Title
Approval of Ordinance Making Olympia’s Parks Smoke and Vape Free Starting in 2018
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
The Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee and the General Government Committee recommend banning smoking and vaping from Olympia’s parks.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve the proposed ordinance change that will ban smoking and vaping from Olympia’s parks on second reading.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve an ordinance change that will ban smoking and vaping from Olympia’s parks and will take effect January 1, 2018.
Staff Contact:
Jonathon Turlove, Associate Director, Parks Arts and Recreation, 360.753.8068
Presenter(s):
Jonathon Turlove, Associate Director, Parks Arts and Recreation, 360.753.8068
Background and Analysis:
The background and analysis has not changed from first to send reading.
Smoking in parks is a problem due to the dangers of secondhand smoke to other park users, litter, risk of fire, and the fact that it conflicts with the goals of parks being healthy places. While there is less documented research on the health effects of vaping/e-cigarettes, the FDA has warned that an analysis of e-cigarettes found that many contained toxic and/or carcinogenic chemicals.
Currently smoking, vaping, and the use of e-cigarettes is allowed in all of Olympia’s parks. In 2003, Council passed a resolution requesting that people not smoke near playgrounds and signage was installed at park playgrounds at that time. While smoking marijuana is currently illegal in all public places, including parks, this ban will clarify that smoking any substance, including marijuana, would become prohibited in Olympia parks.
Over 1,200 cities have made their parks smoke/tobacco free. This includes many in Washington including Seattle, Tacoma, and Vancouver. Most cities that are prohibiting smoking in their parks are including the prohibition of vaping/e-cigarettes. Some cities have made their parks completely tobacco-free, extending the ban to chewing tobacco.
At their meeting on May 19, 2016, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee (PRAC) recommended that smoking, vaping, and the use of e-cigarettes should be prohibited from all of Olympia’s parks. On September 28, 2016, the General Government Committee recommended that smoking, vaping, and the use of e-cigarettes should be prohibited from all of Olympia’s parks. On December 6, 2016, City Council unanimously approved banning smoking and vaping in Olympia parks and directed staff to bring forward a proposed ordinance change.
If approved by Council, the proposed ordinance change would take effect January 1, 2018. Staff would phase-in the new ordinance utilizing 2017 to educate the public. The intent of the ordinance is to make it easier for park users, park rangers, or maintenance staff to ask that people do not smoke in the parks. There are no plans to write citations for smoking.
In the event an ordinance is approved, it may impact working conditions for represented employees who smoke and/or vape. The union representative from AFSCME has been updated throughout the process and the City is committed to bargain any impacts on affected employees.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
Periodically staff receives complaints about smoking in parks from park users.
Options:
Move to approve the proposed ordinance change that will ban smoking and vaping from Olympia’s parks on first reading and forward to second reading.
Do not approve the proposed ordinance change that will ban smoking and vaping from Olympia’s parks.
Financial Impact:
Minimal costs of additional park signage.
Attachment:
Ordinance