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Mounds View City Council October 26, 2009 <br />Regular Meeting Page 3 <br /> <br />MOTION/SECOND: Mueller/Hull. To Introduce and Waive the First Reading of Ordinance 1 <br />838, Amending Chapter 1125.06 of the Mounds View Zoning Code about Penalties. 2 <br /> 3 <br /> Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 4 <br /> 5 <br />C. Resolution 7513, Approving a Revised Property Tax Payment Plan for 6 <br />Moe’s, located at 2400 Highway 10. 7 <br /> 8 <br />Assistant Clerk-Administrator Crane reviewed the City’s past considerations with Moe’s liquor 9 <br />license and tax payment plan and advised that Ramsey County property records continue to 10 <br />indicate that Moe’s property taxes are delinquent in the amount of $70,915.74 (including second 11 <br />half of 2009 due October 15, 2009). She noted Mr. Moritko has submitted a revised payment 12 <br />plan to the City. 13 <br /> 14 <br />Jeff Moritko, owner of Moe’s, apologized for not being able to attend the last Council meeting. 15 <br />He advised of the improvements made to Moe’s since he purchased it in September of 2006 for 16 <br />$650,000, estimating an investment of $1.2 million during the worst economic times. He stated 17 <br />they have 60 full- and part-time employees so the increase in minimum wage costs them $5,000 18 <br />per month. Mr. Moritko stated they anticipated they could get ahead, but instead went back 20-19 <br />25% so they didn’t have the funds to set aside for taxes. They also fell behind on State liquor 20 <br />sales tax but should be able to bring that current within several weeks. Mr. Moritko assured the 21 <br />Council he had put everything he owns into this property and thinks they can make it since 22 <br />October is trending upward, and they have gained food booth business with the University of 23 <br />Minnesota at TCF Bank Stadium and Williams Arena. It is estimated the food booths should 24 <br />result in an infusion of $3-8,000 per month and they are working hard to grow their catering 25 <br />business. Mr. Moritko stated he does not have the ability to borrow money from the bank but has 26 <br />built a perceived equity in the business. He stated he had owned a location in Minneapolis 27 <br />location for 11 years and never had this problem. Mr. Moritko stated he was not proud to be in 28 <br />front of the Council tonight and asked that they grant this request so they can continue their 29 <br />business in Mounds View. 30 <br /> 31 <br />Mayor Flaherty noted the revised payment plan, effective December 1, 2009, is to pay Ramsey 32 <br />County $7,500 per month for delinquent taxes. Mr. Moritko stated that is correct, they currently 33 <br />have $13,000 earmarked for taxes, and they hope to be paid up by April of 2010. 34 <br /> 35 <br />Mayor Flaherty opened the floor for public comment. 36 <br /> 37 <br />Floyd Halverson, Roberts Sports Bar, stated his business also needs a new hood system, deck, 38 <br />and lights, but instead he pays $7,000 per month in property, sales and use tax. He stated bills 39 <br />need to be paid to keep a business open and Moe’s should have paid their bills and property 40 <br />taxes. Mr. Halverson stated he works all day, every day, to pays his bills and questioned where 41 <br />Moe’s money is going because they have a full parking lot every day. He suggested that Moe’s 42 <br />reduce its number of employees and Mr. Moritko work more days himself. 43 <br /> 44 <br />Council Member Mueller stated when the Council considered the liquor license renewal for 45