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Arden Hills, Ramsey County advance Rice Creek Boulevard cooperative agreement; ownership timing still unresolved
Summary
City staff and county officials told the Arden Hills City Council on June 22 that a draft cooperative agreement for Rice Creek Boulevard is nearly complete, the county will pay certain water infrastructure costs, and asset‑transfer/maintenance timing remains to be negotiated.
Mayor David Grant and Councilmembers heard a project update on June 22 about Rice Creek Boulevard, including a draft cooperative agreement with Ramsey County and the 2026–2027 bidding schedule. Mike Kirsch of Kimley‑Horn said the city and county attorneys had reviewed the draft agreement and it will be presented to the Joint Development Authority (JDA) on July 6 and to the City Council on July 13. "The cost participation for the City is zero," Kirsch said when summarizing the agreement's current fiscal split.
Ramsey County Deputy Director John Mazzitello told the council the cooperative agreement is "95% complete" but that attorneys are still finalizing when specific assets will transfer from county to city ownership and which party will handle ongoing maintenance. He confirmed the booster station and two off‑site water mains are included in the agreement and said the county is paying 100% of those costs. Mazzitello also said attorneys discussed using Statute 429 assessments as a fallback if land sale proceeds do not fully recoup county expenditures.
Staff outlined the procurement timeline: a 2026 bid package for advance site work (soil correction for the bridge, utility work, environmental compliance) with a full construction bid opening anticipated in spring 2027 and construction starting in the 2027 season. Mazzitello estimated the overall Rice Creek Boulevard project and associated site work to be between $60 million and $65 million, noting that variables remain.
Next steps identified during the work session include JDA review on July 6, council consideration of the cooperative agreement on July 13, and further Council work sessions to resolve planning‑fee and phasing questions tied to Rice Creek Commons.
