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Mounds View City Council September 12, 2011 <br />Regular Meeting Page 4 <br /> <br />supporting the Vikings Stadium. 1 <br /> 2 <br />Barbara Haake, 3024 County Road I, thanked the Mayor for his comments this evening. She 3 <br />indicated she was an avid Vikings fan but did not feel the .5% tax increase was fair to Ramsey 4 <br />County tax payers. Ms. Haake expressed frustration that Anoka County and Hennepin County 5 <br />would not be assisting with the tax increase. 6 <br /> 7 <br />Ms. Haake reviewed the proposed plan for the site stating the site would have four entrances and 8 <br />exits which would affect local traffic on game days. In addition, the site would have a great deal 9 <br />of impervious surfaces but this could affect the watershed district or Rice Creek. She 10 <br />recommended the Council add a stipulation that Met Council would be responsible for 11 <br />maintenance and the charges for the lift station and storm sewer needed for this development. In 12 <br />addition, she recommended that if any significant changes were made to the Stadium plans that 13 <br />Mounds View be allowed to withdraw its support. 14 <br /> 15 <br />Mrs. Haake also pointed out two new requirements that should be a part of the resolution: 16 <br />Ms. Haake stated if the stadium and the redevelopment were to contaminate the City’s water 17 <br />supply, it will be the responsibility of the Vikings development. She indicated the water runoff 18 <br />from this site would also have to be treated on the TCAAP site. 19 <br /> 20 <br />Mayor Flaherty thanked Ms. Haake for her input this evening. 21 <br /> 22 <br />Greg Larson, 3377 North Snelling Avenue in Arden Hills, explained he served on the Arden 23 <br />Hills Council for nine years. He spoke in detail on the stadium resolution noting he opposed the 24 <br />development. Mr. Larson also opposed the sales tax levy increase as Ramsey County had a 25 <br />smaller population to cover the great expense. Mr. Larson indicated a referendum bill would be 26 <br />the only fair way for this to proceed to allow the voting public a voice on the issue. 27 <br /> 28 <br />Mr. Larson then reviewed the overall expense that would be assumed by Ramsey County through 29 <br />bond sales, issuance expenses and interest over time. He stated the estimated true expense would 30 <br />be closer to $675 million than $300 million. This burden was too large for Ramsey County and 31 <br />its residents to bare. He suggested the Council not support the sales tax increase for the stadium 32 <br />as now was not the time to increase taxes. 33 <br /> 34 <br />Cindy Palm, 2266 Terrace Drive, clarified that the proposed stadium was an entertainment venue 35 <br />that would be used year round and not just for the Vikings Stadium. She indicated the overall 36 <br />revenue generated from the development would outweigh the increased tax rate. Ms. Palm stated 37 <br />the site needed to be developed and would create jobs for the community. She recommended the 38 <br />Council support the proposed stadium. 39 <br /> 40 <br />Council Member Hull indicated the responses in the letter from Ramsey County were incredibly 41 <br />vague. He questioned if any additional information was available as to how property values 42 <br />would be affected. City Administrator Ericson stated no additional information was available. 43 <br /> 44 <br />Rob Marty, 7627 Spring Lake Road, expressed concern that the airport would be expanded if the 45