04/03/2008 SPECIAL - 29249SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF FRIDLEY
APRIL 3, 2008
The Special City Council meeting for the City of Fridley was called to order by Mayor Lund at
5:03 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
MEMBERS PRESENT:
MEMBERS ABSENT:
OTHERS PRESENT:
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Mayor Lund
Councilmember Barnette
Councilmember Bolkcom
Councilmember Varichak
Councilmember Saefke
William Burns, City Manager
Richard Pribyl, Finance Director
Debra Skogen, City Clerk
Councilmember Barnette MOVED and Councilmember Bolkcom seconded a motion approving
the agenda.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, MAYOR LUND DECLARED THE
MOTION UNANIMOUS AND THE MEETING AGENDA WAS APPROVED.
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Resolution in Support of a Renewal Application for a Minnesota Lawful Gambling
Premise Permit for St. Paul Fire Fighters Local 21 Benefit Association at Fridley
Grille, LLC, d/b/a Pickle Park, located at 7820 University Avenue N.E. (Ward 3)
Councilmember Bolkcom MOVED and Councilmember Varichak seconded a motion adopting
Resolution No. 2008-18 in Support of a Renewal Application for a Minnesota Lawful Gambling
Premise Permit for St. Paul Fire Fighters Local 21 Benefit Association at Fridley Grill, LLC dba
Pickle Park, Located at 7820 University Avenue.
Deb Skogen stated she received a telephone call a week ago asking for the City to adopt a
resolution supporting the Fridley premise as their current license expired on March 31, 2008.
There appeared to be a question as to whether or not their request had been sent in or was lost as
staff had not received the request. She prepared a letter to the Minnesota Gambling Control
Board (MGCB) requesting an extension of their current license for two weeks until a resolution
could be adopted by the City Council at their next meeting on April 14. The MGCB wanted a
FRIDLEY SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF APRIL 3, 2008 PAGE 2
letter from the Mayor and other councilmembers stating a resolution would be adopted, which
could be viewed as a violation of the open meeting law. The matter was then referred to the
Mayor.
Mayor Lund said he prepared a similar letter, signed it and faxed it to the MGCB, but they would
not accept the letter as they wanted more proof that a resolution would be adopted. Another
letter was sent stating "a resolution shall be adopted" but they would still not agree to that letter
as it used the word "shall" rather than "will." To help the Fire Fighters Local 21 out this time,
Mayor Lund decided to call the special meeting.
Councilmember Bolkcom was surprised the applicant was not at the meeting and asked if they
were told about the meeting. Ms. Skogen said they had been told about the special meeting and
expected they would be here. Councilmember Bolkcom suggested a letter be sent notifying them
whose responsibility it was to send the information and letting them know there would be no
additional meetings in the future.
Councilmember Bolkcom wondered if the Police Department had done an investigation. Rick
Pribyl said Don Abbott had talked to him about this issue and the Police did not have any issues
with the organization at this time. Deb Skogen had also contacted the Alcohol and Gambling
Enforcement Division of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety and there were no open
investigations at this time. Councilmember Bolkcom said going forward the Police Department
should be given the courtesy of providing information.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, MAYOR LUND DECLARED THE
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
ADJOURN.
Councilmember Barnette MOVED and Councilmember Varichak seconded a motion to adjourn.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, MAYOR LUND DECLARED THE
MOTION UNANIMOUS AND THE MEETING ADJOURNED AT 5:13 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Debra A. Skogen Scott J. Lund
City Clerk Mayor