CERRITOS >> The city is considering a ban on new electronic cigarette businesses that could become law by December, but opponents said it would be extreme and irresponsible.

The City Council is scheduled to discuss the issue at a public hearing Thursday. The council also is scheduled to discuss requiring all businesses that sell e-cigarettes as a secondary product to obtain a tobacco retail license.

The city passed a moratorium on the establishment of new e-cigarette businesses in 2013 that will expire this month. The city already has a ban on e-cigarette use in public places.

No progress at state, federal level

One only e-cigarette business operates in the city, and it would be grandfathered in, said Torrey Contreras, the city’s community development director. The city has received about one inquiry a month from e-cigarette businesses wanting to open.

“We were hoping the moratorium would supply time for the state and federal government to make regulations for electronic cigarettes, but there has been no significant progress,” Contreras said.

As to the moratorium, Contreras said the city has a history of enacting conservative policies, and that this is a “proactive action” to prevent any more businesses from opening.

The Planning Commission initially considered an ordinance that would have restricted new e-cigarette business to an industrial and commercial zone, but at its Sept. 16 meeting, it approved the proposed ordinance by a 4-1 vote.

Ordinance is ‘extreme’

Tatiana Yokoyama Bui, vice chair of the Planning Commission, cast the lone vote against the moratorium.

“It was extreme,” Bui said. “Similar to my other commissioners, I’m concerned for health reasons to restrict e-cigarette establishments so children can’t access them.”

But the commission wanted to set a precedent for other cities, she said.

“It scares me that they could make that decision so quickly, years before the research is done,” Bui said. “They could have done restrictions and then done a ban if it is needed.”

A $3 billion industry

Long Beach and Lakewood, for example, have ordinances equating e-cigarettes and tobacco, meaning they must comply with all state laws.

E-cigarettes are used by six million people and draw annual sales of $3 billion, said Thomas Kiklas, co-founder of the Georgia-based Tobacco Vapor Electronic Cigarette Association.

“We are in favor of restrictions against no e-cigarette shops near schools, but its irresponsible to ban them,” he said. “They should be embraced as a viable alternative to smoking cigarettes.”

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to soon pass regulations governing the e-cigarette industry.

State has yet to pass law

Two state bills, SB X22 and AB X21, which would define e-cigarettes as tobacco products, requiring them to adhere to the same regulations as tobacco products and uses to follow California’s smoke-free laws, are awaiting hearings in the Assembly and Senate.

If Cerritos leaders approve the ordinance Thursday, it must come back for a second reading, possibly at the Oct. 22 meeting. If it’s approved on second reading, the ordinance would go into effect 30 days later.

The Cerritos City Council meets at Cerritos City Hall, Council Chambers, 18125 Bloomfield Ave. at 7 p.m. Thursday. For more information, 562-916-1248 or www.cerritos.us.

Contact Phillip Zonkel at 562-714-2098.