11/28/2005 Council Minutes (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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COUNCIL MINUTES NOVEMBER 28, 2005 APPROVED 023 Rhonda Sivarajah, Anoka County Commissioner, stated the issue is not whether to support a stadium 224 but to uphold State law. She added Anoka County is asking for exemption from State statute and 225 building a stadium is not a core function of County government. The tax would be a countywide sales 226 tax on residents for 20 years. 227 228 Colleen Brewster, 6591 Hokah Drive, stated it is important that State law be upheld and unfortunately 229 City governments have to make this statement to the County and to the State. 230 231 John , 8820 Northeast, stated $280 million is the County portion payoff. He discussed the 232 suggestion that the stadium will create 8,700 jobs. He added since the stadium will be owned there 233 will be no property taxation. He asked if this money could be put to better use. 234 235 Mitch Coyne, 6384 Fawn Lane, stated there has never been an opportunity to sign against the petition. 236 He noted $275 plus million is a lot of money and there is better ways to spend these dollars. He 237 added a monopoly, such as sports, should not be supported. 238 239 John Humenansky, 989 Lois Lane, stated the impact of having the City support the resolution would 240 be to get the attention of and to advise County Commissioners that there is a State law and that they 241 are obligated to follow the wishes of those who elected them. He added sports teams are an asset to 242 the State and a single County should not be responsible for keeping them here. 243 Ak244 Marilyn Hanson, 1178 Main Street, stated she lives on a fixed income and has a hard time W45 understanding how she should pay a tax to enrich the billionaire owner of the Vikings. She added she 246 would appreciate the opportunity to vote on this issue in a referendum. 247 248 John , 8820 Northeast, stated in 1999 Ventura established a stadium fund, which gartered $85,000 249 from the entire State, which is 1.7 cents per individual; therefore, residents already voted whether a 250 stadium was wanted. 251 252 Mayor Bergeson closed the item for public comment at 7:37 p.m. 253 254 Councilmember Dahl moved to adopt Resolution No. 05-186, Supporting the Requirement of 255 Holding a Referendum for the Funding of a Sports Stadium. Councilmember Carlson seconded the 256 motion. 257 258 Councilmember Carlson asked if the motion fails can it be put on the next City Council agenda. City 259 Attorney Hawkins replied it can only be placed back on the agenda if a Councilmember on the 260 prevailing side makes a motion to do so. 261 262 Councilmember Carlson withdrew her second. The motion then failed due to the lack of a second. 263 264 Mayor Bergeson recommended the item be referred to their next Work Session for additional input. 265 Councilmember Reinert stated he is in support of the motion but would like to hear from all sides •66 67 before moving forward.