Staff pitches tobacco‑retailer licensing program with 1,000‑foot buffer and one‑year pilot

City staff outlined a Tobacco Retailer License (TRL) ordinance that would require any business selling tobacco, nicotine products or e‑cigarettes to obtain a nontransferable annual license and comply with local standards.

Ginger Ivy said the TRL would grandfather existing retailers but prevent opening of new smoke shops under the staff‑recommended ordinance. Key elements described included banning flavored tobacco, drug paraphernalia vending and discounts; a nontransferable annual license; and enforcement tools including annual inspections by police and community development staff and a penalty process that could include administrative hearings and license revocation. Ivy said, “Licenses would require annual renewal and remain non transferable,” and staff recommended waiving processing and license fees during a one‑year pilot program to encourage immediate registration.

Staff also discussed local fee-setting constraints and examples from other Orange County cities: fees range widely by jurisdiction and must reflect actual cost of service. To support enforcement during a fee‑waiver pilot, staff said they will apply for competitive California Department of Justice funds to cover proactive inspections, police overtime, training, and outreach if awarded. Council members asked about how to calculate grandfathering eligibility; staff said business‑license records and local verification would be used when state data were incomplete.