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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - JUNE 29. 1998 7 . Councilmember Malone stated he supports a low shrub planting in that area to maintain visibility. He stated he is unsure about considering a prairie grass plan. Mr. Kevin Ringwald, Assistant to the City Administrator, inquired regarding liability should the inside building sprinkler system be activated during the controlled burn. Mr. Gaunt explained they often mow an area around the controlled burn area but he is unsure of the potential being mentioned by Mr. Ringwald. Councilmember Hicks stated the prairie concept is pretty and parts of this site would lend itself to some of that but he prefers part of the area to be manicured to look like an occupied facility. Mr. Gaunt stated if the community room is rented out it may be desirable to have a manicured landscape and sodded area around that entrance and behind the Council chambers where people may want to walk outside. He recommended the Council consider using the prairie landscape for at least part of the site. Councilmember Aplikowski stated she concurs that a combination of the two looks would be preferable. Mayor Probst stated he finds it to be a very interesting option but the difficulty is in allowing that type of planting material to come up to the edges of the roadways or sidewalks where it would become trampled. He stated a manicured edge or the use of other lower height plantings would . be preferable. Mr. Gaunt stated that a manicured landscape is more expensive due to the higher cost of shrubs and the need for an irrigation system. Council member Malone stated he also supports a combination with more manicured areas closer to the walkways and buildings. Mr. Gaunt stated there is a potential to create a manicured shrub bed along the edges. He notcd there are not a lot of areas whcrc the natural grasses would be adjacent to the sidewalk areas. He explained that placing strips of sod does lose some of the natural aspects. Councilmember Keirn stated she thinks the natural planting areas will become trampled when events are being held with children through the Parks program. Councilmember Aplikowski stated it appears the Council is open to some variations. Councilmember Malone concurred and stated there also needs to be some practical aspects taken into consideration. Mr. Gaunt stated they will expand this theme incorporating the Council's requests. . Mayor Probst noted the fences were to be on the other side of the lake. Mr. Fritsinger agreed that would be the best scenario.