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June 23rd, 2026 Saint Anthony Council Work Session - 3 collected and encouraged the Council to focus on communicating with residents and emphasizing that the Council is listening to their feedback. Councilmember Doolan commented that she assumed St. Anthony would apply for the Met Council grant for smaller cities to help cover the expenses of the planning process. Assistant City Manager Morello stated that this is correct. Assistant City Manager Morello provided an overview of the cover memo provided to the Council. She noted that this was intended to break down the Comprehensive Plan's complex process into clearer next steps for the Council. She stated that there will be a joint Work Session next week with the Planning Commission and the Parks and Environmental Commission. Assistant City Manager Morello highlighted that this session will focus on community outreach for the Comprehensive Plan. She noted that Sector Representative Turnquest was present to discuss the technical aspects of the plan, whereas the next session will aim to balance this with community needs and desires. Assistant City Manager Morello informed the Council that St. Anthony will seek a consultant to assist with the Comprehensive Plan process, given the significant time and dedication required. She stated they will also have a Steering Committee, consisting of representatives from the Council, Planning Commission, and Parks and Environmental Commission, to guide the development of the Comprehensive Plan and work closely with the Consultant. Assistant City Manager Morello informed the Council that the cover memo contains information surrounding the Met Council timeline requirements. She advised the Council that there will be a Public Hearing on the final Comprehensive Plan and an opportunity to share the final draft with surrounding cities. Assistant City Manager Morello addressed Councilmember Doolan’s earlier point surrounding the Met Council Planning Assistance Grant and stated that Staff is preparing to apply for this grant. Councilmember Randle explained that he joined the Council when the previous Comprehensive Plan was drafted. He asked what would happen if they were not approved for the previously mentioned grant. Sector Representative Turnquest noted that these are non-competitive grants and that all applications are funded. Councilmember Jenson commented on the schedule. He clarified that the final draft is due December 2028, and that the rough draft, which needs to be reviewed, is due six months prior. Councilmember Doolan explained the Met Council's process for determining grant eligibility based on city classifications and noted that the Met Council has thoroughly detailed these criteria, so there is little risk of not being awarded a grant. Mayor Webster expressed her gratitude to the State and Met Council for their support during the arduous Comprehensive Planning process. She acknowledged the very short timeline for producing a rough draft, given the required community engagement processes. Councilmember Randle stated that he feels that the Metropolitan Council puts undue pressure on cities to carry out processes without providing information on how they will be funded. He noted that this process is difficult for small cities with little funding. He explained that he feels relieved given the explanation from Sector Representative Turnquest, but that his concerns are not gone. Councilmember Doolan highlighted that the Met Council provides a group of planners who directly assist small cities with fewer resources. Sector Representative Turnquest stated that this is correct and that these cities are a part of the Small Communities Planning Program. 5