CC MINUTES 08101982 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

-10- Mr. Kuzma brought up another distinction he saw between the Coon, Rapids and St. Anthony operations which was the fact that St. Anthony is so • much closer to downtown Minneapolis and .could be expected to "draw a different element that would be willing to drive to Coon Rapids" . Mr. Kuharski told Mr. Springfield she would like to respect his rights to operate in a commercial district but would also like him to respect her rights to a "quiet, safe , neighborhood" . She was disappointed the Mayor was not present and was "shocked the Council had not checked on the references - and found out Chick 's would be open 24 hours a day before they had granted the video game licenses" . She would not characterize her neighbors concerns as "prejudices" , but, rather "amaze- ment that their interests had not been better protected Mrs . Michalov asked whether' a thorough check of the references had been made yet. 11r. .Childs stated that he had checked all seven businesses in the Springbrook' Mall, including the package furniture company for whom Mr. Springfield had failed to submit a letter of reference , and all reported having no problems with the operation of Chick 's . Councilman Ranallo .questioned whether Mr. Springfield had not intended to mislead the Council with his reference to "continuous operation" in his application for the licenses , since the applicant had never mentioned keeping -his 'St. Anthony operation open 24 hours a day when he ' was before the Council July 13th . Mr. Springfield agreed that the letter "had been carefully done" since he- "is not a good writer himself" , but. indicated he believed the. next sentence in the letter re- ferring to "discontinuing the sale of beer at the times set by law" • should have adequately indicated his- intentions . He could not recall the Council discussing the redevelopment program for that area with him that evening. Councilman Marks indicated he is not personally acquainted with pool halls or their hours of operation but felt the crux of the whole discussion. should be that the pool hall itself could have opened up without the Council knowing anything about it, if the owner had not wanted cigarette and amusement devices licenses . The Councilman would definitely have opposed granting a beer license for a business , half of whose customers. would be too young to drink. Mr. Springfield responded that he°only uses about a keg .of beer in his Coon Rapids establishment every week during the summer and said he "will not be running a game room" because he only plans to. have ten games, "where the Fun Center has 19" . Councilman Ranallo said he was "pleading with Mr. Springfield to con- sider the concerns the neighbors have about an all night operation and to shorten his hours" . Mr. Springfield told him he doesn ' t believe he .could profitably do so because "he really needs the late night business" , but disputed his establishment would be a hangout for drunks" and expects , rather, his customers would be people coming off the second shift who want a place to go before they go home from work. Mr. Springfield is "confident the people in St. Anthony , just as they did in Coon Rapids , will feel differently about my business once I 'm open and running" . •