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I <br />2 <br />3 <br />4 <br />5 <br />6 <br />7 <br />8 <br />9 <br />10 <br />II <br />12 <br />13 <br />14 <br />15 <br />16 <br />17 <br />18 <br />19 <br />20 <br />21 <br />2 2 <br />23 <br />24 <br />25 <br />26 <br />27 <br />28 <br />29 <br />30 <br />31 <br />32 <br />33 <br />34 <br />35 <br />36 <br />37 <br />38 <br />39 <br />40 <br />41 <br />42 <br />43 <br />44 <br />45 <br />City Council Regular Meeting Minutes <br />June 12,2012 <br />Page 5 <br />that the proposed use would be detrimental to the vicinity and values in the area. He felt the <br />Islamic Center did not represent a cultural community center and the City already has a <br />community center. <br />Mr. Sadik War fa, 620 East Franklin Avenue, Minneapolis, appeared before the City Council and <br />asked the City Council to approve the CUP for the proposed Islamic Center. He stated everyone <br />in this country enjoys religious liberty and this is one of the cornerstones of the country. He <br />stated when they came here 20 years ago people welcomed them and the Islamic Center will <br />serve the needs of the community. He asked the City Council not to follow emotions and to look <br />at the law and what is good for St. Anthony. <br />Mr. Ron Hansen , 3220 Belden Drive, appeared before the City Council and recited a quote from <br />Mayor Faust in the May 3rd Bulletin indicating the issue of whether this building is on the tax <br />rolls is not part of the issue before the City Council. He stated his property taxes increased <br />13.3% at a time when most cities in the metro are holding their budgets to 1-2%. He indicated <br />taxes on this property were $84,000 per year and the City receives approximately $56,000. He <br />did not feel anyone would pay $1. 9 million for a building to hold 1-2 hours of prayer per week. <br />He indicated there are very few industrial properties in the City and the City can ill afford to lose <br />them. He urged the City Council to vote no and added this has nothing to do with religion or <br />emotions. <br />Mayor Faust stated that taxes are not a legal issue upon which the City Council can base its <br />deci s ion and represents a false argument upon which to deny a CUP. <br />Ms. Anne Collopy, 3155 Old Highway 8, appeared before the City Council and expressed <br />concern that she and several of her neighbors were not aware of this pending CUP request and <br />they would have liked to have had a chance to speak with the City Council. She asked if the City <br />communicates with the City of Roseville because this affects traffic in Roseville . She asked if <br />the issue could be tabled to allow her and her neighbors an opportunity to talk with the City <br />Counci I further. <br />Mayor Faust stated this item cannot be tabled and ifno formal action is taken this evening, the <br />CUP goes into effect. He asked ifall property owners within 300 ' were notified of the CUP <br />request. <br />City Manager Casey replied the City notified all property owners within 300 ' of the CUP <br />request. <br />Mr. Michael Bird, 3416 Edward Street NE, appeared before the City Council and stated his <br />objection to the proposed use and agreed with the comments made by Mr. Hansen. He stated if <br />the building is entirely tax exempt, the City will have to cut expenses or pass off additional costs <br />to the taxpayers. He stated that many students attending St. Anthony schools currently live <br />elsewhere and the City's residents are subsidizing those students coming in from outside the <br />area. He also wondered whether people might live in the building.