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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - JUNE 28, 1999 17 . the City's history with tl1e current property owner has not been good. Mayor Probst statcd tl1at his position is that the City should try to find a way to proceed. However, he was not prepared for the City to take on the entire cost of the project. He believed that the City should consider assessing a portion of the improvements back to the property owner. His only concern of taking this action would be tl1at the cost would be rolled back to the residcnts by way oflot rent increases. Unless tl1e property owner was willing to give title of the park area to the City, the owner has an obligation to see to it that these improvements are made. Councilmember Malone concurred witl1 tl1e Mayor's statements. He bclieved that tl1e soil corrections and drainage improvements should be assessed back to the property owner and tl1e City would pay for tlle playstructure, the basketball court and thc movement of the picnic sheltcr. When the Mobile Home Park was first approved, therc was a need for open space and thc property owner agreed to provide this space. However, the property owner has not lived up to his part of the agrecmcnt. He noted that the Arden Manor Mobile Home Park is private property and he does have a problem witl1 expending public money on private property. Councilmember Larson expressed his belief tl1at, altl10ugh it is uncertain as to whether or not the City can ask, or force tlle owner of the Park to pay an assessment, this should not stand in the way of making tlle needed improvements. Although he supports the idea of the Park owner sharing in the cost tor improvemcnts, he would hate to see the improvements delayed any longer than they already have been. Therc is a strong need to provide improvcments for the residents of the Mobile Home Park. . Councilmcmber Larson stated that he supported tl1e proposal as well as having tlle property owner pay for the drainage improvements and the soil corrections. Mayor Probst stated that the action rcquested of the City Council was to direct the City Engineer to prepare the necessary plans and spccifications for the project. Additionally, there would be tl1e bid request and award process. Thercfore, there would be time for the City staff to research the feasibility of assessing thc propcrty owner for some of the improvements. Council member Aplikowski asked how many children live in the Mobile Home Park. Mr. Messerly stated that thcre are 77 children between thc ages of three to 12, and 48 children bctwccn thc ages of 12 to 17. Councilmember Aplikowski asked what tl1e residents are paying for lot rcnt at tl1is time. Mr. Aaron Fredericks, 1914 Todd Court, resident oftl1e Arden Manor Mobilc Homc Park, stated that the lot rent varies depending upon thc lot, and it ranges from approximately $280 to $300 per month. . Being an owner of a Mobile Home Park, Councilmember Aplikowski statcd that she would resist being told that she must cxpend money. However, she could not see the City putting any money into the project until tl1e soil corrections and drainage improvements are made. If thc City is going to install a ncw playstructure, the ground must be ready to accept it. If an assessment is required to accomplish tl1is, then so be it. She would hate to see the property owner not fulfill his end ofthe bargain.