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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes April 12, 2011 Page 3 Mr. Glen Bona, 4451 Benjamin St, Columbia Heights, appeared before the City Council and stated that he has not experienced any noise coming from the business and he likes having the hookah there. He indicated that there is a sign posted in the business asking people to be quiet and Mr. Kablawi is aware of the issue and wants to address the problem. He added that he would prefer to see this business rather than seeing the space sit empty. 8 Mr. Yamen Haidani, 3937 Silver Lake Road, St. Anthony, appeared before the City Council and 9 stated that Flamezz operates a clean environment inside and out and he enjoys going to the 10 business because it provides an opportunity to meet people from different ethnic backgrounds. 11 He stated that he would like to see this business stay open and requested that the City make the 12 decision to grandfather this licensee in. He added that he would rather see taxpayer money spent 13 on problem businesses versus spending money on lawyers. 14 15 Mr. Firas Kablawi, 672 Marble Street, Vadnais Heights, appeared before the City Council and 16 stated that he feels Flamezz provides an opportunity to meet people from different backgrounds 17 and different schools of thought. He requested that the City Council keep this business open. 18 19 Mr. Michael Bird, 3416 Edward Street, St. Anthony, appeared before the City Council and stated 20 that he recently read an article about this issue and the article came across like the City Council 21 is regulating indoor smoking. He indicated that he did not think that was something the City 22 Council should be spending time on and requested that any problems or complaints associated 23 with the business be addressed through other means. 24 25 Mr. Nick Alexander, 3762 Brighton Way, Arden Hills, appeared before the City Council and 26 stated that Flamezz is a cultural hub for people of different ethnicities to come together. He 27 indicated he has frequented the business a lot and felt it was usually quiet with people playing 28 cards or discussing politics. He stated that he felt a bar would cause more of a disturbance than a 29 hookah lounge. He requested that the City grandfather this business in. 30 31 Mayor Faust expressed the City Council's thanks to all the speakers. He stated that the City 32 Council has to decide what is best for the entire community and it is important to hear all sides of 33 the issue. 34 35 City Attorney Gilligan requested that the City Council amend § 111.057 to read "It shall be 36 unlawful for the lighting, inhaling, exhaling or combination thereof of tobacco, tobacco products, 37 or tobacco related devices by any person fef the puTese of tenting sampling n 4..baeeo pre& 4 38 prior to the sale of sueh predoet in any retail establishment." He advised that this revision 39 represents the change adopted by the City Council at its First Reading. 40 41 Councilmember Gray stated that it was important for the City Council to differentiate its 42 opposition to smoking in a business vis -A -vis any noise issues associated with this business. He 43 indicated that the City has several tobacco license holders and expressed concern that if one of 44 these license holders decided to open up part of its store for the sampling of tobacco, the City 45 would be forced to allow it under the current ordinance, which he does not want to see happen.