04-24-2019 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES CITY COUNCIL APRIL 24, 2019 Keis read the resolution proclaiming National Police Week as May 12-18, 2019 in Little Canada, and thanking law enforcement, with special recognition of the Ramsey County Sheriff's Department. PUBLIC HEARING — The City Clerk explained that at the March 13 Council Workshop, the ORDINANCE 838 Council heard a presentation from the Association for Nonsmokers - CONSIDER RAISING Minnesota. She stated that the Council then directed staff to draft an 'THE MINIMUM AGE ordinance that raises that age limit to purchase tobacco in Little Canada to TO 21 TO PURCHASE age 21. She noted that as of April 2, 2019, 31 Minnesota cities and TOBACCO AND counties have raised their tobacco age to 21. She explained that the TOBACCO PRODUCTS Association for Nonsmokers -Minnesota has a partnership with the Public IN LITTLE CANADA Health Law Office at Mitchell Hamline School of Law, and they reviewed our tobacco chapter in the city code and recommended the appropriate language changes to increase the minimum age, along with updating definitions and language for best practice and clarity. The City Clerk stated that a draft of Ordinance 838 was in the packet in a form that showed the proposed changes, along with a final draft. She stated that there are seven tobacco licenses in Little Canada and all of the licensees were mailed notification letters about this ordinance on April 2. The City Clerk explained that there will be two public hearings for this ordinance, tonight and at the next Council meeting on May 8. She stated that the Council can then opt to take action at the May 8, 2019 City Council meeting. She noted that the Council should only take comments and discuss the proposed ordinance language tonight. Chris Turner, Association for Nonsmokers -Minnesota gave a presentation about raising the tobacco sales age to 21. Turner stated that so far 31 Minnesota cities and counties, along with 12 states have raised their age to 21, and youth tobacco use has starting increasing again after 17 years of decline. Turner stated this increase is due to e-cigarettes. Keis opened the public hearing. There were 22 attendees in support of raising the age to 21 to purchase tobacco in Little Canada. There were no attendees against this ordinance. , Alexis Bylander, representing Clearway Minnesota and also Minnesota for a Smokefree Generation, stated that the future is Tobacco 21 and by cities supporting this now, it sends a message to the state legislature. Curtis Johnson, a Little Canada resident and Roseville School Board Member, stated that he was here to show his support in raising the age to 2 L He stated that the FDA is calling youth use of e-cigarettes an epidemic, and noted that it is a big distraction in the schools. He submitted a letter to the City from the Roseville Area Schools Superintendent Dr. Aldo Sicoli. 0)