BE IT RESOLVED,  that a public hearing to obtain comment on proposed revisions to Hennepin County Ordinance 21: Retail Tobacco Sales, be held before the Health and Human Services Committee of the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday June 11, 2019, at 1:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as is practicable, in Room A-2400 of the Hennepin County Government Center, in the city of Minneapolis; and that the Clerk of the Board be directed to publish notice of the public hearing.

Ordinance 21 was enacted on August 31, 1999 and amended on November 1, 2016. It is an ordinance relating to the sale of tobacco, tobacco-related devices, electronic delivery devices, and nicotine and lobelia products in Hennepin County and to reducing the illegal sale of such items to and by minors. This ordinance aims to protect youth and young adults in Hennepin County from the serious and harmful health effects associated with tobacco use. The proposed changes to Ordinance 21 include:

• Raising the minimum legal sales age for tobacco products from 18 to 21 years old;

   

• Requiring individuals employed by a tobacco retailer to be at least 18 years old to sell licensed tobacco products;

   

• Restricting the sale of flavored tobacco products, including menthol, mint and wintergreen, to adult-only tobacco stores (those that derive more than 90% of revenue from tobacco sales and restrict people under age 21 from entering); and

   

• Prohibiting the sale of cigars that cost less than $3.00 each.

   

The ordinance changes would affect the communities where Hennepin County is the tobacco retailer licensing authority – Greenfield, Mound, Rockford (Hennepin County portion), Rogers, St. Bonifacius, and the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport.

This ordinance is enacted pursuant to the requirements of Minnesota Statutes §§ 461.12 to 461.18. This public hearing is required for a change in the Ordinance language, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes §§ 375.51. The public hearing notice is attached.