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Council refers tobacco-age ordinance back to committee, approves multiple stop-sign ordinances; police report finds Xylazine in fatal overdose
Summary
The council voted to send the ordinance to raise the legal purchase age for tobacco and vaping products back to the public safety committee for more review, approved several new stop-sign locations, and received committee updates on overdose risk, canine staffing and Narcan distribution.
The Superior Common Council on April 8 voted to return a proposed ordinance raising the legal age to buy tobacco and vaping products to the public safety committee for further review, and approved several traffic- and parking-related ordinances to add stop signs at multiple intersections.
During a public safety committee report, the police department said it responded to 1,443 incidents and issued 76 traffic citations in the recent reporting period. The committee reported that three people struggling with addiction were referred to Pathways to Hope, and that a dangerous new drug, xylazine, was found in a recent fatal overdose — a concern because naloxone (Narcan) does not reverse xylazine’s effects. The committee also noted growth in the police canine program and said a new dog, Luca, will join the team; recruitment interest was high with 26 applicants.
The fire department reported distributing Narcan kits for leave-behind with at-risk people, responded to about 924 calls year-to-date, assisted with a suspected meth lab response in Burnett County, conducted a spring ice rescue and held EMS refresher trainings. The department also toured a new La Crosse fire station for planning input on a future north-end station and hosted a public safety symposium attended by more than 100 people.
On the council floor, Councilor Johnson moved to refer the tobacco-and-vape-age ordinance back to the public safety committee for further review; Councilor Elm seconded the motion, which carried on a voice vote. The ordinance is listed in committee materials as an amendment to city code chapter 86, section 86-22, but council discussion indicated staff and the city attorney should revisit phrasing and implementation details before the council takes a final vote.
Separately, the council approved several traffic-ordinance items the committee recommended to add stop signs at the following intersections: 26th Avenue East and East Sixth Street (motion by Councilor Fennessey, second by Councilor Elm); 20 Fourth Street and Banks Avenue (motion by Councilor Harrick, second by Councilor Elm); and Nineteenth Street and Banks Avenue (motion by Councilor Holmes, second by Councilor Herrick). Each motion was approved on voice vote.
The council did not adopt the tobacco-age ordinance at this meeting; committee review was requested to resolve wording and legal questions with assistance from the city attorney.
