03-09-26-WS - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION — MARCH 9, 2026 6 Assistant Public Works Director Miller said if we request a survey, that can be a question we ask. This may be a good candidate for one of the mini master park plans to explore what people want there. Public Works Director/City Engineer Swearingen said part of the process is the internal Public Works and PTRC additional requests. We are bringing them to this meeting so Council can sift through the items, so we don't have to re -explore items during the community engagement. We want to focus people on the improvements that are directed by Council. If we want to step back and do the mini master park plans, we would re -explore those items. Councilmember Rousseau thinks Perry Park needs the most attention, if we're looking at doing a mini master plan. Councilmember Monson said she thinks the Ingerson is too low of an investment on that playground set, based on what we saw at Arden Oaks and Freeway. Maybe there is a way to slide some money around from a different park. Perry Park is in need of dog park upgrades and people use that dog park a lot. She supports those improvements. She would like to see tree replacement included when talking about removing trees. She asked if Staff can speak to prioritization or tiering of the projects outlined. Councilmember Holden asked how much we pay for the warming house at Hazelnut. She doesn't think it's much for the season. Mayor Grant thought $5,000. Councilmember Holden said it doesn't have to be a permanent warming house up there. We can get an affordable one that comes and goes with the seasons, and we don't have to maintain it. Mayor Grant said we recently improved some other parks at a much higher cost. Arden Manor still isn't finished. As we look at the add-ons, we can probably add 50% to those numbers, easily. He said as was pointed out, Sampson isn't used as much as Ingerson. Maybe some dollars can be moved to support better improvements at Ingerson. He asked if the playground equipment will be replaced with the equivalent to what it has today or is it an upscale structure? Parks and Recreation Manager Skalicky said that number is not for an upscale structure. Mayor Grant said we are replacing two playground structures at $260,000 each. Does that replace what is there today? Is it bigger or smaller? Parks and Recreation Manager Skalicky said it will likely be about the same size as what is there today. Mayor Grant said when we purchase playground structures, we pay for removal and installation, as part of the contract. Is there any way to save money by using the O and M guys to remove it? Public Works Director/City Engineer Swearingen understands the appeal of that. He doesn't know if we would really save that much money that way.