Proposed Drug Paraphernalia Ordinance, Updated Tobacco Law to be Reviewed by Northfield Council

The Northfield City Council will get its first chance to discuss the city’s proposed drug paraphernalia ordinance and updates to the tobacco ordinance during Tuesday’s work session.

In August, councilors directed city staff to draft the paraphernalia ordinance so the city could restrict the sale of those items.

That came after the council amended a tobacco license to prohibit the sale of glass pipes and other items usable as drug paraphernalia at , a tobacco-only retailer on Division Street. Its owner, , was forced to closed his convenience store in Minneapolis in 2006 for failing to prevent drug activity on his property.

According to council documents, city staff studied drug paraphernalia laws on the books in cities throughout Minnesota—among them south-of-the-river communities Lakeville, Eagan, Rosemount and Burnsville—before drafting Northfield’s proposal. That draft then was reviewed and updated by police and .

The proposed tobacco law changes also includes information from other cities, as well as input from the League of Minnesota Cities and the Public Health Law Center.

City staff will seek direction from the council to determine if additional restrictions should be placed on tobacco-only retailers in the city, such as age restrictions on who can entered the retailers or where retailers can be located in proximity to “youth-oriented” facilities, like schools, playgrounds or churches.

Because of public-notice requirements on ordinance changes, the soonest that the proposed ordinances would take effect would be Jan. 17.

Also on the agenda for Tuesday’s work session:

• The council will hear 2012 budget presentations from the Administrative and Community Development departments. Councilors use information from these sessions in deliberations for next year’s budget.
• The council will review the city’s draft Capital Equipment Program budget. The proposed budget for next year is $1.274 million, of which $750,000 would be used to buy a fire truck. That new truck would replace a 1978 model vehicle slated for replacement in 1998.
• The council will discuss its goals for the proposed project. At its Oct. 18 meeting, the council directed Public Safety Director Mark Taylor to determine what amenities were needed at the center and what could be eliminated to reduce the project’s cost. At the work session, the council is expected to review what it deems necessary for the project to move forward.

IF YOU GO
WHEN: 7 p.m. today
WHERE: , 801 Washington St.
WHO: Open to the public