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Attachment A <br />Regular City Council Meeting <br />Monday, January 11, 2021 <br />Page 8 <br />313 with flavors. The reason why flavors are critical is because once a person quits <br />314 smoking, within two weeks a personÓs taste buds come back and the majority of <br />315 the adult customers come back to a store and often say that they do not think the <br />316 products are working for them and thinks there needs to be a higher nicotine <br />317 strength. Usually what happens is the person realizes their body is acclimating to <br />318 having taste buds again and want flavor because tobacco really tastes poorly. That <br />319 is when the adult usually switches to any type of flavored product that matches <br />320 their own tasting personalities and their own preferences. He urged the Council to <br />321 follow the other cities and allow the flavored products to be sold in age restricted <br />322 stores. <br />323 <br />324 Mr. Vincent Ella, Trepanier MacGillis Battina, P.A. <br />325 Mr. Ella explained he submitted correspondence on January 5, 2021 to the City <br />326 Council. He urged the Council to consider an exemption for 21 and over estab- <br />327 lishments. He explained if a person looked at the purpose of an Ordinance like <br />328 this and what other cities in Minnesota have done, it is to protect minors and <br />329 young adults, under 21, from starting smoking. This is entirely accomplished <br />330 with a 21 and older establishment. No one under 21 is allowed to go into the 21 <br />331 and over tobacco stores, exactly like a liquor store. He noted the City does not <br />332 ban flavored alcohol and it is all governed in a liquor store. He thought it is the <br />333 right way to regulate this product as well. This accomplishes the goal of minors <br />334 not having access to these products. This is what most cities in Minnesota have <br />335 done. Arden Hills is the only City that has a tobacco shop, 21 and older, that has <br />336 attempted to enact a complete ban and that Ordinance has not taken effect and has <br />337 been litigated since 2019. He urged the Council to consider a 21 and over adult <br />338 only tobacco shop exemption for any restriction that might be considered. <br />339 <br />340 Mr. Eric Li, Sophomore at Eagan High School <br />341 Mr. Li noted he was at the meeting on behalf of the Minnesota Youth Council. <br />342 He explained the Youth Council is a diverse group of 36 High School students <br />343 who are representatives of each congressional District in Minnesota. He stated <br />344 this group helps bring the voice of the youth to lawmakers striving towards equity <br />345 in various areas that affect youth across the state. The Minnesota Youth Council <br />346 is glad that the Roseville City Council is considering a law to end the sale of fla- <br />347 vored tobacco products, including fruit, candy and menthol, mint, and winter- <br />348 green. All flavors including menthol, mint, and wintergreen tobacco products <br />349 should be treated the same exact way. as all All flavored tobacco products are ap- <br />350 pealing and harmful to youth and old people. He noted young people continue to <br />351 use flavored products despite distance learning. He explained his friends vape in <br />352 cars and at parties which are advertised on classmatesÓ Instagram posts and Snap- <br />353 chat stories. He indicated he sees it daily, which proves things like a 21 and over <br />354 tobacco shop will not work and has not worked. He stated many flavored vape <br />355 products contain as much nicotine or more as a pack of cigarettes. On behalf of <br />356 the Minnesota Youth Council, he thanked Mayor Roe and the City Council. <br />357 <br /> <br />