Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Tobacco Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Salinas extends interim ban on new tobacco retailer licenses
Summary
The council voted Aug. 4 to extend Urgency Interim Ordinance No. 2697 — which temporarily halts issuance of new tobacco retailer licenses — for up to 10 months and 15 days to allow staff time to develop a regulatory framework; the extension passed unanimously.
The Salinas City Council voted on Aug. 4 to extend Urgency Interim Ordinance No. 2697, which temporarily prohibits issuance of new tobacco retailer licenses while the city crafts a longer-term regulatory approach.
Assistant to the city manager Ernesto Lizaola presented the extension request, telling the council it would lengthen an initial 45-day interim prohibition to a period not to exceed 10 months and 15 days to allow staff to research and develop a comprehensive framework. “Today, we are here today to, present and propose, an extension to the urgency intermornings number 2 6 9 7, which was issued to prohibit the issuance of tobacco retail licenses citywide, for 45 days,” Lizaola said during his presentation.
Council members voiced support for the public-health rationale and asked staff to coordinate with neighboring jurisdictions. One council member asked staff to reach out to other Monterey County cities and the county to explore a coordinated approach so policy is consistent across jurisdictions. Public commenters supported the measure and emphasized protecting neighborhoods near schools. The council called the question and recorded unanimous 'Yes' votes; the motion passed.
Staff said the extension is intended to preserve the status quo while the city develops standards on where tobacco retailers may operate and what conditions apply, including proximity to schools and youth-serving facilities.
