Agenda - Council - 11/07/2011 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Councilmember Wise asked if an RFP process would work. City Administrator Ulrich stated a process similar to an RFP could be considered with prescreening and allowing different agencies to compete for the next license location, which would provide equal opportunity. Councilmember Wise noted one of the grandfathered organizations is not from Ramsey and is Anoka based. City Administrator Ulrich stated that is correct and the question would be if another Ramsey based organization comes in, would the Council want to give the Ramsey Lions precedence over them. Councilmember Wise noted the Ramsey Lions are asked to make a donation every time there is an event so he thinks the Ramsey Lions are a partner and should be helped to be successful. City Administrator Ulrich stated if the Council supports this request, staff will research options available. Councilmember McGlone thanked the Ramsey Lions for all they do but stated he sees this request is fraught with potential legal trouble because the City cannot discriminate against any organization by geography. He felt this request would result in "un -leveling of the playing field." Tom Kujawa, Ramsey Lions Gambling Manager, explained they don't want the right of first refusal but are asking that the non -Ramsey based organizations grandfathered into Ramsey not be allowed to expand and that locations be kept for local charities. He read a portion of Anoka's ordinance, noting it restricts to organizations with a main physical office in the City of Anoka. However, the Ramsey ordinance allows organizations from Ramsey and Anoka. He asked that the ordinance be revised to delete Anoka or new outside organizations from expanding further into Ramsey. Mayor Ramsey noted that Anoka limits charitable organizations to those having an Anoka address yet Ramsey allows allow Anoka organizations to operate in Ramsey. Councilmember Tossey asked whether a future organization, such as a Ramsey High School Hockey Association, would be prohibited from chartable gambling in Ramsey if the ordinance is amended as requested. City Attorney Goodrich advised that such an organization would be permitted in that scenario. He explained that when the Council last visited the ordinance, the Anoka Hockey and Anoka Ice Arena uses were included because they already had locations in Ramsey. Councilmember Elvig explained at that time, many Ramsey children were involved with Anoka activities so it was thought that Anoka organizations should be able to raise funds for activities that benefit Ramsey's children. City Council Work Session / October 25, 2011 Page 2 of 10