Agenda - Council - 04/23/2024 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Councilmember Specht noted that some of the pushback Andover received about their community center is that it was never on a ballot for feedback. He said he likes the idea of having a question on the ballot; however, it would need to be very detailed. Councilmember Musgrove said the work for 2024 was included in the case for the CIP. She asked if the building of this site is not in the CIP until 2027. She said she is not in support of moving this forward at this time. She noted that Economic Development Manager Sullivan has shared that with the Highway 10 project, some of the businesses along Ramsey and Sunwood have said they are going to hold off on their projects as well due to the construction. She added that there are also vacant restaurants in the City. She said she believes this project needs to be a little farther out as there are already amenities being developed. She added that they just bonded for the roads because they thought this was something that they could not put on the taxes. She said fixing the roads was a need and this facility is more of a want. She noted that this project will happen someday; however, she is not ready to support it at this time. She shared her appreciation for all the work that has been done on this project up to this point. Councilmember Woestehoff shared that this facility will bring more business to the City. He said this would be an attraction that would do good for the City and its existing businesses, while also driving new business to the City. He explained that he does not think they should sit and wait until they have more businesses in the City but rather use this as an effort to bring more businesses in. Councilmember Musgrove noted that she did not say this facility would not bring new business to Ramsey; however, right now, businesses are having a hard time and there is already an open restaurant space within the City. She said the timing of this seems premature. Councilmember Howell shared that she loves this project and the idea of having Morrissey Hospitality coming in and running the restaurant. She shared her major concern with this is that it is another $20,000,000 where they do not have a funding source so it will be more taxpayer revenue. She noted that there are many middle-class people in the City who are struggling to make ends meet as it is. She said if this is something that the Council wants to move forward with then she would like to see a very honest question on the ballot about the cost of this. She stated that based on the current economy and having just bonded for the roads, she does not think they should be saddling the residents with more costs at this time. Acting Mayor Riley asked if they would like to put a question on the ballot about this. Councilmember Musgrove said no as she thinks it is premature. Councilmember Howell said she would not like to see this as a ballot question unless a majority of the Council is in support of moving this project forward. She added if they do ask a ballot question then she would like to see it be detailed so the residents would truly know what they are getting themselves into. Councilmember Olson asked what the timeline would look like for this project if they do decide to move forward with it. City Council Work Session/April 9, 2024 Page 4 of 8