2018.09.25 WS Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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CNEW , BRIGHTON Council Worksession September 25, 2018 5:00 pm Present: Mayor Valerie Johnson Councilmember Graeme Allen Councilmember Mary Burg Councilmember Emily Dunsworth Councilmember Paul Jacobsen Absent: Staff in Attendance: Tony Paetznick, Trevor Hamdorf Guests in Attendance: Katie Engman (Ramsey County Tobacco Coalition), Jeanne Weigum (Association for Nonsmokers -MN), Kristen Ackert (Ramsey County Tobacco Coalition), Bethlehem Yewhalawork (Ramsey County Tobacco Coalition), Isabelle (student) Tobacco Ordinance Paetznick stated there were several representatives present from the Ramsey County Tobacco Coalition and the Association for Nonsmokers -Minnesota to discuss the City's tobacco Ordinance. Katie Engman, Ramsey County Tobacco Coalition, provided the Council with an overview on what was happening in the State of Minnesota and Ramsey County regarding youth tobacco use. She reported e - cigarettes have become an epidemic and youth tobacco use was on the rise for the first time in 17 years. She explained there were a number of communities that were considering raising the tobacco age to 21 to combat youth tobacco use. She discussed how flavored tobacco products were very appealing to youth. She described how youth ages 18 to 21 were a critical market for the tobacco industry. She explained the proposed age change would assist in keeping tobacco products out of the hands of 13, 14 and 15 year olds. She then presented the Council with several different e -cigarette products. She commented youth were very uninformed as to the amount of nicotine in e -cigarettes and described how the tobacco industry was targeting youth. Ms. Engman discussed the benefits of raising the tobacco age to 21 and explained this would assist the City in reducing youth e -cigarette use. Councilmember Dunsworth asked how much nicotine was in an e -cigarette. Ms. Engman reported a Jul e - cigarette had as much nicotine as one pack of cigarettes. Councilmember Jacobsen questioned if the amount of nicotine was regulated within e -cigarettes. Ms. Engman stated this was not regulated. Councilmember Dunsworth asked how much a Jul e -cigarette cost. Kristen Ackert, Ramsey County Tobacco Coalition, reported the Jul unit itself was about $70 and refill cartridges ran about $20 for four refills. Councilmember Burg questioned what the long-term effects were of e -cigarette use in youth. Ms. Engman stated this addiction was creating mental health issues, reducing the ability to focus and described how the brain receptors suffer.