Roseville Council Takes A Pass on Vikings Stadium Resolution

The Roseville City Council Monday night declined to take a position on a resolution about charging residents an extra half-cent sales tax to help the Minnesota Vikings build a new stadium in nearby Arden Hills.

“I’m not comfortable taking a stance on this issue at this time,” said Council member Jeff Johnson at the start of a debate that lasted less than two minutes. Johnson’s sentiments were echoed by Council member Robert Willmus.

Roseville Mayor Dan Roe ended the brief discussion of the issue, stating, “We seem to have a unanimous decision that we won’t take a position on this at all.”

The resolution appeared on the Council’s agenda at a time when Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton and the Republican-dominated House and Senate still have not agreed on a budget bill for the two-year budget period that began July 1, or a date for a special session to pass such a bill.

Vikings officials chose Arden Hills over a proposal assembled by the city of Minneapolis to build a new Vikings stadium on the site of the Metrodome.

The Legislature is thought to have to approve a bill before construction of the new stadium would occur in Ramsey County, which proposed the additional half-cent in sales tax to help pay for its building.