11/07/1990 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e The council agreed unanimously to continue to monitor the request but take no further action on this issue at this time. V. WORK SESSION: PROPOSED TOBACCO VENDING ORDINANCE The council agreed to withhold a decision on the proposed tobacco vending ordinance until Ms. Schue could be present. Lieutenant Vic Mann, Department of Public Safety, provided a brief staff report. He said that this item was prepared in response to a request from the Lane County Chapter of the Ameri- can Lung Association that the council consider a City ordinance to be effec- tive in preventing the illegal sale of tobacco to minors. Lieutenant Mann said that the Department of Public Safety has reviewed simi- lar efforts in other locales and indicated that there are a number of poten- tial options available to the council, including: taking no action and de- ferring to the County or State for possible legislation; implementing a li- censing program that registers every retail tobacco sales outlet; adopting an ordinance similar to Linn County's and mandating a one-year review to deter- mine its effectiveness; or considering a range of stronger regulations. Lieutenant Mann said that staff's first recommendation is to take no action on this item and defer legislation to the County or State. However, if the council desires to take action, staff recommends that the council consider an ordinance similar to the one adopted in Linn County. He estimated that such an ordinance would involve approximately 50 machines in the City and would e have negligible enforcement costs. Responding to a question from Ms. Bascom, Lieutenant Mann said that the law currently in effect prohibits smoking in public places. The law, which des- ignates the Oregon State Health Division as its enforcer, is primarily en- forced on a complaint basis. Mr. Rutan said that the council needs to consider what the proper role of government should be in regulating this activity. Noting that the proposed regulation program would not be self-supporting, he urged the council to retreat from this issue. Mr. Green voiced concern with the proposed ordinance. He noted that while the ordinance penalizes cigarette vendors, it does not hold minors legally accountable for their actions. Ms. Ehrman said that she brought this request before the council at the re- quest of a constituent. She agreed that any licensing system should be done on a statewide issue. She expressed an interest in following Springfield's lead of licensing tobacco vending machines. In light of the health hazards associated with passive smoke, Ms. Bascom expressed her interest in becoming involved in a State program that would effectively enforce the indoor smoking law. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council November 7, 1990 Page 7