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I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> <br /> I <br /> I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />! <br />I <br /> <br />PC CASE #: ~ <br /> <br /> RAMSEY FACILITY USAGE RENTAL POLICY <br />By: Joyce Pruitt Hottinger, Administrative Services Manager <br /> <br />Background: <br />On July 27th, the Personnel Committee tabled action on the proposed facility usage policy in <br />order to research the issue of lawful gambling within City facilities. Since that time, Staff has <br />contacted the Minnesota Gambling Board and the League of Minnesota Cities again for <br />assistance in researching the gambling issue. The League of Minnesota Cities could not locate <br />any statue which prohibits gambling in municipal buildings. Ail lawful gambling, including <br />bingo and raffles, can only be conducted by licensed organizations. Non-profit organizations can <br />only apply for such licensure; municipalities cannot apply for gambling licenses. <br /> <br />Section 3.49.166 of the Minnesota Statute provides a bingo license exclusion for nursing homes, <br />senior citizen housing projects or a senior citizen organization if: The prizes for a single bingo game do not exceed $10.00; <br /> Total prizes awarded at a single bingo occasion do not exceed $200.00; <br /> No more than two bingo occasions are held by the organization or at the facility each week; <br /> Only members of the organization or residents of the nursing homes or housing project are <br /> allowed to play in a bingo game; <br />~- No compensation is paid for any persons who conduct bingo; <br />)~ A manager is appointed to supervise the bingo; <br />)~ The manager registers with the Gambling Control Board. <br />> The organization must maintain all required records of excluded for gambling activity for <br /> 3-1/2 years. <br /> <br />Thus, if a non-profit senior organization received approval from the Gambling Control Board for <br />an exclusion from the gambling license provisions, then the senior group would be able to offer <br />gambling to members in City Hall. It is important to note that the senior group would be <br />responsible for obtaining the exclusion from the Gambling Control Board; the City cannot apply <br />for such an exclusion. The Gambling Control Board stated that applications for gambling <br />licenses are only provided to organizations requesting licensure, that municipalities are not <br />provided with the authority to disseminate gambling license or exclusion application materials. <br />The Gambling Control Board said this restriction is in place to ensure that the appropriate checks <br />are conducted through the State to verify the organization is a non-profit in good standing for the <br />past three years, and other required background checks. <br /> <br />The attached Ramsey facility usage policy does not prohibit gambling in the municipal center. <br />Chapter 349 of the Minnesota Statute requires any lawful gambling to be conducted only by a <br />licensed organization. Thus, only licensed organizations, or those groups who have been granted <br />an exemption by the Gambling Control Board, would be allowed to conduct bingo or raffle <br />activities within the Ramsey Municipal Center. <br /> <br />Agenda Case for Facilities Usage Policy <br />August 24, 1999 <br />Page 1 of 2 <br /> <br /> <br />