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