Moline council rejects proposal to increase incidental tobacco/vape dealer licenses

The Moline City Council discussed and ultimately rejected an ordinance to increase the number of Class B incidental tobacco dealer licenses after council members expressed concerns about adding more outlets that sell vape products.

The ordinance—submitted at the request of Variety Convenience LLC, doing business as groceries, tobacco, and vape—would have increased the floating cap on Class B incidental tobacco dealer licenses under Chapter 22 of the Moline Code of Ordinances. Council members questioned whether the business constituted a new dedicated vape shop or a conventional convenience store with incidental tobacco sales, and several cited proximity to a local dispensary and the existing concentration of such businesses as reasons to resist increasing the cap.

A procedural motion to suspend the rules allowed extended discussion. Multiple councilmembers said they preferred an explicit recorded vote rather than letting the proposal die through inaction. After discussion, the motion to approve the ordinance failed on the final roll call.

Council context: members said they want to preserve business diversity in specific corridors and expressed a desire to await clearer state or national guidance on the classification and regulation of novel nicotine products before expanding permitted license counts. Staff indicated the item can be revisited in future agenda cycles if the applicant returns with additional information.

What happens next: The ordinance did not pass and therefore does not change the current number of Class B incidental tobacco dealer licenses; staff will provide follow-up information ahead of any future second reading or reapplication.