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Planning Commission Meeting Minutes – Wednesday, April 02, 2008 Page 5 ordinance, verifying that the property belongs to that individual, and if misrepresented, the seller would be subject to misdemeanor charges. Mr. Smith addressed concerns regarding jewelry sales and how that would be tracked, since serial numbers were not available, noting that fifty-one percent (51%) of his business was jewelry, with jewelry weighed, any distinguishing marks detailed in the description, as well as a photograph of the item. Mr. Smith assured the commission that he was not promoting crime and that it was detrimental to his business to purchase stolen merchandise; and opined that selling stolen merchandise at a pawn shop was the best way to get caught, since a digital photo was taken of the seller. Mr. Smith advised that, if he received stolen merchandise, he took the loss, as the merchandise is confiscated and had already expended the cash, with little or no chance of restitution of those monies from the culprit. Commissioner Doherty assured Mr. Smith that the Commission was experiencing the “learning curve” as they came to better understand this type of business. Mr. Smith advised that with each pawn transaction described and documented in detail, along with the training of his managers, he attempted to minimize his risk in doing business as much as possible. Mr. Smith advised that his managers were all instructed that, “if it doesn’t look right, don’t take it.” Mr. Smith assured commissioners that between the law enforcement agencies, the APS system, and licensing requirements, his operations were held very accountable. Lt. Rosand advised that the APS system was run by the Minneapolis Police Department, and opined that the existing pawn shop had been a good neighbor, and had recently provided investigative assistance to the Roseville Police Department through use of equipment. Lt. Rosand further opined that, if they wanted to maintain their license, it behooved the shops to cooperate with law enforcement; and advised that he foresaw no problems in the neighborhood through increased thefts or burglaries. Public Comment Delores (Dede) Goodwin, 2206 Haddington Road Ms. Goodwin reviewed the significant changes being experienced in their neighborhood (i.e., recent expansion of Har Mar Apartments, and an additional building proposed for that complex; recent liquor license approval next door to the strip mall under discussion); and now this CUP request. Ms. Goodwin summarized her comments from previous land use cases regarding increased crime in the area; increased police calls to Har Mar Apartments; recent ATF and drug buses just north of her home; and clarified her statements made at those land use hearings categorizing crime statistics. Ms. Goodwin spoke to the apartment complex issue, specifically applicant screening and criminal background investigations for tenants; and provided her personal Internet research on pawn shops, trends in law enforcement, and crime statistics. Ms. Goodwin recognized that Roseville was moving from a suburban to urban community, and admitted the neighborhood’s lack of knowledge and information on pawn shop merchandising and activities, but asked that the Commission consider the advent of recent activities in their specific neighborhood over the last three (3) months, and the significant adjustments necessary for current residents in that area. Ms. Goodwin specifically asked whether the CUP allowed melting of precious metals, citing her Internet research examples in Fort Lauderdale and Dallas. John Heitzinger, Rosewood Village Condominiums, 1650 Highway #36W Mr. Heitzinger advised that, with the recent Har Mar Apartment complex renovations and redevelopment, and then the liquor store license approval, the neighborhood was overwhelmed when another proposal came forward so soon, and the type of proposed operation. Mr. Heitzinger reviewed his personal investigation of current operations in the metropolitan area of Cash-n-Pawn facilities, based on his retail experience, and the negative perception of the store in Frogtown and at the Midway Shopping Center on University Avenue. However, Mr. Heitzinger advised that he had investigated the Fridley