09-27-2023 Workshop Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE WORKSHOP MEETING CITY COUNCIL LITTLE CANADA, MINNESOTA SEPTEMBER 27, 2023 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof a Workshop meeting of the City Council of Little Canada, Minnesota was convened on the 27th day of September, 2023 in the Council Chambers of the City Center located at 515 Little Canada Road in said City. Mayor Tom Fischer called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. and the following members of the City Council were present at roll call: ROLL CALL: In attendance were Mayor Fischer, City Council Members T. Miller, Gutierrez, Kwapick and D. Miller. Absent: None. ALSO PRESENT: City Administrator Chris Heineman, Public Works Director Bill Dircks, Community Relations Manager Laura Linehan, City Clerk/HR Manager Heidi Heller, Parks and Recreation/Community Services Director Bryce Shearen, Administration Fellow Brian Reimers, and City Attorney Chad Lemmons. DISCUSS AMENDING CITY CODE CHAPTER 802, TOBACCO The City Clerk/HR Manager provided history of tobacco licensing including amendments made in May 2022. She explained there were many changes to the tobacco code at that time, including the allowance of existing tobacco license holders to reapply for licenses, but restricted the allowance of any new tobacco licenses to be issued, including to a new owner of an existing business. She explained that the by gas station owner wants to sell the station, but the buyer does not want to buy it if they cannot get a tobacco license. The City Clerk/HR Manager requested the Council consider allowing a tobacco license to be issued to a new owner of an existing business. She outlined additional stipulations could be added including allowances for existing businesses, and limiting this to on general sale and display tobacco licenses. Discussion regarding the amendment to the City Code ensued. Fischer outlined his thoughts about how cannabis sales could conflict with how tobacco licensing is handled. He was open to address how to handle existing businesses. Kwapick outlined he was not part on the Council when the amendments were made, and shared his concerned about how the 2022 change restricted the transfer of the license upon sale of the business. He was in favor of removing the same natural person restriction, but keeping the restriction if the business overall truly changed. The City Administrator outlined the intent of the 2022 code change was for purposes of sunsetting tobacco licenses. He noted that all licenses are a privilege, not a right, and cannot be transferred. T. Miller outlined the ordinance was also passed for purposes of curbing the dangers of smoking, and fighting historical inequity with smoking. She stated the purpose was to improve the