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Page 3 <br /> City Council Minutes <br /> August 3, 1994 <br /> sales from people who cannot rely upon Tom Thumb to supply their <br /> cigarettes. <br /> Mayor Baldwin stated that the city's job is to license businesses <br /> and the sale of tobacco, not to oversee the actions of store clerks <br /> or purchasers. This ordinance is not unique to Falcon Heights and <br /> is not even the strictest ordinance in the area. <br /> Alan Bradshaw, representing Falcon Heights Amoco, also stated that <br /> he tries very hard to train his employees not to sell to minors. <br /> He suggested that store employees be required to sign a letter <br /> stating that they won't sell cigarettes to minors and have that <br /> letter on file at City Hall. When an illegal sale takes place, it <br /> can be shown that the employee was at fault, not the license <br /> holder. He also suggested that the City send personalized <br /> "congratulations" letters to those clerks that pass compliance <br /> checks. <br /> Mr. Bradshaw further stated that he would support a license fee <br /> increase if the fees would go toward education and uniform training <br /> purposes instead of compliance checks. Police do not stop minors <br /> for cigarette possession and yet have the time to do compliance <br /> checks. Fines on businesses will not solve the underlying social <br /> problems associated with underage tobacco use. <br /> Mayor Baldwin explained that he understands the issues of peer <br /> pressure and how a young clerk might not want to deal with <br /> confrontation at the counter. However, he also explained that the <br /> city's compliance checks do not involve any coercion at all and do <br /> not involve the use of fake identification. When a youth <br /> compliance checker is told he cannot buy cigarettes due to age, the <br /> youth is instructed to simply walk away. <br /> Councilmember Hustad noted that, with the change of police provider <br /> in January 1995, there will be an officer in the city limits 24 <br /> hours each day. The idea of having police monitor youth tobacco <br /> usage is a realistic possibility. <br /> Motion by Councilmember Jacobs to approve the ordinance as <br /> presented, with one addition including language providing for <br /> license revocation in the event that a vendor with a suspended <br /> license continues to sell tobacco products. Motion passed <br /> unanimously. <br /> ANNOUNCEMENTS <br /> Councilmember Hustad passed out information from the Minnesota <br /> State Planning agency on public sector payroll costs versus private <br /> sector costs. <br /> Administrator Hoyt reported on three successful events of the <br /> previous week: National Night Out, Teen Night Out, and the Ice <br /> Cream Social. Thanks were extended to the many volunteers who <br />