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From: Laura Curran [lauracurran @me.com]
Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2012 10:11 AM
To: Dept - City Council
Cc: Kiff, Dave; Brown, Leilani
Subject: Consideration of NO SMOKING IN PARKS Ordinance - Please enter in Public Comment
Council members: Tonight you will consider the NO SMOKING IN PARKS Ordinance, originally reviewed and
proposed by EQAC. EQAC made its recommendation, with the existing ordinance which restricts smoking at
beaches as a baseline. EQAC did not foresee or consider any option which would expand SMOKING options on the
Beaches.
I urge you to adopt the NO SMOKING IN PARKS Ordinance.
Second, in the pre - Council INSIDER's REPORT, Dave Kiff has asked COUNCIL to consider a proposal to allow
limited SMOKING ON BEACHES in restricted areas.
We do not have consistent enforcement of the SMOKING BAN on the Peninsula Beach, at the Pier and Boardwalk
now. Adding more areas which need to be monitored will harm residents and visitors using the beach for recreation
and create a bigger enforcement challenge. This would be a mistake and should not be considered.
1. Beach visitors who are recreating, walking, swimming, and relaxing on the beach would be subject to smoke in
these areas. Just as in the days when Smoking was allowed on an airplane, those nearby are impacted by the smoke.
2. The pollution from smoke butts would create another problem. The NB Pier is already littered with smoke butts
because the NON Smoking Ordinances are not enforced consistently there. Adding another area of "SAFE
SMOKING" would create another beach pollution issue.
3. Regulation of the existing Beach Smoking ordinance would be more difficult. Our NBPD would now be required to
explain the nuances of the ordinance further. Regulation on smoking at the beach can be clearly enforced with the
existing ordinance. NBPD and City Staff know when and where large group meetings take place. Enforcement
by NBPD, Park Rangers, or Parking Enforcement can be conducted /focused on those areas at meeting times.
Thank you for maintaining and strengthening the protection for residents and visitors from 2nd and 3rd hand smoke.
Laura Curran
From the INSIDER's REPORT
First reading of a new "No Smoking in Parks" ordinance. This comes back to Council after earlier review, and would ban
smoking in City parks + within a 100' buffer zone of public property around the parks (or beaches or piers). The City
already prohibits smoking on public piers, beaches, and Ocean Front Walk. This will have some controversy to it,
including the 100' buffer zone concept. I also have proposed that the Council consider a limited authorization to create
a "trial period" to actually allow some smoking on beaches in a limited area during a limited time (2 hours) far away
from others by specific groups under a special permit. This too is controversial. The groups that tend to have smoking
problems include recovery groups that meet on the beach Saturday and Sunday mornings near 15`h and 16`h Streets. The
reason for the limited area provision is because I know that smoking bans are tough to enforce — and I think that most
Ocean Front Walk users would experience less secondhand smoke from these meetings if smokers were far away (way
out on the sand) from 15`h or 16`hStreet. I will candidly admit that don't know what the right answer is - but the
discussion will be good, I'm sure.
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