Minutes - Council - 02/10/2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Kris Bowden, representative of Diamonds Sports Bar at 7550 Highway 10 NW, stated she is the Entertainment Director at Diamonds, and she and her husband are shareholders of Diamonds. She has been with Diamonds since day one and has spent the last five years working in the radio industry. She has also started her own business working with other venues on their entertainment needs. She has seen the effects of the 2 a.m. policy first hand. Ms. Bowden stated Diamonds provides a safe and inviting place for the community to eat and drink, see great live music, watch sports games, play softball and volleyball, play pool, and play darts. They provide security cameras, and security staff with wireless radios as well as free limousine service. These are a few things Diamonds has done to keep customers safe. Ms. Bowden stated Diamonds has also hosted several large events. There is the upcoming third annual Memorial Weekend softball tournament and the third annual Fourth of July Funfest. Over the past two years the Fourth of July event has been free to the public, and has also raised nearly $25,000 for local youth athletic programs. Diamonds has also created a fun family Halloween event that was supported by Anoka Halloween last year. These events bring exposure, awareness, and prosperity to the City of Ramsey on many levels. Diamonds has also hosted a number of charities, fundraising, and benefits for several families in the community. Ms. Bowden stated the 2 a.m. closing is affecting Diamonds, and their sales have dropped horribly. They see their venue clear out at 10 p.m. so customers have time to go to another venue. They are now starting to lose it on the front end also, as people that came out at 9 p.m. now are not coming out until 10 p.m. There are people that work second shift and would like to go to a venue where they can get something to eat, and that business is being lost to other communities. Diamonds has had to cut their staff as much as 40 percent. These factors have caused tremendous financial strain on their business. If things do not turn around Diamonds might not remain in business. They are asking the Council's immediate attention to allow their establishment to continue to do good things for this community. Karen Workerson, Gambling Manager for CLIMB Theater, stated with her this evening is Dan fi'om the Ramsey Lions. She stated they conduct charitable gaming in J.R.'s Outpost and Diamonds. They have also noticed the customer base departing earlier and coming in later. She stated this impacts the proceeds that are donated back to the community. In addition to this, the customers take their prize money and spend it in other communities instead of staying in the bar and buying food or a round of drinks. Hopefully the Council will look kindly on this and understand they do a lot of good in the community. Mayor Gamec indicated the Council will hold a worksession regarding this subject. He explained this has been discussed at the North Metro Mayors Association. As far as they are aware Coon Rapids, Elk River, Champlin, Anoka, Andover, Osseo, Oak Grove and Maple Grove were all still questioning the 2 a.m. closing. Most of the surrounding areas have not gone to the 2 a.m. closing. The North Metro Mayors Association is continuing to monitor this and they have not seen a lot of major changes established. He stated as far as activities, between the months of January until the middle of February is a bad time for the beverage business. The general feeling of the Council has been not to open this up and not to look at going to the 2 a.m. closing time. This has been debated several times. They have looked at the option of staying open after 1 a.m. without liquor being served, however that can be done now according to the ordinance. Each Councilmember will have to look at this. His feeling is unless some of the Council has changed City Council/February 10, 2004 Page 4 of 18