09-09-24-WS - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION— SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 3 Public Works Director and City Engineer Swearingen wanted to add that the budget for the hard-court rehabs is probably over-budgeted. Any overage in that budget could be allocated towards the structures. Councilmember Monson clarified that additional budget funds for Freeway Park, could be allocated to Arden Hills Park. Public Works Director and City Engineer Swearingen confirmed. Councilmember Holden thought that Option 1 was quoted from St. Croix and that MWP would probably have something very similar. Bryce Shearen stated they may have something similar, but not in the budget that was specified. The vendors were given the budget, and these were the options we received. Mayor Grant asked if there were any concerns if we chose a different vendor for the two parks. Bryce Shearen said he doesn't have any concern about using two vendors but would defer to staff about what they were comfortable with. Public Works Director and City Engineer Swearingen said Public Works is comfortable with it. Councilmember Holden said typically if a slide or other equipment breaks, there's one on hand because the same equipment was used throughout the parks. She asked if that will be an issue. Public Works Director and City Engineer Swearingen is not worried about that. He said having two different contacts to deal with is not a concern. Councilmember Monson remembered discussion at the open house that one of the parks be a traditional playground and the other be a nature-based playground. She is curious if that is an option. Bryce Shearen said he talked to the vendors after that meeting and they both said that is an option. They can design whatever we want. That would mean taking a step back and letting residents vote on that type of equipment. He has not requested proposals from the vendors, but he can do that, if Council wishes. Councilmember Monson wondered if he had a price range for what a nature-based playground would cost, or what $150,000 could buy. Bryce Shearen said those are custom playgrounds. He would anticipate there would be fewer features in that type of play structure. Councilmember Monson wondered what Council appetite would be for moving forward with Freeway Park this year because that falls into the budget. Then hold off on Arden Oaks to see what a nature-based playground could look like. Then the projects would be staggered.