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Mounds View City Council December 10, 2001 <br />Regular Meeting Page 20 <br /> <br />graduates and there are signs everywhere drilling it into the employees but it is hard when an <br />adult comes in and buys a pack of cigarettes and you see the adult hand the cigarettes to the kids <br />and there is nothing you can do about it. He then suggested that more needs to be done to teach <br />prevention rather than putting the burden solely on the retailers. <br /> <br />Acting Chief Brennan indicated a representative from NW Youth and Family Services was to be <br />at the meeting to discuss penalties for minors caught with tobacco products. He then indicated <br />that one of the comments he has heard most prevalently is a suggestion toward diversion. He <br />then explained that NW Youth and Family Services indicated there is a youth diversion program <br />that deals with parents and the youth together and then follows up with a seminar and subsequent <br />offenses are handled with community service. <br /> <br />Ian Anderson of 5380 Cliffton Drive indicated he was 13 years old when he was “busted” for <br />smoking and required to take a four hour class with no smoke breaks. He then asked what <br />happened to that kind of deterrent. He further indicated that more than half the students he hung <br />around with quit smoking because of that diversion program. <br /> <br />Mr. Anderson indicated that the School District was doing a good job but dropped it and he feels <br />the City, parents, and the School District should get involved. He also commented that he had <br />offered to teach a seminar on alcoholism because he does not drink because his mother died from <br />alcoholism. <br /> <br />Perry Lofquist of 450 Manor Drive in Spring Lake Park indicated that NW Youth and Family <br />Services has a diversion program that the police and the City can send kids to and the kids are <br />required to pay $40.00. He then explained the program and noted that they try to stay away from <br />the health aspect of smoking because young kids do not think that they are going to die. <br /> <br />Council Member Quick asked how many kids NW Youth and Family Services sees for tobacco <br />diversion programs per year. <br /> <br />Mr. Lofquist indicated that the program sees 300 to 350 kids per year for tobacco diversion and <br />then indicated that shoplifting is the most common followed by drugs and alcohol. He then <br />indicated that they are trying to fight society because a lot of parents feel that if all their kids do is <br />smoke that is nothing to worry about. <br /> <br />Mr. Lofquist indicated the largest referral agency for diversion is the court system followed by <br />Roseville’s Police Department, New Brighton, Mounds View and then St. Anthony. <br /> <br />Acting Mayor Stigney closed the public hearing at 9:16 p.m. <br /> <br />Council Member Thomas explained that some of the changes being made are not only changes in <br />penalties but also a significant change to possession for the minors which was not there before. <br />She then asked if possession of tobacco was an administrative offense. <br />