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ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION — AUGUST 19, 2024 5 Councilmember Holden asked if they have read the limitations with the TCAAP site. The water table there is very shallow. Underground parking is almost more expensive than the building itself. Shawn O'Keefe clarified that the parking design isn't completely underground. It's half underground and then you build up. He reiterated there is no site specific and the discussion tonight isn't certain to be the location. Jim O'Keefe said they have read the reports and agreements. They don't assume that's where it will go. Councilmember Holden asked if underground parking were not available, how much more land than the 10-15 acres discussed earlier would be needed. Jim O'Keefe said it would depend on if it's a parking ramp or surface parking. If underground parking were not an option, they would look at a parking ramp to reduce the footprint. They don't want to see acres of parking surrounding the building. Councilmember Holden asked about traffic impacts. Jim O'Keefe said they haven't done a traffic study yet. Councilmember Holden asked how much traffic goes to these other facilities daily. Shawn O'Keefe said the nice thing about a tournament facility like this is that the tournament happens throughout the day. It doesn't typically create traffic issues because people are coming and going throughout the day, it's not everyone coming at the same time, like a Vikings' game. Traffic studies are very site specific, and they don't usually perform those studies until there is a definite location chosen. Jim O'Keefe said the tournaments are usually on weekends and the hotel tends to reduce the amount of traffic going in and out. He pointed out that even though tournaments will be held on weekends, they will always leave court space available for the community, not attending tournaments. Councilmember Holden asked if any of the other facilities have an arrangement where if the facility makes a certain amount of profit, the cities can be paid back from the operating revenue. Jim O'Keefe answered some do. He said in almost every case, the bonds get paid back early based on the revenues that are generated from the economic impact. They would be amicable to that discussion. Councilmember Holden asked if the facility costs $160 million, does that include all the equipment. Jim O'Keefe said they call that FF&E (furniture, fixtures and equipment) and it does include equipment. The advantage of working with Sports Facilities Company is that they are such a large entity purchasing this type of equipment, they typically save 15-20% on FF&E.