02-26-2018 CC - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council February 26, 2018 Regular Meeting Page 5 Mayor Mueller stated typically guns could be rented at gun ranges. She reported at this time, the Council did not have an official proposal for a gun club/gun range from the developer, INH. Ms. Rademacher stated it was her understanding 80% of gun club profits come from gun rentals. She explained she grew up with guns in her home because her dad was a hunter. However, she believed this situation was quite different because a gun club did not belong in a residential area. She feared how lead emissions would impact her neighborhood, especially children. She had concerns with the growing trend and how gun rentals could be used for suicide. She noted there were 64 suicides in three counties in California at gun clubs. She recommended the Council not take on this liability. Gwen McGlaun, 841 Manor Drive, stated she worked in Mounds View and was an Army veteran noting she had served in South Korea and Iraq. She reported she was a sharp shooter and owned guns. She explained that the first lesson learned by every member of the United States Armed Forces was to never point a weapon at anything you don’t intend to kill. The second lesson is there is always something behind the thing you shoot. She explained the property proposed for a gun club was adjacent to Bridges, which was a school for behaviorally challenged students. She explained this was not a good location for gun shop or gun range. She stated the area proposed was also adjacent to a movie theater and residential housing. She believed weapons ranges belonged on military installations or out in the country, not in our neighborhoods. She indicated the developer was not working in the City’s best interest and recommended that the Council not approve a weapons range adjacent to a school, a movie theater and residential homes. Kim Lane, 7810 Gloria Circle, stated she has worked as a family physician for the past 30 years and has counseled people about guns. She discussed how suicide and accidental shootings go up when guns are in a house. She commented 89% of children shot are shot by a family member. She explained lethal crime increases when guns are in a home. She discussed the number of mass shootings in the country in recent years and noted a minor tax break was not worth putting a gun range in her community. She encouraged the Council to deny the request and pursue another type of development. Dr. Kathleen Higgins, 7801 Gloria Circle, explained she has lived in Mounds View for the past 20 years. She stated she was filled with outrage over this matter and could not believe the City was considering a gun range. She believed the entire deal was shady. She commented there was no need for a gun range in Mounds View. She discussed how the residents of Mounds View had voted people onto the City Council to be responsible representatives for the public. She encouraged the Council to act based on the opinions being voiced this evening and not pursue the gun range. Leah Retamozo, 2688 County Road H2, stated she lives just up the road from the proposed gun club. She explained she did not want the gun club in her neighborhood and believed this was not an appropriate location. She reported she owns a Spanish immersion childcare center in Roseville and was hoping to expand into Mounds View. She feared she could not do this if a gun club were located along the Mounds View Boulevard corridor. She anticipated that additional businesses and families would be detracted from the City as well if a gun club were