HomeMy WebLinkAboutVIII-12 Tobacco Regulations - Status Report
City Council Memorandum
To: Mayor Fasbender & City Councilmembers
From: Kelly Murtaugh, Assistant City Administrator
Date: February 18, 2025
Item: Tobacco Regulations Proposed Amendments
Council Action Requested:
Information item in advance of proposed amendments to the Tobacco Regulations Ordinance
112. The proposed amendment to the ordinance was made too close to the upcoming
Council meeting to allow proper time to prepare documents for a first reading.
Background Information:
An agenda item related to the Tobacco Regulations Ordinance was added to the Council agenda
on January 21, 2025, by a unanimous vote of Council. Council then directed that the topic be
placed on the Public Safety Committee agenda for the meeting to be held on February 10.
The Committee recommended setting a limit on the number of stand-alone tobacco shop licenses
in the City to four (4). The proposed amendment does not set a limit on the number of licenses for
establishments where tobacco is not the primary business purpose (gas station, grocery store,
etc.). This would create two license categories--one for stand-alone tobacco shops and one for
businesses where tobacco products are not the establishment’s primary business purpose.
The City currently has 8 licensed stand-alone tobacco shops. In the Committee meeting,
information from similarly sized cities in the Metro was considered. Of the seven cities reviewed,
five have placed limits on the number of licenses within the past four years. The limits range from
two to ten, with an average of five. The proposed amendments would allow the current licensees
to continue operation and renew their licenses subject to the provisions of the ordinance. No new
licenses would be approved, and sunsetting the number of tobacco licenses for stand-alone shops
would happen through attrition over time.
The first reading is anticipated at the March 3 meeting, followed by the second reading March 17.
Financial Impact:
Potential impact to licensing fee revenue.
Advisory Commission Discussion:
N/A
VIII-12
Council Committee Discussion:
The Public Safety Committee (Leifeld*, Lawrence, Vihrachoff) met on February 10, 2025.
Attachments:
N/A
VIII-12