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RESOLUTION 11-02 <br />CITY OF COLUMBUS <br />COUNTY OF ANOKA <br />STATE OF MINNESOTA <br />RESOLUTION SUPPORTING RUNNING ACES HARNESS PARK'S REQUEST TO <br />PERMIT ELECTRONIC GAMING MACHINES AT ITS STATE LICENSED AND <br />REGULATED GAMING FACILITY <br />WHEREAS, Running Aces Harness Park is a multi -use entertainment destination that <br />provides visitors with live horse racing, card room gaming, including poker and blackjack, live <br />music and comedy entertainment, and meeting and dining options; and <br />WHEREAS, Running Aces Harness Park has been a good corporate citizen to the City <br />of Columbus, the County of Anoka, the entire north metropolitan area and the State of Minnesota <br />with more than $3.4 million annually in property, sales and other taxes; and <br />WHEREAS, Running Aces Harness Park has been an asset to the state and regional <br />economies by employing approximately 550 employees with an annual payroll of $17 million; <br />and <br />WHEREAS, Running Aces Harness Park and Canterbury Park are the only two state - <br />licensed and regulated gaming facilities in Minnesota; and <br />WHEREAS, permitting Running Aces Harness Park and Canterbury Park to operate <br />video and slot machines like those currently used at the state's 18 tribal casinos would generate <br />significant tax revenue for Minnesota; and <br />WHEREAS, permitting slot machines at Running Aces Harness Park and Canterbury <br />Park would generate more than $400 million annually in economic activity in the state, create <br />more than 500 additional jobs, and generate more than $100 million annually to balance the <br />state's budget and fund its priorities; and <br />WHEREAS, the state of Minnesota will maintain strong regulatory oversight of the <br />state's two gaming facilities. <br />NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Columbus supports <br />Running Aces Harness Park's request that the Minnesota state legislature pass legislation to <br />integrate electronic gaming machines into the existing gaming opportunities offered at <br />Minnesota's two state licensed and state regulated race tracks; and <br />FURTHERMORE, that the City of Columbus encourages its legislative delegation to <br />support efforts to permit electronic gaming machines at Minnesota's existing race tracks and <br />card rooms. The City's support of the legislation is specifically conditioned upon the following: <br />a. The legislation will include provision for payment of a share of net gaming <br />revenues to the City in an amount of not less than one-half of one percent per <br />year; and <br />