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Home My WebLink About6/13/2007 - STAFF REPORTS - SS.1. 06/05/2007 17:15 FAX 760 323 8207 CITY OF PALM SPRINGS GINNY FOAT I N01/003 Ph1M 4F l `ram �y .. ,,CiiY car . rariFQx�+�P , OUR FAX NO. : (760) 323-8207 DATE: June B, 2007 TIME: 5:10 p.m. .TO: FAX #: NAME: Councilmembers RE: FROM: NAME: David Ready PHONE: 760/322-8362 MESSAGE: Re: Study Session Item #1: The Park Commission' s recommendation to the County of Riverside' s Department of Public Health restricting smoking in parks NUMBER OF PAGES 3 (including this cover page) . If transmission is not complete, please call San at (760) 322-8362. ZS(o�P3�ZoC�� 06/08/2007 17:15 FAX 760 323 8207 CITY OF PALL SPRINGS + GINNY FOAT 0002/003 City of Palm Springs Department of Parks and Recreation " 401 S.Pavilion Way Pslm Springs,CA 92262 Telephone:(760)323-3281 FAX:(760)323.8279 MEMORANDUM DATE: June 8,2007 To: David H_ Ready,City Manager FROM: Sharon Heider.Parks and Riecn;atvon Director SUBJECT: Proposed Smoking Ban in Public Parka SUMMARY: The County of Riverside Department of Public Health has developed a new program to improve public health by restricting smoking in parks and will provide assistance to cities with information and the potential funding of signs. Based on a presentation by the Senior Health Educator of the Riverside County Department of Public Health and statistics, the Parks and Recreation Commission is recommending that the City Council adopt an ordinance to prohibit smoking in public parks. Staff will present an abbreviated version of the presentation and seek direction from the City Council as to their desire to enact the proposed ordinance. If Council elects to pursue this change, staff can provide a staff report and the revised ordinance for approval at the June 20. 2007 City Council meeting. STAFF ANALYSIS: At its October 11, 2006, meeting, Carlos Carrio, M.P.H., Senior Health Educator, Tobacco Control Project, of the Riverside County Department of Public Health, made a presentation to the Parks and Recreation Commission, He reviewed California statistics supporting smoke-free outdoor areas, why smoke-free parks are benefie;ial, youth and tobacco issues, illnesses caused by secondhand smoke, pollution caused by cigarettes, hazards and litter caused by cigarette butts, a 2006 U. S.. Surgeon General's report regarding those who are most susceptible to secondhand smoke, and Assembly Bill 1813, which makes playgrounds tobacco-free, He also stated that as of that date, numerous counties and cities in California have already taken the necessary steps to protect their communities by adopting outdoor smoke-free ordinances, a partial listing is below: Anaheim Fowler Los Gatos Palm Desert San Clemente Arcata Fremont Malibu Palo Alto San D o Berkeley Fresno Mammoth Lakes Pasadena San Fernando I Buellton Goleta Marina Del ReV Pine Grove San Francisco Calexico Grand Terrace Mendota Rancho Cucamonoa San Jose Carpinteria Huntin on Beach Modesto Redding San Rafael Ca itola Huntinriton Park N eel Beach Redlands San Ramon Davis I Irvine I Novato IO-edley Santa Barbara Dublin I Laguna Hills Oakland Sacramento Santa Cruz Firebau h I Los An eles Ora a Cove San Anselmo Santa Monied 06/08/2007 17:15 FAX 700 721 8207 CITY OF PALK SPRINGS GINNY FOAT Z003/003 Studies of cities that currently implement no-smoking ordinances at their parks indicate that the public has been cooperative regarding the smoking ban and few complaints have resulted. Complaints that have been received have been mostly from smokers who said they were unaware of the smoking ban and that more proper signs needed to be posted. Palm Springs Municipal Code Chapter 6.10, "Smoking Prohibited in Certain Public Areas,' was enacted by Ordinance 1261 in 1986 and amended by Ordinance 1279 in 1987. The purpose of this chapter is to prohibit the smoking of tobacco, or any other weed or plant, in certain areas which are used by or open to the public, such as elevators, hospitals, theaters, eating establishments, department stores, and the airport terminal. The Parks and Recreation Commission is recommending that the municipal code be further amended to prohibit smoking in public parks. Under the proposed ordinance, smoking will be prohibited from curb to curb in Baristo, DeMuth, Desert Highland, Frances Stevens, Ruth Hardy, and Victoria parks, the Palm Springs Dog Park, the Desert Healthcare District "Wellness" Park, and the park area of Sunrise Plaza. It will not prohibit smoking in the Sunrise Plaza parking lot and the courtyard area located between the Palm Springs Pavilion and Palm Springs Leisure Center, prohibiting smoking in these areas may have an adverse effect on the number of rentals of the Palm Springs Pavilion for such activities as wedding receptions, quinceaneras, ballroom and square dances, and bridge tournaments. Violation of the ordinance would be punishable by a fine. However, staff does not anticipate having to enforce this ordinance, as most people tend to comply with posted rules and regulations in the parks.