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