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