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Measure to restrict convenience stores near schools fails 4–5 after safety concerns
Summary
A proposal to curb proximity of convenience stores to schools (item 84) failed 4–5 after councilors expressed concern about illegal sales of tobacco/alcohol near schools and disagreement over whether the measure could be enforced locally.
The council considered a proposal (item 84) that would have placed limitations on certain convenience stores near schools; the item failed by a 4–5 roll‑call vote.
One councilor said the city should not tolerate stores selling illegal products near schools and urged state legislators to address statutory gaps that limit the city’s ability to regulate proximities; the councilor said the proposal was driven by repeated incidents where children had access to tobacco or alcohol near school sites.
Other councilors disagreed about the city’s authority and whether the ordinance should prohibit certain businesses or instead be addressed at the state level. After the clerk called the roll, the item failed with a 4–5 record against adoption.
