Women Smoking Cigarettes

Smoking in downtown Chico, near businesses in the city limits and in Bidwell Park could soon be illegal. “There’s the rights of people to smoke cheap Camel cigarettes in public versus the rights of people to breathe clean air,” Internal Affairs Committee chairman Jim Walker said.

Walker said the city has to protect both, even if smokers represent the minority.

The committee voted unanimously today to refer the issue of a year-round ban in city parks to the Bidwell Park and Playground Commission.

The committee also voted to re-address a regulation against smoking within 20 feet of building entryways after it hears a report from the Downtown Chico Business Association and the Chico Chamber of Commerce. That limitation would effectively ban smoking downtown because the entryways are within 40 feet of each other, said Heather Keag of the DCBA.

Butte County has an adult smoking rate of about 19 percent.

The Chico City Council referred the issue to the Internal Affairs Committee Sept. 20 after receiving a letter requesting the smoking ban from the American Lung Association.

Smoking is already prohibited within 20 feet of public buildings, in City Plaza, in Caper Acres, and in upper Bidwell Park from May to November because of the fire hazard.

A number of high school students asked the committee members Tuesday to support the ban to limit second-hand smoke and to cut down on cigarette butts littering Bidwell Park.

“It’s more than just gross — it’s
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disgusting, it’s repulsive,” said Chico High School freshman Jacob Sturgis. “It’s really hard for me to enjoy Bidwell Park with (cigarette) butt litter on the ground.”

Committee member Bob Evans said he’s unsure if a littering ordinance would be necessary or enforceable since state law already prohibits littering.

“You don’t want to make ordinances just for the sake of making them,” Evans said.

Keag said a number of downtown businesses endorsed the smoking ban but the business association has yet to take a stance.

Shelly Brantley of the American Lung Association signed the letter to Mayor Ann Schwab. She told the committee she understands smokers have rights, but asked that they not be allowed to do so near building entryways and in parks.

Evans said he is concerned about downtown employees who are smokers.

“I don’t know if they can go out, jump in their own cars and drive out of downtown, or quit their jobs or be cited,” Evans said.

Though he said the best option would be for them to stop smoking, Evans thinks it puts the employees in a precarious situation.

The committee might address the ban at its next meeting, on Dec. 13.

Walker said as a medical professional, he understands the health concerns of smoking but he also sees the smoke as an annoyance.

“Part of me sees our society becoming less and less tolerant of others’ annoying habits,” he said.