City Council Minutes 2020 05 19 - Laserfiche WebLink

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City Council Meeting Minutes May 19, 2020 Page 5 of 14 He reviewed tobacco use statistics in Colorado. He feels addressing the price point of cigars should be included in a ballot measure. He would like this to be a broad taxation on all products. Public Comments Chris McComb, 238 Monarch Street, is concerned about the fiscal impact of losing the share back from the state. He noted other cities around us don't have this tax and people may just go shop there lowering Louisville's revenue. He stated implementing a new tax in a time of economic crisis makes no sense. He added he does not feel it is the role of local government to be social engineers to keep people from using tobacco. Max Juhl, 1124 West Dillon Road, manager of Havana Cigar shop, stated their store does not cater to youth. He stated they don't sell the cigars targeted at children but only sell premium cigars to adults. He supports a carve out for such purchases. He doesn't think the store would survive this new tax as customers will buy from other locations. Tyler Krietz, 2102 Graydon, Superior, stated he is also an employee at Havana Manor and feels any new tax would put them out of business. He agreed they don't sell to youth and it never has. Todd Reidler, Arvada resident, stated he shops at Havana Manor and noted that many people from outside Louisville shop there and then spend money at neighboring stores bringing sales tax to Louisville. Mayor Pro Tern Maloney stated he feels this is a health and safety issue and he supports about a 40% tax. Councilmember Fahey agreed and noted she would like to focus on the vaping and ecigarettes. She would like to continue moving this towards the ballot. Councilmember Dickinson stated he would prefer this to be handled regionally, but as that has not happened he feels the City will need to act. Councilmember Lipton would like to have the ballot language include a tax on chewing tobacco and a carve out for premium cigars. Councilmember Brown noted the creativity of the tobacco industry to get youth addicted. He stated he is concerned carve outs could be exploited by the industry and consumer demand. If we have a carve out he would want a very tight definition of a premium cigar. He noted that youth in particular are affected by price and we should consider all of the products they might use.