Sonoma tables proposed rules for tobacco vendors

Sonoma wants to clamp down on tobacco retailers in hopes of curtailing children’s access to cigarettes and tobacco. While state and federal law prohibit its sale to minors, tobacco remains readily available to children, city officials have argued.

On Monday, the City Council considered a proposed measure that would require businesses that sell tobacco to obtain a license with the city. The measure would also likely limit the number of retailers and where they’re located.

But the city’s discussion didn’t get far Monday after Councilman David Cook moved to postpone any action until after new council members are elected next month and sworn in. The motion garnered unanimous support from the rest of the council.

“I just want to be very careful how we target what we target,” Cook said during the meeting.

Cook didn’t agree with a part of the proposed ordinance that would prohibit transferring the tobacco license with a business location in the event of a sale. That rule was aimed at reducing the number of tobacco retailers, according to city officials.

Cook also said he believed the council needed more time to go through the proposed ordinance, and with the election nearing that meant there will soon be a changing of the guard.

Eight candidates, including Councilman Ken Brown, the lone incumbent, are running for three open seats on the City Council.

“You don’t want to hurt business. You don’t want to hurt children,” Cook said. “It’s a fine line.”

Under the proposal that went before the council Monday, the city would have the power to suspend or take away a license if it found a business was selling tobacco to kids or violating other laws. It also called for the license fees to go toward a youth-decoy sting program, coordinated by sheriff’s deputies and Police Chief Bret Sackett.

The licenses would cost $246 a year, according to City Manager Carol Giovanatto. She said 16 businesses currently are licensed by the state to sell tobacco products within the city limits.

However, it’s unknown what will remain and what will be changed in the proposed licensing ordinance once it comes back to the council. Discussions will resume at the beginning of next year.

The city also expects to bring forward at that time a proposed ban on smoking in housing complexes and public places.

You can reach Staff Writer Eloísa Ruano González at 521-5458 or eloisa.gonzalez@pressdemocrat.com.