Loomis council holds first reading of ordinance to ban syringe-service programs in town

The Loomis Town Council conducted the first reading Monday of zoning amendments to implement an October ordinance that defines and prohibits syringe-service programs in the town.

Town staff said the draft chapter 13.48 incorporates the earlier ordinance (chapter 5.24, Ord. 294) and adds zoning-table edits that list syringe-service programs as an expressly disallowed use in residential, commercial and industrial zones. Staff recommended deleting a sentence in section 13.48.050 that was included in error and asked the council to move the recommended action with that modification.

Planning Commission Resolution 23.04 had recommended the draft ordinance and the zoning-table changes to council after a review in October, staff said. The council’s action Monday was a first reading; the item is scheduled for a second reading and possible adoption at the Jan. 9 meeting.

Council discussion included a question about whether the ordinance would inadvertently bar related, non‑syringe services offered by organizations that also distribute syringes elsewhere. One councilmember described an analogy about a pharmacy that delivers products into the town and said he wanted to be sure the code would not prevent other permitted services. Staff and members agreed the code incorporates the earlier definition and that any additional adjustments could be made by amending the single referenced code section before the second reading.

Members of the public offered limited comment during the hearing; staff made copies of a revised staff report available to the audience. The council voted to conduct the first reading with the staff modification; the ordinance will return to the council for the second reading and possible adoption on Jan. 9.

The council did not take final action on the ordinance Monday; the first-reading vote advances the process and sets the next public hearing date.