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ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION — JULY 8, 2024 9 <br />Councilmember Rousseau indicated she could support this option as well. <br />The Council recessed the worksession meeting at 6:56 p.m. <br />The Council reconvened the worksession meeting at 8:00 p.m. <br />Councilmember Holden supported the City setting the limit of tobacco licenses to five. <br />Councilmember Rousseau supported setting the limit to six or to set limits per business type. <br />Councilmember Fabel supported setting limits for grocery stores, gas stations, liquor stores and <br />drug stores. <br />Mayor Grant supported limiting the tobacco licenses to five. <br />Community Development Director Jagoe discussed how a land use amendment may be <br />required if the City were to make tobacco sales and accessory use for retail/commercial <br />businesses. She indicated she would have to refer with the City Attorney regarding this matter. <br />Ms. Engman stated she understood other communities have not allowed tobacco only shops. <br />Mayor Grant recommended the City grandfather in its current businesses but that the use not be <br />expanded. He stated he did not want to see tobacco only stores in Arden Hills. <br />The Council discussed not setting a cap on the number of tobacco licenses, but rather to allow <br />tobacco licenses within gas stations, liquor stores, grocery stores and drug stores and to restrict <br />tobacco only shops. <br />Ms. Engman reported the City may want to put a cap in place in order to create an even playing <br />field. She indicated this would be easier to understand for existing and future businesses. <br />Mayor Grant questioned what the fee for tobacco licenses should be. <br />Assistant to the City Administrator/City Clerk Hanson indicated the fee has been $300 the <br />entire time she has been with the City. <br />Council consensus was to recommend the tobacco license fee remain $300 per year, to cap the <br />number of licenses issued at 6 and to not allow standalone tobacco stores in the city. <br />D. Arden Manor Hardcourt Improvements Project Discussion <br />Public Works Director/City Engineer Swearingen stated on July 10, 2023, City Council <br />approved Change Order #1, removing the Arden Manor Park hard court improvements scope of <br />work from the 2023 Arden Manor Park and Floral Park Improvements Project Contract with <br />Peterson Companies. At the December 18, 2023 Work Session, City Council gave City staff <br />direction to pursue the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program to fund the <br />Arden Manor hardcourt construction and construction administration, while utilizing PIR-Parks <br />funds to fund the grant application and `Shovel Ready' design work in order to increase the <br />competitiveness of the grant application and complete construction in 2024. At the January 8, <br />