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ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—JULY 8. 2024 7 Mayor Grant requested staff reach out to Councilmember Monson to see which option she prefers and report back to the Council. City Administrator Perrault questioned what other data the Council would like from staff. Mayor Grant indicated he would like further information on maintenance workers along with the cost of doing a larger COLA and a staggered implementation plan. C. Tobacco License Moratorium Discussion Assistant to the City Administrator/City Clerk Hanson stated currently, there are five businesses that hold an active City tobacco license: Brausen Holiday, Cub Discount Liquor, Cub Foods, Holiday Stationstore (on Hwy 96) and Walgreens. In late 2023, the City's sole standalone tobacco store forfeited its license following compliance issues. No standalone stores currently operate in the City. On December 11, 2023, the City Council adopted a one-year moratorium regarding the issuance of new tobacco licenses in the city effective November 23, 2023. This would afford the City Council time to consider if it would like to make any changes to license fees, violation fees, capping the number of licenses issued (related to tobacco product stores or to the total number of licenses issued anywhere in the city, regardless), and zoning. Please note the moratorium ends November 26, 2024. Assistant to the City Administrator/City Clerk Hanson reported State Statute does not regulate the number of licenses a city can issue. State Statute §461.12, Subd. 2 does set forth the minimum fees for violations; however, cities can choose to impose higher fees. Council may decide not to change the current rule in Arden Hills of no cap on the number of licenses issued and make no changes to the current license and/or violation fees, or Council may want to consider changes such as capping the number of standalone tobacco stores, capping the number of all licenses allowed in total at one time in the city, or zoning regulations. Currently, tobacco sales are allowed as a principal, accessory or conditional retail use. Following Council direction, Staff can work on any proposed necessary ordinance drafts for future consideration. Councilmember Rousseau asked if there were criminal penalties for individuals who sell tobacco to minors. Assistant to the City Administrator/City Clerk Hanson reported a staff member from the City of Mounds View stated they move to court citation. She indicated Arden Hills fines businesses $600 for a first violation and $1,200 for a second violation. She explained court violation was recently given to an Arden Hills business after their third violation. Councilmember Holden asked if new cashiers at stores with a tobacco license had to be trained. Katie Engman, Association for Nonsmokers-MN (ANSR) explained this was not written into State law, but new cashiers were encouraged to be trained. She commented on how the driver's licenses now had dates on when individuals turn 18 and 21. Mayor Grant inquired if the Council wanted to change its violation penalties. Councilmember Holden stated she liked Roseville's penalties.