Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Smoking Vaping Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Scottsdale council agrees to consider youth petition to add e-cigarettes to smoke-free ordinance
Summary
Members of the Scottsdale Mayor's Youth Council and the Scottsdale Youth Substance Abuse Coalition urged the City Council to amend the city's smoke-free ordinance to include e-cigarettes; Mayor Lisa Borowski moved to agendize the petition for future council discussion and the motion passed.
Members of the Scottsdale Mayor's Youth Council and the Scottsdale Youth Substance Abuse Coalition asked the City Council on May 20 to update the city's smoke-free ordinance to explicitly prohibit use of e-cigarettes in public places and places of employment.
The request, presented by Desert Mountain High School student Sadanth "Sid" Gupta on behalf of the youth groups, asked the council to "amend the Scottsdale Smoke Free Ordinance" so that the definitions of "smoking" and "smoking devices" include e-cigarettes. Gupta said the change was motivated by youth use and the products'appeal to minors.
The petition included additional youth speakers. Angelo Leonardi, a 17-year-old representative of the Scottsdale Youth Substance Abuse Coalition and the Mayor's Youth Council, told the council he had experienced breathing problems near people vaping at Chaparral Park and said the measure would make public spaces "cleaner, healthier and safer for everyone." John Lee, a Scottsdale resident and volunteer with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, added that "almost all" e-cigarettes contain nicotine and urged the council to act.
Mayor Lisa Borowski moved to agendize the petition for further discussion at a future meeting; Councilman Barry Graham seconded the motion. Council members noted they must ensure any local ordinance complies with state and federal law before adoption, and Mayor Borowski and other members encouraged patience while staff studies legal and compliance issues.
Council action was limited to placing the petition on a future agenda for staff and council consideration; no ordinance or regulatory change was adopted at the May 20 meeting. Council members and staff said the item will return for discussion and potential action after staff reports and legal review.
The council indicated the agendized discussion will include state and federal compliance steps and that youth petitioners and staff would be invited to participate when the council considers the matter.
The petition was formally received by the city clerk and will be scheduled for a future meeting, at which time the council may direct staff to draft ordinance language, request additional analysis, or take other follow-up steps.
