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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION – AUGUST 20, 2018 2 not pursuing the proper permits. She expressed concern that the proposed Ordinance currently provided the City with no remedy. Mayor Grant requested the Ordinance have some process in place to allow the City to issue an order for the removal of dead trees. Councilmember Holden requested that if a letter was being sent to the City regarding diseased trees that this be sent from an arborist that is licensed with the City of Arden Hills. She asked what the penalty would be for breaking this Ordinance. City Attorney Jamnik advised this would be a misdemeanor with restitution. A. Tobacco 21 City Clerk Hanson stated the Council previously requested information regarding the Tobacco 21 initiative. Many cities in the metro area are supporting this initiative. Should the Council wish to support the implementation of tobacco restrictions in Arden Hills, an ordinance amendment would be required. Staff would work with Tobacco 21 and the City Attorney should the Council wish to move forward. Kristen Ackert, Association for Non-Smokers of Minnesota, provided the Council with a presentation regarding the Tobacco 21 initiative. She explained that 95% of smokers today began smoking before they were 21 years of age. She stated it was her goal to educate and reduce the number of young people smoking between the ages of 18 and 21. She indicated youth tobacco use was on the rise for the first time in 17 years largely due to e-cigarettes and cigars. She described how getting these products out of the high school environment would have a positive impact on the health of youth long-term. She reported some cities are restricting flavored tobacco to only adults. She reviewed the cost of smoking to the State of Minnesota and discussed how easy it was for youth to get tobacco products. Ms. Ackert commented on the success some communities have had by raising the smoking age to 21 and reviewed studies that show raising the age to 21 would lead to 30,000 fewer youth becoming smokers in Minnesota in the next 15 years. She explained over 300 municipalities and several states have already raised the tobacco age. She indicated reports show that an age change would only impact retailers by 2% to 4% in sales. Councilmember Scott asked how many tobacco licenses the City had. City Clerk Hanson reported Arden Hills had five tobacco license holders. Ms. Ackert explained the military has come out in support of Tobacco 21 and was working towards a tobacco free military. Mayor Grant questioned where students were purchasing the vaping hoods. Ms. Ackert stated these are found online or can be found at smoke shops.