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City to consider raising tobacco possession age, BASSET and special event liquor changes at March 16 hearing
Summary
City staff presented first readings to raise possession age for tobacco to 21, prohibit tobacco vending machine sales, reassign BASSET training proof responsibilities to licensees, clarify special event liquor locations, and update employment rules for underage servers; final action is scheduled for the March 16 meeting.
City Manager Michael Dzugan presented four first‑reading ordinance amendments to update City Code on tobacco and alcoholic beverages. The tobacco amendment would increase the legal possession age from 18 to 21 and prohibit tobacco sales from vending machines, aligning the City code with state statute. The alcohol amendments would require licensees, not City staff, to maintain and provide proof of BASSET training for their employees, clarify where special event liquor may occur, and adjust employment rules for 18‑ to 20‑year‑old servers in non‑restaurant license categories.
Dzugan said these items were presented for first reading and scheduled for final consideration at the March 16 Council meeting. No substantive debate occurred at the March 2 meeting beyond staff explanation of the intent to streamline compliance and reflect current license classifications.
