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t"~ ~~ ~9 4J\v" ,o"J ('!~. <;s - - sP S"S October 25,2000 Ms. Beth Nixon 4593 Shady Lane White Bear Lake, MN 55110 Honorable Mayor Kysylyczyn, Councilman Goedeke, Councilman Maschka, Councilwoman Maschka, and Councilman Wi ski: I am deeply alarmed at the impertinent handling of the Roll Call on October 23, 2000 regarding the Kraus-Anderson request for Conditional Use Permit (Cl.!'P) at the Hamline Shopping Center. I would like a response from one or any of you on Parliamentary procedure and the appropriateness of opening discussion during Roll Call. It is my understanding that it was not acceptable for me to be called upon at that point. My opinions were on behalf of charitable gambling and not land use. If the public comments would have been limited to the specific land use items at hand, the distinction between land use issues as presented and the bingo license never would have become muddled into one. I have possible solutions on how to squelch fear and ignorance over playing bingo for kids athletics, that were meant for the discussion of the bingo license renewal, a license that allows for a major source of funding for the North Suburban Youth Association, Roseville Hockey Club, and Midway Speedskating Club. Bingo was not the issue with land use; traffic, parking, screening, etc. were. Denial.of the CUP based on Comprehensive Plan statements on redevelopment, among other' 'neighborhood impact' claims, were also way out of line. A shopping center of 25 tenants with a vacancy to be filled is light years away from redevelopment. I did not stand to present the admirable advantages of shared parking to minimize impervious surface in the drainage area and the negative impacts on water quality, but could have. I have extensive ,~xperience in front of city councils in Minnesota over controversial land use issues much more contentious than the siting of a nonalcoholic bingo parlor to support kids athletics. I am fully versed in the true meaning of the Not In My Backyard (NIMB) effect, and I will tell you that is exactly what you just supported on October 23, 2000. There was not one objective, rationale piece of evidence to deny the CUP. The scene was nothing better than a witch-hunt based on fear and ignorance. The hypocrisy for you to represent a City, which has a Community Fund taking 10% of the charitable gambling proceeds for City activities, is deplorable. I could go on with pages of examples where a strong NIMB effect amounted to, nothing once the land 'uSe action was in place. I will cite only one, which I find amazing. It . ) I, _ ... involves the development of the State Root-River Tra~l in~outhern'~innesota. The local townspeople fought tooth and nail based on fear~of the had people from allover the state who would have access to the innermost parts of their sinalrtowns. What is the . outcome? The trail is now the lifeblood of these towns. Now wouldn't that be something to see Covenant Church members eventually playing the innocuous game of bingo to support local kids athletics. 1