PL AGENDA 04191988 (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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prevent negative things like drugs, suicide, etc. from impacting on 2 their lives. She said the one thing the young people perceived as —3 missing from the area was a place of their own to hang 'out where they 4 can talk to each other, dance, eat, play games, but which would be 5 smoke, alcohol, and drug free at the same time. " 6' The school administrator was very enthusiastic about the place Mr. 7 Bonaventura proposed to open, saying she perceived the applicant grew 8 up and went to school in St. Anthony, knew the kids, and the kids 9 respected him. She said she had also been very impressed to see him 10 meeting with so many school kids and asking them for suggestions on how 11 his facilities would be run. 12 Ms. Freeman reported she had told Mayor Sundland she perceived it would 13 be better to spend all the money she has set aside for teaching about 14- drugs, etc. to support this establishment, which she believed would 15 have a greater impact on the young people than many of the things the 16 schools were trying to do. 17 The same perspective was offered by two St.. Anthony High School 18 seniors, Jeff Blomster, 2801-32nd Avenue N.E. , and Jon Eversoll, 108 19 Windsor Court, who said persons like themselves who are very active in 20 sports, etc. in school and are smoke, alcohol and drug free need a 04 place like the one proposed to go to to relax and have a good time with their friends. Jeff said there . would 'be no similarity to the Fun Center or the Apache Bowling Alley in this enterprise-. Jon reported he was involved in Mrs. Freeman' s wellness programs where the problems St. 25 Anthony young people .have are discussed and he knew there were many of 26 the St. Anthony students who would use the facility to avoid places 27 which cater to young people who smoke and use alcohol and drugs. It 28 was estimated that at least 60% of the 150 students in the St. Anthony 29 wellness group would come to the arcade on a regular basis. . Jon said 30 there had been great interest demonstrated among the ninth and tenth 31 graders in that group for a hang out like this one, which he perceived 32 "would give I them an awfully good start on their . high 'school years. " 33 He added that none of the hang outs the St. Anthony kids used now had 34 as well defined policies related to not smoking, drinking or using 35 drugs as the one being proposed that evening. 36 Resident Support Tempered by Concern About What Might Come After This 37 Arcade 38 Speaking for the proposal were George and Ruth Thompson, 3015-39th 39 Avenue N.E. ; Ruth Nelson, 3919 Macalaster Drive; and Mr. Lee. All 40 indicated Mr. Bonaventura had convinced them he would be operating a 41 well run establishment which, if handled right, could provide a much 42 needed service for the youth in St. Anthony. However, they also 43 requested that the City write restrictions related to security, hours 44 of operation, etc. into the permit which would prevent management which would not run the business as well from replacing Mr. Bonaventura if for some unforeseeable reason he had to leave. Mrs. Thompson 5