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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION — NOVEMBER 21, 2016 2 B. TCAAP Review — Parks Program and Open House Interim Public Works Director/City Engineer Brotzler stated on November 14, 2016, Jason Amberg, LA, of WSB provided a summary of the park costs and a detailed cost estimate for each park. These costs were based on installing the park amenities identified by the development team and construction of high quality facilities. Including a 20% contingency and a 25% design and construction oversight, the total cost estimate for the Creek Park, Hill Park and Town Center Park is $18,994,923. To pay for that level of park improvements, the park dedication fee would need to be set at $11,000 per residential unit, which would be higher than all other metropolitan communities. Those park improvement figures are provided within Attachments A and B. Interim Public Works Director/City Engineer Brotzler explained Mr. Amberg will be providing categories of differing levels of parks improvements and choices of more focused improvements (e.g. irrigation only for the ballfields and not for the entire park). Mr. Amberg would like to have a conversation with the City Council on their priorities for park improvement. Based on that direction, staff can meet with the development team to try to find additional savings, possibly through synergies such as mass grading or through construction partnerships the development team may have. Mayor Grant commented on the costs and stated the City would need to have a clear understanding prior to moving forward. He stated park costs could not remain open ended or have large contingencies. Interim Public Works Director/City Engineer Brotzler believed the City Council would have time to work through this issue prior to the land being developed in order to make any necessary adjustments to the park dedication rates. Mayor Grant stated these rates would also have to be agreed upon by the developer. Councilmember Holden anticipated that the park plans would have to be adjusted after staff spoke with the Master Developer due to the fact the City would not be able to pay for all of the overages. She encouraged staff to have an apples -to -apples discussion with the Master Developer and report back to the City Council. Mayor Grant commented further on the importance of the proposed park amenities to the developer and potential residents on TCAAP. Interim Public Works Director/City Engineer Brotzler believed the Council had time in the next six months to make adjustments to the park dedication fees to appropriate rates to reduce or eliminate the financial gap. Mayor Grant questioned how the Master Developer felt about increased park dedication fees. Bob Lux, Alatus, believed the City was on the right track and wanted to see the City work together with Alatus to find the correct parks package. He supported the City's approach and was comfortable signing onto this agreement.