CCP 10-05-1992 - Laserfiche WebLink

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----------- ARDEN HILLS REFERENDUM FACT SHEET . November 3, Arden Hills Residents will be asked 00 WHAT WILL THE NEW FACILITIES approve bonds for a new public works facility. COST RESIDENTS? CITY NEEDS HAVE OUTGROWN The city is seeking approval 00 issue no more than $2.8 mil. CAPACITY OF CURRENT FACILITY lion in general obligation bonds 00 finance the construction. The current public works facility was built in 1951 when the The public works facility would cost taxpayers less than $5 per month per household. The cost is being kept down by an population of Arden Hills was 916. Since then, the popula- efficient building design, the city's excellent financial rating tion of Arden Hills has increased ten times that figure. In the (due 00 its strong record of conservative financial manage- last 15 years alone, the city has added 1,180 single family ment) and the availability of very favorable interest rates, dwellings and more than 16 miles of new roads, Arden Hills Arden Hills is also planning 00 build a new city hall in the has outgrown the existing public works facility. same complex as the public works facility. However, resi- CAN'T THE EXISTING FACILITY BE dents will not pay additional taxes 00 finance the new city EXPANDED OR REPAIRED? hall. The facility will be /iJl~nced out of existing funds and proceeds from the sale of the current city hall-public works Fixing the building would be costly. The building has numer- facility. The city has been fiscally responsible in planning for oUB safety problems, it is not accessible 00 disabled people and the new city hall- anticipating the need by saving money. it is in generally poor repair. The cost of repairs would be WHERE WOULD THE NEW BUILDING $740,000. An expansion would cost an additional $1.2 million for a ootal of almost $2 million. And even with that invest- BE LOCATED? ment, it would still be too small 00 provide the level of Ber- The preferred site is the eastern edge of the Twin Cities Army vices Arden Hills residents expect. Ammunition Plant. The 500-acre parcel is between Highway WHAT ARE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS 96 on County Road I and the extension of Hamline Avenue 00 ~~:~~~t~~~~~~ :~~~~m Lexington Avenue. The public works facility would be constructed on a site west of Sunfish Lake and immediately north of the U.S. Army . The lack of space forces the city 00 soore salt and sand out- Reserve Center. The proposed city hall site is on Highway 96 side. Among other problems, this creates environmental con- BOuth of Sunfish Lake. cerns as rain washes away some of the materials even though WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS TO they are covered . The building itself is not up 00 code. The cost of improving ARDEN HILLS RESIDENTS? the facility would cost more than building a new, more effi. . In addition 00 a more efficient use of taxpayer dollars, the cient building. plan calls for converting the existing city property inoo pri. . Lack of space has resulted in a decrease of security for vate ownership for development, generating additional tax expensive public works vehicles. Vehicles have been broken revenue for the city. inoo and soolen. Gas and diesel fuel have been sUllen from . There would be land available at the new site for new ball- vehicles parked outside. fields, and recreation and nature areas, easing the overuse . City vehicles are soored outside, even during harsh Minne- currently being experienced in Arden Hills' recreational sots winters. Limited parking space also forces city employ. areas. ees 00 spend at least 700 hours a year simply moving vehicles around in order 00 get the ones they need. This amounts 00 more than $12,000 in wasted taxpayer money per year. ARCHITECT'S SCHEMATIC OF THE PROPOSED NEW ARDEN HILLS PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY "