Manteca may impose a temporary moratorium on the opening of new smoke shops within the city limits.

The City Council will take up the issue when they meet tonight at 6 p.m.

The proposed moratorium comes after Councilwoman Regina Lacky, among others, noticed a proliferation of smoke shops in recent months.

According to a staff report, “the City is concerned about the proliferation of these businesses, and the harmful effects of tobacco and other products sold at these establishments on the health, safety, and welfare of the City’s residents, especially youth.

The Manteca Police Department, along with the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, regularly conduct inspections of tobacco retailers, and continually find that these businesses are often engaged in illegal activity, including the sale of:

*cannabis

*flavored tobacco products

*unstamped cigarettes

*out of state stamped cigarettes

*untaxed tobacco products

*and various activity without the required permits and licenses.

The sale of illegal items at these businesses encourages criminal activity, and these businesses are often a target for theft, vandalism, and loitering,

Government Code section 36937 authorizes the City Council to adopt an urgency ordinance for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety. 

 During the moratorium, the city will study ways of more effectively regulating problematic issues.

This may include drafting and implementing a new ordinance with various restrictions that mirror state law and exploring signage restrictions.

Various local jurisdictions have adopted similar urgency ordinances to address these concerns, including San Joaquin County, the City of Stockton, and the City of Modesto.

This is not the first time the city has addressed the ease youth have of accessing tobacco products.

Back in the late 1970s, the city became the first jurisdiction in California to ban the placement of cigarette machines in restaurants and other locations legally accessed by youth.

The late Trena Kelley noticed students regularly entering the foyer of a restaurant near Manteca High on the way to and from school to buy cigarettes.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabullletin.com