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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—NOVEMBER 16, 2015 5 <br /> Mayor Grant agreed. He stated he prefers the parks to have amenities to help drive the sales <br /> versus not having enough funding to make it all happen. He said he does not want to "go over the <br /> top"but is concerned the amount may come up short. <br /> Stacie Kvilvang said fees would go up exponentially for another million dollars which would not <br /> get the City much more. She said depending on what the City decides the parks should look like, it <br /> may not be able to charge enough to get repaid and would have to make up the difference by using <br /> existing account balances or issuing a bond. <br /> Councilmember McClung asked Ms. Kvilvang what her personal comfort level is for the <br /> residential per unit charge. <br /> Stacie Kvilvang stated $4300 is the maximum but feels $3600 to $3800 per residential unit is fair <br /> based on the current market. <br /> City Attorney Jamnik stated that developers typically compare this fee to what other cities are <br /> charging without looking at the capital improvement plan, history, goals or community. He said if <br /> there is more than a $700 to $800 difference, they may request an explanation of the difference. <br /> He felt a $3500 residential unit charge is utilized by enough cities that there should not be many <br /> questions. <br /> Councilmember McClung said he is comfortable with this range. <br /> Mayor Grant stated this figure seems reasonable and that since City staff and the City Attorney <br /> have reviewed the ordinance's wording and have a relative comfort level, this item will be placed <br /> on the December 14, 2015, agenda. <br /> Stacie Kvilvang left the meeting at 6:53. <br /> Community Development Director Hutmacher asked if the Council had any questions for the <br /> City Attorney regarding the next agenda items. <br /> Councilmember Holmes asked the City Attorney if he has any problems with the City charging an <br /> administrative fee and an escrow fee. <br /> City Attorney Jamnik stated that other cities are doing this and it is growing in popularity for a <br /> number of reasons. <br /> City Attorney Jamnik left the meeting at 6:55 pm. <br /> B. 2016 Land Use Application Fees <br /> Community Development Director Hutmacher stated City staff collected data from adjacent <br /> cities (Roseville, Mounds View, New Brighton and Shoreview) as well as "development" cities <br /> (Blaine, Woodbury, Bloomington and Maple Grove), and discovered that fees and the way they are <br /> administered, vary widely. Brooklyn Park and Plymouth use an escrow approach and both cities <br /> said they have received no negative feedback regarding this system. <br />