COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

DATE:

January 17, 2007

BOARD MEETING DATE:

February 6, 2007

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

No

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

 

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Supervisors Rich Gordon and Jerry Hill

SUBJECT:

Prohibiting Smoking at All County Owned, Operated Or Maintained Parks, Beaches and Trails.

 

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt An Ordinance Amending Title 4, Chapter 4.96 Section, 4.96.040 Of The San Mateo County Ordinance Code Regulating Smoking In Certain Areas.

 

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment: Ensure Basic Health and Safety For All

Goal(s): Maintain and enhance the public safety of all residents and visitors

 

BACKGROUND:

Currently, the County ordinance prohibits smoking within any enclosed structure owned or leased by San Mateo County and within thirty (30) feet in any direction from any enclosed structure owned by the County. The County has taken these steps because the U.S. Surgeon General has concluded that exposure to environmental tobacco smoke commonly known as secondhand smoke or passive smoke, causes lung cancer in adults and respiratory problems in children. Environmental tobacco smoke is an identified carcinogen and it is estimated that it causes approximately 3,000 lung cancer deaths each year in nonsmoking adults. It is has also been identified as a serious and substantial health risk for non-smokers, particularly children. The County Health Officer recognizes that outdoor secondhand smoke can expose nonsmokers to toxic particulate concentrations, which contribute to disease and/or aggravate existing illnesses.

In addition to the well-documented health hazards, according to the United States Fire Administration, smoking is the third leading cause of wildfires in the United States and it causes 8% of all outdoor fires. Cigarette butts also constitute a significant portion of the trash left in beaches and parks. These cigarette butts as well as used matches not only constitute a substantial source of environmental pollution, but more importantly create a health hazard to children who play in the sand and may ingest such debris.

 

DISCUSSION:

The County’s public parks, beaches and trails are recreational areas, which are host to thousands of visitors and families each year. While state law prohibits smoking in designated play areas for children, smoking is otherwise allowed in the outdoor areas of these facilities. Consequently, people are smoking on trails, fields and other highly used areas. Because of the health hazards, fire danger and environmental pollution caused by smokers at these recreational areas the proposed ordinance would prohibit smoking at all county owned, operated or maintained parks, beaches and trails. This ban will help to improve air quality for the preservation and improvement of the public’s health and reduce the negative impact on the environment by reducing waste and fire danger.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

None.