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MINUTES <br />CITY COUNCIL <br />MAY 8, 2019 <br />PUBLIC HEARING — <br />The City Clerk explained that tonight is the second and final public hearing <br />ORDINANCE 838 <br />for an ordinance that raises that age limit to purchase tobacco in Little <br />CONSIDER RAISING <br />Canada to age 21. She stated that the Public Health Law Office at Mitchell <br />THE MINIMUM AGE <br />Hamline School of Law reviewed our tobacco chapter in the city code and <br />TO 21 TO PURCHASE <br />recommended the appropriate language changes to increase the minimum <br />TOBACCO AND <br />age, along with updating definitions and language for best practice and <br />TOBACCO PRODUCTS <br />clarity. The City Clerk stated that a draft of Ordinance 838 was in the <br />IN LITTLE CANADA <br />packet in a form that showed the proposed changes, along with a final draft. <br />She stated that all seven of the tobacco license holders were mailed <br />notification letters about this ordinance on April 2. <br />The City Clerk explained that after the public hearing is held tonight, the <br />Council can then opt to take action on Ordinance 838. <br />Keis opened the public hearing. There were 16 attendees in support of <br />raising the age to 21 to purchase tobacco in Little Canada. There were no <br />attendees against this ordinance. <br />No one from the pubic spoke. Several attendees had already spoken in <br />support of this issue at the previous Council meeting on April 24. <br />Upon motion by Montour, seconded by McGraw, the public hearing was <br />closed. <br />Fischer stated that he struggles with this being done at the city level or even <br />the national level, but commends the Association for Nonsmokers on their <br />efforts and helping so many Minnesota cities increase their age for tobacco <br />purchases. He stated that he will abstain from a vote on this ordinance <br />because he feels this issue should be dealt with at a state level. <br />McGraw stated that he is a former smoker and agrees that it should be done <br />at a state level, but he will support this ordinance because the e-cigarettes <br />need to be kept away from kids. <br />Keis introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption: <br />RESOLUTION NO. 2019-5-53 — ADOPT ORDINANCE 838, RAISING <br />THE AGE TO 21 TO PURCHASE TOBACCO IN LITTLE CANADA <br />AND APPROVE PUBLICATION OF SUMMARY ORDINANCE <br />The foregoing resolution was duly seconded by McGraw. <br />Ayes (4). <br />Nays (0). Fischer abstained. Resolution declared adopted. <br />2 <br />