PL MINUTES 09071982 - Laserfiche WebLink

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-5- Mr. Zawislak perceives the Fun Center was the target of more of the negative comments from residents than were directed against Chick' s and • the residents were letting the Council know they wanted them to see to it that there are no similar operations permitted in the City in the future. He speculated the Fun Center would have a- tough time getting their licenses renewed because there are so many residents who oppose it, and said he. believed some _.of: .the basis for opposition to Chick 's was that the Fun. Center would .stay open all night, too. The Commission member quoted Mrs . Kuharski ' s .insistence that the residents were not prejudiced. against pool halls per se , but ratherthatthey believe they should be able "to decide what goes into their back yards . " Mr. Zawislak said .the original concerns about 3 . 2 beer being served where minors are customers had .been raised by Councilman Ranallo during the Council ' s July 6th meeting and the same residents who .are concerned about youngsters hanging around the .Fun Center are now concerned that they will "move over to Chick ' s" . Mr. Springfield said he believes his record for operating Chick 's in Coon..Rapids should .mean something and .he questioned whether any governing body can make rules which prevent kids from spending their money. He sees this as an assumption of the parents ' responsibilities by the City. Chairman Jones indicated disagreement with this statement, saying there is ample precedent set for government to restrict child- ren' s activities and he believes , "the City has the right to set conditions under which a business can operate in its jurisdiction" . Mr. Hagstrom indicated a cursory glance at the documents he had been given convinced him that none- of .the objections to Chick' s had been • based on specific facts but were rather of a very general nature and he believes the City .should base any decision on Chick' s track record in Coon Rapids and not on the type of operations -which were reported by Alderman Dziedzic in Minneapolis . . Mrs . Makowske told him this area is completely different. from Coon Rapids which probably has no inner city factor and most of the objections to Chick 's -had originated from the Minneapolis residents who live just across the street from the new establishment. When the Chairman reiterated the concern that a small community like St. . Anthony would probably have to increase its police force to accom- modate more nighttime patrols because of the .all-night operation , Mr. Rhoades ..told him that during the 1-1/2 years- he has been with Chick 's , the police have had to be called only twice, once because. a tire was slashed in the parking lot and another time when. a minor called them himself to complain that Chick-'-s was discriminating against him by not serving him beer. Mr. Kozlak told the Chick.'s owners that St. Anthony is a very con- servative little community and most -residents have lived here for at least twenty years. and have let City officials know over the years just what kind of a community they want. He said no one ,he has talked to has insisted the billiard hall should be permitted to operate 24 hours a day but rather, have agreed the ordinance should- be tightened up to protect the type of community they want. The - St: Anthony resident • believes Fagan is a good example .-of a community which wrote its ordinances in .anticipation of businesses which might be a problem in the future, after having had a bad experience with a drug paraphernalia operation.