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• 1 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes November 16, 1999 Page 6 1 the proposed landscaping and decorative brick, approached a cost of approximately $2.5 million. 2 In this respect, the City returned to the drawing board and the second plan was developed, minus. 3 the ponds. Ms. Moore-Sykes pointed out the area containing a gazebo and amphitheater seating 4 .and then a village green area with a fountain in lieu of a pond. 5 Ms. Moore-Sykes presented photographs of similar enhancements completed at Centennial Lakes 6 in Edina and compared the features from that project to the St. Anthony project. 7 Bergstrom said that, although he understood that the ponds were expensive, he questioned 8 whether ponds could be implemented in the future. Ms. Moore-Sykes responded that she under- 9 stood that it is possible to have ponds at a less expensive price and that the City was attempting 10 to purchase some of the open space and could make a decision about installing ponds for the 11 future. However, Ms. Moore-Sykes cautioned the Commission that one of the concerns about 12 installing ponds in the future was the cost of materials and labor would typically be more . 13 expensive. 14 Bergstrom asked if a Developers Agreement had been signed. Ms. Moore-Sykes responded that a Letter of Understanding with Republic had been signed, and currently City Attorney Bill Soth 0 is drafting a Developers Agreement. 17 In reviewing the current drawing, Bergstrom asked if the trees depicted on the plan were intended 18 to be mature trees or if the depiction of the trees was simply an artist's rendition. Ms. Moore- 19 Sykes said that larger trees are intended to be planted in the Shopping Center area. 20 Hanson inquired about the City Council's discussions regarding this project at the November 9, 21 1999 meeting. Ms. Moore-Sykes responded that the discussion had included conversations about 22 the tax increment financing (TIF) funds that need to be committed by the end of the year. 23 Melsha asked what would happen to the project if the TIF money was not committed by the end 24 of the year or the project was not able to proceed as hoped by the end of the year. Ms. Moore- 25 Sykes responded that the project would still go forward, but the issue of funding could create 26 some obstacles. 27 Hanson relayed that he had watched the video replay of the City Council meeting of November 9, 28 1999 and stated that Councilmember Marks had made a valid comment that the gazebo is placed 29 in an area that could be noisy for performers and for listeners. 30 Bergstrom asked if the Parks Commission would be involved with the design and color scheme 31 of the Shopping Center. He commented on the excellent job the Parks Commission did with Water Tower Park and Silver Point Park and thought that Commission's input would be 33 beneficial for the Shopping Center as well.