Gilbert Update
Gilbert rejects parks smoking ban
December 19, 2007
A split Gilbert Town Council Tuesday decided against restricting smoking in public parks.
Instead, the council voted 4-3 to ask its Parks and Recreation Advisory Board to come up with recommendations for a voluntary program that, if necessary, would include signs and educational programs to encourage smokers to be courteous of non-smokers.
At least three council members said they did not believe Gilbert needs any type of smoking ordinance for its parks.
”I think this might be a solution looking for a problem,” Councilman Dave Crozier said of a proposed ordinance that would have limited smoking to designated areas located 50-100 feet from areas where people congregate at the parks.
Councilwoman Joan Krueger questioned whether a new law is needed or if simply asking smokers to voluntarily move away from non-smokers would be enough.
Along with Crozier and Krueger, councilmen Les Presmyk and Don Skousen said they opposed the recommended ordinance. Mayor Steve Berman, Councilwoman Linda Abbott and Vice Mayor Steve Urie supported the proposed ordinance.
Smoking Ban in Gilbert Parks?
August 15th, 2007
by Sandra Haros/KTAR
by Sandra Haros/KTAR
Voters could soon decide to ban smoking in Gilbert’s outdoor parks.
Von Payne, an advisory board member for Gilbert’s Parks and Recreation, said he’s tired of secondhand smoke and shouldn’t be subjected to it.
“In the last few years, I’ve noticed that I’ve sat in the bleachers watching sports and encouraged youth to be active and healthy and right next to me, for example, are adults that literally sat in the bleachers the entire game smoking away.”
Payne is pushing for a smoking ban in the city’s parks. Gilbert town council members will vote on it in an upcoming meeting.
Smoking ban in parks put on hold
Oct. 19, 2006
Mike Walbert
Mike Walbert
Discussion over how to potentially curtail smoking in Gilbert’s public parks continued this week with no resolution as town officials wait until next month for results of two voter initiatives pertaining to smoking prohibition.
Town Council and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board met in a joint session Tuesday night to talk about banning smoking in public parks, an issue that has been discussed in the community for several months.
The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and town staff support banning smoking in “gathering areas” of public parks and asked for council’s approval of an ordinance to enforce such a ban this year.
But in late August, council members decided to hold off on amending the local ordinance until the Nov. 7 election because of the two no-smoking measures on the ballot.
Some of the suggestions offered in Tuesday’s meeting included prohibiting smoking in ramadas, banning it at all sports facilities or setting a designated smoking area for people to light up away from gatherings.
Advisory board members also clarified that they are interested in only regulating smoking, not smokeless tobacco.
Outdoor parks aren’t covered under Gilbert’s limited no-smoking ordinance, which has been in place since May 2001. People are prohibited from smoking in enclosed areas, government buildings and most businesses. Bars and outdoor places are exempt.
However, the town did institute smoking bans at Cosmo and Crossroads dog parks, and the Gilbert skate park.
Councilman Les Presmyk reiterated the council’s wish to wait for election results before any smoking decisions are made for Gilbert.
Town and elected officials have questioned how, exactly, either of the no-smoking ballot initiatives would affect the town.
However, Presmyk said that if the council does act to ban smoking, it should be a total ban that is “cut and dry.”
Councilwoman Joan Krueger, who has a sister that smokes, said officials are dealing with a “delicate” matter because it involves residents’ personal rights.
“Both members of our community (smokers and non-smokers) deserve to be respected for the choices they make,” Krueger said.
Parks officials have said that Gilbert does receive complaints about smoking in public parks, but there have been no specifics on the number of complaints.
Proposition 201, Smoke Free Arizona, would replace existing local ordinances statewide and offers no exemptions for smoking in bars. Proposition 206, Non-Smoker Protection Act, offers more exemptions than Proposition 201, including smoking in bars.
