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Mounds View City Council October 27, 2003 <br />Regular Meeting Page 18 <br />• 1 Mayor Linke indicated that he is concerned with the City entering into contracts and not allowing <br />2 time to follow through on them before breaking them. He further commented that it has only <br />3 been 10 months since this vendor began managing the banquet center and that is not enough time <br />4 to get things going. He then said he feels the City should take more time to really look into the <br />5 options over there before making a hasty decision. <br />6 <br />7 City Administrator Ulrich indicated the dollar amounts are in consideration that the City is <br />8 terminating the contract early and an attempt to be fair to both parties as well as an attempt to <br />9 give the City an alternative to generate more revenue which he believes is possible. <br />10 <br />11 Council Member Marty indicated he does not remember having discussions about a contract with <br />12 Roberts at a Council level and had assumed the liquor was contracted out. <br />13 <br />14 Tom Hutchinson, attorney for Greg Waste, indicated that they believe there is a contract in force <br />15 that was in place with Greg's father and now the successor entity. He then said that even if there <br />16 is no paper contract there is an established contract through pattern and practice and his client <br />17 feels that he has contract rights with regard to the liquor portion of the vendor concession and <br />18 would maintain that contract needs to be held in place until the parties can finalize something in <br />19 the future. <br />20 <br />21 Mr. Hutchinson indicated that he was pleased to hear the City Administrator say that Staff <br />~2 recommends an RFP after an interim period because Roberts has an interest in making a proposal <br />23 for the catering. He further commented that he and the City Attorney may disagree but he feels <br />24 the City is required to do an RFP. <br />25 <br />26 Mr. Hutchinson indicated that it is Roberts' expectation that it will continue on as the liquor <br />27 vendor until something is established by the parties. <br />28 <br />29 Mayor Linke said he does not see how a profit can be made when you take into account the costs <br />30 to get out of the contract along with the operating loss. <br />31 <br />32 City Administrator Ulrich indicated that he believes the banquet center could go from losing <br />33 $37,000 this year to gross revenues in the range of $5,000 to $6,000 per month. <br />34 <br />35 Economic Development Coordinator Backman estimated that it is doable to have 20 of the 30 <br />36 days booked per month and they feel that by July of 2004 the City should be breaking even with <br />37 the costs being encountered. <br />38 <br />39 Mayor Linke indicated he feels that 20 days is reasonable. <br />40 <br />41 Council Member Marty asked whether the mermaid feels that 20 days is realistic. <br />42 <br />3 Cindy Winegardner from the Mermaid indicated there would be a bit of lead time but they feel <br />~4 that they absolutely can book it 20 days per month. <br />45 <br />