LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — A vote by the Lakeport City Council on Tuesday evening became the latest in what county health officials said is a series of tobacco prevention policy milestones meant to improve public health.

On Tuesday, the Lakeport City Council held its second and final reading of a tobacco retailer licensing ordinance, approving it 4-1, with Councilman Kenny Parlet being the loud and only dissenting vote.

Later that night following the Lakeport City Council’s vote, Lake County Health Services released a statement in which it announced “the culmination of years of dedicated collaboration and community engagement in achieving a Tobacco Retail Licensing ordinance, alongside critical Smoke-Free Outdoor Policies. These initiatives underscore Lake County’s commitment to protecting public health and reducing tobacco-related harm, particularly among youth.”

Lake County Health Services said the groundwork for these policies was laid beginning in 2017 with the city of Clearlake.

In an effort to work towards a tobacco retail license, the Clearlake City Council passed a moratorium preventing new tobacco retailers in 2018. This action set the stage for the development of a comprehensive tobacco retail license and smoke-free outdoor policies. By 2019, the city of Clearlake had extended the moratorium twice and adopted a smoke-free outdoor policy.

Concurrently, Lake County Health Services engaged with the Board of Supervisors to present the framework for tobacco retail licensing and smoke-free policies, including discussions on fee structures, enforcement and penalties. However, those efforts were temporarily paused due to the pandemic disruptions in 2020.

In 2022, the Board of Supervisors directed Lake County Health Services to revisit these policies.

In February 2023, a collaborative presentation detailed the public health benefits of tobacco retail licensing and smoke-free outdoor policies. Representatives from NorCal 4 Health, Tobacco Free North Coast, the Health & Social Policy Institute Communities Against Nicotine, Blue Zones Lake County and the Lake County Office of Education’s TUPE program joined the presentation, emphasizing the shared mission to curb youth tobacco use and improve health outcomes.

Countywide, achievements on this effort to date include the following developments this year.

Aug. 13: The Board of Supervisors passed the tobacco retail licensing ordinance with rigorous enforcement measures, setting a Jan. 1, 2025, implementation date.

Sept. 10: Adoption of a smoke-free outdoor air policy covering county-owned and leased properties, as well as multi-unit housing common areas.

Nov. 21: The Clearlake City Council passed the tobacco retail license ordinance, mirroring the efforts of the county of Lake.

Dec. 3: The Lakeport City Council joined efforts to provide a seamless plan across the county for the implementation and enforcement of the local tobacco retail license ordinance.

“It’s inspiring to see our community rally together to protect future generations from the dangers of tobacco addiction,” said Liberty Francis, project director of the Tobacco Education and Prevention program. “This united front demonstrates the power of collaboration.”

Francis was on hand at the council meeting Tuesday night and offered answers and clarifications on some of the issues raised during the meeting.

Health Services said the tobacco retail license ordinance and smoke-free policies represent “more than legislative victories; they are steps toward a healthier future for all Lake County residents. These efforts have already inspired ongoing partnerships with the cities of Clearlake and Lakeport, where TRL [tobacco retail license] ordinances have been adopted to mirror compliance and enforcement efforts.”

Lake County Health Services thanked the Lake County Board of Supervisors, local government leaders, public health organizations, and community members for their unwavering support.

“Together, they’ve achieved monumental progress in the fight against tobacco-related harm,” the agency said.