The ordinance represents two years of coordination between a coalition of health and youth advocates, the city, local hospitals and business owners, said Guadulesa Rivera, community advocate for Glendale Adventist Medical Center, which has devoted thousands of dollars toward studying the issue and developing the proposal.
Several local liquor store owners, who would be affected by the ordinance, said they support efforts to curtail tobacco sales to minors and hope to have continued input on the ordinance.
"Sometimes your employees make a mistake," said Frank Chong, owner of Castle Liquors on San Fernando Road. "I'm OK with fees, but penalty fee, that's the main thing I'm concerned about."
The city's Neighborhood Services Department has gathered input from tobacco retailers since it started developing the ordinance, Rivera said.
"I don't see other cities going to this effort," she said. "I think a lot of people are rallying around this effort."
As the ordinance gets closer to a vote, more people are saying they would like the city to move closer to a citywide restriction on smoking in shared public spaces.
"Everyone knows minors shouldn't smoke, but the city seems to be dragging its feet when it comes to everyone else's health," resident Carol Sloane said Friday as she grabbed lunch on Brand Boulevard. "All the other cities are banning smoke, so what's the deal with us?"
In May, Burbank banned smoking in outdoor dining areas, parts of downtown Burbank, the Chandler Bikeway, city parks and facilities, public transit stations and at outdoor events.
