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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL – MARCH 25, 2019 6 difference in teen tobacco use because there are many 18-year-olds in high school but not 21-year- olds. She discussed how addictive nicotine was and thanked the Council for also eliminating the sale of flavored tobacco products in Arden Hills. She reported she knew middle schoolers who were already using flavored e-cigarettes. She encouraged the Council to approve the proposed Ordinance amendments and noted this would impact teens for generations to come. Julianne Seiber, 3200 Shorewood Drive, stated she has lived in Arden Hills for the past 35 years. She encouraged the Council to support the Tobacco 21 and flavored tobacco sale restriction Ordinance. She explained most smokers begin as a youth and she appreciated the fact the City was addressing this matter. She stated menthol and other flavored tobacco products were making smoking easier to tolerate. She believed that many students in the community would benefit by the City of Arden Hills taking this action. Khader Safi, 1364 Arden View Drive, explained he owns a business in Arden Hills where he sells e-cigarette flavored juice. He requested the Ordinance being passed apply only to retail establishments and not business to business transactions. He also requested the Council not limit the sale of flavored e-cigarettes. He commented on the three components that were used to make e-cigarettes liquids noting all were recognized as safe by the FDA. He indicated e-cigarettes were a safer alternative to smoking combustible cigarettes and reported adults like flavored e-cigarettes too. He asked the Council to keep the proposed Ordinance in line with the FDA and commented on all of the inspections that were conducted in the City of Arden Hills on a yearly basis. Deborah Cordes, 4425 Arden View Court, stated she was a long-time resident of Arden Hills. She recommended and highly encouraged the Council to support the flavor ban and tobacco 21 Ordinance amendments. She stated two of her colleagues announced they have Stage 4 lung cancer and noted both had been long-term smokers. She reported a month ago her brother died of end stage lung and liver cancer after being a long-term menthol smoker. She indicated two years ago her mom died of COPD from long-term smoking. She commented she could not stop children from smoking that she did not know, but she believed this Ordinance would assist in keeping children from smoking. Mr. Safi, 1459 Arden View Drive, Arden Hills, stated he has lived in Arden Hills for the past six years. He explained five years ago he began exploring options to assist him with his addiction. He commented cigarettes taste horrible and noted he was working to address his addiction by smoking menthol cigarettes. He stated he did not want anyone to begin smoking. He requested the City still allow for the sale of menthol cigarettes in the City. Dr. Annie Ideker, 3930 Northwoods Drive, stated she practiced at the Arden Hills Clinic. She explained she strongly supported the Tobacco 21 and flavored tobacco ban Ordinance. She indicated she was very aware of the toll tobacco had on the community and noted she had witnessed this first hand in her profession. She stated many of her patients began smoking as teenagers. She discussed how damaging nicotine addiction was to teenage brains as they were still developing. She believed this was the reason why preventative programs were so important. She commented the tobacco industry was using flavored products to lure young people into tobacco use. She reported over 70% of youth using tobacco were using a flavored product. She stated she was proud to be part of a community that was prioritizing the health of its young people through life-saving policies and encouraged the Council to approve the tobacco ordinance amendment.