Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Health topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Montebello council approves expanded smoke‑free outdoor protections after years of community outreach
Summary
Council voted 5‑0 to adopt (introduce/first reading) Ordinance No. 2,485 to expand prohibitions on smoking and vaping in employment sites, public spaces, and outdoor areas; the ordinance follows two to three years of outreach by a local coalition that cited surveys of residents and business owners.
Montebello — The City Council voted unanimously to advance an ordinance extending smoke‑free protections to outdoor public spaces, places of employment and outdoor dining areas after a multi‑year community campaign.
Representatives of the Community Alliance for Healthy Outdoor Spaces (CAHOS) presented survey and observational data showing substantial resident and business support for expanded protections. "We spoke with 475 Montebello adult residents" and found support levels as high as 78% for public sidewalks and public events, CAHOS presenters told the council, and visits to 50 public sites identified more than 350 pieces of tobacco‑related litter.
Health‑care and youth advocates spoke in favor of the ordinance during the public‑comment period. "There is no risk‑free level of exposure to secondhand smoke," said a representative of the UCLA anti‑vaping champions program, noting elevated risks for children and people with respiratory conditions and urging stronger local protections.
Councilmembers praised the coalition's outreach and data collection. "This is what I would hope any organization ... that comes to our city" would do, Councilmember Scarlett Peralta said, commending the sustained advocacy and outreach over two to three years. Several councilmembers noted the ordinance aligns with the city's 2040 General Plan goals for healthy public spaces.
The council voted 5‑0 to approve the ordinance introduction and related actions as presented. Staff indicated the amendment expands Montebello Municipal Code chapter 8.32 and is designed to work with existing park rules (chapter 12.24) rather than to criminalize individuals who smoke. The ordinance language and staff report cite local outreach, business‑owner input and comparisons to nearby jurisdictions.
What happens next: Because the council approved the action on the evening’s agenda, staff will proceed with the formal ordinance process as outlined in the agenda packet, which includes additional steps for adoption and notification to affected businesses and the public.
