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• Mounds View City Council uNAPPRovED December 28, 1998 Page 6 makes it very easy for underage youth to illegally buy cigarettes. Mr. Blanski was asking staff and Council to require the Mermaid to locate the vending machine in an area that would make it easier for the Mermaid staff to monitor who is buying cigarettes. Mayor McCarty closed the Public Hearing and reopened the Regular Council Meeting. Mayor McCarty asked the City Attorney what process would have to be followed to issue a citation to the Mermaid in regard to selling cigarettes to minors from the vending machines. City Attorney Long said a sting operation would have to be set up to establish if violations were occurring. He added, conditions could be attached to the license that would specify the vending machine's location. Mayor McCarty said he would be reluctant to have a citizen put in the position of having to be a witness in an action between the City and a local business. He suggested approving American Amusement's license. He suggested sending a letter with a warning to the Mermaid and Donatelle's, and request that the location of their cigarette vending machines be moved to a more controllable location. City Attorney Long said if there was evidence that the Mermaid had not relocated the vending machines, as requested and as a condition of granting the license renewal,the Council could hold a suspension or revocation hearing to pull the cigarette license at that time. MOTION/SECOND: Koopmeiners/Gunn to approve the license renewals as requested pending receipt of all fees and appropriate applications: and require in writing, as a condition of approval, that the Mermaid Entertainment Complex relocate the cigarette vending machines located within its facility to more easily monitored locations. Discussion: Stigney asked Mr. Blanski if the Mermaid had been copied with the letters that were sent to the City. Mr.Blanski said they had requested the City to write a letter to the Mermaid in regard to the issue. Mayor McCarty suggested city-wide participation in the Coalition for Healthy Youth in the City of Mounds View. David Janke suggested that the City would have to be very specific with its definition of "watching a machine." As long as the machine is in the establishment, and there are people, it is legally placed. The Council will be the body that determines "is it illegal to have that machine where it is, or isn't it."