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THE CITY OF HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION #,,, AGENDA REPORT PLEASANTON. December 4, 2019 Item 4 TITLE: DISCUSS YOUTH COMMISSION REFERRAL TO CONSIDER RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPT ORDINANCES TO: (1) PROHIBIT SALE OF FLAVORED TOBACCO PRODUCTS; (2) PROHIBIT SALE OF E -CIGARETTES AND PARAPHERNALIA; (3) RESTRICT'SALE OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS WITHIN 1,000 FEET OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PUBLIC PARKS AND PUBLIC RECREATION FACILITIES; (4) REQUIRE MINIMUM PACK SIZES AND MINIMUM PRICING FOR SOME CIGARS AND CIGARETTES; AND (5) PROHIBIT POSSESSION OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS BY PERSONS UNDER 21 SUMMARY The Youth Commission is concerned with the high rates of underage usage of flavored tobacco products (87.6% of youth users) and e -cigarettes (25% of teens), and that 95% of adult smokers began smoking before the age of 21. The Youth Commission, at its November 13, 2019 meeting, recommended the City Council adopt ordinances to: 1. Prohibit the sale of flavored tobacco products city-wide; 2. Prohibit the sale of e -cigarettes and related paraphernalia city-wide; 3. Restrict the sale of tobacco products within 1,000 feet of public schools, public parks, and public recreation facilities (with pre-existing tobacco shops being allowed to remain as legal non -conforming uses); 4. Set minimum pack sizes and minimum prices for some cigars and cigarettes (with exceptions for premium items, and items sold at tobacco shops where persons under the age of 18 are restricted from entering); 5. Update the Municipal Code to prohibit persons under the age of 21 from possession of tobacco products (the code currently only restricts possession by persons under the age of 18). Staff met with tobacco retailers on November 20th to explain the proposals and answer questions. Retailers expressed many concerns about the Youth Commission's proposals (see Attachment 1). As each of the five proposals are described in this report, some of the issues raised by tobacco retailers will be highlighted.