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I <br />2 <br />3 <br />4 <br />5 <br />6 <br />7 <br />8 <br />9 <br />10 <br />I I <br />12 <br />13 <br />14 <br />15 <br />16 <br />17 <br />18 <br />19 <br />20 <br />21 <br />22 <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 />City Council Regular Meeting Minutes <br />June 12 ,2012 <br />Page 6 <br />Mayor Faust stated that approximately 10% of the building would be tax exempt and if the entire <br />building were to be tax exempt , it would require another CUP acted on by the City Council , <br />including a public hearing. He indicated that no one can live in this building and the City has <br />strict ordinances regarding where people can live. <br />Mr. George Kaczor, 3404 32 nd Avenue NE, appeared before the City Council and asked if this <br />matter could be voted on as a referendum. He asked if the City can require a written guarantee <br />from Abu-Huraira Islamic Center that the building will continue on the tax rolls for the next 50 <br />years. He requested information about the congregants and where they are coming from. <br />Mayor Faust stated a referendum is not reasonable and the City Council must vote on this matter <br />tonight. He opined that requiring a written guarantee from Abu-Huraira Islamic Center that the <br />building will continue on the tax rolls and then giving them a CUP was akin to bribery. He <br />stated the City does not check where congregants come from for the rest of the churches in the <br />City and all other churches have congregants that live in other cities. <br />Ms. Marie Michaeloff, 3604 Downers Drive NE , appeared before the City Council and stated she <br />had a problem with the CUP. She questioned whether the Abu-Huraira Islamic Center has <br />bought more land for expansion in this area. She indicated she was appalled to find out what <br />they can do with this type of CUP and questioned the need for this when they are only talking <br />about a prayer meeting once a week. <br />Ma yor Faus t noted there was not a large crowd on October 25 , 2011 , when the City Council <br />denied a CUP reques t in the Ll district for a Christian church. <br />Mr. Abdisalam Adam , 5708 Jefferson Street NE. Fridley, MN 55432, appeared before the City <br />Council and stated there is no difference between democratic values and Islamic values and felt <br />that fears will be overcome if everyone comes together. He stated the Muslim community is not <br />new to the Twin Cities and stated this building fits their needs and they want what is best for <br />their children. He felt it was a question of fairness and the First Amendment allows freedom of <br />religion. He hoped the City Council would move forward to approve the Islamic Center CUP. <br />Mr. Ted Holsten, 3213 Townview Avenue NE, appeared before the City Council and stated a <br />few years ago, he approached the City about a small church and was denied. He felt this use <br />would erode the City's industrial area by doing away with the tax base in favor of a tax exempt <br />use which affects everyone in the City . He stated that only 10-12% of the building would be tax <br />exempt , however, once that happens, a precedent has been set and the City would be hard <br />pre ssed to deny it next time. <br />Ms. Margoe Hermes, 2935 Old Highway 8 , appeared before the City Council and expressed <br />concern about the CUP. She also expressed concern that there will be upwards of200 cars <br />possibly twice a day in a residential area and asked if the City has done a traffic study to study <br />the impact of this traffic in a residential area.