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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-11-26-R 75 Years Approved: June 8, 2026 CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MAY 11, 2026 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 Tena Monson, Emily Rousseau and Kurt Weber Absent: Councilmember Brenda Holden(excused) Also present: City Administrator Jessica Jagoe; Public Works Director/City Engineer David Swearingen; Finance Director Joua Yang; Community Development Director Jacob Reilly; and Assistant to the City Administrator/City Clerk Julie Hanson PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Councilmember Monson moved and Councilmember Weber seconded a motion to approve the meeting agenda as amended. The motion carried (4-0). 2. TCAAP/RICE CREEK COMMONS UPDATE City Administrator Jagoe stated the Joint Development Authority met in a special meeting on April 29 h. On the agenda, the JDA reviewed a draft 2027 budget and no formal action was taken. Between now and September 1', the JDA staff will prepare a final draft budget that will be presented to the JDA for preliminary approval which is then submitted to the City and County. The JDA will adopt their 2027 budget by November 15''. At this meeting, JDA staff also provided a report from Goff Public on communications that have occurred over this past month and the JDA reviewed their 2026 Road Map. Next, the JDA Advisory Committee met on May 7'. For this discussion, JDA staff provided a verbal update on the analysis that is being done for the hybrid approach that the JDA is I ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL—MAY 11, 2026 2 considering for future development of the California parcel. JDA staff has been refining strategies for ways to approach a future solicitation of potentially 4-5 development areas and how that might be facilitated for timing of release simultaneously or in short succession of each other. Before the next JDA Advisory meeting, staff will continue discussions on expectations that need to be considered for this approach, how a potential real estate development consultant can support this approach, along with a recommended RFP approach. The full JDA will review and discuss the hybrid developer approach at their next regularly scheduled meeting to be held on Monday, June I at 5:30 PM. 3. PUBLIC INQUIRIES/INFORMATIONAL Lynn Diaz, 1143 Ingerson Road, expressed concern regarding the lack of transparency for the members that were appointed to the economic development authority in Arden Hills. She had questions she would like answered by the mayor and asked if he had spoken with everyone on the EDC that there were openings on the EDA and inquired if these members were informed of a deadline. She questioned if interviews were held with each member that applied and asked if other members of the Council were invited to attend these interviews. She inquired if notes or videos were taken from the interviews. She asked why the appointments were placed on the Consent Calendar versus having this as a Council Business item. She stated she was concerned that the EDA members could vote on levies and may not be a resident of Arden Hills. She indicated she was also concerned with the fact the EDA members had six year terms. She asked if the term length could be reduced to four years. She supported the City Council adopting a practice to ensure the interview process was better handled in the future. 4. RESPONSE TO PUBLIC INQUIRIES None. 5. PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS A. Northeast Youth and Family Services (NFYS) Angela Lewis-Dmello, President and CEO of NYFS, provided the Council with a presentation from Northeast Youth and Family Services. She reported NYFS would be celebrating 50 years of serving the community in 2026. She explained NYFS's mission was to transform lives by ensuring access to care that nurtures healing, cultivates community and inspires hope. She stated NYFS's vision was to envision a world where thriving individuals and families are the building blocks of safe unified communities established through a network of empowered and collaborative partnerships. She spoke to the history of NYFS noting 10 communities came together and identified significant unmet needs in the region for youth. She explained NYFS now had partnerships with 16 municipalities, five law enforcement agencies and three school districts. She discussed NYFS's transformational model of care and spoke to how she was invested in created relationships. She commented on the mental health programs that were provided which were clinic based and school based. The community services programs provided by NYFS were youth pathways, community connections and community advocacy. She spoke to the benefits of the restoring power program and commented on the new services being provided by NYFS through criminal legal advocacy work and early childhood mental health services. She reviewed ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL—MAY 11, 2026 3 the stats and noted the number of individuals that were served in 2025. She discussed how NYFS was impacted by COVID and has since recovered. She described how NYFS would continue to innovate and diversify going into the future. She commented further on the exciting services being pursued and thanked the City of Arden Hills for being a great partner with NYFS. Councilmember Rousseau thanked Ms. Lewis-Dmello for her presentation and for working to make NYFS resilient. She explained she appreciated attending the NYFS luncheon and appreciated hearing from Ramsey County Attorney John Choi. She asked when the 50ffi Anniversary celebration would be held. Ms. Lewis-Dmello reported this event would be held in November. Councilmember Weber thanked Ms. Lewis-Dmello for her presentation. He asked if NYFS was in a budget deficit at this time. Ms. Lewis-Dmello explained she had a three month operating reserve and funding in an endowment. She reported NYFS was fully funded for 2026 but was not currently fully funded for 2027. She spoke further to how State and federal funding would be cut in the coming year. Councilmember Weber stated he appreciated learning more about how NYFS addressed domestic violence incidents in the community. Councilmember Monson thanked Ms. Lewis-Dmello for her presentation and stated she had a wonderful time attending the NYFS luncheon, noting this event was very uplifting. She appreciated how NYFS was working to address the anxious generation. She stated she was disappointed to see the State and federal government would be cutting funding in the coming year. Mayor Grant thanked Ms. Lewis-Dmello for all of her efforts on behalf of the community and for creating great partnerships throughout the region. He asked if the number of clients that "decline to specify"their race was on the rise. Ms. Lewis-Dmello reported this was the case. Mayor Grant stated he appreciated how NYFS had become more resilient over the years when it comes to funding sources. He asked if NYFS could begin providing a yearly one-pager on the services provided to Arden Hills residents. Ms. Lewis-Dmello indicated this information was sent to the City each year with the contract information. B. Proclamation Recognizing May 17-23, 2026 as National Public Works Week Mayor Grant read a proclamation in full for the record recognizing May 17 through May 23, 2026 as National Public Works Week in the City of Arden Hills. C. Proclamation Recognizing May 11-16, 2026 as Police Week ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - MAl' 11, 2026 4 Mayor Grant read a proclamation in full for the record recognizing May 11 through May 16, 2026 as Police Week in the City of Arden Hills. 6. STAFF COMMENTS A. Transportation Update Public Works Director Swearingen reported Ramsey County's ADA work has been completed on County Road E and New Brighton Road. He stated the pavement rehabilitation work would begin shortly. Public Works Director Swearingen stated MNDOT has reduced traffic to single lanes on Snelling Avenue from Highway 36 to Gray Fox Road. He encouraged residents to visit the MNDOT website for updates on this project. Public Works Director Swearingen explained the City's 2026 PMP project, Xcel Energy was already onsite. He reported the watermain improvements were beginning and the contractor has started hard court work on the Arden Manor Park and ADA improvements at Arden Oaks Park. Public Works Director Swearingen indicated the informational open house for the 2026 PMP would be held on Wednesday, May 13 at City Hall from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Public Works Director Swearingen discussed a separate Xcel Energy gas project that would impact Highway 96 traffic. Councilmember Rousseau stated she was disappointed to see the trees on Highway 96 removed by Xcel Energy and she hoped these trees would be replanted. Councilmember Weber inquired if the City had a caliper inch replacement program for trees. Public Works Director Swearingen explained he could check with the Community Development Director to see if development piece of City Code applies to this project. He anticipated a 1:1 replacement for the trees. Mayor Grant stated it was disappointing to lose these trees. He was hopeful Xcel would replace these trees with a large scale vendor of quality trees. Public Works Director Swearingen reported the tree replacement would be coordinated with City staff. Mayor Grant reported the City may want to consider using the tree replacement fund in order to plant more trees along Highway 96. Councilmember Weber supported this recommendation. Mayor Grant requested staff report back to the Council at a future meeting on the fund balance of the tree replacement fund. 7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL—MAY 11, 2026 5 A. April 13, 2026, City Council Work Session B. April 13, 2026, Regular City Council C. April 27, 2026, City Council Work Session D. April 27, 2026, Regular City Council MOTION: Councilmember Monson moved and Councilmember Rousseau seconded a motion to approve the April 13, 2026, City Council Work Session minutes as amended, the April 13, 2026, Regular City Council meeting minutes as amended, the April 27, 2026, City Council Work Session minutes as presented; and the April 27, 2026, Regular City Council meeting minutes as amended. The motion carried (4-0). 8. CONSENT CALENDAR A. Motion to Approve Consent Agenda Item - Claims and Payroll B. Motion to Approve First Quarter Financials C. Motion to Authorize City Staff to Begin Summer Work Hours Beginning Tuesday, May 26, 2026, and Concluding on Friday, September 4, 2026 D. Motion to Approve System Interconnection Agreement for Fire Protection Services between Arden Hills and Mounds View E. Motion to Approve Settlement Memorandum for Parcel 10 — Old Highway 10 Trail Improvements Project F. Motion to Approve Resolution 2026-026 Exercising the City's Authority to Opt-In and Support the Ramsey County Economic Development Agenda("EDA") MOTION: Councilmember Monson moved and Councilmember Weber seconded a motion to approve the Consent Calendar as presented and to authorize execution of all necessary documents contained therein. The motion carried (4_0). 9. PULLED CONSENT ITEMS None. 10. PUBLIC HEARINGS None. 11. NEW BUSINESS None. 12. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. 13. COUNCIL COMMENTS ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL—MAY 11, 2026 6 Councilmember Rousseau requested the Council appoint her as the Ramsey County Local Government representative with Councilmember Weber as the alternate. Mayor Grant stated all five members of the Council could attend these meetings. Councilmember Weber explained after attending a Ramsey County Local Government meeting recently, it appears this group would like to have a member of the City Council designated as the representative. He stated he supported the idea of making an appointment. p Pp g pp Councilmember Rousseau indicated Arden Hills was the only Y Cit that does not have one specific designee for this organization. Mayor Grant suggested a member of the Council be appointed as the designee with the Y gg pp g remainder of the Council serving as the alternates. Councilmember Weber commented he was open to this but he anticipated it would be easier to P P have one alternate for the designee to reach out to if they were not able to attend a meeting. Councilmember Rousseau reported a resident spoke earlier about the EDA member appointments. She understood the Mayor had notes from ranking the EDA appointees and she asked that his information be shared with the Council. Mayor Grant indicated he turned this information over to staff and requested it be shared with the full Council. Councilmember Rousseau commented she would like this information to be passed along to the entire Council. Councilmember Rousseau requested a plaque be installed for the memorial tree. Public Works Director Swearingen stated the City does not have a standard for plaques and explained he would work with the parks and recreation director on this matter. Councilmember Weber stated he would like to see the City doing more to support NYFS. He proposed a 20%increase to their current funding. Councilmember Monson requested proclamations always be read under Public Presentations. Councilmember Weber and Councilmember Rousseau were in agreement. Councilmember Monson stated she supported the Council addressing the Ramsey County Local Government appointment at a future meeting, along with NYFS funding at a future worksession meeting. She questioned how these topics should be brought up. Mayor Grant preferred Council comments being comments versus having to respond to new ideas. Councilmember Monson indicated she was just looking for a way for new topics to be brought forward to ensure they are not forgotten from one meeting to the next. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL—MAY 11, 2026 7 Councilmember Monson addressed the comments that were made by Lynn Diaz and requested the data request covers all of Ms. Diaz's questions and that the response be provided on the Response to Public Comments for transparency purposes. Mayor Grant suggested staff listen to the meeting tape in order to respond to the questions that were raised by Ms. Diaz. He noted the questions were directed to him and stated his answers would be his answers and he would not be speaking on behalf of the entire Council. Mayor Grant stated he attended the Nine Cities mayor and city managers meeting. He was pleased to report the fire department project remains on schedule and on budget. He learned Vadnais Heights would be building a new fire station and the cost came in significantly higher than the Lake Johanna Fire Station. He commented on how fiber networks and franchise fees was another topic discussion at this meeting. Mayor Grant reported the Mounds View Finance Director Gayle Bauman, who formerly served as the Arden Hills Finance Director, would be retiring in June. He wished Ms. Bauman all the best in her retirement. Mayor Grant spoke to a recent article regarding the Primer Tracer property and noted this parcel of property was not part of Rice Creek Commons. He indicated a million square feet of industrial space was being proposed for this property. City Administrator Jagoe summarized the items that would be coming forward at future work sessions and questioned if the NYFS funding should be considered for this year or included in the 2027 budget. Councilmember Weber stated he would like the Council to consider a funding increase for NYFS for 2027. ADJOURN MOTION: Mayor Grant moved and Councilmember Rousseau seconded a motion to adjourn. The motion carried (4-0). Mayor Grant adjourned the Regular City Council Meeting at 8:28 p.m. Jul' an David Grant Ci lerk Mayor