Committee forwards six community requests on vape shops, zoning, permits, gunshot education and mailbox theft to committees

The San Antonio City Council Committee on Government on Jan. 15 heard staff presentations on six community-request items and voted by voice to refer each to the appropriate committee for further study.

Committee members discussed a proposed local prohibition on tobacco and electronic-cigarette specialty stores near schools, a large-area rezoning review, a permit process and transparency review, a public education campaign about illegal gunfire, and a mailbox-theft prevention proposal. After presentation and brief discussion, the committee approved a single motion to send each request to the committee or department recommended by staff.

The request to ban tobacco and e-cigarette specialty stores near schools was presented as a public-health measure and tied to legislation being considered at the state level. John Carrey, a presenter to the committee, said the matter was being advanced in coordination with state legislation introduced by "Senator Campbell," and staff recommended sending the item on for full committee consideration. Councilmember College said other Texas cities had already adopted local measures and argued San Antonio should not wait for the…