By Brett Callwood
At the City Council meeting on the evening of Tuesday, March 28, Departmental Item 13A saw the council unanimously vote for a “Moratorium Prohibiting New Significant Tobacco Retailers from Establishing in the City.”
A staff note read, “The number of Significant Tobacco Retailers has increased significantly within the City from ten (10) in October 2021 to sixteen (16) in March 2023. The proliferation of these types of businesses and the harmful effects of tobacco on the residents, and more specifically the youth, is of concern to the City… The adoption of Urgency Ordinance 1850 would allow staff time to conduct the necessary research, hold study sessions if desired by the Council, and ultimately bring back an ordinance related to Significant Tobacco Retail businesses. Successful adoption of this Ordinance requires a 4/5 vote of the City Council and would become effective immediately for 45 days.”\
Council Member Wanda Love requested that similar actions be taken on establishments providing tattoos and other services some may consider controversial.
Earlier, council voted in favor of a, “Proposed Substantial Amendment to the Fiscal Year 2021-2022 US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Annual Action Plan to Accept HOME – ARP Funding from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 in the amount of $1,040,280.”
The funding will be allocated to, “(1) Administration; (2) Homeless Supportive Services, and (3) Tenant-based Rental Assistance.”
Staff earned the ire of the council members when it emerged that an audit is required “for Federally Funded Programs for Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2022,” due to “four (4) Significant deficiencies or findings 2022-001 to 2022-004” that the auditors found during their testing over the Internal control over Compliance on the major federal programs and reviewing the Schedule of Federal Awards.
This effectively means that grants aren’t being used in accordance with the rules, and corrective measures will be taken immediately.
