Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Health Regulation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Marysville Council reviews draft smoking ordinance; no vote, staff to check state law
Summary
Council reviewed a draft ordinance expanding Marysville's smoking rules to include cannabis and vaping products, prohibit smoking at city-sponsored events and create a 25-foot buffer near prohibited areas; council solicited public input and asked staff to compare the draft to state law before returning with revisions in April.
The Marysville City Council on April 7 reviewed a draft ordinance that would update Chapter 9.1 of the Marysville Municipal Code to broaden the definition of smoking and to add new location-based restrictions.
City Attorney (on the dais) and staff explained that the draft clarifies what products are covered—explicitly listing vaping devices and cannabis smoking—and would bar smoking at city-sponsored public events such as the peach festival. A proposed 25-foot buffer would prohibit smoking in unenclosed areas within 25 feet of places where smoking is already prohibited; the draft includes a first-time fine of $50 in one provision as an example of enforcement scale.
Councilmembers raised questions about enforcement and individual liberties. One councilmember asked whether enforcement would be complaint-driven; staff responded that enforcement would generally be selective and complaint-based and that the city does not intend to become a "smoking police," but officers could be asked to intervene if smoking presented a clear nuisance near children or park playgrounds.
During public comment, a resident urged a broad ban on smoking in public facilities to protect children and public health, describing smoking as an unhealthy behavior that should not affect others at public events. Another commenter described experience working in public health and volunteered to help post signage.
The council did not vote on the ordinance. Mayor Branscomb said the city would take another look and asked staff to quickly compare the draft to controlling state statutes; staff said the item will be brought back for more discussion or final action at the April meeting cycle. The city emphasized signs and community standards as primary compliance tools rather than wide, active enforcement.
