Danville’s Town Council will consider joining other local municipalities in banning the sale of flavored and electronic cigarettes within town limits, an issue the council will discuss during its regular meeting on Tuesday.

An ongoing discussion in Danville for the past several months, town officials say the council will consider enacting the prohibition in order to curb the use of vaping among minors and in schools.

“While the use of e-cigarettes or vaping has been rapidly increasing over the past decade, their use has become a serious public health issue in the United States in the past few years,” City Attorney Robert Ewing wrote in a staff report. “Given the lack of action at the state level and mixed messages at the federal level, a number of local jurisdictions have adopted ordinances addressing the sale of e-cigarettes and vaping materials.”

Ewing added that according to the Contra Costa County Health Department, the use of electronic cigarettes among minors has increased 135% in the past two years in spite of the fact that it is illegal to sell to anyone under the age of 21.

Further adding that a survey by the National Youth Tobacco Survey reported that one in 20 middle schoolers and one in four high schoolers nationwide are vaping.

If approved, town staff are unsure of when the new prohibition would take effect, however Ewing said that the council could elect to have the new bans take effect within the standard 30 day window, or give tobacco retailers more time to comply.

The Danville Town Council is set to discuss vaping and other pressing issues facing the community during its regular meeting on Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. in the Town Meeting Hall, 201 Front St., Danville.

In other business

*After its discussion on the potential prohibition of vaping products, council members are set to discuss upcoming special events set to be held throughout the town which will require street closures.

Upcoming events that will require full or partial street closures include the Danville Devil Mountain Run (10k, 5k and “The Mile of Truth”) on May 3, Memorial Day Ceremony on May 25, Danville Summerfest on June 13 and 14, Music in the Park July 11 and Aug. 8, Danville’s July 4th Parade, Hot Summer Sunday Car Shows on July 19 and Aug. 16, Relics on Railroad –- Danville Antique & Art Faire on Sept. 7, Danville d’Elegance on Sept. 20, Ridge Hike for Prevention on Sept. 27, Danville Heart Walk on Oct. 3, Run for Education (5k and 10k) on Oct. 11, San Ramon Valley High School Homecoming Parade on Oct. 16, Danville Fallfest Oct. 17 and 18, Veterans Day Weekend Open House on Nov. 6, 7 and 8 and the Lighting of the Old Oak Tree on Nov. 27.

*Town council members are also set to hear a series of presentations updating residents on the activities of various town committees including the Contra Costa County Library Commission, County Connection Citizens Advisory Committee and Contra Costa County Advisory Council on Aging.

*Council members will then convene for a closed session not open to the public to discuss ongoing litigation with Verizon Wireless.

*Residents interested in learning more about the Town Council’s upcoming goals for 2020 are invited to attend the town’s special Planning and Goal Setting Workshop scheduled for Friday.

At the annual meeting town staff will review highlights and outcomes from the past year, receive an update on the town’s capital improvement programs and financial overview, discuss community outreach efforts and review an update on regional, state and federal legislation that affects the town.

The Town Council’s 2020 Planning and Goal Setting Workshop is set to be held at 8:30 a.m. Friday at Crow Canyon Country Club, 711 Silver Lake Drive, Danville.