Supervisors direct development of policy for smoke-free parks

By Christy Scott
The Alpine Sun

     SAN DIEGO — Smoking in public parks could soon bring a fine, after San Diego supervisors directed county staff to develop a board policy banning smokers from lighting up.
     A 4-1 Board of Supervisors vote directed the county’s Chief Administrative Officer to develop a board policy to ban smoking and smoking-related material of any kind in county parks and county-managed open space areas. The motion also includes investigating whether the policy could be enforced as an ordinance. The Chief Administrative Officer was directed to return to the supervisors within 60 days for review and adoption of the board policy and possible ordinance.
State law currently bans smoking or disposal of any tobacco-related products within 25 feet of a playground or tot lot sandbox area. Several of the county’s cities have banned smoking in city parks or on city beaches.
     “I think it’s very important for the county to join the many areas in the county of San Diego,” said Supervisor Pam Slater-Price. “If we fight the problem as a unified source I think we’ll have a lot better luck.”
     Slater-Price noted three hazards of smoking at county parks. One is the health issue of second-hand smoke. A second is the fire hazard from the improper abandonment or disposal of smoking materials. The third hazard is the environmental effects of cigarette and other smoking-related litter.
     “Some of the smokers are extremely inconsiderate,” said Supervisor Dianne Jacob.
     The 11 public speakers in favor included David Ott, who is the president of the San Diego County Fire Chiefs Association as well as the fire chief of both the Solana Beach and Del Mar city fire departments. “Smoking does present a risk for wildland fire,” Ott said. “People often discard their cigarettes or matches in an unsafe manner.”
     Ott cited statistics that 54 percent of outdoor fires are ignited by an open flame and 15 percent of fires are from discarded or abandoned incendiary devices such as cigarettes and matches.
     While tobacco itself is a natural plant, cigarette filters are made of plastic cellulose acetate, which takes at least a decade to decompose. San Diego County smokers dispose of an estimated 1.8 billion cigarette butts each year, and nearly one in five pieces of litter dropped on the ground is washed into streams, rivers, lakes, or other waterways including the ocean.
     “I think in the long run the work is going to be public education and public awareness,” said Supervisor Ron Roberts.
Some park and open space areas are under the control of joint powers authorities, which include the county. “We would work with the other entities to adopt our ordinances,” said Renee Bahl, the director of the county’s Department of Parks and Recreation.
     The county also owns some parks in incorporated cities. “That is our land to manage, and we could apply our own ordinances,” Bahl said.
     If the smoking ban causes tobacco users to convert from cigarettes and cigars to smokeless tobacco, the county would need to provide appropriate trash cans for proper disposal of spit. Currently some trash cans in county parks have open tops, allowing for disposal of spit into the trash cans, while others have openings on the side.
     “That’s something we would look at if this policy passes,” Bahl said. “We have a lot to look into, obviously.”
Supervisor Bill Horn cast the dissenting vote against the plan for a policy. “I just think this is another move of the government to intrude on personal liberties,” he said. “They might as well outlaw campfires.”

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