2023.02.14 CC Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Worksession February 7, 2023 5:00 pm Present: Mayor Kari Niedfeldt-Thomas Councilmember Abdullahi Abdulle Councilmember Graeme Allen Councilmember Pam Axberg (arrived at 5:02 p.m.) Councilmember Emily Dunsworth (left meeting at 6:20 p.m.) Absent: Staff in Attendance: Devin Massopust, Jennifer Fink, Kelly Distad Guests in Attendance: Emily and Sylvia Update on Tobacco Policy with Katie Engman, Program Director – Policy & Compliance at Association for Nonsmokers MN Massopust explained the Council has been discussing its tobacco policy and was considering putting a cap on the number of standalone tobacco shops in New Brighton. He reported a moratorium was in place at this time in order to give the Council time to explore this topic further. He stated Emily Anderson and Sylvia Ames from the Association for Nonsmokers Minnesota (ANSR) were in attendance to discuss this topic further with the Council. Emily Anderson, Association for Nonsmokers MN, introduced herself and her organization to the Council. She reported the ANSR was dedicated to reducing the human and economic costs of commercial tobacco, nicotine and other drug use in Minnesota. Her group was committed to protecting young Minnesotans from a lifetime of addiction, ensuring that all Minnesotans can breathe clean, smoke-free air, and to reduce health inequities and other disparities in relation to commercial tobacco, nicotine and other drugs. She believed effective commercial tobacco prevention happens when interventions are layered together to create a healthy tobacco free community. She commented on the benefits of the North Suburban Tobacco Compliance Project. Councilmember Dunsworth questioned why compliance checks were not conducted more than once a year. Ms. Anderson reported state law requires compliance checks to be completed once a year, but noted New Brighton conducts compliance checks twice a year. She commented further on the cost to conduct the compliance checks. Councilmember Dunsworth requested further information on how hookah is regulated. Massopust discussed how hookah was regulated in New Brighton and noted the City does not allow hookah lounges in the community. Ms. Anderson described the new vape products that were on the market and commented on how they were appealing to young people. The impact of nicotine on the adolescent brain was discussed. Further discussion ensued regarding the marketing and targeting efforts of the tobacco industry. She reported the tobacco industry spends nearly $1 million per hour marketing their products. She estimated these marketing efforts were leading