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Gilroy council adopts 45-day interim ban on new tobacco retailer permits
Summary
The council adopted an urgency interim ordinance, finding immediate action necessary to protect public health and minors, and imposed a citywide prohibition on issuing new tobacco retailer permits for up to 45 days; council also voted to find the action CEQA-exempt.
On Jan. 5 the Gilroy City Council adopted an urgency interim ordinance prohibiting the issuance of new tobacco retailer permits citywide for a period not to exceed 45 days. The council also voted to determine that the action is exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) guidelines as cited in the staff motions.
Councilmember Ramirez moved to find the item CEQA-exempt; Councilmember Klein seconded and the motion passed 7–0. The council then directed the clerk to read the ordinance title by title only and waived further reading. Councilmember Marx moved to adopt the urgency ordinance and Councilmember Klein seconded; the ordinance was adopted by a 7–0 roll-call vote after council made findings that immediate action was necessary to preserve public health and to protect minors.
Several councilmembers indicated the city’s tobacco registration and enforcement processes are currently problematic and that they expect further policy work in the coming weeks to address enforcement and licensing. There was no public comment on the item during the hearing.
The ordinance limits new permit issuances while the council and staff work on policy changes; staff and council indicated further work and public engagement is anticipated.
