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MINUTES <br />CITY COUNCIL <br />APRIL 9, 2014 <br />limitation on tobacco licenses by the City restricts the free market, <br />entrepreneurs, and businesses seeking to expand. <br />Keis asked if the City has experienced any problems with the two tobacco <br />shops. The Clerk reported that she is not aware of any problems. <br />McGraw noted the difficulties that the City of Duluth has had with a <br />particular head shop. It was noted that the products that tobacco shops can <br />sell are regulated by both State Law and City ordinance. The <br />Administrator indicated that in the most recent update of the Tobacco <br />Ordinance, the City Attorney addressed this issue. The Clerk also pointed <br />out that the owner of the tobacco store in Little Canada has indicated that <br />there are certain products and devices that he would not sell. <br />Keis indicated that he would support leaving the Tobacco Ordinance as <br />currently written given the City has not had many issues or problems. <br />Keis stated that he would be O.K. with another tobacco store establishing <br />in the City. Blesener and Boss agreed. McGraw stated that he would <br />prefer to see the number of tobacco stores limited to avoid the potential for <br />future problems. Montour agreed. <br />The Administrator noted that another option would be to limit the number <br />of licenses that could be issued for tobacco stores, and eliminate the <br />maximum number for the tobacco general sales and display licenses. <br />McGraw noted the previous deception that occurred relative to one <br />tobacco license and indicated that he would support two categories of <br />licenses with a maximum set for tobacco stores. <br />Blesener suggested that City staff conduct a survey of how this issue is <br />addressed in surrounding cities. <br />Montour suggested that an unlimited number of tobacco general sales and <br />display licenses and a limited number of tobacco store licenses was a <br />win/win situation. Keis suggested that limiting tobacco store licenses was <br />still impeding businesses. <br />The City Administrator indicated that staff would do the survey, but noted <br />that the results may not be relevant given that surrounding cities may or <br />may not have dealt with the issue of hookah shops and sampling. The <br />survey results will be brought back to a future Council meeting. <br />13 <br />4 <br />