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Smoking Ban Could Include Parks — But Not Sidewalks For Now
posted: August 18th, 2010 07:37 am |
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Newport Beach soon could see a smoking ban at public parks and other outdoor recreational areas, but plans to ban smoking outside restaurants and bars or on public sidewalks will likely not be part of any near-term proposal.
At the Monday meeting of the Environmental Quality Affairs Committee, the group discussed its ongoing efforts to expand the city’s smoking ban. Currently, smoking is not permitted on beaches, piers, public floats, public wharfs, or at Inspiration and Lookout points.
But, as City Councilwoman Nancy Gardner said, “You can smoke any time, any place in any park that you want.”
Some committee members said that adding the parks ban made sense.
“It protects kids and it doesn’t have an economic impact,” said Vincent Lepore. “It’s a no brainer.”
City staff will now work on language for such additions, which could go beyond parks and trails and possibly include farmers markets, open spaces and other recreational areas. The committee members will review those staff proposals and eventually make a report to the City Council, who will have to vote to approve any changes.
Earlier plans to expand the smoking ban to restaurant patios and sidewalks met with some concern from business owners who worried such plans would cause financial harm.
The group on Monday decided to start with the parks changes and possibly revisit the other, more controversial bans at a later time.
The group also discussed whether there would be a drop in smokers because of such changes, and whether it was realistic to expect police or rangers to be able to enforce the changes.
“We will make a difference,” said Arlene Greer, the EQAC chairwoman.
Gardner agreed. “When we banned them at the beach, we saw a dramatic decrease of smoking on the beach,” she said.
