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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020 06-08 CCM Study SessionMINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA STUDY SESSION JUNE 85 2020 CITY HALL — COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center City Council met in Study Session called to order by Mayor Mike Elliott at 6*00 p.m. The meeting was conducted via Webex. ROLL CALL Mayor Mike Elliott and Councilmembers Marquita Butler, April Graves, Kris Lawrence - Anderson, and Dan Ryan. Also present were City Manager Curt Boganey, Deputy City Manager Reggie Edwards, Director of Public Works Doran Cote, Community Development Director Meg Beekman, Community Development Deputy Director/HRA Specialist Jesse Anderson, City Clerk Barb Suciu, and City Attorney Troy Gilchrist. CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS AND QUESTIONS Councilmember Ryan requested the following correction to the Regular Session Agenda: -Item 9a - PUD for Shingle Creek Crossing -the 4th amendment should be dated July 8, 2013, and 5th amendment should be dated October 14, 2013. Community Development Director Meg Beekman confirmed the date of the 4th amendment should be July 8, 2013. She added she is unsure about the date of the Sth amendment but agreed to look into it. She noted the resolution dates and numbers are correct. MISCELLANEOUS Mayor Elliott stated the City Council had expressed an interest in reviewing the Attorney General's report on reducing violent police encounters. He added this document, which contains recommendations for police enforcement and deadly encounters, was released in February 2020. He noted a member of the Attorney General's Task Force is available to attend an upcoming Work Session. It was the majority consensus of the City Council to have a Work Session on June 17, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. to review the Attorney General's report on violent police encounters. City Manager Curt Boganey stated the City Council could review the proposed Commission appointments. Mayor Elliott stated he intended to review the applicants during the Regular Session under Agenda Item I Oa - Commission Appointments. 06/08/20 -1- DISCUSSION OF WORK SESSION AGENDA ITEMS AS TIME PERMITS PRESENTATION BY EMILY ANDERSON, NON-SMOKERS MINNESOTA Mr. Boganey introduced Emily Anderson, representing Non -Smokers Minnesota, a non-profit dedicated to tobacco use prevention and control. Emily Anderson reviewed proposed policy inatives that could help tackle the pervasive problem of tobacco use that continues in Minnesota despite years of work by advocates. Ms. Anderson stated the cost for cigars was regulated by Minnesota in 2014 at $2.10, and other communities followed. She added Brooklyn Center set the age to purchase tobacco at 21, and put a cap on the number of tobacco licenses in the community. She noted these efforts have made a difference, along with other restrictions, but the use of flavored products is still pervasive. Ms. Anderson stated the federal government has acted to reduce the use of "Juul" products by temporarily banning the purchase of certain cartridges. She added users can still purchase vaping products, and many other areas of the tobacco market are not regulated. She noted the most effective policies will be those that tackle flavors and prices, and local government is able to restrict flavored products so they are less accessible and less affordable. Ms. Anderson stated tobacco products that contain the chemical compound menthol are easier to get addicted to, and many young people are using menthol. She added menthol is used by Afiican Americans more than any other ethnic group, and this has steadily increased in recent decades. She noted people who use menthol are less likely to be successful at quitting, and adult smokers have indicated they would quit smoking if they could not have menthol cigarettes. Ms. Anderson stated the tobacco industry uses marketing strategies like coupons and in-store promotions to attract young tobacco users. She added the tobacco industry spends approximately $8 billion on price discounting, deals, coupons and retailer specials. She noted coupons are a process that can be regulated by municipalities. Ms. Anderson stated the cost of tobacco products could be increased, and Brooklyn Park raised the cost of cigars to $2.10. He added that can also be done with other products. Ms. Anderson stated cities can do something about menthol cigarettes and the price of tobacco to combat the coupons. Ms. Anderson stated that while regulations have a positive public health benefit, there is also an effect on retailers. She added convenience stores could lose profits if these types of regulations go into effect. She noted, however, convenience stores make most of their money from prepared foods, snacks and beverages, while the majority of profits from tobacco sales goes back to the tobacco industry. Ms. Anderson stated tobacco use costs our State approximately $3 billion in health care costs each year, and every person in Minnesota is affected by tobacco costs. She added, in Hennepin County, 06/08/20 -2- the average household pays $753 annually in health care costs, while productivity and work issues double that amount. She stressed the importance of the cost/benefit analysis to the community, and the economic benefit to local businesses, as well as the tobacco industry. Councilmember Ryan thanked Ms. Anderson for coming to speak to the City Council and for her hard work through her organization. He added the use of menthol cigarettes is a real problem that must be addressed. Councilmember Graves requested clarification regarding the $753 per household annual cost. Ms. Anderson stated that number relates to health care premiums that have increased due to tobacco - related illnesses and health care costs. She added she can share the data with the City Council. Councilmember Graves asked whether there is any data that tracks results in cities that have taken these measures, and which specifically shows how whether businesses have lost revenue. She added she knows that the tobacco industry targets menthol products at the black community, and people have said they would quit if menthol was not available. She asked whether other cities that have passed legislation and do not allow sale of menthol products have done follow-up with smokers to see if they quit. She noted she is a smoker, and she is supportive of increasing prices. She asked whether Ms. Anderson's organization has had initiatives to help people quit smoking, or provide access to quit plans, or if their work is strictly at the policy level. Ms. Anderson stated her organization does not offer cessation services. She added their outreach and policy work includes providing information about cessation programs and how to access those resources. She noted their goal is to hold the tobacco industry accountable for creating a public health problem through flavors, prices, and targeted advertising and coupons. Ms. Anderson stated, in answer to Councilmember Grave's question Minneapolis and St. Paul have been collecting data on whether smokers have been affected by the legislative changes. She added the data is not yet available, but her organization is trying to track businesses with tobacco licenses. She noted store owners are reluctant to provide data to her organization, but the Councilmembers might have more luck with that. ADJOURN STUDY SESSION TO INFORMAL OPEN FORUM WITH CITY COUNCIL Mayor Elliott adjourned the Study Session to Informal Open Forum at 6:45 p.m. RECONVENE STUDY SESSION Mayor Elliott reconvened the Study Session at 6:46 p.m. PRESENTATION BY EMILY ANDERSON, NON-SMOKERS MINNESOTA (continued) Councilmember Ryan stated he would be interested in reviewing recommendations from Ms. Anderson's organization, specifically on flavored tobacco and the use of coupons. He added he would support regulation of those practices, with recommendations from City Staff about how to change the tobacco Ordinance. 06/08/20 -3- Councilmember Butler stated she agrees with Councilmember Ryan's comments. She thanked Ms. Anderson for her presentation. Mr. Boganey stated it would be helpful to determine whether there are any initiatives that the City Council is not interested in pursuing, or not particularly ready for. Councilmember Graves asked what flavored products have been banned in Brooklyn Center. Mr. Boganey stated he did not have that information but would have to look at the record. City Attorney Troy Gilchrist stated his recollection is that the Ordinance amendment was focused on vaping products and limited to tobacco -only stores. He added it was important to the City Council at the time to regulate flavors, but the consensus was to not address that due to regulations. Councilmember Graves stated she is not convinced that there will not be a negative impact on corner stores and the people who live in Brooklyn Center, and she understands the dangers of smoking. She added she is interested in data related to specific communities, and not State statistics. She noted she would support looking at pricing and coupons, because it seems that will affect everyone. She added many of the flavored products are actually used to help people quit smoking. Councilmember Ryan stated he would be supportive of restrictions on flavors, especially menthol, and restricting availability of coupons. He added he would like to revisit cheap cigar pricing. He noted he is interested in learning more about long-term benefits. Councilmember Graves stated she is concerned that these efforts could inadvertently lead to an increase in smoking. She added she would want to ensure that restrictions lead to the intended result. She noted she would like to hear more data from Minneapolis. \�f1111�►1► I �1►Y Y Mayor Elliott adjourned the Study Session at 7:00 p.m. 06/08/20 -4- STATE OF MINNESOTA) COUNTY OF HENNEPIN) ss. Certification of Minutes CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER) The undersigned, being the duly qualified and appointed City ClV rl of the City of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, certifies: 1. That attached hereto is a full, true, and complete transcript of the minutes of a Study Session of the City Council of the City of Brooklyn Center held on June 8, 2020. 2. That said meeting was held pursuant to due call and notice thereof and was duly held at Brooklyn Center City Hall. 3. That the City Council adopted said minutes at its June 22, 2020, Regular Session. &W44LZ Barbara Suciu, City Clerk Mike Elliott, Mayor 06/08/20 -5-