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City Council Study Session - 08/15/05 Minutes - Page 4 operation to be responsive in shifting to meet needs. Further discussion included large collaborative efforts and collective grant writing; corporate fundraising; substantial amount of funding reductions anticipated next year from $1.1 million to $250,000; and other potential reductions through legislative mandates. Ms. Andrews and Ms. Hansen thanked Mayor Klausing and Councilmembers for their time and consideration. 3. Update Regarding Tobacco Compliance Checks Mayor Klausing requested that Police Chief Carol Sletner incorporate response to and comments regarding the complaints of a tobacco business owner heard at the previous Council meeting into her report. Police Chief Carol Sletner reviewed the tobacco compliance check process, noting that letters dated July 28, 2005, were sent to 35 business owners notifying them of the upcoming compliance check. Chief Sletner noted that the Police Department had been performing checks since 1994, and reviewed data from the first and second round of checks for the years from 1994 to-date.. Chief Sletner provided a profile of the students under 18 years of age that were enlisted, their identification through their Minnesota Driver's License, with nothing else in their pockets except the money provided to purchase product. Chief Sletner noted that students were advised to avoid unnecessary dialogue, but if asked for identification, they're to produce it. Chief Sletner noted that experience taught that clerk's usually look at the identification, but still sell the product. Chief Sletner advised that there was no trickery involved, just a straightforward approach to purchase product; with notice provided to business owners, and opining that with the program having been utilized for ten years, the procedure should be familiar to business owners. Mayor Klausing asked Chief Sletner to address the philosophy or purpose and intent of the prograrn. Tobacco Compliance Checks