The Atascadero City Council voted 4-0 in favor of prohibiting smoking in all city parks, the Charles Paddock Zoo and public events. Councilman Jerry Clay was absent.

Councilman Tom O’Malley made the motion and Councilman Bob Kelley seconded it, with the assistance of the city attorney since the motion was leading to a city ordinance.

Brady Cherry, city community services director, told the council that, “this item this evening is to consider some smoking restrictions to our parks and recreation areas as well as the Charles Paddock Zoo.”

The Atascadero Parks and Recreation Commission recommended prohibiting smoking inside the Charles Paddock Zoo and restrictions on smoking in city parks and events.

Cherry said the community impact would be to restrict outdoor tobacco smoke, and this is intended to promote public health by safeguarding the public from harmful secondhand smoke. According to the EPA, secondhand smoke is classified as a class A carcinogen, which is determined to be one of the most dangerous.

“Our Parks and Recreation Commission really has spent a lot of time, really over a year, researching and working on this issue,” Cherry said.

After the public comment, most of whom spoke in favor of the ban with a few protesting about the issue of personal rights of individual smokers, the council weighed in.

“After hearing all this, I don’t really have any problem banning smoking in all parks,” Kelley said. “I think we need to have designated smoking areas for people who do smoke, and that could be out in the parking lots or some other place.”



For the complete article see the 06-26-2009 issue.

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