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Regular City Council Meeting <br /> Monday,January 23,2012 <br /> Page 21 <br /> Councilmember Pust strongly supported the findings of those personal and public <br /> safety problems detailed in the RCA; and expressed the need for the City to stand <br /> up for kids. <br /> Katie Engman,Ramsey County Tobacco Coalition,Roseville resident <br /> At the request of Councilmember Willmus, Ms. Engman reviewed those commu- <br /> nities already having such an ordinance in place —both those that allow such es- <br /> tablishments and those that do not allow them. Ms. Engman provided a definition <br /> of hookah lounges or cafes, currently using an exemption in state law providing <br /> for sampling of tobacco products to by-pass "No Smoking"restrictions for restau- <br /> rants and bars. <br /> Councilmember McGehee echoed the remarks of Councilmember Pust, and ex- <br /> pressed her desire to change language so that no sampling would be allowed in <br /> any establishments, no matter what they were called. Councilmember McGehee <br /> stated that she considered such entities in violation of the Clean Air Act, creating <br /> a hazard and limiting the ability of those people working in such an establishment <br /> who are subjected to second hand smoke, proven to be a real and definite health <br /> hazard. <br /> Mayor Roe noted that it did not seem from his reading of the staff report that State <br /> Statute does not allow banning of sampling. <br /> Mr. Miller advised that other communities have banned sampling; however, it is a <br /> grey area. <br /> Ms. Engman noted that the League of Minnesota Cities (LMC) in cooperation <br /> with the Public Health Law Center had available language for a model ordinance <br /> that banned smoking of any kind in any establishment and served to level the <br /> field. <br /> At the request of Mayor Roe on how smoking was allowed in such an establish- <br /> ment, Mr. Miller advised that it avoided defining sampling. <br /> Councilmember Willmus spoke in support of outright prohibition. <br /> While Mr. Miller advised that staff was not currently aware of any traditional to- <br /> bacco shops operating in Roseville that would be impacted by such an amend- <br /> ment, but noted that there were a number of establishments that sold tobacco <br /> products. Mr. Miller did advise, however, that Ms. Engman, Police Chief <br /> Mathwig and he would need to review businesses once again, as Ms, Engman <br /> alerted staff to a kiosk in Rosedale that sold such products. <br />