[0:20] >> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO THE REGULAR MEETING

[0:26] OF BUSINESS, HOUSING AND ZONING COMMITTEE FOR JUNE 24, 2025. I'M JAMAL OSMAN AND I'M THE CHAIR OF

[0:31] THIS COMMITTEE. BEFORE WE BEGIN THE MEETING, I WANT TO REMIND ALL MEMBERS, STAFF AND PUBLIC

[0:37] THAT THESE MEETINGS ARE BROADCAST LIVE FOR GREATER PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. THIS

[0:42] INCLUDES REAL-TIME CAPTIONING TO INCREASE THE ACCESSIBILITY OF OUR PROCEEDINGS TO THE COMMUNITY. THEREFORE, ALL

[0:48] SPEAKERS NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF THE RATE OF THEIR SPEECH SO THAT OUR CAPTIONERS CAN FULLY

[0:55] TRANSCRIBE OR COMMENT FOR THE BROADCAST. WE ASK ALL SPEAKERS TO MODERATE THE SPEED AND

[1:00] CLARITY OF FOR COMMENT. WE'LL BE USING SPEAKER MANAGEMENT SO PLEASE SIGN IN. AT THIS TIME

[1:06] I'LL ASK THE CLERK TO CALL THE ROLL SO WE CAN VERIFY A QUORUM. >> COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE.

[1:11] >> PRESENT. >> CASHMAN IS ABSENT. JENKINS. >> PRESENT. >> CHOWDHURY.

[1:17] >> PRESENT. >> VICE CHAIR ELLISON. >> HERE. >> AND CHAIR OSMAN. >> PRESENT. >> THERE ARE FIVE MEMBERS

[1:23] PRESENT. >> LET THE RECORD REFLECT WE HAVE A QUORUM. BEFORE WE JUMP TO THE CONSENT AGENDA, I WOULD LIKE

[1:30] TO AMEND THE AGENDA TO MOVE ITEM 6.4 FROM CONSENT TO DISCUSSION.

[1:36] ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> AND THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY. THE AYES HAVE IT AND THE MOTION

[1:42] CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL FIRST TAKE OUR CONSENT AGENDA, WHICH

[1:48] IS ITEM 6 THROUGH 15. SIX IS

[1:56] APPROVING FOUR LIQUOR LICENSE. 7 APPROVING 51 LIQUOR LICENSE RENEWALS. EIGHT IS ACCEPTING A

[2:02] GRANT FROM U.S. WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT FOR EMPLOYMENT SERVICES. NINE IS

[2:08] AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT WITH MET

[2:14] COUNCIL RELATED TO LOAN REDEPLOYMENT. 10 IS AUTHORIZING

[2:20] EXCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS TO LUL BROS PROPERTIES AT 1200 EAST LAKE STREET. 11 IS ACCEPTING A

[2:25] GRANT AND ADOPTING A PROGRAM GUIDELINE FROM MET COUNCIL'S WATER EFFICIENCY PROGRAM. 12 IS

[2:32] A RESOLUTION EXTENDING SUPPORT

[2:40] ART MURAL AT HIAWATHA LAKE BRIDGE. 13 IS AUTHORIZING STREET

[2:46] LOAN AT 2828 HENNEPIN AVENUE. 14 IS AMENDING A SOIL STORAGE AGREEMENT WITH PORT OF

[2:51] MINNEAPOLIS FOR THE UPPER HARBOR TERMINAL. ITEM 15 IS SETTING A

[2:57] PUBLIC HEARING FOR JULY 15TH TO CONSIDER CONVEYANCE OF SEVERAL

[3:03] PROPERTIES AT THE UPPER HARBOR TERMINAL SITE. WITH THAT, I'LL

[3:09] MOVE ALL ITEMS. ARE THERE ANY DISCUSSIONS? I WOULD LIKE TO

[3:16] RECOGNIZE WE HAVE BEEN JOINED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CASHMAN. COUNCIL MEMBER CASHMAN. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR OSMAN. I

[3:22] JUST WANTED TO CONGRATULATE THE TENDING THE SOIL COALITION AND THANK CPED FOR THEIR WORK ON

[3:28] DELIVERING THIS LOAN TO THE RISE UP CENTER, WHICH WILL BE OPENING IN UPTOWN AT 28th AND HENNEPIN

[3:33] AND WILL BE A GREAT STEP FOR REVITALIZATION OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. >> THANK YOU. SEEING NO ONE

[3:39] ELSE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> AND THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY. THE AYES HAVE IT AND THE MOTION CARRIES. NOW WE WILL PROCEED TO

[3:47] THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION OF OUR AGENDA. ITEM ONE IS A PUBLIC

[3:58] HEARING FOR A STREET VENDOR LICENSE FOR HARD TIMES CAFE.

[4:04] WELCOME. >> HELLO, AND THANK YOU, CHAIR OSMAN AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS. A

[4:10] MANY INSPECTOR MUHAMMAD OSMAN. I'M PRESENTING AN APPLICATION

[4:15] SUBMITTED BY HARD TIMES CAFE INC. DOING BUSINESS AS HARD

[4:23] TIMES CAFE LOCATED AT 1821 RIVERSIDE AVENUE, WARD 6. THIS

[4:28] LICENSE WOULD ALLOW THE BUSINESS TO -- SEASONAL DINING AREA. HARD

[4:36] TIMES CAFE IS A LONG-TIME ESTABLISHED THAT HAS BEEN OPERATING AT THIS LOCATION FOR

[4:41] OVER 33 YEARS IN THE CEDAR

[4:47] RIVERSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD. 24 SEATS LOCATED IN BETWEEN TWO PARKING

[4:53] SPACES. THE STREET CAFE WILL BE ENCLOSED BY A WOODEN BARRIER.

[5:00] APPROXIMATELY 256 SQUARE FEET. THE ADDITIONAL SEATING IS INTENDED TO ENHANCE

[5:06] ACCESSIBILITY AND OUTDOOR DINING APPEAL. THE PROPOSED OPERATIONS WOULD BE FROM 8 A.M. UNTIL

[5:13] MIDNIGHT. PUBLIC HEARING NOTICES WERE SENT TO HOMEOWNERS, THE WEST BANK BUSINESS ASSOCIATION,

[5:19] AND COUNCIL MEMBER OSMAN. WE RECEIVED TWO LETTERS OF SUPPORT. ONE OF THEM BEING FROM THE WEST

[5:24] BANK BUSINESS ASSOCIATION. THERE HAVE BEEN NO SIGNIFICANT 311 POLICE CALLS, 311 OR POLICE

[5:30] CALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THE BUSINESS THAT WOULD IMPACT THE ISSUANCE OF THE LICENSE. THE

[5:36] LICENSE AND CONSUMER SERVICES DIVISION RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF

[5:41] THE STREET CAFE LICENSE. THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION. I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. NOW I'M

[5:46] GOING TO PROCEED TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. ARE THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? YES, WELCOME.

[6:01] >> HELLO. HOW ARE YOU DOING? I HAVE A PREPARED STATEMENT HERE.

[6:06] >> SURE. >> GREETINGS AND SALUTATIONS. WE

[6:15] HAVE BEEN OPERATING ON THE WEST BANK FOR 33 YEARS. WE PROVIDE

[6:21] AFFORDABLE COFFEE AND HEALTHY FOOD. WE HAVE SURVIVED RAIDS FROM THE CITY, THE 2008

[6:29] RECESSION, COVID, AND THE CURRENT POST-COVID INCREASED INFLATION PRICES. THIS IS

[6:34] GENERALLY A VERY TYPICAL TIME TO OPERATE A RESTAURANT. MARGINS

[6:40] ARE ALWAYS RAZOR THIN. WE'RE LOCATED NEAR THE U OF M IN

[6:48] OXBERG, AND BUSINESS SLOWS DOWN IN THE SUMMER WHEN THERE ARE

[6:53] FEWER STUDENTS. WE GOT FEEDBACK THAT THEY WERE FAR MORE LIKELY

[6:58] TO SPEND TIME AT THE CAFE WITH OUTDOOR OPTIONS AVAILABLE. INCREASED EYES ON THE STREET AND

[7:05] FOOT TRAFFIC ON RIVERSIDE AVENUE. WE'D ALSO LIKE TO INCLUDE A LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM

[7:11] OUR NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS ASSOCIATION, THE WBBA. WE ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT OUR REQUEST TO

[7:16] OPERATE A STREET CAFE FOR THE SUMMER SEASON OF 2025. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR

[7:22] TESTIMONY. >> DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? >> NO, SIR. THANK YOU. WELL I

[7:29] WILL -- OH, THERE'S -- TJ.

[7:41] WELCOME. >> HI. MY NAME'S TJ, AND I'M A

[7:48] HOMEOWNER LIVING WITHIN 300 FEET OF HARD TIMES CAFE. IT'S A GREAT

[7:54] CAFE. I LIKE THAT IT'S THERE. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME GUARD RAILS AROUND ALONG THE

[8:00] OUTDOOR PATIOS OPEN. AT THE MOMENT THE CAFE IS OPEN UNTIL

[8:06] MIDNIGHT. ASKING TO HAVE A CAFE OUTDOOR PATIO THAT IS OPEN UNTIL

[8:11] MIDNIGHT. IF THAT'S THE CASE THEN TYPICALLY THERE'S ALWAYS MUSIC AND STUFF IN THE CAFE. ARE

[8:20] WE LOOKING FOR THAT MUSIC TO BE OUTSIDE AS WELL? I'D LIKE TO SEE

[8:25] SOME GUARD RAILS AROUND. TAKING AWAY PARKING SPACES THAT

[8:30] OVERFLOW PARKING WOULD COME ON TO OUR STREET. WHAT MEASURES DO YOU HAVE IN PLACE FOR THAT

[8:36] OVERFLOW PARKING? I'D KIND OF LIKE TO SEE THOSE KINDS OF

[8:43] THINGS DISCUSSED SO WE KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT. WE DO HAVE A COMMUNITY GARDEN BACK THERE AND

[8:48] WE DO LIKE TO SLEEP. WE ALREADY HAVE NOISY VENUES. HARD TIMES

[8:55] CAFE IS A LOT CLOSER. SO KIND OF HAVE A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT THAT. THANKS.

[9:01] >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. ARE THERE ANYONE ELSE

[9:07] WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, I'D CLOSE THE ITEM. AND I AM GOING TO CALL THE

[9:16] STAFF. SEE IF YOU CAN ANSWER A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS THAT WAS

[9:21] RAISED DURING THE TIME. THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT

[9:27] ARE THE TIMES OF HOURS OF OPERATION. >> CHAIR OSMAN, SO THE HOURS OF

[9:33] OPERATION WOULD BE FROM 8 A.M. UNTIL MIDNIGHT. HARD TIMES CAFE

[9:39] ACTUALLY HAS A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT THAT ALLOWS THEM TO OPERATE FOR 24 HOURS. >> OKAY. AND MAYBE JOSH CAN

[9:49] ANSWER A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CONCERN OR SPEAK ABOUT THE GENERAL CONCERN THAT WAS

[9:55] RAISED BY TJ. >> YEAH. GO AHEAD. CAN YOU REPEAT THOSE FOR ME. >> TJ WAS JUST CONCERNED ABOUT

[10:04] THE LATE HOURS AND THE DISTURBANCE IT CAN CREATE DURING THE DOWN TIMES.

[10:09] >> WELL I KNOW THAT WE WON'T BE PLAYING LOUD MUSIC OUTSIDE. AND

[10:18] AS FOR NOISE VOLUME, ET CETERA,

[10:24] WE'LL BE HAVING STAFF COME OUT AND CHECK ON THINGS FREQUENTLY THROUGHOUT THE DAY. DURING THE

[10:31] DAY AS WELL AS LATE AT NIGHT.

[10:36] YEAH. >> OKAY. >> WE'D BE OPEN TO SPEAKING WITH

[10:44] COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO WORK THINGS OUT A LITTLE BIT TOO. >> OKAY. WONDERFUL. I THINK IT WILL BE GREAT TO HAVE A

[10:54] CONVERSATION WITH NEIGHBORS, SOMEONE LIKE TJ, TO ADDRESS THEIR CONCERNS. I AM IN SUPPORT

[10:59] OF THIS LICENSE. I THINK YOU HAVE BEEN AROUND A LONG, LONG TIME. YOU'RE IN THE HEART OF THE

[11:07] COMMUNITY, AND REALLY GREAT TO HAVE YOU SERVING STUDENTS AND

[11:13] MANY RESIDENTS IN CEDAR-R CEDAR-RIVERSIDE. I AM GOING TO MOVE THIS ITEM FORWARD FOR

[11:19] APPROVAL AND RECOGNIZE A FEW COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE ON HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CASHMAN FIRST. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR OSMAN. YEAH,

[11:27] I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF GENERALLY THE SIDEWALK PERMITS AS WELL. JUST KEEPING OUR PUBLIC SPACES

[11:32] WELL MAINTAINED AND HAVING MORE PEOPLE OUT ON THE STREET TENDS TO HELP WITH SAFETY AS WELL. I

[11:37] CAN SEE HOW THE NEIGHBORS MIGHT BE A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT MUSIC BEING PLAYED AT NIGHT. I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING YOU

[11:44] COULD REASONABLY SHUT OFF A LOT EARLIER. I JUST WANT TO ASK YOU ARE NOT SERVING ALCOHOL AT THIS

[11:53] ESTABLISH, CORRECT? >> JUST COFFEE. >> I THINK THAT HELPS WITH THE LATE NIGHT ROWDINESS. I

[11:58] PERSONALLY HAVE APPRECIATED THAT HARD TIMES HAS BEEN OPEN LATE AND DOESN'T SERVE ALCOHOL. IT'S

[12:03] BEEN SUPPORTIVE TO ME AND OTHER FRIENDS WHEN IN RECOVERY. THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU FOR

[12:08] PROVIDING THAT SPACE THAT'S OPEN LATE BUT NOT A BAR. I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. SO I JUST APPRECIATE HARD TIMES CAFE

[12:14] AND I WILL SUPPORT THIS PERMIT. >> THANK YOU. VICE CHAIR

[12:20] ELLISON. >> YEAH. I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS MOTION AS WELL. TJ IS IN

[12:25] THE ROOM SO WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO EXCHANGE CONTACT INFO. AND

[12:31] JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY, WOULD THE PATIO BE OPEN UNTIL MIDNIGHT

[12:36] AS WELL, DO YOU THINK? >> YEAH. >> AND AMPLIFIED NOISE IS A

[12:44] CONCERN PERMIT, I DON'T ANTICIPATE YOU GUYS WILL BE PLAYING OUTDOORS. >> WE DON'T HAVE SPEAKERS OUTSIDE. IT WOULD BE REGULAR

[12:50] STREET VOLUME I GUESS. >> YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN THERE A LONG TIME. I KNOW YOU KNOW HOW TO BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR. YOU'VE

[12:56] GOT A NEIGHBOR HERE. I THINK JUST KEEPING THAT LINE OF COMMUNICATION OPEN. OTHERWISE, THANK YOU FOR, YOU KNOW, SIMILAR

[13:02] TO MY COLLEAGUE, THANK YOU FOR DOING BUSINESS IN THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. THE SERVICES YOU PROVIDE. AND YEAH, HAPPY TO

[13:08] SUPPORT THIS MOTION. >> GREAT. >> COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE.

[13:13] >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY. AND I HAVE A LOT OF BARS AND RESTAURANTS IN MY WARD AND NOISE IS A CONSTANT

[13:19] ISSUE. SO I APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO ENGAGE WITH NEIGHBORS. THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. WE ALL HAVE TO LIVE

[13:26] HERE TOGETHER. SO WHATEVER YOU CAN DO TO LISTEN TO THEM AND TO HELP ACCOMMODATE THEIR NEEDS WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THANK YOU.

[13:32] >> THANK YOU. SEEING NO OTHER

[13:37] DISCUSSION, ON THAT MOTION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> AND THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY. THE AYES HAVE IT AND THE MOTION

[13:43] CARRIES. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> YEAH. THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. NEXT PUBLIC

[13:51] HEARING IS LIQUOR ON LIMITED ENTERTAINMENT LICENSE FOR RIVER CITY TAVERN. I'LL WELCOME SARAH

[13:59] GRAYS FOR SPEAKING ON THIS ITEM. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR OSMAN AND

[14:06] COMMITTEE MEMBERS. I'M LICENSE INSPECTOR SARAH GRAYs. I'M

[14:12] PRESENTING AN APPLICATION FROM PNM GROUP LLC DOING BUSINESS AS RIVER CITY TAVERN LOCATED AT 200

[14:19] WEST BROADWAY AVENUE IN WARD 5. THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING AN ON SALE LIQUOR, LIMITED

[14:25] ENTERTAINMENT WITH SUNDAY SALES LICENSE. IF APPROVED, THEY INTEND TO OPEN A SIT DOWN RESTAURANT INCLUDING BREAKFAST

[14:32] AND BRUNCH SERVICE WITH MIXED DRINKS AND COCKTAILS, AND ALSO INCLUDING LIVE BLUES, JAZZ AND R

[14:40] & B MUSIC, OPEN MIC NIGHTS AND

[14:46] KARAOKE. NO SEATING OR ENTERTAINMENT OUTSIDE. THERE WILL BE NO OPERATING CONDITIONS

[14:53] FOR THIS LICENSE. THE HOURS OF OPERATION WILL BE MONDAY THROUGH

[14:58] SUNDAY, 8 A.M. THROUGH 12 A.M. ON JUNE 4TH, 2025, PUBLIC HEARING NOTICES WERE SENT TO

[15:04] RESIDENTS, PROPERTY OWNERS, AND POSTED ON BUSINESSES WITHIN 600

[15:10] FEET OF THE PREMISE. NOTICES WERE ALSO SENT TO THE HAWTHORNE

[15:15] NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND COUNCIL MEMBER ELLISON. WE RECEIVED ONE COMMENT OPPOSING THE LICENSE WITH CONCERNS BASED ON HISTORY OF THE LOCATION. A

[15:23] REVIEW OF COMPLAINTS, 311 CALLS, POLICE CALLS AND ANY OPERATING

[15:28] CONDITIONS DOES SHOW A HISTORY OF SIGNIFICANT ISSUES CONCERNING PREVIOUS BUSINESSES AT THIS LOCATION. LICENSES AND CONSUMER

[15:33] SERVICES HAS REVIEWED THE DETAILED BUSINESS PLAN FOR RIVER CITY TAVERN, WHICH ALSO HAS A

[15:40] COMPREHENSIVE SECURITY PLAN THAT WAS SIGNED BY LIEUTENANT HAND OF

[15:46] THE FOURTH POLICE PRECINCT. THE LICENSES AND CONSUMERS SERVICES

[15:52] DIVISION DOES APPROVE. THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. AT THIS TIME, I WILL STAND FOR ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS. THANK

[15:58] YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT PRESENTATION. I'M GOING TO PROCEED TO OPEN THE PUBLIC

[16:03] HEARING. AND FIRST SIGNED UP IS TODD SMITH. WELCOME.

[16:14] >> THANKS. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL PERSONS. MY NAME IS TODD

[16:19] SMITH AND I OWN THE BUILDING ACROSS THE STREET AT 201 WEST

[16:25] BROADWAY, MASTER PROPERTIES. I'M ACTIVELY PURSUING THE CREATION

[16:32] OF EMPLOYMENT -- WITH A LOT OF HELP FROM PARTNERS AT CPED,

[16:38] MAYOR'S OFFICE, COUNCILMEMBER'S OFFICE, AMONG OTHERS. NOTHING I'M ABOUT TO SHARE IS REFLECTION

[16:44] ON THE CURRENT LICENSE APPLICANTS. MY CONCERNS ARE BASED ON HISTORICAL FACTS OF THIS LOCATION. I HAVE A VIDEO OF

[16:51] 128 SHOTS FIRED AT THIS INTERSECTION AS A RESULT OF AN ARGUMENT THAT SPILLED OUT ON TO

[16:57] THE STREET. I'VE HAD MY WINDOWS SHOT OUT. WHILE UNDER PREVIOUS

[17:05] OWNERSHIP, A PATRON LEAVING THE ESTABLISHMENT DROVE INTO MY

[17:11] OFFICE. $100,000 IN DAMAGES. NO CHARGES WERE FILED BY THE POLICE OR THE PROSECUTORS OFFICE. I'M

[17:17] VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE LIQUOR LICENSE PROCESS AND HAVE HELD LICENSES IN THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS FOR 20 YEARS. I'M

[17:23] FAMILIAR WITH THE BUSINESS AND SECURITY PLANS NECESSARY TO OBTAIN A LICENSE. I'D ASK YOU TO

[17:33] PLEASE OUTLINE THE REPERCUSSIONS. AND ALSO TO PLEASE PUT SOME STIPULATIONS AS

[17:38] TO THE CONSEQUENCE OF DANGEROUS OR ILLEGAL BEHAVIOR. I'D SUGGEST

[17:46] SECURITY DURING HOURS OF OPERATION. -- COUNTRY BAR. IT

[17:54] WAS MANDATED THAT I HAVE SECURITY DURING OPERATING HOURS.

[18:00] THEIR SECURITY PLAN REQUIRES THAT THEY HAVE A CLEARLY IDENTIFIED STAFF PERSON AT THE

[18:06] DOOR DURING OPERATING HOURS. IT SEEMS TO BE THE PRUDENT THING TO

[18:12] DO HERE AT RIVER CITY TAVERN. SECONDLY, NO WEAPONS ALLOWED.

[18:17] THIRD, IF LICENSE OR OWNERSHIP STIPULATES CLOSING AT MIDNIGHT,

[18:22] I'M GRAVELY CONCERNED WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PATRONS --

[18:29] >> THANK YOU. >> OPEN CONTAINERS, DRUGS, PROSTITUTION, GUNS, DRAG RACING,

[18:35] AND DONUTS IN THE INTERSECTION. >> SIR, YOU'RE OUT OF TIME.

[18:41] >> -- >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. OUR NEXT PERSON IS

[18:47] MIKE OKER. THANK YOU. WELCOME, MIKE.

[18:53] >> THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN OSMAN AND COUNCIL OR COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS MICHAEL OKER AND I REPRESENT PNM

[19:04] GROUP LLC AS WELL AS RIVER CITY TAVERN. WE'LL BE DOING BUSINESS

[19:10] AT 200 WEST BROADWAY. I'VE GOT A LONG TIME RECORD IN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT AND THE NIGHT CLUB

[19:15] AND BAR INDUSTRY ON BROADWAY, 25

[19:20] YEARS. AND I THINK COUNCILMAN ELLISON HAS BEEN WITNESS TO THE HARD WORK I HAVE DONE INTO THE

[19:26] NEIGHBORHOOD TO TRY TO MAINTAIN THE SAFETY OF THE BUSINESS I WAS RUNNING THEN. I HAVE A UNIQUE

[19:31] OPPORTUNITY AS A BUSINESS OWNER NOW WITH NEW PARTNERS TO CREATE SOMETHING THAT I'VE ALWAYS DREAMED OF FOR BROADWAY AVENUE,

[19:38] WHICH IS A BREAKFAST SITDOWN RESTAURANT ALONG WITH A VIBRANT

[19:45] BARBECUE EVENING RESTAURANT. BUT MORE THAN THAT FOCUSED ON FOOD BUT LIVE ENTERTAINMENT, WHICH IS

[19:51] BLUES, JAZZ, AND CLASSIC R & B ENTERTAINMENT. WE'RE IN THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW WORKING WITH

[19:58] WBC AS THE WEST BROADWAY AREA BUSINESS COALITION TO ESTABLISH

[20:06] THE FIRST BROADWAY BLUES AND JAZZ FESTIVAL HOPEFULLY IN SEPTEMBER. THAT BEING SAID, I'VE GOT A LONG HISTORY OF DOING IT

[20:13] THE HARD WAY ON BROADWAY, AND I KNOW HOW TO DO THAT WELL. BUT I'M READY TO DO IT THE EASY WAY.

[20:20] BUT I HAVE THE SECURITY. I THINK I HAVE THE SECURITY BACKGROUND AND THE KNOWLEDGE OF WEST

[20:26] BROADWAY TO HELP USHER IN A NEW, VIBRANT ERA OF BROADWAY AVENUE

[20:33] BEING A FOOD AND ENTERTAINMENT CORRIDOR. I KNOW WITH THE DEVELOPMENTS DOWN WITH THE CAPRI

[20:42] AND WITH THE FOOD DEVELOPMENT NEXT DOOR, AND AS WELL AS THE

[20:48] OWNER TITO WILSON AT THE NEW SWANK EATERY, WHICH IS MY OLD

[20:53] PLACE, THE 4TH STREET SALOON. I THINK WE HAVE A GENUINE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING IN A NEW

[20:59] WAVE OF WHAT WE HAVE HAD, WHILE INCLUDING THE REAL GOOD RESIDENTS OF NORTH MINNEAPOLIS

[21:06] NEIGHBORHOOD. I'M OPEN TO ANY COMMENTS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT

[21:12] PERSON IS DONNA SANDERS.

[21:17] >> HELLO, COUNCIL. MY NAME IS DONNA SANDERS AND I'M THE BUSINESS SPECIALIST WITH THE

[21:25] WEST BROADWAY COALITION. I'M HERE TO SAY THAT THE COALITION FULLY SUPPORTS THE RIVER CITY TAVERN. IT'S VERY

[21:33] DIFFERENT FROM WHAT THE 200 CLUB WAS IN THE PAST. IT'S A FOCUS ON FOOD. THERE'S A FOCUS --

[21:40] ALTHOUGH THERE IS AN ON SALE LIQUOR LICENSE, THERE'S SOLID OWNERSHIP HERE WITH SOLID EXPERIENCE IN THE URBAN BLOCK.

[21:46] SO WE WOULD HOPE THAT YOU WOULD SUPPORT US TOO. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THE NEXT

[21:52] PERSON IS DOT OLSON.

[22:00] >> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS DOUG OLSON AND I'M THE OPERATIONS MANAGER FOR THE NORTHSIDE ACHIEVEMENT

[22:07] ZONE, A NONPROFIT SERVING OUR NORTHSIDE SCHOLARS ON THEIR PATH

[22:13] TO GOING TO COLLEGE AND CAREER AS THEY BUILD GENERATIONAL WEALTH. WE LOOK FORWARD TO

[22:20] PARTNERING WITH MIKE, NEIL AND PAUL. WE ARE LOCATED AT 1664

[22:27] NORTH 2ND STREET, KITTY-CORNER FROM THE RIVER CITY TAVERN. AND WE OWN THE PARKING LOT ACROSS.

[22:33] AS A NONPROFIT SERVING NORTHSIDE SCHOLARS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND PARTNER

[22:40] SCHOOLS AND ORGANIZATIONS, THE SAFETY OF OUR STAFF, SCHOLARS,

[22:46] THEIR FAMILIES IS PARAMOUNT. TO THAT END, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PATRONS ARE NOT LOITERING

[22:53] IN OUR PARKING LOT, AND

[22:59] BUILDING, THAT TRASH IS COLLECTED, AND THE RIVER CITY TAVERN HAS A SECURITY PLAN IN PLACE TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE.

[23:04] THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. ARE THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE,

[23:15] I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT AND RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER ELLISON. >> THANK YOU. I AM GOING TO MOVE

[23:21] APPROVAL OF THIS. AND SO I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION. BUT BEFORE WE TAKE A VOTE ON IT, WOULD LOVE IF

[23:27] STAFF AND MIKE OKER COULD JUST COME UP AND EXPLAIN TO FOLKS

[23:35] WHAT EVERYBODY IS CONCERNED ABOUT SECURITY. THAT'S NOT NEW TO YOU, MIKE. >> I DID MY BEST FOR 25 YEARS.

[23:40] YOU KNOW IT. >> WOULD LOVE TO HEAR WHAT THE PLAN IS AND JUST GIVE PEOPLE A

[23:45] LITTLE SENSE OF YOUR BACKGROUND AND HOW YOU PLAN TO PROCEED ON THIS CORNER. >> SURE. FIRST AND FOREMOST,

[23:52] BROADWAY AND NORTH MINNEAPOLIS IS MY HEART. THAT'S ONE THING I'VE ALWAYS MAINTAINED. EVEN THE

[23:58] 4TH STREET SALON, AS A MANAGER, I WASN'T ABLE TO CHANGE WHAT WE

[24:04] DID. BUT I WORKED HARD TO DO A LOT OF GOOD THINGS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO OUR KIDS. BUT OUR

[24:11] SAFETY AND SAFETY OF OUR STAFF AS WELL AS THE PEOPLE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS PARAMOUNT. IT

[24:16] ALWAYS HAS BEEN WITH ME. AND I'VE BEEN THE ONE TO BE OUT THERE BY MYSELF SOMETIMES FIRST

[24:22] AND FOREMOST DEALING WITH INCIDENTS. BUT WE'RE CREATING AN ATMOSPHERE THAT IS NOT CONDUCIVE

[24:29] TO THE YOUNGER CROWD. THEY'RE GOING TO FIND OTHER PLACES TO BE. AND IF THEY WANT TO COME AND

[24:34] ENJOY A GOOD MEAL AND HAVE SOME ENJOYMENT THAT WAY AND SEE SOME LIVE MUSIC IS ONE THING. BUT

[24:41] WHAT I'VE FOUND IS JUST LIKE METEOR BAR DOESN'T HAVE THE PROBLEMS THAT YOU WOULD EXPECT

[24:47] IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE THEY DON'T OFFER THAT TYPE OF ENTERTAINMENT TOWARDS THE YOUNGER CROWD. AND 95% OF OUR

[24:53] YOUNGER CROWD IS AMAZING. UNFORTUNATELY, 5% OF IT HAS REALLY, REALLY, REALLY MADE IT TOUGH FOR THE REST OF US. SO

[25:04] BEING WITNESS AND PRIVY TO THAT PERSONALLY AND HANDS ON FOR 25 YEARS, IE SEEN THE GOODS, THE

[25:09] BADS IN NORTH MINNEAPOLIS, ESPECIALLY ON BROADWAY. AND IT HAS MADE AN ENTIRE TURN.

[25:16] ESPECIALLY SINCE THE RICO ARRESTS AND THE CLEAN UP THEY DID A COUPLE OF SUMMERS AGO

[25:22] WHERE THINGS WERE REALLY, REALLY OUT OF HAND. I THINK HAVING A CLEAN SLATE, BOTH THE NIGHT

[25:29] CLUBS ARE NOW TURNING INTO EATING VENUES WITH LIVE MUSIC. I THINK GIVES WAY TO ANOTHER

[25:36] OPTION, WHICH IS WE WON'T BE DEALING WITH AS MUCH, BUT AT THE

[25:41] SAME TIME, IF THAT DOES OFFER UP ITS UGLY FACE, I'LL BE THERE RIGHT IN FRONT OF IT MYSELF AS

[25:48] WELL AS MY TRAINED SECURITY. AND WE'LL BE GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND

[25:54] WHAT OUR SECURITY PLAN DOES INDICATE. >> THANK YOU. >> YEAH. NORTH MINNEAPOLIS IS MY

[25:59] HEART. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE SAFE. WE'VE ALREADY DID A LOT CLEANING UP. WE'VE REMOVED ALL

[26:07] THE BROKEN GLASS. THE BOTTLES AND THE NEEDLES. WE'RE WORKING HARD TO MAKE SURE WE CAN START

[26:12] HAVING SOME FARMER'S MARKETS AND FUN JAZZ ENTERTAINMENT OVER

[26:18] THERE. >> THAT'S GREAT. TO ADD? >> YEAH, JUST THAT -- >> MICROPHONE. >> SORRY. IT IS STIPULATED IN

[26:25] THE SECURITY PLAN THAT THEY WILL HAVE A HEAD OF SECURITY AND ASSISTANT SECURITY STARTING AT LEAST AT 8 P.M. ON THOSE NIGHTS.

[26:31] I MEAN, JUST TO NOTE THAT WITH CONCERNS TO THE AREA SURROUNDING

[26:37] THAT ALL BUSINESSES AS THEY'RE AWARE ARE REQUIRED TO KEEP THE AREA WITHIN 100 FEET OF THEIR

[26:43] PROPERTY CLEANED. >> I WILL BE DOING THAT PLUS MORE. >> GREAT. GREAT. GREAT. I REALLY

[26:49] APPRECIATE IT. I DON'T WANT TO HAVE YOU GUYS STAND UP HERE IF I DON'T HAVE ANYMORE QUESTIONS.

[26:56] BUT REALLY APPRECIATE. I'LL JUST SAY FOR MY PART, YOU KNOW, THIS

[27:01] IS, YOU KNOW, MIKE MENTIONED A CLEAN SLATE. I THINK THIS CORNER DESERVES A CLEAN SLATE. AS FAR

[27:09] AS IT'S GOT A NEW OWNER, A NEW BUSINESS. CAN'T HOLD THEM

[27:15] ACCOUNTABLE. THIS LOCATION HAS BEEN A BIT INFAMOUS, EVER SINCE I WAS A KID FOR SURE. >> ABSOLUTELY.

[27:21] >> I DON'T THINK IT'S BEEN THE 200 CLUB FOR MANY, MANY CYCLES

[27:26] NOW. >> IT'S STILL REFERENCED. >> THAT'S HOW STRONG, THAT'S HOW MUCH THAT IDENTITY IS IMBEDDED ON THIS CORNER. I THINK YOU KNOW

[27:33] THAT AS WELL AND I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT. >> THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS IF I CAN -- THAT'S ONE OF THE

[27:39] REASONS INSIDE AND OUT. WE JUST TOTALLY GUTTED THE PLACE AND STARTED BRAND NEW. WE DON'T WANT

[27:46] ANY REMNANTS OF THIS IS THE SAME OLD 200 CLUB. WE WANT EVERYONE TO BE EXCITED ABOUT IT AND BRING

[27:52] THEIR FAMILIES TO BREAKFAST AND THEIR GRANDPARENTS FOR BEAUTIFUL JAZZ AND BLUES, R & B EVENING.

[27:59] >> FOR SURE. HOPEFULLY YOU CAN CREATE THAT IDENTITY. GET THE 200 OUT OF PEOPLE'S MINDS. IT'S

[28:04] GOING TO BE A TOUGH ROAD. IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF HARD WORK AND THAT RESPONSIBILITY IS GOING

[28:10] TO FALL SQUARELY ON YOUR SHOULDERS. I ADVISE YOU TO REACH OUT TO TODD AND CREATE A

[28:15] RELATIONSHIP THERE ACROSS THE STREET SO THAT YOU GUYS KNOW EACH OTHER SO IT'S NOT JUST THE

[28:24] INFAMY LIVING IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. >> WE VALIDATE THE CONCERNS, ESPECIALLY ME BEING FROM MY PAST

[28:29] OVER ACROSS THE BRIDGE. I VALIDATE ENTIRELY THE CONCERNS OF ANYBODY THAT HAS QUESTIONS

[28:34] ABOUT THIS, AND I WANT TO ASSURE THEM I'M GOING TO BE WORKING DAY

[28:39] AND NIGHT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT. >> I'M GOING TO WRAP UP HERE, MIKE. YOU CAN ACTUALLY TAKE A

[28:46] SEAT. WE'RE GOING TO WRAP UP AND VOTE HERE. ALL THAT TO SAY THIS IS -- I'M HOPEFUL ABOUT THE

[28:52] DIRECTION THAT THIS CORNER IS MOVING IN AND I HOPE THAT MY

[28:58] COLLEAGUES CAN SUPPORT PASSING THIS. >> THANK YOU. NEXT, I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE. >> THANK YOU. I HAVE A QUESTION

[29:04] FOR STAFF. IF YOU COULD COME UP. WHAT KIND OF PROTECTIONS DOES

[29:09] THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAVE IF THE GUNFIRE RETURNS AND THE VIOLENCE, THE LITTER? WHAT'S OUR

[29:17] ABILITY TO CORRECT THAT?

[29:23] >> EXCELLENT QUESTION, THROUGH THE CHAIR OSMAN, COUNCIL MEMBER

[29:28] RAINVILLE, THERE ARE -- I MEAN, THEIR DETAILED SECURITY PLAN DOES TALK ABOUT WORKING WITH THE

[29:36] FOURTH PRECINCT POLICE OFFICERS AS WELL. CRAIG, DO YOU HAVE -- I THINK.

[29:42] >> YEAH. THANK YOU. CHAIR OSMAN, CRAIG ELIASON, IS IT DOES STATE

[29:49] THAT THE LICENSEE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SECURITY. WE DO TAKE THAT VERY SERIOUSLY AND WE USE

[29:56] PROGRESSIVE DISCIPLINE UP TO AND INCLUDING RECOMMENDING REVOCATION OF THE LICENSE. IT'S

[30:01] PROGRESSIVE DISCIPLINE, BUT IT'S VERY CLEAR IN THE ORDINANCE THAT THE LICENSEE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SECURITY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD

[30:06] AND SURROUNDING PROPERTIES.

[30:12] >> THANK YOU. SO AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THE ANSWERS. BUT THE

[30:17] SHADOW OF THE 200 CLUB IS BLOCKING OUT THE SUN ON THIS

[30:22] APPLICATION. I HEARD THE GUNSHOTS OF THE 128 ROUNDS FIRED

[30:29] ACROSS THE RIVER WHERE I LIVE. WHAT HAPPENS IF THAT OCCURS AGAIN?

[30:35] >> CHAIR OSMAN, COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, YES, WE WORK VERY

[30:40] CLOSELY WITH THE FOURTH PRECINCT. WE DO CALL INS. WE TAKE ACTION. WE COULD PUT

[30:47] CONDITIONS ON THE LICENSE, SUSPENSIONS. BUT I WILL SAY THAT I THINK THE FOURTH PRECINCT HAS

[30:55] PUT A VERY THOROUGH MICROSCOPE ON THIS SECURITY PLAN DUE TO THE

[31:01] HISTORY OF THIS PROPERTY. STAFF AND FOURTH PRECINCT IS WELL AWARE OF THE HISTORY OF THAT

[31:08] PROPERTY. AND TALKING TO THE APPLICANT, FROM THE VERY FIRST DAY WE TOLD HIM THIS WOULD BE A

[31:14] VERY CHALLENGING LOCATION AND THAT WE WISH THEM SUCCESS. BUT THEY WOULD BE UNDER A MICROSCOPE

[31:20] FROM M.P.D. AND FROM OUR DECISION. SO WE WORK CLOSELY WITH M.P.D., WE WORK CLOSELY

[31:26] WITH THE LICENSEE. IT'S ALWAYS BEST WE CAN MEET AND RESOLVE

[31:31] PROBLEMS BEFORE THEY BECOME BIG PROBLEMS. BUT WE DO ANSWER COMPLAINTS AND WE DO ACT IN A

[31:38] PROACTIVE MANNER WHEN WE GET COMPLAINTS. AND M.P.D. IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THAT.

[31:43] >> THANK YOU. SO COUNCIL MEMBER ELLISON, I'M SURE YOU HAVE THE

[31:49] VOTE TO PASS THIS, BUT YOU WILL NOT BE GETTING MY VOTE. I DO

[31:54] BELIEVE THERE ARE SOME VALID COMPLAINTS BY MASTERS IN THE NORTHSIDE ACHIEVEMENT ZONE. I'M HESITANT TO SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE

[32:02] OF THE PAST HISTORY OF THE VIOLENCE IN THAT LOCATION. THANK YOU.

[32:08] >> CHAIR OSMAN, COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, I DO WANT TO NOTE

[32:13] THAT THE SECURITY PLAN DOES ACCOUNT FOR THINGS LIKE GUN, WEAPONS BEING BROUGHT INTO THE

[32:22] CLUB, OVERDOSES, INCIDENTS IN THE PARKING LOT. EACH OF THOSE HAS BEEN ADDRESSED AND GONE OVER

[32:27] WITH LIEUTENANT HAND. THERE IS A PLAN FOR MANY OF THE ANTICIPATED

[32:33] PAST ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED AT THIS LOCATION.

[32:38] >> COUNCIL MEMBER ELLISON. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, STAFF. I JUST WANTED TO ADD JUST A FEW

[32:44] THINGS. ONE IS THAT I DON'T KNOW THAT WE CAN SIT HERE AND ASK AN APPLICANT TO ANSWER FOR 40-YEAR

[32:51] HISTORY OF THIS CORNER. RIGHT. 40 YEARS OF THIS CORNER IT'S BEEN AN ISSUE. I'M 35. THIS

[32:59] CORNER HAS BEEN AN ISSUE LONGER, MUCH BEFORE I WAS BORN. SO ASKING A NEW APPLICANT TO SAY,

[33:05] HEY, YOU'RE ON THE HOOK FOR 40-PLUS YEARS OF THIS CORNER, I DON'T THINK THAT'S A FAIR

[33:10] STANDARD THAT I WOULD WANT TO PUT ON ANY NEW APPLICANT COMING IN TO START A NEW BUSINESS. THE

[33:16] OTHER THING I WOULD SAY ESPECIALLY WEST BROADWAY, BUT I THINK THIS IS TRUE IN ANY OF OUR

[33:22] CORRIDORS, A VACANT, INACTIVE SPACE IS ALMOST NEVER SAFER THAN AN ACTIVATED SPACE. RIGHT. AND

[33:28] SO YOU GET -- AND SO YOU KNOW, WHERE WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE RISK

[33:34] OF SQUATTERS IN A VACANT BUILDING OR WE CAN TALK ABOUT A NEW OWNER COMING IN WITH SOME

[33:40] HIGH STANDARDS TO CREATE A COMMUNITY ASSET. YOU KNOW, AGAIN, MIKE'S SOMEBODY WHO HAS HISTORY ON THE CORRIDOR. RIGHT.

[33:46] HE'S NOT COMING FROM AFAR TO START A BUSINESS WHERE HE CAN

[33:52] AFFORD IT. MIKE HAS HISTORY ON WEST BROADWAY AT ESTABLISHMENTS THAT HAVE HAD ISSUES AND HE'S

[33:58] CORRECTED THOSE ISSUES. AND SO I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF WE ARE GIVING ANYBODY THE BENEFIT OF A TRACK RECORD, IT'S

[34:04] THE PERSON THAT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO BE THERE. LAST THING I'LL SAY IS, YOU KNOW, DONNA HAS BEEN

[34:11] BEFORE OUR COMMITTEE A NUMBER OF TIMES AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF WEST BROADWAY. AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, NONE OF US COULD

[34:18] REALLY CLAIM -- I MEAN, I WOULD TRY TO CLAIM, BUT I DON'T THINK ANY OF US COULD CLAIM WE CARE

[34:27] MORE ABOUT SAFETY ON WEST BROADWAY THAN DONNA DOES. WE'VE GOT SUPPORT HERE FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD. WE'VE GOT SUPPORT

[34:32] HERE FROM A WIDE ARRAY OF ACTORS ON THE CORRIDOR. AND WE'VE GOT

[34:38] AN APPLICANT WITH SOME PRECEDENT OF CREATING GOOD ACTIVATIONS ON THIS CORRIDOR. I UNDERSTAND I

[34:45] MIGHT NOT HAVE THE SUPPORT, BUT I WOULD OFFER THAT AS A RETORT. AND IF I COULD EARN YOUR SUPPORT

[34:51] AT LEAST BY NEXT THURSDAY, THEN I'LL ACCEPT THAT. BUT I JUST FELT THAT CONTEXT IS REALLY

[34:56] IMPORTANT AS WE THINK ABOUT WHAT IT TAKES AND WHAT IT HAS TAKEN TO SLOWLY BUT SURELY CREATE WEST

[35:04] BROADWAY INTO A MUCH SAFER CORRIDOR. THERE WAS A TIME WHEN PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT BROADWAY AND

[35:09] LYNDALE WAS NEVER GOING TO ACHIEVE ANY LEVEL OF SAFETY. AND NOW THAT LEVEL OF SAFETY HAS

[35:15] BEEN ACHIEVED AND MAINTAINED FOR AT LEAST A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW. AND SO THAT GIVES ME FAITH THAT

[35:20] THE 200 CLUB CAN ALSO TURN THAT CORNER. THAT'S ALL I'LL OFFER. AND THEN YOU KNOW, I GUESS WE

[35:26] CAN -- YEAH. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. SEEING NO ONE ELSE, WITH COUNCIL MEMBER

[35:32] ELLISON'S MOTION TO APPROVE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> AND THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY. >> NAY.

[35:37] >> ALL RIGHT. THAT MOTION CARRIES. NEXT, WE HAVE A PUBLIC

[35:45] HEARING FOR ORDINANCE RELATED TO PROHIBITED SALE AND LOCATION RESTRICTION FOR LICENSE TOBACCO

[35:53] DEALERS. I'LL ASK MAX CERVANTES AND EVELYN HARBRAY FROM BUSINESS

[35:59] LICENSE FOR A PRESENTATION. WELCOME. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR OSMAN, COUNCIL MEMBERS. GOOD AFTERNOON.

[36:08] MY NAME IS EVELYN, I'M A SENIOR PUBLIC HEALTH SPECIALIST WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND I'LL BE CO-PRESENTING THIS AFTERNOON

[36:16] WITH MY COLLEAGUE, MAX CERVANTES FROM BUSINESS LICENSING. I WILL SPEAK ABOUT THE HEALTH ASPECTS

[36:23] OF THE PROPOSED TOBACCO AMENDMENTS. AND MAX WILL SPEAK ON THE LICENSING AND ZONING

[36:30] ASPECTS. GO TO NEXT SLIDE. THERE WE GO. AS A HEALTH DEPARTMENT,

[36:35] WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE LEADING CAUSE OF PREVENTABLE

[36:41] DEATH IN MINNESOTA. THESE PRODUCTS CAUSE MILLIONS OF DEATHS EACH YEAR. BECAUSE OF THE

[36:48] HIGHLY ADDICTIVE NATURE, IT IS FAR MORE EFFECTIVE TO LOWER

[36:54] TOBACCO RELATED DEATHS IF WE PREVENT YOUTH FROM EVER STARTING

[37:00] TO USE THEM. AMENDING THE

[37:06] MINNEAPOLIS CODE OF ORDINANCES. INCREASED A MINIMUM PRICE OF

[37:12] CIGARETTES, CIGARS, SNUFF, AND

[37:18] SNARS. AND TO DEFINE SAMPLING OF COMMERCIAL TOBACCO PRODUCTS ON

[37:27] PRODUCT SHELVES. ABOUT 14% OF

[37:35] ADULTS AGES 18 TO 24 REPORT CURRENTLY USING E-CIGARETTES AND

[37:43] VAPES VAPES. E-CIGARETTES OR VAPES ARE

[37:54] HIGHLY ADDICTIVE. A STRONG RELATIONSHIP EXISTS BETWEEN

[38:01] ADOLESCENT EXPOSURE TO NICOTINE AND ANXIETY OR STRESS. LIMITING

[38:07] WHERE COMMERCIAL TOBACCO PRODUCTS CAN BE SOLD WILL HELP TO REDUCE EXPOSURE AMONG YOUTH.

[38:24] SETTING A MINIMUM PRICE FOR E-CIGARETTES OR VAPES WHICH ARE

[38:29] DEFINED IN THE MINNEAPOLIS CODE OF ORDINANCES WILL HELP TO PREVENT YOUTH INITIATION AND USE OF THESE PRODUCTS.

[38:36] KEEPING THE COST HIGH IS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE TOOLS TO DECREASE THEIR USE. THIS IS

[38:43] ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO TEND TO BE MORE PRICE SENSITIVE. WHEN THE PRICE OF

[38:48] CIGARETTES IS INCREASED BY 10%.

[38:55] THIS REDUCTION IS LIKELY TRUE FOR OTHER COMMERCIAL TOBACCO PRODUCTS SUCH AS E-CIGARETTES

[39:02] AND VAPES. THERE'S A BROAD RANGE

[39:07] OF E-CIGARETTE PRODUCTS. DATA ON E-CIGARETTE PRICING GATHERED

[39:13] FROM TOBACCO STORE PRODUCTS IN SHOPS IN MINNEAPOLIS IN JUNE OF 2024 SHOWED THE RANGE FOR THE

[39:20] LOWEST ADVERTISED PRICE OF A

[39:26] SINGLE USEABLE -- AVERAGE MINIMUM PRICE OF $17.26.

[39:32] ADDITIONAL PRICE DATA ON 30 VAPE PRODUCTS RANGING FROM A SINGLE POD TO A DEVICE SHOWED THERE WAS A BROAD RANGE IN PRICE FROM

[39:38] ABOUT $6 FOR A SINGLE POD TO ABOUT $22 FOR A DEVICE WITH A

[39:44] STARTER KIT THAT INCLUDES THE DEVICE POD AND CHARGER COSTING UP TO $50. RAISING THE MINIMUM

[39:52] PRICE TO $25 PER ELECTRONIC DELIVERY DEVICE WOULD BE AN INCREASE OF ABOUT $7.74 FROM

[40:01] THAT AVERAGE MINIMUM PRICE FOR A SINGLE DISPOSABLE E-CIGARETTE.

[40:09] SPEAKING TO THE LOCATION RESTRICTIONS, BOTH LOCATION AND DENSITY OF TOBACCO RETAILERS IS

[40:16] ASSOCIATED WITH COMMERCIAL TOBACCO PRODUCTS. THIS IS TRUE FOR BOTH YOUTH AND ADULTS.

[40:24] DRIVING BOTH SALES AND USE.

[40:30] STRONG TOBACCO -- CAN BE SOLD AND IS RECOMMENDED BY THE INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE AS WELL AS

[40:36] THE U.S. SURGEON GENERAL. AND NOW I WILL PASS IT OVER TO MAX.

[40:41] >> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS. I AM MAX CERVANTES DISTRICT SUPERVISOR FOR BUSINESS

[40:47] LICENSING AND I CAN PRESENT ON WHEN THIS ORDINANCE AMENDMENT DOES. THIS ORDINANCE AMENDMENT

[40:52] WILL AFFECT TOBACCO DEALERS IN TWO WAYS. BY CHANGING THE

[40:58] ALLOWED LOCATIONS FOR NEW EXCLUSIVE TOBACCO SHOPS AND TOBACCO DEALER LICENSES. THERE'S

[41:06] CURRENTLY NO MINIMUM PRICE FOR VAPE OR E-CIGARETTE PRODUCTS. THIS AMENDMENT WOULD ESTABLISH A

[41:11] MINIMUM PRICE OF $25 PER DELIVERY DEVICE, ALIGNING WITH EXISTING PRICING RULES FOR

[41:18] CIGARETTES, CIGARS, LOOSE

[41:25] TOBACCO, MOIST SNUFF. CURRENTLY

[41:32] OUTSIDE OF DOWNTOWN ZONING DISTRICTS, NEW EXCLUSIVE DEALERS MUST BE LOCATED 2,000 FEET FROM

[41:40] EXISTING ONES. DOWNTOWN DISTRICTS ARE EXEMPT FROM THIS RULE ALLOWING 2,000 FEET OF

[41:47] ANOTHER. THIS AMENDMENT WOULD REMOVE THAT EXEMPTION REQUIRING ALL NEW EXCLUSIVE TOBACCO

[41:52] DEALERS REGARDLESS OF LOCATION TO BE AT LEAST 2,000 FEET FROM EXISTING ONES. ADDITIONALLY THIS

[41:59] AMENDMENT WOULD ADD A SPACING REQUIREMENT FOR NEW TOBACCO LOCATIONS TO BE MORE THAN 300

[42:05] FEET FROM A K-12 SCHOOL. CURRENTLY THERE IS NO SPACING

[42:10] REQUIREMENT. THIS AMENDMENT WOULD BE IN ALIGNMENT WITH SPACING REQUIREMENTS FOR OFF

[42:16] SALE LIQUOR AND CANNABIS DISPENSARIES. LASTLY, THIS AMENDMENT ESTABLISHES A REQUIREMENT THAT A NEW LOCATION

[42:21] OF A TOBACCO DEALER BE LOCATED ON A MINIMUM OF THREE CONTIGUOUS

[42:27] ACRES OF APPLICABLE ZONING. THIS WOULD BE COMMUNITY MIXED USE 3,

[42:33] CM3 ZONING OR HIGHER. THIS REQUIREMENT WOULD BE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE ZONING REQUIREMENTS FOR CANNABIS

[42:38] DISPENSARIES AND SIMILAR TO OFF SALE LIQUOR STORES THAT HAVE A REQUIREMENT OF FIVE CONTIGUOUS

[42:43] ACRES. THE MINIMUM PRICING WOULD

[42:49] BE EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY ONCE PASSED. AND WHILE CHANGES TO THE ALLOWABLE LOCATIONS WOULD GO

[42:56] INTO EFFECT ON AUGUST 1ST, 2025. BUSINESS LICENSING ENFORCEMENT WOULD BE THE SAME AS IT IS

[43:03] TODAY. WE CONDUCT ANNUAL LICENSE INSPECTIONS, WHICH INCLUDE YOUTH

[43:08] TOBACCO CHECKS. IF A VIOLATION IS FOUND, A FOLLOW UP IS

[43:15] SCHEDULED AND TAKES PLACE. IN 2024, 251 YOUTH TOBACCO

[43:21] INSPECTIONS. AND 23 CITATIONS WERE ISSUED FOR FAILURES.

[43:27] OVERALL, WE ANTICIPATE MINIMAL IMPACT FOR CHANGES ON EXISTING

[43:33] BUSINESS OWNERS. AS THE NEW LOCATIONS REQUIREMENTS WILL HAVE

[43:38] HIGHER REQUIREMENTS ABOUT WHERE THEY CAN BE. WE'VE HAD MINIMAL

[43:44] COMPLAINTS SINCE THE PRICE INCREASE OF OTHER COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS WENT INTO EFFECT IN MAY 2024. THIS IS NOT A TAX. THE

[43:53] MINIMUM PRICES PAID GO DIRECTLY TO THE TOBACCO DEALERS THEMSELVES. ALL EXISTING TOBACCO

[43:59] LICENSEES HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. SHOULD THIS ORDINANCE BE

[44:06] AMENDING ALL DEALERS WILL BE NOTIFIED. THIS CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION, AND WE WILL STAND

[44:12] FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. FIRST, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND

[44:18] THEN WE'LL COME BACK TO ANY QUESTIONS. I'M GOING TO PROCEED TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. I HAVE A LIST OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE

[44:25] SIGNED UP. PLEASE EXCUSE ME IF I MISPRONOUNCE YOUR NAME. FIRST

[44:37] PERSON IS MINISTER DOCTOR D

[44:46] DRAHOEKS. WELCOME.

[44:58] >> CHAIR AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS.

[45:04] I AM HERE AS A PROUD GRANDPARENT AND AS AN ALUM OF THE LAMP

[45:11] LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE. LAMP LEADERS WORK TO REDUCE TOBACCO

[45:17] USE AND IMPROVE HEALTH EQUITY FOR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES IN MINNESOTA. I AM ALSO A FAITH

[45:22] LEADER AT THE GREATER FRIENDSHIP MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH WHERE I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN EDUCATING

[45:30] MY COMMUNITY ABOUT THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF CIGARETTES.

[45:36] MINNEAPOLIS HAS SHOWN INCREDIBLE LEADERSHIP OVER THE PAST DECADE PASSING GROUNDBREAKING

[45:44] ORDINANCES AROUND FLAVORED COMMERCIAL TOBACCO PRODUCTS AND PRICE, INCLUDING THE $15 PER

[45:51] PACK PRICE YOU SET LAST YEAR. UNFORT UNFORTUNATELY, THE TOBACCO

[45:58] INDUSTRY NEVER RESTS. SO NEITHER CAN WE. THANK YOU FOR

[46:05] RECOGNIZING THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT SOLVED ALL AT ONCE, BUT

[46:11] RATHER THROUGH CONSISTENT AND PERSISTENT EFFORT. RESTING IS SIMPLY NOT AN OPTION IN THE FACE

[46:19] OF AN INDUSTRY THAT CONTINUES TO PUSH THIS DEADLY ADDICTIVE PRODUCT ON OUR COMMUNITY. THE

[46:27] ORDINANCE BEFORE YOU TODAY WILL SET A MINIMUM PRICE FOR VAPING

[46:32] PRODUCTS AT $25, AND UPDATE ZONING RESTRICTIONS TO ENSURE THERE ARE FEWER TOBACCO OUTLETS

[46:42] IN OUR CITY. THERE ARE BOTH IMPORTANT STEPS. I SEE FIRST

[46:47] HAND THE DEVASTATING IMPACT THAT VAPING HAS HAD ON OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. IT IS UP TO US TO SAVE

[46:53] THIS GENERATION AND TELL THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY NO MORE. REMEMBER, HEALTHY PEOPLE RAISE

[47:01] HEALTHY FAMILIES. ASANTE SANA. >> ASANTE SANA. THANK YOU SO

[47:08] MUCH. THE NEXT PERSON, SUSAN NASH.

[47:16] >> I SAID HELLO IN MY LANGUAGE. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY. I JUST WANT TO SAY LIKE YOU, THE

[47:23] CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS HAS LED THE WAY IN HELPING KIDS REDUCE TOBACCO USE BY RAISING THE PRICE

[47:29] AND KEEPING IT AWAY FROM CHILDREN. I WORK WITH YOUTH. I HAVE A DHS GRANT TO WORK WITH

[47:37] YOUTH AROUND DRUGS, ALCOHOL, TOBACCO. BUT ALSO TO RECLAIM

[47:42] TRADITIONAL TOBACCO AS OUR FIRST MEDICINE. WE WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY IF TOBACCO WAS NOT

[47:47] COLONIZED AND TAKEN FROM US AS OUR FIRST MEDICINE. WE WOULD NOT HAVE KIDS VAPING OR SMOKING. WE

[47:54] WOULD NOT HAVE PEOPLE DYING WITH CANCER. I ASK YOU TODAY TO PLEASE SUPPORT THIS. MAKING THE

[48:00] PRICE HIGH TO KEEP IT OUT OF THE POCKETS OF OUR KIDS. OUR KIDS ARE VAPING. THEY'RE GETTING

[48:07] SUSPENDED FROM SCHOOL. THE PRICE HAS GONE UP AND HAS AFFECTED YOUNG ADULTS. IT HAS AFFECTED

[48:14] OUR YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY. I HAD ONE KID WHO ATTENDED MY

[48:21] PROGRAM, HIS DEVICE FELL OUT OF

[48:27] HIS POCKET. -- THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE TODAY, AND KEEP THE PRICE HIGH.

[48:33] >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. OUR NEXT

[48:38] PERSON IS JONNETTE SANCHEZ. >> HELLO. JANETTE SANCHEZ.

[48:46] HELLO, MY RELATIVES. MY NAME IS JANETTE. TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO

[48:51] ASK YOU TO SUPPORT THIS TOBACCO ORDINANCE BECAUSE IT AFFECTS INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND ALL THE

[48:56] OTHER PEOPLE OF COLOR AND THE LOWER INCOME AREAS. AS THEY

[49:03] STATED BEFORE, HEALTHY PEOPLE RAISE HEALTHY PEOPLE. A LOT OF OUR PEOPLE GROW UP IN ADDICTION.

[49:10] AND RAISING THE PRICE WILL HELP OUR YOUTH STOP. AND I FEEL LIKE, YEAH, JUST HAVING LESS ACCESS TO

[49:17] THIS TOBACCO PRODUCT WILL HELP OUR COMMUNITIES IN THE LONG RUN BE MORE HEALTHIER AND POSITIVE.

[49:23] >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR

[49:28] TESTIMONY. OUR NEXT PERSON IS

[49:34] DEVON JAY. >> NEVER BEEN CALLED THAT.

[49:40] >> SORRY. WELCOME. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL

[49:46] PRESIDENT OSMAN AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS DIMON

[49:53] PRESLEY, AND I'VE BEEN FREE FROM DRUGS AND ALCOHOL. MY CALLING IN LIFE IS TO HELP OTHERS

[50:03] EXPERIENCE A LIFE FREE FROM

[50:09] ADDICTION. I KNEW ABOUT ADDICTION FIRST HAND. FROM MY YEARS WORKING WITH PEOPLE WHO SUFFERED ADDICTION, AND FROM

[50:15] PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, I CAN TELL YOU THAT NICOTINE ADDICTION IS NO JOKE. I'M HERE TODAY IN

[50:21] SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE. NICOTINE IS NICOTINE. WHETHER IT COMES FROM A VAPE, A

[50:28] CIGAR OR CIGARETTE. IT IS ONE OF THE MOST ADDICTED DRUGS ON THE

[50:33] PLANET YET IT IS LEGALLY READY, AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. THE COMMERCIAL TOBACCO INDUSTRY

[50:40] THRIVES ON ADDICTION AND IS THE CORNERSTONE OF THE BUSINESS MODEL. IN MY OPINION, USING

[50:47] ADDICTION TO EARN BILLIONS OF PROFITS IS CRIMINAL. I HAD BEEN IN A BATTLE WITH THE TOBACCO

[50:53] INDUSTRY FOR DECADES. WE KNOW THAT THE PRICE OF TOBACCO PRODUCT AFFECTS YOUTH, SO LET'S

[50:59] SET SOME RULES ON THE PRICE OF A PRODUCT WE KNOW ONLY HARMS COMMUNITIES. YOU ALREADY HAVE A

[51:05] MINIMUM PRICE ON CIGARETTES, LITTLE CIGARS. HOWEVER, FEW

[51:11] YOUTH TODAY USE COMBUSTIBLE TOBACCO PRODUCTS. WHILE VAST NUMBERS HAVE BEEN AND WILL

[51:17] CONTINUE TO BE ADDICTED TO NICOTINE THROUGH VAPES. PLEASE MAKE SURE E-CIGARETTES ARE REGULATED TOO. WE HAVE ALLOWED

[51:24] THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY TO UNDER VALUE OUR LIVES FOR TOO LONG. WE

[51:31] NEED TO PUT PEOPLE OVER PROFITS. SETTING A MINIMUM PRICE FOR

[51:37] VAPES AT $25 WILL HELP PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH THEIR ADDICTION TO NICOTINE WILL HELP THE NEXT

[51:44] GENERATION FROM BEING ADDICTED. PLEASE HELP AND SUPPORT THIS CHANGE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. OUR NEXT

[51:50] PERSON IS LAST NAME BOLTON.

[52:06] >> PRESIDENT OSMAN AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, MINNEAPOLIS

[52:16] CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. STRONGLY SUPPORT THE CITY COUNCIL

[52:22] PROPOSED ORDINANCE TO CHANGE THE MINIMUM PRICE FOR E-CIGARETTES,

[52:30] VAPES $25. ZONING RULES TO

[52:40] EXCLUDE NEW TOBACCO PRODUCTS THAT ARE RESIDENTIAL. OUR AGENCY

[52:45] MISSION IS TO PROVIDE

[52:52] CULTURALLY, HEALTH SOCIAL SERVICES, IMMIGRANT REFUGEES. OUR AGENCY GOALS ARE TO PROMOTE

[52:59] ACTIVITIES POSITIVELY IMPACT THE HEALTH OF THE AFRICAN COMMUNITY, PROVIDE THE AFRICAN IMMIGRANT

[53:04] AND REFUGEE WITH EDUCATION, SUPPORT, AND RESOURCE THEY NEED TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.

[53:17] IN 2024, MINNEAPOLIS -- THERE HAS BEEN HIGH COMPETENCE WITH

[53:23] EXISTING PRICE MINIMUMS. THE COUNCIL DID NOT APPLY THE MINIMUM PRICE TO THE E-CIGARETTE

[53:30] AT THE TIME. -- ENSURING

[53:36] RESTRICTIONS ARE IN PLACE ON ALL COMMERCIAL TOBACCO PRODUCTS. PRICE IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE TOOL

[53:43] FOR REDUCING SMOKING AND PREVENTING YOUTHS FROM STARTING.

[53:49] INCREASING THE PRICE, DECREASE TOBACCO USED ESPECIALLY AMONG

[53:57] THE YOUTH. WITH THIS CHANGE, MINNEAPOLIS IS TAKING STEPS

[54:04] TOWARD THE HEALTHIER COMMUNITY. ESTABLISHING THE MINIMUM PRICE AND REGULATING THE LOCATION OF

[54:13] TOBACCO RETAILERS -- APPEALING TO YOUNG PEOPLE. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[54:19] >> TOBACCO INDUSTRIES STRATEGICALLY TARGET.

[54:25] >> THANK YOU, SIR. HE DIDN'T HEAR ME.

[54:30] >> WE STRONGLY SUPPORT THOSE

[54:35] POLICIES. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I DON'T

[54:41] THINK HE CAN HEAR ME. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. NEXT PERSON IS

[54:48] JACQUELINE FRANK.

[55:00] >> HI, GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS

[55:05] JACQUELINE FRANK AND I WORK WITH THE ASSOCIATION FOR NONSMOKERS OF MINNESOTA TO REDUCE THE COST

[55:11] OF COMMERCIAL TOBACCO. AND I'M ALSO A RESIDENT OF PROSPECT PARK

[55:17] IN WARD 2 IN MINNEAPOLIS. I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL WHEN VAPES WERE INTRODUCED AND BECOMING POPULAR.

[55:22] THERE WERE MAJOR CONCERNS THEN THAT THIS WOULD BECOME THE NEW SMOKING OF MY GENERATION AFTER

[55:28] DECADES OF PROGRESS. 10 YEARS LATER AND THE E-CIGARETTE MARKET CONTINUES TO GROW ATTRACTING

[55:34] MORE AND MORE CUSTOMERS WITH LESS REGULATIONS THAN OTHER

[55:40] COMMERCIAL TOBACCO PRODUCTS LIKE CIGARETTES. THE LEAST WE CAN DO AT THE CITY LEVEL IS SET

[55:47] REGULATIONS ON THE PRICE KNOWING THAT PRICE IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE TOOL FOR REDUCING SMOKING IN

[55:53] ADULTS AND PREVENTING YOUTH FROM STARTING. I HAVE SEEN PRICE INACTION RIGHT HERE IN OUR

[55:59] COMMUNITY. I WAS RECENTLY AT A GAS STATION IN MINNEAPOLIS RIGHT BY MY APARTMENT WITH A FRIEND

[56:05] THAT DECIDED THEY MIGHT TRY A CIGAR SEEING THEM DISPLAYED RIGHT BEHIND THE COUNTER. AND

[56:10] THEY DECIDED AGAINST IT AS SOON AS THEY HEARD THE PRICE. PRICE MINIMUMS ARE AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO

[56:17] PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY. I HAVE A MASTER'S DEGREE IN PUBLIC HEALTH, AND WHEN I FIRST STARTED

[56:26] COLLEGE -- THAT VAPE CRISIS WAS NEVER SOLD. LET'S DO WHAT WE CAN

[56:32] AS A CITY TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.

[56:37] >> NEXT PERSON IS SYLVIA OLMOS.

[56:46] >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS SYLVIA

[56:55] AMOS AND I SERVE AS A FAITH COMMUNITY. I AM A LIFE LONG

[57:01] RESIDENT OF MINNEAPOLIS AND LIVE IN WARD 5. I AM HERE IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROPOSAL. I'VE BEEN A

[57:07] TOBACCO CONTROL ADVOCATE FOR A LONG TIME, AND ONE THING I KNOW FOR SURE IS THAT THERE'S ALWAYS MORE WORK TO DO. THE TOBACCO

[57:14] INDUSTRY IS RELENTLESS. WE MUST BE RELENTLESS TOO. MY GRANDPARENTS, MY PARENTS, AND

[57:19] NOW ME HAVE HAD TO FIGHT FOR EVERY RIGHT THAT MOST OF YOU WERE BORN WITH. SO I HAVE A DUTY

[57:24] AND A RESPONSIBILITY TO NEVER STOP FIGHTING FOR THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF MY COMMUNITY,

[57:30] ESPECIALLY OUR YOUNG FOLKS. FOR ME, IT IS PERSONAL. TOBACCO COST MY MOTHER HER LIFE WHO STARTED

[57:37] SMOKING AT 11-YEARS OLD. I'VE ALSO LOST A HUSBAND AND THREE

[57:42] AUNTS TO TOBACCO RELATED DISEASE. ALL OF THEM SMOKED

[57:49] MENTHOL FLAVORED CIGARETTES AND DIED TOO YOUNG. JUST LAST YEAR, THE COUNCIL ENDED THE USE OF ALL

[57:56] TOBACCO COUPONS AND PROMOTIONS AND SET A MINIMUM PRICE FOR CIGARETTES AT $15 A PACK. THIS

[58:01] IS LIKELY THE HIGHEST IN THE NATION. PRIOR TO THAT, CITY

[58:08] LEADERS RESTRICTED TO ADULT ONLY TOBACCO SHOPS. YOU WERE THE FIRST IN THE STATE TO DO THAT. THESE ARE THINGS WE ALL CAN BE

[58:15] PROUD OF. IN 2025, WE ARE LIVING IN A POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT WHERE BLACK LIVES DON'T MATTER, WHERE

[58:22] BROWN LIVES DON'T MATTER, WHERE LGBTQ LIVES DON'T MATTER, AND WHERE THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY

[58:29] VALUES PROFITS OVER LIVES. WE MUST VALUE ALL LIVES AND PROTECT THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF ALL

[58:35] MINNEAPOLIS RESIDENTS, KIDS AND ADULTS. THAT INCLUDES CONTROLLING THE TOBACCO

[58:41] INDUSTRY'S PRICE MANIPULATION. I'M ASKING THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS TO CONTINUE TO STAND UP FOR LIFE AND VOTE YES ON THIS

[58:46] PROPOSAL AND CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR MORE WAYS TO HOLD THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY ACCOUNTABLE. WE DO HAVE YOUR BACK. THANK YOU.

[58:53] >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. [APPLAUSE] >> NEXT PERSON IS LUCY FARBER.

[59:08] >> GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR OSMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS LUCY FARBER AND I'M HERE

[59:14] REPRESENTING MY ORGANIZATION, ADVOCATES FOR HEALTH. I'M ALSO A WARD 1 CONSTITUENTS. I'M HERE

[59:20] TODAY TO SET A MINIMUM PRICE FOR ALL E-CIGARETTES AT $25 AS WELL AS UPDATE ZONING REGULATIONS FOR

[59:27] TOBACCO SHOPS. IN MY PROFESSIONAL LIFE I'M INUNDATED WITH DATA THAT INDICATES

[59:32] COMMERCIAL TOBACCO USE IS CURRENTLY STILL A PROBLEM BUT DIALED BACK THE -- I AM

[59:41] SURROUNDED BY COMMERCIAL TOBACCO USE, SPECIFICALLY IN THE FORM OF VAPES. THE DIFFERENCE IN THE USE RATES

[59:48] I OBSERVE NOW EVEN COMPARED TO FIVE YEARS AGO IS VIVID. AND IT'S CLEAR AS TO WHY. THESE

[59:54] PRODUCTS ARE DESIGNED TO NOT ONLY BE SUBTLE BUT CHIC. THE

[1:00:02] PACKAGING IS TRENDY AND THE FLAVORS. THESE PRODUCTS ARE

[1:00:08] HIGHLY ADDICTIVE. MANY CONTAIN RATIOS OF NICOTINE THAT FAR

[1:00:15] EXCEED WHAT YOU FIND IN CIGARETTES. WHEN I THINK ABOUT HOW THESE PRODUCTS IMPACT MY

[1:00:20] LOVED ONES, I THINK ABOUT MY CHILDHOOD BEST FRIEND. SHE WAS

[1:00:26] ENVELOPED BY PARTY CULTURE AND STRUGGLED WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE. NOW IN HER EARLY 30s, SHE'S

[1:00:33] SUCCESSFULLY STOPPED DRINKING ALCOHOL AND DRUGS RECREATIONALLY. ALL EXCEPT FOR

[1:00:40] VAPING. SAYING THAT NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES SHE'S TRIED TO STOP, SHE ALWAYS BUYS A NEW

[1:00:46] VAPE. SHE'S SIMPLY TOO ADDICTED TO THE NICOTINE. PRICE IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE POLICY TOOL IN

[1:00:51] DECREASING PEOPLE'S USE OF COMMERCIAL TOBACCO PRODUCTS AND HELPING THEM QUIT. IN ADOPTING THIS ORDINANCE, YOU WILL NOT

[1:00:58] SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, BUT YOU WILL HELP SLOW IT DOWN. BY PASSING THE ORDINANCE BEFORE YOU, YOU

[1:01:03] WILL GIVE THOSE WHO ARE DESPERATE TO STOP USING THESE PRODUCTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BREAK

[1:01:08] THAT CYCLE OF HABITUATION. THANK

[1:01:14] YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. OUR NEXT PERSON IS LAURA SMITH.

[1:01:25] >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME'S LAURA SMITH AND I'M A RESIDENT

[1:01:31] OF COUNCIL MEMBER CHOWDHURY'S WARD. I'M A PUBLIC HEALTH ADVOCATE AND PROUD AUNTIE TO

[1:01:36] THREE MINNEAPOLIS KIDS. I SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE WHICH WILL MAKE A HEALTHIER COMMUNITY FOR ALL OF US. IT'S SIMPLE. THE

[1:01:44] BEST WAY TO LOWER COMMERCIAL TOBACCO RATES IS TO PREVENT YOUNG PEOPLE FROM EVER STARTING. SETTING A HIGH PRICE FOR TOBACCO

[1:01:51] PRODUCTS ACHIEVES THAT GOAL AND ALSO HELPS ADULTS QUIT. THE

[1:01:57] TOBACCO INDUSTRY SHAMELESSLY TARGETS YOUTH, PEOPLE OF COLOR AND AMERICAN INDIANS, LGBTQ. WE

[1:02:08] NEED A STRONG APPROACH TO COUNTER ACT THESE TACTICS. YOUNG PEOPLE ARE TARGETED BY CHEAP

[1:02:17] E-CIGARETTES. THEY'RE ALSO TARGETED BY ADVERTISEMENTS AND A HIGH NUMBER OF RETAILERS NEAR THEIR HOMES AND NEAR THEIR

[1:02:22] SCHOOLS. YOUTH CIGARETTE RATES

[1:02:30] REMAIN FAR TOO HIGH. MAKES KIDS VULNERABLE TO LIFETIME

[1:02:35] ADDICTION. I URGE THE COUNCIL TO ADOPT THIS MINIMUM PRICE FOR ALL E-CIGARETTES AND TO ADD THESE

[1:02:41] LICENSING PARAMETERS. BOTH THESE POLICIES COMBINED WILL MAKE IT, AGAIN, EASIER FOR ADULTS TO QUIT

[1:02:48] AND HARDER FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO START. STRONG CITY POLICIES ARE ESPECIALLY NEEDED RIGHT NOW

[1:02:53] BECAUSE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS DEFUNDED TOBACCO PREVENTION AND BACKTRACKED ON OUR

[1:03:01] LIFESAVING POLICIES. MINNEAPOLIS SHOULD BE A CITY WHERE EVERYONE CAN GROW UP FREE FROM ADDICTION

[1:03:06] AND HEALTHY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT

[1:03:14] PERSON IS HASAN HAMMED.

[1:03:21] >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS HASAN MUHAMMAD. I AM A PUBLIC

[1:03:30] ADVOCACY, ALSO YOUTH MENTOR, AND I WORK WITH AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY SERVICES AS A TOBACCO

[1:03:37] COORDINATOR. OUR ORGANIZATION AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY BASED

[1:03:43] ORGANIZATION COMMITTED TO PROVIDING HEALTH EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES TO AFRICAN BORN

[1:03:49] COMMUNITIES IN MINNESOTA. WE HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR TWO DECADES, AND WE SERVE LARGE

[1:03:55] POPULATION OF YOUNG EAST AFRICAN IN THE TWIN CITIES AND THE SUBURBS. WE HAVE SEEN THE IMPACT

[1:04:00] OF TOBACCO, AND ESPECIALLY VAPING HAD ON OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

[1:04:09] THIS POLICY CHANGE WILL BE BENEFICIAL FOR ALL THE COMMUNITIES. SO I AM

[1:04:14] SUPPORTING -- I AM STRONGLY SUPPORTING THAT THE CITY

[1:04:20] COUNCIL'S EFFORTS TO ADDRESS TOBACCO IN OUR CITY. THE TOBACCO

[1:04:26] INDUSTRY TARGETS COMMUNITIES LIKE OUR COMMUNITY, LIKE MY COMMUNITY THAT WE MUST WORK TOGETHER AND MAKE A REAL CHANGE

[1:04:34] TO THIS PROPOSED POLICY. SO I AM URGING ALL THE CITY COUNCIL

[1:04:40] MEMBERS TO SUPPORT THESE EFFORTS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. NEXT PERSON IS

[1:04:49] MEGAN McFARELY.

[1:04:56] >> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS MEGAN McFARLEY. I'VE BEEN AN ADVOCATE

[1:05:04] FOR 12 YEARS. IF YOU WOULD HAVE TOLD 17-YEAR OLD ME HOW MUCH

[1:05:10] PROGRESS OUR COMMUNITY HAS MADE IN VAPING PREVENTION, I WOULD HAVE BEEN THRILLED BUT ALSO

[1:05:17] HEARTBROKEN TO SEE THE GRIP VAPING HAS HAD ON SO MANY. MANY OF MY FRIENDS STARTED VAPING IN

[1:05:23] HIGH SCHOOL, AND NOW A DECADE LATER, THEY ARE STRUGGLING TO QUIT. THOUGH MY FRIENDS ARE

[1:05:32] OLDER NOW, THEY STILL HAVE NO PROBLEM AFFORDING AND ACCESSING

[1:05:38] E-CIGARETTES DESPITE HAVING LOW PAYING JOBS. MY FRIENDS ADDICTIONS TO VAPING CONTINUE TO

[1:05:43] AFFECT THEIR HEALTH, THEIR WALLETS AND THEIR FUTURES.

[1:05:50] THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE ORDINANCE. SETTING A $25

[1:05:58] MINIMUM PRICE, CREATE A BUFFER NEAR SCHOOLS, ARE COMMON SENSE MEASURES THAT WILL PROTECT THE

[1:06:03] NEXT GENERATION. WE ALREADY KNOW THAT PRICE POLICIES WORK. YOUNG PEOPLE IN LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES

[1:06:10] ARE THE MOST PRICED SENSITIVE, AND THESE POLICIES REDUCE

[1:06:17] ACCESS. THIS IS ABOUT MORE THAN PRICING. IT'S ABOUT EQUITY, HEALTH AND ENSURING LESS PEOPLE

[1:06:22] IN OUR COMMUNITY STRUGGLE WITH ADDICTION. BY UPDATING THIS ORDINANCE, MINNEAPOLIS CAN

[1:06:28] CONTINUE LEADING THE WAY. SENDING A STRONG MESSAGE THAT THE HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITY

[1:06:33] COMES FIRST. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. OUR NEXT

[1:06:39] PERSON IS LAWRENCE FOX. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR OSMAN, AND

[1:06:46] THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME'S LARRY FOX. I'M A RESIDENT OF WARD 7. WE'VE ALL HEARD ABOUT

[1:06:53] THE DEEPENING TEEN MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS WITH UNPRECEDENTED LEVELS OF ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, AND

[1:06:59] SUICIDE. IT'S ALSO BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED THAT NICOTINE, ESPECIALLY HEAVY NICOTINE USE IN

[1:07:07] TEENS, CAN WORSEN ANXIETY SYMPTOMS, AMPLIFY DEPRESSION AND

[1:07:12] IMPAIRED LEARNING. MY FAMILY HAS HAD PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THESE ISSUES THAT I'D LIKE TO

[1:07:18] SHARE WITH YOU. MY SON STARTED VAPING WHEN HE WAS IN HIGH

[1:07:23] SCHOOL. HIS EXPERIMENTATION TURNED INTO ADDICTION. AND HE BEGAN VAPING DAILY. THE VAPING

[1:07:28] LED TO OTHER SUBSTANCE ABUSE. DURING THIS PERIOD OUR SON BECAME DEPRESSED, ANXIOUS, AND

[1:07:38] HIS FRIENDS WARNED US THAT HE WAS CONTEMPLATING SUICIDE. WE

[1:07:43] DID EVERYTHING WE COULD TO GET HIM TO QUIT. BUT IT SEEMED IMPOSSIBLE. OUR SON HAD TO LEAVE

[1:07:48] SCHOOL FOR A MONTH AND HE STRUGGLED WITH HIS GRADES, HIS RELATIONSHIPS AND WITH ANXIETY

[1:07:55] AND DEPRESSION. IT WAS FRIGHTENING AND PAINFUL. OVER TIME AND WITH A LOT OF EFFORT,

[1:08:01] AND AFTER TRYING MULTIPLE PROVIDERS, WE WERE ABLE TO FIND

[1:08:07] A PSYCHIATRIST AND THERAPIST WHO

[1:08:14] SPECIALIZED. WE FOUND RESOURCES WHICH GAVE HIM SPACE TO HEAL. AND THANKFULLY, MY SON IS ON A

[1:08:19] BETTER PATH NOW. NOW MY FAMILY IS PRIVILEGED. WE WERE ABLE TO

[1:08:25] NAVIGATE A COMPLEX HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AND IT COST US THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. TEENS BECOMING

[1:08:32] ADDICTED TO VAPES WILL SUFFER FROM -- HOWEVER, WITHOUT

[1:08:37] RESOURCES, THEY WILL NEED TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES. TOBACCO

[1:08:42] COMPANIES HAVE TARGETED MINORITY COMMUNITIES FOR MANY YEARS. THESE COMPANIES AND THE LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT SELL THEIR

[1:08:50] PRODUCTS PUT PROFITS AHEAD OF PEOPLE. THE IF YOU CARE ABOUT

[1:08:56] SOCIAL EQUITY, I URGE YOU TO DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO MAKE VAPES LESS ACCESSIBLE AND SUPPORT THIS

[1:09:02] ORDINANCE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. [APPLAUSE] >> NEXT PERSON IS ANGIE GRIFFIN.

[1:09:11] GRIFFITH. ALL RIGHT. NEXT PERSON

[1:09:22] IS JESSE GRIFFIN.

[1:09:41] >> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ANGIE GRIFFIN. OUR SHOP HAS ALWAYS

[1:09:48] BEEN MORE THAN RETAIL. IT'S PART STORE, PART ART GALLERY, PART

[1:09:54] COMMUNITY HUB OFFERING FREE SPACE FOR LOCAL ARTISTS TO SHOW AND SELL THEIR WORK. I'M SORRY.

[1:10:01] I RAN OVER HERE. AT THE HEART OF OUR BUSINESS IS WHAT WE CALL THE SMOKELESS DIFFERENCE. A

[1:10:07] COMMITMENT TO PERSONALIZE SERVICE AND MEANINGFUL INTERACTIONS WHETHER OR NOT SOMEONE MAKES A PURCHASE. OUR

[1:10:14] FOCUS ON BOTH VAPOR AND CANNABIS PRODUCTS, ALONG WITH A DEEP DEDICATION TO CUSTOMER CARE SETS

[1:10:20] US A PART IN A SPACE WHERE CONNECTION AND CARE IS INCREASINGLY RARE. THE MOST

[1:10:27] FULFILLING PART OF WHAT WE DO IS HELP PEOPLE QUIT SMOKING AND QUIT VAPING TOO. WHAT CONCERNS

[1:10:32] ME ABOUT THIS ORDINANCE IS THAT IT DOESN'T JUST APPLY TO COMPLETE NICOTINE DEVICES LIKE

[1:10:38] DISPOSABLES, IT ALSO APPLIES TO COMPONENT PARTS, EMPTY

[1:10:44] REFILLABLE DEVICES FOR THC OR CBD, BATTERIES, TANKS, COILS,

[1:10:49] CHARGES THAT ARE USED IN OPEN SYSTEM NICOTINE PRODUCTS. OPEN SYSTEMS ARE RECHARGEABLE AND

[1:10:56] REFILLABLE. THEY'RE THE ONLY FORMAT THAT ALLOWS USERS TO CONTROL AND REDUCE THEIR NICOTINE INTAKE GRADUALLY,

[1:11:03] MOVING DOWN IN NICOTINE STRENGTH A BOTTLE AT A TIME, AND ULTIMATELY QUITTING IF THEY

[1:11:14] CHOOSE SO. WE'VE HELPED MANY DO THAT.

[1:11:20] IRONICALLY THIS ORDINANCE WITH A $25 PRICE FLOOR WON'T AFFECT

[1:11:26] THAT MANY DISPOSABLES BUT WILL MAKE OPEN SYSTEMS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE EXPENSIVE. THAT MEANS FEWER

[1:11:32] PEOPLE WILL CHOOSE THEM, AND INSTEAD, MORE WILL TURN TO THE PRODUCTS WE ALL WANT TO

[1:11:40] DISCOURAGE. I HAD ONE MORE PARAGRAPH. BUT THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. JESSE

[1:11:47] GRIFFITH. I'M SORRY. YOU CAN

[1:11:57] ALWAYS SUBMIT THE COMMENT IN WRITING TO CLERK. THANK YOU.

[1:12:05] >> THANK YOU, CHAIR OSMAN AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS FOR ALLOWING ME TO TESTIFY TODAY. MY NAME IS

[1:12:15] JESSE GRIFFITH AND I'M THE

[1:12:20] CO-OWNER. I'M HERE TODAY TO FLAG TO THE COUNCIL SOME

[1:12:28] UNINTENTIONAL CONSEQUENCES. BECAUSE THE ORDINANCE USES THE DEFINITION IN MINNESOTA STATUTE

[1:12:34] OF ELECTRONIC DEVICE, ALL COMPONENTS INTENDED FOR HEMP AND

[1:12:39] CANNABIS CONSUMPTION WILL BE COUNTED UNDER THIS ORDINANCE.

[1:12:45] WHICH MEANS WILL HEMP AND CANNABIS BE SUBJECT BUT ALSO THE

[1:12:50] SMALL REPLACEMENT PARTS AND SERVICE PARTS WILL CARRY THAT MINIMUM PRICE AS WELL. THIS IS DUE TO THE LANGUAGE OF THE

[1:12:56] DEFINITION WHICH INCLUDES "ANY COMPONENT PART OF ELECTRONIC

[1:13:03] DELIVERY DEVICE."

[1:13:09] WE DON'T NEED TO ADD GOVERNMENTALLY IMPOSED COSTS ESPECIALLY AFTER THE RECENT 50%

[1:13:15] TAX INCREASE THAT WAS JUST PASSED BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE

[1:13:21] WHICH GOES INTO EFFECT NEXT WEEK. I ASK THE COUNCIL TO PLEASE GO BACK TO THE DRAWING

[1:13:26] BOARD ON THIS AMENDMENT TO FIX SOME OF THOSE ISSUES LAID OUT IN MINNESOTA STATUTE. THANK YOU.

[1:13:32] >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT PERSON IS HASAN WORSAME. HASSAN

[1:13:49] WORSAME. >> I THINK THEY'RE COMING FROM THE OVERFLOW ROOM. >> WE'LL GIVE A FEW MORE

[1:13:55] MINUTES. I SEE THAT WAS THE LAST PERSON SIGNED UP. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO

[1:14:00] SPEAK ON THIS ITEM WHO MIGHT NOT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? ALL RIGHT.

[1:14:11] LAST CALL HASSAN WORSAME. SEEING NONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC

[1:14:21] HEARING, AND RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER CASHMAN. WHO IS AUTHORING THIS ORDINANCE.

[1:14:29] >> OKAY. THANK YOU, CHAIR OSMAN, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYBODY WHO CAME OUT TODAY AND PROVIDED TESTIMONY AND WHO HAS

[1:14:34] BEEN IN THIS FIGHT FOR SO LONG. I KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT THE LAST TIME WE WILL ADDRESS THE TOBACCO

[1:14:41] ORDINANCE OR TRY NEW METHODS AND THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT BACK. I HEARD THAT LOUD AND CLEAR. AND I'M

[1:14:48] DEFINITELY COMMITTED TO CONTINUING THAT WORK. BUT I'M REALLY HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY

[1:14:54] WITH A NEW RESTRICTION AND REALLY HOPE THAT MY COLLEAGUES WILL SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE. FOR

[1:15:00] ME, I DEFINITELY HEARD FROM PARENTS IN WARD 7 SUCH AS LARRY

[1:15:05] LAST YEAR WHEN WE PASSED THE $15 MINIMUM PRICE FOR TOBACCO FOR

[1:15:12] CIGARETTES THAT THAT REALLY WASN'T GOING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF YOUTH SMOKING BECAUSE YOUTH ARE NOW USING VAPES.

[1:15:18] WORKING WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WE WERE ABLE TO COME UP WITH THIS STRATEGY. THANK YOU, EVELYN AND PATTY AND

[1:15:25] EVERYONE WHO HAS WORKED ON THIS. SECONDLY, WHEN WE PASSED CANNABIS RESTRICTIONS LAST YEAR,

[1:15:31] IT ALSO CAME UP THAT WE DON'T HAVE A RESTRICTION FOR TOBACCO

[1:15:37] STORES FROM SCHOOLS THE SAME WAY THAT CANNABIS STORES AND LIQUOR STORES DO. SO WE WANTED TO ADD

[1:15:42] THAT IN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALSO NOT ESTABLISHING TOBACCO STORES NEAR SCHOOLS IN MINNEAPOLIS. AND FINALLY, THE

[1:15:48] THIRD PIECE OF THIS THAT I FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT IS NOT EXEMPTING DOWNTOWN FROM THESE

[1:15:54] SPACING REQUIREMENTS. DOWNTOWN HAS 70,000 RESIDENTS. WE HAVE MANY NEIGHBORHOODS, AND LORING

[1:16:00] PARK IS A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I REPRESENT WITH 9,000 PEOPLE IN IT. AND WE SHOULDN'T BE EXEMPTED

[1:16:06] FROM THE SPACING REQUIREMENTS AS IF THIS IS A PURELY COMMERCIAL AREA WHERE TOBACCO SHOULD BE

[1:16:11] ABLE TO BE SOLD ANYWHERE. REALLY HAPPY THAT WE ARE MOVING TO

[1:16:19] REMOVE THE EXEMPTION FROM DOWNTOWN AND RESTRICT THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF MORE TOBACCO STORES IN LORING PARK.

[1:16:25] THAT FOR ME IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE TOBACCO STORES ARE NOT ONLY SELLING AN UNHEALTHY PRODUCT BUT

[1:16:32] ALSO CAUSING SOCIAL PROBLEMS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WITH OTHER DEALING AND OTHER ACTIVITIES HAPPENING OUTSIDE OF THE TOBACCO

[1:16:38] STORES. SO I THINK THIS IS A GOOD WAY TO PREVENT THAT FROM

[1:16:44] CONTINUING TO HAPPEN IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. SO THANK YOU, EVERYBODY, FOR COMING AND SPEAKING, SHARING YOUR STORIES

[1:16:51] TODAY, FOR ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF OUR YOUTH AND OUR FAMILIES AND OUR HEALTH. AND I HOPE MY

[1:16:58] COLLEAGUES WILL JOIN ME IN SUPPORTING THIS TODAY.

[1:17:03] >> DID YOU WANT TO MOVE THAT? >> YES. I'LL MOVE THIS FOR APPROVAL. >> OKAY. OUR NEXT PERSON IS

[1:17:10] COUNCIL MEMBER CHOWDHURY. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR OSMAN. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL THE ADVOCATES

[1:17:17] THAT CAME HERE TODAY AND SPOKE. REALLY APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO COME DOWN TO CITY HALL.

[1:17:24] THANK YOU SO TWIN CITIES RECOVERY PROJECT AND ASSOCIATIONS FOR NON-SMOKERS IN

[1:17:31] MINNESOTA. AND THANK YOU TO OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR WORK AND WORKING WITH THE CO-AUTHORS

[1:17:39] ON THIS ORDINANCE, MYSELF, COUNCIL MEMBER CASHMAN, AND COUNCIL MEMBER VETAW. I AM ONLY

[1:17:46] IN MY FIRST TERM AS A COUNCIL MEMBER AND ONE OF THE THINGS

[1:17:51] THAT YOU LEARN THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS IS THE ISSUES THAT YOU END UP CARING A LOT ABOUT AND THEN HOW IT RELATES TO YOUR OWN

[1:17:59] PERSONAL STORY AND YOUR COMMUNITY. AND I WOULD NOT HAVE

[1:18:05] EXPECTED TO HAVE NICOTINE ADDICTION AND TOBACCO ADDICTION BE AN ISSUE AREA THAT I CARE

[1:18:12] DEEPLY ABOUT AND HAVE THAT BE A PART OF MY OWN ADVOCACY JOURNEY. BUT THAT HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT

[1:18:17] HAS SHOWN UP FOR ME, ESPECIALLY LAST YEAR WHEN WE DID THE

[1:18:23] INITIAL PRICE RAISING FOR TOBACCO TO A $15 MINIMUM. FOR

[1:18:30] ME, I KNOW FIRST HAND THAT NICOTINE ADDICTION IS A RELENTLESS HARDSHIP. IT STEALS YOUR HEALTH. IT STEALS YOUR

[1:18:37] MONEY. IT STEALS YOUR PEACE OF MIND. AND PARTICULARLY, WE HAD

[1:18:43] THIS CONVERSATION LAST YEAR AROUND VAPING AND HOW IT TARGETS

[1:18:48] OR YOUTH, AND HOW VAPING AND ITS RISE HAS BEEN PARTICULARLY

[1:18:54] PREDATORY. MY GENERATION WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE GENERATION TO END SMOKING. AND INSTEAD, WE

[1:19:01] BECAME THE JUUL GENERATION. I WISH I COULD GO BACK IN TIME AND

[1:19:07] NEVER HAVE PICKED UP A JUUL BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN ABOUT A

[1:19:14] NINE-YEAR STRUGGLE WITH MY OWN PERSONAL USAGE OF TOBACCO AND

[1:19:19] ONE I'M STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT. AND I THINK THE WORK OF

[1:19:24] ADVOCATES THAT ARE DOING PROGRAMMING FOR YOUTH THAT ARE WORKING WITH THE STATE GOVERNMENT, THAT ARE WORKING

[1:19:31] WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT ARE REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT AS WE'RE LOOKING AT THE TOOL OF PRICE RAISING. BECAUSE THIS IS

[1:19:36] ONE THING THAT WE CAN DO BUT WE NEED PLACES WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE AND OTHER PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY CAN BE SUPPORTED. I DO

[1:19:43] WANT TO SHARE SOME DATA

[1:19:48] SPECIFICALLY TO OUR COMMUNITY AND IT'S STAGGERING IN MINNEAPOLIS. 13.6% OF YOUNG

[1:19:58] ADULTS VAPE. 80% OF YOUTH WHO VAPE SHOWS SIGNS OF ADDICTION,

[1:20:04] CRAVINGS, COMPULSIVE USE. SINCE 2017, FREQUENT VAPING AMONG YOUTH HAS SURGED BY 165%. AND AS

[1:20:12] MANY OF YOU HAVE SHARED TODAY, THIS ISN'T ACCIDENTAL. BIG TOBACCO DESIGNED IT THIS WAY.

[1:20:19] YOU GO INTO TOBACCO STORE, IF YOU SEE YOUNG PEOPLE USING VAPES, IT'S COLORFUL PACKAGING,

[1:20:25] CANDY FLAVORS. I'VE EVEN SEEN A

[1:20:31] GEEK BAR WITH A LITTLE VIDEO GAME ON THE SIDE OF IT. AND THE CONSEQUENCES ARE DIRE. WE STILL HAVE YET TO SEE WHAT THE LONG

[1:20:37] TERM IMPACTS ARE OF VAPING SINCE IT IS NEWER, ESPECIALLY ONCE

[1:20:44] JUUL CAME INTO THE MARKET. AND WE KNOW NOW THE DIRE MENTAL

[1:20:51] HEALTH IMPACTS THAT YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE WITH ANXIETY, DEPRESSION,

[1:20:58] AND SUICIDAL IDEATION. I'M REALLY PROUD TODAY TO BE TAKING

[1:21:06] ACTION. I'M REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF COUNCIL MEMBER CASHMAN BRINGING FORWARD THE AMENDMENT

[1:21:11] TO LIMIT TOBACCO SHOPS IN DOWNTOWN ZONING DISTRICTS, AND

[1:21:16] THEN ALSO HAVING THAT BUFFER. I THINK THAT'S REALLY, REALLY

[1:21:23] IMPORTANT, AND WAY PAST TIME. AND I THINK RAISING PRICE

[1:21:30] MINIMUMS HERE IS HELPFUL BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT YOUTH ARE PRICE SENSITIVE. I ALSO KNOW WE WILL

[1:21:35] BE WORKING WITH OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT THE IMPACTS ARE BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY

[1:21:43] CHANGES AND FINDS ITS WAY AROUND DIFFERENT POLICIES. I'LL JUST

[1:21:50] CLOSE WITH THIS ISN'T JUST POLICY, IT'S PREVENTION. I HAVE

[1:21:57] JUST SEEN OVER TIME THE KIDS WHO END UP USING VAPING JUST GET YOUNGER AND YOUNGER. TO ANYONE

[1:22:04] WHO HAS EVER THOUGHT I WISH I NEVER PICKED UP THAT VAPE, THIS IS HOW WE TURN THAT TYPE OF

[1:22:11] REGRET OR FEELING TO CHANGE. I'M EXCITED TO BE PASSING THIS ORDINANCE TODAY.

[1:22:17] >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CHOWDHURY. I PUT MYSELF HERE. THANK YOU FOR ALL COMING DOWN.

[1:22:23] TOBACCO IS HARMFUL TO OUR COMMUNITY. ESPECIALLY YOUNG PEOPLE. AND IT'S ONE OF THE

[1:22:29] LEADING DEATHS IN THE WORLD.

[1:22:35] IT'S REALLY VERY SMART AND GOOD TO EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY, AND

[1:22:42] ALSO RESTRICT THE DISTRIBUTION AND THE SALES IN OUR CITY. I

[1:22:48] SUPPORT THE ORDINANCE, ESPECIALLY THE LOCATION RESTRICTION. I REALLY DON'T

[1:23:00] UNDERSTAND THE SPECIAL TREATMENT DOWNTOWN GETS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT POINT. BUT I DO HAVE THE QUESTIONS FOR THE

[1:23:06] STAFF. I THINK AS POLICYMAKERS, WE REALLY HAVE TO THINK ABOUT

[1:23:11] WHAT ROUTES WE'RE TAKING AND BE RESPONSIBLE NOT JUST OUR

[1:23:17] RESIDENTS BUT ALSO OUR BUSINESSES TOO. SO THE MINIMUM

[1:23:25] PR PRICE, WHERE DID THAT COME FROM? IT'S JUMPING FROM $16 TO $25.

[1:23:30] ALMOST LIKE 60%. WHAT DATA ARE WE USING? IS THERE OTHER CITIES IN THE NATION THAT'S USING THAT?

[1:23:39] I WANT TO BE -- COME UP A NUMBER THAT HAS SOME KIND OF MEANING TO THAT PRICING. THAT'S ONE

[1:23:45] QUESTION. I'LL HAVE THE NEXT ONE AFTER YOU ANSWER THAT. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR OSMAN. THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. AND

[1:23:51] PART OF THE REASON THAT WE DID NOT MOVE FORWARD WITH A MINIMUM PRICE LAST YEAR WHEN WE SET THE

[1:23:57] MINIMUM PRICE FOR OTHER COMMERCIAL TOBACCO PRODUCTS WAS BECAUSE THESE ELECTRONIC

[1:24:02] DELIVERY DEVICES ARE MUCH MORE TRICKY. AS WE SHOWED IN OUR

[1:24:07] PRESENTATION, WE DID QUITE A BIT OF SURVEY LAST YEAR. SO YOU ARE CORRECT. WHEN WE DID A SURVEY,

[1:24:14] WE LOOKED FIRST AT 38 STORES IN MINNEAPOLIS OF THE MINIMUM PRICE. SO THAT'S JUST THE

[1:24:21] MINIMUM FOR A SINGLE DISPOSABLE E-CIGARETTE. AND THAT PRICE RANGE WAS $90 TO $30 WITH AN

[1:24:29] AVERAGE MINIMUM PRICE OF $17.26. AS WELL AS THE ISSUE OF

[1:24:37] ELECTRONIC DEVICES, THEY COME IN MANY TYPES BEYOND THE DISPOSABLE E-CIGARETTES. WHEN WE THINK OF OTHER PRODUCTS LIKE A SINGLE

[1:24:44] DEVICE, THE PRICE RANGES UP TO $22 WITH $50 PER KIT. SO WE

[1:24:51] TALKED WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THEY WANTED TO MOVE TOWARDS $25 MINIMUM PRICE, WHICH IS AN

[1:24:58] INCREASE OF $7.74 PRICE FROM THE SINGLE E-DISPOSABLE WHICH WOULD

[1:25:04] BE ABOUT 45%. I WOULD SAY THAT RECENTLY SAYING ANTHONY VILLAGE

[1:25:11] THAT HAS DONE A MINIMUM PRICE FOR E-CIGARETTES. THEY DID THE

[1:25:16] ELECTRONIC DELIVERY DEVICES AS SET A MINIMUM OF $20 PER DEVICE. THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE IN THIS

[1:25:22] CASE CHOSE TO GO HIGHER KNOWING WITH RECENT INFLATION AS WELL AS

[1:25:28] TARIFFS, $20 ARE PROBABLY TOO LOW. MANY OF THESE PRODUCTS ARE MADE IN CHINA AND LIKELY TO RISE

[1:25:34] ANYWAY. THE OTHER JURISDICTION IN THE COUNTRY THAT HAS DONE MINIMUM PRICING IS SAN DIEGO

[1:25:40] COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. THEY STRUGGLE TO DO MINIMUM PRICING BUT THEY SEPARATED IT OUT BY

[1:25:46] DEVICES, E-LIQUIDS AND KITS. SO AT $20, $10, AND $30 PER KIT

[1:25:51] RESPECTIVELY. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE HAD A REALLY HARD TIME ENFORCING

[1:25:56] THIS WITH THE MULTIPLE PRICES, AND BASICALLY HAS ENDED UP IN NO

[1:26:02] ENFORCEMENT BECAUSE OF THE WIDE VARIETY. THAT IS WHY WE AS A HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOLLOWING

[1:26:08] GUIDANCE RECOMMENDED A SINGLE MINIMUM PRICE. >> THANK YOU. THE QUESTION THAT

[1:26:14] WAS RAISED BY SOME OF THE BUSINESS OWNERS THAT CAME WAS

[1:26:19] JUST TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN REFILLS OR IF YOU CAN TOUCH THAT. AND ALSO, HOW WILL THIS

[1:26:30] AFFECT ON CANNABIS BUSINESS.

[1:26:43] >> CHAIR OSMAN, CANNABIS BUSINESSES ARE LICENSED BY THE STATE. THE CITY ONLY REGISTERS THEM. SO THEY DO HAVE TO FOLLOW

[1:26:50] THE STATE REGULATIONS. AS FAR AS THE TOBACCO CODE, IT WOULD PERTAIN TO TOBACCO DEALERS ONLY,

[1:26:56] WHICH WE DO LICENSE IN THE CITY. AND THEN AS FAR AS THE OTHER

[1:27:03] QUESTION THAT WAS RAISED ABOUT THE ELECTRONIC DELIVERY DEVICE.

[1:27:13] IT DOES INCLUDE OTHER COMPONENTS WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE INCLUDED OR SOLD SEPARATELY. SO THAT IS

[1:27:18] IN THE DEFINITION OF THE ELECTRONIC DELIVERY DEVICE. AND SO FOR THE ORDINANCE THE WAY

[1:27:24] THAT IT'S WRITTEN, THE $25 MINIMUM WOULD BE PER ELECTRONIC

[1:27:29] DELIVERY DEVICE. >> OKAY. AND DURING THE PROCESS OF CREATING THIS ORDINANCE, WAS

[1:27:37] THERE ANY PUBLIC MEETINGS WHERE BUSINESS COMMUNITY WERE KIND OF

[1:27:43] PRESENT OR HAS THERE BEEN ANY OUTREACH ON THE BUSINESS

[1:27:48] COMMUNITY? >> SO WHAT I'M AWARE OF IS THE PUBLIC HEARING NOTICES THAT WERE SENT TO ALL OF THE LICENSED

[1:27:55] TOBACCO BUSINESSES IN MINNEAPOLIS, SMOKELESS DID RESPOND AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN

[1:28:01] LOOKING INTO, INTO THE DEFINITION OF THE ELECTRONIC DELIVERY DEVICE. >> THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO,

[1:28:07] YOU KNOW, CLOSE IT SAYING THAT

[1:28:12] LIKE I SAID IN THE BEGINNING, TOBACCO IS A PROBLEM IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IT'S VERY GOOD TO

[1:28:18] RESTRICT. BUT AT THE SAME TIME I WANT TO BE CAREFUL AND JUST USE

[1:28:27] DATA DRIVEN POLICIES THAT CREATE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR

[1:28:32] COMMUNITY. AT THE SAME TIME, MAKING SURE THAT OUR BUSINESSES ARE HEARD, AND THEY'RE NOT

[1:28:39] DRIVEN AWAY FROM THIS. LAST YEAR, I THINK IT WAS LAST YEAR OR THE YEAR BEFORE THAT, I MADE

[1:28:46] A COMMENT ABOUT INCREASING FROM THE CIGARETTE TO UP TO $15 FOR

[1:28:51] THAT BIG JUMP. YOU KNOW. AND PEOPLE CAN JUST DRIVE ACROSS

[1:29:03] SAINT ANTHONY OR ST. LOUIS PARK. I GET THE INTENTION OF REALLY MAKING SURE WE'RE RESTRICTING

[1:29:08] AND ADDRESSING. THIS CAME BACK

[1:29:14] THE LAST FEW YEARS. THREE TIMES I THINK THIS WAS AMENDED. TWO OR THREE TIMES. WE CONTINUE TO ADD.

[1:29:20] AT THE SAME TIME I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MAKING DECISION

[1:29:26] BASED ON DATA ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THIS COMPLICATED SYSTEM OF ELECTRONICS. I DEFINITELY

[1:29:35] DON'T WANT UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES FOR BUSINESSES THAT MIGHT NOT SELL TOBACCO. REALL

[1:29:44] RIGHT. THAT'S MY COMMENT. I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER JENKINS. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR OSMAN. ONE

[1:29:50] OF MY QUESTIONS IS FOR STAFF. I

[1:29:58] AM CURIOUS YOU KNOW, THE 300 FEET LIMIT, DO WE HAVE A SENSE

[1:30:06] OF HOW MANY NEW ESTABLISHMENTS

[1:30:13] MIGHT BE ABLE TO BE DEVELOPED WITH THAT? >> IT'S HARD TO SAY WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE. I DON'T

[1:30:20] HAVE A NUMBER OF POTENTIAL LOCATIONS THAT WOULD BE WITHIN 300 FEET. >> THAT'S THE QUESTION. HOW MANY

[1:30:25] LOCATIONS ARE THERE? I MEAN, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO KIND OF FIGURE THAT OUT. SO AT SOME POINT I

[1:30:34] WOULD HOPE WE COULD GET A RESPONSE TO THAT. YOU KNOW, I AM ALSO AN ALUMNI OF THE LAMP,

[1:30:45] STATEWIDE LEADERSHIP TO YOU KNOW, ADDRESS SMOKING CESSATION.

[1:30:53] I'M PROUD TO SEE SO MANY ADVOCATES OUT HERE. FOLKS THAT I HAVE MENTORED AND, YOU KNOW, I'M

[1:30:58] A NONSMOKER. I THINK CIGARETTES

[1:31:03] ARE DESTRUCTIVE TO ALL THE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN NAMED. AND TO THE BROADER

[1:31:08] COMMUNITY AS WELL. BUT IT IS A

[1:31:18] LEGAL PRODUCT THAT PEOPLE, YOU

[1:31:23] KNOW, WHETHER THEY'RE ADDICTED OR NOT, THEY ENJOY, THEY PURCHASE MAYBE RELUCTANTLY, I

[1:31:29] DON'T KNOW. BUT IT'S A BUSINESS IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO I'M JUST CURIOUS, DO WE HAVE A SENSE OF,

[1:31:35] YOU KNOW, TO COUNCIL MEMBER OSMAN'S POINT. WHAT MAY BE SOME OF THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES

[1:31:43] ON OTHER BUSINESSES. PARTICULARLY CANNABIS

[1:31:48] BUSINESSES, WHICH USE VAPES AS A PART OF THEIR BUSINESS STRATEGY

[1:31:57] AND WE JUST HAD A 15% TAX INCREASE FROM THE STATE I THINK.

[1:32:12] AS WELL AS WILL THIS PRICING BE ATTRIBUTED TO THOSE PRODUCTS AS

[1:32:17] WELL? >> THE LICENSE TOBACCO DEALERS IN MINNEAPOLIS IS WHAT THE ORDINANCE PERTAINS TO. THE

[1:32:23] CANNABIS VAPES THAT ARE SOLD IN CANNABIS DISPENSARIES, THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO SELL TOBACCO

[1:32:30] PRODUCTS. SO I DON'T BELIEVE THAT. WHAT IS IN THE TOBACCO

[1:32:35] ORDINANCE WOULD APPLY TO A STATE LICENSED CANNABIS DISPENSARY FOR THEIR PRODUCTS.

[1:32:47] >> DOES IT DISTINGUISH BETWEEN CANNABIS AND TOBACCO?

[1:32:56] >> CITY ATTORNEY, PLEASE. >> THANK YOU, THROUGH THE CHAIR, COUNCIL MEMBER JENKINS, THIS

[1:33:01] PARTICULAR ORDINANCE THAT WE ARE AMENDING HERE IS SPECIFIC TO TOBACCO AND TOBACCO LICENSES AND

[1:33:07] TOBACCO BUSINESSES. AND SO THE MODIFICATIONS AND ANY RESTRICTIONS RESULTING FROM

[1:33:12] THOSE MODIFICATIONS WOULD BE SPECIFIC TO THAT TOBACCO. IT WOULDN'T IMPACT THE LICENSES THAT THEY ARE GETTING THROUGH

[1:33:21] THE STATE FOR A CANNABIS OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF BUSINESS LICENSE.

[1:33:26] THAT BEING SAID, IF THEY ARE A MULTI-LICENSE HOLDER, OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE

[1:33:33] DECISIONS ABOUT HOW THESE RESTRICTIONS IMPACT THEIR TOBACCO LICENSE AND HOW THEY

[1:33:39] WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT. BUT THESE RESTRICTIONS ARE SPECIFIC TO TOBACCO PRODUCTS AND

[1:33:46] TOBACCO LICENSES ONLY. >> MANY TOBACCO STORES ALSO SELL CANNABIS VAPES TOO. AND I'M

[1:33:53] JUST -- I MEAN. >> NO. >> NO. >> IT WOULD SEEM LIKE -- THAT'S

[1:33:58] NOT TRUE? >> STAFF, MAYBE YOU CAN --

[1:34:04] >> TOBACCO STORES DON'T SELL CANNABIS VAPES? >> LICENSED TOBACCO STORES ARE

[1:34:11] REQUIRED TO SELL 90% TOBACCO PRODUCTS. AND AS FAR AS I KNOW,

[1:34:16] NO THC PRODUCTS CAN BE SOLD IN TOBACCO STORES. THEY'RE LIMITED

[1:34:24] TO LOW POTENCY HEMP EDIBLE. WHICH WILL BE EDIBLE, NOT

[1:34:31] INHALABLE PRODUCTS. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. YEAH, I CAN JUST SEE THOUGH CONFUSION

[1:34:38] AROUND THIS TOPIC FOR RETAILERS.

[1:34:44] BUT I WOULD BE INTERESTED TO KNOW WHAT THAT BREAKDOWN OF HOW

[1:34:53] MANY POTENTIAL STORES COULD

[1:34:58] EXIST IN MINNEAPOLIS. NEW STORES, I GUESS.

[1:35:07] >> OKAY. SEEING NO ONE ELSE, I

[1:35:13] WILL -- THANK YOU SO MUCH, STAFF, FOR ANSWERING THOSE

[1:35:18] QUESTIONS. WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CASHMAN'S MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ITEM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY

[1:35:23] AYE. >> AYE. >> THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY. THE

[1:35:28] AYES HAVE IT AND THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[1:35:33] [APPLAUSE] >> OKAY. NEXT PUBLIC HEARING IS

[1:35:42] FOR ISSUANCE OF HOUSING REVENUE BOND FOR SNELLING YARDS FAMILY

[1:35:53] HOUSING. I WILL WELCOME CARRIE GOLDBERG FROM CPED TO OFFER THE

[1:35:58] PRESENTATION. MAYBE WE CAN WAIT A LITTLE BIT.

[1:36:27] >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, CHAIR OSMAN, AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. I'M FILLING IN FOR

[1:36:33] MS. TIFFANY GLASSBURN TODAY.

[1:36:40] THIS PROJECT WAS RECENTLY BEFORE YOU FOR TAX INCREMENT FINANCING APPROVAL. SO MY COMMENTS TODAY

[1:36:45] WILL BE A LITTLE BIT MORE BRIEF. SNELLING YARDS FAMILY HOUSING IS

[1:36:50] A NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECT PROPOSED BY LUPE DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS FOR THE SNELLING YARD

[1:36:57] SITE LOCATED IN THE HIAWATHA NEIGHBORHOOD IN WARD 12. IT'S HISTORICALLY BEEN USED AS PUBLIC

[1:37:06] WORKS SITE. PHASE ONE IS THE H

[1:37:14] H HILLLOCK THAT IS ALREADY COMPLETE. FOUR-STORY BUILDING. THE UNITS WILL BE AFFORDABLE AT 80%, 50%, AND 30% OF THE AREA

[1:37:23] MEDIAN INCOME. A MIX OF ONE, TWO, AND THREE BEDROOM UNITS ARE PROPOSED. 12 UNITS HAVE PROJECT

[1:37:31] BASE SECTION 8 VOUCHERS FROM THE MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY, AND AN ADDITIONAL 13

[1:37:37] UNITS SET ASIDE FOR HOMELESS VETERANS WITH RENTAL SUBSIDIES.

[1:37:44] THERE ARE ACTUALLY SIX ACTIONS IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY. THE FIRST ACTION IS RELATED TO THE HOUSING

[1:37:49] REVENUE BOND FOR THE PROJECT. SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION FOR AND STAFF IS RECOMMENDING UP TO 17

[1:37:56] MILLION IN HOUSING REVENUE BONDS TO SUPPORT THE PROJECT WHICH IS THE SUBJECT OF THE ACTUAL

[1:38:02] HEARING TODAY. THE SECOND ACTION IS RELATED TO THE TAX INCREMENT FINANCING TIF NOTE. BASED ON

[1:38:08] STAFF'S REVIEW, AN ANALYSIS OF THE TIF APPLICATION, THE PROJECT COMPLIES WITH THE FINANCING

[1:38:15] POLICY AND MEETS THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A HOUSING TIF DISTRICT. BY THE ACTION TAKEN ON

[1:38:23] MAY 1ST, 2025, THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE SNELLING YARDS TO

[1:38:30] TIF PLAN. AND STAFF IS NOW RECOMMENDING A TAX INCREMENT FINANCING NOTE IN AN AMOUNT NOT

[1:38:37] TO EXCEED $849,000. THE THIRD ACTION APPROVES $485,000 IN

[1:38:43] ADDITIONAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUNDS WHICH THE PROJECT NOW QUALIFIES FOR SINCE THE UNIT

[1:38:50] MIX HAS NOW BEEN REFINED. STAFF RECOMMENDS THE EXTENSION OF EXISTING PRIOR AFFORDABLE

[1:38:56] HOUSING TRUST FUND WARDS WHICH HAVE BEEN EXPIRED. WITH RESPECT TO THE LAND SALE, THE CITY

[1:39:02] ISSUED -- FOR THE SNELLING YARD SITE AND SELECTED LUPE AS THE

[1:39:09] DEVELOPER. PURCHASE PRICE OF $1 MILLION. BUT DUE TO THE

[1:39:15] ESCALATING DEVELOPMENT COSTS, THIS PROJECT DOES HAVE A FINANCING GAP. TO MAKE THE

[1:39:22] PROJECT FINANCIALLY FEASIBLE AND CLOSE THE GAP, STAFF IS RECOMMENDING TO THE CITY COUNCIL THAT THE CITY PROVIDE A SELLER

[1:39:29] NOTE TO FUND THE LAND PURCHASE PRICE. AND THEN THE FINAL ACTION TODAY RELATES TO NEW STATE

[1:39:44] PERVAILING WAGE -- THE STATE OF MINNESOTA PASSED LEGISLATION THAT TEMPORARILY ALLOWS TAX

[1:39:51] CREDIT AGENCIES TO USE THE FEDERAL RATE FOR WOOD FRAME

[1:39:57] CARPENTRY WORK. TO ALIGN WITH THIS NEW STATE PROVISION, STAFF IS RECOMMENDING PROJECTS IN

[1:40:03] MINNEAPOLIS THE ABILITY TO ALSO HAVE THIS FLEXIBILITY UNTIL DECEMBER 2027. APPROVAL OF THESE

[1:40:11] REQUESTS TODAY WILL POSITION THE PROJECT TO CLOSE ON FINANCING AND START CONSTRUCTION WITHIN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. AND WITH

[1:40:17] THAT, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. I ALSO KNOW THAT THE DEVELOPER IS HERE TODAY IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR HIM AS WELL.

[1:40:23] >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT PRESENTATION. I'M GOING TO PROCEED TO OPEN THE PUBLIC

[1:40:29] HEARING AND SEE IF ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. SEEING NO ONE

[1:40:36] SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, AND RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER

[1:40:41] JENKINS. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR OSMAN. YOU

[1:40:48] USED THE TERM A SELLERS NOTE, I THINK. >> YES. SO IN ORDER TO AVOID

[1:40:57] IMPACTING THE TAX CREDIT SYNDICATION STRUCTURE OF THIS PROJECT, INSTEAD OF DOING A LAND

[1:41:03] WRITE DOWN WHICH WOULD IMPACT THAT, THE CITY IS DOING A UNIQUE SELLER NOTE FINANCE OPTION WHICH

[1:41:10] WILL BE FORGIVABLE UPON THE TERM OF THE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT. >> AND WHAT WAS THE AMOUNT

[1:41:16] AGAIN? >> $1 MILLION FOR THE COST OF THE LAND.

[1:41:21] >> SO IF YOU WROTE OFF THE COST THEN IT WOULD LOWER THE VALUE

[1:41:29] SUBSEQUENTLY. >> WELL IN DOING A LAND WRITE DOWN, YOU'RE ELIMINATING $1 MILLION FROM THE TOTAL

[1:41:34] DEVELOPMENT COST OF THE PROJECT. IN DOING THAT, IT CHANGES THE AMOUNT OF TAX CREDIT

[1:41:40] SYNDICATIONS YOUR PROJECT CAN GENERATE BECAUSE THERE'S A BASELESS LEVEL THAT YOU NEED TO MEET. IN ORDER TO NOT EFFECT THE

[1:41:48] AMOUNT OF PROCEEDS THAT WE WANT TO GENERATE, WHICH IS AS MUCH AS

[1:41:57] POSSIBLE, WE'RE PROPOSING -- YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO COUNT THOSE IN YOUR BASIS FOR TAX

[1:42:02] CREDIT SYNDICATION. >> AND THEN THAT LOAN WOULD BE FORGIVABLE? >> CORRECT.

[1:42:08] >> HMM. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. >> MM-HMM. >> COUNCIL MEMBER CHOWDHURY.

[1:42:14] >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR OSMAN. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. I'M REALLY

[1:42:20] LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THE SECOND PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT TAKE PLACE ON THIS PARCEL. THIS

[1:42:28] IS IN MY WARD. MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR A LONG TIME HAVE

[1:42:33] BEEN ASKING WHAT'S NEXT. FORGIVE ME IF YOU'VE ALREADY STATED THIS WITHIN YOUR PRESENTATION, BUT I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD KIND

[1:42:40] OF SHARE WHAT THE TIMELINE LOOKS LIKE IN TERMS OF BEGINNING CONSTRUCTION AND WORK BEING DONE

[1:42:46] ON THIS LOT FOLLOWING APPROVAL FROM THE COUNCIL IF THAT'S GIVEN. >> I CAN ALWAYS DEFER TO THE

[1:42:52] DEVELOPER FOR VERY SPECIFIC TIMING. BUT I BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE PROPOSING TO CLOSE ON THE

[1:42:57] PROJECT SOME TIME IN AUGUST. AND THEN IT WILL BE 15 TO 18 MONTH CONSTRUCTION PROCESS FOR LEASE

[1:43:05] UP. SO BY EARLY 2027 I BELIEVE. NO, IT'S 25. EARLY 2027.

[1:43:16] >> -- >> OCCUPANCY BY THE END O. >> OKAY. I KNOW THAT THIS PARCEL

[1:43:22] IS CITY OWNED PARCEL NOW. AND IT'S INACTIVE. AND ONE OF THE

[1:43:27] THINGS THAT I'VE ASKED ABOUT TO OUR CITY ADMINISTRATION IS ACTIVATION ON THIS LOT. THERE'S

[1:43:36] A LOT OF DIFFERENT LIVEABILITY ISSUES THAT HAVE OCCURRED THERE

[1:43:41] BECAUSE IT'S SAT EMPTY. MAYBE IT'S A QUESTION FOR THE DEVELOPER. IF THERE'S ANY ANTICIPATION OF ACTIVATION

[1:43:47] TAKING PLACE ON THE LOT OR ANYTHING THAT SHOWS THAT CONSTRUCTION WILL BE TAKING PLACE OR DEVELOPMENT IN THE NEAR

[1:43:54] FUTURE. I'M HEARING AUGUST FOR YOU. BUT IF THERE'S A SPECIFIC TIMELINE FOR ANY ACTIVITY SHOWING UP THERE, THAT WOULD BE

[1:44:00] GREAT. >> MOBILIZING AND GETTING THINGS GOING ON THE SITE? >> YEAH. >> DO YOU HAVE A TIMEFRAME FOR

[1:44:08] MOBILIZING? LET ME INTRODUCE STEVE WITH LUPE DEVELOPMENT. WHO MIGHT BE BETTER ABLE TO ANSWER

[1:44:15] THAT QUESTION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. >> THANK YOU. >> MR. CHAIRMAN, COUNCIL MEMBER

[1:44:21] CHOWDHURY, WE WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE BY AUGUST 15TH. WE'LL HAVE THE CONSTRUCTION FENCE AND CONSTRUCTION MOBILIZATION WITHIN

[1:44:27] FOUR DAYS AFTER TITLE HAS CLEARED FOR ALL PRIOR LEANS. SO WE SHOULD BE IN THE GROUND BY

[1:44:32] THE THIRD WEEK OF AUGUST IF ALL GOES ACCORDING TO PLAN. >> OKAY. WELL THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> WE'LL HAVE SECURITY ON THE

[1:44:39] SITE ALSO. >> THANK YOU. AND I KNOW THAT THE RESIDENTS AT THE HILLLOCK WHICH IS RIGHT THERE IS LOOKING

[1:44:45] FORWARD FOR THE NEXT DEVELOPMENT TOO. I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO HILLLOCK TOMORROW TO KIND OF VISIT WITH THE STAFF. THEY'RE

[1:44:50] HAVING A LITTLE BIT OF A MEET AND GREET. I'LL BE EXCITED TO CHAT WITH THEM ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENTS HERE AT THE CITY.

[1:44:56] >> GREAT. THANK YOU. >> GREAT. THANK YOU. I WILL MOVE

[1:45:07] THIS ITEM FOR APPROVAL. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[1:45:12] WITH THAT MOTION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> AND THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY. THE AYES HAVE IT AND THE MOTION

[1:45:19] CARRIES. >> THANK YOU, COMMITTEE MEMBERS. >> THANK YOU. >> THE FINAL PUBLIC HEARING IS

[1:45:25] AUTHORIZING BOND ISSUANCE HOST APPROVAL FOR 180 DEGREES IN THE

[1:45:32] CITY OF EYOTA. WELCOME.

[1:45:38] >> I'M BECKY SHAW FROM CPED BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT. YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU A REQUEST TO

[1:45:43] AUTHORIZE HOST APPROVAL FOR THE ISSUANCE OF REVENUE BONDS BY THE CITY OF EYOTA, MINNESOTA, FOR

[1:45:49] 180 DEGREES. 180 DEGREES IS A MINNESOTA NONPROFIT PROVIDING

[1:45:55] EMERGENCY HOUSING, TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, AND SUPPORTIVE CARE TO YOUTH AND ADULTS IN MINNEAPOLIS,

[1:46:04] SAINT PAUL, SAINT CLOUD, EXCELSIOR. MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING

[1:46:13] FACILITIES IN 2019 USING TRADITIONAL BANK FINANCING TO PROVIDE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AT

[1:46:18] 712, 720, AND 722-FRANKLIN AVENUE EAST. 1916, 1920, AND

[1:46:27] 1924 COLUMBUS AVENUE SOUTH. AT THIS TIME, 180 DEGREES IS WORKING WITH THE CITY OF EYOTA,

[1:46:33] MINNESOTA, TO ISSUE TAX EXEMPT REVENUE BONDS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW YOUTH SHELTER FACILITY IN ROCHESTER,

[1:46:39] MINNESOTA. IN ADDITION, THE CITY OF EYOTA REQUESTS AUTHORIZATION OF HOST APPROVAL TO ISSUE UP TO

[1:46:48] $1.6 MILLION IN TAX SXERCHT REVENUE BONDS TO REFINANCE THE OUTSTANDING DEBT ON THOSE SIX

[1:46:54] MINNEAPOLIS PROPERTIES. AS PART OF THIS HOST APPROVAL, THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND THE CITY OF

[1:46:59] EYOTA WILL JOINTLY SUBMIT A HOUSING REQUEST AND WILL ENTER INTO A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT RELATED TO THE BONDS. 180

[1:47:06] DEGREES HAS PAID THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS A $5,000 HOST APPROVAL FEE AS IS REQUIRED

[1:47:12] UNDER THE BOND POLICY. I DO HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL FROM 180 DEGREES HERE TODAY. AND THAT CONCLUDES

[1:47:18] MY PRESENTATION, AND I'LL STAND FOR ANY QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. I WILL PROCEED TO

[1:47:24] OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND SEE IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT.

[1:47:31] SEEING NONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER ELLISON FOR

[1:47:37] MOTION. >> HAPPY TO MOVE THIS FOR APPROVAL. >> WITH THAT MOTION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

[1:47:42] >> AYE. >> AND THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY. THE AYES HAVE IT, AND MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

[1:47:56] WE ARE ON DISCUSSION. AND FIRST IS CONSIDERATION OF SAUNA LICENSE ORDINANCE. THIS WAS

[1:48:01] CONTINUED FROM OUR LAST MEETING. AND NOW IT'S FRONT OF US. DO ANY

[1:48:08] OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE QUESTIONS ON THIS ITEM? COUNCIL MEMBER

[1:48:15] CASHMAN. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR OSMAN. AND THANK YOU TO COMMITTEE MEMBERS

[1:48:21] TO ALLOW THIS TO CONTINUE A CYCLE SO THAT I COULD MEET WITH CPED, DEPARTMENT STAFF, AND ALSO

[1:48:29] MEET WITH SOME BUSINESS OWNERS WHO DO RUN SAUNA BUSINESSES. I FULLY SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE AND

[1:48:34] I THINK THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY TAKING A REALLY GOOD APPROACH HERE. IT WAS TOLD TO ME BY OTHER

[1:48:40] SAUNA BUSINESSES THAT WE ARE LEADING THE NATION AND THAT THE REGULATIONS ARE SUPPORTED. AND

[1:48:46] SO I APPRECIATE THAT WORK AND FOR US KINDA GETTING AHEAD OF THIS AND SETTING SOME QUALITY CONTROL SO THAT THE INDUSTRY CAN

[1:48:53] GROW AND CAN GROW SAFELY. AND THAT, YOU KNOW, THE BEST PRACTICES ARE GOING TO BE

[1:48:59] FOLLOWED IN THIS INDUSTRY. I JUST HAVE TWO MORE QUESTIONS FOR STAFF ON THIS THAT CAME UP IN

[1:49:05] SOME OF MY COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. THE FIRST ONE WAS ABOUT IF WE ARE REGULATING THE INSULATION

[1:49:12] TYPES THAT SAUNA ESTABLISHMENTS CAN USE. AND I WAS ACTUALLY ALERTED THAT PINK INSULATION

[1:49:17] FOAM IS A VERY DANGEROUS PRODUCT TO USE IN SAUNAS BECAUSE WHEN IT GETS BEYOND A CERTAIN

[1:49:23] TEMPERATURE IT CAN BE VERY

[1:49:29] TOXIC. SO DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SPEAK TO THAT? >> COUNCIL MEMBER CASHMAN,

[1:49:34] THROUGH THE CHAIR, NOT SPECIFICALLY TO THAT, BUT THE ORDINANCE DOES OUTLINE THE PLAN

[1:49:41] SUBMITTED BUST -- MUST INCLUDE

[1:49:46] THINGS LIKE FINISHED SCHEDULES, EQUIPMENT TYPES, MODEL NUMBERS AND SO FORTH. SO THE HEALTH

[1:49:52] DEPARTMENT WILL REVIEW THESE PLANS WHEN THEY COME IN. WE PRETTY MUCH TAILORED THIS ORDINANCE AFTER THE SWIMMING

[1:49:58] POOL LICENSE. BECAUSE IT'S AS SIMILAR AS WE CAN FIND AND RATHER THAN REINVENTING THE

[1:50:07] WHEEL. THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT REVIEWS SWIMMING POOLS. I DON'T

[1:50:13] HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE WHETHER OR NOT PINK INSULATION WOULD MEET

[1:50:19] THE HEALTH CODE. CITY STAFF CAN REVIEW THE MATERIALS TO SEE THAT THEY DO MEET CODE.

[1:50:25] >> THANKS. THAT'S HELPFUL. AT LEAST IT WILL BE INDICATED IN THEIR PLANS AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT CAN TAKE IT FROM

[1:50:31] THERE. THE SECOND QUESTION WAS ABOUT THE ESTABLISHED PLACES THAT WE DO HAVE RIGHT NOW WITHIN

[1:50:36] THE PARK SYSTEM. CEDAR LAKE. THERE WERE FOUR LOCATIONS AS FAR

[1:50:41] AS I SAW FROM THE APPLICATION THAT THE PARK BOARD HAS. DO YOU KNOW IF THERE ARE PLANS TO

[1:50:48] EXPAND TO MORE LOCATIONS NEAR WATER IN THE CITY WHERE BUSINESSES CAN SET UP AND GET

[1:50:54] PERMITS. >> I WILL DEFER TO SHANE STENZEL FROM THE PARK BOARD IS HERE AND HE WOULD HAVE MORE INFORMATION.

[1:51:03] >> GOOD AFTERNOON. YES. WE WOULD EXPAND. HOWEVER, WE WOULD STILL

[1:51:08] MAINTAIN THE 300 FEET FROM

[1:51:13] RESIDENTS. WE ALSO HAVE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES IN PLACE. SO AS AN EXAMPLE, IF THERE'S A DAY

[1:51:23] LIKE LAST WEEK WITH A LOT OF SMOKE IN THE AIR, THAT TYPE OF

[1:51:28] THING, PARTICULATES, WE DON'T ALLOW THEM TO OPERATE. WE DO

[1:51:34] HAVE AREAS THAT DON'T AFFECT WITH RESIDENTS. AS AN EXAMPLE,

[1:51:39] LIKE GRECO PARK, AWAY FROM RESIDENTS. IF SOMEONE WANTED TO PUT ONE THERE.

[1:51:44] >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT WAS WHAT MY FRIENDS IN THE INDUSTRY WERE WONDERING. THEIR ONLY

[1:51:52] FEEDBACK WAS THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A PLACE FOR A BIT LONGER TERM BECAUSE IF YOU'RE JUST THERE FOR ONE DAY IT'S A LOT OF

[1:51:58] WORK TO SET UP AND TEAR DOWN IN SUCH A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THOSE

[1:52:06] QUESTIONS. I WOULD ASK IF YOU DON'T MIND ADDING ME AS A CO-AUTHOR. >> CLERK, IF YOU CAN NOTE THAT.

[1:52:13] THANK YOU, STAFF, FOR GETTING AHEAD OF THIS AND WORKING VERY COMPLICATED PROCESS AS ALWAYS.

[1:52:18] THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. AND THANK YOU, PARK BOARD STAFF AS WELL. SO SEEING NO FURTHER, I

[1:52:27] WILL MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ITEM. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> AND THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY.

[1:52:33] THE AYES HAVE IT AND THE MOTION CARRIES. OKAY. LAST ITEMS WE

[1:52:40] HAVE IS ITEM 17, 18, AND 4. --

[1:52:45] SORRY, 6.4 THAT I AMENDED TO TAKE THAT. SO I WILL TAKE THESE ITEMS TOGETHER. AND JUST HAVE

[1:52:57] CONTINUE FOR ONE MORE CYCLE. ARE

[1:53:02] THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SEEING -- ARE WE REFERRING TO

[1:53:14] STAFF OR WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST? >> CHAIR OSMAN, ERIC HANSEN,

[1:53:22] CPED DIRECTOR, IF YOU COULD POSTPONE IT ONE CYCLE. >> POSTPONE ONE CYCLE, THAT'S

[1:53:28] THE MOTION I WILL ENTERTAIN. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY. THE AYES HAVE IT AND THE MOTION

[1:53:34] CARRIES. SEEING NO FURTHER ACTION BEFORE US, WITH NO OBJECTION, I WILL DECLARE THIS

[1:53:40] MEETING ADJOURNED. THANK YOU SO MUCH.