Maple Grove City Council — Transcript

Sunday, August 2, 2026

Story

Brooklyn Center approves circus event, cracks down on alcohol sales to minors

Alcohol Sales Compliance Violations

Low Potency Hemp Edibles (LPH) Sales Compliance Violations

Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Agreement Transfers

Planned Unit Development (PUD) Amendment for Place of Worship

Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for Church Expansion

Senior Living Project Feasibility and Bidding Authorization

Votes (7)

Bernardo's Circus Event and Property Use Agreement

Passed Unanimously

Dissent: None

Moved by Council member Staff [3:13] · Seconded by Acting Mayor [3:30]

Council member McCullough pulled this item from the consent agenda to discuss event details. Key points included traffic evaluation, anticipated attendance (400 people, lower than other events), and a clean environment. The event is scheduled from October 19th to November 1st, intended to be family-friendly and animal-free, located south of Weaver Lake Road. Council member Staff raised concerns about informing residents north of River Lake Road and suggested offering discounts to those missed. Staff affirmed safety measures were in place.

Liquor Violations: Dave and Busters and Ichido Ramon

Passed Unanimously for both

Dissent: None

Moved by {'Dave and Busters': 'Council member Staff [9:55]', 'Ichido Ramon': 'Council member McCullough [14:49]'} · Seconded by {'Dave and Busters': 'Council member McCullough [10:25]', 'Ichido Ramon': 'Council member Staff [15:47]'}

Miss Nelson reviewed liquor violations for Dave and Busters and Ichido Ramon, both serving alcohol to minor decoys on June 24th, 2026. Neither business requested a hearing. Daniel Christians (attorney) and Tony Donatelli (GM) for Dave and Busters acknowledged the violation, reported terminating the employee, retraining staff, and implementing new checks like daily sign-offs and mandatory ID checks for vertical IDs. They requested a stayed suspension or a change in suspension dates. Chen Chu Dang (owner) for Ichido Ramon explained an employee 'messed up with the text' on the ID and that they had added posters. Council members expressed seriousness about violations, emphasized consistent application of penalties, and highlighted the importance of staff training, particularly regarding vertical IDs.

Low Potency Hemp Edibles (LPH) Violations: Three Squares and Haskell's

Passed Unanimously for both

Dissent: None

Moved by {'Three Squares': 'Council member Staff [17:40]', "Haskell's": 'Council member McCullough [20:56]'} · Seconded by {'Three Squares': 'Council member McCullough [18:24]', "Haskell's": 'Council member Staff [21:26]'}

Miss Nelson reported LPH compliance checks on June 23rd, 2026, finding violations at Three Squares and Haskell's for serving to minors. Neither business requested a hearing. Casey Sager (HR Director) for Three Squares reported employee termination, company-wide reminders, and new hire training. Theodore Farrell (President, Owner) for Haskell's apologized, stated the clerk was fired, and reinforced training across all stores. Council members noted the seriousness of LPH violations, comparing them to liquor violations. They discussed the code's 'may' versus 'shall' language for imposing penalties, with a consensus to apply a 'shall' (mandatory) penalty mirroring liquor violations and a desire to revisit the ordinance language.

EDA: TIF Agreements for Gravel Mining Area Properties

Passed Unanimously

Dissent: None

Moved by Council member O’Shea [20:00] · Seconded by Council member McCullough [20:17]

Mr. Anderson presented on the proposed sale of Building 5 and Building 6 in the gravel mining area by Endeavor to Arbor Lakes Industrial Park owners. The properties have existing TIF notes, specifically $396,000 for Building 5 and $479,000 for Building 6. Staff recommended reducing the TIF note for Building 6 by 50% to $239,000, as per agreement item 310, to facilitate the transfer of sale and TIF note.

River Valley Church PUD Amendment

Passed Unanimously

Dissent: None

Moved by Council member Staff [29:43] · Seconded by Council member McCullough [30:17]

Mr. Coro introduced the request for a PUD amendment to allow River Valley Church to use an existing commercial building at 1683rd Way North (currently Worley Ball) as a place of worship. The building is zoned for commercial use, and staff found the proposed use compatible, noting minimal exterior changes, sufficient parking (250 spaces exceeding city requirements), and planned landscaping. Church services would be primarily Sunday mornings, with youth programming on Wednesday nights. The Planning Commission supported the proposal with a condition for city engineer review of traffic if operations significantly change. Caleb Graham, the applicant, confirmed their intent to purchase and renovate the building, and to sell a previously acquired property in NW Maple Grove. Visibility from Highway 94 was also noted as a benefit.

Rice Lake Bible Chapel Conditional Use Permit

Passed Unanimously

Dissent: None

Moved by Council member McCullough [37:46] · Seconded by Council member Staff [38:09]

Lee Eubanks presented a request for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for an 8,550 square foot addition to the Rice Lake Bible Chapel, including a new entrance, lobby, kitchen, and recreation space. The addition would match existing exterior materials and meet landscaping requirements. While current parking (98 stalls) is adequate, the addition's requirements necessitate proof of 97 additional spaces, though no immediate expansion is planned. Neighboring residents expressed concerns at the Planning Commission meeting about impacts from possible expanded parking. Consequently, the Planning Commission recommended a condition requiring a new CUP and public hearing if the parking lot is expanded. Steve Kraus, the architect, confirmed the applicant's acceptance of this condition.

Maple Grove Senior Living Project Feasibility Report

Passed Unanimously

Dissent: None

Moved by Council member Staff [43:23] · Seconded by Acting Mayor [43:50]

Mr. [Speaker name not specified] presented the Maple Grove Senior Living project (#2619) located off Arbor Ridge Parkway. The council was asked to approve the feasibility report, order plans and specifications, and authorize bidding. Public improvements include extending sanitary sewer and water main along Ranch View Lane and constructing a trail. The report detailed trunk benefit assessments totaling nearly $1 million, public improvement costs over $300,000, and total development assessments just under $1.8 million. The project was established on April 6th, and bidding is scheduled for September 3rd, with construction expected to start this fall, excluding the trail slated for next spring.

Notable Quotes (16)

So I’m going to get on to the very exciting aspects of Bernardo’s circus first, which is of course, the event and property use agreement, which that’s more exciting for us as council members. We really like to dig in and make sure that everything is kosher here.

Council member McCullough [1:38]
Bernardo's Circus Event and Property Use Agreement

I do understand that uh staff has gone out and talked to several properties, but the one group of properties they didn’t talk to was right north of them, across River Lake Road and the villas. Uh, you know, just letting people know that this is going to be coming again, it probably won’t be as bad as some of the, uh, or some of the traffic intensive as some of the other projects that we’ve had there. So I don’t see it to be a major issue. Uh, but since they weren’t informed, I would ask the staff to work with Bernardo’s to, uh, maybe give him half off discounts or something. Uh, just to say, sorry we missed you, but other than that, I think it’s going to be a very interesting circus that comes to town.

Council member Staff [2:06]
Bernardo's Circus Event and Property Use Agreement

Dave and Busters acknowledges the violation. They take responsibility. They’ve taken action in response to this, including terminating the employee. They’ve retrained the entire staff in responsible alcohol sales and service. They’ve also added more layers to ensure that all staff fully understands the severity of the situation. This includes additional signage by POS regarding sales to minors. Uh, requirement to I.D. all, um, all patrons, as well as a daily sign off that each employee is required to sign before they start their shift. Regarding carding, individuals and the severity of the situation.

Daniel Christians [7:31]
Liquor Violations: Dave and Busters and Ichido Ramon

These are two separate motions. Uh, and I don’t think that they’re linked in any way. Uh, so I, you know, when it comes to what we’ve done with this, every, you know, six months is generally comes up. So this is our third or fourth time doing it on as this council. Uh, there’s been smaller shops, there’s been big shops and we don’t waive it. You know, it wouldn’t be fair to anybody else.

Council member Staff [9:20]
Liquor Violations: Dave and Busters and Ichido Ramon

My license is this way under 21 is this way. Makes it very, very, very easy to not have to do math if it’s this way, you don’t serve. And obviously he came in with one that was that way. The issue about math is the minimum. It doesn’t matter. He he he saw something that was clearly under 21. It’s in the training. Uh, I know that, you know, everyone else knows that. Very aware. So, uh, you know, I think we have to do better with training. Uh, you know, I don’t know. I don’t know how you messed that up. It was a math. It was just looking at something that was clearly an under 21 license and then not doing anything.

Council member Staff [12:35]
Liquor Violations: Dave and Busters and Ichido Ramon

the current language that’s in the code is the council may elect to impose a civil penalty of not to exceed 2000. So when it comes to the LPA product, there’s more discretion on the council

Miss Nelson [16:32]
Low Potency Hemp Edibles (LPH) Violations: Three Squares and Haskell's

So this was a drink just like beer or cocktail. So I mean, this, you know, there really shouldn’t be any difference in, you know, doing shall versus May. We’re going to do you know I’ll write it up a shout because it’s the same thing.

Council member Staff [17:09]
Low Potency Hemp Edibles (LPH) Violations: Three Squares and Haskell's

we know we did not do our job. Uh, our clerk was immediately fired. We checked all of our records. All of our staff is up to speed with the services that Maple Grove provides. As far as the training, um, we I it’s no excuse. We had two other people who were on board. Right as it happened. Run up to the clerk and ask, did you discard that girl? And the guy was oblivious.

Theodore Farrell [19:07]
Low Potency Hemp Edibles (LPH) Violations: Three Squares and Haskell's

Endeavor intends to sell the property, um, to Arbor Lakes Industrial Park owners five and six. And as part of that, both those properties have existing TIF notes on the properties. Building five have has a 396,000 TIF note on the property, and building six has a 479,000 TIF note. Building six is farther from the original certification date, so staff’s recommending um implementing item 310 from the agreement and reducing that TIF note by 50%, which brings it on to 239,000.

Mr. Anderson [18:50]
EDA: TIF Agreements for Gravel Mining Area Properties

the applicant is requesting an amendment to an existing PUD that would allow for a place of worship within an existing commercial building located at 1,683rd Way North. The, uh, the approximately 45,000 square foot building is currently occupied by Worley Ball and is approved as an entertainment venue. The applicant, River Valley Church, has leased the building for Sunday services in the past, and they are now proposing to purchase and occupy the building. Uh, for a excuse. Excuse me. Uh, occupy the building for a church use. Uh, a PUD amendment is required because a place of worship is not currently approved under the existing PUD.

Mr. Coro [22:38]
River Valley Church PUD Amendment

The Planning Commission did review this proposal at their last meeting, and was overall supportive of the project. Discussion centered primarily on the church operations so that they do not create traffic impacts to the neighboring businesses. Uh, if attendance were to increase or additional services were scheduled during peak rush, peak traffic times, um, say on a weekday evening around 5 p.m., which is unlikely, but, uh, should that ever be the case? Uh, we’ve added a condition that, uh, the city engineer would would review the traffic plan and impose any mitigating measures necessary to to better alleviate any traffic impacts.

Mr. Coro [24:26]
River Valley Church PUD Amendment

Our intent is to sell. Uh, it’s currently until this is a finalized, we didn’t want to jump the gun and move that forward and sell that piece of property. Should this opportunity not work out for us. But, uh, as soon as this goes through, we would be looking to sell that piece of property.

Caleb Graham [27:32]
River Valley Church PUD Amendment

Neighboring residents have raised concerns about impacts on the adjacent residential properties from the possible expanded parking areas, and due to that, the Planning Commission motioned that if the church does expand their parking lot, a new see, a conditional use permit request and public hearing must be made.

Lee Eubanks [31:52]
Rice Lake Bible Chapel Conditional Use Permit

Much of what has been discussed and shared with you is still current. There isn’t any new revelation. Uh, we did have a number of residents come forward at planning Commission again expressing concern over the big blue gray splotch of stuff on that, on that drawing, they were led to believe that that was part of this request, that it would, uh, move directly into implementation. And that is not the chapel’s plan at this point.

Steve Kraus [33:38]
Rice Lake Bible Chapel Conditional Use Permit

The public improvements for the project include extending sanitary sewer and water main from 101st Avenue to the north along the Ranch View Lane right of way. Um, and those utilities will be extended privately into the proposed development on the top of the screen. There. Will also be constructing a trail along the Ranch View Lane right away that will extend down from Arbor Ridge Parkway and match into the existing or the proposed emergency vehicle roadway on the bottom of the screen. There.

Mr. [40:02]
Maple Grove Senior Living Project Feasibility Report

We have a few tables here in front of you that show the costs and assessments for the project we have on the left, the trunk benefit assessments for the different uses on site, totaling just under $1 million of trunk benefit assessment. And then on the top right, the proposed public improvement cost summary just over $300,000 for the trail, the sanitary sewer and the water main, and then the bottom right shows the total assessment to the development of just under $1.8 million, which includes some existing lateral assessments on the site.

Mr. [41:19]
Maple Grove Senior Living Project Feasibility Report

Ordinances & Resolutions (6)

PID number 2311922230093Other

Property identification number for Bernardo's Circus event location

resolution 55Resolution

Authorizing assignment and assumption of TIF agreements

resolution 56Resolution

Authorizing assignment and assumption of TIF agreements

PUD amendmentPermit

Amendment to an existing Planned Unit Development to allow a place of worship

Conditional Use PermitPermit

Permit for an 8550 square foot addition to Rice Lake Bible Chapel

resolution number 26097Resolution

Approving the feasibility report for Maple Grove Senior Living project number 2619

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