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Talking Points: The Vikings' City Council Hurdles

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- This week the Minnesota Vikings will be taking their stadium proposal to the legislature for hearings.

The final details of the proposal were announced this week as part of an agreement between the city of Minneapolis, the state and the team.

While the legislature promises to be a tough sell, the Minneapolis City Council maybe tougher.

The state's $398 million share will come from electronic pull tabs, a measure that appears to have legislative support because those pull tabs would also help local charities.

The city's share of the deal is $339 million, which critics say over the next 30 years with interest will actually amount to more than $600 million.

Appearing on WCCO Sunday Morning Minneapolis City Council Member Gary Schiff says a majority of city council members believe Minneapolis voters will have to approve the city's share.

"It's been portrayed that the city council wants to avoid a vote and pass it on to the people but it is actually the people's law," Schiff said. "In 1997, 70 percent of Minneapolis voters adopted a change to the city charter that says we have a right to say if more than $10 million is ever spent on the financing of a professional sports stadium."

The legislature could approve a provision that would allow a citywide vote to be bypassed. The Vikings have committed to kicking in $754 million.

You can watch WCCO Sunday Morning with Esme Murphy every Sunday at 10 a.m.

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