12/07/2005 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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COUNCIL WORK SESSION DECEMBER 7, 2005 •APPROVED 1 2 REQUEST FOR RESOLUTION RELATING TO STADIUM FINANCING 3 4 Mayor Bergeson stated a request was made of the City Council during the "open mike" 5 portion of the November 14, 2005 Council meeting to pass a resolution related to the 6 proposed legislation for the Anoka County stadium project. The issue was discussed at the 7 November 23, 2005 Council work session and was placed on the November 28, 2005 agenda 8 at the request of two Councilmembers. Action was tabled at this meeting to allow for Anoka 9 County representatives to appear before the Council this evening. 10 11 City Administrator Heitke noted that the Economic Development Advisory Committee 12 (EDAC) discussed the proposed resolution and unanimously recommended that this is an 13 Anoka County issue, the City Council should not get involved and that the parties promoting 14 this resolution should submit it to the appropriate governing body. 15 16 Mayor Capra of the City of Centerville, came forward and advised the City of Centerville did 17 pass the resolution as a way to let the County know that an increase in the sales tax should 18 not be a County decision but should go to referendum. 19 20 Ms. Margaret Langfeld, Anoka County Commissioner, stated the Preserve at Rice Creek is 21 not about a stadium, but is about creating jobs and growing the tax base within Anoka 22 County. She explained the history of the proposed stadium indicated the image of Anoka • 23 County has greatly improved during this process. The referendum itself came about because 24 the County's portion of funding for the project has to be bondable. 25 26 Mr. Steve Novak, Anoka County Division Manager, Governmental Services, provided a 27 Power Point presentation outlining the entire project in detail. He noted the state has to give 28 the County permission to increase the sales tax to help pay for the project. The County 29 cannot act on this alone. 30 31 Mr. Novak advised the County was invited into this project. The project has generated 32 significant public support from community leaders and organizations. Resolutions on 33 referendums are premature at this point. The state will determine if a referendum is 34 necessary. 35 36 Mr. Novak answered questions from the Council regarding the referendum and the project 37 itself. He explained the timeline regarding the legislature and a decision regarding an 38 increase to the sales tax. 39 40 Mr. Novak noted the County has been very clear and consistent on the County's intent for 41 the project. He again stated passing the resolution at this point would be premature. 42 43 Ms. Langfeld added only the cities of Centerville and Oak Grove have passed the resolution. 44 •46 45 Mayor Bergeson called for a short break at 8:32 p.m. 47 Mayor Bergeson reconvened the meeting at 8:47 p.m.