Minutes - Council - 09/22/2026 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Chief Bluml clarified that the consequences were structured differently. Under the applicable rules, a first tobacco violation cannot result in a suspension but carries a $300 fine. In the current lower- potency hemp case, the City Code did not establish an administrative fine, but Council could impose a registration suspension of zero to 30 days. He emphasized that the employee had already received a criminal citation and that OCM maintained separate state enforcement authority. Mr. Alfred Jackson, 16765 New York Street NW, commended the business representative for appearing before Council and accepting responsibility. However, he encouraged Council to establish meaningful consequences for underage sales. He said the City had little precedent for lower-potency hemp violations, so that this case could set expectations for future enforcement. Motion by Councilmember Buscher, seconded by Councilmember Peters, to determine that a lower-potency hemp age-verification compliance violation occurred on September 8, 2026. Councilmember Specht supported suspending the registration, suggesting three to seven days to reflect the seriousness of the violation while recognizing that a 30-day suspension might be excessive. Councilmember Buscher thanked the business representative for accepting responsibility and implementing corrective measures. She supported reviewing the City's ordinance to consider annual training, identification-verification technology, fines, and consistent suspension guidelines for future violations. She emphasized that imposing no City suspension would not eliminate other consequences because the employee had received a citation and OCM was independently reviewing the matter. Councilmember Stewart disagreed with not suspending and said doing so would not adequately reflect the seriousness of an underage sale. Discussion continued on the distinction between punishing the individual employee, the City's regulatory authority over the business, and OCM's state-level enforcement. Council discussed whether additional local regulations were necessary or whether existing state and federal enforcement mechanisms were sufficient. One Councilmember supported a three-day suspension as a compromise that would recognize the violation without imposing the maximum penalty. Councilmember Buscher agreed to a friendly amendment changing her motion from no suspension to a three-day suspension. Councilmember Specht indicated that although he would personally have supported a somewhat longer suspension, he considered three days a reasonable compromise that demonstrated the City's expectation of compliance and established consequences for the violation. Motion carried. Voting Yes: Mayor Heineman, Councilmembers Buscher, Olson, Peters, Riley, Specht, and Stewart. Voting No: None. City Council /September 22, 2026 Page 9 of 10