Tobacco Retailer Licensing

Expressed support for tobacco retail licensing and requested continued education and penalties focused on business owners rather than youth.

Expressed support for tobacco retailer licensing but asked the council to reconsider fee amounts and language impacting responsible operators.

Asked the council to table the tobacco ordinance to allow more time for business input on fees and license transfers.

Raised concerns about annual licensing costs and restrictions on transferring business licenses upon retirement.

Asked for a fair tobacco ordinance that distinguishes administrative mistakes from serious illegal sales.

Suggested incorporating minimum margin laws and restrictions on multi-pack discounts and outward-facing signage into tobacco regulations.

Urged the council to lower licensing fees and protect family business transfers from severe employee error penalties.

Expressed strong support for adopting a comprehensive tobacco retail license ordinance to protect youth health.

Urged the council to strengthen the tobacco policy with proactive annual inspections and civil enforcement.

Expressed concern over high tobacco licensing fees compounded by rising electricity and operating costs.

Expressed support for a comprehensive tobacco retail license ordinance aligned with public health best practices.

Spoke in favor of strengthening the tobacco retail license ordinance by eliminating flavored tobacco products and increasing distance restrictions from youth areas.

Representing convenience store owners, requested a delay on the tobacco licensing vote to allow more time for stakeholder discussions and to address business concerns.

Supported the tobacco license ordinance on behalf of the Fresno County Tobacco-Free Coalition while suggesting stronger provisions on flavor bans and retailer density.

Representing local retailers, asked the council to delay the tobacco ordinance so local business owners could provide input.

Asked for more time to negotiate the tobacco licensing rules and fees so they do not unfairly penalize law-abiding store owners.

Voiced support for the tobacco retail license as a sustainable way to fund enforcement and protect youth from tobacco marketing.

Spoke for the American Cancer Society supporting the TRL ordinance and urging strong penalties and flavor restrictions.

Argued that the proposed licensing fees are unfair to responsible retailers and requested a delay for further study.

Advocated for stronger restrictions on flavored tobacco and youth-oriented store locations to protect community health.

Representing the California Fuels and Convenience Alliance, asked the council to delay the tobacco ordinance to gather stakeholder input.

Supported the TRL program and requested provisions for density limits and flavor bans.