Aldermen are considering changes to Aurora’s proposed tobacco regulation ordinance after complaints from local cigarette vendors who said the proposal was too harsh.
Although the bulk of the measure, proposed by Ald. Michael Saville, will remain intact, cigarette sellers within 100 feet of schools or other facilities used by minors could get a break under revisions being considered.
The Finance Committee instructed Scott McCleary, a city attorney, to draft two grandfather clauses. One would allow existing owners of cigarette-selling businesses within 100 feet of schools to continue sales as long as they own the property. The other would allow cigarette sales to continue as long as the business remains in the same location, no matter who owns it.
Under the initial proposal, all cigarette-selling businesses within 100 feet of schools, child-care centers or other buildings used by minors for education or recreation would have been ineligible to renew their tobacco licenses as of Oct. 1, 1998, when the licenses expire.
But several business owners, one of whom last year won the Mayor’s Award for business improvements, complained the ordinance would badly damage their bottom line. At least five businesses would have had to stop selling cigarettes under the initial proposal.
Aldermen on Wednesday also heard from a neighborhood group that supports the proposed ordinance and Randy Kopp, owner of Aurora Vending Inc., who said a proposed requirement for locks on all vending machines would be too expensive for his industry. He said electronic locks, required in other communities, could cost as much as $400 apiece.
Saville noted Naperville has banned vending machine cigarette sales, and McCleary pointed out the proposal does not require locks where minors do not have access to the machines.
Revisions to the proposed ordinance will be presented at the Nov. 26 Finance Committee meeting.
