There was stadium buzz at City Hall Thursday as council members signed on to a letter affirming support for Mayor R.T. Rybak's Vikings stadium plans.
Rybak's spokesman, John Stiles, said "maybe" when asked if a majority of the council would sign on by the end of the day. But one council member considered critical to building a majority, Kevin Reich, said he will "absolutely not" sign the letter today. He said he sent a different letter to the governor reiterating his concerns with the plan.
The opposition of a majority on the 13-member City Council has proven to be a key stadium obstacle at the Capitol. Majority support could give the bill momentum, and on Monday Gov. Mark Dayton met with two council members, Reich and Sandra Colvin Roy, to try to persuade them to support the deal.
The letter, obtained by the Star Tribune, says "as Minneapolis elected leaders who represent a majority of the City Council, we stand ready to be the local partner for a stadium solution. We will not take a vote on a Vikings stadium that violates the City's charter."
Two council members, John Quincy and Don Samuels, said they have already signed. The letter obtained by the Star Tribune is on the letterhead of Council Member Diane Hofstede. Hofstede could not be immediately reached for comment.
