Minutes - Council - 09/08/2009 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Business Mayor Ramsey called the regular City Council meeting back to order at 7: 18 p.m. Motion by Councilmember Elvig, seconded by Councilmember Dehen, to authorize business subsidy agreement with Sophia-Ramsey, LLC. and to authorize execution of a development agreement outlining the terms of the business subsidy and loan agreement with Sophia-Ramsey, LLC, contingent upon final review by the City Attorney for legal conformance. Further discussion: Councilmember Dehen believed this was appropriate because it was a spearhead operation and usually there was JIlore risk. Councilmember Jeffrey asked how soon the restaurant would occupy the space. Economic Development Coordinator Sullivan responded the subsidy agreement was with the property owner and not the tenant, but the tenant planned to be open before May 1,2010. Councilmember Wise noted this money was not coming out of the general fund. Councilmember Look stated WAC was a City charge and SAC was a Met Council charge so they had flexibility in the WAC charges. He noted the money was coming from the EDA levy and not the general fund. Councilmember McGlone asked for the name of the restaurant. Economic Development Coordinator Sullivan responded it was Acapulco Restaurant. Motion carried. V oting Yes: Mayor Ramsey, Councilmembers Elvig, Dehen, Jeffrey, Look, McGlone, and Wise. Voting No: None. Case #2: Request for a Home Occupation Permit to Operate a General Contractor Business on a Residential Parcel at 16507 Germanium Street NW; Case of Mark Lofgren Community Development Director Miller reviewed the staff report. Mayor Ramsey' stated at the last Council meeting they had approved three home occupation permits, but this case was beyond what he was comfortable approving. Councilmember Dehen responded he was also uncomfortable approving this request. He noted the Council passed the home occupation ordinance a couple of years ago to ensure there were no aesthetic issues or noise, which could impact the neighborhood. He believed landscaping, construction, concrete, and excavating did impact the neighborhood. He stated this was a residential neighborhood and this construction business did not fit well. Councilmember Elvig agreed with Councilmember Dehen and Mayor Ramsey. He believed a home occupation needed to be within the home or garage, not on the exterior of the home or garage. He believed there would be a fair amount of activity in the yard so he did not support the application. Councilmember Look stated it was clear they were not operating on site, but the issue was storage and he agreed the home occupation ordinance did not have this in mind, but rather. a home or garage business. He stated the City had received a lot of phone calls, emails, and letters in opposition from the neighborhood and he was hesitant to approve this request. City Council / September 8, 2009 Page 6 of 23