BLAINE, Minn. — A Blaine City Council Meeting Monday night grew heated as councilmember Lori Saroya shared concerns from constituents on an approved baseball-themed restaurant, 'The Ball Park.'
Blaine Mayor Tim Sanders invests in the restaurant and has recused himself every time it's come up in council. But Saroya, the only DFLer on the council, says she's concerned about a conflict of interest partly due to the restaurant's theme and proximity several blocks away from the 105th Ave Redevelopment project, a future planned entertainment hub near the National Sports Center.
On Monday, the city council approved a conditional permit with an amendment to move a patio and add live entertainment. They also passed plans for a sports entertainment complex.
"We're hearing that it's the baseball-themed restaurant is within walking distance to the baseball stadium, which the city is investing millions of dollars into," said Saroya. "Does that give the mayor's business an unfair advantage to have it so close to his baseball-themed restaurant? That's a fair question. I think that's an absolutely fair question."
Sanders did not remove himself from the conversation on the redevelopment project Monday.
"There's no relationship whatsoever, other than they're both in the city of Blaine," said Sanders, who said he's followed procedure to a T. "We want to make sure that we continue to follow not only state statute but our city charter and our city ordinances"
"I think if you have any city official, they should go through every hoop and hurdle," Saroya reasoned. "I feel like skipping the planning commission was a major mistake."
Ben Hayle, the city communications manager, says businesses have bypassed the process 28 times in the past three years.
"Certain projects where there's no residents that live near the project, and that there's no new buildings being constructed, can come directly to city council for action," said Hayle.
Hayle says the 105th Avenue Redevelopment project will not be funded by direct taxpayer dollars and is still in the early stages of planning.
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