To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: MARC WIENER, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
TITLE
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DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING UPDATES TO THE REDONDO BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE TO REGULATE SMOKE SHOPS AND A REVIEW OF THE CITY'S CURRENT TOBACCO RETAIL PERMIT REQUIREMENTS
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nicotine is highly addictive and can harm brain development, which continues until 25 years of age, and poses a unique risk to youth. The state has passed recent legislation strengthening tobacco oversight programs and expanding the seizure of illegal tobacco products which it has deemed essential to achieving the state's public health goal of lowering youth tobacco use.
In addition to the health risks associated with the sale of tobacco, there has also been a track record of compliance issues associated with smoke shops in Redondo Beach and elsewhere. The Police Department has identified compliance issues with several smoke shops throughout the City, as detailed later in this report. Other cities throughout the state are also experiencing compliance issues with smoke shops. For example, the City of Modesto inspected its 47 smoke shops and found that all were selling flavored tobacco products, which were outlawed in 2022. The City of Fresno conducted inspections of its 67 smokes shops and found that 79% were selling illegal cannabis products, which resulted in the issuance of $5 million in citations to the non-compliant businesses.
On April 15, 2025, the City Council reviewed and provided input on a draft Smoke Shop Ordinance and gave direction on the following items, which have been incorporated into the draft Ordinance:
1. Include a process to allow a max of 5 smoke shops Citywide, with the exception of the legal nonconforming businesses, in which 10 would initially be allowed and be reduced to 5 over time through attrition
2. Do not set the cap based on City Council Districts
3. Include ...
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