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Mounds View City Council January 13, 2014 <br />Regular Meeting Page 4 <br /> <br /> <br />7. COUNCIL BUSINESS <br />A. First Reading of Ordinance 885, Amending Chapter 512 of the City Cigarette <br />and Tobacco Code by Adding Language Relating to Electronic Cigarettes (E- <br />Cigarettes). <br /> <br />Assistant City Administrator Crane stated at the November work session the Council discussed <br />regulating and defining E-Cigarettes. At this time, the use was not regulated by City Code. She <br />reviewed the proposed Code Amendment language noting Chapter 512 would now address <br />Electronic Cigarettes. Staff recommended the Council hold the First Reading and Introduce <br />Ordinance 885. <br /> <br />Mayor Flaherty asked if the City had any businesses that currently sold E-Cigarettes. Assistant <br />City Administrator Crane indicated the City did not have any businesses that solely sold E- <br />Cigarettes at this time. <br /> <br />Mayor Flaherty questioned if nicotine was harmful to a person. Katie Engman, Ramsey Tobacco <br />Coalition, said nicotine was an addictive substance, and could damage a body, as any other <br />stimulant could. <br /> <br />Council Member Gunn asked if E-Cigarettes should be used in public places. Ms. Engman <br />explained that the proposed Ordinance would not ban the use of E-Cigarettes but would simply <br />regulate the sales. She anticipated that the legislature will address this issue during upcoming <br />session through the Freedom to Breath Act. She reported Duluth was the only community that <br />has already banned the use of E-Cigarettes in all indoor facilities. <br /> <br />Council Member Mueller commented that the private sector was setting policy on the use of E- <br />Cigarettes. She inquired if E-Cigarettes could be sold to minors. Assistant City Administrator <br />Crane indicated E-Cigarettes could only be sold to those 18 years of age or older, and would not <br />be sold in vending machines. <br /> <br />Council Member Hull questioned if this product had to be placed behind sales counters. <br />Assistant City Administrator Crane stated this was the case. She reported she would be sending a <br />letter to all tobacco vendors in the City to notify them of the Code change and new requirements <br />once the Ordinance was adopted. <br /> <br />MOTION/SECOND: Mueller/Meehlhause. To Waive the First Reading and Introduce <br />Ordinance 885, Amending Chapter 512 of the City Cigarette and Tobacco Code by Adding <br />Language Relating to Electronic Cigarettes (E-Cigarettes). <br /> <br />Council Member Mueller asked if the First Reading of this Ordinance would be available for <br />local business owners to review. Assistant City Administrator Crane stated she could place this <br />information on the City’s website. <br /> <br /> Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried.