MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - It took the Minneapolis City Council 20 minutes to get through the first four items on its agenda. It took members the better part of an hour and a half to get through item No. 5: "People's Stadium Presentation."
In the end, the appetite for Mayor R.T. Rybak and City Council President Barbara Johnson's funding plan for a new Minnesota Vikings stadium was not great.
"The plan also takes existing taxes and extends them," Rybak said, explaining that a convention center tax would be extended to pay for part of the stadium. He also promised it would take the Target Center off the tax rolls and provide $100 million in property tax relief for residents.
"Sometimes being in public office means being able to take a tough vote and go for the bigger good," Johnson said.
"It's part of a quality of life in this city. I think it's essential we look at that," Councilmember Meg Tuthill said, saying she wasn't a sports fan but was impressed by fans ability to generate revenue for the city.
Several members spoke up in opposition. "There just one fatal flaw after another," Councilmember Betsy Hodges said. "Right now the calls are coming into my office ten to one against," Councilmember Lisa Goodman added.
Here's where it could get tricky: the plan would require state lawmakers to override a city charter requirement that calls for a vote if the city spends more than $10 million on a sports stadium.
"The reason the referendum wouldn't pass is people don't want it," Hodges said. "The vote of the public, to me, is the single most important thing," Goodman said.
The mayor wasn't on board. "We're not going to do a referendum in the city. We are going to have a referendum in a couple years when I stand for re-election," Rybak told reporters.
What's next? Rybak had the same question. "That's all very much in flux because it has to be decided by the legislature," he said.
Meanwhile, Ramsey County officials continued to meet with Vikings officials about the proposed Arden Hills site. Ramsey County Commissioner Tony Bennett said he was frustrated after two tax increase funding proposals in the county were shot down by the governor. "They now want us to look at a third one. We are digging under every nook and cranny trying to figure out something to make it workable," Bennett concluded.
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