City to consider zoning limits for new vape shops as task force readies testimony

Mayor Ellen Zapposasu told the Mayor’s Opioid Task Force that the ordinance committee is preparing to set a public hearing on proposed zoning restrictions for new vape shops, including distance requirements from schools and churches.

Zapposasu said the health director has pledged support and the task force aims to bring health, school and police testimony to the ordinance committee to frame the measure as a public-health initiative. "Once that topic gets set down for public hearing, what we were hoping is to have the triumvirate of health districts, BEST, and actually the school system, police department ... to talk about that impact so that we can have some really robust people testifying about why this is a health issue," she said.

BEST and youth-services staff described past efforts to work with retailers on underage sales prevention — including decals, ID checks and undercover compliance checks — and said vape detectors are currently installed in high schools, though referrals this year are lower than expected. Youth-services staff said they are checking why middle schools do not yet have detectors and will follow up with the Board of Education.

Councilman Steve Seymour, who sits on the ordinance committee, described personal reasons for participating in task-force work and encouraged community support at the hearing. Task force members agreed to coordinate testimony and to publicize the ordinance committee hearing once a date is set.

The mayor asked members to consider attending or submitting written testimony to demonstrate community support for the restrictions when the committee schedules its hearing.