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Crestview council directs staff to draft ordinance banning smoking in city parks; cigars excluded under state law
Summary
Council members signaled consensus to prohibit smoking across city-owned parks to protect children, turf and cleanliness; staff will return with an ordinance, but cigars remain exempt per state statute.
The Crestview City Council asked staff to draft an ordinance to prohibit smoking in all city-owned parks, citing child safety, litter and damage to synthetic turf. Council members expressed broad support for a citywide ban and instructed staff to return with ordinance language.
Councilwoman Allison said she favored strict limits “because we’re talking about the children” and described smoking as a health and cleanliness issue. Councilman Bollard said he supported a ban across all city parks, citing litter and damage to recently installed turf. Councilman Hayes said he would prefer a park-by-park assessment but relented as a majority coalesced around a citywide prohibition.
City staff noted a 2022 amendment to Florida statute allows local governments to prohibit smoking on public outdoor property but requires that cigars be excluded from such local bans. The city manager said cigars remain excluded “because they have really good lobbyists,” and said staff would prepare an ordinance (rather than a policy) for council consideration. The manager also said privately operated facilities such as the city’s golf course would not be included unless council directed otherwise.
Council members directed staff to return draft ordinance language for consideration at a future meeting. No formal ordinance vote occurred at the meeting; the item was recorded as council direction to staff.
