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Stockton extends tobacco moratorium; public urges 2,500-foot buffer near schools
Summary
The Stockton City Council unanimously extended a moratorium on new tobacco retail licenses to give staff time to craft an ordinance. Public commenters urged a larger 2,500-foot separation from 'sensitive uses' to address retail clustering near youth and called for a city map of alcohol and tobacco outlets.
The Stockton City Council voted unanimously April 1 to extend a moratorium on new tobacco retail licenses while staff develops an ordinance to address retailer location and spacing.
The extension, approved 7–0, pauses new licensing and allows staff time to prepare a report and draft regulations before the moratorium expires. City staff told the council it can set any separation distance in the forthcoming ordinance; councilmembers indicated they may consider changing the staff-recommended 1,000-foot buffer.
Public commenters urged the council to go further than the staff recommendation. Julie Dunning said the proposed 1,000-foot distance “only adds 400 feet” to the current code and asked the council to increase the minimum to 2,500 feet for all tobacco retailers to reduce overconcentration in certain neighborhoods and better protect children. Other speakers asked the council to remove a clause that allows existing businesses to transfer setback exemptions and requested a city map showing alcohol and tobacco establishments to identify pockets of high concentration.
City attorney and staff clarified that the item before the council that evening was an extension of the moratorium, not the final ordinance. Staff said the moratorium report satisfies the timing requirement in the ordinance that governs extensions and that the council will receive the ordinance draft and supporting materials in a follow-up report (noted for the April 15 meeting).
The council’s action is procedural: it preserved the status quo while staff completes analyses and drafts the ordinance. If the council later adopts an ordinance, it can set a different separation distance, eliminate exemptions, or add enforcement mechanisms. Staff and council members acknowledged the need for additional outreach and data, including maps and enforcement considerations, before any final decision.
Next steps: staff will prepare the ordinance and a supplemental report for council consideration (staff indicated a report is scheduled ahead of the moratorium’s expiration).
