDA) continued discussion on the roles of a future developer on the California parcel. Under a hybrid developer approach, the City and Ramsey County would need to negotiate and decide certain terms for a cooperative agreement prior to soliciting for development partners so that each developer would know the expectations before submitting a proposal. It is expected that the cooperative agreement would include issues surrounding timing, financing, operations and maintenance of sitewide infrastructure and amenities such as parks, utilities, roads, natural resources corridor and other common areas. Under a hybrid developer approach, some of these terms would need to be agreed upon in advance to assure the City and County that critical infrastructure is properly accounted for and to set expectations for each development area, and therefore, for each developer. JDA commissioners gave direction to staff to identify and analyze the items that need to be addressed in a cooperative agreement and offer options or solutions for each item to present to the respective parties. A recommendation is to be brought back to the JDA in 90 days for additional discussion on the role of a future developer for this parcel. During this same meeting, Ramsey County provided an update on the construction of Rice Creek Boulevard. The final design is anticipated to be completed in August 2026 with initial site work expected to begin in late 2026 and construction likely starting in spring 2027. Construction is anticipated to last two construction seasons. The Official City Newsletter for Arden Hills Residents March 2026 Save the Date: Arden Hills Anniversary Celebration — July 17, 2026 P a s t - P r e s ent - Futu r e A RDEN H I L L S 75 Years 20261 9 5 1 Arden Hills will celebrate 75 years as a community with a special event on Friday, July 17, from 4 to 10 p.m. at Cummings Park. The celebration will bring residents together for an evening of fun and entertainment as we recognize this major milestone. The theme for the event is Arden Hills: Past, Present, Future. The evening will begin with the popular Penny Carnival at 4 p.m., followed by a car show, food trucks and fun for all ages. Live music will be performed by Power of 10 throughout the evening. The night will end with a one-of-a-kind drone show lighting up the sky. Admission is free. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. City staff are seeking historical photos and memorabilia that highlight the people, places and moments that shaped Arden Hills over the past 75 years. Do you have a unique historical story you’d like to share? We’d love to hear it and even capture it on camera. These items may be incorporated into displays, exhibits or videos as part of the celebration. To share a historic item, please email celebrate75@cityofardenhills.org with details. Local businesses and organizations are invited to be part of this milestone event. Sponsorship opportunities are available. This is a worthwhile way to support the celebration and connect with the community. Please email celebrate75@cityofardenhills.org if you are interested in learning more about sponsorship opportunities. For additional details, visit cityofardenhills.org/75-Years. Mark your calendar for Friday, July 17, as we come together to celebrate 75 years as a community! Rice Creek Commons Update Continued on page 2 2 • Arden Hills Notes • March 2026 Service Directory City Hall 1245 West Highway 96 Arden Hills, MN 55112 cityofardenhills.org 651-792-7800 Office Hours Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Sheriff and Fire 911 - Emergency & Non-Emergency Water and Sewer Problems (During non-business hours) 651-767-0640 Mayor David Grant • 651-538-0747 dgrant@cityofardenhills.org City Councilmembers Brenda Holden • 651-636-2987 bholden@cityofardenhills.org Emily Rousseau • 651-792-7856 erousseau@cityofardenhills.org Tena Monson • 612-758-0695 tmonson@cityofardenhills.org Kurt Weber • 651-792-7857 kweber@cityofardenhills.org City Administrator Jessica Jagoe • 651-792-7810 jjagoe@cityofardenhills.org Sr. Communications Coordinator Laura Michlig • 651-792-7817 lmichlig@cityofardenhills.org Resident Resources cityofardenhills.org/resident-resources Council meetings are held at City Hall on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month at 7 p.m. Council meetings, Work Sessions and Planning Commission meetings are televised live on Cable Channel 16. Please visit cityofardenhills.org for information about archived meeting playbacks. Arden Hills Notes is the official newsletter of the City of Arden Hills, an equal-opportunity employer. 2 • Arden Hills Notes • March 2026 Rice Creek Commons, continued. Spring/Summer Parks & Recreation Activity Guide Warmer days are on the way, and so are new spring and summer recreation programs! Whether you’re interested in soccer, T-ball, playground programs, yoga or a variety of other activities, there’s something for all ages to enjoy. Visit cityofardenhills.org/203/Recreation-Programs to see the full list of activities and register today. Spring Egg Hunt Calling all kids! Join the fun at our annual Spring Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 28 at Cummings Park — rain or shine. The Spring Bunny will be hopping in with plenty of colorful eggs, surprise prizes and a morning full of excitement. This event is open to children ages 1–12. The cost is $8 per child. Egg hunt start times vary by age group: • Ages 1–4 (10:30 a.m.) • Ages 5–8 (10:40 a.m.) • Ages 9–12 (10:50 a.m.) Pre-registration is required. The deadline to register is Thursday, March 19. To sign up, visit cityofardenhills.org/180/Parks-Recreation. Don’t miss this egg-citing spring tradition! Garden Plots Available to Rent Are you interested in growing your own flowers, herbs or fresh produce but don’t have the space or ideal conditions at home? The City of Arden Hills offers residents the opportunity to rent a garden plot at the City’s garden site on Old Highway 10. To reserve a plot, complete the Garden Plot Sublease Form online or print and mail it to City Hall. The fee is $60 per plot, which covers garden preparation costs. May 1 is the deadline to apply for a plot before additional applicants may request a second plot. A second plot may be rented for $30, if available. Start planting and enjoy a season of fresh, homegrown produce! More information at cityofardenhills.org/210/Garden-Plot-Rental. Community Events The JDA was previously a party to a Preliminary Development Agreement (PDA) with Alatus Arden Hills LLC (Alatus) to negotiate a purchase agreement and a development agreement for the California parcel. The JDA reviewed a request by Alatus to extend the PDA. After discussion and consideration, the PDA expired on June 30, 2025, with the parties having not reached any final agreement. Alatus has since named the JDA in a lawsuit relating to the Preliminary Development Agreement. The City of Arden Hills and Ramsey County are not parties to the lawsuit. The JDA is unable to comment on pending litigation. Per the scheduling order issued by the court, there is a pre-trial/settlement conference scheduled on or after Nov. 29, 2026, with a tentative trial set for February 2027. The JDA remains committed to advancing this once-in-a-generation development opportunity and to our shared vision of a sustainable development that creates economic prosperity and much-needed housing. cityofardenhills.org • March 2026 • 3 cityofardenhills.org • March 2026 • 3 City Council Benchmarks Feb. 9, 2026 City Council Meeting All votes 5-0 unless otherwise noted. • Approved Claims and Payroll • Approved 2025 Budget Carryovers and 2026 Budget Adjustments • Approved City Administrator One-Year Performance Review • Approved Amended Legal Services Agreement for City Attorney • Approved Agreements with Ramsey County and Freimuth Enterprises, LLC for City Recycling Event on May 30, 2026 • Approved Ramsey County Fleet Service Invoice for Annual Public Works Fleet Repairs ($17,718.06) • Approved State of Minnesota Department of Transportation Cooperative Construction and Maintenance Agreement for Proposed MN-51 Trail • Approved Contract for 2026 PMP Winter Tree Clearing with Castle Rock Contracting & Tree Service, LLC ($12,400) • Approved Resolution 2026-006 Approving Plans and Specifications and Ordering Advertisement for Bids – 2026 PMP Street and Utility Improvement Project • Approved Final Payment to Ramsey County – Construction and Engineering Costs – Roundabout at Old Snelling Ave and County Road E/Lake Johanna Blvd Project and Mounds View High School Trail on Lake Valentine Rd ($59,401.32) • Approved Resolution 2026-007 Delegating to the North Suburban Communications Commission the Authority to Prepare Broadband Franchises • Approved City Statement Regarding Federal Immigration Enforcement Activities • Approved Federal Immigration Enforcement Proclamation and Authorization for Mayor to send a letter to Federal Legislators • Discussion of the Reconsideration of the EDA Appointments (Motion failed for lack of second) • Appointments approved on January 12, 2026 Do you know about I/I? The City of Arden Hills defines I/I (inflow and infiltration) as “clear water” (i.e., stormwater or groundwater) that enters the sanitary sewer system via unintended routes. INFLOW occurs when sump pumps, downspouts or foundation drains are illegally tied into sewer lines, while INFILTRATION happens when “clear water” seeps in through cracks or leaky joints. Because the sanitary sewer system is not designed for infiltration, heavy rain or high groundwater levels can lead to overloaded pipes, basement backups or even untreated wastewater bypassing into streams and lakes. Arden Hills was identified as one of many cities by Met Council with excessive I/I and was awarded $47,000 in grant funding in 2026 to repair or replace private sewer lines that have I/I issues. Grant money can cover up to 50% of eligible costs — up to $5,000. Grant money is still available! Residents interested in applying for this grant must provide inspection video evidence of I/I issues, submit a contractor proposal and complete repairs within 30 days of approval. If you have questions or would like to start the application process, contact Assistant Public Works Director, Lucas Miller at lmiller@cityofardenhills.org. Examples of eligible I/I repairs: • Repair or replacement of a private sewer service lateral. • Foundation drain disconnections, including installation of a new sump pump when associated with the disconnection. • Sewer service lateral inspection and cleaning costs, if televising and cleaning result in the repair or replacement of the sewer lateral. Inflow and Infiltration For a complete listing of recent City Council actions, visit cityofardenhills.org and click on “View Agendas and Minutes.” 4 • Arden Hills Notes • March 2026 Inside Arden Hills, MN . 55112-5734 ECR-WSS PRST STD U.S. Postage Paid TWIN CITIES, MN Permit #1710 75th Anniversary Celebration Rice Creek Commons Update Community Events Garden Plots Available City Council Benchmarks I/I (Inflow and Infiltration) Support Local Food Shelf Postal Customer Support Local Food Shelf Let’s Get Social! Follow us on social media and subscribe to email alerts. Be the first to know about all that’s happening, important updates and upcoming events. Visit: cityofardenhills.orgin The Ralph Reeder Food Shelf and Community Resource Center provides food, basic needs and connections to other services for any school district family and any low- income, food-insecure neighbor requesting assistance. Their primary service area includes the cities of New Brighton, Mounds View, Shoreview, Arden Hills, North Oaks, Roseville, St. Anthony and Ramsey County. City Hall collects non-perishable items during normal business hours. A large bin is located in the lobby, outside the Council Chambers for residents to drop off approved items. The Ralph Reeder Food Shelf accepts non-perishable food items, pet food, hygiene/cleaning products and monetary donations. Donations can be made in person Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. or by appointment. Place items in the self-serve barrels at the back entrance. To set up an appointment, learn more or donate items, visit ralphreederfoodshelf.org. The City has created a webpage for Immigration Resources. Scan the QR code for details.