Flavored Tobacco Products Survey

Proposed Ban on Flavored Tobacco Products - City Council Meeting October 27, 2020

The following Report to Council was originally scheduled to be presented on March 31, 2020 but was postponed to October 27, 2020 due to COVID-19: Introduce an Ordinance to Amend Chapter 9.28 (Regulation of Smoking) of Title 9 (Public Peace, Safety or Welfare) of the Sunnyvale Municipal Code to Prohibit the Sale of Flavored Tobacco Products (Study Issue).

As you may already know, on August 28, 2020, California passed a law prohibiting the sale of most flavored tobacco products (SB 793) effective January 1, 2021. The new state law largely prohibits the sale of flavored tobacco products with three primary exemptions:

1. hookah and shisha products if sold by a licensed tobacco retailer and where entry is limited to those aged 21 and over;

2. premium cigars that are handmade with a tobacco leaf wrapper, with a wholesale price of no less than $12 as well as premium cigars sold in a cigar lounge and consumed on the premises; and

3. loose leaf tobacco, such as for use in pipes, and which is usually sold in pouches (except for tobacco used for roll-your-own cigarettes).

The new State law explicitly provides that local governments may pass stricter local ordinances. Sunnyvale has decided to proceed with providing Council with the opportunity to adopt a local ordinance to ban flavored tobacco products, including the exemptions provided under the new state law.

The agenda and report is available at http://sunnyvaleca.legistar.com/calendar.aspx

• Watch the City Council meeting on television over Comcast Channel 15, at http://youtube.com/SunnyvaleMeetings or http://sunnyvaleca.legistar.com/calendar.aspx

• Submit written comments to the City Council up to 4 hours prior to the meeting to [email protected] or by mail to City Clerk, 603 All America Way, Sunnyvale, CA 94086.

• Teleconference participation: You may provide audio public comment by connecting to the teleconference meeting online or by telephone. Use the Raise Hand feature to request to speak (*9 on a telephone):

     Meeting online link: http://sunnyvale-ca-gov.zoom.us/j/96111580540

     Meeting call-in telephone number: 833-548-0276 | Meeting ID: 961 1158 0540

Thank you!

CHRISTY GUNVALSEN

NEIGHBORHOOD PRESERVATION MANAGER

Department of Public Safety

Phone:  408-730-7255

Email: [email protected]