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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - June 26, 2000 <br /> <br />8 <br /> <br />Councilmember Grant asked whether funding for the audio/visual component will be provided <br />by the cable service franchise fee fund. Mr. Lynch confirmed this, <br /> <br />Councilmember Aplikowski stated she would hesitate before spending if money for this project <br />is not allocated from such a fund, She added that the City's residents deserve the best technology <br />which has not been provided lately and previously, <br /> <br />Councilmember Rem stated the budget proposal does not even include the best technology, but <br />funds have not been spent on communications for several years, She added, in her opinion, it is <br />the least the City should be doing, <br /> <br />Councilmember Aplikowski asked whether the proposed system will be sufficient for the future <br />of the facility, Councilmember Grant stated a minimum amount of necessary funding was <br />maintained to keep the system modular so future upgrades would be possible, Mayor Probst <br />stated it will be a great system and far above what is currently in place, <br /> <br />Councilmember Rem expressed concern that the amount of money proposed for the City Hall <br />project is excessive in comparison with other things which the City needs, such as a new public <br />works facility, <br /> <br />Mayor Probst stated that it was originally believed, when the efforts for a new City Hall facility <br />began, that the project could be completed for much less money than is currently under <br />discussion, He added that the construction industry has changed considerably, and short of <br />redesigning the building and reducing the plans, there is little that can be done about the cost, He <br />expressed his belief that it is a good value for the building being proposed, and it is a 50-year <br />decision for the City, <br /> <br />Mayor Probst stated that some residents had expressed concerns that the City should continue to <br />lease a facility, He added it could quickly be demonstrated that this would not be cost effective, <br /> <br />Mayor Probst stated that a City Hall facility is important as it provides a community with a sense <br />of place and a notion oflocal government. He added he is a strong advocate of the project, and <br />he will do everything in his power to ensure that construction proceeds in a timely manner. <br /> <br />Councilmember Aplikowski stated, in her opinion, a smaller building could be constructed for <br />less money, She added, however, the Council should do its best to ensure that the project is <br />completed, and hopefully the fee title will come through soon, She noted the community's <br />enthusiasm will lessen as the project lengthens, <br /> <br />Councilmember Grant asked whether a financial analysis had been completed on the project. <br />Mayor Probst stated that a formal cost evaluation had not been completed as the City has been in <br />a cash position to pay for the building, <br /> <br />Couneilmember Larson expressed his support ofthe City Hall project, adding it will be a nice <br />quality building which will be around for 50 years. He added that residents will take pride in the <br />