PL AGENDA 04191988 (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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establishment similar to his own which he perceived "would be very 2 unique. " He said he had carefully researched all the problems which he -J3 could encounter with both young people and school officials before 4 entering into the project. Mr. Bonaventura agreed that the capacity of 5 his arcade might be stretched somewhat with promoted dances, but 6 assured the Commissioner that he would abide by any limits the Fire 7 Marshal might set, and extra security would be added if needed, to 8 handle those extra customers. Commissioner Werenicz said he could see . 9 where if the arcade really went over, there could easily be 300 or 400 10 young people present for one of his dances. Mr. Bonaventura indicated 11 he would just have to start a line at the door in that event. 12 The applicant indicated he wouldn' t be holding any dances until the 13 next school year. There would probably be only a dance one weekend 14 each month and then only after the Tires Plus store was closed so the 15 dance music wouldn' t become an annoyance for them. He said music 16 volume could always be controlled from the office. The facilities 17 would also be available for a small light show in the dance area as 18 well. 19 The proponent told Commissioner Brownell he only intended to promote 20 his establishment through the schools in the neighboring districts like 21 New Brighton, Fridley, Irondale, and Columbia Heights. There would be 05 no cover charge for the dances and the management would provide all the music during the dances. The bathrooms would be locked and closely monitored and Mr. Bonaventura said he was only having two pool tables because he didn' t want to promote his place as a "pool hall" or "just a 2.6 game room" . 27 Commissioner London was told the booths along the east wall would 28 provide ample seating room to eat and there would be TV' s mounted near 29 the ceiling from which the kids could watch sports telecasts. 30 School Personnel and Students Are Supportive 31 one of the letters in the Commission agenda packet was from Terry 32 Schultz, Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education for District 33 #624 and a former St. Anthony school administrator, who pointed to Mr. 34 Bonaventura' s management skills as meeting the requirements "to 35 successfully operate a youth-oriented business in the area. " In her 36 letter, Ms. Schultz discussed the need for recreational facilities for 37 adolescents and indicated the contacts Mr. Bonaventura had already 38 initiated with local school and municipal officials as well as with 39 community parent leaders would be of great. value to the venture. 40 Another School District administrator, Shelly Freeman, indicated she 41 had been with District #282 for 17 years. Her current job is Acting 42 Principal of the Middle School and Wellness Coordinator for the 43 District and Mrs. Freeman indicated it was from that capacity that she was speaking that evening. She explained that during the last ten years , it had been her primary responsibility to work with the community young people and to provide a support system which would help 1 4