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Council asks staff for options on smokefree rules for multi-unit housing after survey and public appeals
Summary
After hearing a staff survey and several public comments urging protection from second- and third-hand smoke, the Port Hueneme City Council unanimously directed staff to return with options and analysis on smokefree policies for multi-unit housing rather than adopt an ordinance immediately.
Port Hueneme City Council members on July 1 received a staff report and public testimony about potential smoking prohibitions in multi-unit residential buildings and unanimously directed staff to return with options and further analysis.
Deputy City Manager Charles Petz told the council that staff contacted more than five dozen commercial properties, established 31 points of contact and received 13 survey responses. The results, Petz said, showed that most managers receive few smoking complaints and that 10 of 13 respondents already have some form of smoking policy. "The survey results indicate support for smoking regulations in multi-unit residential buildings," Petz said, while cautioning the council to consider enforcement costs, methods and required educational outreach.
Youth organizers and community health advocates urged the council to act. "The home is the main place where children and adults breathe in second- and third-hand smoke," Javier Garika of Future Leaders of America said, citing CDC estimates and urging an educational approach to enforcement. Ernesto Kio, a community member, said smoke-free policies protect vulnerable renters and costs associated with smoking properties, and Jose Martin, also with Future Leaders of America, said neighboring cities had shown it is feasible.
Council members debated the reach and enforceability of city rules. One member noted that some property owners use lease language and HOA rules to enforce smoke-free policies, while another cautioned that aggressive enforcement could strain city resources. Council members discussed Moorpark's ordinance and a draft being considered in Carpinteria as possible models for educational enforcement and stated the need to learn from other jurisdictions.
Rather than adopt an ordinance on the spot, the council voted unanimously to ask staff to return with a set of concrete options, including examples from nearby cities, potential enforcement approaches (emphasis on education), estimated costs and implementation issues. The motion recorded asked staff to consider enforcement tiers and comparative results from Moorpark and Carpinteria.
Next steps: staff will compile options and sample ordinance language for future council review and public discussion.
