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Councilmember Kuzma commented on the advantage and importance of the City's business <br />community stepping up and being an important partner. <br />Acting Mayor LeTourneau agreed with the importance of support from the business community. <br />Mayor Strommen stated she does not object to increasing the funding request to $10 million <br />since it relates to the rail crossing. In addition, if both are not approved maybe the City can get <br />one done. She stated she also supports the County's initiative. <br />Councilmember Williams stated the Council has recognized Ramey is an attractive funding <br />source and offered the County and Anoka to `jump on our band wagon' and try to mirror this <br />positive face and positive energy. She stated she has heard a lot about momentum but is also <br />hearing that now it is the County's turn to do what they are going to do. Councilmember <br />Williams stated she does not have a lot of confidence it will garner as positive a reaction as <br />Ramsey received. She is also concerned about the City wanting continued support of the <br />business community to achieve its goals while considering closing highway access twice. <br />Councilmember Williams stated she is having a hard time reconciling those things because she <br />does not understand why the Council continues to say it needs to support the County and each <br />other. She asked what Ramsey is getting in return, what is in it for Ramsey at this point, how <br />impactful is the past, and how certain is the Council they can shut us down. <br />Councilmember Shryock explained that as part of the process, the County and Anoka were <br />getting a little scared that Ramsey was going to overstep them or go beyond the original concept <br />by including the entire $123 million project. Then as discussion continued, it was found that <br />Representatives were not wanting to support Ramsey or anybody because of infighting and the <br />entities not being on the `same page.' Because of that, they went in the direction of supporting <br />the $123 million or $17 million proposals so all were in the `same page' position. <br />Councilmember Shryock felt that if Ramsey were to step out and pull Ramsey Boulevard, there <br />would not be support from Representatives because they are concerned about upsetting their <br />constituents. This is an issue because cities need the support of its Representatives to bring bills <br />forward. She stated she hopes since Ramsey is being proactive, they see they will - get more <br />`bang for their buck' with Ramsey. <br />Councilmember Kuzma stated at the end of the day, Ramsey needs Anoka because the point of <br />congestion is at Fairoak and Thurston Avenues so it needs to be fixed. <br />Mayor Strommen stated she wants to be clear that both Anoka County and the City of Anoka <br />strongly supported Ramsey in the Armstrong Boulevard interchange. She described their <br />support for Ramsey to obtain federal funding, noting the partnership was very effective. Because <br />of that, she is not willing to abandon that partnership. Mayor Strommen noted it is a difficult <br />situation at Fairoak and Thurston Avenues and she does not want to imply a partner is `dragging <br />their feet,' noting Ramsey needs to be respectful that all cities do not need to approach it in the <br />same way as Ramsey. She pointed out that all Ramsey residents have to go through those <br />intersections so at the end, even if all Ramsey intersections are upgraded, Ramsey residents will <br />still sit at Fairoak and Thurston Avenues so Ramsey has a vested interest. Mayor Strommen <br />City Council Work Session / March 10, 2015 <br />Page 9 of 11 <br />