HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 06172014 - C.15RECOMMENDATION(S):
ADOPT Ordinance No.2014-06, amending the County’s Secondhand Smoke Ordinance to prohibit smoking in
outdoor areas of County facilities, as recommended by the Family and Human Services Committee.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Minimal fiscal impact. A portion of the Prop 99 funding Contra Costa Health Services receives for its Tobacco
Prevention Project could be allocated to implementation.
BACKGROUND:
The Board of Supervisors adopted a comprehensive Secondhand Smoke Protections Ordinance in 2006 on the heels
of the California Air Resources Board report which designated secondhand smoke as a toxic air contaminant based
on a review of the research linking secondhand smoke with numerous adverse health effects. The Board strengthened
these protections in October 2009, October 2010 and again in April 2013 in response to community complaints
regarding drifting smoke in multi-unit housing and the need for additional policies to protect public health.
In November, 2013 the Tobacco Prevention
APPROVE OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
Action of Board On: 06/17/2014 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
Clerks Notes:
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
AYE:John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II
Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III
Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV
Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V
Supervisor
Contact: Denice Dennis,
925-313-6825
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the
Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: June 17, 2014
David Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
By: June McHuen, Deputy
cc:
C. 15
To:Family and Human Services Committee
From:William Walker, M.D., Health Services Director
Date:June 17, 2014
Contra
Costa
County
Subject:Revision to the County Secondhand Smoke Ordinance to Prohibit Smoking in Outdoor Areas of County Facilities
BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)
Project presented information to the Family and Human Services Committee that current State law prohibiting
smoking within 20 feet of doorways of government buildings does not
fully address the issue of secondhand smoke exposure on county property. In addition, Project staff presented
information on the County’s Secondhand Smoke Protections Ordinance which prohibits smoking on the campus of
the Contra Costa Regional Medical Center and health clinics, however does not cover other county building
campuses. Despite these protections, the Project continues to receive complaints regarding secondhand smoke on
County properties intruding on employee and/or visitors coming to county offices and smoke drifting into county
offices.
After hearing this report, the Family and Human Services Committee directed staff to work with County Counsel
to draft a revision to the County’s Secondhand Smoke Protections Ordinance that would make all County
properties smokefree. The Committee also requested that provision of cessation information to be part of
implementation plan. Staff subsequently worked with County Counsel to develop the proposed amendment to the
County Secondhand Smoke Protections Ordinance attached.
Tobacco Prevention staff also presented information on continuing complaints received regarding secondhand
smoke drifting between units in multi-unit housing. Smoke drifting from multi-unit housing units travels through
vents,
electrical outlets and even through walls to other units, often causing health issues for non-smoking neighbors.
The County’s Secondhand Smoke Protections Ordinance currently prohibits smoking in some areas of multi-unit
housing including balconies, decks, patios, carports; in common indoor and outdoor areas like laundry rooms and
swimming pools; and within 20 feet of doors and windows of units. It does not address smoking inside individual
units. The Family and Human Services Committee did not direct staff to explore policy options to address this
issue at this time.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
The public's health may not be protected to the extent possible.
CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:
Not applicable.
ATTACHMENTS
Ordinance 2014-06