Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2011 • City parks will be tobacco free
Publisher’s note: This story originally appeared in the Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2011, edition of the Lassen County Times
The Susanville City Council unanimously approved the first reading of a new city ordinance prohibiting tobacco use in the city parks.
During the Nov. 16 city council meeting, City Attorney Peter Talia presented the city council with a revised ordinance. The official adoption of the ordinance has been scheduled for the next city council meeting Dec. 7.
According to the presentation, the following city parks will fall under the new ordinance: Skyline Park, the Susan River Parkway, Memorial Park, (including the skate park, community center, Roop’s Fort and the museum), Riverside Park, Inspiration Point, Little League — Pat Murphy Fields and any new park so designated by the city council.
Laura Roberts, health educator Lassen County public health tobacco use reduction program, spoke to the council on behalf of the Public Health Department. Roberts commended the city council members for taking on the fight against tobacco. Roberts said in addition to the enormous health risk that tobacco poses, cigarette butts are the number one litter-source in California.
Roberts said the public health department has funding available to help the city with costs associated with signage and education. She estimated around $1,000 to $1,200 available. She said the funds could cover legal notices to the public in the local media and go toward public information signs like the marquee near the fairgrounds.
Debra Magginetti presented the city council with a packet from McKinley School Librarian Rhonda Templeton. She sent a letter and a packet of hand-drawn artwork from a group of second-grade students to the city council members urging the council to approve the ordinance to prohibit smoking and tobacco use in the city parks.
After the council unanimously approved the first reading of the ordinance, Mayor Lino Callegari requested Roberts make an appearance with Dandy the Smokeless Dragon at the council’s Dec. 7 meeting.
