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Commission to consider ordinance banning smoking and vaping in parks; cigars excluded per state statute
Summary
City staff presented Ordinance 25‑13, a parks "clean air" ordinance prohibiting smoking and vaping of tobacco and tobacco‑based products in parks, playgrounds and sports facilities; staff and commissioners discussed the statute's cigar exemption and the treatment of marijuana under state law.
City staff introduced Ordinance 25‑13, described in the meeting as the city's parks "clean air" ordinance. The ordinance, as presented, would prohibit smoking and vaping of tobacco and tobacco‑based products in public parks, playgrounds and sports facilities consistent with state statute.
Staff noted the ordinance does not address cigars because the state statute carved out an exemption for certain cigars (described in the meeting as a statutory exception). Commissioners and staff also discussed marijuana: staff said smoking marijuana in public spaces is a violation of state law, and medical marijuana is not permitted to be smoked in public under current state rules; they said the ordinance can be amended later to reflect changes in state law if recreational use is legalized.
Staff said the ordinance is consistent with a similar Polk County ordinance and that legal counsel and peer agencies helped craft the language.
