“At some point we have to factor in the quality of life of other residents,” said City Councilman John Drayman.
Smoking in common areas of apartment buildings was banned during the first set of regulations.
But the majority of the City Council was not prepared to go so far as requiring a separation of smoking and non-smoking units within apartment complexes, despite pushes from Councilman Dave Weaver.
“I think it’s going to have too much of an impact on people’s lives,” said Mayor Frank Quintero. “I’m not ready to go there.”
Smokers illegally lighting up citywide could also face enforcement stricter under an amendment in the new ordinance that would remove a required warning provision for first-time offenders. City officials have said the warning requirement has made it difficult to issue citations.
More than a dozen residents spoke in favor of the current regulations, with many pushing for removing the warning and requiring separation in apartment buildings. No apartment owners spoke against the separation, while property owners and community activists Margaret Hammond and Carole Weling said they both already operate smoke-free buildings.
Smoking is already prohibited on all city property, including parks, outdoor dining areas that can’t meet strict separation requirements and nearly all publicly accessible private property, such as the Marketplace and Americana at Brand.
Neighborhood Services Administrator Sam Engel said that in the past 14 months significant progress had been made in implementing the regulations and in conducting community outreach, including print, television and movie theater ads and hundreds of signs and banners.
