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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL—NOVEMBER 13, 2018 5 With no one coming forward to speak, Mayor Grant closed the public hearing at 7:31 p.m. MOTION: Councilmember Holden moved and Councilmember Holmes seconded a motion to approve the On-Sale Liquor License for Orchid Restaurant and Grill, Inc. located at 3845 Lexington Avenue North, #107. The motion carried (5-0). B. Tobacco Public Comment City Clerk Hanson stated at its work sessions in August and October, the Council discussed possibly amending City Code pertaining to increasing the tobacco sales age to 21 and/or regulating the sale of flavored and/or menthol tobacco in the City. Kristen Ackert from the Association for Non-Smokers MN was in attendance at the August work session and the Council accepted public comment from tobacco vendors that were in attendance at the October work session. City Clerk Hanson explained the Council made the decision to receive further public comment at the November 13 public hearing before making a final decision regarding any potential ordinance amendment. The Council could meet at a future work session should it wish to move forward with any ordinance amendment. She provided the Council with an update as to where many other cities are currently at. Mayor Grant opened the public hearing at 7:34 p.m. Beth Johnson, 1232 Ingerson Court, explained she had two young adult daughters and both talk about how many of their peers use e-cigarette products. She noted many of these peers began using e-cigarettes during their freshman year at the University of Minnesota. She reported these individuals were attracted to the sleek design of Jul and believe it to be harmless. She discussed how dangerous and addictive the Jul pods were. She stated this was leading teens to a quick addiction. She commented on how youth tobacco use was on the rise for the first time in 17 years due to e-cigarettes. She discussed the importance of youth learning how to cope and manage stress in healthy ways. She stated tobacco related deaths were preventable and noted 6,000 people died each year in Minnesota from this. She indicated she wanted to see all youth in Minnesota to grow up and be free from the harms of tobacco. She encouraged the City Council to raise the tobacco purchase age to 21 in order to decrease accessibility and to remove flavored tobacco from places where kids shop. Kailee Dayke, 3900 Bethel Drive, stated she was a student at Bethel University studying neuroscience. She explained she supported the Council pursuing Tobacco 21 while also restricting flavored tobacco to adult only tobacco stores. She commented on the health risks associated with nicotine addiction. She indicated there was an increasing amount of her peers using flavored e- cigarette products. She noted however, that children as young as 12 and 13 were also using these products. She stated vaping devices have not been proven to be an effective way to stop smoking and for this reason, she encouraged the Council to amend its Ordinance changing the tobacco purchase age to 21.