Agenda Packets - 2014/09/22 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council July 28, 2014 Regular Meeting Page 9 1 Acting City Administrator Crane stated the proposed Ordinance amendment was drafted by staff 2 after the incident at Sam’s Food Market. She reported that on April 14th Sam’s Food Market 3 received approval for a tobacco license with conditions. Staff reviewed the discussion held by 4 the Council during the First Reading of the Ordinance and recommended approval of Ordinance 5 889 revising Chapter 512 of the Mounds View City Code. 6 7 Ani Haynes, Mounds View Tobacco, questioned what concerns the City had with the tobacco 8 license holders. Mayor Flaherty commented the City had no concerns but was simply looking to 9 strengthen City Code. 10 11 Ani Haynes commented that since Sam’s Food Market has opened this business has caused 12 trouble. He did not believe that all tobacco establishments in Mounds View should be punished 13 for their mistakes. He indicated that many tobacco businesses in the metro area sell dugouts, 14 scales, glass pipes and baggies. 15 16 Fayeth Seith, explained that measuring scales can be used for tobacco for customers that roll their 17 own cigarettes. He indicated the window signs were also a concern. 18 19 Council Member Mueller recommended the language within Item K be amended to ensure that 20 lessee/lessors properly manage graffiti. 21 22 Council Member Hull asked if other cities banned dugouts, one-hitters and glass pipes. Acting 23 City Administrator Crane stated it was common for these items to be banned. 24 25 Mayor Flaherty indicated he had an issue with requiring “No Loitering” signs. He believed that 26 City Code addressed loitering. Acting City Administrator Crane commented that the owner of 27 Vino & Stogies has had concerns with loitering, which led staff to suggest this signage. City 28 Attorney Riggs commented the sign would provide crowd control while also addressing the 29 concern of minors lingering near tobacco establishments. He explained that other cities find this 30 to be an important clause. 31 32 Mayor Flaherty expressed concern with how the “No Loitering” signage would be enforced by 33 the City. He questioned if the City had the resources to visit each tobacco establishment 34 routinely to bring them into compliance. Acting City Administrator Crane explained that the 35 establishments would be examined through each compliance check. 36 37 Further discussion ensued regarding the placement of signage in business windows. 38 39 Council Member Mueller recommended that interior signage remain consistent between tobacco 40 and liquor establishments. She believed that for safety purposes, no signage should be placed in 41 front windows, but understands the business need for advertising space. 42 43 Mayor Flaherty believed that the building code addressed the sign requirements and agreed that 44 the signage should remain consistent throughout the City. 45