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El Centro extends moratorium on new tobacco retailers through April 2026
Summary
City Council voted 5-0 to adopt an urgency ordinance extending a moratorium on the opening or expansion of tobacco retail shops while staff studies zoning and regulatory options. Public commenters challenged some evidence and urged addressing a nearby methadone clinic.
El Centro — The City Council voted 5-0 on May 20 to adopt Ordinance No. 25-03, an urgency ordinance extending a moratorium on the opening or expansion of tobacco retail shops through April 7, 2026.
Council members said the extension will give staff time to study options such as zoning changes, buffers and other regulatory tools to address community concerns about concentrations of tobacco retailers and related loitering and nuisance activity.
The council adopted the original urgency ordinance on April 8, 2025 for 45 days. Angel Hernandez, community development director, told the council the extension would add “another 10 months and 15 days up to 04/07/2026” to allow staff to evaluate potential permanent controls and return to the council with recommendations.
Her…
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