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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION – JANUARY 22, 2019 3 <br /> <br />City Clerk Hanson referenced the updated list of communities and the actions they have taken, if <br />any, regarding Tobacco 21. She asked the Council for direction regarding a potential ordinance <br />amendment that would increase the sales age to 21 and/or regulate flavored tobacco products. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant asked if the State was drafting language to address this issue. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden stated language was being drafted, but this did not mean it would be <br />approved. <br /> <br />Councilmember Scott indicated the FDA was considering banning all flavored tobacco sales and <br />Juul was going to pull their products from stores and would be conducting online sales only. He <br />stated he was in favor of banning flavored products sales in Arden Hills. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden anticipated that anything approved by the FDA would take quite some <br />time to trickle down to Arden Hills. <br /> <br />Councilmember McClung stated he was in favor of increasing the legal age to 21 for all tobacco <br />products as well as limiting the sale of flavored and menthol products to a tobacco store in the <br />City of Arden Hills. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holmes requested further information on how the City or State defined flavored <br />tobacco. <br /> <br />Kristin Ackert, Association for Non-Smokers MN, described how the State defines flavored <br />tobacco noting this included, mint, menthol, fruit and candy flavored tobacco products. She <br />reported some cities have determined flavored sales should occur only in adult, dedicated tobacco <br />shops. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden questioned if the City could address this issue in steps. She stated <br />perhaps the Council should consider raising the legal age to 21 and then after that consider <br />regulating the sale of flavored tobacco in the City. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant questioned if the Council wanted to wait for the State to take action on the tobacco <br />age. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holmes stated she did not support waiting for the State, but rather would like to <br />see the City Council take action now. <br /> <br />Councilmember McClung agreed. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant stated there was consensus amongst the Council to change the legal age of tobacco <br />sales to 21. He explained he supported the City restricting the sale of flavored tobacco. He feared <br />that smokeless tobacco was becoming a gateway for teens. He indicated menthol was also a <br />problem. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden asked if there were any flavors the City wanted to allow. <br />