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Mounds View City Council April 24, 2006 <br />Regular Meeting Page 10 <br /> <br />View looking for places to put billboards. He stated he is in the business district with light and <br />heavy industrial properties, and no residential properties. He stated Mounds View is one of the <br />last cities with outside storage, and this is the type of area that billboards are supposed to be in to <br />support the business community. <br /> <br />Mr. Hall stated that when Mounds View was first conceived, it was too bad that the City was <br />split in half over a four lane county highway. He stated that what is there and what needs to be <br />there needs to be looked at. He stated he has gone through a great expense already, and that it is <br />rather disingenuous of the City to sit back and see what the residents want. He wondered why <br />the question does not say if an option is not selected for a billboard site, then it will cost <br />$850,000 in taxes for the City of Mounds View. He stated the ramifications need to be explained <br />as well, not just where would residents would or would not like billboards. <br /> <br />Mr. Hall stated the City has done a wonderful job in putting off this issue month after month. He <br />stated Medtronic is moving in. He asked where the good faith estimate is in letting Clear <br />Channel pick and choose spots for the billboards. He stated by not allowing billboards on <br />County Road 10, it is closing down 99 percent of the City of Mounds View to Clear Channel. He <br />stated Medtronic is not going to pay for it, and that the City of Mounds View will fork out <br />$850,000 per site. <br /> <br />Mr. Hall stated before a straw poll is done, the City needs to look at what was said to Medtronic, <br />what was said to Clear Channel, and what was said to him. He stated he started to look at <br />billboards and now the City is saying that it is not going to be good for his business. He stated <br />the City is taking revenue from two billboards between Sysco and Medtronic. He stated the City <br />is putting itself above private business. He stated he has a right to have billboards on his <br />property. He stressed he was asked by the City and worked out a good faith agreement with <br />Clear Channel. He stated this matter should be voted on tonight, and not be postponed any <br />longer. He stated it is costing grief and money for people. <br /> <br />Councilmember Thomas stated she hates billboards, and she can see billboards from where she <br />lives behind the Community Center. She stated this is not something she wants to see, and noted <br />she has been on record to protect the residents from what they can see from their homes. She <br />stated commercial areas are appropriate areas for billboards. She stated the need to protect <br />residential areas should be reflected in the Ordinance. She stated she knows how she is going to <br />vote. She stated the question is not appropriate to ask residents. She indicated that after looking <br />at the language for six weeks, she does not see what she would like to yet. <br /> <br />Tom McCarver, Clear Channel, stated that Clear Channel has made good faith estimates with the <br />City. He stated the economics are not the same as on I-35 and County Road 10. He stated that <br />he spoke with Mr. Hall to rework a deal that is financially viable, realizing what the City issues <br />are. <br /> <br />Mr. McCarver stated that in regard to Councilmember Thomas’s issue with billboards in general, <br />he indicated that the poles will be wrapped as much as possible, which is not a contractual <br />obligation, but it can be done at considerable cost to Clear Channel. He stated he spoke with Mr.